Yen Samayal Araiyil - Episode 4

Well after a long time I got a chance to be inside kitchen again. This time I planned to prepare the entire lunch for my family since my mom was out of station.

My mom gave a little overview of the these things last nite. So I was able to grab things easily and started perfectly. With little help from my dad I started the cooking process. The menu is as follows:
1) Murungaikai Sambar
2) Tomato Rasam
3) Potato Poriyal
4) Carrot Salad
5) Cucumber Raita.

I was doing things parallely. Started with sambar. Had the tamarind water ready. Then separated the tamarind water into two different quantities. One for sambar and another for rasam.Added all the ingredients for the sambar and switched on the stove. Then added ingredients for the rasam and kept it in another stove. When they both were in simmer I started chopping the potato. Since I m a bit expert in the potato poriyal I needed no guidance for that. But my dad started suggesting certain things.

It was time for adding the dhal water to sambar and rasam. At this juncture me and my dad had a good fight. He wanted to follow his method and I told him that I will do my own method. The fight went to the highest peak that I moved out of stove and asked him to proceed. I was so pissed off that I told him that in future when I cook in my kitchen it will be on my way and not yours. He smiled and went. My bro was like "Leave her dad. Let her learn.".

Then I started doing the potato poriyal. My dad didn't intervene. I was happy that it came out very well. Then made the carrot salad and Cucumber raitha.

I felt good when I was having lunch since I had become better compared to last time. Except that the rasam needed a pinch of salt. I understood that the food would be very good if we put full heart and concentration. I m catching up with the art of cooking. Next time I m planning to give a shot with different menu.

Catch you all with a good experience next time.

Shutter Island

After Sherlock Holmes this movie proved to be one of the best thriller. This movie was recommended by many people so I watched. Right from the first frame it was awesome. The plot takes place in a single island. An island which prisons mentally troubled people. Dicaprio with his new partner comes to the island to investigate a missing person and soon discovers lot of conspiracies. He decides to unfold all the secrets. In the course of these things Dicaprio faces his own fears and tries to overcome them. Dicaprio has scored a 10 for his character and has done justice to his character. While overcoming his fears he is faced with some hard core truths, the truth that turns his life upside down. The audience has to wait till the final frame to find out the truth. When you try to realize that this is the truth there will be a twist to prove that you are wrong. Screenplay is awesome and the direction has equaled the screenplay. The entire plot keeps the audience at the tip of their seat. Hats off to the entire crew. I would recommend this movie for any movie buffs. It is worth watching.

Of late Dicaprio has started giving out sensible characters in movies like departed, blood diamond,body of lies and now shutter island. Guess he has improved a lot in his profession. Waiting to watch Inception. Hopefully I will watch it next week.

Mom & Me

I m not sure when was the last time I got to be alone with my mother but today its definitely a day to be remembered. My dad and bro left for sabarimalai so me and mom had to spent time alone. We started with cleaning my bureau. We started talking lot of things. I shared few of my secrets with her. She was not surprised at all. May be I guess that since she was also a girl and have crossed this age line she was able to completely understand my feelings. Then we had few lighter moments and decided to go to my friend's place to see her child.

After reaching my friend's place we had some time to spend with the new born. It was amazing for me to see a new life form. I don't know why I had this feeling, the feeling that you will get when you hold a new life your hand waiting for its time to explore this world. I don't know how to explain that feeling. When my mom held the baby she was so happy. In her eyes I saw a new happiness. I understood her feeling. Then we went to my uncle's place.

In my uncle's place we were having some family discussions. After returning to our place I realised that my mom needed a night off. I made dinner for her (under her guidance). It was a great feeling for me when I made the dinner and served for my mom. At the end of the day, I felt that I had great time with my mom and I was feeling fresh at heart.

At the end of the day I was feeling light at heart for I made a big confession to my mom. When I made the confession she took it in a positive sense. She didn't make a big fuss about it. I think I have the best mom in the world. She completely understood me and I think I understood at least a part of her.

Dedicated to my mom who is the best mom in this whole world.

Rankings Change

As on July 5, 2010

Men's Ranking:

Rafa has moved to the world number one with Novak in the second place. Roger has been pushed to third place for the first time since 2003 due to his early exit in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon. With his reach in the finals Tomas Berdych gets a rank in the top ten. He is now seeded eight in the ranking. Since Tomas Berdych had progressed a slight variations in the list has been made. Tsonga is thrown out of the top ten list. Andy Roddick is pushed to number nine in the ranking.

Due to these changes it is likely that Roger and Rafa meets in the semi finals of the US Open for the first time in the history rather than the finals. Rafa has a good chance to complete his career slam. Roger has got another opportunity to prove that he is the greatest player of all the time. Lets see what happens in the US Open 2010

Women's Ranking:

With her win in the Wimbledon Serena still holds the world number one position. Due to her early exits in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon Venus is pushed to rank four. With a steady progress Jankovic has regained the second rank. Wozniacki is pushed to rank four. Kim has moved one rank and is in seven due to her steady progress in every slam. The come back champion Henin has moved ahead in the rankings and is currently in the 13th position.

With these changes in the rank it is likely for the william sisters to meet in the semi finals of the US Open 2010 rather than the finals. Jankovic has a good opportunity to clinch a title at the Newyork meadows. Lets see what luck is there for the Serbian in the US Open 2010

Catch you all in the US Open 2010

Picture Perfects!!!!!

Let me continue from where I left.

The picture which I found was my brother's picture taken during his upanayanam. I was so thrilled to see his picture. As I started digging my shelf and draw I found many pics of mine and my family at different ages. I decided to sit and take a look at the albums that we had treasured for so long in our life. So with help from my cousin I cleaned my entire room and took out the briefcase which had all the albums right from my dad's bachelor life to till date.

First I started seeing my parents' wedding album. It was fun seeing the pictures of my aunts in late 70s in my parents' wedding. Few of my aunts and uncles were yet to get married and was youthful in the album. After some time my parents joined with my cousin and me to check out the album. We started pulling each other legs and was having hearty laugh. We saw few rare pictures. Seeing my cousins in their early childhood (my eldest cousin would be only 10 in those pictures I guess) was very interesting.

Then I checked out my mom's seemandham and valaigappu album. It was also very interesting to check out the album for I have never been to one seemandham or valaigappu. The rituals and everything were captured beautifully. I was amazed to see my grand parents in the picture. I have not seen granddad (my mom's dad) in my life. By seeing these pictures I always get to look at him. I miss my grandparents. :(

Then our housewarming pictures were great. My dad had taken pictures of our home at different stages right from the foundation to the completion and then the ceremony. I found one rare picture where my uncle was carrying my cousin (his child) and my aunt was carrying me. I miss them both. I still remember that I was a messy child who cries when parents are not near (I didn't need both of them but at least one of them) and those house warming pictures proved pretty correct about that. :)

Then we were looking into the pics of my bro's and my early childhood. It was very funny to see us in those pictures. I was not able to believe that it was myself in those pictures. At this point came my bro's upanayanam album. Well in this album I was able to recollect certain events for I was 5 years when the function happened. I found one picture where my cousins who fall in my age were together. It was amazing to see how we have grown in these years.

Then there were few other pictures from my dad's bachelor life. He recollected all his friend's name and what they are all doing at present. I was really stunned for he had been in touch with them all these years. Hats off to my dad!!! Then there were many scattered varieties of pictures taken during different occasions. Most of the pictures were very rare since it would not happen for another time.

My parents also had a nice recap of their marriage and other important events in their life. I continued with my tour albums and my college pictures. I found that I have changed a lot in a span of two years after college. So it was actually worth seeing those picture reminding my days in school and college.

Well my evening went eventful. I decided to scan few rare pictures of my family and upload them to my cousins so that they can show them to their child and may be they will try to dust their albums too.

Memories Revisited

This mail is dedicated to all my friends who has turned my life in every corner and supported me when ever I needed.

This evening I was cleaning my shelf and came across my slam book. I stopped my cleaning in half way and started reading the slam from my school and then from my college.

Well it was fun revisiting those memories. I was recollected by many events that happened in the school and was having a hearty laugh when I read few of the pages in the slam. I was also wondering if I was having the characteristics that people have pen down in the slam. Guess few things are very correct. When I was going through pages I saw that there were two entries in the same name(Arun). I know three of my school mates with the name Arun. I remembered that I asked two of them to pen down in my slam. The matter is that both of them forgot to put down their initials and I am still trying to figure which page was written by whom. I guess I will not succeed. I was also thinking how long have I been in touch with my school mates. Truly speaking I have never been in touch with my schoolmates except very few. Recently I got a chance to meet one of my school mate in my work place. We even share the same bus for transport. Now we both share a friendship with each other. Guess there are some possibilities to make new friendship with old school pals.

Then I came to my college slam. It took me a lot of time to finish the slam. Not only my friends had pen down their feelings but even my juniors. It was very pleasant after a long time to recollect the memories. The fights,the laughs, the lunch and many things that we shared. More than that I found out that one of my college mate has even become a close friend after my college days. Even now I see my college mates in my work place and have a good rapport. I guess when we come out of college we realize that we missed out lot of things. I even realized that if I get time machine I would revisit those memories and fix certain things (like saying sorry at right time, spending more time with the persons who mean a lot and many more). I know that it is not very late to do them now also. Guess I would do it.

After finishing the slams I found that I have carried few of my characteristics with me in college from my school which I think is correct in my part.

Then I found few things that I have treasured from my old school like pics of my frnds, ID cards from them and the officer bearer batch that I had in my school.
I also found two chocolate wrappers that I had treasured from my school mates. It was very emotional for me for I miss those carefree days with no responsibilities. Those days can never be forgotten for we were all treated as children and not grown ups.

Hope you people also revisit those memories and relive them.

Then I found a picture which really turned my evening upside down. I will continue that in my next post.

Wimbledon 2010

Like Roland Garros, Wimbledon was also very different and shocking results. Del Potro was absent due to injury but Davydenko was back into the action.

Men's Draw:

In the first round Roger Federer had a big scare and completed the match in five sets and entered the second round. On the other hand the doubles partner for Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka exited in the first round itself. The big exits in the first round were by Marin Cilic and Fernando Veradasco. The longest match in the history of tennis happened between Nicolas Mahut and John Isner in the first round.

Nikolay Davydenko was the first person to book his return tickets in the second round. Every top seeds who failed in the Roland Garros was very determined to progress in the Wimbledon. Andy Murray was in a good form and was showing the Britain that he can clinch the title this year.

Rafael Nadal was given a scare by Philipp Petzschner in the third round. But the clay king had his own strategy and cruised past him to the fourth round.

The ace expert, Andy Roddick failed to reach Quarters. He exited in the fourth round. The biggest shock for the year came in the quarters when Tomas Berdych defeated the defending champion Roger Federer and booked a place in the Semis. The tennis world was stunned. Every fan expected a 2008 re-match in the finals with a win from Roger (at least me). All the hopes of Roger was crushed.

Another interesting match that happened in the quarters was the match between Robin Soderling and the clay king Rafael Nadal. Every body expected Soderling to take his revenge in the grass court but he failed. The clay king was unstoppable.

With Thomas Berdych in the semi's Novak Djokovic was able to see the road to finals and was expected to reach his first grass final. On the other hand, Britain top seed and the home town favorite Andy Murray was to drop a set till quarter finals. In the quarters he dropped a single set to Tsonga and reached semis to face the clay king.

Two extra ordinary pairs for semis. Novak was clueless about the match. Tomas Berdych won the match in straight sets and booked his place in the first grand slam finals. On the other hand Murray was no match for the clay king. The match was expected to go to five setter but Nadal won in the straight sets. Murray was shocked to the core. He is either stopped by Roger or Rafa in everyone of the Slams. I felt very sorry for him.

Having beaten the then world number one (Roger) and the then world number three (Novak) Tomas Berdych was fully confident of defeating the then world number two (Rafa). Having cleared his path and defeating Andy Murray everyone in the world was sure that Rafa was going to clinch the title for the second time.

This years final was very short with only three sets. Berdych was clueless and Rafa was unstoppable. Rafa took all the early breaks and clinched the title. This is the second he is wining the Wimbledon and French Open back to back and he is the only player to do that.

With the win in Wimbledon Rafa again became world number one with Novak as second. Roger was pushed to three due to his early exit in both the Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Tennis critics say that Rafa can clinch the US Open and flush the meadows to complete his career grand slam.

Lets see what happens in the New york Meadows.

Women's Draw

Dinara Safina was absent due to injury.

The first player to book her ticket was the Australian hope Samantha Stosur. The french open champion Francesca Schiavone also exited in the first round.Unlike Roland Garros all the top seeds and the expected players cruise past into the nthird round.

The fourth round in the women's round was the turning point of the tournament when top seeds and the expected players exited.

The Russian favorite Maria Sharapova who had hopes of returning to clinch the Wimbledon title was stopped by none other than the World number one,Serena. The world number three Caroline Wozniacki was stopped by a unseeded player of the tournament Petra Kvitova. She failed in both the Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The biggest match in the fourth round was between the come back mom Kim and the former champion Henin. The match was a treat to the tennis world for both the defending champions were clashing to book their place in the quarters. Kim made sure that she reaches the Quarters. With Henin, Jankovic also exited in the fourth round. The hopes of Serbian to add at least one trophy to her shelf is day by day diminishing.

Well the quarters was quiet interesting. The mom was stopped by a Russian seeded player Vera Zvonareva. It was her first semis in her tennis career. The tennis world was stunned to see the come back mom exiting the grass court in the quarters.

In Roland Garros when Roger exited the quarters it was Serena who exited with him. Now with Roger exiting in the quarters it was the big sister Venus who exited with him. The tennis world was in a shock. She was stopped by an unseeded Bulgarian player Tsvetana Pironkova.

With all top players exited and most importantly her sister's exit Serena was having a clear path to add a title to her list. She didn't fail to do that. Vera Zvonareva reached her first Slam finals. But she was no match for the World Number one. Serena won the match in straight sets and clinched her trophy. Though the sisters failed in the doubles Serena made sure that the Singles trophy is with the Williams' family.

Williams are dominating the tennis world. In this rate Serena can clearly create a new record by surpassing Steffi Graf's record of 22 slam titles.

The treat in this Wimbledon was the doubles invitation in womens draw. Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova. The invitation doubles also had the recuperating Martina Navratilova and Jana Novotna as the winners.

Hope the US Open is also interesting like Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Raavanan - The Movie

A movie for my lifetime. Awesome movie that I didn't miss.

An outline of Ramayana in the modern era with its own twists and turns. Most of the Mani's movie are known for its location so do this movie. Awesome location in and around Chalakudi. I really have to say that Mani has picked a great cast for this Tamil version. The lead character done by Vikram is awesome. No other person could have done justice to the role. The way he feels his love for Ash is outlined in a pretty decent manner. In Ramayana Raavan does not touch Sita under any circumstance so do Vikram in this movie. Even in the end you can see this touch. Only thing that I felt bad in the movie was that Mani could have picked someone in place of Prithviraj.

The only director who has used Ash for acting purpose is Mani. Ash really owes a lot to Mani for bringing her ability into lime light. Though Priyamani appears only for 15 minute she forms the strong essence for the story. Other characters done by people like Prabhu and Karthik plays their own part.

I could not say that Mani delivers a picture perfect movie. There are few flaws in it like:
1) Ranjitha's character which does not have any dialogue. There was no purpose for the character for there was no significance.
2) Prithvi uses Ash to trap Vikram for he could very well have followed priya when she returns to Vikram and trapped him.
3) When Ash pulls the alarm in the train she is near the steps and to my knowledge no train has a alarm which is next to step. It would be in every bay and not very close to the step and Ash pulls just like pulling an bell.
4) Falling from a greater height Ash gets only scratches and no broken hand or legs. (Not even a broken finger).
5) A town guy falling in love with Priya (I know love is blind),but still some essence was missing between the pair.

Apart from these there are few more flaws. But what more you need than the breath taking chemistry between Vikram and Ash. Ash's realization (her love and true elegant manners of Vikram) happens at the correct time of the plot. The way Vikram feels that he could not live with Ash just because she is married to Prithvi breaks his heart. He carries this feeling throughout the movie and is portrayed very well. He leaves Prithvi alive just because he is Ash's husband and shows how much a man exists inside that arrogant fellow. I could say that it is not typical Mani's movie but the justice has been done for the plot that he took in his hands.

I should not forget to talk about the music and the background score. I need not explain for ARR and Mani go along well. The final song sung by ARR himself has a very good lyrics and a much sensible one. Vairamuthu's dialogues creates far and much impact than Suhasini's (but she has given a shot at it).

In simple words Raavanan oru Kadhal Vanavaasam. I have no doubt of watching this movie for second time just for the location.

The biggest upset of Wimbledon!!!!!!!!

Last night was the biggest upset in the history of Wimbledon and for me it was the most shocking day.I have always seen Roger exiting the other Slams in the early rounds but not in the Wimbledon. For the past 7 years the finals of the wimbledon was fulfilled with Roger. He didn't fail to make the finals from 2003. In 2002 he failed in the first round but from, then on the grass court really enjoyed the presence of the champion in the finals.

This year with Davydenko and Roddick out of the tournament and Del Potro absent from the Slam I thought Roger had a easy path to the finals. He was challenged from the first round where everyone expected a biggest upset.But Roger survived the scare. Even in the second round the struggle continued. In the third round everyone was sure that the defending champion was back to form and unstoppable to reach the finals for the 8th time here in the grass. But math and expectation was rewritten by Berdrych. They both have met 10 times earlier and Roger had won every single one of them. But last evening Berdrych was dominant taking an early break and the first set in his hands. But the defending champion came up with a god strategy and took over the second set. Berdrych was unstoppable when he took the third set putting pressure on the defending champion.

In the fourth set Roger got 3 break point when the score was 1-0 providing him a chance to take a lead. But Berdrych saved all of them and in fact broke Roger's serve to take the lead. At this juncture I came to know for the first in 7 years the Wimbledon finals is going to be without Roger. I felt sick and wanted time machine to change everything.

In first place I cursed myself for repeating the same mistake. Watching the match. Then I realised that it is not my mistake if Roger is not making into finals. In 2001 Sampras was defeated by Roger to bring an awakening call. I think the same thing is happening this year with Roger not reaching the finals of Roland Garros as well as Wimbledon. I think he has to change his playing style a bit. He can not become athletic here after wards but can start to hit the ball hard for the opponent. I hope he wakes before the Australian Open and clinches the title.