Thursday, December 31, 2009

New Year Greetings for those in uniform


We are the shadow that never leaves your side
We are the shade that hides you from the fire
We care for you as much as you care for your city
  We are your neighbors and keep your neighborhood safe
We are the men and women of the Mumbai Police
  And we wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year


This was a public relations effort that happened when I was working on a retainer with an multinational advertising agency that was setting up shop in Mumbai.
I was quite impressed by the calibre and work ethic of the people in uniform I met who were very senior in hierarchy. Below are a few lines that I have penned as a token of my gratitude to them. A few bad apples in uniform anywhere in the country, should not take away the respect that these people in uniform all over the country deserve.

Even as the wine is poured and the confetti strewn,
As friends and family join together in celebration,
Vigilant eyes and strained bodies scan the horizon,
 For anything that could halt the celebration,
 Families far away and no show of affection,
These men and women toil in anticipation,
Of a job well done and to everyone's satisfaction!

My heart felt best wishes for the men and women in uniform at hospitals and the armed forces, for whom service comes above everything else.
Vinod Natesan

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

ADOPTION AD - KRISHNA


                                                        COPY: VINOD NATESAN
                                                        ART: KISHOR GAIKWAD
                                                          Click on visual to enlarge

The inspiration behind this creative was  this piece by Papanasam Sivan in Raag Kapi. The song asks the question, "What penance did yashoda do that the whole universe called her Mother".

Editorial Services Portfolio- Mayan Consultants International



Restructuring of the report and reediting of the contents after content appraisal.
Collaborator: Edit International. Client: CIBART & INBAR. UNO


 

Reediting of content and preparation of material for newsletter.
Collaborator: Edit International. Client : INBAR & CIBART. UNO.

These include organizations involved in development related work. We also handle similar work for organizations in mainstream economic activity.
www.vinodnatesan.com
mayan.consulting@gmail.com


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

WHY DIGITAL IS INCREASING REACH- INTERNET TRENDS

Linkedin and Facebook are being viewed during office times. Possibly explains the explosive growth in memberships and time spent. It also indicates a growing trend in media and entertainment consumption.
http://getahead.rediff.com/report/2009/dec/22/are-social-networking-sites-killing-productivity.htm

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Washington Post on "Errata"- Strongly Recommended Reading

An article that members of the fourth estate and those who aspire to join it should read, learn from and practice. Deals with publishing errors and taking accountability and responsibility.
Vide: Raju Narisetti -Managing Editor of Washington Post.

CLICK HERE TO READ

Saturday, December 19, 2009

SHERLOCK HOLMES-The movie and some martial arts

A piece from the movie Sherlock Holmes. Delightful piece of film making. I am posting it here for the martial arts fans. This is bare knuckle boxing choreography at its best!



*Note the use of combination punches, it is not the "punch and wait" style.
* The "parry and counter punch" is standard boxing fare but done here with panache and style. There is almost a lazy elegance to it that builds up the character!
*Use of background music.The rhythm here is provided by the music(very apt)and the pace is just right:)
*The "two ear slap" is very common in "thekkan kalari" and the gambit of distraction and attack is also signature tactic in this form of the martial art.
*The counter-slap to the ear drum, the straight kick to the plexus after raising of hands for balance and distraction, the punch on the floating ribs, are also gambits in thekkan kalari which has a lot of hand to hand combat and is more towards "infantry" foot soldier fighting, rather than the more classical "vadakkan kalari" which is classical in style and extremely subtle and precise and has weapons as its forte.
*The elbow to the jaw seems closer to Thai boxing.It is found to be very effective both as a 'hook' and an 'upper-cut'and is sometimes preferred to the head butt, that some do in similar situations.The elbow is also difficult to effectively block.
Watched it again and again, Guy Ritchie, at his best :)

Copenhagen Summit and Climate Control

The salient points of the Copenhagen Summit Accord:

http://green.in.msn.com/copenhagensummit/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3489166

CLIMATE CONTROL- THE NEED FOR IT.
CLICK HERE TO READ



CLIMATE CONTROL -CAP AND TRADE

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Tribute to the Fab Five in Indian Advertising

CLICK ON VISUALS TO ENLARGE
                      




                             
 



 


_______________________________________

Yours truly,
Having a lot of fun with my clothes on :)

Mayan Consultants Self Ad- Only Mudra


Sunday, December 13, 2009

ADOPTION AD: PRO BONO WORK BY MAYAN


OPTION B



OPTION C






A close blood relative decided to adopt a child after 7 years of marriage. There were many opinions on the matter, one of which was that children who are adopted have unpleasant histories and do not augur well for their foster parents. This is an attempt to assuage such apprehensions. Yashoda brought up Krishna as her own and she did not do badly from what the scriptures say:).
The inspiration for this ad was a piece in Carnatic Music which goes
 "Enna tavam shaithane yashoda, engum nirai parabhramam, amma enrazhaika." which asks the question, "what penance did Yashoda do, that the Universe call ed her "mother"!!
It is a Krithi By "Papanasam shivan"in Kappi Ragam (Janya Ragam of Kharahara priya),
set to Aadi Thalam.  It is sung by Chinmayi and Baby Nimisha






The ad was uploaded first on 13th December 2009 and since then has had to undergo changes since there were issues on historical accuracy given that Lord Krishna was not adopted in the strict sense of the term and it was a case of a switch.The changes that took place are documented above as options.

Meanwhile hotmail has come up with an article on famous adoptions (23rd December 2009) and Sushmita Sen has announced her second adoption! The TOI has also reported changes in the adoption laws.
We will carry all the information on this space . Vinod Natesan as on 29th December2009.


Friday, December 11, 2009

Aap Not Paa: Self ad for Mayan Consultants International


CLICK ON VISUAL TO ENLARGE

Understanding the Religions and Cultures of the World- Thanksgiving

This link is on Thanksgiving. Apparently the festive season in the United States starts with this festival. It falls on the last Thursady in November. Details about this festival are available in this link.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

In the Northern Hemisphere, where winters tend to be bleak and is known to cause depression, festivals of fun and celebrations, tend to bring people together and help them ride out a period of hibernation in a manner of speaking. It is also an occasion when agriculture is impossible and possibly, a lot of outdoor activity. The reasons for spending on gifts, get- togethers, possibly provide sustenance to the economy by driving the demand side and generate some degree of incremental economic activity that provides employment in the service and entertainment sectors.
What starts with Thanksgiving goes on till Christmas which is at the end of December.

Understanding the Religions and Cultures of the World- Happy Hannukah

Hag Hannukah Sameach or Happy Chanuka are greetings that you hear in the parts of the world where the Jewish faith is practised and I came across this on social networking sites today.
While wishing friends of mine who practise this faith, I thought it pertinent to add a link on this subject so that we understand what the significance is and the possible reasons for observing this ritual.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Celebrity Endorsements and Scandals.

 An article on celebrities and scandals. What happens to the endorsement deals. This one is a listing of instances and a chronicle.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/catalyst/2009/12/10/stories/2009121050100400.htm

Monday, December 7, 2009

A TAKE ON ASTROLOGY

Que sera sera,
Whatever will be, will be,
The future is not ours to see,
Que sera, sera…

Lines from a popular song, where a  mother answers her children who wanted to know if they would grow up to be rich, beautiful and happy people. Sane advice, I would think.
 
Which brings me to the subject of astrology, which many people believe, gives you a prequel to the “que sera sera” script.

The key assumption in astrology is that everything is predetermined and that what we think is happening to us now has been already decided. It just happens that we are merely experiencing it now. Continuing further, what we are likely to experience later has also been laid out in detail by whoever we believe is responsible for the Universe and its design.

The next postulate is that the script for each of us is determined by the time and place of our birth. This is reflected in the planetary positions at that moment and which when interpreted, tells us the story that will be played out.

Most of us debunk these postulates, since it flies in the face of human endeavor and choice. If everything is determined, why waste our efforts? True, but even when we know that results are not entirely in our hands, we make the effort, because we are programmed and motivated to do so. Astrologers say “vidhi kanusaranam budhi” ,  which means that  ‘you will think, as is your destiny’. It is believed that destiny acts through our thoughts and feelings and provokes us to make the choices we make!

Should we then leave astrology be and do what our judgement tells us?
Possibly yes. There is a joy in not knowing what the morning will bring and what awaits us at the turn of the road. This uncertainty gives us hope and the motivation to continue. Astrology, paradoxically, comes into play when a person finds this hope diminishing and he is plagued by doubts and a sense of despair. Most people refer to an astrologer when the locus of control has seemingly moved out of their grasp.

There are also times when a high risk decision has to be taken, like the marriage of a child and the start of a venture. Here, it may be understood, the information available to take a decision may not have given the person confidence and that is when he turns to astrology.

The basis of astrology is the horoscope, which suggests that everyone born at the same time and at the same place has a similar destiny. Taken to the logical extreme, it is true. Siamese twins have the same body sometimes. It also means that a change of a minute in time affects the sequence of events and the destiny in question. Empirical evidence suggests that twins sometimes are very similar in nature and have longevity that is similar. The greater the time difference the more separated the life experience. Mark and Steve Waugh are twins. They both played for Australia. However, one was a captain and the other remained a player.
The question then comes of inherited genes. It may be noted that siblings who share the same genetic pool do not shape up to be similar people. Evidence from horoscopes suggest that what is inherited and what is different, can be discerned from the horoscopes of parents and children.  For instance, the tragedies that continued to afflict the Kennedy clan possibly could be ascertained from their horoscopes and the same applies to the Nehru dynasty, nearly the entire Gandhi (Indira, Rajiv and Sanjay) family had unnatural endings.

It is difficult to say whether there is a science involved. Indian astrology seems to have many schools of thought. The Brighu Samhita is used in the North and in the South, another style is followed. Agastya Nadi is popular in Tamil Nadu  while other ancient texts linked to Varahamihira and Parasara are used in Kerala. In Kerala the planet “gulika” is crucial as the son of Saturn and this is not taken into cognizance in other parts of India. Jaimini astrology is another branch with its own theories and postulates.

All these systems possibly have linked cause and effect. Natural occurrences have been linked to planetary movements through the ephemeris and its effect on people recorded. This has then been phrased in couplets which help in predictions. This is my guess.

What can astrology reveal?. Foremost, it should be understood that even when people are born at the same time, if the places are far apart,  their destinies will change simply because the  planetary influences are expected to vary. So to assume that everyone born in the month of November will have similar destinies is false. Weekly forecasts in magazines are therefore nonsense.On a more academic note, these predictions are based on "mundane astrology" when the planetary transits are looked at on a macro-scale and predictions made. There may be a semblance of truth to it, but this is not very useful for an individual who seeks mental relief and reassurance that Lady Luck has not deserted him/her. For instance the recent past saw a recession which could be associated with Jupiter ( the lord of finances) being in a house of debilitation (Makara). The fact that professionals were jobless on a large scale could be associated with Mars being in a house of debilitation ( karkataka) for an unusually long period!.

The simplest astrological prediction would be to say that an Indian  farmer’s  fortune would improve in October- November. This is largely because harvest seasons always occur in that month and money tends to flow in. It is quite possible that these occurrences would have been woven into predictions at a time when agriculture was the main occupation. It is also possible that given the fluctuating weather conditions, most people  would have become  fatalists  and a method of prediction that used astronomy and its impact on nature would have been a highly regarded science. It is also common knowledge that the waxing and waning moon affects the minds and bodies of people. In astrology, moon depicts the person’s mind and transits are analyzed against the moon. The sun is acknowledged as the provider of energy and the reason for photosynthesis, it is naturally an important planet and is said to determine the personality and also a person’s father, authority  and inherited wealth. Saturn which is a cool planet and the opposite of the Sun in effect is treated as a slow planet that slows things down. Venus is associated with women and fine arts and Mars the aggressor, is the lord of professions. Aggression is regarded as an indicator of success in any field of work and so it is in astrology.

Largely therefore, a lot of common sense and observation of life marks astrological truths. What we therefore are using would be observed correlations and this explains the high confidence interval in predictions.

It is acknowledged that there is something called a sixth sense and many people have extra sensory perception. It is an accepted truth that many can divine presence of water under the ground without any hrdro- tests . In our house, a neighbor by the name of  T. A. Abraham, divined the water presence and we dug a well at the exact spot to get clean drinkable water!! Most astrologers who are accurate use their sixth sense and intuition. This is sharp in early morning and it depends also on the astrologer’s frame of mind. This explains the variations in predictions made by the same astrologer. In fact one famous astrologer had approved a marriage after verifying the horoscopes. The boy died within a week of the marriage. The girls parents went to meet the astrologer a month later with the same horoscopes to test him. He immediately told them that the boy would be dead and to check the same!! When told the whole story, he said that destiny was that the two would be married and the girl would be widow, he therefore was not in a frame of mind to see that particular detail in the horoscope!!

Astrology refers to twelve aspects of a mans life and aligns this to the twelve months of the year. From physical personality, the mind, professional matters, matrimony, material gains, father, mother, siblings, sexual life, matrimonial affairs, to finally death,every aspect is studied. These aspects are studied from the point of view of a "house" which is assigned to this aspect from the twelve available. Medical astrology correlates these twelve aspects to twelve body parts. Incidentally,death and sexual pleasures are studied in the same house, because ejaculation is believed to be a "minor death"! Surprisingly it is something the French astrologers too agree.."le petit mort" is what an orgasm/ejaculation is referred to!!:))

While a horoscope is a freeze frame of planets at the time of the birth of the person, he is expected to go through “dashas” which provide  the flavors  of the season in a manner of speaking. In my life, I faced difficulties during the period of Kethu when I met with an accident and had frequent medical troubles. My grandfather assured my mother that all that would subside when I crossed twelve and entered the period of Venus and it did happen.  It is also in my horoscope that I would enjoy “raja yoga” due to the position of the Sun and Mars and this happened in 1996 during the start of the sun’s period, when all of a sudden, I was the head of a multi–national agency office with staff strength of 29 people. It may be noted that I had started at the lowest rung of the ladder in 1991! My salary when the Sun's period arrived was fixed at 20 times what I got  5 years back! It was also a time, when suddenly a second career as a visiting faculty, took shape with exemplary rewards.This was something an astrologer in Hyderabad had predicted and given me in writing!

Marriage was also indicated as dangerous to life for me and for the spouse. This resulted in my horoscope being rejected by every astrologer worth his salt. My parents finally accepted defeat after years of advertising and searching!! I also believe that my own efforts at finding conjugal bliss came a cropper, because of divine intervention and possibly the innate survival instinct, that the women that I lavished attentions on, possessed :)!!

Linda Goodman though popular, is limited in scope as she merely explains the impact of Sun  as the ascendant in each of the 12 signs. This is too general and cannot be of any use other than to entertain people at coffee table gatherings. Weekly forecasts in magazines are sometimes based on the transits (gocharas) which take the lunar as the ascendant. For instance, I have “Revathy” as a star, which makes Pisces my lunar sign. Predictions based on this would be too general , since many with Pisces as the lunar ascendant would have different  horoscopes and therefore "dashas" and therefore different experiences. It may be noted that the dreaded “saade sathi” ( the 7.5 transit of Staurn) is not uniformly bad for everyone and the relative positions of planets and the "dasha" determine its impact.

As far as gemology goes, people say that  gems have the ability to alter light rays and therefore cause different energies. May be true. I don’t know.  The Big B wears a blue sapphire which apparently brought him luck. Some people keep cars that brought them luck , watches and many such inanimate objects. As long as these bolster a person's confidence and work like auto suggestions one cannot fault such superstitions. For that matter, Steve Waugh never relinquishes a red hanky and he won the World Cup finals after he was dropped by Gibbs. Hopefully, he washed his hanky once in a while and took the risk of washing away the luck ! We don't know if there is a theory on hanky's, their colour  and luck!!

"Vaastu" is possibly based on common sense and a shrewd understanding of magnetic properties, weather patterns, traditional medicine and lifestyles. People say that you sleep better with your head touching the East . I have found this to be true. I think this has to do with magnetic properties.  I know of an advertising agency where “feng shui “ was popular. They kept a mirror in the visitors toilet, as advised. A female journalist  while visiting ,used it . Once inside,she turned to sit down and not expecting the mirror, thought someone was sitting down facing her and shrieked in horror I am not sure if the article on the agency that was written,had any pleasant vibes!

To conclude, yes, I think in the right hands, astrology provides solace to troubled souls and gives them hope and confidence. It is sometimes a relief  to know that you were destined to change many jobs and that your spouse would have anyway deserted you, because it was destined! It also gives you hope that you may marry again within 18 months and that you may land a job away from home! Where medical check ups are not possible and character references difficult, horoscopes do the job for you. Businesses can also benefit. It is pertinent to note that the global meltdown happened when Jupiter, the Lord of Finances was in its house of debilitation and that  things are looking up when it is about to move to a better house and   the shadowy planets(rahu & ketu) have moved away.

Since I cannot end any article without a reference to a film, I would ask you to check out “MatchPoint”.Woody Allen is traveling the same ground .

And to end, a quote from  Tennyson's  Excalibur  "Much more is wrought in this world by prayers, than one dreams of….”

Thathasthu

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

GRANDPARENTS AND GRANDCHILDREN



To the fond memory of my Grandmother.

Most children will tell you that one place they are always likely to find solace and comfort, is at their grandmothers lap. I certainly would have said that when I was a child. I would have continued to say that for another twenty four years, till my maternal grandmother finally passed away.

Thanks to the demands of work, my parents chose to settle down in Trivandrum, where my maternal grandparents lived. My mother, like other women in her home, was educated and worked at a Government Office. This would have  meant that that as a child, I would be left at home to be cared for by a servant, as was the case with most children in similar circumstances. My maternal grandmother however, would have none of it, and therefore luckily for me, I was deposited with my grandma everyday in the morning. I had a few cousins who also had the same luck, and we were therefore ended up as a brood of happy infants, who were brought up by her.

She was an unusual woman for her times. She and her cousin were the first women to attend college in the royalty of Travancore. While she discontinued her studies after her mother's death, to look after her siblings, her cousin, Ms Eeswari Amma completed  her graduation and carried on and become the first Principal of the M.G. College, at Trivandrum. Something she was always proud of.. Her cousin was her best friend and she idolized her. Consequently, the women in our home were always encouraged to study and nearly all of them graduated, with my sibling topping the University in English Literature on graduation.

From stories told, I also learned that she was an accomplished tennis player! While she certainly never played tennis with us, there was one incident from my toddler years, which told me that she could wield a racquet with good effect. As we were playing in the courtyard, a burly man came walking in and entered the verandah. My elder cousins told him loudly that there was no in the house and that he should come later.He had an odd look on his face as he ignored us and continued walking into the house. I was the smallest and he smiled wickedly at me.  I remember distinctly a sense of fear which was almost close to terror. I ran inside to call my grandma from the kitchen. She heard me and without batting an eyelid, took out a piece of firewood which was still burning, from the kitchen “adupu” (tandoor/oven) and walked out to the front. She saw the man and shouted “chee erangada”,which roughly meant “get out”, and even as she lunged forward, swung the firewood piece as if she was serving for the Wimbledon finals with the man’s head for the tennis ball. The guy leaped out and fled!! We children also shouted “erangada” and threw a few stones for good measure at the fleeing scoundrel. After all, a chance to do that to an adult was a rare treat we would certainly not forego!!

My grandma was in her mid-fifties then and all of 5 feet when that incident happened!! None of that deterred her from taking on a well built scoundrel, who clearly meant harm. She was focused on protecting us and that gave her strength, guts and stature. There was no room for fear and she never thought of her safety at that instance!! To me it was a lesson in life. There are times when you do not have choices. You need to do what you have to do and do it well. Consequences and results may not be in your control. You have to deal with them as and when they occur. And yes, there are times when attack is the best form of defense and very often, the enemy is not as powerful as we may think they are!

She was also clear that boys should not be cry babies. “Give it back as good as you get”, was the mantra. “Never bow your head to insolent might” she always used to tell me. Probably one reason why I never allowed myself to be ragged or bullied, come what may. “You will have the strength of ten, if your heart is pure”, she used to quote from her favorite "Knights of the  Round Table" and "Camelot". Our homilies were a mix of tales from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Hindu scriptures and Western Literature. She was an ardent lover of Victorian ideals and Camelot was her favourite theme. Chivalry, honor, honesty and valor were high on her list of values. She was also clear that we should not be bullies. “Never hurt even the meanest thing that feels” she used to repeat. When I broke that law in the many squabbles I had with my little sister, she used to admonish me “parakramam stree kalodallave vendathu”.,which meant that a Kshatriya / warrior / knight would never raise his hand against a lady. It should also be mentioned that she never discriminated against girls and both sexes were given equal affection and opportunities. In fact, it was drilled into us that it was our responsibility to protect the women in the house and safeguard their honour.

I was her favourite grandson and she was my favourite person. I was never as close with my paternal grandparents because they were based in Cochin and I visited them only once or twice a year. I now believe that with all relationships, it is proximity and frequency of interactions that builds intimacy and affection. In this case, my wavelength also happened to match hers. We both had a passion for literature and “Gone with the wind” was my favourite for a long time, as it was with her. I had a lot of insightful conversations with her on the relative merits of Ashley Wilkes, Scarlett O Hara, Rhett Butler and Melanie Wilkes. I think she drew a lot of parallels between the transition in the Southern States and the passing of an era in Travancore. She was quite conservative in her views. She was also fond of movies like me. In later years, we saw “Shankarabharanam” with her and she was quite taken up with that movie and impressed by the character of the Carnatic Music Vidwan. Whenever I hear the Ragam Shankarabharanam, or the piece “Samaja Varagamana” (Raag Hindolam?), I remember her liking for these particular compositions.

My mother tells me that most parents never get to enjoy their children, having to balance work and home. She says she always regretted having had to drop us off and go to work. She says grand children offer people a chance to correct that and to genuinely enjoy having children in the house. I realize that this is not merely a mother exerting pressure on a bachelor son to start a family, but a genuine grievance. With my niece now, my mother is doing exactly that and for my niece her maternal grandmother is the world as it was for me!( Edited and Added on 2nd April 2013)

Below my flat, there is a Gujarati family and a young toddler there is growing up with her grandparents. I sometimes see them from my window and sometimes near the pool at the Club House next to our flats. The child looks healthy, distinctly happy and well adjusted, as compared to many other children. I am always  greeted with a yelp and a “hello uncle” from the little one, whenever she passes by with her grandma, which I find myself reciprocating, in spite of my rather aloof demeanor that I have cultivated for the world at large. I also make it a point to wish the elderly lady a “Hari Om” and add a respectful “Khemcho”

And as they pass, I fondly remember my grandmother…
 .....................................................................................................................................................

Dr  Ajit Kumar Parthasarathy and my eldest cousin add this as his comment:

Great writing! So true to life with grandparents!

I also often recall the unforgettable, irreplaceable, and unsubstitutable affectionate care that I had received from my grandmother. As I was the eldest among her grandchildren, I had the fortune of being the first one to receive the affection and for the longest duration in life! In that respect, I feel that I am the luckiest one on earth among all my brothers and sisters (her grandchildren)!

I was not there by her side during her departure from this world..But, since I was quite religious in nature, which was inculcated in me by her from my childhood days, by making me sit with her during Naamam Japam [chanting of Lord's Names during Sandhya (dusk time)], she had taken care to leave for me, as her parting gift for ever to me, a brand new set of brass utensils, which are normally used for doing pooja (traditional worship of the Lord) in south India, safely kept covered in a Neriyathu Mundu (a traditional dhoti worn during pooja)! I indeed used them when I started my family life, and are still in my possession...

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Telecom Sector in India: An update

Afaqs came up with a nice compilation on the telecom sector this week.
Click here to read more

Pranav Mistry: Sixth Sense Technology

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF PRANAV MISTRY ON SIXTH SENSE TECHNOLOGY

Simon &Garfunkel :The Sound of Silence

Graduate was a pathbreaking film and I saw it first when I was a post-graduate student in IRMA circa 1986-88. I was also taken up my the music and managed to get a Simon and Garfunkel tape for myself. Sound of Silence has been on my mind ever since and I never fail to be captivated by it.

The Music of Aves.

Aves on a wire and that is the muse for this song....

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Remembrance of things past : A lil romance :) English songs

A set of songs from the past,when romance was the main agenda :) Ideally at this point in time, the pursuits should be spiritual, but who can resist the lure of love and the cadence of a song that speaks of it? Walk down the tree lined path of songs that caught most nuances of that one thing that makes the world go round :)

"Stupid Cupid stop picking on me,....set me free ...can't do my homework". Yes that's when it started. Cupid didn't stop though...:)



You run, crawl and climb city walls, only to be with her ... but you still haven't found what you are looking for... "Still haven't found what I'm looking for" -U2.



Went round mooning and moaning ....:) Love, Love me do... someone to love, somebody new... Beatles



Things got funkier, sharper and bolder with age ..."One of these nights, one of these crazy nights... we are gonna find out what turns on your lights....."
and the reason for this nocturnal pursuit is also explained :) "I've been searching for an angel in white, I've been searching for the daughter of the devil himself, I've been searching for a bit of both...."



Finally, someone is sighted and the hormones go into overdrive:) Fine Young Cannibals - singing "You drive me crazy....."



Yes and she is more than a woman to you:) never mind that most people can tell by the way you walk that you are a dancing man, no time to loose, music loud and women warm... Bee Gees in Saturday Night Fever.



Yeas then the gushy, squishy, goofy phase, when you think everybody has the same disease :) Wet Wet Wet singing.. Love is all around me...



Things get to a fever pitch pretty soon...."Fever" sung by Peggy Lee. This is the version that I like. "Chicks were born to give your fever, whether it be centigrade or farenheit :) Fever! What a way to burn:)"



So now everything you do, you do it for her..
click here for Bryan Adams singing Everything I do from the movie Robin Hood.
If you want to look into Michelle Pfeiffers eyes:) watch this one;



That should put her on the top of the world... Carpenters



Things get into a rhythm and women do slow things down to a langoros pace don't they? Rigtheous Brothers singing Melody Unchained... slow, undulating, almost a caress that never ends....



Well, if in love, it is normal to think that the woman you love, is completely different from all other women you have known and those you don't know!
"Nothing ...Nothing compares to you" by Sinhead o Connor...



Those in love are known to travel to lonely places and enjoy nature a lot more:) "Truly madly deeply" -Savage Garden. " i want to stand with on you a mountain..:)" never fail lines if you are serenading her..



It is polite to thank people.. especially if there is a drop in intensity and you feel guilty, or the possibility of moving on begins to be a possibility. "Ive had the time of my life..." from the movie "Dirty Dancing"

click here for the movie Dirty Dancing sequence



In my search for freedom and peace of mind, I left the memories behind...wanted to start a new life .. but it seems rather absurd..when I know the truth is that I always think of you... some day .. some way ... we will be together baby...I'll take it and you'll take your time..we'll wait for our fate..becoz nobody owns us baby, .... tried to throw the picture out of my mind, tried to leave the memories behind... but the passion that you planted in the middle of my heart..is a passion that will never stop!...someday .. someway...

Friday, November 27, 2009

Remembrance of things past: A lil love "isthorey" - Hindi FilmSongs

Given below are a few songs that one used to hum when Cupid made one his target. It has no relevance today since one is more concerned these days about Lord Yama making an appearance on his buffalo:). Well, for those who did not follow that,I was merely suggesting that one was more likely to be preparing to meet St Peter at the pearly gates than being chased by Cupid and his arrows:).
Can "one" continue? :)

How trouble starts ...tumko dekha to yeh khayal aaya...



Talk about looking for trouble :) meet na mila re man ka...



You find someone.. say something and she hears something...Jaane Kya tune kahi..jaane kya meine suni.. baat kuch ban hi gayi...



The banwara bada naadan he...bagiyan ka mehman he... phir bhi kaliyan ka muskan he




People start playing flute at odd hours and the lady wants to know "man kyon beheka aadhi raat ko..."



and one thing leads to another ...then you see dreams.. tere mere sapne ek rang he..



Time starts playing tricks... waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam..



Theory of Relativity : time moves too fast and it is abhi na jao chodkar



You start small ... choti choti si baat



Managed to capitalise on limited time available: loote koi man ka nagar ... :)



Yes, gentlemen always marry their sweet hearts: teri bindiya re... (all time favourite)Yes and thanks to De Beers, some jewelry comes between lovers:)(no this is not a product placement: LOL)



Everything is hunky dory and you like everything around you. "Bade ache lagte hain yeh dharti yeh raina"



Raina ke saath chaand bhi niklega.. Chaudvin ka chand...




Start of trouble: Not at home when others are home and singing: Swami is out on work!



Soon trouble starts, complaints, shikwas, etal : tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa to nahin..



The net result .. saanj dale ...gagan tale ...hum kitne ekaki... well not counting the other woman:)




Things go from bad to worse and it gets into insomnia and cribs :)



Then you pine for her :Kabhi Kabhi and then... hamesha :) (my favourite)




At first you don't succeed you try harder :) tum bin jeevan kaise beeta .. poocho mere dil se.. I mean when you get hit, you stay hit:)



With passing age ... panic sets in..:)



As in all romantic stories "every body lived happily ever after.. after a few tears" :)

Remembrance of things past : A lil romance :) Malayalam songs

Given below are a few songs that one used to hum when Cupid made one his target. It has no relevance today since one is more concerned these days about Lord Yama making an appearance on his buffalo:). Well, for those who did not follow that,I was merely suggesting that one was more likely to be preparing to meet St Peter at the pearly gates than being chased by Cupid and his arrows:).
Can "one" continue? :)

"Nee arikal unayirunnengil ennu njan, oru mathra veruthe" ..."I wish you were with me" :)Simple isn't it? Liked the library sequence..there is something about the quiet air there and the sensitive people who land up there that makes me open up! a I have lost my heart many a time and invariably to those with a love for the written word :)



"Ente chempaneer poovinte"... all about love that need not be spoken.. subtle, deep and the kind of intimacy in relationships that are often magical...



"Aaro veral meeti manasin man veenayil"... someone plays the music of love within the confines of your mind...manju warrier did a sensitive and stunning potrayal of a hyper sensitive girl who lived amongst her dreams and poetry..touches your heart!



"Pineyum pineyum aaro padikadannethunna padaniswaram".. Is someone entering your life? is it the one that you were waiting for all the while ...manju warrier at her best again..



She brings music to your life: "Ennale nee oru sundara ragamayen ponnodakuzhalil vannolichi irrunu"



This one is a poetic rendition of love and an invitation to consummate the relationship ..."Chakravarthini ninnaku njan ente shilpa gopuram thurannu, puspa padakam purathu vachu nee nagna pathayayi akathu varu"



"Manjalayil mungi thorthi, dhanu masa chandrika vannu, nine mathram kandilelo.." "The moonlit winter night with its chill has come in but not you... " Jayachandran's version brings out the pining of the lover....



"Ennodenthinee pinakam? ennum endhinanu enodu paribhavam.." this was a take on Othello by Jayaraj and this is the plaintive Desdemona bemoaning the unexplained coldness of her love...



"Varamanjaladiya raavin maril... oru manju thuli" about the blossoming of love. The metaphors used are picturesque...and from nature. Chitra's voice at its melodious best.....



Palavattom .. poem by madhumuttam in Manichitrathazhu. The translation and the link is attached:
http://mayanmuse.blogspot.com/2007/07/poem-by-madhumuttam-from-movie.html.



"Ende Kadinjol pranaya kathayile penkodi.." "To the heroine of my first love story...searching for you many a dusk has passed by..." .This song from the movie "OoLkadal" was shot in Trivandrum at Mar Ivanios College where I studied and at the Trivandrum Museum which was a familiar haunt.I therefore identified with it a lot. This poem was written by ONV Kurup.



"Saradhindhu malardeepa naalam neeti surabhila yamangal shruti meeti" from the same movie.I saw it when I was 16 and the song has stayed in my mind even now:) I probably identified very strongly with intense and sensitive proagonist in the novel/screenplay and the nature of the relationship. KG George did a wonderful job in keeping a sombre tone and mood in the film.

NOSTALGIA III : Remembrance of things past - English Songs

This is the third part of the series. The songs here are in English and they reflect the emotions expressed in the first two editions. You can see them by clicking "earlier posts" at the bottom of the page.

Yesterday love was such an easy game to play....



I sang this as a kid when I was in the school choir.It stayed with me ever since.
"Sunrise, sunset swiftly flowing by,...when did he get to be so tall?, when did she get to be a beauty? Wasn't it yesterday that they were small?"...



This is a rather sad song and the context is interesting.The song was based on "Le Moribond" ("The Dying Man"), written by Jacques Brel in 1961. Brel's song was translated into English by poet Rod McKuen. Terry Jacks, rewrote part of the lyrics to "lighten them up."
WESTLIFE singing"Seasons in the Sun" CLICK HERE
The original version:



Nostalgia Hindi Songs\

 Nostalgia Malayalam Songs

NOSTALGIA - II Remembrance of things past- Hindi Songs

This is the second part of the article on nostalgia. I have kept Hindi songs that suit the ethos. The first part can be accessed by clicking on "earlier posts".



Karoge yaad to..



Nostalgia English Songs

 Nostalgia Malayalam songs

Thursday, November 26, 2009

NOSTALGIA: Remembrance of things past

This was triggered by a series of photos that a friend from college days had posted. The memories came rushing in. Somehow, there was a longing for the times gone by, a sweet ache. Given that I spend most of my time amongst poets and writers, through their words, a poem by Thomas Moore came to mind. I read it in my teens, but somehow it has stayed somewhere and has now come to renew its acquaintance!

Light Of Other Days- Thomas Moore

Oft in the stilly night
Ere slumber`s chain has bound me,
Fond Memory brings the light
Of other days around me:
The smiles, the tears
Of boyhood`s years,
The words of love then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimm`d and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken!
Thus in the stilly night
Ere slumber`s chain has bound me,
Sad Memory brings the light
Of other days around me.

When I remember all
The friends so link`d together
I`ve seen around me fall
Like leaves in wintry weather,
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banguet - hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed!
Thus in the stilly night
Ere slumber`s chain has bound me,
Sad Memory brings the light
Of other days around me.

Freddy Birdy, in an advertising campaign aimed at promoting better care for the aged, wrote that old age is when you look for your friends in the obituaries. I sometimes see my parents do that. And see the dejection when they find a familiar face. There is a sigh and a statement "Ayalum yatra aayi". Translated,it means "he/she has also said his/her goodbye". They possibly realize time has flown by and the stories of bye gone days then come up. The fights, the jokes , the slights , are all detailed and surprisingly ,tears flow, scowls deepen and sometimes laughter consumes them, as though all that is discussed is current. I guess somehow, at some time point in your life , it is the sum total of your memories, that decide how rich your life has been or how well you have lived it.

Most people have an opinion that it is living in the "now", that is important. While the past is over and the future is a mystery, the present is the reality , they argue. Even as I agree with them, it is inescapable to me that all of us carry baggage from our past that defines us and which affects our emotional quotient.
It then makes sense to me , that we celebrate the good times when they happen and build a bank of happy memories to draw upon , when the tide turns and joy becomes scarce! Probably this explains why we follow rituals and festivals religiously, and that too with pomp and splendor. And I guess in the times we live in , photos and videos help preserve this for posterity!. One way of transcending time!

I also believe that "vengeance" has such a high valency with a lot of us, for this reason. Retribution is an effective anti-dote for a negative and hurtful memory and manages to neutralize it somehow. I once saw an infant cry after falling and his mother, in an effort to stop him crying, pretended to give the floor a spanking for hurting her child! The child immediately stopped crying:) Possibly this also explains why popular fiction is replete with stories of vendetta! The "Count of Monte Cristo" being the most enduring of them. The Mahabharata has the incident of Draupadi refusing to wash her hair till she could get the blood of her tormentors to wash it with! One way of ensuring that the incident was never forgotten by her husbands!! Chanakya's revenge brought down an Empire!! In Hamlet, the bard examined this question as a dilemma that Hamlet faced after his father's murder. Clint Eastwood with his cop capers and Charles Bronson with his "Deathwish" franchise banked on the unrequited anger of the "victim" when the system fails to deliver "justice" or an "eye" for an "eye" !! Probably why someone told me that the best medicine for a rape victim would be the testicles of her castrated tormentor delivered in a salted jar !I agree ! It would probably bring down the crime rate !

Nature has managed to keep a beautiful balance between what is forgotten and what is remembered. We learn to forget things that are not essential and to loose the emotional imprint of many unpleasant things. I realized that it was a blessing, when I read about a lady who could not forget anything. She was an emotional wreck, because every taunt, insult and incident from infancy onwards, was fresh in her mind, making it difficult for her to move on in life and have a long term perspective . She simply could not enjoy the moment and live in the present !

Yes, Nostalgia has its sweet and painful moments! Prof ONV Kurup in this poem dwells on the sweet ache of walking down memory lane into the garden of memories. One of my favourites. It appeared in the movie "Chillu"

 

Movie Name: Chillu (1982)
Singer: Janaki S
Music Director: Sreenivasan M B
Lyrics: Kurup ONV
Year: 1982
Director: Lenin Rajendran
Actors: Jalaja, Kanaka Latha, Shanti Krishna, Venu Nagavally

Aa..aa..aa..aa
Oru vattam koodi ennormmakal meyunna
Thirumuttathethuvan moham         (2)
Thirumuttathoru konil nilkkunnora nelli
Maram onnuluthuvan moham      (2)
Adarunna kaymanikal pozhiyumbol
Chenneduth athilonnu thinnuvan moham 
Sughamezhum kaippum pulippum madhuravum
Nukaruvan eppozhum moham

Thodiyile kinar vellam kori kudich
Enthu madhuram ennothuvan moham  
Aa..aa..aa..aa
Oru vattam koodiya puzhayude theerath
Veruthe irikkuvan moham            (2)
Veruthe irunnoru kuyilinte
Pattu kettethir pattu paduvan moham
Ethir pattu paduvan moham
Athu kelkke uchathil kookum kuyilinte
Shruthi pinthudaruvan moham
Oduvil pinangi parannupom pakshiyod
Aruthe ennothuvan moham
Veruthe ee mohangal ennariyumbozhum
Veruthe mohikkuvan moham          (2) 



"Veru the ee mohangal ennariyumbozhum veruthe mohikkuvan moham" .These two lines, actually captures the soul of this poem, which is about a man reminiscing about his bye gone days.

ONV at his best. If one takes the temerity to translate this, it would mean
'Even as I know,
these wishes will remain wishes,

Yet I wish
to dream these dreams"



Another favourite of mine, "Pomakal Vazhunna kovilil ninnoru sopana sangitam pole". And the soul of the song "Ormakalkendu sugandam, en atmavin nashta sugandam..."
http://youtu.be/RIlG-77fodc



Ormakal Ormakal .....orikalengilum kanda mukhangale marakan eluthamo?
"swapnangal enodu vida paranju" ... unforgettable lines.



No collection is complete without this song "Aliyambal kadavailann arraku vellam, annu nammal onnayi thuzhanjile kothumbu vellam.." A man reminiscing about the troubles they went through..and the love they shared..









Nostalgia English Songs


Nostalgia Hindi SongsNostalgia Hindi Songs

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Classmates - Malayalam Film Songs





"Classmates" was a phenomenal hit in Kerala. One of the most insightful movies which managed to capture the ethos and happenings in a typical Kerala College Campus with amazing accuracy and sensitivity. Nearly everyone identified with the situations, characters and happenings. Brilliant music which captured the feel and style of music that was endemic to those times, added to the appeal.
I am posting this for all the Cochin SMS MBA batch mates who are getting together this December after 25 years of their first meeting:) Also to all those who were with me in Mar Ivanios Thiruvananthapuram, where I spent my turbulent teens, actively involved in student union activities, with a strange and innocent notion, that I could change the world and live life on my own terms.:)

P.S. This post is revisited thanks to a few  Classmates from my graduate days( Mahesh Nair and others), who left no stone unturned or rather, no phone call unmade, to ensure that the motley group of 66 "classmates" were contacted, called and cajoled into getting into Facebook and then to the event itself.

Economic Development in India and China vis a vis the UK and USA

 Hans Rosling on the rise of China and India over the years. Witty, interesting and a simple take on the linear data involving growth in life expectancy and per capita income. He manages to illustrate how political changes affected these two development indicators and how things are expected to pan out. The key points to be noted include the impact of war on the economy and how  skewed economic growth can be a dampener.
http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_asia_s_rise_how_and_when.html

Kung fu Fighting: Tiger attack on elephant mahout



I liked this because it clearly depicts the suddenness and lethality of the attack. The tiger is agile and leaps to counter the height advantage and lands a blow even as it lands. Note the perfect timing of the jump, speed and power. Note that it leads with the paw and has its jaws open for the follow up bite as it were. Phew! One more case for agility, speed and accuracy over brute weight and muscles.

Forest officials opine that in the event of a conflict with a lone tusker, the feline carnivore will go for the elephant's forehead by instinct. In most cases it is the pressure point and as the paws dig in ,it brings the tusker down. It is a different story when they move in a herd.:)

As far as the mahout is concerned, all he could have done would have been to hold the long spear steady ,leveraging it on the elephant's body to pierce the tiger's neck and lower body as it came closer, but I guess that is easier said than done :)

Kalaripayyatu has a movement called the "ana thiruppu" with the sword and long sword which is patterned on the tusker that is in "must".

Kung fu Fighting: Monkey Style



Jokes apart, it is a case of guerrilla warfare in action :) The two powerful, but inexperienced opponents are powerless against a nimble and peripatetic opponent, who is never stationary and is difficult to predict. Note how intelligently the monkey uses the terrain, it helps him increase his speed and opens up angles for attack. It is not always the bulky musclemen who win battles , it is often the intelligent, nimble , agile , opponent.

The tigers could have used their numerical advantage in this case with one distracting the monkey and the other one launching a surprise attack from a hidden spot. Apparently age and experience here was a factor ? If one observes carnivores hunt, it is often a team effort with attacks from different angles and directions. Somehow they also seem to know the soft spot and any one of the pride would go for the jugular and hold on, while the others would wear the prey down. None of that happened here, they were clearly outwitted:)

Most martial arts of the East incorporate animal poses and styles in the movements and tactics. Kung fu has the "monkey" , "tiger", "crane" and "dragon" styles in their pedagogy. "Kalaripayyatu" which is believed to be the forerunner of "Kung fu" and "accupuncture" techniques originated in Kerala , in South India and uses a lot of animal inspired fighting ploys and strikes.The "snake" strikes and poses are the notable.