All it takes is love...

When a movie has three national award winners, two best actors and a best supporting actor, an Oscar-winning music director, a Belgian cinematographer, and a veteran ad film maker, you tend to expect something that is way ahead of the ‘ordinary’ league. Maryan does exactly that.

Maryan is the story of how the power of love transcends continents and boundaries and about how a man can overcome the most gruesome of situations by sheer will power and hope.

The story unfolds with a first person narrative of Maryan (Dhanush), who works in Africa. Maryan and Saamy (Jegan) are colleagues, working for the same oil company. After a two year contract with the company, Maryan is all set to return to India to meet his love interest Panimalar (Parvathy Menon).

As Maryan recalls his life in India, he is the Kadal Raasa -‘King of the Ocean’ a term that he uses to refer to himself, which proves its significance in the climax sequence. Maintaining his image of playing down-to-earth roles, here, Dhanush portrays the role of a fisherman involved in spearfishing. The plot revolves around his friends, mom, and love interest.  The delightful encounters between Panimalar and Maryan, with the latter rebuking her attempts to win over him and how he falls for her eventually, has been brought to life by the natural performance of Parvathy and Dhanush. Sakkarai (Appukutty) as Maryan’s friend, Seeli (Uma Riyaz) as Maryan’s mother and Thomayya (Salim Kumar) have played their miniscule yet significant parts to perfection.

As events move back and forth, the protagonist and two of his colleagues are kidnapped and taken hostage in Sudan. What happens henceforth forms the rest of the story.

While you can never fail to appreciate the technical extravaganza the film has to offer, the director narrates the story at a pace that provides time to think and appreciate the finer aspects of the movie. He helps you relate to a few real-life incidents that you have read or heard of.

Vivek Harshan’s nifty editing helps you to cope with the draggy screenplay. With the two time Oscar award winning maestro A R Rahman at the helm, the music adds an extra dimension to the story with soulful BGMs and Bharatbala has done full justice to the songs by beautifully juxtaposing the songs with the narrative. By releasing the movie in Auro 3D sound technology, the director has soared in scoring an extra run.   

Mark Koninckx, the Belgian cinematographer, has done a spectacular job and the underwater sequence in the Sonapareeya song and the deserts scenes in the Nenjae Ezhu song leave the viewer with lingering memories of the movie.

Dhanush, in this movie, reaffirms why he is one of the finest actors of his generation. The various shades of Maryan as a love-struck fisherman, a terrified hostage, a lone survivor, wandering about in the desolate deserts, are portrayed by Dhanush with effortless ease, which only prove that he has virtually lived the role of Maryan. The scene where he speaks to Panimalar in the guise of speaking to his boss and the scenes where he eats desert scrubs are applaudable and make the audience empathise with the pitiful plight of Maryan.

Parvathy is at ease when it comes to dialogue delivery and performance. In the age of overly made up heroines with their fake dubbed accents, Parvathy is like a whiff of fresh air in her de-glamed look.

The film doesn’t work with just one aspect, the Sudan terrorists. They look very young to be categorized as terrorists and are not scene stealers; probably the director’s visualization of an impoverished nation.
 

Maryan makes a successful journey from the deserts of Sudan into the hearts of the audiences. With power packed performances by the lead actors, soul-stirring music, and enthralling visuals the movie is a technical extravaganza and it definitely qualifies as a classic of its time.

A Reply From...

It was a Friday, yet another lazy Friday at office. There was no reason to remain cheerful. I had loads of work to complete and yes I wasn’t expecting much of fun in the weekend too.

Lazing my day at office and acting responsible about completing work, I managed to fool around until 3 in the afternoon.

After a tea break, I got a notification, an e-mail from Chetan Bhagat. Yes, you read that right, it’s the author of Five Point Someone.

Totally lost in thoughts, I managed to open to the e-mail, to check if it was an automated reply for a comment I had posted on his Website a couple of days ago.

I had read about his new book 'Revolution 2020' somewhere, and navigated to his Website to check the release date and if pre-booking was open. The pre-booking wasn’t open though. I just managed to read an excerpt from the forth-coming release. The excerpt increased my inquisitiveness about the story-line. I was thrilled about another Chetan Bhagat book and posted a comment on his web page, wishing the author for his new release.

After a few minutes, I got back to the daily routine work at office. Nothing stayed on my mind about the book or the comment I had posted. In fact, I didn’t even have a second thought about the comment I had posted.

Now, I get a reply (a personalized thank you note) from the author. It’s amazing that the author had actually managed to write a personalized mail thanking me for the comment I had posted. I was almost flying by the time I finished reading the e-mail. My day is made.

Chetan Bhagat..I salute thee..Awaiting the release of Revolution 2020!

Kannathil Muthamittal

I have taken a long break from blogging. The long hours at office have given me very less time to do anything other than work.

The trigger to write a blog and the fact that I even own a blog was non-existent.

Yesterday, I was watching a movie, which is very close to my heart – Kannathil Muthamittal, which centers on child adoption. The movie deals with the effluences of an adopted child.

Directed by Mani Ratnam, this movie sets an exemplary for the kind of dialogues that can be used in an emotional subject line. The two word dialogues, for which the director has won acute reviews, from various critics, stand out to emphasize that minimal dialogues with supporting actors can etch the right kind of attitude whilst conveying the appropriate message.

The cinematography of the movie adds more ethnicity to the kind of theme being dealt with. The movie gradually moves from the lifestyle in a developed city to the refugees of Sri Lanka.

The topic of adoption being sensitive in its very nature and the storyline moving forward to the tense situation and the pathetic state of life in a country, which is being bombed, conveys the very essence with which a director can handle two concentric yet dissimilar subjects.

I personally cherish the movie for the personal connotation that I posses with the subject line and the kind of memories that it helps me recollect.

Parattu Vizha

After the numerous compliments on the tamil semozhi manaadu, I got to read this mail on the parattu vizhas that are being periodically carried out for our dear CM. This is more a mockery on the way the parattu vizha proceeds.

I had a good time reading this foward. Hope you enjoy it!!

ஏறக்குறைய அனைத்து தலைப்புகளிலும் கருணாநிதிக்கு பாராட்டு விழா நடத்தி முடித்து விட்டதால் இப்பொழுது கருணாநிதியை எதற்காக பாராட்டுவது என்று “கருணாநிதியை பாராட்டும் துறையின்“ அமைச்சர் ஜெகதரட்சகனும், துணை அமைச்சர் துரை முருகனும் உட்கார்ந்து யோசிக்கின்றனர்.

திடீரென்று அவர்களுக்கு தோன்றிய யோசனை, ஒருநாள் கிரிக்கெட் போட்டியில் இரட்டை சதம் அடித்த டெண்டுல்கரை பாராட்டிய கருணாநிதிக்கு பாராட்டு விழா நடத்தினால் என்ன என்று யோசனை செய்ததும், அருமையான ஒரு யோசனையாக தோன்ற, உடனடியாக விழா ஏற்பாட்டில் இறங்கினர்.

விழாவுக்கு டெண்டுல்கரை அழைப்பது என்று முடிவெடுக்கப் பட்டது.

டெண்டுல்கரை அழைக்கும் பொறுப்பு வி.சி.குகநாதனிடம் ஒப்படைக்கப் பட்டது.

ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் ஒரு நாள் தொடரில் இருந்த டெண்டுல்கர் வர இயலாது என்று தெரிவித்ததும், சிவசேனா கட்சித் தலைவர் பால் தாக்கரேயைத் தொடர்பு கொண்டு, டெண்டுல்கரை விழாவுக்கு அழைத்ததும், டெண்டுல்கர் உடனடியாக ஒப்புக் கொண்டார். இனி விழா காட்சிகள்.

விழாவுக்கு, வழக்கமான ஜால்ரா கம்பேனிகளான ரஜினிகாந்த், கமலஹாசன்,
ஜெகதரட்சகன், துரைமுருகன், வாலி, வைரமுத்து, ஆகியோர் வருகை
தந்திருந்தனர். டெண்டுல்கர் ஒன்றுமே புரியாமல் பேந்த பேந்த விழித்துக்
கொண்டு உட்கார்ந்திருந்தார்.

முதலில் விழாவுக்கு தலைமையேற்று, ஜெகதரட்சகன் பேசினார்.

“திருப்புகழை பாடப்பாட வாய் மணக்கும் என்பார்கள். அது பொய் வாக்கு. என்
தலைவனை பாடப் பாட வாய் மட்டுமல்ல, என் உடலே மணக்கிறது.

எங்கோ தெருவில் ஏழையாய் ஒரு இன்ஜினியரிங் காலேஜும், மெடிக்கல் காலேஜும் நடத்திக் கொண்டிருந்த என்னை இன்று மந்திரியாக்கி அழகு பார்தது என் தலைவன் தான்.

இந்தியாவிலே எங்கேயாவது ஒரு இடத்திலாவது முதலமைச்சரின் தொகுதியிலே கிரிக்கெட் ஸ்டேடியம் இருக்கிறதா ?

ஆனால் என் தலைவனின் தொகுதியிலே கிரிக்கெட் ஸ்டேடியம் இருக்கிறது.

இருபதுக்கு இருபது கிரிக்கேட் போட்டி நடைபெறும் நாட்களில் என் தலைவன், சட்டமன்றத்துக்கு செல்வதைக் கூட தவிர்த்து விட்டு டிவி முன்னால் உட்கார்ந்திருப்பார் என்பதை எத்தனை பேர் அறிவீர்கள் ?

செம்மொழி மாநாடு நடைபெறும் கொடீசியா அரங்கிலே மாநாட்டு தொடங்கும் முன், அங்கே ஒரு கிரிக்கெட் போட்டியை நடத்தி விட்டுத்தான் மாநாட்டை தொடங்க வேண்டும் என்பதை இன்றைய தினத்திலே என் தலைவனிடம் கோரிக்கையாக வைக்கிறேன்.

அந்த விழாவிலே மானாட மயிலாட நிகழ்ச்சியில் ஆடும் நாட்டிய நங்கைகளை அரங்கத்திலே கிரிக்கெட் போட்டி நடைபெறும் வேளையில் ஆட அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதையும் கேட்டுக் கொள்கிறேன். “

அடுத்து துரை முருகன். “ அப்போல்லாம், இந்தி எதிர்ப்பு போராட்ட காலம்.
நானு, தலைவரு எல்லாம் இந்தி எதிர்ப்பு போராட்டத்துலே கலந்து கிட்டு
சிறையிலே இருந்தப்போவே, சிறைக்குள்ளேயே கிரிக்கெட் விளையாடியிருக்கோம் என்பதை இங்கே சுட்டிக் காட்ட விரும்புகிறேன்.


கழகத்தில், இளைஞர் அணி, மகளிர் அணி, இலக்கிய அணி, வழக்கறிஞர் அணி போல, கிரிக்கெட் அணியும் ஒன்று உருவாக்க வேண்டும் என்பதை இந்த நேரத்திலே வேண்டுகோளாய் வைக்கிறேன். அந்த கிரிக்கெட் அணிக்கு துணை முதல்வரே தலைமை தாங்க வேண்டும் என்பதையும் வேண்டுகோளாய் வைக்கிறேன்.



தலைவருக்கு கிரிக்கெட் விளையாட்டில் இருந்த ஆர்வத்தின் காரணமாகவே,
சட்டசபை கலவரத்தில், பட்ஜெட் புத்தகங்கள் அவர் மீது தூக்கி வீசப்பட்ட
போதெல்லாம் அருமையாக கேட்ச் பிடித்து தன் விளையாட்டுத் திறமையை
வெளிப்படுத்தியிருக்கிறார். கிராமத்துப் பள்ளிக்கூடத்தில் படித்தாலும்
தலைவர் கிரிக்கெட் விளையாட்டில் சூரர்.

ஆனால் கான்வென்ட்டில் படித்த சில திமிர் பிடித்தவர்களுக்கு, கிரிக்கெட்
என்றால் என்னவென்று தெரியுமா ? டெண்டுல்கர் இரட்டைச் சதம் அடித்தாலும் என் தலைவரைப் போல இரண்டு மனைவிகள் உண்டா அவருக்கு. என் தலைவரின் சாதனைகளுக்கு முன்னால் டெண்டுல்கரின் இரட்டைச் சதம் ஜுஜுபி என்று சொல்லிக் கொள்கிறேன்.“ (இதைக் கேட்டதும் கருணாநிதி விழுந்து விழுந்து சிரிக்கிறார்.)

அடுத்து வாலிபக் கவிஞர் வாலி.

“ கிரிக்கெட்டு கிரிக்கெட்டு

உன் குடும்ப பிரச்சினைய நீ சரிக்கட்டு !

நீ நடந்தாலே ஜல்லிக்கட்டு

தேர்தல்ல நீ நடத்துவ மல்லுக்கட்டு

உன் விழாவுக்கு நான் வந்திருக்கேன் மெனக்கெட்டு..

உன்னைப் பார்த்ததும் என் மனசு ஓடுது தறிக்கெட்டு

அரசியல் உனக்கு ஒரு விளையாட்டு

உனக்காக நான் பாடுறேன் தமிழ்ப்பாட்டு

புடவைக்கு மேச்சிங் ஜாக்கெட்டு

உன்னால நிரம்புது என் பாக்கெட்டு

தேர்தல்ல நீ எடுத்த பல விக்கெட்டு

உன்னை எதுத்தவங்க உடைஞ்ச பக்கெட்டு

கிரிக்கெட்டு கிரிக்கெட்டு

உன் குடும்ப பிரச்சினைய நீ சரிக்கட்டு ! “


அடுத்து வைரக் கவிஞர் வைரமுத்து.

“ டெண்டுல்கருக்கு வாழ்த்து தெரிவித்த சிவப்புச் சூரியனே

உன்னைக் கண்டு ஓடுவான் கைபர் கணவாய் ஆரியனே

நீ டெண்டுல்கருக்கு தெரிவித்தது வாழ்த்து அல்ல… …

நீ தெரிவிக்காதது எதுவுமே வாழ்த்தும் அல்ல

உன் பெயரைச் சொன்னாலே பிட்ச் அதிரும்

ஸ்டெம்பு எகிரும் மைதானம் நடுநடுங்கும்

எல்லோரும் மேட்ச் ஃபிக்சிங்தான் செய்வார்கள்

நீ மைதானத்தில் உள்ளவர்களுக்கு கவர் கொடுத்து

மைதானத்தையே ஃபிக்ஸ் செய்தாய்.

மொத்தத்தில் நீ ஒரு புலிக்குட்டி

உனக்கு முன்னால் டெண்டுல்கர் ஒரு எலிக்குட்டி


அடுத்து சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த்.

கலைஞர்ஜி இன்னக்கி நீங்க டெண்டுல்கருக்கு வாழ்த்து சொல்லிருக்கீங்க. அதை நான் வரவேற்கிறேன். ஏன்னா நான் உங்களுக்கு வாழ்த்து சொல்றேன். நான் எப்போ வாழ்த்து சொல்வேன், எதுக்கு வாழ்த்து சொல்வேன்னு எனக்கே தெரியாது. ஆனா உங்களுக்கு டெய்லி நூறு வாழ்த்தாவது வரும்.

பாபாஜி கூட இமயமலேல்ல கிரிக்கெட் விளையாடுவார். நான் அடிக்கடி இமயமலேக்கு ஏன் போறேன்னு நெறய பேருக்கு தெரியாது. அங்கே கிரிக்கெட் விளையாடத்தான் நான் போறேன். நான் இமயமலைலே கிரிக்கெட் விளையாடும்போது கூட கலைஞர்ஜி எனக்கு போன் போட்டு கேம் எப்படிப் போகுதுன்னு கேட்பார்.

கலைஞர்ஜிக்கு கிரிக்கெட் மேலே இருக்க ஆர்வத்த பாத்து நான் கூட எந்திரன் படத்துல ரோபோ கிரிக்கெட் விளையாடுற மாதிரி ஒரு சீன் வெக்கலாம்னு யோசிச்சுருக்கேன். கிரிக்கெட் கேமே இந்தியாலேர்ந்து போனதுதான். நம்ம வேதத்துலேயும், உபநிஷத்துக்கள்ளேயும், கிரிக்கெட் பத்தி நெறய செய்தி இருக்கு.

 கலைஞர்ஜிக்கு ஆண்டவனோட அருள் இருக்கறதாலத்தான் இன்னைக்கு டெண்டுல்கர பாராட்டிருக்கார்.

அடுத்து கமலஹாசன்.
மதிப்பிற்குரிய கலைஞர் அவர்கள், டெண்டுல்கருக்கு பாராட்டு தெரிவித்ததை

பாராட்டுவதற்காக இன்று ஒரு விழா நடந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது. இந்த விழா ஒரு சரித்திர முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த விழா. இந்த விழாவை நாங்கள் எங்கள் பேரப்பிள்ளைகளிடம் ஒரு தமிழன் எப்படி இன்னொரு கிரிக்கெட் வீரனை பாராட்டினான் என்று கூறி பெருமை படத் தக்கதொரு நிகழ்வு.


மராட்டிய மண்ணில் பிறந்த ஒரு வீரனை பாராட்டும் பண்பு கலைஞருக்கு
இருக்கிறது. அதற்காக நானும் தமிழன் என்ற முறையில் கர்வம் கொள்கிறேன்.


நான் பராசக்தி படம் பார்த்து தமிழ் கற்றுக் கொண்டேன். அந்தப் படத்தில்
ஒரு வசனம் வரும். நான் தென்றலைத் தீண்டியதில்லை. தீயைத் தாண்டியிருக்கிறேன் என்று. தாண்டியிருக்கிறேன் என்ற சொல்லாடலை கலைஞர் பயன்படுத்தியதே விரைவாக ரன் எடுக்கையில் க்ரீசை தாண்டுவதைத்தான் என்பது எத்தனை பேருக்கு தெரியும் ?

இந்தத் தமிழனின் பண்பை கண்டு நான் வணங்குகிறேன். கலைஞர் மட்டும்
அரசியலுக்கு வராமல் கிரிக்கெட் விளையாடப் போயிருந்தால், 50 ஓவர்கள்
மட்டுமல்லாமல், 100 ஓவர்களையும் இவரே விளையாடி 4 சதங்கள் அடித்திருப்பார் என்பதில் எனக்கு சந்தேகம் இல்லை.

கருணாநிதி ஏற்புரை

என் அருமைத் தம்பி துரை முருகன் அவர்களே, அன்பு இளவல் ஜெகதரட்சகன் அவர்களே, சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த் அவர்களே, கலைஞானி கமலஹாசன் அவர்களே, “கிரிக்கெட்டின் கில்லி” டெண்டுல்கர் அவர்களே, என் உயிரினும் மேலான அன்பு உடன்பிறப்புக்களே.

இந்த விழா, இவ்வளவு சிறப்பாக நடைபெறும் என்று நான்
எதிர்ப்பார்க்கவேயில்லை. நேற்று கூட, அமைச்சரவைக் கூட்டத்தை பாதியிலேயே முடித்து விட்டு, தலைமைச் செயலக கட்டுமானப் பணிகளை பார்த்து விட்டு இந்த விழா நடக்கும் அரங்கை பார்வையிட வந்தேன். அப்பொழுது, நாளை மாலைக்குள் இந்த வேலைகள் முடிவு பெறுமா என்ற அய்யம் எனக்கு இருந்தது.

ஆனால் தம்பி உடையான், படைக்கு அஞ்சான் என்ற வாக்கிற்கேற்ப என் தம்பிகள் இவ்விழாவை சிறப்பாக நடத்தியிருக்கிறார்கள். எனக்கு பாராட்டு விழா என்பதே பிடிக்காது. அந்த நேரத்திலே, வீட்டில் உட்கார்ந்து ”ராணி 6, ராஜா யாரு ?

” அல்லது எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்த ”மானாட மயிலாட” பார்க்கலாம் என்று
நினைத்திருந்தேன்.

ஆனால், அந்த நிகழ்ச்சிகளில் இருக்கும் அனைத்து நடனங்களும் இந்த
நிகழ்ச்சியிலும் நடைபெறும் என்று என் அன்புத் தம்பிகள் அளித்த
வாக்கிற்கிணங்கவே இவ்விழாவில் கலந்து கொள்ளச் சம்மதித்தேன்.

 எனக்கா இப்படி பாராட்டு? ஒரு கிரிக்கெட் வீரருக்கு வாழ்த்து
தெரிவித்ததற்காக ஒரு பாராட்டு விழாவா என்று சில அறிக்கை வீராங்கனைகள் அறிக்கை வெளியிடக் கூடும். அவ்வாறு அவர்கள் அறிக்கை
வெளியிடுவார்களேயானால் அது, நான் தமிழனாக, பிற்பட்ட சமுதாயத்தில்
பிறந்தேன் என்பதை சுட்டிக் காட்டுவதற்காகவன்றி வேறு எதற்காக ? ஆனால்
அதையெல்லாம் கண்டு துவள மாட்டான் இந்தக் கருணாநிதி.

அறிஞர் அண்ணா எதையும் தாங்கும் இதயம் வேண்டும் (மானங்கெட்டவன், சூடு சுரணை இல்லாதவன் என்பதற்கு வேறு வார்த்தைகள்) என்பதை கற்றுக்
கொடுத்திருக்கிறார்.

டெண்டுல்கர் இரட்டைச் சதம் அடித்தவுடன் அவருக்கு நான் வாழ்த்து
தெரிவித்தேன். அதைக் கண்ட என் அன்புத் தம்பிகள் துரை முருகனும்
ஜெகதரட்சகனும் இதற்கு ஒரு விழா எடுக்க வேண்டும் என்றார்கள். நான்
வேண்டாம், மக்கள் பணி இருக்கிறது என்று சொன்ன போதும் மிகவும்
வற்புறுத்தினார்கள்.

அன்பிற்கும் உண்டோ அடைக்கும் தாழ் என்ற அய்யன் வள்ளுவனின் வாக்கை ஏற்று இவ்விழாவிலே கலந்து கொள்ள சம்மதித்தேன்.

என் தம்பிகள், இவ்விழாவிற்கு, இந்திய கிரிக்கெட் அணியில் உள்ள அனைத்து
வீரர்களையும், அம்பயர்களையும் அழைக்க வேண்டும் என்ற அவாவினை
தெரிவித்தனர். அனைவரும் பொறாமைத் தீயில் கனன்று போவார்கள். இந்தத்
தமிழனுக்கா இவ்வளவு அங்கீகாரம் என்று சினந்து போவார்கள் என்பதாலேயே தம்பி டெண்டுல்கரை மட்டும் அழைத்தால் போதும் என்று தன்னடக்கத்துடன் தெரிவித்தேன்.

தம்பி விஜய் கில்லி படத்தில் எதிரிகளை துவம்சம் செய்தது போல, தம்பி
டெண்டுல்கர், எதிராளிகளின் பந்து வீச்சை துவம்சம் செய்ததாலேயே, அவரை
”கிரிக்கெட் கில்லி” என்று அழைத்தேன்.

அடுத்து, ஹாக்கி விளையாட்டு வீரர்களை பாராட்டலாம் என்று உத்தேசிக்கும்
போதே, என் தம்பிகள் அடுத்த விழாவுக்கு தயாராவது எனக்குப் புரிகிறது. என்
தம்பிகளின் அன்புக்கு தடை விதிக்க நான் யார் ?

இவ்வாறு கருணாநிதி பேசினார்.

 விழா ஹைலைட்.

விழா நாயகன் கருணாநிதிக்கு தங்கத்தாலான பேட்டும், தங்கத்தாலான மூன்று ஸ்டெம்ப்புகளும் வழங்கப் பட்டன.

 டெண்டுல்கருக்கு,

மத்துவபுரத்தில் ஒரு வீட்டு மனையும்,
25 கிலோ 'ஒரு' ரூபாய் அரிசியும்,
இலவச வண்ணத் தொலைக்காட்சிப் பெட்டியும்,
கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டத்தில் உறுப்பினர் அட்டையும் வழங்கப் பட்டது.

பின் குறிப்பு.
கலைஞர் நூறு கோப்புகளில் கையொப்பம் இட்டதை பாராட்டும் விதமாகவும், 100 நாட்கள் தலைமைச் செயலகம் சென்றதை பாராட்டும் விதமாகவும், அடுத்தடுத்து விழாக்கள் நடைபெற உள்ளதால், விழா மேடையை பிரிக்க வேண்டாம் என்று உத்தரவிடப் பட்டது.

Boundless..

It seemed complicated for me to understand what the term ‘Augmented Reality’ meant.

It all started on a working day, when our boss wanted us to work on a business case. One of the tools suggested was Augmented Reality or AR.

Now, I enter the world of AR. I go online, search, and read every bit of information available on this technology. My complete understanding of this technology was that AR combines the real and virtual world and is interactive in real time. Sounds complicated?

In augmented reality, the images of the real world are combined with technology to provide a wholesome realistic approach. The advantage is that, in real life, under various circumstances, we never get the opportunity or hands on experience of various tasks. Let me explain. For example, medical students cannot perform real time operations on patients unless and until they become experts in the field. This can be overcome with the use of AR. Medical students can perform real time operations on the various parts of the human body without needing a specimen. They can cut open the skin, operate, and then sew the skin back in place without having to undergo risks. The students can also perform the operations any number of times.

AR ranges from simple realistic approaches to complicated real life scenarios. It is a whole gamut of things.

Initially, the technology might seem a bit complicated. However, things will fall in place when you explore and read about it.

My best understanding started with the videos that were available online. The one that interested me the most was the AR that GE had provided.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00FGtH5nkxM&feature=related

It is a world that you have craved to live in. Explore and enjoy!

70 Year Old Sensation

The one show that never drilled your brain to boredom.

Beatings, bashings, and threats…they have survived all that in 70 Years!

Happy Birthday Tom and Jerry!

What next?

A five day event for a few hundred crores...Long live Tamil.

Poverty, famine, and inflation have taken a back seat.

Of Kinship and…

It was yet another weekday when I woke up not going office, but to a radha kalyanam or something. Ok, the sole reason of me being invited was because I would get married early. It makes me wonder if life is all about getting married. If you think only parents keep nudging about this, well, its not so. Almost every relative of yours, who gets to meet you on any family occasion questions about your wedding. Sometimes, I do want to yell back and ask them to mind their own business. But, for the fear of my mom and dad standing beside me, I just sigh and grin, not reacting much.

We had to pick up my far-away-related-something-like grandpa and grandma for this radha kalyanam. The destination where the kalyanam was taking place required almost 1.30 hours of traveling (pity me). These oldies, asked me everything about my office and personal life (this is the nth time I have answered these question). They also commented about the gulab jamun I made for them in my 8th standard and how I burnt it while cooking. I had made this gulab jamun some 10 years back and they still remember it. Blimey, I thought old people can’t remember much.

After entering the venue, I got to meet this outrageous relative of mine, who came and spoke to me. The first thing he always asked, ‘Do you still have cats at home?’. Why on earth should he be bothered. When I continued to grin and choose not to react, he jabbered about the ill effects of having a cat.

Some of the weird statements he made:

• Cats are not pet animals. (Then what are they, wild animals, giants, something like werewolves?)


• Cats sign bad omens. A cat should not cross your path when you go out. (I infact have a black cat at home. I get to look at him every time I go out. Now, what will he say?)


• Cats cause breathing problems like wheezing, nausea, etc. (Are you insane??)

After an endless ranting about cats, he went on to ask me, ‘What is your name, by the way?’

So, he just remembered that I have cats at home and offered advices not even knowing my name. Like my mom tells me, the only thing that you get for free is ‘advice’.

Then, there were also those annoying souls who assume that I don’t exist and others who kept smiling at me continuously for no reason at all. Free advices continued to shower during lunch and the goodbye session.

After being surrounded by my angelic relatives for 5 hours, it was a relief to come home. I sometimes wish I could live in a world where my relatives seize to exist. Love you all my dear and near relatives (sigh)…

The Varied and Divergent Citizenry

My life has changed entirely after coming to work. My attitude towards people and my way of interacting and handling different souls has indeed taken a hard turn. If you want to know how wide and big the world is, you just have to start working. You will be amazed by the kind of people you meet. There will be the all-goody, nosy, racy, moody, and all kinds of people you thought existed only in movies. So, here goes the list of those I have encountered in a years work.

Goody Mortal – He is the hero of the masses!! Pretends to be good and tries to earn the best effigy.

The Workaholic – You will seize to realize that this person even exists. The only word uttered by this person is about work.

Devil-may-care – This kind tries to ensure others that they are the most responsible when it is actually not so. Their aim is to conduct meeting to showcase responsibility.

Romanticism Idol – He thinks that he makes girls go gah gah over him. The hard core fact is that the girls care a damn.

Gossip Demon – Well, this is where gossips are birthed. The inherent, proverbial trait of this person in spreading gossip needs definite mention. Guess what, this person even has a gossip about me and my work too.

La Belle – Want to know how to become one? Here it goes - Wear some lipstick, dress like your young, create occasions to dress and boast about it. Pls see: Young women do none of these.

Stench Zone – You really wonder if this person bathes - wears bathroom slippers to office, ideally never changes his jeans, manicured feet, girly clothes. What more do I have to say??

Innocent Soul – There is more than just one person, whom I can relate to this phrase. Their ultimate aim in life is to look innocent and please people. What they fail to realize is that this innocence will no way deceive people.

The world is unique, from the regions we reside to the food we eat, to the clothes we wear and the language we talk. Similarly, people are varied and that is what makes life so memorable and enjoyable. So, let us enjoy the uniqueness of God’s creation.

A Lizards tale...

It’s Monday morning, and I had a bad case of the blues. I started to office after all the whining and cribbing. It was a long drive indeed, the traffic mounting with every edge. On the way to office, I realized someone gazing at me; eyes wide open, spots on the skin, scaring me to death. Lizard - a deadly creature with eyes shining bright, was waiting to attack the animate being driving the car.

Dumb struck, not knowing what to do, having no choice, I drove to office with the lizard beside. My every attempt to shoo the scarry creature away, ended up with the lizard getting an inch closer to me. To get rid of the tension and fear in me, I listened to the loud and hollering music from my stereo system. I tired my best to ignore the lizard and enjoy the music, it helped. What I failed to realize was that the music would bring to life the lizard that was so quiet, so long.

After few minutes of the music, I realized a diminutive movement in the car boot through the rear view mirror. I freaked, it was the lizard that was enjoying the music as much as I did, exploring its new world – MY CAR. Thoughts of having to drive everywhere with the lizard beside me, affrighted me. Imagine long drives, sober drives, happy-go-lucky day drives, all of them with the worlds annoying creature beside…Am cursing my stars.

Enough of those thoughts flooded my mind while I reached office and parked my car. I tried to locate the damn creature with a quick catch. Nothing worked; it seemed to enjoy the stay in my car. Having no one to help, I’m now here, writing a blog about the most pesky creature – the Lizard.

PS: The lizard is still lodging in my car.

All Work...

No books, no music, no television, no time for family or friends, nothing is all I have done in these four months of my so called no blogging life.

Well, no one to blame, just work, believe me hectic work. I was forced to stay in office till 10 or 11pm (Like I had a choice). Sometimes, I felt like a puppet dancing to the tunes of WORK.

As a matter of fact I realized my brain hollering, saying a big ‘NO’ before imperiling me. I had to hearten it up with all those sugar coated words I really did know of, and make it work for a few more hours. Finally, when it threatened to go on an indefinite shut down (oh my, that’s the term used on turbines), I rushed home, gulped whatever food was left and dropped dead (to sleep!!). Sometimes I did wonder how I went home driving (Did I really sleep while driving?? Not sure though).

Now, it looks like my brain can go on a vacation. Not much of work here. And finally there is time for my brain to slack and freshen up. Am smug about sending my brain (just my brain) to a SPA!!

A home away from home...

Within city limits, a house that provides shelter for the needy…No, it is not an orphanage nor an old age home. It is a charity organization, run by contributors both Indian and NRI, the Blue Cross.

Situated in Velachery, the place is indeed a heaven for the needy animals. A foot inside Blue Cross and you will know what the place is.

With volunteers working round the clock and animal lovers sponsoring the food, Blue Cross is a promised land. The organization provides treatment apart from housing animals. With Birds, Cats, Buffalows, Cows, all of them given special attention, the place is a wonder world.

So what does Blue Cross need?

The cry is loud and clear; cute puppies cry out for human affection and little kittens meow to gain the attention of visitors. This is not the only sight. Three legged dogs and one-eyed cats that are abandoned by the owner for their sickness captures the pathos of the situation. Animals in death bed long for love and affection.

For all those who grow pets, here is what I have to say. Take an animal to Blue Cross for treatment, but do not abandon it for its sickness. Reciprocate the faithfulness and belief the animal bestows on you.

Singara Chennai

Having spent most of the days of my life in Chennai, the city that never sleeps, there are many incidents that keep my memories fresh and alive. I guess it will take births for me to forget what Chennai has offered me. Having said that, here are few things that make Chennai a gala, happy-go-lucky city:

• The ever-welcoming Marina beach, my all time favorite. The immense pleasure of watching the water washing the shores, endlessly.
• The long drives on ECR, the road to eternity. The one place that makes me forget the busy life.
• The shopping zones in Chennai – T.Nagar, Besant Nagar, Adayar…. that makes me go on an interminable shopping spree.
• The appetizing food at the Kai endhi bhavan, the one that always best fits my budget . The dosa’s there, yummy!!!
• Rainy Season – The water logged roads that make me a more experienced driver.
• The auto walas, who always stop in the middle of the road, guessing whether to take a left or a right.
• The men who drive two wheelers with the only intention of having to put a scratch on your car (Fact!!!). The car that you love with all your heart.
• The ceaseless traffic – It is indeed a great pleasure to get stuck in a traffic jam to see different kinds of people, the wife fighting with the husband, lovers enjoying the extra moments they get to spend with each other, the mom who explains every small thing to her daughter, the teenagers who love to listen to the jarring music, the list goes on…
• The movie Mania, the Sathyam mania, the RDX experience, the movies, the popcorns, the pastries and the back-to-back movies.
• Spencers, the only place where you can while away time, without having to get a stare from the people around for the amount of time you spend there.
• Landmark, yet another landmark of Chennai. The long hours you can spend amidst books, lost in the joy of reading.

Call it Chennai or Madras, the pleasure of having to lead a life in this city is composed of immense joy and fun.
These are just few things that make the Chennai life a memorable one for me. I am sure that each one of us has something that we relate to personally. Think felicity, think Chennai.

Golden Temple…A pride in its own grandeur

Family outing! The fun of long drives, the zippy times together, and the excitement of visiting new places. With thoughts huddling our mind; we decided to visit the Golden Temple at Vellore. Having heard enough about the splendor and sumptuousness of the temple we took the roads to enjoy the long drive. The journey lasted for 3 hours and we reached Vellore by sunset. The beauty of the Golden Temple after sunset was one, which we didn’t want to miss on. We parked our cars about a kilometer away from the temple and took share autos to reach the temple. My uncle, managed to have a word with the share auto wala who cautioned us to take up the free darshan.

Devotion and holiness is what the Golden temple claims of???

On entering the temple premise we noticed that most of the devotees were clad in red with a mala (chain) matching their clothes. We made our way to the free darshan queue where there was segregation of gender. The queue for the women was apparently longer. There were rule breakers who managed to jump the queue system, which irked us.

The queue system lasted for an hour for a distance that could have been covered in 10 minutes. Was it the popularity of the temple that brought it so many crowds? Read on..

Managing our way through the unruly queue, we landed on a cell (If I can call it one). There were banners at the entrance of the cell, indicating that the darshan will last for 3 hours. It was a room made of iron rods on all the four sides with asbestos roof. With LCD televisions to entertain, cafeteria to quench your hunger there were 4 cells in total. The cells also had rest rooms near the exit. The segregation was no more in vogue.

Once inside the cell, we noticed that there were whistles blown to indicate that the gates would be opened and that the devotees could proceed. Since the cells had no concrete walls it was tough to comprehend the origin of the sound. 5 minutes inside the cell, we noticed people running towards the exit. Animalism is what I would term it. Kids and the elderly were stamped. Even if you would suffocate to death, people wouldn’t move. All they wanted to do was to leave the cell as soon as possible, irrespective of your existence. After about an hour, the gates were opened. People pushed their way out and if you survived, it was destiny.

Out of the cell, the trauma was not over. Another queue was awaiting our way. After all the hardships, we were pushed to the frisking zone. Baggages were screened and people checked. If you manage to cross the queue by mistake due to the rush, you can hear a hard thump on your back (a strike by the temple authorities, an act of sanctity indeed).

Out in the open air, breathing fresh air after about 2 hours, there was a sign of happiness in our face. Before worshiping the goddess, all the devotees have to walk the shape of a star for about 5 kilometers approx. On either sides were banners of the person who had built the temple (No comments). Walking the distance we arrived at the temple.

The temple dome was glittering with all the richness that one can imagine. The magnificent stature shone in the night-light, posing a treat to the eye. The wait was worth it, the splendiferous view, the dazzling feast; I have no words to describe the beauteousness of the temple.

Tired and exhausted, we managed to make our way to see the goddess. On getting closer to darshan area we realized that the devotees could see the goddess from just a kilometers distance and just for a few seconds. If you manage to stand and exceed the few destined seconds, filthy words would fill the air, a shower from the temple authorities.

All of us were shocked from the scenes, which had lasted for 3 hours. On the way out, we noticed a crowd approaching us (in the opposite direction), with praises loud and unclear. Initially we thought that it was the goddess who was on her little tour around the temple. Folding our hands in holiness we went closer to see the goddess. This very minute made us regret all the efforts we had taken to see the almighty. The person who built the temple projecting himself to be god, posing like one, hearing praises about his own self and with a light to make his face brighter was approaching the temple. He was blessing the devotees on his way to the temple. Struck by the scene, we moved forward towards the exit. We noticed that the human god had come to the temple in a SUV, with special access through the wrong entrance. Temples, a holy shire or a money wending machine?

On the way back to the exit of the temple, we realized that the temple was just a few minutes walk from the gateway, for which we had to spend 3 hour.

We didn’t want to discuss or think about the experience of visiting the Golden Temple. We enjoyed the drive home, the highways were a pleasure to drive, clean and sumptuous. The best part of the outing was the long drives…

Connecting people? Really?

The tangible and visible entity that makes us available everywhere. The accessory that is more docile, and that which bestows on us the privilege of the world in our hands. Yes, I’m an indeed talking about our mobile phones. Text, images, music, internet, maps and all that you can imagine of – just a click away.

By mid day I had the opportunity to visit a link that explains the experiments at the Nokia test center. The information that the link provided was indeed a surprise to me. The link describes the various tests that a mobile phone undergoes before reaching the market. It was indeed disheartening to see the tests that a phone has to undergo. The tests include the keypad-pressing test, bending test, dripping water test, drop machine test to name a few. Machines that were specially designed for this purpose carried out these tests. I was taken aback when I saw the video on that page describing the various tests. Visit this page and you will indeed agree with my views: http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2008/11/25/the-stuff-that-happens-in-nokia-test-centers/

Nokia is indeed a scene-stealer! Read on!!

My mom has a Nokia handset. One that is not expensive with the basic features that any phone can corroborate. The phone failed in operation and we (my mom and I) took it to the nearby Nokia Care center. The scene, which follows, describes what is called customer service and care!!

The Nokia Care center was located on the first floor of a small-housed building. The staircase was not brightly lit. It was like entering a derelict bungalow.

Once we were inside the service center, it was dispiriting. There were chairs arranged like that of a classroom with people occupying all of them, except for the fact that there were no tables. On to the front there was a glass room where the service people were experimenting on the various models and versions of the Nokia phone. The forepart consisted of a desk behind which there were three people who attended to customers.

We were completely at sea. After about 2 or 3 minutes we realized that the service center followed the token system. The token generator was located on the corner of the room in line with the door entrance, which abides the idea of having to look at it. We got a token for our phone and were waiting for vacant chairs. Only later did we realize the token numbers were called out manually (at least most of them).

The duration we had to wait was over 2 hours and the experience that we had there was storming. Customers complained of not having gotten back their phone for over 3 months. Few pleaded to the service people to return their phone irrespective of its working condition. Every alternate customer posed a question on our mind about the quality of the service being provided. There were strenuous arguments, pleadings and of course lines of reasoning from every customer on the validity of getting back the phone.
The scene, which lasted for more than hour, was indeed a nightmare to us. The point that distressed me the most was the rather hard pinging reply that the customers got back from the service desk. They were lethargic and impatient. It made us get nervous. The time came when we had to give our mobile to the service desk.

We walked forward with numerous questions in our minds. The service personnel asked us to fill in some details on a form and asked us about the nature of the complaint. We provided information and the phone was taken inside the glass room for a battery check up. We were told to leave our phone with them and return 3 hours later. My mom was suprised by the reply and she politely asks the lady at the desk as to whether the phone will come back to working condition. The reply that we got was that they needed 3 hours to understand what was wrong with the phone. (Fine! They had a lot of phones that were ready to be serviced.) Not done with her reply, the lady continued to say that it would take minimum a month to return the phone. (OMG!) Not addressing the nature of the issue, how can service personnel decide on the duration of having to return the phone?

There were thousand questions running in our minds by now. My mom and I looked puzzled at each other. The only thing that ran in our mind was that we could always get a new phone than walking up to the care center every week (like others customers did).

We told the lady that we would service it outside and without a single thought or confession she returned the phone to us.

Later during the day we decided to check the phone in an unauthorized cellular service/ sales outlet. The phone was repaired in 5 minutes (Can you believe that!!!) and the only single problem was that the power switch wasn’t functioning. To address this issue Nokia Care required a month!!! There was nothing wrong with Nokia; it was with the service center. Two sides to the same coin is all I can say!!!

The Last Glimpse

She lay in her bed gazing at the ceiling. She was indeed worried about the days to come, her future. Few hours later, she realized a restless feeling sweeping into her. Minute by minute the uneasiness grew. This was something she had expected. She was alone at home, all alone. There was no one that she could call on for help. Even her neighbors would not come forward to help her. The pain grew.

She got up from the bed moaning in pain. She walked up to her cupboard, grabbed few clothes and managed to put them in a plastic bag near by. She walked tardily to the door, came out of the house and locked the door behind her. After walking some distance, she managed to catch an auto. She told the driver, “Saidapet Government Hospital”. The auto driver looking at her plight, sighed her to get into the auto.

She looked at the name board of the hospital. She walked stealthily into the hospital, making sure that nobody noticed her. She registered herself at the counter and was immediately rushed to the operation theatre. The hospital echoed of her screams. The screaming grew louder and louder until the moment she heard the doctor claiming, “It is a baby boy.” She closed her eyes peacefully. There was just one more thing she had to worry about and there was still time left for it.

She was brought to the labor ward. The only thing that was running in her mind was the time. She wanted to look at the clock but the pain had made her weak. She needed some rest. After a deep sleep, she opened her eyes slowly, turned her head towards the direction of the clock. She knew where the clock hung. She had been here more than once. The time was 7.00 pm. She got up from the bed, fed the baby for the first and last time and rushed out of the hospital.

Lost in the streets, she found the person she was looking for. He was standing next to the hospital entrance fully covered up in a black blanket. She held on to her baby tightly and walked up to him.

The moment had come, the time she had longed for. Without thinking twice, she handed over the baby to him when it started crying. It scared her. She tried to console the baby. The baby didn’t know that this was the last time that he would be consoled by his mother. It wasn’t aware of the painful life it has to undergo. It fell back asleep. The stranger handed over a few hundred rupees to her. All the pain she underwent was for this moment, the one she longed for.

She walked back to the hospital. She had to be there. The doctors will not let her go and they knew of her. She went back to her bed, to sleep peacefully for sometime. She failed to realize that her baby had lost its sleep.
(Based on a ture story)

The Cop Story – Aegan Movie Review

What starts off with a bad introduction ends with the most expected climax. The climax is simple ‘Good wins over evil’.

The story line is a shopworn. Commissioner Nasser and his department are on a mission to arrest the pharmaceutical tycoon John Chinnappa (Suman) for his illegal activities and for adulteration of drugs. Ramprasad (Devan), his closest friend turns approver. On his way to the court he is attacked by Chinnappa’s men but manages to escape. Nasser on this occasion holds a meeting with high officials in the department and decides to hand over the mission to his son Shiva (Ajith), a brave CB-CID officer. To accomplish the mission Shiva joins a college in Ooty where Ramprasad’s daughter Pooja (Priya) pursues her education. Shiva decides to arrest Ramprasad when he visits his daughter.

Shiva on joining college gets close with Priya and her gang. In the meanwhile he falls in love with Mallika (Nayanthara) who joins the college as a lecturer. On his way to accomplish the mission Shiva learns that he is an adopted son only to learn the story from his long lost mother (Suhasini) and brother (Navdheep). The rest of the story is the depiction of how Shiva accomplishes the mission.

The movie seems more like a drama with no transitions in the flow of the story. The movie could have made an impact at the box office, if the debut director Raju Sundaram had concentrated on the screenplay and flow of the story. Making things worse is the music by Yuvan Shakar Raja. They stand alone as an individual pillar failing to impress with the story line.

There is nothing much that the actors can do about the story. They could have tried to act though. The comedy is a damp squib. One can only laugh at their plight of having to end up in the movie. The two-liner dialogues need definite mention. Silence is painful indeed!
There are just two words that the central characters exchange even when they are arguing. This only makes you realize the impracticality in which the movie is made.

Now don’t loose heart. There are few aspects in the movie that are enthralling indeed:
The scenes are depicted in an easily comprehensive manner - The story follows a stern pattern (Perhaps the director thought at least that would help).
The villain is shown, followed by the hero and his mission. Next on the list is the love story of the heroin.
Again we have the villain, the hero and his mission and then the love story.
The hero, his mission and his love story.
The hero, his mission and his love story…..
The same pattern is followed until time the movie gets over. How enthralling?

The villain is characterized of being highly emotional. He guns down his own men and the weeps over their death. The best is yet to come. He justifies his behavior, “the audience have to accept me”….how sweet!

Of course there are lessons learnt. A technically sound movie alone will not guarantee success at the box office. A smart hero and well-dressed heroine will not help the storyline.

It is time that the industry directors learn that there needs to be a solid story line and screenplay to guarantee success. A movie need not necessarily have an ace star cast. There needs to be something niche about it irrespective of which class of audience it caters to.