No-blogic

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2008-04-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

நடைபிணங்களாய் வாழ்வோரின் உயிர்சேதம் ஒரு பொருட்டில்லை.

கூடாரங்களை பெயர்த்த காற்றுக்கு மேலும் சிதைக்க பொருள் கிடைக்கவில்லை.

வாக்குரிமை இவர்களுக்கிலை; வாக்குறுதி தர அரசியல்வாதி கால் வைக்கவில்லை.

நாளேட்டில் மூன்றாம் பக்க செய்தி பெட்டியாய் அடங்கிப் போயிற்று,

அகதிகள் முகாமைத் தாக்கிய சூறாவளி.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2008-01-14T23:03:00.000-08:00

காதலி கவிதை நூல் பரிசளித்தாள்.

காதலன் பூங்கொத்துப் பரிசளித்தான்.

காதலைத் துறந்த மணமக்கள் புன்முறுவலோடு மேடையில் நின்றார்கள்.

திருமணங்கள் சுவர்க்கத்தில் நிச்சயிக்கப்படுகின்றன.

சில நொடி க(வி)தை

2008-01-04T00:59:00.000-08:00

வீட்டின் நிலவரம், பிள்ளைப் பெற்ற மதிப்பெண்,

அம்மாவின் உடல்நிலை, அவள் முதலாளியின் கெடுபிடி

அனைத்தையும் விசாரிக்க ஆசை உண்டு.

நேரம் இல்லை.

திரளின் நடுவே அவள் முன்வந்தபோது வினவினேன்.

'நல்லா இருக்கியா?'

பதிலாக கிடைத்தது கண்ணீர்.

எங்கோ உள்ளிருந்து எட்டிப் பார்த்தது அவள் கோபம்.

கைதானது நான்.

தண்டனை அவளுக்கு.

சற்றே சிறிய கதை

2007-12-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

முருகனின் அம்மா சண்டைக்கு வந்தாள்...

'நாலு எட்டுத் தள்ளி இருக்கும் பள்ளிக்கு, மாதம் ஐநூறு அதிகம்'.

அவன் அப்பா மௌனமாய் தலையசைத்தார்.

மாலையில் வேறொரு பெண்ணை ஏற்றி மாடர்ன் லாட்ஜ்-க்கு வண்டியை திருப்ப,

வாசலில் முருகனின் அப்பா.

'முன்னமே வந்துட்டீங்களா' என்று அவள் குழைய,

அவசரமாய் கைவிட்டு பணத்தை எடுத்தார்.

எண்ணிப் பார்த்தேன்.

சில்லறையூடே நூறு ரூபா நோட்டுக்கள்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-12-14T23:15:00.000-08:00

பட்டப்படிப்பில் தங்க மெடல்,

மேற்படிப்பில் முதல் வகுப்பு.

வாங்கிக் குவித்திருந்த சான்றிதழ்களைப் பார்த்ததும் அசந்தே விட்டனர் மாப்பிள்ளை வீட்டில்.

ஒரு வார இடைவெளியில் திருமணம்,

ஒரு மாதக் காலத்தில் என் அமெரிக்கப் பயணம்.

நான்காண்டுகளாய் 'கிச்சன் கில்லாடி' நான்.

சில நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-10-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

அகரவரிசைப் பட்டியலில் அவன் பெயர் இல்லை.

தேர்ச்சிப் பெறாதவனைப் பெற்றெடுத்தோர் மனம் உடைந்தனர்.

அப்பா அடித்தார். அம்மா தடுத்தாள், புலம்பினாள்.

ஒரு முடிவுடன் கிளம்பினான்.

சினிமாவில் சேர சென்னைக்குச் சீட்டெடுத்தான்.

அடுத்த நாள் தினசரியில் விபத்தில் சிக்கி உயிரிழந்தோர் பட்டியல் வெளிவந்தது.

இவனுக்கு முதலிடம்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை - தெய்வீகக் காதல்

2007-09-13T21:27:00.000-07:00

காதல் கைகூட நெய்விளக்கு ஏற்றினேன்.

பிரகாரம் சுற்றி வரும் போது கண்களில் தென்பட்டது என் காதலனின் வேண்டுதல்.

கோவில் சுவற்றில் வரையப்பட்ட ஒரு இதயம்.

உள்ளே எங்கள் இருவரின் பெயர்கள்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-07-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

'மரபுக் கவிதையெல்லாம் யார் சார் படிக்கிறாங்க?

நாலு ஹைக்கு எழுதுங்க...

நல்லா இருந்தா அடுத்த வாரமே பதிக்கிறேன்'.

எழுத முற்ப்பட்டேன்.

என் மூன்றாண்டுப் பட்டப்படிப்பை மூன்றே வரிகளில்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-06-18T01:13:00.000-07:00

இரயிலுக்காகக் காத்திருந்த நேரத்தில் வானத்தை ரசித்தேன்.

தேய்பிறையா வளர்பிறையா?

நட்சத்திரங்கள் நகர்ந்தனவா?

தெரியவில்லை...

அருந்ததியை தேடித் தலைத் திருப்பினேன்.

தண்டவாளத்தின் தகடு தலையில் இடித்தது.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-06-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

தனியே சந்தித்தான். இளித்தப்படி நீட்டினான்.

மனம் குறுகுறுத்தது. சுற்றும் முற்றும் பார்த்தேன்.

கைகள் நடுங்கிய படி வாங்கினேன்.

'தப்பில்லை' என்றான். சிரித்தேன்.

என் பைக்குள்ளே ஒளிந்தது -

நான்முதன்முதலாக வாங்கிய லஞ்சம்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-06-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

முகஜாடை அவர் போல,

கைகால்கள் குட்டையாய் என் போல,

பாட்டியின் புடவையில் சுற்றி,

கன்னத்தில் மைவைத்திருந்தேன்.

குப்பைத் தொட்டியில் உறங்கும் என் மகன் அழகாய் இருந்தான்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-05-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

பார்த்தேன், சிரித்தேன்,

பக்கம் வர அழைத்தேன்.

இருபது நிமி்டம், இருநூறு ரூபாய்.

காரியத்தை முடித்தேன்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை - வாழ்க்கைச்சக்கரம்

2007-05-18T05:12:00.000-07:00

பிள்ளை எட்டி உதைத்தான்.

பாசமாய் சிரித்தாள்.

அன்புடன் சுமந்தாள்.

பெற்றெடுத்தாள்.

வளர்த்தாள்.

முதிர்ந்தாள்.

பாரமானாள்.

மீண்டும், பிள்ளை எட்டி உதைத்தான்

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-05-18T03:28:00.000-07:00

ஓசியில் பசியாற்றிய நன்பன் மகளின் பிறந்தநாள்.

கடன்பட்டு, பொம்மை பரிசளித்தேன்.

அவன் மனைவி புன்னகைத்தாள்.

ஒரு நாள் தேவை எழ, அங்கே சென்றேன்.

கை ஒரு பக்கம், கால் ஒரு பக்கம் வாசலில் உருண்டது.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-05-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

தள்ளி நின்று மேலும் கீழும் பார்த்தாள்.

புகைப்படம் எடுத்தாள்.

பையில் கைவிட்டு தேடி பிச்சையிட்டாள்.

பச்சை நிறத்தில் ஒன்றென்று அச்சடித்த தாள்.

செல்லா காசிட்டவளை திட்டிவிட்டு நகர்ந்தான் அவன்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-05-18T02:41:00.000-07:00

மூன்று மாநிலங்களின் காவல் படை,

சுமார் ஆராயிரம் பரப்பளவு உள்ள காட்டில்,

இருபதாண்டுகள் மேல் தேடி,

நூறு பேரை கொன்று குவித்த 'ஒரு' ஆளைப் பிடித்தது.

சுவீட் எடு, கொண்டாடு!

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-05-18T01:41:00.000-07:00

விளையாட்டாய் வீதியில் கோலமி்ட்ட குழந்தை விபத்தில் சிக்கி உயிர் நீத்தது.

வெகு நாட்களுக்கு வெறிச்சொடியது வாசல்.

கண்ணனின் கால்களில்லை, கார்த்திகை தீபமி்ல்லை.

கோல புத்தகம் இப்போது குப்பைத்தொட்டியில்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-05-18T01:40:00.001-07:00

என்றோ பெய்த மழையில் சிலையாய் நனைந்தேன்.

காகித கப்பல் ஒன்று என் காலருகே தரை தட்டியது, ரசித்தேன்.

ஏதோ நினைத்தவளாய், மி்ன்னல் வேகத்தில் உள்ளிருந்து திரும்பினேன்.

கையில் இரு குடங்கள்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-05-18T01:38:00.000-07:00

பூவில் வீழ்ந்த ஒளிக்கதிர் சிதறி, என் விழி மீது படர்ந்தது.

பார்க்கும் திறனற்ற கருங்குழிகள் இரண்டும் ஒளியை உள்ளிழுத்தது.

விளைவு - என் கைத்தடியால் நேர்ந்தது ஒரு பூவின் மரணம்.

ஒரு நொடி க(வி)தை

2007-05-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

இன்று 'தல' படம் ரிலீசு.

பேருந்து நெரிசலில் சிக்கி தவித்த குடிமகன் திரையரங்கம் வர காத்திருந்தான்.

ரசிகர் பேரணி தரையிரங்க, இழந்த அரியாசனம் மீண்டது.

ஜன்னலோர சீட்.

Excerpt From Anthem

2007-03-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

The following is an excerpt from Ayn Rand's book 'Anthem'.

I am. I think. I will.

My hands . . . My spirit . . . My sky . . . My forest . . .

This earth of mine . . . .

What must I say besides? These are the words. This is the answer.

I stand here on the summit of the mountain. I lift my head

and I spread my arms. This, my body and spirit, this is the end

of the quest. I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning.

I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for

being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant

and the sanction.

It is my eyes which see, and the sight of my eyes grants beauty

to the earth. It is my ears which hear, and the hearing of my

ears gives its song to the world. It is my mind which thinks, and

the judgment of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the

truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is

the only edict I must respect.

Many words have been granted me, and some are wise, and some are

false, but only three are holy: "I will it!"

Whatever road I take, the guiding star is within me; the guiding

star and the loadstone which point the way. They point in but one

direction. They point to me.

I know not if this earth on which I stand is the core of the

universe or if it is but a speck of dust lost in eternity. I know

not and I care not. For I know what happiness is possible to me

on earth. And my happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it.

My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is

its own goal. It is its own purpose.

Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish.

I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs.

I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on

their altars.

I am a man. This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine

to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before!

I do not surrender my treasures, nor do I share them. The fortune

of my spirit is not to be blown into coins of brass and flung to

the winds as alms for the poor of the spirit. I guard my

treasures: my thought, my will, my freedom. And the greatest of

these is freedom.

I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I

ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others. I covet no

man's soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.

I am neither foe nor friend to my brothers, but such as each of

them shall deserve of me. And to earn my love, my brothers must

do more than to have been born. I do not grant my love without

reason, nor to any chance passer-by who may wish to claim it. I

honor men with my love. But honor is a thing to be earned.

I shall choose friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters.

And I shall choose only such as please me, and them I shall love

and respect, but neither command nor obey. And we shall join our

hands when we wish, or walk alone when we so desire. For in the

temple of his spirit, each man is alone. Let each man keep his

temple untouched and undefiled. Then let him join hands with

others if he wishes, but only beyond his holy threshold.

For the word "We" must never be spoken, save by one's choice and

as a second thought. This word must never be placed first within

man's soul, else it becomes a monster, the root of all the evils

on earth, the root of man's torture by men, and an unspeakable lie.

The word "We" is as lime poured over men, which sets and hardens

to stone, and crushes all beneath it, and that which is white and

that which is black are lost equally in the grey of it. It is the

word by which the depraved steal the virtue of the good, by which

the weak steal the might of the strong, by which the fools steal

the wisdom of the sages.

What is my joy if all hands, even the unclean, can reach into it?

What is my wisdom, if even the fools can dictate to me? What is

my freedom, if all creatures, even the botched and impotent, are

my masters? What is my life, if I am but to bow, to agree, and to

obey?

But I am done with this creed of corruption.

I am done with the monster of "We," the word of serfdom, of

plunder, of misery, falsehood and shame.

And now I see the face of god, and I raise this god over the

earth, this god whom men have sought since men came into being,

this god who will grant them joy and peace and pride.

This god, this one word:

"I."

Trials and Tribulations of a dictator

2007-03-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

I wrote this article in Newsvine back in jan..

Recently, Saddam's execution caused a stir in the media's nest.

He is not the world's only or even the first dictator.. and he will most certainly not be the last! He did manage to find much needed support only after his death... Governments and people protesting his death alike! Not that they resented his rule... Groups expressing concern about the much forgotten human rights! Much forgotten.. just as in Saddam's reign..The righteous mourning the fact that he never got a proper trial! Forget the thousands who died without any trial or for that matter for no fault of theirs but being at the other band of the religion spectrum.

I am not a big supporter of the fast track trial which found him guilty and hanged him... Given some more time I believe that more people would have come forward to claim justice for those wronged under his reign. The trial and the sentencing made it sound as if Saddam's only crime was the massacre of the 120 Shia Muslims.

All those lives unaccounted for in the trial did not even beget the honor of being a part of the statistics. They are those 'scores of men and women slaughtered in Saddam's rule', as the News Agencies have truly reported. Men and women without names, without faces and without a voice, alive or dead. And now without justice. All lives lost and no one officially blamed. Saddam's name would be passed on as the alleged killer but nothing more. The near future would know him as a man hastily hanged in a speedy trial.

Not that I advocate a snail trial.. like that of Pinochet.. The man whom the world accused.. The man who never had to accept any form of punishment for all the atrocities he committed! The man who did not even have to hear himself being indicted as the killer! His death was not just the death of a dictator but also the death of hope! Hope for justice and Hope for retribution...

For those who believed that law would take its right course, Pinochet's trial was a mockery. It stretched their beliefs to the limits of their patience. It certainly made those who plotted his assassination rue themselves for their failure, that is, if they were left alive!

Where does that leave the wronged? At the steps of the courtroom, which filters to its convenience what it wants to consider as right and wrong.. Where the law is not equal.. Where your country's geography mattered than the accused's history.. Whose scales are tilted by the attention the Superpowers bestow upon you...

Justice is never served in haste or in delay... In both the cases justice has been denied.

New York Urangum Neram

2006-10-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

Some snaps of the City that never sleeps...

Festive lights near Macy's

View of the river from the Empire state Building

One of BMW Bridges

Adhay Adhay

Another aerial shot of the illumniated city

Some buildings glittering along the coast

Quotopix

2006-10-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

I think we must quote whenever we feel that the allusion is interesting or helpful or amusing - Cliff Fadiman

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. - Jane Austen

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. - Lao Tzu

Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the night. - William Blake

A picture is a poem without words - Horace

Templarshots

2006-10-06T18:55:00.000-07:00

Some more lovely pics from my temple trip!

Illuminated entrance of the Temple at Thiruparamkundram

Painted ceiling at Azhagar Kovil - a bit Blurred

Small gopurams at Azhagar Kovil - The diety seems to be gazing at the devotees who enter the temple

The Picture perfect corridor of Meenakshi temple, Madurai

Gopura Darisanam

2006-10-01T23:33:00.000-07:00

After bridges and flowers nothing really caught my fancy until I took a trip.. err.. pilgrimage to Sankaran Kovil and Madurai.

My mom and bro were occassionally put off that I spent most of my time near one gopuram trying in vain to capture its beauty in various angles..

Some of my attempts below..

The majestic gopuram of Madurai kovil

Sankaran kovil gopuram from a distance

The intricate work in Azhagar kovil gopuram

Small but detailed Gopuram of Pazhamuthircholai.

More of these on a later date!

Ananya - The Queen

2006-10-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

Being the youngest always has its perks!! One of them being undivided attention and a loyal fan following, watching and taking pride in each and every activity, big or small..
and Having the entire family tied around their tiny finger..
This little one is not even a yr old, but she has quite become the center of our universe!!!

She has a penchant for swallowing things both edible and non edible!

Smugly settled on her mom's lap

Her favorite color is yellow.. she goes after anything which is bright..

This is how she looks after her morning bath.. My family is pretty liberal with kohl as you can see!!

Sankaran Kovil

2006-08-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Drawing no comparisons with the Sistine chapel or any other work of art, you dont have to look any further than the temple towns for the indian version of frescoes adorned ceilings!!!

I dont exactly know when this particular ceiling was painted.. The angels in the corner look very similar to the cherubs!!

Check out the cherubs in http://www.laparliere.com/images/murals/cherubs.jpg

Same goes with the chinese looking tigers in this pic!

Pixies - Karen - Sunshine kid!!

2006-06-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw her, she would not stand still..
My second time was marginally better.. but she was more curious to see what I am doing with the camera..
By the third time, she was happily posing!!!

Karen with Toby, her pet dog!

The Icecream mush

Grumpy Karen saying 'Bang' - Thats her version of any bad word..

Ram and Karen.. Penny for her thoughts.. I thought she was mocking me.. Maybe she thought I was silly!!!

Hoping that there would be a fourth time with her :))

Pixies - Hands On!!!

2006-06-27T04:15:00.000-07:00

When you are an fotografer whose talents are not understood by many, getting ppl to understand what u r taking can be quite a headache!! :)

Luckily for me, I had willing subjects!!

The inspiration came from the numerous hindi songs where the heroine does the same.. believe me.. Have tried it with a few hands.. but this is my favo..

This was taken at my place. If you look closely, you can even see stuff at the back.. Thanks to flash and Ram, I have a near perfect pix..

Not exactly a hands shot.. Vishaal was trying out 'Majaa' pose and Ujjval just propped in..

'Ageless hands make minutes a memory'.. Until next time.. Ciao!!

Pixies - Caught In the Act

2006-06-26T04:14:00.000-07:00

Never-to-be-repeated moments...

Ujjval with the penny jar. Standard Thiruttu muzhi!!

My Roomie caught in snooze mode with her Teddy.. oops.. Polar bear!

My uncle training the next Beckham (who likes kicking his bro better than the ball)...

Maha's version of 'Cheese' - captured by Jayashree.

Until the next act.. :))

Pixies - A Rainy Day in Madison

2006-06-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Had planned to take some shots of Madison on my last Saturday here.. Sudden showers did wreck havoc but left behind some beautiful scenes!

Rain kissed pines near the Grocers

Drenched flowers in front of the bank

Droplets hanging on for their life

Splatter swimming on leaves

Signing off for the day, hoping for more rain!!!

Pix of the Day - Million Dollar Smiles

2006-06-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Most of the time people are conscious when I ask them to smile.. Especially the ones shown here!!
These are some moments of spontaneity!!!

Rampriya - my roomie and Archana - my colleague... obviously happy about my leaving!!! Taken during one of my farewell lunches..

Karen- my friend Wystan's daughter.. She takes 'Cheese' very seriously..

Vishaal - My Punnagai mannan. The pretty boy of the family.. Takes after me!!

Ujjval - The Vijay fan.. and That means lotsa weird poses!! I guess I will post a normal snap of his if theres such a thing :)

Lots of Smiles to go before I sleep!! Ciao!!!

Pix of the day - More of Flower Power!!

2006-06-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

After bridges and a dash of greens, its time for my favorite - Flowers!!

Zooming inside a pretty flower - all dressed in white!!

I ususally take snaps of flowers from the top angle but this shot is one of the very few i had taken from the side!! My Fanta flower!!

These flowers were unique for their muted colour and a total lack of any bright hue or freshness.. Total contrast to the rest of my collection.

Wannabe butterflies - Thats what I mistook them for.

Roses are what I am missing.. Hoping to get some over the weekend!! Ciao!!

Pix of the day - Green Thumb

2006-06-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

I have never been a green-friendly person.. Lots of grass or shrubbery without flowers doesnt spark any interest in me..
It was always the backdrop... Never the focus

These are few of the green streaks that I captured on film...

Wystan, my good friend and colleague introduced me to 'Macro' concepts and this foto was a result of the experiments which ensued. The blur and the focus ar not what I intended!!!

I was in the neighbourhood garden store faithfully sticking to the flowers when someone left that red ??? (pail?) in that pathway... Not a flower, not a bridge but interesting enuf for me!!

When I see a tall structure (Mostly non-breathing and non-moving), first thing I attempt is to take snap looking up to it!!

This looked as if it was straight from still life. I am still hoping, my roomie would get around painting it!!

More of them in Green Index finger!! Signing off with this bad joke.. :))

Pix of the day - Bridges of Madison County

2006-06-21T03:35:00.000-07:00

Actually from NY City.. My obsession with bad titles continues!!

These are the snaps I took from the NY Cruise. Not exactly the best among them, but my faves nevertheless.
Most of my foto themes are taken from paintings that I like.. These four were a part of my experiment to get the sun beaming in a corner and the bridge's silhouette.

This was shot from a different angle.. (I already sound like a pro - I mean, from how many different angles cud you shoot a bridge ;) )

This is was the snap when ppl decided that the view from a seat next to me wasnt worth all those nudges they endured.. We werent allowed to stand, so I tossed around in my seat to try all those impossible angles.. poof!! They were gone!! Not that my fotos came a lot better after that :)

This was experiment number 1, which did not come out that well.. By the end of the day, this was the only legible snap with the sun in it!! (Legible as in unshaken)

If not the sun, sunrays hi sahi.. Ok.. Look closely.. Towards the right side of the bridge.. do you see them???

If you leave a comment, It will really do wonders to the ego of the amateur fotografer in me!!!

Pix of the day - Flower Power

2006-06-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

These pics were a part of my attempt to fill the canvas with the flowers and their colours... Though am still experimenting with macro, some came out well.. I am partial towards the yellow ones..

Blotting paper..

2006-01-28T21:04:00.000-08:00

Two posts in a day!!!

Here's my poem on a blotting paper.. I wrote it during my college days.. When I was less cynical!! I titled it blotting paper as I couldnt find a suitable tamil word for the same..

The RDB-ian effects!!

2006-01-28T20:52:00.000-08:00

Contrived?? maybe.. Cliched?? In some places.. Jingoistic??.. Definitely not!! Inspiring?? In parts.. So what word sums up Rang De Basanti.. Different!!

Different enough to make me write a post!! Believe me people.. Though I have an opinion on every issue.. Though I am fond of writing.. Though I am concerned about getting heard (one reason I speak aloud!! :) ).. Writing or Rather keeping on writing a post has been a big task!! I mean.... my blog is not the most happening.. Its not like the next Rajini movie that everybody has pinned their expectations on.. It does have a decent brain and mind behind it. Now I am straying away from the whole point.. This is the problem.. Streamlining my train of thoughts, which often derails, into a readable form has always been difficult for me... So when I am awake at 11.30 (PM!!!), putting my circadian rhythm off track, it must be for a good cause.. I don't mean the blog.. But the cause for the post!!!

When was the last time a movie had an effect!! any kind of effect?? I am a self confessed movie fanatic and with all this netflix dvds available, my daily routine has included watching a movie every single day if I could help it. I thought I had gotten to a point where I could watch a movie without crying when the lovers unite after their evil father creates all obstacles and when the good character artiste gets killed.. Where I can enjoy the effect without getting involved.. Well, This movie just proved to me that I still had some way to go.. I was hunting for the kerchief in the second half.. It just stirred me!!

This post isn't a review of this movie.. And why would I write a review!! Each person interprets a movie according to his whims.. or hers.. Some believe that movies are for entertainment.. others believe in purpose.. some stick to formula.. others want to do it the arty way.. for some its a passion.. for some its business.. for a normal movie goer like me.. Its a hobby.. I happen to like it.. I want to see the best and the worst of it.. Not exactly judge it but try to figure out whether I have gotten my money's worth..

This movie was worth every penny I spent in it.. I loved the way the characters were built.. how they stayed true to their way till the very end.. The flashbacks intertwined with the story made it very interesting.. especially in the Khalbali song ... (Its not exaclty a song where I expected scenes of revolutionaries fighting for ur country on hearing it) I certainly did not watch the Bagath Singh movies or The Rising.. and if anyone had asked me whether I was interested in a movie with all freedom fighters.. I would have said no.. When was the last time one saw a good movie about freedom fighters.. Lagaan wasn't about them.. but what about the slew of movies which came out on Bagath Singh.. where they any close to inspiring people..?? Believe me, the closest I got to watch patriotism was in Arjun and Vijayakanth movies.. and now Ajith's.. (forget Sunny Deol.. I don't watch those) But did it make me feel any closer to anyone playing the martyr..?? In those movies.. you had to be a superman to bash the baddies and fight for ur country.. which I am definitely not.. apart from watching it for timepass I never felt connected with the movie at any leved (If I had to write about those movies then it would have to be a separate blog.. Patriotism in movies.. perhaps!!!)

You would have read the story by now.. so I am not going to write about that.. Though the movie was Aamir's, Siddharth was gr8 from the word go!! After nvnv in telugu.. you dont need an astrologer to foretell that he has a bright future playing lover boy.. He has a good role in this movie and he has carried it off brilliantly.. In fact I was surprised!! (Pleasantly, as he was one of the main reasons I wanted to see this movie.. Had this movie been bad, I would have anyway watched it :) ) considering that this is his first venture in Hindi. The cast did a good job and the screenplay backed it up.. The movie did have a 'okay' sort of ending.. but how else could they end it!!! Lettting them live a happy life ever after would spoil the effect.. It would have been like the Kaakah Kaakha ending with Jo alive!!!

Well.. why did I write this blog.. hmmm... its not often that I get a feeling that I should be doing something!!! So here I am.. If I still don't feel like I done something, I would probably do some arranging and cleaning!! Till this feeling goes away..

Patriotic?? maybe.. Stirred?? In some places.. ??Depressed.. Definitely not!! Emotional?? In parts.. So what word sums up my mood tonight.. Different!!

Missing Pieces

2005-12-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

After weeks of googling my brain for a suitable topic to blog about, this poem just popped into my mind..

I dont know whether its been worth the effort I put in overcoming the blogger's block!!!! Do leave ur comments though... :)

MISSING PIECES

She collected the pieces, Arranged them in her mind..

All a part of the bigger picture...

Picture of someone long gone...

Reduced to a potrait decked with a garland..

To be revered... and sometimes to be remembered...

The cloud over her father's eyes when she wore red

The frown over dadi's face when she puts out her left hand

Dark oval eyes she inherited.. as that of her nani..

An offhand remark, that a mere memory brings.

The tangling curls on her jet black hair,

Long fingers and short toes,

The splitting migraine she was born with,

The talent with paintbrush she grew without..

The answer is in genetics.. isn't it??

Knowing herself should get her closer to the truth...

The similarities made sense...

But then... There are the quirks...

Recipes for spicy dishes, which would never see the light...

Not if she could help it.

Amidst her wardrobe, full of plaid colours

The silk sarees carefully preserved in the box.

Bigger borders.. Brighter hues..

The faded ancestral stone in her golden ring she wore.

Geoid bangles in the locker, she never meant to wear.

She didn't feel any closer...

All she could collect was more clues.

The loose leaves of the stamp book on top of the cupboard.

The veena, discarded but preserved...

Out of place, in the long hallway. In her life.

The yellowing newspaper clips tracking Kapil's career

Carefully mounted on unbound diaries..

Pointers to the same path... yet

Pointing at different directions...

She had seen the frames from the past...

The crying toddler in her nani's arms

The smiling girl in sari, too heavy for her, in the schools's play

The proud Math grad on her convocation

The shy bride near her father, nervous but happy.. sad but...

But what...???

She tried to read more into the eyes that were staring back at her

The oval eyes seemed frozen in time.

The black and white photos were mute.

Silent spectators to what was felt... what was thought...

The more she knew, more hazy it became...

Completing the puzzle was not the goal

Understanding her mother was not a choice...

She had to pick up the pieces and move on...

But, there was always something missing...

Great Indian Rope Trick!!!

2005-12-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

This is not about snake charmers and the thick rope, which supposedly dance to their tunes.

This is about a rather small rope.. or thread literally but Hey.. 'Great Indian Thread Trick' would not have been such a good title...!!!

This is my take on how that thread found its way into nearly 2 out of every 5 movies made in Indian cinema... (not just Bollywood, Kollywood or Tollywood)

It is infact difficult to think of our top ten hit movies, in any language, without feautring the scene involving a Thaali or a Mangalsutra as its known in the North...

Nopes.. Any language does not include English.

The following conversation and its contents are purely fictitious. Any resemblance to any hit or flop movie, already made, running or under production is purely coincidental.. :o)

Now that the disclaimer is over.. Lets get to the point...

D -> Would be director..

P -> Would be bankrupt/wealthy - Producer.. Isnt the Indian audience supposedly unpredictable?

D - Opening shot sir...

Hero running sir... Overtaking bus.. car.. lorry sir..

Reaches home sir...

P - um... go on..

D - Hero got to go city college sir.

Hero poor. 2 sisters, one father, one mother sir.

Mother ask father to tie yellow thread. Mother give thaali to hero sir.

Hero see thaali... No dialogue.. No music

Whole family cry sir..

I guarantee, sir, half the women cry along this scene... Family audience, our side sir.

Hero pawns and gets money. Sing family song. Shows tata and goes college sir.

P - good good.. go on...

D - Hero goes college sir.

Heroine entry sir.. White car.. Speeding.. 2 Bodyguards sir.

P - Why bodyguards??

D - Then audience understand sir. Heroine rich.

P - Ok..

D - Heroine car put mud on hero shirt. Hero angry sir.

P - Ok ok. We can build that up from there.

D - Hero Heroine fight sir, for few scenes.

P - What about heroine's family?

D - Heroine family sir. One father, one mother & 4 brothers. All heroine pet sir.

P - Why 4 brothers?? Wont 2 be enough?

D - Sir... Fight scene... If hero fight all 4 sir in kung fu then action fans our side sir.. Lotsa scope...

P - Makes sense.. Good.. Go on..

D - So hero take revenge before interval. Ties thaali on heroine's neck sir.

P - His mother's..???

D - No sir, thats pawned. Heroine go temple on friday. Hero tie there. Take from roadside shop sir..

After tie sir, we leave interval. Story twists.

P - What about the 2 other songs before interval?

D - College hero heroine fight one song sir. Heroine solo one song sir. We can also make that a dream song.

P - Ok. What happens after interval?

D - After interval, sir. Story move fast. Heroine brothers fight hero sir.

Hero fight kungfu. We can have fire jump, bike or car chase here sir.

P - Around the temple??

D - Temple on hilltop sir, helicopter chase also possible.

P - Thats for high budget movies. We can have a car chase itself.

But isnt that for climax?

D - That separate sir. This make our movie different.

Hero fight sir. But 4 brothers hold hero. Heroine father come with knife sir.

Heroine show thaali sir.

P - Umm.

D - Sir. Very important scene sir. No dialogue... No music...

Heroine show thaali. Father drop knife. Brothers leave hero. They go sir.

We keep duet song here.

So far sir, Story in city - 'A' center we cover.

Now story move to village. 'B' and 'C' center cover sir..

P - Umm.. ok... What happens further?

D - Hero go village with heroine sir.

Go see family .. they happy.. same family song sir.. heroine also join.. everybody happy..

P - Movie ends..??

D - No sir... We cut there.. song end.. villain entry sir..

Village landlord sir.. beat farmers and take hero land sir.

P - Isnt that too abrupt for a villain to come towards the end?? Umm.. I think he needs more footage.

D - No Problem.. Change script sir..

Hero and villain childhood enemy... one school fight scene in the movie starting sir...

Then villain college senior.. villain also behind heroine. But hero marry so villain angry ..

What sir..??

P - Umm.. This sounds better..

D - Now villain taking revenge. Comes to hero house and tries to kidnap heroine sir.

Father try stop. So kill father sir.

P - Heroine's father??

D - No no sir.. Hero father sir...

P - Ok.. Go on..

D - Now sir.. Sad version of family song.

We show mother in white sari. Her thaali in ground sir.

Half the women audience again cry.

P - But didnt they pawn it???

D - That was reclaimed in the heroine version family song sir.

P -O..ok..

D - We show mother.. thaali.. hero's face sir..

3 times.. no dialogue.. no music

3rd time.. hero roar sir.. Goes running to villain's house sir..

Hero hit all henchmen sir.. 20 minutes.. fight scene sir..

then all hurt.. villain and hero .. stick or sword fight another 10 minutes sir..

then hero grab axe and runs toward villain sir..

again roars sir..

we show hero face... villain face... axe...

Villain close eyes sir..

P - Then...?

D - Nothing sir..

P - Nothing..???

D - Yes sir..

villain open eyes... axe inches away from villain neck sir..

We turn the camera slowly.. show his wife sir..

P - Heroine..??

D - No sir.. villain's wife.

P - How did she come there..??

D - sir.. fight happen villain house... so villain wife there..

P - Ok go on

D - She showing thaali to hero sir..

we show her face.. thaali.. hero.. and villain sir.. 3 times.. no music no dialogue sir...

hero feel sympathy sir...

P - Ummm... i dont think the audience will feel sympathy.. how did she come there all of a sudden..??

D - Ok sir.. Change in script... Before fight scene sir..

villain and wife fight. villain hit wife.. wife faint sir..

now wife wake up.. saves husband sir..

P - I still dont feel right abt it..

D - We can put the popular TV Serial actress for this role. The one who cries all the time. Sympathy factor will work sir.

P - That might work out.. ok go on...

D - Hero slowly drop axe sir.. turns ..

and goes sir..

Family song again sir. 4 lines here.. Villain and wife join with hero family sir..

Movie end sir...

P - Wonderful!! Family subject.. Romance and Action.. and a moral ending too.

D - Yes sir. Moral sir.. Ending sir...

If you think that this story in parts or in Sum reminds of you of many other stories... Well, you can call it copied, I will call it inspired!!!

Heres to many more creative thinkers destined to take our Indian cinema forward!!!

May the force be with you!!!