Happy Diwali

A very happy Diwali to everyone.

Have a safe, prosperous and fun-filled diwali :)

Have fun with these ads. Even if you might have watched them before, try smiling. Its not injurious to health. :)

அவன்....அவள்....அது

அவன்: "ஏய்...நீ ரொம்ப அழகா இருக்க."
அவள்: "எப்போ பாரு ஜொள்ளு தானா? உங்களுக்கு வேற ஒன்னுமே தெரியாதா?"
அவன்: அப்படி கோச்சுக்கும்போத்தும் கூட நீ அழகா தான் இருக்க தெரியுமா?
அவள்: இதே வார்த்தை தானே அந்த கீழு தெரு சரோஜா கிட்டேயும் சொன்னீங்க?
அவன்: ஐயோ. இது என்ன வம்பா போச்சு. நான் பாட்டுக்கு நான் உண்டு என் வேலை உண்டுன்னு இருக்கேன். என் மேல இப்படி அபாண்டமா பழி போடற.
அவள்: எனக்கு எல்லாம் தெரியும். சும்மா இந்த புருடா எல்லாம் விடாதீங்க.
அவன்: ஹ்ம்ம்...நான் சொன்ன நம்ப மாட்ட. சரோஜா சொன்னா மட்டும் நம்புவ.
அவள் : அப்படி தான் வேச்சுகொங்களேன்.
அவன்: இந்த மாலை எவ்வளவு வாசனையா இருக்கு தெரியுமா?
அவள்: அட. உங்களுக்கு வாசனை எல்லாம் வருமா?
அவன்: கிண்டல் தானே. ஏதோ அன்னைக்கி ஜலதோஷம் இருந்துது அதுனால உன்னை பார்க்க வரும்போது வாசனை வரலைன்னு சொன்னேன். அதையே பிடிச்சிண்டு இருந்தா எப்படி.
அவள்: பார்க்கிற மாதிரியா வந்தீங்க? வேர்த்து விறுவிறுத்து...யப்பா. உங்க கிட்ட கூட நெருங்க முடியல.
அவன்: பின்ன? வேலை முடிஞ்சு வந்தா உங்க ஊருல என்ன சந்தனமும் ஜவ்வாதும் கலந்தடிச்ச வாசனையா வரும்?
அவள்: பண்றதை எல்லாம் பண்ணிட்டு நல்லா சாக்கு சொல்லுங்க.
அவன்: ஒரு அப்பாவி மேல இப்படி அநியாயமா பழி போடறியே?
அவள்: யாரு? நீங்க அப்பாவியா? இத்தனை பேரு நம கல்யாணத்துல சுத்தி இருக்காங்க, அப்போ கூட சில்மிஷம் பண்றீங்களே, நீங்களா அப்பாவி?
அவன்: என் என் ...என்ன பண்ணிட்டேன்?
அவள்: உண்மையை சொல்லுங்க? உங்க காலால நீங்க என் காலை வருடல?
அவன்: ஒரு இளைஞன் ஒரு இளைஞ்சி கை காலை பிடிக்கிறது ஜகஜம். ஏன்னா இது வாலிப வயசு.
அவள்: வாலிப வயசா? இதெல்லாம் ரொம்ப ஜாஸ்தி நக்கல் தான். 3 கழுதை வயசாச்சு உங்களுக்கு.
அவன்: இப்படி எல்லாம் வெட்ட வெளிச்சமா உண்மையை வெளில சொல்ல கூடாது. உன் புருஷன் மானம் தானே போகுது.
அவள்: சரி...விஷயத்துக்கு வருவோம். என்ன வாசனை வருது உங்களுக்கு?
அவன்: ஹ்ம்ம்....நல்ல ரோசாப்பு வாசனை வருது. அது கூடவே ஏதோ தூக்கலா ஒரு வாசனை. அநேகமா உன்கிட்டேருந்து தான் இருக்கும்ன்னு நினைக்கிறேன்.
அவள்: ஹையோ. உங்களை திருத்தவே முடியாது.
அவன்: உண்மையை சொல்லு. உனக்கு மனசுக்குள்ள குளிர்ச்சியா இல்லை? பொய் சொல்ல கூடாது.
அவள்: (தயங்கி) இருக்கு......
அவன்: பார்த்தியா. பிடிச்சிருக்கு. ஆனா வெளில பண்ற பந்தா எல்லாம் ஏதோ ஒன்னுமே பிடிக்காத மாதிரி தான்.
அவள்: ஹீ ஹீ. ஆமா...இத்தனை பேரு நாம ரெண்டு பேருக்கும் கல்யாணம் பண்ணி வெக்கிறாங்களே, மழை பெய்யும்ன்னு நினைக்கிறீங்க?
அவன்: மழை பெய்யனும்னா மரம் வேணும். அந்த மரத்தை எல்லாம் கட்டிடம் எழுப்பறவன் வேட்டிடான். ஏறில இருந்த தண்ணியையும் மணலையும் இவனுங்களே லாரில அனுபிச்சாங்க. அப்புறம் உனக்கும் எனக்கும் கல்யாணம் பண்ணினா மட்டும் எப்படி மழை பெய்யும்??????
அவள்: இதோ வரான் பாருங்க என் எஜமான். பரதேசி!!!! மனசாட்சியே இல்லாம அவ்வளவு துணியை என் முதுகுல ஏத்தறான் படுபாவி.
அவன்: கவலை படாதே செல்லம். அடுத்த ஜன்மத்துல நாம மனுஷனா பொறந்து, அவன் நம்ம மாதிரி கழுதையா பொறக்கணும், நம்ம கிட்டயே வேலைக்கி சேரனும். மவனே! அதுக்கு வால்ல வெடி வெச்சு கொளுத்தி ஓட ஓட விரட்டறேன்.
அவள்: வேணாங்க. நமக்கு எதுக்கு இந்த வீணா போன மனுஷ பிறவி. கொறைஞ்ச பட்சம் நாமளே நம்மோட இனத்தை வேட்ட்றதும் கொல்றதும் இல்லையே.
அவன்: நமக்கு இருக்கிற அறிவு இந்த கழுதைங்களுக்கு இல்லாம போச்சே.

இரண்டு பெரும் சிரிக்கிறார்கள்....சாரி....கனைக்கிறார்கள்.

How to win votes and screw people

One upon a time, my social science teacher wanted to check our level of focus in life and so asked each of us to explain our ambition in life. At that point of time (in early 90's) it was too much to ask kids who knew nothing more than timings of Chitrahaar/Oliyum Oliyum.

So as budding programmers, we basically copied and pasted other answers as our ambitions throwing a bit of reason here and there. If Ramu said he wanted to be doctor because he has seen his grandpa suffer, Shamu said he wanted to be a doctor because his mom said so. Since engineering was not as common aspiration as Nair's chaaya shop those days, we refrained from "becoming engineers" atleast in that class. I remember answering to become a pilot as I always had the fascination to fly...of course for free and heck get paid as well. Believe me, the part of accompanying beautiful air-hostesses struck me years later.

But as well as I remember, no one ever mentioned that he/she wanted to be a politician. Why would that be? We all know that politics is not a career as like Engineering, medical or Management. As much as clearing IAS is viewed as a matter of pride in the society, the sheer mention of "being in politics" pictures only one view.

Greed. Corruption. Gundagardi.

When was the last time you remember that you saw a politician's pic and telling yourself "That was a good man"? No no...rule out the man smiling on the rupee note. That was bloody ages ago. The things synonymous with Indian politics are scams, murder, party-hopping, goons, black money, inappropriate property, Binaami, Dharna etc. I guess I almost told every possible thing they get summoned to courts for in their political career.

Looking at the incident in Maharashtra where the amazing Raj Thackeray's chamchaas drove away job-aspirants and ranting that they "Want" 80% seats for locals, you wonder "WTF". So that means that you can be a Marathi by birth, produce a caste and birth certificate to prove so and walk all the way to get a government job by sheer right of your birth. Wow! Did you think that getting job was so f***ing easy?

And what happened after his goons did so? 6 people got arrested. So that’s it. Raj would never repeat it isn’t it? Hey, Mr Deshmukh. Didn’t someone tell you that the ball is in your court? And vulgarly I mean the "balls" you know (pardon the foul language people). Judging by whatever is happening there, I donno if anyone in your government has any.

Today he asks the "youth" brigade to rough "outsiders" when they come to write exams. So what’s the point he is trying to make? That the people of Maharashtra don’t have the competency to compete in an exam and get job? Isn’t that an insult to their intelligence? If today, he can beat outsiders to get their jobs, why do you think he won’t beat the locals tomorrow to vote for him? Well, so much for thinking and voting.

So what is wrong with us? We Indians love free stuff. The only thing we won’t (i hope) possibly take free is shit and acid. There is free TV, 1 rupee rice, free sarees, free notebooks. Where does the money come from? Who gives a f**k. We get it free, so shut up and get it. So what could be the next free item on Politicians agenda in the next elections?

Since we started with TV, the next step could be laptops and computers. And what if the oppositions decides to distribute HiPhone (iPhone duplicate :P)? Simple. Maybe the party guys will turn pimps and supply girls. Hey, don’t frown. You may see it happening sooner than you think. Bharath mein sab kuch possible hai baap.

Either way, I would to congratulate Mr. Raj. No. This is not about his terrific "achievement". It doesn’t take Nostradamus to predict that Mr. Raj will win the next election hands down courtesy local jingoism. That in turn may just lead to Raj "clones" in every other state who will turn the heat on "outsiders".

And a man of his word he is, I bet he will bring everything down to separate Maharashtra from rest of the nation....and that may just be the beginning of our end.

The Desperate Housewife

He: "I can't believe we spent 400 bucks on this useless piece of trash."

She: "Told ya. After all this guy made Dhoom. You can't expect him to turn out a Dark Knight for heaven's sake."

He: Yeah, I know. But then, what was I supposed to do? After all, we need to do something on Friday evening.

She: Well, for starters you could have taken my suggestion.

He: And what would that be? End up with something like Maama Mia or Aaja Nachle? Gosh, they had so many songs like Hum aapke hain kaun.

She: Wow. You remember it? I thought you dozed off midway through the movie.

He: I would have for the entire 2 hours, if you were not constantly nudging me and asking me to look at Madhuri's dress, costumes and glowing skin.

She: You didn't hear my suggestion yet.

He: You don't forget, do you? So what was your Friday bailout plan?

She: Simple. Order a sumptuous Pizza from Pizza hut and play the "Jab We Met" DVD on our home theatre system.

He: Didn't we do that previous month on some Friday?

She: You can thank me my dear husband. You were planning to watch 'Mission Istanbul'.

He: Damn! You remember everything. I donno why do these idiots keep making such stupid trash.

She: Because there are idiots like you who are prepared to pay and watch it. And there are innocent people like me who have to accompany without choice.

He: Look. What am I supposed to do? After all the boring work I do for 5 days in a week, I need some outlet.

She: Outlet? Sounds like you need some chimney fixed above your head.

He: No. Like, I need to see few explosions, few thrills, car chases, double-crossing, Villains getting bashed. You know that I can't do these in my real life for sure. Atleast lemme watch someone else do it.

She: Not late you know. I can atleast help you with the 'getting bashed up' part.

He: Looks like you have some plans of your own.

She: You betcha!

He: Now you sound like Sarah Palin.

She: I am not that dumb yet honey.

He: God, we need to travel so far back to home. Damn you Imran Khan!

She: Stop cursing him. He was okay. Besides, you got your fill. What do you care about?

He: What fill? There were hardly any thrills in the movie.

She: You could not take your eyes off Minisha's cleavage.

He: As if I designed her costumes. She comes half naked for the whole movie. What am I supposed to do? Cover my eyes like kids?

She: Like you did when you went to Rangeela ?

He: How do you know that?

She: Your mom told me.

He: See. I have been such a good kid back then.

She: Don't bluff boss. She saw you watching Urmila's non-existent dress through the gap of your fingers while you maintained your act of being 'holier-than-thou'.

He: Oops! Should I call it busted?

She: So tell me? You could not stop staring right?

He: Look. It was unintentional. I went to watch an action movie. What can I do if a chick decides to skip wearing dress and the director turns out to be a sleazy bugger?

She: Quite right. Do you know that the couple next to us was sitting with their arms intertwined?

He: You should have told me. I would have suggested few good surgeons to consult.

She: Haa haa haa. Very funny. You were so romantic before marriage.

He: (mutters) next time, I should check for individual seats.

She: What?

He: Nothing. Next time, you sit on my lap and I will feed you an ice-cream.

She: You dont get it do you? You think that buying me a 5000 Rs Necklace or a costly sari or expensive Burberry perfume is going to compensate for the time I don't get to spend with you?

He: You tell me, what to do?

She: That's the point. There is little joy in getting things that I ask for. Greater joy lies in getting the unsaid wish list. For me...... and you.

Both remain silent for another 30 mins. They reach their house and she opens the door and almost slams it.

As she enters, she is astonished to find a huge portrait of theirs in the hall.

She looks at him and is at loss for words.

He: I remembered you looking at the portrait that day in the photo studio. Thought it would be a nice surprise.

She: But how did you do it?

He: Let's keep that a secret. Otherwise I can't do something like some other time.

She: Tell No. Pleaseeeeeeeeee.

He: (takes her in his arms and whispers) Women and secret. They never go together.

Oh butterfly!!!!

The pic of the week is


For more pics, visit The Masks

And song of the week is

Phoonk

Smoke is like
Magic
Mystery
Abstract
Beauty
Philosophical

And when photoshopped....it can be colorful as well.





Check my flickr account for more :)

P.S: Thanks to Prithz for the smokin idea and photoshopping it as well.
You deserve a great treat.

One amazingly soothing song.

How to lose friends and annoy people?

It is always good to have nice people around at our work place. And since most of us are bound to hang around our work place for more than half of our day, we expect it to be pleasant and funfilled. No offence.

But well...thats not the case everytime. Every office has its own share of people who are...hmm...how do I put it...like a pain in the butt. Havent we all come across people who we voraciously strangle, gag, kick, or hit in our dreams (not much choice)? There are people whom you dont even want to see eye-to-eye in your office and the worse case as per Murphy's law is that they are seated very next to you.

There is this lady who works at my client place. She is the epitome of grace and womanhood. Her voice is like a river flowing through the jungle and her smile can even bring back the dead from life. She is like the lifeline of our office and her mere presence is as priceless as Bindra's one gold for a billion people.

Heck....how I wish this was true?

Almost every office in TN is bound to have some of these characters - 

advice ambujam - Who keeps nagging

aruvai arumugam - Name says it all 

kaipulla - who makes vetti banda

kattadurai - frequently makes empty challenges 

Snake Babu - double crosser  

Revolver Reeta - who contantly morachifies

Minor Koonju - whats there to explain?

Gossip Geetha - Gossip monger

I donno under which category this dignified lady should be categorized as she almost falls under everyone one of the above mentioned namesakes.

Added to that is the share of the "Peter"s and "Mary"s who talk in a glorified american accent as if we get to work with George Bush, when the reality is that we are in the entertaining company of Govindasamy or Gandhimathi. You almost feel tempted to get up from your seat, walk to them and say "SHUT THE F**K UP". The best part is that when such people happen to meet some 'locals' and unroll their barrage of Websters dictionary idioms with fake accent. You almost wish the locals could just sneer and mouth "aiya...gammunu kada kayida".

The lady I am here to mention about is a perfectly fit recepient of the "annoying person" of the world award. Have you noticed the kreeechhhhh sound that erupts when you rub a chalk against the balckboard? Oh...u r getting headache just thinking about it? Well...I get to listen to it for almost 10 odd hours a day. The time she is not talking, her keyboard types very very fast. 

No no..she is not working. But chatting with her BF or whoever it is and almost kills the keyboard in the process. I swear I even saw the letter keys on the keyboard move on its own couple of times trying to run away from her. In addition to this, she has awesome linguistic abilities. She speaks to chinese, singaporeans and scottish with their respective accent...except...that they all are interlaced with huge exaggerated bouts of "oooooooo", "laaaaaaa", "nooooooo" and so on.

Laden with 'expert' make up that is usually reserved for the ghosts in Ramsey brothers film, you can pretty much imagine the amazing sight I have to subject myself to on every other working day. Believe me, when she talks (or should I say SHOUTS) over the phone, we have to close our ears with earphones, cotton or whatever we get in our hands. Trust me, if the Client were to have count and deduct the charges for the time she spends over company phone gossiping with her whacky group, she would be surely running on negative balance.

Now, how many of you share some similar experience as such at your work place or college?

They say that music is the best medicine. And nothing comes close to Ilayaraja's soothing BGM as in this video. Hope u love this as well :)

Rain Rain Come Again

Thanks to

Incessant weekend rain which kept me locked in my house
Lazyness
And my new Nikon D80 :)

Chk this video :)

Q & A

Q: Hi everyone. Today we are going to have a one-on-one discussion with firebrand politician, Mr. Taj Jockeray who is the chief of Megarashtra Naashkaal Sena (MNS). Hello Sir.

A: Namaste Bolo. Dont say Hello. It is english and you should learn to respect your language.

Q: (intimidated)Sssssorry Sir. Sir, how did you decide to enter politics?

A: That was simple. My uncle Mr. Gol Jockeray has been heading a party and doing 'social service' to Megarashtra for 30 odd years. When the junta can be so stupid to put up with him for so long, I clearly fancied my chances. And also...this is the only country in the world where you can talk anything and get away with it (winks).

Q: Wow. Thats quite an eye opener. What is your agenda sir?

A: Well. As of now my personal wealth is 30-40 crores. I would like to have something around 3-4000 crores by the time I retire. I think it is possible. Isnt it?

Q: Sssir?

A: And yeah. I want to have some roads named after me. Possibly a cricket stadium, a statue and so on. I am not greedy you see. Maybe I will buy a Bentley and a Ferrari. Buy some palatial house for my wife. And then....

Q: (interupting) Sir. I asked the agenda of your party.

A: (disinterested) Oh that? Thats the same shit that everyone says. Arey Pandu! What did you write as our agenda in that meeting speech?

Pandu: Upliftment of poor. Restoring our cultural pride. (thinks for some time) Bhool gaya saab.

A: Dont worry. The stupids who voted for us dont remember it either (he and his goons laugh at his joke). I think that superstar Suranjeevi also said something as such. Isnt it?

Q: (mumbles) All you morons have been saying the same shit since independence. And we stupids believe it.

A: What?

Q: I said that is so original and path breaking. No one ever thought on those lines.

A: Thanks. Thats why I made Pandu jump from my uncle's party to mine. Heck, cost me 2 C.

Q: Why should it cost you 'to see'? Is he like Madonna or Britney?

A: Idiot. I meant 2 crores. What kind of a reporter are you that does not even know 2 C? Every citizen in our country knows this.

Q: Pardon my ignorance Sir. Do you really mean what you say in your agenda?

A: You mean this upliftment of poor and all that crap? You think that every politician in our country or this world for that matter means it from their heart?

Q: (thinks) Not really.

A: Exactly. Either way you know that I will say 'YES'. Atleast I know that I am not in 'The Moment of Truth' and no one will ever realize whether I am lying or not.(laughs at his own joke)

Q: Good for you.Why did your release angry statement against Bollywood Superstar Bhumitabh Achchan?

A: Oh that. Well, a week ago I saw his film 'Slack' and I think he hammed too much. Wanted to retort in some way. All he had to do was open his mouth and speak. We twisted it. So simple.
Q: Oh. Your party men cleared his posters and also took out procession against him. Why?

A: Cmon. How long do you think I can be feeding them vada paav and Chicken Teriyaaki in my backyard. Those morons have to do some work for that to be digested. This was just some excercise for them.

Q: Why do you want Juhari's and JP state's members out from your state?

A: Because they wont vote for me.

Q: What?

A: (realizing he had said too much) I mean they dont vote in elections. And also they get promotions at work places that our state people. How can we tolerate that?

Q: You mean, a person whould get promoted if he is born here?

A: And if he votes for me (winks).

Q: So original. Why has your party targeted Gayrukh Khan now?

A: What to do? Its your fault.

Q: Mine?

A: Yeah. The media. We have to stay in news. The best way is to be a film star or cricketer. Next best way, is to launch attacks against them for any reason. And we are on all channels 24*7. Simple and effective.

Q: What is your next plan?

A: To take myself to the public.

Q: You are going to become pimp?

A: No re. I am planning to release a statement that all Bollywood producers should produce atleast one movie starring me. Either way my party men will 'take care' to make sure it runs for 100 days. So people will know me and I will become popular.

Q: And next?

A: I will threaten centre to release us and make us a separate country. That’s the only way I can realize my dream of becoming a PM. (looks above the ceiling
envisaging)

Reporter runs as fast as he could to escape the thought of the 'dream'.

Every discussion on a stupid politician ultimately culminates to this guy. Watch his amazing 'Top 10 Moments'.

Unaccustomed Earth

Zaheer: "And that is how the tortoise beat the hare in a race. Now, tell me Abraham, what do you learn from this?"

Abraham: "That you should not sleep during the race. Either way once you win the race, they give you enough money to buy an AC and a house."

Zaheer: "Where do you people learn this stuff?"

Abraham: "What did you derive from the story Zaheer uncle when you were a kid?"

Z: When I was 7 years old as you are now? I dozed off halfway as teacher was explaining it. Atleast you are focused.

A: And what is your age now?

Z: Well, you have to add 22 years more to yours. That makes it?

A: (thinks for a while) 29. Correct?

Z: Wow. Terrific. You must be first rank in your class?

A: In LKG and UKG, I got first rank 2 times.

Z: 2 times. WOWWWWWWW. In 1st standard?

A: In my class 1st standard F section, I got first rank in half-yearly and annual exam. Now I am in Second standard, E section.

Z: You are so brilliant. Did mummy daddy always ask you to keep studying?

A: Dad was cool about it. He always told me that I was very brilliant. My mom used to pester me a lot.

Z: Let me guess. She didnt allow you to play cricket. Correct?

A: Not just cricket. No gilli danda,no lukka chuppi, no video games.

Z: Oh. Do you hate her for that?

A: No. I love her. She makes me such delicious food every day. Where are mummy- daddy now?

Z: They will come soon. So, who was your best friend in school?

A: RajKumar. He lived 2 streets away. His uncle used to come to our house. He used to buy me chocolates.

Z: Oh wow. What chocolate do you like?

A: Milky Bar. My mom used to give me one every time I finished my homework.

Z: Ok. Lets have a deal. If you finish your dinner without further questions and asking stories, I will get you a milky bar.

A: I will wait for my parents and eat with them.

Z: They will come. You finish your dinner. Otherwise they will scold poor Zaheer uncle that he did not feed their cute son. Will they or wont?

A: (thinks for a while) My parents don’t scold. They are very friendly. We have so many friends in our neighborhood.

Z: Still, they might scold you. So you be a good boy and finish the dinner. Zaheer uncle will go and get you your Milky Bar. Done deal?

A: Done deal. Thanks

 

Zaheer rushed to the nearest departmental store outside the hospital and got 2 Milky Bar packets. He walked back to the reception and gave a quizzing look at the receptionist Ms. Latha.

 

Latha: "Sorry Dr.Zaheer. We still don’t have any information regarding his relatives."

Zaheer: "Come on Latha. There must be someone. Some uncle, aunty, cousin...someone."

Latha: "Most of them lived in the same neighborhood when the incident happened. So the chances are...practically slim."

Zaheer: "Damn it. Did the police arrest anyone?"

Latha looked at him with a look which meant "Don’t-you-know-it-wont-happen".

Zaheer: "Wow. Hail democracy. Some mad men decide to kill people, burn their houses, ransack their life and they walk freely. How can someone be so cruel to burn an orphanage? Have people in this country pawned their hearts?"

Latha: "Cool down Doctor."

Zaheer: "Cool Down? You want me to cool down? Go and try telling that innocent kid, that his parents have been murdered by the very people who lived next Street to him. Go try telling him that his world was darkened and will remain so when he was sleeping on that fateful night. If not for the neighboring injured Gurkha who found him asleep, he might have been dead as well."

Latha: "Did you tell him about his parents?"

Zaheer: "I find it hard to tell demise news to elders. He is a kid for god’s sake. I...don’t know how to tell him. Everytime I look deep into his innocent brown eyes, I feel like breaking down. Don’t know how long I can keep him distracted with Milky bars."

Latha remained silent.

Zaheer: “Childhood is all about hope in life. This news will bring his world crashing down and he will lose hope in entire mankind. All that will remain would be pieces. His, mine and all ours.”

 

Zaheer walked back to the room where Abraham was finishing his dinner.

Zaheer: "Hey little champ. Here is my part of bargain. Milky baaaaaaaaar."

Abraham: "Thanks Zaheer Uncle. Uncle, can you tell me something."

Zaheer: "Try me."

Abraham: "When I woke up yesterday, there was blood on my hands. Can you tell me why?"

Zaheer: "Unfortunately we all have in ours as well Abraham. It’s just that you see it and we don’t."

 

It would take some years for Abraham to understand what Dr. Zaheer really meant.

P.S: Partially inspired from this article

Donno how many of you remember this video posted below. Some of you might have seen it as kids in Doordarshan. Guess we need such Jingoism as Americans do :)

A for Apple

Thanks to Gils, I am doing a tag after a looooong time.

Dont expect any techie stuff :P

A

Apple Trailers - What else do u expect a movie buff to quote here  :)

Avyukta - Keerthivasan's blog. A true maverick :)

Amazon - Once upon a time :)

B

Bhargavi's Blog - One of the few who can dabble well in poetry and stories

C

Cricinfo - What do u expect :P

ComingSoon - Hollywood Unplugged

D

DBS - Show me the money :)

E

EOnline-Hollywood Gossip

F

Flickr - Will shoot some and join there very soon

Feelings - Nanban Nandoo's blog. IMHO he should write often.

G

Google - Oracle for all of us :)

GettyImages - My favourite picture hunting site

Ground Zero - Absolute movie freak :) 

H

How Stuff Works - For bozos as me

I

IMDB - The movie buff strikes again

J

Joox - ...and again :)

K

Kids - For the child inside the man :)

L

Life - Love their pic collections

M

Preethi's Blog - There are some people who are destined to change the way you look at life and live it. For me, she is THE ONE.

GMail - Who doesnt have it. :P

MusicIndiaOnline

N

Nivi's Blog - Apart from a wonderful blogger, an amazing friend

New from Google - World at your fingertips

O

Orkut - truthfully...the only one I remembered for 'O'

P

Praveen's Blog - If I had the big bucks, I would make a stand up show with him

Priya Iyer's blog - This lady has some patience to update with all rants and ramblings :P

PicSquare - Try this and You will be surprised

Priya's Blog  -Another Priya who is amazingly regular. :)

Q

Quotes Quota

R

Rediff - For India

Rediff - For World

Rotten Tomatoes - Experts as me share thier thoughts :P

S

SMILE - Wish I can devote more time for SMILE :(

T

Suchi's blog - IMHO, the best writer in blogworld

TVLinks - Thirundiradukku chanceae illa :P

Twisted DNA - One bloody sarcastic fello :P

U

Frankly cant remember anything :(

V

Vikatan - Should remember mother tongue sometimes :P

W

Wikipedia - The ultimate Knowledge reporsitory

X

XE - Ups and Downs of Money :)

Y

You Tube  - Anytime I am bored, this is where I seek solace :)

Z

Zoho 

As usual, I tag none :)

சென்னையில் ஒரு மழைக்காலம்

"ஐயோ ராமா" என்று சொல்லி 8 மணிக்கு எழுந்தான் கௌதம். காலையில் எழுந்திருக்கும்போது அபசகுனமாக எதாவுது சொல்லி எழுந்திருக்க கூடாதுன்னு அவன் அம்மா சொன்னது நினைவுக்கு வந்தது. அவசர அவசரமாக பல் தேய்த்து, சோப்பு போட்டு முகம் அலம்பி கொண்டான். குளியல்? அவசர வாழ்கையில இதெல்லாம் சகஜமப்பா. அப்புடியும் கண்ணாடியில் அவன் முஞ்சி பார்த்தால் அவனுக்கே தூக்கம் வந்தது.

கௌதமுக்கு தன் மேலேயே எரிச்சலாக வந்தது. போன வாரமே துணி துவைத்திருந்தால் இன்னைக்கி இப்படி முழிச்சிருக்க வேண்டாம். எல்லா துணிகளில் இருந்தும் ஏதோ ஆந்த்ராக்ஸ் ரேஞ்சுக்கு வாடை அடித்தது. இருந்தது ஒரு கிரீம் கலர் பாண்ட் மற்றும் கருப்பு கலர் சட்டை. மழை பெய்ஞ்ச சென்னைல கிரீம் கலர் பாண்ட்? இன்னைக்கி நாம முழிச்ச நேரமே சரி இல்லைன்னு நினைத்துகொண்டான்.

வேண்டா வெறுப்பாக அந்த பாண்ட் போட்டு வெளில வந்து பார்த்து கௌதம் பயந்தான். கரு மேகங்கள் பயமுறுத்தி சுழுந்து கொண்டன. நேற்று இரவு பெய்த பேயி மழைக்கு தெருவெங்கும் சேறும் சகதியுமாக இருந்தது. இப்பொழுது சாரல் அடித்து கொண்டிருந்தது. இந்த லட்சணத்தில் கண்டிப்பா ஆபிஸ் போயே ஆகணுமா? "எழுந்துரு கௌதம். எழுந்திரி" னு தனக்கு தானே சொல்லி கொண்டு அவன் புறப்பட்டான். ஏதோ பூமிக்கு அடியில் இருக்கும் கண்ணி வெடியை மிதிக்காம நடப்பது போல் அவன் ஒவ்வொரு அடியும் மெதுவாக வைத்தான்.

இதுல சேற்றை வேற தாண்டி தாண்டி போக வேண்டுமாம். ஒரு வேளை அஞ்சு ஜார்ஜ் இங்கே தான் ஹை ஜம்ப் கத்துகிட்டாங்களோ போன்ற மொக்கை யோசனைகள் அவனுக்கு தோன்றியது. பொறுமையாக ஒவ்வொரு அடி வைப்பதுக்குள்ளேயும் கடுப்பாக இருந்தது. அப்பொழுது தான் பல்சரில் ஒரு அல்சர் பிடித்தவன் வேகமாக வந்து சேற்றை அவன் பாண்ட் மீது டிசைன் போல் அடித்தான்.

"நன்றி நண்பா. உங்க போன் நம்பர் தாங்களேன்" என்றான் இவன் சத்தமாக. என்னடா அம்மா அப்பாவை திட்டாமல் இவன் போன் நம்பர் கேகராநேன்னு அந்த பைக்க்காரன் மெண்டிசை பார்த்த இந்திய பேட்ஸ்மேன் போல் முழித்தான்.

"ச்சார்ர்ர்ர்"னு இழுத்தான்.

"இல்ல. நாளைக்கி வீட்டுலேருந்து கிளம்பும்போது உங்களுக்கு SMS அனுப்பறேன். பைக்ல வந்து நாளைக்கி வேற பாண்ட்ல சேர் அடிக்கலாம் பாருங்க".

பார்ட்டி எஸ்கேப்!!!! முனுமுனுத்தவாறே கௌதம் தன் கர்ச்சிப்பால் அந்த சேற்றை துடைக்க முயன்றான். ஆஹா....பஸ்க்கு நேரம் ஆகி விட்டது. அவன் நடையை வேக படுத்தினான்.

அச்சச்சோ!!! பஸ் ஸ்டாப்பில் அவன் கூட்டாளி யாரையும் காணும். எங்க இருக்காங்கனு போன் பண்ணி கேக்கலாம்ன்னு பார்த்து போன் எடுத்த அதுல சார்ஜ் இல்லை. ஆமா, விடிய விடிய கடலை போட்டும் சார்ஜ் இருக்கிறதுக்கு அது என்ன அலாவுத்தின் அற்புத விளக்கா. பக்கத்து டவுன் பஸ் ஸ்டாப்க்கு நடையை கட்டினான் கௌதம். ரோடா இது? நிலா மாதிரி அத்தனை குண்டு குழி. தேர்தலுக்கு வேற 2 வருஷம் இருஉகு. அப்புடின்னா ரோடு கண்டிப்பா 2 வருசத்துக்கு 2 மாசம் முன்னாடி தான் போடுவாங்க. இங்கே இருக்கற தெருவுல ரோடு போட வக்கை காணும். இவங்க தான் ராமேஸ்வரத்துல ராமர் பாலம், இயேசு பாலம் எல்லாம் கட்ட போறாங்களாம். நல்லா கேகராங்கய்யா டிடைல்லு.

அவன் ஆபிஸ்க்கு பக்கத்தில் போகும் ஒரு பஸ் வந்தது. ஏற்கனவே புளி மூட்டை போல் அதில் ஆட்கள் ஏறி இருந்தனர். இந்த டிரஸ் போட்டு இந்த பஸ்ல தான் போகனுமா? ஆட்டோவில் போகலாம்நு பார்த்தா அவன் சொத்தையே எழுதி தர சொல்றான். சரி...என்ன பண்ண. கடுப்பாக அவன் பஸ் படியில் தொங்கினான். கடைசியாக கல்லூரியில் படிக்கும்போது அந்த முட்டைக்கன்னு மாதவியை இம்ப்ரச்ஸ் பண்ண தொங்கியது. ஏதோ ஒரு கஸ்மாலம் அவன் கால் மேல் கல் வைத்து மிதித்தான். 1500 ரூபா ஷுக்கு ஆப்பு வைகிறானேனு கௌதமுக்கு கடுப்பு.

தெருவெல்லாம் எல்லாரும் கஷ்டப்பட்டு நடக்கிறதை பார்த்து யோசித்தான் கௌதம். இதே மழை பெய்ஞ்சா விவசாயி சந்தோஷப்பட்டு ஆனந்த தாண்டவம் ஆடுவான். நகர மக்கள் எல்லாரும் இதே மழையை கரிச்சு கொட்டுவார்கள். தெருவெல்லாம் சேர் சகதி, குப்பை, கொசு. எந்த பிரச்சனை வந்தாலும் இந்தியனுக்கு "அட்ஜஸ்ட் மாடி" தான்.

ஒரு வழியாக ஆபிஸ் வந்தாச்சு. அவன் வேக வேகமாக முகம் அலம்ப உள்ளே நுழையும்போது...ஆச்சரியம். என்ன....ஒரு பயலையும் காணும்? பயந்தவாறே அவன் ஆபிஸ் போன் எடுத்து நினைவில் இருந்த ஒரே என்னை அழுத்தினான்.

"டேய் கௌதம்..என்ன இப்போ ஆபிஸ் லேருந்து பேசற?"

"ஆபிஸ் லேருந்து பேசாம ஜார்ஜ் புஷ் ஆபிஸ்லேருந்து பேசினா ஒத்துப்பியா?"

"லூசு...இனிக்கைக்கி ரொம்ப மழை பெயிஞ்சதுனால் லீவு விட்டுடாங்க."

இதென்ன அவ்வையார் ஆரம்ப பாடசாலையா, மழை பெய்ஞ்சு லீவு விடறதுக்கு?

"உனக்கு ரொம்ப நேரமா ட்ரை பண்றேன். நம்பர் கிடைக்கல. ஹலோ...கௌதம்...கௌதம்...எதாவுது பேசுடா."

For those who dont understand tamil....enjoy Michael Jackson crooning in Tamil below!!!!!!!

Mr. Yogi and the Gold Medal

"Yeyyyyyyy" yelled Yogi. For a moment, he forgot that he was in a crowded bus stop and that the rest of passengers were looking at him like some piece of vermin. Ignoring them, Yogi asked the details of the gold medal that Bindra had won. As long as Yogi remembered, India hardly won any medals in Olympics save a bronze or silver courtesy some fighting sportsman. Coming to think of it, Yogi was surprised that he felt happy and content.

One gold.

One billion people and one gold.

Even countries like Ethiopia won a gold medal consistently in Olympics. And we were winning a gold medal after 28 years. Countries which roughly have the population of Chennai or Delhi win atleast 2 gold medals. And we? One gold. This year, we sent about 99 people to Olympics out of which 57 were athletes and 42 were their family members. The Chinese, who are numbered just a little above us in terms of population, sent 600+ athletes.

What were we Indians good at? There should be something that should separate us from the rest of the world. What… we code well? Or as in a technical term, we copy and paste well? We are the worlds back end office. Ok...now that sounded vulgar. But maybe it was the truth. Touche that Yogi who was one among the herd should think of that.

At that time a petite young girl passed by in a scooty. She was wearing a T Shirt which read "Your Boyfriend is staring" which made Yogi laugh. Maybe the girl had got the T Shirt at the wrong place. This was India. Her T Shirt should have read "Your Boyfriend, Brother, Uncle, Father, Grandfather, Dead Great Grand father are staring. Hey...even your mom is staring!!!!".

To the rest of the world, we may be a nerdy and tech savvy country, but inside we still live in rock ages. A girl wearing T-shirt and jeans is till been ogled at in India. And if she is driving any vehicle, you can multiply the count of eyes following her by 2. The amazing thing is that some pervert men ogle at any half (possibly quarter) decent looking girl as if they just dropped Venus to invade them in mars.

The less said about the treatment meted out on dark skinned girls the better. They are looked as social outcasts and sinners. The worst part is that they are humiliated by their own family members. Every man looks at a woman as an object of affection. And yeah....one of Yogi's friend mentioned that girls liked to be noticed. BUT, NOT OGLED.

The way some Indian men stare at unmentionable places for too long, she said, was that even if she didn't look at them, she could feel them gazing. The day Yogi heard that statement, he stopped staring at women like that. At least metro folks were better because they studied in co-ed schools and worked with women and so maintained certain level of decorum. Imagine the folks who might have lived in environment where mingling with women was taught as something taboo?

But then you can't blame the guys. For such an awareness to exist as in western countries and metros, you should propagate sex education. And as long as we have the Senas, Dals, Kazhagams and Leagues 'protecting' our 'culture', this was never ever possible. Who remembers that it was one of our own who wrote the sex odyssey Kamasutra? And how did we rise to become the second populous country on earth? Did we all Indians drop from tree-tops?

Maybe that was what many of our folks were good at. Staring and ogling. Maybe we should have an Ogling championship or medal in Olympics. And more...we can have a 50m, 100m, 400m and relay in Ogling. Yogi was sure that those specially talented Indian men would win Gold, Silver and Bronze hands down in each category. No competition. Hurray!!!! Multiple gold medals for us at last.

As Yogi waited for the bus, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was his cousin sister who was on the way to college. Yogi noticed that the bearded guy standing next to him was ogling at his sister. Yogi kept looking at him, but he didn’t seem to turn around in shame or embarrassment. Yogi had noticed by practice that the average time taken to make such a pervert Indian male stop look at a women was 25-30 seconds.

Yogi coughed. That was the time the guy realized that Yogi was even standing near her. He turned his head to other side. That's when Yogi noticed the guy next to the bearded fella was staring at her. Yogi coughed again.

He didn't seem to turn away. Now...that was a potential gold winner.

P.S: Since this has been a mokkai serious post, you can cool yourself with this amazing Tex Avery cartoon. Enjoy!!!!!

Truly Asia!

Below are some pics I clicked in Malaysia.

Hope you enjoy them. :-)

Dont know how many of you know or remember this song. But yeah...its actually pretty romantic :-)

Mr. Yogi goes to hell

By the 10th minute, Yogi was puffing and panting like dogs and his heart started to ache as if he would die out of a cardiac arrest. He tried to distract himself by watching the TV and read the news headlines. He checked them last at around 1 AM and they were still the same. Thank god. No bombs. No coups. The world was becoming a scarier place to live with every day passing by.

After 15 minutes and bucketfull of sweat on his T-Shirt, he read the final analysis which said that he had lost 200 calories. As Yogi walked to the table, he received a small jolt.

The Nike gloves were MISSING!!!!!!

Read more at Mr. Yogi goes to hell

For those not in a mood to read any story, enjoy this song.

Kismat ki Phooti Connection

Q. Why would you watch Kismat Konnection?

A. It could be because

a. You go to watch some other movie to the theatre and bloody hell...it is houseful.

b. You are not in a mood to return home and so think "what the heck..lets try this out"

c. You Kismat has made some bad Konnection (what is with the 'K' sentiment) due to which your next few hours are going to be short circuited.

d. All the above

If this were KBC and if I was to lock option D, I could have won some decent money. Alas....my luck just stays with me to write reviews. I don’t know if you observed, but I hardly write reviews for any bad movie, unless I force myself to see one and write one as well for funs sake(ex. Kuruvi, Tera Suroor etc). Why? Because I value my money dearly and I have to pay the ticket price out of my pocket unlike the reviewers who get the money milked from their employers. Well...cant call it their luck as they might have gone thru the same ordeal.

Now....you are discouraged reading this. Aren’t you? You wonder "Is this movie really that bad? Or has this guy gone bonkers?". Let me begin this review by asking you some questions. You introspect them and try to figure out WHY I wrote the above paragraph.

a. Why do most of the bollywood heroes need to be baptized as Raj Malhotra or Rahul? Aren’t names as Sunil, Dinesh, Stephen or Harish (dont bother) good enough?

b. Why are all Raj Malhotras in movies predominantly NRIs? If they are really destined to be NRIs maybe I will name my kid as Raj Malhotra (if it is a girl I will name her Anjali). Who knows...he could be singing duets in Swiss Alps or Phuket Islands.

c. Why do Bollywood Heroines try to pose out as 36-28-36 type figures? Whats wrong with being plump and admitting it? I mean I have no problem with a heroine being plump, but why pass it off? If you don’t understand what I am talking about, you should watch Ms. Balan on the big screen wearing those tight outfits that appear to have been stitched for some voluptuous babe. (she appears much better in the recent Airtel ads)

d. Why do all ex-boyfriends of heroines needs to be pakka A-holes? They are either womanizers or jerks or don’t devote time for the heroines and so she sways towards our Hero. This makes you question the judgment of the heroine and wonder if she really is as smart as she is shown on screen.

Maybe it is a subtle directorial touch to emphasize that Love is blind. But yeah...at least it is a far cry from the earlier cinematic trash where the Hero and Heroine were always their respective first love.

e. Why is Ms. Balan entrusted with the job of looking after the sick, old or suffering patients? Is it because she looks like a really nice lady who would go out of her way to do that...or...is it because she looks to be one of their age-group?

f. Why does a Hero have to run and sing solo romantic number (and be joined by many soon) when the heroine touches him? Ok...calm down. I don’t mind if the song is really that good, but why would you not think that if the song is incorporated with the sole aim of increasing the sales of the eateries in the cafeteria.

g. Why do all Bollywood mainstream movies have atleast one shaadi number where they have to incorporate the Punjabi words "tenu" "kudi" “munda” "mar jaava" "Leke Jaava"? The male dress up in designer sherwanis and women dress up in Manish Malhotra wardrobe which should cost her an amount close to what is required to perform a marriage function in itself.

How do you expect a movie to be amazing with all these inconsistencies? The point is that a movie is supposed to be mesmerizing and it allows the director to provide some escapist entertainment. I am not against masala movies or regular candy floss stuff, but the point is that this movie seems to be a candy floss which is prepared with more salt than sugar.

The story line is simple that Raj malhotra (Shahid) is an out of the work architect who is looking for the big break. By chance and fate he comes to believe that every time Vidya Balan is around, he seems to hit the right note and get a home run. He is preparing to build a mall for a contractor (Om Puri) and the problem is that it is the point of dispute for Vidya who is out to save a community center at the expense of the mall.

The problem with this movie that it is very much predictable. When a scene pops up, you know what will happen in the next frame and worse, you can even guess the dialogues. The jokes are ok to laugh at that moment, but once you are out of the theatre you don’t even remember what you laughed for. Well...in that case, I should say that it was not a KILLER stuff unlike other comedies which make you gag yourself.

Shahid Kapur in many scenes tries to be ShahRukh. He has developed some nice bulging muscles and the costume designer favors him by dressing him up in nice suits and biceps revealing shirts. His comic timing is ok and he does a decent job. The scene where he was good was the monologue where he explains Vidya about his ambition and the last scene where he explains about consumerism and human welfare. To be frank, as the end credits rolled out, the only thing that really impressed me and which I remembered was the last scene where he makes a nice emotional speech.

Vidya Balan has a hackneyed role. Neither she looks appealing (in fact one girl behind my seat said she looked HUGE) and nor she has much scope to perform. To top it all her costumes are horrendous and there is NO chemistry between her and Shahid. The rest of the cast as Om Puri, Juhi Chawla (over the top but cute) and Vishal malhotra do a decent job. Perhaps the best surprise was provided by Boman Irani as the 'waving uncle' character and it was a nice (and only good one) twist indeed.

The Ai Pappi song was foot tapping while the rest were just ordinary types. Better luck next time Pritam! Now coming to the director. Aziz Mirza usually is identified with ordinary man's stories and I guess he too gave in to the NRI movie brigade. And the comedy too was way thanda compared to his other movies.

Maybe you may feel that I am too harsh and maybe I am, but I am so because the cast promised so much and delivers so little. Maybe what they needed was Konnection (or whatever it is) with some good writers instead of having relied on their Kismat to see them through.

Rating: 2/5

Find below the song of the moment (will try to have one in every post henceforth).

In a world filled with mayhem, ear-shattering beats and tongue and nose touching each other (naaka mukka :P), I am glad that someone decided to churn out a song which just required your ears & senses open and eyes closed. Thanks James Vansathan!!

Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na

By the time the end credits rolled on screen, Jai had walked out of the theatre leaving Aditi behind. She scampered her way amidst the teenybopper Friday Evening crowd and punched as hard as she could on his arm (with fake anger). Of course, that was a reward for deserting her when he should have played the Knight-in-the-armor part who would rescue her out of theater.

As Jai and Aditi hopped on to his Red Wagon-R, he switched on the A/C as the car rolled out of the Fame Adlabs theatre in Mumbai.

Aditi: Jai. What is it? You didn't like the movie?

Jai: It was ok yaar. It is not some earth shattering stuff like Rang De Basanti or Taare Zameen Par.

A: See. Those are also Aamir Khan movies. Bolo Aamir Khan ki Jay. (giggles)

J: Oh cmon Adi. It was just some mushy romance and time pass movie.

A: What were you expecting? Bullet-time animation? Slow motion, world saving super heroes and blowing cars? Half or quarter clad Mallika or Rakhi?

J: Its not like that Aditi. Agreed we boys do like to watch such over-the-top, sleazy, cheap and stupid movies at times....but not again...they are just AT TIMES.

A: So your taste is good at movies?

J: Of course. Remember Pans Labyrinth? How was that?

A: Uweek. Gross looking creatures with Eyes, ears and what-not misplaced.

J: Oh c'mon. It is pure cinema. Part fantasy, part fiction, part drama. Its so amazing.

A: Yea...but what about the ending? What is it with you guys and sad ending movies? Why can’t we live happily ever after?

J: Because we it is not the same way in life Adi.

A: Why not? J: I don’t know. But it is not that way. They show an ordinary guy become successful and rich overnight. How many people you know have gone through that Adi? They show an angry hero crusading against the villain and say "Satyameva Jayate" at the end. Where does it happen?

A: Cinema is an illusion Jai. It is always nice to look at something which "could" happen rather than wondering "what" the hell happened.

J: What about this movie?

A: What about it? It was good time-pass chakas stuff.

J: No. I mean the theme. Do you accept it? Friends turning into lovers?

A: Why not? Isn't it always nice to like someone whom you know instead of forcing things around?

J: This has been beaten to death theme. I myself have seen so many of them.

A. You mean couples or films?

J: How do you twist things you devil (sneers). Its films Adi. I have seen so many of them.

A: See. You have seen so many and you turn to see one again. (huskily)That's the magic of love. J: Very funny. As if you care.

A: What I care? What do you mean?

J: You mean to say you would choose a known likeable friend instead of some IIT or IIM graduated million-dollar-baby your mom would recommend to marry?

A: Hmmm...let me think.

J: See. This (points finger at her) is practicality.

A: Stupid. I meant to say, let me think what excuse I can put to my mom to say that I don't like the million dollar baby.

J: You are saying this because you know it won't happen.

A: And why not?

J: Because you won't fall in love with anyone.

A: Well...that's all you know about me after these 5 years.

J: Come on Adi. You are way playful to be in serious love.

A: So what? Just because you are serious in everything does it mean that you are serious about love and loving someone?

J: Maybe it is.

A: Then tell it you dumbo.

J: Tell what?

A: Forget it.

Both remain silent for some time. Jai turns the radio on.

"And now we will listen to the hit rocking number from the movie Jaane Tu....Ya Jaane Na. Keep listening."

The song Jaane Tu Meri kya hai plays hauntingly as Jai and Aditi remain silent. They listen to every word of it amidst the busily constantly honking Mumbai traffic. It seemed as if someone had written it keeping them in their mind.

Instead of steering into the read leading to Andheri West, Jai steers the car to the Chowpatty beach with Aditi not complaining as if it didn't bother her. After parking the car, Jai walks out and sits on the bonnet of the car. Aditi walks out calmly and sits next to him.

Jai: Do you realize that our college folks will make pair us and drive us nuts after they see the movie?

Aditi: How about making it true?

They hug each other and don't speak a word for quite sometime. The radio DJ starts playing Tum Bin Bataaye as if he is playing cupid for them.

P.S: Am yet to see the this movie :-)

Dasavatharam

Yeah. I know. Why would someone want to read a review after almost 3 weeks since a movie has been released? Well....how about...to kill time? :-).

The basic problem or advantage (depending on your taste in movies) in Mr. Hassan's movies are that he tries to convey lot of things in one movie and sometimes it just spills out. While the average viewer used to dappankuthu and punch dialog stuff as in Vijaykanth, Balakrishna and Vijay's movies may find it too hard to understand and digest, the avid cinema lover would embrace it with all his heart as watching it time and again gives him a refreshing experience and conveys a new meaning every time its viewed.

That is exactly the same problem/advantage in Dasavatharam.

Among all the hype and hoopla surrounding the 10 characters Mr. Kamal has portrayed, it is quite to difficult to spot and be in awe of them and lose the plot and narration. There is no story to speak of and so it is quite odd to write a review and not mention the basic plot.

The plot revolves around Govind, a scientist in US who finds a virus which he says is powerful than anthrax. Govinds superior is corrupt and tries to sell the virus which leads to a chain reaction which ultimatley brings forth all the avatars of Mr. Kamal. In between he meets all the Kamals and that to say...is Dasavatharam. Odd? What the heck? Yep. Thats what strikes you when you hear the story (or lack of it).

But truly, Mr. Hassan is indeed a jack-of-all-trades. Not only does he don the mantle of writing the screenplay, but also plays all the 10 roles (virtually hogging every other frame of the 3 hours odd movie) and plays them with distinctive touches. Thank god, if not for the central character Govind, I would have even forgotten what the real Kamal looks like.

Almost every other issue under the sun has been discussed ranging from Butterfly Effect, Nuclear war to Caste discrimination and Sand Quarry Theft. Personally I think it is a masterstroke to include so many of them in a pot pourri masala flick and possibly only Mr. Hassan can achieve it. But that as well robs the movie of the distinction of belonging to any one particular genre.

Personally I think the characters of Fletcher and Balram Naidu were the best. Bush was needless to say funny. Given a choice, I would love to see a movie featuring Balram Naidu and his stupid antics. Fletcher should rank as Mr. Hassan's most stylish role to date (the square jaw being characteristic of CIA Assassins?). The general complaint has been that there have been some roles which were just filled in to make a round count of 10. Not to defend it, but I think that is EXACTLY the point. Don’t we see how one small action triggered in one small corner of the world affects someone somewhere else?

I don’t know if it is me, but personally I felt that the character of Govind stood the most poorly sketched. And yeah, what was with the Bullet-curing-cancer theory Mr. Hassan? Hope we wont have cancer patients who will run around the doctors with guns in their hand and asking them to shoot-and-cure them. Asin was so irritating that I wished that Kamal would take the vial from the statue, tie her to it and throw her in the Indian Ocean. Among all the pygmies among Gulliver Kamal, M S Bhaskar raised few laughs with his Jeppiarish english.

Surprisingly Himesh Reshamaiyya's two bhajan type Kallai Kandal and Mukunda fared better. Hope that doesnt prompt him to wear the swoosh cap and croon "Om Jai Jagadish Hare" in his nasal accent. Devisri Prasad's background score is good and sometime has some Harris Jairajish touches. But dont know why he needed to include the Spiderman 3 promo music in the beginning. Maybe all Mr. K S Ravikumar was needed for was for the Balram Naidu parts and to dance in the climax.

The graphic sequences are quite tacky compared to hollywood, but then cant complain much as we can do that much with limited budget and so we are still taking baby steps in graphics. Don’t know how many of you noticed, but Mr. Hassan has a small homage to his acting guru Mr. DeNiro when Fletcher quips "You talking to me?" in the climax reminiscent of the famous monologue in Taxi Driver.

Mr. Hassan is a great actor and we all know it. But this film does not require much of his acting abilities. Rather other skills as his patience to go through the grind of hours of make up for minutes of shots, his unmatched perfect linguistic talents and change of body language have been put to test. Finally, this film would be remembered for an intelligent (but incoherent) screenplay talent of Mr. Hassan that he has used to bind these 10 characters.

Last but not the least, there was this amazing piece of dialogue.

Asin: Are you saying that God does not exist?

Kamal: I am not saying that. All I am saying is that I wish he did.

This one piece of dialogue was bloody worth my ticket price and a standing ovation.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Happily Every After?

Today 7.30 AM

In a room just for her

It was quite convenient that everyone had left the room to see the groom coming back to the mandap, while other relatives were busy in the other dressing room chit-chatting and telling each other how they had made their respective husbands buy their costly necklace or ear ring or any obscure piece of jewel on their body.

She was alone. All alone by herself. She saw herself in the mirror.

The light red color sari which was filled with chamki work did go well with her medium complexion. She was woken up early in the morning at around 5 AM like in the army camps and the beautician had started polishing her up. Her job was possibly the toughest in the whole arrangement as she had to show something that was probably non-existent or hidden. Perhaps that’s why even her scrooge like mother did not mind paying up the fat bill of 7500 Rs that she charged for those 2 hours of work. The last thing she wanted to hear was some groom's relatives grumping and complaining about the girl's complexion.

She had a mehendi in shape of a peacock which started from her arms and ended in her tiny fingers. She might have appreciated the work of art on any other day and even on any other person (although she might have felt jealous), but maybe not today. Even the 30 sovereign gold distributed equally on her body failed to accentuate her on one possible area.

Her face.

She felt like as if she had forgotten to smile. And then she thought about him. She wondered what he was doing now.
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Yesterday 7.30 PM

His house

Actually it was a tough choice. He had to decide with his limited experience and knowledge. He had done it only very very few times before, but today he needed it. When he used to see it in the movies, he used to think "What a piece of crap", but today it appeared logical. No wonder they tell that art is inspired from life.

He had to choose between Bacardi rum or the Black label. He wondered if doing an inki-pinki-ponki between them would freak out the shop-boy. So finally he decided to go by instinct and logic. Since it was apparent that his life had plunged in darkness, he decided to make it darker with Black label. Logical eh?

After having bought 2 packets of Ruffles Lays and some mixture he did not care to read name about, he went to his room and locked himself up. His roommate was off for night shift and so he was alone. ALONE. He could do whatever he wanted and he was his master today. He remembered seeing an 80's English movie named "8 million ways to die" and wondered if it was all true. Were there really so many possibilities?

Throwing towel on reason, he decided to pursue his current mission.

FORGET HER.
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Today 8 AM

Her younger sister accompanied her from the bride’s room and she was beaming with pride and happiness. Apparently her parents were happy as their freak show was going as planned and their ego was satisfied. The relatives were happy as they would be getting 2 square royal meals and something to gossip about for sometime. What about the girl's happiness hereafter? Who cares.

The place was filled with smoke because of the religious rites being performed. It was convenient for her in a way. Even if anyone would ask why her eyes were moist, she could shift the blame on the smoke. Another option was to say that she was feeling sad for missing her parents from today, although she had little doubt that she was lying enough to get a season ticket to hell. The groom was busy chanting the mantras and even his eyes seemed moist.

She may or perhaps may never know the real reason for his tears. Who knows if he too was victim of circumstances like her? Perhaps that why we humans should never invent a mind reading machine. If they ever prepared one and if it were to be out in the markets, imagine what kind of a catastrophe it could bring on us. No one would even pass an interview, no one would get elected, no one would get married (save a few) and murders could be on the rise.

Scary enough.

She had reasoned and argued with her parents that her choice was correct and that he was perfect. But it never seemed to reach their deaf ears. All they wanted was 'her welfare', 'her goodwill', 'family status', 'relative’s loose talk', 'her sister’s marriage later', ‘what will society say’. She had just one reason on her side and they had so many. The balance never seemed to be tilted in her favor. If she had decided to step out for good, she would be branded 'traitor', 'selfish' and every other thing in the lexicon that is available for making someone depressed. But when her parents state their reasons even if they are for their own, they are 'reasonable' and 'caring'.

Love was still a taboo subject in the second populous country on the face of earth where Vatsayana wrote Kamasutra and epics like ‘Ambikavati-Amaravathy’ were written and Taj Mahal was erected. Most parents in India physically live in the ipod age and their minds and egos are still left in the rock ages.

Welcome to the world of Indian marriages.

The first thing every parent wonders when told about love is that it is infatuation. And even if not the immediate question raised is ‘It will wean over with time’. As if arranged marriage comes with some kind of bond where groom pledges never to ditch the girl.

She wondered if like in those old hindi movies where the hero would appear out of nowhere and drag the heroine out from a forced marriage, he would come on a horse or maybe disguise himself and sit smiling next to her. As she sat near the groom, she slowly turned her head to see his face.

It was not him.
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Yesterday 8 PM

There were almost 90 channels on his cable connection and no channel appealed to him. He could not listen to one song and could not watch one scene. The rest were all mega serial shit that he never gave a damn about. Either way they would show 'love triumph above all odds' stuff which would only add fuel to the fire in his heart.

Why do they make movies like that where after the entire struggle the couple remain happy ever after? How many happen that way? Even if they do, what are the other consequences? What happens after marriage is the same as it happens everywhere and anywhere between any couple. No one cares a damn if an arranged marriage goes haywire. Why point out failed love marriages?

He failed to understand what was wrong with him. He was intelligent, smart, decent-looking, earning well. It was the same stuff they were searching for their lovely daughter. Infact he had additional qualification of loving her and caring for her better than they could have ever imagined. Yet he lacked in one important criterion. He was from a different section of society. Seemed as if having born to his parents belonging to this section of society was all his crime.

It’s like a vortex where we get trapped and no way seems out. No one gives a damn if they stay happy later. What matters is NOW. What matters is 'what will all our relatives say', 'what will the society say' as if they share all our emotional burdens. He could not blame her or himself and it was not right as well. They had tried their best. It was just that they were one of the few pairs who revolted against a huge system.

The Black label seemed to be doing what it was intended to do in first place. Make him asleep. He did not want to wake up tomorrow to remember that it was her marriage and that he was not next to her.

He rested his head on the pillow nearby and plunged into deep sleep. A sleep where he could imagine anything. A sleep where there were no boundaries, no limitations, no one to reason any logic, no one to care about.

A dream and a parallel universe where there were no parents or relatives who boasted and talked of status, caste, creed, color or anything obscure. He was alone....alone with her.
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"Boy or a girl?"

"Girl"

"Why not a boy?"

"I am a boy. So shouldn’t you have a girl.?"

"Hello....I am a girl.

"Yeah. I want one like you."

"Why do you need another when you have me with you?"

They laugh at their silly joke and smile and hug each other.

P.S: Inspired from too many real incidents…past, present and future

P.S1: தமிழ் படிக்க தெரிஞ்சவங்க கொஞ்சம் இங்கே போங்க

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

We all feel sleepy in the afternoon. And when you add the fact that our Indian food is so amazingly designed to be heavy, you cant resist feeling sleepy.

Worse, I had a presentation today morning for which I had to slog yesterday night and I had only 2 hours of sleep. My eyes were super-duper red like Vijaykanth and I was barely able to look at the monitor. 2 huge mugs of coffee failed to keep my eyes open.

As luck would have it, many of my clients left in the afternoon and I was left alone. Wondering what to do, I opened my favorite site...YOU-TUBE. I closed my eyes and decided to enter anything that would come to my mind first. I typed Kabhi haan Kabhi Naa and found this song. Its amazing that even though it has been years since I listened to this song, I remembered its lyrics and also the shot angles. SRK looks so young and innocent and if I remember correctly Suchitra Krishnamurthy used to appear in Sunrise ads.

The initial music sounds like the old song "Dilbar mere Kab tak mujhe". Kumar Sanu ruled Bollywood in this period and Jatin-Lalit were in prime form. Hmmm....well...to let one secret out, this was our gang's theme song for their respective school crushes :-).

For more nostalgia, click here.