Sizzling Thoughts

Will he be back?

2006-09-06T01:21:00.000+05:30

It would be exactly a year since Ganguly played his last one day international. Harare was the location and it was here that he appeared in his last one day match. And after that it has been a rough patch for this cricketer, whom everybody loved to call "The Prince of Calcutta". One of the most exciting batsmen and probably the most toughest captain India has ever produced, this left handed batsmen produced magic with his bat in his golden days. His career has been through a very tough phase and it looks like he would never be able to rule the world like he used to. And with him not being in the best of forms even in practice matches, it would be a lucky factor for him if he makes it to the playing eleven.

I have always admired Ganguly for portraying arrogance on the pitch, and the way he used to carry himself, opening with Sachin. When he was on song, it was a delight to see him attack. The first 10 overs of the Natwest series finals and the 1999 world cup against Srilanka have been my favorites among his numerous innings. And the way he has been playing recently makes one feel whether it was the same Ganguly who provided entertainment a few years back.

With the world cup fast approaching, its very evident that the Indian team would be considering and deciding on the best 14. With a famous world cup campaign in 2003, where they came very close to taking the cup, this team would be aiming to grab the cup. And with probably the last world cup for many of the senior players, the team would be looking to give Sachin and his team the gift of their lifetime. And with such intense competition to get into the team , would Ganguly be able to to get into the team and show the world why he was considered the God of off-side.

Cove Beach

2006-08-21T05:04:00.000+05:30

My last 2 visits to the US were exciting only when i took a holiday and travelled to some of the famous destinations, which everyone in the US have visited. Having been in a city which had literally nothing to explore and weekends restricted to staying at home, it was always a quiet stay for me. I had always tried making that stay pretty interesting by making use of the breaks by revolving around the US. Being a person who loves to see new places, travelling was always on top of my priorities whenever in was in the US. and with my wife accompanying me, i am sure of visiting many places during this trip.

This visit has been a different one for me. It has been Stamford in Connecticut where i would be spending my next few months. A new client and a new place, my trip has been pretty good for the last 15 days. Stamford is a city which is pretty crowded and bustling with activities. And between these hustles and bustles resides a beach which is as calm as the breeze - Cove beach.

I found out that this beach is one of the attractions of the city. Always filled with people who want to take off their daily tensions by relaxing on the beach , I found that the weekends are a place for people to spend their entire day in the beach. Having a big park in the entrance to the beach, there is also a tram which takes the visitors around the park. And in addition, there is a small coffee shop which also sells icecreams, juices and snacks.

The sight of the beach is a lovely one. With sea birds flocking around and an amazing scenery, the Cove beach is sure a great place to be in. People usually come as a big family, carrying all their bedsheets and food and towels, and have a gala time on the beach. And the biggest advantage of the beach is that it has a good link with the public transportation. With frequency of buses from almost all the spots in Stamford, even new entrants to the city, like me, could make it easily to the beach. And so, if you are visiting Stamford don't forget to check this spot out.

And so with the beach only a few miles from my appartment, I am sure to keep visiting the beach often.

A Trial?

2006-08-16T06:23:00.000+05:30

Is this a trial for the real one?

Mani Ratnam's next

2006-08-08T20:04:00.000+05:30

Mani Ratnam's next movie after his current ongoing project Guru , which stars Abishek,Aishwarya and Madhavan, would be another hindi one. The movie titled Lajjo,an adaptation of Ismat Chugtai’s book, will see Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor share the screen. The film is scheduled for 2007 and will be released in the mid 2007.

Mani would certainly be one of the few South Indian directors held in high esteem by the hindi film world. Other than Ram Gopal Verma, whose movies are eagerly anticipated, Mani holds the audience pulse by delivering quality movies. Though none of his hindi movies have made it big in bollywood, he still holds a great market, thanks to his excellent film making skills.

Apart from being a brilliant director, Mani Ratnam is one whom actors are eager to work with. He extracts the best out of them, which very few directors have been able to. Abishek Bachan showed how good an actor he is in Yuva, which transformed his sliding career. And with Aamir, having a reputation to select and act in the best of films, it would undoubtedly be an exciting combo.

With Mani making it consecutive in Bollywood, theres a major dissapointment for his tamil fans, who have been waiting for his next tamil movie. Its been 2 years since he gave his last tamil movie. And with Lajjo scheduled for 2007, it would be a long wait to see him direct a tamil film.

Sillunu Oru Kadhal

2006-08-06T21:54:00.000+05:30

There are a very few movies which pep up our expectations right from the day the announcement about their launch was made. 2006 is definitely a year which has a couple of movies in the waiting list. And one among those hot releases is the Surya-Jyothika-Bhoomika starrer Sillunu Oru Kadhal. The movie scheduled to be a 2006 release has just had the audio launch and has raised the audience expectations. With the trailor of the movie making to a couple of websites, the movie definitely looks to be a hot property. And with the wedding bells of Surya and Jyothika in September,the whole of Kodambakkam will be crossing their fingers on how the film turns out to be.

The soundtrack is definitely one of the highlights of the film. With A.R.Rehman back in the run and the songs quite youthful and peppy, it sure has all the credentials to be a blockbuster. And if the picturisations do justice to the songs, it would only add to it being better. The trailor indicates that the movie would be high stuff as far as the visuals is concerned. And hope they carry on the work for the songs too.

The story of the film, a love triangle , though sounds familiar, could turn out to be an interesting one if the director handles his part well. Coming from the Gowtham Menon crew, and being his first film, it would be interesting to see how he handles.

Surya looks very smart and could be the one to look out for, in the movie. Sporting a new look , having improved his physique and with youth bubbling in him in the movie, he should definitely be the highlight of the movie. And with him sharing the screen with Jyothika and Bhoomika, it could be a fantastic romance in the offering. Having known to share a great chemistry with Jo, it would be interesting to see how the chemistry with Bhoomika works out.

Sillunu Oru Kadhal - hope it turns out like its title.

A Break

2006-07-28T09:57:00.000+05:30

When I started blogging 3 months back, I knew it would be an addictive affair. With millions of people in the blog world , I realised it would be a very interesting hobby which would connect me to several other bloggers who have been making this blog world a great place to visit and keep visiting. But I never thought that it would be an affair which would list on top of my priorities. With 112 posts in the last 3 months , it has been a solid proof to say how much I have loved blogging. And with a fascination to write, it made blogging one which I have loved so much.

The daily stress in my work life has never been a barrier in me posting blogs. With a clock stretching to nearly 15 hours at work, writing and posting has been one which has made me relax from my daily strenous work life. And with the addition of a family life, creating a few hours to write a new and different post has been quite a challenge. But as we say, there would always be a time where we would be forced to take a break. And for me the forthcoming weeks would be a "break" time.

Onsite travels have always been part and parcel of an Indian software engineers profile. Having already travelled to Singapore and United States, my company wanted me to make yet another trip to the US. And with my wife joining me, it would be a trip which I would be looking forward to. Working with a new client and visiting a new city, meeting my brother and his family, visiting all the fantastic places around USA , meeting my cousins in the US, these are a few things which has raised the spirits of this travel.

Not really sure of having a computer at home and able to access only at work place, it has raised the question whether I would really be able to keep posting regularly, as I have been doing in the last 3 months. So bloggers, keep visiting my blog as I would keep posting whenever I find the time. And last but not least, thank you for keeping my spirits high in the last 3 months. Without you, this blog would never have made it the way it is.

See You.

2006's best

2006-07-25T12:22:00.000+05:30

Every year has seen numerous movies being made in the film industry. The expectations of each movie among the fans and the general audience has never had the slightest possible decline. People await with the biggest expectation whenever a film gets released. They wait for many a months to see the movie and the date of its release is a diwali for them. The crowd at theatres for several weeks is an indication of the passion for movies in India.

Rediff had a column on 2006's best hindi films. Being a movie freak, who loves to watch tamil films, this year has been quite a pleasing one for me. The movies I have watched have been a mixed affair, as I have had the dissapointment in a few while I have had a big smile on my face after watching a few. There have been many films in 2006 which were awaited because of the unit involved. And need to say, there are many in the waiting list which would be a bonanza for the fans. Sivaji , Pokiri , Dasavatharam , Vetaiyadu Vilaiyadu are a few of the biggest films which would hit the theatres in the months to come.

As i said, 2006 has seen a few good films, which I was personally satisfied at watching. And today I would be listing out 5 of those movies which brought a huge smile at the end of watching them.

Parijatham - This was a very refreshing movie from Bhagyaraj which suited well to the taste of the current generation. With an excellent screenplay and good performances from Prithviraj and Saranya , Parijatham had a great fragrance.

Chithiram Pesudhadi - This was a movie with a totally unexpected and a stunning climax. Though it had the usual violent love story, it was made better by its direction.

Pattiyal - A superb soundtrack , an excellent BGM , good performances and a fine direction made Pattiyal a great movie to watch. The finish to the film was very realistic which gave the movie its deserved treatment.

Dishyum - Though the movie had a bad climax, Dishyum was still a good film. Though the movie dealt with the usual boy-girl relationship, the good direction and the performances of Jeeva and Sandhya made it a good one to watch.

Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi - Vadivelu made one forget that he was a comedian. With a beautiful performance, he gave life to the movie as he carried the entire movie on his shoulders, and made it a funny affair.

Kamal's new jodi

2006-07-21T10:01:00.000+05:30

Kamal's Dasavatharam has a new heroine. After making attempts to rope in Shreya, Trisha and Vidya Balan , Kamal has finally managed to make Asin fit into the role. Considering the success Asin has had in recent times and climbing up the ladder in a very short span , she is definitely a great choice for the role. And the movie being a comedy filled one would be a great bite for her.

Kamalhaasan has always been known for his sense of comedy on screen. His role in the ever popular Michael Madana Kama Rajan, in which the jodi of Urvasi and Kamal proved to be an amazing affair, was one , which would be remembered for many years to come. And considering Asin's great timing in comedy , which was witnessed several times in Ghajini and M Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi and , its definite that the chemistry between the 2 would easily gel together.

I have loved Asin's role in the movies I have seen her in. She has proved to be a very natural actor who mixes the perfect blend of comicness in her character. She might as well follow the list of Amala and Jyothika, as a bubbly and cheerful actor. I have liked her roles in Majaa and Sivakasi , loved her in M.Kumaran and found her teriffic in Ghajini. The last movie would probably be remembered more for her than for anyone else. In the little role she was offered in the movie, she took the whole industry by storm.

Would the pair of Kamal and Asin rock us? Would Dasavatharam prove to be another MMKR? If it is atleast anywhere near to it, then we are sure to be treated by yet another comic affair from Kamalhaasan. And I have little doubt about the humor we are going to be feasted with, considering the rapport shared by Kamal and Ravikumar. And with the entry of Asin it would be a great bonanza for the audience. Let the fireworks start.

My Nokia N70

2006-07-20T10:10:00.000+05:30

I have always had a fascination for mobile phones. The upgradations which the mobile companies fit onto their ever increasing models has left me spell bound. If one model is found to be the best among the many ranges, the next model with more features enters the market and outdates its predecessor. From a time when mobile phones were used only for the purpose of making and receiving phone calls, they have been found catering to the needs of people who use it for messaging , hearing music, clicking photos and a variety of others. And though India shelters numerous mobile making companies, I have always felt that for the Indian market no other company other than Nokia makes the best. The sheer user friendly mobiles which they produce makes them the best suitors for the Indian market.

When I entered the Nokia showroom with the mind of changing to a new mobile from my earlier 6220, I was determined to buy one of the 9 N series models. The only restriction I had was my budget as I always knew the N series to be very expensive. With all the N series models looking teriffic, I knew that it should only be the price which would make me reject the other models. From models ranging from above 15000 to less than 40000, I knew I had a few choices. And as I set my sights on the N70 I knew it was the one for me. Though I loved the N91 better, the cost made me take off my sights off the N91.

Talking about the N70, it makes you fall in love , the moment you have set your sights on it. With an amazing look it is the start of the N series mobiles. A 2 megapixel camera with a 20X digital zoom , integrated bluetooth technology , 262144 color display , a 128MB internal memory , an improved gallery display , a two side camera mode which allows you to take pictures both ways , an amazing sound clarity, the N70 is one of the best among the N series. And it does'nt weigh that heavy as seen in the photos. With the prices having slashed from the price which came tagged when the N70 was released, it was a huge relief for me, considering that it was well within the budget.

The classy looks the mobile comes with makes it a worthy purchase. Guess it should stay with me until the next generation of mobiles Nokia comes out with. Till then , a prowd owner of one of the N series.

The King is Back

2006-07-19T11:10:00.000+05:30

After long days of wait, the news every cricket fan was waiting for got heard yesterday. Sachin Tendulkar has been declared fit and is roaring to go. With the tri-series to be played at Sri Lanka coming up, its great news that Sachin will be a part of the Indian team.

Tendulkar underwent a shoulder operation in London on April 27 and has been out of the Indian team for long. Having missed the recently concluded series at West Indies was a big blow to the team who , despite his absence , managed to win the test series. And his presence in the side would be a huge asset.

Sachin has been in awesome form in the recent past. Having missed nearly 14 one dayers due to his shoulder mishap, he scored four tons and a half-century in a charity match in London. And if he continues to dazzle in the same way, its definitely bad news for all his opponents who would have basked with Sachin not in the Indian team.

The Indian team for the forthcoming tri-series would be selected this week and it would bring a great smile on every Indian and Sachin fan to see the little master back in the squad. With the form of the current players and the backing of Sachin for the team, it would be definitely advantage India.

Lets wish Sachin a great comeback. Its time for him to assault the bowlers as he has been always doing. Welcome back Sachin.

Parijatham

2006-07-18T16:54:00.000+05:30

K Bhagyaraj was one director who made a mark in tamil cinema through his strong story and breezy screenplay. Many of his movies had excellent screenplays as his films were memorable ones to watch. Though his films contained vulgarity, which was part and parcel of his many movies, his movies were focussed more towards the family audience. But offlate, he was not able to churn out movies which suited the current generation's taste. His last few movies were found boring as the tamil audience thought if he was the same director who gave movies like Mundhanai Mudichu and Sundarakandam. But with Paarijaatham he wins the hearts of many, as he gives a refreshingly beautiful movie.

Paarijaatham's story is a major factor for the success of the film. Seetha(Seetha) moves to the city, to her new house, and awaits her husband(Prakashraj) and son Sridhar(Prithviraj) who are due to join her in a few days. Sumathi(Saranya) becomes her new servant maid and seeing the good nature of the girl, Seetha decides to make Sumathi her daughter in law. But as fate would decide, Seetha dies, and the secret of Sumathi being the girl she has chosen for her son, gets entangled between them. Whether Sumathi and Sridhar get united forms the remaining story.

The film can be divided into two parts. The first part is conveyed in the form of a story told by Sumathi to Seetha. The director presents the story to the audience in a visual way as Seetha imagines the lead characters of the told story to be Sridhar and Sumathi , when hearing the story. The entire first half is told in a very humorous way as the actions of Prithviraj and the other characters turn out quite funny. The chosen characters prove to be a strong point , as all of them, starting from Roja to 'Thalaivasal' Vijay , depict the characters beautifully.

The second half forms the story as to how the lead characters get united. Bhagyaraj shows that he is still a master in screenplay. At no point does the movie prove to be boring as it becomes a suspense filled session. The audience are left clueless as to how the story would end and how Sumathi would tie the knot with Sridhar. He cleverly takes the movie and ends it convincingly. And with humor adding to the suspense filled climax, the movie ends on a good note. The last 30 minutes prove to be very funny and the dialogues between Madan Bob and Bhagyaraj raise instant laughter, one which was only witnessed in 'Crazy' Mohan written scripts.

The movie shines in the humor department. The scene when Prithviraj is left stranded on the roads by Saranya and her friends with Saranya telling him the use of a generator with Prithviraj repeating the same later at her house, Prithviraj trying to catch the flying kisses by Saranya and him about to dash on the nurse, are some scenes which are very funny.

Prithviraj and Saranya depict their roles beautifully. Prithviraj looks very handsome and acting comes very natural to him. He depicts his acting combined with humor quite wonderfully. He shines in the initial scenes at the hospital which generate lot of humour amongst the audience. Saranya is very convincing as the girl who is not able to convey the truth of she being the girl Seetha has chosen. Prakashraj as Prithviraj's father is in his usual elements while Seetha who appears for a brief time does what she is expected to do. Bhagyaraj appears in the second half as the do gooder.

Songs are a major highlight of the movie. All the songs are picturised well. Bhagyaraj oozes youthfulness in the picturisations. Unnai Kandene is the pick of the lot and the visuals are a treat to watch. The Yedho Nadakuthu song picturised in a foreign locale appears very rich while the Oru Nodi Iru Nodi song is catchy with its flashy costumes.

Parijatham - A fragrant flower well worth the visit.

Thamiraparani launched

2006-07-17T10:00:00.000+05:30

Friday saw the launch of yet another tamil movie Thamiraparani. The film directed by Hari stars Vishal and has music by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The movie sees Prabhu and Nadhiya take on important roles. Vijaya productions will take on the production. The release date of the movie is yet to be announced.

The launch saw the superstar make an entry to wish all success for the crew. It was quite a star studded launch as the likes of Suhasini, KB, Vijayakumar, Manjula, A.V.M Saravanan, S.A. Chandrasekhar were seen at the function.

Though the superstar grabs all the attention whereever he is, it was Nadhiya who was also the center of attraction. The actress who might be her mid 40s looked like she could give a run for many heroines.

Hari was one director I have always looked forward to. His first two movies showed how good a director he is. Both Thamizh and Sami were movies made excellent by the direction. Though he has not made the same mark with his other movies, I am sure he should come up well with Thamiraparani. With music by Yuvan and Vishal doing the lead role, lets wish he brings in yet another Sami.

Another aspect which raises my expectations is the hero Vishal. Off late he has proved that he could be a complete allrounder. With a decent dance, excellent fights, a good acting made better with his depiction of emotions, he has been good in his films. And his selection of good films proves that he wants to stay in the industry for long. I am sure the duo of Vishal and Hari would work out well in the film.

Songs have been a major highlight in Vishal's movies. And with Yuvan in rollicking form, theres more to expect from the movie. The recent movies of Yuvan have proved that theres lot to expect from his albums and Thamiraparani might be yet another one.

Lets hope Thamiraparani proves to be a good film from the trio of Hari, Vishal and Yuvan and does'nt dissapoint the viewers.

Coffee with Suchi

2006-07-14T12:50:00.000+05:30

One of the popular hindi programmes which I pretty much liked on Star was the show hosted by hindi director Karan Johar. The programme titled Coffee with Karan was telecasted on Star on Saturday nights. I used to watch the show regularly as it had some of the famous hindi film personalities being interviewed by Karan. The host , Karan Johar, made the show interesting through his style of presentation. I always felt him to be one of the better compereres. He was found in many shows doing the job of compering, one in which he was very comfortable. Some of the famous and popular stars I remember seeing in the show were Shahrukh, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra.

Following its popularity in the channel, Vijay TV decided to have a similar one in its channel and baptizised the programme as Coffee with Suchi. Suchitra who is very popular in the radio takes the place of Karan as the programmes' host. The concept and the theme are very much similar to its original as nothing has changed in the tamil version. Though both programmes are pretty much similar, I still liked the original for its comperer and the richness it comes along with.

The show sees some popular tamil film personalities being interviewed by Suchitra. It has some television clipses where friends of the personalities speak what they thought about them and what makes them click. And finally it ends with a rapid fire round where quick questions are shot at the personalities which they need to answer without thinking much about it. The person who answers best gets a Nescafe hamper. Similar to the original , the tamil show too has two famous people , from a similar industry, making it to the show.

The show till now saw many popular faces. Singers Karthik, Srinivas, filmies Bhagyaraj,Poornima and Saranya, cricketer Balaji, dancers Kala Master and Padma Subramaniam, were a few of them I recollect seeing.

The show is pretty amateur. The rapid fire round does'nt seem to be like one as the answers shot are pretty lengthy. The interview as such is pretty ordinary making the show a normal one. Though the host makes a good attempt, the questions prepared and the way the show is conducted lack good quality.

If Suchitra wants to match the original, guess she needs to make better attempts and do her homework well. The style and the charm of Karan are very much missing in her, which I guess she might improve as the show gets going.

An Old Date

2006-07-13T18:04:00.000+05:30

Got this as a forward from one of my friends'. One of those jokes which left me in laughter the moment i read the entire one.....

A Grandpa and a Grandma always got very excited when they recalled the old days they were together. They made a decision, one day, to make it "yesterday once more". They made a date on the river bank they used to go when they were young. The next day, grandpa got up 6 a.m. in the morning, dashed to the bank, picked up a big bunch of wild flowers before sunrise, waited there for his sweetheart to come. But Grandpa ended up in disappointment as Grandma never showed up even after sunset. Grandpa went home in such anger. He opened the door, seeing Grandma lying on the sofa with her pillow. He threw the flowers on the floor and questioned:" Why didn't you come to our date?!!"....Grandma hid her head in the pillow and replied shyly:" Mom didn't allow me to go!!!"

Tragedy in Mumbai

2006-07-12T10:15:00.000+05:30

It was a tragic day for Mumbai as the city was rocked by serial blasts. The incident which occured late last evening at seven railway stations took the life of around 140 innocent victims and injured about 257. It was a pathetic display of bodies getting flung from train compartments as the bombings occured. It was a cruel incident of blasts occuring during peak evening time inside suburban train compartments. The sight of people painted with blood was a painful one. The incident reminded many of the blasts which rocked the city in 1993. It would take several days for the city to heal the wound planted by the killers. Lets hope such incidents never happen in the country and people realise the value of life and are more human.

Italy triumphs

2006-07-11T17:18:00.000+05:30

Sunday saw Italy take on France in the 2006 World Cup finals. Though my interest in the worldcup had reduced once my favorites Argentina lost to hosts Germany in the quarter finals, I was still waiting for the finals to begin. 2 teams which were not expected to make it to the finals had made it and were fighting to win the battle. France with the likes of Zidane and Henry looked to be the likely champions. Once the quarter finals got over, I was expecting a Germany - Portugal finals. But both the teams I had expected to make it, crashed out of the tournament.

The match started at 11.30 pm IST. It was a dream start as a penalty was offered to France in the 7th minute. And as expected it was the skipper who was going to shoot the ball. The man who won the Golden Ball did'nt dissapoint as he gave France a 1-0 lead. But Materazzi equalised the scores after 19 minutes as he scored a great header of a free kick by Pirlo. With the scores levelled at 1 each, the audience were witnessing a great finals.

The game progressed to extra time as both teams were looking for a chance to raise their scores. There was some tense moments as Zidane was sent out for head butting. It was an ugly incident , ending the skipper's dream run at the world cup. Earlier there was a stunning Zidane's header save by Gianluigi Buffon preventing France from taking the lead only adding to the tense moments. And as the half time came to an end, a penalty shootout was in the proceeding.

Other than France's David Trezeguet, none of the other players commited an error in scoring penalties. Both the team goal keeper's were left clueless as the players scored easy penalties. David Trezeguet's crossbar hit gave Italy its title, the final scores reading 5-3.

Overall it was not a great finals , but one which witnessed several tense moments. Zidane's head butting and Gianluigi's great save would be remembered for many years to come. Italy would always be remembered as a team which won the title not through individual brilliance, but through sheer team effort. Well done Italy.

The King Rules

2006-07-10T14:05:00.000+05:30

Even as the matches progressed in Wimbeldon and players started crashing out of the tournament, I had predicted the clash of the titans in the finals. A fight between the king of grass court, Federer, and the king of clay court, Nadal, was a sure guarantee. And my predictions had not gone wrong as they met for yet another time. I placed my bets on Federer, as the way he progressed his game in the matches till the finals, were mind blowing. Not having lost any set in all the matches and having a strong record in grass court, he was all set to win the tournament. And he didn’t dissapoint me as he showed yet again why he is considered the king. He hardly left Nadal any chance of turning the tides.

The first set saw Federer stamp his class as he took it 6-0. Everything went wrong for Nadal as Federer proved too hot for him. He looked completely out of touch as he lost the set. Federer was all set for another comprehensive win.

The second and third sets saw Nadal show a fight. Though he lost the second set 6-7 and won the third set 7-6, he gave a stiff competition for Federer. Federer was not able to dominate his rival, as the 2 sets saw some great tennis from both the stars.

The fourth set was all Federer. He stamped his class again as he took the set 6-3, and the trophy. There were very little chances for the Spaniard, as he was unable to continue his dominance on the champion, one which he stamped in their previous encounter.

Federer is only the third player, after Borg and Sampras, to win four titles at Wimbledon, in a row. With age on his side, he is all set to conquer an era, which no other player would be in the history of tennis.

Federer rocks.

A Laugh Riot

2006-07-07T08:51:00.000+05:30

Rediff has an interesting article on Rajpal Yadav's favorite comedies. The article speaks about the actor's favorite comedy films. I have always felt that when it comes to producing humour, tamil cinema is the best , and other streams rarely come closer to it. But the fun is strictly restricted to the tamil audience since dubbing does not match the same fun and quality, and it is the actor, through his rendering of dialogues, who makes the sequence such a delight to watch.

It is always said that the most difficult aspect for any actor is to make the audience laugh. Hundreds have tried their luck on this and there have been just a handful who have had the success. And these few actors have just not restricted their ability to make the audience laugh in a few films, as they have carried on in many movies.

Watching these actors perform is a sheer delight. The cinema hall rolls itself into a package of laughter as they , through their facial expressions and body language , carry us on a laughter coaster. And watching them perform in the movie repeatedly never sends a frown on our faces, as we just love watching those movies again and again. Such is the performance of them in the movie, a huge success in terms of achievement by them.

Here are my five favorite comedy roles , in no specific order, witnessed in tamil cinema. They have been some of the most memorable characterizations which were strengthened by the actors who portrayed the role. Though there are many others in the race, these are my top five.

Koundamani in Karakatakaran

Probably the most popular comedian in tamil cinema, Koundamani ruled the industry during his era. He shared an excellent rapport with Senthil, as the two created many memorable roles, their best being Karakatakaran. As the person who plays the thavil, his sequences with Senthil were very enjoyable. The banana sequence , though watched countless times , remains one of the best comedy sequences in tamil cinema.

Balaiya in Thillana Moganambal

In one of the best supporting roles in tamil cinema, Balaiya gave an excellent performance in this film. Playing the role of Sivaji's troupe member who fears the presence of Sivaji, Balaiya stole the show. The train sequence where he repeatedly keeps falling on the shoulders of Padmini's mother in his sleep and shows a glimpse of innocence , adding to her irritation , remains one of the best picturised comical sequences.

Thengai Srinivasan in Kaasedhan Kadavulada

In probably his finest roles, Thengai Srinivasan as the tea stall owner , who disguises himself as a false saint , to help his friends steal the money in their house locker, gave a great performance. The Jambulingame song was another funny piece in the movie made hilarious by Thengai Srinivasan. His wrong pronounciation of the lyrics only added to the fun.

Vadivelu in Winner

If there is an actor who can instantly make the audience laugh, not just by his appearance, but by the sheer announcement of his name, it is definitely Vadivelu. Though this was not the movie which revolutionised his career, it must definitely rate as the movie which increased his popularity. Appearing as Kai Pula, one of the most famous characters in tamil cinema , Vadivelu was just brilliant as he gave an amazing performance. His chemistry with Prasanth was a major plus for the success of this character.

Vivek in Run

Vivek is one actor who induces comedy in a character through which he spreads social awareness among the audience. He was just brilliant in Run as he taught many a lesson to the movie watcher. As a person who runs away from home with the aim of making it big in Madras, only to be cheated, he was very funny. His mimicry of Kamal's monkey role from Moondraam Pirai was a great piece of direction made humorous through Vivek's actions.

Another Rainy Year

2006-07-06T08:23:00.000+05:30

Mumbai has been experiencing rains for the past few days. Replica of 2005 when the city was tormented by heavy rains, 2006 continues to be another flooded year. Though the effect has not been as worse as seen last year, the city's life has been affected by the rains. Schools and colleges remain closed while the metro services continued their unpredicted service as the trains kept halting and moving. My brother-in-law who is in Mumbai said that the rains experienced last year were like never seen before and this year has been better. Hope the city resumes normal routine and is stopped being lashed by rains.

Imsai Arasan on July 8

2006-07-05T08:10:00.000+05:30

Its finally getting released. After the controversy delayed the film from getting released, it needed the intervention of the chief minister to set things right. The film's producer Shankar and its hero Vadivelu have been reported to have met the chief minister to clear the movie from the hands of the Animal Welfare Board of India. And it worked for them as the movie has been cleared to get released and is all set to hit the screens on the 8th of this month. Lets see whether the movie is worth the wait and sparkles fireworks.

A Dream Start

2006-07-05T08:05:00.000+05:30

Not all actors who want to make it big in the film industry could have hoped for such a start. It was a great beginning for Shakthi , son of P.Vasu, as the launch of his first film saw the likes of some of the top stars in the southern industry. The film titled Thottal Poo Malarum is directed by P.Vasu. With the 2 biggest names in the tamil film industry, along with other stars which included Sathyaraj, Prabhu ,Kushboo , Jayapradha , Balakrishna , Balachander , S P Muthuraman and K S Ravikumar, gracing the occasion, Shakthi could not have expected more. Lets wish him all success.

A Series Win for India

2006-07-04T07:51:00.000+05:30

After a long wait, the Indians managed to win a series abroad. And a win in the Caribbeans after 35 long years was one to be cherished by Rahul Dravid and his boys. The final test match which finished in just 3 days with a success for India , after some outstanding bowling by the visitors, was one of those rare feats which doesn't happen too often. It needed some stunning cricket from one of the two sides and India provided that.

The Indians who won the toss elected to bat first. On a pitch which offered very little to the batsmen, the Indians managed to post a decent score, thanks to a fantastic knock by the skipper. His 81 was a gem of an innings and must rate among his finest knocks. In the company of Kumble , who got out 5 short of his half century, he made sure that India would score a modest total. Their partnership , which was worth 93 runs , ensured India scored the double century mark.

The Windies hardly gave a fight as they had no clue against the turbunator. His magic spell casted a web on them as they got bundled up for a paltry 103. Harbhajan's figures , at the end of the hosts innings, read 4.3-0-13-5.

The Indians , leading by 91 runs , faced major trouble as the Windies ran through them. As wickets fell at regular intrevals, Collymore being the major wicket taker with 5 wickets, it was Dravid once again to the rescue. He stood like a rock , as wickets tumbled at the other end. His innings of 68 was yet another classic one. The Indian innings got bowled out for 171, a decent score considering the conditions.

The West Indies had a daunting task. Set 269 to win, it was always a big task, considering the tricky pitch. And with the likes of Kumble and Harbhajan who are close to unplayable on such conditions, the chances of the Windies winning the match looked feeble. They lost Gayle in the very first over, a start for a famous collapse. Wickets fell at regular intrevals as they lost the first three wickets for 29. Sarwan and Ramdin offered some resistance but they were never good enough on a day which belonged to India and Kumble. He ran through the Windies as he ended up taking 6 of the West Indies wickets. He was just too good as the Indians wrapped up the series in style.

Rahul Dravid won the man of the match and the man of the series. He was just outstanding in the entire series. India won the four test series 1-0 .

A great win for the Indians. They deserved to win the match as they proved to be the better team right from day one. On the other hand the hosts found the Indian bowling and Rahul Dravid too hot to handle. If the Indians carry on the same form and win more test matches, both at home and abroad , it would make them one of the most formidable cricketing nations in the world. Well done India.

Final Scores
India 200 (Dravid 81, Taylor 5-50) and 171 (Dravid 68, Collymore 5-48) beat West Indies 103 (Harbhajan 5-13) and 219 (Ramdin 62*, Sarwan 51, Kumble 6-78) by 49 runs

Superman Returns - Fails to impress

2006-07-03T07:38:00.000+05:30

One of the most awaited movies of recent times, Superman Returns hit the theatres worldwide last week. Its always a big task for any movie , which has created a huge sensation among the audience , to live up to its expectations. And Superman Returns is no exception. After the huge success of the first four parts, Superman returns after 19 years. But is it worth the wait?

The story of the film , as in all the four Superman series , is pretty simple. Superman's arch rival Lex Luthor who is out of prison plans to sink a huge portion of the United States to build his own continent. How Superman saves the country from the plans of Lex Luthor forms the plot of this latest Superman venture.

The movie sees Superman return to planet earth from Krypton , after six long years, only to find his lady love Lois Lane living with her boy friend and their son. He re assumes his identity of Clark Kent at the Daily Planet.

The movie has some breath taking scenes. The saving of the crashing plane and grounding it to the baseball field , Superman carrying Lois Lane and flying around , the saving of the falling Daily Planet are perfect examples of technical excellence, one which was not witnessed in the earlier series.

An aspect which has been highlighted more in this movie compared to its earlier versions is the fact that Superman is more human. His love and concern for Lois Lane , him being treated at the hospital , Lois saving him from near dying, depict that the Man of Steel is more human.

On the acting front, Brandon Routh does an impressive job as Superman. His resemblance to Reeve is a major plus. Though incomparable to Christopher Reeve, he does justice to his role. Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane looks cute and suits the role quite well. Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor does not make a great impression. His portrayal of the character with a mix of comedy and villainity, seems to be overdone at many places.

A major reason for the success of the earlier series of Superman and my craze for them was the depiction of him as a super hero. The previous one had lots of scenes showing what makes him a super hero. But Superman Returns shows little of the super hero he is. Though there are a couple of scenes showing his supernatural powers , they are well less than what I wanted.

The movie drags a bit towards the end. With a length of nearly 150 mins, the movie could have been better if the length was reduced.

Superman Returns fails to match its earlier series. Though the movie excels on the technical aspects, its definitely not worth the wait.

Three for S.J.Suryah

2006-06-30T11:13:00.000+05:30

S.J.Suryah's next movie Vyabari will see him share the screen with 3 ladies. Though 2 of them have been finalised, the search is on for the third. Namitha and Malavika have been roped in to play 2 of the 3 leading lady roles. Sources say that the third one could be Sneha. The movie to be directed by Sakthi Chidambaram would see Suryah playing the lead role.

Given Suryah's popularity with the audience as an actor, I am surprised at directors making him play the lead role. Though his movies where he played an actor, apart from A Ah have had decent success ratios, I still find it tough to accept him as an actor, leave apart the hero status. His appearance on the screen only brings in frustration in the minds of the audience.

I have always believed that Suryah had the ingredients to be a good director. Vaali was stunning, and he has hardly impressed after that. Though his next film Kushi hardly matched his first venture, it was a very entertaining one. And after that he has hardly glittered. New survived because of the foot tapping numbers from Rahman and a great performance from Simran. A Ah was one of the worst movies in tamil cinema with Suryah proving to be irritating and spoiling Rahman's great works.

Lets hope he stops appearing in front of the camera and does what he is good at. And if he takes this step, it would do a lot of good to the tamil audience from seeing him on screen.

IIFA Awards Ceremony 2006

2006-06-29T07:26:00.000+05:30

The 2006 IIFA awards held at Dubai on the 16th of this month was a star studded event. The function saw many of India's top stars dazzling, though bollywood stars were the majority. The highlight of the event was stage performances by Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. Hollywood celebrity Van Damme too made it to the event. And among the many stars who were noticeable during the function were Amitabh Bachan , Mamooty , Urmila and Abishek Bachan.

Heres a look at some of the awards given away during the function.

Best Film - Black
Best Director - Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Black
Best Actor - Amitabh Bachchan for Black
Best Actress - Rani Mukherjee for Black
Best Supporting Actress - Ayesha Kapoor for Black
Best Supporting Actor - Abhishek Bachchan for Sarkar
Best Villain - Nana Patekar for Aparahan
Best Music - Shankar Ehsaan and Loy for Bunty aur Babli
Best Singer Male - Himesh Reshammiya for Aashiq Banaya Aapne
Best Singer Female - Alisha Chinai for Kajra Re
Best Female Debut - Vidya Balan for Parineeta
Best Debut Male - Shiney Ahuja for Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi
Lifetime Achievement Award - O.P.Dutta and Asha Parekh

And some snaps which took my attention

The duo which made Black a big success performs on stage...

A speech after receiving the best actor....

Hrithik with his wife Suzzane....

An award for Kukunoor for the best story....

Hollywood versus Bolywood....

A wave from Vinod Khanna. Is the other his daughter?....

Rani and Akshay. Don't they look great?....

Dasavatharam's new Music Director

2006-06-27T07:33:00.000+05:30

Kamalhaasan's Dasavatharam has a new music director. A.R.Rahman who was supposed to score the music initially has reportedly walked out of the movie and it will be Himesh Reshammiya who will set the tunes for the movie.

Himesh Reshammiya might be new to the tamil audience but he is hot in Bollywood. Having composed some great tunes for movies like Maine Pyaar Kyon Kiya , Aashiq Banaya Aapne , Garam Masala , 36 China Town, the music director is a household name in Bollywood. One of the most sought after composers in the hindi film industry, he makes his first entry in tamil movies through Dasavatharam.

Not many music composers get a chance to work with a unit like in Dasavatharam. Getting to work with Kamalhaasan and Ravikumar, Himesh Reshammiya's certainly lucky. And lets see whether he carries the magic which he created in Bollywood.

Techie Supremacy

2006-06-26T07:35:00.000+05:30

I have always been a big fan of technology. The everyday developments the world brings in the field of technology is one amazing factor. When we get fascinated by a hi fi product of a company, the same company amazes us by bringing in yet another stunning product. To keep track of the millions of great products in this world is a tough task, but still it would be an amazing feat to know atleast half of them.

Sony has always been one such company which I always look upon. In fact it has been my favorite company for all those electronic gadgets. The amazing products which they keep improvising upon has been a feat which could easily be laudable. My television set, music systems, discman, video recorder have all been Sony products. And apart from the mentioned gadgets, another one which I purchased from Sony was my home theatre, HT-DDW860.

As a movie freak, I have always wanted to have the maximum pleasure while watching movies. And when I was in the US for a short period, I happened to experience watching movies in my cousin’s home theatre. And it was after that I decided to go in for a similar one.The amazing sound effects it produced, the incredible clarity it generated was one which I had experienced only in theatres. And when we get a theatre replica at home, why not go in for one.

Back in India, Sony HT-DDW860, was the device which I purchased. The package comprising of 6 speakers with an output of 120W each, an amplifier,a sub woofer, a player which could handle 5 dvds at a time , capability to produce sounds in a dolby digital , dts and dolby prologic ,the home theatre was one which I had dreamt of.

Movie watching at home has been like never before after the system had occupied my entertainment set. Even the most ordinary movies in terms of a terrific sound effect have been great in my system. And if this was what happened to such movies , then you could imagine the state of movies which have had the greatest sound effects. And with even the minutest of sounds getting enlarged, this home theatre was the best I had seen.

HT-DDW860 home theatre, a mind blowing gadget from Sony.

Serial Fever

2006-06-23T09:14:00.000+05:30

I have seen and heard people in Madras getting glued to their television sets when serials are aired. There was even a joke when the city was rocked by earthquakes in September 2001 . In spite of feeling the quake, people said that they would come out of the house after the popular television serial Chithi got over!!! But seems like the so called attachment to serials is there throughout the country. This snap was taken when the city of Bihar was attacked by the recent floods. Guess this is what you call "Serial Fever".

[Courtesy - Dinamalar]

Sivaji - Latest Snaps

2006-06-22T11:15:00.000+05:30

The last few snaps of thalaivar's Sivaji were'nt that impressive, considering the initial round of photos in which thalaivar looked stunning. Heres some of the latest from the movie. Needless to say, thalaivar looks absolutely great in them. My favorite one is the closeup snap. Though age has started showing up on him, still he looks charming. And for those wondering if they would see the style and grace from the super star, the last snap is a sample. Rajini rocks....

Happy Birthday Vijay

2006-06-22T07:29:00.000+05:30

Illaya Thalapathi Vijay turns 32 today. Having made his debut at the age of 18 in Naalaya Theerpu 14 years back, he has entertained the audience with his dance and fights. Easily in the top 5 league of India's best dancers, he is one of the most sought after stars in kollywood.

To celebrate his birthday here are some of my favorite Vijay songs. Its a tough job choosing a few, but still these are among his best.

Ennai Thaalaata - Kadhaluku Mariyadhai
Irubadhu Kodi - Thulladha Manamum Thullum
Minalai Pidithu - Shahjahan
Arjunar Villu - Gilli
Kannum Kannum - Thirupachi
Nee Katru - Nilave Vaa
Thaamthaka Theemthaka - Thirumalai
Nilavu Pattu - Kanukkul Nilavu
Vaadi Vaadi - Sachein
Machan Peru Madurey - Madurey

Happy birthday Vijay.

Sathyam Theatres - A Different Experience

2006-06-21T08:30:00.000+05:30

Cinema has always been one of my passions in life. Starting off as one which was watched as a time pass, it started growing on me , as I started getting absorbed into the streamline of watching movies. The number of movies which was watched have been countless as watching movies became a regular feature. Renting dvds during weekends and watching them in my home theatre, increasing the dvd collections of my favorite movies were all added features for watching movies , apart from going to the theatres.

I have always felt that the experience of watching movies in cinema halls has been incomparable to watching them at home. In spite of having the best home theatres, the enjoyment of going to the cinema halls and watching the movie on the big screen munching those yummy popcorns and sipping those pepsis has always had its own thrill. And one of those theatres which makes each penny you have spent for the movie worth, is Sathyam theatres

Sathyam theatres have been in the top league in Chennai for the last few years. The complex which has 6 theatres(Subham, Studio-5, 6 Degrees, Sathyam, Sree, and Santham) residing, makes movie watching a unique experience. Though several theatres exist in the city, theres no literal competition for the group of Sathyam. Though it was the Devi theatres which I used to hang around during my college days, it has been Sathyam offlate, which remains to be my current favorite. When a theatre gives you the best experience of watching movies like in no other theatre, you will want to keep visiting it repeatedly for all the movies which you would want to watch. And with online booking for tickets and even for the snacks which would be grabbed during the intreval, Sathyam theatres have been moving from better to the best. The amazing way to the movie hall which could be compared to any hi fi theatre in the universe, the mind blowing digital stereos, the most comfortable couches, these are a few of those endless list which makes you select Sathyam theatres for watching your favorite movies.

The Sathyam website makes you want to visit the theatre for watching the movie when you merely visit it. With a catalogue catering to selection of seats in the movie hall and choosing your snacks when you book the tickets which would be delivered to your seats during the intreval, it only adds to the temptation of visiting the cinema hall. With such rich treatments of making you feel at home while watching the movie, would one say no to a movie at Sathyam?

The ambience at the theatre is another factor which makes it such a huge hit. With a mixture of college going crowds and an elite family audience, Sathyam theatres are the perfect place to be when you want to watch a film. And when a crowd which does little buzzing when the movie is on, we get to see the movie in absolute peace.

Devi theatres which could still boast of a terrific sound system lost its charm because of the crowd and poor maintenance. A theatre which ruled Chennai at one time, Devi cinemas have got lost in the crowd due to the negligence of its management in maintaining the theatre.And this is one reason which makes people visit Sathyam.

Though the theatre is on the costlier side(a family of 2 could easily spend 400 bucks for a movie), it still attracts huge crowds by providing the perfect quality to watching a movie. Chennaites don't mind spending , as long as the bucks they spend are worth. And this is what Sathyam theatres does.

Rajinikanth on NDTV

2006-06-20T09:46:00.000+05:30

NDTV is one of those few Indian news channels which air programmes related to South Indian cinema. A few weeks back, prior to the release of Aparachith(Anniyan's hindi version), it had Vikram appearing in the programme. He was mainly seen talking to the programme's comperer Srinivasan Jain about Aparachith , his career, his movies, tamil cinema and also about the two giants of tamil film world - Rajinikanth and Kamalhaasan.

The channel was back to airing about tamil cinema and it was Rajinikanth this time. Telecasted on Sunday evening , this 30 minute programme titled "The Rajini Factor", though did not show the super star, saw many other famous personalities express their views on thalaivar and his forthcoming Sivaji. It talked about what makes him the highest paid actor in the country, beating the likes of Amitabh and the Khans. Kushboo, Prabhu, S.P.Muthuraman , A.V.M.Saravanan, K.Balachander, Dhanush were among those who spoke about the superstar.

What the stars said?

Kushboo - He is a wonderful father and his daughters are completely dependent on him and respect his approval for all their decisions.

Prabhu - He's an honest and a humble guy, with a great sense of humour.

A.V.M.Saravanan - We don't mind paying him considering the profits we make.

S.P.Muthuraman - I really appreciate his wife Lata's commitment towards the family.

K Balachander - There might be many Superstars in the country, but Rajnikanth is truly one of a kind.

Dhanush - He is extremely spiritual , religious and a very disciplined man.

Some facts as to why he is a phenomenon

"While Baba made 20 crores at the box office and was considered a flop by Rajni standards , Gilli which was a super hit made the same 20 crores"

"Anniyan is the only film to have touched the 50 crore mark which Chandramukhi earned".

"Vijay, who is at number two , earns 4 crores compared to the superstar's 16 crores earnings"

"At 16 crores, Rajnikanth has even beaten the Khans and the Big B, who are said to earn between 7 and 10 crores."

The undisputed fact it is, he remains the one and only superstar of tamil cinema and probably will always be. Hail the king.

Faces Of Tamil Cinema

2006-06-19T10:02:00.000+05:30

Screen presence is a universal term which holds true in the world of cinema. It makes the audience go to the movie halls and have a glance at the star who appears in the movie. Certain actors make an appeal to the audience with their charisma, while a few others appeal through their sheer looks.

The movies in which they have acted would have been many, but theres always one or a few others in which they would have looked absolutely charming. The movie watcher would always wants to look like them and would try to be like the persona on screen. "Wow!!!" would be the word which comes out having watched the actor on screen. And everytime the actor appears, the crowd would go hullaballoo. Such is the effect the looks of an actor has.

Tamil cinema has had its share of smartness too. There have been many actors who have graced the screen and taken the industry by storm through their charm. The ambience the cinema halls had when they appeared on screen would be mind blowing. Though initially it happened to the Tom Cruises and the Salman Khans, there were these actors of tamil cinema who got the credits of the crowd too.

In this issue i will be listing 15 of those actors who have looked their charming best in their career. Though they have looked equally good in many other films, these movies are my personal favorites as far as their looks were concerned.

Ajith - Vaali
Arvind Swamy - Roja
Jyothika - Kaaka Kaaka
Kamalhaasan - Thevar Magan
Karthik - Mouna Ragam
Madhavan - Alaipayudhe
Mamootty - Thalapathy
Padmini - Vanjikottai Valiban
Rajinikanth - Kodi Parakudhu
Ramya Krishnan - Panchathanthiram
Simran - VIP
Sridevi - Vaazhve Maayam
Surya - Kaaka Kaaka
Vijay - Shahjahan
Vikram - Sami

Happy Father's Day

2006-06-18T13:57:00.000+05:30

Dad - the perfect choice to be one's best friend, philosopher, guide, teacher , other than being the ever lovable father. Today is Fathers' Day and I join millions of other sons and daughters who are wishing their dad.

If there is a person whom i love the most in this world, its definitely my dad. The amount of sacrifices to make me the person I am now , the millions of things he has taught, lending a shoulder in the most difficult times , being a friend rather than a father , the lessons he has taught, my dad has always been the person whom I look upon. And being there with him always would be the best way to say "Dad I love you".

Happy Fathers Day dad.

Njan Kadavul

2006-06-15T10:49:00.000+05:30

After a long wait , director Bala is back with his next movie Njan Kadavul which was officially launched last night. After all the hype of Ajith doing the lead role and later being dropped from the movie , the movie now sees Arya donning the role of the hero. Bhavana who is on a roll after her first tamil release Chithiram Pesudhadi will be playing Arya's pair while Illayaraja will tune in the music. Kannada actor Devraj plays the negative character in the film.

Director Bala who is known for giving the right breaks for upcoming actors has currently chosen Arya. Given the actor's history , this could well be the movie he was waiting for as he has not any major hits other than Arindhum Ariyamalum and Pattiyal.

Considering the success Bala has had with Illayaraja, this could be another film which would speak a lot about its music. The BGM would be a feature which I would personally be waiting to hear.

When the movie will hit the screens is a million dollar question which the director himself has not been able to answer, given the time he generally takes to complete a movie. Lets hope the movie hits the screen soon and we get to witness another masterpiece from Bala

Pokiri

2006-06-15T09:03:00.000+05:30

Vijay's next movie Pokiri was officially launched on Monday. Though the news of the movie was known long back, it officially got kicked off. Prabhu Deva will be directing the movie while Asin will be pairing with Vijay. Mani Sharma sets the tunes for this film. The movie is set to grace the screens early next year, a time when Rajini's Sivaji and Kamal's Dasaavathaaram are also slated to be released.

The film is a remake of the telugu hit Pokiri which starred Mahesh Babu. Prabhu Deva who has been a busy and a successful director in the telugu industry, makes his first entry in Kollywood as a director. Vijay whose last film Adhi was a huge disaster was choosy about his next project and has finally picked up this remake. And Asin whose Sivakasi with Vijay was a huge success pairs with him in Pokiri. After a little gap, she graces the screen with Vijay again.

Shahjahan , which had some excellent numbers by Mani Sharma , saw Vijay doing full justice to them. And if they provide the same magic again, it will be a treat for the tamil audience.

So will it be Vijay dancing to Prabhu Deva's tunes or act to Prabhu Deva's direction? Pongal 2007 will be the right time to answer.

Kamalhaasan - The Versatile Star

2006-06-14T07:55:00.000+05:30

As said in my post, this article would see me writing about tamil cinema's greatest actor. If there is another actor whom I have admired, other than Rajinikanth, it would definitely be Kamalhaasan. Tamil cinema has been blessed by the presence of this actor who probably would be India's greatest and most talented actor. By proving his versatality in almost all fields of cinema, he still continues to show his love for cinema.

Entering the industry much before Rajinikanth, Kamalhaasan showed signs of the actor in him at a very early stage. An urge to act in different roles, he proved himself as an actor in his early movies like 16 Vayadhinile, Sigappu Rojakal , Raja Paarvai, Salangai Oli and Moondram Pirai. Though he acted in movies which portrayed the great actor in him, he continued acting in mass movies like Vikram, Kaaki Chattai , Sagalakalla Vallavan and Uyarndha Ullam

But it was his association with Mani Ratnam which saw him enter a different league. The movie Nayagan which probably remains tamil cinema's best movie, fetched him his second national award. His movies post Nayagan saw him select roles in which he could show his acting skills. Mahanadhi, Thevar Kagan, Indian , Kuridhi Punal , Anbe Sivam were movies which no other actor could have done.

His recent movies have rarely seen the actor in him as he acts in films which focus more on the masala kind. Tamil industry has been starved from seeing him deliver quality films. And guess with Vetaiyadu Villayadu he should set that right.

Top 10 Favorite Movies

10. Michael Madana Kama Rajan
9. Aboorva Sagodharargal
8. Indian
7. Raja Paarvai
6. Kuridhi Punal
5. Moondram Pirai
4. Mahanadhi
3. Thevar Magan
2. Salangai Oli
1. Naayagan

Top 10 Favorite Songs

10. Idhazhil Kadhai... - Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
9. Nee Oru Kaadhal... - Nayagan
8. Vandhanam... - Vaazhve Mayam
7. Sundari Neeyum... - Michael Madana Kama Rajan
6. Telephone Manipol... - Indian
5. Saandhu Pottu... - Thevar Magan
4. Enna Satham... - Punnagai Mannan
3. Ponmeni... - Moondram Pirai
2. Andhi Mazhai... - Raja Paarvai
1. Bala Kanaka... - Salangai Oli

Rajinikanth - The Charismatic Star

2006-06-13T09:08:00.000+05:30

Having been born at a time when Rajinikanth made his entry into tamil cinema through Aboorva Ragangal, I became a big fan of him within a few years. Though it was his fast paced action which attracted me to him, I later started enjoying the movies in which he proved his talent as an actor.

The movies in which , he sizzled as a bad guy(16 Vayadhinile, Avargal, Moondru Mudichu), portrayed a strong performance(Mullum Malarum, Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri, Engeyo Ketta Kural), proved how charismatic he was (Murratu Kalai, Billa), showed a great sense of humor(Thillu Mullu, Thambikku Endha Ooru) made me the fan I am.

As he reached the pinnacle of success, his movies became more mass oriented. And these were the movies(Yejaman, Annamalai, Baasha, Arunachalam, Muthu, Padayappa) which made him the super star he is. And he proved that he is still the biggest star in Kollywood by giving tamil cinema its biggest hit, Chandramukhi.

Top 10 Favorite Movies

10.Moondru Mugam
9. Padaiyappa
8. Nallavanaku Nallavan
7. Mapillai
6. Netrikann
5. Mannan
4. Thalapathi
3. Baasha
2. Annamalai
1. Mullum Malarum

Top 10 Favorite Songs

10. Rakku Muthu Rakku... - Yejaman
9. Nee Nadandhal Nadai - Baasha
8. Maanin Iru Kangal... - Maapillai
7. Kadhalin Dheebam Ondru... - Thambiku Endha Ooru
6. Enamaa Kannu... - Mr Bharat
5. Madathile Kanni Madathile... - Veera
4. Anbe Nee Enna - Pandiyan
3. Adhanda Idhanda... - Arunachalam
2. Rakamma Kayya Thattu... - Thalapathi
1. Vetri Nichayam... - Annamalai

Kollywood's Giants

2006-06-13T07:35:00.000+05:30

Tamil cinema has always been known for producing two types of stars, one for the class and the other for the mass. Right from the black and white days, these stars have taken their own path of ascertaining themselves in the industry. While one of them used to entertain the audience with his acting skills, the other used to appeal by his sheer charisma.

The latter had all the ingredients to make a star. A sight of him on the big screen would set the entire theatre on fire, as the audience loved him. Anything by him would be accepted by the audience. He donned bigger than life roles.

After the Sivaji and M.G.R days, tamil cinema saw two of the biggest stars in tamil industry. While one flourished with his versatality, the other glittered with his charisma, style and fast paced acting.Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth- these names still mint money in the market.

I have been a big fan of both these stars, though its the latter whom I admire more. In the current and the next blog, I will be listing out my favorites of these two giants, starting with the ever charismatic Rajinikanth, my favorite actor.

Climax in Tamil Cinema

2006-06-12T09:44:00.000+05:30

Cinema and Cricket have been two of the most entertaining industries in India. Both share a lot in common between them. The popularity these share is unimaginable. Providing wholesome entertainment, setting the cash registers ringing, there is much more in common between these 2 giants.

Other than providing entertainment, the one main feature which makes them so popular is the climax they offer you. Movies and cricket matches which have offered the best climax have stayed in the memory of people for a very long time.

Tamil cinema has produced thousands of movies, but there are a very few which have been remembered for their climax. These are the movies which make the audience come out of the theatre with a big smile or tears in their eyes.

Today I will be listing 5 of those special movies which have made a mark in tamil cinema for its stunning climax. Though many of the sequences in the movie were well made, the climax was the one which made the movie what it was.

5. Autograph
Probably Cheran's biggest hit , Autograph saw Cheran play the actor and director, bringing old memories to the audience. His wedding attended by the women who made a difference in his life, was a surprise and a different end to this film.

4. Kannathil Muthamittal
A emotionally packed climax, Kannathil Muthamittal made the visuals speak more. As the rain falls and Nandita Das is all set to leave her daughter, Keerthana hugs and kisses Simran indicating that she is ready to leave her mother and go with her adopted family.

3. Moondram Pirai
A film which got Kamalhaasan his first national award , Moondram Pirai had a climax with a brilliant portrayal of acting. As Kamalhaasan tries all ways to make Sridevi recognize who he is , with little success, the movie ends , with a dejected Kamal sitting on the railway station platform seeing the train carrying Sridevi pass by. A sad end to a great movie.

2. Kaadhaluku Mariyadhai
A teriffic climax along with some fine acting by all the artists, this movie had a great end to it. Srividya was a piece of brilliance as she brought in one of her finest performances. Illayaraja ensured that he was the master when it came to BGMs tuning in a fabulous background.

1. Sethu
A stunning film by Bala, this heart breaking movie would not have made a difference if it did not have the climax it offered. The final expressions by Vikram along with the BGM by Illayaraja provided one of tamil cinema's best climax.

Chandramukhi in IIFA

2006-06-09T12:51:00.000+05:30

It will be Dubai which will be hosting the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) this year. The festival which starts on the 15th of this month will be a 3 day event and will see a screening of 14 South Indian films. And of the 14 south Indian films that are to be screened, 7 are from Tamil , 4 from Malayalam and 3 from Telugu.

The festival this year sees thalaivar's Chandramukhi leading the way. The movie will be the first to be screened in IIFA 2006. And it is the first time in the seven years of IIFA that a tamil film kicks off the festival.And thalaivar's film doing the honours is indeed a great news for millions of his fans.

Lakalakalakalaka.....

First Test ends in a draw

2006-06-08T08:08:00.000+05:30

The first test between India and West Indies saw some exciting cricket between the 2 teams , as the hosts prevented a win for the visitors. The 5 days of play saw plenty of good cricket being played. From what appeared to be initially a boring 5 days of play, both the teams held their nerves to produce a thriller which makes test cricket what it is.

Skipper Rahul Dravid found his luck with the toss as he decided to bat first. But his decision did not help him much as the Indians triggered yet another famous collapse. With the exception of the skipper and Sehwag, none of the other batsmen proved a point as the Indians collapsed to 241. Bravo and Collymore ran through the Indians as they took 4 and 3 wickets respectively. The Windies on the other hand managed to get the upper hand as Gayle, Sarwan and Bravo helped them post a score of 371. None of the Indian bowlers were impressive as the West Indians found batting an easy affair.

If the hosts had the upper hand in the first innings, it was reversal of the tides. The Indians found their touch as all the batsmen sparkled. Wasim Jaffer , who won the man of the match, batted beautifully , scoring his first double ton. He along with Dravid, helped India score a respectable total. Jaffer batted brilliantly for 503 minutes before being bowled for 212. If Jaffer played a patient knock, Dhoni batted the way only he can bat. He scored a brilliant 69 which contained 6 massive sixes, before being out to a doubtful decision. The Indians imposed a massive score of 521 and set the West Indians a tough target of 392.

The West Indians commited all the blunders but held their nerves before enforcing a draw. They lost the crucial wickets of Sarwan and Lara, but it was the pair of Gayle and Chanderpaul who came to their rescue. The pair was worth 99 before Kumble ran through their partnership by getting Gayle leg before.Chanderpaul too did not last for long as he fell to Kumble shortly.

The Windies were left struggling at 202 needing another 190 runs. But Mohammed played a gem of an innings and lasted till the very end before being bowled by Kumble. He scored 52 and was out in the 92nd over.

With the last pair of Edwards and Collymore left and West Indies needing another 95 runs while India 1 wicket, the match was heading towards a thriller. But the pair held their nerves as West Indies finally ended the game in a draw.

The game saw some excellent batting from the Indians in the second innings, but it was their bowling which could not help them win the game. They have a lot to improve in this department and need to develop the habit of taking final crucial wickets in test matches, with which they could win many more matches both overseas and at home.

The two teams now travel to St. Lucia where they play the second test match on the 10th of this month.

Final Scores
West Indies 371 and 297 for 9 drew with India 241 and 521 for 6 decl

Pudhupettai - Technically Brilliant

2006-06-07T07:55:00.000+05:30

After a hiatus of more than a year , Selvaraghavan is finally back with his latest venture. One of the most eagerly awaited movies of 2006, Pudhupettai finally arrives. Though the movie does not live fully to its expectations, it is definitely a film worth watching.

The movie is all about a gangster 'Kokki' Kumar who , after witnessing the brutal murder of his mother by his father, runs away from his home only to fall into the hands of the bad elements. He works for the group led by Anbu , doing bad jobs for the gang. He slowly begins to stamp himself in the gang and later murders Anbu and establishes himself as its leader.

The film sees the rise of 'Kokki' Kumar to the top in the first half , and the problems he faces in the latter half.Having being arrested by the police on false charges of selling drugs along with the gang, he seals himself in the gang after being accepted by Anbu. But he earns little sympathy from the audience as his character is shaped as one which deserves to be hated. And by creating such a character, Selvaraghavan wins all credits.

The film brings in the life of the underworld in the first half and moves into the political arena in the second half. The ambition of 'Kokki' Kumar making it big in the bad world of politics makes up most of the second half. This is where
Selvaraghavan falters a bit as he makes the film drag towards the end.

Dhanush as 'Kokki' Kumar brings in a superb performance, though he reminds us of his performance in Kadhal Konden. Sneha as the prostitute who later marries Dhanush fits the character perfectly while Sonia Agarwal as Dhanush's first wife does not have much to do. Azhagarperumal as the wicked politician , brings in a good performance.

The movie is another example of unadulterated violence. Though there are plenty of scenes which depict violence , it is the scene where Anbu brutally beats up Krishnaveni (Roja) which serves as a perfect example for violence at its best.

The film excels in its technical aspects. Yuvan Shankar Raja scores a mindblowing BGM and tunes in another excellent album with the choreography doing full justice to all the compositions. Enga Area is the pick of the lot. Photography too does extremely well in the movie.

Pudhupettai - a movie catering to the audience who are able to appreciate the technical aspects of a film.

A Genius called Muralitharan

2006-06-06T12:42:00.000+05:30

Monday saw the English fall like 9 pins. Requiring a target of 325 to win, the 11 men from England were deceived by the Srilankan wizard who cast a web in Trent Bridge. He took 8 of the total 11 wickets, as England succumbed to 190. His figures read 8-70 from 30 overs as he took the 633rd wicket of his career. A great feat indeed.

A pitch which offered everything for the spinners and little for the batsmen proved to be a treat for Murali as he dominated the show and mesmerised the English. For a bowler who could make the ball turn even on a flat pitch, the wicket at Trent Bridge was a child's play for him as he made the English bite the dust. From 120-3 England were bowled out for 190. Other than Strauss, none of the other batsmen were able to read Murali.

A true genius.

Final Scores
Sri Lanka 231 and 322 (Sangakkara 66, Kapugedera 50, Panesar 5-78) beat England 229 and 190 (Strauss 55, Muralitharan 8-70) by 134 runs

A Different Friend

2006-06-06T09:58:00.000+05:30

When the mere sight of a snake makes people run, how would it be to see a kid hugging and kissing one? Hailing from Cambodia, 6 year old Oeun Sambat has a python as his best friend. It is said that he has supernatural powers and was the son of a dragon in his earlier life . And this python has been living with him for the last six years. Indeed a brave kid.

A Costly Affair ?

2006-06-05T19:57:00.000+05:30

Prices of petrol have soared up by Rs 4 a litre. Considering the current rate of petrol which is priced at Rs 47.49 in Chennai for a litre, the cost of petrol crossing the Rs 50 border becomes a costly affair. Though it might be beneficial for the government, it would be a big loss for the city people. Considering the numerous vehicles which fly on the city roads, it becomes easy to guess the number of people who are dependent on their vehicles, and the regrets they would be having seeing this huge increase. Though I feel that this would hardly impact the life of the Chennaites or bring a reduction in the vehicle population, it would still be a worry in everyones minds. Would the government ever give a hearing to these ever increasing problems? If they take any good measures, it would be a huge relief to many of us.

Relief from scorching heat

2006-06-05T08:12:00.000+05:30

Saturday night was a wet one for Madras residents. The city saw a heavy downpour of rains , bringing down the temperature , which was a huge relief for its residents. My wife and me had gone for shopping and were caught in the rains while returning home. The roads filled with water and the cool breeze which surrounded us was a surprise. It was a different sight seeing many residents taking shelter by the road side shops to protect them from getting drenched.

Rains in the middle of the year are surprise visitors since it is only the scorching heat which makes a visit and stays permanently for a few more months. The morning news papers carrying the news of the next few days likely to be less hot was a welcome one. Statistics reveal that only seven days in the past two months have recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degree Celsius, the hottest days in 2006 being the last day of April and the first day of May. And such statistics indeed bring a surprise considering the temperature which keeps soaring year after year.

So if the days are going to be as predicted, then its happy news for Madras. A relief from the hot days was one which was expected with anticipation by the residents. And looks like their prayers have finally been answered.

First Test - A Preview

2006-06-02T14:28:00.000+05:30

The first test between India and the West Indies begins at Antigua in a few hours. India will be going into the test fresh from their humiliation in the recently concluded one day series. On the other hand the West Indies would be a confident unit after their victory.

Statistics tell that the home team has just lost three tests at Antigua. The last time these two countries met on this ground proved to be a lucky one for both as many of their batsmen minted runs. Though the match was a draw, the two countries provided a run feast for the crowd.

The current test series could be an exciting one. Both the teams have proved that given any day, they could be an unpredictable unit, as the recent one day series showed. While West Indies have the upper hand, the Indians could give them a tough fight.

Brian Lara will be the man to watch in the West Indies unit. He has always been a force to reckon with as far as test matches are concerned. While he would be the key player for the home side, it would be Laxman for the visiting side. His last outing at the Caribbean proved to be a lucky one for him.

The Indians would be relying on their strong batting force. With the likes of Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, Dhoni and Yuvraj, a big total could be in the offering. If the unit clicks, then we could be in for a big run feast. On the other hand the home team would be depending on the trio of Lara, Chaderpaul and Sarwan who had a great outing in the ODI series. Bravo who had a teriffic series could also be a player to watch out.

So lets watch out for a battle between the home team's bowling and the visiting side's batting, and see if the Indian's wipe out their bad memories in the recent one day series and clinch the series.

Teams

West Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Runako Morton, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Jerome Taylor, 9 Fidel Edwards, 10 Corey Collymore, 11 Dave Mohammed.

India 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Wasim Jaffer, 3 Rahul Dravid (capt), 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Anil Kumble, 10 Sreesanth, 11 Munaf Patel.

Happy Birthday Illayaraja

2006-06-02T11:03:00.000+05:30

Illayaraja, the king of melodies, celebrates his 63rd birthday today. One of India's best music directors, Illayaraja redefined music in tamil cinema. I had earlier written how big a fan i am of this genius. More than his tunes for thousands of songs, its his background compositions which still amazes me. Tamil cinema has never produced a genius of his calibre as far as BGMs are concerned. And the fact that he still maintains the same level of quality is mind blowing.

Illayaraja entered the tamil film industry when it was being dominated by the pair of M.S.Vishwanathan and Ramamurthy. Tamil cinema had never heard such different and refreshing music, as he gave music in tamil movies a new life. And the speed at which he composed music for movies and the fact that he gave numerous hits at a teriffic average tells all about this wizard.

Lets wish Illayaraja a happy birthday.

Entertainment in Tamil Movies

2006-06-02T07:53:00.000+05:30

Tamil cinema has always had its share of entertainment. Right from the days of M.G.Ramachandran, movies which the audience have enjoyed have been plenty. Though the olden days generated more of such films, there are many which still entertain the house.

Stars who have earned themselves the title of mass heroes, restrict themselves more to such kind of movies. The popularity they earn through such movies make them to choose films which have entertainment as the prime concept. These movies offer , little scope for the story , but plenty to entertain the audience.

Every common man wants to be entertained. To forget the daily routine of pressure, he goes to cinema halls and when he gets what he wanted, he is a body of happiness.Today I will be listing 5 of those many movies which came with the concept of entertainment. These films had a fast screenplay, plenty of action, and above all were perfect commercial ventures.

5. Rajadhi Raja

Rajinikanth's 125th movie and produced by Illayaraja, this movie was a perfect mixture of comedy and action. Appearing in a dual role, Rajinikanth entertained the audience with his style, grace and charm.

4. Run

A fast paced movie about a youth who comes to the city and fights against his lover's brother. Madhavan's first movie as a mass hero, Run had a great soundtrack and some sizzling action sequences.

3. Sagalakala Vallavan

One of the biggest hits in tamil cinema, Sagalakala Vallavan was the perfect example of a masala movie. Directed by S.P.Muthuraman who was famous for his entertaining movies, the movie had the familiar concept of a youth who changes his appearance to seek revenge.

2. Dhool

Directed by the king of masala movies Dharani, Dhool was the story of a village lad who comes to the city and gets into several problems before he tackles them successfully. The film had some fantastic action sequences and a humorous comedy track.Vikram sizzled in the movie as he made the perfect action hero.

1. Gilli

A fast paced first half, Gilli was one of the finest entertainers of tamil cinema. Vijay sealed himself as a mass hero who could dance, fight and entertain the audience. Directed by Dharani, Gilli had a amazing soundtrack, a great choreography and a perfect villain in Prakashraj.

A False Note?

2006-06-01T07:25:00.000+05:30

Last week saw a lot of mails on Rajini's Sivaji photos getting forwarded. If the initial ones on the movie increased the expectations, with thalaivar looking absolutely charming, the last few photos have been a disappointment. Here are some more taken during the movie shooting. He definitely looks much better in the snaps, compared to the last few.

Both Shankar and Rajini have been known for being extremely secretive about any news of their film getting known to the outside world, before the film hits the screens. Before Baba was released, there was lot of publicity about the movie. It not only increased the expectations, but the movie became a big disaster, not able to meet all the pre hype. This forced Rajini from not letting any news about his next film Chandramukhi leak out, and instead made the film do the talking.

And with more and more photos of Sivaji getting released, and with no reaction from either Shankar or Rajini, it looks like both of them are ignoring these few ones and letting the media enjoy. Are these false notes from both of them , while the real picture is being overshadowed? If thats anywhere near the tuth, then its good news for thalaivar fans. But if these photos are the ones which will be seen on screen, then ?

Vikraman's Next

2006-05-31T07:42:00.000+05:30

Director Vikraman is back with his next movie. The film titled Chennai Kadhal has Bharath and Genelia playing the lead roles and is being produced by Thanu.

Vikraman's last film Priyamana Thozhi did not enjoy a good run. Though it starred Madhavan and Jyothika, it was a major flop as the audience found the movie boring. He was among the league of directors like Balu Mahendra, Fazil, Bharathiraja, Balachander, some classic directors , who had a dream run in the past but were unable to read the pulse of the current generation.

Bharath who is playing the lead role has had a roller coaster ride in his career. He has had his share of hits and flops. His last movie Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu, which was expected to do well, was a flop at the box office. With 3 movies(Kasimedu,Emdan-Magan,Veyyil) other than Chennai Kadhal in the waiting list, he is among the emerging stars of kollywood.

Vikraman's favorite music director S.A.Rajkumar does not find a place in this movie. It would be Joshua Sridhar who would do the composition. I have never found S.A.Rajkumar to be a good music director(the only movie I found his music to be different was Thulladha Manamum Thullum) as his music has never been appealing. Joshua Sridhar who had a dream debut in Kadhal makes a good choice.

Lets hope Vikraman does what directors like Balu Mahendra could not do and makes Chennai Kadhal another Kadhal.

Another Wrong Move?

2006-05-30T08:05:00.000+05:30

There are very few directors in Kollywood whose movies are eagerly awaited by the audience, and Bala is definitely one of them. Ever since he gave the stunning Sethu, his movies have raised high degrees of anticipation. He is one director who not only gives quality movies, but makes stars out of actors. The career of Vikram and Surya have taken a whopping turn after their works with Bala.

Ever since Bala announced his new project Naan Kadavul with Ajith,the whole of Kollywood was waiting for the project to begin. It was a movie which everyone thought would provide the needed break for Ajith, who is desperate for one.

But the latest buzz is that Ajith has been dropped from the project and Arya will be doing the lead role, while Bhavana will be the heroine. Considering the success Bala has had in turning actors into stars, it is definitely not good news for Ajith.

Arya, the current heartthrob of Kollywood should consider himself lucky for bagging the offer. Even though he is a popular star among the tamil audience, he is yet to deliver a hit after Arindhum Ariyamalum and Naan Kadavul should be the one he might hit the bulls eye in.

Whatever be the reasons for Ajith dropping himself from the movie, it could turn out to be a huge loss for him. Lets hope God Father hits the theatres soon and gives him a reprieve from his recent flops.

Will Bala do for Arya , what he did for Vikram and Surya? Will he bring out the star in Arya? Naan Kadavul might answer these.

West Indies seal series 4-1

2006-05-29T07:16:00.000+05:30

As said in my earlier post, the West Indies ended the one day series on a 4-1 triumph. It was a perfect farewell for Lara by his team as they won the fifth and last one day match by 19 runs. Bravo won his second man of the match award while Sarwan was declared man of the series.

India who won the toss and elected to field got their first breakthrough when Agarkar bowled Chattergoon in his first over. But the pair of Gayle and Sarwan put on a 82 run partnership before Sehwag bowled Gayle. The middle order chipped in with some useful runs as the West Indies ended their innings at 255. Bravo played a solid knock and remained unbeaten on 62. When Lara got out in the 39th over, India looked like restricting the hosts for a cheap score, but the pair of Bravo and Hinds took the total to a decent one. They put on a partnership of 78.

India brought in Uthappa but the change was not an effective one as he got out for a duck in his first over. India looked like they were heading for a win, as the pair of Sehwag and Kaif were playing a decent knock. But once Kaif got out and Sehwag fell shortly, it was a familiar story, as the Indians tasted yet another loss.

The only consolation for the Indians in this series was Sehwag and Kaif, who found their touch. Yuvraj and Raina who played some brilliant knocks before this series were ineffective, while none of the bowlers found their rythm in the entire series. On the other hand, the West Indians reversed the tides as they brought in a near series washout. They gelled in greatly as a team and might be major threats in next years world cup. They brought in an allround performance, as they excelled in all departments.

Lara proved to be a better captain. His second innings as a captain has proved to be good for him and his team.

The Indians were clueless in the last 4 matches. The new ambience for many of their players was a major reason for their series loss. Lets hope they come good in the test matches which start on the 2nd of next month.

Final Scores
West Indies 255 for 6 (Bravo 62*, Sarwan 52, Gayle 51) beat India (Sehwag 95) 236 by 19 runs

Series win for Windies

2006-05-27T10:31:00.000+05:30

West Indies skipper Brian Lara played a fantastic knock at his home ground in the fourth ODI against India, as the Windies won the five match one day series. With still a match to go, they look for a comfortable 4-1 win over the Indians. The Indians were only to blame themselves as they misfired in all the departments.

Earlier in the day,Sehwag, Raina and Dravid departed early, as India were struggling at 47 for the loss of 3 wickets. It was left to the pair of Yuvraj, who was back in the game after missing the previous match, and Kaif, who has been finding his touch, to carry India to a decent total. The pitch offered little to the batsmen as it tested the run scoring abilities. The pair put on a partnership of 80 before Yuvraj departed leaving the score at 127 for 4. Dhoni and Kaif carried India to a decent total before Kaif departed. There was little the others could do, as India ended their innings at 217.

The Windies were dominating right from the start. The huge six of Sreesanth from Gayle just showed that they had the control of the match. The West Indies lost the early wickets of Samuels,Sarwan and later Gayle, but the pair of Lara and Bravo ensured that their team would taste victory. They notched up a partnership of 91, before Lara departed. By the time he departed, West Indies were almost close to victory.Bravo and Hinds(who replaced Chanderpaul), brought victory and ensured a series win.

Bravo brought in a great allround performance, having taken 3 wickets and scoring 61 with the bat. Lara produced a great knock, which contained some scintillating shots.

It was a great series victory for the hosts. They have proved to be the better side in this series, shining in all the departments. On the other hand, the Indians need to look back into their game and bring back the winning habit.

Final Scores
West Indies 218 for 4 (Lara 69, Bravo 61*) beat India 217 for 7 (Kaif 63, Yuvraj 50) by six wickets

Sivaji - More Stills

2006-05-26T14:57:00.000+05:30

More stills from thalaivar's Sivaji. These bunch of photos were taken during the song session. The photos don't look that great and I just hope it turns out to be better when seen on the big screen.

Another Cool Day

2006-05-26T12:47:00.000+05:30

A few days before I had said that it was a welcome day for Chennaites. And it looks like we are going to experience more such days. The month of May is one which creates a sense of fear among its residents. The end of the month contains some of the hottest days of the year. But from what was seen today, this seems to be a false note. There was some rain last night following which the temperature dropped down drastically today morning. I found it a delight riding my motorbike to my office this morning, as i rode amidst chill winds. So lets hope we tend to experience more such days this year.

A Dream Team

2006-05-26T09:06:00.000+05:30

How would it be to have a team which has 11 amazing cricketers? Over the past several years , the cricketing world has produced some great talents who have always been a force to reckon with. These players have literally outshone several of their counterparts. These are the players whom every captain would love to have in his team. Presenting to you the team which I felt would be the perfect dream team in one day and test cricket.

One Day
1. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
2. Adam Gilchrist (Australia)
3. Viv Richards (West Indies)
4. Javed Miandad (Pakistan)
5. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
6. Steve Waugh (Australia) [Captain]
7. Lance Klusner (South Africa)
8. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
9. Shane Warne (Australia)
10. Michael Holding (West Indies)
11. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

Tests
1. Sunil Gavaskar (India)
2. Don Bradman (Australia) [Captain]
3. Rahul Dravid (India)
4. Brian Lara (West Indies)
5. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
6. Garry Sobers (West Indies)
7. Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
8. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
9. Shane Warne (Australia)
10. Muttiah Muralitharan (SriLanka)
11. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

A breezy duet for Sivaji

2006-05-25T09:52:00.000+05:30

Got this as a fwd from my friend. Doesn't thalaivar look jazzy?

All about Technology

2006-05-25T09:29:00.000+05:30

Got this as a fwd from one of my friends'. Titled as Panchatantra 2006, it was definitely a good read. The saying that , if we are not up-to-date with the technology trends, it is better we keep our mouth shut and let people think we are a fool, rather than opening our mouth and removing all the doubt, is definitely true after reading this one.

Once upon a time, there was a software engineer who used to develop programs on his Pentium machine, sitting under a tree on the banks of a river. He used to earn his bread by selling those programs in the Sunday market. One day, while he was working, his machine tumbled off the table and fell in the river. Encouraged by the Panchatantra story of his childhood (the woodcutter and the axe), he started praying to the River Goddess. The River Goddess wanted to test him and so appeared after 1 month of rigorous prayers. The engineer told her that he had lost his computer in the river. And as usual, the Goddess wanted to test his honesty.

She showed him a match box and asked, "Is this your computer ?"

Disappointed by the Goddess' lack of computer awareness, the engineer replied, "No."

She next showed him a pocket-sized calculator and asked if that was his.

Annoyed, the engineer said "No, not at all!!"

Finally, she came up with his own Pentium machine and asked if it was his. The engineer, left with no option, sighed and said "Yes." The River Goddess was happy with his honesty. She was about to give him all three items, but before she could make the offer, the engineer asked her, "Don't you know that you're supposed to show me some better computers before bringing up my own ?"

The River Goddess, angered at this, replied, "I know that, you stupid idiot! The first two things I showed you were the Trillennium and the Billennium, the latest computers from IBM!" So saying, she disappeared with the Pentium.

Squad for Test Series

2006-05-24T22:14:00.000+05:30

The Indian squad for the forthcoming test series against the West Indies was announced today. Ajit Agarkar did not find his place in the squad, while Romesh Powar and Raina make an entry into the team.The announcement of Sachin Tendulkar's non availability for the series was a big blow to the side. His presence would definitely have been a big boost to the team. The two countries play 4 test matches against each other, the first one beginning on the 2nd of next month.

India has not had a great outing in test matches during the recent past. Given their recent records at home, it would be a big boost to their test career if they try winning this series. On the other hand , the hosts' home record has been quite good. The presence of Brian Lara would be a great asset to his side. Though he has not been having a great one day outing in the recent past, his test records have been impressive.

Lets hope Dravid and his team prove to be a better test side and try sealing the series.

The squad
Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid (capt), VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth, VRV Singh

Aran

2006-05-24T09:37:00.000+05:30

After a long gap, Mohanlal is all set to appear in a tamil movie. Titled Aran, the movie stars Mohanlal along with Jeeva and Gopika. Iruvar was the last tamil movie Mohanlal acted in. Though the movie was a disaster at the box office, his performance received many accolades.

Jeeva has been turning into a good actor, with his last few movies proving to be hits in the box office. With the back drop of terrorist infested areas such as Kashmir, Aran is a love story with lots of violence.The movie is directed by Major Ravi, an ex-serviceman and the military adviser for many Indian movies.

Will Aran hit the bulls eye in the box office? Will Jeeva continue his success in Kollywood? Will Mohanlal break his jinx in tamil cinema? Lets wait and see.

India loses third ODI

2006-05-24T09:32:00.000+05:30

Is India back to its old ways? Was this the team that won a stretch of one dayers in the recent past? Having played some magnificient cricket, India lost the third one dayer to the West Indies by 4 wickets. Other than Sehwag and Kaif, none of the other Indian batsmen came out well. India looked like they would be posting a score in excess of 300, but some careless batting saw them fall short by atleast 60 runs.

It was once again a thriller as the game progressed to the last over. Needing 6 to win off the last over, Sreesanth took a wicket of the first ball as the West Indians were left with 4 runs to score for victory. Sarwan finished the match with a four of the last but one ball. It was a brilliant innings from the man of the match.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Dravid won the toss for the third consecutive time and decided to bat. The Windies got the early breakthrough by getting the crucial wickets of Dravid and Raina. But Sehwag and Kaif played a crucial partnership as India took control of the game. The dismissal of Sehwag meant the end for the Indians as they collapsed like 9 pins. Sehwag found his touch as he played an absolutely brilliant innings. His innings of 96 off 83 balls contained three sixes.Yuvraj Singh was ruled out , as he was suffering from back spasms.

The Indian innings saw some bad cricket. Their innings contained 3 runouts,Dhoni being the worst of the lot , as he lost his wicket for a casual running. They collapsed from 168 for 2 to 245.

West Indies was helped by a magnificient knock from Sarwan , as he scored a superb century. He along with Chanderpaul build a crucial partnership, as they ensured victory for the hosts. His innings off 119 balls contained two sixes. Chanderpaul made a classy and a useful 58.

The West Indies lead the 5 match series 2-1. Both the teams now proceed to Trinidad for the fourth match of the series, which will be played on 26th.

Final Scores
West Indies 248 for 6 (Sarwan 115* , Chanderpaul 58, Agarkar 2-32) beat India 245 for 9 (Sehwag 96, Kaif 63, Bradshaw 2-41) by four wickets

Tendulkar to miss Test Series

2006-05-23T13:44:00.000+05:30

Sachin fans are in for some dissapointment. Earlier it was said that he would be in after the one dayers. But now it looks like he will be missing the test series too. As he has not completely recovered from his shoulder injury, he will be out of action for some more time. So its going to be more wait for Sachin fans. Lets hope he will soon grace the cricketing arena.

Mauritius - A Romantic Destination

2006-05-23T07:34:00.000+05:30

This universe is a place filled with locations which are mind blowing. Its always amazing to know the fact that there are millions of such locations that find a place in this world. And being able to visit all the exotic places is a rare feat.

One such wonder in this world which I happened to visit was Mauritius. It was the perfect occasion to visit this exotic place , as it was my honeymoon. A visit to Mauritius was one which I had planned many months before my marriage. The eye catching visuals , the gorgeous waters draped in a green attire , the pebbles seen through the crystal clear waters , some of the most luxurious hotels ever seen, the beautiful sky which covers the entire island , these were some of the words which I had visualized only on screen. And when I stepped on the shores of this island , these visuals stood before my naked eye.

Speaking of romantic locations, one of the places which pop up in your mind must be Mauritius. For those who have seen this beauty, it must be a wide proof why this place is considered so romantic. But for those who have not been, its definitely an island worth splashing into.

My trip was arranged by Cox And Kings, a travel company in Madras. And having the trip arranged by an established travel company was the icing on the cake, as they took care of everything from booking air tickets to sight seeing. And our marriage happening a few days before Valentines day made me plan the trip in such a way that we would celebrate Feb 14th on this romantic island. What else could be the perfect way to celebrate Valentines Day?

The island was a treat for water sport lovers as water sports were never a scarcity. Various games were on the menu list , from which we just needed to pick them up. And for those romantic minds who enjoy cruising on the sea , the cruise was just waiting for them to step onto it. Wading through the lovely waters of Mauritius , the sights of dolphins taking the plunge was a delight. And when the cruise steps into the middle of the sea , offering you some scuba diving and snorkeling , you couldn't have been more delighted. Splash, that would be the immediate sound to have been heard. A relaxed cruise with a sip of some cool juice would be the perfect launch for some scenic view of the beauty of this wonderful island. And if one wanted to admire the scene from top , Parasailing was the perfect choice, as you soared high into the air and were offered a glance of this exotic island's beauty. And with a schedule boasting of six nights and seven days, we were able to enjoy everything Mauritius offered.

A perfect destination for those romantic minds , Mauritius is a dream island to be explored.

Protest Against Reservation

2006-05-22T07:22:00.000+05:30

The recent protests by the Delhi students against reservation in private and unaided educational institutions, has been creating news all over the country. If these photos indicate a visual of the protests, its definitely not in the good of the nation. Seeing all these protests makes me ask whether this is a year for protests? From what has been happening in Sathyabhama and , what is currently happening in the country, looks like its a bad year for the student community. And if this is what is happening to this section of the community , its definitely not a good news.Hope all the bad things come to an end and the students resume what they are good at - studies

Imsai Arasan 23 Pulikesi

2006-05-22T07:15:00.000+05:30

The audio of Imsai Arasan 23 Pulikesi was released on May 11 and is topping the charts. Vadivelu must be the only actor who has donned the cap of a comedian and created such a major hype with his new release. Coming under Shankar's banner, this movie has some peppy music by Sabesh Murali. Heres a brief look at the 5 songs.

1. Aah Adi Va

Rendered by Kovai Kamala,Manicka Vinayakam, Binny Krishnakumar,Saindhavi, this song reminds us of the Yaaradi Nee Mohini number. The song has some funny lyrics and is a mixture of classical and modern tunes. With Vadivelu also having given his voice, this song is my favorite in the album.

2. Pootiya Sirayinai

Rendered by Tippu, this fast paced song opens in an opera style. The BGM has the sound of a horse galloping, making it a delight to hear. Looks to be a song picturised on Vadivelu, this one could be the highlight of the movie.

3. Vanam Namakul

Having made T L Maharajan to sing this patriotic number is the highlight. Pulamai Pithan's lyrics add justice to this song. It is a combination of both western and Indian music.

4. Panju Methai Kaniyae

Krishnaraj and Swarnalatha sing for this number. Appearing to be a rural one , tablas and dholaks strongly dominate the various instruments. The song has been rendered by both the singers in a different way to give the olden day effect.

5. Aasai Kanniye

A soft number, this song once again takes us back to the olden days. Having some romantic lyrics, this number reminds us of the Buk...Buk...Buk number. A nice melody rendered by Naresh Iyer and Kalyani.

On the whole, a different album catering to the needs of the story of the movie. All the songs remind us of old melodies. If only the historical picturizations do justice to the songs , the album is sure to be a runaway hit. All credit to Sabesh Murali and his team for coming out with a refreshing album.

A low scoring thriller

2006-05-21T10:51:00.000+05:30

India lost the second ODI by one run as West Indies leveled the series 1-1. Yuvraj Singh battled till the end but was out as he tried to score the winning runs. In a match which tested the nerves of both the teams, West Indies came out succesfully.The defeat ended India's streak of 17 wins.

A pitch which offered little to the batsmen, the entire day belonged to the bowlers as the match became a low scoring affair. Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bowl and his bowlers responded beautifully by bundling out the Windies for 198. The score could have been a much lower affair but for the brilliance of Sarwan. He scored a patient 98. The final overs saw him accelerating the score.

It was a tough task for India as the wicket was more bowler friendly. Losing the openers in the first few overs, India had a task in their hands. Yuvraj along with Raina offered some hope as they accelerated the run rate. After Raina got out and Dhoni succumbed immediately and India still needing 59 to win, it was all left to Yuvraj to lead India to victory. Powar gave Yuvraj some assistance but it was a tough task for him as he too fell trying to accelerate the score.

It was a classic last over with Yuvraj smashing Bravo for successive boundaries. But a slow ball deceived Yuvraj as he became the last batsman to fall, and the Windies snatched victory.

West Indies are back into the game , leveling the series. The two teams will next meet on the 23rd at St Kitts for the third one day match of the series.

Final Scores
West Indies 198 for 9 (Sarwan 98*) beat India 197 (Yuvraj 93) by 1 run

Vikram as Aparichit

2006-05-19T16:14:00.000+05:30

Vikram is all set to make his first appearance in Bollywood. His Anniyan has been dubbed and is to be released in Hindi today. After tasting success in Telugu,Malayalam and Kannada, Anniyan is all set to take avatar as Aparichit. Sources also say that, Vikram may play the lead role in a Ram Gopal Verma's movie. And if Vikram had to wait for a long time to glow in kollywood, maybe the time for the wait is all set to end in bollywood too. So lets wait and see how the movie fares in bollywood, and whether Vikram erases the fact that south indian heroes have never made it big in Hindi cinema.

Relief from Heat

2006-05-19T12:42:00.000+05:30

The temperature glowing @ 32 degrees during May in Chennai? It rarely happens in this city and it happened yesterday. It was definitely a welcome day for Chennaites, as the weather appeared pleasant. Photos like this are very rare during this month, considering the fact that the heat is becoming unbearable with every passing day.

India wins first ODI

2006-05-19T10:39:00.000+05:30

India beat West Indies by 5 wickets in the first ODI at Kingston yesterday. Skipper Rahul Dravid led by example as he scored a superb century, helping India to a victory. His well paced 105 which contained 2 sixes and 10 fours overshadowed Chris Gayle's 123, framing the victory. Kaif found his touch again as he scored 66. The match was reduced to 45 overs due to the previous day rain.

The game was a nail biting one as the Indians brought it till the final over. Kaif ended the match with a four of the last but one ball. After Dravid got out, Dhoni and Kaif took over, as Dhoni made a fast paced 18. Raina and Kaif finally saw India through.

Earlier in the day the Indian bowlers were given some rough treatment by Chris Gayle as he pounded the bowlers to all parts of the ground. He made 123 off 131 balls which contained 2 huge sixes. Skipper Brian Lara chipped in with a well made 35.

The West Indians were looking for a score close to 300 as Chris Gayle gave some special treatment. But as overs progressed, the Indian bowlers , particularly Agarkar and Harbhajan , bowled some good overs to restrict the hosts for 251. It was a great effort from these two to have the run rate restricted.

India leads the ODI series by 1-0, with still 4 more to go.

Final Scores
India 254 for 5 (Dravid 105, Kaif 66*) beat West Indies 251 for 6 (Gayle 123) by five wickets

India in West Indies

2006-05-18T11:29:00.000+05:30

India are all set to start their West Indies tour in a few hours. Having had a great match pratice yesterday after humiliating the Jamaicans, India will be taking on the the Windies today in their first ODI. The match will be played at Jamaica.

Considering the form the Indians have been in recent times, theres little doubt that they will start as the favorites. The Indians have come out good in the recent series against the English and the Pakistanis. The West Indians have not been in the best of their forms, though they had a good outing against Zimbabwe, humiliating them in the recent home series.

For India, Dhoni , Yuvraj and Raina will be the men to watch. If they continue their recent forms, then India is sure to pile up some huge scores. Sehwag and Kaif have not been in their best and hopefully this series should prove their caliber. Dravid should hopefully continue his good rapport with the team by leading from the front, while the bowling department should come out well, considering the likes of Pathan, Patel and R.P.Singh

Lara will be the key player as far as the home team is concerned. If he brings his best, then there could be trouble for the Indians

Lets hope the Indian team comes out with flying colors and continues their win.

The Teams(probables) :

India

1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Rahul Dravid (capt), 3 Yuvraj Singh, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Mohammad Kaif, 6 Venugopal Rao, 7 Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 Ajit Agarkar, 10 Rudra Pratap Singh, 11 Munaf Patel

West Indies

1 Chris Gayle, 2 Runako Morton, 3 Brian Lara (capt), 4 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Dwayne Smith, 8 Carlton Baugh, 9 Jerome Taylor, 10 Fidel Edwards, 11 Corey Collymore.

Kollywood's most successful women

2006-05-18T09:41:00.000+05:30

Rediff has published an article about the most successful women Hollywood has seen. Every industry has seen a league of people who have tasted success and have been in the limelight for quite long. They have been embraced by the people who have given them the star status they have deserved.

Kollywood is no exception to this. In India , the tamil audience are a unique kind. They treat their stars next to God by even building temples for them.

Today i will be listing 10 successful women Tamil cinema has seen. These are the actors who have been highly successful and ruled the industry during their period.

10. Suhasini

An actor with a strong acting potential, Suhasini was a top performer who remained in the industry with acting as her only potential. She gave many beautiful performances in most of her movies.

9. Savitri

One of the best actors tamil cinema has produced, Savitri lived as the character in the movies she acted. Giving strong performances, Savitri was a highly rated actor.

8. Revathi

The best actor in this list , and one of the teriffic actors in tamil cinema , Revathi stunned the tamil audience with her strong performance. She proved that being popular needs no glamour as she gave many strong performances.

7. Padmini

A beauty queen, Padmini stunned the tamil audience with her beauty and her excellent dancing skills. With an amazing screen presence and sharing a perfect chemistry with Sivaji Ganesan, this beauty queen ruled.

6. Meena

An actor who shared the screen from her childhood, Meena was a popular actor. She remains the only actor who acted with Rajinikanth as both his wife and his daughter. Having acted with many popular tamil heroes, Meena sizzled.

5. Sridevi

One of the most beautiful stars , Sridevi dominated Indian film industry during her period. One of the few actresses who has shared the screen with most of the actors in India , she made a perfect pair with Kamalhaasan.

4. Radha

One of the few actors who has shared the screen many times with both Kamalhaasan and Rajinikanth , Radha appeared in many a movie in her time. Having bid goodbye all of a sudden to tamil cinema , she has started making a public appearance in recent times.

3. Jyothika

A bubbly and a charming actress, Jyothika is getting more beautiful as her age increases. Making her debut in a cameo role in Vaali, Jyothika sizzled the tamil audience with her cuteness.

2. Simran

Having made her debut through VIP, Simran enjoyed a high star status, before she bid goodbye to tamil cinema after her marriage. She was last seen in Kicha Vayasu 16. The tamil audience were stunned by her allround potential, as she sizzled in every movie with her dance and acting potential.

1. Kushboo

The most popular star in this list, Kushboo ruled the tamil industry making her fans go to the extreme of building a temple for her. Though she acted in glamourous roles in her initial period, she extended her potential to the stage of acting in her later movies. Having acted with all the leading actors, Kushboo was highly successful.

Winning Note

2006-05-17T10:12:00.000+05:30

India started their Carribean tour with a victory over Jamaica XI by 116 runs. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the star as he launched an attack over the opposition, scoring 45 off 23 balls, which included 3 huge sixes. Handy contributions from Kaif, Raina, Dravid and Sehwag saw the Indians pile up a total of 289. Later in the day, the Indian bowlers wrapped up the opposition for 173. The Indian bowling lineup came up good, with all the bowlers bowling a good line and length, pick of them being Patel who picked up 3 wickets.

Pudhupettai on May 19

2006-05-17T07:41:00.000+05:30

After much waiting , Selvaraghavan's Pudhupettai is finally hitting the theatres on May 19. As said in my earlier post, Pudhupettai is one of the most eagerly awaited movies of 2006. Lets hope the film lives upto its expectations and Selvaraghavan continues his success formula.

Tamil Cinema's Finest Performances

2006-05-17T07:27:00.000+05:30

Tamil cinema has produced some of the best talents in the Indian film industry. Right from the black and white days, tamil cinema has made itself a name for being the best. The technicians from this southern industry were always recognised for their works. When it came to deciding the top notches from every department in cinema, these technicians always held a place. They were always being watched for their brilliant efforts. Having been in the limelight for being the best , tamil cinema has had its share in acting also.

Every actor would have the talent in him and its the director who recognises and brings in the best. We would always be able to pick that movie as their best since they would be in a separate league of acting in it. It would make us just stand up and give them a big applause.

Today i will be listing those 15 special performances. No doubt tamil cinema has given lots of brilliant performances, but these were the ones that i felt as being in the top league.

Ajith - Vaali
Baby Shamilee - Anjali
Dhanush - Kaadal Konden
Kamalhaasan - Nayagan
Karthik - Mouna Raagam
Madhavan - Ayutha Ezhuthu
Mohanlal - Iruvar
Prakashraj - Aasai
Raghuvaran - Puriyadha Pudhir
Rajinikanth - Mullum Malarum
Revathi - Mouna Raagam
Sathyaraj - Amaidhi Padai
Sridevi - Moondram Pirai
Sivaji - Pasa Malar
Vikram - Sethu

Imsai Arasan 23 Pulikesi Cassette Release

2006-05-16T10:50:00.000+05:30

The audio cassettes of Shankar's Imsai Arasan 23 Pulikesi were released on May 11. The cassettes were released by Rajinikanth while Vivek received the first cassette. India Glitz has many photos and the video of the function.

Humor in Tamil cinema

2006-05-16T09:24:00.000+05:30

As said in my earlier post, Sun TV has certain programmes , other than serials, cinema as its prime concept. One such programme which has been in the air for a long time has been Comedy Time. Hosted by Chitti Babu and Archana, the programme is one of the popular ones in the channel.The programme features the hosts calling the viewers, speaking to them and end each call by playing a comic scene.

Nothing reaches people better than humor. Its a popular saying that the most difficult job is to make people laugh. Many movies have tried their luck in creating humor, but there are a very few which have succeeded in generating the best. No other language in Indian film industry has brought in humor at its best, than the tamil industry.

When a person is faced with numerous problems in his daily life, he goes into a cinema hall with his worries and agonies kept aside, and expects to be entertained. This is every common man's perception. And when he is made to smile during the movie and comes out of the hall with all smiles, having got what he wanted , that is when a movie has succeeded in satisfying the movie watcher. No person wants to have the same sentiments and worries during those 3 hours of movie watching.

Having produced thousands of movies, the tamil industry has had its share in giving comic ones too. Today I will be listing my favorite ones, which have made me laugh and watch them numerous times. These are those special movies which have brought in the best in humor.

Thillu Mullu

When Balachander and Rajinikanth decided to give a try at comedy, everyone was sure that they were in for a treat. Having known KB's taste for humor and Rajinikanth's flair in comedy, the movie didn't disappoint. One of the best comedy movies tamil cinema has produced, Thillu Mullu brought out the best in Thengai Sreenivasan, Sowcar Janaki and ofcourse Rajinikanth

Panchathanthiram

No one has a perfect timing than Kamalhaasan when it comes to comedy. And when he joins hands with some of the best talents in the 4 southern states, the audience could not have asked for more. The unit of Jayaram,Ramesh Arvind,Yuhi Sethu and Sriman along with Kamal were fun to watch as they made Panchathanthiram a great humorous affair.

Kaasedhaan Kadavulada

Kaasedhaan Kadavulada had the trio of Muthuraman, Srikanth and Thengai Sreenivasan having a ball. Thengai Sreenivasan sizzled as the tea stall owner disguising as a priest to help his friends steal the money in the locker.

Bama Vijayam

A Balachander movie , Bama Vijayam was based on the concept of living within your limits. It had some of the best talents of tamil film industry joining hands to produce a neat comedy movie.

Sathi Leelavathi

Balu Mahendra has always been known to have a flair for comedy. And when he made a movie which had the team of Kamalhaasan,Ramesh Arvind,Kalpana and Kovai Sarala, the tamil audience expected nothing short of humor. Kamalhaasan and Kovai Sarala with their perfect coimbatore tamil dialect, made watching Sathi Leelavathi a pure delight

Michael Madana Kama Rajan

One of the best scripts by Crazy Mohan, MMKR was one of the most humorous movies , tamil cinema has witnessed. It was a movie in which Kamalhaasan sizzled as 4 different characters, the best being that of the Palghat cook. With the exception of a bad climax, the movie was great fun to watch.

Vasool Raja MBBS

A remake of Munnabhai MBBS, Vasool Raja MBBS could not match its original, but still managed to make the audience laugh. Kamalhaasan once again proved that when it came to comedy, he was the best, as he made acting look so easy.

Aan Paavam

A fun filled encounter , Aan Paavam was a pure delight to watch. A movie which revolved around comedy, the movie had no worthy star casts, but was still able to make the audience laugh.

Kadha Nayagan

When two of the best talents in comedy join hands, we are guaranteed of some great comedy, which was what Kada Nayagan provided. A remake of a malayalam movie , the combination of Pandiyarajan and S.V.Sekhar made a great pair, as they made Kadha Nayagan a great comedy affair.

Manal Kayiru

Based on the concept of a man imposing 8 conditions which a girl should satisfy for him to wed her , Manal Kayiru was a breezy movie. S.V.Sekhar as the man who imposes the 8 conditions, and Visu as the broker who makes the impossible happen, brought in some fine performances as they gave a very entertaining movie.

Die Hard Fan

2006-05-15T12:25:00.000+05:30

Got this as a forward from one of my friends'. Guess he is whom you would call the perfect die hard fan....

Happy Birthday Madhuri

2006-05-15T09:29:00.000+05:30

Madhuri Dixit, probably the most versatile actors the Indian film industry has ever produced. From being a brilliant dancer to portraying the best of performances , this dream girl has won many a hearts. Today she turns 40. She may have said goodbye to Bollywood , but theres little doubt that her fans will forget her.

I have been a hardcore fan of this beauty queen. Having watched her count Ek..Do..Teen , i became a great admirer of Madhuri. And the various movies she later acted in , made me a big fan of her. An awesome screen presence, a flawless dance , a brilliant portrayal of acting , makes her a perfect allrounder in the history of Indian cinema.

Having been a great fan of this actress, there are many of her movies which made me the fan i am. Today, i will be listing my five favorite Madhuri movies. These were the ones which showcased why Madhuri is one of the greatest stars in the Indian film industry, and why she remains my favorite.

5. Tezaab

This movie announced to the Indian film world that the queen has arrived. With the evergreen unforgettable Ek..Do..Teen number , some great great emotional acting , Madhuri gave a memorable performance in this movie. She was paired with her favorite co star Anil Kapoor, who made one of the best romantic pairs of Bollywood.

4. Beta

Can one forget the way Madhuri shook her body for the Dhak Dhak number? Madhuri confirmed that she was the top star of Bollywood by giving a strong performance as the daughter-in-law who reveals , her mother-in-law's true character , to her husband.

3. Saajan

In this romantic movie , Madhuri sizzled as the girl who finally gets united with the man she truely loved. The movie brought in a different Madhuri as it portrayed the actor in her. Pairing with Salman and Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri shared a great chemistry with both the actors.

2. Raja

This movie was a treat for all Madhuri fans as she sizzled in her role. The way she rolled her eyes for the Akhiyan Milaoon number made her fans fall in love with her. One just forgot the rest of the star cast as Madhuri broke many a heart.

1. Hum Aapke Hai Kaun

The best of Madhuri movies, this movie had her in the best of forms. Appearing as the energetic and bubbly Nisha, Madhuri was unbeatable as she was in her charming best. The romance between her and Salman for the Pehla Pehla number was one of the alltime best romantic songs.

Happy B'Day Madhuri

Mother's Day

2006-05-14T12:18:00.000+05:30

Mother. Is this the greatest word in the dictionary? Today is Mother's Day. I join millions of sons and daughters who are wishing their mom , a happy mothers' day today.

I believe that theres no one else who could shower on you , all the love and affection , the way your mother does. Right from the day she gave birth to you, she has been the greatest lover in this world. And until now, the amount of love has never decreased. The millions of sacrifices she has done for you are hard to be repaid. And its definitely these sacrifices she has done for you which has made you what you are today. Is there a replacement for your mother. Definitely not.

Happy B'Day mother.

Arriving to cast a vote

2006-05-12T20:35:00.000+05:30

Film actor, Rajnikant's daughters arriving to vote for the Assembly Elections. Would this have made the snap of the 2006 elections?

Creativity At Its Best

2006-05-12T15:50:00.000+05:30

An advertisement for Baygon. Is this what you call creativity?

Humorous One

2006-05-12T09:36:00.000+05:30

A recent joke which had me in splits.

In a bar , a guy says to another "I slept with your mother last night". The whole bar was waiting for the other guy's response. He laughed and said "Go home dad, you are drunk"

Super Scenes

2006-05-12T09:14:00.000+05:30

Amidst the numerous serials on Sun TV, there is a share for programmes on cinema too.One such programme which I have regularly witnessed in Sun TV has been Super Scenes. The programme runs for 30 minutes and scenes which have been popular in tamil cinema are being screened. And there are quite a few which live up to them being called popular.

Every person who watches movies would have shared his memories about particular scenes in the movie. These would be the ones which he relishes watching again and again. Today I will be listing some of my favorite scenes seen in tamil movies. These are the ones which have stood apart among many other scenes in the movie.

10. Seeking Alliance - Chinna Gounder

Sukanya is forced to pay the loan she had taken for her sister's education and since she doesnt have enough money to repay, she arranges a feast for the village, with everyone needing to contribute whatever they could. The contribution needs to be placed under their plate, which she would collect when she takes the plate for cleaning. But when she takes the plate which Vijayakanth has used, she finds that , instead of a reasonable amount being kept he has placed a thali, as a symbol of asking for her hand. This particlar scene was a great piece of direction as Sukanya takes the thali and visualises Vijayakanth smiling through it.

9. Bashing the Bad Guys - Dhool

In this particular scene, the villains try molesting Jyothika by removing her saree and they chase her when she tries to run. In enters Vikram and in his typical macho style, gives them what they deserve. The best part of this whole scene is , when he removes Jyothika's saree which is around the villains' waist , by lifting him and making him roll and fall down. The scene , which marks the intermission, runs for about 10 minutes and is the highlight of the movie.

8. Majestic Introduction - Thevar Magan

Following Sivaji's death, Kamalhaasan is forced to follow his dad(Sivaji)'s footsteps. Being initially clad in modern dresses and sporting a punk hairstyle, Kamalhaasan reforms himself by sporting a white veshti and sattai with a silk thundu on top , a neat haircut, and a long moustache. He looked absolutely majestic as he appears with both his hands greeting the crowd, which marks the intermission.

7. Mr Chadramouli - Mouna Ragam
In this particular scene, after making Revathi wait in the busstand for a long time, Karthik tells her that she couldnt resist his style,grace and charm, and asks her to prove him wrong by having coffee with him. When they are almost done with having coffee and Revathi is about to leave the hotel , she finds her dad sitting at another table and with a baffled look tells this to Karthik innocently. But Karthik invites trouble by calling her father and asking him to join them , which her dad refuses, not knowing that Karthik's girlfriend is his daughter. This charming scene had the entire theatre in splits.

6. Challenging the Rowdy - Moondru Mugam

In one of the best hero-villain encounters, Rajini dazzled as the honest police officer challenging the villain. In this particular scene Senthamarai enters the police station, asking him to release his men. When Rajini not having seen him before asks him to reveal his identity, Senthamarai replies Alex,indha Egaambaram pera keta vayathula irukara kozhandha kooda kaiya eduthu adhoda vaaya moodum to which Rajini replies back saying Adhe kozhandha kitta indha Alex Pandiyan yaarunu ketaa adhodu inoru kayaala avanga amma vaaya moodum. The way this scene was executed by Rajinikanth, made it a great one.

5. Post Election - Mannan

In this particular scene, Vijayashanthi is down after hearing her loss in the union elections and when she is walking in the factory, unknown of the fact that the machine on top of her is about to hit her, Rajinikanth lifts her and saves her from getting hit. Having been lifted by a worker she is furious and slaps Rajini in front of the crowd. Rajini then enters her office and gives her back what she had given him, and after advicing her in his own style, walks out of her room majestically.

4. Chair for the King - Padayappa

When Rajinikanth visits Ramya Krishnan in her house, Ramya asks all the chairs except hers to be taken in order to humiliate Rajinikanth by making him stand before her, unaware of the swing which is tied to the roof. Rajinikanth enters her house and with his towel removes the swing , makes it his seat, jumps onto it and with his own style salutes the audience. The scene was awesome with the BGM of Rehman making it a classical one.

3. Unwrapping the invitation - Salangai Oli

Jayapradha shows to Kamalhaasan the invitation for the dance festival to be held in New Delhi. As they browse through the invitation, Kamalhaasan explains to her the various artistes and how famous they were. And when he sees his photo in the invitation, he is spell bound and when Jayapradha says that this person too is famous, he breaks down and is uncontrollable for a few minutes. This particular scene , enacted by the brilliance of Kamalhaasan, brought down a lump in my throat.

2. Medical College - Baasha

At the time of college admissions, Rajinikanth's sister is humiliated by the medical college principal who asks her to give her consent by accepting to accompany him to his guest house. When Rajinikanth hears this he enters the principal's room , asks his sister to wait outside, and reveals the truth as to who he is to the principal. With just his expressions, the audience see what is happening inside the room. And when asked by his sister as to how he got her the admission, he says that he said the truth.

1. Hotel Election - Annamalai

My all time favorite scene is when the hotel president election results are announced. We are shown only Rajini's feet as the results are announced and when he is declared the winner, we see the full view of Rajinikanth. He enters the room and walks up to take his seat. This scene was a great piece of direction added by the style of Rajinikanth. With a cigar in his mouth , he walks with great style all the way to where Sarat Babu is standing, and blows the smoke onto Sarat Babu's face and then takes his seat. The BGM of Deva was just brilliant as it , together with Rajini's majestic presence, perfectly blended together.

The Next Chief Minister

2006-05-11T17:35:00.000+05:30

With the Assemby elections wrapped up and the DMK and its alliance declared winner, the time has come for Tamil Nadu to welcome its new Chief Minister. As the exit polls indicated, and the results of the elections announced, the DMK alliance is all set to form the new government. A clean sweep for the DMK and its alliance, the people of Tamil Nadu have not put in their faith is any party other than the DMK and the AIADMK.

The DMK alone has won 94 seats in the 234-member legislature . And as 117 seats are needed for an outright majority, it will be needing the support of the Congress which has has won 34 seats. And if the congress joins the coalition , it will be in the Tamil Nadu government for the first time since 1967.

Lets hope that the new government does justice to their win and lives up to Tamil Nadu's expectations.

Madras - A Sizzling Place

2006-05-11T08:58:00.000+05:30

Every person in this world would have a favorite destination. Even though there are millions of places in this universe to cheer about, there would be one place which would be everyones favorite. This would be the place where they think life exists. For some of the people this would be a city they stumbled upon during their countless travels or a city which they visited or stayed for a short period. For a few others , it would be the one they migrated to during the course of their studies or their job tenure. And for the remaining lot, it would be the place , they were born and brought up. And i am no exception to this.

Having been born and brought up in Madras(I hate to call it Chennai), and having travelled and stayed in a couple of other countries, no other place has fascinated me the way Madras has. In spite of having its own loopholes like bad roads, unbearable temparature, water scarcity, this southern city still fascinates me. And having seen the city transform itself from an orthodox suburb to a modern fantasy, the love for my hometown has never reduced.

There are many places which i love in this city. But there always are a few which i never get bored hanging around. Be it with my friends or my family, these are the places which i frequently visit and never get tired of revisiting.

10. Spencer Plaza

Situated in the busy Mount Road, this plaza is a shoppers' dream come true. Loaded with hundreds of shops, with most of them the best, Spenzer Plaza is the best shopping paradise in the city.

9. Muttukadu

Located on the ECR , Muttukadu is a joy to be at. If you want to enjoy a great boat ride, then theres no other place other than Muttukadu.

8. Move N Pick

When you want to have the best Swiss icecreams and the best Pancakes, Move N Pick is the one. Having a great ambience and located in a posh locality, its a great place to gulp your icecreams

7. Don Pepe

Is there any one who doesnt like food? If you are a Mexican food freak out, then Don Pepe is the place to be at. Loaded with delicious food and an excellent ambience, Don Pepe is a great place.

6. East Coast Road

Having the best stretch of roads in the city, ECR is a drivers' delight

5. Landmark

If you are a book or a music lover, or you are looking at the best cards, then Landmark is the place to be at. Loaded with thousands of book ranging from novels to techies, thouands of dvds , cds, and cassettes, various cards catering to all occassions, gifts for several occassions , Landmark is a dream place.

4. Elliots Beach

A landmark which has been visited countless times since my school days, Elliots Beach has been a great place to hang around. Situated in Beasant Nagar with numerous restaurants catering to your hunger, its a great place to spend your evenings, munching those tasty bajis

3. Milky Way

Opened in the early 90s and having been in the city for almost 15 years, no other icecream parlour comes close to serving the best icecreams. Though not having the best ambience, Milky Way serves you the best icecreams you can dream of.

2. Sathyam Theatres

The best theatres in the city, Sathyam Theatres is a revelation. Attracting the best in Madras and always loaded with the prettiest faces in the city, being inside the theatre complex is a delight. Having the best technology in the city, Sathyam Theatres are a movie goer's dream come true.

1. My Home

My favorite place in Madras. Theres no other place which gives me more happiness than my home. Being a home bird, this is the place where i always enjoy being.

A Practice Session

2006-05-10T20:43:00.000+05:30

Is this the photo we have all been waiting for? Sachin Tendulkar, who is currently recovering from a shoulder injury, had a session at the nets. Sources say that he might be back for the test series in West Indies, which begins on June 2. Welcome back Sachin.

Sathyabhama College - From Strictness to Lenience

2006-05-10T08:48:00.000+05:30

One of the most prominent features of Madras has been the number of colleges in the city. Education has always been a primary feature of this southern metro. The amount of competition witnessed in recent years has been tenacious that one feels whether students know anything other than pressure. As years keep adding , the pressure and the tension on the students only keep increasing. The schedule of a school going kid is just enough proof to realise the amount of pressure the kid undergoes.

Once out of twelfth class, most of the students aspire to join engineering colleges. For students , colleges are another form of fun they undergo for the next 4 years. Its a place where the student gets to know what life means. Its an academy which frames the future of the student. The student almost decides which college he will be joining when he is in his last 2 years at school. And for the students who decide the college based on their board examinations , the list is huge as the number of colleges in Chennai just cannot be counted.

One such college which is more of a parents dream is Jeppiar's Sathyabhama. The college earned itself the name of another extension of a school, as the director emphasised discipline inside the college. Parents believed that their kid would be a disciplined one when he finished the 4 years at college. Boys and girls were not allowed to talk to each other inside college, strict dress code was being followed as no fashionable attires were allowed, no private vehicles were allowed inside the college campus, these were a few of the numerous rules which were being enforced. With such rules and regulations being enforced, the college became enormously popular as the strengh kept increasing year after year.

But the recent months have found things getting changed inside Sathyabhama. Following the recent problems due to the AICTE issue, Sathyabhama has been made to perform like any other college. The college rarely functions as strikes and other issues keep haunting it. The recent strike due to scarcity of water in the hostel is just another added issue the college has been facing. Chairs and tubelights were broken , hostel beds were set on fire, students have started getting attired in fashionable dresses, smoking is visible inside the college, the list could just go on.

The college which was once known for its strictness is losing hold of the same. And with the chairman Jeppiar remaining silent, it looks like he is keeping his cool and waiting for the day when he will set things alright.

Kids - Truely Amazing

2006-05-09T11:33:00.000+05:30

This was a recent conversation between my cousin and her 6 year old daughter, who are in the US.

Daughter : "Amma , how can anyone who is old, bald and can't even 'see' be a leader?

Cousin : "What? Whom are u talking about?"

Daughter : "About the guy who wears a yellow scarf and promises TV for everyone."

Cousin: "Where?"

Daughter: "In your 'oor'. Look how many people trust him."

Cousin: "How do you know that?"

Daughter: "Hey, see they all are waving flags at him."

I was totally taken back after she told me about the conversation. Its truely amazing how intelligent and smart the current generation kids are.

East Coast Road - A Dream Drive

2006-05-09T07:17:00.000+05:30

Having been a Madras resident for all my years , the one thing which i have always dreamt of , was good roads. With almost all roads in the city filled with potholes and cracks, the dream still continues to be what it was. The ever increasing traffic and the consistent rash driving, makes driving a nightmare. The cheap "new" roads laid by the corporation make it even more harder to drive since these roads turn into bad ones within a few days. The ever increasing pollution only adds more agony into every Chennaite.

Madras is turning out to be worse, as days proceed. Accidents, unruly traffic, ruthless driving by the bus and lorry drivers, the impatience exhibited by the auto drivers and two wheelers, are adding to the woes of the Chennaites. People are finding it extremely difficuilt these days to drive on roads. These conditions have left people dreaming of the day when these will be set alright.

With such consistent worse conditions, the East Coast Road(ECR, as it is popularly called) was a dream come true for many.Having driven on the roads of America and Singapore, I was for long cherishing the dream of driving on such a road in my favorite city, Madras. And when the news of the launch of a road , on par with the roads of the United States , was published, I couldnt have been more happier. For a guy like me who loves driving, what else could have been a better news?

My first ride on this dream stretch was on my wife's first birthday after our wedding. It was the best birthday gift she could give me , as she asked me whether we could go for a long drive on the ECR. And since she knew I loved driving, I couldnt resist this offer. And what was more better was it occurring on a week day when the traffic was next to empty.

Though we could not cover the entire stretch, the ride for almost half the stretch made the drive a lovely one. With a flatterring road Chennai could never have boasted off, with trees planted on both sides which added to the beauty, with a traffic obeying to the rules, with plenty of decent hotels catering to the hungry needs of its driving population, Chennai had finally found its perfect road. I was still in a dream as I found the road to cater to all my tastes. My only wish is that the road is maintained in the same condition for many more years to come.

Chennai is indeed truely blessed with the arrival of such a stretch. Hope it gets many more of such roads and erases the memories of bad driving.

World Celebrities

2006-05-08T09:18:00.000+05:30

People who make a name for themselves in this world are plenty. Its a huge thing to be in the limelight for long and get adored by the people. In this universe, there are many of them who have stood apart by their shere charisma, presence and hardwork. These are the stars who have earned themselves the due respect they have deserved. These are the people who have also been the darlings of todays and yesterdays generation.

Any human in this world would have his share of favorites. They are the people whom he admires. They will be the ones whom he even tries to be like. In any common discussion he has, be it at home or outside home, they will be the ones who come into picture. He always tries to support and speak for them, even if they have negatives , which according to him will be positives.

I too am one of those common humans this world has produced. I too have my set of favorites, whom i always look forward to. Any news about them in any form, is headlines for me. I surf for any information about them. These are the people who have made a huge impact and a big difference to the industry. Without them the industry would not have been how it is today.

Today i will be listing my ten favorites. These are the people whom i feel have had all the ingredients to be what they are today.

Sachin Tendulkar

Speaking about world cricket, the person who first comes into mind is Sachin Tendulkar. His shere presence on the cricketing field is a pure delight. His age is no limit to the millions of records he has set. He is a perfect role model for millions of cricket enthusiasts in this world.

Kapil Dev

He is the one and only Indian captain to have led his country to its only world cup victory. His temperament and his energy during his season was unbelievable as he made a great mark in the cricketing world. Undoubtedly the best allrounder India has ever produced, Kapil Dev is a true icon.

Steffi Graf

One of the greatest tennis stars the world has ever produced, she was the queen of tennis during her period. Her fireworks on the tennis grounds are still a treat to watch. She was probably the only tennis star to have shaken the world with both her game and beauty. Steffi still remains an icon the tennis world looks at.

Rajinikanth

The most charismatic actor tamil cinema has produced, and one of the charming figures in the Indian film industry , Rajinikanth shook the world through his screen presence and his charisma. Fans just loved to see him on the screen. Carving a unique name through his style and fast paced action, Rajinikanth still remains the king of tamil cinema.

Kamalhaasan

The finest actor India has ever produced, Kamalhaasan still remains an actor the industry looks forward to. Excelling in all departments of cinema, he is a true icon for all emerging film artistes. His dedication to cinema is unbelievable and is one which many in the industry need to learn.

Mani Ratnam

One of the greatest directors India has ever produced, Mani Ratnam created a unique name for himself through his excellence in the field of film making. With a gift to give the best of movies , combined with a unique gift of selecting the perfect artistes, he continues to excel in cinema.

Michael Jackson

Called as the King of Pop, no one took the music industry by storm as Michael Jackson did. His shere presence , his dancing skills and his videos were unbeatable as he still remains the greatest pop persona.

Bill Gates

The richest man in this universe , the genius in Bill Gates has enabled him to be what he is today. Probably the man envied for his technical and marketing skills , he remains an icon for aspiring software engineers.

Illayaraja

The king of melodies as he is fondly called by all, Illayaraja made a huge difference to the tamil music industry. Having a great talent to produce great sound tracks combined with blockbuster BGMs, he still continues to dazzle in the latter.

A R Rehman

A perfect icon for todays youth, A R Rehman created magic as he made the whole of India dance to his tunes. With a majority of his albums proving to be chart busters, Rehman still remains the music director to be beaten.

Simbhu's Vallavan

2006-05-05T18:11:00.000+05:30

One of the eagerly anticipated movies of 2006 is Simbhu's Vallavan. The movie has already created lots of expectation among the tamil audience. With a cast consisting of Simbhu, Nayantara, Sandhya and Reema Sen, and music by Yuvan Shankar Raja , its not surprising that the movie has created so much of hype. And with Simbhu entering the field of direction with this movie, he is definitely one of the best talents in the tamil industry. Check out Vallavan's trailer.

The Power of Rajinikanth

2006-05-05T11:48:00.000+05:30

Got this as a forward from one of my friends'. Was definitely an enjoyable and a humorous piece of reading....

There is a popular story saying that wherever you go, you will find at least one Rajinikanth fan.Here is an interesting new story.

Rajinikanth was bragging to Jayalalitha one day, "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them."

Tired of his boasting, Jayalalitha called his bluff, "OK, Rajini how about Tom Cruise?"

"Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it" Rajini said.

So Rajini and Jayalalitha fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts
"Thalaiva! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!".

Although impressed, Jayalalitha is still skeptical.

After they leave Cruise's house, she tells Rajini that she thinks Rajini knowing Cruise was just lucky.

"No, no, just name anyone else" Rajini says.

"President Bush", Jayalalitha quickly retorts.

"Yes", Rajini says, "I know him, let's fly out to Washington ".

And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Rajini on the tour and motions him , saying, "Rajini, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up".

Well, Jayalalitha is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White House grounds, he implores her to name anyone else.
"The Pope," Jayalalitha replies.

"Sure!" says Rajini, "My folks are from Germany and I've known the Pope a long time".

So off they fly to Rome . Rajini and Jayalalitha are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Rajini says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope."

And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican .

Sure enough, half an hour later Rajini emerges with the Pope on the balcony.

But by the time Rajini returns, he finds that Jayalalitha has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.

Working his way to Jayalalitha's side, Rajini asks her, "What happened?"

Jayalalitha looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, "Who's that on the balcony with Rajini?"

Tamil Cinema's Romantic Pairs

2006-05-05T11:06:00.000+05:30

Tamil cinema audience have always been great fans of romance on the screen. The tamil industry has produced a number of romantic movies right from the past. There has never been an audience which has disliked romance. There may be lots who dislike a segment in a movie, but it can always be said that there will not be any audience who dislike romance. Such has been the role romance has played in tamil cinema.

There have been numerous pairs who have graced the tamil cine industry in millions of tamil movies. But admidst the large numbers , there always remain a few who have sealed a place in the hearts of the viewers. These are the pairs whom the movie watcher always remembers.

I have been a big fan of romantic movies. And more than the movies, its the romance between the hero and the heroine which makes me love the romance in cinema. They have been charming when seen together and its makes us wonder why they didnt fall in love in real life.

Today i will be listing my favorite 3 pairs in tamil cinema whom i just adore.There have been many pairs, but these 3 are the ones whom i feel are the best the industry has produced.

3. Sivaji-Padmini
There couldnt be a better romantic pair in the black and white period than the pair of Sivaji and Padmini. Sivaji Ganesan has romanced with many heroines, but none of the other heroines could create the same spark as Padmini did.The chemistry which this pair shared was perfect. They starred in numerous films and in no movie did this chemistry fade. The old period could not have produced a better pair than this jodi.

2. Karthik-Revathi
There were a few movies which this pair of Karthik and Revathi got together but they made such a cute pair. Their romance catered more to the college going crowd, as the college students just loved them on screen. Be it the evergreen Mouna Ragam or the college love in Idhaya Thamarai or the village love in Kizhaku Vaasal, this pair sizzled.

1. Kamal-Sridevi
Could there be a better pair in tamil cinema than the jodi of Kamal and Sridevi? It made people wonder how they did not fall for each other off screen.Whether the loveable pair of Meendum Kokila or the sacrifice of Vaazhve Maayam , they were the best. Their combination was just next to perfect as they made the best romantic pair of tamil cinema.

Enna Koduma Saravana Idhu?

2006-05-03T09:47:00.000+05:30

Have you come across a news worse than this one? Check it out.....

Holidays - A Welcome Break

2006-05-03T07:05:00.000+05:30

Holidays are a moment, rather an event, to be relished. Right from the school days, i was one of those thousands of anxious students , waiting for the holidays to arrive. It used to be a welcome break after the strenuous schedules of class tests, tutions , the various exams in the year , and ofcourse , the final exams. There was just not enough time to relax, as the daily routine was too hectic. One could probably say that the lunch break , and the play time break when they left us to play in the grounds , was the only time we got to relax. Oops..include the bus journey too in it !!! But once into college, we got to relax too much, as preparation for the exams started just a couple of days before the D Day.

Engineers in the software field are no exceptions. With the timings in the industry turning out to be a nightmare, and weekends too spent in the office, a break is the biggest joy for a software engineer. I too am one of those millions of engineers who anxiously wait for a break.

It was the happiest moment for me when i got to know that May 1 was a holiday for us. And when my friend extended his invitation for his marriage, which was on May 1, it was like saying Ore kallula rendu maanga. Getting 3 days of leave, and getting to travel during that long weekend, is a great joy.

People in Madras have different options when they want to plan a trip. Even when they don't get train tickets, they have the choice of booking tempo travellers. Just a notice to the travel desk, 4 days before the trip, is sufficient.

The marriage was at Tanjore. After attending the wedding , we visited the Tanjore temple. Since it was my first visit to the temple, the sight of the entire temple was an amazing one. I was told that they had picturised the song Desinga Raja from the tamil film Dum Dum Dum in the temple campus.The surroundings of the temple, along with the entire architecture was breathtaking. I also came to know that it was the only temple which does'nt cast a shadow of its tower. Truely amazing that it left me thinking, when India is flooded with so many wonderful places, why do we still have a fascination for the outside wonders? Ikkaraiku Akkarai Pachai thaan

So waiting for the next holidays to arrive....

Another Nayagan in the Making?

2006-05-02T16:30:00.000+05:30

Whatever Mani Ratnam does is hot. And the whole industry is keen to know what he is currently doing. As said earlier , he is currently into Bollywood directing Abishek Bachan and Aishwarya in a movie titled Guru. Sources reveal that the movie looks into the life of India's famous industrialist Dhirubai Ambani.Abishek plays the lead role while Aishwarya plays the role of Ambani's wife.

Mani Ratnam's earlier movies like Nayagan and Iruvar where he potrayed real life characters were classics. Though the latter crashed at the box office, it was technically a classic.

Mani Ratnam has the unique gift of selecting the right person for the character. Movies like Bombay,Alaipayudhe,Mouna Ragam,Iruvar were perfect examples. And with his past records I am sure Abishek and the rest of the crew will be the perfect choices.

Lets hope Mani Ratnam's latest offering provides him the needed break in Bollywood

Tamil Cinema Glowing

2006-04-29T09:43:00.000+05:30

Indian cinema down south is known for giving quality movies. And tamil cinema is no exception to it. The tamil industry has always been noticed for its movies in terms of quality.Technicians down south have always made a mark in tamil cinema.When it comes to technical excellence, people always look to tamil movies. Such has been the contribution of tamil cinema to Indian movies.
The golden olden period saw the likes of Bhim Singh and Sridhar. If the former made a stamp by joining hands with Sivaji Ganesan(can anyone forget the number of Pa series) , the latter gave a combination of light and serious movies. Movies like Kaadhilika Neramilai,Kalyana Parisu,Nenjil Or Aalayam were some great works of the latter while Pasa Malar,Baaga Pirivinai,Padithaal Mattum Podhumaa were the former's great works.

Tamil cinema also saw the entry of directors such as Balachandar , Bharathiraja and Mahendran , who made a difference with their style of film making. While Bharathiraja's initial movies had more of the village scent(16 Vayadhinile,Kadalora Kavidhaigal,Mudhal Mariyadhai) , he also proved to the industry that he could give thrillers(Sigappu Rojakkal).Balachandar's movies had more family ties(Aboorva Ragangal,Sindhu Bhairavi,Vaname Ellai) while Mahendran gave movies with a penchant for realism(Mullum Malarum,Udhiri Pookal,Jhony).

The tamil industry then saw the emergence of Mani Ratnam . He stamped his quality, not only in terms of film direction, but also in many other departments. His association with wizards like P.C.Sreeram,Thotta Tharini has given the tamil cinema its best.Mouna Ragam,Nayagan,Roja,Anjali were movies which made a mark not only in direction but in other technical aspects too. Directors like Fazil(Poovizhi Vaasalile,Poove Poochoodava),Balu Mahendra(Moondram Pirai) were also directors who made a mark.

Another director who made a stamp with his different way of film making was Shankar. He made a difference, as he brought in a new meaning to tamil cinema , with his graphics. Movies like Gentleman,Indian stood apart for its strong way of direction, while movies like Jeans,Kadhalan were spoken for its technical aspects.

The current crop of directors like Bala(Sethu),Gowtham Menon(Kaaka Kaaka),Cheran(Barathi Kannama,Vetri Kodi Kattu) have already proved to the film world that they would be the future of tamil cinema. Tamil cinema is definitely shining.

Today i would be listing my favorite 10 movies which , according to me , have made a difference to tamil cinema. Here they are ...

- Anjali - An unforgettable movie from Mani
- Mahanadhi - An emotionally packed movie
- Mouna Ragam - A great family subject from Mani
- Mullum Malarum - Best of Mahendran
- Naayagan - Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan duo's best
- Poovizhi Vaasalile - Fazil's best
- Salangai Oli - A true classic from K.Vishwanath
- Sethu - An unbelievable movie from Bala
- Thevar Magan - Bharathan's great village epic
- Udhayam - A stunning film from Ram Gopal Varma

Music in Tamil Cinema

2006-04-28T09:26:00.000+05:30

Music has always been part and parcel of tamil cinema. Right from the black and white days, music formed the crux of tamil movies. The tamil film industry has seen many a music director grace it.

Music directors like M.S.Viswanathan, T.K.Ramamurthy, K.V.Mahadevan, V.Kumar dominated the industry in the initial days. These were a few of the most prominent music directors who graced tamil cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. Their association with singers like T.M.Soundarajan,P.Susheela,Vani Jayaram resulted in many great numbers.

The 1970s and 1980s saw the world of Tamil cinema dominated by Illayaraja. Though music directors like Shankar,Ganesh,Deva were composing music for many movies, no one dominated the industry as Raja did. His compositions for hundreds of movies were master pieces. The association of Illayaraja with artists like S.P.Balasubramaniam, K.J.Yesudas, S.Janaki, Chitra gave the industry many glittering songs.

The 1990s was the period dominated by A.R.Rehman. Composing songs , which were more youthful, he had the whole nation dancing to his tunes. He dominated not only the south , but also extended his dominance to the whole of India. He was primarily responsible for introducing huge talents and changing the way music was composed in tamil cinema.This period also saw the likes of music directors like Karthik Raja,Adityan,Vidya Sagar and S.A.Rajkumar.

The current period has seen the emergence of music directors like Yuvan Shankar Raja,Harris Jeyaraj,Vijay Antony,Dina who are fast making a mark. These are the people who could be the future of music in Tamil Cinema.

Having spoken about how music in tamil cinema has and is changing, here are my favorite albums in tamil cinema. There are plenty to choose, but there always remains a few which I m never tired of listening.

- Alaipayudhe - Probably Mani and Rehman duo's best in their tamil film association
- Idhaya Kovil - An amazing soundtrack for Mani Ratnam
- Kadal Oviyam - Best of Bharathiraja and Illayaraja combo
- Minnale - A scintillating romantic album
- Mouna Ragam - One of those rare tamil movies which had a great soundtrack and an evergreen BGM
- Payanangal Mudivadhilai - A masterpiece from Illayaraja
- Punnagai Mannan - Illayaraja at his rythmic best
- Salangai Oli - Made us dance to its tunes
- Sindhu Bhairavi - Illayaraja at his classical best
- Roja - Rehman announced his entry into Indian cinema