Touching Lives......!!

Prelude : one more midnight musings from me - since the energy level is bit high today...

Dear All

I reached home bit late today (around 11 PM) - but then, after tossing in bed for past 2 hours, I felt it is better to vent out my (ooze out ??) bliss a little bit AND then retire back to bed peacefully. I always brag about writing poems only in midnights - on such days like this, I feel even my musings too are giving me the same level of satisfaction that my poem gives !!
Perhaps, let me stop the prelude at this point because I realize that its more YOU should feel this posting as a poem & mine is not just enough :-)

Well, As I traveled back in the (co organized) cab, I sat - as I normally do- in the front seat along with the driver and got into a nice talk all the way. It always happens to me that these drivers become a great friend for me at the end of the journey - not that they keep in touch with me regularly after the journey BUT then - they remain with a certain amount of intimacy when we meet up later by any chance (potential friends ?? don't know !!)

Details are not so important - as I got down I shook hand with this driver (a young boy of 20) and thanked him heartily for his service, his parting sentence is the precise reason for my energy level today.....!!

He just told me this with lot of gratitude and humility "Sir, I can never forget you in my life !!". I smiled back and patted him on his shoulder as I walked towards my home.

Now, it had always been my passion to get into teaching industry taking an early retirement - I am increasingly realizing that my exact ambition / goal / passion is not about teaching. For that matter, not very long ago - I was fumbling for words when some body put forth a point blank question when I shared my goal with her - a senior lady in corporate world.
(the simple question was "what is that I want to teach ?"). Though I managed to reply her using my quick wit ("its not important what I am going to teach BUT more about HOW I will teach") - I still remember this lady's queer looks as I was imagining that it was a great response to her.

In fact I understand that I need to start preparing myself on "what I should teach" - please don't laugh....!!
its two decades I had touched my academic text books and my soft skills and personality are not as such extra ordinary that I can be a great Trainer - if I look for avenues on training industry. (for that matter, I have heard that Soft skills / Leadership training is extremely competitive with too many players in our city).
I really do not know any thing else as of this moment that I can even think of getting started to start this career....!!

But then, its just that I had always admired this profession more as a tool to touch lives than as a end by itself.
This realization is quite perceptible off late with every such little instance of me getting in high voltage with few words of a driver with whom I just spent an hour. The most interesting part is that I did not talk any thing today to flatter / please him; and it was more a 50 : 50 time sharing between us....!!
The words come out from him and many others earlier perhaps out of the manner I "engage" them and serve their venting out needs.....!!

Spiritual Gurus proclaim / make profound statements on the above title - in fact my Beloved Sadhguru tells that his life time mission is this.

Perhaps I am craving to do the same thing with a slightly inferior technology (or non-rewarding - financially speaking ??) because I have the interest and confidence that I can pick up the WHAT to teach quite fast with the burning desire in the heart - thumping to share it with others.

Well, with just three more days for a brand new year - I really am quite happy at this self discovery in the mid night & not having too much regret that I have lived for 38 full years without understanding what is that I craving to do AND why this craving....
Better late than never - as the saying goes......

The whole eternity and the innumerable future births are in store for me to seek my salvation thru' the tool that I am consciously choosing -

its ok the world is going to be blessed with a "new" inexperienced teacher - alas - with a bald / gray head;

Krishnaarpanam - as always....

Suren

"இருவர்" ......ஒரு இரங்கல் செய்தி

இருவர்

சமீபத்தில், அதிலும் குறிப்பாக வெறும் ஆறு நாட்களுக்குள் மறைந்து போன என் குடும்பத்தின் இரு பெரியவர்களைப் பற்றி எனது எழுத்தோவியம் இது.

பொறுமையாக படியுங்கள் !!

மிகவும் வயது முதிர்ந்தவர்கள் பாருங்கள்....நிதானமாக....அமைதியாக....!!

தயாரா ?

எதற்கு இவ்வளவு பீடிகை.....?

ஒரு வகையில் இந்த இரு மறைவுமே போற்றத்தக்கவை தான்....கல்யாண சாவு என்பார்களே அந்த வகை...!! ரொம்ப உணர்ச்சி வசப்படும் வகையில் இல்லாமல் ஒரு வகை நிதானத்தோடு கைகூப்பும் வகையில் - இரண்டு பெரியவர்கள் - தந்தை வழியில் ஒருவர், தாய் வழியில் மற்றவர் ....(பெரியப்பா,மற்றும் மாமா).

ஒரு பார்வையாளனாக இந்த இரண்டு மனிதர்களையும் சிந்திக்கும்போது ஆச்சர்யமான மிகப்பல ஒற்றுமைகள்...வெகு சில வேற்றுமைகளும் கூட.....!!

இவர்களைப்பற்றி விமர்சனம் செய்யும் தகுதியோ வயதோ எனக்கு நிச்சயம் கிடையாது. இவர்களால் என் அகண்டத்திற்கு சிறிது பெருமையும் ஆசிர்வாதங்களும் கிடைத்தால் சாலத் திருப்தி....!!

என் தாயின் குடும்பம் மிகப்பெரிது.. பிள்ளைகளும் மூத்தவரான எங்கள் அன்புக்குரிய பாபு மாமாவின் கடைசி தங்கை என் அம்மா.

எண்பத்து ஏழு வயதை கடந்து - கடைசி வரை ஆரோக்கியமாய் இருந்து - குடும்பத்திற்கே ஆலமரமாக இருந்தவர் நிச்சலனமாய் படுத்திருக்க, பல்லெல்லாம் கொட்டிப்போய் தலையெல்லாம் நரைத்த அவரது கடைசி தங்கை (என் அம்மா ) குழந்தை போல் கேவி கேவி அழுத காட்சி ரொம்ப நாள் நினைவில் நிற்கும். இது அறுபத்து சொச்சம் ஆண்டுகளின் எண்ணற்ற ஞாபகங்களின் - கணக்கற்ற கணங்களின் தீவிரமான ஒரு வெளிப்பாடு அல்லவா ?

தந்தையின் குடும்பமும் - இக்கால நடைமுறைக்கு பெரிது தான்.

வயதில் மூத்தவரான எங்கள் பட்டாபி பெரியப்பா எங்கள் சிறிய கிராமத்திலயே வாழ்ந்து முடித்துவிட்டதனால் - எனக்கு அவரிடம் பழக அவ்வளவாக வாய்ப்பு இல்லை. ஊருக்குச் செல்லும்போதேல்லாம் "என்ன சேதி ?" என்ற முகம் மலர்ந்த அவரது இரத்தின சுருக்க வரவேற்பு மட்டும் நினைவில் தங்கியிருக்கிறது.

என் அப்பா அவரைப்பற்றி உற்சாகமாக ஏதாவது பேசும்போதெல்லாம், இராமயணத்தில் பரதனுக்கு ஸ்ரீ ராம சந்திர மூர்த்தியின் மேல் இருந்த அபிமானம் எனக்கு நினைவு வரும். (ஆமாம்... பெரியப்பாவின் முழு பெயர் பட்டாபி ராமன் தான்....!!!).

துரதிர்ஷ்ட வசமாக இன்று எங்கள் கிராமம் நோக்கி பயணம் செய்யும் அந்த van - ல் நான் இல்லை. (ஞாயிறு அன்று தான் போகப்போகிறேன்..). அந்த முக்கியமான் தருணம் (என் தகப்பனாரின் உணர்ச்சிப் பேருக்கு ) பார்க்கும் வாய்ப்பு இல்லை.

பொதுவில் இடிந்து போகிறவர் இல்லை..

இருந்தாலும் இன்று சற்று தழதழத்துப் போவார் - சில நொடிகளாவது - என்பது என் யூகம்.

நிற்க,.... இனி இந்த இரண்டு பெரியவர்களின் ஒற்றுமைகள்....

முதலிலேயே குறிப்பிட்டது போல இருவரும் வீட்டின் முதல் ஆண்பிள்ளைகள்.

அதைவிட முக்கியம் பொறுப்பான முதல் பிள்ளைகள்...

கிட்டத்தட்ட ஒரு முழு பூரணமாய் வாழ்க்கை (மாமாவுக்கு 87 வயது; பெரியப்பாவிற்கு ஐந்து வயது குறையலாம்...). மார்கழி மாதத்தில் மரணம்.

இருவருமே மிகவும் எளிமையான மனிதர்கள்....

பணிக்காலம் முடிந்தும் மூலையில் முடங்காமல் தன் வரையில் சுறுசுறுப்பாக இருந்துக்கொண்டு கடைசிவரை தனக்காக வாழ்ந்தவர்கள்.

பொருளாதார விஷயத்தில் வெகு நிதானமான மனிதர்கள் - பார்த்த வேலையும் கிட்டத்தட்ட ஒன்று போலத்தான் (மேலாளர்கள் அதுதான் Managers !!).

பாபு மாமா செய்த கணக்கற்ற உபன்யாசங்களும் பஜனைகளும் பெரும்பாலும் (pattabhi ) ராமனைப்பற்றி தான் (என் பெரியப்பாவின் முழுப் பெயர்) என்பது ஒரு அழகிய co incidence என்றால் பெரியப்பா வீட்டில் ஒரு மகனுக்கு "பாபு" என்று பெயர் என்ற விஷயம் ரசிக்கத்தக்க மற்றொரு ஒற்றுமை !!

சற்று கூர்ந்து யோசித்துப் பார்த்தால் மேற்கூறிய விஷயங்களைத் தவிர இவர்களுக்குள் மற்ற அனைத்துமே வேற்றுமைகள் தான்....! ஒரு குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தவர்களே ஒற்றுமையாக ஒரே விதமாக இல்லாத நமது வீடுகளில் சம்பந்தமே இல்லாத இரண்டு குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்த இருவருக்குள் இவ்வளவு ஒற்றுமைகளை பட்டியல் இடுவது ஒரு சாதனை தானே ?

எங்கள் பாபு மாமா பலருக்கு ஆலோசகனாக நல்ல உபதேசியாக ஏன் தெய்வப் பாடல்களை பஜனையாக பாடும் வகையில் ஆற்றல் பெற்று பின் ஆன்மிக உபன்யாசராக பரிணாம வளர்ச்சி பெற்று தன் ஓய்வுக்காலத்தை தனக்கு பிடித்தவிதமாக மாற்றிக்கொண்டவர். முக்கியமாக தைலதாரையான அவர் பேச்சு....!!

அதற்க்கு நீர் மாறாக இரத்தின சுருக்கமாய் - அனாவச்யமாய் எதுவும் பேசாமல், சலனமில்லாமல் வெறும் வாஞ்சையாக சிரிக்கும் பெரியப்பா ("என்ன சேதி ??").

தன் சுதந்திரத்தை போற்றி வாழ்ந்த இந்த இரண்டு பெரியவர்கள் அந்த சுதந்திரத்தை பெற்ற விதத்தில் அவர்கள் வாழ்ந்த முறையில், தன்னை பிறருக்கு வெளிப்படுத்திய முறையில் ஆயிரம் வித்தியாசங்கள்.....!!

மேலும் மேலும் சொற் சேர்மானத்தில் கவரப்பட்டு பல்வேறு வார்த்தைகளால் நீண்டு பரவும் வாக்கியங்களாய்... பத்தி பத்தியாய் எழுதுவதில் எனக்கு இசைவு இல்லை....!!

ஒன்று மட்டும் நிச்சயம்....!! சுமார் 55 வருடங்களுக்கு முன்னால் அவர்கள் இருவரும் இளமையாய் மிகவும் பொறுப்பாய் செய்தது குடுத்த என் பெற்றோரின் திருமணத்தின் மூலம் பிறப்பெடுத்த எங்கள் நால்வரில் - கடைசியில் அவதரித்த நான் இந்த இரங்கல் கட்டுரையை எழுத்தில் வார்த்து அகண்டத்தில் பொறித்து அவர்களை வாழ்வாங்கு வாழச்செய்வேன் என்று நினைத்து பார்த்திருக்க மாட்டார்கள்.

பலனை எதிர்ப்பார்த்து மனக்கணக்கு போட்டு பழகும் நமது உலகத்தில் இந்த இருவரும் நிச்சயமாக இமயங்கள் தான் - என்னை பொறுத்தவரையிலாவது.....!!

நீங்கள் அடுத்த முறை தெருவில் நடக்கும்போது உங்கள் முன்னால் தென்படும் சாதாரண மனிதரில் எங்கள் பாபு மாமாவை போலவோ பட்டாபி பெரியப்பாவைப்போலவோ பல அற்புதமான மனிதர்கள் இருக்கலாம்.

என் குரு ஒரு சொற்பொழிவில் சொன்ன வாக்கியத்தை அப்படியே தருகிறேன் - "extra ordinary person means some one who is a bit extra ordinary than others "

இவர்களின் அருமையை உணர்ந்து தெரிந்து தெளிவது கூட அகண்டத்தின் அகலத்தை அறியும் ஒரு குறுக்கு வழியே.....!!

முருகன் உலகெல்லாம் சுற்றி சுற்றி களைத்துப் போய் வர, தாய் தந்தையை சுற்றி வந்து மாம்பழத்தை தட்டிச் சென்ற கணபதி வழி உங்களுக்கும் பிடித்தம் தானே ?

அன்புடன்....சுரேன்

Krishna Consciousness

Dear All

Today is bit unforgettable for me. Let me elucidate why....

I have written about a gentleman living opposite to our house - who is a devout follower of Hare Rama Cult - who also runs a shop, right in front of our flat - home (of course he resides just back to his shop in his own flat). Its a shop with multiple things - the main ones being number plates for automobiles AND a zerox machine. The more interesting thing is the temple (he terms it as "mandir" and does not allow any one of the visitors to the shop to enter with chappals on....) in the shop. Truely speaking its a temple with few things to sell more than what you can think of a shop.
(yeah - I now realize it does not have a name board which typically exist for any shop).

I visit him occasionally to take a bow at his deity Lord Krishna - invariably he alone sits there in front of the Idols doing Japam. Nonchalantly he gets up, greets me and gives me prashad and we speak for 5 to 10 minutes - just sweet nothings, you know. To put our relationship in a nut shell, we are mutual admirers and it so happened, I discovered today how much I had loved him....!!
Hold on.... Let me gather myself...!!

Not visiting him for close to a month, I suddenly had a strong urge to go to Mandir today and after the regular rituals between us we started talking. After words of courtesy, today we spoke few extra details ... viz., he shared his past experience with me today. Born and brought up at Andra, he reached chennai couple of decades back to work in Cinema industry as an Art Director. Seems he did not find it suitable with his spiritual orientation, he quit it and established this shop ten years back and is on his own. As it was turning out to be an interesting conversation, suddenly he told me quite matter of facted-ly that he is MOVING off physically from us in his spiritual path. When I gave him a numb expression, he explained that he is going to serve his organization in a bigger way - by giving up his current occupation and style of life.....!!

I dont know if I had ever felt a jolt so deeply in my life - at least in recent past !!
I had taken him, his shop and the sweet devotional songs that breeze us in the mornings when we brush our teeth (ours is front balcony) for granted...!!
Within couple of seconds, I realized how much I am going to miss his physical presence and the pyschological comfort that his shop offers to me, Anoo and our little Madhoo....and I started chocking for words - unable to hold my gush of emotions !!

Seeing my shock and disbelief, he smiled gracefully and blessed me that I will get sath sangh always for what I am & my qualities....and told me not to worry about his decision too much. In a way it has been always true about me..but still, how am I going to come over this sweet man's absence ?

There are lot of questions that Anoo asked me when I announced this news at home - What is he going to do the flat ? his two children ? his Wife ? his Car ... (he bought a cute little NANO recently)...and shop cum Mandhir.....?
BUT trust me, these details did not matter much when I stood in front of him dumb found...!!
I neither was curious about these details nor he was too eager to dwell on details.

In a crisp manner, he told that he is also trying his best to identify a good trustee to run his MANDIR but if his initiatives are not going to fructify, he is planning to CLOSE IT DOWN and leave without a ripple of emotion. I could see that it was a clear decision that he has taken and with tears in my eyes, I only checked up if he is going to be there till next sunday at least. With a warm smile he has assured about it....
THank God !!

I am quite eager to check with him if there is any way - at least monetarily - I can participate in the maintenance cost of the temple if he is planning some thing. It might be a great idea if this wonderful MANDIR continues to be there in front of my home.... God Bless....!!

Love you.....Gentleman....AND I bow down in front of your tranquility and serenity. May you be blessed with what ever you seeking for - with this decision....!!

By the by, I never learnt your name !!!!....
Neither you know mine....!!
And yet....... it had been
a beautiful and poetic relationship
between us
for past six years.......

Krishnaarpanam....as always...

Suren

Mundane Matters !!

Dear All

I have observed umpteen number of times and thoroughly enjoyed this grand truth - for that matter, even writing couple of my (best) poems on this subject - but never got it coined so powerfully in just two words..... (refer the title above).

Its not just another title, Comrades - it can hold a totally different meaning if you give a pause in between the two words....Yeah..., the most trivial , simple and mundane things matter a lot and this is what going to be another posting from me before the end of this year.

I am going to try out not just one post but actually two - one in english and another in tamil for a specific subtle reason. Many times, I am finding even our own thinking process gets verbalized in a particular language that is well known to us (nativity of thought ? I am not sure.... !!).

Have you read translated books ? Did you not get a feeling that it would have been much better to read the original book instead of this one quite often when we read such books ? Perhaps for the same reason, I have observed that few of the powerful humorous jokes in English just get faded out when we try to translate in Tamil (and vice versa too !!).

So, Gentle man and Ladies, this is just a long prelude for putting on record all my excitement that I have been experiencing by sheer observation of simple things in life. In fact I am just getting started to record them from today onwards and could be posting it only when it reaches a justifiable size. Why this prelude now ? (Barking dogs seldom bite ??).

Its just that I am going to actually make a twin posting (in English as well as Tamil) on the same breath - which will be neither an apple to apple translation...and at the same time will not be totally different ones. Where ever I am going to find comfortable expressing same thought in both languages, I am going to allow it BUT the experiment is to give myself the luxury of writing few of my thoughts in a particular language only where I am comfortable with....!!

So its going to be like a "REMAKE" of the high budget films of SHANKAR and so on......!!

Does any one in blog world brags so much about what he is going to brag after a month.....??
You see.... in the vast AGANDAM every creature has unlimited opportunities....

Love // Suren

Ram....Ram......!!

Prelude : This musings can also be named as "Intangible delight from Tangible things"

Dear All

During the last week of July this year, amidst one of my usual "mood out" phase when I became totally numb and paralyzed (I fondly call my this state as "INERTNESS"), I started off Rama Japam.

I was actually in a mental state which was resembling the famous tamil usage / proverb.... "Ethai thinna pitham theliyum" & when I visited my (usual) astrologer, he spoke few dirty words on my uncanny ability of getting into such depression spells - which I would prefer not to post in AGANDAM - and suggested me bit unexpectedly about trying "Rama Japam". He told this quite matter of factedly but quite unexpectedly; I was slightly taken aback as I never could imagine myself doing JAPAM for more than one reason !!

Of course the primary reason for my repulsion towards RAMA JAPAM was the sarcasm that we (not just me) for this particular Japam in the manner my own dear Daddy at home performs it for most part of the day. He literally lives Rama Japam for more than a decade....getting up as close as 3 AM in the morning and doing it for close to 3 - 4 hours and then following it up with for double such duration ... dont smile !! - when he sits in front of his favourite TV serials...!!

I also had my Guru speaking with a slight malice (If I am not mistaken) about Japam when he was elucidating on TAPAS in a different context where he tried to explain (hopeless) disciples like me the importance of "intensity" in any thing that we do in our life.

To sum up, I started off Rama Japam at roughly around 8.30 PM after falling flat at my own daddy's feet (yeah...got formally initiated to his delight and giving more food to his ever kiddish enthusiasm) on 24th July 2011....Shubha Arambam....!!!

After chanting for 15 minutes on the first day (roughly 2000 chants ... Are you wondering the time span....Try just "ram ram" yaar....its possible to cover at a "particular speed" he he he), I some how manage to do it a minimum of the same number on most of the days until today. The morning bus travel in the company bus is quite handy for this new habit which puts me in a beautiful meditative and serene state instead of becoming sleepy and dull which used to my case before this new habit....

There were days - I mean few sundays - I had made it at a bigger number too but still cannot forget the last sunday (2nd Nov) when I touched the golden number of 5 Lacs.....!!

I am putting below few pearls of wisdom that I derived out of this little self experiment to close this loooong musing....

1. Yes, it is bit a paradox but such things meant for intangible aspects of life has been coined with tangible "counting" (Can you visualise those days RISHIs having Japa maala in their hands which keep rolling steadily); but the bottom line is to be aware and alert during the process.

In the nutshell, .

IT IS NOT THE ACTUAL NUMBER THAT MATTERS BUT THE ABILITY TO KEEP OURSELVES LIVE AND INTENSE DURING THE PROCESS OF COUNTING THAT REALLY MATTERS.

2. I had a suggestion from one of my well wisher / friend / Hare Ram Devotee to try "Hare Rama Hare Rama....." INSTEAD of just "Ram" with obvious sincere intentions from his side....which of course I too tried with same level of seriousness it just did not continue for long time for me.

DOING JAPAM IS LIKE USING A TOOL. USE THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND CONVENIENT ONE FOR YOU AND BECOME A MASTER IN THE USAGE.

NO POINT IN SHUFFLING / EXPERIMENTING EVERY THING. THE WHOLE ASPECT IS TO "SETTLE DOWN" IN A SUBTLE WAY.....!!

3. I could clearly see the tranquility of mind at the end of a "session" as I would prefer to call it - which is an enormous discovery as far as I am concerned !!

Having never tried any thing with so much sincerity for close to 120 days now - I am really happy at the discovery. The more important discovery happened yesterday - as I watched the Ballet Ramayan by Smt.Anita Guha's Dance school at Vani Mahal yesterday.

It was a wonderful (dance) drama of this great teacher covering the Sundara Kandam of our ancient Epic which enthralled us for close to 3 hours !! There were some really moving scenes showing Hanuman's reverence towards Rama...and as He jumps and dances around the screen chanting RAM RAM, I had few "extra" drops of tears in my eyes than usual....!!!

WE ARE ABLE TO FEEL MORE ABOUT ANY THING ONLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO RELATE OURSELVES TOWARDS IT. BE IT IN LIVING CREATIONS OR BE IT ANY OTHER ASPECT OF OUR LIFE, WE EXIST ONLY BASED ON WHAT WE ARE AND OUR INTERESTS ARE....!!

(incidentally yesterday I skipped the Japam in the morning as I got up very late - but I did not really feel bad about it after this Dance Drama as I felt part of "Hanuman" !!!

(5) Last but not the least, have I become TRANSFORMED completely with this new experiment.....? With all honesty, a big NO NO....In spite of tasting bliss here and there, I clearly (and most HUMBLY) realize I have to go a very long way in this and realize the potency of great people who chanted for whole of their life. This is in a way of life like YOGA...there is no point in talking / writing about it, no need to keep thinking about it...and not even about doing it all the time. Its about HOW intensely and sincerely we become THAT....!!

WHEN WE SEEK MOMENTARY SOLACE FROM OUR MOOD SWINGS, ESCAPE ROUTES (LIKE JAPAM) HELP A BIT BUT NEVER RELIEVES / TRANSFORMS US COMPLETELY. NEVERTHELESS, IT CLEARLY SHOWS A WAY......!! IT IS UP TO US TO WALK THE PATH OR CHANGE THE COURSE...

For that matter, I have decided to walk the path.....!! Ram....Ram......Ram....

Love // Suren

TVS

Dear All

In the Seminar that I participated yesterday, I was blessed to see a gentleman in action who is a Teacher Wizard - if I can take the liberty of coining.

Mr.T.V.Subramanian, a frail old man enthralled us for close to 3 1/2 hours post lunch. Of course, the forenoon session too was good but this session was just great.

This man spoke an English which was consciously accentuated slightly differently from the general English Speaking Tamils..... was full of wisdom more than knowledge and training skills. I am sure he is quite a popular face in the industry - as he has been quite long at the helm of the industry.

I could see the entire 2 dozen participants were enjoying themselves but in my case, I was rolling all over and did not have enough hands to wipe out my tears out of my intense bliss...(yeah believe me, I cry in an unstoppable manner when I am too happy). It was a delightful experience which I can never forget in my life. Apart from adding humour touch liberally he was hooked to the subject that he covered and gave lot of practical examples and real life incidents, much more than we were able to jot down / memorize.

This man must be at least seventy, had a poor eye sight (I helped him during a particular slide by reading out as he was really struggling to read the presentation on his own), wore chappals and most simple clothes (I am getting reminded of my earlier posting - where I had bragged about my fresh looks when I went for this program), had the ability to have a rock like face when he was introduced and facilitated..a real seasoned teacher / trainer.

During the session, he fondly shared with us about the nick name he got in a particular MBA institute as "O Square B Square" which expands to OLD, Obsolete, Bald and Blind !!
Actually the tag "obsolete" was added by himself to the original name given by the students as OB Square !!

During the break, I shared my genuine feeling to one of the participant (who was equally over awed by Mr.TV Subramaniam) that a Good Teacher carries lot more potent energy than all other good professionals - be it Doctor, Lawyer or Engineer by virtue of his "live" sharing and transmitting ability. The co participant smiled at my remark and nodded his head vigorously accepting what I told....!!

Mr.TVS, people like you can never get obsolete...!! Even if you go away from this world, teachers like you become manure in this already fertile planet for the next generation teachers (like me ??) to get inspired, remembered and emulated....!! Hats off

Suren

Laughing at myself....

Dear All

Yesterday I had the privilege to participate in a workshop on "Vendor Management" - courtesy :: My employer. More than the knowledge value, I really needed a break from routine and I was mentally ready for this from the prior day evening itself (quite accidentally noticed in the calender; had enrolled at least two months back and almost forgotten).

First deciding to go in some formal wear, suddenly I felt like attending this seminar in our company uniform itself - just more an impulsive thought than for any other great reason. With well groomed hair (had a hair cut quite recently and its in full control at least for one week after the monthly routine !!) and neat shave face, I felt I really looked smart when I had a quick look at the mirror - believe me, I never have this habit of seeing myself in the mirror.

Went to the Venue in my little boy FIGO - which is a rare luxury I allow myself - owing to company provided transport normally - I was at the height of my confidence, morale and what not.....!! Reached the venue just in time and I wished back the Support Staff at Radisson Hotel (the venue of the seminar) who dutifully took the car keys for valet parking.

I got down of the car, enjoying my every step of dignified walk, moved towards the main hall of the hotel in a typical unhurried manner (still more than 5 minutes left for 9 AM; The program starts only at 9.30 you know). A young man hurriedly welcomed me (part of admin staff of the program) and he ushered me to the conference hall with lot of respect. Enjoying every moment, as I reached the reception area of the conf hall, I reached the staff who were registering the participants AND in a very low kept but serene voice told them - from which organization I have come....!!

It was not there turn to show their respect and with a polite "wait a second" a pretty girl kept glancing thru' the list at least twice or thrice and then with a sweet voice asked me "Are you going to pay CASH or Cheque Sir ??". I was taken aback as my case was company sponsored !!
Still gathering myself, I told her this fact in a confident voice but she was quite defiant....!!

My hand fumbled to take out my mobile to reach out my colleague at office who handles admin affairs - as this was some thing that I never expected. At that point of time, exactly, a voice in microphone started off inside the conference hall and that does mean the program is starting half hour ahead ??
I was bit puzzled for few seconds but my fingers automatically stopped the ringing of the mobile to my office colleague (who luckily did not pick it up....you see, they are HR guys) as my eyes fixed up on the entrance of the Conf Hall. In a big nice Board, it was prominently written "Conference on Metallurgy". Gosh....!! So, I am at the wrong Hall and had been so oblivious about the surroundings not even reading some thing which was so obvious.....!!

Then the natural things happened...!! My sheepish smile and apology, walk back towards the reception area to check with the Hotel Staff about my venue....and of course I reached my venue in time.

It was so good an anti climax of a gentle man show....!! It all happens yaar....

Love // Suren

சினிமா நல்ல சினிமா.....

இன்று காலை வெகு அதிசயமாக நான் FM ரேடியோ கேட்டேன்....!!
வழக்கமாக கம்பெனி பஸ்-ஸில் பயணிக்கும் நான் இன்று எங்கள் city office ல் வேலை இருந்ததால் என் செல்லப் பையன் (Figo )-வில் பயணம் சேர்ந்ததால் இந்த பழக்கமற்ற ஒரு செய்கை !!
(எங்கள் பஸ் டிரைவர் எப்போதும் பக்திப் பாட்டு மட்டும் தான் போடுவார்....)
காசி தியேட்டர் அருகே மாப்பிளை அழைப்பு காராக ஊர்ந்து போகும் அலுப்பு சட்டென்று மறைந்து போகும் வண்ணம் ஒரு அழகிய பாட்டு....!!
"காலங் கார்த்தால
மறஞ்சிருக்கும்
சூரியனைப்போல என்னைப்பார்த்தாலே
ஒளிஞ்சிக்குற ….பெண்ணே "
ஏதோ ஒரு பெயர் தெரியாத படத்தில் முகம் தெரியாத நடிகன் (ஒரு வேளை ? ) அவனை விட சுமாராக இருக்கும் கதாநாயகியைப் பற்றி வர்ணித்து பாடும் பாட்டு போலும்.....!!
இந்த வரிகள் மிக சாதாரணமான கவித்துவத்துடன் இருந்தாலும் பாடும் குரல் அதைவிட சுமாராக தோன்றினாலும் மெட்டும் மெட்டுக்கேற்ப வெட்டி வெட்டி இழுத்தாலும் அந்த மிக நேரான அர்த்தம் தெரியும் வரிகள் என்னை மயக்கின....!!
பரபரப்பாக என் டயரியில் அந்த வரிகளை சுறுசுறுப்பாக எழுதினேன். அதற்காகவே காத்திருந்தது போல எனக்கு முன்பாக இருந்த வண்டிகள் பொறுமையாக (எருமையாக?) நின்றன போலும்.....அல்லது இதுவும் என் வழிகாட்டி பாபாவின் திருவருளோ ?
சிறிது மாதங்கள் முன் ஆனந்த விகடன் -ல் படித்த அப்துல் கலாம் கேள்வி ஒன்றுக்கு அளித்த பதில் (எனக்கு மிகவும் ஆச்சரியம் கொடுத்த ஒன்று !!) ஞாபகத்துக்கு வந்தது. நான் மிகவும் மதித்து பாசம் காட்டும் (??) அவர் சினிமா பார்க்கும் வழக்கமே இல்லாதவராம்.....!! சிறந்த விஞ்ஞானியாக மட்டுமில்லாமல் ஒரு கவிஞராக-வும் பரிமளிக்கும் அவர் இந்த வழக்கம் (அதுதான்.... சினிமா) இல்லாததால் நமக்கெல்லாம் நஷ்டந்தான் என்று எனக்கு தோன்றுகிறது.....!!

மிகக் குறைந்த அளவு சினிமா (அதுவும் தமிழ் தமிழ் தமிழ் தான் ) பார்த்திருந்தாலும், எனக்கு இந்த ஊடகத்தின் சக்தி பற்றி மிதமிஞ்சிய மரியாதை உண்டு. பக்கம் பக்கமாக, ஏன் வண்டி வண்டியாக எழுதித்தள்ளி நம்மையெல்லாம் பிரமிக்க வைக்கும் அறிவு ஜீவி எழுத்தாளர்கள் சாதிக்க முடியாததை வெகு சிறிய நேரத்தில் ஒரு சில காட்சிகளிலேயே வசியம் செய்யும் வல்லமை பெற்றது சினிமா....!!

என் பிரியமான குரு சத்குரு இருபது வருடங்கள் முன் கோயம்பத்தூர்-ல் ஒரு தியேட்டரில் "காட்டுக்குயிலு மனசத் தொட்டு பாட்டுக்கொன்னும் பஞ்சம் இல்ல .... பாடத்தான்....!!" என்ற பாட்டுக்கு அங்கேயே தன்னை மறந்து ஆடி மகிழ்ந்தவர் தான் என்பதில் எனக்கு ஆச்சர்யத்தை விட பெருமை அதிகம். அதுதான் சினிமா.... !! (இன்று வரை ஈஷாவில் "பாவச்பந்தனா" வகுப்பில் இந்த பாட்டு ஒரு முக்கிய பங்கு வகிப்பதை அந்த அனுபவம் பெற்றவர்கள் ஆமோதிப்பார்கள் !!)
இப்போது இந்த என் சரித்திர முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த இந்த கட்டுரையில் (ஏன் என்று பிறகு சொல்கிறேன்.....) முக்கியமான திருப்பம் வரும் நேரம் வந்து விட்டது....!!
அவ்வளவு முக்கியம் வாய்ந்த இந்த சினிமா அகண்டத்திலேயே இல்லாதது போல வாழ்ந்திருக்கும் அப்துல் கலாம் போன்ற போற்றத்தக்கவர்கள் இல்லையா என்ன ? ஒருவர் நல்ல சினிமா என்று கொண்டாடும் ஒரு படம் மற்றவர்களால் காறித் துப்பப் படுவதில்லையா என்ன ? கலைப்படம் வெகுஜனப்படம் என்ற தெளிவான பாகுபாடு பற்றி காலம் காலமாக சொல்லப்பட்டு வந்தாலும் கலைப்படம் சில மிக நன்றாக ஓடி பிரமிக்க வைப்பது போல் அதி விரைவில் பெட்டியில் போய்ச் சேரும் பிரம்மாண்டமான படங்கள் இல்லையா என்ன ?
அவ்வளவு ஏன் ? வெகு சுமாராகத் தோன்றும் இந்த பாடல் வரிகள், ஒரு பக்க மிழற்றலாக (அதுதான் ஐயா , musings ) விரியவில்லையா என்ன ?

மனித மனத்தில் கற்பனை சக்தியும் அதன் அளப்பரிய ஆற்றலும் வார்த்தையில் அடங்காதவை. கவிதையால் அதை கட்டுப்படுத்த முயலுபவர் சிலர்....கதையால் விரிக்க முயல்பவர் வெகு பலர்..... இது இரண்டுக்கும் அவ்வளவாக சில்லறை சேராததாலும் நமது ஜனத்தொகையை நம்பியும் இன்று பரந்து விரிந்திருக்கும் திரைப்படத்தின் பட்டொளி வீசி வசீகரிக்கும் இந்த துறையில், தூண்டிலில் சிக்கும் புழுக்கள் மிகப்பலர்....!! எல்லாமே பராசக்தியின் விளையாட்டு தான்....!!

இதில் மிகவும் விந்தை அளிக்கும் ஒரு விஷயம் - என்னைப் பொறுத்தவரையில் - ஒரு தனி மனித மனம் மட்டும் தான்....!! கனகுதூகலமாக இருக்கும் நேரத்தில் மிகச்சாதாரணமான இந்த வரிகளில் அற்புதம் கண்டு பிடித்து ரசிக்கும் இந்த தெய்வீக மனம், துயரத்தால் வாடும் போது உலகத்தின் மிகச் சிறந்த படைப்பில் (கவிதை / கதை / திரைப்படம் எது வேண்டுமானாலும் ) ஈடுபட முடியாமல் வீட்டோரம் முடங்கி எல்லாம் மறுத்து மருகும்.....

அடடா.....!! இந்த கட்டுரை ....சினிமா பற்றி என்றா நினைத்தீர் ?
உம்மையும் முக்கியமாக என்னையும் பற்றி ஐயா !!
மொத்த வாழ்க்கையுமே சினிமா வாக பார்த்து ரசிக்க துடிக்கும் என் பேதை மனம் பற்றி.....!!
போம்..... போம் …… போய்ப் பிழைப்பைப் பாரும்.....!!
சுரேன்
பின் குறிப்பு : முதலில் இதில் ஆங்கிலத்தில் (வழக்கம் போல) எழுத நினைத்த நான் திடீர் என்று உற்சாகம் பெற்று மிகவும் பொறுமையாய் கிட்டத்தட்ட ஒன்றரை மணி நேரம் செலவு செய்து என் மிகக் குறைந்த தமிழ் தட்டச்சு ஞானத்தால் தட்டுத் தடுமாறி உருவாக்கியுள்ள இந்த படைப்பு சரித்திரப் பிரசித்தி வாய்ந்தது தானே ? குறைந்த பட்சம் என் சரித்திரம் ஐயா.....என் அகண்டத்தின் சரித்திரம்....!! போம் போம்....நிற்காதீர்......!!

Poem after a long pause....

பூமி....? தாய் !!

அகல் விளக்கு ? அடக்கம் !

தைல தாரை ? நிச்சலனம் !

பூர்ண கர்ப்பிணி முகம் ? ஆஹா தெய்வீகம் !

அதி காலை ? அடடா கவிதை.....!!

ஆக்ரோஷம் ? காட்டுத் தீ !

ஊழிக்காற்று ? உக்கிரம் !

நீர்வீழ்ச்சி ? ...... ஆர்ப்பரிப்பு ?

மனிதர்கள் ? ..... சாம்பல் நிறம்....!!

எல்லாந்த்தான் கூடி இருக்குது

அற்புதமான என் உலக வீட்டில்....!

சுத்துது.....சுழலுது.... நெறி தவறாமல் -

ஆயிரங்கோடி ஆண்டுகளாக....!!

சுரேன்

The Art of Re-Living

Dear All

I saw "a wednesday" twice again during this week - after seeing it already half dozen times already. It was a hilarious experience - and I suddenly got reminded about the film review that I wrote on this movie when I saw it earlier.

It was quite enjoyable to go through the same... and I really felt happy to see how much I had enjoyed the movie and how exhaustively I have covered the points that I had admired in the movie.....!! Well, this thirst of sharing really takes away a big chunk of our time - no doubt - but still its a great boon - which I will cherish for ever.

I only wish I find at least few minutes every week to keep scibbling at AGANDAM....!!

For this week, let me re-post my earlier written words in my previous blog adventure .. Here you go.....Beware it could be long.....really long...

Love // Suren

Musings on “a Wednesday”

Well, reading the same novel once again , seeing the same movie all over again , for that matter, reading the text book once again (this should be the first one right ???) makes our understanding much deeper.....and I am not an exception.

In fact I have never before seen a movie with so much planning - that too for a third time - that too with so many other priorities...!! Never before - even during GUNA which I saw a little more than dozen times and Kaadhal which was just half a dozen....!!

I received this movie so well - relatively speaking - with me sitting in front of the screen in typical yoga erect posture, hands open and receptive above the thighs...as though I am sitting in front of sadhguru for a discourse.....!!

Even Anoo could sense the acid in my eyes spilled over her when she moved across the TV screen in her (dis?) graceful slow movement....and did not venture giving a shot back....considering the intensity with which I was watching the movie...I was absolutely still and spoke literally no word....did not try to rewind for any missed out dialogue
(it was not at all necessary, you know)
Observed both madhoo and Anoo left me alone with my experience....anoo was busy with some chores...while madhoo dozed off within few minutes of the start of the film....Well, I am putting below few subtle things that I noticed in the film AND few morals / thoughts that came to me during and after the film.....for ......for....nothing...just to vent out and get charged for the next week......!!

Hope you understand I am not going by any logic in ordering....big or small....subtle things first and then the morals / thoughts.....and so on....the sentences are as they flow through......!!
(1) the girl (Ladies first !! .....Pretty girls....first O first) who acted as Naina had depicted an excellent newswoman....The way she got introduced with "this is good....this is good..." on how mechanical (and consciously !!) these girls dress up.....the way she walks upto to the guy to be interviewed....the way she prounces bit too coarsely few of the words just to give a typical reporting style of her creed....the way she utters in a stylish and arrogant manner "who is this ?" when the common man calls her up, the way she revolts in front of IG initially later falling in line...every thing is too good. I like the looks of this girl though it is not so relevant....and particularly was bit touched at the scene when she reconfirms if she heard correctly over phone to common man "did you call me BETE ?".....YES, though the young generations may dress up stylish and look bit out of the world, touch them in right spots, they are capable of receiving the simple and humble virtues....(Hope you dont distort "right spots" and get me correctly !!)
(2) Well, the IG with his simple Pyjama was showing us too many aspects of professionalism in acting.....

I was observing more and more on the way he walks, turns, speaks and holds the table in helplessness.....and the manner he tells his name AFTER we clearly understand that he has identified the common man....looking straight into his eyes.....The intense look into the eyes of the common man by the IG made me feel that the individuals in police force was much better than the common man....and though he gracefully (rather without any proof too) left him loose, it was a great insult to the common man that he had been identified.....!!
(4) In general, I felt that the film portrays the brilliance of individuals starting from police till the common man....how the system is some times laughable....(like the police man who comes running out of the police station to take a signature from the visiting inspector.....for maintenance of register)......
(5) I had a feeling that "women" uttered by the boy (hacker) intends to put a guess from our side that it could be a relationship with a senior lady too......he did not say "girls"......!! Am I imagining too much....??
(6) Though the camera appears to be very white and blackish.....true to many of the camera men who have asthetic sense (like Madhu Ambat in Anjali)......{Well, do we need this film in colour any way......thats a different question}, my sharp eyes could guess that the coffee that N.Shaw was taking was too light (not so strong as I take normally.....and I would be disgusted to share a cup of coffee from his flask) I perceived (or imagined) this a part of his characterization that the common man who does not even take a "strong" coffee.....is getting into such acts.....
Not sure…. Not sure at all…Just guessing…!!
(7) Arif Khan in the police dress could have been hugely exploited by the Director.....but how subtly he handles it.....Just two instances to touch upon the religious background....Once when the common man laughs within himself uncontrollably when he hears the name of the police personnel to be used and telling "nothing" to the IG; another one the attempt by the terrorist in the last scene trying to "inspire" the religious sentiments which Arif khan just brushes off with a insulting smile......Well, no "jana gana mana" in the background, not too many dialogues by aarif khan (getting reminded of vijaykanth's famous inspector dialogues......232 schools, 344 hospitals...19700 bedding facility in hospitals..... inspiring roars of claps by our Kudi Makkal !!)
Leaving things for our imagination and maturity is some thing too nicely done by this new director....He must have been one who was fuming in theatre seeing scores of commercial movie......and I feel this is the way he as a "common" man has responded to his peers....
(8) when the common man goes to the police station for registering a FIR, the way the police man tells the earlier one in front of him "to be quick...people are waiting".....just shows how much these people consider even one person waiting as a "overload" in their work......!! Further, the way he gets irritated with common man when he is bit fast in telling the list of items.....(License thaa.....credit card thaa.....what a nice voice and modulations !!)....and the way the common man repeats the wife's photo once again...not even aware so until the police man tells him about it....showing the deep attachment that a common man has towards his family......!!
(9) the simple and silly manner in which the IG dismisses handling of the "hero's case" with few simple words of instruction....and the way he gets heads ON with Naina on "when did you get the first call"........and the way he uncontrollably slaps the RDX dealer "did I ask you did I ask you"....showing all his rage and upset over the incidents taking the person as his outlet.......!! so much thought has gone behind each and every aspect of the film....NOT just the mainline story, camera, music and dialogues.....To put it in other words, if a human mind (or a team of people) are capable of taking so much care of every little damn things, the bigger things like camera, music, dialogues, actors can be much handled much easier......!!!! isn't it...?
(10) Last but not the least, the way the Director has visualized every inch of the story, fortunately or unfortunately, the actual strike in Mumbai got started on "wednesday" within such a short time.

(I also recall Kamal's mentioning about "Tsumani" in Anbe Sivam just before we had it as an unforgettable incident in chennai and his humour on "al queda / ulfa...." in dasavathaaram........before the mumbai strikes)
Yes....powerful human minds can bring thoughts into actions in no time......We do have a story of a sivanadiyaar in our sivapuraanam....about "poosalaar Naayanar" who built a temple in his heart so powerfully that Almighty refused to visit the actual temple raised by the local king.....!! We have seen the power of mind and the human potential....earlier in glimpses in few tamil films too ....like the formula of most of the Rajini films which depict rag to riches story....and few specific films like Anniyan, Chandramukhi....and even Indian of Kamal haasan.....!!
The big difference between those films and this one that I saw today was that this is made by a human mind which is above silly commercial considerations and a great heart which cannot get emotional or sentimental for stupid reasons.....!!
Well, here I end...without even thanking the director....whose name too I dont feel like mentioning....and whom I don’t even want to honor by uttering his profession (director) with first letter capital and become courteous about the whole thing....Some times, silence is the way......I am beginning to understand these days.....!!


Second Spell

Suchoo back again with another (damn) serious musings with lot of energy and enthusiasm !!

Well, Had you ever had urinary infection in your life ? I had serious bouts of this peculiar disease (I meant “dis-ease” {Courtesy ::: Sadhguru}) during my childhood and until I was in my higher secondary school I had many sleepless nights suffering with pain and restlessness when ever I had some thing hot on the prior night (Like Tomato pickle or cut mango pickle for eg). Unable to resist the temptation of tongue, I had even decided to “have” the U.I on few days – you must be amused !! Well, over a period of time as I got smarter, I discovered couple of tablets that relieves me from this disease and I used to proactively take them before going to sleep (of course after enjoying the feast of tomato pickle…..or so !!). Yes, I was able to be in touch with truth even when I was quite young…If we cannot compromise on a particular thing (in my case, hot and delicious food), we need to compromise on lot of other things (taking tablets, deciding to have UI and so on).
Now, why this bragging ? Very similar to this unique disease where you find your own urine coming out in trickles, I had few more thoughts to share on “a Wednesday” ….which I am presenting herewith. Don’t want to spoil the original posting by including these points along with it....and hence this separate posting.
“A Wednesday” - The sequel....!!
Why a musings on this subject once again…?? (that is over and above the anology of Urinary infection)
Before jumping to specific points let me add couple of points on this favourite question for me that takes us closer to truth in all our pursuits. First of all, “a Wednesday” is bound to happen week after week because it is NOT “the Wednesday” !! Further, I just could not hold myself without getting excitedly scribbling few more things that I seemingly missed out in my earlier experience though I sincerely consider that even earlier I was equally intense. The big difference was that the earlier posting was more extempore without any aid for my memory but this time I helped myself with a scribbling pad , a pen and the remote (just to “pause” when I had to write. Please be aware that I am going bit chronologically as per the sequence of my scribblings and will cover few macro level points towards the end…
(1) Intro of Inspector Jai singh ….Telling his wife to give a call….Inspite of being in such difficult profession by himself, this shows how genuine he is towards the innocence and peace at home. This also reminds me the concept of Karma Yoga – as doing the life-threatening incidents at the career at the intense level dispassionately (Mind you…The same person also says that he does not mind getting killed to the IG when he was asked to find out the bombs in next 10 minutes).
(2) The Hero who complains to Anupam on his phone call threat……the way Inspector Jai Singh responds when the hero hugs quite unexpectedly…..I was thrilled to see that Jai singh behaves as exactly as one behaves in front of boss. He gets startled for a second but gathers himself and keeps himself in right posture in front of the boss. Well done Jai…
(3) The other inspector (or sub inspector ?? I have to watch again !!) Arif and the way he is introduced (before the informer arrives in the scene)….Busily playing video game in the mobile while mouth is chewing the gum…To show how much he is used to dealing with gripping things while remaining casual…..!! Some times a moment of a scene speaks more than volumes of words….
(4) Again, on Arif, the way he understands the complaint made by the informer, gives him the necessary “treatment” to facilitate his hospitalization and giving a solution to him just with a simple question “what is the number of the security guard” & the way he follows up on the response with his “action” ..?? Astounding……Should we really talk so much….?
(5) Lets come to Shambhuji / the electric Baba….After a thorough rehearsal, the manner he delivers the “dialogue” quite aggressively and after finishing the first part of the same, the way he turns towards Naina and smiles broadly like a kid….just like a kid…..cho chweet….
(6) The way shambhuji keeps smiling at the camera when Naina summarized towards the end….with a pride and awareness of his being in limelight….!!
(7) Intro of Anupam Kher…reading paper – rather quickly glancing when he gets the unfortunate phone call….the speed at which he reads - I felt – on how quickly they have do their QII activities before they get any unexpected work of the day….Am I bit too imaginative ? ??
(8) Arif while hitting the Security guard who does ill to the family of the informer without even a single word on why he is beating up….Should any explanation be given for filthy acts ? ….Punish him straight….and make him repent out of his pain….!!
(9) Nasrudhin shah after his first talk with a deliberate slowness and a nice BG (will come to BG later) removes the sim card and puts in inside a dust bin…..How nicely the camera is placed at the bottom of dust bin…I got bit philosophical on the angle of camera in this shot….”at times we should be ready to accept the filth thrown upon us IF we decide to be of some utility / we work with some purpose”….How ‘s that ??
(10) I think the way the CM role is handled…the process on how to approach him even in emergencies (Anupham Kher just checks his availability when he gets the first call), and the manner all the swivel chairs turn up towards the phone when the CM comes on the line. This person has played the CM’s role quite effectively and I felt he added great value to the overall story and giving some respect to the legislature…the manner he nicely delegates the responsibility after hearing Anupham kher on “unlimited responsibility”……by giving a simple instruction to his Home Minister “I should not have any complaints from prakash”…Superb…..They always say, power comes only when we take responsibility….The whole sequence of this scene was depictive of it…..from the elobaration of the extend of responsibility by Anupham and then requesting for power…and then having it granted. This particular piece is also well handled in later stage when Anupham gives an instruction to one of his men that “this is special order of CM”….showing us that it was only a “delegation” of power and cannot become “decentralized”…!! Can Pakistan be more saner with this model instead of the PMs of the past one after the other dying either unnaturally or mysteriously ??
(11) Akash, the inspector who handles the tracking of telephone lines (of course the “outdated ones”) had a good and equal role to play like Jai and Arif which I missed out completely earlier. To add, he is the one who explains the background of the 4 terrorists to the IG…but since I was glued to the terrorist clippings, did not recognize the role of Akash….!! The way this gentleman smiles without reducing the respect levels…when the wrong phone call (credit card) lands up and the manner he introduces the Hacker…While Jai and Arif done their part in outdoors, Akash plays his indoor role to the perfection. Well done, my boy !!
(12) I learnt the power of courtesies in communication like a jolt….Not able to be specific on this point as there were more than one instance when one of the deputies coming to the IG and saying “excuse me sir”….and giving a pause within which Anupam switches his thoughts from the current subject and moves with lot of focus towards the new information…and handling it….So, courtesy is not essentially to be nice rather it is a pre requisite for our message / communication to be handled nicely…(it is most effective if we give a pause – as is required for the occasion)

(13) I made a mockery on the functioning style of the government office with one constable asking for a signature when a mission of finding a bomb was carried out in the police station – in my earlier posting. My sharp eyes observed this time that Jai was dutifully obeying the constable on his procedures…!! When he does not complain…WHY SHOULD I….& WHO AM I ????
(14) The trafficker of the explosives after getting so much of beating from Anupham kher literally keeps his hands in his chest to confess that he does know any thing more….signifying that he is telling the truth. He appears quite pitiable but we reverse our feelings very soon when he urinates upon seeing arif..right in the chair while sitting. WHICH MEANS…..these thugs may appear to be genuine but still there is some more juice (I don’t mean his urine) left with them…..
(15) The introduction of the terrorists by Akash….in ISI formerly Al queda formerly Lakshar…..!!...these people hopping from one organization to other (of course like minded organizations..thats different) reminded me of my BPO comrades who keep jumping from one organization to other….A matured mind does not keep hopping like a grasshopper or flutter the feathers like a butterfly….For that matter one reason for India so rich in culture is because the civilization and people refinement happened here owing to people’s settling down in this place for centuries (courtesy :: Sadhguru)….perhaps due to good climate, natural wealth and other reasons….Stability is the key for evolving….!! (IS some body telling me that Prabhakar and Osama are settled in an organization as bosses for a long time…???)
(16) The way Anupham stares into the eyes of the home minister after giving instruction to Jai on finding out the bomb in next 10 minutes….without telling in words “this is the way we work”……Just few seconds back, the Home minister was trying to suggest some thing to Anupham about the stiff goal that they have….Poor home minister…!!
(17) Quality of leadership in Anupham’s portrayal….The way his whole body becomes relaxed and calm when he tells “relax boys…” followed by the message that the terrorist would not have intended to have a bomb blast but just to build credibility…. YES it is important we become the change what we want to be!!Of course the next shot is the snifer dogs and the bomb squad in action. Without relaxed minds, such hectic and time bound actions do not emanate….
(18) When the bus containing the four terrorist slowly rolls in the main road, few extra moments of the top angle showing the birds fluttering in the air…..was telling me the carefree birds enjoying themselves totally unaware about the fateful bus that was in the road below….(this has a touch of my thought on my earlier posting about 1600 Rs cash loss…When I was becoming wiser with this episode, my boss was sitting without any awareness about me and my wisdom OR stupidity…..its very similar to that incident and my description earlier !!)
(19) Inside the bus, Arif gets impatient with the chat amongst the terrorists and releases the lock of his revolver. The difference in personalities between Jai and Arif has been handled carefully…may be because Jai is a familiy man and Arif…We are not sure….!! To add further, when the terrorist jokes “what shall we do with these two ??:”, the pale face of Jai (unsure of how to react) and then gathering a smile and look towards Arif just to pacify Arif that “its all joke only…don’t get tensed up again”….!! This point is about the consistency of portrayal of characters. Good job….!!
(20) Coming to same point above, Nasrudhin playing as cool as cucumber…with his lazy gaze fixed at the horizon and coffee, breakfast enjoying…..gets tensed up just once that too very mildly when he hears Ismail is not yet dead. It is more an upset of his plan than any tension…..Each character is like a sculpture in the right hands…..!!
(21) I was particularly shocked at the dialogue when I watched the film this time “today bomb is most valuable thing to the common man”…..So much to be perceived….!!
(22) The exact reason for the whole plot of Nasrudhin comes only after constant questioning by Anupham. Though he (Nasrudhin) says that he is neither sentimental nor emotional, he is quite upset with the death of a mate in his train though he is not a sort of “soul” mate…..which could make it much more emotional upset for him. I got reminded about what I read some time back that soldiers normally fight aggressively more out of the memory of the loss of their friends than for patriotic reasons…..Patriotism is abstract…while loss of a friend / mate is a physical reality !!
(23) The declaration by Nasrudhin on why he is doing the act that “he is doing it for himself”…..It struck me that the terrorists who upset the society for the heinous crimes for a purpose like religion or others’ orders….!! A common man does most unreasonable things too at times only for himself…..and still some times it could become revolutionary…..(I am getting reminded of your blasting on me some time back on being unpatriotic and self centered at Vanagiri…..Well, no arguments here….!!)
(24) The CM’s last scene when he talks of the course of action ….Do we have any other way ?? and so on…was more a talk with consciousness with Anupham doing the role of CM’s consciousness….and just responding to the extend that is required for decision making of CM….

(25) After the decision CM leaves the hall briskly followed by his two colleagues to attend to other priorities….As mentioned earlier, I got a respect for top posts of any organization by watching this film……!!
(26) The whole irony of the story is the disappointment for Naina…While promised of “most memorable day of her life” she ends up reporting a stray incident when the terrorists were shot dead in the “regular” process of the police… I have a feeling that Naina was disappointed that it was not such a great news…as I assume she does not know the full story. Some times, It happens like this…the most memorable things pass of while we are completely unaware about it….!!
(27) Ismail claiming that he is not afraid of dying and gets startled to see the revolvers in the two mens’ hands…and then goes on justifying on why he should live…..!! DIALOGUES to the minimum…..Great….
(28) Arif after getting a shot in his arm from Jai…I observed only now….tells “why you did not tell me earlier?”…..for which Jai replies “no time”….My god, Does that mean Arif grasps the instruction of Anupham so well and gets the wound as a matter of his duty and part of the extempored operations….I am just shuddering at the mere imagination……!!
(29) In the last scene, when Nasrudhin "begs our pardon" and clearly utters "mather chod"....I felt that Censor did not even feel like cutting the word as they got synch with the film....It was - to me - as if Nasrudhin was apologising to the Censor Board to bear with him for the word as it was "needed" for the scene and thats why it was left scotfree.....
(30) Last but not the least, on few other aspects of the film overall….For the first time I noticed the coordination between camera and music in this film during the Nasrudhin shots in open terrace when the camera just moves around him, comes towards him or moves away from him and the BG heightening the impact of the the sight.The Rerecording too is a miracle…and still I am amused at when the music is played in the background with Nasrudhin shah spells his dialogues in the last scene…some times only his voice is heard …some times music is also heard….You never can feel the music extraneous or miss it….! It happens when every one is so involved..the film maker and the audience…Understandable…
Coming to Camera, the slow motion for a bit followed by normal speed of camera when the terrorists are being released…is a sample of how nicely slow motion has been used….(we use it when the hero jumps in the air only to land on the head of the mottai boss !!)
The dialogues…..How nicely Nasrudhin communicates about the bomb planted in the police station…(not tom dick harry…..telephone booth….)
To conclude this section, I also thoroughly enjoyed the war between the two main personalities…Think I made a brief mention about this in my earlier posting too but I felt some refinement in my thought about this fight that the same is more tilted towards Nasrudhin’s favour ….while ultimately Anupam takes the superiority with one powerful glance and keeping the whole case within himself sharing only with us….(like how I am writing my postings in a blog…just as a paradox). All the blushes (for eg, Anupham telling Nasrudhin shah “aisaa nahi hai”..when Nasrudhin asks a point blank question if Anupam came to a conclusion that An aam aadhmi will not do such things ??) and frustrations, I feel Anupham won at the end with his steel like glance into Nasrudhin’s eyes when he introduces himself to the latter.
If you are under the impression that this posting has reached its end, you are terribly mistaken. Its time I record few subtle things which were interesting for me but I could not really understand completely. Perhaps, may be they are not really subtle and I am only imagining !!….I never know.
Let me post 4 such points below before I talk about few areas of improvements in the film to make a fitting end for this long posting….
(a) Nasrudhin talking to wife over phone on the open terrace on the opening scene….with the back towards camera and him facing the world below….with only voice heard by us….Not sure if it means some thing…
(b) When Nasrudhin tells about the 4 terrorist names and adds that they are in different jails…he gazes around the city…I felt like may be he is symbolically telling in parellel OR may be it’s a casual mannerism….Not too sure
(c) “copy that” was the order issued by Anupam Kher when he receives the message from Jai that “bomb mil gayaa”…..!! This is more a lack of understanding due to technicality(d) Last but not the least, I am not sure why Nasrudhin at the end of the “operation” hurries up down the terrace in unusual speed which is highly contradicting his portrayal until now…..Is it just to make us think for a while when he stands still for a while before coming up once again to pick up his bag…? Or is it to avoid the “thud” noise of the bomb planted within the dust bin….??
Now, let me move to few areas of improvements / slips according to me…May be, you have some thing to say on them….Further, these could be the case of wrong understanding from my side…(see, I am a picture of perfect humility in front of Neeraj !!). Please note that I am not just complaining but also giving a suggestion how it could be handled….! (that’s how a critic should be right ??)
(i) I felt that the shape of the bag that Nasrudhin carries does not resemble a bag that we normally use a “subzi”…instead of making it difficult for us to understand that it is a subzi bag (falling of tomato), I feel it is not too much coarse to have (have it heavy if it is justified for the anupham’s dialogue….”is it very heavy ?? want a lift ?”)a normal koodai with vegetables and palak quite visible from outside….
(ii) As we discussed already, keeping a J&K bag at railway station just to arouse some curiosity in us without any lead about it later on. Similarly, the word “bastard” used to describe Nasrudhin by Anupham in the opening scene….again was done only to arouse curiousity….
May be the former could have been justified by a simple dialogue some where in Nasrudhin’s utterances and the latter could be just a gentle childing by Anupam more out admiration than his anger.
(iii) Nasrudhin’s Bhibi voice was bit artificial in the sense that it was slightly misfit to his appearance. It was too feminine, courteous and definitely very young…..I would have tried a voice that is coarse, ignorant and very loud and impatient…..to push Nasrudin’s role a notch more higher
(iv) There was a slip in terms of editing….During the intro scene of Jai, he was found walking with his family at the railway station at the same time (we have to assume so, right ?) when Anupam is handling the “HERO”. The Anupam’s scene was in fact cut in between to introduce Jai. After hearing out the Hero, Anupam calls Jai in….By the time, Jai had left the family into the train, chided a constable who took money from a Taxi Driver on the way and have reached the station….!! I felt the scene could have been continous (I mean the Hero with Anupab) AFTER introducing Jai.
(v) Last but not the least, Why do Anupam rush towards the high rise building which is construction with a decided hurry, taking his pistol in his pocket as if he has to be available for the “last” meeting with Nasrudhin….It was a needless cinematic touch to make the nice natural film bit dramatic. IS there no other way this could have been handled….(Nasrudhin tells his wife when she asks if he has met any friend, as “not sure”)….Well, I vouch that there will be no more mails neither on “A Wednesday” from me nor on any other mail.

I once remember some one asking Cho (think in some interview at television) on why he wasted his genius as a critic of politics which is no heaven and analyzing people and their decisions which is relatively not upto his level of IQ, he gave an emotional response that he has seen people of various realms (Cinema, Drama, Law, Politics, Religion and Press) and did not ever think that political analysis is any way a waste of his energy….as people , their decisions & his guesses on them are always interesting for him.
In the same vein, let me conclude by stating that these 8 pages which had cost me around 2 ½ hours totally is too precious to me and is a nice tool for me to reach my eventual peaceful state…..!!

Thanks for being with me…if at all you were with me till this word.
Krishnaarpanam….

Moving Movies # 1 : Twelve Angry Men

Dear All

Like many other Tamil "proud" citizen, I had always admired yesteryear's tamil Director Sridhar's all time great movie - NENJIL ORU AALAYAM - A film which was shot in a hospital from beginning to end. Definitely - with the standards of direction and screen plays of those days, still many of the Tamil people are not out of the shock "how one can make such a film" ?!!!

This film "12 Angry men" is even more shocking - for it is shot in just one room where 12 men gathers up for an important discussion which is so interesting and absorbing; This movie too is quite old and is in B & W.

The first scene sets the tone of the film where the Learned Judge directs the 12 members of Jury - picked up from general public - to decide upon the verdict of a convict who was charged with committing a murder - killing his own father. The catch or rather plot of the film is that the 12 should unanimously reach at the decision AND even one member not forming a part of the final decision will make the decision invalid.

Since the jury members are picked up from the society, seeing them not very seasoned in decision making - particularly of this kind - is quite understandable. But, I felt it was quite artificial to see many of them totally dis-interested in the assignment and for a sprinkle of comedy perhaps - one of the member is so particular to join his girl friend for dinner !!

As it turns out, the members decide to call for the vote to decide that the convict has indeed committed the murder, just one of the gentle man refuses on the decision and sets the ball rolling for an interesting discussion. Gradually one by one gets converted to his decision - few out of their sense of reasoning while most out of sheer desperation and lack of patience and the story ends with a nice manner where two of the jury members shake hands outside the building - wishing each other "So long" and walking away in opposite directions.

A neat and gripping story.....and the dialogues were so powerful. I heard that this film is shown in few leadership programs to showcase as a case study on human personality styles and decision making patterns. I enjoyed the film thoroughly from the first frame till the end....and was absorbing the subtle aspects of the film like a blotting paper but half way thru' I started wondering if the story line could have been bit different if I had directed the film....!! As it turned out to be an experience of watching a good movie...with a BUT feeling.....

Lemme summarize the points for my BUT feeling...

(1) The plot of "unanimous" decision by itself gives us the clue about the final decision of the jury - which is the only logical thing to happen in the world when just one disagrees with the majority of the jury in the first part of the film. The thrills of possible twists and turns were completely lost the way the people started changing their minds one by one....!! In a way this is a "populist" way of screen play.

If I were to write the story line, I would have ensured that by the middle of the film, every body getting converted in their decision with the first man (who advocates "not guilty") and then with some new clue / evidence, they all unanimously decide at the end of the film in the diagrammatically opposite decision ("guilty"). The scope of the film offers so much juice you know....!!

(2) The film seemingly mocks up at disinterested people who were willing to pronounce some one as guilty without really applying their minds to the facts of the case....!! ON the contrary, the first gentleman who sets the ball for a discussion by telling "I am not at all telling that he is not guilty at all....But why don't we discuss about it ?" is the one who is adamant about his stance. He had really no reason to be so confident that the young boy is not guilty at all.... but had the entire screen play to support him win the case without any proof finally to support him in his claim. In this way the film is lopsided in its logic..

(3) Well, the film in a way portrays the power of DEMOCRACY. The moral seemingly is that " In ideal circumstances of perfect democracy where people have their free will, decisions will be rational and humane".....!!

The film fails on its mission by not really providing a simulated environment for the justice to prevail. This is not a case of the ideal power of democracy where even one adamant person is able to change the course of the decision making of all others - which is against the tenets of democracy...!! The 11 others gave up out of sheer exhaustion and pointlessness and not because they were convinced about the convict being non guilty....!!

(4) The discussion starts in a healthy style when the jury demands to see the knife which was used and also asks for the blue print of the house sketch where the murder was committed. I dont understand why they did not take the liberty to cross examine few of the witnesses (particularly the girl with spectacles) who could have given them some clue about the genuine-ness of their original pronouncement. I have a fairly strong feeling that the Jury were bit impartial about deciding upon the case - for every one had their own reason (at least many of them) to get out of the room which was getting humid and suffocating....!!

(5) Well, there is a famous dictum about justice "100s of the victims can be left out; but one innocent should not be punished"....which is the backbone for the story line to remain the way it is. My whole point is on the definition of "innocence". There was no attempt to review the facts of the case - particularly in the latter half - to satisfy that the accused was innocent. If justice has to really prevail, it should also take enough efforts to prove the guilt of a convict. This is particularly important when twelve common men have gathered to decide the fate of an individual of the society that they belong to !!

(6) Last but not the least, I like the adjective "angry" in the title. Perhaps I do not remember the first man who raises an objection to the decision of the eleven others - getting angry in the entire movie. On the other hand, every one gets angry at some point of time - few for genuine reason while many for their sentimental factors....AND this film is all about different type of human beings in the society with all their short comings and breaking points.

May be, if the same twelve men - if they did not get angry - rather, if the situation is built under an effective leader (did you observe the administrative excellence of the so called leader of the group...I thoroughly enjoyed the comedy in his leadership style....It was hilarious !!!) who was able to steer the whole discussion, perhaps their decision could have been more meaningful...!! Perhaps their decision could have been more rational and not out of sheer helplessness and pointlessness of their discussion.....!! Perhaps, the film could have been more sensible and not remain as just entertaining as it was....!!

Any way, in spite of my points above, still I liked the film. In a way it helped me to discover myself and identify the screen play writer within me....!!

Krishnaarpanam as always...

Suren

Moving Movies

Dear All

I am never sure of achieving this goal when I took it upon me emotionally ... but still, I really long to be able to make it !!

Yes, I promised my beloved sister that I will see the English movies that she saw in the recent past - courtesy, the widened horizons of her teen age son.

For that matter until now, I have seen a maximum of ten English movies in my life so far (which includes Mechna's Gold, Jass and Enter the Dragon.....which I "seemingly" saw when I was a lad)....so to take up a goal to see 10 English Movies is definitely a stretch goal for me to achieve -before 31st Dec 11 !! But then, I have commited upon it....poor me...!!

Well, one is always feverish to achieve some thing quickly soon after taking such self imposed goals - I sacrificed meeting our mother last week and excused myself from her to reach the sister's house on a Saturday evening straight from office (which is just five kilometers away from parents home). Perhaps it was the first time I reached her home from office and staying in the night at her home was some thing I have never done earlier.....!! You see, its a compulsion of a goal...!!

After the dinner, we settled down in the computer room of her home which ensued a quick (healthy ?) argument between my sister and her daughter on which film to see !! I was so gullible and child like during this argument willing to accept any film that they decide to show me....only praying that they don't reach a dead lock situation and decide against seeing a film at all...!!

Before I could turn a really angry man, my sister super imposed her view on her daughter with her choice to see "twelve angry men" and my poor niece never could argue much as she had not seen it until then. Perhaps out of sheer tiredness and the overwhelming first time experience of having a visitor to their home with a sole purpose to see a "English" film she budged to this proposal and we saw this simply superb 90 minute film.

Lemme post the film review as a separate post after this; Pray almighty that AGANDAM gets pregnant with my film reviews of at least 10 English Movies which perhaps induces few more conservative people like me to start watching movies of different culture and get their horizons widened....!!

Krishnaarpanam....

Love // Suren

Why Am (I This) Way ?

Dear All

Some how we (me and Anoo) always had been considered as a juicy victim by Amway Corps and its "positive (business?) minded" {you can actually swap the adjectives - still it will mean almost the same thing} flag bearers.

It was the third such direct trial yesterday which in a way re affirmed to myself that I can never be the AM way !!

Knowing fully well the consequences, I welcomed a friend of mine to home which I had consciously postponed at least couple of times earlier in the past three months just because.....I liked him and his personality. He in fact is quite different from the earlier two couples who tried to woo us before this episode AND I wanted to be open enough to at least allow him to my home without telling a big NO NO !! He did not disappoint me at all as he talked less business and more wisdom; less frantic and more relaxed...and created lesser repulsion and more of warmth.

Lemme put my thoughts on the subject as it comes....and I am quite eager if I feel the same thing after a decade or so.....!!

(1) As a matter of unwritten agreement, me and Anoo DO NOT visit any body's home for socializing - particularly in friend's circle. Its not that we are averse of people but we are not so fond of any body that need to pamper the relationship by a joint visit once a while.

To even entertain a ripple of thought - about visiting some one's home with a "hidden" (or is it too "open" ?) agenda gives me shudders.

(2) Without any body forcing me for anything, I do not understand why I advocate for INDEPENDENCE so much for me ? Its even in the most simple things I want to be myself though it disappoints Anoo so much. In the same manner, the amount of importance that she gives for house keeping and being nice to people around - makes me philosophical !!

Living in absolutely two different worlds, it is quite a miracle to create a home that has least quarrels and hatred - at least in comparison to many other homes that we are familiar with. Its quite a double miracle to enjoy the wonders of an extra ordinary child that we are blessed with. - without any "positivity" that we have to acquire thru' the network business and the way it reportedly shapes our personality !!

Perhaps its just due to the fact that we clearly realized that we travel in different roads altogether !! And here is a business proposal that could in a way subtly force us to walk together, wearing an artificial smile in our faces to prove some thing to the "prospects" !!

(3) As I mentioned earlier, this gentle man spoke less of business. But still he had to touch upon leaving a legacy for madhoo which could allow her to do what ever she wants to do...!! What a powerful bait for a middle class man - this ought to be ?

Well, I personally believe that my little girl will definitely do what ever she wants to do - and she is supposed to be so - not because of the financial freedom but out of her mental freedom. Some how I do not carry a need (or psychological fear ?)to ensure (or insure myself ?) that she never should complain about the way I brought her up. In fact, except barging into the decision of Anoo and putting her in Tamil as second language - I am not able to recall any other way I had tried influenced upon her ....!!

(4) Anoo was quite restless at the end of the talk though she was quite delighted in the beginning when the visitors were awe struck with the beauty of our home !!

There were showers of praises on her "house keeping" abilities which is always a genuine feedback for our home and the care she takes for orderliness. After hearing them for close to half hour, there came a direct question to us if we are interested in business proposal. This girl is so courteous with new acquaintances that she could not tell a clear NO even when she is repulsive about an idea. Imagine her to lead a life style that leaves her no time to clean up the home AND running to catch up the schedule of meeting up the "prospects".....

I think I should not do this injustice to her !!

By getting into the network marketing business, we might end up vaporizing the positives that has been developed between us with our non interference policy. This could be the most suffocating means of converging the space of two individuals particularly when there is no strong urge or need to walk a new path.

(5) Well, if you are smiling - why at all should I invite him home with so much repulsion at heart for this business - beg your pardon, I still am receptive enough to listen to a lecture that I knew it too well. In fact I should feel grateful to Almighty that - within myself- I was much more receptive to this couple lot more than the earlier occasion - which definitely means that I have evolved lot more with age.

I repeat what I had written already - I like this gentleman so much for his warmth and cool head and really wanted him to visit our home if he wants to...!! He had the maturity to propose this visit only after four months of our introduction to each other....after careful series of steps that is typically taken by such people. He did not disappoint me at all....and gave a perspective to the business which was much more evolved and matured than many others who become so calculative and restless in pursuit of the business.

I still feel that I might really support Anoo if she wants to take a plunge into this business - which she will never do without me pushing her - which is some thing I don't dare to do ... not to her but even to myself...!!

Krishnaarpanam....as always....

Suren

ஆடு களம் - என் பார்வை

சில சமயம் விதி மேல் பெருமதிப்பு ஏற்படுகிறது. இந்தத் திரைப்படத்தை எப்படியாவது பார்க்கவேண்டும் என்ற ஆவல் இருந்தாலும், சமய சந்தர்ப்பம் சரியாக வாய்க்காமல், ஆசை வற்றிப் போன பின் "உலகத்திலேயே முதன் முறையாக புத்தம் புது திரைப்படமாக" நாம் காண ஏங்கியப் படத்தை ஆவலுடன் தொலைக்கட்சிப்பெட்டியில் பார்க்க நேர்வது விதியின் விளையாட்டே அன்றி வேறென்ன ?

ஆண்டவனுக்கு நன்றி.....!!

இதுவும் வாய்க்காமல் போகும் துரதிர்ஷ்டத்தை நமக்கு அளிக்காத அந்த பேரருள் முன் கை கூப்பியே ஆகவேண்டிய ஒரு தருணந்தான் இன்று....

ஆம் !! நான் ஆறு விருதுகளைப் பெற்ற "ஆடுகளம்" திரைப்படம் கண்டு திளைத்தேன்...!!

அற்புதமான ஆனால் நமக்கு அவ்வளவாக பரிச்சயம் இல்லாத ஒரு களம் .... உன்னிப்பாக கவனித்தால் மிக நன்றாகவே புரியும் அழகு தமிழ் வசனங்கள் ..... பாத்திரங்களாகவே மாறிவிட்ட நடிக நடிகையர்..... சேவல் சண்டையில் துவங்கி, மனிதர்களின் கேவலமான பக்கத்தை மிக அழகாக துகிலுரிக்கும் ஒரு அற்புதமான திரைக்கதை.

அற்புதமான முடிச்சுகள்..... கதையோடு இழைந்து கரையும் இசை..... கதாநாயகனின் லாவகமான லுங்கி நடனம்....மழலையாய் மிழற்றும் அந்த அழகு கதாநாயகி.....பொறுப்பாய் உபதேசம் செய்யும் கதாநாயகனின் அம்மா மற்றும் யதார்த்தமாய் ஆங்கிலத்தில் பேத்திக்கு நிதர்சனம் புரிய வைக்க முயலும் கதாநாயகியின் பாட்டி.....!!

கிளி கொஞ்சும் திரைக்கதை....!! ஆறு விருதுகளும் ஜன்ம சாபல்யம் பெற்றிருக்கும்.....!!

வெறுப்பையும் வன்மத்தையும் விட மிகவும் ஆபத்தானது நம்பிக்கைத் துரோகம். அதுவும் அநீதி இழைக்கப்பட்டவன் கடைசி கணம் வரும் வரை நினைத்து நினைத்து மருகும் வகையில் மிகக் கேவலமாக நடந்துக் கொள்ளும் அந்த முதியவரின் முடிவான முடிவு எந்த அளவு நியாயமாக படுகிறதோ, அதே அளவு - அவர் பெயர் கேட்டு விடக்கூடாது என்று மெனக்கெடும் அந்த இளைஞனின் மனமும் மிகவும் நியாயமாகப் படுகிறது. இது போன்ற ஒரு திரைக்கதையை இவ்வளவு அழகாக அமைதியாக வேறு வகையில் நிறைவு செய்ய முயல்வது மிகவும் கடினம். மிகவும் அமைதியாக இயக்குனரின் பெயர் திரையில் கடைசிக்காட்சியில் தோன்ற, அத்துடன் சேர்த்து நம் மனமும் தான் அமைதியில் உறைகிறது.....!!

காலம் தாழ்த்திக் காணக்கிடைத்தாலும் நன்றியில் மனம் விம்முகிறது.....!!

அந்த பெரிய கடவுளுக்கு நன்றி - மீண்டும் ஒரு முறை.....!!

அன்புடன்.....
சுரேன்

Ramu Mama !!

Prelude : This posting can be construed as "On being Grateful - PART 2".

Dear All

Today I visited my maternal uncle who is fondly called by our family as Ramoo Mama. He met with an accident quite recently which got him into a situation of an unavoidable surgery in his back region and have reached home from hospital only couple of days back. I met him right in the hospital during last week end & it was time for a follow up visit.....!!

We (me and anoo) just spent 15 - 20 minutes at his home but it was a real quality time not just for him !! As I bade the Grand old man a bye, this toothless man (with lot of struggle) climbed up from the bed and literally limped holding a walking stick to see me off and to have a look at my new car (he knew that I got a car only now.....!! I have not been visiting him off late). He was all smiles and full of grace as I left his home.

Well, lemme hold my breath for a while and tell you a few facts about this wonderful man. This man failed in Tenth Standard (those days SSLC) as he could muster just single digit mark in English - but beware he was centum in mathematics in the same SSLC exams !!

With his elder brothers relatively settling down well, he reached Chennai fifty five years back with heart full of self pity and intensity to prove himself. Joined AVM chettiar's company and grew up steadily under the wings of graceful AVM chettiar - Had a rollicking career taking care of the distribution side of the old films of chettiar's days. The new generation of AVM (Mr.Saravanan) was magnanimous enough to allow my Mama to continue his services even after Chettiar's demise; I have visited his office at Whites Road couple of times when I was a kid - still remember his bubbling enthusiasm and roaring laughter..He lived like a king at his office and fondly introduces me to his staff members every time - who were so respectful to this man & never try to point out that they have been introduced to me already !!

Financially he was a great support for us during our tough times ...and I remember the feverish excitement with which I wait for him on the prior day of Deepavali - he always comes to our home with a big parcel of crackers (we are four children at our home) and a saree to his beloved sister (my amma). During those days, I almost took his big bundle of crackers & Ramu Mama for granted.....!!
He was the first close circle relative whom I remembered to own a scooter those days...and then later a car (Fiat - Brown colour). I remember mami used to prepare payasam on every sunday at their posh home at Ashok Nagar during early eighties and by all standards it was a rich family with divine grace fully with them.

Well, the wheel of time kept revolving and today he is a lone man in the same big house - letting out most part of it - giving him sufficient money to be self reliant. His wife is dead now and one of the son is not in chennai. The other son is in chennai and takes care of his father...but beyond a point, all of us have to embrace loneliness and suffer the consequences of such physical accidents all by ourselves, right ?

As I verbally assured Ramu mama at the time of leaving him - literally hugging him - that I will take him to Tambaram in my new car after he fully recovers from the accident - his toothless jaw opened up in delight. Yes, he longs for the visit to meet his two sisters at Tambaram - I could sense it. It was not that I was trying to flatter him when I gave this word to him - it was more a self re-assurance and a steel like commitment that I had inside within me - to do this little favour for this grand old man.

As i stared his smiling face from a distance - sitting in the car, I suddenly realized the reason why I was drawn towards this man today & why I carry so much affection for him all of a sudden !! It appears as if this man had unconsiously imprinted himself and his charecteristics upon me !!
In more than one ways, the way I dress up today (do I ?), the manner I have crafted my personality full of "asattu jokes" but constantly carrying an unpredictability about how I behave in a given situation, the simple things that make me emotional and grateful to little things, .... the way some times I annoy Anoo and Madhoo by being "uncultured" and "indignified" - well, the similarities are too many.

Ultimately its not that I am fond of not Ramu Mama....
Its just me that I am seeing in him.
In other words, may abe I am getting attracted towards any thing and every thing outside me - that reminds me about myself.....!!

Krishnaarpanam.....

Love // Suren

On Being Grateful .....!!

Dear All

After a peace filled visit to Sai Baba temple early in the morning, I was scanning thru' my favourite Ananda Vikatan - perhaps after long time so quickly after its arrival.
(Thanks to Lord Ganesha for his birthday...and the mid week vacation)

There was a breath taking photo of a cute young girl whom I have never seen before - As I read, I learnt she is a kerala film star - Ms.Mamta Mohandas. Thinking it to be another article promoting new actresses, I was dumb found as the article was of totally different kind.

This cute girl survived (breast) cancer and got cured completely quite recently.

Listen to her own voice - "It was more a state of disbelief for me when I heard the news that I have contracted cancer. All along I have living in hygienic and healthy conditions and I never thought such a disease will affect me. Slowly it dawned upon me that all of us are same in front of mother nature and I thank Cancer for giving me this wisdom".

She also explains the intense pain that she underwent ....
" All of you - at some point of time - must have experienced body pain....but can you imagine pain in every cell like pin prick constantly ? I was taking pain killers in heaps as though it is part of my diet !! Had no energy even to walk within my own home...!! Most of the times, I have to keep lying down in bed. After chemotherapy, due to hair loss, I started sporting Pop cut "
(actually in the Ananda vikatan photo this girl looks much more pretty in her pop cut than the stills below that I downloaded from net).

Well, in the meanwhile - being a talented actress, couple of her films got her BEST ACTRESS awards. (May be there was an element of compassion in the Jury's decisions....but still I would like to respect the glamourous film industry for entertaining some humanity at least when it matters most). She got energized with divine grace descending on her in strange way but the point was it helped her to gain the mental strength to recover from this disease.

After reading thru' the article, I was staring the girl's photo for a long time in sheer shock, admiration and awe....!! Tears start flowing from my eyes as I got intensely aware about the things that I am blessed with at this point of time in life....

What if I am geting reminded of divine grace only when there is an external stimulii,
what if I am forgetful about the divine grace that is constantly showered upon me 24 * 7 - even when I am unaware about it....

Still

Let me loosen myself a little bit to feel the gratitude at least for a couple of minutes - allowing myself to enjoy the lightness of my body & purity of my mind;
Life is a miracle.....!!
Would you want to challenge me ? or take life for granted ?.....







Mamta, God bless you to gobble up more and more awards.....and every single living creature around me....!!

Love you all // Suren