Saturday, May 30, 2009

My Favorites

'Mella Pesungal' was the first film for (Late) Vasanth and Banupriya.

I didn't watch the movie but I loved the songs from that movie, especially this one:


Deepan Chakravarthy who became famous after 'Poonkadhavae' from Nizhalgal has sung this song with Uma Ramanan.

The movie was directed by Bharathivasu ( SanthanaBharathy and P Vasu - who did a couple of films together ).

One of Ilayaraja's several masterpieces.

I am not sure why Deepan just faded away. I love his voice. Even these days I see him on TV his voice is good.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Magazines

During my younger days, we had wonderful magazines in India. I must say those were the golden days of Indian journalism.

I remember the very first issue of 'SUNDAY', 'SPORTSWORLD' and 'THE WEEK'. I used to wait every week to buy SUNDAY. Amazing articles, great photography and very interesting. SPORTSWORLD was edited by M.A.K.Pataudi. I loved the photos in SPORTWORLD. Looks like, THE WEEK is the only magazine that is still alive !

However, I have to admit that my favorites were ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY OF INDIA and THE BLITZ.

ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY OF INDIA - Khushwant Singh was the editor. Size was kinda 11 X 14. I always liked Khushwant Singh's writing ( Memories of 'Train to Pakistan' are still fresh ). His editorials used to be amazing. Sports and news coverage was outstanding !

BLITZ - Editor was
R.K. Karanjia. It was also a 11 X 14 in a newspaper format. Had a lot of gossip, scoops besides some good editorials, articles. Lots of fun to read. Mr.Karanjia is long gone..but memories of his BLITZ are still fresh.

I wish I could have a copy each of the Illustrated Weekly, The Blitz , Sunday. I'd cherish them !!

If you find a copy of these magazines, can you please buy them for me? I'll be very thankful !

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Vikatan Online Subscription

Most of the websites start to email you about an expiring subscription a few months before the actual expiration. That's my experience so far.

Ananda Vikatan is unique. I am not sure, if they don't care about the online subscribers. Or maybe it's an area they need to improve.

My online subsciption to Vikatan expired a month back. I've not got a single email till date from Vikatan about it. A message pops up when I login to the website that I'll have to renew my subscription.

I am still waiting...I am not going to renew until they wake up and ask me 'Hey, don't you want to renew ? ' .

Nostalgia - The Turntable

Pic coutesy: The WWW

During my elementary school days, I wasn't allowed to walk from Tambaram to Perungalathur.

School used to end around 3.15 PM. The next train to Perungalathur those days was at 4.30 PM. There were no PTC buses !

I used to walk to Tambaram railway station and wait for the 4.30 PM train. ( The monthly train pass between Tambaram and Perungalathur was 1 Rs. 45 paise ! ).

Every now and then, a steam engine would be turned on the turn table in Tambaram. It was a fantastic sight. The engine would come in from South to North and go South after it is turned.

It was manual labor. The driver and the helper used to get out after parking the train on the table. They used the levers and went pushing around in a circle turning the engine.

These days, I am not sure if the turn table is used anymore. I don't even know if they dismantled it.

However, great memories. Nostalgic !!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Rajiv Gandhi - 18th death Anniversary

Photo courtesy: The WWW

Tomorrow marks the 18th death anniversary of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi the ex-Prime Minister of India.

21 May 1991, that was the day his life was taken away ! He was only 47 years old when he was assassinated.

I was shocked and ashamed that it happened on 'Tamil' soil, in India, assassinated ruthlessly by a suicide squad from Sri Lanka sent by LTTE.

I remember the deserted roads, the shocked faces, the processions and the hours before TV mourning my beloved Prime Minister's death.

That was the day I lost any impression I had, about Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of LTTE who masterminded the assassination.

Today, we've come a full circle. The mastermind is also gone along with his family.

May Rajiv's soul rest in peace.

Let the world know that violence is no answer to anything !

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Worldwide Photo walk

(With family - May-10-2009)

One of my friends at work mentioned about 'WORLDWIDE PHOTO WALK'.

This year it is on July-18-2009 a Saturday.

Photo walk is a social photography event where photographers get together, usually in a downtown area or trendy section of town to walk around, shoot photos, and generally have fun with other photographers.. They finally meet in a Pub, Pizza place or a restaurant, socialize and leave. Of course there is a competition and prizes.

The best part I like in this, is the socializing. I am hoping to meet some good photographers and take some tips/notes.

I've joined the
'Santa Cruz Group' and I am looking forward to the event.

Here are some stats from last year's event:


8.324 photographers register for local walks
47 Countries had participating cities
44 States in the US had Photo Walks
We had a total of 236 cities worldwide
More than 1,017,125 photos were taken on walks that day



If there is a group in your city why not join and have some fun !

If you don't have a group please start one and participate !

Monday, May 18, 2009

வேஷம்

பிரபாகரன் இறந்தான் - ஊரெல்லாம் பேச்சு

நம்ம தலைவர்கள்

ராமதாஸ், வை.கோ, ஜெயா
தேர்தலில் செருப்படி வாங்கியதால் மௌனம்!

கருணாநிதி
காங்கிரஸிடம் அமைச்சர் பதவிக்கு கை ஏந்தும் நேரம்.
அதனால் அமைதி!

உண்மை நிறம் - இதுதான்.

தேர்தலுக்கு முன் போட்டது 'வேஷம்'

Exit polls - Joke !

This is not the first time exit polls have gone wrong in Indian elections. I am not sure how they do these polls. Looks like a big joke !

I didn't see any exit poll pundits on TV (so far). Would be interesting to ask them what kind of samples they used in the polls to get it so wrong !

I would advise these companies to shut up in the coming elections or maybe go to an Astrologer rather than waste time analyzing the exit poll data.

By the way - All of you who believe in Astrology - Did anyone predict these results ? I didn't read / see anything !

Sunday, May 17, 2009

The weed is gone !

Congratulations Mr.Rajapaksa on going this far and wiping out LTTE to near extinction, thereby regaining your country back from the terrorists.

It takes a lot of courage and I am glad Mr.Rajapaksa did it right.

Forget the brickbats, forget the sympathisers of LTTE, I am sure a lot of tamils today would be happy !

The loss of innocent lives in this battle is very sad. LTTE now claims to have surrendered ( sic ) for this reason:

On the verge of defeat, the rebels offered to lay down their arms, saying they wanted to protect civilian lives. There was no immediate response from the government, but it has ignored rebel calls for a cease-fire in recent months.


What a shame! If they truly cared for the civilian lives, they should have put down their arms a long time ago, when they knew they didn't have anywhere to go. Cowards !

But..I guess they were waiting for a ship from India to go and rescue them, which ( probably ) never happened !

Whatever...Congratulations Mr.Rajapaksa. Get to work now and please don't let the LTTE to realign.

Please ensure that another group doesn't emerge from the ashes of the LTTE.

What I mean to say is :

Please take care of the Tamil population in Srilanka.

I want to listen to:

இலங்கை ஒலிபரப்புக் கூட்டுத் தாபனம்
தமிழ்ச் சேவை இரண்டு
!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Rahul Gandhi

Pic courtesy: The Net

This is what the LTTE did to India a few decades back !!
Memories of that sad day still linger in my heart.



Pic courtesy: The Net

This is today.

I am happy to see and hear that Rahul Gandhi is one of the reasons for UPA's thumping win in this election.

This time, he will be a Minister for sure and I love it.

India badly needs a leader like him.

My hope is, he'll become the Prime Minister in the next elections !

Only time can tell.

Until then - Best wishes 'Rahul' !

Election Coverage - II

12:06 am Saturday

Dayanidhi Maran was on Headlines Today.

Here is what he said:

  • Opportunistic Politicians like the PMK Chief will see their own demise.

Question - What about your Mr. Maran ? Why did you fight with and then join hands with Grandpa and kids? Wasn't that opportunistic too?
  • It was media hype especially by Mr.Ram of 'The Hindu' - that ADMK will route the DMK.

Question - What about all the PRO DMK Media? What happened to those voices? What happened to Murasoli and Dinakaran?

  • Achievements - 1 Kg rice and 100,000 TV Sets !!

Question - What about the Power situation in Tamil Nadu? After all TVs need power !!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Election Coverage

Courtesy: Adhithi via cellphone

It's now 10.34 PM Pacific time. I just realized I've been sitting in front of the TV watching election coverage from India, since 6.30 PM !

Very interesting indeed. I was watching the live feeds from Headlines Today and SUN TV along with Kairali, Aajtak and Samay.

Here are some points:

Why isn't there a Tamil equivalent for 'Breaking News' and 'News Flash'. Or was it SUN TV who used the English words.

As expected I didn't see anyone from ADMK being interviewed by SUN TV. I am sure the same would have happened in Jaya TV !

Questionable English as you would see from the photo above ( Telecasted ..!! ).

Many of the regional politicians mentioned Obama !! Even, Thiruma..!! God, I thought he was an illiterate, who knew only one word "EELAM".

Headlines today's coverage was good. Was nice to see leaders of all party talk decently. MJ Akbar was wonderful !

Overall I would give Headlines Today an A+.

My prediction - It's going to be Dr.Manmohan Singh again.


Congratulations Dr.Singh.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Nostalgia

Starting a series of posts titled 'Nostalgia'. Planning to pour my heart about my younger days. I'll be writing about those moments in life that make me happy whenever my thoughts fly back in time.

Flashback

Elementary school days
Christ King Convent, Tambaram ( 1970 - 1976)


I had to walk to Perungalathur railway station, take a train to Tambaram and walk to school. Sometimes my grandfather would go with me. Mostly I'd be on my own, following a group of kids who had the privilege of having a lady ( we used to call her Aayah ) take them to school. She was a kind lady. Though I wasn't a part of the group, she'd always make me feel a part of the group !!

I used to always carry my school bag and a lunch bag with water and lunch. The bags would have 'VR' embroidered on them. VR was V.Ramesh, which was my name those days ( Later got changed to Narayanan in High school ).

I would forget my lunch bag in the train every now and then while going home. And believe me, we used to run back to catch the train ( same train ) returning back in 30 minutes from Vandalur. The bag still used to be there..wherever I left it ( with the bottle and a stainless steel lunch box).

But, before we went to recover the bag.....I'd have gotten a few spankings !!

N O S T A L G I A !!

Friday, May 08, 2009

அவள் அப்படி ஒன்றும் அழகில்லை

Sometime back it was 'Ragasiyamana Kadhal' then came 'Kangal Irandal' and now this beautiful song 'Aval appadi ondrum' !

I am sure most of you who listened to all of these songs would have fallen in love with the melody and the words right away.



அவள் அப்படி ஒன்றும் அழகில்லை
அவளுக்கு யாரும் இணை இல்லை
அவள் அப்படி ஒன்றும் கலரில்லை
ஆனால் அது ஒரு குறையில்லை!

Simple lines - wonderful melody.

This song is from the movie 'Angaadi Theru'. Looks like music is by Vijay Antony and GV Prakash. However this song has been composed by Vijay Antony.

I like Vijay Antony a lot. He has a good taste for melody and rhythms. My favorite of his is 'Nenjankootil' from the movie Dishoom.

About the singers - I am really not sure who they are. Some websites say Prasanna/Ranjith/Janaki Iyer. Some say Ranjith/Vinith Srinivas / Janaki Iyer.

Whoever it is, this is one amazing song!

Reminds me of:

Kaatrin Mozhi - Mozhi
Vellaippookkal - Kannathil Muthamittal
Nirppadhuve - Bharathi
Kaatril varum Geethame - Oru naal oru kanavu


Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Diary of a wimpy kid




Not sure if it's a hit in India. But I notice that the kids here are going Ga-Ga over 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid'.

A few weeks back, I asked Preethi if she wanted to read it. She said no...! Now she wants it and the local Costco is already out of the 1st book !!


Sometime back it was J.K.Rowling...now it is Jeff Kinney.


Way to go Mr.Kinney !

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

நெஞ்சு பொறுக்குதில்லையே!

( Courtesy: THE HINDU )

தமிழ்நாடு நாறுது
உமிழ்நீராய் மாறுது

ஈழத்துக்கு கூவுகிறார்கள்
பாழும் அரசியல்வாதிகள்!


நிற்க....

இந்த தெருவிற்கு பெயர்

ENNORE EXPRESSWAY !

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Hamsadhwani

I was browsing the net this morning for something when I found this wonderful weblog.

Honestly, I didn't know the details of the Raga - Hamsadhwani until now:

Ramaswamy Dikshita (1735 AD -1817 AD), father of Muttuswamy Dikshita is credited with the creation of this pentatonic raaga. However, this may be partly true.

The Ragalakshana appendix to Chaturdandi Prakashike mentions Hamsadwani. Although the main text of Chaturdandi was composed by Venkatamakhi (~1650 AD), the Ragalakshana appendix was added by is grand-nephew Muddu Venkatamuchi couple of generations after Venkatamakhi. He describes Hamsadwhani as a pentatonic raga, born of Shankarabharana mEla omitting ma and da. (S R G P N S - S N P G R S). The current form of Hamsadwani is exactly the same.

This brings the time when Hamsadhwani first appeared around the beginning of 18th century. It is likely that Ramaswamy Dikshita was one of the early composers who popularized it, and hence the credit that goes in his name.

18th century composers Tyagaraja and Muttuswamy Dikshita, each comosed two compositions in this raga. It can be safely said that the composition Vatapi Ganapatim Bhajesham of Muttuswamy Dikshita is the most famous composition in this raga.



I fell in love with Rashid Khan's voice and rendition when I saw this:

Desi Celebrities and Criticism

If you ever watched Jay Leno, David Letterman, John Stewart or Steven Colbert you'll know what I am talking about.

If you've watched CNN, FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS you'd know what I am talking about.

In fact you'd know it, if you read the newspapers , magazines and the Internet.

I am talking about about the Celebrities here in the USA. It includes every celeb from the President level on.

All of the above mentioned media criticize, comment, investigate and interview the celebs and pose so many difficult questions during interviews.

Nine out of ten times, the celebs handle it very well. They evade but they don't get angry. The politicians, don't use their power to manhandle the reporters or cause damage to the news agencies.

But...................

Consider the same in 'Desi Land'. How do the Celebs handle all this? Nine out of ten times, they walk away, go on the defense and even threaten the media ( If a reporter had the guts to ask some tough questions ! )

Politicians - OMG, I don't want to even go there. Many reporters for the fear of their lives would never go near politicians in Desi land. There are a few exceptions, though I don't know what happened to those reporters ( Does anyone know where Rabi Bernad is ? )

Bottom line

Desi Celebs can't handle criticism!


Friday, May 01, 2009

Chinmayi's love for Tamil

Chinmayi has written about a 'Frooti' commercial. Looks like Tamil words have been spelt wrong.

This is not new, I've seen several commercials, banners, hoardings like that and I don't like it either.

I wrote a comment for her post and as I expected she has ( until now ) censored it.

Here is what I commented on:


Tamil fans and music directors welcome Non Tamil speaking singers with open hands and hearts. Examples: Sadhana Sargam, Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal.

( Please note that the reverse is not true especially in Bollywood ).

All of them are wonderful singers with superb voice. But...their Tamil pronunciation has several problems( For example all of them pronounce ga as ha....raa gam becomes raa ham ! )...and the music directors don't care about it.

AR Rahman, Ilayaraja, Harris Jeyaraj, Vidyasagar and the others use these singers quite often in Tamil films.

But look at this.
When AR Rahman, does a Hindi film, his South Indian Singers get coached by Hindi pundits for proper pronunciation.

Isn't this hypocrisy? Shouldn't AR Rahman do this in Tamil also? ( Even to the native singers who can't pronounce Tamil words correctly !)


I understand why Chinmayi doesn't want to release my comment though she has written her heart via the FROOTI post.

I don't blame her. AR Rahman is her guru / everything.

But for me, I would like AR Rahman to do what he does in Hindi. ie.

Coach the singers to pronounce Tamil right !