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On `top' of the world

Tops which provided fun to kids have been replaced by bey blades

SPINNING WONDER It is a treat to watch a top spinning on the palm Photo: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

Remember the expression on Sarita's face in `Maro Charitra' when the top was spinning on her stomach? Those of us who had seen the 1970s' super hit film of ace director K. Balachander can never forget the natural expressions, which the top brought out in Sarita. The scene was shot on the red sand hills behind the temple of Goddess Kali located on the Beach Road.

Tops were popular among children as toys in those days. It was a treat to watch the multi-coloured toys, made of fine wood with a sharp metal piece at the bottom, rotating on the ground. The children used to have fun winding a rope around the top, and releasing the loose end with the required amount of force to make it spin on the ground.

Those who gained experience in playing with tops experimented with new ideas like hitting the opponent's top on the head with the sharp end of his own, in the process splitting the latter's top into two. The one whose top was split was the loser.

There were those who mastered the art of spinning the tops on their palms to the delight of amateurs. The latter would try the same and the top would fall to the ground before completing the spin. Children used to play both indoors and outdoors with their tops especially during the summer vacation.

That's a thing of the past. Tops are now mostly confined to the rural areas. A boy from Chodavaram mandal in the district was spotted by our photographer trying to impress his urban counterparts in Old Town area with his skills. He released the top in the air and collected it on his outstretched palm. The little toy spinning on the palm caught the fancy of the urban elite.

The top has, however, returned to the city in a different form. The urban kids who wake up and go to bed watching cartoons, have gone crazy about bey blade tops. Ask any kid in the 5 to 13 age group what he/she would like to have for a toy? The most common answer is `bey blade'.

The bey blade is believed to have originated from the ancient Japanese spinning top. Toy stores and even department and chain stores are minting money through the sale of bey blades. The sale of other toys is said to have been hit by the bey blade revolution.The bey blade is no alternative to the wooden tops which are eco-friendly, a lot cheaper and long lasting. It is time children switched over to traditional games. A child who mastered the art of spinning the top used to feel as though he/she was on top of the world.

B. MADHU GOPAL

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