The Team

Yday evening I thought I would rope in my 'A" group of students to help me stick labels in the books donated by various people. I thought I wouldn't be chauvinistic and get the boys in too. ( mistake)

It all started off in a very organized way with sets of books, newspapers, paste , cloth and space for each child.

But as the evening wore on, everything changed. I was kept very very busy responding to requests - where do i stick this; he's taken my books; give me some more.. and so on..normal where you have a bunch of kids.

In spite of labels stuck upside down, pages stuck together, all my careful classification of books, the room becoming a terrific mess and total exhaustion, I went to bed rather pleased. Because they did read the books inbetween and asked questions ( is this a volcano) and that is the ultimate aim.

What ? You! It can't be :-(((

After watching a hotshot movie on the second day after release, I'm enjoying the reactions to this little piece of action much more than the movie.

I guess the reactions take on colour only in the light of the background. Which has been rather bleak, living in a 'C' grade mofussil town for many years. Good movies came to town about 6 months or 1 year after release and disappeared before we even knew they had 'hit' town , rather weakly. Even then, theatre going was an event that happened maybe, once a year. Became much less after TV channels recycled every movie you'd never heard of. But, now even Ooty finds a place in a flat world .

And it happened because women in their prime have got over this 'I-have-to-go-with-my-husband" nonsense.

Doc: " What, you never told me? "
(I do go to a hundred places and tell him later, but obviously movies fall in a special category)

Kapu: "What was the occasion? No bday , women's day..then why did you go?"
( I can hear her thinking, jobless women - sheer jealousy)

Darshini : "I must see if its running in a theatre in Bombay".
Me: "Don't waste 100 or 200 rupees on it."
( the last falls on deaf ears).

Sajid : "its okay if its not too good. you did it ,no."
( just doing it and ahead of the pack is the point )

Harini : "Oh, why did my Dad put me in this forsaken college. He's so bad".
( movies rate far above life plans )

Sindhu: " Why is life like this? You don't even know who is acting in it You can't even appreciate it. And you get to see it in a theatre. In Ooty!
And with all the aunties!! And I have to download it and see it on my laptop. Oh God.Why is life so unfair?"

I am sitting back and grinning like a Cheshire cat. Have to go and make some calls. Didnt know it was so easy to stir up the green eyed monster.

Vaarnam Aayiram

I've just been to see the much hyped, awaited and thought about vaarnam aayiram. To the well expressed disapproval and envy of my daughters. Probably my nieces too if I had announced it before.
Since the hero is Surya, still the heart throb of thousands of young Tamils. Not to be displaced by Karthik or Nakul... The average age at the theatre was 22, and that high figure was due to the presence of half a dozen middle aged ladies.

The movie began with a display of 'high energy' as the TV shows like to say from the audience. My friends glared at me for dragging them out to a movie on the second day of release. I slunk into my seat after due apologies, barely heard amid the cat calls and whistling.

And there I stayed. No edge of the seat action appeared till the interval. And that was a long time coming. The end was even more way off.

Sorry to say, ladies and gentlemen, this movie seems very very long. Though each scene has been carefully thought out for visual effects and most scenes are visually appealing, Goutham Menon seems to be more of an ad maker rather than a storyteller. After the movie is over, one is left wondering, where was the story? what was the point? One doesn't really empathize with any of the characters. None of them get under your skin or to your heart. You don't go home and recall which one does with any movie of impact.

Goutham Menon has paid a tribute to his father. Father is loving, wonderful and there for his son. Not so for his daughter, by the looks of it. She never gets married nor does anyone worry about her. Menon could have used an older actor as the father instead of using an unbelievable Surya. Surya does wonders with his body language as an old man but still you can see the young man beyond. The character never becomes real. Maybe this is because how kids see parents- not really as people but only in relation to themselves.


Older Surya romancing Simran in the 70's is a wonderful indulgence with hair in bouffant style, flower behind the ear and 70's dance moves. But has been done before.
Simran does look the part of beautiful MOM.

When young Surya falls in love at first sight, the effervescence is dazzling and his romance with the beautiful Sameera Reddy is cute but not entrancing. Of course the songs are very listenable.


Later second string Divya Spandana was a surprise. But we watched with special interest as she was Darshini's classmate and Ootyite for 10 years.


There are army vs terrorist scenes. Why one can't figure out. Because the hero has to do something or Surya has to look emaciated and gaunt in various guises. And then work to display six-pack abs as an army Major. Surya has worked on his body both to get thin as a young college student and then to become a muscle man. May inspire disapointed-in-love young men to grow other things than beards.



There are so many commendable parts to the movie. The drug habit is portrayed so well. The strong love within the family comes across. Entertaining moments in their lives. Lots of hard work in camera and thought. But it doesn't really add up to an. entertaining movie.

Don't even Try

Today has been one of those days when things don't work at all. Last night, I had a schedule of things I must do today. But somehow, this morning I was loath to start out. Puttered around the house doing nothing much and by afternoon gave myself a pep talk and left the house.
Well, nothing really worked out. I visited a friend to lift my spirits up but found myself really inattentive. Asked her for a cup of coffee, and left to go to the supermarket. That Job couldn't go wrong.
Reaching home, I find that I've left the bags back at the Supermarket.

Some days, one should just go with the flow. Stay in bed and do nothing. Its easier all around.

Connecting

One of the biggest pleasures of blogging is connecting with people you would have never met before. People who only know the face you choose to present to the world can keep you buoyant with their comments. And pleasantly happy with a feeling of having acquired many friends.

Meeting up is a greater pleasure. New relationships are always so interesting.

This month I met three of our bloggers. Raji, at her beautifully preserved Chennai home. She is beautifully preserved too:-) And wonderful Maiji who is an example of life live to the full.

Yesterday, was GVK and his wonderfully empathetic wife. A few more friends came over to meet them and we really had a good time chatting. May it happen more often.


Unfortunately, the pic is too dark. But you can see GVK making an emphatic point.

Women and Letting Go

Im just back from a long break away from home. Away from immediate family too. It was great.

I met an old school friend, Shanthi after many many years.




What I see in these pictures is that we both look so happy. Not only to meet. But to be away from it all.

Shanthi was revelling in coming back home (she lives in America) alone and not having to go sightseeing, explain Indian bathrooms and weird behavior of people here to her kids; not have her husband hustle her all the time. She could visit her friends, take off wherever she wanted to and generally be herself.

I was staying with my sister in a hassle free, men free household. We cooked skimpily, talked when we wanted to and did whatever we wanted to alone or together. No onus to behave or entertain. I could help out or not with any chores. A very undemanding atmosphere.

Women should really get away from routines occasionally with each other.