Comedy Master

Well, today after returning from my shopping I learnt that our own legendary comedy king Mr.Nagesh a.k.a Gundu Rao passed away due to some illness. He was a legendary actor who not only did comedy roles but also some character roles. He walked away from his family and started his career in Railways department but switched to acting career since he was not satisfied. He joined some drama troupes and became the most sensible comedy actor to live in this world. He is one of the actor who mingled with the next generation and also acted with them. It was producer Balaji who gave Nagesh an opportunity to enter into in this film industry.

He has acted under numerous director. He dedicated himself to this industry. He fits exactly into the character. Be it the poor poet(Tharumi) in thiruvilayadal, Innocent Server in Server Sundaram, Villianous comic pimp in Thillana Mohanambal,an upcoming film director in Kadhallikka Neram Illai or revengful villian in Aboorva Sagodhargal he blends himself into the character. I cannot identified any character which he didn't perform in his career. He even acted as a dead body in Magalir Mattum movie, a poor college boy in Yadheer Neechal and also actor himself in Thillu Mullu.

In the next generation he has acted with vijay in Poove Unakkaga as a grand father, Madhavan in Minnalae as a grand father, arjun in Rhythm as caring father and Dhanush in Kadhal Kondaen as Fr. Rozario. He even acted with Vadivelu in the full length comical movie. You can never count the number movies and characters he was into.

He became the number one expected person in almost all of the Kamal Hasan's movie. He did good comedies with Kamal. Some the pieces with kamal which cannot be forgetten are Michael Madhan Kama Rajan, Avai Shanmugi, Nammavar, panchathanthiram and also in the recent Dasavadharam.

Though he rose to numerous height he was a down to earth person who cared for other people. But it is very unfortunate that the Indian government didn't recognize his work. Many people are given Padma awards(I don't want to quote people who really didn't deserve the this award may be later year) and I think this guy also deserved one. Hope at least in future people get proper recognition for their work.

A common man who worked for the government was never expected to become legend and change the history of Film Industry. Thanks to producer Balaji who gave Nagesh, an extra ordinary material to the Film world. He would be remembered as the comedy king of the yestyear. Long Live his work and May he rest in Peace.

The Jingles Master!!!!

This has been my long due post. It is about the one and only music creator (or what ever equivalent you can say) A.R.Rahman a.k.a Dilip Kumar. Many call him Rahman or A.R.R, but I like to call him the jingles master. Right from his first movie Roja I have always liked his way of creating a music(entire electronic music thing). When ever his creation is released I hear it for more than hundred times in a single day. In simple I feel the magic in his music. They way he mixes the different styles of instruments into a single blend of composition is incomparable.Even his music in Delhi-6 is very fresh. I know that there are very few good composers in our Tamil Film industry like Ilayaraja,M.S.V, etc. and Rahman is one among them. Nowadays I feel the composers are just repeating the numbers from older version. I have this one music director(whose identity I m not interested in disclosing) who has the same standard of five songs. But if you take A.R.R he is not the kinda of a person who repeats the music. For example you can take Roja which is very different from Uzhavan(has folk numbers). Take "aathangara maramae" from "kizhakku cheemaiyalaey", which has a good folk touch. I guess he has his own kinda of techniques to draw the music lovers to his music. The way he uses the flutes in his scores is awesome.

Most people compare A.R.R with Ilaya. But I think this is very mean since they are from two different periods. When A.R.R started his music career Ilaya was unreachable. They both have different ways of exploring the music and are the best in the Indian film industry. I became a crazy fan of A.R.R after hearing his numbers in Duet. He is the only person who knows the way of using the music in a different way. I call him the jingles master because he uses even the sound from a needle in his composition. Well this can be felt only if you hear his songs in headphones.

Some of the songs that are irreplaceble(esp.jingles) in my list aer as follows: Hear all these songs in headphones to hear the jingles clearly.
Chinna Chinna Aasai - Roja
Marghazhi Poove-May Madham
Yegiri Kudhithaen -Boys
Munbaeva-Sillunu Oru Kadhal
Enakku 20 Unakku 18 (all songs)
Kabhi Kabhi Adithi - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Jashn-E-Bahaara - Jodha Akbar
Dil Gira Dafatan - Delhi-6
O Saya- Slum Dog Millionaire

Actually this list is extending so I will stop here(everyone of them has become a tone in my mobile). He has worked with almost all legendary directors like K.B, Bharathiraja, Mani, Shankar, RGV, etc. He adapts easily with each director which can be identified in his scores.

Even his new composition are fabulous like delhi-6,conncetions and slum dog millionaire. He has reached and grabbed many awards and among them the much coveted "Golden Globe Award". He is just one step away to have his hand on his Oscars. This man really deserves the Oscars for his numerous works that reached the entire globe. His works like Bombay Dreams and Pray For Me Brother got the world recognition. This man brought the Indian music into the world stage. I am not very sure of the following comparison. When M.S.Subbhulakshmi rendered her number in U.N., other countries came to know about our country and its culture and when A.R.R did his magical numbers the other countries stopped and started to hear from us all. This shows his dedication and more than that he has proved himself to be deserving any highest award in the world. Well the questions will be answered on Feb 22nd when Oscars are being announced.

When I started to write this sentence I was not able to concentrate coz I was hearing to "Masakalli from Delhi-6". Apart from his music composition I like him for his dedication to social works. Most people doesn't have any clue about his mission works and all other charity stuffs(that includes me). I admire him for his modesty and simplicity. I cannot find any trace of pride or ego(garvam and agandhai). I have become crazy enough that I collected his entire collection of songs and hear to them at least once in a day. Added to that I wake up everyday only on hearing his number(Yes, Margazhi Poove is my alarm tone).I feel like recharged when ever I hear his music. I wish his music lives long in this world. I m eagerly waiting for him to catch hold of the Oscars.

NFS Most Wanted

I can't wait another day to make this post. Today I completed the NFS-MW edition. People wouldn't believe me if I had told them that I was playing this game over 5 months. I started to play the game for killing time and eventually got totally taken into the gaming world. Let me share the game experience with you people. I was totally interested in the blacklist. The blacklist consists of 15 people with whom you will be competing. But before competing with them directly you have to play some small races in every leg to prove that you are worth competing. More than that you have to prove yourself that you are also notorious enough. You will be having police chasing you. You should not get busted. So I simply started doing some races and found to be more challenging. It was very easy at the initial stages and started to get tougher. I made progress through the blacklist and was at the rank 11. At this situation there was some problem with the game and it started to go on loop. I thought "WHY ME?". I deleted the game and thought of reinstalling the game again. I guess I m always cursed coz the installation disc as with my bro's friend who happened to be in Singapore for couple of weeks. I thought I will not get to play the game again, at least before my training. Then I found that my bro had the game in his laptop and installed it from it. Then once again I started to play from first. When I came to blacklist 10 I was keeping fingers crossed. The loop was not happening and I figured a way to avoid the loop. Almost for another one month I played day and night and today I completed the game around 19 hrs. After finishing I found that there are more things to be done like getting up in the rap sheet rankings. Then there is this challenge series which I m yet to complete. But I doubt if I would complete that. Today I feel very happy after finishing the game which I started and played for more than five months.

Well, on the other hand I learnt what is addiction and obsession(I wanted to be most wanted). I got toally addicted to this game that I played this game for more than 5 hours a day. Now that I m finished with it I planning to keep myself away from the games for some time. I don't want to go a complete nuts or crazy.

Investment or Spendthrift?????

Well, it is time to put how I have invested(or wasted?) my money in the past few months. When I was young I always wondered what is in a book when all my cousins asked me to develop the habit of reading them? Now I have myself learnt everything in it. I can hardly keep a book down if I start it. I have found it to be amazing way of spending the time. I m not here to talk about them but something related to them.

Well when I was not sure about my training dates I started reading some e-books(of course free download only). But due to frequent power failures I was not able to keep myself busy. For the first time(with regard to fictions) I asked my dad to give me some money to get some books. He gave me 500 bucks and I got 6 books and started with them. I finished them in a week. Then it was my bro's turn to give the money. But he informed that that would be the last 500 bucks that he gives to me for books(of course hes has got me books whenever he goes to landmark or if I ask him occasionally). He wanted to make sure that it does not get developed as a habit. Another set of books was bought. I was also reading e-books. In this way my hunt for the books started. My friends always insist me to join some library but I have always wanted to have a collection of my own.

If I became book freak my friend became a furious board player. Yes, this friend became so obsessive with the game that he got a board for 3500 bucks and also striker for around 300 bucks. I scolded him for investing the money in a board. When I was mulling about this to my another friend she made a valid point and made me understand everything. The conversation is as follows. There may be some difference since I don't remember the exact words. But I can bring the context alone here. Here goes..

Nan: "Yannoda friend board vangi irukkan d. Adhuvum 3500 bucks ku."
Aval:"Appadiya d."
Nan:"Oru boardla ivalavu kaasu waste pannuvannu yedhir parkalai d."
Aval:"Vidu d. Avankku interest irukku adhanalla vangi irukkan."
Nan:"Ana 3500 bucks romba adhigam d."
Aval:"Adhai parthi nee sollara?"
Nan:"Yen? Nan onnum andha madhiri saelavu saiyala d."
Aval:"Nee mattum books kaasu kududhu vangarae avan board vanga koodadha?"
Nan:"Nan invest panni irukkaen. Yennala books yedudhukittu yenga vaenu nallum pogalam and avanala mudiyadhu ma."
Aval:"Avan inga irukkum bodhu utilize pannikiran. Irundhalum yennai porutha varaikkum neega rendu paerum vettiya selavu pannareenga."
Nan:"Yenakku yennamo nan invest pannina madhiri feeling."
Aval:"Oru nimisham nee potta kaasu yevalavunnu yosichu par, andha kaasukku library la yevalavu books yedudhu irukkalam?"
Nan:"........... ..............."
Aval:"More over neenga rendu paerum orutharai oruthar critize(spending money here) pannavae koodadhu. Adhukku yennakku mattumdhan thagudhi irukku ma. Unnai porutha varaikkum books investment and avanai porutha varaikum board investment."

Yes I was not able to answer her coz she was right. But my habit has become in such a way that I get a copy of my own. She is right everybody has got their own interest and they try to investment in it. If I look back, I really feel that I have invested(or wasted) around 3000 bucks only in books. I guess both me and my friend made full use of the thing that we bought in the last few months.

Yen Samayal araiyil????

Last evening I was very hungry. Since my mom was not there I decided to cook something for myself. My favorite one is upma and it is very easy to make it(that's what I thought). My mom gave me instructions as how to make it. Since my dad was there in home she thought I would ask him to make it and give and rather not take any risk. But I decided it is time for me to learn something so that it would be useful in future. As per the instructions given by mom I made initial preparation like roasting the dhals in oil and also the vermicelli. At heart I was feeling elated since everything was going fine. I was not a kind of person who needs all the accessory item to be added to the upma like coriander n all. But my father insisted me to do the proper cooking. At this time I got frustrated with my dad and asked him to leave the kitchen and I think that was the worst part. I finished up with all my roasting part and poured the quantity of water that is required to cook. Here I poured the cold water and started cooking. Time to put the salt. I always prefer extra salt but not my dad. My dad told me put little so that it would be proper. It took another 10 minutes. My dad was laughing at me since the upma was not like upma at all. It was like cerelac and u will not be able to find as to what I had made or what kind of upma. It was time to experiment on myself. I took it in a bowl with a sauce and started eating. With the very first spoon I came to know that the water was more in the upma. Added to that, salt was very low. I shouted at my father. Then I took the sauce bottle and emptied its content and started eating pathetically thinking how am I going to survive in my future.

MISTAKES I DID
1. I have skipped all my opportunities to enter kitchen and now realizes that I don't know a lot.
2. Didn't listen to the instructions properly.
2.Instead of hot water I poured cold water.
4. Without vegetables it was horrible.(I realized that at least onion should be used).

OUTCOME
1. I had to eat my own experiment. :-(
2. I emptied half a bottle of sauce.
3. I am a pathetic cook.

During dinner I asked my bro how he would make a upma and he gave the exact instructions my mom had given to both of us. I realized that my bro was a better cook than me. Rising from a family which has best cook like my mom, dad (who does cooking very much better than my mom herself) and followed by my bro (who learnt many things from my father) I think I m the worst cook in the world. At dinner everybody had a hearty laugh when they heard how I made upma. I think many are going to suffer in my hands in future. Since it is the first try I think I can be excused.

Book Fair @ Chennai

I developed the reading habit in my late teens and has become a big buff in it.Every year I use to visit the book fair and collect some books. This year also I decided to make a hunt. Me and my dad made the visit. This year there was numerous stall when compared to the last year's stall. My dad did his hunting regarding spirituals and religious things where as I did in the fiction area. I was desperately looking for a book called "2nd chance" by James Patterson. The e-book I got was a fake one and was desperately looking for the hard copy. This time I decided that I have to be successful in getting a hard copy of this book. There were only two stalls which sold books at reasonable cost. When we started hunting down the books it was my dad who got all his books and almost purchased for 750 bucks. I was totally frustrated that I did not get my books at all. After walking down for three rows and looking in to around 50 stalls at last I came to my own area. Here I picked up two books since I thought of getting more at some other shop. In another shop where I checked the books, the cost was a bit higher. But my father insisted that I get a book recommended by him. He referred an author whom I have not heard at all and not all tried. But I thought "I should listen to him at least once". There after I found another shop only at the end of the fair where I took another three. But still I didn't get the book which I definitely needed. I decided to go back to the first shop where I thought that there was some kind of collection. When I started looking at the collections the shop owner came towards me and told that there are two rows of books at each shelf. I felt like "Ada apavi,Idhai munnalae sollamatae?". So I took a comfortable position and started taking out the books and started scanning the back row. After scanning about ten rows I hit upon the book that I was searching for the past 6 months. I felt elated and was smiling to father. He knew that I was searching for this book and was ready to give me money to get for higher cost also. But at last I got the book for some reasonable rate. Here I hunted down two more books and came out of the book fair. When we came out we realised that we have spent 1570 bucks on books and no money was left at all. I told my father, "vandi puncture aachu thalli kittu dhan poganum". This time it was a heart filled book fair for both my dad n me.

This time the fair was mostly concentrated on religious, spiritual,educational and Tamil literature. I was able to count the stalls which had the English fiction. Anyways I had a big time and almost got novels for another two months. When I reached home I found that I had a big collection than my dad. I was clueless how I did the hunt without even counting the number of books. Anyways I think I owe a big thanks to my dad.

Qatar Exxonmobil Open -Doha

The first ATP of the year saw a tremendous change. Yes there were many unexpected results. The current No.1 Rafael Nadal got his exit in quarter finals against Gael Monfils. Monfils proved that he is capable of putting an end to the winning spree of the Spaniard. On the other hand Roger got his exit slip in Semi finals. How come this happen? He again lost to Andy Murray. Murray has found out all the weakness of Roger and executed everything perfectly. The first set was a tough one which went up to the tie breaker. Murray used all the chances and took over the next two sets. Roger was not able to break Murray's serve where as Murray broke Roger's serve more than three times. It was like a magic happening between the two people. Well the final was between Andy Roddick and Andy Murray. I desperately wanted Roddick to win the cup. But I think Murray has his own way of handling the things and that too in a straight set 6-4,6-2 in just 70 minutes of play. This definitely proves that he is capable of becoming the no.1 and also clinching some grand slams in the year 2009. The exit of the No.1 &2 was exactly similar the way things happened in the last year's Australian Open(Yes, Nadal exited in quarter and Roger in Semi to think further about the french open). The only difference is that Djokovic was not here for the thrill. Both the world No.1 and 2 got early exits and so I guess that they get some more time to develop strategies for the upcoming Australian open 2009. On the other hand Murray is climbing up in his chart and is providing his own saga for the tennis books and fans.

When the singles was a failure for Nadal the doubles was ecstasy. The Spain pair won the doubles titles. For Roger the doubles was not his option since his partner Wawarinka was in Chennai playing one of the ATP open. So I think both the players will be looking for the Australian Open 2009 to make some changes. Let me catch you all after the Australian Open 2009.

The Lord Of The Rings

It is high time I write about one of my all time favorite movie. The movie which I have watched for umpteen number of times. I don't really ever get tired watching this movie. I didn't read the book and started watching the movie with out any expectation. When I finished watching the trilogy I totally understood what the movie was and was totally taken back by the grandeur of the sets that was used. The way the movie taken was awesome. Every time I watch the movie I m totally awestruck. People who read the book told me that the movie was far better than the book. I guess that is perfectly correct. Of the three parts the second part over took the thrills of the other two. I guess the director took care of each and every minute detail for I cannot find any defects(may be I m deceived.). It is not about history. Just a fiction about the weak and strengths about human race and the survival of the fittest. A ring that decides the survival of the entire world. How different people try to protect it from the evil and destroys it before being misused. The best part is that the villain is nothing but the evil. Since evil has no form the director took that in mind and given no form to the villain(Souron, the character here). It is also portrayed that the evil is the dark side by giving the black color to the villain. I think I will not be able to find right words to describe the characters here. It is better understood by watching the movie. I really have to appreciate the author of the book to have poured the tremendous ideas. I m really amazed how the author got the different kind of names, be it places or characters.(e.g. Aragon,sournon,gandalf are characters. Places - Gondor, Fangorn Forest). Great deal of work by every artist. The character cast was unbiased and every character has got its own importance. If you are the kind of person who loves fiction, fantasy, animation and more than that movie buff, then this is the right stuff. Being a movie buff and if it is not yet in your list then you are missing something.

The New Year Resolution!!!!!

Every year begins with enormous expectations. Whenever we meet another person on this day the first thing that the other encounters is "What is your new year resolution?". I guess this started just to give away some of our so called bad habits. In my early teens I thought that it was very precious to have some sensible resolution especially when you are asked in front of the class. But later years (I meant in my late teens) I guessed that I have never tried to stick to the resolution. So there could be only two reasons for not sticking to it.

1) I made a wrong resolution to which I could not adhere to.
2) Circumstances make me break the resolutions.
(Both applies only if I had followed or tried to).

But when I entered the college I found that I totally forget to make any resolutions on new year but only make it on the day I started my living days on this earth(simple B'Day). For me it is not new year that will make my mind to find a resolution in stead I make up my resolution on my lucky day. I found that to be a meaningful one because I think that only after becoming a human being destined to live in this earth you have a small part to think. Eventually that thinking will let me know what I m making as my resolution. So if anyone asks me on the new year day, "What is your resolution?". I simply answer them that, "Taking no resolutions." But this results in only one thing. I m a bad person who has no reason to not to take a resolution on new year.

I m not that bad in practicing the resolution but the thing that matter is how difficult the resolution is. I have had first hand experiences in these resolution things which have tested my emotions and other things. It is just that I find sometimes difficult to stick to it. Some times I have also wished that I have not taken the resolutions. Even at times I have wondered if there are some way to solve up the mess without breaking the resolution. It depends on how it tests my abilities. So for me new year is another start of a fresh year to make some changes rather than taking some resolutions which is difficult to be adhered.

But in my case I try at most not to go away from the resolution. For example I stopped chewing my fingernails, being Eco friendly, etc. Never ask me if had been to all my resolutions. I have been sticking to all the resolutions that made sensible to me. So I guess I had been at least trying but not letting it loose.