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Showing posts from May, 2011

Sargam - A 1992 Movie Review

This is a malayalam movie directed by Hariharan. Probably everyone in Kerala would have watched this many times. I got a chance to watch this movie yesterday. Brilliant make - a nice mix of psychology and music. I could identify, Vineeth, Renuka, Thilagan, and Nedumudi Venu in the movie. I wouldnt know the rest of the stars but I must say the movie has been done very well and is set in the late seventies or so it seems. Or may be the nineties itself. I would not know such a set up because I grew up in Tamil Nadu. The whole movie has been shot in a bungalow of old times. They call it Kovilagam which seems to mean Temple. I assume that the ancestors of this family had once been very rich and provided for the families working for them and lived a kingly life with great taste towards traditional arts. The family in the movie seems to be richer as well and did have regards for arts, especially music. Kuttan Thamburan had epilepsy and his close pal, Hari was around right from childhood to ta

On silence and quietness

Being silent and Being quiet are not the same. Absence of Noise is Quietness. Presence of Peace in the midst of noise is Silence. Being quiet resolves disputes. Being silent never brings up disputes. Being quiet can mean acceptance. Being silent can mean forgiveness or patience. Being quiet all the time can cause problems to be promoted from trivial to disastrous. Being silent all the time can cause problems to be demoted from disastrous to trivial. They said, Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden.. Quietness didn't find a place in the proverb. So, speak when you must, with Silence as the goal in your mind. Speak to make peace. Speak to appreciate. Speak to love. Speak to thank. Speak to care. Speak to reduce stress. Speak to have fun. Speak to communicate. Speak to emote. In all these instances your mental silence will only improve. In examination halls and temples quietness will improve your focus. Temples and examination halls should revise their sign boards as 'Silence and Q

Nrityanjali's Sharanarpitam - Wonderful

Thursday evening was grand for us. I was very excited to have an invitation for a Bharatanatyam dance performance of my friend's daughter. I had learnt the art as a child and I now know to appreciate Bharatanatyam. I can sit for hours together watching dance performances. So, off we went to this place called Al Wadi Al Khabir and struggled to find a parking space outside the venue, Crystal Suites. Inside, there was an event manager who directed us to the place and our friends came out of the hall with two passes. The effect inside the hall was theatrical and the first performance of the children had begun. The programme started with a lot of Shlokhas sung on various Hindu Gods and Godesses. All the children who took part in this dance were under seven years of age. The stage was colorful and the lighting was perfect. I liked the grace, the style, the ease and the uniformity with which the children did their performance. It gave the best first impression on the whole programme. We d

Cooking and healing touch!!!

I was not feeling too well yesterday and over the last few days. It was my husband's birthday yesterday and I wanted to feel good. Now, I didn't know that all it takes to change from a 'not-too-well' state to 'feel-better' or 'doing-good' is just that one voice in my head which said: Just get up and get going... Make some nice special meal for dinner and of course take rest after you are done. After all, it is his special day and do not break his day's cheer!!!! I do not know even as I write this post as to how I actually worked myself up to make a grand dinner ( Okay, not so grand, but yes a different dinner I must say ) On the menu last night we had: Badam Kheer Masala Vada Olan ( Kerala dish) Mango Sambhar Tomato Rasam Capsicum curry Pappad Moru Molagai or fried chillies We had a good dinner and it was only after I put away the dishes and cleared the table that my feeling of 'not-well' really propped up again.. Can cooking be connected to

Blessed!!!

Today, I woke up toa reasonably good start as compared to the last few days. Still, somewhere deep down I knew that I am not what I usually am. Discovered that blessings are always around when I switched on my computer. There were emails to make my mood better, some old friends came online after many months just today, and I did receive some emails from people after a long time. Also read some interesting blog posts. Now, all these would have happened many times in my life, but somehow today I realized that all of these are blessings that have been in my life over the years and never realized as much as I did today. Am much better spirited person now. We often do not know how blessed we are until a moment comes when we have to put up with something to realize how much blessed we are. I remember this verse from school : I thank the Lord that I've been Blessed; With more than my share of happiness. Its probably just that I never bothered to realize the gift of a simple email, a chat

Listening and understanding are two different things!!!!

I have often thought it is easy to understand someone else. But then realized in one important and striking moment today that actually it is not easy to understand anyone at all. All the times that we have claimed to have understood someone were probably because we were not involved in the scene as much as them. They say, everything is funny as long as it happens to someone else... Another saying : Head ache and Stomach ache can be understood only if you face it yourself at least once. It only means that unless the other person is also in the same boat as you or has been there before and done that before or been through it before, just like your situation only then it is possible to understand. The other times that we claim we understand, we are just empathizing with the person's situation and may be give a lending ear to the other person's thoughts and emotions. But we really do not know what all must be going through someone's head when they say what they say!!! This is a

Splash on Judgement

Lets reserve judgment to managerial decisions and trial court rooms; Keep personal and social circle out of this. Your judgement need not be correct; Often it is just an assumption. If someone says something, it is expected that you listen, but it is definitely not mandatory to judge them by what they say. Almost always, you are judged by what you say, what you wear, what you do, but rarely by what you are. So dont worry about any incorrect judgement. Judgements are like statistics; they are just a broad scale to go by, but they are not to be completely trusted. Do not judge a person, but definitely judge his actions. That way, even if your judgement is incorrect, you still won't hate the person. Everyone has a right to give opinions, but often these opinions get stated as judgements. Know the difference between the two!!! Opinion is a view point, Judgement is a conclusion with no ammendment. Don't hesitate to give your opinion but ensure you think twice before you make it soun

On Men and Women

Men are Men and can be ridiculous; Women are Women and can be stupid!!! Men can follow world news much easier than what is happening in their homes; Women dont care much about who is playing today's cricket match but it is very important for them to know who is the designer for the next dress in display in a shop. Men are generally the happiest when left alone; Women are generally the crankiest when left alone. Men love to be carelessly dressed; Women love to look carelessly dressed, but would have spent hours together carefully on the carelessness. Men talk less; Women can never keep quiet; even the quietest woman is silently talking to herself. Men act like they dont love gossips, but then news channels are in business only because of them; Women don't act, they love gossips but don't love news channels anyway. Men cannot sit and read for a reason women can never understand - Books make you listen to an idea; Men like to listen only to themselves. If the home is lucky, th