Indian Music

I just played 'maanguyile' song to my American friend here and he loved it! Raja rules!

My friend wanted the youtube link. I had a better idea and told him that I would compile a playlist of compilations which would give him the spectrum of Indian music.

Help me with suggestions!

:)

Offbeat movies - 1

As has been asked often of me by a lot of people, am starting this section of writing a list of offbeat movies that I catch up on DVD or TV....and a short review with it. These movies are not going to have any of the mainstream releases that happened recently. So, it will be something that you can pick from a DVD shop...:)

The Ruins (2008) (Horror)

I am one who avoids horror at any costs but this seemed offbeat and hence I got hooked on. I wish I dint!I was completely freaked out on seeing this. On the lines of tourists-get-to-unknown-place premise, this one is too real and you will feel as if you can encounter something like this in a day-to-day life. And believe me..there are no ghosts! Its something more...:)

New Jersey Drive (1995) (Drama/Action)

Now, am a big fan of black movies. I like their style; the way they talk. Bro, am hooked! This movie is about a group of young black car thieves set in Jersey City in 1995. Its kinda slow movie with no big stars but its an interesting watch. And you can catch a lot of slang that might help you to throw around some air!...:)

The Hammer (2007) (Comedy)

This is a very simple and funny movie about an aged boxer who tries to get back to the ring. A guy named Adam Carolla plays the boxer and his straight face humor is a treat to watch. He has a Nicaragua friend who is like that uncle from Borat guy in terms of his comic sense. The scene where Adam wears the ipod and tries to show off before a girl is hilarious! And the girl in this is a next-door-girl and you will like her definitely!...:)

Event Horizon (1997) (Sci Fi/Horror/Thriller)

Lawrence Fishburne stars in this and I don't know how I missed this one earlier. This is an edge-of-the-seat thriller. A space ship gets lost for 7 years and when it suddenly appears, all is not what it seems. The idea in this movie will scare the s**t out of you!...:)

Water fountain

Here is a night shot of the water fountain in a pond in my Muncie apt complex. And do you see a peeping head? no no...thats no Loch Ness monster. Its a harmless duck! There are about like 40 ducks out here and when I walk there in the middle of the night talking with Ramya, they will rush to my side thinking I have something for them to eat! ....:)

Intimate Strangers

Brian and me had been hitting the Heorots pub every Thursday now. It takes its name from the Beowoulf character and I learnt later that the owner of the pub does own two wolves! I have seen him around with a long beard (he was gracious enough to give us a free pitcher once!) and he has a beer named after him (I will get the name later).

Heorots sells like 400 to 500 beers from around the wolrd. So, there's a tradition in Heorots that if you get to 100 beers, you get your name plaqued to the wooden bar and if you get to 200, you get a T-shirt with Heorots name. Today, Brian reached 200 after three years today and it was a good thing to celebrate.

Anyways, the whole thing about writing today was about meeting this stranger Tony who is a teacher at a nearby high school. I was pounding him with questions and learnt the following

1) US Kids after high school are taking to technology more now than medicine or finance

2) Bright kids are not taking to teaching (he was worried about it!)

3) Kids are taking to agriculture engineering more to do effective farming

Tony had been much thru Europe and he was talking about an interesting country called Liechtenstein which is like just over the size of the town Muncie I live in. So, Tony was down there in a pub (where else) and was talking to the bartender who was from Austria. Tony asked him whether he is now a Liechtenstein citizen. The bartender said that there is no way to become a citizen here since there are no immigration laws. What that means is that the bartender can work there but has to leave every night and get to Austria! No other country's citizen is welcome there. Interesting!

Life aka Casino (The Gita way)

What are you born for?

Imagine.

You walk into a casino. The guy who opens the door gives you a set of chips (aka money aka friends aka relatives aka whatever-f**k-you-can-think-about). There is only one rule. You got to spend every damn chip in the floor. Nothing goes with you when you walk out of the casino!

So, what do you do?

Some play fast; lose all chips.

Some play slow and steady; eventually lose all chips.

Some do not play at all and keep watching others play; eventually are forcefully emptied.

What is the loss? Chips, you think. Nothing! What did you f**king own in the first place to lose?

Till the above statement, it is very clear in Gita.

The only new thing I can think of which is not covered in any holy book is that you are not only playing with the chips but you are a/the f**king chip for someone else. That adds a new and profound meaning to your life. So when someone rolls a dice somewhere, chances are that you are going to be tossed around! Exciting life, eh!

:)

Elusive Rabbit

Like Tom Cruise behind Rabbit's foot in MI3, I had been keeping a watch for this elusive rabbit that keeps playing in the lawn in front of the apartment. Ramya wanted to see this in a picture and everytime I tried to get the camera out, this would disappear. At last today, I was able to slyly catch it on a pic...:)

Tandoori Chicken

Here is the Tandoori Chicken I made today. :) I started getting nostalgic about the Idylwoods days.

Compare and Lose

In the felicitation ceremony for AR Rahman, it was Ilayaraja's turn to speak. When he came up to the podium, there were like two mikes twisted around. He pulled them closer together and made a hand gesture clasping both his hands together! He went on to add that there were two musicians Madan Mohan and Roshan in the Hindi film music world who never met. Roshan, 32, died early and Madan went over to the funeral and asked angrily something like 'What will I do without you? Whom will I compete with?'. That sums up the feelings both Rahman and Raja have for each other.

When I go through some internet content; listen to some heated discussions at workplace/college/schools; even movies (Sarvam), I find the comparison factor despicable. Understanding that it is an inherent character of a human to rake up the comparison factor in anything and everything, I just request to look at the mirror and ask yourself "What do I want?"

Its like this: if everything had to be compared and rated and only the best needs to stay, then how about a hotel/home that sells/makes only its best item day in and out? Would you like to stuff in that item day in and day out? Won't you feel nauseated?

So, feel good that you got the best of both and get immersed in that. After all, they are there creating music for you to enjoy. Why fight over who wins? Why dont you let go of that thought and you win for a change?

At my boss place

It was an evening to remember, last Friday. I took off early in the afternoon. Made some good pepper chicken; went to the Conconnan's and got pasteries; shopped at Borders for a book; and finally got a Napa Valley wine. With all this went down to my boss Tim's place. Karen, Dan and Greg were there. Tim's place is a lovely home with a beautiful backyard. Tim had soaked beef fillet in the seasoning and was just about to grill them out when I went in. Karen topped with baked potatoes and corn. So, there we all sat outside in a rather chill evening for a summer and feasted. Tim's wine was good; the fillet was awesome and the company was the best. We talked about this and that and ended with some watermelons for dessert. It was 10 pm when I left with a feeling of having visited home away from home.

'Adam' Laptop

Yeah ...you read it right....last week in the factory, came across a laptop made in 1987! In perfect working condition. It was a Zenith 181 laptop running on DOS. No hard drives...just those two floppy drives that you see. One for booting and the other for running programs! And what programs....I saw a graphics program that works like our initial screensavers...cool! The laptop weighed heavy. The one thing that I noticed is that the keyboard has not changed much even from then.

To think this was one of the first laptops to come into being and still running....wow!

Of Valiant Men and Valentine

I wrote the below post on Valentine day, 2007 when I was in Buffalo, NY:

The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.

- V

As every Valentine runs by, in the last twelve years, the net sum feelings in the heart is given by the above rather crisp message from the movie 'V for Vendetta'. The protaganist in the movie utters the above in a way different context but heyyy....that fits me. And the phonetics of 'V' gives a comfort feeling.

It started on a bright summer day in Chennai. Year 1995. The phone rang and I picked it up. The other end said 'Happy Valentine..'. The ball started rolling. It took me four full days to confirm and reconfirm with my friends (those ^&&^**&&*) that only people in love utter those magic words. Oh my God....and I did not even respond on that day. From that moment onwards, the phone bills went up; guys became enemies (oh...the ones who say that this is not love); vijay became my favourite hero (those one sided love story movies!); computer classes became hot (my father lost Rs. 35000 there...hey....not me!); white shirts became staple (she liked white). Once after seeing one Prabhu Deva - Kajol movie with her and mutual friends, I waited an hour outside the movie theatre to wave to her as her car goes out. Later, found out that she had taken the other exit and long gone. Hmm...one of the first waits. It took me ...hold your breath...five years to find the courage to utter the response to her. And the reply was..."ok....hmm....heyy....i never thought you in that manner....heyy...heeyy....where r u running?"

I never looked back. Strangely, did not cry also. Now, one thing here which I have never given out till date: I did eat Biriyani that day (this is for you....MITians!). Few days back, one of my friends who studied in those computer classes and me were catching up. Suddenly that guy said 'machan....those days...when I used to feel a bit low...I used to wear whites". I was trying hard to recollect the connection when he finished, "....you know she likes whites...". It was sort of poetic hurt when I surmised that it was not me wearing whites that had her approval...it was white wearing guys....Goddd!

Came out of college; joined a company. And there she enters (heyy...this is a new entry!). I started taking a liking (when did I not?) and this time did not hold out for long. Six months later, told her. Negative. Again, Muniyandi Vilas (Tamil Nadu ethnic restaurant to have Biriyani!). Somehow, we became good friends for two years. And one day, strictly out of curiosity, had asked her the Q...'heyy....was there even a ...hmmm..chance that time?'. And know what her #$%%^&* reply was?..."you know...if you had stopped talking....I would have agreed in ...two days...but you were a gem". I almost fainted. My fair lady....I would have happily been a piece of coal then, seriously!

I thought that was the end. I was wrong.

Then came my love. The one which I can never write in the same humorous way as above. Took away my breath. And this time....she did like me (my #$$#$%$% God....at last!). Villian came in a different form. Love. Period. Hurt. Period. Muniyandi Vilas.

Today, looking back, seems like I lost something along the way. Maybe my innocence. But gained immensely from my encounters. What? Weight, you @##$$%%^ idiot...all the #$%$%$$% beer went inside me only na...

As I write, I overhear my early-twenties-roomie excitedly discussing about the Valentine day specials!

I...no no...

V for....Vendetta.

Naan Kadavul (I am God)

Watched 'Naan Kadavul' again. To people who do not follow Tamil cinema, this is a tamil movie directed by Bala. Came in the beginning of this year (Feb 2009). Here is the review I wrote then:

I was studying 6th or 7th standard then. My parents had left me and my brother in my mama’s place in Tanjore for the annual holidays. It was a very big house with lots of vacant rooms and a big garden. Since there were no kids to play, I usually spent my time loitering around. Watching movies on the VCR deck was another favorite pass time. One day, there was a movie called ‘Panic’ which was about an epidemic spreading around a city. People who catch that disease start biting other people and the disease spreads. That was the first time I saw a gory picture with lots of blood and zombies. Haunted by those images, I got very disturbed and it took my three full days to come out of it then.

Next time, I got that disturbed was when I read the fiction ‘Desperation City’ and ‘IT’ by Stephen King. This was during my college days. The former was an out of the world depiction of horror in a desolate city and the latter was about how a ‘thing’ in clown makeup goes about destroying a city. In both cases, I was haunted for a week and pushed to a depressing mood.

Now, two days after watching ‘Naan Kadavul’, am still making up my mind as to what is disturbing me in that movie. Bala has carved a hole in the world we live in (as we know) and made us peep into worlds which according to us don’t exist (or do so on newspapers as we sip our morning coffee). What will strike us more is that till date we have not made that attempt to see these worlds. Believe me all that talk about the aghoris being the main plotline of this movie is crap. That world is just an aberration to bring justice to the brutal world of begging. And as with all Bala movies, the humor elements will spring from the most uncanny places you can ever think. I think that part did me in. I am left wondering as to how such people can be humorous given their way of life. But without it, I guess, they are as good as dead. Or maybe I do not understand the ever fighting and resilient spirit inside a human. Whatever…it shook me too much, I guess. I could not eat that night at home.

I heard this climax was actually planned for Pithamagan (another Bala movie). It was a good way to end the movie. And I think we are now mentally ready for a Bala movie climax such that it does not surprise us much. Some of the dialogues mouthed by Arya are simply out of the world (for example, when Arya tries lighting up a ganja pipe in a temple fire, someone says “koil nerupa neenga asutham panniteenga..(you have made the temple lamp impure)”. Arya replies back “neruppuku edhu da sutham asutham?” (How can you make fire pure or impure?) !!. Thanks to Jayamohan for such crisp dialogues. And I think I need not mention the music part. There is no one else who could have done justice to this movie than Ilayaraja. Cinematography is very good (Arya’s intro and the shots of Arya in early dawn with the udukai are really awesome).

This movie is a definite ‘no-no’ to anybody below 21. And to lots of girls too, I think. I am surprised they got a U/A certificate. Also, there seems to be too many cuts in some places which make it a difficult viewing. And I don’t understand why the dialogue goes blank with a sound at a lot of places. If those are adult dialogues, then what are the scenes in any normal Tamil movie focusing on the girl’s not-to-be-mentioned parts or for that matter all those double meaning comedies? Sigh…..people at censor board, look at your Hindi brethren and learn a few things.

Some two weeks back, on a hot afternoon on Mount Road, I was walking after a very good lunch. All of a sudden, I saw a queer sight. A deformed lady was sitting on the tar road (along the sides). She was sitting with her legs (or whatever you can call as legs) completely exposed to the sun above and tar below. And she was not even sitting on any makeshift paper or anything to give her even a small comfort from the ruthless Sun. I felt bad and dropped a note to her. I asked her “Why don’t you sit up on the platform where there is a shade?” She looked straight at me and replied “In that case, I would not have got this note”.

Makes sense to me in a strange way now.

Archived mails

Archived mails - geee....they like give you the glimpse of who you were, say, 5 years back.....And my my.....I have been the best hypocrite ever always trying to grab attention.

For all those who tolerated me, a big thanks!

:))

With Thambi in Newport, Jersey City

First thing you will notice about Satz aka Sam aka Sathya is his energy. Always on the move, I think he sleeps like 5 hours a day. Thats it! So, when I landed in Newport, Jersey City, I knew that my thambi (little brother) would be around to make my next three days happy. And to add to it, Satish, Ashraf and Arun. And a beautiful skyline view of Manhattan across the Hudson river from their 10th floor apartment. Hmmm...I was set for a date!

Most of the time went went in me going around Manhattan, the place I love most in America. Man made jungle of steel, glass and concrete. I was there in daylight; I was there in moonlight. I was there on Wall Street. And this is my fourth visit to Manhattan but I never never get tired of the place. :)

The Hudson river walk overlooking Manhattan saw my footprints almost everyday. Blessed are the couples who walk in that romantic path! I walked Sathya to office most nights and walking back along the river walk with Manhattan blinking across is a blissful sight. Nights at home went with a lot of chatter with Ashraf and Satish. Forgot to click a pic with them though!

Jim, Carol and the Hound of the Baskervilles

Going to Buffalo back rekindled a lot of memories. For one, staying with Raj brings back the best days out. And there is beloved JK, Singh and Prasad. What more can I ask?

So, the first two days went in Niagara, Chippewa street and Lewiston Whirlpool Jet Ride. What started as a 'strict one margarita' at Lewiston village pub went onto 15 drinks with 7 shots in it. By the end of it, we were hooting to the local band playing and calling quite a few people in India over phone(he he he!). The last day went in Beaver Island Park with us sipping on beers and playing volley! That was when Raj came up with the idea of partying at Jim's place.

Now, Jim is Raj's friend. In his 50s. Lives up in East Aurora village in a place which is like the village limits with the forest on one side. When we landed up at his place, it was around 10 pm. Jim had setup a perfect partying place with a fire, standup lamps, chairs, tables, beer and what not. The setup was in his backyard touching the woods. Just to the partying place, a road led up from the back to nowhere. When checked, it landed in a house decorated in lights with a ranch that we could make out in that poor light. Nothing else around. Just the two houses and the woods. And it was very cold for a summer night.

We were around 8 guys who were overjoyed with the party settings and partly scared with the surroundings. I mean what were we like one day before ...partying in Chippewa street with all that glitz and glamour and crowd...and here we were in a setup straight out of Ram Gopal Verma's mind.

Anyway, the beer flowed and kept us in senses. Some Spanish songs followed by Hindi songs set the crowd in a dance. Jim's definition of Indian dance was to run around his house with his hands flailing up in the air! Deepak and Praneet grooved with Singh. Prasad and JK caught up now and then in it!

Me was sipping beer and sitting near the fire. That’s when I saw those legs on that road half hidden in the dark and the shrubs. One second....and they moved. Still, could not make out the figure except that it was a lady. I crept upto Raj and told him and he passed it on to Jim. Idea was that Jim would be able to figure out and we could get over it. Nopes...either the beer got to him or he never expected someone, he had a creepy look which was worse than ours! Anyways, we called out 'whoz there?' and out stepped Carol!

Carol is the loner in her 50s who lived up there in the house with lights. You heard it right...a loner in that lonely house up the drive next to a ranch (a straight rip off from the Hound of the Baskervilles). No hounds but....horses. We couldn’t avoid the question and asked "how do you live alone in this scary setting?” Her answer summed up what we missed to see "I don’t see anything scary here...it’s beautiful". Imagine...the woods...two lonely houses...a ranch with horses...moonlit night...a party....now, that’s what we read in a fairy tale, right?...:) We missed the pic at that point. When the above thought was settling and we were about to smile, Jim and Carol added "ohh ...a coupe of bears do turn up here." So much for a fairy tale...sigh.

Carol and Jim sang and danced together. We all stood up and sang our National Anthem (that’s the common song we all knew...Indians!). Later, it got too cold outside. So, me walked into Jim's house. Everything in there was antique...in the real sense. Jim was not a collector. Its just that he never changed to new things. So, instead of a cd music system, we found a tape recorder. TVs (small tv, medium tv, tiny tv) in all rooms. Old gramophone player. A bird in a cage which will whistle if you whistle. A painting of Mark Twain (yeah..u heard it right) which looked more like Stapleton (again from HOTB). His attic was filled with weird things like a head made of plaster of Paris in a glass bowl, old horror movies, etc. Someone said that Jim used to have a snake as a pet. That’s when all of us walked quietly and quickly out of the house. Enough for one party to freak you out…free beer or not.

When we started from there, it was like 2 am in the morning. Jim played the perfect host and acted like an air traffic controller when we backed out our cars. That is still my image of Jim whenever I think of that night!

Road Trip

The last 10 days had me drive 1700 miles all alone with just my ipod and that NPR radio. I went and saw a lot of my friends; met strange, interesting people; made new friends; whiled away time in the way I always wanted; went through Manhattan like I always wanted to; stay at Idylwoods, Buffalo (my home away from home).

I have a couple of interesting incidents that I will cover in the next few blogs. More than anything, this time alone gave me a confidence of discovering myself. I understand that I need to have such breaks to see 'within' and add yet another perspective to the kaleidoscope called life.

Incidents to follow...first, its about Jim, Carol and the Hound of the Baskervilles.

:)

waitieeees...

will be back with a bunch of stories.....:)