My Photo ;)
Friday, December 03, 2004
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
For the Lovers!!
My Passion & Thoughts
"Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"
Tree
===
People call me "Tree".
I had dated 5 gals when I was in Pre-U. There's one gal who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn't have a pretty face, or good figure, nor an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary gal. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was because I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid others' gossip would hurt her.
I felt that if she were my gal, she'd be mine ultimately & I didn't have to give up everything just for her. The last reason, made her accompanying me for 3 years. She watched me chase other gals, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years.
She was a good actress and me a demanding director. When I kissed my 2nd girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, "Go on!" before running off. The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I didn't want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My 4th girlfriend didn't like her. There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she's not the type that will start off the quarrel. But I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she didn't know deep down inside I was hurt too.
When I broke up with my 5th girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up. Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the guy was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I didn't show her my heartache, just smiles & best wishes. Once I reached home, I couldn't breath. Tears rolled & I broke down. How many times have I seen her cry for the man who didn't acknowledge her presence?
During graduation, I read a sms in my hp. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"
Leaf
===
People call me Leaf.
During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. But when he had his 1st girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt - Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another gal.
I liked him & I know he liked me. But why won't he pursue me? Since he loves me why he didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one sided love. If he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, his habits. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expect me a gal to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.
At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursues me. Everyday he pursues me. He's like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree. In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart. I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn't ask me to stay.
Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay.
Wind
====
Because I like a gal called leaf. Because she's so dependent on tree so I have to be a gust wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I transfer to the new school. I saw a petite person looking at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she will always be sitting there. Be it alone or with her friends looking at him. When he talks with gals there's jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there's a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit. Just like she likes to look at him.
One day, she didn't appear. I felt something amiss. I can't explain the feeling except it's a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding her. Tears were in her eyes while he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepts the note. The next day, she appeared & passes me a note and left.
Leaf's heart is too heavy and wind couldn't blow her away It's not that leaf heart is too heavy. It because leaf never want to leave tree. I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accept my presents & phone calls. I know that the person she loves is not me. But I have this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I have declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she will divert away from the topic. But I never give up. If I decide I want her to be mine, I will definitely use all means to win her over. I can't remember how many times I have declared my love to her. Although I know she will try to divert but I still bear a small ray of hope.
Hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend. I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, "What are you doing? How come you didn't want to reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I couldn't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head" She replied loudly. I hang up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rush to her place & press her doorbell. During the moment when she opens the door, I hugged her tightly.
Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay ...
"Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"
Tree
===
People call me "Tree".
I had dated 5 gals when I was in Pre-U. There's one gal who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn't have a pretty face, or good figure, nor an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary gal. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was because I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid others' gossip would hurt her.
I felt that if she were my gal, she'd be mine ultimately & I didn't have to give up everything just for her. The last reason, made her accompanying me for 3 years. She watched me chase other gals, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years.
She was a good actress and me a demanding director. When I kissed my 2nd girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, "Go on!" before running off. The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I didn't want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My 4th girlfriend didn't like her. There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she's not the type that will start off the quarrel. But I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she didn't know deep down inside I was hurt too.
When I broke up with my 5th girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up. Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the guy was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I didn't show her my heartache, just smiles & best wishes. Once I reached home, I couldn't breath. Tears rolled & I broke down. How many times have I seen her cry for the man who didn't acknowledge her presence?
During graduation, I read a sms in my hp. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"
Leaf
===
People call me Leaf.
During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. But when he had his 1st girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt - Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another gal.
I liked him & I know he liked me. But why won't he pursue me? Since he loves me why he didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one sided love. If he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, his habits. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expect me a gal to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.
At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursues me. Everyday he pursues me. He's like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree. In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart. I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn't ask me to stay.
Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay.
Wind
====
Because I like a gal called leaf. Because she's so dependent on tree so I have to be a gust wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I transfer to the new school. I saw a petite person looking at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she will always be sitting there. Be it alone or with her friends looking at him. When he talks with gals there's jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there's a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit. Just like she likes to look at him.
One day, she didn't appear. I felt something amiss. I can't explain the feeling except it's a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding her. Tears were in her eyes while he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepts the note. The next day, she appeared & passes me a note and left.
Leaf's heart is too heavy and wind couldn't blow her away It's not that leaf heart is too heavy. It because leaf never want to leave tree. I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accept my presents & phone calls. I know that the person she loves is not me. But I have this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I have declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she will divert away from the topic. But I never give up. If I decide I want her to be mine, I will definitely use all means to win her over. I can't remember how many times I have declared my love to her. Although I know she will try to divert but I still bear a small ray of hope.
Hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend. I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, "What are you doing? How come you didn't want to reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I couldn't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head" She replied loudly. I hang up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rush to her place & press her doorbell. During the moment when she opens the door, I hugged her tightly.
Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay ...
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Emails I wud like to treasure
Sometimes we receive emails that would have had us captivated for a while. I take this use of blogging as a means to collect such emails forever(?!)
=======================================
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children
while they were drawing. She would
occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to
one little girl who was working diligently, she asked
what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl
replied, "They will in a minute."
-------
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic
elementary school for lunch. At the head of
the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and
posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table
was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching
the apples."
=======================================
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children
while they were drawing. She would
occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to
one little girl who was working diligently, she asked
what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl
replied, "They will in a minute."
-------
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic
elementary school for lunch. At the head of
the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and
posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table
was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching
the apples."
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Interesting debate on whether God exists!!
Very Nice One regarding whether God really exists. The text below is one which I would love to treasure.
====================================================================
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God. He asks one of his new students to stand and.....
Professor: You are a Hare God devotee, aren't you, son?
Student: Yes, sir.
Prof: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.
Prof: Is God good?
Student: Sure.
Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Student: Yes.
Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
(The student is silent.)
Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student: Yes.
Prof: Is Satan good?
Student: No.
Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From...God...
Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.
Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything.
Correct?
Student: Yes.
Prof: So who created evil?
(The student does not answer.)
Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student: Yes, sir.
Prof: So, who created them?
(The student has no answer.)
Prof: Tell me, son. Do you believe in God?
Student: Yes, professor, I do.
Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the
world around you. Have you ever seen God?
Student No, sir.
Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God or God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.
Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.
Student: No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light.....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism,but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach tour students that they evolved from a monkey?
Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of
course, I do.
Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? (The class is in uproar.)
Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter.)
Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?.....No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face
unfathomable.)
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student : That is it sir.. The link between man & god is FAITH.
That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
====================================================================
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God. He asks one of his new students to stand and.....
Professor: You are a Hare God devotee, aren't you, son?
Student: Yes, sir.
Prof: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.
Prof: Is God good?
Student: Sure.
Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Student: Yes.
Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
(The student is silent.)
Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student: Yes.
Prof: Is Satan good?
Student: No.
Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From...God...
Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.
Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything.
Correct?
Student: Yes.
Prof: So who created evil?
(The student does not answer.)
Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student: Yes, sir.
Prof: So, who created them?
(The student has no answer.)
Prof: Tell me, son. Do you believe in God?
Student: Yes, professor, I do.
Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the
world around you. Have you ever seen God?
Student No, sir.
Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God or God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.
Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.
Student: No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light.....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism,but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach tour students that they evolved from a monkey?
Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of
course, I do.
Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? (The class is in uproar.)
Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter.)
Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?.....No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face
unfathomable.)
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student : That is it sir.. The link between man & god is FAITH.
That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
Lession to learn
I don't think we humans who are perfectly well will do this.. Do we??
=======================================
It was a sports stadium.
Eight Children were standing on the track
to participate the running event.
Ready!
Steady!
Bang!!!
With the sound of Toy pistol, all eight girls started running.
Hardly they have covered ten to fifteen steps,
one of the smaller girls slipped and fell down.
Due to bruises and pain she started crying.
When other seven girls heard this sound,
stopped running, stood for a while and turned back.
They all ran back to the place where the girl fell down.
One among them bent, picked and kissed the girl gently and
enquired 'Now pain must have reduced'.
All seven girls lifted the fallen girl, pacified her.
Two of them held the girl firmly and
they all seven joined hands together and
walked together and reached the winning post.
Officials were shocked.
Clapping of thousands of spectators filled the stadium.
Many eyes were filled with tears
and perhaps it had reached the GOD even !
YES.
This happened in Hyderabad, recently !
The sport was conducted by National Institute of Mental Health.
All these special girls had come to participate in this event and
they are spastic children.
Yes, they were mentally retarded.
What did they teach this world?
Teamwork?
Humanity?
Equality among all?
. . . . . . . . ????
Successful people should help others who are slow in learning
so that they are not felt far behind
=======================================
It was a sports stadium.
Eight Children were standing on the track
to participate the running event.
Ready!
Steady!
Bang!!!
With the sound of Toy pistol, all eight girls started running.
Hardly they have covered ten to fifteen steps,
one of the smaller girls slipped and fell down.
Due to bruises and pain she started crying.
When other seven girls heard this sound,
stopped running, stood for a while and turned back.
They all ran back to the place where the girl fell down.
One among them bent, picked and kissed the girl gently and
enquired 'Now pain must have reduced'.
All seven girls lifted the fallen girl, pacified her.
Two of them held the girl firmly and
they all seven joined hands together and
walked together and reached the winning post.
Officials were shocked.
Clapping of thousands of spectators filled the stadium.
Many eyes were filled with tears
and perhaps it had reached the GOD even !
YES.
This happened in Hyderabad, recently !
The sport was conducted by National Institute of Mental Health.
All these special girls had come to participate in this event and
they are spastic children.
Yes, they were mentally retarded.
What did they teach this world?
Teamwork?
Humanity?
Equality among all?
. . . . . . . . ????
Successful people should help others who are slow in learning
so that they are not felt far behind
Monday, October 18, 2004
My Trip to Pazhani with Kasi
What follows on are my PayaNa AnubavangaL right from the moment we ( Kasi & I) started to Pazhani on Dec 5, 2003.
It all started at about 17:00 on Friday. It was raining slightly at that time & that day is Pradhosham.
So, went to temple at 17:15, and in the urgency, had not been there for more.
And, we thought of having snax at San. And, we met with a minor accident with a bicycle.
We din think that this is a sign for future (near) accidents, which I will describe shortly.
And, we arrived there at the Koyambedu Omni Bus Stand, got into Lakshmi Travels Air-Bus, Yes, it was indeed an
Air Bus. (appa... what a relief !!! )
To my enjoyment, they screened Devar Magan on the TV. What a film it is !! Fantastic Portrayal.
A classic eg. for how a screenplay sud be.. Hitting the nail straight on the head, from the very first frame.
Then, we started talking " Orru Kadhai Olaga Kadhai" till 1:00 AM in the night. We fell asleep & I woke up by a person's loud voice " Pazhani ellam Erankikanga".
Wow!!! We were at Pazhani.
Then, we started walking towards the temple looking for a lodge nearby.
A person in a bicycle started to talk with us & enquiring if we want any rooms for staying out there.
We very cautiously ignored him. We were very much outsmarted during our first visit to Pazhani.
I sud admit that Kasi was cautious but, I am being a "Kuzhandhai" & believing in every body I see, I fell prey
to him. It was indeed a nightmarish experience for me at that time.
And, we sighted a lodge which was showing "New Tirupur Lodge" on its board.
mm.... It was pretty much decent.. but costly with one double cot room costing INR 195.
Just one room with bathroom attached. Good Heavens!!! It had both cold & hot water.
The weather is cloudy with the temperature as low as 25/27 degrees.
Then, we started to sleep slightly to get up by 9:00. But, I woke up to Kasi's voice "dei, 10:30 ayiduchu daa".
Oopsss!!!
Then, we brushed up our teeth, & went outside to buy some basic things needed.
It was still raining. not huge,... but can be called "Thooral".
We bought some apples & had it for our breakfast.
Had a hot bath & started for the temple at 12:15.
We reached the Adivaram at 12:25.
We prayed to Vinayakar below the "Padikattu".
The time is exactly 12:25. We started to walk up the steps. Oooops!!! My heart started beating at
a very fast pace... the thing is we have not even climbed 10 steps.
Such are the steps at Pazhani,, in sharp contrast to Marudhamalai ( my personal favorite).
And to my utter surprise, I was able to see a small kid (sud be below 10) climbing very comfortably with
a Kavadi.... Gr8.
The trick is " We sud walk two steps at a time... and on reaching the Mandapams, we sud take rest, until
our heart beat becomes normal.".
This way, we are able to manage & soon we are at the top at 12:50.. so 30 minutes of walking up the steps.
Still raining... got a INR 10 entrance tkt. Not much crowd,,, except for those goin to Sabari Malai.
We had a Very Good View of Mr. Pazhani Andavar in Raja Alangaram.
Then, we took our lunch by availing of the offer of "Annadhanam". It is decent, except for the rice.
Then, Kasi proposed to go down by Winch, unique to Pazhani.
Yeah, I sud say the experience was worth trying, U will able to see all the things happening around
at an angle of 45 degrees. Just a 7 minute jolly & thrilling ride down the Pazhani hills.
We then went back to the room, & started to leave for Kovai.
The journey was sweet what with the bus(Pollachi Bound) sporting a Video coach, & screening Thiruda Thirudi.
We are able to see till "Manmadha Rasa" (Aaahaa!!! )..
Then, from Pollachi we took to Athupaalam, & then on to my Podanur Home.
Podanur is always sweet with the climate... Hmmm.... I am missing a lot...
We reached my house at around 18:30.. Some nice movie was goin on in Sun TV ( forgot it).
Then, we took a nice tiffin ( Adai Dhosai ...I am having it after a much long time.. Mouth is watering...).
Then, at about 21:30, it was the turn of Star Vijay to show Big Boss, a Bruce Lee starrer, dubbed in Thamizh.
mmm, not much in that.. a very ordinary film....much sounding like that of a few Thamizh movies I have seen.
Surprisingly, I am not even was attracted by Bruce Lee's screen presence.
At sometimes, got annoyed too.
Then, went on to sleep, got up at 7:30 to the voices of Nidhyashree's rendition of "Kalyaana Maalai Kalyaana Maalai...".
Got a call from Gowri ( one of my Classmates at the CIT). He resides at Singanallur, that he wanted to see us both.
Took the biggest risk I have ever taken... decided to cover the distance by Two Wheeler (TVS Max-100 R).
Hmm,,, to my surprise, I was riding pretty good. I don't know how Kasi feels abt it. ;-)
I took the narrow NanjundaPuram road, using which I can reach Ramanathapuram within 10 mts.
Then, had a good ride on the Tiruchi Road. What a Pleasure to ride on a Highway, without much traffic..
We reached at Gowri's house in just 20 mts... sud be around 10:30.
Then... "Vazhakkamaana Visarippugal..." & actually it turned out to be one of my surprise & happiest
moments of this tour. ( I can say so;-), what with Gowri's Mother joining us.
I know her very well.. But, on that very particular day, she sud be in great form.
She used to talk to me very caringly over the phone. It was the first time, I am spending time with
her directly. For her Kovai slang alone, I very much like her .
U know, we chatted for around 2 hrs, & it seemed to go like a flash.
She started talking abt characteristics of Persons based on the Stars.
And, I got the answer to Kasi's talent. ( His star is Revathi ).
She said that those born in that star will have the talent to tell lies or start a story instantaneously.
The worst sufferer of this being me, I got very much delighted to know the answer which has so far
eluded me.
One of my friends' mother too very much cares for me. Now, that my friend (their only son) is pursuing his Masters in Business Admn, whenever I go to Kovai, I pay her a visit. She used to call me for Lunch, and I can return only with my stomach full with full satisfaction. She used to discuss at length at any topic, be it politics, cinema.. & what not.
On one particular occasion, we had a discussion abt Shankar's Boys for nearly 45 minutes. She very much appreciated it for the honesty in its portrayal, though she accepted Shankar sud not have gone too much.
Each of my friend's parents have been very unique in some way. I must be very lucky :-))
Then, we three ( Gowri, Kasi & Me) started to Singanallur Boat House, which I spotted when
we were goin to Gowri's home.
The Kulam is filled with water & now very greeny occupying a large area. But, cudn't see many Kovaites, perhaps they still have not adapted themselves to spending time like this..
A park is also provided.
We took a 30 minute ride into the Kulam in a (2+1) seater boat. Tkt : INR 15. Entrance Tkt : INR 2.
We paddled the boat so gracefully, and this Kasi was threatening to go towards one side, & in the
process planning to upset the boat's stability.
I told him even if we get drowned, others can save us. But for U, no option, as there is no hair in ur head.
Even then.. hmm..
It sud be 13:00. Then, we spotted the park... Kasi & I jumped on a See-Saw.
With his slender structure, he is not able to pull the Heavy Weight Champion (i.e me) up.
Then, we went on a Merry-Go-Round. Then, I played with the "Dhoori" (Oonjal).
Those were my Happiest Moments of My Life..
Then, went to a temple near-by.. Gowri said that there was a Pyramid installed at the school, in which he studied-
Perks Matric. School. The pyramid is huge & we went inside. But, not for more time.
I can see one person sleeping (?!) inside the pyramid, as if he is floating in the universe, & not part of the earth at all.. Hmm .. Blissful Isolation from the Earth...
The Perks School on Sunday is very busy. A correspondence course should be goin on. I can see many young men & women there, bustling around.
Then, thatz it.. Bid adieu to Gowri.. & again Kasi is back on the pillion of my Bike.
This time around I was even more good in tackling the road, riding very bravely ;-)
Then, had a delicious lunch & had a nice sleep. I love sleeping in the afternoon.
In the evening, I again took the bike, this time on the Pollachi Road to Eachanari.
First, went to Eachanari Vinayakar temple. I like this Pillayar very much.
Such presence & beauty in HIM.
Spent some time over there. It was there where we bought books on Pranayamam & Yogasanam.
Gr8 books.
Then, we went to the Mahalakshmi Koyil, which is very near by.
The temple is the first of its kind in South India, & second only to the structure in Mumbai.
Really, a marvel,... well maintained with the ever smiling & blessing Navagraha Anjaneyer welcoming U at the entrance.
The koyil adorns the Three Goddessed Lakshmi, Saraswathy & Parvathi. The flower decorations are just too good.
And, if U come outside, there is always this whiff of Kovai Cool Air...
Then, we took to our home, reached our home by 19:00.
Some film was goin on. I think thats it.
Took a Call-Taxi to the Kovai Station & in the morning we are at The Central, late by 1 hour, due to an engine problem.
That ended it all, my happiest & unforgettable journey so far to Kovai.
It all started at about 17:00 on Friday. It was raining slightly at that time & that day is Pradhosham.
So, went to temple at 17:15, and in the urgency, had not been there for more.
And, we thought of having snax at San. And, we met with a minor accident with a bicycle.
We din think that this is a sign for future (near) accidents, which I will describe shortly.
And, we arrived there at the Koyambedu Omni Bus Stand, got into Lakshmi Travels Air-Bus, Yes, it was indeed an
Air Bus. (appa... what a relief !!! )
To my enjoyment, they screened Devar Magan on the TV. What a film it is !! Fantastic Portrayal.
A classic eg. for how a screenplay sud be.. Hitting the nail straight on the head, from the very first frame.
Then, we started talking " Orru Kadhai Olaga Kadhai" till 1:00 AM in the night. We fell asleep & I woke up by a person's loud voice " Pazhani ellam Erankikanga".
Wow!!! We were at Pazhani.
Then, we started walking towards the temple looking for a lodge nearby.
A person in a bicycle started to talk with us & enquiring if we want any rooms for staying out there.
We very cautiously ignored him. We were very much outsmarted during our first visit to Pazhani.
I sud admit that Kasi was cautious but, I am being a "Kuzhandhai" & believing in every body I see, I fell prey
to him. It was indeed a nightmarish experience for me at that time.
And, we sighted a lodge which was showing "New Tirupur Lodge" on its board.
mm.... It was pretty much decent.. but costly with one double cot room costing INR 195.
Just one room with bathroom attached. Good Heavens!!! It had both cold & hot water.
The weather is cloudy with the temperature as low as 25/27 degrees.
Then, we started to sleep slightly to get up by 9:00. But, I woke up to Kasi's voice "dei, 10:30 ayiduchu daa".
Oopsss!!!
Then, we brushed up our teeth, & went outside to buy some basic things needed.
It was still raining. not huge,... but can be called "Thooral".
We bought some apples & had it for our breakfast.
Had a hot bath & started for the temple at 12:15.
We reached the Adivaram at 12:25.
We prayed to Vinayakar below the "Padikattu".
The time is exactly 12:25. We started to walk up the steps. Oooops!!! My heart started beating at
a very fast pace... the thing is we have not even climbed 10 steps.
Such are the steps at Pazhani,, in sharp contrast to Marudhamalai ( my personal favorite).
And to my utter surprise, I was able to see a small kid (sud be below 10) climbing very comfortably with
a Kavadi.... Gr8.
The trick is " We sud walk two steps at a time... and on reaching the Mandapams, we sud take rest, until
our heart beat becomes normal.".
This way, we are able to manage & soon we are at the top at 12:50.. so 30 minutes of walking up the steps.
Still raining... got a INR 10 entrance tkt. Not much crowd,,, except for those goin to Sabari Malai.
We had a Very Good View of Mr. Pazhani Andavar in Raja Alangaram.
Then, we took our lunch by availing of the offer of "Annadhanam". It is decent, except for the rice.
Then, Kasi proposed to go down by Winch, unique to Pazhani.
Yeah, I sud say the experience was worth trying, U will able to see all the things happening around
at an angle of 45 degrees. Just a 7 minute jolly & thrilling ride down the Pazhani hills.
We then went back to the room, & started to leave for Kovai.
The journey was sweet what with the bus(Pollachi Bound) sporting a Video coach, & screening Thiruda Thirudi.
We are able to see till "Manmadha Rasa" (Aaahaa!!! )..
Then, from Pollachi we took to Athupaalam, & then on to my Podanur Home.
Podanur is always sweet with the climate... Hmmm.... I am missing a lot...
We reached my house at around 18:30.. Some nice movie was goin on in Sun TV ( forgot it).
Then, we took a nice tiffin ( Adai Dhosai ...I am having it after a much long time.. Mouth is watering...).
Then, at about 21:30, it was the turn of Star Vijay to show Big Boss, a Bruce Lee starrer, dubbed in Thamizh.
mmm, not much in that.. a very ordinary film....much sounding like that of a few Thamizh movies I have seen.
Surprisingly, I am not even was attracted by Bruce Lee's screen presence.
At sometimes, got annoyed too.
Then, went on to sleep, got up at 7:30 to the voices of Nidhyashree's rendition of "Kalyaana Maalai Kalyaana Maalai...".
Got a call from Gowri ( one of my Classmates at the CIT). He resides at Singanallur, that he wanted to see us both.
Took the biggest risk I have ever taken... decided to cover the distance by Two Wheeler (TVS Max-100 R).
Hmm,,, to my surprise, I was riding pretty good. I don't know how Kasi feels abt it. ;-)
I took the narrow NanjundaPuram road, using which I can reach Ramanathapuram within 10 mts.
Then, had a good ride on the Tiruchi Road. What a Pleasure to ride on a Highway, without much traffic..
We reached at Gowri's house in just 20 mts... sud be around 10:30.
Then... "Vazhakkamaana Visarippugal..." & actually it turned out to be one of my surprise & happiest
moments of this tour. ( I can say so;-), what with Gowri's Mother joining us.
I know her very well.. But, on that very particular day, she sud be in great form.
She used to talk to me very caringly over the phone. It was the first time, I am spending time with
her directly. For her Kovai slang alone, I very much like her .
U know, we chatted for around 2 hrs, & it seemed to go like a flash.
She started talking abt characteristics of Persons based on the Stars.
And, I got the answer to Kasi's talent. ( His star is Revathi ).
She said that those born in that star will have the talent to tell lies or start a story instantaneously.
The worst sufferer of this being me, I got very much delighted to know the answer which has so far
eluded me.
One of my friends' mother too very much cares for me. Now, that my friend (their only son) is pursuing his Masters in Business Admn, whenever I go to Kovai, I pay her a visit. She used to call me for Lunch, and I can return only with my stomach full with full satisfaction. She used to discuss at length at any topic, be it politics, cinema.. & what not.
On one particular occasion, we had a discussion abt Shankar's Boys for nearly 45 minutes. She very much appreciated it for the honesty in its portrayal, though she accepted Shankar sud not have gone too much.
Each of my friend's parents have been very unique in some way. I must be very lucky :-))
Then, we three ( Gowri, Kasi & Me) started to Singanallur Boat House, which I spotted when
we were goin to Gowri's home.
The Kulam is filled with water & now very greeny occupying a large area. But, cudn't see many Kovaites, perhaps they still have not adapted themselves to spending time like this..
A park is also provided.
We took a 30 minute ride into the Kulam in a (2+1) seater boat. Tkt : INR 15. Entrance Tkt : INR 2.
We paddled the boat so gracefully, and this Kasi was threatening to go towards one side, & in the
process planning to upset the boat's stability.
I told him even if we get drowned, others can save us. But for U, no option, as there is no hair in ur head.
Even then.. hmm..
It sud be 13:00. Then, we spotted the park... Kasi & I jumped on a See-Saw.
With his slender structure, he is not able to pull the Heavy Weight Champion (i.e me) up.
Then, we went on a Merry-Go-Round. Then, I played with the "Dhoori" (Oonjal).
Those were my Happiest Moments of My Life..
Then, went to a temple near-by.. Gowri said that there was a Pyramid installed at the school, in which he studied-
Perks Matric. School. The pyramid is huge & we went inside. But, not for more time.
I can see one person sleeping (?!) inside the pyramid, as if he is floating in the universe, & not part of the earth at all.. Hmm .. Blissful Isolation from the Earth...
The Perks School on Sunday is very busy. A correspondence course should be goin on. I can see many young men & women there, bustling around.
Then, thatz it.. Bid adieu to Gowri.. & again Kasi is back on the pillion of my Bike.
This time around I was even more good in tackling the road, riding very bravely ;-)
Then, had a delicious lunch & had a nice sleep. I love sleeping in the afternoon.
In the evening, I again took the bike, this time on the Pollachi Road to Eachanari.
First, went to Eachanari Vinayakar temple. I like this Pillayar very much.
Such presence & beauty in HIM.
Spent some time over there. It was there where we bought books on Pranayamam & Yogasanam.
Gr8 books.
Then, we went to the Mahalakshmi Koyil, which is very near by.
The temple is the first of its kind in South India, & second only to the structure in Mumbai.
Really, a marvel,... well maintained with the ever smiling & blessing Navagraha Anjaneyer welcoming U at the entrance.
The koyil adorns the Three Goddessed Lakshmi, Saraswathy & Parvathi. The flower decorations are just too good.
And, if U come outside, there is always this whiff of Kovai Cool Air...
Then, we took to our home, reached our home by 19:00.
Some film was goin on. I think thats it.
Took a Call-Taxi to the Kovai Station & in the morning we are at The Central, late by 1 hour, due to an engine problem.
That ended it all, my happiest & unforgettable journey so far to Kovai.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Music Review on "Thendral Vandhu Theendum Boedhu"
In case you read what all interests me, you sud have found Music in it. In a way, I like many Music Director's compositions ranging from K.V.Mahadevan, A.M.Raja, Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, Ilayaraaja, Rahman, Vidyasagar to the present generation of Yuvan, Ramesh Vinayagam.
But, I must say that of all of them, my scale tilts in favor of Ilayaraaja. He is my favorite composer of all times.
mm.. I have heard many songs of his and have been spell bound as to how he is able to compose these songs.
One such song is "Thendral vandhu theendum boedhu" from the film Avadharam. When I heard it I wasn't quite impressed with the song. But, when I happened to read a review of this song in the net, I was astonished and in a way felt ashamed of not knowing the importance of the song.
After having read the review, whenever I hear the song, I feel like I want to shed tears. Such was the composition and itz scintillating.
Herez the review of the song:
The beginning of the song in a way summarizes Ilayaraja's style - Chorus girls singing thanath thandha (Tamil folk scat) in a canonlike fashion!
What begins like a few voices suddenly reaches orchestral proportions - with texture added, little by little, layer by layer.
These girls sing in a western style but you can definitely hear the slides and complex phrase structures that are Indian. (0:08)
Then the coarse casual voice comes in, joyously humming, but the background strings are divine, playing counterpoints that give me goose bumps all over. They seem to go to places I have never been taken before to.
There you go! You have an artiste who has used the western craft to ornament the Indian soul.
Here are a few more things that catch my attention:
The pallavi is sung in a folk open-mouthed un ornamented voice, but shows such a raw confidence and simplicity. The pallavi is a long one and anupallavi (vandhu vandhu poguthamma) touches new highs, and you hear, strings, bells, synth koovals everywhere. Rich sound!
The simple rock beat is embellished with aperiodic fills on ethnic drum sounds. You also hear fretless bass filling the pallavi endings. The first interlude at 1:30 uses a simple seed, a 4 note rhtyhm TumDumDumDum, which is articulated both by the girls and a drum.This forms the bed for the entire first interlude. See how he first establishes this bed, one element at a time (drums and girls, then the string).
First solo on this bed is Chorus girls humming a haunting line joined by strings. This seems influenced by western harmony. But then the Second solo is soulfully played by a clarinet like synth, with the chorus girls singing the same melody.
This gives us the first secret of Raja's composition, on how he acheives unification. He composes a single lead melody line and then arranges it into sections and parts of dramatically varying arrangements. Inspite of orchestral colors dramatically varying, the melody holds together the whole piece like a story.
You can also see how the interlude has a peaking structure. First part starts from silence and second part increases tension. The clarinet solo is highest tension point before wrapping up.
The lyrics of the first charanam speak of the unspeakableness of innocent love. (1:50)
The lines
Everum sollamalae pookkalum vasam veesudhae
Oravum illamalae irumanam edho pesudhu
Everum sollamalae kuyilellam thena padudhu
Edhuvum sollamalae manaselam inippa inikkudhu
speak of the joy of infatuation and innocence at heart.
Raja follows the traditional song structures where the charanam (corresponding to the verse of a western pop song) is simpler in structure and lyrics is given emphasis. The melody is not supposed to be very catchy here, but the meaning is.
There is very interesting percussion work and stabbing violins. The slides in pesudhu, padudhu is so moving.
Again the charanam peaks at Odai Neerodai. and then a rounding off at Nilaiya Nilladhu.
When the pallavi is recapitulated, the orchestration is very minimalistic and tabla-synth, and bass guitar create sweet bed for it.
The second interlude brings a new surprise. (2:53) A typical Raja silent break and horns announce a new dawn. It is as if this is a new song.
When the girls hum, new keys are shown.
Against a horn ostinato, the strings play their theme, I get the picture of a thick forest flowing rivers and beetles.
The final recapitulation of the pallavi at 4:16 is almost silent imprinting the melody on you.
The pallavi's role is to summarize the mood of a song, and carry its theme. Anupallavi has a flute counterpoint singing along.
If you observe the melody, you see a skillful use of the notes. The pallavi is calm and low range. Anupallavi stretches it a bit, but the highest notes are reserved for middle of the charanam where the song reaches it climax. This is typical skeletal design for Carnatic songs and follows the grammar of story telling, where you progressively put a character into more and more difficult obstacles, with the climax being the most difficult one!
The song showcases many of Raja's unique marks: Wall of sound created by layers of counter melodies, mixing and matching folk idioms with western idioms effortlessly, (fine grained fusion, if you will), dramatic use of silence, use of hummings and instruments instead of percussives rhythms as beds for song and interludes, ability to create catchy melody out of long pallavis!
And keeping all this craft in balance to serve the main goal of music - touch your heart with overwhelming emotion!
MS adds:
It is a pity that (you and) I have just two ears. And a bigger grievance is that both hear the same sound at the same time. It is an absolute misfortune that we don't have multiple ears which would, like inverted counterparts of specialized speakers, be able to absorb only particular track and send these signals to brain. This kind of stupid realization comes to you when you listen to great masters whose overwhelming complexity makes you wonder if music is man made or divine. This happens to me when I listen to Bach, Mozart and most particularly some of IR's master pieces. The former two are still a li'l alien to me, since I was pretty much born (1976) and brought up with IR's music. When as a school goer I ran into the masterpiece "yEdho moham" I did not understand why I liked it. I liked it. Now after some experience with harmony theory and some maturing, whenever I hear a song, I start wondering "what are the chords" used in that song. Some time I find that I am increasingly falling into the ditch of dissecting songs and start feeling, "Hey am I losing the main purpose of why a song is made ? appreciation as a listener with a heart and not brain? Am I gonna just hear the notes and not evade my questioning attitude to simply lose myself in the song ?" At juntures like this, somehow songs like thendral vandhu theeNdumpodhu, songs of guru (malayalam), yedho moham, ennuLLE ennuLLe and a lot more of IR assure me that I have still no lost my "lay listener" in me who would not 'think' about the song but just listen it for my soul. These songs not only assure the presence of a listner in me, but also launch a severe attack on my spurts of pride which would falsely assure me of being endowed with ears which can "hear them all and document". These songs give a wild shock of the genial reality that these maestros have produced as if it is one of the easiest things they do on earth like walking. Surely when tendulkar bats, it seems like the easiest profession unless one pads up only to be confronted with the nuances which are impossible to master if u are, just a worker and not a genius. It is at that juncture that a mortal would crave for more gift from god, say in my case more ears or more dissecting ability.
Thendral is a song which has a stamp of complete authority of IR. I won't say much since our respectable DFer RJAY has written more than what could possibly be said. The drums are the smoothest and u feel they are almost non-existent. The contrapuntal choral harmony, the unassuming warm pad that makes the song sail in the smooth waters, the awesome string section and what not.. All for a girl who is blind. I have somewhere read about musical notes being associated with colors. And you know musical notes could just be colors, but you still would need a Titan to paint.
Swamiji of DF has no idea what genre this song belongs to. Well, call it IR genre. Who cares anyway ?!!
But, I must say that of all of them, my scale tilts in favor of Ilayaraaja. He is my favorite composer of all times.
mm.. I have heard many songs of his and have been spell bound as to how he is able to compose these songs.
One such song is "Thendral vandhu theendum boedhu" from the film Avadharam. When I heard it I wasn't quite impressed with the song. But, when I happened to read a review of this song in the net, I was astonished and in a way felt ashamed of not knowing the importance of the song.
After having read the review, whenever I hear the song, I feel like I want to shed tears. Such was the composition and itz scintillating.
Herez the review of the song:
The beginning of the song in a way summarizes Ilayaraja's style - Chorus girls singing thanath thandha (Tamil folk scat) in a canonlike fashion!
What begins like a few voices suddenly reaches orchestral proportions - with texture added, little by little, layer by layer.
These girls sing in a western style but you can definitely hear the slides and complex phrase structures that are Indian. (0:08)
Then the coarse casual voice comes in, joyously humming, but the background strings are divine, playing counterpoints that give me goose bumps all over. They seem to go to places I have never been taken before to.
There you go! You have an artiste who has used the western craft to ornament the Indian soul.
Here are a few more things that catch my attention:
The pallavi is sung in a folk open-mouthed un ornamented voice, but shows such a raw confidence and simplicity. The pallavi is a long one and anupallavi (vandhu vandhu poguthamma) touches new highs, and you hear, strings, bells, synth koovals everywhere. Rich sound!
The simple rock beat is embellished with aperiodic fills on ethnic drum sounds. You also hear fretless bass filling the pallavi endings. The first interlude at 1:30 uses a simple seed, a 4 note rhtyhm TumDumDumDum, which is articulated both by the girls and a drum.This forms the bed for the entire first interlude. See how he first establishes this bed, one element at a time (drums and girls, then the string).
First solo on this bed is Chorus girls humming a haunting line joined by strings. This seems influenced by western harmony. But then the Second solo is soulfully played by a clarinet like synth, with the chorus girls singing the same melody.
This gives us the first secret of Raja's composition, on how he acheives unification. He composes a single lead melody line and then arranges it into sections and parts of dramatically varying arrangements. Inspite of orchestral colors dramatically varying, the melody holds together the whole piece like a story.
You can also see how the interlude has a peaking structure. First part starts from silence and second part increases tension. The clarinet solo is highest tension point before wrapping up.
The lyrics of the first charanam speak of the unspeakableness of innocent love. (1:50)
The lines
Everum sollamalae pookkalum vasam veesudhae
Oravum illamalae irumanam edho pesudhu
Everum sollamalae kuyilellam thena padudhu
Edhuvum sollamalae manaselam inippa inikkudhu
speak of the joy of infatuation and innocence at heart.
Raja follows the traditional song structures where the charanam (corresponding to the verse of a western pop song) is simpler in structure and lyrics is given emphasis. The melody is not supposed to be very catchy here, but the meaning is.
There is very interesting percussion work and stabbing violins. The slides in pesudhu, padudhu is so moving.
Again the charanam peaks at Odai Neerodai. and then a rounding off at Nilaiya Nilladhu.
When the pallavi is recapitulated, the orchestration is very minimalistic and tabla-synth, and bass guitar create sweet bed for it.
The second interlude brings a new surprise. (2:53) A typical Raja silent break and horns announce a new dawn. It is as if this is a new song.
When the girls hum, new keys are shown.
Against a horn ostinato, the strings play their theme, I get the picture of a thick forest flowing rivers and beetles.
The final recapitulation of the pallavi at 4:16 is almost silent imprinting the melody on you.
The pallavi's role is to summarize the mood of a song, and carry its theme. Anupallavi has a flute counterpoint singing along.
If you observe the melody, you see a skillful use of the notes. The pallavi is calm and low range. Anupallavi stretches it a bit, but the highest notes are reserved for middle of the charanam where the song reaches it climax. This is typical skeletal design for Carnatic songs and follows the grammar of story telling, where you progressively put a character into more and more difficult obstacles, with the climax being the most difficult one!
The song showcases many of Raja's unique marks: Wall of sound created by layers of counter melodies, mixing and matching folk idioms with western idioms effortlessly, (fine grained fusion, if you will), dramatic use of silence, use of hummings and instruments instead of percussives rhythms as beds for song and interludes, ability to create catchy melody out of long pallavis!
And keeping all this craft in balance to serve the main goal of music - touch your heart with overwhelming emotion!
MS adds:
It is a pity that (you and) I have just two ears. And a bigger grievance is that both hear the same sound at the same time. It is an absolute misfortune that we don't have multiple ears which would, like inverted counterparts of specialized speakers, be able to absorb only particular track and send these signals to brain. This kind of stupid realization comes to you when you listen to great masters whose overwhelming complexity makes you wonder if music is man made or divine. This happens to me when I listen to Bach, Mozart and most particularly some of IR's master pieces. The former two are still a li'l alien to me, since I was pretty much born (1976) and brought up with IR's music. When as a school goer I ran into the masterpiece "yEdho moham" I did not understand why I liked it. I liked it. Now after some experience with harmony theory and some maturing, whenever I hear a song, I start wondering "what are the chords" used in that song. Some time I find that I am increasingly falling into the ditch of dissecting songs and start feeling, "Hey am I losing the main purpose of why a song is made ? appreciation as a listener with a heart and not brain? Am I gonna just hear the notes and not evade my questioning attitude to simply lose myself in the song ?" At juntures like this, somehow songs like thendral vandhu theeNdumpodhu, songs of guru (malayalam), yedho moham, ennuLLE ennuLLe and a lot more of IR assure me that I have still no lost my "lay listener" in me who would not 'think' about the song but just listen it for my soul. These songs not only assure the presence of a listner in me, but also launch a severe attack on my spurts of pride which would falsely assure me of being endowed with ears which can "hear them all and document". These songs give a wild shock of the genial reality that these maestros have produced as if it is one of the easiest things they do on earth like walking. Surely when tendulkar bats, it seems like the easiest profession unless one pads up only to be confronted with the nuances which are impossible to master if u are, just a worker and not a genius. It is at that juncture that a mortal would crave for more gift from god, say in my case more ears or more dissecting ability.
Thendral is a song which has a stamp of complete authority of IR. I won't say much since our respectable DFer RJAY has written more than what could possibly be said. The drums are the smoothest and u feel they are almost non-existent. The contrapuntal choral harmony, the unassuming warm pad that makes the song sail in the smooth waters, the awesome string section and what not.. All for a girl who is blind. I have somewhere read about musical notes being associated with colors. And you know musical notes could just be colors, but you still would need a Titan to paint.
Swamiji of DF has no idea what genre this song belongs to. Well, call it IR genre. Who cares anyway ?!!
Film Review on Solla Marandha Kadhai
Solla Marandha Kadhai
This actually is the film which kindled the writer in me to write a review, thus giving me courage in writing reviews for films.
My view of the review is how I see the film and in most cases not gell with the readers' opinion.
---------------
The caption 'Manidha URavukalin UNarchik Kuviyal' is a fitting caption
to this film.
After seeing such a wonderful film, I cud not resist my temptation to express
my own view abt 'SMK'.
I dont want to tell the story, but a few points abt how the lead characters had
performed..
Cheran has acted his part in a very beautiful manner.He has portrayed the character
of Sivadhanu (what a nice name) in a very superb way.
And the character I like the most in the film is that of Parvathi portrayed by Rathi.
Rathi is much beautiful in that role, that I dont want to think of her role in 'Kummalam',
which is a movie to forget for Rathi.
Rathi has such expressiveness in her eyes, & to me she hasn't acted in the film at all.
Her's & Cheran's are such performances that U wud even forget that they are acting.
And, a very pleasing point abt the movie is that all the characters make an impression
at some or at another moment.
The core part of the film is to show the affection bet. a wife & a husband.
The intimacy bet. Sivadhanu & Parvathi has been shown in such a wonderful & very very
natural style.This kind of intimacy hasn't been portrayed in Thamizh cinema for a long time
since Bhagyaraj.
And the moments, where there are quarrels bet. them & the moments when they are happier
are enjoyable.
Especially, a few scenes,
-the scene, in which Cheran returns to Rathi's home, & finds the door locked by Rathi.
-the scene in the hospital where Cheran comes to see her wife after the delivery of their baby.
These are the scenes in which Thankar Bachhaan, who had taken care of Story, Screenplay,Camera, Dialogues & Direction, stands out.
And music by IR is superb & the songs still linger in my heart, particularly 'Etho Unna ' & 'Kundu Malli''. But the BGM is not upto the class of IR, may be becoz, the songs too are written by IR.
The irking fact is that all the characters cry at one or at another point.This may not be liked by all, but I love this kind of moments.The sentimental scenes are also quite natural.
And, atleast in my opinion, it is a must to be seen film.
And, after seeing the film , U will not think that ur money had been wasted.
FYI,
The story is based on a novel written by Nanjil Nadan, & not Thankar Bachaan,
as I believed earlier.Let us hope that in the future, more films will be made based
on Novels.
This actually is the film which kindled the writer in me to write a review, thus giving me courage in writing reviews for films.
My view of the review is how I see the film and in most cases not gell with the readers' opinion.
---------------
The caption 'Manidha URavukalin UNarchik Kuviyal' is a fitting caption
to this film.
After seeing such a wonderful film, I cud not resist my temptation to express
my own view abt 'SMK'.
I dont want to tell the story, but a few points abt how the lead characters had
performed..
Cheran has acted his part in a very beautiful manner.He has portrayed the character
of Sivadhanu (what a nice name) in a very superb way.
And the character I like the most in the film is that of Parvathi portrayed by Rathi.
Rathi is much beautiful in that role, that I dont want to think of her role in 'Kummalam',
which is a movie to forget for Rathi.
Rathi has such expressiveness in her eyes, & to me she hasn't acted in the film at all.
Her's & Cheran's are such performances that U wud even forget that they are acting.
And, a very pleasing point abt the movie is that all the characters make an impression
at some or at another moment.
The core part of the film is to show the affection bet. a wife & a husband.
The intimacy bet. Sivadhanu & Parvathi has been shown in such a wonderful & very very
natural style.This kind of intimacy hasn't been portrayed in Thamizh cinema for a long time
since Bhagyaraj.
And the moments, where there are quarrels bet. them & the moments when they are happier
are enjoyable.
Especially, a few scenes,
-the scene, in which Cheran returns to Rathi's home, & finds the door locked by Rathi.
-the scene in the hospital where Cheran comes to see her wife after the delivery of their baby.
These are the scenes in which Thankar Bachhaan, who had taken care of Story, Screenplay,Camera, Dialogues & Direction, stands out.
And music by IR is superb & the songs still linger in my heart, particularly 'Etho Unna ' & 'Kundu Malli''. But the BGM is not upto the class of IR, may be becoz, the songs too are written by IR.
The irking fact is that all the characters cry at one or at another point.This may not be liked by all, but I love this kind of moments.The sentimental scenes are also quite natural.
And, atleast in my opinion, it is a must to be seen film.
And, after seeing the film , U will not think that ur money had been wasted.
FYI,
The story is based on a novel written by Nanjil Nadan, & not Thankar Bachaan,
as I believed earlier.Let us hope that in the future, more films will be made based
on Novels.
Film Review on Thendral
When the Thamizh Film industry is spatting out loads of movies, which centers
around heroes & exhibiting nothing but the heroism, here comes a film
which comes as a whiff of fresh air,(thendral) when we are living
amidst heavy pollution.
How it is refreshing & rejoicing when we happen to see heroines, used,
not just as glamor dolls, & not with much make-up, but with strong & neat
portrayals.
The story is brilliantly woven around a girl, who in her teen-age, gets attracted
by the writings of a Noted Writer, which can be in someway related to
infatuation or blind love.
But, even after she is grown-up, her love for the writer haunts her.
And, circumstances lead her to meet him in the most unexpected of situations,
due to which the writer considers her as a call-girl.
And, how the writer gets to know she is the girl who respected him, & loved
him all this years, giving birth to his son, is told in a way that
can haunt most human's heart, at least for a few days.
Thankar keeps the audience glued to the screen in the last 15 mts or so,
bringing tears from their eyes.
Parthiban portrays the character of Nalankilli, a serious writer &
one who is more inclined towards the goodness of his people, in this case,
Thamizhs. His reasoning for not accepting the award given by the Central
Govt. is worth mentioning here. The fact that India shares Sind River with
Pakistan & Brahmaputra with Bangladesh are notable points which can carry
to many people.
The heroine of the story, Uma, has such expressiveness in her eyes.
She performs well in emotional moments, & almost does it with effortless ease.
And, Thankar surprises you yet again, choosing a girl, (who stared as a child
artist in Nila Kaalam), whose face very much resemble Uma.
The talents of a small boy who comes as the son of Uma, has been
utilized to the core by the director. The boy simply steals away our hearts.
Swathi comes as a surprise package, and itz a pity that the film industry
has utilized her so far, only for glamor.
Vidyasagar's compositions for the film is simply great, & blends well with the film.
The songs are much meaningful, & syncs well with the moving of the film,
with the music doing absolute justice to the lyric writers.
You get to clearly hear the lyrics in almost all the songs.
"Adi thoziyae adi thoziyae" is easily the pick of the lot, & will make
you hum it all the time.
Thankar has taken enough time to dwelve deeply into the humans & their
feelings. Though the film moves slowly at some time, if you can understand
the importance of portraying the characters from their own point of view,
you can very much appreciate the film.
The film is not for everyone, & it requires patience on the part of the
viewer, & if U have it, you will certainly feel that you have seen
a brilliant & worthwhile movie.
The film comes with a caption : "Angalakku Azhagi, Pengalakku Thendral".
Well, the women can appreciate only after seeing the movie.
The film is alleged to be based upon a novel written by noted Thamizh novelist
Jayakanthan.
Thankar has done justice to the industry, and the film is sure
to encourage others to base their story on novels.
Letz all hope more such ventures based on Novels start to come.
My First Blog
around heroes & exhibiting nothing but the heroism, here comes a film
which comes as a whiff of fresh air,(thendral) when we are living
amidst heavy pollution.
How it is refreshing & rejoicing when we happen to see heroines, used,
not just as glamor dolls, & not with much make-up, but with strong & neat
portrayals.
The story is brilliantly woven around a girl, who in her teen-age, gets attracted
by the writings of a Noted Writer, which can be in someway related to
infatuation or blind love.
But, even after she is grown-up, her love for the writer haunts her.
And, circumstances lead her to meet him in the most unexpected of situations,
due to which the writer considers her as a call-girl.
And, how the writer gets to know she is the girl who respected him, & loved
him all this years, giving birth to his son, is told in a way that
can haunt most human's heart, at least for a few days.
Thankar keeps the audience glued to the screen in the last 15 mts or so,
bringing tears from their eyes.
Parthiban portrays the character of Nalankilli, a serious writer &
one who is more inclined towards the goodness of his people, in this case,
Thamizhs. His reasoning for not accepting the award given by the Central
Govt. is worth mentioning here. The fact that India shares Sind River with
Pakistan & Brahmaputra with Bangladesh are notable points which can carry
to many people.
The heroine of the story, Uma, has such expressiveness in her eyes.
She performs well in emotional moments, & almost does it with effortless ease.
And, Thankar surprises you yet again, choosing a girl, (who stared as a child
artist in Nila Kaalam), whose face very much resemble Uma.
The talents of a small boy who comes as the son of Uma, has been
utilized to the core by the director. The boy simply steals away our hearts.
Swathi comes as a surprise package, and itz a pity that the film industry
has utilized her so far, only for glamor.
Vidyasagar's compositions for the film is simply great, & blends well with the film.
The songs are much meaningful, & syncs well with the moving of the film,
with the music doing absolute justice to the lyric writers.
You get to clearly hear the lyrics in almost all the songs.
"Adi thoziyae adi thoziyae" is easily the pick of the lot, & will make
you hum it all the time.
Thankar has taken enough time to dwelve deeply into the humans & their
feelings. Though the film moves slowly at some time, if you can understand
the importance of portraying the characters from their own point of view,
you can very much appreciate the film.
The film is not for everyone, & it requires patience on the part of the
viewer, & if U have it, you will certainly feel that you have seen
a brilliant & worthwhile movie.
The film comes with a caption : "Angalakku Azhagi, Pengalakku Thendral".
Well, the women can appreciate only after seeing the movie.
The film is alleged to be based upon a novel written by noted Thamizh novelist
Jayakanthan.
Thankar has done justice to the industry, and the film is sure
to encourage others to base their story on novels.
Letz all hope more such ventures based on Novels start to come.
My First Blog
Review on Kaadhal Kondaen
mm... This film is something which haunted me at least for a week, after I saw the film. Neat protrayal and the director's sheer boldness in talking about child molesting and having it as a backdrop, the BGM and the lead actor's actress's portrayal all had me to write a review on this.
And, I was surprised to see that my review is not that bad ;)
===============================================
Like it or not, this is an outpour of my feelings after I have seen "Kadhal Kondaen".
One of the very few films I admired much & left me affected much.
Kadhal Kondaen is an out and out Dhanush's film & so is the Director's, the lean & skinny boy whom U
might have seen in "Thulluvadho Ilamai".
But, here actually he has taken a "VisvaRoobam" if I have to say that literally.
Certainly, this young man has loads of Talent.
Be it the dance, fight or emotional sequences, he performs all with almost effortless ease.
The film does comes with an Adults Only Tag. But, this time, itz been awarded 'A' certificate
for a very different reason. Many scenes are not viewable by persons below 10 yrs of age.
The scenes show the plight of the Child Labors, how they suffer, & they are punished.
These scenes in particular will make the viewer come crying out.
How often do we get to see a Thamizh film which exploits the atrocities committed in the state
as a back-drop?
Sonia Agarwal is a very fresh face, has a rare combination of Beauty & Talent.
She is able to convey everything with absolute perfection. The lip sync is which has been
so meticulously taken care of.
The way she differentiates between Love & Friendship is something which will make U sit up.
As always, the credit goes to the Director SelvaRaghavan, who has taken care of the
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues & Direction.
Abt the Music:
Itz one of the very few films in which the lyrics has been so meticulously written , that it syncs
in perfection with the situation being portrayed.
We have heard many songs which will be so pleasing in Audio. But, when it comes to picturization,
most of the songs will leave much to be desired. It so happened to me that I have actually hated
some of the songs which I admired much in audio, after seeing the video.
But, this films songs belongs to a very rare genre.
This will show you with subtle difference , how well the picturization , the choreography, the lyrics
can enhance the quality of a song, which is the one which does absolute justice to the Music Director.
Almost all the songs have been picturized very well.
But, the song which is sure to make U dumbstruck is "Nenjodu Kalandhidu", rendered by
Sujatha & Unni. Their rendition along with the Harmony in the middle, the lights showered by the Candle,
all this make watching the song a very delightful experience.
The cinematographer has literally written poetry with his camera for this song.
A few lines from the song:
"Idhu Kadhal Illai.. Oru Kaamam Illai...
Indha URavukku Ulakathil Peyarillai"
That will say it all.
Much has to be said abt the Cinematography by Aravind Krishna, who has actually created magic
with his camera, & his certain camera angles virtually frighten the viewer.
The scene in which Dhanush beats up the gals in a BasketBall court, for instance.
The BGM has been extra-ordinary with Yuvan proving that he is indeed the son of IlayaRaja, the Re-recording Maestro.
Particulary , the theme song played in the Climax & the picturization scenes makes U spellbound.
The climax is something which sud be watched for & I sure cried & I don't feel ashamed to
tell deliberately that I cried seeing the climax.
This film is sure to make many so-called heroes of our present Thamizh Cine Industry to re-think
"What are we goin to do by creating an image??"
It comes as a welcome relief that is sure to prove that for a film's success,
the hero is not important , but a very strong story-line with a very good Screenplay.
It is a film in which all departments of film-making has come out with Flying Colors.
Camera, Music, BGM, Choreography, Editing & Direction all will make U spellbound.
And, I was surprised to see that my review is not that bad ;)
===============================================
Like it or not, this is an outpour of my feelings after I have seen "Kadhal Kondaen".
One of the very few films I admired much & left me affected much.
Kadhal Kondaen is an out and out Dhanush's film & so is the Director's, the lean & skinny boy whom U
might have seen in "Thulluvadho Ilamai".
But, here actually he has taken a "VisvaRoobam" if I have to say that literally.
Certainly, this young man has loads of Talent.
Be it the dance, fight or emotional sequences, he performs all with almost effortless ease.
The film does comes with an Adults Only Tag. But, this time, itz been awarded 'A' certificate
for a very different reason. Many scenes are not viewable by persons below 10 yrs of age.
The scenes show the plight of the Child Labors, how they suffer, & they are punished.
These scenes in particular will make the viewer come crying out.
How often do we get to see a Thamizh film which exploits the atrocities committed in the state
as a back-drop?
Sonia Agarwal is a very fresh face, has a rare combination of Beauty & Talent.
She is able to convey everything with absolute perfection. The lip sync is which has been
so meticulously taken care of.
The way she differentiates between Love & Friendship is something which will make U sit up.
As always, the credit goes to the Director SelvaRaghavan, who has taken care of the
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues & Direction.
Abt the Music:
Itz one of the very few films in which the lyrics has been so meticulously written , that it syncs
in perfection with the situation being portrayed.
We have heard many songs which will be so pleasing in Audio. But, when it comes to picturization,
most of the songs will leave much to be desired. It so happened to me that I have actually hated
some of the songs which I admired much in audio, after seeing the video.
But, this films songs belongs to a very rare genre.
This will show you with subtle difference , how well the picturization , the choreography, the lyrics
can enhance the quality of a song, which is the one which does absolute justice to the Music Director.
Almost all the songs have been picturized very well.
But, the song which is sure to make U dumbstruck is "Nenjodu Kalandhidu", rendered by
Sujatha & Unni. Their rendition along with the Harmony in the middle, the lights showered by the Candle,
all this make watching the song a very delightful experience.
The cinematographer has literally written poetry with his camera for this song.
A few lines from the song:
"Idhu Kadhal Illai.. Oru Kaamam Illai...
Indha URavukku Ulakathil Peyarillai"
That will say it all.
Much has to be said abt the Cinematography by Aravind Krishna, who has actually created magic
with his camera, & his certain camera angles virtually frighten the viewer.
The scene in which Dhanush beats up the gals in a BasketBall court, for instance.
The BGM has been extra-ordinary with Yuvan proving that he is indeed the son of IlayaRaja, the Re-recording Maestro.
Particulary , the theme song played in the Climax & the picturization scenes makes U spellbound.
The climax is something which sud be watched for & I sure cried & I don't feel ashamed to
tell deliberately that I cried seeing the climax.
This film is sure to make many so-called heroes of our present Thamizh Cine Industry to re-think
"What are we goin to do by creating an image??"
It comes as a welcome relief that is sure to prove that for a film's success,
the hero is not important , but a very strong story-line with a very good Screenplay.
It is a film in which all departments of film-making has come out with Flying Colors.
Camera, Music, BGM, Choreography, Editing & Direction all will make U spellbound.
My First Blog
Not sure why I have to do this. Just curious how this works and how this will turn out to be. And, mm... may be coz, I am too tired with the work I am presently doing. So want to have a change and put on my creative(if I have any) thoughts in this.
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