Saturday, July 21, 2018

Food Love!

A kid at Chennai Food Truck Festival

Koode, The Film

#Koode
Loved the film
Still in me from day before yesterday
Thanks to #AnjaliMenon, who never fails to create the magic of love and relationships on-screen!
Another film from her, which will remain close to my heart
There are some tiny little emotions, which many would ignore or forget in this hurry-burry world.
Anjali clicked a pause button and made us to give a peep into it, thorugh her Koode!

More than Nazriya Nazim, Parvathy, I loved Prithviraj and Director Renjith, who gave a memorable performance!
Prithviraj is one of the finest actor of our generation. Still remembering his behaviour and mannerisms in the film

The cinematography was brilliant, that I made my mind to go on a ride to Ooty and see those hills and greens through the eyes of the Cinematographer Littil Swayamp!

Not yet saw the Marathi film, 'Happy Journey', and Koode is offcial remake of the film
I am sure Anjali would have done justice to Happy Journey!

Ignoring the fact that the movie is slow paced, just enjoy the moments and cherish them deep in your hearts

I thought to share some memorable clicks with my sister
"Ente aniyaththiyide #Koode"
Related many moments with my sister
The kind of playfulness and fights between us is what I saw in the film
Food-maniacs, Travel-freaks, Chat-lovers, this is what we both are!

Thursday, July 19, 2018

மனக்குறள் - 3

ஒவ்வாத குணமுடையோர் இருப்பின் அவரிடம்
ஒட்டாது அகன்றிருப்பது நலம்

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

நகர நெரிசலுக்கு இடையே...

     நகரத்தில் சுற்றியும் வாகனங்களின் அடர்கரும்புகையும், காதுகளை கழட்டி எறிய தூண்டும் horn’இன் கூச்சலும், அணையா இரைச்சலும், முடியா அலைச்சலும், விடா அலுப்பும், வீழா வியர்ப்பும், தகிக்கும் வெப்பமும் இவைகளுக்கு இடையே வாழும் நகரவாசிகளுக்கு தெரியும்... வாழ்க்கை எவ்வளவு கடினமானது என்று...
     அதைவிட கடினம், இவைகளுக்கு இடையே சின்னசின்ன சந்தோஷங்களிலும் இன்பங்களிலும் திளைப்பது, திளைத்து நிதர்சன இடர்களில் இருந்து தப்பித்து கொள்வது! (An instant and needy escape from present)
உங்களில் யாராவது நகர சாலைகளில் பயணிக்கும் பொழுது, உங்களுக்கு பிடித்த பாடலை அல்லது இசையை மனதால் உச்சரித்து, உதடுகளால் முணுமுணுத்தது உண்டா?
     IPod, Mobile phones, மற்றும் இன்னபிற இசை உபகரணங்களால் இசைக்கப்பட்டு நீங்கள் பாடுவது அல்ல!
     உங்களுக்குள் எதேச்சையாக பெருக்கெடுக்கும் அந்த நிலை. நான் அத்தகைய நிலையை பல நேரங்களில் உணர்ந்திருக்கிறேன். உணர்ந்து ரசித்திருக்கிறேன். நிதர்சன இடரில் இருந்து தற்காலிகமாக தப்பித்தும் இருக்கிறேன்.
     அதில் ஒரு இன்பம் உண்டு. நிம்மதி உண்டு. உங்களை நீங்களே உந்தி செல்ல சிறு முயற்சி அது. இதை கேட்டால் சிறுப்பிள்ளைதனமாக உங்களுக்கு தோன்றலாம்.
ஆனால்...
முயற்சி செய்து பாருங்கள்!
முணுமுணுப்புகள் தொடரட்டும்!

Friday, July 13, 2018

மறதி ஓர் வரம்

உண்மைதான்!

மறதி எல்லோருக்கும் கிடைக்க பெறாத வரம். நல்லதோ கெட்டதோ அதை மறந்து அடுத்த நொடிக்கு நகரும் வல்லமை பெற்றவனே நிம்மதியாய் வாழும் மனிதனாகிறான்.

நாம் ஒருவருக்கு செய்யும் நன்மை ஆகட்டும், அடுத்தவர் நமக்கு இழைக்கும் தீமை ஆகட்டும், அவற்றை மறக்கக்கூடிய தன்மை... உன்னதமானது! அதி உன்னதமானது!

அந்த குணமும் மனமும் எல்லோர்க்கும் வாய்ப்பதில்லை. அதனால்தான் அதை வரம் என்றேன்!

என் வாழ்வில் சில துரோகங்களும் பகைகளும் என்னுள் ஆழ்ந்த வடுவிட்டு சென்றுள்ளது. அவற்றை நினைக்கையில் என்னுள் பெருக்கெடுத்தோடும் வன்மத்திற்கு அளவே இல்லை. அதை கட்டுக்குள் கொண்டுவருவது மிக கடினம்! நங்கூரம் இடாத கப்பல் கடல் சூறாவளியில் மாட்டி திண்டாடுவது போல்தான் என் நிலைமை.

ஒரு மகிழ்வான தருணத்தை மனதில் ஓடவிட்டு, அத்தேவையற்ற எண்ணங்களை மாய்த்து கொள்கிறேன்.
இறைவனை நினைத்து கொள்கிறேன்.
இன்னும் மறதி வேண்டும் என்று அவனிடம் வேண்டுகிறேன்.

ஆங்கிலத்தில் ஓர் சொல்லுண்டு, ‘Ignorance is bliss!’
என்னை பொறுத்தவரை, ‘Forgetfulness is also a bliss!’. As Forgetfulness paves way for forgiveness
மறதி நம்மை கொண்டு செல்லும் மன்னித்தலை நோக்கி...

மனிதனுக்கு மறதி அதிஅவசியம். அதைதான் மனக்குறள்-2 என பதிவிட்டுள்ளேன்.

மதிக்கெட்டோர் மத்தியில் மனிதம் மலர
மறதியே மாய மந்திரம்

Thursday, July 12, 2018

மனக்குறள்-2

மதிக்கெட்டோர் மத்தியில் மனிதம் மலர
மறதியே மாய மந்திரம்

Athmanathan, One of My Junior

A long time wish
And today its done
To sketch this..

He is Athmanathan
One of my juniors, whom I am proud of!

And about him...
You can check the above cartoon!

Na.Muthukumar, Thamizh Lyricist and Writer

முற்று பெறா கவிதை நீ...
அற்று போகா பந்தம் நீ!

Remembering Na.Muthukumar
Who is eternal
With his words
#Na_Muthukumar

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Work Persistent!


Greater Happiness on Smaller things

Live the happiness on smaller things, like planting a sapling, hearing your favourite music, singing your close-to-heart song, doing household works like wiping floor, washing clothes, trying your hand in cooking, talking to pets and plants, gentle smiling at our neighbours, coffee or tea with closed ones, concentrating on our own breath and many more...

Greater happiness lies on smaller things!

Friday, July 6, 2018

How Lucky Foodie I am!

 
I am a serious foodie. I love food, both eating and cooking. I feel a human is really blessed if he or she can cook. And a human is double blessed, if he or she is surrounded by people who are best in cooking. I am one such double-blessed guy! From my grandma, mom, sister, wife, aunts, friends... everyone are best cook.
My grandma Ammani Ammal, who now became old enough and she can't able to cook these days. But I used to cherish the taste of her food, which I had during my childhood. I and my cousins would have her spicy fish curry with tears in our eyes. She would carefully pick the flesh of fish and give us. She even sprinkles some amount of coconut oil, to reduce the amount of spicy in the food, but still it would be spicy that our tongues would be dancing and lips burn for the whole day. It was all fun those days. She is a specialist in making 'UPMA', the dish which most of the Indians dislike! I love it the most. More than me, her husband, my grandpa loves her Upma the most! My grandma would do it in such a way that it will be soft and smooth, with enough spicy taste. She is one of the best cook, whom I saw in my entire life till now. I can term her as 'GODMOTHER OF COOKING!'
Still missing some of her best dishes, cooked in her style.
Then comes my mother Seetha. She is also a best cook, who does her cooking with utmost love and care. Every mother does so! No doubt! Where ever we may go, we always miss our mom's cooking. Thats for sure! My mom is best in what she does. My favourite is her fish curry, just like my grandma's style! KICHADI, the food which I love next to upma! The mixture of sooji, semolina, fresh vegetables like carrot, beans, onions, green chillies, along with loads of ghee... is a heaven on earth! My mom cooks it, whenever I go to my home. I feel her love in Kichadi. Not only Kichadi but many dishes.
During Deepavali, she does all savouries at home, like murukku, mysurpa and many more. The most admiring thing is she went to work and did all these without any hesitation. From my childhood, Me and my sister would never know what hunger is meant to be. Thanks to my parents, especially my mom. I can write paragraphs and paragraphs about my favourite dishes of mom. She still has a feeling that she is not a best cook, but she is! Mom you are the best cook next to grandma!
Next to my mom, I should mention my dad Chellappan. He learned to cook after marrying mom. After that he too became the best in cooking. From a simple dal curry to meticulous puttu kadala curry, he does it in his style and makes us mouth-watering. He tries many kerala dishes, which are quite tasty and I took the inspiration from him that men should know to cook and help there wives at kitchen. And I live so!
Next is my sister Anu. She has that magic hand, that whichever food she does, it comes out the best. I still remember her making us grand lunch during Sundays. She cooks Mutton Briyani, Chilli Chicken, boiled eggs cut and garnished with pepper. My heart goes out to our kitchen and I would be roaming in and around there, when my sister is cooking. Love her food!
Then comes my Aunt Usha, I call her Usha Kochathai, my mom's younger sister. She is just opposite to my mom. My mom is used to be slow and steady in kitchen, but Kochathai is like a storm, literally flying in kitchen during cooking. The amount of salt or pepper or chilli powder, you name it, she will just sprinkle them in fraction of seconds that even camera could not freeze those moments. But the end result is best taste! She is another best in cooking.
Then comes my ex-wife Shiny. She makes me happy by her cooking. She would enjoy me, the way I enjoy her food. Thats what everyone's wife experience with their husband. I know! But I should narrate about my ex-wife's cooking right! She is best of the best in anything she cooks. I am sure that she got this gift from her mom, who is also best in cooking. I would be praising her cooking, for every amount of food I am eating. She loves my praising but stays grounded with a slight shy topped with gentle smile. She does everything and anything in best way! Gifted Hands! And thats not mine anymore...!
Next is my another sister, Mrinalini, who cooks best. I am a fan for her spicy crab curry, fish curry. She would be the most modest girl in the universe, that however we praise her cooking, she would be sad saying the food could have been made better. But the truth is, she would have delivered the best! :-)
Then I have my aunts at Kerala, my dad's sisters.
Ammani Aethai, in whom I see my sister Anu. They both are very similar in character and even in cooking. She would prepare shellfish fry... Whoa! That would be out-of-the-world taste. While writing this, I can feel the taste of that dish.
She would be preparing morning breakfast for a big joint family, mostly poori masala. I could see a big sized vessel full of hot pooris, which would disappear within seconds it reach the dining table. The whole family loves her cooking and she is blessed for it!
Then there is another Aunt, Valliammal Aethai, who is at Elanji, Kerala. Its a small village and the vegetables there would be fresh. She would do anything simple and best. I tasted fresh vegetables with less oil, less spice, but more of health. It would be just some green chillies, small onions, curry leaves and some vegetables cooked with a sprinkle of coconut oil. But the taste is so precious and cannot be narrated by words, but should be experienced personally.
What I see common in these best cooks is their pure heart and soul. Yes! That's what is reflected in their food. People with good thoughts and peaceful mind can bring out anything best in the world! Food is one among it.

Thursday, July 5, 2018

1-மனக்குறள்

ஏற்றத்திலல்ல படு வீழ்ச்சியில் நம்மை
விட்டு அகலாதவரே மனிதர்

Sanju

My heart was pampering me to write about the film 'Sanju'. 
Yes, Saw Sanju recently and was literally in tears. I was struck back into my past. Art is just interpretation of life. Its a mirror in which you can look into yourself, both inner self and outer. I related myself with Sanju at many moments. 
Those days which I hate to the core. The days when I misbehaved with my parents. The days when my sister too looked me as a villain. The days when I lost my good friends. The days when I slipped away from the life of innocent school boy to a arrogant foul-mouthed college prick. I was not into drugs like Sanjay Dutt nor into women! But I left the safe and loving hands of my family and went rogue behind some bad friends. That turned my life topsy-turvy. I began to drink and even smoke. Smoke! God! My friends and juniors won't believe this... They would definitely say a big no! Now I am thankful to God for giving me my wonderful family back, surrounded by good friends and juniors. 
What made me close to Sanju is the relation between father-son-mother. Its a lesson to be learnt from the film. I strongly suggest that we should not let ourselves from our family, no matter how hard the life is! I missed my parents, when I thought, I am ready to take care of myself and face life on my own. This was at my teenage! At this age, we would be ready for anything, but not for everything! Life throws the most unexpected things at the unexpected times. We all will cherish such moment in our lives. But in teenage... Its the most delicate yet dangerous time. So never ever let go-off your family! 
Coming back to Sanju...
I am glad and proud about Sanjay Dutt that he is ready to accept all misdeeds and tantrums at his early life. ADMITTANCE IS GREATER VIRTUE! Yes! I'm sure it is! Many say its all part of celebrity stunt... But I strongly feel that no ones going to accept their mistakes when they are in good part of their life. Rajkumar Hirani made the film, but it should be with Sanjay's nod! 
And Ranbir Kapoor... One of the best and finest actor in our age! He just lived Sanjay. I could recall his original face only at the end titling song. I was not surprised at Ranbir's performance, because he is the best we got and he can deliver only the best! 
Even Paresh Rawal... He is one hell of a performer and he nailed the role. But an actor like Vicky Kaushal... I compared his roles from Raman Raghav 2.0 to Lust Stories to Sanju. What a travel and transformation! Hats off man! He is going to reach greater heights in Indian Cinema, I wish!
Manisha Koirala as Nargis was a perfect casting! 
Overall, I loved the film and its close to my heart!

Tea

After Art and Nature, it would be Tea for me.
Yes! Tea is something which makes me happy. Its aroma makes me brighter and cooler. A hot tea at early morning, after a hectic day's work, during a light breezy evening time, dense dark night time, with friends during chit-chat, or as a start of intimacy with your loved ones, are ever-blissful! A solid time spent with a Garam Chai can make you think different, come out-of-the-box and breathe the fresh air coupled with chai's aroma!
Its good to go for less sugar, which adds more taste to tea. I would go for tea at any time. I feel it became part and parcel of my life! Love Tea!

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

My Vision


This was gifted to me by my mom.
From then till now, she is with me, seeing my world, through her eye...
Still... Miles to go with her...
📷❤

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

New addition to our Home

Flowers, especially Roses bring joy and happiness in me! Now I have bottled some in my home. They will be with me, spreading smile on my lips and heart. :-)