AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

The grey line

2011-12-14T12:28:00.002+05:30

All through our younger, innocent days, we were given only options. Chocolate or icecream. Study or play. Good girl or bad girl. Yes miss or no miss. This or that. Everything was either black or white. We liked something or we did not. End of story and end of confusion.

As we grow up, we see that faint line of grey emerging between the black and white. It grows so thick that the black and white fades into a thin line. With that comes the realisation. There's nothing right or wrong in anything. It is only a matter of perception. To each ones own. Hence, the beginning of conflict within ourselves.

2011-11-18T20:48:00.003+05:30

What's with the lyricists these days?? What happened to those good old days where each song was first loved for the lyrics and then the tune? I remember spending free time writing lyrics of film songs with my friends and being in awe of the way in which situations were described. Now I'm dumbstruck. You must be living under a rock if you still don't know Why this kolaveri song. Or even that song from Velayutham where the guy describes the girl as an assortment of vegetables in a very weird way. I mean, really, do you really think its good?

I know many people who enjoy such "Songs" and listen to it on loop too! Still... Why? :( I' had lost hope on film music in general. Rockstar songs did help in restoring faith in me a bit :)

Articleship

2011-05-17T17:11:00.015+05:30

Come august, I'll be completing the compulsory articleship (For the uninitiated, its the compulsory training a CA has to undergo) But these three years have been enriching to say the least (I know i sound cliched but this is the fact). It has actually been a mixed bag when I introspect. There were many highlights and many incidents that I want to erase out permanently from my memory.

Ultimately, I owe this place a lot because I know I've changed a lot because of this place. I've discovered many things in me that I never knew I had. And I must say these 3 years have been the most memorable years till now.

Few things that I learnt and want to remember always:

Google and Incometaxindia are your best friends.
You will meet all kinds of people - People whom you appreciate, whom you admire, whom you totally detest... every possible kind. If you are an introvert or the silent type, its time to change. You have to interact with them. No choice about that.
No matter how patient you are, you will come across people whom you just cant stand. Even if you feel like throwing the person out of the window, remember the saying - "This too shall pass". Patience is the virtue.
If, out of the blue, your boss appreciates your work, it definitely means you are about to be drilled. Beware.
As many good hearts you'll encounter, that many back biters will be ready to pull you down.
However boring it may sound, if you are honest and hard working, no matter what, you will always be in the limelight. As long as you are in the limelight, there'll be people who silently wish for your failure.
You will realise the value of your childhood friends only in this period. Make sure you spend a lot of time with them. Hold onto them dear.
Creating formal relationships and getting many acquaintances is part and parcel of articleship. Make full use of it.
Forget about getting 8 hours of sleep everyday. You will not get it. :P
Clients and Bosses demand respect. It does matter if they deserve it or not. Keep all personal emotions to yourself.
You will realise that a lot of your perceptions are completely wrong. That will lead to you remembering your old blog :P

2010-10-27T14:24:00.003+05:30

XYZ : What do you do?

Me : I'm doing CA.

XYZ : Oh, which year?

Me : ??!!

I mean, what would anyone answer to that?!

Another thing I have noticed is that most of the students who have taken up commerce in school know about the science stream and the various courses offered to them, but its not so the other way round.
Why? Ignorance? Or is it just the fact that the "commerce courses" are not as popular as BE / BTech / MBBS?

One day...

2010-02-01T23:33:00.001+05:30

Abhishek saw the city from his office window. It seemed as if the earth was covered in a white blanket. The road was being cleared from the snow that seemed to engulf the entire city. Something seemed to gain his attention... He saw an old man walking down the road and a kid probably half his size and quarter his age jumping and walking along with him holding his hand. They seemed to be lost in their own world, oblivious to the surrounding, happy to be with each other.

He was probably 7 years old that time, the innocence of childhood was still held intact. His grand father, whom he used to call him thaath, was a fragile, lean person but better known for his wit and humour. Abhishek was the apple of his eye.

Everyday when Abhishek stepped out from auto after school, his once neat uniform totally covered in mud, his thaath who would always wait for him near that tree, welcomed him with his toothless grin. His otherwise drowsy eyes always lit up during that time, reason being his favourite grandson returned from school. No matter who teased him for spoiling Abhishek, his thaath was unfazed. Abhishek was his favourite. His happiness.

Now, he has everything he had dreamed of... A big fat job, palatial house, loving wife and kids... generally a happy life.

Still... there always seemed to be vacuum within him. And he couldn't stop that drop of tear running down his cheek.

Hello!! :)

2010-01-20T16:01:00.003+05:30

My last post was on March 16, 2009 it seems!! :D

Anyways Wish you al a happy new year (Whoever still reads my blog.. if at al there were any! :))
Thanks to all those who enquired about my absence :)

Will definitely blog frequently from now! :)

Few things disturb me longer than usual

2009-03-16T21:34:00.002+05:30

One such thing happened in Delhi few months back.

I was in a car waiting at a signal and few kids were doing their own thing to get money from the ones in the car. These children were not more than ten years of age and one among them was a very small kid. Hardly 4years. And I sat there with my eyes brimming with tears.

They are kids for gods sake! At their age I was probably having a good time listening to my grandmother's stories or playing with my brother. Not doing somersaults to get money from unknown faces. What really hit me was the fact that people could actually be blind to the raw reality before their eyes. While I was here secretly wiping away tears, there was a couple on a bike and the lady was all praises for how cute the boys performed! I was completely numb!

When did everyone become so insensitive? Do I actually live in such a society?

I have no answers!

How I wish I was here now...

2009-02-03T21:25:00.002+05:30

2009-01-31T10:20:00.001+05:30

Being depressed is the easiest way out.
But overcoming it, is the most difficult job ever!

IT giant gone down the drain

2009-01-08T20:29:00.006+05:30

Yesterday about 1 p.m. we got the news about the Satyam scam. And the entire office came to a stand still and everbody was glued to the net.

Not everyday we get news about an IT giant inflating its Balance Sheet! I mean, 7000 cr is not such a small amount for heaven's sake! Where did all the money come from? Where did all the money go? How did that escape from the auditors eyes? I don't even want to get into the details... Inflating cash and bank balances is no joke. How on earth did they do it? Its not like inflating fixed assets!

The auditors is another story in itself. As a person entering this profession, I look up at PWC. Obviously many of us, though now doing articleship in small firms, want to get into Big 4 for employment on day. But this issue raises so many unanswerable questions. Even people in the profession like Mr. Pattibhiram are shocked. I mean if they're guilty in any way (which i'm sure they are), then what is our future? Would I still want to get into a job in PWC or E&Y? I don't know! Seriously...

As my boss said yesterday, this is a black mark for our profession.

Trip to Parambikulam

2008-12-20T21:29:00.005+05:30

There is just one word to describe this place - Mind Blowing!
If you are planning for a trip, don't have any second on going to this place...
It's truly worth every single penny.

PS : Detailed post coming soon :)

2008-12-06T15:00:00.004+05:30

Why is it that others do not like the way you are but expect you to like the way they are?

Why is it so hard to understand others but easy to get upset when others don't understand us?

Why do we expect everything to be right when we are wrong??

Why do we even expect anything from others?
Why is it that we can't be satisfied with what we have?

Too many questions with no answers...

Those who don't have to travel on weekends...

2008-08-30T20:25:00.002+05:30

... through Mada Street in Mylapore are blessed!

Others were cursed with a vengeance!
Hmph!

Simple pleasures :)

2008-08-09T22:45:00.002+05:30

Have you ever drenched in rain top to bottom? Few days back I did that. I was on my bike (ok ok.. it's a scooty) and returning home when it started pouring. Even though I had a raincoat, I was least bothered about getting wet. It was too good to miss. And then I saw people holding umbrellas or running for cover. I could only smile at them. They don't know what they're missing. ;)

PS: Just now I realized the stat count has crossed 600. Thank you all! :) I'll try to post more regularly. :)

Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way

2008-07-14T21:37:00.002+05:30

Looks like the Murphy's Law is working overtime for me... But I still believe that when things don't go your way, something good is waiting on the other side... Let me just wait for that! :)

Irony or Fate?

2008-07-01T11:28:00.005+05:30

I sit here before a computer and look around the place I live in. I see a coffee mug near the monitor, a cell phone and an Ipod. There's a cot, a cupboard full of books and dress. Generally, leading a comfortable and happy life with hope for the future.

And then, I look out through the window and watch a girl of my age (or perhaps younger than me) collecting garbage from the bin outside my home. Clad in a old, filthy dress, a sack on her shoulder and a stick in her hand to look into the bin with no intention to think about her future. Will she even know whether she'll get food the next day? Does she know about so many beautiful things in life? Does she even care? This whole design of privileged and underprivileged children pains me. Why should she(and many others like her) suffer when another part of the world is enjoying? I know there's no answer for this.

Then, I closely look at her and realize what she really is. I see her as a fighter. For survival. For existence. But what is she fighting for? With whom is she fighting?

Sigh. It's better not to be so sensitive.

"Meeting" a legend

2008-06-17T00:03:00.005+05:30

Meeting this man may be a dream to so many and definitely I was not one of them. I mean, I was not dying to meet him or anything. Well... I met Rajnikanth himself! Just a few inches close, at the most unexpected time ever!

I was in a doc's place with my grandpa and when I opened the door to leave, there stood the man himself! waiting for us to finish our appointment with the doc. Clad in his usual white kurta, dyed hair and white beard, he was there standing before me and smiling. (I think he saw my jaw drop). And he went past me and I still kept looking at him. I think he sensed that because he turned back and smiled at me again. (God knows what was going through his mind!)

I could do nothing at that time than to smile back at him. My grandpa who was following me also was clearly surprised and amused as to how he looked! And he being him, overheard Rajnikanth saying to the doc that he was sorry to be late and that he was held up in shooting.

Clearly seeing Rajnikanth was not even the last thing on my mind that time and seeing him be so humble and so close surely makes me smile. While returning home grandpa said to me, "fool, atleast you could've shook your hands with him or atleast I could've done it!" Er... you could've said that at the appropriate time, thatha. Atleast I wouldn't have given a met-a-demon kinda look! :)

Who's next in store for my eyes to see?? ;)

Trip to Goa!!!

2008-05-19T18:58:00.010+05:30

Just a few random pictures I took in my trip to Goa. It's a very beautiful place, of course, but a must see for those who love green :). Please take a train and not a flight - you shouldn't miss the scenic beauty of the hills. (I did that mistake while coming back and my flight got delayed by 6 hours! Go figure!)

Guruvayurappa guruvayurappa!!!

Have you been to a beach at 12 noon and been there till 4?? :D

Who said Goa has only churches ?

Please tell me you can see the clouds pouring in the right half of this picture...

Today's fortune on Orkut

2008-05-17T20:44:00.002+05:30

Society prepares the crime: The criminal commits it

Now what does he want to convey??

Those years of blue and white uniforms...

2008-03-05T13:29:00.004+05:30

I was cleaning up my book shelf yesterday and chanced upon my school scrap book. It was so much fun reading it again. So immature, so funny... It's been only three years since I finished school but nevertheless I was transported back to my school. The morning prayer, running around the playground if found by PT sir that you are not in proper uniform, sleeping through history classes just after lunch break, endless conversations about alaipayuthey and kaho na pyar hai, endless politics, assignment notebooks, assignments themselves, PT classes, radio show (in 10th std?), working for school newsletter,the jollu teachers... it simply brings a smile when I think of all those 15 years I spent in that school.

When I look back, the most cherished moments were the last two years where we simply had a blast! Our computer science classes,especially, were the best. In 11th, almost all classes were free and it did help in class bonding. :) I remember once, we, a group of 15 (or 16? I don't remember) were playing an unusual game of winking! It was such fun!

Since most of the times we were left free, we were the pests to most of the other subject teachers (especially economics sir! :) he never really liked comp students) and our comp sir was never bothered about it! He was such a cool person! even the lab sessions with him was fun!

Sigh... I miss my school!

I really can't help...

2008-03-01T12:07:00.001+05:30

... if people get confused between Adnan Sami and Arvind Samy.

A.R.Rahman Concert in Chennai!

2008-02-09T14:36:00.000+05:30

I went for the concert! I went for the concert! I went for the concert! I went for the concert! I went for the concert! I went for the concert! I went for the concert! I went for the concert! I went for the concert!

ok? ok.

Right. So, I commented here that luck was not in my favour to let me attend Rahman's concert happening here in chennai. I was about to leave for a class with a heavy heart at around 4 when my friend calls up and asks, "hey. Rahman concert ku ticket kedacha variya?" Endha madayan matten nu solluvan? I promptly said yes! After a grueling 5 minutes, she confirmed that her friend had a pass. I was still not sure about it because everything was happening so suddenly!

So before I realized, I was in my seat sharp at 7 (that's because another friend of mine had the tickets and she got there only by that time) staring at the huge stage. The actual concert started around an hour late. :( But nevertheless, it was worth it.

It started with an instrumental piece by Prasanna and his group. (I'm sure not many paid any attention to them.) There was some presentation on Marg's upcoming project which seemed to go on for eternity. Then finally, Rahman started with a bang!

These were the songs, performed in the same order:

Jage hain (Guru) - Rahman and Chitra
Kal Bali (RDB) - Rahman
Kadhal Rojave (Roja) - Hariharan and Chinmayi
Barso re (Guru) - .Neethi Mohan
Loose control (RDB) - Naresh Iyer and Blaaze
Saturday night party (ATM) - Benney and Ujjaini(?)
Roobaroo (RDB) - Naresh Iyer and Rahman
Dil se re (Dil se) - Rahman
A song from Jodha Akhbar by someone I don't know :)
Madhurai ku (ATM) - Benny and Chinmayi
Medley of Jodha Akbar, Roja(Ruku mani), Thiruda Thiruda(Veerapandi kottaile)
Thamizha thamizha(Roja) - Hariharan
The Unplugged - Rahman(on keys), Hariharan, Chitra, Chinmayi
Vennilave (Minsara kanavu) - Hariharan, Chinmayi
Mayya mayya (Guru) - Neethi Mohan
Kannalane (Bombay) - Chitra and Rahman
Tere Bina (Guru) - Rahman and Chinmayi
Vada Vangikada (Sivaji) - Blaaze and Naresh Iyer
Vaaji Vaaji (Sivaji) - Hariharan and Chinmayi
Adhiradikaalam (Sivaji) - Naresh Iyer, Rahman and host of other singers whom I couln't recognize.
Humma Humma (Bombay) - Rahman
Vande Mataram - Rahman

The concert started with a bang! I'm repeating it because it was soooo good. In a black sherwani, Rahman sang there without the usual company of keyboard in between a group of dancers(I must say the dancers were really good!). He sang the first two songs like that and I was out of this world! :)

I seriously thought it was going to be only-Rahman-type concert(Yeah I know I was completely out of my mind!). But then, Blaaze came and introduced the singers and the movies from which the songs were to be performed that night. Next was Kadhal Rojave. Man! I went into a different world. The fact that I was there listening live to Rahman was too much for me. Moreover Hariharan and Kadhal Rojave! I thanked my stars like a thousand times!

Naresh was too funny. He has such a melodious voice and he wants to rap with blaaze. However, those two were at their best!

Should I say anything about Dil se re? Mindblowing is the only word that comes to my mind. But, I was disappointed with tere bina. The background music was too loud that I couln't here them singing. And did Rahaman forget the lyrics or didn't get the beat properly? I was waiting for that song but it didn't turn out to be the way I wanted. sigh.

Anyway, Madhuraiku was amazing what with Benney dancing and Chinmayi trying to concentrate on the song :) But the best was the Medley! How it started and how it ended! It started with a song from Jodha Akhbar(I haven't heard the songs still so I don't know what it was. Yes, I know I'm an Idiot!) and suddenly there was rukumani rukumani interlude and ended with Veerapandi kottaile! It was such a pleasent suprise!

Then Hariharan was in full form! It had been an unfulfilled dream to attend his concert atleast once. But everytime something or the other happens and I miss it. But yesterday, I lived that dream. He started with thamizha thamizha. Then he announced that there will be a round of unplugged songs with him, Rahman, Chitra and Chinmayi, where they would sing continuously, without any break. So there they were, Hari, Chitra and Chinmayi seated and the rather relaxed looking Rahman on keys. Rahman and Hari even chatted briefly about thamizha being the first ever song of the duo and how it proved lucky! Just when they were about to start, there was some technical problem and Hari came into action to keep the audience engaged. He wanted the audience to sing with him (!) and even requested to sing in proper sruthi! He definitely knows how to keep them engaged! Then the actual unplugged session started. Hari sang first with uyire (bombay) and later joined by chitra. When she sang "Indru kannerum thithikindradhey", there was absolute silence(atleast where I was seated). Pure bliss. Then, Chitra started with anjali anjali(Duet) and Chinmayi sang bit of sahana(Sivaji). It was wonderful because there was just the three singers and Rahman on the keys. Amazing! This was more like a filler type and what followed was awesome. Vennilave(Minsara kanvu) by Hariharan and Chinmayi. Could I ask for more? :)

Energy level was so high when the singers started with songs from Sivaji. Be it vaada vaada vangikada or vaaji vaaji, the singers seemed to enjoy their music! It was an absolute treat watching them perform. It's not an exaggeration if I say Adhiradikaalam transported me to some other world. It was one song where Rahman even danced a bit. Not really but the usual tapping feet vigorously type dancing while the other singers were literally burning the floor. After all that what the singers received in return were a few claps. The crowd needs special mention altogether, so I'll do that at the end.

Blaaze took the stage and asked whether we want more. Of course said the crowd and then set off the blast with Humma(Bombay). With a little Rap thrown in, it was awesome indeed! Another dream fulfilled! We went as a group of four and all of us were praying Rahman would sing few other songs.

Finally Rahman concluded with Vande Mataram (in Hindi and Tamizh) and all singers joined him on stage. This was one song where the audience made their mark. What a stupid crowd we were stuck in! This was the first concert by Rahman for this year and I feel really sorry for him to have chosen it! There was no proper response from the crowd no matter what they sing. After Adhiradi, when we were expecting a round of applause which would last atleast for a few minutes, but what they received was scattered claps. What happened to the spirit of chennai? There were few groups scattered around the place who were making some noise. Otherwise, all of them seemed like statues! When our gang (of four :P)was screaming and hooting, what we received were silly stares. They may have their own reasons like enjoying music, savouring every moment and stuff like that but this was ridiculous. Even Rahman asked after adhiradi whether everyone's sleeping. He said, "I'm not sure about the people behind but the front two rows are definitely sleeping". From now on all VIP pass holders must be sent to the last few rows and people who really enjoy such shows and don't have VIP passes must be in front! hmph. But at times I feel it was better this way because I got to hear the singers properly! :)

Whatever be the minor mistakes that might have happened, on the whole it was an amazing show. The whole thing hasn't sunk in me yet! It was a double dream come true and how! I've never thanked God like how I did yesterday.

May God give Rahman many more musical years and may he be blessed with the best always! :)

Taare Zameen Par

2008-01-10T19:43:00.000+05:30

How many of you have not seen this movie yet?
Just drop all your work and watch it.
Less said, the better.

Random

2007-12-06T13:41:00.000+05:30

A plea to the Indian Railways: Please change the name of trains, especially those which include "Super Fast Express".The train does not even come on time, leave alone reaching the destination earlier.
No, they are not super fast! They are super slow. Last time one such "Super fast express" came 50 minutes late and another two hours.
And, no, it is not a one time affair. It happens almost every time.

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

Saw the movie Jab we met. I have to admit that I hated Kareena and Shahid like anything before. But this movie was quite enjoyable. There were some scenes where both were literally on my nerves, but on the whole, a pretty decent movie. (God! I never imagined I would say that to a kareena Kapoor's movie!).

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

What is happening in Nandigram? I saw the news channels with breaking news that bones of burnt bodies were found in a grave. Then what else did you expect to get from grave yard? gold?? And then the blame game starts. The two parties involved claim the bodies to be of their party workers. How do they know about this? Why didn't they inform the police before?
Ahh.. I'm confused!

Why?

2007-11-13T20:32:00.000+05:30

Why is it that people want to talk to me the moment I put on the headphones to listen to some good music? But otherwise they don't even seem to acknowledge my presence??

Hmph...

P.S.: I have been neglecting this place for a long time! regular updates will resume. :)

Silly reactions

2007-07-04T22:22:00.000+05:30

A few days back I met one of my relative after ten years. This was how our conversation started:

Me: Hello uncle, welcome home... been a long time since I saw you.
He: Yeah... But who are you??
Me: I'm Mathangi... so and so's daughter.
He: Ada paaviii... (eyes wide open!)

Well... I've not seen anyone giving such a reaction before!

First trip to Srirangam

2007-06-06T18:17:00.000+05:30

Last weekend I had been to Srirangam. To describe the place in a word, it was "Fabulous".

We lived in an apartment on the shore of Kaveri and near the temple too. That is, if one steps out of the house, there's the river on the left and the temple on the right.

There are two important and famous temples in and around Srirangam. So, I made my trip only to visit those two- the main Srirangam temple, and the Shiva temple in Thiruvanikaval.

We went to the srirangam temple on the first day at around 6.30 p.m., probably the best time to go there. It’s only a 5minutes travel by auto from "amma mandapam", which is supposedly a landmark in srirangam (Nope! it’s not owned by former TN CM:D) unfortunately though, I was not allowed to take any snaps inside the temple :(
Being a Saturday, it was too crowded. I couldn't just stand there!(that's why no pictures of that temple... will try to take some on my next trip) So, beware if you are visiting that place!

Next day, we went to thiruvanaikaval. It was a real treat. Beautiful sculptures and a beautiful elephant :). Not many people visit that temple, it seems. Nevertheless, it was too good as there was absolutely no crowd! The lingam is present in a spring. Lovely sight! More importantly, I was allowed to take pictures inside the temple, but not in the sannidhi, of course. One more important thing is that the temple was maintained very well, compared to the Srirangam main temple. And , if you notice the Gopuram, it is similar to the one on Madhurai Meenakshi Amman temple.

The only mistake we did was to have had our dinner in a hotel nearby. The food was pathetic, to say the least! Moreover, the hotel was built against one of the vaasals of the temple. Edhedholaam demolish panranga, idha konjam demolish panna koodadha??

Of course, I've not even covered 5% of the place. But this trip will be in my memory for long...

P.S.: I went on June 1st and was very happy to see shining heads on two-wheelers en route to railway station. But when I came back, I see them behind the scooters :-/

What can you do...

2007-05-29T13:32:00.000+05:30

When everything around you betrays you at the last moment, from pen to person, and you being a person who wants everything to be done exactly like how you've planned?

When you are surrounded by extra careful and over protective people who make you choke due to their protectiveness but you want air to breathe and you can't just say that outright because you don't want to hurt them?

When you want to be with yourself and music, when a thing gives you missed calls every second, whom you don't even know, just to irritate?

When you want to call someone very urgently and all that you hear is a lady saying the person is busy?

When there is total chaos around you and your mom is not in station?

AARRGGGHHHHH.....

A dialogue from "Thambi"

2007-05-28T13:15:00.000+05:30

Naan uyiroda irukkum bodhu saavu vara poradhu illa
Naan saagum bodhu uyiroda irukka poradhu illa

Vaazhkai thathuvam!!

Something...

2007-05-07T21:16:00.001+05:30

You are just about to close your eyes after a long tiring day. That's when the alarm in your mobile starts blaring. You look at the time and it's already 5 a.m.!

Oh god! I've to be in class at 5.30!

You try your best to reach class on time and that's when you realize that the faculty has already arrived. He gives you a wild look (as he expects his students to be on time). Your friends forget to reserve a seat for you, and so you have to sit in the first bench, right under the faculty's nose!
Around 8.30, when he's about to leave, the faculty coolly says the class has extended till 1p.m.

Oh Hell! I've not even gotten my cup of coffee!!!

You still manage to sit in the class till 1, even though your stomach is grumbling. Around that time, the administrator in charge gives you a heart attack saying there's extra class at 6p.m. that same evening.

Wonderful!

You return home to find none. Your stomach gives siren and you check out the kitchen. There's only rasam and potato curry. Consoling yourself saying something is better than nothing, you feed your grumbling stomach and try to catch up with some sleep. And the power is gone! Even the EB department betrays you. You are totally frustrated and then you realize that the next day you have a class test for 20 marks (which will be then converted to 0.5 marks for the internals. You try hard to study and even before you realize, you have already slept on the book...

This was exactly how I was a month back. But now, totally relaxing.. but not for long though!

PS: This post is only to make up my mind to get back to the original routine, after a really long "holiday"

Heights of nonsense

2007-04-02T20:13:00.000+05:30

Whenever I check my mobile balance, I get this message from hutch:

Inspiration and guidance from Thirukkural!
Subscribe to Thirukkaral alerts.

What the hell?? Thirukkural alerts???

Happy Birthday!

2007-03-18T17:44:00.000+05:30

She loves you for what you are.
She loves you without expecting anything in return.
She supports you even when you are wrong.
She is the only soul who is with you ever.

Happy birthday mom!! :) :)

Rendezvous with Balamuralikrishna

2007-03-07T19:02:00.000+05:30

There's no doubt about my passion towards music. And that too after I got an Ipod, it has literally become a part of me! (I can hardly sleep without my dose of ARR and Hariharan!)
But carnatic music was never my cup of tea. I did listen to it but never enjoyed as much as other forms of music. Moreover, I had many conditions to listen to it like I should listen to one particular song a few times before I could decide whether I like that song or not. And I listened only to veterans, and that too a very few of them like MS, Balamuralikrishna etc. But one incident is enough to change my attitude towards something. That was my meeting with Sri. Balamurali Krishna.

It was sometime in 2005 when I met this legend. I was traveling alone by air from Hyderabad to Chennai when I met him in the Hyderabad airport. I was in the counter where the boarding passes were being issued. I never realized he was right behind me until my cousin yelled from outside as she had come to send me off. She yelled on top of her voice that Sri. Balamuralikrishna himself turned around to see who that person was! It was soooo funny that time.

I had booked the flight ticket online and so my ticket was just a sheet of paper. As soon as I got the boarding pass and quick good byes to my cousin, I went around the airport lounge in search of him to get his autograph. Finally I found him and got his autograph in my ticket! We started conversing as he asked my residence and what I was doing and my future plans and stuff. I casually asked him if he could sing for me (That was a bit tooo much... I know... Still I asked him :D) He was just about to sing a line (for me :D) when one idiot suddenly intruded from nowhere! He didn't even realize that I was there talking to Sri. Balamurali, and never had the sense that already a human being was there talking to him! I couldn't bear it and left the scene after bidding Bon Voyage to Sri. Balamurali.

But apparently Sri.Balamurali was also traveling in the same flight to Chennai! I sat right behind him in the flight (It was Air Deccan by the way... anybody can sit anywhere!). And that idiot was sitting beside him... sigh. After a safe (?) landing in Chennai airport, I rushed to my mom and with full excitement, told her "I spoke to Sri. BalamuraliKrishna!!!!!!!" just for others to give me a nasty stare. (I did squeal a bit :D)

After that one incident, my total attitude towards carnatic music has changed. I, now, put in effort to know what a song means, its raaga and other related things. I still don't know why, but it has changed. There’s no special reason, this rendezvous is not such a great thing after all. It was just a 10 minute talk to a singer to say the least. Still it has made a difference in me.

Some meetings do change the approach towards certain aspects of life!

Fumble?

2007-02-21T20:45:00.001+05:30

Whenever I see either NDTV or CNN, the news reader either stares at me wildly or says something like Jayalalitha, the current chief minister of bihar or something like that.

Does this happen every time????

Who is to be blamed??

2007-02-02T11:56:00.000+05:30

I recently had to give my bike for service. There was a small boy who cleaned my bike before the person in charge could hand over the keys to me. As usual I couldn't keep my mouth shut and asked the boy whether he goes to school. And he answered me that he had finished his twelfth standard! He hardly looked twelve years old! And the person in charge also affirmed his statement. I was totally shocked. And helpless!

Such kids exist everywhere. Not just in my area. And everyone knows about it.
Is there anything to help these kids?? They deserve more attention... They should not be working at this tender age! Something has to be done...

Global Rhythms

2007-01-27T15:27:00.000+05:30

Global Rhythms performed at IIT on the first day of Saarang 2007. After all the hype that A.R.Rahman is making a special appearance, I was left totally disappointed. The very purpose of me going to that concert was to get a glimpse of "The Guru of Music". Of course, it was my fault to have believed in those rumours. But Airtel was the sponsor. This made me believe. There was an article confirming the same in one of the newspapers too. So imagine my excitement and the level of disappointment!

Apart from that, the show was good. A lot of effort has been into it. The love of Music was evident from the way they performed. Be it "Ecstasy" or their tribute to mridangam where percussionists, mridangam players and table players played together, they were extra ordinary. Mind blowing actually.

There was one percussionist who was doing an amazing piece (solo) and suddenly, his stick fell. The crowd remained silent for a second when he bent down, took his stick, kissed it and continued. It was really good to see that. They were a bunch of people who were performing at IIT just for the love of music and nothing else. Way to go people!

Of course the show was scheduled at 7.30 but started only at 8 and continued till around 10.( A friend of mine even exclaimed that only the friday 8 show and classes start at time in IIT :D ) But it was worth it. I did enjoy a lot until Rehana entered the stage. She started off with her trademark chaiyya chaiyya with Sriram. I didn't like that piece actually. I really wished someone to stop them and Sriram seemed never ending!

Finally their tribute to ARR - Dol Dol. It was really good. Good effort. On the whole it was a nice evening, after a long time. But still something was missing. Maybe ARR ;)

Pokiri

2007-01-21T14:13:00.000+05:30

I saw this movie last night... just to sleep off in the theatre!

This post will not contain any spoilers(as if anything can spoil the whole "experience" of watching that movie)

There is nothing called a story line in this movie.. just a rowdy who just does anything for money but later turns out to be someone great. blah!
Lets see what is there in this movie...

Vijay= imitating prabhudeva.. so artificial.

Asin=4 songs+3 fights+2 senti-scenes=waste of time

Vadivelu=Irritating, but a relief at times[ poor surya though :( ]

Ragasiya=yuck!

Nasser & PrakashRaj=awesome acting, but a total waste.

THIS IS THE BEST PART

punch dialogue:naan oru mudivu pannita aprom en pecha naane ketka matten- what crap? idhu punch dialogue a?? kashtam..

BTW why the hell does he look at the camera like that?? i really thought it was a psycho movie or something.. Gosh
P.S: Indha padathai preview theatre vera poi paathen.. kodumai..

Road Safety Week

2007-01-10T20:18:00.000+05:30

The road safety week is atlast over. I guess this kind of a hype will sustain for not more than a week! Since almost all are talking something or the other about road safety and stuff, i need to declare a few very important issues.
On 13th December,2006 i attended a seminar on road safety organised by the rotary club, chennai. I was compelled to go there, so naturally i had no choice. As usual there were a couple of verry boring lectures by few people from the Police Department, Insurance companies and a few others. But I was a bit shocked soon after i reached there. The “eminent” personalities had actually made the whole seminar thing as a platform to shift the blame on the student community for whatever traffic problems public facein chennai. Sadly, there was a Radio jockey from Big FM who had to conduct a group discussion among a panel consisting of the “eminent” personalities and a few students, and i was a part of it. Due to the so called time constraint, he had to stop the whole discussion abruptly. Well, let me complete:
1. Why don’t someone come to the Luz signal near Mylapore at around 6 in the evening and see how the police cars cross the road to park it? Does the RED,YELLOW and GREEN apply only to the public and not to the policemen? Are they colour blind?
2. What am i supposed to do if a signal shows all the 3 colours and there’s no policeman to guide us through? (This happens often in the Nilgiries signal, near Chola)
3. Why don’t one of the policemen come and snatch the license of the stupid autodriver who stops after the zebra crossing at a signal?
4. Most traffic snarls start only because there’s one Extra careful driver who doesn’t want the speedometer to cross 10! Why don’t anyone understand that? I’m not here to propagate the youth to go at 85-90.. But a decent speed will help.
I completely agree that there are a few creatures of my age who consider their bikes as aircrafts and scare the fellow riders to death! But not all. Make sure you have that in your mind.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T01:30:00.000+05:30

twelve hours from now, a new year will be born..
New hopes, New dreams and..new resolutions :D
Wish you all a verrry happy new year!!

A Matter Of Minutes..

2006-12-09T10:25:00.000+05:30

Why do people do this??

Happy Kaarthigai Deepam

2006-12-04T18:41:00.000+05:30

Prof's Profiles

2006-11-26T16:58:00.000+05:30

Yet another depressing semester has begun. And this time, it is even more irritating. We've a very interesting mix of subjects and lecturers ( if i can call them as one). The first being our accounts ma'am. I really wonder how she managed to get her graduationg from ICWA. She onve asked us what Goodwill was ( its an asset which appears in the Balance Sheet.. commerce students will understand it better). We gave her a variety of answers, all of which were correct. But the answer she gave really made me say, " excuse me?!?! ". She said Goodwill was a fictitious asset!! The first lesson taught to us in school was that Goodwill is not a fictitious asset but an intabgible one.. oh my god..!! i could not stand it anymore. But then.. I could not do anything.. "autonomous" was the word in my mind.

And one totally absurd subject is entrepreneurship development. We've profs who are incapable of pronouncing it properly. They say anterprenoor or something of that sort. And yeah i said "they" cuz we've two people "teaching" the subject. One prof actually taught us economics in the second sem, known for her shoshi-ability!! The other one is a total comedy, except the way she calls me! (she says maadhangee.. how sick!!) No one can distinguish the way she says 3 and 7.. all are the same in her world.

The best is Management, be it the subject or the teacher, both rock ( I really mean it). The first day itself impressed me a lot, when she asked for negative feedbacks (she taught us auditing last sem.. and did make our lives hell!). She definitely rocks.. I mean it in the real sense.. no sarcasm!

And...How can I ever forget vaa!!.. This sem, we've an Inter Disciplinary Elective (IDE), where we're allowed to take a subject apart from our regular course.It was the dumbest thing to have chosen Game theory and strategies.. not because of the subject but the teacher. She has the tendancy to say vaa every two words! If you still dont understand what vaa means, well.. it means WHAT!! :D

Ahh.. well, only one thing is the same this time.. the number projects and assignments are the same :D, one in each subject (including IDE). Lets wait and see whats there in store for us!!
God is Great:D

AIDS?!? Cha!!!

2006-10-30T12:19:00.000+05:30

the first, introductory paragraphs are so stupid..

SCENE: a family of four(lets say H,W,S,D for Husband, Wife, Son and Daughter) are all set to watch "alive coffee with anu" on vijay tv (The special guests being Mrs & Mr.Vishwanath Anand). but as usual H and S watch the stupid cricket match on set max.

a snippet of their discussion:

(W and D are furious)

W: andha coffe with anu podungalen.. indha loose match la enna iruku nu ipdi rendu perum paakareenga?

D (to H) : appa adha vei pa.. indha mandhira bedi a unakku paakanuma??

W: adhula vishwanath anandh varaan, naa paakanum. andha ad laye avan nanna irundhan. avan shirt kooda amazing.

H: konja neram rendu perum vaaya moodrela. we want to see this match. adhula ad potundu irukaan.. paaru!

( H switches the channel to Vijay tv and sees anu talking to vishwanath anandh.. H and S ku ore bulb)

W: evlo chinna paiyan madhri irukkan paaru

(in tv..)

anu: neenga ippo UNAIDS ku ambassador a vera irukinga, so can you just explain us about your role in this moble cause? neenga paatheenga na eppo lam tv la AIDS pathi sonnalum, channel a change panniduvaanga....

anandh: definitely, i think its important to talk about it with your family.....

( H switches the channel to that stupid match again)

W: yen adha maathinel? adha vaingo..

D: vai appa...

( S as usual remains silent)

W: unga appa eppavum ipdi dhaan pannuva..

H ( furiously) : avan AIDS pathi solraan.. unakku adha paakanuma??

W: aama.. enakku paakanum..
H: naa vekka maaten..

( and the discussion goes on..)

SCENE ENDS

well.. this may be an inspiration from he-she of ferrari, but i'm sure this kind of incidents do happen in everyday life.

what do you think about H.. male chauvinism, ignorance, shyness?.... I call it stupidity.

I really appreciated the move by Vijay tv for inviting anandh and to talk about this social cause.

i feel it is very important for people to talk about it. Especially with the growing HIV+ people in this country.. why don't people grow up?

Famous personalities are roped in as ambassadors for people to listen to them on important issues. But if this is the kind of attitude among people, then all the efforts taken up by these organisations are an absolute waste..

I've had enough!

2006-10-21T23:41:00.000+05:30

new york nagaram lyrics - for those who kill the lyrics!
please learn the song before you sing..

new york nagaram urangum neram
thanimai adardhadhu paniyum padarndhadhu
kappal irangiye katrum karaiyil nadandhadhu
naangu kannadi chuvargalukkulle naanum mezhuguvathiyum
thanimai thanimaiyokodumai kodumaiyo

pechellam thaalatu pola ennai uranga vaika nee illai
dhinamum oru mutham thandhu kaalai coffee kodukka nee illai
vizhiyil vizhum dhoosi thannai naaval edukka nee ingu illai
manadhil ezhum kuzhappam thannai theerka nee inge illai
naan inge neeyum ange
indha thanimaiyil nimishangal varusham aanadheno
vaan inge neelam ange
indha uvamaiku iruvarum vilakkamaan dheno(new york)
natkurippil nooru tharavai undhan peyarai ezhudhum en pena
ezhudhiyadhum erumbu moika peyarum aanadhenna thena
jill endru boomi irndhum indha tharunathil kulir kaalam kodai aanadheno
vaa anbe neeyum vandhal
sendhanal kooda pani katti pole maarum yeno(new york)

the best part of the song according to me is the humming at the beginning.. arr rocks!!
well.. about the picturisation.. i'm pity arr! :)

THE college.. "M.O.P"

2006-10-17T20:18:00.000+05:30

I don't think any other college can get as crazy as mine..
The M.O.P.College for Women.
It definitely gives an extra ordinary exposure to each and every student, but the co ordination among the staff is pathetic. today(think on 7th of october), we were supposed to get our law marks and ended up waiting for 3 whole hours for a small clarification!!
apparently, our law sir had lost around half of our assignments and surusuppa gave the job of marking to another lecturer. And that ma'am had marked the missing ones as zero on ten.And therefore our marks were drastically reduced. And unfortunately I was one among them :(
The best part was how our law sir marked each of us for those 10 marks. He initially said he would conduct a viva and then mark us based on our performance in the viva.. the what!!!!!!! was our reaction (obviously!.. none of us knew a bit of our syllabus)
After much pleading by other section, he finally agreed to mark us based on our face(?)... yeah i am right.. based on our face!!!
He saw each of our's face and marked us for those ten marks..but later changed his mind and marked us based on our internal marks.. (phew!!)anyways, finally i got 9 on 10 :))
heights of nonsense!!!!! i just hope that the same doesn't happen with my semester exam!!
who knows how'll he mark us if he lost our sem papers. Keeping my fingers crossed

Dinner at Vasantha Bhavan

2006-10-03T11:22:00.000+05:30

Mylaporeans will be in a position to understand the last two words, i hope.
Last night i, along with my dad, had dinner at that very place.
and everything turned out just like i expected on a holiday ( being the 137th birthday of the Mahatma)

nothing can be more intersting than watching the fellow mylaporeans storming into
a long, rectangular building(well, thats vasantha bhavan precisely).
watching people and the way they are in public has been one of my favourite pass times for long. and come navarathri, i got to see such unique people making me wonder why at all i know such "things"

well, coming back to my "experience" in Vasantha Bhavan, i did see some usual and
unusual stuff happening there. Being a national holiday, obviously there was a
mad rush of mad people.
the most interesting person there was the manager who in his desperate attempt to satisfy his customers, had a tiff with my dad ( the usual stuff that happens everytime i have dinner with my dad!!). But the worst part was that, there were atleast 3 people taking orders from us. reminds me of the principle of unity of command!! :p

some of the "interesting" things that happened there:
1. a drunkard sat next to my table and had his.. err.. dinner
2. an old couple had "idlis" with tearful eyes.
3. a newly wed couple sporting why-the-hell-we-came-here look on their faces.
4. a group of college students made a hell of a noise and a mylai maami frowning
at them each time they made some noise.
5. a family of 8(?!) on a look out for an empty table to seat themselves and
their HUGE bags. (probably they just finished their "shopping")
6. and as usual, i didn't eat what i wanted to and had to depend on the suggestions by the waiter, which as usual was idly and dosa.
well, i still dunno why i put such a post today.
maybe it was just a humble attempt to explore the REAL mylapore!! :p

2006-09-12T10:04:00.000+05:30

Meetings.. blah!

i dont find a point in organising welfare meets. especially on a serious day like "world literacy day".
a panel of 6 jobless people sit on the dias and keep pestering the audience to adopt 5 kids and educate them..
just one question to them.. don't u think its a waste fo time talking such nonsense and giving stupid statistics as part of your "speech"? instead try to teach few kids abcd in that time!!
i can understand that you people are ardent fans of vijaykanth and his movies.. still please.. just a humble request to stop using so many statistics!!
it makes the audience fall asleep..

2006-09-08T20:16:00.000+05:30

its such an irony that the day i start my blog, there's a bomb blast in malegaon!!
to be a bit optimistic, yesterday was apparently "world literacy day" and i've started my own blog that very day!! wow!!
well.. anyways there had been a constant urge in me to express my inner feelings and vent out my emotions. and so here i am atlast, stepping into the "blog world"!!
hmm..i just hope i put some sensible stuff in here.. anyways at your own risk!!