Trio

I remember vividly in my KG days how all visitors to our house would ask(or prompted to ask!), "who are your friends at school?" and every time I would proudly answer, "Shanta Kumari and Mary Vasanthi!"(I hardly remember anything about SK now but I vaguely remember visiting MV's house which was at walking distance from my home). Thinking in those lines, I realised that I've had 2 close friends at all stages of my life making us the mumurthi'gal' gangs. The other day I was watching 'Clifford the big red dog' (along with my daughter, ofcourse) and I realised how Clifford too has 2 doggie pals, T Bone and Cleo. 'Dil chahta hai' was about 3 friends, 'Friends' serial had 3 male and 3 female friends.

On further analysis I found that every trio has a level-head(Clifford, Sid, Chandler, Monica, my friends R/J/R), a show-off(Cleo, Akash, Ross, Rachel, my friends S/P/V/G) and a silly-simple joker(T-Bone, Sameer, Joey, Phoebe, my friends S/P). There always will be clashes between the level head and the show off with the joker[me (too) in most cases!] caught in between unsure as to who to support! The idea to this post came about when, continuing in the tradition, my daughter recently declared that Kayla and Kyrene are her best friends in school!! Now I will continue the tradition of prompting everyone who visits us to ask her about her friends!

FM - "மயில்"

மயில் பொல - பாரதி

மயிலே மயிலே - கடவுள் அமைத்த மேடை

மயிலிறகே - அன்பே ஆருயிரே

(தோகை இள)மயில் - பயணங்கள் முடிவதில்லை

(Pla)sticky Matter

Plastic bags ban!

Plastic entered our lives through soap boxes, mugs, buckets and graduated to milk packets, biscuits etc. as far as I can remember. But the recycle 'rajas' and 'ranis' that we are(were?) every smelly milk cover was collected and sold to the plastic-paper-karan(?) and we lived guilt-free. Atleast a majority of my life in India, one had to carry their own bag to vegetable and grocery stores or risk carry the items in newspaper packets. Even by the time, every 'potti kadai' began generously giving out polythene bags(one cannot find tinier bags than those!) I hardly knew about the non bio-degradability of plastics and its effect on the environment. My first jolt came when cattle consuming these polythene bags from the rubbish bins made news!

When I moved abroad, the use and throw mentality was so hard to digest, me from the 'recycle kingdom' and all!! When we first moved, my husband couldn't believe his eyes at the mound of grocery bags, the yogurt cans that I had hoarded(which were eventually trashed much to my dismay)!! Later I found recycle bins in our community and just when I was laying back satisfied in doing my bit, came the crashing news that the community could no longer support recylcing!! It took another few months for me to find about the recycle center in our town and took another few months to locate it only to find that it needed membership!

After all the setbacks, I decided to carry my own bags wherever I went and not use the plastic bags. From my India trip, I had got special jute bags for that reason! My husband walked a safe 10 feet away from me whenever I was with my gunny bag! And he preferred waiting in the car when I stood in the billing counter ready to rattle the cashiers who are used to the 'scan-drop in bag' routine with my 'no bags, please' cry! Even my friends who came to visit, scared to listen to my 'green' lecture, hid plastic bags in their cars and hand carried all their items!

Then, we moved again! This time we found ourselves short of plastic bags during the packing process and my husband was so satisfied to have got the chance to hit back at me for the state I had brought the house to! Then, I began resusing the bags by carrying old bags back to the store which didn't seem like a good idea as people began to suspect I was trying to shop-lift(though once the cashier paid me 3 c for each bag for reusing and it happened infront of my in-laws!!)!

It's not just plastic bags, I am equally averse to storing/heating food in plastic containers after being scared by articles like these! I have a collection of tiny stainless steel containers which I use to store food, send lunch to my daughter etc. After a few weeks, my daughter's teacher suggested that I buy lunch boxes available in stores as there was not enough room for my containers in their lunch table(and it was then that I saw that most kids got lunch in disposable brown bags and ziploc bags)!!

To encourage my daughter to drink more water, all sources point to keeping a water bottle in a prominent place which will tempt/remind about drinking water from time to time. I, as usual, was at the mercy of the internet to research about any 'safe plastic' bottles to store water in. The debate about plastic safety still going strong, I am now wondering if water from plastic bottle is better than no water at all... Any ideas?

FM - "பொய்!"

"பொய் சொல்லப்போறேன்" - திருட்டுப் பயலே

"பொய் சொல்லக்கூடாது" - Run

"பொய் சொல்லலாம்" - HNRAI

"பொய் சொல்ல" - April மாதத்தில்

Yaam Petra Inbum...!!!

Kamal (Malaysia) Interview - I - Seems an old interview nevertheless delightful!

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI


Coffee with Anu - Prakash & Prithiv raj

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

FM - "மலர்(கள்) - II'

"மலர்களே மலர்களே" - Love Birds

"மலர்களே" - புதுக்கோட்டையிலிருந்து சரவணன்

"மலர்களில்" - கல்யாண ராமன்

"மலர்களை போல்" - பாச மலர்

Restriction

IIT (Mumbai) to limit Internet access! - Ada paavame!!
Ever since we switched from dial-up to high-speed internet, computer has been my all in all(friend, newspaper, TV, telephone...). The only thing I am still not comfortable is reading novels online.

My inbox showed new mails in double digits one day last week! I hurriedly opened to see who the mails were from and boy, was it a surprise! All Spam comments!!! Only consolation was that atleast none were the usual 'gumbaloda govinda' forwarded messages!! Now I wonder whether to remove anonymous commenting option or to add word verification(any suggestions?). Yerkanave comments-kku lottery! Idhule, idhu veraya? mocked my mind. During my early blogging days, one of my friend commented(offline!) how blogging is all about getting comments. I retorted then like a cinema Actor about how I would go on blogging(Kalai chevai!) even if no one comments on my posts! But like how they say "aadina kaalum, paadina vaayum..." now add comments vaangina blog-um!

My bulk mails are overflowing with mails wanting to make me rich lately. "Final notice for you collect your lottery money" screams some and many from the African continent are waiting to transfer their brimming bank balance to mine!! Ada pongada!!

FM - AK Spl

Dil chahta hai - DCH

Ruth aa gayi re - 1947 Earth

Yuhi kat jayega safar - HHRPK

Papa kehte hai - QSQT

Yaadon ki baraat - YKB


Earlier spl here!

Menu Vs Buffet

Eating out used to be a rare/ special occasion thingy back in India. It took me a long time to digest(!) the fact that here many don't take lunch box with them to work and almost always eat outside!

Anyway, both my husband and I love the buffets at restaurants. Guess, it kind of give us the feeling of having to taste a variety of food instead of telling each other, 'Can I have some of your channa batura?'!! Somehow I thought that everyone else would prefer the buffet to Menu too and so when I found a few of my friends don't feel that way, it was quite surprising. I thought like in addition to having a variety of foods to eat, it is cheap compared to ordering from Menu and unlimited too! "What's not to like?" like Joey says in 'Friends'!!

After much thinking(romba important!), I've seem to have arrived at the reason behind my buffet preferance. I mostly come up with a menu for the whole week so that I don't have to break my head as to what to cook every day. Probably b'cos the daily food is no surprise to me, I find the buffet interesting. Whereas those of my friends who like to order from menu, surprise themselves everyday by cooking from what is available in the fridge. So, they seem to go planned with what to eat at the restaurant! Eppadi namma conclusion!!!


P.S. - An old versus here!

FM - "நதி"

'நதியில் ஆடும்" - காதல் ஓவியம்

"நதியா நதியா" - பூ மழை பொழிகிறது

"நதியே நதியே" - ரிதம்

Orkooting!

First it was email, then yahoo groups/blog and now orkut. Whether or not it is useful/interesting, one has to have an account in these nowadays. Otherwise you are outdated! Atleast it was 'all are welcome'(so far!) in the former cases and so anybody could create an account, forward, post or let it expire. Orkut is only for the privileged! Only by invitation!

Anyway, I got invited too and joined the group! Initially, I felt odd in the orkut community as it seemed like a 'chinna pasanga' community. Then, I shed my inhibitions and barged in! It was getting to be a friends & family affair adding friends, friend's friends, siblings, cousins, cousins' cousins as 'friends' and rating them as 'good', 'bad' and 'ugly'. Email-ey adikka mudiyadhavanga kooda apappa scrapping!

Then 'the orkooters' boasted about finding long lost friends in the community. Aah, how can I miss out on that! So, once again plunged into the orkut ocean only to realise how with common South Indian names one can get lost in orkut like getting lost in Kumba Mela! The search spits 1000s of results. Even if you know whether the friend uses her maiden name or married surname, the search result comes down to 100s. Tottally pissed off with the numerous page scrollings, I tried school, college, office communities. Again, numerous results. Every community has 100s of members. Most of the members are of recently passed/joined, freshers category! So, once again, came to the same old conclusion - orkut is 'chinna pasanga' community. So, I am going to orquit!

FM - Hariharan spl.

மஞ்சள் வெயில் - வேட்டையாடு விளையாடு

காற்றில் வரும் கீதமே - ஒரு நாள் ஒரு கனவு

மூங்கில் காடுகளே - சாமுராய்

காதலை யாரடி - தக திமி தா

செல்லமே செல்லம் - ஆல்பம்

ரகசியமாய் - டும் டும் டும்

மழை துளி - சங்கமம்

அவள் வருவாளா - நேருக்கு நெர்

குச்சி குச்சி ராக்கம்மா - பம்பாய்

கொஞ்ச நாள் - ஆசை

ஏதோ ஒரு பாட்டு - உன்னிடத்தில் என்னை கொடுத்தேன்

Sidney Poitier

In celebration of African-American History Month, our library has featured Sidney Poitier's autobiography, The measure of a man. I am yet to pick up the book but that inspired me to list down a few of my favourite movies of his.

To Sir with love - This was the first Poitier movie that I watched. The story is about a black teacher taking up or rather forced to take up the challenge of teaching unruly, difficult slum children and making a difference in their lives. The book in itself is a touching story and with Poitier's performance, it is among the few movies which does justice to the original novel.

Guess who's coming to Dinner - One of the few movies which boasts of big star names, big expectations and still manage to live upto the hype. The story is about a white girl bringing her black boy friend to meet her parents. How ever rational and open minded we think we are, the real test is when we have to deal with it in reality. With Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier, it is a feast for movie buffs!

In the heat of the night - Another powerful movie dealing with racism. Rod Steiger as the southern officer comes up with a superb performance and won the best Actor Oscar, understandably! Poitier as the black Northy Senior officer, even though senior, having to put on extra efforts to prove himself and his work!

P.S. - Poitier, Gere are some names I avoided uttering (for a long time) for the fear of being ridiculed by mispronouncing them!

From the news!

Gajini!!!

Athinikki chithini Pathini!!!

FM - Hindi

Pyar hua chupke se - 1942 A Love Story

Pyar hua ikrar hua - Shree 420

Pyar kiya nahin jata - Woh 7 Din

Pyar karne wale - Hero

Pyar diwana - Kati Patang

Pyar mein kabhi kabhi - Chalte Chalte

Over-u?

I have always been(so far!) lucky to be surrounded by like-minded people. Like-minded in the sense that if I grumbled about things, they would join in too(like if I started 'my college principal is so bad' good friends would say, 'oh, mine is worsht' or to my 'oora idhu' my great friends would go 'aiye! padu mattam') and all was well! But a recent acquaintance turned up to be this (over?)confident/ positive(all the time) person! For all my complaints she offered some positive perspective with a regular bonus of how lucky and great things have been for her making me bury my head in shame.

This kind of attitude was puzzlling to me as I have always been surrounded by epitomes of 'அடக்கம்(modesty)'. Even if a person was confident of scoring 100% in the exam, he/she was a good soul only if he/she said "ஏதோ எழுதியிருக்கேன்'(edho ezhudhi irukken)"! Even in movies if the Hero runs 'ஆத்தா, நா pass ஆயிட்டேன்' then that means 'ஆத்தா' role is over!! Yes, the use of superlative adjectives by the locals for even simple deeds surprised me in the beginning.

Then, recently I found out that my 'half-full' friend cleverly & conveniently covers up bad patches and just brags about things. Though the idea of being positive, encouraging others seems nice, her dishonesty now makes me doubt her every word. Also, the attitude of patting one's own back for their good luck when talking about other's misfortune irks me. Oh, how I miss you fellow brooders!!!!

FM - 'Taj mahal'!!

Taj mahal oviya kaadhal - Kalvanin Kaadhali

Taj mahal thevaillai - Amaravathi

Taj mahal onru - Kannodu Kaanbadhellaam

Round About!

Age of Innocence - Been wanting to read this Edith Wharton novel for quite a long time. Got to read it only now. Might have been a bold story in its time. As always I so wanted to watch the screen version as soon as I finished reading the book. But somehow Daniel Day Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer as Newland Archer and Countess Olenska respectively don't quite match the Archer and Olenska of my imagination. Anybody know of any other television series and/or older screen versions?

Somehow the story kept reminding me of Prince Charles' life. What difference a few centuries make!! When Charles and Camilla got married I couldn't help wonder at how their love triumphed after 30 years (despite all the tragedies in between)! True love, huh?

Anyway, happy Valentine's Day! Specially to the newbies,

and


For the oldies, mommies and crybabies, enjoy this!!

FM - "நீ"

"நீ ஒரு காதல்" - நாயகன்

"நீ பாதி" - கேளடி கண்மணி

"நீ காற்று" - நிலாவே வா

"நீ பௌர்ணமி" - ஒருவர் வாழும் ஆலயம்

"நீயில்லாத" - தெய்வத்தின் தெய்வம்

"நீ ஒன்று" - உன்னால் முடியும் தம்பி

How??????

When you have shown total disapproval to a person about their decision, they still go ahead with it and even still have the audacity to get help from you to accomplish it!!!

A child at a store started whining about wanting a toy which grew into a full fledged tandrum and the mother was calmly ignoring the screams. The child's cries were tugging at my heart. But had I been in that mom's shoes, my expression of 'ellum kollum' exploding would be hard to hide!

FM - "மலர் - I"

"மலரே பேசு" - கீதாஞ்சலி

"மலரே மௌனமா" - கர்ணா

"மலரே குறிஞ்சி மலரே" - Dr. சிவா

"மலருக்கு தென்றல்" - எங்க வீட்டு பிள்ளை

"மலர்ந்தும் மலராத" - பாச மலர்

Gandhigiri!

Telecom Italia!

FM - "புத்தம் புது'

"புத்தம் புது பூமி வேண்டும்" - திருடா திருடா

"புத்தம் புது ஓலை வரும்" - வேதம் புதிது

"புத்தம் புது காலை" - அலைகள் ஓய்வதில்லை

"புத்தம் புது பூ பூத்தது" - தளபதி

"புத்தம் புது மலரே" - அமராவதி

Good Times!

இளங்காத்து வீசுதே

What a great team! Whoever thought Surya could act or that Bala would continue to defy kollywood masala world or that National award could wink at Tamil film world too sometimes!!!
Not sure how far the rumours are to be believed but if they are true, then too bad that Surya and Vikram are not in good terms and Bala has got the not-so-nice person tag!

FM - "ஹேய்!"

"ஹேய், ஓராயிரம்" - மீண்டும் கோகிலா

"ஹேய், ஐயாசாமி" - வருஷம் 16

"ஹேய், I love you" - உன்னை நான் சந்தித்தேன்

"ஹேய், Good bye நண்பா" - ஆய்த எழுத்து

"ஹேய், தென்றலே" - நெஞ்சத்தை கிள்ளாதே

"ஹேய், ராசாத்தி" - என் உயிர் தோழன்

TV

In the 80s, come Sunday and we would spend the whole day glued to the idiot box, starting with Disney time(or Rangoli in the late 80s) to Regional movie at 1.30PM (respite only if it is oriya or bhojpuri!)! It was those days when there was only one channel and one day with non-stop programmes. Still, it had variety, content & entertainment value. Thanks to TTM, for bringing out some great memories of those good old DD days!

Having said that, I remember my mother getting annoyed at our sitting infront of the box through out the day. With audiences of different age group always ready to continue the TV viewing, Sunday used to be her biggest head-ache day! I was a TV addict for a very long time (I am not one now b'cos I've become an Internet addict!).

Now that I am a mother, I now get my mother's point of view. Ever since my daughter started recognising characters on TV shows, I began to limit her TV viewing. Though she generally adheres to rules, there have been days when she wouldn't budge from the couch. One of the reason may be the subsequent unattractive alternative activity that awaits her.

One of my relative tells me that if we let the kids watch TV as much as they want, soon they will get bored with the repeat programs themselves and the problem gets solved by itself! I am not ready to take this risk as yet! In some other's houses I have noticed that they leave the television on the whole time that the kids are so used to being around it all the time that they only turn around to watch Advertisements and other catchy visuals and then go about doing whatever they are doing. Now I am concerned if my restrictions make her want to break the rules. Also, I wonder if my restricting and censoring would make her vulnerable/ignorant and if ugly realities and unwanted visuals would affect her later.


P.S. - It used to be such an awesome experience to watch the stories of Famous Five, Tintin on TV in those days. Today's kids are so lucky to be able to read their favourite stories & get to watch them almost as soon.

FM - KJY Spl.!

Adhisaya raagam - Apoorva Raagangal

Akkarai seemai - Priya

Chandirare suriyare - Amaran

Deivam thandha veedu - Aval Oru Thodarkadhai

Eeramana rojave - Ilamai Kalangal

En iniya pon nilave - Moodupani

Paartha vizhi - Guna

Senthazham poovil - Mullum Malarum

Unnidam mayangugiren - Thensindhudhey Vaanam

Valamana Boomiyil - Ore Vaanam Ore Boomi

Yerikara poonkaatre - Thooral Ninnu Pochu

Rama kadha - Bharatham

Pravahame - Sargam

Kahan se aaye badra - Chashme Buddoor

Gori tera - Chitchor

Belated birthday wishes to Dr. K. J. Yesudas!

Neophobia!

I don't know if it is an Indian mentality but anything new especially if makes life convenient/comfortable makes me skeptical. Infact, I almost always stand in the way of my husband's (unending!) wish for new electronic gadgets. At times it is like Rukmini limiting Krishna's அவல்(poha) eating, but sometimes I also learn to enjoy the item's use and convenience(like the Digital camera or GPS system).

The Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta is a fun park. With the weekend weather spring-like(with ஆளாளு giving certificates that it is El Nino and/or Global warming's effect!), coupled with some interesting holiday attractions for kids, it turned out a nice outing. With hubby dear safely taken the cameraman's role, I had no choice but get into the rink for my daughter's sake. Wow! How easy and simple the Ice skating appears from outside! Just a short walk to the kiddies rink through the adult's ice skating rink proved a nice 'சில்லரை வாரல்'!!

BTW, have you heard? Like googled, bangalored it is plutoed now!!

FM - 'வானம்'

வானம் வசப்படுமே - வானம் வசப்படும்

வானம் நமக்கு - அஞ்சலி

வானம் தரையில் - உன்னுடன்

வானம் அருகில் - நீயா

வானம் கீழே - தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே

வானம் என்ன வானம் - பிரியமான தொழி

FM - "நெனப்பு (தான்!)"

நினைவோ ஒரு பறவை - சிகப்பு ரோஜாக்கள்

நினைத்தாலே இனிக்கும் - நினைத்தாலே இனிக்கும்

நினைத்து நினைத்து பார்த்தால் - 7G ரெயின்போ காலனி

நினைக்க தெரிந்த மனமே - ஆனந்த ஜோதி

நினைத்ததை நடத்தியே முடிப்பவன் - நம் நாடு

நினைப்பதெல்லாம் - நெஞ்சில் ஓர் ஆலயம்

Do you....

(also) pace up and down while chatting on the phone?

Anyway,
the one and only habitable planet (until Corot proves otherwise!) that we know of is nearing its yet another 'venduthal' around Su(rya)n! Time again for new resolutions, hopes, plans, subscription renewals, account recharges...
Wishing everyone a good New Year!

FM - 'பனி'

'பனித்துளி' - கண்ட நாள் முதல்

'பனி விழும் மலர்வனம்' - நினைவெல்லாம் நித்யா

'பனி விழும் இரவு' - மௌன ராகம்

'பனி விழும் பருவநிலா' - பன்னீர் நதிகள்

'பனியில்லாத' - ஆனந்த ஜோதி

Gifts

Birthday parties, making cards, opening presents are some of my 4 year old's latest craze. With every nook and corner in this country decked and decorated for Christmas now, wherever there are boxes gift wrapped, she wants to open them!! Anyway, my first Christmas outside of India, I went all emotional about the giving season! Somehow I didn't think gifts were associated with our festivals. Even the bakshish/betta was associated with irritation and not joy of giving. It even made me think we were too self-centric. But the returning /exchange of gifts done on the day after Christmas came as quite a shock! Returning gifts??? It seemed like the most outrageous thing to do. To me, it was an insult to the gift giver who spent time and energy to get it. Ofcourse, as always I have a few flashback incidents which is why I think too much into this gifting thing.

A friend of mine was getting married. I asked her what she wanted as a wedding gift and she said she wanted a handbag. The day of the wedding, I was at a store, overwhelmed by the different colours, varieties of handbags that hung all around. Ultimately I got one, presented it to her, chatted with friends, enjoyed the grand meal and forgot about it. A few weeks later I went to see her at her(mother's) house when she had come to visit. Her mother asked me to wait saying that she would be back soon from handbag shopping with her husband! I was totally shocked and hurt, excused myself and spent a few weeks brooding about it!

Another time, there was this neighbour whose sister was getting married and she only invited a select few from the neighbourhood. My grandfather who was this proud அந்தகாலத்து person took offense to his omission. Since I was the only one with a vehicle(bicycle, hee.. hee..) at that time, the lady needed my help to move some things for the function. In the process, she kept saying things like how costly weddings are, how she hates to burden people with gift buying by inviting them etc.

Now if you think cash is the best gift, how much is not too much(or too little)! Years back, I attended a birthday party of one of my (phoren!) cousin. After candle blowing, cake cutting/eating, games etc., they announced the 'gift opening ceremony'. All of us had 'what?' look on our faces as gift opening was never done public! Like in movies, she ripped open the lovely gift wraps(what a waste!), opening the gifts one by one and announcing who got her what! Among the gifts was an envelope with a 10 rupee note inside. Even though this was probably more useful than the umpteen gifts she got and even adequate for a girl her age, the display of his humble 10 Re. note made the giver's face go pale!

Gift giving and receiving are joy only among close friends/relatives. I cannot seem to agree with the honour tag associated with invitation/மொய் etc. Even though I want to and try to be a selfless giver, when things go wrong in a relationship, I cannot but help thinking about all that I'd done for them! But I'm slowly trying to accept the idea that once you gift someone, the item belongs to them. Whether they use it, return it, exchange it or give it away to someone is their choice!

FM - "கேள்"

கேளடா - பாரதி

கேளடி கண்மணி - புது புது அர்த்தங்கள்

கேள்வியின் நாயகனே - அபூர்வ ராகங்கள்

Goodness Gracious Me!!!

Wicked Innit!!

FM - "சொல்லு(or not!)"

சொல்லாயோ - மோகமுள்

சொல்லாமல் தொட்டு செல்லும் - தீனா

சொல்லத்தான் - சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன்

சொல்லாமலே - பூவே உனக்காக

சொல்லாதே - சொல்லாமலே

Sa(a)le!!

Like weekly TV Serial episodes, one thing I wait excitedly with undiminished enthu' week after week is the weekly flier of stores. Though I don't run out the door immediately to buy those attractive items that are advertised, it astonishes me every time to see the effort and work that goes to make these fliers!! Every time I look at the beautiful pictures on super "வழ வழ" paper, I am reminded of my grandfather who would've admired and raved about the high quality paper!! My experience ranges from joy on seeing the humidifier (that the doctor just suggested) on sale to 'வயதெரிச்சல்' on knowing that the butter I bought for $3 a week earlier is on sale for 1/2 price the next week to ecstasy on having a coupon applied for the already on sale item!! The sale items even has helped me many times to come up with a menu on mind-racking Sunday evenings!!

One labour day weekend we landed at the mall having missed the train to Boston! I stumbled on a handbag with a $30 price tag, 50% off for labour day! From then on, every long weekend, I began insisting on going to the mall to going on trips!! It felt sinful to buy anything on regular price! My 'only on sale' policy was getting so (in)famous back home with my mother telling everyone "என் பொண்ணு கீரை கூட sale தான் வாங்குவா(My daughter even buys Spinach when they are on sale)!"!

On our first thanksgiving here, I was overwhelmed by all the 'black friday' sale ads. With each store in one-one corner, we dropped the idea of running from store to store and decided on going to the nearest store, Walmart. Since the flier said, 6AM-11AM, we went 'சாவகாசமா' at 9 AM(proudly thinking we so made it in the time frame!) and was shocked to see the ransacked state of the store! Only in the evening news, did we see the mad rush that happens on these BFs!!! Subsequent year my husband wanted to go to Nashua in New Hampshire(no sales tax state!) for BF purchase and our friends in Nashua discouraged him saying they themselves were going to the next city, Manchester, NH as Nashua desi crowds were getting unbeatable!!

And then came Christmas sale, then Valentine Sale, then Easter Sale, then Memorial day Sale... Almost every month there was a sale! Every year the same items went on sale during the appropriate times! The most eye-opening was my purchase of a clock radio(I wanted one ever since I watched "Ground Hog Day") for $9.99 on sale at a high-end store and finding the same brand clock at Walmart for $9.97!!!!

"Where else do you find counselling for shopping stress?" comments Varun(Nagesh Kukunoor) about US shoppers in the movie, "Hyderabad Blues". Now with online shopping and price comparisons and product review websites, things are getting even worse! I am so skeptical to buy anything without reading about it that even to buy a tooth brush, I'm on the web searching for reviews(and wondering if the reviewers are genuine!)!!!!!

FM - "பாடு(தல்)"

"பாடவந்ததோ ராகம்" - இளமை காலங்கள்

"பாடு நிலாவே" - உதய கீதம்

"பாடும் வானம்பாடி" - நான் பாடும் பாடல்

"பாடறியேன்" - சிந்து பைரவி

"பாடி பறந்த கிளி" - கிழக்கு வாசல்

Motor Skills

It's been ages since I wrote(I mean actually wrote with a pen/pencil on a paper!) anything more than 2-3 lines. But if I had to write a letter/essay for 1-2 pages, will my hands ache???

The following from the latest Reader's Digest got me wondering.

Christmas Card Cramp

Writer's cramp is a bona fide ailment. But in our computerised world, we're more familier with carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by repetitive motions such as typing. So even though you barely pick up a pen all year, you spend hours writing notes to everyone you know - and then more time nursing your aching hands.

Stay safe secrets Don't do more than a half-hour of repetitive muscle work without getting up for a five minute break" says Dr. Schiller. Even better, get your kids to help out.

அட பாவிகளா!!! IMO, The சொகுசு life style of our time seems to mean except "sitting on the couch and watching the box(and munching something!)", everything else is stress!!

Further, the article mentions about this website, www.fontifier.com to scan your handwriting and print "hand written" notes, pain free!!! Wow-o-wow!!!

FM - "பொன்"

"பொன் மானே" - ஒரு கைதியின் டயரி

"பொன் வானம்" - இன்று நீ நாளை நான்

"பொன் மாங்குயில்" - மனசுக்குள் மத்தாப்பு

"பொன் மானை" - மைதிலி என்னை காதலி

"பொன்னை விரும்பும்" - ஆலய மணி

Chills n' Thrills!!

What is the (hi)story behind Halloween? The costume parade and visiting the neighbourhood houses collecting sweets seems similar to the fancy dress parades(in those days!) by the neighbourhood children collecting Sundals during the South Indian style Navarathri festival!! என்ன, அங்கே சாமி, இங்கே பூதம்!!

Around 10 years of age, I had a christian friend who used to tell me a lot of scary stories like the end of the world day, ghost stories etc. I so much wanted a 'cross' at that time as she said nothing would dare to come near a cross! Anyway, it was at her place that I saw my first scary movie. The movie was "Alligator"! Toilets, water, window everything scared me for days after I watched the movie. One of my Uncle had a VCP in the early 80s and my cousins used to have great fun teasing me, "hey, வாடா, நம்ம போய் 'பேய் வீடு' எடுத்து வந்து பாக்கலாம்"!

I have always kept my distance from the horror genre. Hypothetically speaking, I think I can even handle the horror stories shown in jungles, cemetries etc.(அங்கெல்லாம் போக மாட்டேங்கற தைரியம்! Although Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video is one nice thriller!). There are those scenes that is shown happening in common locations that really creeps me out! When I fell in love with old B/W movies, I watched Hitchcock's "Psycho". Even today if I get reminded of that shower scene from that movie while I am in the shower, I shudder! OMG!! Another horrifying scene that still haunts me is from the movie, 'Poltergiest'. Thank Goodness, the idiot box has gone 24/7 i.e. there are no grainy screens now. What demented imagination to have kids, dolls in such horror stories!

BTW, does Halloween celebrations help kids get rid of their fear of darkness, ghost and the like?

FM - "நீல(ம்)"

"நீல வான ஓடையில்" - வாழ்வே மாயம்

"நீலக் குயிலே" - சூரசம்ஹாரம்

"நீலக் குயில்கள்" - விடுதலை

"நீல நயனங்களில்" - நாளை நமதே

Superlative!

Superlatives in my younger days meant awe, wonder and generally positive. Like Carl Lewis is the fastest man or Himalayas are the highest mountain range! But these days, superlatives gives me the shivers as it is mostly distressing like 'it was the worst floods since records started' or 'greatest debacle/fraud" (or 'KANK is the biggest grosser overseas'!)!

Appy Birthday to the One(of the few people) who maintains his superlative status, அன்றும் இன்றும் and என்றும்!



P.S. - Ravan Kanth, huh?! Interesting!!

FM - "அழகு"

"அழகிய மிதிலை" - அன்னை

"அழகிய கண்ணே" - உதிரி பூக்கள்

"அழகு ஆயிரம்" - உல்லாச பறவைகள்

"அழகோ அழகு" - ராஜபார்வை

"அழகு மயிலாட" - வைதேகி காத்திருந்தாள்

"அழகான ராட்சசியே" - முதல்வன்


அழகு தமிழில் எழுத தூண்டிய/உதவிய திரு. ஜிங்குசக்கா & திரு. சியாம் அவர்களுக்கு நன்றி!!

Righta? Thappa?

The 'righta' part of the title reminded me of the game 'paandi' where in the second(and final?) round, one has to jump on squares with eyes closed, calling out "righta, righta" to check if you have stamped on the lines or not! Does anybody play this anymore? Anyway this post is not about 'paandi'!

Several years ago, during an usual Deebavali visit to my Aunt's, I was surprised to learn that my cousin had decided not to light crackers, a silent protest against the use of child labour by the fireworks industry. I don't know how well these protests affected the industry but certainly at that point I felt so proud of my cousin! As always when something seems right, there comes a counter-arguement. In this case, the issue of the children who are supposedly freed from the fireworks industry forced to go into other jobs to support themselves and their family. So every Deebavali I used to debate, to burst or not to burst crackers?

Same in the case of beggars. On one side, I know that our charity might make them lazy and on the other hand when Parthiban or some other rowdy hero in a movie says, "if only you had fed me then, I wouldn't have become like this"! Now, to give or not to give alms?

When doctors here advice me to check/limit the sugar/salt/fat content in my baby's diet and when in India, the elders think I am going overboard putting a kid on diet!! To be strict or not to be strict about diets?

By my upbringing, I know I shouldn't talk back to elders. But when elders take wrong sides, to point out or not?

Dylaamo, dylaamo...... Dylaa dylaa dylaamo.....

FM - Megham

Megham kottatum - Enakkul oruvan

Meghame - Paalai Vana Cholai

Megham karukkaiyile - Vaidehi Kaatirundhal

Megham karukkudhu - Anandha ragam

Megham thiraludhadi - Thaneer Thaneer

Weirdo - tag

Thanks, Raju for tagging me! (How's that for weird no. 1!). Anyway, like Actresses(btw, I find female artists referred to as Actors too and not Actresses these days. Anybody knows the reason?) who talk about some role in a movie as "oh, that is/was a great role. I totally identify myself with the character, blah, blah..", this weirdo tag is totally for me!!

I religiously follow a routine. Very much like the check-out clerk at the grocery store, one little hitch in the sequence and I become a fish out of water! I count when I do monotonous jobs like stirring sugar in milk!

Women and observation go hand in hand, isn't it? I am hopeless in that. During my school/college days, when my friends would be discussing about the ear-ring/nose ring/bindi the compere wore in a TV Program or the white shirt/blue shirt guy they saw at the bus-stop, I would be lost! For, if I had looked at the compere/bus-stop guy, their attire/jewelery wouldn't have been noticed and vice versa!

It bugs me when the door knobs(namma ooru thazhpaal) are not fully pulled down. If it is left half way up/down, I would be uncomfortable until I straighten it out! Similarly, in the 60s-70s' movies, the heroines used to have a few locks of hair hanging from the sides/front which highly irritates me!

I absolutely hate anybody loading my dishwasher/folding clothes(I would redo it if someone tried to help!). My friends even suspect I have an obsessive compulsive disorder!

I can return empty handed from a shopping trip if I didn't find what I went looking for! When buttoning up a shirt, I do the odd(1,3,5) ones first and then the even(2,4,6)!

I dislike some of the most popular figures(like Steffi Graf, Sachin..) for no reason at all!

FM - "OLi"

Olipadaitha kanninaai vaa

Olimayamana edhirkaalam - Pachchai Vilakku

Oliyile therivadhu - Azhagi


Iniya Deepavali Nalvazhthukkal!!!

Saaba Vimochanam?!

For the past few days, this blog had been inaccessible. Every morning I hoped that my 'sleeping on it' would magically rectify whatever problem my blog was experiencing. Yesterday I found that only my main page wasn't loading and I could access my blog entries separately. Still not onto a solution to the problem, I posted my reply comments and 'lo & behold' came my main page!!! Was that the spell breaker to the curse??!!

BTW, did you hear about the new Pocket Sarees?

FM - "AB"

Teri bindiya re - Abhiman

Chupke chupke - Chupke Chupke

Kabhi Kabhi - Kabhi Kabhi

Ey kahan - Silsila

Tu na ja - Khuda Gawah

Kajra re - Bunty Aur Bubli

Sonnapadi Kelu!!!

Recently, I met an old acquaintance at a friend's house. When my friend (re)introduced me to him, for a minute I couldn't recognise him. He used to be wafer thin (that was almost a decade back!) and he really is on the other side now. Utterly surprised, I exclaimed, "oh, you've become so, so, ..." My mind was telling me not to use the word 'fat' but my adhigaprasangi vaai, blurted the exact same word!! Every time my mind flashbacks that incident, I feel so terrible!

This is not an isolated incident. Lately my mind and mouth seem to be like me and my daughter(the latter in both cases are developing a mind of their own!)! Another time, some of us were waiting impatiently for my brother who had gone on an errand, taking with him the tickets to 'Vettaiyadu Velaiyadu' . One of my relative was catching a train that evening but so wanted to join us for the movie. As it is she was feeling bad for not being able to join us and I commented, 'neenga saabam-keebam koduthuteengala? Ticket aala kaanume!', with my mind blaring, 'don't say that! It is not funny!'! She is one of the softest, sweetest person I know and 'Che, what a thing to have said!'

I am generally a person of few words(comparitively!) and admonish others to weigh their words before uttering that I'm appalled that such out of control things are happening to me! Idhu ippadinna, there are times when my mind would command, 'say something!' and Mr. Big Mouth-le verum kaathu dhaan varum!! Ennamo po!!

On an unrelated note, as it is, it is difficult to make people eat healthy food and now with the Spinach/E-Coli scare, 'romba nalladha pochu". Spinach - Why you? Why now? Why?? :(

FM - "Chinna"

Chinna papa enga sella papa - Vannakili

Chinna poo chinna poo - Jappanil Kalyanaraman

Chinna mani kuyile - Amman Koyil Kizhakale

Chinna poove - Chinna Poove Mella Pesu

And my last 'chinna treat',

on popular demand,

Kalakkapovadhu Yaaru - Kamal
(All credits to my dear 'ennavar' who on my 'eLLu' request came up with this 'eNNai'!!)

UPDATE : Sorry that the 'KY-K' link doesn't work any longer. Google Annachi says 'Your video "Kamal.wmv" was rejected because it didn't comply with ourProgram Policies.' :(

Pulagaangidham!!!

Got to watch 'Kalakkapovadhu yaaru - Kamal', Saraswathi poojai special programme on Jaya TV and what a show it was!!! Generally, I am sick of those supposedly special cinema programmes that come on festival days but this one was too good!! The focus of the programme was Kamal, the musician.

First, Mr. Balamurali Krishna came on video conference and as Kamal's guru, asked him to sing a song taught by him. Kamal, the sishyan obliged.

Then came 'Padum nila' Balu!!! As they reminiscenced their good old days, pulling each other's legs whenever possible and rendering songs like "unakkenna mele nindraai", "thakida thadhimi", "neela vaana oodaiyil", "tere mere beech mein", "unna nenachen", "saandhu pottu", ... Kannukkum, sevikkum enne virundhu!!!!!!

Ms. S. Janaki, the female playback singer to have sung the most no. of duets with Kamal, came on stage and delighted the audience by singing "sundari neeyum", "inji idupazhaga" with him. Kamal recalled how his singing "one is the loneliest number" for a filmfare awards function fetched him the chance to sing "ninaivo oru paravai"' (along with 'pa..ba..pa'). 'Inji idupazhaga' was born when Kamal wanted a song like 'eh dil deewaana hai'!!!

'Chinna kuyil' Chitra came to sing "Injirango" with Annathey.

A group of young singers(there were three, one of them was Karthik, another one I heard them mention as Naresh and who was the third?) sang some lovely songs of Kamal like "adhisaya raagam", "pachai kiligal tholodu", "manaivi amaivadhellaam", "paartha vizhi" with the songs forming the answers to the questions quizzed by Ramesh Arvind. Then, they sang a series of fast songs, "varudhu varudhu", "Annathey aaduraar", "maarugo", " en jodi" etc. with infectious enthu'!

Aatchi Manorama and Annathey sang "jaambajaa jaggu, naan aalwarpetta makku"(that's how Kamal's elder sister used to sing that song to Kamal as a kid, it seems!) and "muthu kulikka vaarigala".

Some young female singers(didn't recognise anyone!) sang "unna vida", "maarugo"(sathi leelavathi), "Muthe muthamma" with Annathey.

One of the segment of the show was a chat with Director K. S. Ravikumar, Music director Bharathwaj and Prof. Gnanasambandham.

Jayam Ravi danced for 'Raja kaiya vecha'.
A guy resembling one of the 'Boys' did Kamal's andha kaalathu "ilamai idho idho" kind of songs.
The programme ended with "yaar yaar sivam". The concept, the orchestra, the group singers/dancers and above all, a fit and fantastic looking Annathey made it an enjoyable show!

FM - "Paattu"

It's this time of year again!!

Paattu paadava - Then nilavu

Paattum naane - Thiruvilaiyadal

Paattu thalaivan - Idhaya kovil

Paattu onnu naa - Pudhu Vasantham

Paattu solli - Azhagi

Trip Diary Tidbits!

So many parks with slides, swings and walking trails(and wow! so many walkers!!)!!!

Impressive online train ticket booking system. Order online (with a Rs. 40 service charge) and the tickets arrive by courier in 2 days!!

The 'Anju Maadi Kattadams' of Usman road can clothe the entire mankind!! "Oru naal podhuma..." and aadi thallupadi or aaLa thallupadi?? Yemma!!

I know, I said this but watching 2 even 3 at a time isn't a bit too much?!!

NRIs are next only to 'theeviravaadeess' and 'arasiyalvaadhees' in getting bashed. Onga oora, enga oora, namma oora??

Last but not least, a very sad revelation that my system doesn't handle kalyana saapadu anymore!! :(

FM - "Vizhi"

Vizhigalin aruginil - Azhagiya Theeye

Vizhiyil vizhundhu - Alaigal Oivadhillai

Vizhiyorathu kanavu - Rajaparvai

Vizhiyile malarndhadhu - Bhuvana Oru Kelvikuri

Vizhiye kadhai yezhudhu - Urimai Kural

Malampuzha Dam

Some pictures from the nice trip we made to Malampuzha Dam about 60 kms from Kovai. The timing was perfect with river malampuzha brimming from the never-fail West coast monsoon showers and temperature just right to take a stroll over the dam or see the aerial view from the rope car ride or explore the gardens! With mountains and water and greenery, what more could we ask for!


The beautiful garden view from atop the dam


Another view of the garden but this picture taken from the rope-car ride


The dam!


River Malampuzha with a lakshman joola type bridge across.


A nice 20 mins ride on the rope car is a complete paisa vasool[Rs. 20 (or was it Rs. 30?)]


Kaalinga nardhana Krishnaa!


Many more fountains through out the park


Mountain view from the dam



The bridge to Malampuzha dam!!!

FM - 'Dhisaigal'

Merke merke - Kanda Naal Mudhal

Then merku - Karuthamma

Then kizhakku - Kizhakku Cheemaiyile

Fly away!

As a kid(like most, I guess!), I had a huge fascination for aeroplanes. Every time I heard one going over my head I used to look at it with awe wondering when I was going to experience flight. That chocolates/candies were offered(only in Indian airliners??) during flight was all the more enticing!!!

When my father got qualified to take family on plane for vacation, we excitedly planned a trip to Delhi from Bombay. With me and my brother fighting about who was going to get the window seat even before arriving at the Airport, my parents were relieved to find all our seats at the middle row!!! It was such a short flight that even before we could meddle with anything, our destination had arrived!

Probably because of the short first flight, I still had the fascination for flight journeys till my first trip abroad, little knowing how I would come to hate it! "ALavukku meerinaal...."!!! Like in those maayajaala kadhai(s), one has to endure the 7 malai thaandi, 6 nadhi thaandi kind-of torture to reach the destination!

The last couple of times I have been flying Lufthansa and it's been terrible. At Frankfurt, after 4+ hours of waiting(to my utter dismay, the flight always gets there earlier than expected making our wait time at the Airport longer!!!), with an already jet-lagged, starved kid wailing in the stroller, the Lufthansa personnel gets us to stand in a queue with the whole waiting area cleared. As most people who travel to Chennai in Lufthansa would know how many people generally are at the waiting area and how most are senior citizens and passengers with kids. Has anybody else experienced this situation in any other Airliner? Both times when I expressed displeasure at their treatment of passengers, all I got in return was a special "Passengers with kids first" entry into the Air craft. This time the lady at the counter went even so far as to tell me that that is Lufthansa policy and if I wanted I could complain!!

All said and done, I would again be flying out to India in the future, probably in the same Air liner cursing the long journey, the policy!

Friday Melody is back!!

Back to pavilion!

Atlast(and atleast) one of my favourite filmy jodi is soon to be real life jodi. So, this second innings of FM starts with Suttum vizhi chudare Mama & Ra-ra Aunty special!!

Churidar - Poovellam Kettupaar

Ennai konjam maatri - Kaaka Kaaka

Munbe vaa - Sillendru oru Kaadhal


Sept 11 also marks Mahakavi Bharathi's 85th death anniversary. In his memory,

Suttum vizhi chudardhaan / suttum vizhi chudardhaan

Nandri! Meendum Varuga!

'Aadha-Yennangal' is a few weeks shy of its first birthday! The blowing of trumpet about this giant leap is advanced as me too will be vacationing in SenTamizhnaadu at that time!

Last year this time, I was just a peeper and I am so glad that I took that bold little baby step! The number of (blogger) friends I've made this past year is amazing! People otherwise I wouldn't have met, let alone chat, pulled legs, shared, supported!! Follow up to my inspired to read post, I have made head start there too(I have so far read 'Namesake', 'Kite Runner' and 'Da Vinci Code'!). Thanks a ton to all of you! In the past, the back to grind after India trips used to be so hard. Guess, I can look forward to some interesting catching up here in the blog world this time! ;) See ya!!

Friday Melody - SPB Spl.!!

ILakkanam - Nizhal Nijamagiradhu

En kanmani - ChittuKuruvi

Uchchi - Rosapoo Ravikaikaari

Raagangal - Thillu Mullu

Idhu kuzhandhai - Oru Thalai Ragam

Paruvame - Nenjathai Killadhey

Nee dhaane - Ninaivellam Nithya

Thamarai Kodi - Anandha Kummi

Kaadhalin - Thambikku Endha Ooru

Enna saththam - Punnagai Mannan

Manram vandha - Mouna Ragam

Mannil indha - Keladi Kanmani

Muthu mani - Chinna Kounder

Semboove - Siralchaalai

Mettu podu - Duet

Omkara - Shankarabharanam

Belated 60th birthday wishes to the multi-talented and the ever humble, Mr. SPB!

Sssss.... list!

This tag had almost skipped my mind!!

Sweet - My favourite! Anytime!!

Smile - From Monalisa's sikkana smile to kutti papas' generous pokkai vaai smile, a charmer!

Serenity - Tranquility, peace! Especially like the abbreviated version of this Prayer

Serendipity - The pleasant surprise the 'discovery by accident'(most of our Actresses are so, they say!)brings!!

Silence - It's golden!

A true aadha, I stop here. Hope snehidi, has to be me, wouldn't mind it!!

FM - Raja!

Birthday wishes to 'Maestro' Ilaiyaraja!!

Raja kaiya vecha - Aboorva Sahodarargal

Raja raja chozhan - Rettai Vaal Kuruvi

Raja magal - Pillai Nila

Raja enbar - Bhuvana Oru Kelvikuri

Raja rajadhi - Agni natchathiram
(And birthday wishes to Manirathnam)

Saw B(K)'s post and hurriedly changed my Friday Melody!! Sorry KC!

World No Tobacco Day!

Veggie Tales

"We love Vegetarians
More Beef for us"

said an Ad in a magazine. Surrrr.... climbed anger on top of my nose but then gotta agree with the Ad. guy's kurumbu!!

A few years back a friend and her husband visited us. My friend's husband's work involves a lot travelling abroad, entertaining clients etc. He told us about the many awkward situations he had faced being a Vegetarian. He even seemed to be upset with his parents for having brought him up a Vegetarian!!! As if they would've known he would be living abroad, entertaining foreign guests!!

During my school days, most of my friends were NVs though they hardly brought it to school lunch(not sure if it was not allowed). But I was never the fussy(nose-shutting!), complaining(aiyo!) Vegetarian like some others. Even used to go so far as to boast that I was not afraid to eat it if I got a chance. Even argued with everyone about how plants have life and how we, vegetarians are killing life too!!

Once during our Sports day function which was held outside of the school campus, a friend brought some NV food and said, 'I got it especially for you. You always wanted to try it, isn't it?'. It sure was a great chance but I just couldn't bring myself to eat it! Was it fear of going against my parents? my religion? or Mohandas Gandhi's lesson? I don't know!

As a child, many a statistics had taken me by surprise. Like Christianity, the largest followed religion in the world(I used to think, only 'MV' is a Christian in my class then how come??') or Chinese the most spoken language in the world. Similarly, the statistics about Vegetarians.

Setting foot outside of mother-land, began a whole new challenge. Reading the miniscule sized ingredients list in every can/container, missing parties b'cos they have to order 'special' food for our sake, amusing others etc. As always, I don't have a problem with NVs as long as they respect mine. Many a times I have wondered how if not for those people who can survive on anything and everything that I am able to sit comfortably & read, learn about the many things that I wouldn't dare to travel to/experiment.

As it is, flight journeys are tiresome and a nerve-wreck for me. Once while flying BA, we were stranded in London due to bad weather and had loitered in the Airport nearly 10 hours. My husband, the ever calm and super-understanding personality that he is, had been 'sorry for interrupting' to find seats for us the whole time. Suddenly, just 20 mins before the flight departure, they called us to board the flight. In all the confusion, we forgot to mention about our Vegetarian preferance at the time of the check-in. In flight, when we asked for Vegetarian meals, the way they created a fuss about us not informing at the time of check-in!! OMG!

Anyway, the idea to this post was born when I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the many Vegetarian restaurants(not just Indian cuisine) in the Atlanta area. I like to try new cuisines, new dishes and if it is fully Vegetarian, I can experiment without fear and drag my husband along too!!

FM - 'Nenjam'

"Nenjangootil" - Dishoom

"Nenjamellaam" - Ayudha Ezhuthu

"Nenjukulle" - Ponnumani

"Nenjathai alli" - Kadhalikka Neramillai

Ca.. ca... ca.... cockroach!!!

I am next only to 'Thenali' Thenali with my numerous phobias but at the top of the list is my insects phobia. I have always wondered if smaller things scared me more(During Deepavali, I could get myself to light many a 'damaal dumeels' but never hold a cape Gun!) though I have not(touch wood!) encoutered T-Rex or KK kinds!

Anyway, coming to the topic, for quite some years now, I have not had to face the daunting task of dealing with 'karapps'. In the NE, the only uninvited guests during summer were ants or some tiny wriggleys! The ahimsawadhi I am, especially after I became a big fan of Kratt brothers and their lemur-friend, 'zooboomafoo' and to not reveal the scare-d-cat that I am to my daughter, I dare enough to guide them outside shivering & holding them in a long sheets. But now, am having to go against my virundhombal traditions (Valluvare mannichidunga!), having to show faces (and brooms!) to my uninvited guests who crawl from outside.

One evening last week, I was 'dheme-nnu' checking mails, when my husband commented, 'oh, so you've got company!' and that was when I saw Mr. Brown coat big moustache-walla after many years!! With my daughter sleeping in the other room, couldn't let out a scream too. That's when I realised along with good weather comes these free bonus too.

As far as I can remember, I don't have many memories of roach encounters in Chennai(Guess, it is Lizz(ard)y amma pettai!). But boy, did my Mumbai life compensate for it!! The nice big wardrobes in our Mumbai flat was a big attraction to us bare-shelf Madrasis. But soon I realised how it housed numerous Brown-coat-wallas too.

There used to be regular Pest control exercise in our Apartment community involving huge efforts almost equalling a mini-move! Almost the whole day we would spend at neighbours and return home only in the evening to see a battle-ground scene with hundreds of dead roaches. For the next few weeks, the house would be free of bugs but then those smart ones which moved to the floors down/up to other apartments during the extermination would start to return when the effect starts waning!

During close encounters, my mother used to be my only saviour! The Maha-ahimsawaadhi my father is, would just walk past it and at the most announce it to my mother if she was not aware of my 'cornered mouse' status! To my brother, it used to be the perfect situation. He would get all 'vaakurudhis'/ promises from me before the rescue mission! Ofcourse, these days, it is my 'Ennavar-Knight' who comes to save this damsel in distress!

Meesai aaNNmaiyin chinnamenbadhu
migaipaduthapatta uvamai!
Karapanpoochi yenna
aaNNmaiyin chinnama?

-unknown

***************Warning - not for delicate hearted souls*****************
Nobody needs reason for the gross feeling for roaches but I have a horrible story. During the late eighties, one of my neighbour, an avid Junior Vikatan reader, used to scare us with the stories she read on 'Ju Vi'. One such was about how kids were kidnapped and made invalid to make them beggars.
Please, last warning to those you who think they can handle #$$#%# things to not read further. I have not been able to erase it from my mind.
Anyway, what I heard was that the kidnappers blind-folded the children's eyes with roaches in them to make them blind!!! I am not sure how true this was but rips my heart everytime it comes to mind.

FM - 'Uyir'

Uyirin uyire - Kakka kakka
The opening song and sequence were so impressive that the movie, the hero, the director and the music director entered my favourites list(note: this was a movie I saw after almost a 2 year hibernation!) in a click!

Uyire - Bombay
When a friend declared how boring a song this was when it was the rage at the time of its release, I was shocked beyond belief and thought she was the most unromantic person in the whole world!

Uyire en uyire - Thotti Jaya
Haven't seen the movie or the song. Nice melody from HJ. Quite impressed with singer Karthik after 'oru maalai' from Gajini.

Uyire uyire urugadhey - Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam
Could not find a link to this song anywhere on the net. The movie had some nice songs.

Movie Comments!

King Kong

Anybody not yet watched Titanic, Jurassic Park (what else? fill in the blanks) etc.? Catch this 3 hour 'all in one' movie and save time & energy!
IMO, no other movie has the title character with this late an entry(Malayalam Superstar thothaar!). I even doubted if I was watching the right DVD!
Naomi Watts, the heroine reminded me of our yester year bollywood actress Tina Munim(remember her?).
Indha compooter graphics vandaalum vandhudhu, summa buy 1 get 100 free maadhiri, yekka chakka creatures and fights! Thangale da, saami!
People who complain about the length of 'Lagaan' and 'Thavamaai thavamirundhu', should watch this. No songs to fast forward also!!
The big plus watching this has been that 'King Kong' has come to my rescue when I had exhausted almost all creatures to scare & get things done from my daughter. Vaazhga King Kong!


Parineeta

Somehow I had an impression that this was a tragic melodrama. The movie was like watching a 70s era Hindi movie in non-geva(what is 'geva', btw?) colour. Guess, Bollywood is bitten by the remake bug. Where can I catch the Bimal Roy original now?
Shekar and Lolitha made me kind-of forget Saif Ali and Vidya Balan, only nagging thought was the news I read about Vidhu Vinod Chopra not thinking Aamir suitable for the role(of Shekhar, I had presumed)! But since it was Sanjay's role, I forgive VVC!
VVC sure is improving(from 1942 - a love story to 1962 - Parineeta. So which 1982 story next?)

Like I commented in another blog, some years back learning of an Indian movie as a copy from some foreign language movie used to bring a shocked response. These days it has become a game as to who guesses the original first!!! :) So, after watching an English movie, the only thought that comes to my mind is, will it be remade by our Bolly/Kolly wooders?

So, in a language near you... soon....

Pay Check - In the line of Memento-Gajini, this has great potential too to enter 'namma pettai'. Any suggestion as to who can act in the role of Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman?

Just like Heaven - A sure winner, bolly/kolly wooders! Romance, mystery, emotional drama, you name it. I cannot wait to see who is going to replace bubbly Reese Witherspoon!

Red Eye - An interesting thriller! Who is the Vijay Shanti of the 2000s? Cos' this is a heroine oriented film. Can try getting the Blue eyed guy himself to do it in Hindi/Tamil/Telugu and can try to convince big eyed Jothika to do the Hotel Receptionist role!!

Special Friday Melody!

"Ennavar's" birthday special melody!

Ennai thalatta - Kadhalukku Mariyadhai

Sattham illadha - Amarkalam

Krishna Kripa - Sargam


And Mother's day special,

Arariraro - Raam

Fwd:

Got this email forward recently.

I think we should have job reservations in all the fields. I completely support the PM and all the politicians for promoting this. Let's start the reservation with our cricket team. We should have 10 percent reservation for Muslims. 30 percent for OBC , SC /ST like that. Cricket rules should be modified accordingly. The boundary circle should be reduced for an SC/ST player. The four hit by an OBC player should be considered as a six and a six hit by a OBC player should becounted as 8 runs. An OBC player scoring 60 runs should be declared as a century. We should influence ICC and make rules so that the pace bowlers like Shoaib akhtar should not bowl fast balls to our OBC player. Bowlers should bowl maximum speed of 80 kilometer per hour to an OBC player. Any delivery above this speed should be made illegal. Also we should have reservation in Olympics. In the 100 meters race, an OBC player should be given a gold medal if he runs 80 meters.

There can be reservation in Government jobs also. Let's recruit SC/ST and OBC pilots for aircrafts which are carrying the ministers and politicians (that can really help the country.. )Ensure that only SC/ST and OBC doctors do the operations for the ministers and other politicians. (Another way of saving thecountry..) Let's be creative and think of ways and means to guide INDIA forward... Let's show the world that INDIA is a GREAT country. Let's be proud of being an INDIAN..May the good breed of politicans like ARJUN SINGH long live...

Villadhi Villains & Silly Villis!!

A couple of movies that I watched recently, "Arindhum Ariyamalum" and "Sanda Kozhi", had a nice twist about the Villains. Our ooru 'dishoom dishooms' are getting too gory(How enjoyable were the MGR era 'dishoom, dishooms'!)! Thankfully, I only get to see movies on the small screen with the 'FF' button of the remote on hand!

What is with (silly) Villis & Rajni movies? (Starting from?) 'Mapillai', 'Mannan', 'Padayappa' & even 'Chandramukhi'(that Villi invented to make up for the real life defeat, eh? The original doesn't have that (silly) villi character!). No more Villis, huh, 'Sivaji' Sarr(Villain-kku semma hunt-a?)!!

FM - 'KaNN'

Kanne kalaimaane - Moondram Pirai

Kannale kaadhal kavidhai - Aatma

Kannai katti kolladhey - Iruvar

Kannai vittu - Pattiyal

Kanne unnaal - Ambigapathy
(listen to this classic eve-teasing song by NSK!)


There are scores of other songs starting with 'kaNN', so recollect, hum, sing out loud, comment & ensoy!

Chinna Chinna Aasai Tag!

Has to be me tagged me(too)! (Oru tag-a choice-le vittuten, manchikonga Madam!)


1. Kaalaiyil dhinamum kann vizhithaal Amma-vin filter kaapi kudikka aasai.

2. Eppavum temperature 70s F(20s C) irukka aasai.

3. Thappu panravangala kandukama irukkum kadavula naalu vartha narukkunu kekka aasai.

4. Oru pushpaka vimanam/parakkum kambalam kedaichu India-kku takknu parakka aasai!

5. Vaanga pona item sale-laiyum irundhu coupon-um kuduthu vaanga aasai!

6. (Eppavum) Paduthadhum posukkunu thoonga aasai.

7. Alattal aatkalukku nalla nose cut kudukka aasai.

8. Chennai-le maadhiri inge lane-less roads-le 2 wheeler otti signal-le 4 & more wheelers-ai criss-cross panni mundhiadikka aasai.

9. Astronaut dhaan aaga mudhiyale(!), space tourist-aavadhu aaga aasai!

10. Ella blog post-laiyum super comment adikka aasai!

:)

FM - Vaan

Vaan meghangale - Pudhiya Vaarpugal

Vaan nila - Pattina Pravesam

Vaan megham - Punnagai Mannan

Vaan pole vannam - Salangai Oli

Pill

When new in this country, the numerous Advertisements for medicines used to surprise me. During a half hour programme on TV, out of 10 ads, 3-4 will be about some pill! Pills to sleep, to wake, to make you eat, to prevent you from eating, to absorb what you eat... happappa! No amount of fine-print side effects makes an iota of difference[I always get reminded of SVSekar's drama, 'Oru sondha veedu vaadagai veedaagiradhu' in which a 'mandreegan' character would prescribe a kashayam for mouth ulcer listing numerous side-effects and would end saying 'vaai punn pogum' and SVSekar would ask, 'vaai enna aagum?' :) ]. Every time an Ad ends with 'Ask your doctor about XYZ', I wonder how in India, patients get a good 'dose' from their Doctors for asking!

Pills was something one used, or so I thought, as a last resort after all 'kai vaidhyams'/ home treatments fail. Also, the art of swallowing pills is really something! Filling the mouth with water and dropping the pill straight into the throat without touching the tongue is a feat! But many a time, the water would rush through my throat and the pill would be left dangling!! And if there are multiple pills to be swallowed, then 'muzhi pidhungify dhaan'!!

Like many things that we have got used to here, I realised that pain balms were a non-entity in this country only when our folks complained of it during their visit here('Ennama, oru Amruthanjanam maadhiri onnum kedayadha inge?'). Sometime back, there was news about a lady never having cleaned her medcine cabinet in years with medicines' expiry dating almost decades back! I kind-of sympathised with her for like all other things sold in the US, these medicines too come in big packs! In our country, 'vitta, maathiraiyai padhiya odichu vaaile pottu vittu, 1/2 price vaangipaanga'!! These people can learn a thing or two from us!

FM - SRK spl.

My 'piriyamana thozhan'(philospher and _Guide!) celebrates and shares his birthday with his idol, Sachin Tendulkar on Monday. So, here comes a Friday melody specially for him of his other idol, SRK(In your name, I'm listing some of my favourites even though I belong to the rival group!).

Yuhi chala - Swades

Kal ho na ho - Kal Ho Na Ho

Ey ajnabi - Dil Se

Chaand taare - Yes Boss

Ay kaash ke hum - Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa


And lastly,

Boomiku - Dishyum

for tomorrow is Earth day! This song is one of my favourites among the new releases. I've been wondering how to list this song as there aren't many boomi songs and thanks to my hubby for reminding about Earth day tomorrow!!!

Salavai Nottu!

Today my husband handed me a new crisp 10 dollar bill that he got from the ATM b'cos I love nice new crisp currency bills(and he knows I would never spend it!)! It used to be an obsession to collect 'salavi nottu' back in India. As far as I can remember, as soon as money reaches my hand, I used to separate new and old currency bills and hoard the new ones(kind-of savings!). I will try to 'thaLLi-fy' the old nottus as much as possible and use the crisp ones only during emergencies(heart wrenching, singing, 'poghudhey pogudhey....'). Anyway, today's crisp 10 dollar bill is nothing compared to my prized possession and collection of really crisp Re. 1 and Rs. 2 notes(will send pictures of it to those of you who find it hard to believe!) that I've carried with me as 'seer' from Mother India!

FM - "Putham Pudhu"

Putham pudhu kaalai - Alaigal Oivadhillai

Putham pudhu olai - Vedham Pudhidhu

Putham pudhu poo - Dhalapathi

Putham pudhu malare - Amaravathi



"Putham Pudhu Varusha Vaazhthukkal"!!

Current Cut!

Last week on one of those usual afternoons, it happened! Power Cut!! With dirty clothes getting a last minute parole, rice and dal getting an extension to remain soaked, I realised I wouldn't even be able to boil water. The hardest part was explaining to my daughter that nothing would work till power was restored! Even though the power came back in a couple of hours, the scare it gave me was really something! Only once before had I experienced this power outage in this country but that time too it was for a few hours in the wee hours of the morning. But every winter, every storm, the fear of a power outage will be nagging in the back of my head.

Managing without electricity in India was not a big deal but here, it is a nightmare! I was thinking of those numerous days when our family have had candle light or torch light dinners, the times when I would have waited an eternity for my favourite show on TV and the electicity dept. 'punyawaan' would choose the very same day/time to get his evil satisfaction by cutting the power supply or the numerous days when a little swaying of the leaves along with a drizzle would make the TNEB go 'munn jagradhai muthanna' or those times when I would have planned to burn the mid-night oil for my mid-term exams and 'poof' gone the power supply or the many midnights in hot summer when out go the power and in come the mosquito population to have their December season equivalent with 'arusuvai unavu'!!

FM - 'Minnal'

Minnale - May Maadham
One of my all time favourite song/album. I so wanted to watch the movie that I saw it on a 'nasa-nasa' rainy day in Kamadhenu theatre with my father!!

Minnal oru kodi - VIP
Don't remember much about the song/movie except that it is Simran's tamil debut movie. One of my friend who is such a Kamal fan that she wouldn't even look at the other artistes when Kamal is on screen, recently told me that when Simran dances with Kamal, 'naan Simran-e paakiren, di'!

Minnalai pidithu - Shahjahan
Just an entry for the 'Minnal' namesake. Nice melody by Unni Menon.


P.S. - This is my 100th Post! Like the batsman in test match cricket, naanum lottu-lottu thatti-kotti 100-rai thottuten!! Yay!!

Early risers - Endangered Species?

"Early to bed and early to rise
makes Jack healthy, wealthy & wise"

My father's favourite chant during the weekends! My father and their generation are incapable of lying down in the bed after 5-5.30 AM (and cannot tolerate people who can, I used to fume!). Any of you remember the drama, 'Aiyo, Amma, Ammamma'? We often used to advice Appa, 'Kathadi Ramamurthy' style, 'muzhippu varum, aana ezhundhirukka koodadhu. Thalai thalaganiye kaalukkum, kaal thalaganiye thalaikkum maathi thirumbi thongidanam'!!

I do love the ealy morning time, if and when I'm forced to wake up! The chirping of the birds, the clean and fresh air, the slight chilliness (even in hot Chennai).... The morning commute in crowd less buses used to be an added advantage. My mother tells me I was an early riser as a baby. I faintly remember how as a kid, I couldn't keep my eyes open after 8-8.30 PM(there used to be a muppet show called 'Arabian nights' at around 8.30PM in the early 80s which I remember trying to watch straining my droopy eyes!). I don't know, when I drifted away from that good habit! Should be after 'desiya nigazhchigal' started making sense!

In this country, most of my friends and relatives' life styles were kind-of shocking to me in the beginning. Even school/college going kids, work or party till late night/early morning and don't get up till noon or even 2 PM!! For the fear of getting cursed for waking them, I have given up calling them all together! It is recently that I met a family here who all are early risers and the inspiration behind this post(One of my husband's ex-colleague back in MA used to be at work before 6 AM everyday but he suffered from Insomnia!). That when they boasted that they are always on-time, rather first arrivers, everywhere unlike the others('kuttramulla nenjam'!) it really hit me!

I thought, 'better late than never', let me try & follow Appa's advice atleast now and set a good example to my daughter! Instead of being a night owl, let me prowl, I mean, browse in the wee hours, enjoying the same quiet time. But old habits die hard! However early I went to bed, sleep came knocking only at midnight and as a result eyes were refusing to open at dawn! But on Saturday, weary after an outing in the warm weather, sleep did seem to hug me early and I got up all refreshed early on Sunday morning, only to find 'day light savings time kicking in' and the clocks had all sprung ahead!! Ada Che!!