Peiyena Peiyum Mazhai

En Vaanile Sila VinmeengaL

2012-01-17T01:11:00.002+05:30

Brightening the otherwise dark,
rather boring night,
are these little comets
fleeting past,
temporarily exciting,
never lasting long enough to
illuminate,
illustrate,
leave a mark,
leave a scar worth sporting,
leave an impression
worth writing home about
except these silly
attempts at faulty poetry.

When will the moon come out
to frame the cumulonimbus,
in its full glory,
to forge the empty canvas
into a work of art,
to provide the finishing touches
to a forlorn existence?

EnakkuL oru Kuzhappam

2012-01-16T00:04:00.002+05:30

Of the many things I wanted to write about today
I am not sure which one to pick.
Should I write about how
you decided to tease me?
Or how I thought, even though
I disagreed with your opinions
I still love you, man,
for who you are,
and what you mean to me?
Or about how you,
veiled your insecurities,
and expressed yourself
in all honesty
in a personal space,
in a blog that you
write,
that I instantly loved?
Or about how
I need to start writing
regularly to hit
a million words
to find my voice?
Or about how I
sometimes wonder
if i make sense
when I am sober
or if I am honest
and don't make much
sense when
i am drunk?
Or how I felt
happy, and simultaneously
sad
when I saw myself
for the first time
on tv
and thought
oh shit, I look
like a weirdo
and why did they
show so much about me
when they could have spared
a few minutes for you?
About how,
as an after thought
I felt bad about
slamming the phone,
being rude,
but writing about it
with regret
feeling sorry,
while all you wanted to know
was how to
book tickets, to
ensure you came back home
on time,
to do your duties,
to be a supportive father, appa?
What
do
I
write
about?

Anbilaar, anbudaiyaar

2012-01-15T12:22:00.001+05:30

I think you dont have to go looking for love. It comes looking for you.
Anbilaar ellam thamakkuriyar, anbudaiyaar
~~Endrum~~ Enbum uriyar pirarkku.
To give, and to give, and to give.
Always.
Is the only way.

Katradhum Petradhum

2012-01-11T22:09:00.001+05:30

In the best year of my life so far,
I got
A handful of people who believe in me.
A company of my own.
And two most awesome gifts.
Thank you so much Sahil, Amrut, Kashinath, Tharini, Ajay, Siddharth, Raj Bharath & the boys for believing in me.
Thanks nana, for being a pillar of support, and a constant source of inspiration.
Thank you Amma for your infinite love and kindness and concern.
Thank you R, for getting to know me so well; for your patience, love, affection & these two wonderful gifts that have become an essential part of my life - my reading lamp & my swiss army card.
And I learnt
That loss is an essential part of life.
That it takes a lot of effort and unconditional love to make anything work.
A little bit more about Indian cinema.
Avva, I'll always remember your unquenched curiosity & lust for life. You gave so much, struggled a lot, but lead a long, fruitful life.
You should've seen the number of people who turned up for your funeral, avva! And the austerities and the 13 day rites were conducted with so much piety. And everyone was well fed.
You'd have approved.
Be it relationships or profession or friendship, I learnt it the hard way that I have to put in my fullest and give my everything to make them work. Slacking, lethargy, disinterest, lack of motivation etc will come back to bite you. Lesson learnt.
Indian cinema is so fascinating. I can't get enough of it. And I learnt a fair bit this year. About plot, structure, the indian idiom, themes, social stereotypes, the folk tradition, the star factor, the sentiments, the opinions, mass appeal, songs, music, lighting, the invisible camera, the diversions...
I must thank Chinni, the boys, and the Tamil film industry for sharing their opinions, knowledge & their movies with me.
Wish you a very exciting, wonderful 2012.

Maranam, Jananam

2012-01-01T11:40:00.001+05:30

The last tears of 2011 were tears of respect, inspiration, and faith.

And they were triggered by a poem which was something the Mahatma supposedly heard a few hours before his assasination, but for all practical purposes was written by my dad.
He'd written it down for me when I was in middle school, at the back of my notebook. It popped up in my head last night after many years of lying dormant in a forgotten corner.

Here's to a new beginning.

Oh oh manidha oyindhirukkadhey
Thanimayil irundhu oru kai paarpinum
Nirkavum vendaam, niruthavum vendaam
Thamadham kandu thayangida vendaam

Sellum padhaigaL saeraai iruppinum
Seluthidum vazhigal kuzhappam aLippinum
Uyirinukkaaga Odidum veLai
Oomaigalaaga odungikkidappinum
Than dhiDa manadhil
thalarndhuvidadhey Izhandhuvidadhey

Oh oh manidha oyindhirukkadhey!
Vaazhum vaazhvu vatrivittaalum
Valarum sinathaal sethuvittalum
Thurathum idukkaN unnai
thodarndhu thodarndhu keduthazhithaalum
Irumbu manadhaal yaetriduvaai nee

Oh oh manidha oyindhirukkadhey!
Malai pol thunbam valara valara
Manathaal uyarndhey thaaviduvaai nee
Varandularndha vayalgaL varaiyil
Sendriduvaai nee, vendriduvaai nee

Ulagam yaavum irulaai irundhaal
OLiyai adhanil yetriduvaai viraivaai
Sutrilum karumai megam irundhaal
Thudaithiduvaai nee!
Pudhiya saritham padaithiduvaai nee!

Oh oh manidhaa, oyindhirukkadhey.

Pralayam, en Premam

2011-12-29T17:25:00.001+05:30

For if you had come in
like the gentle breeze
from the south-west
and softly carressed me,
I'd have swayed,
leaned your way
shyly raising my head
on your passing
with fond memories
Of your moisture.

But
You swept in as a storm,
shook me up,
shattered my branches,
scattered my seeds,
left me
leafless,
naked,
out of breath,
uprooted,
longing for more.

What's a tree to do
fallen
hoplessly in love
with a thunderstorm?

Unakaaga mattum

2011-12-28T00:04:00.001+05:30

I am writing a lot these days.
Just for her.
Mostly mundane stuff about my day,
and life as it happened.
Its a little unfair
because none of it will fit here.

But i'll share a bit though.
I am cooking andhra food.
Guthi vankaya koora
Vellulipaya pulusu
Kothimeera pachadi
Pappu chaaru
Basmati rice
Curd
Mavdikaya thokku

Wish me luck. :)

If I get it right, she'll fall in love with me, yes?

Kaathirundhaal, edhirparthirundhaal

2011-12-23T23:01:00.001+05:30

I write, while I wait
In eager anticipation
Of signs of life.

Show me that you are there,
Tell me you exist,
Text me you had dinner,
Just breathe in
My general direction.

Your distant presence,
Those whispered words,
That casual text,
The heady fragrance
Of your
Partially opened mouth
Escaping past those
Pretty lips
Reaching me at dawn

Saves me from drowning
Into those immersive dreams
About you,
Wakes me up,
to remind me
That you are
Actually
A real, fascinating part
Of my otherwise
Ordinary life.

Vaendugiraen un viralgaLai...

2011-12-20T22:09:00.001+05:30

Lost in
The intercourse of our inquisitive minds
The throbbing of our indulgent hearts
The flirtatious glances of our yearning eyes
The knowing smiles kindling unknown desires

Where is the romance of the flesh?

When will
Finger meet finger
And become
Irrevocably intertwined?

Endro Abagariththa MuthangaL.

2010-08-18T13:08:00.004+05:30

Stolen Kisses is a 1968 French film directed by François Truffaut. It's an old favourite of mine. I started watching it recently and the title song took me on a magical trip.
"Que reste-t-il de nos amours?" or "What remains of our love?" is a lovely composition by Charles Trenet.

What appealed to me was the warm personal touch that Trenet had given that song. Its sense of nostalgia is very strong and quite capable to transporting you to days gone by. Although it is in French, the English translation (that comes in the subtitles) is quite evocative. It speaks of the passion of young love, of new romance and wonders where it all went using beautiful imagery - a dying ember, an autumn song, old photographs, passing clouds and so on.

The title of Truffaut's film is also from this song - "Baisers volés" which translates to 'Stolen Kisses', another phrase that suggests the sense of urgency and excitement of love in its early stages.

This is a song for a lonely, introspective afternoon... enveloped in smoke and the stirring flavour of good scotch.

Here it is, the lyrics and the song.

Tonight the wind knocking at my door
Speaks of love that is no more
While the fire's embers fade

Tonight a song of autumn quivers
As the house around me shivers
And I think of long-gone days

What's left of loves that we once knew
Of lovely days when romance was new
Some photographs of days long past
Nothing but these

What's left of letters
splashed with perfume
Breathless encounters and April's bloom
Where can my heart find haven from
These memories

Long flowing tresses
blown in the breeze
Stolen kisses, passionate dreams
What's left of all these things
Tell me, please

A little village, love's hiding place
A rustic landscape in spring's embrace
And in the wisps of passing clouds
Youth's vanished face

And the mp3 if you really really love it, like I do now
http://www.anna.is/mp3/QueResteTilDeNosAmour.mp3

Neelavaaanam, Vaanavil.

2010-07-12T14:40:00.002+05:30

These two songs from Sita Sings the Blues are looping in my head...

Sung by Annette Hanshaw, 20's blues singer, they are about reconciliation and hopeless longing.

If you want the rainbow then you must have the rain

What does it matter if rain comes your way

and raindrops patter along?

The rain descending should not make you blue

The happy ending is waiting for you

Take your share of trouble, face it and don't complain

If you want the rainbow, you must have the rain.

Happiness comes double after a little pain

If you want the rainbow, you must have the rain.

What if your love affair should break up, as they sometimes will

When you kiss and make up, boy what a thrill!

Sadness ends in gladness, showers are not in vain

If you want the rainbow, you must have the rain.

Look for brighter weather, oh watch for the Sun again

If you want the rainbow then you must have the rain.

Pull yourself together, whistle a happy strain

If you want the rainbow then you must have the rain.

So if your lucky star deserts you, and if shadows fall

Even though it hurts you, laugh through it all

Be a cheerful loser, you have the World to gain

If you want the rainbow, why, you just must have the rain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zcTgyGpens

Lover come back to me

You went away, I let you

We broke the ties that bind

I wanted to forget you, and leave the past behind.

Still the magic of the night I met you seems to stay forever in my mind...

The sky was blue, and high above

the moon was new, and so was love

This eager heart of mine was singing,

"Lover where can you be?"

You came at last, love had its day

That day is past, you've gone away

This aching heart of mine is singing, "Lover come back to me," when

I remember every little thing you used to do

I'm so lonely

Every road I walk along, I walked along with you

No wonder I am lonely

The sky is blue, the night is cold

the moon is new, but love is old

and while I'm waiting here, this heart of mine is singing,

"Lover come back to me."

Sky is blue, night is cold, moon is new, but love is old

and while I'm waiting here this heart of mine is singing

Lover come back to me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY_Rw6BypD4

Pudhiya Padhaigal

2010-07-08T11:17:00.002+05:30

Plot point II is here.
And like all good scripts, this one is a bit of a surprise even though it took a while.

So Act III is here and lets see where it takes us!
Time for showdown.

Wish me luck.

Kudhukalam! Kondattam! Kummaalam!

2010-07-02T12:56:00.002+05:30

I had a go at Nintendo Wii last weekend at Ashwin's place. And totally fell in love with it. Not just me. All three of us got hooked to it INSTANTLY!

I'm setting myself a deadline - 4th September, 2010 I will own a Wii. With 2 remotes. (That thing comes with just one remote. It isn't half as fun in one player mode.) And that weekend I'll throw a party. You are invited.

We will get high, drink, eat and most certainly P.L.A.Y.

Wii will P.A.R.T.Y.

I shall keep you posted. Location and time will be specified at a later date.

Marudhani!

2010-06-24T00:37:00.004+05:30

Thank you Shruthi for your steady hands and the smiley.

It reads NAREH. I know it's not gonna be there for very long. But it is mine till it lasts. And that makes me a happy man. That's my loopy grin on the right. :)

Oh, and many wishes to one of my favourite people on earth. Wish you a happy married life! Taruna heart Sandeep.

Naetru Meendum Varumaa?

2010-06-18T20:09:00.004+05:30

And just like that this song is stuck in my head.

Just like that the words in front of me become a blur.

Eyes glazed

arms slumped

lips parched

thoughts wasted.

Surely

the winds

this side of town

have died.

Yesterday,
All my troubles seemed so far away,
Now it looks as though they're here to stay,
Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Suddenly,
I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me,
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.

Why she
Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.
I said something wrong,
now I long for yesterday.

Yesterday,
Love was such an easy game to play,
Now I need a place to hide away,
Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Why she
Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.
I said something wrong,
now I long for yesterday.

Yesterday,
Love was such an easy game to play,
Now I need a place to hide away,
Oh, I believe in yesterday.

-Paul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXp-vpE9eU

Pesum Poove!

2010-02-21T13:11:00.003+05:30

Song Title : Pesum Poove

Movie Title : Mundhinam Paartheney (2010)
Singers : Krish, Suchithra
Music : S Thaman
Lyricist : Viveka
Direction : Magizh Thirumeni
Download link: http://tamilmp3download.in/download/A-Z%20Songs/M/Munthinam%20Parthaen/Pesum%20Poove.mp3?l=8&m=1

Alternately you could goto http://tamilmp3download.in/download/A-Z%20Songs/M/Munthinam%20Parthaen and download it.

This song is stuck in my head. Something about it.

Krish and Suchithra have sung with lot of pep!

I think Thaman shows a lot of potential. I liked what he had done in Eeram.

The other songs in this album are great. I just happen to like this one the most.

Give it a shot. I think you'll like it too.

I really liked the simple straight forward lyrics of Pesum Poove. Looked around, couldn't find the english transliteration, decided to sit and type it out.

Here it is, for your perusal.

Male:
pesum poove pesum poove
kaadhal veesum kaNNi theeve
vaanam boomi kaaNavillai
yedhu seidhaai kooradi

Female:
whoa uh whoa ooooh
yen uyirum poothathey
unnaiye eNNi
en ulagam yaengudhey

Male:
PeNNe...
un kangalaa, un kannamaa
un pinnalaa, un dhegamaa
un naasiyaa, un vaarthaiyaa
un vaasam thaan ennai eerthadhaa

un vetkamaa un vegamaa
un kindalaa un kiLLalaa
Un thuLLalaa un paarvaiyaa
un anbu dhaan ennai eerthadhaa

chorus:
eerthadaa eerthadaa eerthadhaa

Female:
kaadhal kaatre kaadhal kaatre
kalaindhu ponaen unnai paarthe

I like your eyes
i like your smile
the way you talk
something about you...

mamadhaiyodu thirindha naatkaL
muzhudhum Maatri
munaga vaithaai
un paarvaiyaal un paarvaiyaal

Male:
mundhinam mundhinam
unnai paarthaeney
en peyar ennaiye
naanum kaetttaeney
endhiram endhiram pola aanaeney

Female:
anbe un sorkalaa un mounamaa
un menmaiyaa un unmaiyaa
un kuLLamaa un kaLLamaa
un naeram dhaan ennai kondradhaa

un meesaiyaa un thoLgaLaa
un thotramaa un paarvaiyaa
un vervaiyaa un machchamaa
un achcham dhaan ennai thindradhaa

Male:
Pesum Poove...
"typical tamil song gibberish"

ho ho ho ho
en uyirum poothadhey
unnaiye eNNi
en ulagam yengudhey

Male:
un kangaLaa un kannamaa
un pinnala un dhaegamaa
un naasiyaa, un varthaiyaa
un vaasam thaan ennai eerthadhaa
un vetkamaa un vegamaa
un kindalaa un kiLLalaa
un thuLLalaa un paarvaiyaa
un anbu dhaan ennai eerthadhaa

pesum poove...

Suriya Grahanam!

2010-01-15T16:47:00.003+05:30

That's what I saw. From my terrace! What about you?

(Umm... notice the tiny finger nail kinda thingy in the middle of the pic? That's what I'm talkin about!)

Happy Makara Sankaranti!!!

2010-01-14T13:22:00.004+05:30

Hello! Happy New year!

Happy Makara Sankarati! The transition of the Sun god into it's annual Capricorn phase. The date when the day starts to grow longer again, the beginning of the harvest season, one of hope and happiness.
Did you celebrate it??
We, at home, boil milk till it flows over (encouraging it with shouts of Pongalo Pongal!), signifying the hope of plentiful reap in the year ahead; We then make the Chakkara Pongal (check out the Youtube how to make video and try it out at home! It's real easy!) and do a small ritualistic prayer to the Sun God thanking him for... well, his mere presence in our lives.
So it's a new beginning this year, one where we look forward to a better day, a better news, a better world with lesser fears, a better tomorrow.

And what better way to celebrate the new beginning than attending a festival of cheer, drums, dances and clapping hands? Are you attending the 4th Chennai Sangamam, the biggest open festival in India??

Oh, did you listen to Kuru Kuru Kan from Couples Retreat (2009) scored by A.R.Rehman?
I fell in love with it.

Please do share with us your New Year's new stories, new beginnings. Let's start a conversation.

Mahabharata

2009-08-04T17:52:00.004+05:30

What started off as a time pass stoner conversation between Songi and me has grown into a full fledged temporary obsession.
If you had to make a Mahabharata Tetralogy (Not a trilogy, coz it wouldn't do justice to the epic) what would your dream team be? You can pick two sets of people - from Kollywood and from Bollywood. (And if you wish to, a mix of both. Also, the big boys from Mel and Golti land can be included.)
The reason why this is so much fun is because you have a long list of characters to cast.
You can take the list from the 1989 Peter Brook's stage adaptation of the epic. (It was later made into a six hour mini series.)
Assume that you are making a serious, mythological movie that "captures the battles, intrigues, spiritual complexity and cultural aesthetics of India"
You also get to decide the director, screenwriter, music composer, art director, costume designer etc. You may choose to get firangis to do the above but the cast should be strictly indian.
I shall put up my list soonly. (In a week, so that I don't bias your choices.)
Oh and it goes without saying that we assume that the actors should all be available to work in the project in the near future. So you can't cast Sivaji Ganesan in the role of Karna and so on.
And if you are as intrigued as I am with this subject, you may also decide what each part contains. This is basically an exercise in sharpening your memory of The Great Epic and showing off your knowledge of the cinemas.

:)

PS: For those not too familiar with the Mahabharata, I suggest you read Rajaji's version online. And who here is not familiar with Indian cinema?

Aasa dosa

2009-07-07T19:22:00.002+05:30

I heard a song the other day.
you can check it out on youchoob here.
Aasa Dosa from Paramasivam (2006) starring "Thala" Ajith Kumar.

Now the reason I was blown away by it was the lyrics. (check out the entire lyrics here)
Sample this. A hot girl is singing this about herself -

Naan poranthaen
Pathooru gaali
Valarnthaen
Jillavey gaali
Sirichaen ellorum
Gaali Maamaa

And the line that I rasichified so much...

Ennathaan paathaley podhum
Kuthaalam nimirndhidumey

What a wonderful imagery I say! You've to give it to Na.Muthukumar for coming up with something so...so... words escape me.
You can listen to the rest of the song too. It's a nice kuthu paatu. Goes well with a cutting and chips.

Kannu, idhu pudhusu!

2009-06-17T14:36:00.001+05:30

A new beginning.
A new hope.
A new home.

:)

engalukkum kaalam varum;
kaalam vandhaal vaazhvu varum;
vaazhvu vandhaal anaivaraiyum vaazhavaipomey!

- Pasamalar (1961)

2009-05-14T15:29:00.002+05:30

Nenjaankootil neeye nirkiraai penne...

I chanced upon that song from the film Dishoom in the radio a month or so back and the first line of the song just caught me off guard. There is something so stirring about it that I go all light headed every time I listen to it. The rest of the song isn't that great or anything. It has a nice, refreshing tune. Do give it a shot and tell me if you like it.

I just can't seem to get over those three words...
Nenjaankootil
neeye
nirkiraai

kirukkanin kirukkal

2009-03-24T12:26:00.007+05:30

A
fleeting
glimpse.

Like a puff
of green smoke that
fills my lungs,
floods my thoughts,
warms my toes,
dries my lips,
numbs my senses,
you
have
left
me
out of breath,
at a loss for words,
(writing imitation poetry)
H.I.G.H.

For a moment
you were mine.
I was yours.
And I shall ask
for nothing more.

A
fleeting
glimpse.

nenjukkuL isaiyaaga

2009-03-05T12:48:00.002+05:30

After breaking away from the umbilical cord, we spend the rest of our lives trying to connect to people. Parents, siblings, friends, companions, spouses, kids - all these are connections we make to stay grounded.
"No man is an island." said the great thinker Jon Bon Jovi.
Real connection happens but rarely and lasts a fleeting moment.

The other day, i was travelling by bus and was listening to the radio on my mobile. The fellow sitting next to me broke into a song, quite unconsciously.

poo vizhi paarvaiyil minnal kaattinaaL
aayiram aasaigaL ennil oottinaaL
yaeno yaeno nenjai poottinaaL
iravum pagalum ennai vaattinaaL
idhayam avaL peyaril maatrinaaL
kaadhal theeyai vandhu moottinaaL

A melodious number by Ilayaraaja from Kaadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997) - Ennai Thaalatta Varuvaala. Incidentally, I had just tuned into the same station and was humming along in my mind.
There was that moment.
My fellow passenger finished singing this stanza.
He then slowly turned around and looked at me.
We acknowledged each other's presence.
And went back to staring out of the window.

enadhu iravu avaL koondhalil
enadhu pagalgaL avaL paarvaiyil
kaalam ellaam avaL paarvaiyil
kanavu kalaiyavillai kaNgaLil
idhayam thudikkavillai aasaiyil
vaazhvum thaazhvum avaL vaarthaiyil
kaNNukkuL imaiyaaga irukkindraaL
nenjukkuL isaiyaaga thudikkindraaL

- sung by Hariharan, lyrics by Pazhani Bharathi.

Thundu Beedi

2009-02-11T12:55:00.002+05:30

I smoked Beedis yesterday. I'd been wanting to try it out for a long time. Ashwin and I met up at Chomas around 7pm. We took a little walk to the nearest general stores and bought a 600ml coke bottle. Opened it and drank a little. Crossed the road to get to the TASMAC wine shop (Why do they call it a wine shop as opposed to liquor store? I've not seen anything other than Golconda wine being sold there!) and bought a quarter Mc rum. Poured it into the coke bottle, disposed the rum bottle and started walking back. On the way back I bought Beedis for two bucks. There were five.

We settled down at our usual location on the boundary walls of Chomas (Somasundaram playground) and started swigging. I lit up a Beedi. I was quite excited. It was my first one. And well, it was... nice. It was smooth. There was a distinct flavor of natural tobacco leaves. It tasted a little sweet. I really liked it.
We were talking about the good ol' days and the coke bottle emptied slowly. There was a pleasant breeze. The Moon was high up in the sky. It had a radiant glow. The playground was nearly empty except for a few kids. It was a beautiful night.

Beedi jalai lay
Jigar se piya
Jigar maa badi aag hai
Beedi jalai lay
Jigar se piya
Jigar maa badi aag hai

- The Beedi song, Omkara

Mudhalum Mudivum

2009-01-02T08:57:00.002+05:30

On 31st night, around 9pm, I met my friend near my house. We walked around on familiar streets, discussing the day and the year that was. We spotted a fello selling balloons at the street corner. For ten bucks I bought a big blue balloon that said in a flowing handwriting "Happy New Year 2009" and gifted it to my friend. We parted ways at the end of the road after wishing each other a great year ahead. I walked away, thinking about the big blue balloon and the smiles it brought out from us and the on-lookers as we paraded it on our way. It was a happy end to the year.

On 1st afternoon, around 2pm, I walked out of my friend's apartment, with blodshot eyes and a splitting headache, looking slightly over-dressed in a flowing black kurta which I'd worn for the get together the previous night. I'd carefully taken it off and hung it along with the other clothes that were drying in the balcony deciding to spend the eventful ceremonies of the evening in my vest. As I walked towards the exit, there were a bunch of li'l kids, about 7-8 of them, standing outside the entrance of a ground floor flat, waiting for someone to answer the door. One of them had a box of homemade chocolates in her hand. As I walked past them, one of girls hesitantly wished me happy new year. I turned back and wished her the same. The rest of the kids joined in a babbling chorus of "happy new year" and "Happy new year, uncle" with a lot of cheer. I left the building and walked out into a bright, sunny day feeling optimistic about the year ahead.

Chennayil oru mazhai kaalam

2008-11-29T10:01:00.003+05:30

Did you know that rains are a condensed form of our thoughts and emotions coming back to tell us of bygone days? Did you know that rains are, to borrow from Proust, remembrance of things past?

I've always had this feeling. On a rainy day, you sit with your legs up, hot cuppa coffee in your hand and stare into the skies, stare at the pitter-patter drops that slowly start to form a puddle in front of you. And you fall into a trance, lured in by the reassuring scent of the earth and travel back in time. Fond memories come flooding back. You think of good old days spent with friends and loved ones, ancient times when you were very little and were scared of the thunder and lightning flashes, you rushed into your father's arms when you heard the sky getting ripped apart and the dark ominous clouds threatened to envelop you.

Today, you are much older. You don't chant Arjuna! Arjuna! when you hear the loud whip-cracks. You resist the urge to run out and do a li'l rain dance. You aren't scared of the darkness. You sit down and nurse yourself in the soothing warmth of pleasant recollections. You think of a day, an age, in a street like any other street, a rain drop like any other, and wonder how time flew past. How those moments became faint impressions of a flash-back routine.

*****

Did you know rains are god given opportunities to learn a few things about ourselves? That they are meant to see if we still have the li'l kid in ourselves?

Long ago, much before humans inhabited the earth, it was divided into two. The land and the water. The animals on land stayed only on land and the creatures of the sea hung around only in the seas. The land animals had no idea that water existed. And the sea creatures did not know what air was. They never crossed their self imposed boundaries. Water was considered the end of the earth by the land animals. Likewise air for the creatures below. Things were going fine. All was well. Everyone lived in bliss.

One day, there was a giant earthquake! The lands shook. The seas boiled! And an elephant that happened to be taking a stroll on the beach accidentally fell into water! He was drowning. He did not know how to swim! And he thought he was trapped and done for. Suddenly a shoal of fishes chanced upon this incident and were taken aback by such a huge thing in their midst. They were very scared. What is this abomination?! Is this the devil that's come to punish us? So thinking they decided to fight it out with the elephant. They gathered forces and charged at the elephant. They rammed into it again and again and managed to push it off into the land.
The elephant was much relieved. He was grateful for the help from the fishes whom he'd met for the first time. He wanted to thank them somehow but they'd all bolted in fear. The elephant sat down at the beach and pondered.

How could he thank them? Maybe he could try going into the sea again? But wouldn't he pop off if he got sucked in? Maybe he should take a little peek and see if his saviours were around. He took a small step into the water and looked about hesitantly. He couldn't see anyone. He took another step. Nothing yet. And another. And another. Before he knew what he was doing he'd gone neck deep into unknown waters. Overcome by curiosity he'd marched right into the middle of the sea. He stopped and looked around. Oh no! He was surrounded on all sides by water! What's gonna happen now? He was super scared!

But nothing happened. In fact, he felt light. And jolly. He walked around, testing the new waters. He started enjoying this exercise. He dived in and quickly came out. What joy! He'd discovered something miraculous. He also realised that this "water" was consumable and more importantly it seemed to satisfy an ancient need in him. He'd never realised that he'd had a great thirst within. Now he couldn't get enough of it. He indulged to his heart's content. It grew dark. Feeling jubilant, he returned to the land.

He got back home and told about this miraculous incident to his friends and family at the jungle gathering. His enthusiasm rubbed off on everyone and they decided to explore the next day.
.

In not time, everyone was swimming, drinking, and playing around with water. They'd all migrated into the oceans except for the lone elephant who was happy on land. But for others the lands seemed boring and heavy. Even the bird creatures decided to dive in. This resulted in the over-population of the seas and oceans. The sea creatures, curious at first, happy later on to meet new creatures turned sour as their waters were being stolen from under their feet. They were angry. A meeting was called. All sea creatures attended it. They decided to request the land creatures to leave immediately or else...

The war raged on for years. It was fought within the seas. The oceans churned. From a deep blue the waters turned red. They were equally matched. There seemed to be no end.

The elephant who was the origin of this conflict was troubled. His conscience irked him. He wanted to do something to put an end to this. Everyone had to come to an agreement. But how?

An idea struck him!

A compromise was reached. A treaty was signed. The war came to an end. Since there was enough land and water for everyone, there was no need to fight. It would be shared equally. The sea creatures were always welcome to use the land. The land creatures could use the shallow regions but never go deep. The ingenious part of the treaty was conceived by the elephant. They'd store water on land! And how would they transport it? He'd do it for them, of course!
He decided to sacrifice himself for the greater good. He would live in the oceans and spout out water to the lands at regular intervals.

Thus, it rained on earth.

The next time you encounter rains remember to remember. Remember the sacrifice of the elephant who later evolved into the Whale, the rainmaker. And remember to bring out the little kid in you. :)

andha megam surandha paalil yaen nanaya marukkirai
nee vaazha vandha vaazhvil oru pagudi izakkirai
nee kangal moodi karayum podhu mannil sorgam eeyduvaai

nee kangal moodi karayum podhu mannil sorgam eeyduvaai

yaanum neeyum evvazhi aridhum

2008-11-22T12:20:00.000+05:30

I stumbled onto a copy of Poems of Love and War by A.K.Ramanujan a month or so back. I was hooked instantly. Dropped everything else, sat down and read the book end to end. It was such a heady experience to read wonderful translations of great Tamil poems from Sangam literature. I also happened to jot down a few of his translations that appealed to me.

Too lazy to type them out, i tried google to see if someone else had put in the effort before me. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a schoolmate of mine is doing some excellent work in his blog Karka-Nirka. He's posted a lot of essays on and translations of Sangam lit.

Anyway, three of my fav from A.K.Ramanujan's book, I'm posting here for posterity.

What She Said
to her girl friend

In his country,

summer west wind blows
flute music
through bright beetle-holes in the waving bamboos.
The sweet sound of waterfalls is continuous,
dense as drums.
The urgent lowing voices of a herd of stags
are oboes,
the bees on the flowering slopes
become lutes.

Excited by such teeming voices,
an audience of female monkeys
watches in wonder
the peacock in the bamboo hill
sway and strut
like a dancer
making an entrance
on a festival stage.

He had a garland on his chest,
a strong bow in his grip,
arrow already chosen,
and he asked which way
the elephant went
with an arrow buried in its side.

He stood at the edge
of a ripe-eared millet field.

But, among all the people
who saw him standing there,
why is it
that I alone

lie in bed
in this harsh night,
eyes streaming,
arms growing lean?

Kapilar
Akananuru 82

(Wow. That poem burns with passion. I fell in love with it instantly.)

What He Said

As a little white snake
with lovely stripes on it's young body
troubles the jungle elephant

this slip of a girl
her teeth like sprouts of new rice
her wrists stacked with bangles
troubles me.

Sathi-Naadhanaar
Kurunthokai 119

(The parallels drawn are simply stunning!)

What His Friend Said
(teasing the man in love)

Love, love,
they say
Love is not a disease,
no evil goddess.
Come to think of it,
dear man
with those great shoulders,
love is very much like an old bull,
enjoys a good lick
of the young grass
on the slope
of an old backyard:
a fantasy feast
that's what love is.

Kuruntokai -204

And of course, the most popular poem from Sangam lit written by someone who's known only by the imagery that he used in this poem, Sembula Peyaneerar's Red Earth and Pouring Rain.

yaayum nyaayum yaaragiyaro,
endhayum nundhayum emmurai kaelir,
yaanum neeyum evvazhi aridhum,
sembulappeyaneer pola,
anbudai nenjam thaam kalanthanave

What He Said

What could be my mother be to yours?
What kin is my father to yours anyway?
And how did you and I meet ever?
But as red earth and pouring rain,
Our hearts, in their love, have mingled beyond parting.

There are few who can resist the powerful imagery that forms the title of the poem. It can melt the coldest of hearts and make love blossom there.

I'm no exception.These are the times when I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and relish such an ancient, passionate language.

Mangiyadhor Nilavinile

2008-11-21T00:11:00.000+05:30

I had the good fortune of listening to T.M.Krishna's rendition of this song as part of a play - Rural Phantasy staged a few years back at the Egmore Museum Theatre. The song is still fresh in my mind. This is such a beautiful poem by Bharathi. I get all drunk and dreamy just thinking about it.

mangiyadhor nilavinile kanavil idhu kaNden

vayadhu pathirnaaru irukkum iLa vayadhu mangai

pongi varum peru nilavu pondra oLi mukamum

punnagaiyin pudhu nilavum potra varum thotram

thungamaNi min polum vadivathaaL vandhu

thoongaadhe ezhundhennai paat endru sonnaaL

angadhanil kaN vizhithen adadaa oh adadaa

azhagennum dheivamdhaan adhuvendre arindhen

mangiyadhor nilavinile kanavil idhu kaNden...

Wow. Spellbinding, ain't it?

Indru Pudhidhaai Pirandhom

2008-11-19T08:03:00.001+05:30

There's nothing like beginning a day with a spotless, white canvas in front of you, yes?

New blog! Fresh, clean start.

Thirukkural 55 reads - deivam thozhaaL kozhunan thozhudhezhuvaaL peiyena peiyum mazhai.

Approximately, that means - a wife who worships her husband instead of the lord on waking up can summon the rains at her will.

I like the phrase peiyena peiyum mazhai. There's something very positive about it. What I would give to be the rain god for a day! There's such a pleasant feeling in the stomach just to think of rains! Wow.

Tons of quotes and wonderful words come to mind when I think of rains. One of my all time favorites is a song that figures in Aayutha Ezhuthu, in one of my all time favorite movie segments - Arjun & Meera - TOW Siddharth & Trisha (& Shankar Sundaram!) which features three of my all time favorite ARR songs - Yakkai Thiri, Hey Goodbye Nanba and Nee mazhai!

Nee mazhai,

naan elai.

idharkku mel uravillai.

vidaikodu pogiraen,

eeramaai vaazhgiraen...

I would've seen this segment a million times. I know the lines/frames/scenes like the back of my hand. And I love the bit which features this li'l song, a double-decker bus ride montage. Have you travelled in an empty bus when it's pouring? Have you travelled by bus with a loved one beside you? Have you travelled by bus all by yourself possessed by those crazy, romantic thoughts?

Bus rides are one of my favorite ways to spend a date. Get into a not-so-crowded bus, buy tickets to a far off destination, sit back and enjoy the ride. It's almost like an other-worldly experience as the world around disappears in a blur. The constant change of surroundings adds to the conversation. The intermediate silences are comfortable, almost beautiful.

Rains. Bus rides. A bit of song and music. Cinema. Trivial pleasures. Life.