The last movie I borrowed: As good as it gets...
The last film I watched in the theatre: HITCH !!
Which five fictional characters in Hollywood have you had a crush on, in pecking order?
Tom Hanks ...u ve got mail
Harry in harry met sally
Karthik in Flavors (its ... a crossover ..so cd feature elsewhere too)
Clint Eastwood - Bridges of madison..
Hugh grant Nottinghill - Wow would love to date a book store man!!
Which five fictional characters in B/Kollywood have you had a crush on?
Madhavan -Alaipayuthe
A'swamy -Roja (WHO WOULDNTT)
Nagarjun-Idhaythai Thirudathe
Aamir-QSAT
Saif- Hum Tum
Five Hollywood films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me:
I might not have five I dont watch much of em
Bridges of Madison ...
U ve got mail
Forrest Gump
Five K/Bollywood films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me:
Mouna Ragam
Server Sundaram
DIl chahta hai
Five H/B/Kollywood people I'm supposed to be impressed by, but am not:
Ash definitely
Brad Pitt
Tom Cruise
Pierce Brosnan
mm now for tagging !!!!
All those who have not yet started blogging ... start by thinking, listing Ensoy !!!
Mommy blogger
Friday, June 17, 2005
Thursday, June 16, 2005
TAGGED ... mhmmhmm
Ok .. no one tagged me.. but I thought it was a good way to start spring cleaning my bookshelf.. so here it goes
No of books : 253
The TOP 5 :
RK Narayan
Phantoms of the brain -V.Ramachandran
Bridges of Madison County
clive Avenue- T.S Tirumurthi
and ofcourse my favbourite .... Calvin and hobbes series...
Currently reading
Pour your heart into it - Story of Starbucks
Jus finished
Pundits from Pakistan .. all u cricket lovers and lovers of Sunny days by sunny .. read this
Would never pick up another : .. well cannot say that each story is a diff one !!
Gifted : Gee... not many .. but last was Nagamandala by Girish karnad (tut tut .. written not gifted by him..)
A loner on my shelf : Douglas Adams ... Liked the book , but never got to reading the series
Often refer to: Bridges of Madison... Has a new line everytime I read it, and is the best medicine for a rainy day/night !!!
Hobby reads:Ganamrutha Varna malika ... havent gone beyond Sree ragam as yet
For the sake of a job: Death of salesman
Currently Eyeing: The new grisham book .. wanna read something crimey now !!
Am I Giving any gift hints ???
No of books : 253
The TOP 5 :
RK Narayan
Phantoms of the brain -V.Ramachandran
Bridges of Madison County
clive Avenue- T.S Tirumurthi
and ofcourse my favbourite .... Calvin and hobbes series...
Currently reading
Pour your heart into it - Story of Starbucks
Jus finished
Pundits from Pakistan .. all u cricket lovers and lovers of Sunny days by sunny .. read this
Would never pick up another : .. well cannot say that each story is a diff one !!
Gifted : Gee... not many .. but last was Nagamandala by Girish karnad (tut tut .. written not gifted by him..)
A loner on my shelf : Douglas Adams ... Liked the book , but never got to reading the series
Often refer to: Bridges of Madison... Has a new line everytime I read it, and is the best medicine for a rainy day/night !!!
Hobby reads:Ganamrutha Varna malika ... havent gone beyond Sree ragam as yet
For the sake of a job: Death of salesman
Currently Eyeing: The new grisham book .. wanna read something crimey now !!
Am I Giving any gift hints ???
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
A bundle of Contradictions
I dont wanna work I want 4.00 lacs p.a take home
I dont wanna attend meetings I want to be invited to every damn discussion
I dont want a relationship May be I want.....
I want to work with kids That doesnt give me Point 1 or 3
Iwant to travel I dont want to meet any more dealers
I dont want my blog to be a diary Hello, look at what i have been writing
I believe in self help GOD SAVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, June 13, 2005
Santa and globalisation...(Contd)
Santhanam walked his cycle home. The minutes of the meeting didn't make much sense to him. All he understood was on May 1st Japanese best practices shall be implemented in all functions right from the peon ( that was him) to the CEO.
Pankajam came out to greet him. A friday , and no flowers ? Something was terribly wrong she thought to herself.
" What happened ? Some problem at office? " , She enquired as Santhanam chained the cycle to the tree.
It was always a comforting sight to see Pankajam at the end of a long tiring day. But today , something else tugged at his heart.
"Nothing, it looks like I might not be in employment for long."
"WHAT ?? Why ?? What happened? "
" They have sold half the company to the Japanese." and he went on to say the rest of what he had heard from office.
"But they have not said you will be laid off. and one half is still Iyengar's . You can be with them. Why do you worry?"
"Podi, you don't understand. Japanese are cost conscious and so are the Iyengars. Now both would rather walk 2 flights up to a record room , than call Santhanam .. Santa !!! Let me atleast have dinner now. I dont want to talk about this furthur. Atleast in front of Sridhar. "
They had a quiet dinner. Sridhar could not understand what was wrong. He had won the vocabulary contest and no one seemed to notice.
May saw the onslaught of the Sun in chennai, and Japanese invasion in office. Those tiny little men seemed to be too fast. Things changed visibily. The canteen was first renovated. Tables were removed, and only chairs were placed. Food was to be served on your own.
Sella, Vishwam, Dhandapani left because of no work. They joined a Marriage catering service. Santhanam kept in touch with them.
New machines were placed on the table, and old clattering typewriters were relegated to the 6th floor lunch room as display pieces.
Sugantha, the typist applied for VRS.
Santhanam walked around the diminishing crowd with fear. He was still there , but everyday was a traumatic experience. There was no one to talk to. The chitter chatter was gone. Coffee machines were abandoned. Venkatachalapathy was replaced by a long shot of the plant , and a painting of a bearded man. Thats when he got the pink slip.
Santhanam read and re read the notice again. Should he or Should he not ?
5:30pm. He stepped into the local party office for a meeting on globalisation. He understood that Indians didnt need them to teach what we wanted , He laughed at the cartoons of the firangs on the screen. He felt as enthused as his father had when Gandhi called for Quit India. He knew this was not a fight but a war.
He enrolled for the agitation . He had borne the brunt of the changes for the last 6 years and he could not take it any longer. He had a job , but no dignity. He wanted that, and he would fight it out.He went home with the leaflet and a determined soul.
Sridhar was unusually late. He was generally home by , 6:30 and the clock had just announced 8:00 pm. Pankajam was getting worried.
This boy was a mystery to her. Reading late into the night. Talking all absurd theorems. He had breezed through college and was now an engineer trainee in an Indian company."
It was 9:00 pm. The door rattled Thud Thud Thud...
"Appa, amma Open the door."
" Sridhar, why are you so late ? You could have informed us."
"Appa, you won't believe , My company is sending me for training to Japan. I have a VISA interview next monday- April the 15th !!"
" I hope I crack it, It is like never before. I am one among 10 in the company. I believe Japanese are good at engineering. There will be lots to learn there , unlike here !!! Oyasuminasai " laughed Sridhar.
Santa looked at the pink slip again.
"Come and join the Swadesi movement. Be Indian , Buy Indian."
Venue : Gandhi Statue , Marina
Time : 10:30 am
Date: April 15th , Monday.
Pankajam came out to greet him. A friday , and no flowers ? Something was terribly wrong she thought to herself.
" What happened ? Some problem at office? " , She enquired as Santhanam chained the cycle to the tree.
It was always a comforting sight to see Pankajam at the end of a long tiring day. But today , something else tugged at his heart.
"Nothing, it looks like I might not be in employment for long."
"WHAT ?? Why ?? What happened? "
" They have sold half the company to the Japanese." and he went on to say the rest of what he had heard from office.
"But they have not said you will be laid off. and one half is still Iyengar's . You can be with them. Why do you worry?"
"Podi, you don't understand. Japanese are cost conscious and so are the Iyengars. Now both would rather walk 2 flights up to a record room , than call Santhanam .. Santa !!! Let me atleast have dinner now. I dont want to talk about this furthur. Atleast in front of Sridhar. "
They had a quiet dinner. Sridhar could not understand what was wrong. He had won the vocabulary contest and no one seemed to notice.
May saw the onslaught of the Sun in chennai, and Japanese invasion in office. Those tiny little men seemed to be too fast. Things changed visibily. The canteen was first renovated. Tables were removed, and only chairs were placed. Food was to be served on your own.
Sella, Vishwam, Dhandapani left because of no work. They joined a Marriage catering service. Santhanam kept in touch with them.
New machines were placed on the table, and old clattering typewriters were relegated to the 6th floor lunch room as display pieces.
Sugantha, the typist applied for VRS.
Santhanam walked around the diminishing crowd with fear. He was still there , but everyday was a traumatic experience. There was no one to talk to. The chitter chatter was gone. Coffee machines were abandoned. Venkatachalapathy was replaced by a long shot of the plant , and a painting of a bearded man. Thats when he got the pink slip.
Santhanam read and re read the notice again. Should he or Should he not ?
5:30pm. He stepped into the local party office for a meeting on globalisation. He understood that Indians didnt need them to teach what we wanted , He laughed at the cartoons of the firangs on the screen. He felt as enthused as his father had when Gandhi called for Quit India. He knew this was not a fight but a war.
He enrolled for the agitation . He had borne the brunt of the changes for the last 6 years and he could not take it any longer. He had a job , but no dignity. He wanted that, and he would fight it out.He went home with the leaflet and a determined soul.
Sridhar was unusually late. He was generally home by , 6:30 and the clock had just announced 8:00 pm. Pankajam was getting worried.
This boy was a mystery to her. Reading late into the night. Talking all absurd theorems. He had breezed through college and was now an engineer trainee in an Indian company."
It was 9:00 pm. The door rattled Thud Thud Thud...
"Appa, amma Open the door."
" Sridhar, why are you so late ? You could have informed us."
"Appa, you won't believe , My company is sending me for training to Japan. I have a VISA interview next monday- April the 15th !!"
" I hope I crack it, It is like never before. I am one among 10 in the company. I believe Japanese are good at engineering. There will be lots to learn there , unlike here !!! Oyasuminasai " laughed Sridhar.
Santa looked at the pink slip again.
"Come and join the Swadesi movement. Be Indian , Buy Indian."
Venue : Gandhi Statue , Marina
Time : 10:30 am
Date: April 15th , Monday.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Santa and globalisation...
9:00 am, the stamping started. Thud Thud Thud... Blue circles around the wrinkled corners meant a job well begun. Well that was how Santhanam started his day , every day for the last 24 years.
Santhanam was the office peon. In hey days of babu culture he had joined the Iyengar company as a CLASS D helper. Thiruvengadam, the GM's driver had helped him find the job. Rs. 75 pm/- Lunch in services canteen, Uniform washing allowance of Rs.2 a month - The letter had read.
There was joy all around the house at his appointment. He joined on 15th April,1968.Dressed in a crisp khaki uniform, a cap and a badge , he looked more like a sepoy than a peon. The only thing that bothered him were the boots.His legs wriggled to come out of the confines of the black shoe.
But he would soon get used to it.
"Santhanam, bring the blue files here."
"Santhanam , Coffee for the meeting room"
"Santhanam , Post."
"Santhanam , Saridon"
It was a busy day at work. It took less than a month to learn that GM, added lemon to his tea. DGM had coffee with 2 tbs of sugar, Ratna madam sent a post on every monday to Tirunelveli. Santhanam settled and dusted old files with vigour.
5 years down the line,he wedded the beautiful Pankajam. The company gave the couple a Kodam . His loyalties to the master increased.He shifted to a mansion in Triplicane,closer to office.
June 7th , 1979 , after nearly 6 years Pankajam gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Santhanam made a trip to Tirupathi on foot .The couple named the baby Sridhar.
It was the also the day, the company recruited the first batch of " Management graduates". He was told they were from a place near Bombay, Well educated, non Iyengars . He watched them from a distance, a couple of fair, handsome looking chaps who everyone stood up to greet.
Today, April 15th,1992. Santhanam was distributing a circular to everyone in office.
There were hushed whispers and tension hung in the air.The group head had called for a meeting in the conference room. This was unlike usual. Group head never met everyone on the same day.
Last Feb, Ashwin from Exports had been made as the group head. Santhanam remembered him as one of the fair boys who had joined from Mumbai. He had really liked him a lot and true to the judgement , Ashwin had grown really fast in the company. He moved to a seperate cubicle in less than 1 year and now a group head in less than 15 years.
"Dear Colleagues, There are enough rumours in the office about a lot of things, So I decided to make an internal announcement before we go to press. We are going for a 50-50 Joint venture with a Japanese organisation. That means we are no longer an Iyengar firm , We are getting global."
Pain welled up in Santa's abdomen. Will he be asked to leave. He should have completed matric, now there was no time. His thoughts were interuppted by a booming voice
"Santa, adjust this mike please. Santa , Santa , Santhanam".
"Santa ??? Wow, Ashwin we really are a global company now" - Laughed Rangan Sir.
Santhanam , thought to himself while adjusting the mike. I promise to make 101 revolutions of Kesava perumal, if they make me stay here. Please please please.
-To be continued-
Santhanam was the office peon. In hey days of babu culture he had joined the Iyengar company as a CLASS D helper. Thiruvengadam, the GM's driver had helped him find the job. Rs. 75 pm/- Lunch in services canteen, Uniform washing allowance of Rs.2 a month - The letter had read.
There was joy all around the house at his appointment. He joined on 15th April,1968.Dressed in a crisp khaki uniform, a cap and a badge , he looked more like a sepoy than a peon. The only thing that bothered him were the boots.His legs wriggled to come out of the confines of the black shoe.
But he would soon get used to it.
"Santhanam, bring the blue files here."
"Santhanam , Coffee for the meeting room"
"Santhanam , Post."
"Santhanam , Saridon"
It was a busy day at work. It took less than a month to learn that GM, added lemon to his tea. DGM had coffee with 2 tbs of sugar, Ratna madam sent a post on every monday to Tirunelveli. Santhanam settled and dusted old files with vigour.
5 years down the line,he wedded the beautiful Pankajam. The company gave the couple a Kodam . His loyalties to the master increased.He shifted to a mansion in Triplicane,closer to office.
June 7th , 1979 , after nearly 6 years Pankajam gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Santhanam made a trip to Tirupathi on foot .The couple named the baby Sridhar.
It was the also the day, the company recruited the first batch of " Management graduates". He was told they were from a place near Bombay, Well educated, non Iyengars . He watched them from a distance, a couple of fair, handsome looking chaps who everyone stood up to greet.
Today, April 15th,1992. Santhanam was distributing a circular to everyone in office.
There were hushed whispers and tension hung in the air.The group head had called for a meeting in the conference room. This was unlike usual. Group head never met everyone on the same day.
Last Feb, Ashwin from Exports had been made as the group head. Santhanam remembered him as one of the fair boys who had joined from Mumbai. He had really liked him a lot and true to the judgement , Ashwin had grown really fast in the company. He moved to a seperate cubicle in less than 1 year and now a group head in less than 15 years.
"Dear Colleagues, There are enough rumours in the office about a lot of things, So I decided to make an internal announcement before we go to press. We are going for a 50-50 Joint venture with a Japanese organisation. That means we are no longer an Iyengar firm , We are getting global."
Pain welled up in Santa's abdomen. Will he be asked to leave. He should have completed matric, now there was no time. His thoughts were interuppted by a booming voice
"Santa, adjust this mike please. Santa , Santa , Santhanam".
"Santa ??? Wow, Ashwin we really are a global company now" - Laughed Rangan Sir.
Santhanam , thought to himself while adjusting the mike. I promise to make 101 revolutions of Kesava perumal, if they make me stay here. Please please please.
-To be continued-
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Read on...
This post comes in mail from one of my readers ... Jus go thru it. Hmmm , I have not yet recruited anyone to write for the blog, but freelancing is welcome.
Hindustan Lever – The Brand Murderer
The Levers’ office at Backbay reclamation in Mumbai has of late started resembling the concentration camps at Auschwitz. The only difference is that instead of Jews , the brands of the company are being systematically tortured and slaughtered.
Experimenting with the ‘Fair & Lovely’:- Initially it were the variants –dry skin, oily skin varieties in order to expand the user profile. But when this branched out into Ayurvedic Fair & Lovely with three variants the company walked into a self- destructive cycle. Any Brand manager would tell you that you cannot expand a brand into territories where its existence is questionable.’Fair & Lovely’ has everything to do with cosmetics , with getting fair , with a subtle western colour superiority and very little to do with Indian ayurveda. Yet, the Company went ahead with this execution which must have been carefully sculpted in power point presentations made by a new MBA who wanted to prove his mettle- the logic must have been generating more profits out of a brand (profit centre) .
Killing ‘Hamam’ Soap :- Hamam is a soap which would have sold by itself ;without any
advertisement , without any sales promotion. That’s because of the mass appeal of the brand and the variety of audience which identifies itself with this soap. It can be called as one of the first unisex product in India and has dominated for ages as the complete family soap. So much so that someone at Levers’ asked ‘If this soap sells by itself , what are we here for ?’.That started an entire repositioning of the brand –new packaging , new shape .To add to this disaster Hamam was enriched with extracts from neem , tulasi and aloe vera : come on guys you left out a lot of other fancy Indian cliches like badam , pista , sandal as well and give a soap which not even God can fathom !The guy who would have created this brand way back when it belonge dto TOMCO would be turning in his grave.
Taking the Life out of ‘Lifebuoy’ :- I cringe to think what Lifebuoy used to be and what it has been turned into. It was a Macho Soap – Larger than Life . Bathing in it represented eternal cleansing and the soap never looked like it shall get over. It was the sort of soap which men after driving in a truck over days would use to purify themselves from the dirt of the highways.I would like to meet the guy in Levers who suggested that this soap be diversified to cater to the needs of young female audience as a health soap- I would ask him one question ‘ Would you ask Harley Davidson to make an underpowered Luna moped and sell it as Little Boy ?’
Where is ‘Vim’ ? :- In a crazy exercise called Power Brands our chaps at Backbay destroyed some of their best niche brands. One such brand is Vim. This had immense brand recognition among housewives and was a useful Kitchen powder / soap for cleaning utensils. This brand had the power to be extended into a variety of kitchen and household products but it is being starved to death as the Company is more interested in selling products to villagers through internet kiosks.
‘Taj Mahal’ Disappears :- Why doesn’t ‘Taj Mahal’ Tea feature in the power brands category ? I hope it is not because Govt has asked Hindustan Lever to pay a royalty to use the Taj name or may be it’s the Tata group. Nevertheless , I drink this tea and wonder why the company is so stingy not to put their money behind such a wonderful product. The ad strategy with Ustad Zakir Hussain was one of the best and sucha unique brand does not deserve to be benched.
The stupid ‘Pepsodent’ ads : If children ever watched Pepsodent ads they would wonder how can somebody consider them to be so stupid ? The latest ad tells that Pepsodent fights ghosts in the night . Come on guys – grow up !No wonder Colgate is maintaining to its lead in the toothpaste segment irrespective of Pepsodent being certified by all the dentists ever born on this planet.
Packaging ‘Kissan’ : Walk into a aupermarket and try to pick up a Kissan product and you would understand how uninspiring the packaging looks. Kissan fruit squash looks worser than a mineral water bottle. Kissan Jam comes in an opaque green plastic box which proudly announces that its vitamin-enriched. And to add to it you have a tag –Annapurna behind the Kissan name which makes you wonder if Annapurna Salt or wheat comes free with this.
If HLL wanted power brands then why choose 35 . Three plus Five is equal to Eight which is the unluckiest number in the world. Even now if you think that luck is on HLL’s side then please read their slogans for miscellaneous brands :-
Lifebuoy – Making a Billion Indians Safe and Secure ( What ??????)
Breeze – Scent in Soap (As if we did not know ?)
Rin – Power of Dazzling Whiteness ( Okay !)
Fair & Lovely – Making Complexion Fairer ( And what else ?)
Red Label Tea – Cheers your senses ( I see!)
Bru – Happiness Begins with it ( And where does it end ?)
Ayush – Truth of Ayurveda , Proof of science ( This is too good !)
Hamam – Everything in life is about a balance ( Sounds like yoga classes !)
I would request all the readers to do what they can to save the brands of HLL and other companies using similar strategies at least for old times sake .These may be profit centres for them but they also are part of our childhood memories and they cannot do whatever they want with it.
P.S. I risk my job , incase my boss's boss 's boss decides to read and comment on this. He is an Ex HLL , with a loyalty as string as BRU COFFEEE
Amen !!!!
Hindustan Lever – The Brand Murderer
The Levers’ office at Backbay reclamation in Mumbai has of late started resembling the concentration camps at Auschwitz. The only difference is that instead of Jews , the brands of the company are being systematically tortured and slaughtered.
Experimenting with the ‘Fair & Lovely’:- Initially it were the variants –dry skin, oily skin varieties in order to expand the user profile. But when this branched out into Ayurvedic Fair & Lovely with three variants the company walked into a self- destructive cycle. Any Brand manager would tell you that you cannot expand a brand into territories where its existence is questionable.’Fair & Lovely’ has everything to do with cosmetics , with getting fair , with a subtle western colour superiority and very little to do with Indian ayurveda. Yet, the Company went ahead with this execution which must have been carefully sculpted in power point presentations made by a new MBA who wanted to prove his mettle- the logic must have been generating more profits out of a brand (profit centre) .
Killing ‘Hamam’ Soap :- Hamam is a soap which would have sold by itself ;without any
advertisement , without any sales promotion. That’s because of the mass appeal of the brand and the variety of audience which identifies itself with this soap. It can be called as one of the first unisex product in India and has dominated for ages as the complete family soap. So much so that someone at Levers’ asked ‘If this soap sells by itself , what are we here for ?’.That started an entire repositioning of the brand –new packaging , new shape .To add to this disaster Hamam was enriched with extracts from neem , tulasi and aloe vera : come on guys you left out a lot of other fancy Indian cliches like badam , pista , sandal as well and give a soap which not even God can fathom !The guy who would have created this brand way back when it belonge dto TOMCO would be turning in his grave.
Taking the Life out of ‘Lifebuoy’ :- I cringe to think what Lifebuoy used to be and what it has been turned into. It was a Macho Soap – Larger than Life . Bathing in it represented eternal cleansing and the soap never looked like it shall get over. It was the sort of soap which men after driving in a truck over days would use to purify themselves from the dirt of the highways.I would like to meet the guy in Levers who suggested that this soap be diversified to cater to the needs of young female audience as a health soap- I would ask him one question ‘ Would you ask Harley Davidson to make an underpowered Luna moped and sell it as Little Boy ?’
Where is ‘Vim’ ? :- In a crazy exercise called Power Brands our chaps at Backbay destroyed some of their best niche brands. One such brand is Vim. This had immense brand recognition among housewives and was a useful Kitchen powder / soap for cleaning utensils. This brand had the power to be extended into a variety of kitchen and household products but it is being starved to death as the Company is more interested in selling products to villagers through internet kiosks.
‘Taj Mahal’ Disappears :- Why doesn’t ‘Taj Mahal’ Tea feature in the power brands category ? I hope it is not because Govt has asked Hindustan Lever to pay a royalty to use the Taj name or may be it’s the Tata group. Nevertheless , I drink this tea and wonder why the company is so stingy not to put their money behind such a wonderful product. The ad strategy with Ustad Zakir Hussain was one of the best and sucha unique brand does not deserve to be benched.
The stupid ‘Pepsodent’ ads : If children ever watched Pepsodent ads they would wonder how can somebody consider them to be so stupid ? The latest ad tells that Pepsodent fights ghosts in the night . Come on guys – grow up !No wonder Colgate is maintaining to its lead in the toothpaste segment irrespective of Pepsodent being certified by all the dentists ever born on this planet.
Packaging ‘Kissan’ : Walk into a aupermarket and try to pick up a Kissan product and you would understand how uninspiring the packaging looks. Kissan fruit squash looks worser than a mineral water bottle. Kissan Jam comes in an opaque green plastic box which proudly announces that its vitamin-enriched. And to add to it you have a tag –Annapurna behind the Kissan name which makes you wonder if Annapurna Salt or wheat comes free with this.
If HLL wanted power brands then why choose 35 . Three plus Five is equal to Eight which is the unluckiest number in the world. Even now if you think that luck is on HLL’s side then please read their slogans for miscellaneous brands :-
Lifebuoy – Making a Billion Indians Safe and Secure ( What ??????)
Breeze – Scent in Soap (As if we did not know ?)
Rin – Power of Dazzling Whiteness ( Okay !)
Fair & Lovely – Making Complexion Fairer ( And what else ?)
Red Label Tea – Cheers your senses ( I see!)
Bru – Happiness Begins with it ( And where does it end ?)
Ayush – Truth of Ayurveda , Proof of science ( This is too good !)
Hamam – Everything in life is about a balance ( Sounds like yoga classes !)
I would request all the readers to do what they can to save the brands of HLL and other companies using similar strategies at least for old times sake .These may be profit centres for them but they also are part of our childhood memories and they cannot do whatever they want with it.
P.S. I risk my job , incase my boss's boss 's boss decides to read and comment on this. He is an Ex HLL , with a loyalty as string as BRU COFFEEE
Amen !!!!
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Opportunities Galore !!!
Movie Reviewer
KRAs: Watch a minimum of 3 new releases week. Release stories on popular movie facts and history. Area of work to include English, Hindi and one regional language.
Candidate must necessarily be over 18 years of age.
Headlines today
KRAs: To conjure up 5 headlines, 2 for the front page, 2 for the sports and 1 for the supplement. Headlines will be judged for crativity, brevity and relevance.
Chat away
Webmaster in popular chat side, to constantly review chat sessions for misuse and report to development. KRAs : To chat for 8 hrs a day , 4 hrs as invisible and 4 hrs as available.
KRAs: Watch a minimum of 3 new releases week. Release stories on popular movie facts and history. Area of work to include English, Hindi and one regional language.
Candidate must necessarily be over 18 years of age.
Headlines today
KRAs: To conjure up 5 headlines, 2 for the front page, 2 for the sports and 1 for the supplement. Headlines will be judged for crativity, brevity and relevance.
Chat away
Webmaster in popular chat side, to constantly review chat sessions for misuse and report to development. KRAs : To chat for 8 hrs a day , 4 hrs as invisible and 4 hrs as available.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Saturday Night Show
Rags looked at his watch dial for the umpteenth time. It was almost 3:00 pm. He hit the accelerator , and veered towards Lifestyle. Vats, would be waiting for him. It was a long over due date. Work had taken most of his time , but this Saturday it would be Vats , in the stunning floral print. He wrapped the dress in his hands and a smile curved his lips.
"Have a great weekend ,Sir"- smiled the girl at the cash counter handing him the blue bag.
Trrrring.
"Aha, you are just in time. I had almost decided that you had given the day a slip."
" No way da. How can I forget ? See I even got you something. Gimme a minute I will change into something decent."
"Me too.."
"Hey gorgeous in georgette , can we leave ??? "
" Are you sure ?? It is actually embarrasing , especially in this ."-Vats looked down at the folds of her saree.
"Just come along, you look ravishing. I will have a tough time controlling the crowds"
Satyam was as crowded as it could get. As Rags guarded his wife into the hall, a familiar voice cried out
"Hey appa!! You ?? Here??"-That was Shanks , his first born with wife and kid.
"What pa, silent date ah ? Which movie ?"
" Kathalikka neram illai - That was first the movie I took Amma to after marriage, Yeah then it was in Nagesh theatre. Now thanks to Satyam's Unwind to 60's mela I am taking her again .. Seeya Shyam tomorrow at home."
Raghavan and Vatsala , walked hand in hand into the hall. A quiet dinner at Drive in would complete the date. But for now, it was a trip 40 years into a world of togetherness.
"Kathalikka neram illai??? " - Who ever said so ?
"Have a great weekend ,Sir"- smiled the girl at the cash counter handing him the blue bag.
Trrrring.
"Aha, you are just in time. I had almost decided that you had given the day a slip."
" No way da. How can I forget ? See I even got you something. Gimme a minute I will change into something decent."
"Me too.."
"Hey gorgeous in georgette , can we leave ??? "
" Are you sure ?? It is actually embarrasing , especially in this ."-Vats looked down at the folds of her saree.
"Just come along, you look ravishing. I will have a tough time controlling the crowds"
Satyam was as crowded as it could get. As Rags guarded his wife into the hall, a familiar voice cried out
"Hey appa!! You ?? Here??"-That was Shanks , his first born with wife and kid.
"What pa, silent date ah ? Which movie ?"
" Kathalikka neram illai - That was first the movie I took Amma to after marriage, Yeah then it was in Nagesh theatre. Now thanks to Satyam's Unwind to 60's mela I am taking her again .. Seeya Shyam tomorrow at home."
Raghavan and Vatsala , walked hand in hand into the hall. A quiet dinner at Drive in would complete the date. But for now, it was a trip 40 years into a world of togetherness.
"Kathalikka neram illai??? " - Who ever said so ?
LTA ??? Laka Laka !!!
The schools have reopened, and the trains are empty. It is time to start exploring your surroundings. Yepp, it is a great season to plan a holiday and if planning is half as much fun as enjoying one, I am half way through.
With less than normal monsoon predicted it ain't going to be pouring and you will leave your skin with a light golden tan.From shores, to the mountain heights, adventure to pilgrimage - it is time you started on a trip. Some basics first:
1. Take your pick , and visit some sites . These are the days not of brochures but links and mail ids.
2. Avoid crowded locations , move away from din and regular tourist traffic.
Look for locales which would be one helluva eye opener !!
3. Stop reading this blog and Get moving , Ideation takes a day and moving your butt takes a year .. so get the momentum going. You wanna a break ?? Apply for one today.
Some websites to throw some light !!
http://www.asiasafari.com/camping/
http://www.junglelodges.com/
http://www.himalayanvillage.com
http://www.vythiriresort.com/
http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/Beaches.aspx?strpage=beaches-Shriwardhan-Harihareshwar.html
For more on resorts and places visit
http://www.indiaresortssurvey.com/
HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!!
With less than normal monsoon predicted it ain't going to be pouring and you will leave your skin with a light golden tan.From shores, to the mountain heights, adventure to pilgrimage - it is time you started on a trip. Some basics first:
1. Take your pick , and visit some sites . These are the days not of brochures but links and mail ids.
2. Avoid crowded locations , move away from din and regular tourist traffic.
Look for locales which would be one helluva eye opener !!
3. Stop reading this blog and Get moving , Ideation takes a day and moving your butt takes a year .. so get the momentum going. You wanna a break ?? Apply for one today.
Some websites to throw some light !!
http://www.asiasafari.com/camping/
http://www.junglelodges.com/
http://www.himalayanvillage.com
http://www.vythiriresort.com/
http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/Beaches.aspx?strpage=beaches-Shriwardhan-Harihareshwar.html
For more on resorts and places visit
http://www.indiaresortssurvey.com/
HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!!
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Am- Bushed !!
When PresidentBush met with Palestinian President Abbas, there was one embarrassing moment when Bush was overhead whispering to Abbas
" Hey I love that Dancing Queen number of yours.. !!!"
Friday, June 03, 2005
Where are you ???
"Chennai is a city of mamis, dhoti clad uncles, young men still sporting Tshirts with terry-cot pants and girls who have not graduated out of salwars." -Spake a colleague of mine in Delhi.
Hey hey hey , wait a sec you want to see the real Mad-Ras? Walk out at 9:00 pm to one of the Lounge bars/ Eco hotels/ Drinking holes/ Dance clubs .. .you would wonder where do these birds stay around the day.
A whole new landscape emerges of hookah gurgling women, and funky hair do s on Men. 3 year olds enjoying rock, and retired men on the rocks !!!
Check it out !! next time around you are in chennai , think again before heading for Satyam .. there are better places and you won't be disappointed.
ITS definitely HOT MACHI !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey hey hey , wait a sec you want to see the real Mad-Ras? Walk out at 9:00 pm to one of the Lounge bars/ Eco hotels/ Drinking holes/ Dance clubs .. .you would wonder where do these birds stay around the day.
A whole new landscape emerges of hookah gurgling women, and funky hair do s on Men. 3 year olds enjoying rock, and retired men on the rocks !!!
Check it out !! next time around you are in chennai , think again before heading for Satyam .. there are better places and you won't be disappointed.
ITS definitely HOT MACHI !!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Marudai Nattu Vadivelu ...
I met her on the bus from Perambur to Besant Nagar. She was from Kobe, a mega Rajini fan and had come all the way to Chennai for Chandramukhi release. ( Phew and we thought these guys existed only in TN, did we ??? ). Her name was Lillian and she spoke in halting English. How she understood Tamil continues to be a mystery to me.
The ride was a 45 minute one, and needless to say all eyes on the bus were fixated on the maid from east. Our converstion sped along with 29C. She had seen every one of Rajini's movies . Her all time favourite was Muthu. She had met Rajini, and had the privelege of dining with him at his residence. But the most intriguing part of the trip was yet to come.
She wanted to know more about getting to "Marudai". I was surprised.
'Madurai ?? ' I intended to correct her ?
'No no , Ma- Ru- Dai.' she spelt it with perfection.
'I read somewhere that Vadivelu is from Marudai. I love his style of speaking Tamil and dialogue delivery. I wanted to visit the place where he belongs to. I also read that the dialect of the area is very interesting. In fact my friends and I have seen some of his movies.Trust me he and the other guy ,Sorry I dont re call his name ( I guess she was referring to Parthiban!!) make the perfect pair.'
'So I wanted to visit that part of TN also, to get a feel of the place and people to take back with me.'
The bus screeched to a grinding halt. It was Adayar.Lillian bade good bye , and I trudged along. I felt squeamish. I had never really enjoyed Vadivelu's acting, but after hearing Lillian go Ga Ga, I thought I must give him a second chance. I picked up a VCD on the way home. The shopkeeper recommended Vettri Kodi Kattu. I must say I was impressed.
As I walked on the sands of Elliots beach that evening , I couldnt help wondering at the paradox of human behavior. It has always taken an outsider to discover the true beauty of a country. Be it the Irish man gazing at the Statue of Liberty or the Indian watching the Sun rise by a lake.
When we travel abroad we maintain checklists of what to see, what to experience and dutifully tick them off . Rarely do we do the same at home. Homeland is always there to be seen, always there to be criticized. Why is an African tribal dance in VGP more interesting than the local Ra koothu ?
It took a Lillian to bring to my notice that there was beauty in the cacophoney of Marudai Tamizh. I am happy that I now have chosen to view it.
P.S. Lillian would have left for Marudai by now.
The ride was a 45 minute one, and needless to say all eyes on the bus were fixated on the maid from east. Our converstion sped along with 29C. She had seen every one of Rajini's movies . Her all time favourite was Muthu. She had met Rajini, and had the privelege of dining with him at his residence. But the most intriguing part of the trip was yet to come.
She wanted to know more about getting to "Marudai". I was surprised.
'Madurai ?? ' I intended to correct her ?
'No no , Ma- Ru- Dai.' she spelt it with perfection.
'I read somewhere that Vadivelu is from Marudai. I love his style of speaking Tamil and dialogue delivery. I wanted to visit the place where he belongs to. I also read that the dialect of the area is very interesting. In fact my friends and I have seen some of his movies.Trust me he and the other guy ,Sorry I dont re call his name ( I guess she was referring to Parthiban!!) make the perfect pair.'
'So I wanted to visit that part of TN also, to get a feel of the place and people to take back with me.'
The bus screeched to a grinding halt. It was Adayar.Lillian bade good bye , and I trudged along. I felt squeamish. I had never really enjoyed Vadivelu's acting, but after hearing Lillian go Ga Ga, I thought I must give him a second chance. I picked up a VCD on the way home. The shopkeeper recommended Vettri Kodi Kattu. I must say I was impressed.
As I walked on the sands of Elliots beach that evening , I couldnt help wondering at the paradox of human behavior. It has always taken an outsider to discover the true beauty of a country. Be it the Irish man gazing at the Statue of Liberty or the Indian watching the Sun rise by a lake.
When we travel abroad we maintain checklists of what to see, what to experience and dutifully tick them off . Rarely do we do the same at home. Homeland is always there to be seen, always there to be criticized. Why is an African tribal dance in VGP more interesting than the local Ra koothu ?
It took a Lillian to bring to my notice that there was beauty in the cacophoney of Marudai Tamizh. I am happy that I now have chosen to view it.
P.S. Lillian would have left for Marudai by now.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Mud on my face...
I went through the questions once again
Feeling tired and worked out? YES
Are you stressed out? YES
Do you need rejuvenation? DESPERATELY !!!
Call us at ######## or drop in to @@@@@@ for a whole new experience. So I had done that , and here I was waiting in the waiting room of an ayurvedic body health clinic.
"Number 15 " , they called out to me .. "Please step in."
I walked into a sparsely furnished , dimmly lit room. There were 4 women dressed in white Kerela style saree, smiling and welcoming me. It was too late to turn back.
The taller one spake in Malayam laced English "We have analysed your body type and skin type. Based on which we have chosen on treatment that is best suited to your temperement. Please lie down on this bench."
So I meekly surrendered. The ladies whispered amongst themselves and I lay like a patient on an operating board waiting for Anaestasia. They blindfolded me with something which felt like 'Chappathi Mavu'(Dough) and loosened my short hair.
A warm liquid flowed on to my tresses from unknown heights. A pair of hands , gently massaged the liquid and I drifted into a dreamless slumber. Not for long though.
Whacck came the seasoned palm slicing repeatedly on the well oiled head. Gosh, this was not there on the advertisement and I am not paying to get beaten. I wanted to open my eyes and yell , when my thoughts were interrupted by a cool paste hitting my face.
ME: "What is that?? "
THEY : "Sshhhhh , don't speak. It is a mud pack , made from river bed sand of Tamaraparani( A river in Tamil Nadu) and exotic herbs."
I felt like giving a theatrical presentation of the dialogue "Mugam Mannukku, Uyir Tamizh kku", but my lips were sealed with another herbal gel.
After 2 hours :30 mins: 33 Secs, I was ready to see a new and improved me. It felt like Kamal in Singaravelan , when they brought me to face the mirror.
If I was expecting to see the princess of Russia staring back at me, I was disappointed.
But still it was not a bad job. The nose, eyes and mouth were where they were earlier. A little brighter though. ( hey, if you open your eyes after 150 mins don't you see a whole new bright world ???)
The ladies seemed to read my thoughts, and went in to collect the bill before I could ask questions. If my complexion went a tad brighter after that, they did not compliment.
I handed them my card , and walked out. A feeling of rejuvenation, charged up elements and a kind of lightness enveloped me.
Yes they had promised that feeling , not a new look and they had delivered bang on. Kudos to Dhanvantri, Ayurveda and Tamaraparani mannu.
Feeling tired and worked out? YES
Are you stressed out? YES
Do you need rejuvenation? DESPERATELY !!!
Call us at ######## or drop in to @@@@@@ for a whole new experience. So I had done that , and here I was waiting in the waiting room of an ayurvedic body health clinic.
"Number 15 " , they called out to me .. "Please step in."
I walked into a sparsely furnished , dimmly lit room. There were 4 women dressed in white Kerela style saree, smiling and welcoming me. It was too late to turn back.
The taller one spake in Malayam laced English "We have analysed your body type and skin type. Based on which we have chosen on treatment that is best suited to your temperement. Please lie down on this bench."
So I meekly surrendered. The ladies whispered amongst themselves and I lay like a patient on an operating board waiting for Anaestasia. They blindfolded me with something which felt like 'Chappathi Mavu'(Dough) and loosened my short hair.
A warm liquid flowed on to my tresses from unknown heights. A pair of hands , gently massaged the liquid and I drifted into a dreamless slumber. Not for long though.
Whacck came the seasoned palm slicing repeatedly on the well oiled head. Gosh, this was not there on the advertisement and I am not paying to get beaten. I wanted to open my eyes and yell , when my thoughts were interrupted by a cool paste hitting my face.
ME: "What is that?? "
THEY : "Sshhhhh , don't speak. It is a mud pack , made from river bed sand of Tamaraparani( A river in Tamil Nadu) and exotic herbs."
I felt like giving a theatrical presentation of the dialogue "Mugam Mannukku, Uyir Tamizh kku", but my lips were sealed with another herbal gel.
After 2 hours :30 mins: 33 Secs, I was ready to see a new and improved me. It felt like Kamal in Singaravelan , when they brought me to face the mirror.
If I was expecting to see the princess of Russia staring back at me, I was disappointed.
But still it was not a bad job. The nose, eyes and mouth were where they were earlier. A little brighter though. ( hey, if you open your eyes after 150 mins don't you see a whole new bright world ???)
The ladies seemed to read my thoughts, and went in to collect the bill before I could ask questions. If my complexion went a tad brighter after that, they did not compliment.
I handed them my card , and walked out. A feeling of rejuvenation, charged up elements and a kind of lightness enveloped me.
Yes they had promised that feeling , not a new look and they had delivered bang on. Kudos to Dhanvantri, Ayurveda and Tamaraparani mannu.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
An Half Yearly Review ...well almost
As I usher in the last month of Q1-2005-06 , I also can't help but notice that my blog is also almost 6 months old. And like all good ol bloggers, it s time for a recap.
It all started one evening , when my ma said "Whats in that comp, that makes you glued to it for one hour a day? Are you not satisfied with seeing it for 12 hrs at work? "
Yeah, so what was in blogging that I have managed to complete 6 months without a long break. Some say it is just a personal diary, and a few feel they have saved the eco system a few trees by blogging than writing. To me, this whole new world has meant more than just a diary.
During hay days of sales, afternoons were allocated for the cool confines of Sify. I took to blogging, because searching for a job on naukri.com can be strain on your eyes. I soon discovered that I invited more replies on my little known identity called Rajeshwari than by sending a resume of Anuradha.
I had a personal space, where I wrote what I felt and found people who took time of their busy schedule to voice what they felt on what I wrote . (Phew!)
I celeberated my first comment at Gangotri with a Bhel and a Vanilla Icecream and my first series in Murugan Idli Kadai.
There were days ,when there were more drafts to edit than posted entries. I searched for topics to write on , I started noticing a lot of things that were but a passing blur earlier. I visited more places when on tour, read more when not on tour , slept less in office- all for 25 entries on a little known space in the amazing world of the net.
New acquaintances , women friends ( I couldn't believe for nuts that I was actually exchanging mails with women ).
Reading comments around the world right from
Not good enuf, I enjoyed it, BORRRRRING !!!, Write some thing else , You are showing signs of improvement, Stop begging for comments...
All said and done its been a great 6 months of blogging , and before i forget.
I thank my parents, friends, my non existant pet, my country for encouraging me to see this day. I thank all of you and will work towards a better India and.... and... and ... WORLD PEACE.
( Yepp i saw that movie again last night .... )
It all started one evening , when my ma said "Whats in that comp, that makes you glued to it for one hour a day? Are you not satisfied with seeing it for 12 hrs at work? "
Yeah, so what was in blogging that I have managed to complete 6 months without a long break. Some say it is just a personal diary, and a few feel they have saved the eco system a few trees by blogging than writing. To me, this whole new world has meant more than just a diary.
During hay days of sales, afternoons were allocated for the cool confines of Sify. I took to blogging, because searching for a job on naukri.com can be strain on your eyes. I soon discovered that I invited more replies on my little known identity called Rajeshwari than by sending a resume of Anuradha.
I had a personal space, where I wrote what I felt and found people who took time of their busy schedule to voice what they felt on what I wrote . (Phew!)
I celeberated my first comment at Gangotri with a Bhel and a Vanilla Icecream and my first series in Murugan Idli Kadai.
There were days ,when there were more drafts to edit than posted entries. I searched for topics to write on , I started noticing a lot of things that were but a passing blur earlier. I visited more places when on tour, read more when not on tour , slept less in office- all for 25 entries on a little known space in the amazing world of the net.
New acquaintances , women friends ( I couldn't believe for nuts that I was actually exchanging mails with women ).
Reading comments around the world right from
Not good enuf, I enjoyed it, BORRRRRING !!!, Write some thing else , You are showing signs of improvement, Stop begging for comments...
All said and done its been a great 6 months of blogging , and before i forget.
I thank my parents, friends, my non existant pet, my country for encouraging me to see this day. I thank all of you and will work towards a better India and.... and... and ... WORLD PEACE.
( Yepp i saw that movie again last night .... )
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Gimme a hint ...
"Your password has expired please reenter your password"
I had not heeded to the warnings and here I was on a bright and sunny morning wondering what will the 6 letter word be?
Momma's name with birth date overUsed
Appa's name with marriage date Existing - Give a different name !!!
Anna Manni , The family was over.
Boyfriends in serial order ... mm tuf to keep track of the names and the nos.
My birthdate -> Too simple
Gosh gimme a hint , what should my password be ?????????????????
I had not heeded to the warnings and here I was on a bright and sunny morning wondering what will the 6 letter word be?
Momma's name with birth date overUsed
Appa's name with marriage date Existing - Give a different name !!!
Anna Manni , The family was over.
Boyfriends in serial order ... mm tuf to keep track of the names and the nos.
My birthdate -> Too simple
Gosh gimme a hint , what should my password be ?????????????????
Monday, May 23, 2005
Amma's Own country
Whats in ????
Whats out???
Suryan FM Susie Mami
Chithi !!!!!
Chithi !!!!!
Sevai on Elliots Beach
Kadalai on Marina
F1 Racing
Cricket in Chepauk
Theatre
Chandramukhi
Tai Chi
Laughter clubs
Heat wave
Tsunami Wave
Tsunami Wave
Sachin the movie
Sachin the player
Munnar
Kodai
Auto karan " Have a nice day "
Auto karan " Veetla ........ !!!"
Have a nice day folks !!
Sunday, May 08, 2005
A lil Sweet , a lil sour
Its customary in this part of the world to bring along a bag of fruits when you are visiting someone. The contents of the bag determine the relationship one shares with the household and also the months of the year.
'Rasthali' a banana variety is an all year around 'aabhatbhandhavan' (A Bay watch kind of life saver). Green seedless grapes and apples make a brief winter consultant like stop over. But the king of the fruits arrive during the 2 month period of May and June and boy do they arrive in style !!!
My nephew stood around the table eyeing the yellow Banganapalli's in delight. A gift from chitappa when he came down for his weekly visit. Amma removed them from the table.
" Still a little time before they ripen".And in they went to hibernate in the confines of the Rice drum.
Mangoes or Mangifera indica are classified into varieties based on their features , benefits and target segment catered to.
At the top of the pyramid rule the Alphonsoes from the konkan belt, then come the salem Malguavas, Banganapalli - catering to the great Indian Middle class, Kilimuku, Nilambari .. The list would warrant a Maeneka Gandhi writing on - 'A book of Mango names'.
Mango preparations range from juices and jams to spicy gravies and rasams. Every cook worth his salt will elucidate his prowess in dishing out Mango delicacies on Sunday channels and papers. But the true taste of a mango lies in its true form, with the skin.
It was a little before 2:00 pm in the afternoon , when after quality inspection the fruits were declared ripe enough to be savoured. Once cut into 3 portions , kids scrambled for the 'Kottai' or the portion with the seed. 'Kadhuppu' was left for the more civilised elders.
It was still early May, the variety was still a little sour , and a little sweet. My nephew ran around with the kottai dripping and an old tamil rhyme.
'Mambhayam ma Mabhayam, Sale(m) thu Mambhayam
Thitthikkum mambhayam.... '
'Rasthali' a banana variety is an all year around 'aabhatbhandhavan' (A Bay watch kind of life saver). Green seedless grapes and apples make a brief winter consultant like stop over. But the king of the fruits arrive during the 2 month period of May and June and boy do they arrive in style !!!
My nephew stood around the table eyeing the yellow Banganapalli's in delight. A gift from chitappa when he came down for his weekly visit. Amma removed them from the table.
" Still a little time before they ripen".And in they went to hibernate in the confines of the Rice drum.
Mangoes or Mangifera indica are classified into varieties based on their features , benefits and target segment catered to.
At the top of the pyramid rule the Alphonsoes from the konkan belt, then come the salem Malguavas, Banganapalli - catering to the great Indian Middle class, Kilimuku, Nilambari .. The list would warrant a Maeneka Gandhi writing on - 'A book of Mango names'.
Mango preparations range from juices and jams to spicy gravies and rasams. Every cook worth his salt will elucidate his prowess in dishing out Mango delicacies on Sunday channels and papers. But the true taste of a mango lies in its true form, with the skin.
It was a little before 2:00 pm in the afternoon , when after quality inspection the fruits were declared ripe enough to be savoured. Once cut into 3 portions , kids scrambled for the 'Kottai' or the portion with the seed. 'Kadhuppu' was left for the more civilised elders.
It was still early May, the variety was still a little sour , and a little sweet. My nephew ran around with the kottai dripping and an old tamil rhyme.
'Mambhayam ma Mabhayam, Sale(m) thu Mambhayam
Thitthikkum mambhayam.... '
Monday, May 02, 2005
Blog lifting ...
Hey came across this while blog hopping
She married one, loved another.
He became her husband, the other her password.
You wanna read more go to ...
http://jikku.blogspot.com/
She married one, loved another.
He became her husband, the other her password.
You wanna read more go to ...
http://jikku.blogspot.com/
Dear Mr. Patil,
Dear Mr. Patil,
I understand, that you took the extreme measure of banning Dance bars , because a father wrote to you about falling moral standards of his son. I write this letter in the sincere hope that writing has more effect than waiting in a queue to meet you.
You barred dance bars , but have you checked if the young and promising boy has started going to a harlem ? Can you stop the young boy from yearning for carnal pleasures?
What purpose do you think you solved by banning dance bars ? Have molestation cases decreased by 50% , have the child abuses cases been solved ?All you did was lead the young masked girls into hell.
Law and Order does not end with banning what one considers as a sin or a threat to culture. Law and Order is in seeing the culture of a generation change. Visiting dance bars , or watching a dance on TV are the same. Both exploit the flesh of a third person to generate economy spend. The govt does not stand to lose the 200 crores Bars generated, they would come from the millions of VCDs that would get circulated in the next 3 months.
The Rs.200 that Smitha took home every night would become more difficult to earn. Dances on VCDs are a whole lot difficult to market than a live show. If you think you have corrected the world by closing a few night haunts, I suggest you follow the young boy more closely. The solution to his life is in the steps he takes.
As for the father , all I can say is stop writing letters to Patil and think of what you were when you were as old as your son.
Regards and thanks,
Anuradha
I understand, that you took the extreme measure of banning Dance bars , because a father wrote to you about falling moral standards of his son. I write this letter in the sincere hope that writing has more effect than waiting in a queue to meet you.
You barred dance bars , but have you checked if the young and promising boy has started going to a harlem ? Can you stop the young boy from yearning for carnal pleasures?
What purpose do you think you solved by banning dance bars ? Have molestation cases decreased by 50% , have the child abuses cases been solved ?All you did was lead the young masked girls into hell.
Law and Order does not end with banning what one considers as a sin or a threat to culture. Law and Order is in seeing the culture of a generation change. Visiting dance bars , or watching a dance on TV are the same. Both exploit the flesh of a third person to generate economy spend. The govt does not stand to lose the 200 crores Bars generated, they would come from the millions of VCDs that would get circulated in the next 3 months.
The Rs.200 that Smitha took home every night would become more difficult to earn. Dances on VCDs are a whole lot difficult to market than a live show. If you think you have corrected the world by closing a few night haunts, I suggest you follow the young boy more closely. The solution to his life is in the steps he takes.
As for the father , all I can say is stop writing letters to Patil and think of what you were when you were as old as your son.
Regards and thanks,
Anuradha
Sunday, May 01, 2005
In and Around...
Avid tamil film watchers would recall this line from Kudumbam oru Kadambam -"Paithyakara hospital lla vaidhyam patkara doctor ru ke paithyam puditcha .... " . As an answer to Visu' s question stands the temple dedicated to Lord Dhanvantri in Walajapet , Tamil nadu.
Walajapet is a small industrial town , 100 kms off chennai on the Chennai -Bangalore route. Once famous (infamous) for its tanneries and export units, today it is on a path of correcting the wrongs done to the eco system.
15 minutes into Walajapet , there is a right turn with a board inviting you to meet Dr. Dhanvantri , Physician to Lord Venkatesa Perumal.
A small temple breaks the seemingly unbroken horizon . Logs of wood guide you around the compact structure in circles. The pathway is lined on either side with rows of butter cup flowers and bright marigolds. The smell of burnt ghee being poured into the fire welcomes you to the abode of Lord Dhanvantri.
Dhanvantri is the lord of medicine and authored Ayurveda. The temple on Walajapet is dedicated to him in an effort to bring solace and hope to millions around the world of any caste and creed. An imposing 6 1/2 feet idol stands smiling calmly at the hundereds who enter the sanctum everyday.
The head priest of the temple, Balaji explains about the history in a way that would see any marketing consultant back to school.
"Welcome to the home of Doctor of Doctors. If you have noticed,this temple is designed in a way , akin to a hospital. You have ramps to climb up to the sanctum, a waiting area before you meet the doctor. The waiting area ofcourse is lined with herbal plantations ,the scent of which starts the cure before you meet the doc.
He is Dhanvantri( pointing to the 6 footer). Look at his face- a pleasantly smiling one seemingly asking you - Hello , so how are you doing today? The main idol is placed on a lotus base (padma peetam) around which the mantra would be inscribed. On the one hand Dhanvantri will be holding the pot of nectar (amrita kalasam) and have a seendhal kodi (herb) hanging by his side.
The intriguing part is that a leech (atta poochi, in Tamil) is sculpted on his chest."
(leech therapy was part of the Indian medicine system and is now practiced in western countries.)
I could not help but notice , the silver stethoscope on the idol's right hand.
Balaji traced my gaze and responded in a typical Visu style "Doctors by profession also come here to research solutions of the unknown. This temple's base is filled by 50 crore mantras . So when you walk around the temple the vibrations emanate postive energies that fill your system."
I walked around the temple to feel the vibrations. You dont need to be a believer in the supernatural powers or cosmic energy to feel rejuvenated. The fresh air, uninterrupted gaze of the spherical earth, scent of herbs and flowers, fluttering of birds and butterflies, the temple seemed to rekindle a hope in those who visited.
The vision of Dhanvantri Swami Kovil was best articulated by Angelina , a volunteer at the temple.
-' No disease is curable in its entirety, There are no shortcuts to pain reduction, all one needs is a hope that life is worth living and that alone gives you the strength to move ahead. The temple stands testimony to generating that hope. Be it when you see others coping with suffering - you feel you are not all that alone, or when you see that nature has more to offer than what we think. I was an atheist till I came here. Now I am a believer , a believer in creating the urge to live. '
As the van wound itself way back on to the highway, the transformation in the small town was evident. Every house had a bit of the temple - A tulsi maadam and a neem tree. Walajapet was right on its way to being cured.
Walajapet is a small industrial town , 100 kms off chennai on the Chennai -Bangalore route. Once famous (infamous) for its tanneries and export units, today it is on a path of correcting the wrongs done to the eco system.
15 minutes into Walajapet , there is a right turn with a board inviting you to meet Dr. Dhanvantri , Physician to Lord Venkatesa Perumal.
A small temple breaks the seemingly unbroken horizon . Logs of wood guide you around the compact structure in circles. The pathway is lined on either side with rows of butter cup flowers and bright marigolds. The smell of burnt ghee being poured into the fire welcomes you to the abode of Lord Dhanvantri.
Dhanvantri is the lord of medicine and authored Ayurveda. The temple on Walajapet is dedicated to him in an effort to bring solace and hope to millions around the world of any caste and creed. An imposing 6 1/2 feet idol stands smiling calmly at the hundereds who enter the sanctum everyday.
The head priest of the temple, Balaji explains about the history in a way that would see any marketing consultant back to school.
"Welcome to the home of Doctor of Doctors. If you have noticed,this temple is designed in a way , akin to a hospital. You have ramps to climb up to the sanctum, a waiting area before you meet the doctor. The waiting area ofcourse is lined with herbal plantations ,the scent of which starts the cure before you meet the doc.
He is Dhanvantri( pointing to the 6 footer). Look at his face- a pleasantly smiling one seemingly asking you - Hello , so how are you doing today? The main idol is placed on a lotus base (padma peetam) around which the mantra would be inscribed. On the one hand Dhanvantri will be holding the pot of nectar (amrita kalasam) and have a seendhal kodi (herb) hanging by his side.
The intriguing part is that a leech (atta poochi, in Tamil) is sculpted on his chest."
(leech therapy was part of the Indian medicine system and is now practiced in western countries.)
I could not help but notice , the silver stethoscope on the idol's right hand.
Balaji traced my gaze and responded in a typical Visu style "Doctors by profession also come here to research solutions of the unknown. This temple's base is filled by 50 crore mantras . So when you walk around the temple the vibrations emanate postive energies that fill your system."
I walked around the temple to feel the vibrations. You dont need to be a believer in the supernatural powers or cosmic energy to feel rejuvenated. The fresh air, uninterrupted gaze of the spherical earth, scent of herbs and flowers, fluttering of birds and butterflies, the temple seemed to rekindle a hope in those who visited.
The vision of Dhanvantri Swami Kovil was best articulated by Angelina , a volunteer at the temple.
-' No disease is curable in its entirety, There are no shortcuts to pain reduction, all one needs is a hope that life is worth living and that alone gives you the strength to move ahead. The temple stands testimony to generating that hope. Be it when you see others coping with suffering - you feel you are not all that alone, or when you see that nature has more to offer than what we think. I was an atheist till I came here. Now I am a believer , a believer in creating the urge to live. '
As the van wound itself way back on to the highway, the transformation in the small town was evident. Every house had a bit of the temple - A tulsi maadam and a neem tree. Walajapet was right on its way to being cured.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)