Wow !!!

I was just casually looking at my own blog, which I always do. I found that my first post was on July 2007 and wow...i have completed two years of blogging with 25+ posts and 500+ visits. Though the statistics aren't very sound, it is still significant to me. Hope I should continue to blog more!

The Weekend - Delightful, Extraordinary !!

July 4th Saturday Morning 6’o clock. The weather was very cold. I was standing in one of the platforms of the Bangalore East Station with my jerkin on. It was the second visit for my parents in my three years of stay here, but first visit for my bro and grand ma. I was excited. This time they had come fully prepared. They had brought the home made karahs, Murukkus, Rava Ladoos in tins.

It was really nice having them here in my home. They gave a positive comment on the way we maintained our home. No no..we are still a bachelor… he he ! I hired a car and took them to my office. They would have had a rough draft of my work place and when they saw in real, they were very happy. It’s the same feel when we go to onsite and see things for the first time..though I have no words to describe… Amidst the distance between places and the traffic in Bangalore, I could take them only to Shiva Temple and ISKCON during the remaining hours of the day. Next day my mom and grand ma (mom’s mom) had planned to prepare food for us. So in the evening we went to the nearby shops to get the grocery and other vegetables. It is just a simple ordinary task which is done day-to-day. I don’t know, even this simplest task made me rejoice.

July 5th Sunday Morning. It was not the usual lazy Sunday morning. My mom waked me up at 6 am or even earlier, an unusual scene in the bachelor’s dome. She served us coffee. I like her filter type decotion Coffee. She then prepared her favourite Poori and Channa masala. I felt everything was at my reach. Me and my room mates had the break fast, and all were gearing ourseleves for the lunch. I have never seen our kitchen so busy all these years. Even the uninvited Cat smells and peeps in often. The lunch menu was obviously non veg and I had asked to prepare Fish as we don’t often eat fish outside. After the heavy meal, we took a short nap and then planned to go to the Commercial Street.

I should say the weather in Bangalore during their visit was fantastic. The sun hesitated to shine brighter. The rain hesitated to fall off fully. It was a light drizzle here and there and the gentle cool breeze all through made us to switch off the fans. This sort of weather cannot be possible at my home town Madurai unless any geographical change happen. They just enjoyed the weather here. Sunday Evening and the next day fully were spent on shopping.

July 6th Monday 9.20 pm, they were waiting in the Cantonment Station to board the Tuticorin Express.I went with them to send off . I have never seen this train come earlier than 9.30 pm in this station. This time to my surprise, it arrived at time. They all felt very happy spending their weekend with me here in Bangalore and me too.

July 7th Tuesday 6.45 am, My mobile alarm beeps! Oops there is no body to wake up! I had to go out to drink coffee. I had to go to office. I had to have break fast in the office. The regular weekday routine continues… :)

India did not qualify...

...for the semifinals in the T20 World cup 2009 after they lost the match to England by 3 runs. I was a little surprised as we lost the match. Yeah I too agree there had been a concern on the way we did our run chase or batting order, bowling etc. It’s finally how we enjoy the game. Yeah of course, if India had won, the rest of the matches would have been interesting.

The most annoying thing is the way the media has showcased this. Today morning all the news channels were literally commenting on Dhoni’s captaincy, strategy, tactics and whatever techno-words they use. We should note that the same media had praised Dhoni for his captaincy, for winning the previous T20 World cup. Joginder Sharma bowled the last over of the crucial final against Pakistan in the previous T20 World Cup and fortunately India won. I am not sure if that decision is good or bad but we won the match. By the way I am not commenting on his captaincy and I am not an expert either to do that. The other irritating thing is one news channel went one more step ahead and asked for polls – “Should Dhoni retain the captaincy after the T20 World Cup 2009?” Its not only this instance, but media wants to mint money out of every sort of news which may be useless, useful, critical, hot or important or whatever. I remember the movie “Mumbai Meri Jaan” where in they clearly bring media to the lights. It’s not only the media, but also my fellow people who respond to those polls. At least to the extent of my knowledge nothing had got impacted because of these polls, except they get charged for that sms and media or the service provider gains out of it.

India did not qualify “only” now…

....but lots to come favorable in future!

Pasanga - Not only for kids!

I was waiting to watch this Tamil movie in a theatre but unfortunately it didn’t get released in Bangalore even after a month. Finally managed to see this in a DVD. It’s been a good experience watching this movie. Almost every one of us would have experienced in our life. It’s been a very long time, there had been a movie where kids do the lead roles. A daring attempt by debutant director Pandiraj, who had surprised not only the kids but guys like me too. The back ground score just suits the the movie. One of the melody “Oru Vetkam” composed by James Vasanthan is very pleasant and gentle.

Right from the beginning till the end, they talk about positive thinking, dreaming a vision, aiming higher. But not as an advice! They have said it with neat incidents and lots of humor. They also talk about how parents and teachers play a role in motivating a student.

There are many scenes which I could personally relate to my own. One of the scenes where in, the class leader writes the names of the students who are talking. The students show gestures and signs instead of talking. I myself had been a class leader during 6th or 7th standard. The other scene in which the hobby of collecting stamps is shown. My father had a stamp collection album which he gave it to me. I used to trade stamps with my neighboring friends. Good Old memories... hmm! The other scene where in a student does Karate ‘Katas’. We were also taught those Karate steps in school. Those were funny.. :)

Most of the time during this movie, I was taken back to my school days. Its definitely a movie to watch!

The Road Finally Taken – Bangalore to Chennai

The after-college-life of mine now had been neither too long nor too short. I had not seen most of my friends these days. It had been almost two years I had visited Chennai. It took me more than a year to reach Chennai from Bangalore. Yes, I had said to my friends before a year that I will visit them there. I won’t lie – “I was busy or tied up with my work”. To be frank, I was lazy to travel to Chennai. Somehow I made up my mind to finally visit Chennai last weekend.

Chennai is a great place. Lots of changes had happened - Wider roads, New Flyovers, emerging IT Parks, New Multiplexes and malls. City got bigger and beautiful. I came at the right time when there is no much heat, so I did not complain much about the weather. Earlier when I landed in Bangalore for the first time, I was complaining about the bus fares. Now I am doing the same here. There are hardly normal (green) buses plying. The deluxe buses are in no way cheaper when compared to the BMTC buses here in Bangalore. Earlier I felt the cost of living in Chennai is less when compared here in Bangalore. But now I feel it is almost the same.

I should say the trip was so memorable. Though I couldn’t spend much time with each and every person, it was really good sharing happiness, cracking jokes and pulling each other’s legs. To me it’s a kind of refreshment after a couple of months. We didn’t go out for lunch; instead we did a combined cooking. Too many cooks actually “didn’t” spoil the broth in this case.

We went to Chennai’s most visited places – Spencers Plaza, City Centre, Sathyam cinemas and of course the Marina Beach. Passing a Sunday evening in the beach! Wow, I wish a beach here in Bangalore. Sathyam complex is definitely better than the PVR and Inox here.

It’s a great feel when you get to meet your old friends after an indefinite span of time. I stayed at one of my college friend’s house. There all my other friends joined in and we were all having great fun. We were chatting in all areas – Girls, Job, Chennai, Cooking, Finance, Movies etc. I was able to sense some kind of maturity in each and every person. Alarm raises – Then why the hell are we still single?

I met my school friends in the Marina beach. I need not explain the beauty of the Marina beach at sunset. We sat in a circle nearby the shore, sharing each other’s experience, it was nice you know. We were all laughing together. Sometimes our laughter was louder than that of the sea waves.

I started writing this blog with the intention of penning down all the cherishing moments of the trip here but I am really, really finding words to describe the same here.

Altogether, it was indeed a perfect Bachelor’s meet - All singles, being together. Yet another memorable trip for me!

An episode in a bachelor’s life!

She has recently joined the company…
Somehow she felt to me as the most liking girl…
Was able to see a couple of times in the cafeteria…
Good looking fair girl with an innocent smile…
Seems that she has a couple of friends including one or two guys… (Burns!?)
Was wondering why in this world I don’t get such girls in my project. (Sighs!)
I wanted to say her “You are beautiful” and walk away…
Will she smile or regret?
Will she mistake me?
Will she think I am flirting?
So many unanswered questions…until I go and say to her “You are very beautiful”
No. I will not do that…I definitely know that!


After a couple of days…
She (another girl) joined the company…
Somehow she felt to me as the most liking girl…
Episode repeats…

Wondering how many.…

My Experiment with Oats!

Last week, was my first mission towards exploring the culinary skills of mine. Being a lazy bachelor, thought of trying Oats. Bad choice!? Phew…I have never eaten it before. I would have just added Oats with milk and would have tried that. But a thought provoked when I just saw this recipe of making Oats Upma on the cover.

I just blindly followed the instructions given there and I was at the final stage. The Oats Upma was about to get prepared. I just closed the pan with a lid and was waiting for a few minutes to get it cooked. My alter ego was appreciating the way I had started cooking. What a start! It was like inventing a new dish as if the whole world has never heard of. Silly! 3 minutes over, I was back to the cooking world. I had opened the lid to see my product. It was like waiting for the results. Did I get an arrear or cleared off?

I don’t know what should I comment now, Shocked at the first look of my product, was re-looking the recipe. The outcome was kind of a “hygienic gum”. No words to speak or rather I am mute when I tasted it…so sticky!

Mission Success, Launch failed!
Crazy moments!

Eemini..Eemini…I am missing you!

I miss you..miss you da !

Ennai vittu pogadhey!

Ishtam neeyada,

Yeakkathil thalladhey !

This song from “Sakkarakkati” drives me crazy. Wow! What a start from Chinmayi.

Eemini..Eemini..! The metallic tone of hers just melts one’s heart. The main song is sung by another singer (not familiar with the name). It’s surely a different composition from the Mozart of Madras. Its so fresh and young that I am able to feel the theme of the song even without the visuals. Especially the humming interludes with “I am missing you” are very expressively rendered by the singers, which makes me to hear the song repeatedly. I hope the visuals keep up the expectation levels!

In the name of God...

Two weeks back a couple of groups knocked each one’s door in my street. They claimed to be the residents of my area and they wanted to celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi. No surprises! It was the usual collection they ask for, every year. Are they theists..(?). Why are they keen in celebrating this festival in the roads? If they are interested, why not spend their money? Why ask me? I am not an atheist, but I was not interested to aid them either.

The day came, the Ganesha procession was being held in the streets of my area! One of the guys was getting liquor from a shop in the corner of my street and was dancing before the idol.

I wondered...Why is all these? In the name of God…

Dhaam Dhoom - Only once!

Amidst the continuous rain in Bangalore, I went and watched the matinee show of this movie on Saturday. This is cinematographer turned director Jeeva’s last movie. I liked his Ullam Ketkume and Unnale Unnale and that had driven me to watch this movie. If it was romance in his earlier movies, it is a action thriller in this movie. The movie is about how an Indian doctor on a visit to Russia for a conference, a week before his marriage, gets trapped in a murder case and how he escapes to prove his innocence in the murder case.

The movie is a mixture of romance and action. And it is not the conventional Tamil action movie where in the hero hits ten to twenty people. It is one of the occasional action sequels in Tamil cinema, in which the hero is being chased by the Russian police force and how he esacpes from them and solves the murder case. Probably director Jeeva would have been influenced by the “The Bourne Trilogy” series and wanted to treat the Tamil audience in a similar way. Certain chase sequences in this movie had similarities with the English flick. Even one of the back ground scores reminds the background score of the Bourne Series.

Nowadays, it has been a trend in movies to involve the current sequel and flashback sequel in a mixed fashion. In this movie, the Russian episode of the hero Jeyam Ravi is frequently intervened by his love memories with Kangna Ranaut in India. In the consequence, the love sequel misses all the logical essence.

Some of the things I personally liked in this movie is the murder plot in Russia, the characterisation of Jeyam Ravi and the chase sequels (usually he does a romance cast), the place Russia which is probably a rare destination for Tamil audience and needless to say, the cinematography. Be it the city of Moscow or the hotel room where the hero stayed or the lawyer’s residence or the village backdrop in India, it was definitely a visual treat. The lighting effect was so natural. This movie also speaks about the Russian nation and its challenges to deal the prevailing crime threats in their country.

The movie would have been better if any one of the sequels alone is told - Either the murder case in Russia or the love story in India and I prefer if only the action sequel is told. The script is so racy and I feel the sequels in India and a couple of songs were the unnecessary speed-brakers. At least in future can I expect a quality action-thriller Tamil movie which has no song interventions?