Ah..well.. after a long time, I decided I d go watch a play with my friends. And then, Srinidhi got the tickets for Phantom Parody. I told Sid, I d be going, and he warned me against it. I pooh-pooh ed him and was there at the Sivagami Petachi Audi, M.Ct.M school, Mylapore at sharp 6pm.
Many were known faces (thanks to Orkut hehe), and finally we found our seats in the second row from the stage.
Can anyone please tell me why this play s called Phantom Parody? There is no parody as far as I can see. (Well a little sprinkled here and there..)
And then the play began, after a comical (eh??) introduction. The way the clock chimed was quite interesting, and I thought I d after all not wasted my evening. So much for first impressions....
Harish as VJ Sam - good job !! But I suppose, you could have got off that sleepy look on your face. You dont exactly look like a play boy yourself.. type mismatch !!!
Ashwin as Srivatsan Rajagopalan - hahaha man.. you let the ladies in the audience drool (well not exactly drool) but sort of, like you. Typical husband / boy friend material eh? May be you need not have actually got so emotional with Cini.. (Ahem Ahem)
And Cini as (San)Diyaa, left me wondering why she was looking so damn familiar.. then I checked out her profile in Orkut only to find out that I ve been seeing her every other day at work.
Linda babe !! What a burst out ... (Sorry I forgot your name). wonder why you guys did not show the leggy beauty Saishaa...on screen....;-)
And Murgi... hehe.. guess you picked up a lot of your mannerisms from http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=JjvzQm4bJ8s. A decent job I must say...
While the team has done a decent job, there are certain things that Rebelz might need to take care of, if they want to continue in theater.
Lighting went haywire in a few scenes - especially flashbacks. And what was that thing between Diya and Sri? While Sri openly disclosed his love for Diya, she never mentioned it anywhere. And he just happened to meet her in a park bench in NYC after so many years? Whoa !
A cliched topic of American Indians and Indians going abroad on B1 or H1. Their accents and the way they carry molaga podi and tamarind podi and how buying nappies from USA for a new born back in India.. hey guys.. Grow up.....I am sure we ve seen lots of this day in and day out. I am sure nothing of this sort happens these days. And what cliched dialogues between Hitler and VJ.. sad.. really sad...
How many times have we seen / heard lectures - Dad works so much overtime, you are wasting his money and when the son says 'I d repay every penny'
Guess the Rebelz have been a little liberal in their dialogues too. I dont know how many uncles and aunties squirmed in their seats (may be.. how many of them actually understood the dialogues??)
A few dialogues gave me the feel of sitting through an S.Ve Shekar drama... well.. well....esp the Patty and Paati one by Murugi and the Mambalam Mosquitoes and Tambaram Turtles.
While I did laugh at some of the lines, and a few actions.. I did not leave the audi satisfied. I did not want to give my feedback there, as your paper was so small. Wonder if I could have written so much.
Ah BTW, the most important. Natz music was excellent. Was lingering even after I came home. Guess that s the highlight of the play.
I came to know that the Rebelz pooled in their own money to stage it. Appreciate your enthusiasm. Am sure you ll get some sponsors next time. Try to get some article written in "Mylapore Times" and other local papers.
On the whole, for a maiden venture, I d rate the Rebelz a 4 out of 10. This is a very honest opinion not driven by likes / dislikes of any Rebelz member. They can do a much better job next time.
Congratulations on your maiden venture and All the best for your future productions !! :-)
Monday, October 02, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
It doesnt hurt to be in touch.....
Now that seems to be a very simple statement, but the meaning it holds it probably zillion times heavier. How does it matter whether you are in touch or not? Good question but does that carry an equally good answer? Well may not be a good answer, but a sad answer.. It matters.. and that too sometimes painfully.
As we move on in life, we get to know a lot of people, but only a few tend to stick on. If we ignore the few as well, well.. then there is nothing more to be said here.
As someone who loves to be in touch with people, I have made the mistake of not being in touch with some of my once-close friends. And with that, I have lost some very good friends. LOST.. that s it.. there is no going back, because, I am guilty.. simple.. pure and simple.. I AM GUILTY of not being in touch with my friends.
When did this hit me? When I heard the news of a friend's wife's death, I was stunned. I got this news from another common friend. I felt guilty of not attending his wedding. I felt guilty of not being there for him when he would ve needed a friend the most. I felt guilty of not being able to call him and speak to him.
This made me email many of my other friends and start the being-in-touch process once again. I have missed another close friend's wedding, and another friend's maternity. But I will make up for this all.
I hope I get another chance.....and It doesnt hurt to be in touch... but it hurts very much not to be in touch......
and to Sandy...I know you are there as an angel watching over your husband... RIP my girl.
As we move on in life, we get to know a lot of people, but only a few tend to stick on. If we ignore the few as well, well.. then there is nothing more to be said here.
As someone who loves to be in touch with people, I have made the mistake of not being in touch with some of my once-close friends. And with that, I have lost some very good friends. LOST.. that s it.. there is no going back, because, I am guilty.. simple.. pure and simple.. I AM GUILTY of not being in touch with my friends.
When did this hit me? When I heard the news of a friend's wife's death, I was stunned. I got this news from another common friend. I felt guilty of not attending his wedding. I felt guilty of not being there for him when he would ve needed a friend the most. I felt guilty of not being able to call him and speak to him.
This made me email many of my other friends and start the being-in-touch process once again. I have missed another close friend's wedding, and another friend's maternity. But I will make up for this all.
I hope I get another chance.....and It doesnt hurt to be in touch... but it hurts very much not to be in touch......
and to Sandy...I know you are there as an angel watching over your husband... RIP my girl.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Bharathiyar - Oru sagaaptham
I would love to find all of Bharathiyar's kavidhaigal on the internet. However, I could find only Kannan Paatu and Kuyil Paatu...
The link to Kannan Paatu http://www.chennainetwork.com/ebooks1/kannanpattu.html.
Every time I read these poetry, I lose myself in the depth and sincerity of the lyrics. Musicians have tried singing these songs based on the raga set by Bharathi. But no one is able to bring the feel in their voices. Especially "Chinnanchiru Kiliyae" and "Aasai mugam marandhu pochae".
If any of you come across any good cd/dvd please let me know.
The link to Kannan Paatu http://www.chennainetwork.com/ebooks1/kannanpattu.html.
Every time I read these poetry, I lose myself in the depth and sincerity of the lyrics. Musicians have tried singing these songs based on the raga set by Bharathi. But no one is able to bring the feel in their voices. Especially "Chinnanchiru Kiliyae" and "Aasai mugam marandhu pochae".
If any of you come across any good cd/dvd please let me know.
A walk in the woods.....
Whenever I am stressed out at work or at home.... I try to mentally get out of that situation by taking a walk in the woods......I dont know why, but sometimes imaginations run riot. My woods look like this...
A narrow winding pathway covered with trees on both sides. The leaves of the trees are in colors of autums.. green red yellow with flowers and leaves strewn all over the pathway. There is no one around and I am the only person walking there. The only sound is the sound of my footsteps that goes "charrak charrak". There is a pleasant breeze that smoothes over my face. A faraway bird chirps mildly occassionally.
A thick wooden fence runs behind the trees on both sides and there is a huge lawn that spreads beyond the fence. The whole place smells of wet earth, especially that of first rain on earth. Streaks of mild sunshine peep through the gaps in the trees and makes the fallen leaves and flowers shimmer.
The sky is blue with shades of grey here and there, scaring that it might rain anytime. But it has never rained so far. I really cant figure out what time of the day it is but it feels good to be there. The world is so peaceful and so beautiful.
Moving ahead, there is a small creek that runs beside the trees on one side. It makes a klukkluk sound and sizzles across. The water is transparent and I can see golden and blue pebbles beneath the water.
There is a faraway mountain, a combination of white and grey clouds kissing it.
A walk here not only relieves stress but also makes me come back fresh and rejuvenated. Wish there was a real wood like this where I can take walk real time....
A narrow winding pathway covered with trees on both sides. The leaves of the trees are in colors of autums.. green red yellow with flowers and leaves strewn all over the pathway. There is no one around and I am the only person walking there. The only sound is the sound of my footsteps that goes "charrak charrak". There is a pleasant breeze that smoothes over my face. A faraway bird chirps mildly occassionally.
A thick wooden fence runs behind the trees on both sides and there is a huge lawn that spreads beyond the fence. The whole place smells of wet earth, especially that of first rain on earth. Streaks of mild sunshine peep through the gaps in the trees and makes the fallen leaves and flowers shimmer.
The sky is blue with shades of grey here and there, scaring that it might rain anytime. But it has never rained so far. I really cant figure out what time of the day it is but it feels good to be there. The world is so peaceful and so beautiful.
Moving ahead, there is a small creek that runs beside the trees on one side. It makes a klukkluk sound and sizzles across. The water is transparent and I can see golden and blue pebbles beneath the water.
There is a faraway mountain, a combination of white and grey clouds kissing it.
A walk here not only relieves stress but also makes me come back fresh and rejuvenated. Wish there was a real wood like this where I can take walk real time....
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Nandanam Signal - A nightmare
Whew.... I dread travelling to/from work everyday... Mainly because of the ridiculously crazy Nandanam Signal. The signal is a nightmare if you are waiting in any of the 4 directions.
Direction #1: Travelling from Gemini towards Saidapet: This is the least troublesome of all, primarily because you are on the main road. There is a free left, which you can take without any problems. If you wanna take a right to VenkatNarayana Road, then you are stuck behind a mile of traffic; the vehicles going straight will block most of your way. But otherwise this direction is the least troublesome.
Direction#2: Travelling from Saidapet towards Gemini: This is the next. If you want to take a right towards Chamiers Road, then you better be on the lookout. Because, the green is there only for a few moments, and if you dont take a right by then, then you are jammed for the next 15 - 20 minutes until all the other signals are cleared. Going straight will not be a problem, but turning left might be a problem because traffic from VenkatNarayana Road will block the whole road not allowing to turn left from Mount Road.
Direction#3: Travelling from Chamiers Road towards MountRoad: Whew.. worst traffic here. By the time I travel from RA Puram to Nandanam signal, I need to cross 4 signals - Kaliappa Signal, Greenways Road, Adyar Park (Park Sheraton) Signal and Cenotaph Road Signal. By the time one touches Nandanam signal, you are doomed if you want to take a left. That is a free left, but traffic from all the Lotus colony bylanes, dont allow you take the free left. Result: you are waiting for a signal that is meant for people who go straight or right.
Direction#4: Travelling from VenkatNarayana Road towards MountRoad: Worst ever traffic. The worst among all the four. The small lane is cramped with vehicles, waiting for the signal. If you are in the fag end, then rest assured that you will cross the road only on the 3rd or 4th signal. I guess that says it all. This road is especially crowded with water tankers and heavy vechicles....
Direction #1: Travelling from Gemini towards Saidapet: This is the least troublesome of all, primarily because you are on the main road. There is a free left, which you can take without any problems. If you wanna take a right to VenkatNarayana Road, then you are stuck behind a mile of traffic; the vehicles going straight will block most of your way. But otherwise this direction is the least troublesome.
Direction#2: Travelling from Saidapet towards Gemini: This is the next. If you want to take a right towards Chamiers Road, then you better be on the lookout. Because, the green is there only for a few moments, and if you dont take a right by then, then you are jammed for the next 15 - 20 minutes until all the other signals are cleared. Going straight will not be a problem, but turning left might be a problem because traffic from VenkatNarayana Road will block the whole road not allowing to turn left from Mount Road.
Direction#3: Travelling from Chamiers Road towards MountRoad: Whew.. worst traffic here. By the time I travel from RA Puram to Nandanam signal, I need to cross 4 signals - Kaliappa Signal, Greenways Road, Adyar Park (Park Sheraton) Signal and Cenotaph Road Signal. By the time one touches Nandanam signal, you are doomed if you want to take a left. That is a free left, but traffic from all the Lotus colony bylanes, dont allow you take the free left. Result: you are waiting for a signal that is meant for people who go straight or right.
Direction#4: Travelling from VenkatNarayana Road towards MountRoad: Worst ever traffic. The worst among all the four. The small lane is cramped with vehicles, waiting for the signal. If you are in the fag end, then rest assured that you will cross the road only on the 3rd or 4th signal. I guess that says it all. This road is especially crowded with water tankers and heavy vechicles....
Monday, April 03, 2006
Maami... setha vazhi vidungo..
I draped a copper sulphate blue kanchivaram with all the paraphernalia (vaira thodu, maattal, jimikki, metti, golusu, thaali, malligai poo that was somehow managed on my short hair) and made my way to my mom's chittapa's son's janavasam/maapillai azhaippu/nischayathaartham. My mom met me at the gate (she had left earlier..) and asked me to have tiffin. Catering by Meenambiga Caterers.. the tiffin consisted of 5 mini idlis (like the Saravana Bhavan 14 idlis..) of course this had no ghee.. and 1 spoon lemon sevai, 1 spoon thengai sevai, 1 piece halwa, 1 spoon pineapple kesari, 2 veg bonda with thengai chutney and some really nice thick coffee...
Then I came down to the main hall, and sat near a group of known mamis...(my mom's athais, athais' daughters and my paati). The conversation goes like this:
Sundaram Athai: yaaru manni idhu? (manni = my mom's mom..) namma geetha periya ponna? (geetha is my mom). 5 - 6 maasa kozhandhaiya irukarchey paathadhu...ennama valandhutta...(!! ippovum appadiye iruka mudiyumaa?? eh ??) maida maavu bommaiyattam irukkum appo... endi ippadi karuthu poitte?
Me: romba veyil athai...
Sundaram Athai: veyil naa ippadiya karuthu pove...
Conversation ended there....
Vidya (Mangu athai's daughter..): Geetha ponnaa maa idhu? Hi.. eppadi irukke?
Me: sowkyam.. neenga eppadi irukkel?
Vidya: Fine..:-) (she smiled..)
EOC (End of Conversation..)
Kamachee athai: ennadi aathukarar varliyaa?
Me: ille.. Bombay poirukkar..(held myself before i could say poirukkan...)
EOC
I sat back into my chair and started observing the people around...Andha color indha color endha color promise.. RMKV ad.. they need not have looked beyond this wedding hall.. For a change i saw people in different colors of silk sarees instead of the usual arakku, manjal and pachai.. there was shades of greens, grey, pink, blues and even black...(?? !!) What i really missed was the pavadai thavani and pattu pavadai kattinda figures/kutties...Couple of good looking girls were in salwar kameez and all kids were in weird costumes.. ketta kajol dress ngardhugal...
I met the groom and he said .."Hi.. eppadi irukke..romba change aayite.."
Me: "I am fine.. neengalum change aayitel.."
EOC
One particular costume that caught my eye (!! ?? ) was a girl dressed in a black crepe stretch trousers with a cream satin top, matched with a black crepe stretch jacket. She was quite dark complexioned. Added to this was her hair style which was like the old saying "parachi pukkam pora madhiri..." (no offence meant to anyone reading this..) braided into 2 thick plaits. One plait was filled with a thick double strand of jasmine flowers. And she was wearing plastic chappals...
I was yearning to see atleast one person in either pavadai thaavani or pattu pavadai chokka... when at last i saw one girl in green pavadai and brown chokka...and couple of kids too in brown pavadai and tops...
In all this, I was waiting for my mom to come back from the temple where most of the gang had gone for the janavasam. As I did not know any one else in the group, I was trying to be patient and wait. Then the whole party entered the hall. Along with my mother came her eldest chittapa...He is a very nice man but old enough that he had forgotten my name..
Chittapa: yaaru ma idhu ?
Me: Deepa chittapa...
Chittapa: Mrs. Siddharth aa.. :D (he grinned..)
Me: (manasukulla.. huh.. velila :-) aamam chittapa..
Chittapa: enga Mr. Siddharth
Me: Bombay la irukkar..adhutha vaaram than varar...(dont know how I managed to say varar.. )
EOC
It was close to 8 pm and Jayam athai announced "hey pandhi potachu... sapadravaa sapdalam.."
I waited for my mom, dad, mama and paatti to come and then we all went upstairs to eat. Eat we did with the minimal food that was served. No second serving. Curry was served with a plastic spoon that we might use for medicine..Anyways.. I am not complaining. I presume that the crowd was much more than what they had expected. I know what it is like when the crowd expands like a balloon..
After dinner, we went to say bye to some athais and their daughters who were also eating. As we were talking..one parjarakar told me.."maami setha vazhi vidungo......"
Oh so I have also become a maami.. among this group of maamis!!!! :-)))
Then I came down to the main hall, and sat near a group of known mamis...(my mom's athais, athais' daughters and my paati). The conversation goes like this:
Sundaram Athai: yaaru manni idhu? (manni = my mom's mom..) namma geetha periya ponna? (geetha is my mom). 5 - 6 maasa kozhandhaiya irukarchey paathadhu...ennama valandhutta...(!! ippovum appadiye iruka mudiyumaa?? eh ??) maida maavu bommaiyattam irukkum appo... endi ippadi karuthu poitte?
Me: romba veyil athai...
Sundaram Athai: veyil naa ippadiya karuthu pove...
Conversation ended there....
Vidya (Mangu athai's daughter..): Geetha ponnaa maa idhu? Hi.. eppadi irukke?
Me: sowkyam.. neenga eppadi irukkel?
Vidya: Fine..:-) (she smiled..)
EOC (End of Conversation..)
Kamachee athai: ennadi aathukarar varliyaa?
Me: ille.. Bombay poirukkar..(held myself before i could say poirukkan...)
EOC
I sat back into my chair and started observing the people around...Andha color indha color endha color promise.. RMKV ad.. they need not have looked beyond this wedding hall.. For a change i saw people in different colors of silk sarees instead of the usual arakku, manjal and pachai.. there was shades of greens, grey, pink, blues and even black...(?? !!) What i really missed was the pavadai thavani and pattu pavadai kattinda figures/kutties...Couple of good looking girls were in salwar kameez and all kids were in weird costumes.. ketta kajol dress ngardhugal...
I met the groom and he said .."Hi.. eppadi irukke..romba change aayite.."
Me: "I am fine.. neengalum change aayitel.."
EOC
One particular costume that caught my eye (!! ?? ) was a girl dressed in a black crepe stretch trousers with a cream satin top, matched with a black crepe stretch jacket. She was quite dark complexioned. Added to this was her hair style which was like the old saying "parachi pukkam pora madhiri..." (no offence meant to anyone reading this..) braided into 2 thick plaits. One plait was filled with a thick double strand of jasmine flowers. And she was wearing plastic chappals...
I was yearning to see atleast one person in either pavadai thaavani or pattu pavadai chokka... when at last i saw one girl in green pavadai and brown chokka...and couple of kids too in brown pavadai and tops...
In all this, I was waiting for my mom to come back from the temple where most of the gang had gone for the janavasam. As I did not know any one else in the group, I was trying to be patient and wait. Then the whole party entered the hall. Along with my mother came her eldest chittapa...He is a very nice man but old enough that he had forgotten my name..
Chittapa: yaaru ma idhu ?
Me: Deepa chittapa...
Chittapa: Mrs. Siddharth aa.. :D (he grinned..)
Me: (manasukulla.. huh.. velila :-) aamam chittapa..
Chittapa: enga Mr. Siddharth
Me: Bombay la irukkar..adhutha vaaram than varar...(dont know how I managed to say varar.. )
EOC
It was close to 8 pm and Jayam athai announced "hey pandhi potachu... sapadravaa sapdalam.."
I waited for my mom, dad, mama and paatti to come and then we all went upstairs to eat. Eat we did with the minimal food that was served. No second serving. Curry was served with a plastic spoon that we might use for medicine..Anyways.. I am not complaining. I presume that the crowd was much more than what they had expected. I know what it is like when the crowd expands like a balloon..
After dinner, we went to say bye to some athais and their daughters who were also eating. As we were talking..one parjarakar told me.."maami setha vazhi vidungo......"
Oh so I have also become a maami.. among this group of maamis!!!! :-)))
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Good Bye Angie.. RIP
I was staring out of the window, into my little garden, where lay my Angie, peacefully. Angie was quite small but beautiful. She always enjoyed being around and loved people. She was with me for exactly 3 days. And last night she passed away peacefully.
It s the first death in the family that hit me hard. I have never cried with both my granddads passed away. But this one shook me. I did not want Angie to die. She was very lively.
Sid said, "probably God wanted Angie's last days to be happy which is why he gave her to you, so that she would be showered with love and affection. And, now God has taken her back. "
But nothing could stop my tears. Angie was kinda acting weird since last evening. She was somersaulting and turning upside down, unable to balance herself. After I isolated her, her breathing was labored, but she seemed to be ok. But no, after some time, she breathed her last.
Angie, my sweet little Angel Fish, left us. But Angie, you ll always be in our thoughts...
Bye baby.. and RIP. We ll miss you. :-(
It s the first death in the family that hit me hard. I have never cried with both my granddads passed away. But this one shook me. I did not want Angie to die. She was very lively.
Sid said, "probably God wanted Angie's last days to be happy which is why he gave her to you, so that she would be showered with love and affection. And, now God has taken her back. "
But nothing could stop my tears. Angie was kinda acting weird since last evening. She was somersaulting and turning upside down, unable to balance herself. After I isolated her, her breathing was labored, but she seemed to be ok. But no, after some time, she breathed her last.
Angie, my sweet little Angel Fish, left us. But Angie, you ll always be in our thoughts...
Bye baby.. and RIP. We ll miss you. :-(
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