The Minimalist

Open Mag

2011-02-08T21:21:00.002+05:30

After a long while, amidst crappy news websites and popups, I discovered one which is quite neat and impressively fresh on content. Open Mag. Its worth a read. http://www.openthemagazine.com

I've been thinking of picking up this book by Amish for a while, and this article pushed me to it - http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/true-life/the-mba-writer

Until the last moment

2010-09-15T05:20:00.004+05:30

there are times when life lets our mind travel
a turn of roulette, and moments simply unravel

spaces just tricky, and thoughts as much sticky
luck being for sake witty, not acting quite pretty

and then she cometh with all the apt words and phrase
swept into talk with a hint of poise, subtle grace

slow little raindrops, sunshine bursting the window pane
is she the little lioness, in all wilderness and terrain

words flow like water dotted with cursory rushes
in tense past and present, do we but feel imaginary nudges

as smooth and swift as fingers on piano keys
did we get this far rather with eclectic ease

the rain must fall, the wind gather force
would we run on a lane so same in our lives and course

between the luck and trance, steps pause and fade
would all the affection still remain, or would we just evade

amidst the chaos that is life, will she still prevail
beyond both our futures, is this mirage, mist or veil

Under my eyes

2009-12-27T06:51:00.014+05:30

There may not be many a time when we run into fog and are touched by it. On most occasions, we feel it ends up disrupting our plans or rather, its perceived as an uninvited guest in our normal scheme of things.

However, in the past few days fog is the most beautiful thing that I look forward to. It just gives the landscape an amazing arty touch. Fog. Nature. Give me more.

Chowki

2009-05-24T06:17:00.009+05:30

Indian cusine abroad can by quite tricky, especially in a place like the UK. However, some places in the UK still dont cease to amaze me. Some of the indian restaurants present indian cusine in a whole new dimension. One such place is Chowki. On the face of it, its the usual "dal, roti, chawal, curry" fare, but the way its presented is a tad bit different. A meal consists of different pots, and food is served in them, as you please. So, for a value meal you choose a ricepot, dalpot, and a currypot. A normal chowki value meal sets you back by £10-£14 per person. Get to Chowki.com to read more.

India

2009-01-26T12:40:00.004+05:30

This cover design by artist Thota Tharani captures the true spirit of the indian flag. Simply a brilliant piece of artwork which illustrates the flavor of India. We're surging ahead, and we just wish our country moves much ahead in this world, every passing year.

SuperChor

2009-01-26T12:20:00.002+05:30

Yet another distinctive film from Dibakar Banerjee (a la Khosla Ka Ghosla) albeit this one has a slightly different blend of humor. The best part of "Oye Lucky Lucky Oye" is the OST by Sneha Khanwalkar. She simply dazzles up the whole film with her lilting score and tracks. This film is a must-see for its innovative score.

Give me SuperChor, any day!

Body Clock

2009-01-24T09:57:00.005+05:30

The last few months have been a lot of hard work and crazy traveling. Good on one note and bad on the other, like two sides of a coin. A nice experience but with a lot of strings attached. Traveling between countries gives you extra time, thanks to some time zones. The problem however is that though you remember the time, your body clock does not comprehend the cross of changes. While you sleep and wake up at local times, your body clock starts ringing alarm bells at its own "fixed" time zone.

This site called bodyclock.com makes it easy to calculate it.

Super Jumbo

2009-01-21T08:29:00.004+05:30

This is one bird I simply loved flying. If you're a person who loves flying, The A380 leaves you speechless, in ways more than one.

Time To Pretend

2008-10-10T03:33:00.008+05:30

I know I'm writing this post after a hiatus. There are folks who have been asking me why I'm on hibernation mode since Jan. As I search for time... and answers, I come across this song which just might echo the times we are going through....yes, sometimes we're fated to pretend.

I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw, I'm in the prime of my life.
Let's make some music, make some money, find some wishes for life.
This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We've got the vision, now let's have some fun.
Yeah, it's overwhelming, but what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute.
We're fated to pretend
To pretend

OST from the movie 21. Time to Pretend performed by MGMT.

Perch presents

2008-01-16T05:31:00.001+05:30

Perch, a collective group of enterprising youngsters, present a first of its kind festival in Chennai. Take a look at what the festival has on offer.

Under the Mangosteen Tree by Perch

Vedanth - Live in concert

2007-07-22T14:06:00.000+05:30

This was one awesome concert in da city! For the uninformed, catch up on the CD album Mati Kahe. The track 4 based on a Purandaradasa poem - Tarakya Bindige - transports you to a totally different realm of music.

Evam presents

2007-07-22T14:00:00.000+05:30

This time around.... EVAM has bought Five Point Someone and is presenting it at Music Academy for one last time in Chennai today at 7 pm.

Classic Arpana 25 by AIKYA

2007-07-02T17:56:00.001+05:30

Arpana Dance Company of Ramya Harishankar, US-based Bharatanatyam dancer presents Classic Arpana 25, to be staged at the Narada Gana Sabha,today. The event is presented by Aikya. The speciality - Kinnara Taiko drummers - the audience gets a taste of Japanese Taiko drumming.

MoMo comes to town

2007-04-30T12:00:00.000+05:30

Walk in to the IIT Madras Campus this Sunday (6th May) and you'd be able to see a lot of young folks talking, debating, networking et al at the first MoMo at Chennai.

Wanna be part of it? Add your name to the Attendee list.

One 1 way to go!

2007-04-22T21:08:00.000+05:30

Since the last week, the new traffic system at the RajBhavan-Adyar-Saidapet stretch is operational. Commendable. Traffic flows and the place doesn't get choked. Now why didnt they think of this earlier! Is Chennai morphing into more of a one-way city?

Telepodcasting

2007-04-21T04:43:00.000+05:30

Just noticed this video on Kiruba's and came across this concept called "Telepodcasting"

Think of the possibilities! Sounds exciting! Albeit - its always better to get prior permission before you go live with a podcast of telephonic conversation.

What's a BarCamp?

2007-03-28T20:03:00.002+05:30

I was in splits when a friend of mine discreetly came up to me and asked - "Macha, whats a BarCamp da? Does it have anything to do with Bars?" - Flummoxed as I was - just told him what it "really" was about! For the uninitiated or the uninformed - here goes....

When? - 31st March - 1st April 2007
Where? - IIM Bangalore

Its worth a visit.

Sepia Story

2007-03-18T15:32:00.000+05:30

Cut to photography and 'Sepia' is a tone in photography which I really adore. SepiaStory is a photobiography of Manoj who was earlier with Sify and is now into Portait Photography and more. View his captivating images at sepiastory.com and in case you wanna go clicking you can spend a day with him, albeit conditions apply* - this offer comes free* only for senior citizens!

The train bend and night rings shots are my favourite ones.

There's more to life than just grades!

2007-03-12T14:02:00.001+05:30

Five Point Someone by Madras Players is coming up yet again in town this month. A few lines from my friend Kiruba's blog on their last performance. The biggest laughter and the loudest boo came for this particular line. A visibly upset IIT professor, pissed that one of the students couldn't answer a simple question says "The standard of the institute is going down day by day. What are you? Commerce students?" The crowd clearly comprised of engineering and errr... let's say, non-engineering students. You know where the laughter and the boos came from!

The performance by all the Profs were truly splendid. The one of Dr. Cherian by PC Ramakrishna would really catch you in awe. The protagonist's role was quite well etched and his alter ego performed by Vidyuth was also commendable. The role of Neha was well portrayed by a 'petite belle' from MOP Vaishnav with the right expressions and was quite convincing.

- More reviews on FPS

ExtraBed

2007-01-28T02:09:00.000+05:30

I was really surprised to find this site by name ExtraBed.in - Its a new site created by Kiruba using Peanut Butter Wiki [PB Wiki] - a wiki tool online which is called so since its as easy as making a Peanut Butter sandwich. As the site exclaims - Why ExtraBed?

It's simple. You offer your extra bed to a fellow blogger who visits your city. And in return, when you travel to his/her city, you have a place to stay. Cool, Huh!?

when someone echoed...

2007-01-10T00:07:00.001+05:30

goonja koi, mere naam kar diya
saaki ne phir se mera jaam bhar diya

tum jaisa koi nahin, iss jaahaan mein
subah ko teri zulf ne, shaam kar diya
hosh bekhabar se huey, unke bageyr
woh jo humse keh na sakey, dil ne keh diya

the effect of integrity

2006-12-24T01:36:00.001+05:30

jalti dhoop mein, halki hawaa chal gayi
mila barosa yaar ka, jaan phir sambhal gayi

khwaish sa sahi, zanjeerein pigal gayi
sabah neend ko maathe pe umal gayi
sunee sehraon ke hasrat pali hai
har toofan mein aaj yeh shamma jali hai

shaayad hai yeh dosti
yaa imaan kaa asar
aagey kya likha, humko kya khabar

why is it so?

2006-12-24T01:34:00.001+05:30

rishtey, barose, chahat, yakeen
un sab ka daaman ab chaag hai
samjhe the haaton mein hai zameen
mutti jo kholi bas khwab hain

dil mein yeh shor hai kyun
imaan kamzor hai kyun
naazuk hai dor hai kyun

the wait...

2006-12-24T01:23:00.001+05:30

choti raatein hain
kitni baatein hain
ab jo aaye ho, ab bathathe hain

thaamo hamein ab ek baar
thaamo hamein ab ek baar
intezar... aitbaar...
tumse pyaar itnaa karoon

A distinct musical dimension

2006-12-22T20:19:00.000+05:30

Say Lounge music, call it contemporary, call it fusion - but nah, those names just dont fit this genre. Its just way past all that! In this case therefore- "Listening is believing" - I would say the ultimate in Indo-Global Fusion. Prem Joshua rocks! Start with the much acclaimed album MUDRA and then move on to AHIR and TARANGA. This is music which is truly captivating!

Just drive on...

2006-12-22T19:53:00.002+05:30

Destination Hitz - I just happened to pick up this new album this week and I must say, for a drive down 'da city' this one is worth the rokda. Its a random mix of funky numbers, with vocals ranging from Kailash Kher to Shafqat Amanat Ali

The Top 5 being:

Chak de Phadde by KAILASH KHER
Bhula doh by RAETH
Jeena by SUKHWINDER SINGH
Yeh honsla by SHAFQAT AMANAT ALI
Chua Mere Dil Ko by SHAAN

Remember Shakti

2006-12-10T13:22:00.001+05:30

Remember Shakti - a fusion music concert was held at Kamarajar Arangam on December 7. For the first time in Chennai (for a fusion concert) the hall was totally packed and the police had to divert vehicles coming in due to the parking lots overflowing. Needless to say, the show was simply fabulous! At the end of the show, the audience gave a standing ovation for a couple of minutes to all the artists!

John McLaughlin who originally belonged to the band shakti, created a whirlwind of fusion with carnatic and indian strains on his guitar. The eclectic blend of instruments and artists created a totally different musical ambience which was truly distinctive. Besides McLaughlin, the band had percussionist Ustad Zakir Hussain on the tabla and drums, the prodigy U. Shrinivas on the mandolin, V. Selvaganesh (Vikku Jr.) playing the kanjira, and Shankar Mahadevan on the vocals.

The surprise package was (who else but) Vikku Vinayakram himself! One of the veterans in Shakti. Vikku was pacy and totally rocking on his Ghatam with energetic rhythm. It was an aural and visual treat for any connosieur of music. Selva Ganesh, Vikku’s son proved that he is an undisputed master of the “kanjira” albeit he also performed on the mridangam and ghatam.

Zakir created new strains, thumps and beats with his repertoire of instruments. The best part came when he was playing two different rhythms at the same time, one hand generating one rhythm and the other a different beat altogether and it seemed as he was doing it with such an “ease of expertise”! - and as he ended his solo, the audience shouted back “WAH USTAD”!

Shrinivas was the fastest among the lot when it came to speed and fast-paced strains. His hands moving as fast as a speeding bullet! That was simply stunning to watch! Shankar amazed the audience with his speed, voice modulation and perfect timing with the rest of the group.

“The music was heavenly” danseuse Shobana told Shankar as he and the team came out backstage to meet some of us gathered there. Starting from Chennai, the group will perform in four other cities — Mumbai on December 9, Pune on December 10, Bangalore on December 13, and Goa on December 15. John McLaughlin’s `Mahavishnu Orchestra’ was an electric band that established fusion as a new and growing style within the jazz and rock worlds. After the band split McLaughlin worked with a low-key acoustic group called `Shakti’. This group combined Indian music with elements of jazz. Shakti was formed in the mid 1970s and has fans across the globe.

The Chennai Concert Circuit

2006-12-06T18:02:00.001+05:30

Heartbeat Ensemble

"Heartbeat" is an ensemble of carnatic music and fusion styles pioneered by Ghatam Karthick and is a regular feature during the kutcheri season. Karthick is accompanied by Embar Kannan on the silent violin and by Raju on the Mandolin. This is one concert a connosieur shouldnt be missing out on! - Watch out for Heartbeat in the coming weeks in the city - Check out their show timings on Kutcheribuzz. [More on Heartbeat]

Remembering Rafi

It was a mammoth event. One which diehard fans of Mohammed Rafi, Kishore or Lata ought not to have missed. `Nostalgia,' the show featuring Mohammed Aslam (Paatshala/RDB) and a few other artists at the Kamarajar Hall, Chennai, had an imposing 40-piece orchestra with Raguraj Chakravarthi as conductor. You just had to close your eyes to be transported to Rafi's duniya. [More on Remembering Rafi]

nocturnal thoughts

2006-11-13T15:17:00.000+05:30

At night
At night I gaze and think of you
At night I wonder can this be the end or is this all that's left
At night I wish we could go to the way things were
At night I lay and think of us
At night I realize there's no more us
At night I dream of us together again
At the break of dawn I realize it was all
At Night

That don't impress me much!

2006-10-30T15:34:00.001+05:30

The Chennai police will now go after lawbreakers in Hyundai Accents. Hundred upgraded Accents have been gifted to the police force by Hyundai. - Yahoo News.

That sounds great. But the alarming levels at which traffic rules are being violated is what makes it look wasted! Moreover, the cops are taking this as a ‘publicity stunt’ - even this morning, a cop in a hyundai pulled up at a bank premises near a signal, having no sense whatsoever that he would be blocking vehicles coming at the back. Now, why did he do that? “well, ahem, just to talk to the security guy casually on some rules and the usual blah blah stuff”.

So much for the ‘makeover’. This makeover comes in as the sales of cars like the Hyundai Accent and Tata Indigo are dipping into red. So to speak, was it really a makeover/friendly gesture - or just “good riddance” for the automobile major.

Whatever, one thing’s for sure, not only are the CCP gonna burn up more gasoline via the exchequer, they would pretty well add spice to the existing ’cacophony’ on Chennai roads.

As Shania Twain would croon - “Okay, so you got a new car eh, that dont impress me much!”

Bloggers' Park !

2006-09-06T20:25:00.000+05:30

...a unique and exclusive event for Bloggers, this weekend at the TIDEL Park, Chennai.

Check it out!

Pyar ke side effects

2006-08-10T19:40:00.001+05:30

09/06. Rahul Bose is back.
The OST of this flick is truly 'bindaas'.

The new composer on the block 'Pritam' and lyricist 'Mayur Puri' create an offbeat mileau with a distinct blend of genres.

Other films from Team PNC

Jhankaar Beats
Chameli
Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi
Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena
Ankahee

and it so happened....

2006-07-29T01:24:00.001+05:30

Four people try to make things happen desperately in their Life.
Later on, they would wish it never happened that way.
What if it just happened otherwise?
What if ? - well, thats what this movie is all about.

Yun Hota To Kya Hota?

A couple of scenes which I really admired:

- shots of the Golden Gate bridge (over titles)
- state of helplessness portrayed by Irrfan Khan
- remarkable characterization – Tilottama and Rajubhai

Only if:

- The movie had a better background score
- Better songs

I wonder:

- whether the director was in a hurry to end the film (or)
- was a substantial part scissored on the editing table

From great acting to directorial debut, Naseer certainly has come a long way. Naseer's son Imaad Shah debuts in this movie.

Krishna - in a different shade

2006-07-17T13:43:00.000+05:30

Mystique myths

2006-07-17T13:10:00.001+05:30

Manikanthan's mind wavered a bit. In front of him stood a beautiful woman. With hair that touched the ground; in the wind that was blowing, it swayed like a wave. Her eyes white, as white as milk. Her eyes enticing, one could get lost it the depth of them. Her eyebrows an absolute arc, as if it belonged to an apsara. She was no less than an apsara.

'Now I know why the devas fight over women,' thought the young prince. As he took in the beauty in front of him, his mind wavered a bit. "Who are you? What are you doing here? This place is not safe," he said. She turned her head towards him. She had a smile on her face, and a look of admiration. In awe of the young warrior, she replied, "You do know me. Moments ago you were in a battle with me. I am the Mahishi, the one with the face of a buffalo. You killed me and the devas celebrated by showering flowers on you, by hailing you as the saviour. If you are as kindhearted as they say, if you are the saviour indeed, now is the time to prove that."No, you can't be Mahishi. You have such a sweet voice, you are such a beauty."

"Of that, let there be no doubt. I became Mahishi after the gods cursed me. My name is Leela."

"And how can I help you?" "Marry me, you must. For it were you who saved me from the curse.

And you cannot leave me here in the forests, on the banks of the Azhutha, where tigers and leopards roam freely. And death hides in every nook and corner." Ayyappa stood there in thought. Deliberating. She was asking for the impossible. I have pledged to be a brahmachari. Not for me the pleasures of love and comfort of wealth. I was born a prince, but I will live like a sanyasi. Not even Bhishma did that. And then my mother wants her son to be become the king, not me. "The Sun rises only in the east. It is a truth that can't be changed. As is my brahmacharya," said Ayyappan, the prince who knows only giving, like Karna of the Mahabharata. Leela was madly in love with him. She could think of only one life, with him by her side. She begged and cajoled, then she insisted. "If I ever have a husband, it will be you. My word is as precious as yours. There is no life for me without you," when she said this, her face was filled with sadness, but determination. And that swayed Ayyappan, the prince who knew only to give. 'My birth was an improbability. I had to be born of Hari and Hara, two men. But it happened. Now I have to give a similar boon to Leela, the woman in love with me, whom I can't ditch, for I am responsible for her plight,' so thought Ayyappa.

And then he said, "If I ever marry anybody, it will be you and only you. The year no new devotee comes to see me, I will marry you. Till then you will live here by my side, right next to my hut. My devotees will come to see you as they come to see me. To them you are the Malikapurathamma. And I give you my word, I won't look at any woman other than you."

* * * *

Leela is in a bad mood. But she has no one to turn to, no one to confide in. In this isolated hill, she has been staying alone, alongside Ayyappan, for many years now. In solitude, in the hope that one day her love will meet success. But a news has come that troubles her. And she doesn't know whether to believe it or not.

"Lord, have you heard what I heard? All these years I lived trusting your word. Never did I trespass into your quarters. Now, a woman says she came here, and even managed to touch you," Leela blurted out. Ayyappan didn't know what to say. He also had heard the news. Now, some people are fighting for entry of women into his home. Television channels are holding debates, so are newspapers. Some talk of gender justice, some others of belief. In the din everybody has forgotten about Leela. Nobody respects her love for him. How sad.

Ayyappan was lost in his thoughts. And Leela was complaining. And her voice grew louder and louder. Even the divine are not immune to domestic quarrels.

satire in a different blend

2006-07-14T20:51:00.002+05:30

chaste tamil - cenn tamizh
digs at cola wars, celebrity endorsements, psu jobs, riots
commendable dialogue delivery, a weird moustache!
shades of mgr and shivaji ganesan
pulikesi is simply satire in a different blend

thoughts over the week

2006-07-14T20:16:00.000+05:30

....some of the things that we have to live with, in our country.

thunderstorms
riots
bombings
power cuts
heat wave
heavy traffic jams

When the mind slips away

2006-07-04T20:55:00.000+05:30

a glimpse into the life of a professor and a great pandit, an intellectual individual challenged by bipolar disorder. he becomes a nomad, is taken to be deceased by his kith and kin, only to be later found by his mother at Haridwar.

a poignant portrayal by Mohanlal, myriad expressions, splendid cinematography, shot at beautiful locations in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Padmapriya makes her presence felt. raveendran's music is soft and easy on the ears. shajun karyal keeps the viewer engrossed in this gripping tale of emotions and strife.

vadakkumnathan is true to its name.

Ragasiyam

2006-07-04T20:50:00.000+05:30

"yeano unnul thayakkam, unn mounam kollum
udhattyil poi-yai maraithaal, unn idhayam sollum"

why do you hesitate, your silence just kills
hide the truth in your lips, and your heart reveals them

beautiful verses from Ragasiyam

OST by The Sound Junction

french flicks

2006-06-20T00:11:00.000+05:30

Taxi 3 is a French film directed by Gérard Krawczyk. It is a sequel to Taxi written by Luc Besson and directed by Gérard Pirès in 1998 and to Taxi 2 directed by Gérard Krawczyk in 2000.

A gang of thieves calling themselves the Santa Claus Gang are wreaking havoc, and the police are unable to keep up. Police Captain Gilbert (played by Bernard Farcy) is distracted by a Chinese reporter (Bai Ling) writing a story on his squad, detective Emilien's wife, Petra, has just announced that she's pregnant, and taxi driver Daniel (Samy Naceri) is in the midst of a relationship crisis. After a string of mistakes in which the thieves outsmart the police time and time again with a reporter there to record it all, Daniel and his super-taxi pitch in.

Commisar Giber (Bernard Farcy) has you in splits and Daniel (Samy Naceri) is his usual self with his love for cars and speed, with more gadgets in his taxi this time around. Marion Cotillard as Lilly is impressive. Sylvester Stallone makes a cameo at the beginning of the movie as a taxi passenger.

Tres bien Samy Naceri and Frédéric Diefenthal!

Check out a short sequence!

When life just slips away

2006-06-12T21:26:00.000+05:30

Ankahee. That which has been left untold.

This tale of infidelity, desperation and deceit keeps you glued to the drama unfolding. The sheer fact of Life slipping away from one's hands, a doctor in this case, is quite intricately captured by Vikram Bhatt. Shekar's (Aftab) world gets ripped apart as he gets tangled in a relationship with a manic depressive woman. He lends a helping hand but is caught into a whirlpool which seperates his wife and daughter from him forever.

The gentle background piano score and the lustre backdrops lend a unique soft effect to the film. However, certain dialogues and expressions leave quite a telling effect on one's psyche. The synthesis of serenity and neurosis gives the narrative a cutting edge.

Ankahee courts observant silences on many occasions. Pritam's background score is evocative. Mere Paas Aaa, Socha na tha and the theme music blend with the sequences. In one restaurant sequence the director appears as one of the guests at a table. There are hitting dialogues which give you a sudden jerk - "Why do you have to be so devoted to me? Why is it always about me?"

Ankahee. This tale is about Vikram Bhatt's affair with Sushmita Sen. Or so they say. The character of Sushmita portrayed in this film raises many a question in your mind.

Is all the glitz and glamour really worth the ride?

Corbett National Park

2006-06-07T21:58:00.000+05:30

Rule No.1 - Don't get down and walk in the jungle. Never, if you're in a place like Corbett!

No other bollywood movie captures the mood of a jungle this well. Debutant Director Soham brings out the world of the jungle in a truly breathtaking style. Crisp cuts, awesome cinematography and a stunning background score create a new genre. You literally fall in love with the jungle.

"Kaal" shows us how it is to be done, without degrading the genre or stepping too hard and fast on those peripheral scares. The best thing debutant director Soham Shah has done is to take his ingenious plot into the great wild outdoors - the Orbit Park.

End of the movie, a few words and sounds still linger on....

"Saab - Yeh Core Area hai - Route # 5. Bahut Khatarnaak hai"

"Kuch log shikar karneatey hai, kuch shikaar ban jaate hain"
"When you enter the jungle, you're a stranger to the animals"
"1300 kms of dense forest. This jungle has its own rules"

Truly in awe

2006-05-13T17:45:00.000+05:30

** "unnai kandene mudhal muraii
ennai tholaitheney naan mutrilumaaii"

I saw you for the very first time
I lost myself in totality

This song holds me in awe and nostalgia. The soft bass
and the sensual flute create a truly spellbinding effect!

** OST - Parijaatham

nocturnal conversations

2006-04-10T19:06:00.000+05:30

the magic in the night catches me in awe

the darkness that surrounds
and the silence that prevails

i look out of my window and
gaze at the stars that seem so low

adore those talks till the moment i yawn
that instill a sense of belonging even after dawn

the soft laughter that travails through my ear
the gentle smiles which i can still hear

i just love this era. this moment in time.

i wish it lasts
more than just a lifetime.

when we crash into life

2006-03-27T21:17:00.001+05:30

CRASH.

the name implies an obvious genre.
the script reveals a different story.

the blur of lights. the blur of life.

Poignant storyline. Adept editing.
Music that touches many a chord with the heart.

Scenes interspersed with emotions, music and thoughts.
A movie that makes you think, makes you feel the pulse of life.

Need I say more?

Someone stroked gently

2006-02-05T04:05:00.000+05:30

Someone stroked gently....

someone stroked the virtual veena on my mind
strange thoughts set the tone on my mind
with a tired sigh, with a wavering mind
the twilight waves goodbye, albeit with a heavy heart
today, someone stroked the virtual veena on my mind

even the moon today seems like the scorching sun
the colorful spring today feels like sober rain
your heart, shattered like broken pieces of glass
like the poor bird that flew high but got bruised

amidst the mist (slowly) like the rain that drifted away
like a lamp flickering in the wind, who is that waiting
your face resembles a bird that has lost its feathers
the strained heart wipes away the rainbow in the mind
and you, like the flow of tears, remain....

Aaro veral meeti...

aaro veral meeti manasil mann veenaiyil
etho vizhi neerin shruthi meetunnu mookam
thalarum thanu vodey - idarum manam odey
vida vaangunna sandhye - virahaadrai aaya sandhye
innu, aaro viral meeti manasil mann veenaiyil

vennilaavu polum ninakku inn eriyum venal aayi
varna raaji meetum vasantham varsha shokham aayi
ninndey aardra hrudayam thooval chillu udanya padam aayi
irulil parannu murivetu paadum oru paavam thooval kiliaayi neee

paathi maanya manjil pathukkey peithu ozhinja mazhayayil
kaatil minni maayum vilakkaai kaathu nilpathu aarey
ninndey moha shakalam - peeli chirag odinjha shalabam
manasil menanju mazhavillumaaikum oru paavam kanneer mukilaai neee

passing through the aisles of time

2006-01-25T11:19:00.000+05:30

There was a shimmer and then a light
That, my friend, was you in a new land
The light that shone bright, became brighter
And before we knew, we were friends in thoughts

Little did we realize that we would embark?
On a journey, not many, took off with élan

There are times we’ve spent simply walking
There are times that we’ve spent conversing
Amidst myriad flashes of humor and delight

And then those moments of mirth and joy
When you made me learn some of life’s ploys

Those simple countless laughs that we shared
Will never go forgotten even when we’re grey-haired

When the twisting kaleidoscope, moves us all in turn
And as you begin yet another new voyage

Let us aspire that we shall reach heights and still remain
The best of pals that this epoch can retain

when you venture out

2006-01-22T04:17:00.000+05:30

working on a venture that would create paradigm shifts
make an impact on the careers of many an individual

a dream on the footsteps of time
a dream which will take off soon

a thought that would excite young minds . . . .

Pehla yeh Pehla

2005-12-26T01:18:00.000+05:30

pehla yeh pehla
pyaar tera mera soni
pehli yeh mulaakaat hai
pehli yeh mulaakaat hai

jo keh rahi hai aankhen
woh keh rahi hai baatein
jaagi tu bhi saari raat hain
jaagi tu bhi saari raat hain

dil pe chalaa na jab zor koi
dil pe chalaa na jab zor koi
tu meri paas aa gayi
main tere paas aa gaya

pyaasi hai teri saansen
pyaasi hai meri saansen
uss pe yeh barsaat hain
uss pe yeh barsaat hain

kab se the hum tum tanhaa akele
aaj tujhe cheyn mil gaya
aaj mujhe cheyn mil gaya

baaheon main meri tum
baahoon main teri hum
aur yeh jawaan raat hai
aur yeh jawaan raat hai

rukh si gayi hai
teri meri raahen
hum jo saat aa gaye
haai, manzil ke paas aa gaye

aaye they kaahaan se dono
jaanyenge kaahaan pe dono
yeh to ab kise yaad hai
yeh to ab kise yaad hai

Chords of Discord

2005-12-26T01:15:00.000+05:30

you start out on a journey
a journey to discover another soul
the chillness surrounds you
with a strange serenity

you come face to face with reality
and you feel the warmth

some experiences in life come as new
moments we havent come across in the past
totally new in its entirety
absolutely!

there are times
when you just dont want
life to pass at its own pace
just dont feel like increasing the pace
you desire that some moments last longer

and then
a sudden turn
an unexpected jolt

and you are enveloped by a void

d-i-s-c-o-n-n-e-c-t-e-d
from the chords of communication

a day filled with hope
a day filled with anxiety
a day filled with expectation
a day filled with desperation

and the day ends with a vacuum

and little do you realize that
you are back on your journey
all those hundreds of miles back
all those hundreds of miles away

back to the pavilions of monotony....

a journey you begin with a void
sometimes ends with a void too

"aankhon se tu dhoor hai
dhadkano ke paas hai"

L' Attitude 13 ' 05

2005-11-29T18:29:00.002+05:30

its the Latitude of Madras (13 ' 05) with a french twist
L' Attitude 13 ' 05

Mediocre But Arrogant

2005-10-10T23:44:00.000+05:30

http://mediocrebutarrogant.blogspot.com/

This is one book I couldnt just stop reading. Its so addictive that the reader eyes gets glued to it. Its all about Life in a B-school and more, the life that Abbey, the protagonist goes through in his two years at MIJ (a bschool of repute) at Jamshedpur or "Jampot" as referred to in the book! - and Abbey's life before that as a student of Delhi University.

The well-etched characters stay in your mind so fresh. The magical world in the book that draws you into it is almost like the aura that exists in RK Narayan's Malgudi and its characters.

I liked Malgudi and its characters, but I adore Jampot, MIJ and Abbey's world that revolves around it. What are you waiting for? Havent you got a copy yet? Go get it, before it gets sold out !!

Here are a few illustrations which sparkle in the book.

1. Ayesha's eyes - Abbey's classmate at MIJ

2. Abbey's classnotes on Organizational Behaviour (Orgy B)

3. Abbey's classnotes on Strategic Planning (Pari's class)

a different raaga

2005-09-30T23:35:00.000+05:30

there are times when life suddenly starts to beat
on a different rhythm
on a different raga
and there's a rhyme and reason . . . .

aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai
aaj phir marne ka irada hai

and then the rhythm is void of a voice

just a metronome without a soul

Can we go back in time?

2005-09-28T23:07:00.000+05:30

i just wish i could go back in time
i just wish i hadn't lost . . . .
i just cant bear the pain
i just wish . . . .

:-(

Accidental or Incidental

2005-09-26T22:50:00.000+05:30

as i lay on bed, i sensed the distinct odour of antiseptic & listerine
my eyes moved slowly to discover the environs that i was lying in

the pain inside me was acute that i didnt realize the syringe go in
the doc had prescribed a painkiller to alleviate the physical pain

the medicine took its course onto my nerves and into my brain
my eyes closed for a few seconds as thoughts ran wild in my mind

a few minutes back i was lying on the asphalt road on a dingy street
the screeching halt of the car had perfectly synchronized with my fall

the instrument which flipped from my hand was a few metres away
with its moonlight screen still flashing on a dialed call waiting

the haphazard typing, the frantic dialing, the nervousness inside,
everything muted the surrounding sounds that i was hearing

i hadnt noticed the car coming until reality hit me with a jolt
and as i fell, i could not comprehend the sudden turn of events

suddenly pain was everywhere, inside, outside and within
i clenched my teeth as pain and agony engulfed me

i felt strange as i started touching my own hands and elbow
bruises and scratches had made the skin seem alien to mine

thanks to my prayers to God - "you havent ended up with a
joint crack or a fracture" retorted the doc as he walked away

as i tried to sleep, myriad thoughts played havoc in my mind
was it really my fault ? yes ? why me ? why is this happening ?

a friend had completely deleted me from thoughts and that hurt
but the civic road was not a place for trivia and cellphone activity

as i tried time and again, i failed miserably to connect
the call did not connect - but the fall ultimately did

i had rejoiced when God gave me a great friend and
now i quiver in desolation as I have lost what He gave me

a friend who laughed in rhyme and cared dearly
now no longer shares nor cares

pangs of pain abound which fail to explain
the strange mystery behind the veil

i still wait with endurance for judgement day
as i ponder was it all but accidental or incidental

as i mourn, i still keep asking myself . . . .

Kissed by a Rose

2005-09-20T00:08:00.000+05:30

there, used to be a greying tower alone on the sea
you became, the life on the dark side of me
love remained - a drough as the high mountain appeared

but did you know
that when it snows
my eyes become alive
and the light that you shine can be seen

baby, i compare you
to a kiss from a rose on the grey
oooh the more i get of you
the stranger it feels yeah

and now that your rose is in bloom
a light hits the gloom on the grey

there's so much a man can tell you
so much he can say
you remain
my power
my pleasure
my pain

baby, to me you're like a grown addiction
that i cant deny

wont you tell me
is that healthy baby

but did you know that when it snows
my eyes become alive and
the light that you shine can be seen

baby i compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
oooh the more i get of you
the stranger it feels yeah

and now that your rose is in bloom
a light hits the gloom on the grey

i've been kissed by a rose on the grey !

Bally Sagoo

2005-09-11T02:32:00.000+05:30

Bally Sagoo truly redefined the sounds of
Classic Old Hindi numbers and
He is One of a Kind

Google him up and you can listen to
an exquisite blend of Punjabi,
Hindi and Techno.

Bally Sagoo Loops

Bally Sagoo on Ishq Records

Oru Chembaneer Poovu

2005-09-04T21:45:00.000+05:30

Oru chembaneer poov-iruthu njaan omaley
Oru vela nin nerku neeti illya

Engilum engeney nee arinju
Ente chembaneer pookunnadhaay ninakkaai
Sugantham parathu-nnadhaai ninakkaai
Parayu nee parayu, Parayu nee parayu

I’d picked a flower for you my dear
not once did I show it to you

even then, how did you know ?
how did you know that my flowers bloomed only for you
that they spread their fragrance for you
tell me, just tell me

a moment to treasure

2005-09-04T21:20:00.000+05:30

the immense joy and excitement when a friend calls you
the addiction to speak that entices you in one whole moment

and you wish that, that moment lasts as long as you can imagine
its an experience that you would treasure for a lifetime

When life pays back times two

2005-08-31T00:36:00.000+05:30

as I drive along, my eyes glance upon the tachometer of the car
my mind comprehends the vague figure as 83020 (kms)
I’ve driven down a long way in my life

a decade filled with more painful experiences than peace
occasional flashes of joy, random minutes of happiness

but the present, presents itself so bleak, so uncertain
things just don’t work the right way in life, they go awry

a friend whom you cherish so closely ignores you completely
a jolt so hard that it pains more than the prick of a thorn

there are times when you think maybe somewhere in the past
you may have ignored a friend in life unknowingly, it hurts more
maybe its not just worth it to push too much affection
or too much attachment even in friendship

as myriad thoughts of nostalgia flash through the mind
I recollect those lines another friend of mine used to quote -

“whatever you do in life, comes back to you times two”
“always remember that”

And when that happens, it hurts twice as much

Left to my own devices

2005-08-29T23:45:00.000+05:30

as I see around, I am enveloped by darkness
darkness has its own demerits,
people fear it because it holds the unknown
people avoid darkness, as it may lead them to the sadness
or rather the sadness that someone may pass on to them

once in your life - surrounded by people who rush to talk to you
the present moment, the yearning for a call persists
you gaze at your phone with anxious looks, pick it up
and realize it was all but just an imaginary tone in your mind
the bane of urban loneliness as people may candidly call it

then comes the time
when tears freeze and fears rise
the eyes say it all and the heart cries
words pour out but arent heard no doubt

the mind plays strange games and thoughts play havoc
anxiety shrouds itself into the nerves and results in numbness

further contradictions and the body resists movement
the mind refrains from speech
silence remains . . . .

Is there an end to the mounting agony ?
I'm but .... Left to my own devices ....

Srimad Bhagavatam

2005-08-29T02:25:00.000+05:30

Sri Vedavyasa, the very incarnation of Sri Vishnu for awarding sacred knowledge and freedom from fear, is the author of eighteen Puranas (lit. narratives of ancient times) running into four hundred thousand shlokas or verses. The names and extent of each of the eighteen Puranas is given in detail in Chapter 31 of the twelfth canto of Srimad Bhagavatham, which is one among the eighteen, having 18000 shlokas. While Srimad Bhagavatham is not the lengthiest of the Puranas (Skanda Purana with 81100 being the longest), it is certainly the crown jewel among them. It has been said that the other Puranas spread their luster in an assemblage of the righteous only so long as the Glorious Bhagavatha is not directly visible. It is considered to be the cream and essence of the Upanishads and a person sated with its nectarine flavour will not find delight anywhere else. The Bhagavatha is the delight of the devotees of Sri Vishnu - is free from faults and impurities and has the sole aim of Kaivalya or liberation which is the goal of Parmahamsas. A mere reading gives so much peace to the mind and the soul. The power is astonishing.

There are blessed men, like the Late Anantharama Dikshitar, who had immense memory and literary prowess, He could recite any verse from any of the epics, like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam, Narayaneeyam, and the like, with uncomparable ease.

Pinneyum (Time and again)

2005-08-24T13:46:00.000+05:30

pinneyum pinneyum aaro kinaavindey padi kadannu ethunna padhaniswanam
pinneyum pinneyum aaro kinaavindey padi kadannu ethunna padhaniswanam

pinneyum pinneyum aaro nilaavathu pon venu oodhunna mridhu mandhranam
pinneyum pinneyum aaro kinaavindey padi kadannu ethunna padhaniswanam

padi kadannu ethunna padhaniswanam
pinneyum pinneyum aaro, aaro, aaro ....

Time and again, i hear footsteps of someone crossing the doors of my dreams
Time and again, i hear footsteps of someone crossing the doors of my dreams

Time and again, i hear gentle notes of someone playing a flute under the moonlight
Time and again, i hear footsteps of someone crossing the doors of my dreams

....the footsteps of someone crossing the doors of my dreams
Time and again, someone, someone, someone ....

Sakhiye !

2005-08-24T01:45:00.000+05:30

sakhiye nee dhaan thunaye
vizhi mel amarndha imayeh
inam teriyaamal inaindhom kiliye
sakhiye nee dhaan thunaye

boomiyai ketaaal vaanmugil thoovum
pookalai ketaaal vandugal paadum

veedhiyai ketaal thendralum veesum
saadhiyai ketaal kaadhalum thonrum

kaadhalin raajiyathil visithira vazahakam
kangalai vaangi kondu idhayathai kodukkum

oru vizhi paarvai uyir-ayum edukkum
maru vizhi paarvai uyir-ayum kodukkum

iru viral theen-di-naal
saadhigal thadu-kkum

idhanyangal thendinaal
edhu nammai pirikkum

sakhiye nee dhaan thunaye
vizhi mel amarndha imayeh
inam teriyaamal inaindhom kiliye
sakhiye nee dhaan thunaye

Oru Naal Oru Pozhudhu

2005-08-24T01:24:00.000+05:30

oru naal oru pozhudhu, unn moonji kaandraama
usuru allaa-du-dhey
maru naal varum varaikkum, pasee thookam kollaama
manasu, mallaa-du-dhey

kaaveri-nadhiyum rendaaga koodum
ull-idam vandhu onnaaga chaerum
kaala-thin kanakka yaar kaanathoodum

neenda mudi konjam niram maari pochu
sangu kuzhi odu koral maari pochu
odi vayasu aachu, uru maari pochu
nenapaga mattum thaaney
maarama irukku

enna sutthi oru kootam sirikindra podhum
onna patthi enn udhadu oyaama paesum
kaatru mazhai edhanaalum
karayaadhu paasam
kattai idhum vegaadhu
kai thotta vaasam

oru naal oru pozhudhu, unn moonji kaandraama
usuru allaa-du-dhey
maru naal varum varaikkum, pasee thookam kollaama
manasu, mallaa-du-dhey

Losing sleep over....

2005-08-20T02:19:00.000+05:30

What is it like to lose a lot of sleep ? Well, if you ask me these days, I can surely tell you a word or two. Why ? Well, what do you do when your mind is so preoccupied that you are just not able to put it to sleep easily. Its not hyperactivity, but this spaced out feeling. This sinking feeling that whatever you end up doing, however positive you are, things just dont go your way. The sheer state of helplessness.

How do you feel, when someone you cherish a lot, a friend whose shoulders you want to fall on, isnt showing up on your cellphone screen ? Blame I shall not, for if my time is bad, then whats the use of blaming my dear friend. Sometimes, good luck brings you, great surprises you least expect. But, the sheer bad luck brings not even a speck of shine to your face. And you touch a point in Life, when things just suddenly go blank - as blank as a TV screen with white dots scattered all over.

Tere mere saath jo hota hai
Sab ke saat woh hota nahin
Jab saara jag hi sotha hai
Phir neend hamein kyun aatheen nahin ?

Waiting for a miracle

2005-08-18T01:27:00.000+05:30

Why is it that there are some things in Life which we can never control inspite of all our efforts ? why is it that there are some things which seem so near to us and are yet so far ? Is this a feeling of sadness thats engulfing me ?

No, its not the sadness, its beyond just that. Or is it the desperation ? Negative. Then what is it that shrouds so much within you, eating you in and out, and not giving the inner peace that you very much crave for. When mounted with obstacles in Life, there is no hope but to wish for a miracle, a miracle that may be waiting to happen, a miracle that may not happen, but the thought of a miracle that still instills a small ray of hope in my inner-sub-conscious. Time heals, they say, but what if it does not ? Then what do we turn to ?

"Dont worry" "things will work" "have hope" .... all these phrases seem so obscure.

tanhaai mein basee hai zindagi

2005-08-18T01:21:00.000+05:30

tanhaai mein basee hai zindagi
kuch bhi nahi
kuch bhi nahi

sach hai yehi
sach hai yehi

aise, kahaan se yoon chalke aa gayee
mehki hawa, teri sadaa, sun toh zara,

sunn toh zaraa....

chalo hoon main toh teri chaah mein
milenge jaane kis raah mein

kahaa hai mere dil ne bhi yahi
TUM HEE SE JUDI HAI YEH ZINDAGI

iraada hai ki tumko paaoon main
jo kehna chaahoon kehte jaaon main

tum hee toh umeed ho meri
tum hee se judi meri harr khushi

kho gayen hai khayaalon mein kahi
tum bhi yahi
main bhi yahi

jaana kahaan
khabar nahi

kisi ne toh pukaara hai mujhe
kahin se toh ishaara hai mujhe

hei dil mere, chal, chalein wahi
aaj se nayee hai zindagi

chala hoon main toh teri chaah mein
milenge jaane kis raah mein

kahaa hai mere dil ne bhi yahi
TUM HEE SE JUDI HAI YEH ZINDAGI

Zindagi mein koi

2005-08-17T04:18:00.000+05:30

Zindagi mein koi kabhi aaye na rabba
Aaye jo koi, toh phir jaaye na rabba
Dene ho agar mujhe baad mein aasoon
Toh pehle koi hasaaye na rabba
Zindagi mein koi kabhi aaye na rabba

Let someone not enter my life
The one who comes, let (her) not leave
If (she) has to give me tears later
Let (her) not make me laugh before that
Let someone not enter my life

Signs of an End

2005-08-17T03:24:00.000+05:30

Signs of an End

As in everyone's life - there have been several instances in my life where I have had to face situations where relatives/grandparents have passed away. But during most of the scenarios, I've faced it only indirectly. For the first time in my life, on the 12th of Aug'05 - I saw death coming. PRN Iyer, a paternal grand-uncle, was suffering since two months. He was ailing. The pain in all his joints and legs made him immobile and bed-ridden. There was an attender by name Raja who took care of him. When we are free to walk and run, we hardly realize the freedom, agility and mobility that the marvelous human body holds. In the case when a person is totally restricted to bed, hardly able to move due to pain, and immobile - that is real agony. It is only then that we realise that the words agony and pain are so harsh on us. PRN had undergone 4 major surgeries in his lifetime, the most major being a hip and joint replacement one.

Most of the family folks shuddered speaking to PRN even when it came to casual talk as he was very blunt, loud and sometimes crude in his comments. Life in the soil of Kerala where feudal landlords are plenty, had made him one too. "I know it all, you dont!" was his tagline. And right from maidservants to relatives, no one was spared of shouts and scoldings. However, he did have a faithful servant who listened to all his taunts and abuses, the ever-quiet, the ever-tolerant - Narayanan, who served him well. He didnt believe much in God but cursed the Gods when he had problems.

But suddenly at age 88, there were changes, but his inner harsh qualities remained. He started suffering with ailments. It was just the age and immobility and not disease or sickness, inablity to move due to pain and his life was restricted to a cot in a room. But however harsh a person is, when we start seeing the suffering, we are deeply moved. PRN was disgusted with his life due to the pain and suffering. Once when Raja asked him in his rural dialect "Ayah, enna venum ayyah, sollunga ayyah" (sir, what do you want sir, tell me) PRN softly and rather in a gentle tone told him, "enakku....enakku....konjum vesham venam" (i...i...need a little poison) - and suddenly Raja's eyes were moist. Even though he had heard abuses from the man he was serving for a few months, he was shocked when he heard those words from PRN. There were bouts of shouts from PRN due to pain whenever he moved or wanted Raja to move his legs, and due to an infection in his ankle, the Doc came everyday to dress the wound and monitor his condition. As days passed, and pain mounted, with sleepless nights, PRN became more restless as ever. His memory deteriorated and there were times he spoke irrelevant things out of context, murmured words with no intent, and so on.

However, one day, a strange thing occured, right from the morning, he was too quiet. His eyes mostly closed, and he opened his eyes only for brief moments. Was this a sign ? No, maybe not, maybe he was just tired, maybe he was tired of shouting too, and well maybe not, maybe it was a sign ? Two days passed and PRN remained a quite self, really different from his usual mood. The quietness was a sign of relief from shouts of pain and agony and was as disturbing too at the same time. His usual diet which comprised mostly liquids was decreasing and Glucose-D was recommended.

PRN had cold and cough and was having a difficult time breathing. Raja retired for the night after feeding PRN some Glucose-D and water. As folks at home finished dinner, we started hearing strange murmurs and sounds. Was PRN talking in his sleep or was it the pain or the pain-killer medicine at work ? This was a sound which I had never heard. We tried to decipher what he was murmuring, but could hardly understand the sounds. Two words which clearly stood apart in his murmur was "Narayana....Narayana". Though he was away from his native village in Kerala for nearly half a year, his inner sub-conscious still had his old servant's name which he had retrieved from this thoughts.

Whats in a name ?

A month before, when someone told PRN, "Please start praying to God, you will get well soon" PRN had replied in a furious tone "Get lost, I will never chant Gods name". There's this tale in the epic "Srimad Bhagavatham" which narrates the tale of a king who never worshipped the almighty. He had 11 sons and as his days neared the end, he was still ailing and of all the sons, he started calling his youngest son, who's name was 'Narayana'. After calling out his name a few times and seeing him, he breathed his last.

In ancient days, most people in India named their children after a name of God - Ram, Krishna, Shiva, Devi and so on and so forth....were all common names and there was a hidden reason to this which most of us may not know. As you can relate to the above tale, it was due to the fact that the parents in their old age can call their names as like they call God, and even to ensure that God's name was repeatedly uttered when they were calling their loved ones. Of course, some also beleived that divine vibrations existed in the sounds of these names.

There is yet another explanation to uttering the names of Gods. Even if something bad is spoken of a person with God's name the speaker still derives blessings and not sins. However bad a person may be in his deeds or qualities, when he calls out the name of almighty, he is forgiven. This was true in PRN's case. He had called out his old servant, but unknowingly, he had uttered the name.

There's a rhyme and reason....

After sounds of "Narayana" - what we heard from PRN was even more strange, the murmur increased. His breathing was hard due to the accumulated flem owing to cold and cough. He was given a cough mixture which however made him more uncomfortable. I thought ...."once he falls asleep, he would feel better when he wakes up next day". But reality proved otherwise and though he had not fallen asleep, his eyes were closed.

As I paced the living room and gazed at the clock, it was past 11.30 pm, Folks at home started retiring to bed. A glance at the calendar showed me the dates 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 ...and so on in the page of august and revealed that the date that day was 12th. Indian Regional calendars (say tamil or malayalam) reveal astrological details such as star, rasi, etc. and on the next day the 13th of Aug, the star (moonsign) was Vishakam. It was the birthstar of PRN. All these stars occur once in every month as per the lunar cycle. As per astrology, when a person passes through a very bad phase at old age, sometimes the person's life ends before his star occurs in the next nearing month. This is one possiblity, the other being that otherwise, if the person lives till that star occurs the next month, then his situation worsens further in life. Either way it is bad.

Seeing PRN breathing so hard, I rummaged through the wardrobe and got a stethescope. As I kept it in his chest, what I heard baffled me. The sounds outside were that of hard breathing whereas there was distortion inside his chest that I heard through the stethescope. PRN heart's beat was not to be heard due to the rough breathing sounds inside his chest. As I moved the stethescope to the right side of his chest. I heard a sound which I had never before heard in my life. A humming sound which went (hmmmmmmm....) and was rather an ailing eerie sound. I could realise that this was not the sound of Life, then it had to be the sound of .....yes, the end was nearing ....or Was it ? I still had hope.

After a few minutes, PRN suffered from acute nausea and expunged the liquids he had consumed earlier. There was a still silence in the room. All of us stood still. I gathered courage to touch his hands and feet and thought that there was still life in him. I moved my hands slowly towards his nose and mouth. There was not a whiff of breath. He had passed away. I looked at the clock, it was 12 midnight. The next day was his birthstar. He had not crossed it.

"Sometimes the pain is so agonizing that the patient feels he will attain peace only through death....I'm telling this out of my own experience, I've met with an accident earlier and have almost gone to that stage of pain and death, and I've come back to Life" - said the Doctor who was treating him for a month. As he walked away, the Doc added, "In a way, I feel he is lucky, he did not have to suffer more".

"May his soul rest in peace"

Where do I begin ?

2005-08-15T03:54:00.000+05:30

"Dear Ganesha .... Lead well ....this army of words"

Where do I begin..... As I start typing, my mind oscillates for words .... thoughts from "The Ramayana" that I had read three mornings before, comes to my mind.... There are subtle finer points in this epic that make us think of certain basic principles of Life.

Philosophy apart, I had heard that reading the Ramayana during the malayalam month of Karkadakam [Aani/Aadi in tamil - July / Aug) brings a lot of good, be it to one's thoughts or deeds. Now what stops you from doing this ? - "oh come on ....I know the story of the Ramayana...." - however when I started reading the Valmiki version of bound text, I realized that there is more to it than meets the eye. This is the same we presume of Life sometimes - "Yeah I know....I know.... " - we tell ourselves - whereas sometimes we really do not know or understand certain situations or circumstances in Life, but tend not to show it out that way for various reasons whatsoever.

Subtle nuances....

Why does Rama kill Vaali hiding from the back instead of engaging in battle one-to-one ? Vaali has a boon granted from the Gods that anyone who fights Vaali instantly loses half of his strength. Therefore, no one can win him in a one-to-one fight. This explains why Rama shoots Vaali from the back.

Though Dasaratha loves all his three wives (Sumitra, Kausalya, Kaikeyi) equally - he gives into granting boons to Kaikeyi when he is in bed with her due to his sheer lust for her and ends up repenting later in life. Kaikeyi begets these boons when she saves Dasaratha's life in a battle long ago and Dasaratha promises her two boons. Capturing him in her web of lust, Kaikeyi asks him for one wish and two boons and threatens to commit suicide when Dasaratha disagrees with her boons initially. Eventually Dasaratha gives in to her.

"Its better to prevent and prepare than repent and repair"

In the Ramayana - Vishnu is born as Rama and Adisesha (vishnu's serpent) is born as Lakshmana - whereas in the Mahabharata - Vishnu is born as Krishna and Adisesha is Balarama, Krishna's elder brother. The contrast therefore being that Lakshmana serves Rama whereas Krishna serves Balarama. The balance is maintained.

On his return from Lanka - when Hanuman is asked about his mission to Lanka - neither the pride in Hanuman nor the ego surfaces - He utters only two words "Kanden Seethaiyai" which conveys a lot of meaning to Rama. He does not mention to the vanaraas about the personal dialogues between him, Sita and Rama. This says a lot about the discipline, respect and privacy that he maintains in his heart for Rama.

.... and in mythology .....there are such countless small nuances which convey big meanings.