Appy birthday Kichna!!!

Enjoy some Krishna Jayanthi photos!


Kutti Krishna(s)



P. S. - We are going on Vacation for a week. So, catch up with you all after the labour day weekend. Happy long weekend[this week in India(not for everyone?) and next week in US]!!

Friday Melody - "Kaalai"

Kaalaiyum neeye - Then nilavu
An evergreen 'kaalai' song sung by A M Raja and S Janaki.

Kaalai nera - Amman kovil kizhakale
A very melodius song sung by SPB

Kaalaiyil dinamum - New
A nice song by Unni Krishnan and Sadhna Sargam.

B & P

Recently watched Gurinder Chadha's 'Bride and Prejudice'. It was quite a disappointment. Probably because of my (too much) expectation from the director, with a previous hit, 'Bend it like Beckham' and this, based on Jane Austen's classic novel, 'Pride and Prejudice'.

The movie seemed too rushed. To give 'the Bollywood' feel, every now and then, people were bursting into song/dance sequence(with Indian style music and lyrics in English) that the story has been squeezed and hurried through. IMO, some of the events does not suit(or is it now?) the Indian culture(mother sending her marriageable daughter(s) to Goa with eligible bachelor guys)!!!



Anyway, the only good point(for me) in the movie was Martin Henderson. For once in movies, it was the hero who was the 'doll'! Any girl who has read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, cannot but love William Darcy. I have watched almost every visual version of the novel,

Hollywood P & P (Laurence Olivier, Greer Garson),


BBC's miniseries (Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle)


and even a hindi serial(cannot remember its name). Somehow Martin seemed a better looking Darcy than the other three(In my younger days, I thought 'Thalapathi' Arvindsamy was the perfect Darcy!!).

Even though the parents characterisation is strong in the novel, the actors(Anupam Kher and Nadeera Babbar as the Bakshis) had no scope. I felt it especially since the characterisation(Anupam Kher and Shaheen Khan) in Bend it.. was so impacting. The only character worth mentioning is Nitin Ganatra as Kohli. He was hilarious! Surprisingly most review sites have positive comments about this movie. I guess, Aishwarya Rai is the reason!!

Raksha Bandhan!!!!

Friday Melody

Enjoy some 'flower' songs today!


Poove iLaya poove - Kozhi Koovudhu

Malaysia Vasudevan is not associated with melodies much but this is one of the rare ones.

Poove sempoove - Solla Thudikkudhu Manasu

One of the many melodies of K J Yesudas.

Poo vaasam - Anbe Sivam

A lovely song and picturisation!! What else can I say!

Poove vaai pesum - 12B

After 'Kaaka kaaka', I've begun to like HJ's music. This, I am guessing, was his debut album.

Phoolon ka taaronka - Hare Rama Hare Krishna

And you thought I had forgotten 'Raksha Bandhan'!!


"Poo mazhai pozhiyattum"

1000th Issue of RD!!

I am not a voracious reader but reading is one of my favourite hobbies. Did not quite realise how a teeny-tiny baby could change one's life. Anyway, after a couple of years of break and inspired by fellow bloggers(especially, Balaji, and Munimma who with 2 kids, blog, read, watch movies, write stories etc. etc.!!!), I decided to renew my Reader's Digest subscription as a first step. Yesterday, I received my first issue and it was the 1000th issue of RD!! Let's see if I can live up to the challenge of finishing one book in one month!!!!

Pongi vazhiyum NR-I patriotism!!

Until she was in India, she was as normal as any other Indian, neither felt proud nor sorry for being an Indian, did not contribute anything to the country and hence did not expect much from it , enjoyed Independance days, Republic days like any other holidays either in the company of friends/relatives or watching the 'whatever' day specials on TV.

It was only after leaving the 'porandha maNN' that Patriotism started overflowing! Giving broad smiles to fellow Indians, reading Newpapers from front to back for India news, watching News/documentaries on TV featuring anything Indian, picking up fights with every person who complained about Indian (lack of) facilities or bureaucracies etc. The height was watching Ms Universe/World shows or the Olympics Parade!!! The latest addition is her brightening face when her daughter points to India's map and says, 'India'!!

No prizes for guessing who that 'she' in there is, it is me, ofcourse! It was only recently that I came to know about the Independance day Parade in NYC (from Senthil's blog). My first reaction was 'enna patriotism!'. But when I gave it some more thought, I realised how pseudo-patriotic I have become! Wish Nagesh Kukunoor had shown how Ashwini lived and reacted in the US in his part II of Hyderbad Blues!!

Diversity is both a boon and bane to India. I cannot think of another country in our earth even half as big as India, even quarter of India's population, with as many languages, religions, castes and still as one. Though I say the above sentence with pride, I also feel that a lot of time and energy is spent in keeping it together. When I think of India, I remember most school teachers famous complaint to parents, 'He/She has the potential. If he/she puts enough effort, he/she will definitely come out in flying colours'!!!

Friday Music - Independance day Spl.

A homage to the numerous unsung heroes/heroines of our country whose sacrifices has led us to enjoy this freedom.

Paarukulle - Kappalotiya Tamizhan

If this patriotic song by Bharathiyaar makes us lift our heads with pride now, what boost it would have been for the freedom fighters then!

Tamizha tamizha - Roja

Even after 58 years of freedom, we are still dealing with border problems with our neighbour. Hope that the talks bring peace.

Mile sur

Doordharshan had some wonderful music videos on National Integration in the late 80s/early 90s. I am sure this will be an ever-green favourite with you all too just as me.

Nostalgia!

Long time back, DD used to show animated short films to fill gaps in between programmes. Some of my favourite cartoons used to be 'misusing stop chains in trains', 'cleanliness' etc. While searching for a song, I came across this clip which sure took me down memory lane.

Check it out:
Ek Chidiya Anek Chidiyan

What Women mean!!

Women's Dictionary

Yes = No

No = Yes

Maybe = No

I'm sorry = You'll be sorry

We need = I want

It's your decision = My correct decision should be obvious by now

Do what you want = You'll pay for this later

We need to talk = I need to complain

Sure go ahead = I don't want you to

I'm not upset = Of course I'm upset, you moron

You're so manly = You need a shave and you sweat a lot

This kitchen is so inconvenient = I want a new house

I want new curtains = and carpeting, and furniture, and wallpaper

I heard a noise = I noticed you were almost asleep

Do you love me? = I'm going to ask for something expensive

How much do you love me? = I did something today you're going to hate

I'll be ready in a minute = Kick off your shoes and find a good game onTV

You have to learn to communicate = Just agree with me


P.S. - Guys, the above information is very valuable and essential to Martians(men are from mars, I hear!). So, take a print out, laminate or do whatever you want but keep it handy(I am in need of some good wishes!!).

Happy Friendship day!!

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
Oh, that’s what friends are for

That's what friends are for

Dil Chahta Hai, Dil Chahta Hai
Dil Chahta Hai, Kabhi Na Beete Chamkeele Din
Dil Chahta Hai, Hum Na Rahein Kabhi Yaaron Ke Bin

Dil chahta hai

Mera to jo bhi kadam hain, woh teri hi rahon main hain.
Ke tu kahi bhi rahain tu meri nigahaon main hain.

Mera jo bi kadham hai

mustafaa mustafaa Don't worry mustafaa
kaalam nam thoazhan mustafaa
Day by day day by day vaazhkaip payanam day by day
muzhugaadha Shippay FRIENDSHIP dhan

Mustafa mustafa

Friday Melody

Hoping to have a Friday melody special with a theme(nature, colour as suggested by my dear friend, philosopher and ---guide, Sadhashiv) every week.

It is 'Kaatru' this week.

Kaatrekenna veli - Avargal

I cannot say which one I like the best about this song: the lyrics, the picturisation, the voice. One cannot help feeling elated listening to this song. In the picturisation, the first thing that comes to my mind is the scene where Sujatha hesitates and then goes ahead & plucks a flower where there is sign board saying 'Do not pluck flowers'!!

Kaatre en vaasal vandhaai - Rhythm

Vasanth, IMO, is the best director to come from KB's school(has anyone noticed that alternate movies of his are hits). Like his Guru, K. Balachander, Vasanth too has always given special importance to music in his movies. Enjoy this one from Rhythm.

Kaatril endhan geetham - Johnny

I have never seen this movie but love all the songs. So this is for all you Rajni fans!

From the News!

Blogosphere Report

Hey, I'm part of this Universe!


Reduce your iPod Volume

There is concern that continuous listening of loud music on personal music players(with ear phones) may lead to hearing problems.

L, XL, XXL!!

IMO, one of the most prominent thing that catches the eye of new people in the US is the size! Be it the country, the people, the food served or the items available, it is big, bigger and biggest.

Even before coming to the US, I had a lot of Friends & Relatives here. Never paid attention to where in the US they lived, though. So, when we were to move here, I was overjoyed that I would be enjoying their company often. Only after coming here did I realise how vast this country is(it is three times that of India, it seems). I understood that, 'oh, we live in the East coast too' meant anywhere between 10-1000 miles!!

Most people here are of big-built, not necessarily fat/overweight category. Even now it is sometimes hard for me to tell if a guy standing next to me is a teenager or an adult! So, quite a few of my friends of heavy-built(according to Indian stds.) are so happy here that they don't look big and that they find clothes in the normal(!) section!!

If ever one wants to give up a favourite item, they should shop at whole-sale clubs! The items available are in such mammoth sizes that you would wonder if it will get over at all!! The first time I went to such a store, we were urged to stock up as they were of great deal prices! Even after 2 years, I still had some of the items bought during that trip!! A special mention is needed for our cannot-live-without Indian groceries. Both Sambar powder and Turmeric powder will be available in the same size!! What a contrast to our 'potti kadai(s)'!!

Ah, the Restaurants! This is one place where you can have your 'paisa vasool'. For the money one pays, the food served would be so much food and if unable to finish it, can always ask for a doggy bag and save it for the next meal!! I have never managed to finish a medium sized beverage till now!