Amazing start...

Neither do I speak telugu nor I am from Andhra. Yet, I was amazed at the overwhelming crowd yesterday in Tirupathi cheering “Chiru…Chiru” in Tirupathi. It was unusual for the local residents who always hear "Govinda..Govinda". The reason being none other than their own Mega Star’s official party launch. I actually know Chiranjeevi as a telugu super star and have watched a couple of films. And that’s all I know about him and nothing else. If it was NTR and MGR in the 80’s, it’s Chiru’s turn to prove his mettle.

My colleagues were all discussing about this party launch for almost a couple of days. I hardly peeped in as I am a stranger to the topic, which was totally irrelevant to me at any direction. It was only when I saw the party launch telecasted in TV and all the media experts speak about it. In fact I didn’t even understand a bit of telugu. Media people estimated that around 10 Lakh people from various parts of the state would have gathered yesterday during the party launch.

One thing that grabbed my attention is the posters of Dr.Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa used as one of the USP’s for promoting his party. May be it’s an old trick. The other thing is that many physically challenged persons came all their way to cheer their super star. It reminded me of the Tamil movie “Mudhalvan” (“Nayak” in Hindi).

At times I wonder, how cinema and politics are tied up together, especially in South India. Will Chiranjeevi create a revolution in Andhra politics? (Fingers crossed!)

Last Day Mail !

“Today is my last working day I would like to thank you for all the support you have provided and making my stay here a memorable one. I would like to thank my managers who had shaped my professional career….bla bla… (yawn!)

You can always drop mail to somename@somemail.com”

As if there is a standard Last day Mail template, I see more or less every last mail in a similar fashion.

Is it a custom? Why do you add extra coloured quotes - memorable place to work, dear ones, you have been my role model, bla bla…? Do you really feel sad leaving your company or your managers? Why can’t you say just thank you and say goodbye? It’s only in a college farewell or a school last day where you leave the place with a sigh of sorrow and haunting memories and they are the places where you are in a compulsion to leave at one time. But here this is not the case here. You go happy to another company and that is what you wanted. (Fingers crossed!). If it’s your last day, your manager will never care. If not you there will be another in your place.

This was the thought that came to my mind when I read a last day mail yesterday! I know I will also do the same thing on my last day in office, in fact have collected a few last day mails (smiles!) but was wondering why all these? No offences, crazy thoughts after all!

The Pursuit of Happyness !

I always felt if I have ever reciprocated to the care and affection that they had shown to me throughout my life. During schooling they got me whatever I wanted. During college, they gave me pocket money. When I was sick, she never slept. They bared all the useless complaints I make about the home food or the things they bought for me. I was not matured then.

Now it’s almost three years, where I am trapped in the so called a techie’s crap life which has the buzz words: Out Station- Bachelor – Office – Work or No Work – Sleep – Office – Weekend – Junk food, Home town – Once in one or two months.

I am back to office now after a 10 day vacation. I was cherishing the moments of my vacation. I felt very happy as I had time to spend with my parents. They also felt very happy. I was single and matured enough to share words with them. I don’t know if I could get another vacation like this. I do not know if they ever expect me to do anything for all that they had done for me till now.

I was about to leave my home to catch the train, it was then my father inserted a 500 rupee note in my pocket. I was surprised and dumb as tears rolled down slowly. It was a precious moment. Well my father had given me pocket money always during school, college, and the most during my unemployed days. But this moment made me to realise, I am always their little child. Should I call it "The Pursuit of Happyness" ?

They are always my caring mom and dad. How am I going to reciprocate? – The question which has infinite answers.

Chetan Bhagat – Now most of the youths in India know him!

When I go to Landmark, I almost see 4 out of 10 teens pick one of his books. One reason, probably, could be its price – One of the cheapest books in the store. J . The captions were also attractive; it read “Best Selling Indian Author”. Probably the other reason could be because he is an “Indian”. Well I bought his books probably to see why he is the Best Selling Author or why almost all present youths have his books in their shelves.


I have now read two of his books – "One night at the Call Center" and "The 3 Mistakes of My Life". The reason is simple. His books are like an unedited script before making a cinema. A time pass cinema will have all the ingredients like romance, action, comedy, sentiment mixed in suitable proportions. And of course in cinema sometimes the logical element would have been brushed aside. It’s same with his books also. His success lies in his simplicity of relating current day to day happenings, incidents in his books. Some examples to highlight are the One day Cricket match between India and Australia, night life in the metros, reference to Orkut, the communal riots etc. His writing has no complicated English words. It’s easy to understand. Sometimes the producers of a movie insist on an item number showing the hottest models to promote the film. Probably that thought provoked Chetan to include love making chapters in his book too. Movies rarely give a message, while most of them only entertain. It applies to his book as well.

Another reason the reach of his books could be the area where he targets – IIT, Cricket, and Call Centers. What could be his next area of interest?

Subramaniapuram - A Betrayal Drama!

Finally, I saw this movie yesterday. Depicting the darker sides of the unemployed youth in the 80’s in 2008 is a new flavour to Tamil Cinema. It’s really encouraging for the audience, for the variety of quality films that the new upcoming directors give.

The plot of the movie is how two friends decide their destiny and fall prey to the betrayal act of their most trusted set of people.

Debutant director Sasikumar is another feather in the crown of Tamil Cinema industry. I never expected a movie in the time lines of 80’s now. The last half an hour of the movie was fabulous and unexpected, with each and every character showing their true colours, giving shock to the audience. Debutant music director James Vasanthan has given an excellent effort in re-recording. The back ground score is in lines with the movie. Well it’s not like a debutants venture.

I enjoyed the movie very much. The first half of the movie is balanced with the romance sequences while the second half of the movie is where the theme of the movie lies in. The Television set, the heroine’s house, the telephone, the Ambassador car, the tricycle which is used for announcing film releases, the kind of advertisements they do in the walls of the houses, the PRC bus, the central theatre in Madurai and lots more which show the 80’s just bring a nostalgic feeling for my parents, if not for me. Kudos to the team. We had the old model telephone and the Dynora TV set till the 90’s. Well now it had got changed. Actually it was a nice feeling watching a movie which is backdated. It is backdated not too much that it is not history and elder people now can definitely rewind 28 years in their mind.

This movie shows three types of people.

The first is the set of people, who do anything for the other person, whom they feel trustworthy. In this film the two heroes kill a person for the most trusted person. In return they get nothing but ruin their lives.

The second set of people, who are like the cunning fox. They show case themselves as the most trusted person and trap the innocent people to almost do everything for them. In this movie, the ex-councillor’s brother convinces two of his faithful persons to do a murder for his benefit and ignore them totally after the execution. A perfect act of betrayal! Also this kind of people has a unique talent to convince people or create faith in them. In one scene, the ex-councillor’s brother brain washes the heroine’s mind which leads to the barbaric killing of her lover before her.

The third set of people, who are fond of money and can do anything for it. In the climax, the hero’s friend betrays him for money. Atlast the betrayer himself was betrayed by the ex-councillor and sent to jail.

Subramaniapuram – A Betrayal Drama enacted in the stage which is more than 25 years old.