Trying....

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

2011-03-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

It's long since I came to the blog with new site. No problem as though most of the world don't know / forgot this blog exists.However I didn't write so far because nothing I came across excites me in this year nothing tickled my bones to write a post. I decided to broke the lock by writing about this book.

I never read the second book of most of my admired writers except Chetan Bhagaht. So when I startted with this book I recollected how Khaled narrated the story in the "Kite Runner" which is of it's kind. I liked that book because it shows some part of Afghanistan history with story mostly targeted to the characters and the incidents around them. That story telling was one of my favorite ones. I afraid not his second book should be failure with me. I was very wrong with my instincts. When I gone after few chapters I couldn't resist myself to complete the whole book. I complete 1/4 th of the book in my first sitting and the rest in second sitting.

What I loved in this book, the book captured / carried along with it is the history of Afaghanistan when the characters of the book lived. The protagonists are two female "Mariam" and "Lalia". Khaled depicted the book very well by telling the story with these characters. I surely can say this book is not much complicated as his first one. I am lucky enough not to miss this book.
I loved the book. So I belive you will as well.

Up in the Air

2010-02-27T22:07:00.000-08:00

There are people living who make the money from the cry of people surrounded. This story revolves around one such guy. His name is Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), his job is to fire people. He always wants to be alone and uncommitted guy in relationship. The company he works get the job of firing other company’s people, since the boss in the other companies are afraid/uncomfortable in firing their own employees. This guy lives mostly in the air as he has to travel more not only in firing people, hoping to hit 10 million miles (more than traveling to moon) which favors in speaking with head pilot and printing his name as the 7th in the world to hit 10 millions. He meets Alex (Vera Farmiga) in a stay in hotel and trying to have "casual" relationship (no commitment).

Then the Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) appeared in the company where Ryan works and proposed an idea to his boss. The idea is to have video conference to fire people instead of actually sitting in front of the people.She is new to job, however every one of her colleagues except Ryan accepts the idea proposed by her. The boss wants to have Natalie to travel with Ryan to know more about the job and in idea of convincing him the new technology and its cost-cutting scenarios. So now Natalie travels with Ryan and seeing how people react when getting fired in real. After the travel Ryan felt like having serious relationship with Alex. What happens to them? Why Natalie quits the job? Forms the rest of the story

George Clooney did his part well he is very good as usual. Doing the role best suited for this age, man our people should learn from him. I was really surprised by the acting of a woman, as you guessed its Anna Kendrick as Natalie. What acting from this girl? I was really thrilled after seeing her acting. The situation where she is helpless when people she is firing threatened her for committing suicide, helplessly crying like a baby in the airport in front of Clooney for her boyfriend breaking with her, the mixed reaction of surprise, proud and excitement when recommendation letter for her from Clooney being read out by interviewer are really really awesome. I would say even if George Clooney is not getting best actor for this movie, surely this girl will win for best supporting actress in the Oscars.

Every department of the movie did their part very well with top notch.

My Rating : 3/5

Sherlock Holmes

2010-02-14T21:33:00.000-08:00

There are few movies which depict the hero character as the mixture of intelligence and moron and this is one kind of such a movie. The movie starts with Holmes and his friend (assistant with will) Watson disturbing a magic ritual where a girl is sacrificing herself in front of villain. The villain got arrested for the charge of murders and sentenced to death. Then after hanging he escaped from the tomb he buried. This arouses fear among fellow people. There come our hero Holmes to untie the mystery behind the each following sequences and how he reveals there are no magic and only pure science forms the base of the story. In the meanwhile Holmes brilliant ex-wife conspires him and what she is doing lead the movie to expect the audiences for another part.
The plot is extra ordinarily good. They never mentioned the plot is in London till the construction of great bridge is shown. I didn’t read book before so I didn’t know where the plot is. The cinematography is really top notch, the special effects is really worth a mention. The background music is brilliant. I really want to get the sound track.
The actors perfectly fit the bill. The Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson are brilliant. Holmes watching every minute detail from everyone is awesome and Watson unwilling interest in each time is shown exactly by the actor. The director can easily keep a feather on his cap. The time when it ends with Holmes saying “The case reopened” followed by cartoon is brilliant.

As a whole, it’s a joyous ride you shouldn’t miss
My Rating : 3.5 / 5

FRIENDS

2010-01-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

The time I am writing this is almost midnight after completed watching all the seasons of FRIENDS. Long back when I was studying college I heard there was a sitcom (situational comedy) called "FRIENDS" running in the channel and it was good. Then my brother told me that serial was good. I didn't get a clue how come a sitcom been running for 10 years is so famous around the TV.

That mystery was broken a month back when I get all the seasons of FRIENDS from a shop. I doubted it was not worth a money, but that idea was broken into delicates fell on the ground when I completed seeing first 2-3 episodes of the first season. As each season proceeds I can't get my eyes out of those. It's like I glued to the TV. Each season as it proceeds shows how good they have created each to suit the contemporaries. No wonder that sitcom went for 10 years (1994-2004) successfully with overwhelming support from people.

Storyline:

Oneline:

How a group of six friends living in Manhattan, NY?

The first season starts with six friends sitting in a cafe and speaking about sex. As each season proceeds the serial shows how each friends living, caring and starting new future. Believe me I never felt one episode boring out of more than 100 episodes (rough figure). Every episode is soaked in comedy leaves viewers burst into to tears. All the episodes were created around these six friends. It represents the lives of USA youths and how they leads the life. Every character (friend) is unique of their way and the episodes always tailored keeping mind in that. If you ask me which one is best, I can't really really choose one.

Characters:

As per the title card - Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross. The best part is everything should have planned and the cast are suiting the characters exactly as it was expected. Everyone in the cast played their part in par with the excellence. It's being David Schwimmer as Ross, Jennifer Anniston as Rachel, Courtney Cox as Monica, Lisa kudrow as phoebe, Matte LeBlanc as Joey and Matthew Perry as Chandler... they suited exactly to the bill.

Rachel - considered hot among all the girls, her character doesn't have much uniqueness but I love it. Jennifer Aniston played the part very well especially the look she gives when she caught in unavoidable situation.

Monica - passionate,hyper-organized, ultra-clean character. Ross's younger sister.No other thouhgts other than "wow" about the performance of Courtney Cox. I love all her character, especially a scene where she gives timetable for Rachel to get training for "BridseMaid" of her in her marriage is highlight. There are many I just mentioned one.

Phoebe - freak out girl playing guitar and masseuse. Lisa kudrow completed the character with her nuance. When Ross ask Phoebe to tell the heating machine with five letters word she first say "radiator", then Ross tell it's five letters, when again she says "rdtor". It was the moment I couldn't control my laugh. It's all because of Lisa Kudrow.

Chandler - always considered as feminine taylored, gay by others. Husband of Monica with no control over the secrets. Matthew did his part very well with his cheeky smile. The expression after spitting the secret by Matthew each time is really good.

Joey - considered as child, unmatured man. Soap opera actor (Dr.Drake Rumray) eats lot and sleeps with girls lot, considered as pet for all the characters. Matt LeBlanc is best. Especially the late reaction for everything by Matt LeBlanc is best.

Ross - palentologolist in profession. Sensitive, charming character in the serial. I loves his character. David Schwimmer really really excels in this character. Monica, Ross when joins creates LOOOLLLLL. David's wierd look after slipping the words from tongue or when situation going out of control is best among all.

The characters are simple but the director and actors made the sitcom very interesting. When the season ends all the characters are shown with new begining and getting in their own way. I couldn't believe it ended. When ending the serial, they completed emotionally, but it's worth an end. Friends , don't every miss FRIENDS. It's all worth a watch.

Hats off to creators:
David Crane and Marta Kauffman

If you ask me whether that kind of serial is possible in India? In the present situation where mega serial soaked with sadness favors, no it's not possible. There are many movie stars did cameo in this serial (Brad Pitt, Robin Williams to mention few).However I love the change in situation soon to get environment to make serials like FRIENDS.

Aayirathil Oruvan

2010-01-17T21:14:00.000-08:00

If you could imagine a movie directed by Sankar, Maniratnam and Bala then it would be this movie. The gigantism of Sankar, perfection of Maniratnam in technical aspect and ruthless morbid feeling from Bala are all combined perfectly in this movie.Selvaraghavan can fix himself a feather on his cap for this movie.

I am not going to tell the story here, because that would be the spoiler of the mood. When you about to enter the theatre prepare yourself for seeing movie with mixture of reality, and sur realities. None will get a clue after interval if you are not following the movies perfectly. I won't prefer to get the families to the movie. The gore, blood is more than enough for your family to throw up, however if you like pscho movie genre then you can eat popcorn in the post-interval scenes.

Coming to technicians and actors...

I never thought Reema sen would perform like this before, she did an extra-ordinary performance and ofcourse Parthiban. Karthick seems to be in the mood of Paruthi Veeran so don't expect much from him. Andriya did a neat job for the role given to her.

The cinemautography, art directors, co-artists are all top-notch. Raamji should given a special mention here for cinemautography.

The music of movie is a drawback in songs. The re-recording is a new kind in Tamil movies and G.V. Prakash should given a special mention for that.

I love to see the movie again for showing the reality of how the kingdom in earlier TamilNadu which is not like the fairy tales we read so far and shown in the old movies so far. Selvaraghavan as a director he proved. If you ask me, will it get the run-at-the box office and collect all the money (more than 30 crores) I would doubt that. Atlast it should be worthy to mention the guts of the producer to produce this kind of movie

Rating : 3/5

Maiden advice of 2010

2010-01-03T21:57:00.000-08:00

I never thought I will get an advice from the stranger when I woke up with heavy headache on Jan 02, 2010 (Saturday). After got up from the bed I took shower and went to T.Nagar. I was supposed to meet Rajrajan my ex-colleague in iLink. It was 10.45 in the morning and he told he will be there at 11 - 11.30, so I decided to take my breakfast in Saravana Bhavan (for strangers - its a famous hotel in TamilNadu), pondy bazar. I parked my two wheeler in the hotel parking area which happens to be the pedestrians path, colloquially platform. The platform is located such that one side of the platform in the length-wise is attached to hotel and the other side is having slope for vehicles to get in that.
I ordered mini tiffin (assorted collection of micro miniature of 4 main items being served). While waiting I was overhearing the conversation of the couple in my front seat. I supposed they are not married yet, because the guy was speaking and the girl was listening. He was speaking non-stoply about one of his onsite experience (he must be a S/W engineer. WOOWWW! what a finding) where he won the bet he had with his friends for $600 in a cricket game. The girl was listening fully to that. In the mean while I completed my break fast and ordered a coffee. By the time I asked my bill their bill has come too. My bill amount was Rs 103, though the name of the item is mini it costs Rs 74. I payed my bill and came out. I was thinking about how guys are flirting with girls and I considered that boy I overheard as a self-boasting guy. My friend Rajarajan showed with his bike by the time when that couple came out to take their two wheeler which was 4-5 vehicles side where I parked mine. Since I saw my friend I was about to take my vehicle.
Time for Advice:
At this time an old lady (completely stranger) came near my vehicle, she grabbed my arm which made me turn to her, this she thought should get my attention to her and haphazardly it did. Then she started "Son! you're parking your vehicle in the platform which almost occupies 3/4 of it's place where elders like ours walk" everyone including that couple, hotel securities staring us " if you park vehicles here only place left is the slope at the end of the platform where we can't walk.. please think about that.. we are elders how we can walk if you park vehicles like this. Think before you are doing it next time. These days youths are not respecting the old people. From this starting of new year 2010, decide yourself to respect the elders". After she left I realized everyone staring at me, the only thing I did is smiling as I thanked the lady in my heart for not slapping me. Now the couple grinned at me in bizarre and the guy replied my smile to him with nod of understanding my situation. I relaized lately that this is the first advice I got this year, even not from my mother yet.

News - Grabbed my attention

2009-12-10T20:51:00.000-08:00

1) Don in Action
Dubai underworld don "Dawood" himself threatens one of the leading builders of Dubai to pay the debts. This itself tells how much his stakes depends on Dubai real-estate.
Read more..http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5325202.cms

2) Proffessor earning in outsourcing
Earning more than a lakh per month seems to be convenient for professors, this to evaluate the essays written by students of foriegn university.
Read more..http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/dec/11/indian-professors-clear-outsourcing-test.htm

2 States - the story of my marriage

2009-11-01T03:32:00.000-08:00

This time Chetan Baghat came to a full shot love story, after giving best sellers in different genres. This time I was really wondered and asked myself many times "Did Chetan bitten by movie bug?".

The story is simple as given as excerpt in the back cover of the book. The story deals with the lovers who needs to convince both the sides in getting married. The journey of telling the story is really good there is no second thought in that. As I am reading the book I couldn't control collecting the names of many movies in my mind. This book however really enthralls me. Some facts surprised me and surely those facts will shock many in case if they are hard-core conservatives. The main point in this book is I really loved the way Chetan has shown the realties in two major cities in India and how they think. This could be possible only if someone came over the two extreme cultures depicted or atleast input from someone who really did. The research Chetan did is amazing in knowing every thing from the two sides and interweavened exactly in the book.

If you really like emotional and slightly (not always) cinematic story telling books, this is one such engrossing and interesting book you can count on your books shelf.( I added it already :)).

One night @ the Call Center

2009-10-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

There are some books which are fictions with the author weaving the real time incidents at some plots of the story. There are some books which tell the true story with some fiction moments in it. Both the methods will make the good book crispy. This book is second kind.
I didn’t read the previous book(s) of Chetan Bhagat (author). I know this book would be engrossing as I read the rave reviews about this book. When I started reading this book, it was 10 in the night and I completed in one stretch at morning 3.30 (yup A.M). This is the second book I completed in one stretch (the first one is ‘Ponnniyin Selvan’ a tamil book in it’s simplified form from the original which itself is 3 booksJ). The best part of this book is the characters involved are not alien to us not to me at least. The protagonist character chosen by Chetan to tell the story can be seen in most part of the India. The book slightly touches the spirituality in its way, but that’s not the bad thing as it like extra sugar added to the milk. The book slams the dictatorship of the bosses in Indian firm at the best.

Read this book I would ensure you the awful journey along the book.

Sanjeevanam Restaurant in Chennai

2009-10-25T21:17:00.000-07:00

My friend Prasanna who I acquainted in wipro and myself was planning for going out for dinner/lunch. We couldn't get a chance due to our own commitments for almost 6 months. Finally we decided to go this weekend. Though we planned to go out for dinner, we don't have any hotels in our mind. This time I want to try something new. I heard about a restaurant in besant nagar which serves nutritious food and more unique about that hotel is it won't server water till you complete the food. I was bit surprised and apprehensive when I heard that yet I want to give try to it at later. Now the fruit seems to be in hand, but I don't know any other details of that hotel like name, location, contact # etc.,. I reached few of my colleagues but none couldn't help me.

Then I took the orkut and get into a community for Chennai food. I narrowed down many searches in the community forum and at last I found the hotel name as Sanjeevanam. I took the address from Just dial and we drove to the hotel at 8.00 PM on Sunday(Oct 25, 2009).

Best moments:
1) The service is best, they served the food at right time and the suppliers are really receptive
2) The ambiance is too good.
3) The food is best and most fabulous thing is even after we ate lot we felt our stomach is not filled yet and felt ligt. This will not happen in most of the so called awesome hotel
4) Not like I was heard, they served water actually :)
5) No car parking problem. We have to park the car in road still no fear because the traffic is less in the road.
6) The slightly salt soaked pith they served with butter milk really tasted well.[one of the unique foods I had so far]

Embarrassing moment:
1) None for me, but if you're non-veg die hards and you won't eat your food without any flesh/blood in your food, I would say "Run Forrest, Run". For veg lovers this place is heaven.
2) We should have planned the food correctly else we wouldn't end up in given Rs460/-. So plan accordingly. However the place, service and food is worth the money.

Kullamani Interview

2009-09-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Today is Sunday, and being in my hometown I woke up at 8.30 A.M.
Asusual being a lazy rat I took breakfast but didn't bath. I planned to take bath at 12.00.

Asusual I was hopping the TV channels, suddenly I got a chance to see the actor Kullamani [he used to come as sidekick in the tamil movies - he is short that why he was rechristined as Kullamani] interview in the Vasanth TV [ a tamil channel ]. He was telling about what his mother did during his childhood. After hearing the story I switched off the TV and again I switch on the TV after 1/2 hour. The time now is 10.30 P.M, still I couldn't stop thinking the interview. He just cried when he spoke.

Excerpt:
He born in a very poor family as the first son. I am not sure about how much siblings he told he had. After 2 to 3 years of birth his parents recognized his deficiency and because of their financial position they couldn't get help. The local fortune tellers suggested his mother to go to a temple which is famous and sacrifice a calf for five continuous years, then the child will grow. Innocent mother did that, the temple is 85 kms from their hometown. Piggybacked him with calf in walkside she covered whole distance. This continued for 5 years, at the end no result. His mother never spent a day without regret of giving the dwarfed child.
When he told this that's the first time I saw him crying. I haven't saw him crying in the movies too. This was really me dumbstruck.
This guy sells popcorn, samosa [an indian kind of sandwich] in theatres for 10 continuous hours and earns Rs3 which he gives to mummy. When selling some could steal the stuffs without his knowledge. Being and carrying the plate having the eatables above his head, he cannot get hold the thieves.
He likes to eat mangao, guava but none helped him and he cannot help himself. Very few knew his real name in his class [He said that in interview, I couldn't recollect it now], rest call them dwarf.
He came to chennai then after he worked in a movie director house for 5 years. He worked almost like a servant, but he thanked the director since he kept him in his house, office and finally gave a breakthrough in cinema.

There are many darkside behind a bright charisma of victory for an actor. Everyone is giving the price to get a position/ for holding the already gained position.

Nadodigal

2009-07-23T05:34:00.000-07:00

I was bit jittery before seeing the movie. The reason is simple I didn’t see the movie “Subramaniapuram” as it poses morbid feel and of course review mentioned negative climax. I saw Pasanga movie and I didn’t like the movie much as I felt the movie is for only kids or those who can rewind their child hood.

After started watching this movie, in the first half hour I realized I am seeing my second enjoyable tamil movie [I will tell at the end which is the first one]. A perfectly executed movie which stands in all perspectives like screenplay, photography, dialogues, artist selection, performances etc., The biggest surprise is they did all these elements without much expenditure, kudos to Samuthrakani [director of the movie, the person in Subramaniyapuram who get beheaded by Sasikumar none other than hero of this movie].
The story is simple and clearly mentioned in the tag line of the title itself [nanabanin nanban enakku nanbanae] [friend of my friend is also my friend]. The plot revolves around the joy of 4 friends and the lives getting wasted in the effect of helping hero’s friend to win in his love. After some days of marriage the couple got separated however the losses of friends remains the same. What the friends doing after hearing the separation forms the rest of the story.
As far as performance of the cast is considered no one is allowing others to win. There can be logical loop holes in the movie however that is a movie not a life. Enjoy the movie without finding mistakes. I don’t want to explain more on the movie.

One simple praise to director [Unga nermai enakku pudichirukku] [I like your honesty]. To understand what this praise, go and watch the movie.

Rating [4/5]
[The first tamil movie I enjoyed watching is Vijay’s “Gilli”]

White Tiger

2009-04-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

The book written by Arvind Adiga, tears apart the India’s façade in the international perception. The story is about the protagonist writing his story to a fiction character called Mr.Premier in China, while sitting under a chandelier. The story revolves around how the protagonist called Munna/ Balram Halwai from a village near ganges shore (name is Dhanbad) going to Delhi and then to Bangalore to become a successful entrepreneur. The way he chose for success is the crooked one, which forms crux of the book.

Mark my words, you never feel bored when you read this book. This is such an enthralling story I have read so far. The book tears apart the many illusions about the India. The story deals with how the school life of Munna proceeded and then how he becomes a car driver, and then ends in the Bangalore as him standing as a successful entrepreneur. I didn’t know much about the northern parts of India, believe me the author depicted that India a lot necessarily stitched along with the story. The humor sense of the author sprinkled all along the book and will really tickle your bone for sure.

The story he is writing to Mr.Premier begins in the Dhanbad dealing with his personal and school life. Then it is moving how his curiosity making him to a car driver, travelling to Delhi with his master and ending that phase with him as a planned executed murderer. From that how he is going to Bangalore and becoming a business man. The best part in those are, all, not possible to pick one. The part that prevail you more for sure is the car driver phase since it speaks the innocent country man getting to a crooked city guy.

One sentence I tell you is “Every poor man wants to look rich and eat more, however every rich man wants to look like poor by being lean and doing exercises” this shows the author humor sense mixed with real life.

Go and read the book. The most engrossing, enthralling book. I guarantee you that.

Susan Boyle - Britain got talent

2009-04-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many times I visited the video, depicting latest vocal sensation of the Britain got talent "Susan Boyle" live performance. I got obsessed with that video. It still reminding in my knowledge and ofcourse to many in the world. The figure of youtube video visit touches the all time high (atleast in the videos I saw so far, guess its 400 millions) which cestlavie the fact. The video strongly insists one point "Never underestimate the others with their persoanlity or innocence".

Before her performance everyone is sceptical about her, however once she started singing the "I Dreamed a dream" from les miserables, no one blinked their eyes and she didn't miss single stone to tie the audience and judges with her unprecedented incredible performance. Everyone audience gave standing ovation from the begining she started singing till the end. After singing the song she didn't even wait to know the judgement. Her only desire was to sing in front of large audiences, so once she accomplished that desire she wanted to leave, that showed her simplicity. When she recieved the "YES" (yes/no is the judgement of that show) from all the three judges, she is not the only one who was excited but all the people watching the show/recorded video (now) went frenzy. She is the real stealer of everyone heart who saw the show. Go and watch one of the tremendous live performances and the most wanted video of the present days.

The bicycle diaries

2009-04-09T02:29:00.000-07:00

The topic may ring bell to everyone, relating to the Che’s “Motorcycle Diaries”. Don't dare to relate anything from this topic to that legendary history as it seeded for the raise of the most revolutionized leader of our time. This thread is just about a bicycle being used by our family since 1992 [almost 17 years, eight years younger than me].
I just took topic as inspiration from Motorcycle Diaries ["Inspiration", a new word for copying given by me after ‘Ayan’ movie]

The year 1992 when we came to Kanchipuram after closing all our business deal in Tirunelveli [both are notable districts of TamilNadu, Inida], I was 8 years old and my brother was 12 years old. I joined a school near to my home, for my brother the school he joined was about 2 kms distance from my home. So my family decided to get a bicycle for him. With the help of my uncle, we got a new cycle. The company name of the cycle is “Avon”, the cycle we bought is Pale Blue color. The height is just a meter and some centimeters, since my brother was small at that time, it best suited him. Fully covered chain guard with contrasting color at first, however it changes later on. Contains a carrier [back metal seat], a bell in the handle bar. It was my brother’s chariot at that time.
I didn’t know to ride the cycle at that time.

After a year I joined the same school where my brother studied, that school is best name school for higher secondary education. Now from that year I got to go to school with my brother in the same cycle. My brother a great rider would have won heavy weight championship under 18 if he would have tried. The reason is he used to pedal all my weight, lunch box, water bag, books, his books, food, water bag. The total would have come around 25-30 kgs easily. After some days we used to have food at home, travelling all the way to home during lunch time then will go back to school again. So in all over he pedaled the cycle 4 – 6 kms daily with me. Apart from this he sometimes pick me up after completing the private classes [colloquially called “Tuition”]

The journey in cycle with my brother piggy backing me in cycle was an enthralling part. I just used to watch the movie posters all along the journey. I used to sit two sides of the cycle as it helps my brother to balance the cycle. I hold the seat and listens the surroundings all over my journey. One of the best parts is the way I jump away from it when nearing the school so as to ease my brother in getting down from the cycle. The successful jumps I made those days make me feel like an achiever. Those days whenever we start from home my Mom came out to the street to send off us. That’s the nice sight reminding in me still.

This continued for two years, in that span I learnt to ride the cycle. When I stepped into 8th standard I took that cycle and my brother got new cycle. The first day when I took that cycle to school, my brother escorted me in all along the way to school. When I foray the school with my bicycle I was flying high with new heroic image. The day was brighter to me.

Then as the time goes on I commuted the school with that cycle till 10th standard (the next two years after I started using that cycle), then my parents get me a new cycle. I didn’t touch that cycle many times after that.
I used that cycle once during my second year of college, after a long time, to go to my friends house at 3 kms from my place. That was the last ride of mine in that cycle.

After many phases of changes in my life the cycle is still in my home. It’s not in my house but in my home. My father is still using that cycle. The long lasting life of that cycle is astonishing [almost 17 years]. Whenever I saw that cycle it reminds the rides given by my brother in my school days and my lone rides in that cycle.

Ayan

2009-04-06T03:10:00.000-07:00

The movie is a clear cut commercial entertainer of this season.
The movie revolves around the world of smuggling from foreign countries to Chennai and vice versa. The things being smuggled varies from pirated CDs to drugs. This being a discovery by director K.V.Anand will be talk of the town in coming days. The story is the fights between the two gangs involves in the smuggling and obviously protagonist being in good side, the story deals how he survives the hurdles and win the antagonist at the end as a single man army.
Surya essays the role very perfectly and did every thing for every penny given to him. Being fight, romance or humor Surya’s presence makes the screen brighter (like his name). He proves his mettle in the introduction itself. His innocence and mischievous behaviors bring joy to everyone watching. His physique is too good and shown correctly in this movie. Prabhu being the god father for Surya perfectly suits the bill. His role is one such important supportive role in recent times.
Heroine Tamanna don’t have much role, however the romance part etched out perfectly because of her support.
Every character in the movie did their part perfectly. The friend character is played perfectly (By nandu-chindu fame of Vijay TV). The Karunas character though is very small shown effectively at the end, when he weeps for Prabhu death in the hospital. The antagonist played by a new comer suits the character perfectly.
The fight choreography is new kind in Tamil Cinema and chirped out perfectly to suits the situation. The first fight and the car chases are perfect example of the hard work by the team and Surya.
The cinematography by M.S.Prabhu is very perfect and came out well in telling the movie is an action movie. The photography in songs should really given a special mention. The camera angles and locations in the “Anbe” song is really a masterpiece. Especially the camera work in the line “Vaanam mari ponalum…..nee marakudadhu” when camera revolve from the sand to air and coming again to sand is extraordinary. The “Oyaayiye Yaayiye” song taking is good, some angles handled in that song is extraordinary.

The two songs of the movie “Kan Munnae” and “Anbe Anbe” shows Harris Jeyaraj presence however the re-recording is one of the worst in recent times.

In all in all, the movie is perfect summer extravaganza.

Rating: 3/5

All I pointed till now is positives in the movie, the next few lines will show it’s negatives. I guess that wouldn’t be acceptable by many and ofcourse will give a different shade to me. No problem those are all just my perceptions. J
1. Since it’s a Surya movie everyone accepts the adulterated copy of Hollywood movies “Catch me if you can”, “Bourne Ultimatum” and “Blood Diamond”
2. Since it’s a Surya every films mentioned above took as an inspiration, not the copy.
3 Since its Surya everyone accepts him going in different passports with different getups.
4. Since its Surya everyone accepts love at first sight.
5. Since its Surya everyone accepts a car can cross the wide width [around 100 meters] of a river.
6. Since its Surya everyone accepts one man can destroy four-five people.
7. Since its Surya everyone accepts that, if he sings/dances for another actor song its just for movie not for boosting his image.
8. Since its Surya he can convince an immigration officer to his will.
9. Since its Surya being a Smuggler he can easily appointed as an immigration officer.
10. Since its Surya, he can sing “pala pala” kind of song in Slum as an introduction song.
11. Since its Surya, he and his mother can escape from a gas explosion with ease without having a single scar in the face and notably no wound to his mother.
12. Since its Surya, he can multi-task like romancing, smuggling and studying (M.SC)
13. Since its Surya, her mother can find a government job with ease.
14. Since its Surya, one can go to any location for a song (copied from Gajini.. oops sorry sorry inspiration).
15. Since its Surya, though Prabhu can push him out of a moving car in a main road he can escape without a broken bone or a major accident.
16. Since its Surya, he can escape a car speeding toward him and jump over it with a highest technique in the world.
So since it’s a Surya everyone accepts the loopholes and accepts everything.

Frequency Modulation / FM

2009-03-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

The advancement technology in the last decade is overwhelming. When looking back 10 years before. I am in 11th standard heading for my annual examinations, hoping to get into the dreamiest 12th standard. Being in Kanchipuram I was not much aware of the various modes of entertainments. The best know is Television, Movies and then tapes. The radio comes after all the above, when we bored on all the above and if there was no choice of all above. Those days if radio is on we move directly to AM, the most famous in that would be Vividhbarathi channel. Those times I heard what FM is but never got a chance to hear what it could give.
Within four years after I moved to Chennai, doing my third year of my College the FM radios came in handy. When I was a beleaguered, wannabe renaissance guy I used to study late nights, means it goes up to 1 – 1.30 A.M without much concentration on what I am doing.
I was there in Triplicane on those days. After returning from college I go to sleep for an hour then go for studies lingered with doziness in my eyes. I used to start writing records/doing mathematics if any. Those times I hear FM with headphones most of the times. The songs forecasted between 11.00 P.M to 1.00 A.M were my heart/hot favorites.

In my knowledge, the best thing about FM, I found is, playing unexpected beautiful songs at the apt situation. That is the thing I love most on the FM. One cannot judge the next song going to be played, contrary to music players we use. When coming to songs I always expect to hear songs which suit my mood, however sometimes FM will change my mood completely by tuning the songs ironic to my mood. Similar to our day to day life, it simply go well to the quotes “Expect the Unexpected”.

I never thought the FM will go into handy and techno advancement “Mobile”. Now when I am writing this post I just came to office hearing the FM during my travel. I love to hear that.

I don’t know which advancement will wow me, and don’t know what I will go through in my future. However in all those time I will say to myself “Expect the Unexpected".

2008 in my life - an excerpt

2009-02-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

BIRTHDAY
This birthday is very remarkable one for me as I got real surprise. I went to Trichy for my brother friend Praveen marriage. I travelled along with all of my brother friends. The marriage went very well, and surprisingly on our return I celebrated my birthday on the train. Around half a clock before midnight they woke me up and asked me to cut the cake in the train, I couldn't speak because of I am dumbstruck. The conspiracy is high, I saw a pack before we getting into the train but didn't realize it is my birthday cake. I received a call from Baskar (my college friend), my friend Prakash and nonetheless to say I recieved a call well before from Vishnu (around 8.00 P.M). I was really overwhelmed by the surprise arrangement. I rarely cut cake for my birthday, but this one is really a surprising one. It was really best moment on my 2008 year. A solacing moment at least.

CDC - 4
This development center of Wipro should be unique of it's kind. It's a 12 storey building located near teynampet opposite to Anna Arivalayam (fortress of ruling party DMK). The first place I entered in the building was reception and the after I entered the account first I sat in cafeteria without knowing that it is, because I was there in other development centers of wipro whose cafeteria is minimum 10 times larger than this. I was in bad shape when I went there however after acquainting with that building it is a cherishing experience for me. The lovable part is the top floor [open terrace] where there is a small tent with a coffee vending machine. I used to have coffee, one in the morning at 11.30 A.M and one at evening [5 to 6 P.M], the view from the terrace is overwhelming with a blend of coffee in the tongue. The view is amazing with lots of traffics flowing on both the sides of one of the important, busiest roads of the Chennai [Anna Salai / Mount Road]. From one side of the terrace you could see Anna Arivalayam, a building next to it [I don't know the name of the building, though the reflection of the sun from the glasses of that tall building needs no name to mention that], sea shore, LIC bulding, the spencer plaza and ofcourse the people infested roads. From the other side you could see a big playground of the school behind this building, new "Saravana Stores" building, the Pothys symbol etc.,. I liked the place not because only it is in the center of city.
When I was there I had very good experiences of ma life. I strengthen my relationship with the friends and learnt to live alone.

Nagesh / Gundu Rao – An unmatched Veteran.

2009-02-05T20:30:00.000-08:00

The real talent in Tamil movies realm is very rare. Those are all like pearls in the deep blue sea, like a red rose in a bunch of whites, like feather touch amidst the thorns. The actor Nagesh is one such phenomenon.
The actor unmatched caliber cannot be denied by anyone and he is one of the few artists whose fame don’t have boundaries of generations, audience classes (A, B and C) and languages. He might be famously known as penchant for his humor, but didn’t limit himself in that circle. It’s not possible to give one performance as his best.
Which one can be given as his best, nothing strikes me really, is being Tharumi in Thiruvilayadal, is being stammering guy in Enga Vittu Pillai, is being studious and cornered orphan in EdhirNeechal, is being bright hotel server in “Server Sundaram”, is being a wannabe director in “Kaadhalikka Neramillai”, is being notorious villain in “Apporva Sagaodharagal”, is being a corpse in “Magalir Mattum” , is being a bedraggled professor in “Nammavar”? . He acted with many heroes corssing the boundary of generation starting from M.G.R, Sivaji to Dhanush, Simbu.None disliked him. Thats the gift for only few in the world.

He is one of the few artists brings tears in many ways, makes you laugh to the roof or makes you cry for the sorrow of the scene. There is a common phrase in Tamil “Yaanai Irundhalaum Aayiram Ponn Irandhalum Aayiram Ponn” (Elephant makes money worth of 1000 gold coins, during its life or death). The actor made much money for the others when he live, now with his demise every one in the disguise of sorrow (especially TV channels) makes money.

Lot to say, but none describe this legend, so lets bid adieu!!

Tis – by Frank Mc Court

2009-01-20T19:30:00.001-08:00

This book took me long time to complete, the reason is my laziness.

The book starts with a boy (Frank Mc Court) from Ireland dreaming about going to New York charmed by the American way of life he has seen and read. The story is revolving around the protagonist Frank, about how he is sailing to New York from Ireland and how he is living in the New York. Being introvert Frank is facing troubles in New York. Then story travels still his daughter getting 16 years old. The writing style of Frank is very different. He keeps the grip by telling the facts frankly. The crux of the success of the book should be the depiction of life travelling from below average level of living to the middle class standard living of a man.
The parts which impress are
1. The part of life Frank had in army.
2. The day to day somber of a guy in rental apartments.
3. The part Frank spent in hotel.
4. The New York University life
5. The part after his mother coming to New York
As a whole it’s nicely told story in a crispy manner.
The story tears apart the life style of New York. The expatriate of New York should read this book to admit the facts of the lives of New York.

The Prestige

2009-01-19T01:01:00.000-08:00

The movie begins with a magical touch, yes with Cutter (real name – Michael Caine) performing a magic trick to a little girl. The plot begins with the explanation of the movie name. “Every magic trick has three parts/acts “the pledge”, “the turn” and the most important part “the Prestige”). I watched this movie after seeing the spell bounded “Dark Knight” directed by the same director Christopher Nolan.
The movie is actually an adaption of the novel by Christopher Priests by the same name. The movie made crisped by many Chris(s) (Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale and the author of the novel Christopher Priests).

The movie revolves between two wannabe magicians at earlier stage and become rivals because of the situation. The one is Angier (played by the Hollywood hunk Hugh Jackman) and another is Borden (played by Christian Bale). The plot is moving smoothly with the two getting involved in magic shows and getting the things. The sudden twist started after the death of Angier’s wife a mistake by Borden (but not actually – watch the movie to know it because it’s the crux of the movie). The events coming after that is dealing with the rivalry between the two magicians. This movie shows another powerful example of the work of screenplay and obviously placing a feather in the director cap. The dialogues are simply best “Obsession is the young man game” and the dialogue of Angier at the last is simply superb, “Audience know the world is simple…” and the closing dialogues which is the repetitive of the opening dialogues are simply the best. The touch of Edison-Tesla war and Tesla invention of "Transported Men" are overwhelmed fictious things, I guess. However that sounds interesting too.
After watching the movie everyone should thought of our foolishness in awing the magic shows.
The cast and crew fit the bill exactly. Hugh Jackman is the surprise package as this could be the first popular movie shown his acting talents. The sets, cinematography the music are all top notch.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Vaaranam Aayiram

2008-11-17T00:45:00.000-08:00

“I am talking about the lack of realism, a pervasive element in the modern cinematic vision….”, a phrase in the opening scene dialogue by John Travolta in “Sword Fish”. I bet Gautham would love the dialogue before VA and now also, however the point here is did he stand as he pretending. That’s the question you ask yourself after VA. The surrealism pervades everywhere in the movie. The point is I enjoyed the movie however after watching the movie I felt it’s an adulterated combination of Love Today + Thavamai Thavamirundhu and Karan Johars (KJ) kind (in romance). Everyone wowed after seeing the father role in Love Today and every one would get astonished to see the father’s sweating for son in Thavamai Thavamirundhu, the movies though didn’t reach the so called “Class” audiences, stuck to what they try to convey. This movie VA though handled KJ romance well, failed to give impact of father – son relation because of surrealism.
Some part of the movie gave the feel. The scene when son tries to hit father however the father justify his son action to his mother, the moment when father leaving the son in the college, the scene where father telling his son that he couldn’t tell stories to the grand son because of throat cancer.
Surreal scenes are many to be analyzed here.
The first half shows romance with 5 songs, sometimes you may think “amidst of the songs only we are watching some scenes”. The second half is bit dragging the only enthralling part is kidnapping show. The climax resembled me that of Thavamai Thavamirindhu though this one is lighter in emotions.
The clear winner of the movie is Surya with his awesome performance. The way he justified the father role should be really appreciated. The moment of surprise in Surya’s eyes when he sees Sameera Reddy for the first time in the train is really astonishing. Everyone accepts he is having six packs abs, but he shows it in every scene after he developed it (the bare-body look when he is in last hour packing for the rescue operation is really an unnecessary one). Surya essays the role of the father with ease and justifies it. Sameera Reddy is nothing to do here other than looking good, that she did perfectly and kudos to Gautham for taking care of her lip movements for Tamil. Simran do have not much scenes in her kitty however performed well in the scope given to her. Thanks to Gautham, atleast, atlast he has given the hint for the title through Simran which however is too sophisticated Tamil for the kind of family he portrayed. Divya did her role with ease since there is no scope to her other than looks like girl to the next door and fall in love with Surya.
This musical subject had one of the best compositions by Harris Jeyaraj so far and the lyrics by Thamarai support the rhythm at its best. The combo proved best again this time.
The cinematography by Rathnavel is really best. Gautham has extracted the best dimension from him, lets we wait what he is gonna deliver for magnum opus “Endhiran”.
If you looks for realism as in Kakka Kakka, Vettaiyadu Velayadu then you are going to loose huge. If you are really romantic lover/ Surya fanatic/so called “Class” audiences who love only classy looks/one who needs music alone to be good in the movie/Gautham admirer, you will surely love this movie.

My Rating: 2/5.

[I am not against Gautham, I enjoyed his previous movies(KK,VV) much but not this one. I am not against surrealism/larger-than life hero in the movies, however since Gautham is all against those, it is time to analyze his movie in that style].

Tough Times Never Last, but Tough People Do

2008-11-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

The book about positive attitude, the first of its kind I read after long time. The last book I read is "Who moved my cheese". This book is entirely different from "Who moved .. ese". The earlier one is a fiction which engrossed me because of the sleek presentation and simple story.

This book is different which soaks with the real life incident on how the positive attitude helps people to achieve even when they are in peril. A book as protagonist none other than Dr.Schuller took many situations happened in the previous recession of USA and blends with the points he wants to convey. A good book at this point of time as the present situation is more worse than what being mentioned in the book. Many places since all are not fiction it obviously entails the curiosity. Read this book and get your positive attitude boosted-up. This book induces more spiritual thoughts and I don't think it will go well with the atheists.

Many astute quotes scattered all along the book which I can't recollect now, however some are

"God delays are not denials"
"Never underestimate the value of an idea"
"Start completes half of the task"

Train to Pakistan

2008-10-08T04:46:00.000-07:00

This is the first book I read about the aftermath of India, Pakistan partition. The author is Kushwant Singh. In the preface itself its mentioned that he is also one of the victim of the partition.

The book depicts a story revolve arounds a fiction city Mano Majra inspired by MiyaMir. It revolves around lives of people over there and the protagonist of the story is revealed at last that you won't believe at all. The story have some important characters like Hukum Chand, Iqbal, Juggut Singh etc.,. The author blends the real life incidents with this fiction story in a perfect level. Author depicted the incidents, lives of people in that period exactly so that it is very cherishable for us to imagine the things. Many of the incidents would really stir you at a greater level. I really shocked on reading the cremation (sorry disposal) of dead bodies from the train, it should not be a imagination, and another incident about Hukum Chand colleague's daughter ravage, hours after her marriage.

You may think how it could stirred me to this extent. It's because of another one who shouldered Kushwant Singh, Photographer Maragaret Bourke-White. The photographs takend by this lady during the partition depicts the cruelty existed. Those photographs were accompanied in this book. Some of the photographs like vultures sitting for the prey, the debris of bones etc., won't miss you to stump your courage.

READ THIS BOOK TO KNOW ONE OF THE BLACK PAGES OF THE INDIAN HISTORY!!!

An Artist In Recluse

2008-09-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

One fine saturday after missed the schedule of marathon run conducted in the name of MARG, me and my friend Vishnu went to besant nagar beach to get the glimpse of marathon. Then I galloped few kilometers in beach sand, after necessary relax we started from the beach. When we about to cross the besant nagar bus stand a crowd was watching a guy painting in the wall.

I really astonished by the diagram and I guess its not possible for me to succinct the beauty of that art here. He used chalks with different colors to shade the diagram, believe me or not he used the green leaves for giving colors to the trees in the diagram. He never cared about the crowd and drew the diagram with concentration, anger and with ease. When he started drawing some lines I presume some picture but he will end up in drawing some thing. He should be very poor, not sure might be very much than he meets the eyes. His only concentration, wish is drawing. I guess his bless and curse is that traits .With his looks and accessories no one can judge him to be an artist. I cannot trade that art but ended to give him Rs20/- which he took with pleasure. As I leave the place I felt he is an "An Artist in Recluse"

MC-Team OutingPhotos

2008-09-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Trust Me - A brave story

2008-09-22T00:49:00.000-07:00

I bought this book because of not being the best seller in the stores, but it really a different book when you read the excerpt of the book. Men- you must really have guts to read that excerpt given in the back of the book. The story written by Rajashree depicts the life of a village woman who came to Mumbai in dream to become an art-director. Then it shows the black side of the men whom she came across which would propably make you feel infurious on boldness of women, pity on women situation, atrocity of men kind and it would surely shakes a bit of men's ego for sure. Then it doesn't ends there but revealing the dark side of the bollywood movie world which should be true, since Rajashree the author is a movie director. All the above stuffs were soaked in a very good humor sense. I laughed at many places which is really worth of it.

My favorite quote in this book which is actually got from other book(author itself mentioned that) is "Neccessity to eat doesn't justfy the prostitution of art".

READ IT!!! DON'T MISS IT.

Kite Runner - A book to cherish

2008-09-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

It’s a story revolves around people known by Amir, the protagonist of the book. An enthralling story told in a enthusiastic way to make you stick around the story. The story starts from the present and swept back to a flashback to get you an engrossing story. The story sticks to the topic chosen, how life of Amir changes after a big plummet occurs in a kite run and the whole story again ends in a kite run. DON’T MISS IT.

A Miraculous Dream

2008-09-19T00:23:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about others, but I vaguely remember the dream unless if it’s really a night mare. The dream I had last night is a real good one.
It should be around 12 noon in a blissful day, I got a call from a strange #. I took the call and heard “Hello” from next end and I replied the same. The nitty-gritty of telephone conversation!!. The voice sounds familiar for me and suddenly a bloom of joy swept inside me. “How are you?” “I am fine, Who is this?” I asked though I knew the person very well. “Yeah!! It’s me man” ,”Santosh?” I doubted knowingly. “Yes” then I just started speaking aloud “Man, How are you? How is…….
I forgot what happened next. The conversation would have lasted for sometime or is that I exited from the conversation, don’t know really. I like Santosh very much in whatever stage he is now. Many didn’t like his decision to go for brief exile from busy life to undergo a 3 years course of divine search (not sure about the name).

Santosh- though you didn’t hold interest on me after we apart from the college, you are the one of the good friends I have. Whatever place you live, may the God give you the health and peace needed.

The autobiogrpahy of a sex worker - Nalini Jameela

2008-09-08T22:22:00.000-07:00

The book written by Nalini Jameela and translated by Devika. The book slams us the truth of dictatorship of the men. The way followed here is telling the past with present tense. She never begged for help in one place in the book. She never felt guilty for being a sex worker. Many may think she may be lying as I did first, but then it will vanish if you think “Why should she lie?”. All she asked and the crux of the book is the social acceptance for sex-workers.

Men - Read it if you have true guts to accept your being
Women – Read if you have true guts to face the brutality of the truth.

DARK KNIGHT – A colorful roller coast ride

2008-08-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

It was one fine Saturday morning I went to Satyam Cinemas, Chennai with my best friend Vishnu to the movie DARK KNIGHT. We sat there in the places we booked with one butter popcorn and Pepsis. I knew the movie is good however I didn’t frame any expectations in my mind and Vishnu didn’t knew about that movie much except that it’s a sequel in Batman series. When the movie started with the huge smoke (one comes after the bomb exploded) being displayed in the screen and without any sound for 2 minutes, I thought of shouting “Yeahhhhhhh!!! Am I deaf?”, after few seconds the movie started.

The movie started with a bank robbery conspired and executed by Joker, from that time we engrossed us in the film and the movie really enthralled us. The movie is excellent in every aspect of the making. The plot is an interesting one and it makes us feel that we are watching an action movie the secret of handling that feel belongs to the director alone. I felt the feel of morbid in some movies but this movie is really an enriching experience.

The cap of the movie director should be given a feather. The Christopher Nolan did his job at his best to give best in this movie. His earlier ventures like “Memento” and “Batman Begins” will surely be forgotten and this movie will be the benchmark for him in his career ahead. He brought perfection from every one of the movie. The artwork, cinematography, CG, background score, the action sequences everything would have been under his control and it clearly visible in the screen. He has given so many plots in the movie and mostly in the nights to rise our sense of “what next” curiosity. The execution of Batman abducting the Mafia leader in the Hong Kong is extraordinary, though it resembles me like MI3 plot I didn’t lose the excitement because of the camera angles, background score and the richness in the screen. I really wondered how they could make us to track that scene even it’s being the night background. The CG and cinematography must be given a special mention here.

The stealer of the show is undoubtedly Heath Ledger as Joker. It is not easy to improvise a character played by a legendary actor like Jack Nicholson to suit the contemporaries. Heath ledger did it par with the excellence and you can clearly see his improvisation in every aspect of the character, being acting, being body language, being dialogue delivery, he is undoubtedly the stealer of the show. The conversation when he intruding the meeting arrangement by Mafia groups is the highlight. He enters the scene as soon as Mafia head explained his plan through a video conference, the Joker says “I thought my jokes are better” and explaining a magic trick of pencil getting disappeared are all crux of that scene. Another scene where he explains about his father by holding knife on a Guy’s mouth is all just samples. Many such sample of the magical role of the Heath Ledger scattered all along the movie. Once the movie completed everyone feel that we missed a great actor (Yes Heath Ledger passed away)

It is highly impossible to pat the other actors when there is one mesmerizing the whole screen, but no character in the movie is unimportant and no one acted below the perfection. Each character like commissioner, Harvey Dent and character played by Morgan Freeman are crafted well and executed well. The surprised and sarcastic style of Morgan Freeman dialogue delivery to the guy who is trying to blackmail the Waynes CEO (none other than Batman) is a best one.

The hero of the movie Christian Bale is extraordinary he didn’t compromise his acting skills for being a super hero. The anger he shows in his masked face during interrogation with Joker is not an easiest one. The Batman attire designed is best suited for him. The gadgets given to him are really designed well and the best in recent times.

The dialogues in the movie are really best suited the situations. “When you are good at something never do it for free”, When the Batman asks Joker “Why do you want to kill me?” the joker replies with LOL “I don’t want to kill you, what would I do without you?” and in one place the joker tells “The town needs better class of criminal ... and I am gonna give it to them. Tell your men they work for me now. This is my city”

GO AND WATCH ONE OF THE BEST ACTION MOVIES IN THE HISTORY OF MOVIES.

Negative: The only place I saw a small mistake is during interrogation of Joker by Batman and the mistake belongs to the Joker. When the commissioner leaves the place after releasing the handcuffs, the lights will be on and the Batman is behind the Joker. Batman hit the head of the joker in the bench front to the Joker since that time Joker didn’t know Batman is standing behind him. But the Joker shows expression in his face like he is expecting the hit from Batman without seeing him behind.

GODFATHER - A view

2008-05-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

This is supposed to be first movie I am going to write review however I can't spoil this movie by giving view assuming me as a good critic, so I am going to write my view on the movie. Thats why I wrote "supposed to be".
After this movie released, no movie with a Don as a protagonist released without getting the stink of this movie. This movie is one of the very few movies adapted well from the book. The movie not the one with exotic locations, continuous rumbling gun shots not the one with glamar dolls glued to the filmstrip, not with guys showing their muscles, not with a jaw-dropping chase and fights of any sort, it is the one standing as exceptional movie in the world of movies.

The movie starts with Don Corleone is being obliged by his neighbor who didn't even consider the don as his friend. This particular scene as it proceeds you will understand that don is quite reasonable character, very patient, wont lose his temper easily, very intelligent,who cares his family and man of words. Marlin Brando as a don excels in his character. Everybody portrayed played the role with perfection and no overacting allowed by director at anyplace. The photography, editing, direction and the work in all technical aspects are all top notch.
The conversations are all crisp and intutive. The diaolgues helped the conversation, especially the Michael (Al Pacino) explains the way the Don helped a godson career, "Luca brasi held gun on bandleader head and my father told either his brain or signature would be in contract".
In all the way dialogs are well crafted and designed to suits the situation.
"he never asks the second favor when he has been refused the first", "Women and children can be careless but not men", "I will make him an offer that he can't refuse", "Don't let others know what you are thinking", "Friendship and money......oil and water", "Newver hate your enemies, it affects your judgement" are all few of the best dialogs.
The top gun of the movie is none other than AlPacino. The expressions from his face when he betrays his wife, when he advice his brother, when he hiding his infuriation, when he confession for his sins, when he suffers after his brother murder which he gave goahead, the anger in his eyes when his wife betrays him by aborting a child, helpless after his daughter murder are all at his best.

I can write more on this movie but it would be enjoyable if you feel it. I won't guarantee you a rollercoast script and presentation you expect from a don movie. Its best at unique presentation and style, so do watch the movie for satisfy yourself for seeing the best movie ever crafted in the history.

GARUDASEVA

2008-05-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

Did you ever happen to see the clouds of smoke by burning camphors?I am not talking about a big camphor just a small one but lots of small ones. I saw that first time at the year 1992 at my age of 9. That was a month time my family moved to Kanchipuram from Tirunelveli. My mom woke me up one fine early morning and told a function named "GARUDASEVA" for Lord Perumal.I woke up with stains of tired in my face and got ready for the function. When I came out of my house the crowd stood all along the road was incredible and the time I believe was 5.30 A.M in the morning. I never saw that much crowd before in that early morning in ma life.

MY HOUSE PART
Let me give a small introduction about my location of my house in Kanchipuram. Its in center of town and half a kilometer away from Varadaraja Perumal temple, a renowned Perumal temple in all the south India. My house is in the main road so they carry perumal and they have no choice other than to cross my house. So my house is rest spot for many, not only my relatives during this kind of happenings in my town. The road is a long one and one can see a quite a nice stretch of one side of road, may be we can say 500 meters, from my house , since the other side takes a small curve you can't get a view of other side of road. That 500 meters stretch is the way lead to Perumal temple, so when the god leaves the temple and go for round my house will be in that way.

AGAIN WE ARE DIVING TO THE DIVINELY GRANDEUR AND WONDER
All were dressed neatly and waiting in the road, then I relaized its an important happening in Kanchipuram. The one thing I wondered , it was very sunny month but that day appeared cloudy and cool. My whole family whole heartedly waiting for the god to come, however their emotion filled with spirituality but not of thrilling like mine. Infact many around was in the same mood as my family. My mom told me not to run away and mingle in the crowd because the town is pretty new to me and to her ofcourse, not to hide, I am the most mischevious, non-sense kid on that day. I am still waiting to see what going to appears. Around 5.45 or may be 6.00 A.M, the place got quickened. I am now thrilled to see many around and expecting a lots of fun. I was bit scary even but the emotion of thrill still with me. All the head of families, including my dad took some offerings in a plate (the traditional things along with jaggery). When I tried to see the stretch of the road visible to me I saw only the smoke created by Camphor alone, nothing visible to me since already mentioned it was a cloudy day. After few minutes I got a clear view of some big thing coming near to us. Oh my goodness!!! What I am seeing now is a palanquin (pallakku) ,not a small one as I knew before, but this one is very large. Its been carried by a group of 50 men and some men are walking behind that to replace those who are getting tired and some men carrying the supportives to rest the palanquin when the men are tired. You may wonder how much weight it would be, might be around 700-800 Kgs. The palanquin contains the idol of god with 2-3 people so all the weight be laid on the shoulders of the men carrying palanquin. I was really awestrucked with the grandeur of the whole arrangement. Let me come to the god now. The idol of god is not that much huge when compared to the idol of the vehicle carrying the god. Here the vehicle is GARUDAR (god with eagle like features in face and wings however body remains human) which is almost twice the size of the god's idol. The Garudar idol is been designed like to hold the god in his shoulder with one of the leg knelt down.
Below is the image for your view.

The outfits of the God is really a treat for eyes, the problem is you have to watch carefully since all the arrangement will moves like a whisper of wind as they have to cover long distance before the sun reach the half way of the midday.

The ornaments are all real gold and the designs were all best designed as per the divine rules. With the flowers all around the god makes you feel the presence of nature all over the environment. With all the flowers, the greate throne, amazing attires you may not sometime concentrate to see the god face. I hardly remember the face of the God when I saw it first time. I have to turn my concentration fully to see the face of the God. GARUDAR idol is another wonder here, the God idol is smaller when compared to Garduar idol. Very few features of the idol resembles eagle, but rest all are human as it was described in the epics. The face contains moustache even a well trimmed one. I love to see the Garudar idol always, since I imagined the GARUDAR as superman in my childhood. Each time of the GARUDASEVA I felt that Garudar idol is getting more attractive than previous time.The ornaments, the attires are once again awesome as such god.
The God sits in the shoulder of Garudar, so all the arrangement is to make you looks like Garudar flying carrying God. The attire of God and the Garudar is really awesome. I have been watching this happening for almost 15 years since 1992, each time I never felt boring in seeing these things. I sometimes wonder how much it would take to have this all in place and to do makeup for the god. I hope it would be atleast 5-6 hours of make up with involvement of 10-20 men.

THE MEN

The men who are carrying the palanquin are laymen, they are all dedicated for the purpose alone. If you see their shoulder you may wonder, do they borrowed hump from bull or camel? since they are carrying that much weight their shoulder bulges and looks like a hump. I really wondered on those guys too. Palanquin contains four horizontal extension, each extension been carried by 10 people atleast. In each extension men holds the extension (a big polished trunk) by one hand and the next hand they used to insert in the previous man hand to form as a chain. The one who is in the front is always stronger since he is carrying the onus/weight of chain on his own hand without being support.

THE PALANQUIN

The palanquin here refers seden chair, but with little enhancement. The seden chair will be carried by two.When comes to India its palanquin and as far in my knowledge I never see a palanquin as big as in GARUDASEVA, a real big one. No special arrangements, but a grandeur is what remains. The one I saw at the begining I guess being maintained still now. It carries a ton weight almost so just imagine how strong it should be, the engineering would have been perfect so as to spread the weight in all the four extensions. With god sitting in it and with umberlla covering, with camphor smoke, you can see only the fade of image at longer distance and it some times makes you assume that palanquin flying with God using a parachute (umberalla makes you feel like that)

THE TRAILS
There were many who trails the god all the way of this journey. There were small vendors of baloons, camphors, candy etc., there were sadhus from north part of India, there were acharyas of temple chanting the divine slogans, all were trailing all the way. I love to watch them since it contains many characters you might not have even seen before in your life. There were some who distributes the Jaggery they offered to God, many carries big vessels to collect those jaggery so that to eat/sell at later time. There were some who distributes food to the disciples. Its alltogether takes an hour after the God left the place to come to normal life. I like to watch the crowd.

MISSED
Since 1992, this year, this 2008 GARUDASEVA is the one I missed. In whatever situations, in whatever may be the busy schedule, what ever may be the hectic work, amidst of all the choas I find time and come to see this happening. I really felt uneasy time to miss that grandeur, I was informed a night before about the GARUDSEVA date, as I am not good in tamil calendar I must be informed about the day, this time I got the information late so I couldnt manage to go. No problem I will see it surely for next time which obviously pushes me back to my childhood and thrills.

If I made any mistake in the above topic, please forgive me. Atleast what I tried is to convey my experience of the highly spiritual GARUDASEVA.