The Summer Spots

It feels like New year was yesterday and here we are into April.

It is going to be a long and hot summer. So Iam already planning it. It seems like it will be a fun summer with friends  and some relatives coming down.

My Must visit places:

1. The Beach- Everyday to beat the heat.

2. Blur- I want to Game but only with people interested! lol

3.Queensland

4. vandaloor zoo

5. Paintball

6. The Usual Amy, Gangotree and blah blah..

7. mahabalipuram

8, 9, 10……….. DELHI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:-)

April Go away!!!!!!!!!!!!! May come in!!!!!!

Some are more Equal…

In a Democracy, all are equal but some are more equal. So India is a democracy, right.

It is election time and controversies have already begun. Varun Gandhi’s ” Hate speech” is the latest. Just at a time when BJP was polishing its tainted image and trying to channalise all its efforts towards projecting a secular image, Varun’s alleged hate speech happened.

India is Secular, Democratic-The constitution says. Over they years the image created for BJP is that it is a “Hindutva” party and Congress is the secular party( Ha ha).

I have a question that i would love to ask the congress( yeah I know..) but obviously this is the only space i get to voice my thoughts. Let us say 10 people read this!!

If Congress is secular why did they not agitate when Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu( their ally infact) hurt the sentiments of  thousands of the Hindus when he called Lord Rama a drunkard. Why is that Varun Gandhi’s voice against the minorites(I don’t endorse it) more wrong than Mr. Chief Minister’s voice against God. Congress is a paradox, they contradict their own principles.

I think it is time we stop being pseudo secularists. If we mean to be secularists we must  be that in every sense of the word. Out of the 120 crore voters , 20 crore Muslims cannot be sidelined. India is a country of diverse culture and religions and so what we need to show the outside world is Unity in diversity. Unity which means all are equal. Unity which means that everything will be done for the upliftment of the minorites but not at the cost of degrading the majority.

My Rahman songs

This is my attempt to write down my favourite Rahman compositions.

1. Usulampatti penkutty- I love this song. Infact, I love my dad’s version of this song too! (Yes)

2. Thoda Thoda from Indira- This soulful song is simply soothing. I love chitra’s voice in this song.!

3. July Madham vandhal- I got fascinated by this song because I thought the female voice was funny. Now that I am much older, I love the compositon.

4. Yennavale- Even today this is a most frequently played song on my Ipod. Unnikrishnan is amazing.

5.Malargale- I can’t recall the movie but this song is simply superb.

6.Uiyurum Neyee- Again Unnikrishanan at his best.

7.Chinna Chinna Asai- I just pinched myself for not putting this right on top of the list. His first song and one of the best. Strangely, everytime I listen to this song it is not the video  of the song that comes to my mind but the asai chocolate advertisement!

8. Nila kygirathu- Harini’s first song.

9. Mettu Podu – From Duet. Enchanting Saxophone.

10. Chandralekha- This song is simply superb. Who sang this? I love the hight pitch portions!

11. Uyire from Bombay

12. Jiya jale- Dil se.

13.Gala gala from Rhythm.

14. Dil Se Re

15.vellai Pokkal- I cry everytime I listen to this song. It moves me so much.

16. Lagaan- The whole album. I think the album was Oscar deserving.

17.Muqabula

18. Chikku bukku

19.Ishq bina- Taal

20. Udhaya Udhaya From the movie Udhaya- It is so unfortunate that this song was composed for this movie.

21.  Yeh Tara woh Tara- Swades

22. Anbe AAruyire

23. Sillunu Oru Kadhal- Title song. Not many like this song but I love it.

24. Guru-the album. I like all the songs especially Ek lo Ek muft

25. Ooruvan oruvan mudhalali from Muthu.

26. Jeans- the album. I watched this movie 6 times in the theater, maybe because of that got addicted to the songs and like them all till date.

27. Banno Rani from Earth- Heard for the first time on uthu’s I pod. Love this song.

28. Sangaman-the album

29. Mudhalvane from Mudhalvan

30. Rang de basanti -the album

31.    Azhakinna Azhaki from Ennaku 20 Unnaku 18

32. yeh Rishta from Menaxi. Now it features as Naan epodhu in sakkarakati

33. Fanaa

34. Shakalaka Baby

35. Azeem Oh Shaan from jodha Akbar

36.Kwaja Mere Kwaja

37. Kabhi Kabhi aditi , pappu can’t dance sala

39. Ishq ada

40.Manmohini Morey from yuvraaj- I call this laddu song! he he

41.Guzarish -Gajini

42. Taxi Taxi -sakkarakati- Benny rocks! He performed this live in college. he made us all sing along. We had a fun time!

43. delhi 6-the album. Special songs: Masakkali, Hey Kaala badhar, Gendha phool, Delhi 6..oops did I mention the album?

44. Oh Sayya

45. Jai Ho. Whatever people say about this song not being his best and blah blah. This song is addictive, become like my prayer before bed.

46. Vande Matarm. There cannot be an Indian not liking this song. It is the second National anthem. His voice has so much depth.

47. Pray for me Brother. There was a time when i was addicted to this song. I still love it. My friends from school know how addicted i was to this song.

48. Airtel tune. Yes, I love this one too. This shows anything rahman is simply superb and wll have a fan following.

49. Acham acham illai. Thank God I remembered.

50. Free Hugs. I love this album. The song is refreshingly different and the latest to addictive Rahman songs.

It is a humble attempt to try and list down these songs. As I type this Iam remembering songs that I forgot and should have put in this list but Iam going to stop here because if I dont I can go on and on and on.

Jai Ho Rahaman.

Alla Rakha Rahman!

Rahman’s first song was Chinna chinna asai..for the National award wining film Roja. Today, the mozart of madras has won an OSCAR and it is obvious that every Indian is pressing the rewind button to go back 18 years and relish Rahman’s music all over again. We have 18 years to recap and listen while the Western audience has just been introduced to him and his music. I must say, Thank god for Rahman and I take so much pride in saying he is an Indian and that too from Chennai!

I grew up listening to Rahman’s music. I was born at a time when Illayaraja was already a legend and Rahman an upcoming contemporary musician. So, Rahman is my generation’ s legend.

His first song in some strange sense explains his journey from Roja to Slumdog.

Chinna chinna asai siragadikum asai..Muthu Muthu asai mundindhu vaitha asai..venilavu thotu mutam ida asai YENNA INDHA BOOMI SUTRIVARA ASAI. Indeed, Rahman the world is moving around you now.

In my opininon Jai ho is not Rahman’s best but if Americans rate it for Oscars I want  to tell  them “Finally you realised”

JAI HO~!!

V Day!

Happy V Day!

Vamos RAFA!!

I write this post just 5 minutes after Nadal’s semi finals at the Aussie open.

The best match since Wimbledon Finals 2008.

VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not in senses to write details of the match but would love to discuss it later in comments. I open up the discussion!!

Chennai mail

Yes I can!!!!

I know it has been a long time and I also realise my previous post says the same!

2008 was a fiasco and a lousy year. Had it not been for December , 2008 was a  forgettable year. 2009 has had a kickass start!

The Margazhi season:

This is what the musical chennai craves. Oh Boy it is divine! It was not my first year at concerts but was the first year I didn’t get bored through those long main raga expressions they do.That means I have become more carnatically( hehehe) knowledgeable? I wouldn’t say, but I have enjoyed the concerts and lived the season in its spirit! My favourites were Bombay Jayshree ( her voice is so soothing! ) , Sikkil Gurucharan and TM Krishna. SCG’s concert experience was super fun not just for his music but also for the company I had at the concert. TM Krishna was the hit of the season. His concert at krishna gana sabha was too good. I was there only for the last half an hour but I WAS ON STAGE !!!!!! The other TM krishna concert I was at was for 4 hours and was simply awesome! Music and mountain dew was a great combo! lol!

That was December!

January has been jam packed with  fun!

For 11 years January always started with Chennai Open (called  gold flake open and TATA open earlier). I had seen Boris Becker when Tennis meant very little to me, I had seen Rafael Nadal when Tennis meant everything to me. That speaks enough of the transition I had, thanks appa! This year not having Nadal was a disappointment  only till the tournament  began  because Chennai is an amazing Tennis loving city not just of the names but the game! I did a good deed that week. I took my college friend to a match and arose tennis interests in her. lol. Somdev was the success of the tournament and he deserved complete dose of it.  The finals was great fun although he lost. The whole stadium went “SOMDEV SOMDEV…CLAP CLAP CLAP!” .  I managed to take R to the open this year and that mad it more fun!

Finally I managed to watch Margazhi ragam. Tejus gave free tickets for a special screening and I didn’t want to miss it. I always thought the best way to begin Sunday is to wake up late but early morning carnatic  is bliss. The film was beautiful not just for the singers and their music but the lightings , the sets and the camera work. Overall, it was a novel idea.

Saarang was here and I was there.

Vin and I went for Saarang and enjoyed the fest to the fullest.  We got lost, we ate, we did magic ( hehe) , we laughed, we took photos in classrooms (alpams?), we walked and we spent a day at IIT M!!!!! We also managed to not get embarrassed big time which was our biggest concern.lol! The events we were a part of( audience of course) :

Magic workshop:  only, we didn’t have patience to wait for donkey years for the magician to come so we quit the workshop!

Freestyle Solo dance: This event was fun to watch but the walk to the spot was tiring.

Antakshari finals: We were the only non participating people in the room and so had super fun laughing and “enjoyed” the whole show.

Fourth Estate: This is their new event this year and was pretty cool. The cushioned recline chairs and the not so cold Ac gave us the much needed rest.

Short Film screening: Missed most part of the event but nevertheless had a decent peek into the show.

Adzap: This event had the halls full and laughters loud. People came up with really novel ideas and  their sense of humor  made me jealous.

Apart from these we managed to spend a lot of time at the informal place where music was LOUD. Saarang was a fantastic experience and thanks to Vin’s  two friends there( our guides) we spent the day learning what IIT Madras is all about, not just the Saarang.

Opeth was a super success, apparently.

I forgot something, I saw Rajinikanth and Aishwarya rai shooting for Eindhiran. It was at a hall opposite college!

Chennai is such a great place to live in. It hosts everything from carnatic concerts to rock shows.  It cheers Nadal as much as it cheers its own Rahman.

Be it art, culture, sports or fest

Chennai is the best!

To go a little off track,

I have a strong ego that refuses to accept sorries.!!!!!!!!!

I am BACK! :-p

Phew!! It has been quite some time. There are some times when I am bored and feel” let me just go online “, there are some other times when Iam bored and feel” Ahhhh it is so boring online!”. The break was on the latter quote.

……….After the 26/11 Mumbai attack many opinions,emotions and blah blah were expressed. Frankly speaking I still haven’t been able to figure out my response( not that it matters).

Am i scared?……….. NO

Angry at politicians?………..hmmm maybe( maybe not!!!)

But I have some questions!

1. A lot of people say they want a change in the system!……what system? what change??

2. At the rallies held across Mumbai one response voiced through majority of the people. ” SPIRIT OF MUMBAI DOES NOT DIE” …..what spirit?? the spirit of terrorism that keeps haunting? Why does Mumbai alone hype and label it some spirit? Isn’t the whole country facing attacks? why is it not India’s “spirit”.! Yet we Blame Raj Thackeray for his regional chauvinism!

3. I appreciate the media on their coverage and sensitivity to the issue. Today media is the Indian’s voice but are they not going a little overboard?Why have they become so imposing with their opinions?

4. Why are National Security Guards guarding politicians???

5. Why did it take this attack to bring out the anger, emotions and protests? Why didn’t we wake up in 1993? Why didn’t we wake up during all the subsequent attacks? Why are we on streets protesting now?…because “our places” were targeted? The markets, trains are not”our places”? Then why do we say Indians have united? We have not. The dark India( which has faced maximum terror attacks) has still not found its voice. In our cause for unity in this issue we are in fact dividing the country( the rich and poor divide) .

I think it is important we realize the seriousness of this perilious issue and react more sensibly and sensitively. It is not the time for protests but a time for Unity( in every sense).

Just ignore!

Technically speaking this is the crappiest thing I have ever attempted to write. Owing to some ” readers demands” I have decided to write! Hahahahahaha! I don’t want any comments on the above statement!

Practically speaking it is not a viable topic to discuss in detail especially in writing!

Honestly Speaking, Shane Watson is Hot and arrogant!

Basically there are small things that we notice in somebody when we see them like eyes( like dandilsa’s ghost eyes!;-p) or even a NOSE! That is what I saw in Shane Watson. The nose I mean! A tiny, pink nose in a white face and blonde hair! NO, I am not crazy. Very much sane.

Interestingly,in the career I am interested in , they say one needs keen eye for small details! how more keen can i get?? lol!

Faithfully,

madisthan

The Week That Was!

This week has been the most eventful in many ways..!

1. America voted for change! I would be stupid to not put this atop! It is Obama everywhere..! With Obama becoming the first Black president and Hamilton being the first black F1 world Champion the world has indeed seen the CHANGE!

2. Back home, India is still fighting in the name of religion, caste, language..! when will change dawn here?? The “NORTH INDIAN MP’s( Bihar) resigned because a guy named Rahul Raj( from Bihar) was shot dead by the Mumbai police. He was shot at because he hijacked a bus and threatened to kill the public in protest against Raj Thackeray!!!! On similar lines, Tamil Nadu MP’s resigned protesting against the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka! Only, they are killed by the LTTE..! sheesh….why do we vote for them???

3. Chelsea lost to Roma????? 3-1!!! In Champions league..! And Liverpool cheated to a draw!!!! ((((

4. FAB FIVE of Indian cricket seem to be quitting one after the other! With Ganguly and Kumble calling it a day, Dravid is under fire..! Laxman of course on and off the scene..! Sachin is going strong though!

5. I wish Shane Watson was not so arrogant..! He may be an Australian but still!!

6. Exams over..!! Yaaay!! lol..! This means One semester over.. What a relief..! I am happy it is moving fast.!

7. U is in town.!In keeping with tradition our( U, R and I)First plan conked.!! We did meet up though!

8. This week Ghosts didn’t haunt me in sleep! lol..!

9. Record breaking: I ate 45 coffee candies this week!! :-p

10. Song of the week: “let me take a picture of the flower baby!”-Abhiram(nephew)! sooo cutee..!