"Sourav" Saris

Even if Sourav Ganguly tries his best to stay away from limelight, there are people waiting to bring some focus on him - this time, its the "Sourav" crazy Bengali handloom weavers.

Handloom weavers? Yes. Guess what they have planned - "Sourav Ganguly Saris". The man who has made a fairy tale comeback into the national cricket team and is rearing to go on the 22 yards in the Carribbean, will make an appearance in the 6 yard and 9 yard saris back home.

Its a known fact that his fans in Bengal are die hard and will do anything right from burning effigies on the street to preparing a "green" wicket in Eden Gardens, but this one is out of the box. It will be interesting to see the response of people. குடும்பத்துல குழப்பம் வராம இருந்தா சரி :-)

Sourav is supposedly featured in the "Tangail Tanter" saris and the weavers seem to have put in a great amount of painstaking effort to weave the piece. More details here.

ஒரு மனுஷன நிம்மதியா இருக்க விட மாட்டாங்களே...

...

இயற்கையின் மொழிகள் புரிந்துவிடில்,

       மனிதனின் மொழிகள் தேவையில்லை...

இதயத்தின் மொழிகள் புரிந்துவிடில்,

       மனிதற்க்கு மொழியே தேவையில்லை...

What amazing lyrics! Just reading these beautifully poetic verses transcends one into a totally different world that conveys a plethora of feelings. Vidyasagar's music certainly helps you in that cause.

Now, I just can't wait to watch "Mozhi".

எல்லாம் Black and White-ல் தெரிகிறதே...

It was the first real big snowfall out here this morning and the entire place was up in royal black and white. Yes, those two accounted for 98% of the colors outside when I set off for office till I saw some skyscrapers downtown, cleaned up driveways and new cars in a showroom. There were a few snow showers earlier in the season including one scary freezing rain on Valentine's day when we were forced indoors but nothing to beat this - it was fresh snow everywhere, spotless white everywhere and it was indeed a sight to behold.

The trees stood majestic with snow caps on each of its branches. And there are these bushes near the entrance of my office some of them beautfully perched out of compound walls - all draped in white. As the wind blew over hard, they were just like white teddy bears hanging from trees.

And one thing I just love - walking in semi hardened snow. There would be an extra grip on the shoes and we won't slip and fall. Infact it would be safe at some places to walk on snow rather than the sidewalk. I ventured to do the same but my feet went about a foot deep into the snow and so I had no other option but to walk on the road :-)

Get well soon Dwyane...

Dwyane Wade, the reigning NBA finals MVP has a dislocated left shoulder after a nasty tangle pursuing a rebound with Shane Battier in Houston. Miami, the defending champs are already having an injury plagued season with Shaq and Wade injured at different points earlier and are starring down the barrel with Wade out of the line-up for atleast six weeks.

Wade's injury has come up at the most crucial juncture of the season - post the All-star break. He successfully defended his title at the Skills challenge in the all-star weekend in Vegas beating Kobe, LeBron and Chris Paul enroute. Miami had beaten San Antonio just before the break and were poised for a good outing when the unfortunate incident happened.

Wade has evolved as a phenomenal talent after he was drafted in 2003 - A potential hall of famer, a gentleman in the game and in my opinion the best of the famed 2003 class.

Get well soon Dwyane, the Heat are awaiting your return to the line-up.

The All-star break

The 2007 NBA season is at the half-way stage and has currently made a stopover at the entertainment capital of the world - Las Vegas, for its mid-season classic - The All-Star weekend.

Friday was the Rookie challenge where the Sophs steamrolled the freshmen by a 41 point margin. The hardness in the Sophs' game bears testimony to the embarassment their seniors handed them last year in Houston. Just for the stats - there were 35 dunks in the game.

Yesterday was All-star Saturday and the events lined up were the Shooting stars, Skills challenge, 3-point shootout and the show piece event - the Slam dunk contest where Gerald Green of the Celtics prevailed over defending champ Nate Robinson with 4 spectacular dunks.

And today is the All-Star game and it kicked off an hour ago with a classic comment, "For one night, whats happening in Vegas is shown around the world" :-)

திருவிளையாடல் ஆரம்பம்

திருவிளையாடல் ஆரம்பம் directed by Bhoopathi Pandian has Dhanush and Shreya in the lead with Prakashraj playing the hero's nemesis (he is not the villain).

The movie is all about a cat - mouse game between Dhanush and Prakashraj and its a racy entertainer with a lively screenplay. The movie never sags at any point and they have pulled it off with lot of comedy w/o any violence or vulgarity.

Its a tailor made movie for Dhanush and he does a neat job. Take this as a sample.
Policeman: உன் பேர் என்ன டா?
Dhanush: Police தானே... கண்டு புடி...

Shreya just comes, dances, cries and goes. Prakashraj has done his part very well especially when Dhanush takes him for a ride.

The Karunas-Dhanush combination has worked again with some sublime timing from Karunas. The tasmac shop scene is one.
Mayilsamy : Glad to meet you
Karunas (intoxicated) : என்னது கெழவிய காணுமா?
You must watch the scene... :-)

One other character who I liked very much was the kid who plays Dhanush's brother. He really does give Dhanush a ride in the scenes they are together. Mouli and Charanya do a neat job as the hero's parents.

Special mention has to be made about the dialogues. They are just stunning in many scenes. Another sample here.

Dhanush to Prakashraj : "கேக்கரவன் கேனப் பயலா இருந்தா K.B. சுந்தராம்பாள் R.B.செளத்ரி படத்துல நடிக்குதுனு சொல்லுவியே..."
Prakashraj's aide to Prakashraj : "அவன் பொங்கலுக்கே வெடி வெடிப்பான், இப்போ தீபாவளினா சும்மாவா இருப்பான்?"

One scene that's a bit too much is where Dhanush comes out of an SUV with bluetooth in his ear in a politician's get up - இது ரெம்ப ஒவர்!

Amidst the crap movies currently doing the rounds, this one is really a whiff of fresh air. Go and watch it! Its worth it.

Media Frenzy

What is so big about a celebrity engagement that makes every form of the media in a county go crazy about it? The hype, the build up etc., what does it really mean to the people?

What is the common man really going to gain from such widespread publicity provided in several dimensions by both the print and visual media about a couple getting engaged?

Agreed that the good news is happening in a celebrity household but there is a point where the media has to restrain itself and concentrate on issues begging for attention. And the private news channels are the worst having opinion polls and all other crap - a public discussion forum on National TV.

After doing all the publilcity work the same channels would conduct another poll "Are we delving too much into these things?" Why do it and then do a post-mortem thereby doubling/trebling the effect that has already been caused? But afterall, Bollywood and media feed each other.

Well, somebody well known is engaged?? Fine... great. Please leave them alone. Everyone in the country will be happy.

And after all the hype and hoopla over the past one and a half days, this is what I saw in a website "Marriage Advice for Ash-Abhishek : Click here".... Damn it!

ஏன் இவனுங்கதான் பொறந்தானுங்களா இந்தியா-வுல?!? நாம எல்லாரும் தேவையில்லாம பொறந்துட்டோமா?

New Year Celebrations

My first New Year outside home, and what a place to celebrate - New York times square. Can't ask for anything better? So did I think before making there.

4.30PM - 10 of us started from NJ in a bus bound towards NYC and boy! I got a preview of what is in store for that night right inside the bus (purinjukonga). People were all set to welcome 2007 with gusto.

5.15 PM - Arrival at NYC. Came outside the port authority station and made our way towards the destination. The place was chaotic to say the least. And it was pretty much like Ranganathan street. So it was easy for us to make our way through the crowd.

6.55PM - Arrival at Times Square.

7PM - The ball was raised atop for the drop at midnight. Mini fireworks accompanied it. That was the moment we realized how much the event was hyped up. It was a small ball supported on a stick like object. We confirmed with NYPD as to that was indeed the ball and when he said yes we heard "aw, crap!" from a guy who had come all the way from Maryland. People who heard the cop say that were very disappointed. We were within 1/2 a mile from the times square so we could spot the ball quite well. But all the expecations created by the hype had already come down with a thud.

It was getting colder and colder and we were considering other options as well. Except for the ambience there was nothing really in store!

So, exit 7th avenue, reach 8th avenue via broadway and enter Papajohns - delicious garlic bread, cheese pizza and soda. Some shopping enroute to the bus station.

11.45 PM - Back home in NJ watching New year celebrations around the world on TV. Syndey was at its glittering best as ever. At last came the ball drop - pathetic! Oru kuchchi-la ball keezha erangithu followed by fire works nothing of the highest quality...

Midnight - Exchange of new year greetings followed by a round of delicious masala tea. Then phone calls to makkal followed by some real good vetti arattai till 3AM before we were off to bed.

We were happy for two reasons at the end - one, for not being out in the cold watching a dumb event and two, for the quality time we got to spend with friends at around midnight and the tea! :-)

I miss this... :-(

Having been out of India for close to 7 months now, this is what I miss the most :-( Thanks to Vikhyath for sending and hail the "punniyavaan" who uploaded uploaded this!

Season's Greetings

அனைவருக்கும் இனிய புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்

New year eve-ல சரவண பவன் போய் ஒரு கட்டு கட்டலாம்-னு plan. நாளை NJ விஜயம்.

Have fun! See you all next year :-)

Yet another 158

Something for a statistician - Kevin Pietersen has scored yet another 158 run innings in his test career - the third and the latest coming in the 2nd Ashes test @ Adelaide earlier this month. I have not known any player having the same score for his top 3 test innings.

Online Tamil Keyboard

I was looking out for online தமி்ழ் keyboards to put up some vetti status messages in my messenger and came across this. KG sugested this one some time back and I've been using that ever since.

The tamil.sg keyboard appears more adaptive and corrects the spelling of the word as and when we type. Also all the tamil letters especially the "உ" forms of appear as its supposed to be unlike other online keyboards.

Check out... tamil.sg works only in IE.

காலக் கொடுமை!

Use IE to read the tamil fonts as it is.

TR is back with Veerasaamy and I believe there is going be a lot of "என்னக் கொடுமை சரவமணன் இது" that's going to be heard after it comes.

I happened to read the பெயர் காரணம் of the movie and it goes like this... TR says "Veera is a big hit of Rajni, Saamy is a big hit of Vikram. என்னோட படம் இந்த ரெண்டு படத்தையும் தூக்கி சாப்பிட போகுது"


You would have very well got a picture of what's in store after seeing the picture above.

Naan ippove solren... "என்னக் கொடுமை சரவமணன் இது?"

700 for Hollywood

Back after a big time hibernation from this space...

Shane Keith "Hollywood" Warne has just taken his 700th wicket in test cricket. The victim - Andrew Strauss, clean bowled.

The crowd at the MCG is going absolutely berserk. I am going back to catch up the action... :-)


Picture Courtesy : Cricinfo

Peter Boyle is no more

Peter Boyle better known as Frank Barone of Everybody Loves Raymond fame is no more. He is easily one of the best comedians if not the best, I've ever come across in sitcoms - the non-chalance with which he renders his dialogue, the timing, the expressions, he is easily on top of the league. No doubt, everyone will now be missing "Holy Crap"

Here is more about Frank