Outstanding observation.... I got this as an email FWD and thought of sharing it ....
What is the Talk of Town now? Whats the whole world is talking about? Be
it Media, Newspapers, Tv, InfyBlogs, BB, your friends circle, everybody
is talking about one and only one thing. - A V A T A R
I had been to bangalore for the weekend and saw this Ever hyped picture.
Avatar is named as the "Movie of the millennium" and the top ranker in
imdb list. Even the critics are all praise to this movie. Each one is
praising cameroon to the sky. But would you kill me if i say AVATAR is
the hollywood version of an old Malayalam Movie?
Yes. Avatar is the hollywood version of an old malayalam movie. A
Mohanlal starrer, Siddique-Lal directed, movie called VIETNAM COLONY!!!
Now wipe out the "What the Fa" expression from your face and lend me
your ears.
After 15 minutes into the movie i relaized that, AVATAR is VIETNAM
COLONY RELOADED
To start of with, let me give you and Intro about Vietnam Colony, if you
have no clue about it. This is an old malayalam movie which was released
when i was a kid. The story line is based on a colony named as Vietnam
Colony, where only gundas, goons, and below poverty line people lives.
This colony is situated in the centre of the place and a construction
company owns this colony. But the residents are not willing to vacate
the place as they dont have any other place to go. Then the company
makes a smart move by sending one person (Mohan Lal) to the colony, to
be one among them and to tactfully vacate the people. But knowing the
reality and by empathizing on the poor residents over there, the Man who
was sent by the company, stands for the colony people and fight back
against the company.
Striking something? Not Yet? Now replace the Vietnam Colony and the poor
residents as the people in Pandoras World. Replace the construction
company folks as those scientists. Replace Mohanlal as the Hero of
Avatar. Now you got it.
In Avatar, the hero (sorry , i dono his name) goes to Pandoras world
standing for the scientists and be one among the residents. Later on he
realizes the value of their existence and fight back against the ones
who had sent him. There are plenty of scenes matching with Vietnam
colony.
In the begininng, grace would tell the hero that she was looking for his
brother and have no confidence that he would finish the mission.
Similarly, in VC, Construction Company first doubts about the talent of
Lal and worry if he could evacuate the gunds and other localites from
their place.
In VC, When Mohanlal Reaches the colony, at first, he would have an
argument with the Auto Rikshaw guy regarding the fare. The Auto guy
tries to indulge in a fist fight with Lal. Then the Main Rowdy of
Colony, Rauthar, comes and stand behind Lal. Seeing him, the Auto guy
would flee and Lal thinks that the Auto guy got scared of him only and
when he turns back, he would see the gunda standing behind him.
Similarly in Avatar, when they are in the pandoras world for the first
time, an Elephant kinda creature tries to attack the hero and flee by
seeing a much bigger animal behind him. Hero thinks the elephant got
scared by him and when he turns back he see a much more bigger creature.
In VC, the person who had been sent by the company falls in love with a
girl of the colony. Similarly in Avatar, he fall for a girl from the
pandoras world. At one point of time, the slum people realize that he is
a person from the construction company and attacks Lal. Then the girl
comes for his help. Similarly in Avatar, tsu tey tries to kill the hero
and its the girl who saves the hero.
In VC, during the climax, Lal gets back to the company and tell that he
is no more working for them and then the company people comes to the
colony. At the climax, Lal is fighting against them along with the other
Colony people.In Avatar, along with the hero, whole community is
fighting against the villains.
There are much more scenes which Resembles the old Malayalam movie. I am
not saying Avatar is a remake of Vietnam Colony, but i am saying Avatar
is the Hollywood version of VC. Cameroon has added lots of stuff to the
western audience as well as to other viewers that you almost forget this
point. Now that is an Interntational Talent which makes you forget about
the original Plot. If Cameroon again take AVATAR after 10 years, i am
sure he would add in essentials so that no one would notice that its
still Avatar.
There are lot of wonderful scenes in AVATAR and Graphics is at its best.
Those wild creatures and the flying dragons were too good. I would want
to get rid of my RTR now and need a personalized vehicle like the one
Hero captures during the end.
While coming out of the multiplex, the first thing that came to my mind
is that instead of spending 500Rs at PVR Cinemas, i could have easily
taken the dvd of Vitenam colony for 15 Rs and could have enjoyed it once
again. This is James Cameroon's most hyped movie and the film after 11
Oscar Award winner TITANIC. It tooks 11 years for cameroon to make this
movie, a reality and now i wonder if Cameroon was watching the DVD of
Vietnam Colony throughout these 11 years :-)
Who would have had a hearty laugh watching these? None other than
Mohanlal and Siddique-Lal. Or would siddique-lal have felt bad after
seeing that their plot has gone international and have renowned
Worldwide fame? It pains you know. Even a chotta psychic blogger like me
felt bad when i got the articles which i have wrote in Infyblogs as a
forward to me. (Now stop laughing loud and making fun of me. It has
happened)
Well, If you havent watched Vietnam Colony, then you are Lucky. Avatar
is a new Experience to you.
If you have watched Vietnam Colony already, and dint even recognize this
until i wrote here, then praise the perfection and technicalities.
If you have watched Vietnam Colony and Already found out this similarity
in the theatre itseld, congrats for your out of box thinking.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
New Year Dhamaka 2010
To begin with, I wish all my readers a very happy and pleasantly happening New Year. The start was great for me. On 31st night I ate till I felt that my stomach will burst if I try to stuff in more. And the last weekend, I saw two incredible movies one after the other – Avatar and 3 idiots.
Of course Avatar is a super duper hit; but I didn’t know anything about the movie before watching it, except the name, the blue- black posters, and the director’s name of course. In fact I never bothered to check on that since I was not all the way excited about animated and unrealistic movies. But this is not like that, it has that girly touch to it and the movie gives due importance to emotion. Believe me or not – this was the first time I was watching a 3D movie. I was excited when I got the big 3D spectacles and double checked it with Ettan’s before choosing the best one. The actors were not popular ones (Point to be noted: I cannot identify more than a handful number of actors when it comes to English movies). But that really didn’t matter since I loved the Navis (The animated characters) better. I should admit that I was watching the movie for its colour and charm and didn’t pay attention to the technical details. It was a fairy tale for me. I did jump out of my seat a couple of times and leaned over sometimes to touch the flowers of the Eywa (the sacred goddess of Pandora). The dialogues are written beautifully – simple and just perfect to strike the chord especially when it comes to humor. The location is too good. I would love to go there once the way they flew over on those huge bat kinda creatures. The climax (The final shot I mean) is just awesome.
I was still roaming around in the fancy land when we started to watch 3 idiots the next day. I should say, it’s a must watch kewl movie. The movie is all about fun, fun and fun. It’s like a nonstop entertainer from the beginning to the end. Hats off to the crew – the movie rocks! Much much better than the book which the author claims that the movie is based on. In fact there is nothing to compare since they are way too different. Except for the basic plot – the campus, 3 crazy guys, a padakoo professor and his beautiful daughter, and some stray scenes here and there, there is nothing common between the book and the movie. There is no need for such hype about giving credit, copyright or whatever to the author. Every youngster will be able to relate to the movie at some point or the other. It’s another Aamir film as such since he rules the movie end to end. Sharman supports him and as expected he just lives the role – a character made for him. There was nothing outstanding in Maddy’s cast but he did carry around with ease. The all popular jokes like ‘Induction motor starting like vroom vroom vroooooom’ is being used but it really didn’t look outdated – all credits to Sharman Joshi!
After watching these two movies, I felt this weekend to be just perfect to start the year.
Since this is my first post for the year, I’m here to recollect the happenings of last year. I had always wanted to write diaries but I never had the guts to expose all my thoughts in a book, which might come handy to anyone at home ;) Why knowingly put yourself in deep trouble? But I used to write for every New Year. This year, being the last spinster year, I have mixed feelings. I’m excited about marriage, but although I don’t believe rather don’t want to believe that I would be restricted after that… No, that won’t happen. People say that these kind of scary thoughts are common for girls but generally don’t come if the girl has been staying out of home for a long time and it’s even rarer if she already knows the guy. Now if you say 4 years is long, then I’m away from home for quite a long time but I’m still homesick and these days it’s crazy. I’m visiting home every alternate weekend making any good convincible reason. Making people at home aware of this would be the last thing I wanna do now. I was prepared for getting married from a very long time but when it’s nearing, I kind of feel scared. I find myself uttering the aamir slogan – “all izz well” these days.
Last year was kind of dragging for me. Everything was as usual. But yes, we went for outings – Wayanad and Coorg. Office was boring to the peak… thanks to recession. At home, it was fun after Vishu. Actually when I’m looking back, nothing is striking me. Altogether not so good but yet trouble free year. This year is crucial. My status gonna change from single to married. New home, new relations – I know everyone but still it feels strange. I may have to shift my work location … hmm its gonna be a hectic year … but looking forward for it … eagerly with my fingers crossed J
Of course Avatar is a super duper hit; but I didn’t know anything about the movie before watching it, except the name, the blue- black posters, and the director’s name of course. In fact I never bothered to check on that since I was not all the way excited about animated and unrealistic movies. But this is not like that, it has that girly touch to it and the movie gives due importance to emotion. Believe me or not – this was the first time I was watching a 3D movie. I was excited when I got the big 3D spectacles and double checked it with Ettan’s before choosing the best one. The actors were not popular ones (Point to be noted: I cannot identify more than a handful number of actors when it comes to English movies). But that really didn’t matter since I loved the Navis (The animated characters) better. I should admit that I was watching the movie for its colour and charm and didn’t pay attention to the technical details. It was a fairy tale for me. I did jump out of my seat a couple of times and leaned over sometimes to touch the flowers of the Eywa (the sacred goddess of Pandora). The dialogues are written beautifully – simple and just perfect to strike the chord especially when it comes to humor. The location is too good. I would love to go there once the way they flew over on those huge bat kinda creatures. The climax (The final shot I mean) is just awesome.
I was still roaming around in the fancy land when we started to watch 3 idiots the next day. I should say, it’s a must watch kewl movie. The movie is all about fun, fun and fun. It’s like a nonstop entertainer from the beginning to the end. Hats off to the crew – the movie rocks! Much much better than the book which the author claims that the movie is based on. In fact there is nothing to compare since they are way too different. Except for the basic plot – the campus, 3 crazy guys, a padakoo professor and his beautiful daughter, and some stray scenes here and there, there is nothing common between the book and the movie. There is no need for such hype about giving credit, copyright or whatever to the author. Every youngster will be able to relate to the movie at some point or the other. It’s another Aamir film as such since he rules the movie end to end. Sharman supports him and as expected he just lives the role – a character made for him. There was nothing outstanding in Maddy’s cast but he did carry around with ease. The all popular jokes like ‘Induction motor starting like vroom vroom vroooooom’ is being used but it really didn’t look outdated – all credits to Sharman Joshi!
After watching these two movies, I felt this weekend to be just perfect to start the year.
Since this is my first post for the year, I’m here to recollect the happenings of last year. I had always wanted to write diaries but I never had the guts to expose all my thoughts in a book, which might come handy to anyone at home ;) Why knowingly put yourself in deep trouble? But I used to write for every New Year. This year, being the last spinster year, I have mixed feelings. I’m excited about marriage, but although I don’t believe rather don’t want to believe that I would be restricted after that… No, that won’t happen. People say that these kind of scary thoughts are common for girls but generally don’t come if the girl has been staying out of home for a long time and it’s even rarer if she already knows the guy. Now if you say 4 years is long, then I’m away from home for quite a long time but I’m still homesick and these days it’s crazy. I’m visiting home every alternate weekend making any good convincible reason. Making people at home aware of this would be the last thing I wanna do now. I was prepared for getting married from a very long time but when it’s nearing, I kind of feel scared. I find myself uttering the aamir slogan – “all izz well” these days.
Last year was kind of dragging for me. Everything was as usual. But yes, we went for outings – Wayanad and Coorg. Office was boring to the peak… thanks to recession. At home, it was fun after Vishu. Actually when I’m looking back, nothing is striking me. Altogether not so good but yet trouble free year. This year is crucial. My status gonna change from single to married. New home, new relations – I know everyone but still it feels strange. I may have to shift my work location … hmm its gonna be a hectic year … but looking forward for it … eagerly with my fingers crossed J
Friday, 4 December 2009
Another Milestone!
My last post dates back to 4 weeks back from now. Bad!
Actually the reason is that when I come to office in the morning, I make this plan – today I’ll write about ---- but what can I do? Writer’s block you see! (Can I use such words or is it patented only to big writers?)
I’m bored to death. Office is too boring and I keep saving up little bit of work left so that I can do it the next day to keep myself occupied. Now, if you think that it’s great to laze around in the office, I would like to correct it – It’s really not when you have the constraint of spending 9.5 hours in the office and especially when all your friends are either in a different tower or on leave or gone onsite or are pregnant! ;)
I met Rahana after 2 years when I was going back from office one day. The same as she was in college. After our 10 minute long discussion, I realized that people are really keen in settling down. So many of my classmates are pregnant and many are mothers by now. Life seems to be running off like loose sand. Guys are picking up as well. What I fail to understand is the differentiating factor that we have gained in the last 4 years after college. Except for a well paying job and stay outside home, I don’t find any significant change. And I was thinking till a few years back that 25 is old. It looks like yesterday when I was running around for Nani’s marriage and that actually is 8 years back. At this pace, I fear that I will remain confused as my kids grow up and suddenly when they are over 20, I will sit and think of how I got married as if it was yesterday. Is it the effect of the place where I’m or just the age. I don’t know the reason; all I know is that I do not like this pace. Enough of philosophy, let’s get to more interesting things – I’m getting married!
Marriage – one time in a life time. You have all the liberty to plan and splurge money to your wish – that’s Nami’s advice. Good or bad, I’m spending enough money and time for planning. And that’s what keeps me occupied all these days. After Sreeja left to Mexico, I have all the time in the world to do whatever I wish. Last time when I went home, we finished the most dreadful and painful part (Gold shopping). After that we thought of going to Coimbatore for checking out Sarees. It was a Tuesday and I suppose it’s not a good day for people in TamilNadu to purchase silk. Good for us, we had at least 10 sales girls around us for our assistance. We chose Ganapathy silks and thanks that we did, we have no regrets. It was like a mall with 5 floors. I have heard my friends say that they have sarees of regional taste more but I don’t agree. They have everything, mostly in silk. Only thing is that you have to specifically ask for, sit and choose. What I was amazed at was the price range. You ask it and you get it. You can go to the shop with just 1000 rupees and yet return back after shopping to your hearts satisfaction. Tamilian’s are known for their hospitality. When we were done with the shopping, they kept the sarees for Puja and gave us a big steel thattu with manjal and kunkumam, also a discount of 1000 rupees. And when I was waiting for acha to get the bills cleared off, I had a chance to meet the owner. I was amazed at the way they managed the store. They have fresh stocks coming every week; they have only one branch and 1500 people working in various shifts in the same shop. They have policies laid up clearly. The employees get PF, performance Bonus, they get salary from ATM’s, they have a clear count of Annual and Sick leaves and what not. I admired the owner and the management there as I heard all this from a sales manager there. We had to admit the difference in experience – the previous day, we shopped for lacks in a Jewellery shop and it looked no better than the street market. No matter how high the gold price soar, the place for the yellow metal in a typical Keralite family is very big!
Things that I like in TamilNadu
· Chettinadu cuisine – Non-veg in particular. They are just so spicy.
· Silk sarees – nothing to match the rich colours and intricate works in Kancheepuram silk sarees
· Jasmine flowers – They wear it for all occasions and when it is unadulterated with orange and green additions, they smell so good and are nice to see (Only if they wear it after taking bath ;) and trust me the reverse is not very rare.)
· Their hospitality
· Respect for women
· Their readiness to change and develop
· Their anklets – Only thing is that they end up wearing it for wrong occasions, a client meeting in office for example.
What I dislike
· The turmeric, which is the all time hit moisturizer there.
· The climate
I started with something else and ended up analyzing TamilNadu … great!
I’m waiting for comments…yes yes go ahead ….!!!
Actually the reason is that when I come to office in the morning, I make this plan – today I’ll write about ---- but what can I do? Writer’s block you see! (Can I use such words or is it patented only to big writers?)
I’m bored to death. Office is too boring and I keep saving up little bit of work left so that I can do it the next day to keep myself occupied. Now, if you think that it’s great to laze around in the office, I would like to correct it – It’s really not when you have the constraint of spending 9.5 hours in the office and especially when all your friends are either in a different tower or on leave or gone onsite or are pregnant! ;)
I met Rahana after 2 years when I was going back from office one day. The same as she was in college. After our 10 minute long discussion, I realized that people are really keen in settling down. So many of my classmates are pregnant and many are mothers by now. Life seems to be running off like loose sand. Guys are picking up as well. What I fail to understand is the differentiating factor that we have gained in the last 4 years after college. Except for a well paying job and stay outside home, I don’t find any significant change. And I was thinking till a few years back that 25 is old. It looks like yesterday when I was running around for Nani’s marriage and that actually is 8 years back. At this pace, I fear that I will remain confused as my kids grow up and suddenly when they are over 20, I will sit and think of how I got married as if it was yesterday. Is it the effect of the place where I’m or just the age. I don’t know the reason; all I know is that I do not like this pace. Enough of philosophy, let’s get to more interesting things – I’m getting married!
Marriage – one time in a life time. You have all the liberty to plan and splurge money to your wish – that’s Nami’s advice. Good or bad, I’m spending enough money and time for planning. And that’s what keeps me occupied all these days. After Sreeja left to Mexico, I have all the time in the world to do whatever I wish. Last time when I went home, we finished the most dreadful and painful part (Gold shopping). After that we thought of going to Coimbatore for checking out Sarees. It was a Tuesday and I suppose it’s not a good day for people in TamilNadu to purchase silk. Good for us, we had at least 10 sales girls around us for our assistance. We chose Ganapathy silks and thanks that we did, we have no regrets. It was like a mall with 5 floors. I have heard my friends say that they have sarees of regional taste more but I don’t agree. They have everything, mostly in silk. Only thing is that you have to specifically ask for, sit and choose. What I was amazed at was the price range. You ask it and you get it. You can go to the shop with just 1000 rupees and yet return back after shopping to your hearts satisfaction. Tamilian’s are known for their hospitality. When we were done with the shopping, they kept the sarees for Puja and gave us a big steel thattu with manjal and kunkumam, also a discount of 1000 rupees. And when I was waiting for acha to get the bills cleared off, I had a chance to meet the owner. I was amazed at the way they managed the store. They have fresh stocks coming every week; they have only one branch and 1500 people working in various shifts in the same shop. They have policies laid up clearly. The employees get PF, performance Bonus, they get salary from ATM’s, they have a clear count of Annual and Sick leaves and what not. I admired the owner and the management there as I heard all this from a sales manager there. We had to admit the difference in experience – the previous day, we shopped for lacks in a Jewellery shop and it looked no better than the street market. No matter how high the gold price soar, the place for the yellow metal in a typical Keralite family is very big!
Things that I like in TamilNadu
· Chettinadu cuisine – Non-veg in particular. They are just so spicy.
· Silk sarees – nothing to match the rich colours and intricate works in Kancheepuram silk sarees
· Jasmine flowers – They wear it for all occasions and when it is unadulterated with orange and green additions, they smell so good and are nice to see (Only if they wear it after taking bath ;) and trust me the reverse is not very rare.)
· Their hospitality
· Respect for women
· Their readiness to change and develop
· Their anklets – Only thing is that they end up wearing it for wrong occasions, a client meeting in office for example.
What I dislike
· The turmeric, which is the all time hit moisturizer there.
· The climate
I started with something else and ended up analyzing TamilNadu … great!
I’m waiting for comments…yes yes go ahead ….!!!
Friday, 30 October 2009
Hobbies - Then and now
This is a write up I prepared for a competition in WOW(Women of Wipro). That's a crazy link they provided - I'm not able to submit it ... Despite cutting it short to fit their word count. Baad mein jao competition, here is the complete article as I wrote in the first go.
When does a person actually take time to sit and think about his hobby? Frankly put, I would say when he has to fill up any application forms, and mostly that will be tailored to sound just perfect for the post that is applied for. The hoppy thus becomes professional! It loses its whole definition (The dictionary defines hobby as an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure). Looking at the fast pace at which the world keeps changing it’s a fact that when people get stuck in the rat race of moving on, they hardly find time to keep track of their interests. The struggle for existence takes priority over ones passion. Hence he has to actually think hard before answering that tricky question – What’s your hobby?
That’s the generic way of putting it. Talking about me, my interests are short lived which I justify as an invincible element of growth. There was a time when philately, currency collection, why even empty matchbox collection fancied me. My day was done if I manage to do a high profit exchange with my classmates and trust me that would be a serious affair and we used to have mediators for each transaction. After I got into my high school, Nancy Drew, Hardy boys and Famous Five took most of my time. That was like an addiction for me. Thanks to my school library, they had the entire collection. My college curriculum put a big loud full spot on my reading. That was when Music fascinated me. I had a brand new CD player and good huge speakers at my disposal. I liked to roam and my two- wheeler gave me all the freedom to roam around in town and most importantly, come home late. Soon after landing up with a comfortable job, my culinary interests took over everything else. I used to spend a lot of time thinking of what to cook in the evening. The liveliness and colors of a big city lured me and I loved going out to eat and shop. When I was suddenly left with lot of money and ample spending options for the same, the shopping freak in me gets all what’s needed. As time passed my definition of travel also expanded its boundaries. I got chances to travel in and out of the country both officially as well as personally.
Now that I have spent four years here, I feel that I have outgrown many of my interests. And as my age demands, I started paying more attention to my fitness and weight. I was never so keen about maintaining good physique but as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. So I spend a good amount of my time exercising which I enjoy doing. Since I chose aerobics, I don’t feel that as a compulsion. It’s good to move to the fast rhythms and nice to see quick results. And most importantly it’s not an individual item. When coupled with simple yoga postures in the end, it takes care of you mind and body as a whole. It’s not about losing weight, not even about becoming trim – it’s just a feel that you are healthy and fresh. At the end of a session, you feel light and if you take a brisk walk out, it’s just perfect. Every day in the morning, you don’t have to spend 15 minutes of your time juggling in your wardrobe trying to decide which dress to wear for the day that will make you look slim and hide your tummy. After all it’s nice to have a hobby that you love doing with great rewards as bonus.
Apart from that there is one thing that has caught my attention lately - photo collage. I take time to get the pictures printed out, arrange it in stick albums or get it framed with nice tags. And since that has become my gifting trend to almost all the occasions to anyone I know, I get teased enough by my friends. No matter what, everyone will enjoy those rare moments of theirs to be framed. And although it’s a habit with me, it’s always new and special to person receiving it. It’s like going back to your school days when you work with glue sticks and paper cuttings.
Moving on to my next pastime, I have suddenly become a cleanliness jerk! I have always believed in a little amount of mess. When my mother used to scold when I was a kid for not arranging my things properly, I used to say that I love to place all the things messed up around me. It was usual for me to pile and push all my clothes into the wardrobe and close it with maximum pressure before anyone comes to my room just to hide him/her from the horror of the first-look of my room. But things have now started changing, maybe again as I believed, part of growing up. I take time in cleaning up my room, arranging things in place. I love to play the perfect host for a dinner with neatly kept curtains with the guest room spic and span!
I feel that the remnant of a good reader is still in me and I have started to pen down my thoughts in my blog. I update my blog more frequently these days and with more sincerity. Although I started it just like an email-ID, it has more or less become my identity. My readers count has increased and I treat it like a personal diary of mine.
Thanks to my fiancé, I have now started to appreciate some of the all time classics of Hollywood. I was always a passive movie watcher, and the very thought of watching an English movie continuously from start to end without missing a dialogue used to make me feel bored. I started to watch the most popular of English movies and should say, couldn’t just help appreciating them. So these days, I love to spend some time to watch the evergreen classics from time to time.
Apart from all these, I love to walk and to observe people. I no more complain about bus not being on time or the busy traffic since the place around never remains static. The street vendors, the aunty sitting next to me in the bus, the nasty motorcyclist, the unruly rikshaw driver – all become the characters of my instant play. I have overlooked the beauty of all other places, with a simple self judgment that no place can match the beauty of my hometown. Not that I have suddenly changed my mind, but I have opened myself to explore and admire the intricacies of my surroundings.
Above all, I believe in activity. I feel that one should be always busy to avoid any tensions. Choosing a hobby is a personal taste. But to make a healthy individual, one who is physically fit as well as mentally stable, there has to be something happening around him. Each individual has to pursue a hobby of their interest different from their work on a routine basis to maintain the vigor in life - That spark that keeps him going!
When does a person actually take time to sit and think about his hobby? Frankly put, I would say when he has to fill up any application forms, and mostly that will be tailored to sound just perfect for the post that is applied for. The hoppy thus becomes professional! It loses its whole definition (The dictionary defines hobby as an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure). Looking at the fast pace at which the world keeps changing it’s a fact that when people get stuck in the rat race of moving on, they hardly find time to keep track of their interests. The struggle for existence takes priority over ones passion. Hence he has to actually think hard before answering that tricky question – What’s your hobby?
That’s the generic way of putting it. Talking about me, my interests are short lived which I justify as an invincible element of growth. There was a time when philately, currency collection, why even empty matchbox collection fancied me. My day was done if I manage to do a high profit exchange with my classmates and trust me that would be a serious affair and we used to have mediators for each transaction. After I got into my high school, Nancy Drew, Hardy boys and Famous Five took most of my time. That was like an addiction for me. Thanks to my school library, they had the entire collection. My college curriculum put a big loud full spot on my reading. That was when Music fascinated me. I had a brand new CD player and good huge speakers at my disposal. I liked to roam and my two- wheeler gave me all the freedom to roam around in town and most importantly, come home late. Soon after landing up with a comfortable job, my culinary interests took over everything else. I used to spend a lot of time thinking of what to cook in the evening. The liveliness and colors of a big city lured me and I loved going out to eat and shop. When I was suddenly left with lot of money and ample spending options for the same, the shopping freak in me gets all what’s needed. As time passed my definition of travel also expanded its boundaries. I got chances to travel in and out of the country both officially as well as personally.
Now that I have spent four years here, I feel that I have outgrown many of my interests. And as my age demands, I started paying more attention to my fitness and weight. I was never so keen about maintaining good physique but as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. So I spend a good amount of my time exercising which I enjoy doing. Since I chose aerobics, I don’t feel that as a compulsion. It’s good to move to the fast rhythms and nice to see quick results. And most importantly it’s not an individual item. When coupled with simple yoga postures in the end, it takes care of you mind and body as a whole. It’s not about losing weight, not even about becoming trim – it’s just a feel that you are healthy and fresh. At the end of a session, you feel light and if you take a brisk walk out, it’s just perfect. Every day in the morning, you don’t have to spend 15 minutes of your time juggling in your wardrobe trying to decide which dress to wear for the day that will make you look slim and hide your tummy. After all it’s nice to have a hobby that you love doing with great rewards as bonus.
Apart from that there is one thing that has caught my attention lately - photo collage. I take time to get the pictures printed out, arrange it in stick albums or get it framed with nice tags. And since that has become my gifting trend to almost all the occasions to anyone I know, I get teased enough by my friends. No matter what, everyone will enjoy those rare moments of theirs to be framed. And although it’s a habit with me, it’s always new and special to person receiving it. It’s like going back to your school days when you work with glue sticks and paper cuttings.
Moving on to my next pastime, I have suddenly become a cleanliness jerk! I have always believed in a little amount of mess. When my mother used to scold when I was a kid for not arranging my things properly, I used to say that I love to place all the things messed up around me. It was usual for me to pile and push all my clothes into the wardrobe and close it with maximum pressure before anyone comes to my room just to hide him/her from the horror of the first-look of my room. But things have now started changing, maybe again as I believed, part of growing up. I take time in cleaning up my room, arranging things in place. I love to play the perfect host for a dinner with neatly kept curtains with the guest room spic and span!
I feel that the remnant of a good reader is still in me and I have started to pen down my thoughts in my blog. I update my blog more frequently these days and with more sincerity. Although I started it just like an email-ID, it has more or less become my identity. My readers count has increased and I treat it like a personal diary of mine.
Thanks to my fiancé, I have now started to appreciate some of the all time classics of Hollywood. I was always a passive movie watcher, and the very thought of watching an English movie continuously from start to end without missing a dialogue used to make me feel bored. I started to watch the most popular of English movies and should say, couldn’t just help appreciating them. So these days, I love to spend some time to watch the evergreen classics from time to time.
Apart from all these, I love to walk and to observe people. I no more complain about bus not being on time or the busy traffic since the place around never remains static. The street vendors, the aunty sitting next to me in the bus, the nasty motorcyclist, the unruly rikshaw driver – all become the characters of my instant play. I have overlooked the beauty of all other places, with a simple self judgment that no place can match the beauty of my hometown. Not that I have suddenly changed my mind, but I have opened myself to explore and admire the intricacies of my surroundings.
Above all, I believe in activity. I feel that one should be always busy to avoid any tensions. Choosing a hobby is a personal taste. But to make a healthy individual, one who is physically fit as well as mentally stable, there has to be something happening around him. Each individual has to pursue a hobby of their interest different from their work on a routine basis to maintain the vigor in life - That spark that keeps him going!
Monday, 26 October 2009
Another Classic for the Malayalam Film industry to be proud of - Pazhassi Raja
If the first thing that I do on a fine Monday morning after coming to office is to write a post on the movie ‘Pazhassi Raja’, then you can believe the extent to which it has moved me. I’m spellbound!!!
I know very little of Kerala history for which I comfortably put the blame on my academic curriculum at KV. Many of the short stories in ‘Aithihyamala’ were new to me when I read the English translation of the same recently. And since I have been very little to towns with historic importance within Kerala, I stayed aloof from the supposed to be very familiar sagas of my state. My disability of not being able to read and write my mother tongue was one more cause for the isolation.
I feel pathetic to say this but I started to watch the movie as an alien - One who had no idea of the history of the place where she was born and spent a good majority of her life. Unlike ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha’, this is not a mammooty movie. It’s indeed a good multi-starrer; all are stars in their own way. Sarath Kumar, Manoj K jayan and Padmapriya were at their best. PadmaPriya was so natural in her performance right from the first scene that I didn’t bother to look at any other actor when she is there on screen. She did justice to the action sequences and she looked gorgeous even without makeup. I liked the way Manoj K jayan climbed the trees and his performance when he was brought for hanging in the cage. Sarath Kumar did the fights like any warrior; he moved the sword with ease, his attire was suiting him very well. Mammooty, as expected looked royal in his costume. Although I didn’t like Kaniha in the movie trailers because I thought that she didn’t have that Malayali look, I changed my opinion after watching the movie. She brings in that tender lady touch to the movie without which it would have been very dry.
The songs are all one better than the other. As actor Devan said, this is a movie to be watched by every malayali. This is a movie which I feel will be liked by children and adults, men and women alike. So don’t feel sad about spending 200 rupees, this is to be watched in theatres else you will miss half the thrill for sure!
I am leaving the rest to be filled in by Etta and Sree as they can bring more facts to this…
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Year end resolutions
I can see that the frequency of my posts have reduced significantly. At least, there is a pattern - a minimum of one post in a month. The last two months, I feel that I have spent more time at home than in Bangalore... visited 4 times already, all visits for more than 3 days. No smooth sail in the office coz i got thrashed by my HR and my Boss alike for not maintaining my average hours for the second time. When will this policy change!!! I have to seriously consider changing my transport medium. Back to Office shuttle.. God that means get out of hostel by 7:20 in the morning!!!
I changed my work location to another tower and under a new manager. The first noticeable change came in my designation. It does sound better now I should say. It’s time to renew my visiting card ;) This place is very happening. All young people around. Planning for marriage, About to marry, freshly married, expectant mothers, fathers to be, just became fathers - that’s the range of people in the team. Very vibrant, colourful ;) and yes, lots of maska chaska girly talks in the air. Very different from the dry and old gang there in my previous building.
It’s good to see Rose move around with the big belly ... The whole team is considerate with her and gives her enough room to feel comfortable @ office. Our lunch time gossips slowly shifted from who's getting married to whom to who is in which month. I got my ABC corrected in these matters from the starters.
For the first time, my mother looked worried that I'm gaining weight. I should say that I have been a little careless lately and I do feel bloated myself. So my resolution (to be started from Monday)
Don’t miss aerobics/yoga even a day
Strict veggie till mid of December.
get to office by 8:30 in the morning daily
Avoid fried food :(
Friday, 25 September 2009
Win Win Time...
I’m not talking about any competition that I won. The good news is from my workplace. Wipro, TIS won two mega projects thereby adding the revenue to more than 200 million dollars in one go; Great indeed. But the fact that I’m surprised is that we managed to get a treat for that. It was a good change. I got to see the veterans speak, those people whom I had just heard of. I realized that these big shots just deserve to be there. A few have their own unique style, a positive energy in what that speak and do. It’s not in the attire, not in the catchy words they spoke. They spoke plain English in the simplest way one can expect, without blabbering or stammering, complete and to the point.
I felt good that I belong to an organization that is not that scarce of leaders who inspire people just by their presence.
It’s very well said that the success of a person’s career largely depends on the manager under whom he works.
I felt good that I belong to an organization that is not that scarce of leaders who inspire people just by their presence.
It’s very well said that the success of a person’s career largely depends on the manager under whom he works.
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