Navarathiri

Navarathiri used to mean a lot of things to me as a kid….Preparations would begin atleast begin a month or two in advance with scouting for new dolls …thinking about different ideas for the theme of the “golu”….deciding what pavadais my sis and I were going to wear….how would the invite be designed…who would we call…decorations for the house..snacks for the guest…list is endless….
Should say my grandma should have thought in a B school!!She used to do project management with my moms and aunts being managers under her and we kids as the poor associates…(IT influence I should say!!!) Being a perfectionist she would want everything in place atleast a week before in advance…Then comes the ritual of getting the dolls from the attic and mantling the steps to place the dolls…My sis and I used to get excited about the room that was allocated to us..We used to arrange almost every doll we owned and made our own theme for the kiddies corner….We also used to insist that a park set features in almost all our golus…
This is just the preparatory stage…Dates were decided and those were the designated days when people were invited to collect “vethala pakku” from our house!We would hurriedly get ready as soon as we got home from school.Still remember the long plaits we wore adorned with flowers!I wouldnt even dare dream of doing that now!Guests would start coming in by 3..We even had few relatives staying at our place to help us out! We never got tired with the long list of people who came!Friends relatives neighbours distant relatives, dad’s and uncle’s collegues…list is never ending…Then there would be a huge dinner for the first family circle and by the time the last guest leaves it would atleast be 11.
Everything was done in a elaborate manner….The energy levels of my mom or grandma were amazing!I am not sure if I can even match even half of that now!!
This year I have been invited to couple of places and I notice one thing in common.That genuine warmth and interest is not longer what it used to be…Many a time its becomes more like a ritual done because they do not want to break the tradition. I am not blaming anyone and neither am I trying to say what happened then was right or wrong!Used to wonder what’s changed so much that my grandma still talks about those good ol’times..I guess I sound no differrent here…..:-)

Happy and Cheerful!

I am feeling really happy and cheerful today..Reasons plenty

1. It rained last night and the weather is awesome.Long drive to work even in my bus seemed so pleasant!
2. My sony bean MP3 player now has all my fav. songs loaded and was listening and humming to "leaving on a jet plane" and "lemon tree"
3. Getting outta work early coz its a friend's birthday
4. Thankful for that special someone in my life!
5. Its Friday and I get two days off to unwind!

Can I ask for more???:-)

Lage Raho-Simple yet Brilliant!!

No review this time.. Just one line…I don’t remember the last time I saw a movie that truly defined the word entertainment!!This totally did!I laughed, cried and thought at the same time!!The movie will move you…I am not sure I can find someone who will not like it!!The concept simple yet brilliant!!
At last a movie that wants you to go to the theater again!!Kudos to the director!!

Bali Bombings

I had written about this long back..http://memoirs-ayshu.blogspot.com/2005/10/human-life-does-it-still-have-any.html

As a follow up,

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/05bali.htm

Kabhi Al vida Na Kehna!!!!

I watched Kabhi Alvida na Kehna(KANK…just to make my writing more easier!) last night. It’s always good to go to a movie especially a night show with no expectations and that really helped us. I had heard so many views last couple of weeks that I was more curious to watch the movie to see my view on it!! I guess that helped coz I sat through the whole length of the movie and did not feel bored!!
Not going to explain the story again all over.. all of you would have read enough of rediff / other website reviews…Karan Johar’s movies have all been candy floss romance with enough of other sentiments thrown in for a good measure! Lets not deny it!! Everyone loved it! its the perfect bollywood formula that we never get tired off!! Glad he decided to break that image and make a movie that seems more realistic on the surface!!
My fav. character in the movie is Abhishek(Rishi..ok ok he looks just WOW)…As a man helplessly trying to salvage a marriage with a wife who just cannot relate to him or love him !! His outburst on hearing Rani’s confession is so well handled!! Preity fits the role of a career driven workaholic to the T…Glad at least one movie where woman are not totally portrayed as total Bit#$es just becoz they are career oriented! Shahrukh annoys you at so many points but I guess that’s the intention!! Rani looks good and the costume designer has tastefully selected her outfits!!She cries and laughs with élan!!
Agreed that two people fall so much in love that they decide to break their marriage.. The Mitwa becomes the soulmate!! What I really liked is there is nothing wrong with Rhea/Rishi. Usually movies with infidelity as the theme have a great tendency to portray the spouses as evil/cunning and totally selfish. Here that’s not the case and I think for once even if KJ had mentioned in his interviews that the movie is different then he actually means it!!It is different!! You can debate for ages about what is right and wrong here but there is no right and wrong! its what within your boundaries you consider as right and wrong!! That’s all !!To some married people their spouses getting out for a dance with someone else may seem wrong!! To some something more than that!! so its all relative!!
Songs are really nice and picturisation as usual justifies the same!! Forgot to mention Sam and chandigarh ma!! Mature people who see what their kids are getting into , they are my personal favourites!! Agreed the Sexy SAM went overboard though!!
In all its a movie you would like if you go without any preconceived notion!! There are no frills attached. Its a plain good ol’ love story !!Just that the love happens after the man and woman are married and its not to their spouses!!

Did the censor board sleep?

Recently watched the tamil flick Vettayadu Vilaydu !!The first thing that struck me while coming out is what is the censor board doing?The movie has been given a UA certificate when it should have been given a A or rather a AA!!There were more than half a dozen kids in the hall and I don’t think they should be watching such stuff! Anyone else who has seen the movie will know why I am saying that! Its also partly the parent’s responsibility to ensure that they find out about the natute of the movies before they bring their kids to the theater!I remember that my kid cousin wasn’t allowed in the theater that screened Virumandi(in Mumbai!) and I think something like that should be followed here as well.

Things that make you smile!!

I actually got this as a forward and it made me smile ..:-) Feel free to add to this list….Think about them one at a time BEFORE going on to the next one...IT DOES MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, especially the thought at the end.
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla or strawberry!)
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22 Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke.
24. Friends. 25.
Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
29. Playing with a new puppy
30. Having someone play with your hair.
31. Sweet dreams.
32. Hot chocolate.
33. Road trips with friends.
34. Swinging on swings.
35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
36. Making chocolate chip cookies.
37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
38. Holding hands with someone you care about.
39. Running into an old friend and realizingthat some things (good or bad) never change.
40. Watching the __expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
41. Watching the sunrise.
42. Getting out of bed every morning andbeing grateful for another beautiful day.
43. Knowing that somebody misses you.
44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
45. Knowing you've done the right thing,no matter what other people think.

Just a Thought...

Been thinking a lot lately about how lucky I am! What’s it that’s making me think!! Well, I am not in any mood to describe the events but to put it in a nutshell my really good friend’s fiance’ passed away in a freaky road accident. Their wedding was supposed to be in August. I am too hurt and angry to describe the events that led to her demise but this blog is not about that!I
All these events have taught me one important lesson. Be thankful for whatever you have. I have spent days brooding over small things. Unnecessary fights arguments with friends and other people. Now all that seems so trivial. How many days have we woken up and cribbed about how things never go right? I have had so many days when I have felt that the whole world has gone upside down. Why becoz someone said something? or maybe becoz someone did not listen to me? Jealousy, anger, hatred, all over issues which are not worth a penny!! I m writing this now coz it’s really hit me hard. We all would have experienced this feeling when we reminiscence about our past. Something that seemed so important in school seems funny in college and something that u brooded about for days in college seems trivial later. I have thought this too but brushed it aside saying yeah that’s what life is all about. But stop and think a minute. All this should have thought us a lesson. If it did not then think back again. Nothing in life is permanent and one my friends use to say “The only thing permanent in life is change”. So true right?
The point I am trying to drive across is live life like there’s no tomorrow. Make it a point to feel grateful for the mundane things in life. Someone who has been through this could maybe appreciate this lot better! But atleast give it a thought!!

Point of View

My friend commented on my previous post about Faana and thought will be good if I put it here along with my reply!!

Hey just read the blog of yours ……Yeah your point of view on the movie was correct, I had expected too much from Aamir …….. after Rang De Basanti which I felt I have instilled in me this movie was a typical bollywood movie….. in the later half I wouldn’t have been surprised if Aamir had fought with his Grandpa ( or whoever his Boss was!!) to save Mother India and then carrying the National flag with blood flowing from his body like water and more bullets engraved in his body than stones we get in Navalur food ……… singing some patriotic song with Kajol and his kid!!
I keep telling my friends imagine Superman and Batman singing and dancing ……. but our Kkrish does……… I went to the movie with great expectations ………. Aamir was portrayed as a stone hearted assassin who sole aim is freedom of Kashmir ……… Tabu tried to do a Angelina Jolie (Taking Lives) ……….. the review we read yesterday hit the nail on the head……….. imagine I call for help and she says …. Don’t worry we will be there tomorrow (excuse me……to carry my body and do investigation !!) ha ha I laughed my heart out in the hall……..the women next to me gave me a stare …… I could see whats in her mind : THESE MEN CAN ONLY LAUGH AT THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN…….. and others in the hall …….hmm about 30 people and most of them couples who were so engrossed in themselves that no one bothered whats’ on screen as long as it was 3 hrs long!! I am a wise man now if Aamir can deliver a Rang De, he can deliver a Mangal Pandey too……. So keep my expectation low for high returns!!
My Reply ..

Well said!!!!!!!totally agree…but well our movies are such a TP rt??imagine main hoon na…can it get worse in terms of a movie being unrealistic??Na it cant!!but we watch all of it for fun rt??Same way…
The crying part I wonder why most people did it…rather women..dint wanan say that coz the feminists will jump at me!!but pls maybe that made it all the more fun!!waiting to see when tears roll out na!!!!!!:-)))))no wonder they made any trash and call it sentiments..it’ll run here!!
Man can’t wait to see Krishh…sure there’s a climax song when people are tensed and in the edge of their seats waiting for the hero to save the world!!!!!!

Was Faana really that bad?

I have been reading reviews of the recently released bollywood movie Faana. Most of the leading news papers have ripped the movie saying its clichéd, too un- realistic blah blah.. Was just wondering! Afterall you are watching a Bollywood movie and that too Yash Chopra!! What do you expect? A meaningful movie about the after effects of war, the troubles faced during Hitler times, Political Vendetta, Oil-wars…..You must be joking. It has to be a boy-meets-girl story with just a change in the backdrop!! We have seen it before haven’t we? Across India/Pakistan Borders, across valley rivers mountains of Kashmir!! We have even accepted cycle rickshaw chasing a SUV and actually winning over it! So its not fair I think on our part to suddenly expect meaningful cinema and blame the director/production house for not giving what we wanted!!
Coming to my view on the movie…I expected the worst coz a friend of mine who saw the movie gave me a bad review. We went as a huge gang and boy I had fun! I don’t understand shayiri Hindi and I just bugged others to enlighten me on this.. Imagine people in a movie still talking like “ Love, What can I do without Thou”,…and the like.. My point was it did not get boring! And the movie damn well reaches the mushy audience well!! I saw people crying almost at all “clichéd” scenes!! Second half well was funny with all the terrorist Kashmir funda thrown it!! But again I dint think it was not watachable. After all Kajol managed to steal the movie away from everyone. She’s a delight to watch!!!!! Aamir well hmm..well…did what he could do best!! The whole ATC (try figuring it out!) was such a joke that it makes you wonder if it’s a spoof!! Locations are picturesque as well!! The kid manages to steal your heart away as well!!
Overall you go in without any expectation and you would come out feeling nice!! After all a love story that has a tragic ending cannot fail. Its the time tested formula of Indian or for that matter any cinema!!!!

Civic Sense

How many of us have gone outside India and looked at the clean roads, pathways, trains, buses and complained that ”Well, This can never happen in India. No one would listen even if the government puts up rules”. Sadly maybe that statement is 80% true. It sounds cliché but on a strong note we should think twice before littering the road or creating any kind of public nuisance. Why am I writing about this? This incident in the bus on my way to work actually made me think!!
This person sitting next to me was eating fruits and casually kept throwing the waste out of the window. If educated people behave this way then can we complain on the illiterate people who do the same thing? All I could do was reiterate the importance of civic sense and duty to this person. Small step but I am sure it will go a long way. I strongly feel that we should at least question it when we see it happening so that people don’t take things for granted and I am sure that it would make a big difference someday.. So next time you see some one littering don’t hesitate to tell them the importance of civic duty!

Two Contrasting Movies!!

Watched two movies over this weekend.. Syriana and Darna Zaroori Hai..
One makes me wanan go back to the theater and the other makes me wanan run away from it!!
Syriana is a well directed movie about the lobbying that happens between the US and the oil barons of the middle east.. Something like Fahrenheit 9/11 which makes you think! Definetly worth a watch! Still wondering why GC won an award for this movie!! Gripping movie and strengthens your belief in the saying”rich get richer and the poor gets poorer”.
Darna zaroori hai should have been “Hasna zarrori hai”(I mean laughter…my hindi aint that good so excuse)..Its an excuse for an horror movie. How many movies can u watch which have these loud noises and silence alternating at regular intervals in a dark gloomy background(oops I forgot the rain) and some weird looking people added in for a good measure. After couple of stories I was itching to leave but couldn’t thanks to our car being stuck in the parking lot. I frankly did not think that Amitabh’s acting was exceptional or something that all reviews went ga-ga over it!Dont even waste your time with this even on a DVD!

Waiting @the Airport

I was waiting @ the Chennai airport around 12 in the night to receive someone! Initially I was even surprised by the number of people who were around at that time!Infact it was so full that even parking was not available!!
I was on time but the flight was about half hour late and I had nothing to do so was just observing people to kill time. This fascinated me after a while…You can see almost all forms of emotions at the airport! You think of something and its right there before your face. Tried to recollect a few here:
Parents welcoming their son/daughter (probably returning from an overseas trip)
Group of friends creating a ruckus when they spot their peer member near the departure terminal. They even had a garland ready!!:-)
Families (by this I mean at least 6 people) waiting for that single member who’s been away for long..be it a son or a daughter or aunt or an uncle
Cabwallas with the standard boards for business excecutives
Tourists with a sense of excitement about the new place they are going to visit
Spouses waiting for their better(bitter?) halves
Kith and kin waiting for some ailing member in the family!
The list in endless….The uniting factor here is almost all of them sport a smile when they receive the person they were expecting…Anxious faces sport a half smile when they spot their near one near the baggage terminal and this smile blossoms into a full whole hearted one when the person walks out!! I watched so many people but I could not help but break into a wide beam when I saw someone else do that!
Kept happening again and again before it was time for me to leave! Well, my face was no different! In fact it was glowing!

Pattiyal

The tamil movie I recently saw was Pattiyal. I had taken a firm decision of not watching the “trash” that kollywood churns out. Sorry all you avid Tamil movie goers!! I agree movies are just a form of entertainment and we shouldn’t take these to heart but any “junk” in the name of entertainment is hard to take! Why this movie? One reason being Arindum Ariyamalum by the same director did catch my attention!! Honestly the major factor being someone very close to me was the assistant director for this movie!:-)

I was very excited even before the movie began. Having heard bits and pieces about different facets of movie making from the assistant director I was itching to watch this one. The show began and I must admit I was not a wee bit disappointed!!

The titles rolled on interlaced with scenes from the movie! Impressive opening and a good first half. The director has taken great care to etch the character Kosi and Selva-The protagonists. I did wonder as to why so much importance was given to building the characters and my questions were answered in the post interval period. The scenes shot realistically makes you a part of the character’s lives! The on screen chemistry between the leading pairs was a delight to watch. Kudos to the director for not shifting to exotic foreign locales to shoot songs as it would have seemed totally unrealistic!!

The first half ended with everyone smiling and wondering how the movie is going to take shape.

Second half was gripping to say the least. I do not wish to give the story away but every scene was well thought off and the plot was well outlined for the climax. Screenplay plays the hero here and the otherwise simple story becomes an intriguing plot with realistic sentinemnts. Pattiyal or the list of events in Selva’s and Kosi’s life makes your heart ache. The climax is viewed with pin drop silence and you leave the theater thinking “Do these things actually happen”. Ask the director and I am sure he would say yeah they do!

Performances are top notch! I frankly was surprised with Barat’s portrayal of the dumb and deaf Selva. You can see that his hard work towards giving a realistic performance has paid off!

Kosi’s role is a piece of cake for Arya and he’s proven his mettle yet again, thanks to the director’s capabilities to draw out powerful performance. Nirav Shah’s camera work is just different. You hardly watch a tamil movie and actually notice the camera shots and angle but Nirav shah’s camera work leaves a mark. Songs are good fun to watch! Lastly it’s no use comparing this with Arindum Ariyamalum. They are both movies of different genre’ ! If I still am going to compare the I would say the first half packages a whole lot of fun and the subtle humor is evident(like AA) but the second half is the stealer! the story unfolds right then and there is no looking back…

Teary Goodbye!!!

I write this with a heavy heart.:-((((((((((

I just heard the news that one of my teammates, died today.. He was just 27....27 is not an age to die! I can never come to term with such things and this is just such a shock.. This guy had gone to the US for work purposes and suddenly developed brain complications there...No symptoms till then....His parents were called a week back and they are too shocked and now they need help themselves! Naturally ..Who can handle such things?? He was on life support system.. I hate saying "was" for everything.. still....I have interacted with this guy on our team meetings and this is just not possible...I am writing this outta sheer frustration. I can't help but look at life cynically...When people casually say "Life is uncertain" its like a common term people say.. But I guess it really is...I can’t but help but blame GOD for this...Easiest approach that most of us take...Blaming him is always a convenient thing to do....When I last spoke to this guy it was during a conference call....I never thought it was the last time.. NEVER....

I sincerely hope and pray that his family gets the strength to handle this,,,,,,,

Dedicated to Enid Blyton books..........

Found an copy of Enid Blyton's "Folk of the faraway tree". The book bought back a huge smile to my face. That used to be my prized possession (why even now) and I am always grateful to my uncle for getting me that. All 3 books in one!Its a treat to any reader...As a kid I used to read a lot of her books and be captivated by her vivid description of the countryside,elves,golliwogs,food,people and so on. Reading Mallory towers and St.Claire's made me fall in love with boarding school and I so yearned for midnight parties then!With secret seven I fancied myself as the 8th person helping them in their mysteries!Same goes for famous five!!I remember this edition of Golliwog stories and how I used to maintain that book especially. I had a special book mark especially for that book which I made and saw to it that not even one page got damaged.My favourite story in that book was one which revolves around the birthday of a golliwog...It was my all time favourite and writing this blog I can recollect every single line in that story..Gonna make it a point to get my old book and read them again!The very thought makes me :-)))

How dare u kiss in Chennai?

I came across this article mocking recent "happenings" in the city...
http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/oct/03sw.htm?q=tp&file=.htm?headline=Column:~How~dare~you~kiss~in~Chennai?
Chk it out!!

Human Life-Does it still have any value?

I was shocked to read abt Bali bombings in yesterday's paper.I had the chance to visit this beautiful island 2 weeks back and I had been to the exact same restaurant in Kuta square. I shudder to think the place is just no longer existent and the guy who actually served us may be dead!Bali from my perception is an island that just depends on tourists and Tourism is their primary source of income.To think someone would target this peaceful island leaves me wondering!If I had not been to the same place maybe I wouldnt have been affected much but since the dinner I had is so fresh in my memory I cannot help but be affected. This is a small nice restaurant in kuta square (like bali's downtown!) which serves multi cuisine food and plays nice music. The waiter was extremely friendly and was nice enough to make us some vegetarian dishes. The Kuta square is more like the happening place of Bali and tourists swarm the place to party into the wee hours of the morning!I feel extremely sad for the Balinese people and I hope they recover out of this soon.I dedicate this blog to Yuda and Smokey the tourist guides who made our trip so memorable!

Movie Mania!!

I had been to a popular theater in chennai recently to catch the tamil flick "Ghajini"....The movie had released on thursday and it was first day night show. Was enthu abt going for a movie as usual and we landed there just in time. We got seated and realized there was some commotion happening and ppl seemed damn excited!Then realized why...Tamil movie stars Ajith,Shalini and Asin had come for the same show and they were seated admist the crowds..Here is a classic example of the reach these stars have...PPl forgot they had to watch the movie and were turning behind to catch a glimpse of their hero!The interval was worse..Fans fighting with each other to get autograph.Actually the crowd was a lot more well behaved then what I had imagined..I think even the security guys came in to see the stars!I think the fact the movie projects what the common man wants to be in a larger than life image is what fascinates one and all!What a huge reach it has!truly amazing!The irony is this...Had the producer been there he/she would have been unoticed!true rt?No one would even know how he looked though he/she is ideally the reason behind the movie or to put it simpler the person who made the movie possible with the funds needed!

The Lady or the Tiger??

I had read this story during my school days and was plesantly suprised to find this again on the web.
Posting the link below,

http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/tiger.html