Cut, copied and pasted from my FB note:
The Channel One gang tagged me and I enter the scene a month later :)
1. Favorite childhood book? Enid Blyton. I still have Blyton’s works on my comp. Famous Five, Five Find Outers... Hitchcock’s Three Investigators, Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.. Of course, there was Tinkle and later (even today, that is) Archies! I started reading Ananda Vikatan from primary school... can still recall some really good Sujatha stories from the Vikatan of yester years..
2. What are you reading right now? Reading HP 1-7 after watching the latest movie twice.
3. Bad book habit? Raving insomniac, lethargy an lack of exercise thanks to remaining in the same place for 7-8 hours at a stretch...Got caught a million times when in school and college for sneak-reading beneath the desk when the teacher was teaching in front of the class! :D
4. Do you have an e-reader? Nope, not yet. Hari, are you listening to that??? And I am reminding him my birthday is coming up next month!
5. Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once? I can alternate between a Tamil book and an English book, but never read 2 books in the same language at the same time. Currently racing through HP 1-7 and reading Sujatha’s Thanga Mudicchu.
6. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? I do come to know of recommendations from other bloggers and maybe I have taken up one or two of such suggestions.
7. Least favorite book you read this year (so far)? Vittal Rajan’s ‘Holmes of the Raj’. Such a letdown! Holmes does not deserve this.
8. Favorite book you’ve read this year? Archer’s latest collection of short stories, Thereby hangs a tale, Yuganta
9. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? Never. Not too adventurous when in comes to reading.
10. What is your reading comfort zone? Fiction. Currently introduced to intellectual stuff, thanks to Hari who cannot read fiction at all!!
11. Can you read on the bus? Of course, what else have I done all those days travelling from KK Nagar to TCO and back.
12. Favorite place to read? The bed, couch, bro’s colossal bean bag, bus, car... I have even read books, seated on the ROAD as a kid waiting for my school bus/auto! Was not too fond of cycling for this reason!
13. What is your policy on book lending? I don’t mind lending, but only if I trust them to be book lovers.
14. Do you ever dog-ear books? Nope. Sacrilege, that is. Again, I covet bro’s book marks- Claude Monet’s impressionist miniatures.
15. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? Sacrilege again. Not if it is Physics, Chem, Computer Science though! :)
16. Not even with text books? He he, my old text books were full of scribbled pages- I’d start writing something completely unconnected to the subject and then continue the writing in graph sheets, the last pages of record notebooks, exam question papers.. . I would always be the first in class to finish writing an exam (therinjaa daane ezhudharthukku) and would then start scribbling some note in the question paper.
17. What is your favorite language to read in? Tamil.
18. What makes you love a book? Cannot quite place it, but I like good narration and simple language. Substance is secondary.
19. What will inspire you to recommend a book? Again, I can’t quite place it. And I suggest books to others only if I feel they have a liking for it. For instance, I can never imagine Hari reading what I usually like or listen to! But he’d be thrilled to bits if I gift him a book on evolution.
20. Favorite genre? Crime, Mystery, thriller, Historical fiction, Alternate history, Romance, Religions, Civilization
21. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?) Mythology, theology, Atheism, flauntable Intellectual stuff like Bertrand Russell...
22. Favorite biography? I keep away from biographies!
23. Have you ever read a self-help book? Endured Robin Sharma’s ‘the monk who sold his ferrari’ and Coelho’s ‘the alchemist. And then decided against self inflicted torture.
24. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? I don’t look for inspiration in books. I read because I love reading more than anything. Period.
25. Favorite reading snack? Small biscuits, kadalai mittaai, mom’s Diwali bakshanam, Tropicana Orange! I do of course love reading in the bath, whenever I stay in a very nice hotel room. And I wish I had a glass of Chianti, aromatic candles and soft music to go with it! :D
26. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience. Pirivom Sandhippom, I agree with Madhan here. Commissioner-ukku kadidham was another let down.
27. How often do you agree with critics about a book? I don’t really bother reading literary criticism.
28. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? That comes to me naturally :D
29. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose? Is Bengali considered foreign??? I’d love to read Professor Shonko’s stories
31. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? Mein Kampf, Atlas Shrugged
32. Favorite Poet? Subramaniya Bharathi
33. Favorite fictional character? Huuuuge list- Vallavarayan Vandhiyathevan and Poonkuzhali from Ponniyin Selvan, Vasanth from Ganesh- Vasanth, Jean Louie ‘Scout’ Finch and Atticus Finch from ‘To kill a mockingbird’, Gail Wynand from ‘Fountainhead’, Luna Lovegood from HP, loads of Sujatha’s heroines....
34. Favorite fictional villain? Nandini, Naganandhi, Tom Morvolo Riddle, Hannibal Lecter. Can I add Vijayan’s role from Uthiri Pookkal?
35. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? Light reading- like Archer.
36. The longest I’ve gone without reading. Depends... If I am emotionally disturbed, I cannot read at all. This mental block and reading hiatus can even last months.
37. Name a book that you could/would not finish. Loads of books too serious for my liking. Atlas Shrugged, for one.
38. What distracts you easily when you’re reading? Food, TV, husband. Necessarily in that order.
39. Favorite film adaptation of a novel? To Kill a mockingbird , Silence of the Lambs, HP series
40. Most disappointing film adaptation? Harry Potter part 3.
41. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? Hari and his credit card are painfully aware of such facts!
42. How often do you skim a book before reading it? I read the cover and then race from page 1 to last. I can’t skim.
43. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through? Boredom, of course! And distractions mentioned above.
44. Do you like to keep your books organized? Not at all. You will find a dozen books on my bed. All over the couch, chairs, car, my bag...
45. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? I like keeping them
46. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? That again is a huuuge list. Let’s start with Java!
47. Name a book that made you angry? Pirivom Sandhippom
48. A book you didn’t expect to like but did? Harry Potter!
49. A book that you expected to like but didn’t? Holmes of the Raj
50. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? Archie comics
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Potternama
And I have watched Harry Potter and the deathly hallows- Part 1. Not once but twice. Intend watching it again. Loved the movie. I'd say this installment displaces HP-4(Goblet of fire) from the top slot of my list of favourites.
The effects are bloody awesome. Snape enters Malfoy Manor with elan- a swift cloud of smoke materialising into Snape's form, joining the Death Eaters and their supremo. The chaotic journey to the Burrow through the streets of London, dark skies, Hedwig's final descent to the ground... The list goes on. The apparation scenes reminds one of 'Jumper'. When Voldemort curses Charity Burbage to death, a tear stands frozen midway down. Snape's expression is priceless in that scene. Snape reminds me of Karna in the Mahabharat now!
Though the movie tends not to stay loyal to the book, I should say, the story has been handled brilliantly. The notable deviations from the original story are: Voldemort identifies the real Harry (during the journey from Privet Drive to the Burrow) with Hedwig trying to protect him, whereas in the book he's identified by his signature spell when he should have gone for the kill. Peter Pettigrew does not die after the Malfoy manor scene. How could David Yates have omitted Professor Dumbledore's story- his youth, family history, his involvement with Gellert Grindelwald, I don't understand. Should I expect the Dumbledores' story when the trio meet Aberforth in the next book?
Daniel Radcliffe looks edible!!!! The dance scene with Harry and Hermoine was pure masala though it looked cute. Sigh, what would I give for a dance with Dan Radcliffe!
I made the mistake of taking Hari along and he doesn't read HP (and yet I married him, sigh ;D ). I should say those who have not read the series do not understand anything. All he enjoyed was Emma Watson! The excellent effects and such stuff are lost on them. Hari could not understand Bathilda Bagshot and Harry Potter not talking in front of Hermoine, their conversation in Parseltongue and many such details.
Bellatrix Lestrange's eccentric tortuous self is portrayed very well. The animated story of the three brothers is excellent. Reminds me of the anime depiction of O-Ren's childhood in Kill Bill. This children's tale from Harry Potter is even better!
The gravestone epitaph of Lily and James Potter reads ' The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death'. Loyal to the book! Too bad, Dobby's epitaph is not shown- Here lies Dobby, a free elf.
The effects are bloody awesome. Snape enters Malfoy Manor with elan- a swift cloud of smoke materialising into Snape's form, joining the Death Eaters and their supremo. The chaotic journey to the Burrow through the streets of London, dark skies, Hedwig's final descent to the ground... The list goes on. The apparation scenes reminds one of 'Jumper'. When Voldemort curses Charity Burbage to death, a tear stands frozen midway down. Snape's expression is priceless in that scene. Snape reminds me of Karna in the Mahabharat now!
Though the movie tends not to stay loyal to the book, I should say, the story has been handled brilliantly. The notable deviations from the original story are: Voldemort identifies the real Harry (during the journey from Privet Drive to the Burrow) with Hedwig trying to protect him, whereas in the book he's identified by his signature spell when he should have gone for the kill. Peter Pettigrew does not die after the Malfoy manor scene. How could David Yates have omitted Professor Dumbledore's story- his youth, family history, his involvement with Gellert Grindelwald, I don't understand. Should I expect the Dumbledores' story when the trio meet Aberforth in the next book?
Daniel Radcliffe looks edible!!!! The dance scene with Harry and Hermoine was pure masala though it looked cute. Sigh, what would I give for a dance with Dan Radcliffe!
I made the mistake of taking Hari along and he doesn't read HP (and yet I married him, sigh ;D ). I should say those who have not read the series do not understand anything. All he enjoyed was Emma Watson! The excellent effects and such stuff are lost on them. Hari could not understand Bathilda Bagshot and Harry Potter not talking in front of Hermoine, their conversation in Parseltongue and many such details.
Bellatrix Lestrange's eccentric tortuous self is portrayed very well. The animated story of the three brothers is excellent. Reminds me of the anime depiction of O-Ren's childhood in Kill Bill. This children's tale from Harry Potter is even better!
The gravestone epitaph of Lily and James Potter reads ' The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death'. Loyal to the book! Too bad, Dobby's epitaph is not shown- Here lies Dobby, a free elf.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Spaghetti, Indian style. The curious case of Deepa in the kitchen.
Last thing I thought I'd write was a recipe. But the past fortnight, I have been cooking almost every meal I eat- in my standards, a fortnight is huuuuge, I tell you. I can almost hear myself say 'This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship- between me and the kitchen'. A month in London does that to you, I guess! Yesterday, I made this freaking awesome spaghetti with let's call it Indian style arrabiata sauce.
Ingredients: (to serve one)
Some good Italian sounding brand of spaghetti
Tomato: 2
Onion: 1
Garlic- 4
Green chilli/ Green chilli sauce- add according to your spice levels
Bay Leaf
Saunf
Cumin seeds
Cinnamon
Clove
Garam Masala powder
Parsley
Coriander
Salt
Oil - acc. to your health consciousness levels
If you do not mind spending a fortune for a bottle of olive oil, then grab that from the supermarket shelf and use that. Cheapskate me used good ol' Sundrop. Am not gourmet enough to tell extra virgin olive oil from Sunflower or Chianti from supermarket stuff!
Method:
Heat a spoon of oil (make it a large spoon, actually) and add to it a spoon of cumin seeds, a clove, half an inch of cinnamon stick (select paper thin cinnamon scales, if you want to avoid biting into the hard bark in the middle of your Italian-Indian fine dining experience), a li'l bay leaf, some saunf,a few drops of green chilli sauce or one fresh green chilli, 4 cloves of garlic, very finely chopped. Let it all brown a little and then add a spoon of garam masala. After a minute, add finely chopped onion and saute. Chop the onions as finely as possible, it cooks fast and your sauce will have a paste like consistency if you do that. Let the onions brown, you can add one more spoon of oil, if your weighing scale doesn't make you break into a sweat. So, once the onion is nicely cooked, add the chopped tomatoes. I added some puree in addition to the tomatoes, puree makes the sauce look a lot more cohesive, I feel. When the tomatoes are half done, use a masher to crush the misture and add half a ladle of water to it ( strictly not more than half a ladle) and put a lid on top of it. Let the whole mixture cook well and once you are convinced it looks like the sauce that usually accompanies spaghetti, you can remove it from flame. You can salt it as you wish. A friend tells me you can avoid the mixture spluttering all along and dirtying the gas stove surface, if you add salt last.
Now for the spaghetti: Add a spoon of oil to water (to get neat, un-sticky, individual strips of spaghetti and not an unrecognisable gooey mass of white), enough water to take in atleast 3/4ths length of the spaghetti sticks, bring it to a boil. You can add a little salt to this water if you wish. When the water boils, immerse spaghetti into it. Cook spaghetti for the time specified in the package it comes in. Like me, if you don't believe in instructions, take one rod of spaghetti periodically, eat it and then decide when it's cooked.
Once you are convinced the spaghetti is done, empty it along with the water into a colander and immediately, immerse the colander in cold water. The cold water will prevent spaghetti from sticking to one other.
Just leave it for a couple of minutes until all excess water is drained. Place the spagghetti in a plate, add the sauce, garnish with parsley and coriander and enjoy the dish!
P.S: If you have left over oregano or Italian seasoning from pizza deliveries, stocked up in some remote corner of the fridge, use that too, to garnish.
P.P.S: I cannot imagine having a meal without vegetables. Hence I added to my spaghetti (on top of the sauce), some stir fried and then boiled carrots and green peas. Turned out great, I shd say!
Ingredients: (to serve one)
Some good Italian sounding brand of spaghetti
Tomato: 2
Onion: 1
Garlic- 4
Green chilli/ Green chilli sauce- add according to your spice levels
Bay Leaf
Saunf
Cumin seeds
Cinnamon
Clove
Garam Masala powder
Parsley
Coriander
Salt
Oil - acc. to your health consciousness levels
If you do not mind spending a fortune for a bottle of olive oil, then grab that from the supermarket shelf and use that. Cheapskate me used good ol' Sundrop. Am not gourmet enough to tell extra virgin olive oil from Sunflower or Chianti from supermarket stuff!
Method:
Heat a spoon of oil (make it a large spoon, actually) and add to it a spoon of cumin seeds, a clove, half an inch of cinnamon stick (select paper thin cinnamon scales, if you want to avoid biting into the hard bark in the middle of your Italian-Indian fine dining experience), a li'l bay leaf, some saunf,a few drops of green chilli sauce or one fresh green chilli, 4 cloves of garlic, very finely chopped. Let it all brown a little and then add a spoon of garam masala. After a minute, add finely chopped onion and saute. Chop the onions as finely as possible, it cooks fast and your sauce will have a paste like consistency if you do that. Let the onions brown, you can add one more spoon of oil, if your weighing scale doesn't make you break into a sweat. So, once the onion is nicely cooked, add the chopped tomatoes. I added some puree in addition to the tomatoes, puree makes the sauce look a lot more cohesive, I feel. When the tomatoes are half done, use a masher to crush the misture and add half a ladle of water to it ( strictly not more than half a ladle) and put a lid on top of it. Let the whole mixture cook well and once you are convinced it looks like the sauce that usually accompanies spaghetti, you can remove it from flame. You can salt it as you wish. A friend tells me you can avoid the mixture spluttering all along and dirtying the gas stove surface, if you add salt last.
Now for the spaghetti: Add a spoon of oil to water (to get neat, un-sticky, individual strips of spaghetti and not an unrecognisable gooey mass of white), enough water to take in atleast 3/4ths length of the spaghetti sticks, bring it to a boil. You can add a little salt to this water if you wish. When the water boils, immerse spaghetti into it. Cook spaghetti for the time specified in the package it comes in. Like me, if you don't believe in instructions, take one rod of spaghetti periodically, eat it and then decide when it's cooked.
Once you are convinced the spaghetti is done, empty it along with the water into a colander and immediately, immerse the colander in cold water. The cold water will prevent spaghetti from sticking to one other.
Just leave it for a couple of minutes until all excess water is drained. Place the spagghetti in a plate, add the sauce, garnish with parsley and coriander and enjoy the dish!
P.S: If you have left over oregano or Italian seasoning from pizza deliveries, stocked up in some remote corner of the fridge, use that too, to garnish.
P.P.S: I cannot imagine having a meal without vegetables. Hence I added to my spaghetti (on top of the sauce), some stir fried and then boiled carrots and green peas. Turned out great, I shd say!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Bad, worse and the Best!!
I am done watching J Mahendran's classic 'Udhiri Pookkal' and I cannot help but applaud at Mahendran's milestone film. Vijayan's role as Sundaravadivel, the antagonist is one among few roles that will go down in Tamil film history as most memorable. Tamil filmdom has almost always stereotyped its villains-
Narai mudi Kaaman, the middle aged village headman with a wandering eye, feasting on every nubile girl he finds(in all padhinettu pattis);
the illiterate rural ruffian who wears the arivaal with panache, who happens to be the heroine's murai maaman;
the young, long haired blood thirsty villain of the Gautam Menon movies, swearing in English and Hindi;
the gun toting, Jeans and sneaker clad hitmen that frequent nightclubs and bars;
the corrupt politician/money launderer/smuggler living in palatial bungalows where he has skimpily clad girls run errands for him or dance in front of him.
The list goes on, but I swear I can come up with all possible kinds of Tamil villains given 24 hours. Not a second more. Sundaravadivel of Udhiri Pookkal doesn't fall into any of these categories. Hardly do you see him lose his cool, he is a family man with 2 kids running a school in a remote village. Yet his negativity is obvious. His conversation is clipped, to the point and crisp. You register each word instantly. He doesn't have a bunch of hooligans who will bid to his every whim and fancy, he runs as fast as he can, to find refuge, when the Panchayat results in a riot and the people want to wring his neck. His conversation with charu Haasan, his father in law and Haasan's caustic replies are a treat to watch. Where the average villain would have forced his wife to stay indoors after she decides to go, he lets her go and realizes he's helpless. His dialogue delivery after he assaults his sister in law sexually, is stunning.
And the final scene, where the villagers ambush him, he's classy! Hats off to Mahendran- there's no compare! No wonder he won such critical acclaim for Udhiri Pookkal. And the actor has done justice to the role.
I have always been fascinated more with antagonists than with the protagonist in many a book/movie.
Nandini from Ponniyin Selvan, if you are willing to classify her as THE negative role in Ponniyin selvan, is the mother of all antagonists. I'd do no justice to the lady in a blog post, all ye, who can read Tamil, should read Ponniyin Selvan. It's an anubhavam, an experience that I cherish most. And Nandini is one of the foremost reasons it's my favourite most book. Kalki's characterisation of negative roles has impressed me- Nandini is the epitome of beauty, she can seduce anyone worth a gram of testosterone, she can challenge the most intellectual minds in the country, she is an enigma who manages to thwart everyone away from guesssing her true pursuit. She marries the aging Pazhuvettararayar and brings the whole kingdom under her thumb while you still grapple on whether you worship her or loathe her. She is the former love interest of the crown prince Aditya Karikalan who killed her father/lover- the Pandya king and hence she vows to decimate the Chola lineage. She manipulates every single man she meets and achieves what she wants, out of them. The story had it been written from the Pandya perspective, would have portrayed Nandini as the only protagonist.
Naganandhi from Kalki's Sivagamiyin Sabadham is yet another villain who impresses me. He's the brilliant architect of the Vatapi kingdom, like Chanakya being the brain of the Chandra Gupta kingdom. his war tactics are exemplary. He spies for the king, formulates war plans and administration. Pulikesi, his twin is crowned King of Vatapi while real power lies with Naga Nandhi- the wandering Buddhist monk. He is enigma personified; has enough venom flowing through his body to scare other venomous snakes away from him. He cannot be poisoned, for he has more potent poison in his body. He has a body of steel, his IQ is that of a super genius and his heart- he's lost it to Sivagami - the only flaw in him, for he is a Buddha Bhikshu and has vowed to a life of celibacy. His knowledge of arts and appreciation of aesthetics, his intellect and manipulative skills are mind boggling. Kalki Krishnamurthy shapes his antagonists uniquely. But Parthiban Kanavu, the sequel was a major let down, because he portrayed Naganandhi as an average mortal! Sheer injustice to what he had built in the prequel.
Dr Hannibal Lecter, the cannibalistic psychiatrist from 'The Silence of the Lambs' and its sequels/prequels is next on the list. Every piece of conversation between him and Clarice Starling is captivating. And the eventual relationship between an FBI agent and a cannibalistic serial killer.. well, you gotta read it to appreciate it!!
Other antagonists I have found memorable are:
Joker from the Batman series
The handsome Michael Corleone from The Godfather
Narai mudi Kaaman, the middle aged village headman with a wandering eye, feasting on every nubile girl he finds(in all padhinettu pattis);
the illiterate rural ruffian who wears the arivaal with panache, who happens to be the heroine's murai maaman;
the young, long haired blood thirsty villain of the Gautam Menon movies, swearing in English and Hindi;
the gun toting, Jeans and sneaker clad hitmen that frequent nightclubs and bars;
the corrupt politician/money launderer/smuggler living in palatial bungalows where he has skimpily clad girls run errands for him or dance in front of him.
The list goes on, but I swear I can come up with all possible kinds of Tamil villains given 24 hours. Not a second more. Sundaravadivel of Udhiri Pookkal doesn't fall into any of these categories. Hardly do you see him lose his cool, he is a family man with 2 kids running a school in a remote village. Yet his negativity is obvious. His conversation is clipped, to the point and crisp. You register each word instantly. He doesn't have a bunch of hooligans who will bid to his every whim and fancy, he runs as fast as he can, to find refuge, when the Panchayat results in a riot and the people want to wring his neck. His conversation with charu Haasan, his father in law and Haasan's caustic replies are a treat to watch. Where the average villain would have forced his wife to stay indoors after she decides to go, he lets her go and realizes he's helpless. His dialogue delivery after he assaults his sister in law sexually, is stunning.
And the final scene, where the villagers ambush him, he's classy! Hats off to Mahendran- there's no compare! No wonder he won such critical acclaim for Udhiri Pookkal. And the actor has done justice to the role.
I have always been fascinated more with antagonists than with the protagonist in many a book/movie.
Nandini from Ponniyin Selvan, if you are willing to classify her as THE negative role in Ponniyin selvan, is the mother of all antagonists. I'd do no justice to the lady in a blog post, all ye, who can read Tamil, should read Ponniyin Selvan. It's an anubhavam, an experience that I cherish most. And Nandini is one of the foremost reasons it's my favourite most book. Kalki's characterisation of negative roles has impressed me- Nandini is the epitome of beauty, she can seduce anyone worth a gram of testosterone, she can challenge the most intellectual minds in the country, she is an enigma who manages to thwart everyone away from guesssing her true pursuit. She marries the aging Pazhuvettararayar and brings the whole kingdom under her thumb while you still grapple on whether you worship her or loathe her. She is the former love interest of the crown prince Aditya Karikalan who killed her father/lover- the Pandya king and hence she vows to decimate the Chola lineage. She manipulates every single man she meets and achieves what she wants, out of them. The story had it been written from the Pandya perspective, would have portrayed Nandini as the only protagonist.
Naganandhi from Kalki's Sivagamiyin Sabadham is yet another villain who impresses me. He's the brilliant architect of the Vatapi kingdom, like Chanakya being the brain of the Chandra Gupta kingdom. his war tactics are exemplary. He spies for the king, formulates war plans and administration. Pulikesi, his twin is crowned King of Vatapi while real power lies with Naga Nandhi- the wandering Buddhist monk. He is enigma personified; has enough venom flowing through his body to scare other venomous snakes away from him. He cannot be poisoned, for he has more potent poison in his body. He has a body of steel, his IQ is that of a super genius and his heart- he's lost it to Sivagami - the only flaw in him, for he is a Buddha Bhikshu and has vowed to a life of celibacy. His knowledge of arts and appreciation of aesthetics, his intellect and manipulative skills are mind boggling. Kalki Krishnamurthy shapes his antagonists uniquely. But Parthiban Kanavu, the sequel was a major let down, because he portrayed Naganandhi as an average mortal! Sheer injustice to what he had built in the prequel.
Dr Hannibal Lecter, the cannibalistic psychiatrist from 'The Silence of the Lambs' and its sequels/prequels is next on the list. Every piece of conversation between him and Clarice Starling is captivating. And the eventual relationship between an FBI agent and a cannibalistic serial killer.. well, you gotta read it to appreciate it!!
Other antagonists I have found memorable are:
Joker from the Batman series
The handsome Michael Corleone from The Godfather
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Q n A
I wrote this aeons back.. around one and a half years back, when I was with Cognizant. Haven't been in a good mood all day and I dug this up...
The night sky outside welcomed me with its promise of fresh air; the room freshener inside was beginning to lose its initial intoxication it had on my senses. Notes from the Mandolin failed to interest me. The mental void inside me was jolted slightly by the cold metal doorknob. Momentary though. The moonless, pitch black sky with its million miniscule stars seemed to invite me with open hands. I felt in place among them, unlike amidst the myriad of Kancheevaram silks, Mysore silk crepes and lehengas sashaying across inside the wedding hall.
I wasn’t exactly claustrophobic but it did feel strange to be among a bunch of uncles, aunts, cousins and relatives who I meet once in an eon; during weddings when they realize that they once had a brother/cousin/nephew who left behind a family. That warrants an invitation sent across to mum. And that’s how I happened to be there. In the middle of nowhere, I told myself. A family that I didn’t know much about- except their names, a family that I could not associate myself with, except for the coffee brown complexion that I had acquired from dad. My own family, my very own roots. Strangers, people whose houses I’d not walk straight into and open their refrigerators for a raid.
I looked at those brown hands of mine- holding the metal railing… Dad’s brown skin… I don’t quite know for sure. It’s only hearsay. And a few photographs that lie in the cupboard back home. His passport, his driving license, his bank pass books, degree certificates… Newspaper clippings of articles that interested him. And I know nothing much else. Nothing that really matters.
I failed to notice the doorknob turn again and I was not quite happy to share the space with a newcomer. My solitude, it is my own sky today… My solace from the madding crowd. From people with whom I share 50 percent common gene.
‘I was your Dad’s classmate‘he said and continued ‘Throughout school’
I looked into his face expecting him to continue, for I didn’t quite know what to say. I had a million questions to ask. Like Amudha in Kannathil Mutthamittaal, when she meets her mom. But then, KM was a movie, Amudha was a kid. Not a 23 year old who’s expected to act her age. Besides, the screenplay was predefined in her case. I didn’t have the bound notebook with ‘Ten Questions to be asked if I come across Dad’s classmate’. I sometimes wish I had done that.
‘Oh… That’s great, so you REALLY knew him?’ I asked. Stupid question, I know. You needn’t tell me that. But what else do I say, when confronted by a stranger who knows lots of facts I’m dying to know.
Was he capitalist? Or socialist… Did he bunk classes? What movies did he watch? What books did he like? Did he read much at all? Rajni or Kamal? Sivaji or MGR?
Was he a back bencher like me? Studious geek or the cool dude? Did he ever flunk in a test? What did he do with his first salary? Did he play street cricket? Did he bowl or bat… who was his favorite sportsperson?
Did he have a crush on the Maths lecturer like I did in college? Would he have laughed over it if I had told him I had a crush on the lecturer… Or would he have blown over the top for that… Was he a teetotaler? Did he have a college sweetheart? Or was he the one who’s never made a fool out of himself…
Would he have been depressed on knowing that I was no good in CAT? That I was nowhere near the over achieving cousins? Would he have been happy to know that? Would he have accepted the fact nevertheless? What could a red mark in my report card have meant? Grounded weeklong? Advice? Or would he have signed it rightaway like Amma…
Appa, who was he? Remains a mystery to me. All these years and the years to come.
Questions, questions and questions… I asked none of them though… I don’t know what my eyes convened. Eagerness, inhibition, apprehension, hesitation… altogether?
He looked at me once, said ‘He was a good man’. He retraced his steps, reopened the doorknob, this time I didn’t miss the distinct sound of the turning knob… and he went back inside the hall.
My questions… I’ll take them to my grave, unanswered. Unlike Amudha.
The night sky outside welcomed me with its promise of fresh air; the room freshener inside was beginning to lose its initial intoxication it had on my senses. Notes from the Mandolin failed to interest me. The mental void inside me was jolted slightly by the cold metal doorknob. Momentary though. The moonless, pitch black sky with its million miniscule stars seemed to invite me with open hands. I felt in place among them, unlike amidst the myriad of Kancheevaram silks, Mysore silk crepes and lehengas sashaying across inside the wedding hall.
I wasn’t exactly claustrophobic but it did feel strange to be among a bunch of uncles, aunts, cousins and relatives who I meet once in an eon; during weddings when they realize that they once had a brother/cousin/nephew who left behind a family. That warrants an invitation sent across to mum. And that’s how I happened to be there. In the middle of nowhere, I told myself. A family that I didn’t know much about- except their names, a family that I could not associate myself with, except for the coffee brown complexion that I had acquired from dad. My own family, my very own roots. Strangers, people whose houses I’d not walk straight into and open their refrigerators for a raid.
I looked at those brown hands of mine- holding the metal railing… Dad’s brown skin… I don’t quite know for sure. It’s only hearsay. And a few photographs that lie in the cupboard back home. His passport, his driving license, his bank pass books, degree certificates… Newspaper clippings of articles that interested him. And I know nothing much else. Nothing that really matters.
I failed to notice the doorknob turn again and I was not quite happy to share the space with a newcomer. My solitude, it is my own sky today… My solace from the madding crowd. From people with whom I share 50 percent common gene.
‘I was your Dad’s classmate‘he said and continued ‘Throughout school’
I looked into his face expecting him to continue, for I didn’t quite know what to say. I had a million questions to ask. Like Amudha in Kannathil Mutthamittaal, when she meets her mom. But then, KM was a movie, Amudha was a kid. Not a 23 year old who’s expected to act her age. Besides, the screenplay was predefined in her case. I didn’t have the bound notebook with ‘Ten Questions to be asked if I come across Dad’s classmate’. I sometimes wish I had done that.
‘Oh… That’s great, so you REALLY knew him?’ I asked. Stupid question, I know. You needn’t tell me that. But what else do I say, when confronted by a stranger who knows lots of facts I’m dying to know.
Was he capitalist? Or socialist… Did he bunk classes? What movies did he watch? What books did he like? Did he read much at all? Rajni or Kamal? Sivaji or MGR?
Was he a back bencher like me? Studious geek or the cool dude? Did he ever flunk in a test? What did he do with his first salary? Did he play street cricket? Did he bowl or bat… who was his favorite sportsperson?
Did he have a crush on the Maths lecturer like I did in college? Would he have laughed over it if I had told him I had a crush on the lecturer… Or would he have blown over the top for that… Was he a teetotaler? Did he have a college sweetheart? Or was he the one who’s never made a fool out of himself…
Would he have been depressed on knowing that I was no good in CAT? That I was nowhere near the over achieving cousins? Would he have been happy to know that? Would he have accepted the fact nevertheless? What could a red mark in my report card have meant? Grounded weeklong? Advice? Or would he have signed it rightaway like Amma…
Appa, who was he? Remains a mystery to me. All these years and the years to come.
Questions, questions and questions… I asked none of them though… I don’t know what my eyes convened. Eagerness, inhibition, apprehension, hesitation… altogether?
He looked at me once, said ‘He was a good man’. He retraced his steps, reopened the doorknob, this time I didn’t miss the distinct sound of the turning knob… and he went back inside the hall.
My questions… I’ll take them to my grave, unanswered. Unlike Amudha.
Friday, August 6, 2010
I like the dude Carvaka!
My life the past one year has been a testimonial to hedonism. Imagine life with a partner who shares the same mindset, we live by no rules- self laid, society-laid or family-laid. Actually my maid, gets more say than all the 3 afore mentioned factors. She dictates that I need to be up in the morning (anytime before noon is morning, right?) to open the front door for her. Barring criminally chargeable offences, Hari and I have absolutely no qualms in doing anything whatsoever.
After a year of total disregard for mom's demands that I maintain a clean house, eat healthy food, lose weight, get a job, my MIL's demands that I wear the thirumangalyam, turn theist, my innumerable aunts and uncles' demands that I shed eccentricity, arrogance and not snap when they say stuff like 'you should actually stay behind and take up the Varalakshmi Viradham' and miss a holiday in London, (and when it doesn't even have perima's kozhakkattais, why would I take it up? To sweat in a dingy kitchen cum pooja alamari brooding over lost sleep, while Hari plays Monkey Flight in the iPod, sifts through various dappaankutthu numbers or read Richard Dawkins). What makes them think that I am going to take it up even if I don't go to London. Takes more than even perima's kozhakkatais for that.
I am happy mom's fine with my atheism, despite her being theist. But I don't quite agree with her when she tells me that if it pleases kith and kin, friends, maid, pakkathu veettu naaikutti and keeps them happy, why not just play along. Hedonistic Self is the only one I please.
While Hari feels the need to debate fiercely and zealously when people challenge him into an intellectual duel, counter religious myths, the God particle and all that jazz with Science and Rationale, I don't bother arguing, it's just not worth it when the other person believes what he wants to believe. Unlike Christian missionaries, I don't see fun in conversions. Unlike tales of Hindu spiritual wealth plundered by western influence, an increasingly favourite subject for the middle class, 50-60 year olds who did not rebel in their heyday and can't stand their progeny rebelling. I resist all beliefs and if he/she can't live with that, it ain't my problem. As a result, I snap. And I snap and I snap. Does the Bharathwaja Gothram- Sama Vedham clan have a gene that turns you into an abominable anti social specimen in your twenties. The symptoms are becoming too evident, to be ignored. And I am actually enjoying every inch of it.
Thankfully, I am spared churning out writing pseudo intellectual crap, I just sit up at ungodly hours, on a medication induced high, between bouts of diarrhoea ( I swear that henceforth I will not take anything that looks like a tablet or comes with a prescription, to hell with doctors who don't understand my allergies), telling the world that I feel no need to justify my hedonism and lack of beliefs with dumb morons and intellectual debaters alike. I don't read books on Rationalism just to recall them and state them as evidence, proof, precedents when I encounter someone who thinks I am sooooo 'wrong'. It's not a courtroom and I don't need a judgment. And it's not a flaw in me that you should feel responsible to set it right. The only flaws currently in my system, are high temperature, nausea and diarrhoea. I will be more than happy if someone can set that right.
And sorry folks, if you feed me stories on curses that bind snakes, I can't help laughing out aloud. Such involuntary reactions are really out of my control!
Finally about the title, not that I honour gurus, leaders and other 'thinkers', but I really like the dude Carvaka. Belonged to the 6th Century BC and hedonism was his middle name. Do read the wiki page about him and you will know why I call him the dude.
After a year of total disregard for mom's demands that I maintain a clean house, eat healthy food, lose weight, get a job, my MIL's demands that I wear the thirumangalyam, turn theist, my innumerable aunts and uncles' demands that I shed eccentricity, arrogance and not snap when they say stuff like 'you should actually stay behind and take up the Varalakshmi Viradham' and miss a holiday in London, (and when it doesn't even have perima's kozhakkattais, why would I take it up? To sweat in a dingy kitchen cum pooja alamari brooding over lost sleep, while Hari plays Monkey Flight in the iPod, sifts through various dappaankutthu numbers or read Richard Dawkins). What makes them think that I am going to take it up even if I don't go to London. Takes more than even perima's kozhakkatais for that.
I am happy mom's fine with my atheism, despite her being theist. But I don't quite agree with her when she tells me that if it pleases kith and kin, friends, maid, pakkathu veettu naaikutti and keeps them happy, why not just play along. Hedonistic Self is the only one I please.
While Hari feels the need to debate fiercely and zealously when people challenge him into an intellectual duel, counter religious myths, the God particle and all that jazz with Science and Rationale, I don't bother arguing, it's just not worth it when the other person believes what he wants to believe. Unlike Christian missionaries, I don't see fun in conversions. Unlike tales of Hindu spiritual wealth plundered by western influence, an increasingly favourite subject for the middle class, 50-60 year olds who did not rebel in their heyday and can't stand their progeny rebelling. I resist all beliefs and if he/she can't live with that, it ain't my problem. As a result, I snap. And I snap and I snap. Does the Bharathwaja Gothram- Sama Vedham clan have a gene that turns you into an abominable anti social specimen in your twenties. The symptoms are becoming too evident, to be ignored. And I am actually enjoying every inch of it.
Thankfully, I am spared churning out writing pseudo intellectual crap, I just sit up at ungodly hours, on a medication induced high, between bouts of diarrhoea ( I swear that henceforth I will not take anything that looks like a tablet or comes with a prescription, to hell with doctors who don't understand my allergies), telling the world that I feel no need to justify my hedonism and lack of beliefs with dumb morons and intellectual debaters alike. I don't read books on Rationalism just to recall them and state them as evidence, proof, precedents when I encounter someone who thinks I am sooooo 'wrong'. It's not a courtroom and I don't need a judgment. And it's not a flaw in me that you should feel responsible to set it right. The only flaws currently in my system, are high temperature, nausea and diarrhoea. I will be more than happy if someone can set that right.
And sorry folks, if you feed me stories on curses that bind snakes, I can't help laughing out aloud. Such involuntary reactions are really out of my control!
Finally about the title, not that I honour gurus, leaders and other 'thinkers', but I really like the dude Carvaka. Belonged to the 6th Century BC and hedonism was his middle name. Do read the wiki page about him and you will know why I call him the dude.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
From New York, With Love
I wrote this story in October 08, for a short story contest titled 'Romance', in Channel One, Cognizant internal blogging circle. Yesterday, a close friend of mine called tells me she read it on Channel One even yesterday! :)
Two years and people still read this!
It's a personal favourite too and more than once, people have forwarded it to me saying it's a good read :)
When I thought of this story, I envisaged it and almost started writing this in Tamil but only then did I realise that my written Tamil is not upto the mark. ( Well, am not claiming my English is excellent, but it's relatively better than my Tamil) In fact, even after I finished writing it, I still felt the story belongs to Tamil!! Will mail it to my aunt and get it reincarnated in Tamil.
Pssst, the most operative name in this story, I ripped from Thevar Magan It somehow signified a lot to me!
Dearest Appa, 27th Jan'1965
Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have missed this winter's biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa. You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan, Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil, filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Physics Department and of course Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn't brought his name in this letter.But not to worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you thought it was best for your daughter. I still remember Amma wiping her silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I told you about Sakthi. Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20 is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected greatly by my 'mistake', the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you'd still have objected and offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk. Visu on the other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man.
Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous. Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn't speak Bengali and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood. Do you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn't ask, he just did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri's son and that made it imposible for Subramania Iyer's daughter Kalyani to marry him.
I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don't think I can make it to Seenu's Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal, I don't use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 20th Oct'1968
We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they sounded like 'Dosai'. But Visu claims it's just gibberish. From your previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and settled in Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his school final exams. Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi's father, your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother's wishes.
How did Avani Avittam go? Visu's mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn't have used it anyway, I haven't seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess. Visu is making sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and Bharathiyaar's poetry when I am alone with him. It's more of reading to myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi, it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.
By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold your breath Appa, he didn't throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no question. He said it is okay and that he doesn't mind. And then he told me of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in New York. Nice lady, she was.
Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and give it to her. I will collect it from her here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 3rd June'1974
We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam and vaazhai ilai here. Visu's relieved to be back in America. I left a set of my books there. If it's not in Trichy it must be in Visu's parents' place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out Sakthi's present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long. You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika.
He called me. You know what, he's still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He didn't revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him, when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Ra ra Venu Gopala. That's when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then, I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy; after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call, I tried singing 'Kurai Onrum Illai'. I could not rquite reach Charanam, because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and daughter could not just wait for me to finish!
By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I would like to start singing again.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 14th Aug 1978
Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu's parents. It was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening. Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour - I finally got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I'm reminded of AIR, almost! I'm circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is, I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English speaking nation.
The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you, Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don't find an answer, Appa. Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted. Researcher, American Post Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time in Trichy with someone else.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 14th Apr'1984
Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. In fact, they did most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 20th Jan' 1990
I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you. Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn't want to go further. Society, I know. Family… I know… And all these letters would have only wounded you more. Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr. Sakthivel's untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters mean a life that could have been.
Kalyani Viswanathan.
Two years and people still read this!
It's a personal favourite too and more than once, people have forwarded it to me saying it's a good read :)
When I thought of this story, I envisaged it and almost started writing this in Tamil but only then did I realise that my written Tamil is not upto the mark. ( Well, am not claiming my English is excellent, but it's relatively better than my Tamil) In fact, even after I finished writing it, I still felt the story belongs to Tamil!! Will mail it to my aunt and get it reincarnated in Tamil.
Pssst, the most operative name in this story, I ripped from Thevar Magan It somehow signified a lot to me!
Dearest Appa, 27th Jan'1965
Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have missed this winter's biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa. You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan, Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil, filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Physics Department and of course Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn't brought his name in this letter.But not to worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you thought it was best for your daughter. I still remember Amma wiping her silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I told you about Sakthi. Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20 is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected greatly by my 'mistake', the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you'd still have objected and offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk. Visu on the other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man.
Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous. Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn't speak Bengali and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood. Do you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn't ask, he just did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri's son and that made it imposible for Subramania Iyer's daughter Kalyani to marry him.
I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don't think I can make it to Seenu's Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal, I don't use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 20th Oct'1968
We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they sounded like 'Dosai'. But Visu claims it's just gibberish. From your previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and settled in Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his school final exams. Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi's father, your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother's wishes.
How did Avani Avittam go? Visu's mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn't have used it anyway, I haven't seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess. Visu is making sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and Bharathiyaar's poetry when I am alone with him. It's more of reading to myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi, it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.
By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold your breath Appa, he didn't throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no question. He said it is okay and that he doesn't mind. And then he told me of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in New York. Nice lady, she was.
Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and give it to her. I will collect it from her here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 3rd June'1974
We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam and vaazhai ilai here. Visu's relieved to be back in America. I left a set of my books there. If it's not in Trichy it must be in Visu's parents' place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out Sakthi's present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long. You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika.
He called me. You know what, he's still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He didn't revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him, when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Ra ra Venu Gopala. That's when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then, I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy; after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call, I tried singing 'Kurai Onrum Illai'. I could not rquite reach Charanam, because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and daughter could not just wait for me to finish!
By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I would like to start singing again.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 14th Aug 1978
Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu's parents. It was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening. Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour - I finally got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I'm reminded of AIR, almost! I'm circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is, I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English speaking nation.
The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you, Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don't find an answer, Appa. Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted. Researcher, American Post Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time in Trichy with someone else.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 14th Apr'1984
Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. In fact, they did most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 20th Jan' 1990
I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you. Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn't want to go further. Society, I know. Family… I know… And all these letters would have only wounded you more. Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr. Sakthivel's untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters mean a life that could have been.
Kalyani Viswanathan.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Random Vetti Kirukkal 2
I shall not, henceforth, attend weddings adorned in a saree. Especially if the wedding is held in summer, in a non AC hall, and the hall was once a movie theatre with high ceiling, so high that the innumerable ceiling fans atop like 40 feet above me rotate at top speeds but you still sweat like a pig!
Speaking of weddings, today I attended a friend's wedding where I could actually recognise the bride. Kudos to her. I don't know why but for some strange reason every bride has to look unrecognizeable with jarring makeup, garlands, Seetha pallu, designer sarees that reflect light so much that you are scared the groom's black blazer might catch fire with the reflected glare and flash from the photographer's camera. And please, all ye men who wanna wear a full suit for your wedding reception, ask yourself this question before you tie that Windsor knot with that silk tie on your wedding reception evening-
Should you follow the totally insensible idiot who first wore a black blazer with a poomaalai ( and a veeboodhi pattai or naamam)? Let's all go stone him! It looks frigging crazy! Am not even commenting on the sad plight of that cauliflower shaped flower club that the poor groom holds on to, throughout the evening.
A naalu mozham veshti and khadar sattai would make you feel great, if you are getting married in May or June in a cinema-theatre-converted-kalyana-mandapam. Save your blazers for that white collared job interview in London!
All thy elderly uncles and aunts in these weddings, just because I got married at the age of 23, to someone my mother chose, after sifting through horoscopes, blah blah, it doesn't mean that I am samatthu!! Stop asking me if I know such samathu boys/girls who want to get married to your demanding daughter/niece/son/nephew. I got married because I had a lousy career, dismal CAT scores and people at home would have written me off the family tree for leading a totally useless, insignificant life in an IT organization as a ( here comes the worst part) technical writer (heard behind my back: you know what, she is not even a programmer, all she does is write support documents!!!!! Good lord, where and how did she, born in this Bharathwaja Gothram, Sama Vedham get this 'Insignificance' gene???)! My family had a no-tolerance policy to owning these insignificant specks and decided to pack me off to another Gothram!!!! Paavam Hari had ( and I hope, still has) the large heart to welcome me into his Kausika Gothram with open arms. And poof, my insignificance vanished, when I married Hari. I mean, Hari with a significant MBA from a significant Insti. And a significant job!
Anyway, dear maami/maama, if your daughter wants a six foot tall, ruggedly handsome, IIT-IIM educated, Honda Civic driving, liberal, 7-figure annual income guy, go hunt all tuition centres, Brilliant Tutorial class attendance registers from ten years back! Or you might have to drive to Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Indore, Jamshedpur, Chennai, Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Kanpur.. bribe the records office peon, get the list of Tam Brahms who studied in these institutions 2 to 6 years back, hunt these profiles on Orkut/Facebook and then start talks with the parents!
30 percent of my total expense is on Tropicana Juice cartons. Would a cook who can shop for fruits on her own, crush the juice and serve it to me while I am reading random wiki posts like ' Bantu tribes of Uganda', be cheaper?
Would anyone I know be nice enough to download all songs I require, write it into a DVD and then give it to me? I am becoming paranoid about downloading stuff from the Internet. The threat of a virus inflicted crash looms heavaily! Selfishness is my middle name.
I have a huuuuuuuuge crush on Nathan Fillion, I don't miss a single episode of Castle these days! Well, Hari's huuuuge crush on Stana Katic kinda helps us in not missing the show. I want to try writing a Nikki Heat novel now!
Speaking of weddings, today I attended a friend's wedding where I could actually recognise the bride. Kudos to her. I don't know why but for some strange reason every bride has to look unrecognizeable with jarring makeup, garlands, Seetha pallu, designer sarees that reflect light so much that you are scared the groom's black blazer might catch fire with the reflected glare and flash from the photographer's camera. And please, all ye men who wanna wear a full suit for your wedding reception, ask yourself this question before you tie that Windsor knot with that silk tie on your wedding reception evening-
Should you follow the totally insensible idiot who first wore a black blazer with a poomaalai ( and a veeboodhi pattai or naamam)? Let's all go stone him! It looks frigging crazy! Am not even commenting on the sad plight of that cauliflower shaped flower club that the poor groom holds on to, throughout the evening.
A naalu mozham veshti and khadar sattai would make you feel great, if you are getting married in May or June in a cinema-theatre-converted-kalyana-mandapam. Save your blazers for that white collared job interview in London!
All thy elderly uncles and aunts in these weddings, just because I got married at the age of 23, to someone my mother chose, after sifting through horoscopes, blah blah, it doesn't mean that I am samatthu!! Stop asking me if I know such samathu boys/girls who want to get married to your demanding daughter/niece/son/nephew. I got married because I had a lousy career, dismal CAT scores and people at home would have written me off the family tree for leading a totally useless, insignificant life in an IT organization as a ( here comes the worst part) technical writer (heard behind my back: you know what, she is not even a programmer, all she does is write support documents!!!!! Good lord, where and how did she, born in this Bharathwaja Gothram, Sama Vedham get this 'Insignificance' gene???)! My family had a no-tolerance policy to owning these insignificant specks and decided to pack me off to another Gothram!!!! Paavam Hari had ( and I hope, still has) the large heart to welcome me into his Kausika Gothram with open arms. And poof, my insignificance vanished, when I married Hari. I mean, Hari with a significant MBA from a significant Insti. And a significant job!
Anyway, dear maami/maama, if your daughter wants a six foot tall, ruggedly handsome, IIT-IIM educated, Honda Civic driving, liberal, 7-figure annual income guy, go hunt all tuition centres, Brilliant Tutorial class attendance registers from ten years back! Or you might have to drive to Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Indore, Jamshedpur, Chennai, Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Kanpur.. bribe the records office peon, get the list of Tam Brahms who studied in these institutions 2 to 6 years back, hunt these profiles on Orkut/Facebook and then start talks with the parents!
30 percent of my total expense is on Tropicana Juice cartons. Would a cook who can shop for fruits on her own, crush the juice and serve it to me while I am reading random wiki posts like ' Bantu tribes of Uganda', be cheaper?
Would anyone I know be nice enough to download all songs I require, write it into a DVD and then give it to me? I am becoming paranoid about downloading stuff from the Internet. The threat of a virus inflicted crash looms heavaily! Selfishness is my middle name.
I have a huuuuuuuuge crush on Nathan Fillion, I don't miss a single episode of Castle these days! Well, Hari's huuuuge crush on Stana Katic kinda helps us in not missing the show. I want to try writing a Nikki Heat novel now!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Random Vetti Kirukkal 1
Until almost the end of my adolescent days, I thought Anon was one super intelligent person who gave the world, 90 percent of all quotable quotes. And then, I had to find out that Anon was short for Anonymous.
I am yet to jailbreak my Ipod Touch, that Hari presented me for Valentine's day. Yet to start using it. This is the first blog post am attempting to write, 3 weeks after getting my own laptop. How lazy can I be? Not that I cook or clean much at home, the wife part of 'housewife' is true. The house part ain't. 14 outta 21 meals a week are had outside. Poor Hari. And did I miss something? Yeah, morning breakfast is strictly cereal. And preparing it consists of finding the cereal bowl, dropping a ladle of cereal into it and pouring milk over it. My LPG cylinder lasts some 8 months! Why wouldn't it?!
For some unknown reason, I am fixated on military operations and I am researching deeply about Operation Thunderbolt in Entebbe. Speaking of the Entebbe hijack operation, there was once a time when I got hooked to the name Benghazi and wanted to get a dog and name it Benghazi. Sounds great, eh? Well, now Don seems a better name for my imaginary dog.
For the first time in my life of 24 years, I walked into a bar/club/disco in Chennai, last night. And would you believe it, we were 2 crazy girls who went club hopping in autos, true Chennai Style! From Havana to Ten Downing Street and then to The Residency Towers. The Chennai clubbing scene is funny- college kids dancing among themselves- gals dance with gals and boys dance among themselves! For some reason, TDS attracts everyone in Chennai, at least it looked that way last night. I bet the place had atleast a 1000 visitors on a wednesday night yesterday! Can't imagine what the place looks like on a saturday! Btw, why's it that you are not asked for age proof in any of these places?? Most girls I see there are either anorexic or not a day older than 17. Wednesday night crowd at TDS- Caucasians who come there must think, 'whew, we have only as many people in our country'!
If every single girl I know of, wants a handsome,six footer for a husband, I wonder what happens to 99.9 percent of menfolk!
I was followed unabashedly by this crazy biker for like fifteen minutes, from Ashok Nagar to PSBB KK Nagar. I entered every street in KKN, trying to lose him and he still followed me. I parked my bike in front of the KKN Police Station for 5 minutes and started when I thought the guy had gone for good. But nope, he emerged from the crowd, a minute after I started homeward. What do you do with these psychopaths? If I walk upto him and reprimand him or create a scene, I bet he's gonna retort with 'It's a public road and I can go wherever I wish'.
Till date, I have lost six cellphones. Do I qualify for the Guinness Records? I don't really care for a certificate, I'll be happy if they award me with a cellphone.
I am yet to jailbreak my Ipod Touch, that Hari presented me for Valentine's day. Yet to start using it. This is the first blog post am attempting to write, 3 weeks after getting my own laptop. How lazy can I be? Not that I cook or clean much at home, the wife part of 'housewife' is true. The house part ain't. 14 outta 21 meals a week are had outside. Poor Hari. And did I miss something? Yeah, morning breakfast is strictly cereal. And preparing it consists of finding the cereal bowl, dropping a ladle of cereal into it and pouring milk over it. My LPG cylinder lasts some 8 months! Why wouldn't it?!
For some unknown reason, I am fixated on military operations and I am researching deeply about Operation Thunderbolt in Entebbe. Speaking of the Entebbe hijack operation, there was once a time when I got hooked to the name Benghazi and wanted to get a dog and name it Benghazi. Sounds great, eh? Well, now Don seems a better name for my imaginary dog.
For the first time in my life of 24 years, I walked into a bar/club/disco in Chennai, last night. And would you believe it, we were 2 crazy girls who went club hopping in autos, true Chennai Style! From Havana to Ten Downing Street and then to The Residency Towers. The Chennai clubbing scene is funny- college kids dancing among themselves- gals dance with gals and boys dance among themselves! For some reason, TDS attracts everyone in Chennai, at least it looked that way last night. I bet the place had atleast a 1000 visitors on a wednesday night yesterday! Can't imagine what the place looks like on a saturday! Btw, why's it that you are not asked for age proof in any of these places?? Most girls I see there are either anorexic or not a day older than 17. Wednesday night crowd at TDS- Caucasians who come there must think, 'whew, we have only as many people in our country'!
If every single girl I know of, wants a handsome,six footer for a husband, I wonder what happens to 99.9 percent of menfolk!
I was followed unabashedly by this crazy biker for like fifteen minutes, from Ashok Nagar to PSBB KK Nagar. I entered every street in KKN, trying to lose him and he still followed me. I parked my bike in front of the KKN Police Station for 5 minutes and started when I thought the guy had gone for good. But nope, he emerged from the crowd, a minute after I started homeward. What do you do with these psychopaths? If I walk upto him and reprimand him or create a scene, I bet he's gonna retort with 'It's a public road and I can go wherever I wish'.
Till date, I have lost six cellphones. Do I qualify for the Guinness Records? I don't really care for a certificate, I'll be happy if they award me with a cellphone.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The Movie Marathon
Since the start of 2010, I have been watching movies like crazy. Jobless, at home, I don't have much else to do. The good, the bad and the ugly movies- I haven't missed much. Watched the ones which got bad reviews- just to see why they are no good. Watched the ones with good reviews for obvious reasons..
Here's a partial list:
Sherlock Holmes
Has Holmes ever let us down! An absolute treat to watch. Loved Robert Downey and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson. Brilliant plot that unravels the truth behind the 'resurrection' of an occult practising aristocrat and his 'black magic', set in Holmes' day London, when the London tower bridge is under construction. The rational atheist in me is left wondering if this explanation behind 'ressurrection' - maybe the same process was carried out 2000 years back...
Aayirathil Oruvan
Enna kodumai Selvaraghavan!!!!! Yuck!! I am anything but fond of previous movies from Selvaraghavan. But the 'Ponniyin Selvan' loving, Tamil history fan wanted to watch it. And man, I spent the worst ever hours of my life in Satyam, trying to figure out what Selvaraghavan has, against Tamil movie audience. Never have I seen such meaningless gore- cannibalistic tribes, Roman style amphitheatres and dangerous sports with barbaric crowds cheering bloodshed and death, an ocean of serpents that wreck havoc. All the 4 leading Tamil dynasties- the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas and the Cheras have boasted of proud heights of civilization and Selvaraghavan depicts the Cholas as a barbaric race- nothing more than a bunch of uncouth, uncivilized people.. And the island supposedly offers dense forests, mountains, water bodies. Yet the clan chooses to live in the drought hit desert??? Kurinji, Neidhal, Paalai, Marudham, mullai in one island? Interesting indeed!!
Epdi ellaam audience a torture pannalaam nu room pottu yosippaaraa, Selvaraghavan?
3 Idiots
I am no big fan of Chetan Bhagat or his 'Five Point Someone' but this movie, I must admit, makes me think think the book was a thousand times better! Typical Bollywood masala... I still do not know how I endured the whole 3 hours!!
Tamil Padam
Wow!!!!! For someone who grew up on a staple diet of Tam films, this one is a treat! A spoof of stereotypical Tamil movie ingredients- Naattaamai, Graamam, middle aged backpack wielding 'am-in-college' friends, kalli paal, honest police officer, sentiment, street fights...
Goa
The Chennai 28 team is currently my favourite most movie making group in Kodambakkam. Goa is another fun movie that gives you exactly what you wish for in a movie theatre- unadultrated fun!!!
Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya
Vaaranam Aayiram, Minnalae.. Adhae Christian ponnu, adhae heart ache oda alaiyara hero. Madhavan, Surya and now it's Simbu! Minnale was simple and likeable, I agree. Vaaranam aayiram was okay... But Gautam, a 3rd time? No please. And to watch Simbu in a role tailored for Surya- naay.. that's unacceptable. Music's great. And Nalini Sriram has done an awesome job with Trisha's costumes! Stunning! Gautam, by now, we know more facts about your life than your family- Christian wife, an Engineering degree that you never wanted in the first place, English speaking urban middle class folks, struggle to make it big in movies, cool parents, blah blah blah.. But then, your life ain't all that interesting- definitely not enough to churn THREE movies out of it!
Payyaa
A car, a hot chick, a young guy with a great physique, rain dance with Tamannaah's clothes plastered to her skin, a road trip from Madras to Bombay, gundas- good looking rowdies ranging from Milind Soman to the fair and handsome hunk from the Mumbai team... Gross looking rowdies from the Andhra team. Total Masala! Total Tamil padam! Liked the movie loads. Should be named Mumbai Indians Vs. Deccan Chargers ; and the Chennai Super King who demolishes both the rowdy teams! :)
Story? Nope, none at all! Custom made for a Tamil masala audience!
Here's a partial list:
Sherlock Holmes
Has Holmes ever let us down! An absolute treat to watch. Loved Robert Downey and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson. Brilliant plot that unravels the truth behind the 'resurrection' of an occult practising aristocrat and his 'black magic', set in Holmes' day London, when the London tower bridge is under construction. The rational atheist in me is left wondering if this explanation behind 'ressurrection' - maybe the same process was carried out 2000 years back...
Aayirathil Oruvan
Enna kodumai Selvaraghavan!!!!! Yuck!! I am anything but fond of previous movies from Selvaraghavan. But the 'Ponniyin Selvan' loving, Tamil history fan wanted to watch it. And man, I spent the worst ever hours of my life in Satyam, trying to figure out what Selvaraghavan has, against Tamil movie audience. Never have I seen such meaningless gore- cannibalistic tribes, Roman style amphitheatres and dangerous sports with barbaric crowds cheering bloodshed and death, an ocean of serpents that wreck havoc. All the 4 leading Tamil dynasties- the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas and the Cheras have boasted of proud heights of civilization and Selvaraghavan depicts the Cholas as a barbaric race- nothing more than a bunch of uncouth, uncivilized people.. And the island supposedly offers dense forests, mountains, water bodies. Yet the clan chooses to live in the drought hit desert??? Kurinji, Neidhal, Paalai, Marudham, mullai in one island? Interesting indeed!!
Epdi ellaam audience a torture pannalaam nu room pottu yosippaaraa, Selvaraghavan?
3 Idiots
I am no big fan of Chetan Bhagat or his 'Five Point Someone' but this movie, I must admit, makes me think think the book was a thousand times better! Typical Bollywood masala... I still do not know how I endured the whole 3 hours!!
Tamil Padam
Wow!!!!! For someone who grew up on a staple diet of Tam films, this one is a treat! A spoof of stereotypical Tamil movie ingredients- Naattaamai, Graamam, middle aged backpack wielding 'am-in-college' friends, kalli paal, honest police officer, sentiment, street fights...
Goa
The Chennai 28 team is currently my favourite most movie making group in Kodambakkam. Goa is another fun movie that gives you exactly what you wish for in a movie theatre- unadultrated fun!!!
Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya
Vaaranam Aayiram, Minnalae.. Adhae Christian ponnu, adhae heart ache oda alaiyara hero. Madhavan, Surya and now it's Simbu! Minnale was simple and likeable, I agree. Vaaranam aayiram was okay... But Gautam, a 3rd time? No please. And to watch Simbu in a role tailored for Surya- naay.. that's unacceptable. Music's great. And Nalini Sriram has done an awesome job with Trisha's costumes! Stunning! Gautam, by now, we know more facts about your life than your family- Christian wife, an Engineering degree that you never wanted in the first place, English speaking urban middle class folks, struggle to make it big in movies, cool parents, blah blah blah.. But then, your life ain't all that interesting- definitely not enough to churn THREE movies out of it!
Payyaa
A car, a hot chick, a young guy with a great physique, rain dance with Tamannaah's clothes plastered to her skin, a road trip from Madras to Bombay, gundas- good looking rowdies ranging from Milind Soman to the fair and handsome hunk from the Mumbai team... Gross looking rowdies from the Andhra team. Total Masala! Total Tamil padam! Liked the movie loads. Should be named Mumbai Indians Vs. Deccan Chargers ; and the Chennai Super King who demolishes both the rowdy teams! :)
Story? Nope, none at all! Custom made for a Tamil masala audience!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
From Mrs. Harishankar's diary...
I have this crazy habit of googling my own stories and articles online. And I am more than surprised to see that one particular story I wrote has found its' way to many a webpage. Kalyani Viswanathan and her letters- the story is more than a year old, I wrote the story for an internal blog contest back in Oct 08, during my Cognizant days. And with great regret, I also realise that I haven't written much else after that. Blame it on a wonderful boyfriend turned husband, marriage, travel... or just plain laziness.
A typical day in my life today doesn't involve staring into the computer monitor for 10 hours a day. Yeah, I am as removed from timesheets, technical documents and Java as my friends are, with the kitchen. Unfortunately, that also means that I don't keep track of what my favourite bloggers write these days. Nor do I write anything sensible. Except notes during my German lessons and lengthy to-do lists. I just want to write from now on. And want to read more online. In case, dear reader, you are not a previously known pal, here are my previous blogs:
http://ahambhaavam.hyperphp.com/
http://deepa-methinks.blogspot.com/
A typical day in my life today doesn't involve staring into the computer monitor for 10 hours a day. Yeah, I am as removed from timesheets, technical documents and Java as my friends are, with the kitchen. Unfortunately, that also means that I don't keep track of what my favourite bloggers write these days. Nor do I write anything sensible. Except notes during my German lessons and lengthy to-do lists. I just want to write from now on. And want to read more online. In case, dear reader, you are not a previously known pal, here are my previous blogs:
http://ahambhaavam.hyperphp.com/
http://deepa-methinks.blogspot.com/
Monday, January 18, 2010
I resurface!
It's been 3 months since I have quit Cognizant and the internal blogging arena there- I miss the turf badly; my existing external blog Aham Bhaavam is choking with spam- hence I have relocated here!
Hope to post frequently, hope to visit my favorite bloggers regularly!
And if you are a techie, just let me know how to get rid of all the spam comment mail alerts in my inbox!! Bitte ;) ;) (Yeah, yeah... Am learning German these days, in my 'Freizeit' )
Ciao!!!
Hope to post frequently, hope to visit my favorite bloggers regularly!
And if you are a techie, just let me know how to get rid of all the spam comment mail alerts in my inbox!! Bitte ;) ;) (Yeah, yeah... Am learning German these days, in my 'Freizeit' )
Ciao!!!
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