ಹಾಗೇ ಒಂದು ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ’ಗಂಧದ ಕುಡಿ’ಯ ಇಣುಕುನೋಟ

ಮಿತ್ರ ಅನಂತ ನಾಯಕ್ ಸಗ್ರಿ ಅವರು 2016ರಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮನೆಗೆ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿದಾಗ ಅವರ ಕುರುಚಲು ಕೂದಲು, ನೀಳ ದಾಡಿ ಕಂಡು ಹೌಹಾರಿದೆ!

ನನ್ನ ಹಾವಭಾವವನ್ನು ಕಂಡ ಅನಂತ ನನ್ನ ಕಿವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪಿಸುಗುಟ್ಟಿದರು -

"ಒಂದು  ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿನಯಿಸಲು ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕ,  ನಮ್ಮೂರಿನವರೇ ಆದ ಸತ್ಯೇಂದ್ರ ಪೈ ಅವರಿಂದ ಆಹ್ವಾನ ಬಂದಿದೆ. ಕಥಾವಸ್ತು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ. ಒಪ್ಪಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಚಿತ್ರದ ಹೆಸರು ’ಗಂಧದ ಕುಡಿ’. ನನ್ನದು ಒಬ್ಬ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಯ ಪಾತ್ರ. ನೈಜತೆಯಿಂದ ಪಾತ್ರ ನಿಭಾಯಿಸಲೆಂದೇ ದಾಡಿ, ಕುರುಚಲು ಕೂದಲು ಬೆಳೆಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ!".

ಅನಂತ ಅವರು ಒಂದೆರಡು ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಗೂ ತಮ್ಮ ಕಾಲೇಜು ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಟಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿನಯಿಸಿದ್ದು ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಇತ್ತೀಚೆ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಗೊಂಡ ಕೊಂಕಣಿ ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲೂ ಅವರ ನಟನಾ ಕೌಶಲತೆನ್ನು  ಕಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

ಹಾಗೆ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಶುಭ ಹಾರೈಸಿದ ನಾನು, ಚಿತ್ರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಒಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಕೇಳಿ ಪಡಕೊಂಡೆ. ಕಥೆ ಕೇಳುತ್ತಾ ಕೇಳುತ್ತಾ ಇದೊಂದು ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ಕಥಾವಸ್ಥು ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಚಿತ್ರ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲದೇ ಪರಿಸರ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆಯ ಬಗ್ಯೆ ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕರು, ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರಿಗಿದ್ದ ಕಾಳಜಿಯನ್ನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡೆ.

ದಿನಗಳು, ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳು, ವರ್ಷಗಳು ಉರುಳಿದರೂ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರವು ಚಿತ್ರಮಂದಿರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸುದ್ಧಿ ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಯೂಟ್ಯೂಬ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಫೇಸ್‍ಬುಕ್ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ತಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳು ಕಂಡು ಬಂದುವು.

ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರದ ಶೂಟಿಂಗ್ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣಗೊಳಿಸಿ ನಂತರ ಜಾಹೀರಾತಿಗೋಸ್ಕರ ಕಳೆದ ವರ್ಷ ಜೂನ್ 1ರಂದು ಉಜಿರೆಯ ಎರ್ಮಾಯಿ ಜಲಪಾತದ ಬಳಿ ನವೀನ ಶೈಲಿಯ ಚಿತ್ರೀಕರಣ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ "ಮಂಗಲ್ ಪಾಂಡೇ", "ಜೋಧಾ ಅಕ್ಬರ್" ಚಿತ್ರದ ಕಲಾ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ, "ಕಣ್ಣು ತೆರೆದಾಗ" ಖ್ಯಾತಿಯ ಯುವ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ಕಟೀಲ್ ಅವರು ಹಠಾತ್ ಕಾಲು ಜಾರಿ ಬಿದ್ದು ಜಲಸಮಾಧಿಯಾಗಿ ತೀರಿಕೊಂಡ ದುರಂತಮಯ ಸುದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನೂ ಓದಿದೆ.

ಪರಿಸರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ, ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಕಾಳಜಿ, ಉತ್ಸಾಹ ಹೊಂದಿದ ನಮ್ಮ ನೆರೆಜಿಲ್ಲೆ ಉಡುಪಿಯವರಾದ ಅದೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೊಂಕಣಿ ಗೌಡ ಸಾರಸ್ವತ ಸಮಾಜದ ಉದ್ಯಮಿ ಸಹೋದರರಾದ ಸತ್ಯೇಂದ್ರ ಪೈ-ಕೃಷ್ಣಮೋಹನ್ ಪೈ ಅವರ ಕನಸಿನ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ "ಗಂಧದ ಕುಡಿ" ಬೆಳೆದು ಮರವಾಗುವ ಮುಂಚೆಯೇ ತನ್ನದೇ ಕೈಗೂಸಿನಂತೆ ಅದರ ಆರೈಕೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಅವರು ಫಕ್ಕನೇ ಕಣ್ಮರೆಯಾಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರದ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಗೆ ಹತ್ತು ಹಲವು ವಿಘ್ನಗಳೆದುರಾದವಲ್ಲಾ ಎಂದು ಮರುಗಿದೆ.

ಅನಂತ ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿತ್ರದ ಭವಿಷ್ಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಪದೇಪದೇ ಕೇಳುವ ಮನಸ್ಸಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ಸ್ಥೈರ್ಯ ಬಿಡದ ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕರು ಹಾಗೂ ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ವರ್ಗದವರು ಸೇರಿ ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವನ್ನು ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿ ಪೂರ್ತಿಗೊಳಿಸಿದರು ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಚಿತ್ರವು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಹಾಗೂ ಅಂತರರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ 21 ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಪಡೆಯುವಲ್ಲಿ ಸಫಲವಾಯಿತು! ಚಿತ್ರದ ಟ್ರೈಲರ್ ಕೂಡಾ ಯೂಟ್ಯೂಬ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವಾಯಿತು.

ಹಾಗೇ ಒಂದು ವಾರ ಹಿಂದೆ ಅನಂತ ಅವರು ವಾಟ್ಸಪ್ ಸಂದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ, ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 29ರಂದು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿದ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರದ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಗೆ ಪೂರಕವಾಗಿ ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 24ರಂದು ನಮ್ಮೂರಿನ ಕೆನರಾ ಸಿ.ಬಿ.ಎಸ್.ಇ. ಶಾಲೆಯ ಸುಕ್ರತೀಂದ್ರ ಕಲಾ ಮಂದಿರದಲ್ಲಿ ಜರುಗುವ ವೈಭವೋಪೇತ ತಾರೆಯರ ಸಮಾಗಮದಿಂದ ವಿಜ್ರಂಭಿತ "ಗಂಧದ ಕುಡಿ ಕಲರವ" ವಿಶೇಷ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಆಮಂತ್ರಿಸಿದ್ದರು, ಅಲ್ಲದೇ ಹಿಂದಿನ ದಿನ ಅಂದರೆ ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 23ರಂದು ಫೋನ್ ಕರೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಮಾರನೇ ದಿನ ಖಂಡಿತವಾಗಿಯೂ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ಪತ್ನಿ ಸಮೇತನಾಗಿ ಬರಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ವಿನಂತಿಸಿದರು. ಅವರೊಂದಿಗಿನ ಆತ್ಮೀಯತೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಸಪತ್ನಿಕನಾಗಿ ಆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ಅಯಸ್ಕಾಂತದಂತೆ ಸೆಳೆಯಿತು!

ಭಾನುವಾರ ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 24ರಂದು ಸಾಯಂಕಾಲ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ ತೆರಳಿದ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಅನಂತ ಅವರು ಎದುರುಗೊಂಡು ತುಂಬುಹೃದಯದ ಸ್ವಾಗತ ನೀಡಿ, ತಂಪು ಪಾನೀಯ ಕುಡಿಸಿ, ಒಳಗೆ ಕರೆದೊಯ್ದು ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕ ಸತ್ಯೇಂದ್ರ ಪೈ ಅವರಿಗೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಪರಿಚಯಿಸಿ, ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತ ಆಸನದಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳ್ಳಿರಿಸಿದರು. ಸಭಾಂಗಣ ಆಗಲೇ ನೂರಾರು ಸಭಿಕರಿಂದ ಕಿಕ್ಕಿರಿದಿತ್ತು!

ಸಭೆ ಸಮಾರಂಭಗಳ ಸುದ್ಧಿ ಬಿತ್ತರಿಸಿ ಅನುಭವವಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ಕೂತಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂರಲಾಗದೇ ಮೊಬಾಯ್ಲ್ ಕ್ಯಾಮರಾ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ಕಿಸುತ್ತ ದೃಶ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಸೆರೆ ಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತಾ ಅತ್ತಿತ್ತ ಅಡ್ದಾಡಿದೆ.

ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ದಿಗ್ಗಜ ನಟ ದೊಡ್ಡಣ್ಣ, ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪಾತ್ರ ವಹಿಸಿದ ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟ ರಮೇಶ್ ಭಟ್, ಶಿವಧ್ವಜ್, ಜ್ಯೋತಿ ರೈ, ಮುಖ್ಯಪಾತ್ರ ವಹಿಸಿದ ಬಾಲ ಕಲಾವಿದೆ ನಿಧಿ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ, ಇತರ ಕಲಾವಿದರು, ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ತಂಡ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಿಸಸ್ ಇಂಡಿಯಾ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ 2017 ತೃಪ್ತಿ ರಾವ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ಅತೀ ಸಮೀಪದಿಂದ ಕಂಡು ಅವರ ಭಾವಚಿತ್ರಗಳನ್ನೂ ಸೆರೆ ಹಿಡಿಯುವ ಅವಕಾಶ ಗಿಟ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಂಡೆ. ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕ ಸತ್ಯೇಂದ್ರ ಪೈ, ಕೊಂಕಣಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ತುಳು ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಕಲಾವಿದ ದಿನೇಶ್ ಪ್ರಭು, ಹಾಗೂ ಕೊಂಕಣಿ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಲಯಾಳಂ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಕಾಸರಗೋಡು ಅಶೋಕ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಜೊತೆ ಒಂದು ಚಿತ್ರ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ಕಿಸಿಕೊಂಡೆ!

ವೇದಿಕೆ ಮೇಲೆ ನಿರಂತರ ಸುಂದರ ಯುವಕ ಯುವತಿಯರ ಹಾಡು ನೃತ್ಯ, ಮಿಮಿಕ್ರಿ, ನಗೆಹಬ್ಬ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಾ ವೀಕ್ಷಕರನ್ನು ಸುಮಾರು ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ ಕಾಲ ಮನರಂಜಿಸಿದುವು. ನಂತರ ಎಲ್.ಇ.ಡಿ. ಪರದೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರದ ಟ್ರೈಲರ್ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸಲು, ವೀಕ್ಷಕರು ಪ್ರಚಂಡ ಕರತಾಡನ ಮಾಡಿ ಮೆಚ್ಚುಗೆ ಸೂಸಿದರು.

ಸಮಾರಂಭದ ಒಂದು ವೀಡಿಯೋ ದೃಶ್ಯ

"ಗಂಧದ ಕುಡಿ" ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರದ ಟ್ರೈಲರ್

ವೇದಿಕೆ ಮೇಲೆ ದ.ಕ. ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಾದ ಶಶಿಕಾಂತ್ ಸೆಂಥಿಲ್ ಮತ್ತವರ ತಂದೆಯವರು, ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕರು, ನಟರು, ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ, ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ವರ್ಗದವರು, ರೂಪದರ್ಶಿಗಳು, ಹಿತೈಷಿಗಳು, ಕೆನರಾ ಶಾಲಾ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಖಜಾಂಚಿ ವಾಮನ್ ಕಾಮತ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಇತರರು ಅಪಾರ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇರಿ, ಅಗಲಿದ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ಕಟೀಲ್ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಂಜಲಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ದೀಪ ಬೆಳಗಿಸಿ ಸಭಾ ಸಮಾರಂಭ ಉದ್ಘಾಟನೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ತಂತಮ್ಮ ಅನ್ನಿಸಿಕೆ ಅನುಭವಗಳನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಂಡರು. ಹಿತೈಷಿಗಳು ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರದ ಯಶಸ್ಸಿಗಾಗಿ ಶುಭ ಹಾರೈಕೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ಪರಿಸರ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆಯುಳ್ಳ ಕಥಾವಸ್ತುವಿನ ಮೇಲಾಧಾರಿತ ಈ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಯುವಜನರಿಗೆ ನೀಡುವ ಸಂದೇಶವನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಬಿತ್ತರಿಸಿದಲ್ಲಿ, ಅದೇ ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕ ವರ್ಗದವರಿಗೆ ಸಲ್ಲುವ ದೊಡ್ದ ಆದರ ಗೌರವ, ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಎಂದು ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ಪಟ್ಟರು.

ಧನ್ಯವಾದ ಸಮರ್ಪಣೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಸಮಾಪ್ತವಾಯಿತು.

ನಾಳೆ, ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 29ರಂದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಹಲವು ಚಿತ್ರಮಂದಿರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಮ್ಮೆಲೇ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ "ಗಂಧದ ಕುಡಿ" ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ನೀವೂ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ನೋಡಿ, ಇತರರನ್ನೂ ನೋಡಲು ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿಸಿ, ಎಂದು ನನ್ನ ಕಳಕಳಿಯ ನಿವೇದನೆ, ಹಾಗೂ ಚಿತ್ರದ ಯಶಸ್ಸಿಗಾಗಿ ಹೃತ್ಪೂರ್ವಕ ಶುಭ ಹಾರೈಕೆ.

ನಾನಂತೂ ಈ ವಾರದಲ್ಲೇ ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಖರೀದಿಸಿ "ಗಂಧದ ಕುಡಿ" ನೋಡುವ ಯೋಜನೆ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

ನೀವು?

ವಿಶೇಷ  ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು: ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು ಪೋಸ್ಟರ್‍ಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಟ್ರೈಲರ್ ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಕೊಂಡಿಗಾಗಿ, "ಗಂಧದ ಕುಡಿ" ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕ ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ.

Adieu Legend of Mannagudda, Omelet Bhandary

In the walk of life, we come across a few unusual people who cast a deep impression on our mind with the good deeds they do for the society, giving least importance to money and fame. One such person I met was Omelet Bhandary, aka Shevagoor Ramachandra Bhandary.

After introducing a simple snack such as Egg Omeltte to Mangaloreans way back in 1966 and making awesome Egg Omelets for the last five decades if not rendering social service to all sections of people thus becoming a legend in North Mangaluru, Omelet Bhandary finally called it a day and closed down his business on December 31st, 2018. This is a tribute to that person for whom I have high esteem. Thanks to those who have expressed their thoughts about him in this article. 

------------------------------------------------

My memory dates back to year 1969, when I first tasted egg Omelet in my life. 

My mother was away in Shivamogga, brothers Krishnakanth and Kamalakanth were upto something in the kitchen. I followed them and watched Krishnakanth break two eggs and empty the contents into a glass tumbler. He then added little powdered sea salt, as table salt was not freely in use those days. He beat the eggs using a stainless steel spoon as the iron skillet was getting heated over the gas stove. He drizzled one teaspoon ghee, poured the contents and spread it using the spoon. After roasting the Omelet golden on both sides, he collected it in a crockery plate. 

As he expressed his doubts to Kamalakanth about the taste and flacvour of the Omelet, I too had a bite to taste and I found it not very tasty. Besides, smell of pure ghee blended with smell of egg made the Omelet smell repulsive!

Kamalakanth suggested that Bhandary's Omelet had some other additives which made it smell and taste better. Krishnakanth also pointed put that Bhandary used Dalda to roast the Omelet, not ghee. We never used Dalda at home, as my father was against it. They both concluded that in future we better not try making Omelet at home and go straight to  
Bhandary's shop to get the authentic stuff!

"Who is this Bhandary?"

I did not ask them but the question kept ringing in my mind. Next morning in school I asked my classmate Naresh Baliga about Bhandary and he was surprised that I didn't know who Bhandary was! 

He said, "Bhandary's Omelet is very famous. You don't get such Omelet in any other shop or restaurant. Bhandary is our classmate Radhakrishna Bhandary's uncle! His shop is in Mannagudda between Vishnudas Krishna Prabhu's and Baburaya Shenoy's shop."

He further explained how Bhandary made the Omelet and how they made Omelet at home. 

"Bhandary adds chopped onions and crushed pepper but we also add coriander leaves at home. That adds to taste. Sometimes we also add chopped Amaranthus leaves!"

I was fascinated to know how Omelet was made without mixing in any flour or dosa batter! We called Omelet "Motte Polo"(Egg Dosa) in Konkani. I asked Naresh how Omelet comes out like a dosa by just adding egg and he said, it is a wonder, but egg itself sets like a dosa!

Though I was a regular visitor at both the grocery shops adjacent to Bhandary's shop in Mannagudda as mentioned by Naresh, I had never obseved Bhandary and his shop. I decided to visit there someday and taste his Omelet.

Couple of years later, one afternoon I sneaked into Bhandary's shop when my classmate and Bhandary's nephew Radhakrishna was sitting at the cash counter. I smiled at  Radhakrishna and asked about Bhandary. He pointed at a man wearing 'Mundu' and ordinary cotton shirt cleaning soda bottles in a corner outside the shop. He called him aloud and announced, "Bappa, my classmate Rajanikanth is here and he wants to taste your Omelet."

Bhandary lifted his head and smiled at me. He also told me to sit on the wooden bench inside and wait, while he made Omelet for me. He completed his chore while I was sitting inside and having a gaze at the Allwyn fridge, the petromax lights hung above it, the stuff he sold in his shop and the customers appearing now and then for beedie, cigarette, candy or toffee if not Coca Cola, Fanta, Zaffa, Kokum juice, Mangola or Doodh Cold. 

Bhandary then asked me if I want single Omelet or double, with or without bread slice. I asked for a single Omelet with two slices of bread. He prepared the Omelet meticulously, chopping onion and green chilli, beating egg in a plastic tumbler with a spoon, adding salt and chopped contents into the tumbler and beating them again, finally pourng the contents into the aluminium pan with little Dalda in it.

After 5 minutes, my Omelet was ready with two slices of bread placed over it. I hurriedly ate the Omelet by breaking the bread slice bit by bit and wrapping pieces of hot Omelet within the bread. It was over within minutes and I felt thirsty, as the pungency of green chilles made me feel so. I asked for a Mangola and washed down the last remains of Omelet in my mouth with it. I must have paid slightly under 50 paise for all that stuff those days. My first experience of tasting Omelet at Bhandary's shop was a success and I could very well guess why Bhandary's Omelet was much better than Krishnakanth's! Simply because he had added chopped onion, green chilli and crushed pepper, also used Dalda as cooking medium which smelled neutral, thus there was absolutely no odd smell emanating from the Omelet!

Subsequent visits to Bhandary brought me closer to him and his talkative nature made me tell him about my brother Srikanth, who also happened to be his classmate in school. I  sometimes sat on his seat at the cash counter when the benches were full, took full liberty to smoke a cigarette or two, picking them straight from the open pack near the cash box! He never kept count of beedies or cigarettes people picked, never observed how many toffees, biscuits or bottles of juice they took, he had faith in everybody and in turn people never cheated him as long as my observation goes.

Besides Omelet, he prepared kokum juice, mangola and doodh cold, he also prepared fresh lime soda adding Goli Soda he manufactured using the machine and carbon gas cylinder in the adjacent shop under his possession. His fridge was changed to Kelvinator soon and that was a stylish looking fridge those days. 

One day I asked for Cadbury Eclair and Bhandary said, "Take it from the fridge. It tastes better!"

I was surprised, but I also agreed with him after tasting cold Cadbury chocolate from the fridge! When asked about how he got that idea, he told me that a friend from abroad had suggested him. Bhandary was a simple man but he followed good suggestions from knowledgeable people who used to visit him. Most of them came there for information, and Bhandary was also helpful in keeping things in his custody and handing them over to others as per request. Wedding cards, documents, books, LP records, consignments, I have seen varied kinds of articles left in his shop by many to be handed over to their friends. Bhandary patiently kept track of them.

One of the most testing moments for me in my life was reading the news about one Navin Baliga jumping off the Netravati Bridge in Ullal and committing suicide in the first week of June 1976. My father had asked me if that was by chance my classmate Naresh Baliga. I had denied, but inside me I had a feeling that it could be him. I suddenly met my friend Ramesh Kamath from Ballalbagh in Mannagudda and when I asked him about it, he was also clueless. He suggested that we should ask Bhandary and he might know for sure. We approached Bhandary, I asked in a nervous tone about the paper news and Bhandary sadly confirmed it as Naresh Baliga! After a silence for 2 minutes, I reconfirmed about it and left Bhandary's shop with a heavy heart. Naresh was the one who recommended me Omelet Bhandary and same Omelet Bhandary had confirmed about Naresh's untimely death!

I have also seen some coir ropes hanging by the ceiling, which was originally the trade his late father was into. Bhandary continued to sell ropes even after starting egg Omelets. He also sold toiletries, general items, books and stationery, firecrackers during Diwali and Tulsi Pooja and also Dates during the annual Mannaguddau Gurji Deepotsava in winter. He would set a wooden table in front of his shop, stack a heap of dates and we would rave about them!

We Nalli Friends used to have weekend mobile bar on PPSA Club Grounds from mid Seventies through the mid Eighties. Then our friend Mohan Prabhu used to carry Goli Soda from Bhandary's shop and a few Omelets as short eat with the hooch we consumed those days. 

Being a staunch RSS follower, Bhandary was also into social service, helping the ailing in hospitalisation, donating blood or cremating dead bodies. He has cremated over a thousand dead bodies over the last 5 decades, say his close allies. Whenever a GSB Konkani dies, one could see Bhandary preparing the body and also arranging the bamboo stretcher and other items necessary for Hindu rites and he also used to shoulder the bamboo stretcher from dead person's home to Boloor Crematorium. He also used to stock material necessary for cremation until a few years ago. 

Bhandary is 74 years today, looks frail. He lived a simple life. I have never seen him wearing swanky dress but he is always clad in cotton 'Mundu' and a cotton shirt. He used to ride a bicycle in the initial years; later graduated to a scooter, a Lambretta for a long time, later a Vijay Super and now he rides a Honda Activa since a decade or so. He was a victim of Malaria for at least 40 times but he always manages to smile and do hard work, as he is the only earning member for the family and his wife has orthopedic problem. 

Two years ago when I made a video documentary on his Omelet along with my friend Shilpa Sunil Rao from Bahrain, he was planning to dispose off his shop and the deal was almost struck. In between he went on a tour of North East and when he returned, the party wriggled back without giving any reason. Then Bhandary continued his business and finally found a buyer for his shop for a good price. He was firm in his decision and was wise too, because Egg Omelet does not remain a favourite snack with the younger generation due to street carts selling fast food.

Many famous personalities and some political leaders such as VS Acharya, Ananth Kumar, Sadananda Gowda and Dhananjaya Kumar used to visit his shop and spend time till late hours discussing current affairs. In spite of his political affiliations, Bhandary treated people from different caste, creed, and religion equal. He never discriminated when it came to social service.

I was a regular visitor at Bhandary's shop from 1974 to 1976, sometimes eating Omelet twice in a day. Later I was away, but during every visit home, I used to visit his shop and relish his Omelet and also Maggi Noodles which he introduced in the Eighties. Some people opted for a Bull's Eye and some others asked for a boiled egg or two. Bhandary made simple egg snacks which satiated the hunger of those who yearned for a short eat between meals. Besides, Egg was a taboo in orthodox GSB households in the Sixties and the Seventies. So naturally youngsters preferred to eat Omelet in Bhandary's shop.

My mother was against egg preparations and she could not withstand the smell of egg. So I also preferred to eat Bhandary's Omelet when I was a bachelor. In the last two and half decades, I myself was making Omelet at home and I also started observing two meals a day regimen. So my visit to Bhandary's shop was restricted to buying a few general items or cigarettes, if not sip a cold Fresh Lime Soda sometimes. No matter I was a regular or not, Bhandary always used to talk to me with same level of intimacy and affection. His unforgettable friendly smile will be as rare a sight as his Omelet will be, henceforth.

Shevagoor Ramachandra Bhandary's message before closing the business is as candid as ever!

 "I have run the shop for 52 years and also fed my Omelet to hungry people with sincerity. You all have supported me, have extended sincere affection for me and ascertained that I sustain in my business for such along period. 

My friends Panchmal Gopi, Annappa Pai and others have guided me and helped me in time of difficulties. Because of them I started Omelet business and they were right in suggesting that to me in right time. My name is always associated with Omelet and people call me ‘Omelet Bhandary’! I don't have any problem. Let people be happy calling me Omelet Bhandary. 

Now I am getting old and weak. I have no assistants, my wife has health issues and it is difficult to run the show in the future. So I am closing business and taking retirement. 

Retirement does not mean I will be fully inactive. You may not get to eat my Omelets but my social service shall continue". 

In the history of Mangaluru, there are achievers, there are entrepreneurs, there are bigwigs, but Omelet Bhandary, aka Shevagoor Ramachandra Bhandary shall remain in my heart and mind forever as a legend in his own style.

What people say about Omelet Bhandary

------------------

Panchmal

Gopalkrishna Shenoy

(Entrepreneur)

Bhanday and I were schoolmates in Canara High School Urva. I studied Engineering in KREC Surathkal and Bhandary went to Polytechnic and secured diploma in automobile engineering. Initially he worked for a workshop in Bunder but after sudden demise of his father, he had to look after the shop. He also lost his brother and shouldered responsibility of looking after the big family.

We used to meet in his shop everyday and discuss about how to improve his business, otherwise restricted to selling coir ropes. Our friend Murali(Janardhan Pai) was into chicken farm producing eggs but he faced difficulty in marketing eggs. So I suggested that Bhandary can consume Murali's farm eggs, prepare and sell Omelets, thus taking care of both the ventures.

I also taught Bhandary how to make Omelet with the help of another classmate Annappa Pai. I was mess secretary in KREC hostel and I saw how they prepared egg Omelet. Bhandary took my suggestions positively and came up in life. He got married, had a girl child, he also purchased his shop, renovated it and today he got substantial return for his investment, a decent price on the shop as he sold it.

Hope he will lead a happy and peaceful retired life. He has the blessings and best wishes from all his customers and friends.

--------------------

M. Annappa Pai

(Entrepreneur)

Bhandary has earned a good name in the society not just by selling egg omelet but also by doing social service. No one can match his selfless service such as taking care of the elderly and the ailing, cremating hundreds of dead bodies! Though we were classmates, we never had any ego problem between us, no status issues, never given scope for one-upmanship. 

Bhandary's Omelets were unique because he added a secret ingredient in his Omelets, which not many know. That secret ingredient is called as 'Love'. 

Yes. Bhandary made Omelet with love and that's why they tasted better than any other.

---------------------

Narendra Nayak
(President: FIRA)

Omelette Bhandary is my maternal uncle. Though we two are opposite poles as far as our political views are concerned, we have high regard and respect for each other. I am an atheist and he is a devout man. Many a times he grumbles about me going against RSS and religion, but at the end of the day we both are close to one another and respect each other. I also give him suggestions and tips on financial matter and legal issues.

Mannagudda won't be the same. Lot of fans of Bhandary maam will be missing his Omelet, but I am always privileged to walk into his home, demand and eat fresh and hot omelet anytime I like. Yet, he will be missed in his adda, a hangout for many of us since five decades!

---------------------

Dr. Nagesh Kumar Rao
(Retd. Professor, KMC Manipal)

Well if one claims that Bhandary maam was the first one to start egg Omelette business in 1966 with one single gas stove, single aluminium frying pan, a wooden spatula, a wooden cutting board and a knife to chop green chilli, onion etc. in his small shop at Mannagudda Mangalore, I am proud to claim that it's me, my brother Shivanand, and our friends Anand, Varadu, Vinod, Vishnu, Durgadas, Kishan, Narendra, Shiddhanu, Siddha, who used to visit us at our home located exactly behind Bhandary maam's shop (G U Shenoy compound) in the evening, were some of the first few customers for the Omelet prepared by him and all of us soon got addicted to the taste and flavour of his delicious bread Omelet made with special ghee (called as 'Kandodi Nei' by Bhandary maam himself) during the initial years, until 1969. 

Later we missed this for a few years, as we all friends spread to different places for higher studies, job etc. Yet whenever we came home on vacation, we all used to meet in his shop and enjoy the taste of his Omelet. Bhandary's Omelet is a nostalgic item in my mind and even now in my late 60s, whenever I visited Mangalore when time permit me, enjoyed egg Omelet sitting in my car and returned to Manipal! My friends also tell me that they too do this unfailingly. We will miss Bhandary maam's shop henceforth.

“All the best to you on your retired life, dear Omelet Bhandary. Dev Baren Koro”.

------------------

Ullal Devadas Mallya
(Resident Professor, IGNOU)

Omelet Bhandary has been our neighbour in Mannagudda and I was a regular consumer of egg Omelet in his shop at late hours, especially after watching a movie at New Chitra Talkies. His shop was a usual meeting place for chatting. Lot of news, jokes and anecdotes used to get exchanged in his shop. 

Bhandary also has donated his rare B negative blood to many patients in time of need. 

Let me also narrate a funny incident that happened two decades ago. 

A GSB Konkani guy came to Bhandary's shop during the annual Rathotsava time and asked for an egg Omelet without added onion. Bhandary was surprised and he asked why. The chap seriously replied, "Now during Rathotsava we are supposed to be following 'Saatwik Aahar' and avoid onion and garlic. Hence I requested you not to add onion in my egg omelet!".

Omelet Bhandary will be missed by thousands of his fans including me. I wish him a happy and peaceful retired life.

--------------------

Narayana Gadiyar
(Retd. CA)

My association with Omelet Bhandary dates back to late Sixties when I was in college, used to consume omelet regularly on my way back from late night movies. Never a dull moment in his shop, where lot of ideas used to get exchanged and people used to meet and greet one another. A simple snack egg Omelet can bind many people and the reason is our man Bhandary! There can not be another Omelet Bhandary.

Let's wish him luck in whatever he endeavours to do during his retirement.

---------------------

Uma Shenoy(Neighbour)

Bhandary maam was like my own uncle. He was close to our family and he used to look after me affectionately, more so after I lost my father at an early age. When I was a small girl, he used to take me to school on his bicycle, he used to take me on his scooter to market and I have also looked after his shop in his absence. 

Bhandary maam closing business is a sad development, but he needs all that rest and happiness in his retired life. 

I wish Bhandary maam all the best.

-----------------------