Birthday wishes to Anu Ananthi

My College Junior, Student and Sister, whom I am proud of!

மனக்குறள் – 7

Rest In Peace - Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Great and Courageous Leader of India

#AtaljiAmarRahen
#Vajpayee

சொந்தங்கள் மகிழ்ச்சியே!

’நான்! என் பொண்டாட்டி! எம் புள்ளைங்க’ன்னு நம்மைநாமே சுருக்கிக்கிட்டு வாழுற நேரத்துல ’கடைக்குட்டி சிங்கம்’ வரவேற்க வேண்டிய திரைப்படம்.
’காசு இருந்தா சொந்தகாரங்க தானா வருவாங்க!’
’சொந்தகாரங்கன்னாலே தொந்தரவுதான்!’
’சொந்தங்கள் கண்ணீரை மட்டும் தான் கொடுக்கும்!’
’சொந்தங்கள் குசும்பு பேசும்! புரளி பேசும்!’
இந்த மாதிரி சொந்தகாரங்கன்னாலே கெட்டவங்க, ஆகாதவங்கன்னு நம்மள tune பண்ணுனதுல திரைப்படங்கள், மெகா சீரியல்களுக்கு பெரும்பங்கு இருக்கு
இப்ப வர்ற படங்கள் பெரும்பாலும் Nuclear family conceptஐ தான் முன் வைக்கிறாங்க. ’எவன் எக்கேடு கெட்டு போனா நமக்கென்ன… நமக்கு நம்ம குடும்பம் நல்லா இருந்தா போதும்’ங்கிற குறுகிய மனப்பான்மை கொண்டவங்கதான் அதிகம்!
கூட்டு குடும்பம், அதிலுள்ள சந்தோஷம், துக்கம் இதை சொல்ற படமா கடைசியா ‘சைவம்’ங்கிற படம் வந்துச்சு. அதுக்கு அப்புறம் இப்போ ‘கடைக்குட்டி சிங்கம்’
’அய்யோ சொந்தங்களே வேண்டாம்!’ன்னு சொல்றவங்க, இன்னொரு குடும்பத்துக்கு தானும் ஒரு சொந்தம்ங்கிறதை புரிஞ்சிக்கிறது இல்ல. சொந்தங்கள் கண்ணாடி மாதிரி. நாம எந்த முகத்தை காட்டுறமோ, அது அந்த பிம்பத்தை தான் நமக்கு திருப்பி பிரதிபலிக்கும்!
நாம ஒரு ரகம்! அதே மாதிரிதான் சொந்தங்கள்ல ஒவ்வொருத்தரும் ஒரு ரகம்! அதை புரிஞ்சு நடந்துக்குட்டாலே சொந்தங்கள் இன்பங்கள் தான்!
’நான் இப்படிதான்!’ன்னு ஒருத்தர் முறுக்கீட்டு நிப்பாரு! அவரையும் அரவணைச்சு போற சொந்தக்காரர் ஒருத்தர் இருப்பாரு! அவர்னால தான் அங்க காரியங்கள் சங்கடம் இல்லாம நடக்கும்! ’நீ முறுக்கீட்டு நின்னா, நானும் முறுக்கீட்டு நிப்பேண்டா!’ன்னு நின்னா நாம தனிமரம்தான்!
’அவன் எனக்கு அது செய்யல! நான் அவனுக்கு எவ்வளோ செஞ்சிருக்கேன் தெரியுமா!’ன்னு பூதக்கண்ணாடி போட்டுக்கிட்டு லாபநஷ்ட கணக்கு பாக்குறமே தவிர, சொந்தங்களுக்கு நாம கொடுக்குற அன்பும், நேரமும் தான் மிகப்பெரிய சொத்துங்கிறது புரிஞ்சிக்கிறது இல்ல.
என்னை பொறுத்தவரைக்கும் காசு ரெண்டாவது தான்! இதுல முரண்பட்ட ஆட்களும் இருப்பாங்க. சில சொந்தங்கள் காசுக்காக தான் நம்ம கூட ஒட்டி இருப்பாங்க. நம்மாள அவங்களுக்கு உதவ முடிஞ்சா பண்ணுவோம், இல்ல அமைதியா இருப்போம். நம்மக்கிட்ட காசில்லன்னு மதிக்காத சொந்தங்களுக்கு நாம கொடுக்குற தண்டனை அன்பு மட்டும்தான்! மாற்றத்திற்கான மிகப்பெரிய மந்திரமே அன்புதான்! அவங்களுக்கு அதே நிலைமை வரும்போது நம்மள நெனைச்சு பார்ப்பாங்க. காசு இருந்தாலும் இல்லன்னாலும் அவன் ஒரே மாதிரி தான் இருக்கான். நம்ம மேல அன்பும் அக்கறையும் வெச்சிருக்கான்னு திரும்பி வருவாங்க!
இது நான் உணர்ந்த உண்மை!
’கடைக்குட்டி சிங்கம்’ போன்ற திரைப்படங்கள் இனிக்க இனிக்க இனியும் வரவேண்டும்!
2BHKல அடைஞ்சி கெடக்குற nuclear குடும்பங்கள். தன்னோட சொந்தங்கள் கூட சேர்ந்து மகிழ்ச்சியா இருக்கணும்!
இயக்குநர் பாண்டிராஜ்க்கு நன்றி!

மனக்குறள் - 6

மனக்குறள் - 5

’நான்-என்’ என்றெண்ணும் அறிவுடைப் பேதை
நானுக்கு நாணிய அடிமை

மரணம்

ஒருவர் இழைத்த தப்புக்கள். தவறுகள், குற்றங்கள் அனைத்தையும் மாய்க்கக்கூடிய ஒரே துருப்புச்சீட்டு – மரணம்

Rest In Peace - Kalaignar Karunanidhi 1924 - 2018

My Violin Love - Govind Vasantha Menon

I love all music instruments, especially I have a strong emotional connect towards violin and flute. At times, I would feel to be like the music, which flows through Violin's slender yet strong strings and Flute's tiny little holes. They make my heart melt and go nostalgic. 

Here in this blog, I want to mention about my Violin Love - Musician Govind Vasantha Menon. I knew him through the famous Thaikkudam Bridge band. Each and every album of Thaikkudam remains close to me. Govind's violin is little bit closer! 

His music climbs up through my ears, travels to mind cleansing all the accumulated stress and flies gently down to my heart, comforting it. At times, I get a spark of some new ideas while hearing his music. 

Recently I got addicted to this single track from the Thamizh film, '96'. I was searching for the music director and heard that he is a new-comer. I used to hear it daily from the date of its release. The track was running on-loop continuosly!

Yesterday I came to know that the music of '96' film is penned by none other than Govind. 

Thats where I confirmed that the emotional connect never fails!

Keep rocking man! 

Mission Impossible - Fallout

Whether its sky diving, helicopter stunts, fist fights, car chases, bike runs... You name it, he'll accomplish the mission!

Still I go to the edge of seat, when I see Tom Cruise's on-screen running scenes
He appears to me like a child, who is eager enough to learn and perform any kind of tasks and considering the corresponding risks, failures and all negatives as secondary!
A big salute to this man who still entertain us with his adventures and action
He was, is and will remain as my biggest inspiration in action films after Jackie Chan!

மனக்குறள் – 4

தவறை சுட்டிக்காட்டுவது மட்டுமின்றி அதை

தயவின்றி தட்டிக்கேட்பதே நட்பு

A Ride to remember

My first road ride and it was all filled with emotions.

For a very long time, my heart was aching to go out for a ride. Coupling to that recently I saw a Malayalam film, ‘Koode’, which has been shot in and around Ooty. The cinematographer is Littil Swayamp. I wished to see Ooty again, through the eyes of that Cinematographer.

Coincidentally one of my brother Karthick, proposed the idea of ride to Ooty and I immediately said okay. Then I called my Chitthappa (Uncle), who had this wonderful bike Royal Enfield. Well, Now I don’t feel it just as a bike, but more like a reliable friend, close companion.

Yes! The bike was like my mind and soul. It interpreted my feelings and communicated with me during the whole ride. Thanks to my Chitthappa, who believed me and gave his bike. He is a die-hard bike lover and loves his Royal Enfield so much.

I am a slow rider. I don’t rush in greater speeds. Reasons are, first I am afraid of speed ride, second I need my bones, ribs and more importantly my life, to live and enjoy this beautiful world.

The ride was planned on July 28, Saturday 5am. It was all cool till Thursday. On Friday, I got all kinds of negative thoughts, shivers along the spine, bad dreams, like bike accidents, me thrown out to hills along with my bike, bloodshed, gruesome, hospital, pain, my parents, wife and all relatives crying seeing my dead body, and many more… Friday night I had all this mixed feelings and confusions. I even thought to step back from this ride. But something good was silently whispering in me, ‘It’s now or never!’, ‘Go for it!’

I was double-minded and yet decided to go on with the ride. My parents, wife and sister were also in mixed feelings about my ride. Where there is love, there comes care, the care is transformed into worries.  I knew that, but still I want to do it! I tried hard to sleep with all those negative voices. Got up at 3.30am and was fully ready by 4.30am. I prayed God, to bring me back in one piece. I said, ‘This is my first long ride and I want to do this to overcome my biggest challenges in my life - fear and confusion!’ Yep! It’s like seaweed, grows and grows and grows, that would never allow light in you. After I prayed, I was relieved a bit. Prayers never fail! I believe in it! 100%!

Then I said good bye to my worried parents, messaged my wife and started the ride with my brothers. Karthick, my brother, elder one, he works as Team leader at Ford Coimbatore. He loves bike and road trips.

In fact he is senior to me and Surya, in bike rides. Karthick was the one who taught me to drive bike, during my college days. I got my bike, when I was studying for my Masters Degree! Those bike learning sessions were filled with fun and entertainments!

For the Ooty ride, Karthick was on his own Apache, in front of me, like a guide for the whole ride. Surya, another brother, the younger one, he works as Service Manager at Dynavac Company, Coimbatore.

He is also like me in bike riding experience. He drove his Vikrant, covering my back during the ride. I was riding in the middle of both and started the ride.

We had hot tea and cake at Thudiyalur. And then stopped at Karamadai, prayed at a temple, worshipping ‘Kaarana Vinayagar’ and drove straight to Mettupalayam, where Karthick gave us important instructions about riding through hills. And that’s where all hell broke loose!

 Karthick gave a salute to the hills and started the trip. I was at his back and embraced the same feeling. My heart pumped out so fast in joy. The hills were like inviting me saying, ‘Come home!’ Then it was all turns and fun. We crossed many tricky hairpin bends, lovely little curves, and tiny bends. The ride was from Mettupalayam to Kothagiri. The road was all lovely with hot sun and mild cold rising equivalently. Obviously the coolness overtook the sun!

Karthick signaled us about opposite vehicles or obstacles. Surya and I drove accordingly. It was no hurry-burry driving. We drove cool and composed. We had companions, mostly youngsters driving along with us. We brothers watched each other’s back and took care of one another during the whole ride. I never slipped my eye from rear view mirror watching Surya, who was always behind me.

Finally reached Kothagiri, had hot tea, which was very much expected. The hot tea was more like an elixir at that time. When I am at Chennai, I would long for some cool places like Ooty or Kodaikanal. But at Kothagiri, I was searching for sun!

Then we headed to Ooty. The road was all good. I thanked the roadways department and all the men who would have toiled hard, lost their lives to build such roads in those treacherous hilly areas. We were blessed to travel through such good road. We drove responsibly and so we enjoyed the moments.

                  We reached Ooty, had breakfast, filled my bike with fuel and headed to Masinagudi, the bike rider’s love! I heard many say about the thrill and enjoyment while riding from Ooty to Masinagudi. I enjoyed the same! It was a whole new experience. There is a saying in Hindi, ‘Agar Jannat kahi hai, toh woh Yahi hai! Yahi hai! Yahi hai!’ The heaven is down here on the earth. I felt those words. There were these mist-clad hills, sitting like a monk, silent yet communicating. The whole air was filled with positivity and peace. We engulfed ourselves fully into it. We rode down completely in second gear with utmost caution. The roads were so steep at some point, like a greedy mind, looks all luring from distance, when you get down into it with no caution, you’ll be succumbed completely, thereby never returning back!

Then we drove all through Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, had tea and refreshed ourselves there. We had this fun and smiles with us throughout the ride. Surya is the one who gives best counter dialogues for all my point. I love his counter comedies and timing jokes!

 Karthick is another best in kidding me. He would do in his own style, which I enjoy always!

Then via Gudalur we headed to Ooty. The road was completely awesome. We drove through dense forest. But we were unlucky to spot any animals during the ride. After that we saw this sky-touching trees and they were like our great grandparents who lived so long on this earth and deep-rooted their customs and traditions into us. Under their shadow, we rested for a while, taking selfies and souvenir pictures of our ride.

Then we came through a road where the entire right side was welcomed by bamboo trees, which were shy and they appeared to be like, they want to hug and embrace us. Like a token of gratitude, they bent down to us, wishing for visiting them and have a happy journey ahead. 

Then came the real beauty! Yes! I thought I would be riding only through sun’s mild heat and enveloping cold, which was comforting us all throughout the day. But at a point, we experienced light drizzle and heavy fog spreading around us. It was challenging and interesting to ride along such moments.

The another incredible and interesting thing which I enjoyed through the whole journey is the light. The light played all kinds of drama in front of us. She would shed grayish gloomy cold light to soothe us, then sprinkle some pleasant bright sunlight to comfort us and many times she would go all white, throwing a blanket of fog, thereby covering all her lustful green beauty! Even though she would never cease to attract us, by revealing her charming greens here and there!

Then we reached Ooty through Pykara. At that moment, my mind instigated some devilish thoughts in me and I started to ride recklessly. There was swarm of vehicles infront of me, but even though I was chasing and over-taking them all in those curvy roads. My bike would have been confused! Till that moment, I was driving in peace. But when I gave room to my mind, the witchy mistress, she started to bring up all the negative thoughts, like vengeance and hatred. The people, whom I hate, came into my mind like flashes. My heart pumped out irregularly. The triggered anger was transformed to my bike and he got all the heat which accumulated in my dirty mind.

The moment I reached Ooty, it all came down normal and cool. My heartbeat became normal. I learnt that never give room for negative thoughts, it would engulf you into a dark limbo, from which you would never find a way back home!

At Ooty, I came through a temple and prayed a moment. And we had our lunch, hearing badaga songs. Surya loves to sing and he was all enchanted with the badaga songs! Then we planned to get down and reach home. So bought some chocolates and we said good-bye to the wonderful Ooty.

We took the same route as we travelled to Ooty. From Ooty to Kothagiri and Kothagiri to Mettupalayam. We laughed and cracked jokes at some pitstops. I was laughing like hell, for the jokes of Surya and Karthick. The light was going dark and we decided to reach Mettupalayam as soon as possible. I remembered the whole journey till that moment and boasted myself for riding such a distance.

 At that stroke came the fear, master of all emotions. The vehicles which passed along us drove recklessly and made me get frightened around the edge of the curvy roads. There was two moments, where I would have been toppled down to deep hills. But had a narrow escape! Even though I gave them space to overtake me, some lunatics drove like hell.

Finally we trio reached Mettupalayam. We three stopped our bikes, turned back and thanked the hills for giving us wonderful time and experience.

I thanked for teaching me some lessons. I thanked Almighty, for getting me down in one piece. I also embraced my parents and beloved who prayed for me to travel safe and reach home.

Then we rode from Mettupalayam to Annur and finally reached Coimbatore. The whole ride covered 337kms! In one single day! Wow! That’s really great!

I reached home and gave a warm hug to Karthick, thanking him, for being a watchful guide, friend and obviously beloved brother all along the ride. Then hugged Surya, for making the ride much easier, with his comedies and pranks!

Finally I saw a broad smile on my parent’s face seeing me. They were in fear and worries, about me riding through hills, which was new to me. I entered home and thanked God… for the lifetime experience!

A Ride to remember!

28-07-2018