Kanden Seethaiyai!!!

I am a big fan of old S V Sekhar comedy dramas. Such a huge fan that I use many of his drama dialogues in everyday conversation. Comedy relief is especially the need of the hour!! Listen to his "Aayiram udai vaangiya aboorva sigamani" to find that the current political situation in TN is not all that different!

Listening to SVS drama cassettes on tape recorder was an entertaining passtime in the early 90s. It all started off with "Ellarum Vaanga". Logic less mindless laugh riot! "Periya Thambi", "Kadhule Poo", "Oru sondha veedu vaadagai veedagirathu", "Mahabharathil Mangatha" are my favourites. I think I can confidently say I've listened to all of his dramas now. I'm not sure of the chronological order but dramas with SVS & Sunda combination are the most enjoyable.

Now with youtube genie, I've also found video of some of his dramas. Looks like these are recently recorded ones. While trying to match those familiar voices with faces, I couldn't find the lead female character of the old dramas. The lady who lent her beautiful & awesome voice to characters Narasamma alias Seetha in "Ellarum Vaanga", Viji in "Kaatule Mazhai", Champa Devi in "Mahabharathathil Mangatha" was nowhere to be found!

After exhausting all full length dramas, I started on his TV serials. While listening to one of the episode called "Priyamulla Philomina" in "Nam Kudumban", I heard that lady voice again as "Philomina"! After finding the video of the episode, kanden Seethaiyai!!! I felt so overjoyed as if I found a long lost friend!

Any one knows the name of this actress??

Out of hibernation

I have been wondering how blogging went down my priority list. It is not like I don't have anything to 'polambi'fy about or reminiscence or share! Then, why? I guess, I have to blame it all on Steve Jobs! If not for his smart(y pants)phone introduction, I would've lived happily ever after with my lap/desktops! Now since everything can be done at the fingertips, nothing gets done! I turn on the phone remembering something important to do and then go awry clicking all the notifications and alerts and waste precious time and forget all about that important task(especially the replying to teacher's emails!)!

Don't know why I am still scared of the quicksand social networking sites when all around everywhere everyone is happily splashing in them! This same comment hungry blogger who blogged week after week, month after month to get reactions & comments from unknown blogger friends is wary to post anything on fb, twitter knowing comments could pour. When orkut shut down, I thought fb, twitter and the like would follow suit but inspite of the cropping up of new, new social networking sites like instagram, tumblr, davara etc., the front runners are showing no signs of slowing down!

Talking of front runners, interesting election circus going on now and this time around, with a super funny analysis from the "Daily show with Trevor Noah" team. I was not fortunate enough to know about the daily show when Jon Stewart was around and I love Trevor's show with his outsider point of view. The whole TDS team is so hilarious especially nammooru paiyan, Hasan Minhaj! Please don't take too many breaks guys!

A sample with both of the hosts...

Sandwich generation

Previous generation - I am nothing!

Current Generation - I am everything!

Sandwich generation - Who am  I???

Unnoyers!!

The Unplanners won't have a plan for themselves, won't follow plans made for them by others and on top of all this would look down upon planners!! Pongada!!

FM - IR Medley

Paadavandhadhor - Ilamai Kalangal





Vaanile thenila - Kakki Chattai




Oororama aathu pakkam - Idaya kovil




Poonthalir aada - Panneer pushpangal

Sam(min)sara sagaram

ஆம்லெட்டும் கணவன் மனைவியும்…..

ஆம்லெட் போடுவதை வைத்து எத்தனை வருட ஜோடி என்று கண்டுபிடிப்பது எப்படி?

கணவன்: என்னம்மா இத்தன தொட்டுக்க இருக்கும்போது இப்ப போய் சின்ன

 வெங்காயம் வெட்டி ஆம்லெட் போட்டுகிட்டு இருக்க வாம்மா வந்து 

உட்கார்.எவ்ளோதான் நீ செய்வ, வா சேர்ந்து சாப்பிடலாம்!

மனைவி: இருங்க உங்களுக்கு தொட்டுக்க ஆம்லெட் இல்லாம ஒழுங்கா 

சாப்பிட மாட்டீங்க.அதுவும் சின்ன வெங்காயத்த வெட்டி போட்டாதான் 

டேஸ்ட் சூப்பரா இருக்கும்னு சொல்லுவீங்க அதுக்குதான்.

இப்படி சொன்னா கல்யாணமாகி ஆறுமாதம் என்று அர்த்தம்.

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கணவன்: என்னம்மா இன்னைக்கு ஸ்பெஷல்?

மனைவி: சாம்பார், பெரிய வெங்காயம் போட்டு, ஆம்லெட் தொட்டுக்க

கணவன்: அவ்ளோதானா?

மனைவி: முடியலைங்க!

இது ஒரு வருடம் ஆன ஜோடிங்க!

************************
கணவன்: என்னம்மா….சாப்பிடலாமா?

மனைவி: இருங்க இந்த சீரியல் முடியட்டும்.என்னங்க கொஞ்சம் பெரிய 

வெங்காயம் உரிச்சு தாங்களேன் ஆம்லெட் போட்டுடறேன்!

இது ஒன்றரை வருடம் ஆன ஜோடிங்க!

******************************
கணவன்: என்னம்மா இது வெங்காயமே இல்லாம ஆம்லெட் 

போட்டிருக்கே.எனக்கு பிடிக்காதுன்னு உனக்கு தெரியும்லே?

மனைவி: ஒரு நாளைக்கு இதை சாப்பிட்டாதான் என்ன? எல்லாத்தையும் 

நானே செய்யனுமா?

இது இரண்டு வருடம் ஆன ஜோடிங்க!

***********************
கணவன்: என்னம்மா இது இத்துனூன்டு இருக்கு.முட்டைய கலக்க கூட 

இல்ல அப்படியே ஃபுல் பாயிலா போட்டிருக்க?

மனைவி: முட்டை என்ன நானா போடுறேன்? கோழி போட்டது சின்னதா 

இருக்கு, அதுக்கு நான் என்ன செய்ய?சும்மா குறை சொல்லிகிட்டு இருக்காம 

தொட்டுகிட்டு சாப்பிடுங்க!

இது மூன்று வருடம் ஆன ஜோடிங்க!

*************************
கணவன்: என்ன இது ஆஃபாயில் போட்டிருக்க….நான் இத சாப்பிடவே 

மாட்டேன்னு தெரியும்ல?

மனைவி: ஒரு நாள் தின்னா ஒன்னும் குறைஞ்சு போயிடாது.ஊருல 

இல்லாத அதிசய புருஷன் எனக்குன்னு வந்து வாய்ச்சிருக்கு!

இது நான்கு-ஐந்து வருடம் ஆன ஜோடிங்க!

*****************************
கணவன்: என்னம்மா இன்னைக்கு ஒன்னும் செய்யலையா?

மனைவி: சாதம் வைத்து இருக்கேன், ஃப்ரிட்ஜில் நேற்று வாங்கிய மோர் 

இருக்கு,முட்டையும் இருக்கு ஆம்லெட் போட்டு சாப்பிடுங்க!

இது ஏழு வருடம் ஆன ஜோடிங்க!

************************************
கணவன்: என்னம்மா இன்னைக்கு என்ன சமையல் செய்யனும்?

மனைவி: அதையும் நான்தான் சொல்லனுமா? எனக்கு என்ன பிடிக்கும்னு 

தெரியாதா? அதை செய்யுங்க!

இது பத்து வருடத்துக்கு மேற்பட்ட ஜோடிங்க!

***********************************
இதுல ஒரு விஷயம் கவனிச்சீங்களா? அதாங்க…..நம்ம ஆளு(கணவன்) 

என்னம்மா என்று சொல்வது மட்டும் கடைசி வரை மாறவே இல்லீங்கோ!!

ஆமாம், உங்க வீட்ல எப்படி?

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There is this saying that "Women marry men hoping that he will change and men marry women hoping they won't". But then, women are forced to change due to circumstances(work, kids etc.) while no force ever work on men!! ;-)

If Aadha completes a decade, does it make a poora?!! :) 

Awesome!

A decade back, I would've saved this for an Aug 15th post but now I have to post it when I have the link, when I have the time and when I remember!! ;-)

Old school girl!!

On a North Indian friend's high recommendation that I would absolutely love "2 States", I decided to overlook & tolerate its hero to watch the movie. But before that, like a periya pista paruppu, decided to read the novel. I have to admit that it was mostly hilarious if the author's digs at Chennai city, Tambrahms are overlooked! Nice quick read and a timepass book but nothing spectacular that I had expected from India's best seller! After reading couple more of his books, realised he is like the junk food that is popular and everybody's favorite these days! That's so clever of him to write his autobiography in installments!

Next bulb was at the hands of "Tanu weds Manu (again!??)"! Enjoyed Kangana's hangam-ous performance and nice songs and what was the point of the sequel? Oh, just a time pass movie? Oh, ok!  Poor, old Madhavan!

Do you hear the younger generation singing to me,

vayasukku mele ulagathil ulla nallathu pidikkathu
amma nallathu pidikkathu 
vayasu pillaigal pudhusa perusa vaazhvathu porukkathu
amma vaazhvathu porukkathu 

Seri, aththa vudunga, iththa kelunga....

Andrum Indrum

If you grew up in Chennai in the 80s-90s, 'Indru oru thagaval' would have been part of your daily routine. That simple faceless(at that time and is that the horriblest translation of "Mugam theriya"?) person with his simple humour and powerful messages day in and day out! Sharing this youtube gem, as usual!





Recently watched the trailer of Maniratnam's 'OK Kanmani'. Maniratnam trying an indha kalathu "Mauna raagam"? Even Nithya Menon seemed to resemble Revathi, ille? Anyway, that reminded me to watch this Revathi and Prithviraj malayalam movie, "Molly aunty rocks". Revathi Chechi still rocks!

Big and small screen

Manju Wariar's comeback film in Malayalam touched a chord or 2 in me! Though started off in the same lines as "English Vinglish", the daughter's refusal to reveal the question, the first meeting with the President of India(played by Siddartha Basu!!), the slow but believable recovery with the support of good friend and the much needed highlighting of pesticide and chemical laden produce, all neatly done!! Hats off to the director!!

Beautiful song sung by Shreya Ghosal



While still on the movie subject and even though very late, felt amazed, bewildered, confused, dazed, exhilarated, fascinated (and innum pala pala solla neram illadha!) after watching Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar"! For a while, for any outrageous requests my answer was 'worm hole vazhiya poi black hole vazhiya veliya vandha..."! Ada, namma mythological brahma lokam's 1 day equals 1 earth year is sci-fi-ya!!

What to say about PK? Paarkey, rasikkey and sindhikkey! Had gone to the movie with low expectations(I consider Hirani bollywood's KSR!) but came out thoroughly entertained! Total Dhamake! Drishtikku Anushka!!

After "Friends" and "Everybody loves Raymond" ended, my live TV watching also ended. After many years revived TV watching with 'The Big bang theory'. Who wouldn't love Sheldon! Right next on my favourites list is an old TV show 'Psych'. The best part is this is one show that I can watch with A1!

FM - KB Tribute

KB-MSV

Kamban yemandhaan - Nizhal Nijamagirathu



Kana Kaanum - Agni Satchi




KB-IR

Punjai undu  - Unnal Mudiyum Thambi



Kannin maniye - Manathil urudhi vendum




KB-Marutha

Siragillai - Vaaname Ellai



Azhaithaal - Jathi malli



KB - ARR

Mettu podu - Duet



Anbe sugama - Paarthale Paravasam

Chennaiiii....

My hometown, then called Madras, was a seedha-saadha yet another metro city of India until I lived there. Ippo, already hot, hot Chennai is orey the super mega hot Chennaiii-thaan featuring in one of the top 10 cities to visit in 2015! Nowadays I introduce myself as from the land of the Chennai super kings(Dhoni tweeting in Tamil!!) to non-Tamils and some Pakis even surprised me that they knew Chennai because of Chennai Express!!

Spent the summer vacation visiting a lot of places in India this time experiencing almost all kinds of weather - sweltering heat, monsoon, cool and chilly. Traffic, crowd and an upcoming metro rail is the common factor in all cities. The highlight of the trip was celebrating anniversary, birthday, rakhi and friendship day with kith and kin!

More malls and multi storied chains stores in Chennai now but our traditional trip to Landmark book store was a big flop. First got disappointed to find the Nungambakkam branch closed and the branches in Spencer plaza and City central malls had hardly any collection. Surprisingly the Kotturpuram library has been well maintained facility-wise though next time I should consider volunteering at the children's department to organize the books.

Lulu Mall

God's own counrty's newest attraction Lulu mall is so fantastic that A2 commented "I don't know if I am in India or US, Amma!" Fresh and extra green from all the monsoon rains, the scenery of Kerala from a moving train is awesome-o-awesome! Namooru Bengaluru's Cantonment station poratti pottu-fied me this time. Missed a train(did not know that that train won't stop there!), sat waiting 20 mins in a train that was supposed to stop only 2 mins there unable to get down since the pick up person was waiting at the next station!

Mysore Palace

Brindavan Gardens

Musical fountains

And as always tried to eat as much good food as I could to sustain until the next trip. Cream center in Chennai got our vote as it satisfied both the kids and grown ups. Lakshmi Shankar Mess in Coimbatore with its local and organic food scored big. Didn't have enough energy or enthu' or room to try out all that at Eat street in Bangalore, After all that extravagant food, back home, the cereal boxes mocked at me, 'hehe... welcome back!" :-(

Super, super, super!!

Chennai super local kings!




Super sweet, cute song and movie!!



A very long, old but super interesting video...

Out of the world!

Namaste Mars! Ready for Tea & Samosa / Idli & coffee? Proud mom-ent for ISRO!!




Modi is in Madison square, Mangalyaan is in Mars orbit... orey the feelings of India dhaan!!

On a related note, there is this super one way ticket to Mars offer and a few have already jumped into the bandwagon!

Seri adhellaam irukkattum, what is this Multiverse  theory, huh? I am already dizzy hitchhiking my way in the galaxy with Douglas Adam's Guide!

Friday Melody

Anandha yaazhai - Thanga meengal



Just when I started to think Yuvan has lost his touch!

Manasula Soora Kaathey - Cuckoo

Nice melody!

Pakkadha pakkadha - Varuthapadatha valibar sangam



Such a cute romantic song!! Has become a bayangara fan of Sivakarthikeyan!!

Ayayayo anantham - Kumki



Haricharan, IMO, he is the South Indian's Sonu Nigam!! Super songs, lovely cast (Vikram Prabhu is so promising and Lakshmi Menon so expressive!)

Internet-il kandathum suttadhum

 OMG!!

 I-yo!!

 And the top-tucker!!

Sad, sadder, saddest

After all that hype about the Shiva trilogy from folks in India, very excitedly started "The immortals of Meluha" but ended with disappointment! Don't know if it was too much expectation on my part or my tastes don't sync with mainstream now! Sad!

After seeing the book "A history of the world in 10 and 1/2 chapters" in the must read list at a local book store, gave that a shot and ended up sea sick!

After all that sogam, I don't know how I landed with the "Light between the ocean". I mean, it is an excellent book but I am not ready for this kind of sadness now! I was vaguely reminded of an old Banumathi Tamil film called "Annai" but the setting, an island in Western Australia in the early 20th century was new and unique. The two main characters, Tom and Isabella were such an adorable couple! Just couldn't digest the ending. The author could've atleast let her see her once before her, you know! Pch!

To get out all that depression, I aggressively turned to humor of the highest order. With high ratings on all websites and the authors belonging to blog world(orey the kinship only!), started "Let's pretend this never happened" and "Hyperbole and a half". The first chapters seemed ligthly funny. And I get so angry with Athaan when he reads a few pages and gives his verdict when I endure the whole thing hoping (& failing) to disprove him!

May Melody

Dhoorathil naan kanda un mugam - Nizhalgal



Anandha raagam - Panneer Pushpangal



Ennullil edho - Rosappoo ravikkaikari



Ther kondu sendravan - Enakkul oruvan



Devanin kovil - Aruvadai naal

Ensoy!

and last but not least,

Kids broken-hearted over school's Valentine's Day candy ban

Orey the outrage(grown-ups more than kids!) over the decision to ban candy this valentine's day at a school in Connecticut! With left over candies from Halloween still lying around and the prospect of more sweet stuff coming home during Easter looming threateningly, this would be a welcome relief if everyone followed suit. And who cares for warnings like this - Cancer 'tidal wave' on horizon, warns WHO

Seri, namakku edhukku vambu! Lets enjoy this 'out of this world' video!