Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Post No. 600



- Kamalhaasan, Barathiyar and Keerthivasan :)

Dilbert and India



It is hard to be a victim.. for the past few days, Dilbert has been framing Asok and India. Now i can understand how hard it will be for Sardars to read the Sardarji's Jokes.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Pokkisham - Treasure


What a top-class picture !! kallaaas !

Madras Talkies
site is up and running, and its a lot interesting then earlier. Catch them all.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Dielemma ! Dielemma ! Diele Diele Dielemma !

Having in mind the previous post, read the following story. Takes time.

The taxi stopped in the same old clumsy street of Dharavi. Im not a rich guy.. only because my company pays my travel Im on this taxi. I usually keep my car windows closed for the fear of those eunuchs who will "Raasa ! Raasa " and get money. That somehow keeps me embarassed. So, i dont even mind the suffocation inside..

Todays got unusual traffic jam. I mean, just this place.. usually its a free ride here. But not today.

I was sitting cursing the Sun and the traffic. I concentrated a little outside.. This city Mumbai is a little different. The poverty is very obvious here. Both the sides of the road, you will find people on platforms taking bath, eating food, washing clothes and the rest of the things. They are clearly homeless. There are others who have built two story huts. They are capable of living with their so called income in Mumbai. Chennai has poverty, but not this visible. We've gotr sky-scraper huts here in Mumbai.

I was thinking all this, as if I was the Financial Minister who wants to reform all this on a single signature. Thats when I noticed that lady in Red saree watching me for a long time. She should have been watching me ever since the Taxi halted. She had a kid standing close to her. Should be her daughter. Or Son ? I couldnt make out. Should be a son. He was wearing a dirty trouser. His face was showing that he hasnt had good food.. since days. I always feel bad about hungry people. In Iruvar, Karunanidhi will say "Rich people should not come to politics.. Caste system should abolish.. There should be no brutality" and so on.. but MGR will tell him "No one should be Hungry.. there should not be a situation that a family suffers from hunger..".. I liked that scene for that dialogue from MGR. Im probably forcing myself to feel bad about this.. but im usually not a guy who is so kind and donate a lot to charity.. just that now i have time for that.

Now this short guy looked like coming towards me.. I closely watched him. He wasnt coming himself. He was being pushed. By her.

I wasnt sure why.. but i think it was going to be for begging.. what else could be it.. My hand involunteerly made sure the Window lever was fully turned.. and quickly pretended like sleeping. I made sure the transition wasnt deliberat.. but why am i reacting like this.. I can simply say no ! but i hate to do that. I wish no one comes up to me, begging for money.

I slowly watched out of my closed eyes. The boy hadnt progressed. He was reluctant. He has not done this before and looked like he feels bad, as him mom was compelling him to do so. This is cruel, i thought. Forcing a kid to beg.. attrocious. He ran back.. but was caught by his hair. The child should have shouted.. couldnt hear any sound from behind the windows. She slapped him twice.. he broke into tears.. She then pushed towards me.. now the kid came walking fater towards me. My pretention was already over when the kid was beaten.

I wished the traffic cleared and the taxi started. But it did not..

Knock knock..

I was already looking at him. I was staring actually. He made some gestures.. he wanted money.. he was showing his stomach. Boy.. he was hungry. There wasnt a lie in his gesture. Poor fellow. I had already decided to give some money. Only how much was the dielemma. Sometimes i have wanted to be very generous. (Dont be dismayed, its a matter of 2 digit cash.. thats all). I had planned as of now for Rs. 10..

But there was also a parallel thought. This guy will start begging from now. All the more if he was successful on his first attempt he will choose the same gesture.. the bread winning gesture. He will not attempt to get money in a proper way. I dont reccomend education. But not begging. However he is going to be begging.. but why should i inaugurate.

Not listening to my mind... i opened the window.. "sikkudhunna.. anna anna! rendu naala saapidalanna.. pasikkudhunna.." Tamil.. yes. Dharavi is mostly the residence of the Tamil people.. most of them very poor.

Only two things.. I dont give him any money.. that will disappoint him and chances are that he wont beg anymore.. Or I give him money and dont think too much.. I helped him to eat once.. why do i care if he begs further or not. Im least bothered.. i just would get a great feeling about the donation..

Ok i have decided to give the money to the crying kid. The woman who had sent her.. she could not even be his mother.. was about to have a smile with pride..

I was digging the pocket.. thats when it dawned me. I did not have change. Only a few hundred rupee notes.. not even coins.. Damn.

"anna anna.. ! pasikkudhunna.. "

The traffic just cleared..

"Chillarai illappa !! ", i said sadly. The woman was now disappointed..

I watched his face go back through the window, as my taxi progressed. How would I feel ?

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Social Concious - Fake it.

I was leaving late from work. As late as 3.30 in the morning.

I saw a few people working on the road.. they were the Poster-stickers. They were glueing the posters and applying it on the walls. They were working in the midnight to provide entertainment information to everyone in the morning.

I felt sad on seeing that scene. How pathetic their situation is.. ?

A few minutes on the drive away, I was having another question. Why did I feel sad ? It is very artificial for me to have worried about the poster-sticker. Im not that too good a person, to worry about some guy who is suffering.

Then I thought, Yeah.. we behave like this much too often. The Artificial person in you awakens and behaves like he is a Mother Teresa. He worries about Afghan killings.. He says "Cho Chweet" to the not-so cute babies. He appreciates people, even if it is junk. He talks and argues about environment and hygeine, which i think is not worth a discussion. And he also shows a worry when he sees poverty. Mighty Artificial.

This artificial person is groomed by the friends and neighbors we take and choose. This person fears comments and forces to think by others wavelength, who also have the same artifical impulse. Because this person fears to be straight-forward, he continues to think the same way.. and it will no longer be a forced thought. It will naturally be artificial. It will feel sad when Salman Khan kills a deer. WTF ?

In reality, I just worry that I should be leaving home early today.. unlike yesterday.

How about you ? You have this artificial impulses ? Or you are naturally good ? ;)

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Cartoons and Illustrations

Not that I hate Arjun Singh for the recent policies. But I liked the way the media drew cartoons about the act and the person. They had used a lot of Creativity to destroy a person and his policy. Mandal II wouldnt have come without Hardwork, but the adomance to not take feedback and opinions is what creates trouble.

Forget that. I tried my hands on expressing through pictures. I draw cartoons but people object. So, here's a photoshop illustration.



Vatsan suggested Meera Kumari, who is trying to have a Mandal III for Reservations in Private Sector.

I told him we can do it, when it happens. What else can we do, when the politicians keep doing things which dont interest us ? We can only sit and protest or Draw cartoons or Write a inept post on Chennai Metroblog ;)

Friday, May 26, 2006

No. 61... Present Sir


AIADMK Supremo Ms. J Jayalalitha stated that she will attend the Assembly from Saturday. This decision follows the suspension of the 60 MLAs of AIADMK from the Assembly due to disciplinary reasons.

Guts, you see. Thats what I admire about this person. One Full Assembly against One Woman. POWER !

சிங்கம் ஒன்று புறப்பட்டதே !!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

The Blind Date (!)

Sathyam's Blind Date Yesterday was with "The Constant Gardener". As I had said on the Chennai Metroblog (Na.. Not the caste thing), Blind Dates can be devastating if they screen movies like this.

I personally liked the movie, but the entire audience were expecting FANAA ! or someother exciting movie. One Uncle guy got furious and started yelling at the MJ (on similar lines of VJ, DJ).

Talk of "The Constant Gardener". I've hardly heard about this movie. I usually read reviews, synopsis and then the snap-comment raised on RottenTomatoes before leaving for a movie (Did you know, Da Vinci Code is rated ROTTEN ?). But this movie, yesterday, was clueless and kept me concentrate on the story every frame. The Blind Date funda seems to be cool.

I was impressed by the performance of Rachel Weisz. I wasnt surprised to see her name on the Oscars today morning, while reading about this movie. This movie is excellent, although I wouldnt dare to reccomend it to someone I know. They will kill me before the interval.

Its a slow-paced, well-edited Virumandi style movie. Awesome Backround score (for which there is an Oscar Nomination in the bag). Alright, the Story. A low-grade British High Commisioner in Kenya has a over-enthu wife who with the help of a Kenyan Doctor traces the roots of Medical Corporations worldwide, who exploit the African population in the name of Research. The Medical Corporations claim $800 million or more in the name of R&D and patent cover. That will be the reason for the high rates of the drugs. But, they use cheap methods to do their R&D. African people are used for testing their drugs, which causes killings and so on.

Because of this report that might cause inconvenience to the Medical biggies, she is killed. Then the Hero traces and finds out the cause of her death. The most beautiful part is how the hero starts loving his wife after her death. Thats a poetry on this movie. They deserve 4 oscars for this movie.

There are rumours that the next week's Blind Date is TDVC !!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Where are you Rahman ?

Personal Blog, See ?

There is no reason the following post has to be sensitive. I dont want to add any disclaimers or warnings. Just read on.

As far as i know, Caste System evolved after classifying people based on the work they did. The nation and its people cannot wipe out the discrimination and exploitation the Upper Class had made over the Lower Class. Thanks to many leaders and many events that changed the air. There are still random occurances of pungent events that spit on our faces. Caste based discrimination and exploitation still exists. But unlike earlier, there are laws to protect the weak.

Fine. Hot topic now. There's been reservation since India got independance. We can now see the purpose solved. People have come up considerably than they were in 1947. The reservation did help people to get on Schools, Colleges and Jobs (And Promotions too, which is the arrogant part of reservation in Government Jobs). The reservation will still prevail to be there and help people get Equal opportunities in the society. The facts cannot be denied, and the Current reservation system has been instrumental in the upcoming of the Backward Classes. Hats off !

Now, "Equal Opportunities" is what troubles us. What has happened to the so called Forward Castes ? ARE THEY ALL COMFORTABLE IN THE SOCIETY ? NO !

I dont have statistical data to prove. But many average students who fall under the Forward Caste FEEL BAD for having born in that caste. WHY ? Because, had they been in some other Caste, they would have got the EC Seat in the X College. They are denied a seat which is empty, because the other caste guy may come.

"A study done by the IITs themselves shows that 50 per cent of the IIT seats for the SCs and STs remain vacant, and for the remaining 50 per cent, 25 per cent are the candidates who even after six years fail to get their degrees. So, clearly, in their case, reservations are not working." - Says IBNLive ! (Damn ! CNN... how can they talk about Caste on a Public Media ?)

How many disappointed faces dreamt ot IIT ? How will they bear it, if they knew they were denied a seat which remained empty for ever ? Anyways, whatever is said might be just one place where things arent working as per the objective, but thats not the point.

The Issue is "Increasing the OBC percentage to 27 %". That makes more suffocation in the OC compartment. Arjun Singh's Interview in CNN-IBN is clear in one point. The Parliament is almost through with this. Iam not sure if there are enough OBCs to take the seats, but Iam Damn sure that there are more than enough canditates who will die of suffocation in the OC category.

It is high time India starts rethinking of its reservation policies. It should be based on the Income of the family and not the caste. Downtrodden people are now available in all the castes. ALL THE CASTES. But IIT application costs differently for OC and SC. What happens to a poor guy in OC ? Who cares, huh ? The reservation policy needs a perspective vision. It has to address the OC.

And as far as education and higher education are concerned, Only the Merit should speak. Why talk of caste there ? "You studied hard enough to get here. You got good marks in Plus 2. You have good marks in TNPCEE. But sorry, No seat here for OC ! Try some other college.". Why should a student worry about his Caste, when he seeks education ?

This is what precisely happened to the Backward Classes long back in India. Denial. Is that the purpose of the Reservation System, Revenge ?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uma is offended by what I wrote on Chennai Metroblog, and so are many other people. Kaps says we need to maintain neutrality on Collaborative Blogs to gain Confidence of the people .

Uma asks, Is Metro blog is the place to spread one's personal political message ?

Share my perspective, may be. But I left the Comments section open. It was discussable. It is still democratic. I writing about Saravana Bhavan Pongal, is just blogging. If you think thats a Promotion to Saravana Bhavan, at free of cost, So be it.

There was an event against the upcoming revision in reservation policy. Who should join the protest ? People who believe that Merits should get a seat in colleges, and not caste.

How have I offended you Uma ? For what reason ?

Anyways, Chennai Metroblog has suggested to "keep away from talking sensitive issues on Metroblog".

I wont, anymore.

Peace !

Tuesday, May 23, 2006




27 % of this blog will remain empty. Iam FC
[Forward Caste].

How meaningless !

Monday, May 22, 2006

எழுத்தறிவித்தவன் இறைவன் ஆவான் !

Plus Two results for Tamilnadu higher Secondary Board has disappointed thousands of dreams. Most of them did not get the marks they expected, and its a usual formality to look and weep at the marks. Retotalling and Photocopying answer papers are the Buzz words around my neighborhood. My school which will have two boards full of names that scored Centums in various subjects, now has One and a half boards empty !

17 people secured 200 in Physics. Last year 1131 people scored centums in Physics. I have a question to all the teachers !! This is not the students result. Its the teacher's result. I see the potential of the Teachers under question. A potential question that needs a nerve to answer.

All these years Centums were easy. A syllabus change has deployed a stinking performance. That means the students were not trained properly. I have seen instances where the teachers struggled to make up with the current Syllabus. Why should their Inability impact the students future ?

We should also take into consideration that the pattern of questions changed in the middle of the year, and quite a lot of disturbing events took place that sucked out the minute peace allotted for the pathetic Plus two students.

Iam not blaming the teachers, but I would insist they have a hand in this performance fall. Please get ready for the next batch.. Take more care..

Life as I see it - Part I


That point of life, where we think that if we would have acted otherwise, the entire course of life would have been different and happier, Please remember that there existed an equal opportunity that things would have gone worse than now.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

+2 Results Today

I just witnessed a few tension filled faces. Today will change their future. Good Luck to all the +2 Students.

Here are a few reliable sites, where you can check results by 9.30 AM today.

http://tnresults.nic.in/

http://results.sify.com/

I think the following is some load balancing activity..

http://dge1.tn.nic.in
http://dge2.tn.nic.in
http://dge3.tn.nic.in

http://www.indiaresults.com/

Thursday, May 18, 2006

The Land of Insane !

"This Post is a work of pure fiction and has no correspondence to the historical facts pertaining to the Christian religion or the Church."

This will be the disclaimer that will appear on Indian Screens before screening the all-troublesome TDVC (Chella name for The Da Vinci Code). Only the word POST will be replaced by FILM.

The Central Board of Film Certification has declared that the movie can be released with the Disclaimer before and after the movie. More Insanity on your way.. the movie is certified A. I know kids from 14 who have completed all the four books of Dan Brown. Those kids can only watch Thiruttu DVDs. Pity them... They will miss a movie which will not have any Gross content or Adult Language, yet A Certified. English has a beautiful word to describe this - BULLSHIT.

Question 1 : Who are those people in the Christian Missionary to decide what kind of movie I should watch and not watch ?

Question 2 : Why is a Childish movie certified A, when it wont have Sexual Content, Violence and Language ?

Question 3 : What good will the Disclaimer do, if the movie were to insult the sentiments of the viewers ? (Talking of Disclaimers, Here's the disclaimer of Iruvar !)

Hmm. We can only sit ansd ask questions at the comfort of the Internet. I dont think a day is going to come when I can stop my ranting, or my questions answered. "Either ways, I dont give a Damn !". Thankfully, the CBFC did not remove all the scenes that contained reference to Jesus Christ. Otherwise, we could have seen just the opening and closing credits.

Hola, then. ! Happy News ! The Da Vinci Code is finally out of its box, and ready for you ! Are you going to watch ? How many of you raise your hands for "No.. the movie may not be as interesting as the book "?.. Ill tell you next week.

By the way, I have a prolonging Question 4. Why not Angelina Jolie for Sophie ? Audrey Tautou could be French, but No charm !

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Nandhakumara ! Nandhakumara ! Mazhai Neer Sudadhu Theriyadha ?

Munnai Itta Thee Muppuraththile !
Pinnai Itta thee Then Ilangayile !
Annai Itta Thee Adi Vayitrile !
Yaanum Itta Thee MooLgave ! MooLgave !!

================

I had been thinking this was a Vairamuthu Feat Kamalhaasan work.. Only today I learnt that this was a Pattinathaar Plagiarism.

However, the Tamil in the movie was Exuberant. I dont find an Actor in the Tamil Industry who can talk Tamil in Kamalhaasan's standards.

"Pennai Nambi Pirakkum Bodhe, Thoppul Kodigal Arupadume !!" - ask Vikram to recite that. Duh !

Why was Aalavandan a flop ? It had state of the art Technology.. The Technology which has not been beaten yet.. Not even Anniyan was upto Aalavandan's standards. The Story line was very very good. Why do people hide under the blankets of the word Complex ? "Its a complex story .. people didnt understand"...

Audience please grow up. Stop ranting lame excuses like "I go to movie to relax.. i want total entertainment.." If Tamil Audience wont grow their Carts to accomodate more Generes, Tamil cinema will suffocate with just simple Love stories, Anti-heroes and Psychos.

I really pity the feelings of Kamalhaasan. Imagine an Artist who has created a masterpiece, and his people are not capable enough to appreciate his work.

We Only use their names to defend our talent.. "Tamil cinema people like Kamalhaasan and Maniratnam are world class.." .. Only the world doesnt know they suffer from "Only-name-no-money" disease.

When CHEAP movies like AADI are running for 150 days... Why did Anbe Sivam go mute ? Every single person will accept Anbe Sivam was a class movie. Kannathil Muththamittal got only the name.. not the money !

Ennavo !! Uruppadaaama Ponga !

Undo This !


Wat a poto !!

I cant believe this is real. This is a photo taken from the "Air France Concorde crash 25th July 2000". This event and many others brought a dead-end to the concorde flights from operation.


Here's how the last British Airways Concorde ended its flight. It was escorted by Mini's and what a Glory.


I used to think, I should make enough money and Fly on a British Airways Concorde, like how many of us thought about the Twin Towers.

More and More Concorde pictures here.

Monday, May 15, 2006

En Iniya Missed Call Makkale !!


It is beyond impossible, that you will find some useful information on this blog. And even those useful informations that rarely appear are outdated informations which entertain "Adhaan enakku theriyume !!" dialogues. So be it. No one can stop me from doing it. :) Here's Mission Impossible.

BSNL Landline users, this post is for you. I should say "Especially for you" if you are a thillalangadi who makes missed call to people having Cell. Im here to break your belief.

YOU ARE CHARGED FOR MAKING A MISSED CALL, IF THE MOBILE USER REJECTS YOUR CALL.

If you are a Pro-missed call maker, you will DIAL-Hear the Ring-Cut the line. This is perfectly ok. But if you are a nagging guy, who will keep it ringing until the Recipient chooses to REJECT the call, then you are Credited with one more UNIT to that months bill.

Note : This applies only for the Landline customer.

மணி அட்சோன்ன கபால்னு கட் பன்னாகாட்டி
BSNLகாரன் கபால்னு Money கட் பன்னிடுவான் !! ஜாக்ரதை !!