Vinnaithandi Varuvayaa- review

Had a chance to watch the movie in the early morning of Saturday. Was it worth all the wait and hype? A definite YES and a NO would be the answer. Overall it was a light romantic movie with enough humor to keep the audience happy. The first half moves in a very good pahsed manner, while it slightly drags in the second with a beautiful and twisted ending, where Gautham shows the real from reel.

Silambarasan as a mechanical graduate and an aspiring Cinema Director has delivered with a punch. With the right underplay and not entertaining himself with the regular antics on the screen or the one liners. Trisha as the present day confused software women has portrayed it nicely. Apart from these two, Camera man Ganesh as himself, who is the friend of the hero, has added the humor and brought in the reality to the story, as he delivers his dialogue.

With his usual style of narrating and some beautiful one liners, as always, Gautham has not let anyone down.

Now that i have praised the movie, let me sum up everything and also make myself clear on certain things

1) Gautam of late has lost his nerve of making good movies. True. Coz except for the end, everything was predictable.

2) ARR's music has been wasted. True, the picturization of songs cannot be more worse.

3) Simbu is better in all senses than his previous films. But as the hero of this script, more emotions and actings are demanded.

4) Somebody please teach trisha how to give different expressions. She can either smile or have a stern face. Please Please someone please tell her, that a lot of expressions can be brought out with the help of the face tissues.

Overall, the movie can be watched for its climax, some practical dialogue and the great ARR's BGM. This is own awesome BGM, which u ought not to miss. Forgot to mention this. Photography is another plus for the movie.

Rated: 3/5

Finally Shifted and What next!!!!!!!

It was around the pongal time we started to seriously look for houses. And we were damn sure that it gonna definitely us a month before we can settle down on a bargain. So it was on the weekend after pongal myself and mokkai entertained ourselves by roaming the streets of kandanchavadi, perundgudi etc in search of a house...or at least a covered place to stay!!!!!

It was around 1:30 in the noon, when the sun was at its best we started hunting. Few brokers showed us various places, to describe a few....one was already rented by few rats, the other was completely infested and to bring down the curtain gracefully, we ended up with a house whose neighbours were 100s of pigs!!!!!!!!!!

So we grumbled and consoled us, that it will take a while before we can settle for something.....though we called it a day for our house hunt, the broker was so desperate in getting us an abode :):) or rather he was desperate to make some money for we sure fell a good prey. He took us via several narrow lanes, over a bridge that was right above the holy kovam and finally ended up in a house that marked the end of road :):)

So we settled for it on the same day. WOW!!!! The minute we thought it would take a month, we found ourselves a home!!!

Nearly after a month we moved to the house. The first thing we did was to buy the required items. We nearly bought everything and finally shopped for drinking water!!! The shopkeeper boasted about a brand - SAM drinking water which neither of us were familiar with.

Mokkai: "டேய் இது நல்ல தண்ணி தானான்னு எப்படி டா தெரியும்?"

Immediately shopkeeper filled a jug of water and shoved it between us. Mokkai was shocked by this action. He was further forced to drink the water. Mokkai, a man of very high degree of hygiene was at a loss and was angry!!!!!

Unable to vent out his anger, we moved on. Soon we found ourselves in a small garment shop. We were looking for the inner garments. As usual mokkai was not sure of the size, but kept mum. Realizing this, shopkeeper questioned,

"என்ன சார், சைஸ் சரியாய் இருக்காதுன்னு நினைக்கறீங்கள?".

Mokkai: "வேணாம் சாமி. அப்பறம், இங்கய ஜெட்டிய நீட்டி போட்டு கட்டுன்னு சொல்லுவீங்க", bursted mokkai.

Before shopkeeper could utter another word, we cleared the place....

Any New Ideas!!!

A long day at the office and i could not find time to visit the rest room when i really wanted to. PHEW!!!! Finally, near the EOD, i took one final break. Along with my team mates, i paid a visit to the heavenly spot, the mecca of my office, which was long overdue. After a little wait and impatience, i was able to relax and enjoy happily.

Suddenly a voice echoed near me. "Any Ideas?".

"Ya, I am enjoying it. Its the greatest time man can ask for on this earth", were my first thoughts. But then, who the heck was asking that bloody question inside that place and that too at that moment of time.

I turned a bit towards my left, only to find a wide grinning mouth in which i was easily able to spot almost 32 teeth and I have never had such a close encounter. It is now heartening to realize that i didn't lose my wit then. Had i lost it, I would have fallen down on the floor with my fly open and the holy water sprinkling!!!!!

It was the brilliant guy, whom the regular readers of this blog are familiar with. This fellow was asking me if i have any new ideas for the discussion that we had on that noon.

And wow!!!! What a place and timing to ask for it!!! Kudos to the hero!!!!

For those who are wondering who it is, it is Kuttan.

Know about Chennai

· Gopalan Trophy (Cricket) is played between Tamil Nadu and ? Srilanka

· The nagarathars are a chettiar community that originated in kaveripoompattinam under the chola kingdom of India. Which present day famous politician is from this community? P Chidambaram

· Born Arulmozhivarman, he went on to conquer large parts of South India and went on to be called ___, the king of Kings. Raja Raja Chozhan

· This place gets its name from the Tamil for “Place of coconut trees” due to the coconut groves that once existed there. Which area/ locality in Chennai? Teynampet - from “tennam-pettai”

· Why is Mount Road named so? Because it was the road leading to St.Thomas Mount

· Armored Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India –Better known as ? Avadi

· This place on the outskirts of Chennai is a delta formed from the deposition of sediment carried by river Coovam. Aminjakarai from Amaindha Karai

· This place in Chennai is named so because fierce battles have been fought here during Pallava times. Porur

· What did Gandhiji establish in Chennai in 1918 recognizing the importance of the whole nation speaking one language? Hindi Prachar Sabha

· Which Film Maker’s company is called Madras Talkies? Mani Rathnam

· Which Chennai Resident has reached the semifinals of Wimbledon Tennis Championship? Ramanathan Krishnan

· This place, surprisingly, has its own pin code. 600036. Which place? IIT Madras

· Name the erstwhile group of cinema theatres named after precious stones? Blue Diamond, Sapphire and Emerald

· There was a memorial for Lord Cornwallis situated at the junction of Mount Road and this road. This road is named after the English word for “A monument erected in honor of a dead person whose remains lie elsewhere”. Cenotaph Road

· In January 2009, Mylapore festival was organized. Many traditional games were played during this festival. Which was the most popular in terms of number of participants? Pallankuzhi

· He was the founder of the British Empire in India. He got married in a church inside this fort. In fact, his marriage certificate is still kept in the museum inside this fort. Which fort and who? Fort St.George and Robert Clive

· Auto Shankar, a notorious serial killer claimed that he used the same technique as used in a famous tamilmovie. Which movie? Nooravathu Naal

· Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, daughter in law of Stalin has started a magazine called Inbox 1305. What is the significance of the number 1305? Latitude of Chennai

· There was a significant change in the credits of Dasavatharam when it was released in the US. It is related to the producer. What is it? Oscar Films was changed to AascarFilms due to a law suit by Oscars –Academy Awards of USA

· Over the span of 16 years (1975 to 1991), the actress has played the actor’s wife, sister, mother-in-law and mother. Name the actor, actress and at least one of the movies each of those relationships was portrayed in. The actor is Rajnikanth and the actress is Srividya. The two played husband & wife in Aboorva Raagangal, brother & sister in Manidhan, mother-in-law & son-in-law in Maappillai and mother & son in Thalapathi.

· There is a unique similarity between a song each from Kaathirukka Neramillai, Rang De Basanti and Varanam Ayiram. What is the ‘relationship’ between the three songs? The songs are: Yehmachimachi (Kathirukka neramillai), Hey saala (RDB) and Machi machi (Varanamayiram)

· Which Tamil word, meaning “to avoid doing work” gets its origins from the British Army where retired officials were called so? OB (adikkaradhu)…gets its origin from OB , which stood for “Off Beat” in the British Army

· Where in Chennai would you have a Hindu shrine, a Buddhist shrine and a church in one place? The Theosophical Society

· “Steps to the Highest Place” is a rough translation of which famous board game? Snakes and Ladders (Parama Padam)

· Which restaurant, started by TiruloknathGupta, opened its first outlet in Triplicanein 1948? Rathna Cafe

· In which pub in Chennai would the British Prime Minister feel at home? 10 Downing Street

· A Maratha ruler of Tanjore made which dish with tamarind curry and lentils and named it after his cousin? Sambhar. The origins of this dish is uncertain though legends has it that it originated in the kitchen of Thanjavur Marathas ruler Shahuji, during the 18th Century. It is believed that Shahji had a liking for a dish called amti which had kokum as one of its main ingredients. In one particular season, the kokum which was imported from the Maratha homeland ran out of supply and someone suggested him that the locals used tamarind pulp for sourness. Shahji experimented the dish with the tuvar dal, vegetables, spices and the tamarind pulp served his coterie and his cousin, Sambhaji who was visiting him. The court liked the dish and named it sambhar after the guest of the day, Sambhaji.

· The British called this dish string hoppers. How do we know them? Idiyappam

· Earlier, servicemen ate meat to increase their stamina. What was the common name for hotels that served non-veg food? Military Hotel

· Which popular Chennai dish is rumored to have got its name from its position in the restaurant’s menu card? Chicken 65. It was the 65th item on Hotel Buhari’s menu

· What is the Tamil version of “Jack of all arts”? Aalinaal Alaguraja

· If a person is stopped after bowling just 3 balls in an over, he is said to have bowled a ____ over. Baby

· While batting, it denotes a defensive stroke with a low or zero scoring potential. What word? Dokku

· Term for playing the last ball in the previous over and taking 1 run so that he can play the the next over’s first ball too. Overgajee

· Which place started as a joint venture between TIDCO and ELCOT and also got its name from the venture? TIDEL Park

· How many oil lamps were traditionally lit at the Nawab of Wallajah’s Assembly Hall during Muharram? A thousand lights!

· In Tamil, this delicacy literally means ‘pepper water’. It is also a favorite in England. What dish? Mulligawtany Soup

· Which Chennai institution, established in 1936, literally means ‘a holy place of arts’? kalakshetra

· Which locality gets its name from the fact that many of the city’s dhobighats used to be located here? Washermanpet

· It was an old airfield, belonging to the Indian Air Force—an unused WWII air strip with a T-Shaped layout with long straights. What new use was found for it? Sholavaram Race Track

· What statue on Marina beach is reminiscent of a famous WWII photograph of the American Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima? The Triumph of Labour

· The government of the former Soviet Union released a postage stamp to honourwhich actress for her acting and dancing skills? Padmini

A peculiar history and a famous tune

Of the many songs that touched a chord in me, there are few songs which can never be forgotten for the story that it has behind it. Whenever this story has been discussed I have always found myself laughing loudly, ofcourse apart from the stake holders everyone had laughed time and again. I will try to jolt it here with the right essence as much as i can....

There was this girl Padmalochana in our college. Not a beauty, though many boys just fell for her, purely because she was accepted to be a girl with the right assets in the society :):). fair, plump and bit more than 5ft, she made sure she was in the news whenever mouths started to gossip. Had it not been for the college, people would have wondered whether she was any movie star for the amount of cosmetics that rested on her face. Trying to prove her intelligence and authority of words she always fumbled when it came to talking simple language. pumpkin would be the perfect replacement for her head, she never forgot to try and charm men with whom she conversed.

Sathyan was just another normal guy that any college going individual want to relate to. Fair, tall and lean with sharp eyes, he was the jack of most trades that a guy of 20 could be exposed to. Name it, he will know it. He was always simply clad and spoke the languages of the laymen. Down to earth and when it came to matters of fact and truth he rarely lied and denied his ignorance which earned him a lot of mockery and reputation. Nevertheless he struck to his principles. Like any other student, he always aimed for the top and found himself placed just above average or just average.

Sathyan never had any idea about Padmalochana. So was his brotherly friend Kailashnath. Built with a lot of muscles, Kailashnath possessed a bit too much of practical knowledge as he always boasts. True to his name, he held the clan of friends together or rather the clan wanted him to be the leader for he was a good scapegoat :):). He too was simply clad, had too much of hair and a funny mush which disappeared time and again.

It was every one's habit to discuss things and consult Kailashnath, whether it was of great importance or a matter of visiting the rest room. YUP. He was the leader!!!! And leaders are there to guide people rite??!!!!! :):) Neither Sathyan nor Kailashnath had conversed much with Padmalochana. Like any other story there is a 'FIRST' here too. It was on a pleasant day, Sathyan spoke a few general words which ultimately laid the basic foundation of a great epic and knotted this beautiful episode with that epic.

NO NO!!! I am not gonna write about the epic here. I am not sure, If i can talk about it...but rest assured I am talking about a minuscule episode in that epic. Ya minuscule.....

Soon Sathayan and Padmalochana were friends. As it has happened time and again in the history, when two individuals becomes friends, so does individual's best friends come into the circle too....and Kailashnath was no exception. More than Sathyan, Kailashnath became the all time best friend for Padmalochana.

Soon they talked often, walked the hot, humid and sunny evenings when the final hour was over from the department to the college entrance for another hour. Shared the same glass of lemon juice which each of them tasted a little while someone around them gulped down the rest of the glass or maybe the entire content!!!! During the month of march and april, Kailashnath was never comfortable sitting inside the class in that hot temperature. But he never hesitated to order a lemon juice and sit under the asbestos sheet hours together in the famous Krishna Canteen. Soon I&U became we&us, lunch time extended till the end of day and Kailashnath was nowhere to be found with his regular friends.

It was Sathayan, who first identified the changes, for his plans were being trashed and nobody bothered to hear his feelings. He wanted something else to happen, but catastrophe was well within the vicinity. Sathyan neither had the courage to ask Kailashnath, for the respect he had on him nor was he able to get the message going across to Padmalochana. On a cloudy noon, Sathyan took Kailashnath to his home. They had good lunch, it was all fun time. Sathyan was elated as he felt he had some good moments with his best pal after a long long time. He was so much energised, Sathyan decided to entertain Kailashnath with some good music and video in his PC.

Sathyan added some good and latest music of that time in the media player. It was during that time of the year when the hit movie paruttheeveran audio was released. Yuvan had scored the music. Sathayan was much attracted to the "ஐயய்யோ" number. But Kailashnath was sceptical when Sathyan praised the songs. Sometime into the conversation, Sathyan's mobile gave out beautiful music indicating the call was from Padmalochana. More than Sathayan, she wanted to talk to kailashnath......>

As Sathyan handed the phone over to Kailashnath, Sathayan's energy level started to shrink. For the next few mins horror struck Sathyan, for Padmalochana and Kailashnath were being entertained by the same song "ஐயய்யோ" over the phone. Sathyan was shocked and was unable to respond when Kailashnath shot back, "ஐயய்யோ is really a very good song".

"For you guys to be entertained, do u require my PC, my mobile? And she wants my mobile to entertain him?", were the thoughts of Sathyan when Kailashnath hung the call as soon as the track reached its last milli second.

That is why, whenever i hear this song, i cannot forget this incident, nor can i forget the pathetic situation in which Sathyan was, nor can i stop myself from revisiting all the events from this great epic.

DISCLAIMER:

I am not a fool to confess that this is a true story nor am i brilliant enough with no ethics to convince u people that this is a pure work of fiction. If at all u find any resemblance to any character living or dead, that may or may not be co-incidental, and i take no responsibility for it....People who are convinced this is true but not exactly what happened, then it is likely that some portions are modified to suit all audiences.....and that again is maybe!!!!!!!! And people who agree that this is a pure work of fiction....THANKS A LOT!!!!

coming soon.....

There was this girl Padmalochana in our college. Not a beauty, though many boys just fell for her, purely because she was accepted to be a girl with the right assests in the society :):). fair, plump and bit more than 5ft, she made sure she was in the news whenever mouths started to gossip. Had it not been for the college, people would have wondered whether she was any movie star for the amount of cosmetics that rested on her face. Trying to prove her intelligence and authority of words she always fumbled when it came to talking simple language. pumpkin would be the perfect replacement for her head, she never forgot to try and charm men with whom she conversed.

Sathyan was just another normal guy that any college going guy want to relate to. Fair, Tall and lean with sharp eyes, he was the jack of most trades that a guy of 20 could be exposed to. Name it, he will know it. He was always simply clad and spoke the laguages of the laymen. Down to earth when it came to matters of fact and truth, he rarely lied and denied his ignorance which earned him a lot of mockery. Neverthless he struck to his principles. Like any other student, he always aimed for the top and found himslef placed just above average or just average.

!!!!!!!!!!!!! WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Complete story:

http://sobeitram.blogspot.com/2010/02/peculiar-history-and-famous-tune.html

:'( :'( The tale of KALYAN finally ends :'( :'(

Couldn't believe that a fortnight has passed since Kalyan departed his worldly abode. That is how i called him. My mentor, my idol, my deity, my preacher, my well wisher, my teacher, my counselor, my guide, my icon, my hero, my grad-dad and above all the best friend that god could have lent me for 20 odd years. He was the greatest treasure that i always cherished like heaven, which i knew i cannot keep with me for ever, yet failed to come in terms with the reality when it was stolen... rather taken from me with all due respects.

There were no barriers set between us, we conversed on all topics that any two best friends would like to talk about. Yet there was that perfect boundary that each of us knew. Most of the time we journeyed on his memories, which sowed strong virtues and morals in me. He always defended me and brought out the best in me, even when i was guilty of my mistakes :):). That was he, always backing me for what ever i was worthy of :):)

HERO MAJESTIC mopped was the vehicle that carried him to all corners of the city. True to its name, it carried him majestically. Unlike my cousins, I was blessed to spend most part of my childhood under his supervision. He advises very rarely and when he does that, i know, i have done something seriously wrong. He always chuckled for all my mistakes and a comical one liner gushed out of his mouth which made me realise my mistake.

He preached what he practised. I was told not to expect anything from anyone at any point of time, even from the dearest of the dear. True to that, he demonstrated the same till his last breath.

"என்ன கல்யான்", that is how i always addressed him, that was a privilege he lent me which no one could snatch from me, a privilage that was envied even by his kids, a phrase eagerly looked forward by him always...even in his last days, he just looked up and smiled at me the second the words came out dancing from my mouth. A smile that adored his beautiful face which showed all signs of pain that he was living with. Even at the age of 95 he never complained about his inability or his pain, he tolerated them all with his supreme will power. A will power that will be hard to find in the generations to come.

"எப்படி டா இருக்க?", this was always the question that was put before me in the last seven years, whenever we met. "பரமசொவ்க்கியம்", was the answer expected from me. Anything other than that, will bring in a concerned look to his face. That is how he gauges me, my mood and my mind. Whenever i said that, he will let out a huge laugh and adored me for my precise selection of words....

A high tide of thoughts is flooding my mind, paralysing me from writing any further...I will always miss him, for what he was, for what he has given me...he is the first architect for whatever i am today and for whatever i maybe in the future. He is responsible for all the virtues vested in me and he is entitled for all the praises that is showered on me....

No longer i can cheerfully call "Kalyan".....i cannot contain reminiscence in a blog....a hero whom i always adored....

RIP