Don't get upset if you see the next day an article in any Malayalam journal by
our MT, Azhikode, Leelavathy Teacher or Karasseri with their full naked photo.
Things are fast moving in that direction.
It was the new editorial team in Mathrubhumi weekily who started excavating the very
old photos of seasoned columnists and showcasing them in their pages so as to surprise
the readers and imparting 'better' aesthetic appeal.
Older the photos, better your readership.
You are reading, say, an article by MV Devan...the very name brings an image of
a free flowing beard, glistening forehead and sharp eyes.
On the contrary what you sight on the page is the pallid photograph of a teenager and your eyebrows twirl..."who this chap is?"
The copy editor is at your help and you read the photo caption...
"MV Devan when he was 14"
Oh God! You wonder.
Pachakuthira, in its last issue, was magnanimous enough to show three such
photos of a major women writer from Kottayam.
You are reading a good article by this 40 plus teacher/writer but you come across
the B/W photo of a girl in LKG.
You wonder..."Aaha... Who this kiddie is!"
It's none other than the writer when she was actually a 'kutty'.
Now it's the image of a four year old...
Next time, it will be that of a toddler.
Most probably, New year specials of these magazines will offer
us photos of these octogenarians as they were eight months
young...
in a ruby red loincloth!
