Who is that Johnson Sinnappan? What is Kembara Merdeka? What is going on in Minnal Fm? This was my first 3 question when I heard my colleague keep on saying about there is function going on in Angkasapuri today...this happened 1 month ago.
Today is Hari Malaysia. Happy Malaysia Day to all the Malaysians. Its 16th September and its holiday today:) Today is also the day for Johnson Sinnappan to finish his Kembara Merdeka which was held since a month ago. Johnson is RJ from Minnal FM of RTM. He was selected by a radio listener in a lucky draw form to participate in this Kembara Merdeka program which was organized by RTM and Minnal FM in conjunction with Malaysia's National Day celebration. In this program he have to visit the Peninsular Malaysia with a couple of attire and with RM10 in hand from 16th Aug to 16th Sept 11. So he have depends on the people whom he met along his journey for his staying, food, clothings and transport as well. Its sounds something like the reality show "SURVIVOR" but this journey was made for patriotism awakening among nationwide. Really proud of Minnal FM!
Since yesterday the RJ's of Minnal FM keep on announcing on radio about Johnson's welcoming back show upon his successful journey for the past 1 month, my mom also wished to go and gather in the show as well. My mom is a sincere listener of Radio Malaysia since she is born. So I got to know all the news about this program through her updates. She listens radio everyday from 6am to 4pm. Dad's favorite was old song and the hindi songs. Minnal FM become part of their life and the RJs are as part of their family members.
So as her wish, I plan to bring her for the show at Angkasapuri. Since my dad is having some work to do, he let us go and enjoy ourselves. Frankly speaking I totally forgot the way to Angkasapuri, and I hide it from dad and mom. We planned to meet Johnson at the stage where they put in front of Jamz Karaoke at Brickfields. So after we missed the chance to meet him in Brickfields(coz I dun know where is that karaoke), I drove straight to Bangsar. I know Angkasapuri is somewhere around there and its started to rain..heavily. Can u imagine, you are driving to one destination just by assuming the way it might be..in a heavy rain..hehe:) Something crazy rite. Thats what I did. But God was with me. Gracias..Lord! I found Angkasapuri at last...heeheehee..:)
When entered, we have to pass by the police check point but it was closed and I've seen people using a specific "touch and go" pass to enter. So I stopped and turn to left parking space and found 1 empty parking lot for me. Remember, its still raining heavily out there. While discussing how to go out my mom suddenly come out with an idea that she wanna go and ask people at the entrance there whether the visitor are allowed to bring cars inside or not. I asked her "Ma, its heavy rain out there, are u sure wanna go?" She quickly take the umbrella and opened the door and walked away to the guard house, after replied me "I won't go back without meeting Johnson" with a big smile. I was just watching her from inside the car in a big shock. Shortly, while I was trying to call my dad to inform that we've reached safely...someone knocked the door. I turned and looked at the window. Gosh..! it was my mom..! She was half wet in the rain, yet smiling at me and signed me to come out.
I quickly jumped out from the car and joined her under the umbrella. Just tell me how do u feel if u dressed up nicely and make up beautifully and was walking in the rain, sharing a small umbrella on flooded road till ur ankle. I was laughing at my mom and asked her "Ma, is this Johnson very important for you?...do we need to go in this condition to the show..?" She laughed too after hearing me asking her like this. We stopped at the "pondok" near the check point. I looked at myself, my 3/4 jeans pants were totally wet and my hair as well. And when I turned to look at my mom, we both were laughing at each other looking ourselves look like chicken in the rain....hahahhahahaaa...:)
After waited few minutes there, I noticed that the police have opened the check point so that eased all the the buses and cars gets in there without any traffic problem. Why didn't he do that earlier..?? Such a *@#*$*$##....!! So I asked my mom to wait there while I bring my car and we can go in to the Auditorium Perdana area to get the nearest parking. Somehow we managed to find one parking and walked out to find the entrance of the auditorium. But there is another test was waiting for us. While we walking, another couple of mother and daughter were also following us from behind who thinks that we are leading a right way. At the end of the road we just found one rubbish station at the corner. At there, a Proton Wira stopped and told us, "this is not the way to the auditorium, u have to go back the way u came and enter the left corner" then the car passed by. The aunty and her daughter thanked him. But I was thinking why doesn't he offer lift and drop us over there. Gosh..! people...people...!! Then I walked with mom, few meters away we saw a big crowd of people walking in a row heading to the auditorium entrance. At last reached..:) what a hazardous way....yet I'm still smiling in happy:)
At the entrance we saw, our local drama actors Mr Guna and Mr. Shan. I quickly open my third eye...focused to them...and get ready to see through it. Hehe..don't get scared I don't have 3rd eye, its my camera. But dun get mad at me, at last I only managed to click this photo of them just after we all get in to the auditorium.
Its a big crowd u know..and I was helpless....:( (i know u must be thinking she doesn't know how to take photo but blaming the crowd konon....rite..? I heard it...but I dun feel bad anyway coz what u said was true..ngeh ngeh ngeh...I'm still learning the techniques okay ) By the way the one with red check tee was Mr Shan and black and grey stripes tee was Mr.Guna(turned behind)
Inside the auditorium the function started with our national song..."Negaraku". I am so proud coz I still remember the lyric. But so many of them are were la..la..la..la.. there. What to do people only remembers it at school time. The function then followed by inauguration ceremony of Minnal FM's Fan Club after honoring the man of the day our Makkal Nanban Johnson. Actually, he is Man of the Year 2011.
Since the auditorium was flooded with people, my eyes were rolling here and there to find empty chairs. WHAT A LUCK...!! At that time those VIPs who were sitting in the front rows were leaving the auditorium for refreshment once the inauguration function ended. So I quickly ran to the first row, right in the middle. Yes, we got a special seat which has only 2 seats together at the most front, just about 10 feet distance to the stage. Wow..! isn't it cool. My mom was so happy and a bit shy to sit at the front seats.
When I turned back to take photos of the audience, I saw Johnson was sitting just nearby to our seat with his family. Mom quickly walked and congratulate him. That moment mom was so thrilled and excited. She told him, "unggal paarkkarathukkaage naan mazhaile nenanjittu vanthen thambi"..and he replied "rombe nandringge ma.." so humbly. When shaking hands with Johnson, I saw her eyes were filled with tears. She couldn't talk to him anymore. Yes of course, every mom will have the feeling because Johnson is "enggal veettu pillai". To cover the situation, I interfered and introduce myself and mom herself and clicked a photo of his family before left to our seats.
When the show started my mom really enjoyed very much, while I was busy taking photos and video clips:) All the performance were awesome. Theivigan hosted the show. Mom who always listen to his voice through radio, praised him a lot when saw him lively. Actually the show was under recording for Deepavali program. So its will be aired on RTM TV2 most probably on Deepavali day this year 26th October 2011. I am not sure about the exact timing:)
I've uploaded some of the photos of the performance below here with elaboration accordingly. Enjoy viewing it.
Rajasthan cultural dance by the Asthana Arts.
Mayanggurendi...mayanggurendi...Aathaadi..Aathadi...by VSS 2010 Winner Ganesan and DK Ghana Dance Group
Kappaleri Poyachi...by the DK Ghana Dance Group 
Karikaalan kaale pole karuthirukkuthu kuzhalu...by Ganesan and Shamini.
Comedy break by Angeline Tan a.k.a Lucy and Rama. Lucy speaks good Tamil.
Comedy remix dance start with "Kathe solla poren..." song and few latest hits. This was really funny and nice.
Among all the performances this one is the awesome one. Asmaradana...by the Asthana Arts.
There is one sweet memory happened there. When Ganesan and Shamini were getting ready for their song performance recording, that means while the cameraman and the CD player getting ready, both of them were having some fun chat with the audience. I didn't expected it but this was captured in my video..hehehe...:) Ganesan was talking to mom actually...:) mom was so happy and excited when he was talking to her.
Video will be uploaded soon.
After the show comes to an end, the organizers arranged refreshment for the audience. So nice of them...:) We were served with curry puff, vadai, kesari, tea and coffee by the RJs. So here we had the chances to meet most of the RJs.
The audience having their tea-break served by the RJs
My mom knew most of their RJs by their voice only. So when she meet them in person with their name printed on their uniform, mom was happy. Moreover when she was served curry puff by RJ Punitha..............
Mom : oh neengge than Punitha va?
RJ Punitha : Amangge aunty..:)
Me : Amma ungge big fan..!
RJ Punitha : Amava...appadinna innoru curry puff vekkava aunty..(with big smile)
Mom : Ille vendam ma..:)
Such a friendly people they are. Not even 1% of ego or pride at them. They talked to everybody like family members. I just love their enthusiasm in welcoming all of us. Great and salute to them. After had tea and tit-bits, I snapped few photos of them and few with my mom in it.
RJ Punitha Subramaniam and RJ Anand who gave glorious pose when I asked then "can i take photo of you all..?" 
Mom in the middle with her favourite RJs from (L-R) - Ravi, Prema, Yogeswary, Punitha and Anand.
Mom with RJ TayaG who was still able to give a pose while serving kesari to the guests. I like his write-ups in Desam. One of the young Tamizh writer in Malaysia.
Then at about 6.45pm we left the Angkasapuri and reached home at about 7.30pm. After we reached home, mom was telling the A to Z stories to dad. Dad also smiled in surprise looking at the all the photos. This day will be the most memorable day for my mom. And for me as well coz I had made her happy and her long time dream come true. It was awesome experience for both of us.
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