Last day at my first job

29^th July 2010: “Bid Adieu; please help yourself with some sweets at my desk”. This was my first email of the morning to my fellow colleagues.

Just sat back in my seat, thinking about the last 22 months.

June 11 2007(If I am not wrong), I was recruited by my first company to work with them when I was in my final year of college. As all, even I was ecstatic and felt above the world. After a long wait, I joined the company on 25^th Sep 2008. I was off to trivandrum for my training for little over 4 weeks. And was back in Chennai to work from my base branch. Initially, I was in what is famously called the bench period (ppl in service industry would know what exactly I mean here). All my friends were into projects quite early. My bench period was long enough that one of my close pal’s mom recognized me as a guy who goes to office just to sign (“Ho avana? Company poi sign pottu vanthuduvane… :D)

As time passed, I was in and out of few projects. May be I can term even this as what is called my FATE. Mixed emotions, hard feelings, few sensible and few insensible thoughts were flooding my mind. Got some serious time to read a lot, to watch movies, to enjoy all sporting actions on TV, long biking trips (solitude my only company), thinking about lots more (which I thought I should never think). Anyways, ALL iz well!! All iz well!! I got some time to think about what is next in stock for me. I had to concentrate on things which would keep me occupied and move further.

Needed a change; needed a change that will keep me away from few things; needed a change that will keep me occupied; needed a change that is going to keep me going; needed a change that is going to help me;

“Sala, sweets acha thaa re!!!” the voice of Asis brought me back to reality. Well, he is one guy probably I have been with too often, whether it was for regular fag sessions or fixing up couple of drinks during Fridays or lending my ears to listen to some of his sensitive issues. It was coz of this guy, I learnt conversing in Hindi to a considerable extent, actually “urndi” (Urdu + Hindi ;)).

Folks flocked to my desk for some sweets and short conversations. Hari, Sathish, Santhini, Shalini, Vijay, Prince, and all the others were at my desk. “Thanks for the sweets”; “nice sweets”; “All the best” blah blah blah. Passed some time talking with them. And now, back to my reverie.

Those were the days, I was into serious thoughts of how to change the way I was. Lots of questions flooded my mind; “Why am I thinking all this?”, “What am I doing?”, “Where am I gonna end up” etc etc. I just had to make some quick but coherent decision to change all this. That was my decision to spend some time in further technical studies. Decided this time it should be different, different in all terms. And there started my preparation for the hunt. (In pic: My work place in Chennai)

Concentrated pretty hard, doing some homework and researching on places where I can end up, doing some serious work. Spend long hours on the internet, educated myself about the process. Satisfied all the pre-requisites and decided what I actually wanted. Started applying for Universities, kept my fingers crossed for their decisions. At the same time, Work at company kept me engaged for most of the time after that. Leaving for home at 12, 1 at midnight was quite new to me. Spent some really good time with people at work place. This was supposed to be the liveliest time at my company.

On the other hand the admission decisions started flowing in. My most ambitious university stroke a bounce, in the very beginning. However, all the other three were and I had to decide from my options. Well, that was not a babbling task at all ;). Next in was the VISA process, got it quite easily. On 1^st July 2010, sent my resignation letter to the HR in-charge.

“Hey! utt, break chale”, It was again Asis calling for a break.

Back to reality, And, I was counting the last few hours of my first job.

In the evening, I was given a small souvenir. Yea, this is one team which has to be remembered for some time to come. Plenty of “hand-shakes”, lots of “all the best”, plenty of “keep in touch”; Met my HR for the final formalities, handed over my identity card and made my way back home, with the thought, I will not have to return back for my job the next morning. No formal attire, No daily bus jaunts, No cubicle chit-chats and No longer a salaried person as-well :D

You can Blame me...

as life goes on and on,
things I did had affected people who have
been close to me, who have helped me,
and been with me

I take this space to apologize
for things
that I have done,
and for things
that are yet to occur

may it be bitter combats or cold wars,
or misconceptions; You can blame me,
I might have been a reason
for all these, and may be more

You can blame me for things,
I have forgotten to do,
I have forgotten to tell,
I have forgotten to act,
and for everything I have not done

I didnt know, wat I spoke had affected ppl
I didnt know, wat I did had an impact on ppl
I didnt know, wat can be done for all that
you can blame me for all these,
and may be more

If I cant apologize, for all that I have done,
It is a shame on me,
and again you can blame me even for that

I still remember...

Looking for the reasons for all de feelings in my life
do I need to move on without any strife,
the pain I am having is worse than cut by a pruning knife,
all I have to do is carry on alife

I still remember the day when I said I am needing you,
just couldn't realize that the time just flew;
I still remember the days walking by your side,
and now searching for the footsteps beside;

I could still feel the fragrance of you
that haunts me, I suffer the pain of blue;
I could still feel the touch of you,
making me cry, making me dull;

I still remember the eyes for which I was allured,
and that which made me stay immured;
I still remember every move you made,
every word you spoke, and it just cant fade;

Thanks for the time you gave me,
thinking if it was bide a wee,
hours together with you just flee
and now, its just the paining spree;

I still remember the smiling face that you threw,
to make me strong
but I don't deny it was the pain you were going through,
and that makes me weak

I just cant stop loving you,
But, still have to bid adieu
Soooooooorry! Sooooooooorry!

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa!!!

After the opulence success of Varanam Aayiram, Gautham Vasudev Menon comes up with a subject for which he is most sort of, a love story. The director with a brilliant knack of narrative capability comes up with a simple love story with a dramatically simple screenplay which is handled very meticulously. Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (VTV) is full of different emotions with LOVE as a stable base of emotions.
VTV has an altogether different cast for gautham, with Simbu (Karthik) and Trisha (Jessie) donning the role of lead pair. The film has a very limited renowned cast line. The blood in de vein does never change, so as gautham menon's protagonist as a mechanical engineer. Karthik is a mechanical engineer aspiring to become a film director, falls in love with Jessei at first sight. The love, the confusion, intercast problems, the stability and the destiny of the couple are explicated by gautham in his own style of film making.

Simbu, known for his finger-tricks, thrifty punch dialogs, unimaginatively despairing stunt sequences has undergone an entirely different makeover and has become an exact gautham menon product. His expressions, ease in dialogue delivery, chemistry with trisha have all worked perfectly well and has fitted the shoes of a boy next door image. His leg shakes for the hossana number has to have a mention out here. With Maniratnam's film lined up next for simbu, we can expect a change in audience's attitude towards him. Trisha has done her job in a satisfactory manner with clarity in expression and no unwanted glamor. Ganesh as simbu's friend has done a considerable job and the conversation between them are realistic and thoroughly enjoyable. KS Ravikumar has played his real time character and at his best as always. All other characters just make enough contributions to the movie.

ARR numbers were top on charts before the movie could hit the silver screens. BGM in the scenes at kerala was scored in a congenially soothing manner which testifies the mellowness of kerala along with the hint of romance. Its always good to know that the academy award winning music composer has more under his kitty to make his fans ecstatic through his music dexterity. Camera by Manoj Paramahamsa has scripted every individual scene in a very aesthetic and shrewd manner. The camera work has always been an important attribute in any Gautham's movie and so as VTV an example.

Dialogues like "Gautham menon, oru padathaiye rendu varusham edupaaru", "Avan Avan love'kaage america'ke poran, na kerala pogamaatena", makes the audience burst into realistic online humor. The only blemish one could consider about the movie would be its second half which was on the lengthier side which took its own time to move on and tests the forbearance of the beholders. Nevertheless, VTV is enjoyable and one can feel the authentic emotions of love and pain very patiently.

Bottom line: A simple love story dealt with a dramatically simple and aesthetic screenplay with a visual treat.

Aayirathil Oruvan

A movie which was awaited for more than 2 years is finally at silver screens, and is straight away worth the wait, purely for the people with a movie watching dexterity. The Dream Valley Corporation's Aayirathil Oruvan deals abt the war between the Pandyas and Cholas. The notion of the war and its intensity in the current era. Dealing with such a complex motif, Selva has given a perfect period drama of 2.30 hrs.
The film begins with the cholas chased away from their native(Thanjai). The muddle conceived by them during their evacuation forms the reason for the combat in the modern era. The trick(read it as casuistry and delusion) handled by the pandyas to solve the snare laid by the cholas, and who won the battle forms the core of the storyline. Selva has taken pain in giving the viewers the exact feel of a period film, which is quite evident in the second half of the film. Beholders are expected to have minimal tamil (Sokka Tamil) and medieval tamil history knowledge to enjoy the piquancy of the film. (Thanks for my 10th grade Tamil)

There are surely few scenes in the film which no one can have a justification, except Selva himself. Few gore scenes do make your face go crooked, but one just cant avoid most of the on screen display. Few Scenes involving reema sen, and the others involving the army during the latter part of the film are quite disgusting, however this indeed does provide the quintessential emotions.


Karthi and Parthiban have done their job to perfection. The dance sequence for the theme song was a sure "once more" at the theatres. Reema Sen's lip sink seems to be very grisly on screen and Selva should have had a second thought in selecting an artist for such a powerful role. But yes, her performance is sure to gain appreciation from all corners. Andrea's inane acting skills would hardly earn her a name, may be she should restrict herself in just the singing department. Although the screen is almost crowded with a huge clan of junior artists throughout the film, other familiar faces to share the screen are Alagam Perumal and Pratap Pothan.

Camera my Ramji has attributed to the film to a very good extent. G.V.Prakash's BGM was a big plus to the film and the songs have undoubted grossed to a huge amount even b4 the film hitting the silver screens. The only glitch abt the flim would be its extended and a little obfuscating screenplay. But, handling such a complex subject, these minimal flaws should be condoned and overlooked. The targeted audience are not all of the theatergoing "freaks", but the sophisticated movie beholders who do enjoy the feel and auro of ecstasy. (Ecstasy: The feeling of having a feel to feel a feeling which has never been felt before)

Selva has provided a movie which surely cannot be explicated as a trendsetter. Such movies would rather have the value only if they are filmed by great people and once in a decade. They are not easy to make and not easy to enjoy. Selva has laid a visual platform for Kamal Hassan, who has been aiming to make Marmayogi and Maruthanayagam which would be period films on its own terms.

Bottom Line: Hit the theatres if you have the oomph to enjoy.

Aayirathil Oruvan - SelvaRaghavan

A Responsibility

"Cop attacked, Ministers mere spectators"

"Irresponsibility from ministers"

"Cop died on road, struggling for help"

These are the few phrases hitting the headlines of the media in the recent days. This is one of the brutal acts to have happened in the recent past. The term "Brutal", I am quoting here is not the attack on the cop, but the lose of a life on the camera.



"Cop attacked", Ho yes!!! "Ministers were spectators", Ho yes!!! So what was the guy with the camera doing there? Shooting a live death for a blunt publicity, obtuse money and perfect exhibition??? In first place, people to be questioned in this act are obviously the politicians in white and white, but as of now, we should be tired of complaining about the politicians. All what is expected from the politicians is "I seriously condemn this incident". I have been struggling to conceive the connotation of this very phrase for a long time now. Anything happens in Oz for the Indian students, the External Affairs Minister condemns it; For a very serious terrorist drama, the Prime Minister and Home Minister condemn it. That is the best thing they have been doing all these years. So, its mere desolation in investing time and faith on such egocentric, narcissist politicians. (It wont be of a great surprise, if the word POLITICIAN becomes the synonym for egocentric and narcissist in the near future)

So, now the next person who can take the responsibility of such acts are the public in the proximity and the dignified camera men, who are very patriot over their job. The priority of shooting a live death over the humanity of providing an assistance to a man on the verge of losing his life is a perfect example of the uncivilized, boorish, uncouth characteristic of the media. This ignorance should be considered as a high priority criminal act.

Countries like Albania, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Croatia, Hungary, Finland, Russia etc have this law seriously implemented. In Germany, "Unterlassene Hilfeleistung" (neglect of duty to provide assistance) is a serious offense according to the para 323c.

Under para 323c of German Law: Whoever does not render assistance during accidents or common danger or need, although it is required and can be expected of him under the circumstances and, especially, is possible without substantial danger to himself and without violation of other important duties, shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine.

A notable incident to quote is, the investigation carried out against the photographers, who were present at the scene of Princess Diana's fatal car accident for violating the French law of "non-assistance à personne en danger" (deliberately failing to provide assistance to a person in danger).

The need of such a law in India is highly indispensable at this point of time. When the section 377 of Indian Penal code can easily be amended to decriminalization, under huge publicity, then this law has to be implemented at any inevitable cost. Hope this gets materialized as soon as possible and courtesy and responsibility among individuals increases atleast during pathetic crisis.

Back at CBE...

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I am drafting this blog sitting on the steps of my department at college, yes sitting there after a long time, nearly after 1.5 year (well, not too long though). Never had dreamt of sitting there again, may be this is what people call “kismet connection”. Empty classrooms, hardly any people on the campus, total silence, cool breeze and solitude my only company, (actually I am nuts, I should say) how can one expect anyone in the campus on a Sunday evening, that too after the semesters have ended.

Landed in CBE(Coimbatore) on friday morning, regarding a work(work??? Zzzzz) in the college office. Checked-in a hotel room near the bus stand and took a bike from my friend (i am always gifted with kewl pals). After a very long time, I was driving a bike on the roads of Coimbatore. The roads seem a lot different than a couple of years back; they were wide enough with hardly any trees on the sides. I drove straight to college to begin the purpose of my visit. Lots had changed in college as well, students and faculties roaming around with an identity card hanging in their neck- What crap, there are trying too much for maintaining discipline, I thought to myself and proceeded for my work. I was

-->befuddled to see many of my not-so-close faculties also calling by my name. They started inquiring about my life, my work, this, that, blah, blah, blah. Finally, started with my work, and as expected I was told it will take sometime for the work to be done. I just replied with a blunt OK and decided to roam about the city. First to Krishna bakery or KB as how it is known to us (students of CIT). Ordered for a tea (strong’a sakkare jasthi) from outside the shop and lit a cigarette (I dont remember the last time when I lit a cigarrette in front of KB. Yes, I wasn’t a smoker those days).

Sipping the tea and fagging, I was thinking about something (don’t remember exactly what). Fine then, drove through each and every street near college; to the old house where my friends and me stayed (it was totally an entertainment zone those days), to the place where we guys used to eat which no more exists (except the pity senile old man) and to few other spots where I used to hang around those days with my friends. That day I was at KB for tea and smoke at regular intervals. Neither had I visited KB so frequently nor had I drunk such a lot of tea per day; may be that’s what a total jobless person can afford to do.

Was back at college for the formalities and finally got few papers signed and was asked to come the next day to finish off the work. Drove out of college and the first place to go was the Jenny’s club for a coffee. This was the first time me going to Jenny’s all alone. Ordered for a cappuccino and was staring at the empty chair in front of me. And here came my coffee, I had a sip at it. Yuck!! Was that really a cappuccino? Has the standard of the restaurant gone down or I never realized its taste during my previous visits :D? Whatever may be the reason, I hardly completed it and drove to “hope college” for a spicy sweet corn, which charan and me used to enjoy during our college days. I decided my next halt to be “laiden” for a chicken sheaf submarine. Drove to “laiden”, gawking at the Chanthini’s and the Anjali’s on my right (both restaurants). Anyway, I wasn’t able to eat the submarine, as the shop was shut down and a new building was coming up. Next, to the “café coffee day”; took a corner seat for a coffee. Drank my coffee all alone and then to rayappas for my dinner, I wasn’t hungry at all but still, just for the prawns fry and for the reminiscences. I took prawns fry and a roti. My tummy was now filled with 10-15 teas, 2 coffees and the prawns and roti. My goodness, I was about to burst. Huff!!!

Back to the hotel and had a pretty good night’s sleep. Drove to college in the morning and proceeded with the formalities. I was almost done with the work but was asked to come once again on Sunday at noon to finish off the remaining work. Everything in the city has changed except these idiotic guys who still keep procrastinating work, I told to myself and left the place with a smirk. Spent the whole of Saturday driving; and before I could realize, I was nearing the outskirts of the city (I was at the agriculture university). Drove back and had my supper at the hari bhavan with dosa (and chicken curry). Back to my hotel room and switched on the TV for the India vs Australia match, which I almost forgot. Sat on the bed with my smoke in hand, it was an easy win for India, I thought. Yes, ofcourse it was a cake walk in the end even without the little master firing.

And finally, on Sunday at approximately 4.10 PM my work (What hell work was that? the purpose of this post is not to describe it, so leave it..) was done and I am here sitting in front of my department, composing the content for my blog and cherishing my old college memories. I might sound like a sentimental idiot, but I am fkin not that way, but a humane with a blend of emotions; doesn’t that make sense? Albeit, it was indeed altogether a different stay at Coimbatore.

Well, it is getting late, I have to hit a hotel for dinner and catch the bus at 9.00 PM for Chennai.

The Indian T20 Dream

The Indian T20 dream finally ended in a dismal fashion of defending the title. Although the Indian cricket does not have the history of inveterate winning and defending titles, there was a huge confidence in this Dhoni lead Indian team to defend the World T20 title. But still the men in blue continue the notorious habit of not defending the title successfully. Being the best team on papers the Indian team started its World T20 journey with an yet another defeat against the kiwis is the warm-up, but made it up by beating the arch rivals Pakistan in their second warm-up. With 2 underdogs in the pool, India marched into the super eight stage with ease. But that was all nd der was no further advancement by the men in blue in the tournament.

Speaking abt the incorrigible list of mistakes made by the team, the Sehwag controversy tops the list. Still no know except the team management know the truth behind this Sehwag issue. Missing the most devastating batsman in this form of cricket was a huge minus. Rohit Sharma in Sehwag's shoes was more than a weird experiment and penultimately India had to pay the price for it.

Dhoni's unconscionable innings of 23 balls 11 runs in de all important WestIndies match marked the beginning of India's exit from the tournament. No one except Dhoni know wat was running in his mind during de match. His impeccable shot of coming down de pitch nd defending the ball for more than a couple of times in a part-time spinner's over was a perfect example of how exactly not to play in a T20 match. The show of his batting in a batting paradise wicket would make one feel dat der was somethin pathologically wrong with the Indian Captain. Addendum to dis was his great capability of fumbling behind stumps. All this was enough for the Caribbeans to win very comfortably.

The match against England started under huge expectations with do or die situation for India. Bring Ravindra Jadeja as an extra batsman was supposed to be quite a pretty move from Dhoni. But gettin him in before the likes of Yuvraj and Yousuf pathan was a mistake of astronomical size from the Indian Captain. Dhoni is known for experimenting in the middle, but such a weird experiment in an important game was very close to a child's play. Finally to epitomize the story, Dhoni did everything possible to step out of the race of defending the World T20 title. All credits were to Dhoni when Team India was in a winning streak nd now its de vice versa. He has to taste the medicines of both kinds, after-all India is an emotional country( as per Dhoni's words in the post match interview)

Slumdog Millionaire...

Slumdog millionaire as a movie nd as reality...

Speaking abt slumdog millionaire as a movie has a lot of positives and makes is always worth a watch. Inspired from the debut novel of Vikas Swarup's Q & A, de Britain director Danny Boyle directed Slumdog Millionaire. Danny Boyle is one man who makes his movies speak, may it be his 28 days later or A life less than ordinary or the Di caprio starrer The Beach. On the same traces Slumdog Millionaire is also a stupendous movie which deals with pain, romance and human emotions without any hi-fi or sci-fi. The story of Slumdog Millionaire deals with the life of three youngsters who start their living in the Mumbai slums nd from der on whr life takes them nd further on. Story basically revolves around Jamaal an young chap (played by Dev Patel, an England born Indian) who contests for de game show "Who wants to be a millionaire" aka "Kaun banega crorepati". He is just one question away from becuming a millionaire nd cop arrest him accusing him of committing fraudulence in the game show to gain money.

How Jamaal proves his innocence nd wins de game show forms the rest of the storyline during which he describes his painful childhood period. Anil kapoor trying to immitate Amithab bachan had ended up just trying. Jamaal's elder brother makes significance to his role as equally as de female lead Frieda Pinto. The film is being canned in a very naive manner so as to stick to reality. The re-recording nd de screenplay plays a very significant role to throttle de movie to a opulent success. The charecterization has been very savvy nd flawless, just to meet de original requirements of the movie, with even de female lead not so attractive. There has to be a special mention about the BGM nd de songs composed by the legendary Indian music director A.R.Rehman. His composition has already got him a golden globe award, nd de world is sure he is gonna fetch lots of more lourels. Jai ho nd O.. saya hav been the best of de lot among the 12 temperamental numbers in de movie.

Now, moving on to the reality of the movie. I am quite undoubtedly sure dat I wuld be one among the very few in the internet to speak against de movie. The movie has had the mumbai dharavi slum(in fig above) as the backdrop of the movie nd the story is being canned in nd around the slum. It is at times highly atrocious to watch de movie nd cognize that India still has such a worst slum in de city which is considered to be the business hub of India. Addulent to dis is dat the film is being directed by UK based Danny Boyle, who had done lots of homework for making dis movie wuld hav totally studied de entire situation at dharavi. It is a clear evident to all dat, India has such a diversed society. World which had earlier known dat der r 4 Indian in the world's top ten billionaires wil now know dat India also has 5% of de world's total poor. The news channels propaganda it such dat every Indian shuld b proud of d movie, i am totally left bewildered of why de hell shuld I be proud of dis bloody movie which showcases India in a totally unworthy manner. But once de movie is released in India the A class crowd wuld happily enjoy de movie, forgetting wat they hav literally visualized (I guess they wuld be aware of de slums only from de movie) nd guys de English man Danny Boyle knows more abt the Indian slum than we Indians.

Nevertheless, de movie had been a run-away hit around de world, nd will also top de box-office in India once it is screened from de 23rd of Jan-2009.

Slumdog Millionaire- Barks a bit louder...

Massacre across the nation...

Bangalore
Ahmedabad
Delhi
Mumbai
???
???


The above listed cities are not the venues of any cricket match or de new SEZs but des are the cities which were on terror very recently by the terrorism acts. Among these, the mumbai attack has been the worse where the terrorist strike the Taj hotel and the very prestegious Trident Oberoi, Narimon House and few other places. The southern part of the economic capital of the nation was set on fire by de volunteers of not the very famous terrorist organization-Deccan Mujahideen. Its very unpleasing to infer de truth dat calling India an unpeaceful nation is not too far away. One of the many million dollar questions is how were the terrorist able to accumulate arms and hand grenard in the heart of the city. The terrorist were supposed to hav travelled through the waterways from karachi to mumbai. In dat case how did they escape the navy border security force. The arms hav ben supplied to de terrorist by the Indian islamic movements says authenticated sources.


The terrorist who hijacked a police vehicle made a police to drive the vehicle at gun point. The terrorist instead of absconding from de place slowed down their vehicle nd started to open fire against the cop. It clearly indicates the ingenuity of the terrorist just to kill as many people as they can before they finally get killed.

Whatever may be de case, there has been attacks across India time and again, and wat is the government gonna do regarding this issue. It has becum a habit for de PM nd Ms.Sonia Gandhi to just verbally condemn each nd every attack nd forget it rite away. Wholly 2008 has been a worse calender year in the history of Independent India.

This being the first time dat de economically forward ppl nd the tourists of the nation hav been experiencing crisis coz of terrorist attacks makes it very evident dat Terrorist are now concentrating on the tourist attraction of India. It was quite strange to cognize that terrorist were shouting nd asking for ppl who had UK nd US passports.


The ho'rable Union FM Mr. Chidambaram proudly sits crossed legged with Z category security nd raises his white collar by saying India has a GDP of 8% dis financial year, But wats de use of talking abt GDP wen der is no security for de people's life. The attack has not only made India to lose its recognition of being a peaceful nation in the world but also to lose some of its high profile security officers who lost their life during the fight against the terrorism.

The politicians who are given the Z category security, kindly wake up from the wonderland of just making money nd think abt wat can be done to eradicate terrorism atleast for safeguarding their lifes. Nevertheless, they can be de next target by the al-quedas or de lashkari thoibas or de Deccan mujahideens. Else, finally the citizens hav to condemn the terrorism after the PM of the nation is shot dead.

The world is experiencing economic crisis, but India for a change is experiencing "crisis of human life". Which is de worse case???