Jallikattu

யார் பாவம் ? மாடா ? மனுஷனா ?

Pic ctsy - Dinalamar

Kavi Kamalhaasan

Thanks a ton to universalherokamal.com

They got a few collections of photos and factoids about Kamalhaasan. (read on a comment on Lazygeek).

This Kavidhai from Mr. Kamal is a real food for thought. Dont you think.

I always think parenting is the most critical job. There used to be a Quote "Tell me who your friend is.. I will tell you who you are..". Similarly I think this way.

"Tell me who your parents are, and I shall tell you, why you failed".

Dont want to trouble you much on a monday morning, but give the Kavidhai a deep read, and think about it. If you are going to be a parent, and you want your son/daughter to succeed.. it purely depends on how you will act and react.

Just dont do too much of anything.

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I've showcased my "So-called-stories" on a separate page. Please visit "avyuktaSLB.blogspot.com" and read them with Ultimate patience. Trust me its not worth it, but if you have even unworthy time... Give this a shot. Please feedback.

Indibloggies Nominations

The Voting has begun. Exercise your votes. Choose your favourites, and wait for the results.

I chose Desipundit, Indibloggers, Dubukku and Lazygeek for various categories. Lazygeek was listed on Lifetime Achievement award for 2005. I wonder what it means ?

Last year I was watching this event with Awe. That was just one month since I started blogging, or doing something in the name of blogging. I havent changed, but now am literate what these Blog terms mean. Probably next year, I should get into the Nominations atleast if not the award. That means aiming more quality out of this blog.

Now, how would I do that ?

UPDATES :: Lazy won the Lifetime Achiever award. Desipundit won the Best Group Blog. Congratulations to them, and all other winners. Good effort from Indibloggies . Apart from Lazy nominated on that category, what I couldnt understand was Desipundit winning on "Best Blog directory". Anyways.. good show.

Pongal Feast !

All set for a hit. The movie is Full till next week, and this is the kind of opening Ajith wanted for the past few years.

Songs arent an attraction for Paramasivan, but the posters and hypes, and the Good-luck face of P.Vasu has given the movie a great booster even before release.

This should be rebirth for Ajith, and that should bring back his lost status on the fight with Vijay. Vijay's Aadhi also gets released today, and has literally turned on the Clash of the middle-super stars.

April 14 2005 had Chandramukhi and Mumbai Xpress, head on. Similarly Ajith and Vijay are going on for a head on this time. Whoever wins, tastes Glory. But if Ajith looses this, well, thats a mighty blow. Im sure Ajith would be on his prayer knees.

I hope Vijay's Aadhi is of some difference to his role. If Vijay doesnt switch roles and start playing different ones, there is no use of being in Acting. It is just doing the same tricks and printing money. Thats a useless job.

Simbhu's Saravana (KS Ravikumar's Direction) is up today. Jo looks awesome. She is getting better in every movie. Simbhu is another Star im ready to place my bets on. I only wish him more Good-luck and a lot of maturity on thoughts.

So its Simbhu Vs Ajith Vs Vijay. Happy Pongal to all the three of them.


UPDATE : (Thanks Prabhu) - AAthi is delayed by one day. Thats a Thalai-pongal for Ajith :)

Had no Photoshop at work.. but cant give you a normal greeting.. Can I ?

Here's MSPAINT and Image-Text and Avyukta, wishing you a very Happy Pongal.

Thanks Rain God. Thanks Sun God.

The Morning Fire

பழையன கழிதலும் , புதியன புகுதலும்
வழுவல கால வகையினானே !

(This is also a Tamil Test... read this fast.. it is a kind of Tongue Twister..)

Besides Bhogi, today is also Thiruvadhirai. Locally called the Thiruvadhirai Kali festival. We make a sweet Kali, and a thick and spicy Sambhar. Waw ! One of the main reasons I love Hindu festivals, is the choice of food which is unique for every festival.

Bhogi Special is - Poli and Vadai. That means double treat. But unfortunately, got to work today. Hope you know most of the festivals (including Pongal, Diwali, Vinayagar Chathurthi, Ayudha Pooja) turn up on Sundays this time.

Bhogi was fun in School days.. Mornings used to be immersed in Fog, and the smoke that was man made. The Govt simply sucks out the pleasure of festivals - Or Hindu festivals in specific. "No Crackers after 10 PM on Diwali".... "No too-much burnings on Bhogi"... Probably they are right and have a reason. But whatever said, people were happy without the rules.

However I dont have anything to burn, except the fat. Thats the agenda of the year - Loose Weight. How optimistic Iam !!

Click here to see the Hi Res Picture of our Galaxy Shot by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

WARNING : IT IS A HUGE PICTURE. TAKES TIME TO DOWNLOAD (44 MB)

But please download and watch it. Kaanak Kan Kodi Vendum !


Also, you might wanna check this brilliant Flash page. I love it. :)

Child Prodigy

Read this First

I appreciate the idea, and wish the Quest in the Kids mind remains, and let im invent a lot in the future.

It makes us proud to find kids device such a thing. But, I dont know if Im one of those cruel people who always under-estimate. I hate kids reciting all the Thirukkural at the age of 4 or 5. I hate them speak proud about it. And i hate the media covering it. A 5 Year old boy driving a car, and 6 year old making divine music on the Tabla.

Im not against the kids. Poor things (and great things) that have extra-ordinary talent. But Iam against the parents for expecting so much out of a child. Im sure kids would have gone under vigorous practice, before exhibiting their talent. Let kids be kids. Have them enjoy their life. I've seen parents forcing kids to Music classses and Computer classes. We all saw a few kids clearing MCSE easily... They all are nowhere to be seen now.

It is certainly delicate to find the interests in a child. Sometimes, forced habits turn good. Sometimes they suck out the plesure of living.

Here's something that broke my heart :(

Hmm.... Aandava !

Life changes track in 2 months

Class XII exams begin on March 2

The next weeks will decide the life of all students appearing for the exam. The amount of effort they take put me to shame. I never did anything that was even close to studying.

But I see them toil through nights and wake up before the proper 4. My cousin brother has got applications for almost all the entrance exams ranging from AIEEE to IIT.

The Parents have now started visiting temples. The teachers started working extra shifts. Their younger brothers and sisters gave up TVs and other entertainments.

The students will be memorizing that Chemistry equation, knowing the fact that their dream lies in a cubicle in Infosys.

Click here for the Timetable

Today 7.00 PM. Greams Road. Mixed Fruit flavoured Traffic Jam.

Heavy Sirens of Apollo Hospital Ambulance. The left side on which it has to go is filled completely. So the driver goes beyond the lane and is travelling on the right side.

The people coming in the opposite direction leave way. They have mixed feelings.

Thats when I saw this. A few bikers next to me, followed the ambulance. They enjoyed the comfort of following a High-siren blowing Ambulance. They had no one to stop. They easily escaped the signal.

I was standing and wondering. "Should I have done that !"

What would you have done ? Be Practical , or be Emotional.

Character Slaves

The author has decided to finish the story in 2 minutes. He has forgotten that he put the hero Jayan inside a room and locked it. Somehow, a lot of events got into his mind after locking the hero, and hence he had moved all the other characters out to a different location. Jayan was there all alone, worried about the author. He has done this to Devi in the last story. Devi, however was a bad character, and she deserved a bad end. So, the author had sentenced her, by placing her in the middle of the railway-track and left her there unmoved, and forgot her in the rest of the story.

Saroja was the heroine, and she was now travelling on the car towards the place, where the author had decided the climax. The author was covering the speed of the car, and the villain group following behind. Saroja's heart was beating for Jayan. She wasnt actually loving him, but the author had forced her to. Jayan was seduced by Devi, in the previous story. This story, the author had made Jayan to run at the back of Saroja, make desparte attempts. She liked the way Jayan approached her. Although Jayan did not. He was just moving to the wishes of the author.

Right now the climax is happpening.. But Jayan hadnt made a move, or taken effort to break out of the room. He cant do that, until the author pens something about. He was waiting for the word, "Meanwhile, Jayan..." somewhere. He found the author, writing very very fast and could sense the story is moving towards the conclusion.

Is it going to be that way ?? A story cannot end without the Hero's knowledge. If thats happening so, the union of the Hero and Heroine is not being written, or atleast not yet. So, is the author going to kill her ? Kill Saroja ? Oh no !! that cant be.. The last word written was "Police-sirens". That is good.. thank god, someone will be there to save Saroja.... Jayan prayed for a moment.

"Saroja was dying in front of everyone, with no one to help her. She was happy that Anand and his group were arrested, atlast for all they have done to her family. She fell on the floor. Blood all around her. She thought of Jayan for a minute.. he wont have trouble anymore from the Anand group."..

What ?? Story ended ?? Thats absurd.. Jayan thought. He cant leave me here. In this locked room. Cmon.... He hated this life, doing things that the author wanted, always.

The author was satisfied. He has somehow safeguarded Jayan, and kept him alive for his next story. That will have a new heroine. The audience would all praise him for a contemporary story, unlike all stories where the Hero and Heroine unite in the last scene.

Jayan - "Pongada !! neengalum.. unga pudalanga ....."

The author with all his pride, wrote the last line of the text.

"End of Part IV"

Jayan wanted to faint off. But he couldnt.

Pulavar Keeran !!

Many of you may not be aware of Pulavar Keeran. He is a Mayavaram Man. And he lived his life doing Upanyasams (Story Telling). I have had 2 chances of attending his Upanyasams, but that was when I was a kid. I didnt know the beauty of tamil then.

Now I realize how great this Man was. Story-telling is an art, as everyone would know. And he excelled in that with the power of his Language. His tamil fluency is something you can see in a very few people. His voice was an added advantage. When he starts "Villibaratham" you are already in his plot. And he drives you to ecstacy, describing stories in a way you'd have never heard before. It would be a pleasure to hear Dhuriyodhanan speak through Keeran. He speaks to Vithuran.. "Maamane ! Maamane !! Aivarukku nenjayum, engalidaththil Vayittrayum Vaithaaye !!! Poh !! ........ Poh !". You will feel like the voice is of Duriyodhanan himself. The expression and emotion in the voice is sophisticated Quality.

"Dhaayam Uruttalaanaal, Ange Saguni Vendru vittaaan !!" - The historical Dice game played by the Pandavas and Gauravas are described with high peak tension. And every throw of dice ends with that dialogue. There are more stories recited by him, that now exist on Tapes and CDs.

If you happen to own any MP3s of Pulavar Keeran, you know what to do :)

On similar grounds, Nagai Mukundan is a disciple of Pulavar Keeran and initially i thought he imitated Keeran. He has made a successful career too, with Bhakthi on a sudden-Surge in Tamilnadu.

Sad that I couldnt even find a picture of Pulavar keeran on the Net to post with. Someone has a photo ? we can showcase him.

Chennai is now Open !

Here's something I missed. Day 2 of Chennai Open invited me with a Ticket through Saurabh Deshpande. I accepted the invite and couldnt make it because of a few official meetings and work. Damn. I hate missing commitments.

Thankfully Saurabh is another blogger, who has posted on the event that he witnessed. (He's asked me a fine of the ticket price for not accompanying... phew !).

People in Chennai, think we can get our time open for this event... Im planning to go somtime this weekend. Chennai Open is getting hit for the past few years. Way to go !! Its good to see Chennai people watch something other than Cricket match.

But I like cricket better than Tennis... emotions are lesser here in tennis.. Saurav Sattaya kazhatti suththina madhiri emotions... The emotions when the Pakistan wicket falls down... The emotions when Mc Graw is sent for a four in the opening over.... Cricket Cricket dhaan.

Mainframe Programmer ? 2+ years experience ? Willing to work in Mumbai ?

I can help you switch . Just leave a comment..

Are you ready for another Conspiracy ?

Here we go again. :) Click here

The Future of Ajith

Paramasivan movie audio has a theme song - "Vande Matharam". Singers shout Vande Matharam, and occasionally sing "Jana Gana Mana" in between. Useless song. Im wondering why movies like this, Sachin, Mumbai Express and many more have theme music.

Ignore the audio. This movie is Life/death for Ajith. He hasnt given a hit for long, and he hasnt fared in a Quality movie as well. Dont know who screwed up his career, but we can sense desparation in the forthcoming movies of Ajith.

More Movie Buff :: Vettayadu Vilayadu Kamal is being praised by some Hollywood Actor. They say never in history was such a movie shot on.. Adappavingala.. Ippdi dhaane kavuppaanga !!

Jillendru Oru Kadhal shooting starts. Surya sucks with that Girdha !! Please change hairstyle. :) Please.

Illayaraja to compose music for Ram Gopal Varma's Tamil Venture.. thats the Jyothika Starring Horror movie... Vaanga RGV vaanga !!!

How to show affection ?

I was in Tirupathi, long back and the following is a real incident.

I stood outside the premises after 7 long hours of wait , 3 seconds darshan and 2 small Laddus. We had gone through the ASRTC, and hence were waiting for the rest of the gang. From the place i was standing, i could see a wide angle. From that end of the Padma Klam to this end, where the Sudharshana entrance is. Lots of Mottais. And Occasionally, TTD workers carrying large plates of Laddus. The smell of Pure ghee in the air will take you to heavens. Only God can create a smell like that. Not Humans.

Thats when a small disturbance was under creation. A couple, who have just had a mottai, were standing a few meteres away from me. They were beginning to search. Search what ? Probably their Kid... thats what it should logically be. "Ballu".. the man shouted, looking here and there. His eyes were browsing through the ground. Should be a kid. The Lady knelt down and looked across hundreds of pairs of legs.

I showed that to my dad, who was already seeing them. We both looked at the surrounding to see if theres a kid who is alone and crying.. The search became vigorous. A few more people who heard the shouting "BALLU" from the man, cared and stopped.. and began looking. I shouted too... "Ballu...". The Man looked at me, I smiled.. Damn. I shouldnt have done that. The search continued. I swear, a place like that is not somewhere you want to loose and find something. Though the crowd was normal, it seemed to me, as if it was growing, with the vigour of search increasing.

By now, atleast 20 people were searching. The lady was in tears. Was saynig a few telugu words.. should be Telugu version of Oppari. The man's voice was close to crying. My heart felt bad, everytime i heard him shout. The sound was coated with desparate hope.

Then I saw a kid at some corner, close to a shop selling pictures of Perumal. I wasnt the only one.. I found another person walking towards him. he knelt down at the kid. He should be asking his name... he then turned back, dragging the kid towards the man.

This lightened the situation. or, thats what i thought.

The man, saw the other kid first and thought of running towards... but then saw that one of the searchers were bringing the kid to him... '"Balluuuu" he shouted... The lady shivered and looked at the same direction. The kid was also crying, i didnt realize from when.

The mom (i guess) took the kid in her arms and kissed it. The man came closer and

"PALLAAAAR !" - A thunder slap went it to the little kids face. The Kid shouted at the pitch of his voice and broke into tears... Kadhari Kadhari, vicki vicki azhudhadhu !!

I didnt expect this. Most of us didnt. But thought it was normal for Indian emotions. And we all dispersed in our directions.

To me, I have carried this scene, which is approximately 3 years older, till now. What do you think about the reaction ?

Comin Soon !

Avyukta Awards !

BEST SINGER 2005 - SP Balasubramainam (For Thazhuvudhu Nazhuvudhu....)

Thanks to Rahman for not making Udit Narayanan sing "taluvudu naluvudu"....

BEST MINISTER 2005 - Dayanidhimaran (For Dataone and upcoming All India Local)

Ignore the political back up... Not a single person can Come from Zero to this point, where this man has reached. I wish, he takes some other ministry soon. He can do better anywhere.

MOST POWERFULMAN 2005 - Shri. Gagan Deep Singh Bedi, IAS(For Administration)

The use of power is known when you use it. This Cuddlore Collector will never be forgotten. He is a good man.
(Know your collectors here)

BEST ENTERTAINER 2005 - Yuvan Shankar Raja (For Surplus Music)

Forget opportunities. YSR Proved good in a lots of movies. Varied Styles... kalakkittaaruppa !

BEST APPLICATION 2005 - Google Talk (For Simplicity and Stuffs)

Text Chat and that Blue emoticons.. wow ! And talk about the voice calls. wow wow !

BEST EVENT 2005 - Bihar Elections (For Sabha Vimochanam)

Bihar is atlast away from the Clutches of Shri Laloo Prasad Yadhav