Good things begin

in few hours...
This year might have been gud for some not so gud for others. It was moderate for me both in personal and career. Till last year I was in a mood “wow year is ending and new year is gonna born in few seconds”. I use to cut cake with the family by 12, if not cake at least a bun. But now I feel it is just another year, another new day.
Whatever bad has happened last year, we try to forget them, cherish the virtuous moments and hope for the best in future. Only hopes and dreams make a life lively!!!
Let peace and happiness flow in everyone’s body and soul for the imminent year.
Have a delicious year 2011

படித்ததில் பிடித்தது

கீதாஞ்சலியில் தாகூரை ஒரு பக்தன் கேட்கிறான் 'அய்யா! கடவுள் கருணைக் கடல் என்கிறீரே! அவன் கருணை எனக்கு கொஞ்சம் தானே கிட்டியது! ' என்று
அதற்கு தாகூர், 'அவன் கருணைக் கடல் என்பதில் ஐயமில்லை; ஆனால் அதனின்று மொண்டுவர நீ கொண்டுவரும் பாத்திரத்தைப் பொருத்தது'

@Tirumala

Last weekend I have been to Tirumala, entirely different place seeing after many yrs. Everything was computerised right from room booking, getting tickets for darshan ,laddu issue. we got a simple room to stay. Initially I was not happy with the facilities provided there, but soon alright. There were thousands of people who had no room to stay, slept somewhere and utilised the facilities provided by TirupathiTirumalaDevasthanam for basic necessities. In seegra darshan we could finish the darshan in 3 hrs.

I felt if I had known this before we could have returned back home on same day, how are we gonna stay for 2 more days. Evening went to temple premises again to see the temple decorated with lights. I could compare Tirumala today against 10yrs back. Lot of things have been developed. There is a very big stage beside temple, where dance program, music concert, drama on Mahabharatham are conducted everyday. Pilgrims can sit in the steps in front of the temple and watch them.

The four mada streets are very clean and behind the temple is the huge Shanku, Chakra, Nama. From there we could see the temple main gopuram and thanga gopuram together.
In evenings water fountain dances for the music played.


Next day we went for dharma darshan where we have been allotted a hall to sit with other 100s of pilgrims. 3months old kid to 80 yr old elders were there. Actually we had to sit there in same hall from 1pm to 9pm. Lunch, milk, dinner were provided by TTD. But we came out of the place by 2pm and went in to the same hall by 8pm being identified by photo metric system. We were allowed to move in the Q by 9pm. People were rushing, I need not walk, they pulled me towards the temple. A baby was crying for milk, young girl fainted and fell down. I thought why people are suffering this much to see an idol who is unpredictable if he really cares for anyone. Does he really care for his devotees!!. It was such a long Q even a tortoise would move faster.Finally by 11pm we reached the pragara. Enthusiastic pilgrims behind me rushed and crushed us, I was about to cry in pain. Somehow we reached near lord in 10 minutes. The moment I had darshan, all pain vanished away and goose bumps on seeing him. Having seen, came out and sat in the pragara for sometime. My mind was so peaceful, not thinking the outside world.
Though I dont believe much in idol worship, Tirumala is always an exceptional. For few seconds of darshan, we follow fasting for few days, travel so long, wait in Q for long time...


It is so difficult for the TTD to maintain such a place where lakhs of people visit the temple daily. But they do their best. Free drinking water and rest rooms are provided every 10 mts atleast. Private hotels are everywhere and this time I had seen them selling fried rice, noodles, gobi rice, chola poori. I love the climate in hill which makes me eat a lot and munch maangai, kadalia, masal pori even if I am not hungry.

It was worth spending 3 days which was not only devotional but enjoyable. We went there had darshan, ate whatever we wanted, slept well and enjoyed the climate. Apart from enjoyment seeing different kind of people reminded me again ‘Be happy with whatever you want and whatever you have’.

என்ன குறையோ ...

என்ன குறையோ என்ன நிறையோ என ஆரம்பிக்கும் இந்த பாடல் கவிஞர் அறிவுமதியின் எழுத்துக்களில் மந்திர புன்னகை படத்தில் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளது। சுதா ரகுநாதன் அவர்களின் தேனினும் இனிய குரலில் கண்ணனை பற்றி கேட்க கேட்க திகட்டமால் இருக்கிறது. கண் மூடி கேட்கையில் மெய்சிலிர்கிறது, கண்ணன் வானுலகில் இருந்து வந்துவிட்டானோ என தோன்றுகிறது. கர்நாடக சங்கீத பின்னணியில் என்ன அருமையாக இசை அமைத்துள்ளார் வித்யாசாகர். எத்தனை முறை கேட்டுவிட்டேன்!!!ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் வேறு உலகத்திற்கு சென்றது போல் உணர்வு. கண்ணீர் தானாக வடிகிறது...

Caption I liked :)

recently that made me smile

What happens

everyday if the food prepared in the restaurants are sumptuous and get wasted, flowers in flower market are not sold out!!

என்ன கொடுமை இது

வம்சம் படத்தின் விளம்பரம் ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர் கோவில் மண்டபத்தில்.

Khatta Meetha

I have seen guy selling Mosambi juice in pull cart with Mosambi, a small tool to extract the juice. I use to wonder who will have this when there are juice shops which give in use n throw cups. Once I saw near my office and wanted to try. My friend and myself got only 1 cup and shared. It was Rs.10 and was just crushed to extract juice from Mosambi without water. It was served with pinch of salt, chat masala, pepper and sugar. It was delicious with less sweet and more of sour n salty, healthy too...

Farewell

It is time for most of our friends to depart from current work to seek a new beginning. We always plan for a movie or outing or lunch @ a hotel. This time we people who are departing have taken the chance to treat others. The party should be well planned not in any restaurant near our office we usually go but some good place in city. All our friends decided to meet @ BarbequeNation, 100ft road, Indira Nagar. A table has been booked in advance for 14 and we started grabbing by 1.30pm. This restaurant is famous for grilled food and it included grills of vegetables, pineapple, mushroom, chicken, fish, prawn. Plates were in green and black to differentiate veg and non veg. They were 90% cooked and remaining 10% was cooked in the oven in our table. Different sauses including mayonnaise, ginger-garlic, garlic chilli, mango, vinegar were served. While grilling, those sauses could be applied using a brush on the items.

Next came the other starters: Falafal topped with mayonnaise- tasted like the south famous masal vada, kajun fried potato- single potato was beaten up, baked and looked like a coin, paneer tikka, chicken, crab, mutton. It was unlimited and we dont remember how many rounds of starters we had. Until the flag was put down starters were served. The taste was entirely different from what I have had in other places.
Finally decided to put the flag down to start with other stuffs. Thai noodle soup was served for veg and lemon grass for non veg. Salads included carrot, tomato, cucumber, onion the usuals and others item like fatoosh salad, jalpino, pineapple-mango, american sweet corn, cabbage in white sauce. My tummy was full with this but wanted to do justice for entire package. Hence had Thai noodles, green thai gravy, mushroom- babycorn gravy, chettinad brinjal curry, channa masala, veg pulao, curd rice. Mutton briyani was served in authentic terracota bowl with chicken side dish. We also had aerated drinks, fruit punch while having main course.
It is time for the most awaited dessert. Still I have space in tummy. Gulab jamoons, phirni, chocolate pastry, mango mousse, vanilla icecream topped with choco sauce, nuts... mouth watering. I wished I had one more tummy. The restaurant's ambience and service were uncomparable. Hope everybody liked the food and we all were happy about that. Later in the evening few of us went for shopping to buy sarees for friend's sister. I have worn and shown the saree as display:-). Having purchased happily the day ended with a coffee and then back to home. Whenever a good thing happens it is mandatory for a bad thing to occur or wat? Even though we all chatted happily, unknowingly groups were formed and not all could speak with each other. This made few to feel bad and this caused a guilty feeling in me. Since I was taking fotos and enjoying food, dint spend time to speak with my friends' spouse who were new in our gang. Anyway another chance to have one more get together, chat, eat, shout in happiness. All these gatherings make me happy, forget the entire world and realise that Life is short, Enjoy every moment!!!

Discovering Bangalore

Being an IT professional, I wanted a change and wanna move to other place.
The hunting started sometime back and most of the weekends I was roaming with my profile. Attending walkins is a very big curse- need to stand in a lonnng Q in hot sun, register our names, sit somewhere without breakfast though I reach the venue before 9am. Few rounds I clear but finally get out with my thumbs down.
Sometimes I face problems like should I ask the employee of the company to refer me, venue is not known to me and so on... Every friday evening I think monday I would come to office very happily having an offer. Different companies have different expectations. When I lose an interview, I prepare for that kinda Qs for next but the interviewer will expect something else. Expectations are not clear!!!So far I have realised that ppl donot want my skills to be utilised in their company. poor ppl :-) The irritating part in the interview would be :Why do u wanna change company and join us. What the hell question is this ??I would think to myself: my company doesnot pay me well, I am not satisfied with what they offer. But I have to sugar coat my words praising their company- somebody in the campus might have told something or I would have reeled a lot as if I knew about them very well.
With this every weekend I see many places in Bangalore where I have never been before. Thus exploring the nook and corner and the discovery continues...

Somehow I have justified for choosing this title at the end:)

My first

telugu movie in theatre happened to be 'Ye maya chesave'.
Though the same movie was released in tamil we felt it would be better to go for telugu so that tamil, kannada and telugu speaking can watch. On a week day we started by 3.20 from office for 4'o clock show in the evening. The theatre was 19 kms away from office and we reached around 4.20. Rushed to the hall, but we missed half an hour movie. The first scene I saw was 'Samantha in blue saree- such a stunning beauty and the cinematography was awesome in the following scenes shot in Kerala'. I felt there was nothing wrong for having left office early and spending a lot to watch this movie. But this thought was shattered in very few minutes. I was waiting for some interesting scenes, but nothing was there. Story was good, but direction was not. I could not find the hero's eyes speak in such a romantic movie. The hero actually says 'Ye maya chesave(What magic you have done)'. But what he might have thought 'whatever magic you do I will stand just like a statue with no expression'. Only best thing in the movie was Samantha. I felt how come 2 of our gang watched this movie for the second time ??? but it was only for Samantha :-). Anyway our target was to watch a movie together and it happened that s t.

Spirit of Adventure

Carl Fredricksen and Elizabeth Docter (Ellie) love each other and get married. They go to a new house and live a lovely life. Fredrieck sells balloon and Ellie does everything for her love. Ellie has a dream of going to paradise falls in South America inspired by Charles Muntz, hero for both of them. Charles Muntz is an explorer who lives in Paradise falls in search of a beast vowing to come back with that. From day 1 this lovely couple starts saving to reach there. Some or other reason they cannot collect enough money. They grow older and Ellie dies one day. Lonely Fredrieck always reads her 'My Adventure Book'- her dreams.

One fine day he plans to leave for Paradise falls with the help of his helium balloons. He starts floating in air with his sweet home with ellie's memories. He finds an wilderness expolrer Russell hiding inside his home. He helps him in finding out the place where they are in. They reach the jungle and there they find a bird. Russell loves it, feeds chocolate to it and calls her kevin. Dogs reside in those area and they find them as aliens, take them along with Dug, their gang member to their master. The master plans to kill Fredrieck and Russell. The master is their child hood hero Charles Muntz. Knowing this he treats them as his guest. The movie picks up fastly here when the master gets to know that his target Kevin is Russell's friend and he wants to grab it. The hero becomes villain to Fredrieck. He along with Russell escapes from there, let Kevin go. He doesnot want any one to distract his dream come true. Ferocious Charles catches Kevin with his gang of dogs. Dug helps explorer and the old man in their mission to rescue the lost bird. Did Fredrick achieved his dream of reaching the falls, did they save Kevin from the gang is the rest of the movie.

Walt disney pictures and Pixar animations' movie was directed by Pete Docter. This 1.30 hr animation movie is awesome to watch. Their love story with no dialogues and only background score, flashes on screen only for few minutes but that stays in our heart for long. The plumpy Russell was not gud to look initially later I found him to be lovely. It has a lot of love and emotions filled. Whenever Fredrieck faces hardships during adventure even my heart beats fastly. The movie has won many awards including Grammy, Golden Globe, Bafta and so on. This lovely movie is for kids and grown up kids as well.

All iz well...

Happened to watch a wonderful movie recently- 3 Idiots starring Amir Khan, Madhavan,Sharman Joshi,Boman Irani,Omi vaidhya. The movie starts with Madhavan(farhan) and Joshi's(Raju)journey in search of their lost college friend Amir khan(Rancho). Farhan narrates their 4 years of engineering life in Imperial College of Engineering the most reputed Institution. Their first day starts with the usual ragging by seniors. Farhan and Raju are ragged by them whereas Rancho escapes from that. He applies the physics we study in school and give the senior back nicely. All 3 become friends and Farhan is inspired by Rancho's every actions- he applies his engineering knowledge, very friendly to all, takes everything very easily, insists a small boy working there to join a school. He is not bookish and advices his professors also to teach by giving practical knowledge rather than theoritical. He wants students to study with interest not for the sake of getting a degree. Farhan who wants to become a wild life photographer sacrifices his dream and studies engineering. Raju whose family is very poor always have the dream of studying, becoming engineer and safeguard his family. These 3 always have so much of fun and get caught by the dean Boman Irani(Virus) everytime. Initially the dean excuses and there comes a situation where Raju gets caught and dean wants to dismiss him. When Raju wanted him to forgive, dean says then rancho should get dismissed- who is the target for him always. We all move to the front corner of the seat to watch what happens then. Amidst this there is a love story between Rancho and Pia- kareena Kapoor who is dean's daughter. What happens next for all the 3 -did they achieve what they wanted to, what happened to missing Amir is the rest of the movie.

The movie directed by Rajkumar Hirani is very much realistic where there is no show off, heroism, extras. How the students speak funily, that has been made as comedy track. There are so many emotional scenes where I couldnot control my tears. But immediately the mood of audience is changed by a comical scene.The students short names the dean- ViruSahastraBudhe as Virus. The movie has made changes in me and so many thoughts running in my mind. It insists that why should we study only for the sake of parents or for getting a degree without trying to achieve what we dream. What they show in the movie actually happened in my life too. Being an Electrical Engineer I had only theoritical knowledge. If a circuit does not work at home now I may feel it very difficult to repair(?!). What did I do in 4 years. Just got a job at the end where I work with with no much satisfaction. I think a lot if I have to continue my job to get only salary and respect in society or try to increase my talent in my areas of interest.

There are few scenes which are not practical like - college students trying to make Pia's sister deliver a baby by giving pressure. But there are so many to get to know. Movie full of positive vibrations, always say 'All is well'. All will be well . These 3 words have become mantra for everyone who have watched it. The character names sound good like Ranchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad / Rancho / Phunsukh Wangdu. The 3 heroes have scope and performed well equally. I was stunned to see 44 yr old Amir looking exactly like a college student. So much he had worked out. Omi Vaidhya (Chathur) is the comedian and the way he speaks hindi and english is so prominent whenever he appears on screen we cannot resist laughing particularly saying 'Balaathkar' instead of 'chamatkar'. As a whole, movie is awesome and it is a must watch. It is better not to remake the movie in tamil casting masala heroes. Directors should be very careful in selecting heroes without spoiling the beauty of the movie.

Shivanasamudram-Talakad trip

Highly frustrated in office work, we as a team wanted to go to Belur, Halebedu, Shravanbelagola. The day has been decided as Feb 13th. We all were excited to go and enjoy there. One of my team mates told that we may not be having fun in visiting temples. Hence we were planning for a greenery. Listed all places around Bangalore- Yelagiri, Mekadattu, Hogenakkal, Gopalswamybetta. For some or the other reason we rejected all and finally decided Shivanasamudram and Talakad on the previous day evening.

Everyone has taken some activity like packing food for breakfast and lunch, snacks, fruits, water, games, cab booking, recording songs. Next day morning the cab started by 6am and picked our 9 member team at their pick up points. We left Bangalore by 8.30 am and the road has taken us towards Shivanasamudram. In the cab we started playing songs in tamil, telugu, hindi, kannada-all peppy numbers. Around 9.30 we stopped near ramanagaram and had breakfast. Back in cab we were playing anthakshari and had fun by dancing, playing dumb shereds, pulling everyone's legs.

By 12 we reached Shivanasamudram where cauvery river splits into Barachukki and Gaganachukki falls. Gaganachukki falls is very deep and we did not reach there. We just saw that, took photos, had sweet tender coconut which was only Rs.7 then moved towards Barachukki. It was a rocky area and we had to trek to reach the place. I couldnot manage to walk down the steps and fell down and got hurt badly:). Very much excited to see water- lovely to see the place and it gave a kind of happy feel when we touched water. Took so many fotos in the rock around giving funny poses. It was adventurous to walk in the pricky stones and with risk we have reached the other end. From there we took a coracle to reach the falls. It was full of moss and difficult to balance. Everyone holded each other and we managed to sit in a place where water fell like beating us with great force. Playing in water is always fun forgetting the world around us. Being there for an hour by 2 we started from there. Again we had to climb to reach the cab. Since it was very hot we were very thirsty and had cold drinks. In 1 day we finished 6 litres of sprite, thumbs up and fanta.

On the way to Talakad we stopped and had lunch under mango tree. Only we were there and enjoyed food due to hunger. In another 20 minutes we reached Talakad and could see sand everywhere. Waited for the sun to set and in the mean time we played cricket, discus throw. After sometime we got into water and played using a small rubber ball. Then we came out of water changed dresses where separate rooms were available. Had evening tea, took snaps around and went to the temple.

Interesting stories are there with the temple. There are 5 lingas which are believed to be the 5 faces of Lord Shiva. They are Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaidyanatheshwara and Mallikarjuna. A lady named Alamelamma has given a curse that made the place become sand. There are a lot more info available in wiki. It was amazing to see sand all around in the mid of forest kind of area. We walked for 1 km to see all those temples. We visited the temples and we did not return in the same route, it was like taking a round to reach the place where we started. The day has ended there and by 7.30 we started towards Bangalore. On the way again we started singing dancing without feeling the tiredness. The highlight was everyone danced and enjoyed the trip. We all reached home with a feel that we have achieved something. For sure this trip is a memorable one.
Note: Place cursor over the image to see what it is.

கண்ணம்மா

இன்று குடியரசு தினம். நாட்டில் என்ன நடக்கிறது என்று தெரிந்து கொள்ள செய்திகள் கூட பார்க்கவில்லை.திடீரென்று பாரதியார் நினைவு வர இன்றாவது அவர் பாடல்களைக் கேட்போம் என்று நினைத்தேன். இணையதளத்தில் தேடுகையில் சின்னஞ் சிறு கிளியே பாடல் கேட்டேன் . என்ன அருமையான பாடல் வரிகள் என்ன அருமையான இசை. கேட்க கேட்க என் கண்ணிலும் நீர் வருகிறது. அவரின் பாடலை பலர் பாடிஉள்ளனர் இருப்பினும் உன்னி கிருஷ்ணன் அவர்களின் குரலில் எனக்கு கேட்க மிகவும் பிடித்தது.
பாடல்:http://www.musicindiaonline.com/p/x/N4Q2Ka6fDS.As1NMvHdW/

Helping hands

On the day of pongal, I watched a program in Vijay TV.Got very much emotional on seeing such a program which was really useful and informative. It was Surya vudan oru kodi oru thodakkam which is 'A beginning with Surya with a crore'। I am saying about the well known actor Surya, whose service mind came to lime light. He is the founder of ‘Agaram’ a non profit organisation which helps in many poor students’ education lighting their lives.

He came up with new idea called Vidhai meaning Seed. By this he has called up so many well established people in society. 10 of them have accepted for his eagerness in helping students. He has collected 10 lakhs each from Vijay tv, Shakthi masala, Ma Foi Pandiarajan, Ramraj cotton and many more including himself. With this 1 crore Agaram sponsors students who are capable of studying but with financial problem.

It is well known that India loses many talents who discontinue their studies lack of money। The country can reach heights when all Indians become literate. Last week I heard from a person who supplies milk “My son says he cant understand the lessons since it is taught in English and hence he is not going to college”. I felt very bad on hearing him saying that. How much the guy would have depressed in the class?? How much he is talented—who knows!! It is a bitter truth that most of the students from remote village cant cope up with English apart from few who take up the challenge and put their effort to learn. I get frustrated on thinking of these kind of children who are unable to study and go to work to run their family. There are still schools which do not have a proper building, bench, desk and children sit on floor, no proper rest room (worst case). Even I have studied in a wellpopular no. 1 school that had no clean rest rooms.

I wish children get all they want which is required when they grow –studies, friends, fun, extra activities and love from all. Even in my street I see a small girl who does house hold jobs playing with rich kids in the evening. Why such discrimination everywhere??? The highlight is everyone knows this and few volunteers help such people. I cant even say this as a help but our duty to do. God has created us with so much of health and wealth and the same god played in their lives.
With humanity we should do something good to them. Kudos to Surya who is concerned about the society in spite of his name and fame. He is really a god in many families. Let him be the motivator to all of us in bringing poor children and make them graduates.

Paa

The title implicitly means that the movie is about the relationship between a father and kid.
This time real life father n son Amitabh n Abishek play the roles but Amitabh plays the role of son for father Abishek. Abishek n vidhya balan have affair during their studies in Oxford University. Due to Abishek’s involvement in politics he could not marry her. They depart and she gives birth to Auro who is affected by progeria- aging at young age. At the age of 12 he looks like 60yr old. He wins award in school from Amol Arte (Abhishek). Amol is inspired by Auro(Amitabh) and their relationship continues. Later Vidhya reveals that Amol is his father and what happens when Vidhya meets Amol is the rest of the movie.
Director Balki has narrated the story very carefully for the challenging character of Auro। So many scenes touch our hearts when Vidhya replies to a lady who enquires about her son ‘this is a rare disorder and I am so lucky to have him’. His school mates are fond of him and they care about him without actually showing the melodrama of hardships- a very positive approach. This is such a simple movie and director has trusted only the story and he visualizes through extra ordinary performing actors including the school children. The expressions of Abishek are so natural especially when he comes to know that Auro is his own son. Vidhya is cute looking and her love n care for her son adds extra beauty to her character.
Actors come around with simple costumes, more over a white pajama for Abishek. Isai gnani Illayaraja has taken his old composition to hindi. It is awesome too to listen to the hindi version that sounds like latest songs. He has scored the background music that soothes us. PC.Sriram’s cinematography shows the movie so fresh and kudos to him and for Amitabh ’s incredible make up. I felt that the length of scenes involving politics could have been reduced. Otherwise this wonderful movie can be watched with maa, paa, kaa, naa...