VTV - Thamarai not very impressive !

Pic courtesy: The Hindu

After listening to the songs of 'Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaya' aka VTV for the last few weeks I am compelled to say that lyricist THAMARAI is not very impressive with her lines.

In my opinion, none of the songs has standout lyrics. Even minus the music, I didn't see a 'Nenjukkul Peidhidum' or an 'Anjalai' kind of song in VTV !

Not sure why.

I was watching a discussion in Jaya TV a few weeks back. Thamarai, Muthukumar and Harris Jayaraj were discussing songs. Thamarai mentioned that Harris always makes sure that the words standout in his songs. Looking back, I think it's very true.

Take both 'Nenjukkul Peidhidum' and 'Anjalai' in Vaaranam Ayiram. Amazing lines..very well brought out by Harris.

I am not going to blame AR.Rahman for this. I think it's probably a combination of Gautham, ARR and Thamarai.

Am I the only one, I am not sure !! Let's see

UK brands in India

I was reading an article a few weeks back in FT about the UK brands that are long gone there but still popular in India.

Spencers
Higginbothams
Lawrence & Mayo
Thomas Cook

Cox and Kings

Wills Cigarettes

Brooke Bond Tea
Royal Enfield
Pears Soap

Crompton Greaves

Ambassador cars

Brittania biscuits

Raymonds

Horlicks

Woodwards Gripewater

Exide Industries

Congratulations - Gautham Menon !

Pic courtesy: THE HINDU

'Varanam Aayiram' has bagged the National Award for the best regional Tamil film.

'Congratulatons Gautham'. In my opinion you have the most class among Tamil Directors..maybe you and Manirathnam share the class.

Though I haven't watched Varanam Aayiram so far ( Is it out in DVD?) I listen to the songs every day!

எக்குத்தப்பு ஏகாம்பரம்

பிரபலங்கள் வீடுகளில்
IT RAID

செய்தி!

ஏகாம்பரம்:

ஊம்ம்...அரசியல்வாதிகள் வீடுகளில்...எதிர்கட்சி ஆகும் வரை..RAID வருவதில்லையே?

இந்த பிரபலங்கள் எல்லாம்..தொலைக்காட்சியில் பண்டிகை காலங்களில் குடும்பத்துடன் வந்து புலுத்தும்...புலுத்தலுக்கு கொறையே இல்லையே !

ஒத்தையிலே நிக்குதே!

ஒத்தையிலே நிக்குதே
பனைமரத்த பாத்தியா?
கொத்து கொத்தாக் காய்க்குமுனு
கதை இருக்கே கேட்டியா?

காலம் மாறிப்போச்சு
தேகம் ஓஞ்சுப்போச்சு
கொத்துக்கொத்தாக் காச்சதெல்லாம்
கட்டுக் கதை ஆகி போச்சு

---

இரவும் பகலும் தனிமையில் வாடுது
உறவை எண்ணி அங்குமிங்கும் தேடுது
மழையிலும் குளிரிலும் நடுங்குது ஏங்குது
விழிகளின் வழியே, கண்ணீர் வடிக்குது

எட்டு பத்து வருஷம் முன்பே
வெட்டி புட்டான் அதன் இனத்தை
ஒன்றை மட்டும் எனோ இங்கு
தன்னந்தனியே விட்டு வெச்சான்!

--

மனைவி, மக்கள், பேரன் பேத்தி
மனித இனம் மட்டும் வளருது,பெருகுது
காடு மேடு - வீடு என்ற பேரில்
பாலை ஆகுது மரங்களின் அழிவினால் !

தப்பு தவறுன்னு அறிந்தோர் சொல்லியும்
வெட்டுது உலகம் சொத்துக்கும் பத்துக்கும்!
குத்தம் என மேடையில் அரசியல் பேசியும்
மொத்தமும் வீணே என உலகமே ஏசுது!

--

தடுத்திட இனி இங்கு கடவுள்தான் வரணும்
படைத்தவன் அவன் தான் மக்களை மாத்தணும்
அதுவரை பாவம் - பனைகளும் பயிர்களும்
உலகில் இடம் இன்றி மெல்ல மெல்ல அழியும்

--

$ = 46

டாலர் ஜிகோல்டு பாட்டி சிக்ச்

$ = 46

COMING SOON !

Inspired by £ = 75 joke

by UK Balaji

Kairali - WE / PEOPLE channels in USA

I was happy when I saw a ticker running on 'Kairali TV' today. It was a ticker for the launch of 'WE' and 'PEOPLE' channels in the USA.

'Kairali WE' comes on Channel 785 in Dish Network. 'Kairali PEOPLE' comes on Channel 786.

PEOPLE is a News channel while WE is targeting the youth.

I am very impressed with 'Kairali WE'. Hats off for an attempt to target the youth. WE has a good variety of programs. I have to watch WE a few more days before I really come to any conclusion. Let's see what the youth in Kerala get to watch in a channel branded 'For the youth'.

My question to people in Tamil Nadu: Is there a comparable channel in Tamil? If there is one, what kind of programs do they have?

Living in the USA we ( I ) crave for a serial-Free, not always movies/movie related, not affiliated to any political party Channel. Unfortunately in Tamil we get only VIJAY TV, JAYA TV, SUN TV and Kazhutharuppu TV aka KTV! Vijay is decent but it has so many repeats that it gets boring.

I not longer subscribe to SUN because i feel it's only for serial watchers and nobody in my family watches SERIALS. I got out of VIJAY because of the repeat telecasts.

The last few months, I am trying out JAYA TV whose only agenda is to talk about 'Minority DMK Party' in between decent programming !

PS - I am surprised to see the Mom/Dads visiting the USA from Tamil Nadu craving for SUN TV !!

Celebrity status vs. Waistlines

Pic courtesy: WWW

Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, AR.Rahman,Benny Dayal

What to these men have in common.

1) Wonderful musicians
2) Waistlines that grew as their status grew

I was looking at some pictures of AR Rahman this morning and I had to write this. He is beginning to look like Adnan Sami (who is now losing weight .which is nice to read)

Rahman has consistently added weight all around him..slowly over the last few years.

Rahman has to take care of his weight and waistline. No matter what one is, it's important that they take care of their waistlines. India and the world needs a healthy AR Rahman another 100 years for his music.

Hariharan is another similar ( sad ) story. I was in YouTube watching Colonial Cousins..and was comparing a Hari in the late 90's and now. Oh boy, he has added a lot of fat.

Shankar Mahadevan - A great musician...again the same problem. As he grew in the music world..so did his waistline. I did watch in him Kairali TV a few months back where he mentioned he is working on losing weight !

Benny Dayal - His weight gain is dramatic. From a young kid out of college just a few years back, this young man has become so obese if you look at his latest pictures in the net.

Dear ARR, Hari, Shankar, Benny - Let 2010 be the year you all start reducing your waistlines. I am sure the fat melt would only help you and we'll have the pleasure of having you all healthy so that we'll get to listen to some wonderful music for years !

Dear Adnan - I love your music. I am happy that you are taking care of your health. Very motivating indeed.

Obesity, especially the fat around the waistline is the leading cause of Cardiac problems among men. This is well documented and ask any cardiologist and he'll warn you about this.

VTV - Rahman delivers

It must have been in his mind..while he was composing songs for VTV. A big burden.

Harris Jayaraj had set a trend. 'Hit songs' always for Gautham. AR.Rahman inherited the burden thanks to the breakup of Harris and Gautham.

After listening to 'VTV' songs, I have to say that AR Rahman has delivered.

The album has peppy numbers, almost all of them are bound to be hits.

I am not very impressed with the Naresh Iyer song, the song by Karthik and also the duet by Shreya Ghosal and AR Rahman. Maybe it's just me. Let's see.

My favorite is 'Aaromale', which I feel is Rahman's answer to southern fans who wanted a 'Rehna Tu'. Very daring attempt to have a full length Malayalam song in a Tamil movie.

Next comes the Benny Dayal song closely followed by 'Hosana' and then the song by Devan/Chinmayi.

For now, it's 'Aaromale'..beautifully sung by Alphonse, which is haunting me.

I will write again about 'Aaromale' !

HAITI - Any help from Corporate India?

Read in FT this morning about a list of companies helping 'Haiti'.

Digicel (Cell phone company): $5 million
Amgen Foundation (Biotech): $2 million
Cisco Foundation (Consumer electronics): $1.25 million
Microsoft: $1.25 million
Coca-Cola: $1 million
Goldman Sachs: $1 million
Google: $1 million to Unicef and CARE
PepsiCo and PesiCo Foundation: $1 million
Lowe's Companies Inc.: $1 million
Morgan Stanley: $1 million
JP Morgan Chase: $1 million
UPS: $1 million
Bank of America: $1 million
Abbott and Abbott Foundation: $1 million
Nestlé Waters North America: $1 million worth of bottled water products

I am searching the NET to see if there are any Indian companies that have announced aid for Haiti.

I read that the Indian Government has announced a 5 million dollar aid, which is a very noble gesture !

VTV - Digital Bliss

Pic courtesy: WWW

I am a big fan of GAUTHAM MENON. His style, his team, his techniques, his story, his choice of actors...everything impresses me.

From his first, 'MINNALE' to his last 'VAARANAM AAYIRAM', he has impressed everyone !

I remember writing a review about Gautham's 'PKMC' a while back.

That said.....today I was listening to the songs of 'Vinnai thaandi Varuvaayaa' aka VTV, Gautham's next movie. AR Rahman is the music director.

I will write later this week about the songs, but, for today's post, I have to say the entire album is a .......

'D I G I T A L ..... B L I S S'.

I am very impressed. Let's hope it turns out to be a big hit like Gautham's last movie 'Vaaranam Aayiram'.

Good Job Mr. ARR !

கடவுள்

'There is no one, nothing, no medicines,
no explanations for why my daughter is going to die'
Jeudy Francia, outside St. Esprit Hospital in Port-au-Prince

Pic /News courtesy: NY Times

கடவுள்

மனித இனம் உருவாக்கிய
ஒரு அப்பட்டமான பொய்!

உண்மையிலே கடவுள் இருந்தால்...

HAITI யில் பல லட்சம் மக்களுக்கு
இந்த கதி வந்திருக்குமா?

கடவுள்...

மனித இனம் உருவாக்கிய
ஒரு அப்பட்டமான பொய்!

மனிதா...

உன்னை நம்பு
உன் உழைப்பை நம்பு

கோயிலுக்கு போகாதே..
இதயக் கோவிலில் அன்பை வளர்த்துக்கொள்

வாழ்வாய் நீ...
வாழும் நம் உலகம்...

எக்குத்தப்பு ஏகாம்பரம்

இன்று போகி

பேப்பரை எரிக்காதே
குப்பையை எரிக்காதே
டயரை எரிக்காதே
அதை எரிக்காதே
இதை எரிக்காதே

என

விஞ்ஞானிகள் சொல்ல
அரசியல் ஊத
போலீஸ் எச்சரிக்க

ஒரு வழியாக புகை கம்மியாச்சு

வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

ஆனால்...

ஓசி TV
ஓசி நிலம்
ஓசி சோறு
ஓசி அது
ஓசி இது

என்று

அரசியல்வாதிகள்

பொது மக்களின் வயிற்றெரிச்சலை
கொட்டிக் கொள்கிரார்களே..

அதற்கு

என்று தான் விடிவோ!!

Piracy - Why now Sarath?

I find it amazing that a century old tradition called PIRACY...is suddenly becoming so big in Kodambakkam and in Tamilnadu.

Sarath Kumar and Radhika who produced the movie 'Jaggubhai' were in a meeting weeping and pleading to the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu when their production hit the Internet before the release of the movie. ( I also heard that there are no takers in the NET for that movie..! )

They wanted the culprits nabbed. They wanted justice. The other artists joined together and created noise !

My Question :

Why now Sarath? This is been going on for ages. Piracy has existed in some form ,size or shape for a long long time. It bit you hard..maybe because you are vested too much into 'Jaggubhai'.

All you Kollywoods Kolis...how many of you opened up when 'Mudhalvan' was released in CABLE in some parts of Tamilnadu while the movie was just released?

How many of you came out when 'CHANDRA MUKHI' was blatantly stolen and remade in Kannada and Tamil without any credit to the original creator of 'MANICHITHRA THAZHU' in Malayalam.

Our muscians (old to new) copy western tunes. Due they pay any credit to the original creators ? Isn't that piracy ?

Every other Hollywood, Bollywood, TollyWood, Mollywood, Lungiwood movie is pirated and sold in the streets of Tamilnadu....Who cares ?

Why now Sarath ? Why now Radhika ? Why now Kollywood ?

PS - I author of this blog is not a Pirate.

Sub Inspector Vetrivel - Rest in Peace

Shame on the Tamil Nadu Government !
Shame on the people !
Shame on the Government of India !

If someone is injured in a road Accident in India, he/she will probably die, with Soda or water as the last drink.

Nobody cares about transporting the injured to the hospital for immediate attention.

Soda / Water looks like the life saver for a dying person even in the 21st Century.

I felt very bad to watch this video on TV the last two days. Comeon, this is a Police Inspector. If he doesn't get the due attention who will !

Where are the other Policemen? Where are the Lawyers ? Where is the public? Who is going to agitate for acts like these ?

Well..Well...Democracy rules !

Ruchika case

I've been reading about the Ruchika case the last few weeks in the Indian media. It disturbs me a lot that the largest democracy on earth (sic.) let's these things pass and wake up one fine day...to condemn it and take action ( In this case after 19 years) !

Is Ruchika the first? Would she be the last? As I type this, who knows how many innocent girls/boys are being molested/raped ? How many Politicians / top officials / Cops/Common men and women are involved ? How do these criminals evade being caught ?

How many in India, can touch their heart and tell me they trust the Police when they go and complain about molestation ( or for that matter anything ) ? Or would they even attempt to do it? Do they believe the justice system ? Does it work?

If you are lucky to be a politician's relative/friend or a police officer's relative/friend you might see some justice. If not, there must be a Super Hero to take care of you. It's pathetic and scary.

Long live Democracy. Vande Mataram !

எக்குத்தப்பு ஏகாம்பரம்

Courtesy: WWW

Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen எல்லாம், நம்ம ஊருக்காக..சின்ன கார் பண்றாங்களாம்!

கேக்க நல்லாதான் கீது ....!
ஆனா..

சின்ன சின்ன காருங்க பெருக பெருக...
ஒட்ரத்துக்கு பெரிய பெரிய ரோடு வேணுமே?

இக்கீதா?

MJ - Melody King!

Pic. courtesy: WWW

M.Jayachandran

One of the top music directors in Malayalam today. My favorite these days.

Every movie that MJ does has a melody that rules for a long time.

Today, while I was watching 'Gandharva Sangeetham Teens' in Kairali-TV, I was mesmerized by one of MJ's songs, superbly sung by a young kid.

The song is 'Urangathe' from the movie 'Gowrishankaram'. MJ got the best music director award in 2003 for this movie. Very well deserved.

I think it's in raaga 'Hindholam' one of my favorite Raagas. Please correct me if I am wrong. Check it out and enjoy.