Grand but not realistic

The mother, dressed in the finest of silks (with enough glitter embroidered on it), decorated in the finest jewelry, finishes giving her "aarthi" to an equally decorated deity, against the background of thumping background score (even if it is devotional tune) and waits for her son to take the first blessing, a tradition that he hasn't missed ever in his lifetime. So as there surrounds pindrop silence in the huge prayer hall of the modestly sized mansion, that is conveniently filled with guests, who seem to have no other jobs but to wait for the son to take the first blessing, a helicopter descends from the skies outside the mansion and the son jumps out of it before the chopper has even touched the ground. And the bombastic score kicks in again. Meanwhile, the editor has a merry time intercutting between the beaming mother's face and the athletic son's, who doesn't waste time catching his breath, inspite of the 10K run from the helipad to the prayer hall. The orchestra swells, along with the eyes of the mother, as the son walks into the house with a sense of accomplishment that could only come with conquering Mt. Everest. The jobless loitering guests couldn't be any happier. To the collective applause of the gathered audience (for reasons unknown), the son bends down and takes the first blessing from his mother. The audience becomes overwhelmed (thanks in large parts to the thumping score pumped throughout all the corners of seating auditorium) with joy, happiness and ecstacy, as kerchiefs come out to wipe away the tears streaking down the cheeks at just the same time that goosebumps make their special appearances - another typical moment in the dreamy world of Indian movies. The surprising aspect is, the above description is not from the loud 70's era, which the Hindi filmmakers seem to have taken a great shine on nowadays in the name of homage, but from a contemporary movie from just a few years ago.

This was the description of Sharukh Khan's introduction scene in Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (At the end of the title track).

I came across this in a review written by Mr. Srinivas Kanchibhotla while surfing the website idlebrain.com. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this description of one of the grandest scenes of a superhit movie; He ripped apart the scene from the word go :) .

Perspectives you see!!

P.S: Well I find Karan Johar's movies entertaining - They are a visual treat but seldom realistic.

Anything but that!

I was feeling terribly bored for most of last week. Just the routine - the usual assignments, meetings, the hoolah about job strategies, H1-B, why Duke MEM is such a horrible course and accusing a couple of so called 'marketers' for tricking them into taking an admission (and pay 15 lakhs!! - Silly fellows!! No doubt they got tricked...)

Anyway, now that the frustration is out, I am trying to stay aloof from all these people and their discussions for some time... This meaningless chatter is really draining me out! I remember the interesting and fun discussions I used to have with my friend circle in Mumbai. Whether it was discussing movies & masti with the barasingha, vedanta with Arvind, leadership and management with Seshu or some impossible (for me :) ) math problem with Deepan - they were intelectually challenging. It stimulated my brain and kept me fresh, energetic and asking for more!

I am either not engaging with the right kind of people here (thanks to my introvert, asocial being!) or I am a weird misfit here!!

My brain seemed to have started rusting. I was getting more and more frustrated by the day. I had to do something about this... I immediately went to the nearest library, picked up a couple of interesting books on perspective and business strategy! That will keep me going for a while.

Also, I am consciously engaging myself in some of these things I 'love' to do and am 'passionate' about.

Music: I listen to lot more music these days and believe it or not, I am learning a few songs too :) Maybe I'l record a few on karaoke and upload here (who needs a headache? :) )

Art: I used to sketch and paint a lot previously. I have done some craft work too. I realized how much I was missing by not running a piece of charcoal on paper during a recent MEM seminar. It was a now-routine 'required' seminar without any concrete topic or direction. I lost interest within the first 15 minutes of it. I started sketching something on the back of my notebook and at the end of the hour was a pretty neat landscape. I have now decided to do a little bit of art sometimes.

Photography: I was always fond of photography. And, I have always wanted a good camera. Just this week I was considering whether to buy a digital camera this black friday (Thankgiving weekend shopping at huuuge discounts). I might not buy one, but I have been borrowing some of my good friends' cameras to click pictures. Just today, on my walk back home with my friend Jean, I clicked pictures of whatever is remaining of this Fall season. I have a hunch that some of them have come out pretty well. I will post these pictures too once Jean sends them over to me.

Movies: It is my latest craze! Especially Tamil and Telugu movies. Unlike what I thought before, I do like and am able to relate well with Telugu movies. Previously, I used to find most Telugu movies cheap and embarrassing to watch. But I was wrong. I have a strong Andhra brought up and connection even though I have never stayed or studied in my 'home state'. So, I catch a good movie quite often these days. And believe it or not, I am more up-to-date about Tollywood (Telugu Film Industry) than my folks back home. I give them movie suggestions too.

Language: And from all this "I have re-discovered my cultural roots" thingy stems the new found interest in my mother tongue. I am learning to read and write faster and better. It is so much fun!! I hope to write my mom a letter in Telugu one day :)

Reading: I read a lot more than now-a-days. Totally lost interest from Novels. But, I read company success stories, business & management books, business magazines, etc. Call me a nerd if you wish, but it is really exciting to read how Google tactfully managed VC investments during its early days, how BCG's perspectives changed the world of business strategy and how 3M transformed from a mining company to one of innovation and creativity.

Now that is a handful, isn't it?

PS: Did I mention that my exams are beginning next week? I guess I should add studying to the list too :P

The Language of the Soul

A beautiful song from the Tamil movie 'Mozhi' (English: Language). A wonderful melodious tune by Vidayasagar and superb rendition by singer Balram. The beauty of the song really lies in its lyrics penned by Vairamuthu .

Kaatrin Mozhi Oliyaa? Isaiyaa?
Poovin Mozhi Niramaa? Manamaa?
Kadalin Mozhi Alaiyaa? Nuraiyaa?
Kaadhal Mozhi Vizhiyaa? Idhazhaa?

Iyarkaiyin Mozhigal Purinthuvidil
Manitharin Mozhigal Thevai illai
Idhayathin Mozhigal Purinthuvidil
Manitharku Mozhiye Thevai illai....

Kaatrin Mozhi Oliyaa? Isaiyaaa?
Poovin Mozhi Niramaa? Manamaa?

Kaatru Veesum bothu Thisaigal Kidayaathu
Kaadhal Pesum bothu Mozhigal Kidaiyaathu
Pesum Vaarthai Pola Mounam Puriyaathu
Kangal Pesum Vaarthai Kadavul Ariyaathu
Ulavi Thiriyum Kaatruku Uruvam Theeta Mudiyaathu
Kadhal Pesum Mozhiyellam Sabthakootil Adangaathu

Iyarkaiyin Mozhigal Purinthuvidil
Manitharin Mozhigal Thevai illai
Idhayathin Mozhigal Purinthuvidil
Manitharku Mozhiye Thevai illai....

Kaatrin Mozhi.....

Vaanam Pesum Pechu Thuliyaai Veliyaagum
Vaanavillin Pechu Niramaai Veliyaagum
Unnmai Oomai Aanal Kaneer Mozhi Aagam
Pennmai Oomai Aanal Naanam Mozhi Aagum
Osai Thoongum Jaamathil Ucchi Meengal Mozhiyaagum
Aasai Thoongum Idhayathil Asaivu Kooda Mozhiyaagum

Iyarkaiyin Mozhigal Purinthuvidil
Manitharin Mozhigal Thevai illai
Idhayathin Mozhigal Purinthuvidil
Manitharku Mozhiye Thevai illai....

Kaatrin Mozhi.....

You can listen to the song here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8cj-K5Wbdw

Cheers !!

Sitting on the tall three legged chair with a glass in your hand and sipping (or should I say gulping) away to glory is the beginning of the definition of fun and a common party scene here. This is not it. Things get dirty and unpleasant as the hours pass by and more and more empty glasses accumulate on the table. Oh ya and not to forget the 'soul touching' meaningful music that engulfs the people making them loose themselves!

Nothing against the people who like such parties or the parties itself, but the tone I use here is because I tried to picture myself enjoying myself in a booze-parties and try to get into the 'circles'. I took a brave step towards it by accepting an invitation to one such party with lots of coke to my rescue.
Didn't work out! This is not my kind of a thing.

I guess I am happy being the old fashioned (LS) kind that I am with a glass of orange juice, some 'nerdy' book to give me company and melodious Ilayiraja music.

A hole in the heart...

Where the crane stands now used to be the two majestic world trade center buildings.
Now only emptiness and sorrow.