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Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Paradox, Contradiction, Ambiguity … a measure of enlightenment

 

Paradox, Contradiction,  Ambiguity …

             a measure of enlightenment

 

Over the last few weeks I have been meeting old classmates and a few close Associates. Predictably discussions covered many areas , importantly one’s health and well-being.

      I have now understood that it is very difficult to get anyone  listen to your source of happiness . Even the closest of   friends turns to other topics tactfully. God seems to be the only one  willing to listen & savour  your happiness.

On the other hand   everyone listens attentively, with full eagerness to hear what is being said ,even if  you are sharing your sorrow in hushed tones with the person  sitting next to you.. And before you can say Huh! the group  transforms itself into a committee of good Samaritans & engages  in profound debate on steps that could be taken to.address the cause of your distress

Therefore, is it not logical  to believe  that one should share his delight & glory with the Almighty and distress with people ?

Unfortunately we do exactly the opposite  by Rushing to the nearest temple  &  pouring out our misery to all 33 crore Gods and  seeking out  even long lost friends and associates to share our .Jubilation

 

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Odds & Ends

 

Odds & Ends

Waking up, I find its raining. As I am about to get up from bed, I check the time on my mobile by force of habit. It’s  2:00 am !. Lying down again  I Toss & turn in bed but I cannot  sleep.  I feel intense anger  and self – contempt

 Don’t know why

There are a few people who actually even  enjoy this state , the types  that  perpetually  grumble  . I like to believe I am not one of those .

Don’t know why

I am no idealist either. I like to believe I am attempting to be one, but that might seem  distinctly  dishonest.

Don’t know why

Sleep still eludes me .Suddenly for no reason I think  I like to live like a silk worm. Or am I one, already?.  I can even compensate for the missing cocoon  by raising  an imaginary hood  around myself ,into which I can withdraw more often  & into which none  dare enter .

Don’t know why

Monotonous  grind  sickens me. I feel no pleasure in the conventional. Is life just being trapped  in the groove and running round in circles over and over again ? Don’t recall when  I  got  stuck in this wheel of despair  and torment

Don’t know why/when

I detest people who have very impractical views of circumstances. I find it impossible to accept people who .glorify even the most ordinary  matters 

Don’t know why

Thoughts, doubts, questions   ! . As I try finding replies   I hear a faint bleat …. And then see the  sheep: 1, 2, 3 ……… before  finding the answers, Sleep came without definition, as did the dream.


 &  it should know why

Monday, August 18, 2025

பெற கேட்டாலே……

 

பெற கேட்டாலே…………

 

Was Very lovingly  treated to Gandhi Class experience of Thalaivaa’s Coolie.

Within 15 minutes of the title card appearing on screen , by sheer weight of experience in Movie Exhibition, anticipated what would unfold.

So decided on how to “ENJOY” the remaining 154 odd minutes .  Devised my own technique similar to  counting sheep . Proudly present the Results:

1.Nos. Maimed/ Bludgeoned by Soubin Shahir:  11/ 16

2. Glass panes Shattered:  9

3.Nos. Chopped/ by Bullet Sprayed by Nagarjuna: 14

4. Nos. Cut / Sliced by Saar & Uppi Saar    : +/-  32

5. XXXXL Sized Beefy Hoodlums:  7 (Excluding Rachita Ram ie;)

6. Cigarettes Smoked by Nagarjuna: 18

7. Nos. Pouched by Amir(Tom & Jerry)  Khan : 19

7.(a). Instruments Used : Rapid fire Machine Guns,Rifle,Musket, Revolver,Huskies for "Bhav"

8. Successfully  tested Victims on Satyaraj’s Incinerator: 13

9.The only time A few Viewers let out Cat calls?./ Whistles: When Thailaivaa                    Roared “Kaaaleshaaa”

The dialogue that appealed to me most : ஏண்டா நான் என்ன சொன்னாலும் நம்பீடுவியா? By Rachita Ram. Somehow felt it was directed at me!

Thailvaaa!

Note: Figures furnished above may not match exact nos.. Blame it on my Age related  slow reflexes & Aniruddh

To sum up( after the numbing effect of BGM has worn off & some  sanity has returned) . Coolie delivers exactly what Thalaivaa’s die hard fans hoped for, and even more: Saar is in his elements on his familiar turf, effortlessly blending Charisma, style,swag & trademark mannerism.

It is generaly felt that it is hard  to tell Vijay’s movies apart as he looks and acts  pretty much the same in all his movies

I’m starting to feel the same way now with all  action’ films Including Thalaivaa’s

Every Producer/Director  is using Rajinikanth as a whistle-generating  crowd puller, and that may be fine commercially , but what about the actor’s ability to act? Pray somebody utilizes that talent .But, who’s going to use that? When?

 

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Organic : trend ? , Or return to tradition

 

Organic :  trend ? or  return to tradition ?

Finishing a quick Breakfast at a restaurant on the highway, while travelling to Bangalore,  I was waiting for the Driver who was taking his time over refreshments. Impulsively, entered the “Organic” shop Attached to the restaurant. Found half a dozen ladies (seemingly conservative and  distinctly north Karnataka), all Senior Citizens, presumably on a group tour.They were sauntering  loitering around the racks.

One of the Ladies asked  her friend:  “ Harini , what is organic food ?”

Did you say “Organic food Lakshmakka”? 

“Yes, I see these organic food counters in every shop now.” Lakshmakka  persisted.

“Ah…organic food. Thats just regular food but costlier.” Said Harini Triumphantly

The other women standing nearby got curious & joined in the conversation.

Now  let wicked me not disappoint you. You are right! It is my firm belief  that when a group of women (Senior Citizens at that!)  are engaged in a  healthy discussion , it invariably ends with the  “ fittest”  delivering   the final  verdict.

Usually  in a group  one doesn’t  question  the other’s opinion  unless they are  discussing important  issues  like  “ is coconut chutney with Idli  better than Raitha with Pongal” ?  or  “does adding garlic in brinjal  curry make it tastier” ? when everyone  jumps in with their own Expert Opinion..

In this case too they  did !

Stern looking Aunty 3: “ If it is normal food, why is it costlier?”

Not to be seen as the one who doesn’t know her grocery , Aunty 4  responded with Authority : “  You see , these are items  which didn’t have poisonous fertilizers and pesticides sprayed on them. Such toxic stuff can kill people you know?”

 And As an after  thought said  , Not that fertilizers and pesticides are the only way to kill people.”

My Driver returned.  But I waited,  ears perked up ( Oh yes  my hearing aids were in place) holding my breath. This discussion was getting interesting. There was half a chance one of the contestants hiring the Hotel Security  to “Convince”  the others. Thankfully nothing serious happened   and they moved on to other topics.

But  I realized that  the ladies  were right. Organic food is regular food but costlier. In fact, organic food is so costly that a household with average fixed earnings will be doomed if they decide to go completely “Organic”.

Resumed  our travel, thinking about “Organic Food”

Twenty  years back, only a few people  would dare  to enter shops that had huge glass panes in the front , were air conditioned   and  were  costlier than the  traditional  “Friendly”  Neighborhood Store.

 But, not anymore thanks to  booming consumerism, people    don’t hesitate to enter  such shops .

what these fancy  shops were about then  , the “organic food” store  is today. It is so expensive.

Every time I go  grocery shopping to one of these Mega Stores,   I see racks  labelled ‘Organic Foods’ .

Just in case someone has  a misconception &  don’t realize. Organic food is the food that our grandparents   ate everyday, day after day  & without paying anything extra . This was when they were in control of their lives and and when we were toddlers.

Organic food for which we pay so much today  wasn’t always this  costly. Just think of the fruit Ganesha (the Lord) earned using his inventiveness or the Apple Eve ate or the poisoned one the witch tempted  Snow White with. ORGANIC & FRE E  were’nt they?. Not to mention  the one that fell on Newton’s head !

 Why then do we  unfortunate mortals  have to pay hefty sums now for anything labelled organic ?

About twenty five  years ago all food items sold at every store was organic and easily accessible to everyone. There was no seperate shop or counters. Our grand parents never had to go to    stores  named ORGAnik,  PURE & SURE , Hasiru Siri, Etc; to buy unadulterated  , healthy Food.

One of the things we can do to make ensure we all don’t end up paying exhorbitant sums  for Organic food  Is by  sharing posts like this  on  Facebook & Whatsapp groups and educate all farmers that we  should ONLY be growing food without  chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Ohh! wait, there is an issue ! The farmers on Facebook & Whatsapp groups  aren’t real farmers (plowers ie)    they are the ones who block the highways while protesting against farm laws, crop prices and other personal issues with their imported SUV’s while enjoying  Pizza with cans of coke for Nashta , Khana & diversion .Farmers & their farming  have come a long way.

Continued the journey with The words of “Authoriative" Aunty 3  ringing in the ears:

, ಆದಾ ನೋಡ್ರಿ ಮತ್ತ್  thangi ಖಾನಾವಳಿಯಾಗ್ ಒಂದ್ ಥಾಟ್ ಭಾಕ್ರಿ ತಿಂದ್  ವಾಟಗ ಚ್ಛಾಹ್ ಕುಡಿದಾಕ ಮೂರ್ ನೂರ್ ರೊಕ್ಕ  ನೀಡಾಕ್ ಹತ್ತ್ಹೀವೀ.”

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Laugh ….if you don’t want to smile

 

Laugh

      ….if you don’t want to smile

 

The "punch line" style of comedy as it is popularly known in Tamil film industry, is characterized by witty, sharp(Sometimes Crass), and often spontaneous  one-liners. It gained prominence in Tamil cinema from mid  1970s. This trend evolved further  through 1990s and is now  accepted as  an indispensable component  of a movie .With the emergence of actors like  Gowndamani & Senthil, the irrepressible Vadivelu &  Vivek ,  dialogues ,voice modulations, varied dialects,slang combined with exceptional  comic  timing  has become a hallmark of film comedy, contributing immensely  to the entertainment and popularity of many films.

The idea of an  introductory signature BGM for a comedian was introduced first for Vadivelu and soon extended to others. The on-screen pranksters have effectively  displayed the  value and importance of body language in comedy through carefully  tailored dialogues & sequences  highlighting their individual   style. They deliver  comedy not merely by  words but with their  entire body ! Each one is a  master of  his own  unique style and has been rewarded with love and admiration by millions of movie fans.

So, here is a list of dialogues/one-liners  that can crack up anyone, even without  a visual/audio. These lines   showcase their skills and unmatched contribution to Tamil films through comedy. From witty one-liners to iconic catch phrases,   their inventiveness continues to resonate with fans, making every wise-crack  a  rib-tickler !

 Since Intonation is crucial for conveying the intended emotion the lines are listed in Tamil (to resemble the unique articulation pattern) . Hoping it  will produce the expected “Punch”

So Read on “Dontu   Worry Be happieee

 


VADIVELU:

1.ரூம்  போட்டு  யோசிப்பாங்களோ

2.இங்க தான்   இதுக்கு பஸ்ஸுன்னு  பேரு…………துபாயில இது  குப்பே       லாரி

3. புள்ளயாரே…   பெருச்சாளில  போறாரு  பூசாரிக்கு  புள்ளெட்டு (Bullet)

கேட்க்குதோ,  புள்ளெட்டு

4.எவ்வளவு  அடிச்சாலும் தங்கராண்ட. இவன் ரொ……ம்ப.. நல்லவன்ன்னு

சொல்லிட்டாங்கம்மா………….சொல்லிட்டா..ங்க

5. ஹா ஒரு குரூப்பாத்தான்  அலையறானுங்களா

6. அடிச்சா   வலிக்கும்………. அழுதுடுவேன்

7.. ஹா  இது ரொம்ப புதுசா இருக்கே

8.மாப்ள ? மாப்ளெ ! …………..மாப்பு……. ?........... வெச்சிட்டான்கடா ஆப்பு

9.நானும் ரௌடிதான்ய்யா…… எத்துய்யா ஜீப்புல

10, கர்சீப்ப  கத்திமாதிரி உருவறீங்களேடா

11.உனக்கு ஏன்  இந்த  கொலைவெறி

12.என்ன வெச்சு  காமெடி கீமிடி பண்ணலியே

13.எங்களுக்கு  ரிஸ்க்  எடுக்கறதெல்லாம்  ரஸ்க் சாப்பிடற மாதிரி

14.மனுஷன் கொஞ்சம் ஸ்டைலா நடந்து போனா பொறுக்காதே

15 .நாரா பயலே

16.வந்துட்டான்ய்ய…… வந்துட்டான்ய்ய……ய்ய

17.ஏய்இ…… நான் சீரியசா பேசிக்கிட்டிருக்கேன்…….சிரிப்பு  பொலிசுனா

   சொல்லற ?

18.நாக்குல வசம்ப  வெச்சி தேய்க்க !

19.ஒன்னு மொத்தம்  கூடிட்டாங்கய்யா கூடிட்டாங்…….ககய்யா             

20. கிளம்பிடிச்சுப்ப……………..கிளம்பிடிச்சு

21. புதுசு புதுசா அடிக்கிறாங்களே ! எப்படித்தான் கண்டுப்பிடிக்கிறாங்களோ

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

GOWNDAMANI :

1.அரசியல் வாழ்கையில இதெல்லாம் சகஜம  அப்பா

 

2.நாராயண இந்த கொசு தொல்லை தாங்க முடியாலடா

3.ஒன்னு இதா இருக்கு உண்ணூனு எங்க,,,,,

4.ஸ்டார்ட் மீசிக்

5.பெற பாரு………..சங்உதற வயசுல சங்…….கீதா

6.அது ஏண்டா என்ன பாத்து அந்த கேள்விய கேட்ட

7.வாடி பார்த்த  சாரதி

8.இந்த ஒர்ல்டுலேயே கார் வச்சிருக்கர் கரகாட்ட  ட்ரூப்பு  நம்முளுதுதான்ப்பா

9.டேக்  திஸ்  டொண்ட்டிபை

10.ஆளப்பாறு ! மனசுல மைக்கல் ஜாக்சன் தங்கச்சின்னு நெனப்பு

11.கல்ல கண்டா… இவான கானூ இவான கண்டா…. கல்ல கானூ  இன்னிக்கு தான் .ரெண்டும் சேந்து கிடைச்சிருக்கு

13.அட்றா ஷக்க அட்றா ஷக்க   அட்றா ஷக்கே

14.நா எல்லாம் கலெக்டர்  பேரன்னு சொல்லி சி எம் கார்ல சென்னைக்கு

   வந்தவண்டா

15.. என்னடா உங்க 5 ஸ்டார் ஹோட்டலு,… சோறுன்னு கேட்டா அரிசியும் கொஞ்சம் சூடு தண்ணியும் கொடுத்து  நம்பளயே பொங்கி சாப்பிட சொல்லுவாங்க போல இருக்கே

 

________________________________________________________________________________


VIVEK:

1.டாக்ட….ர், ர்    நீங்க வெறும்  தாசா இல்ல  லார்ட் லபக்  தாசா ?

2,எப்படி இருந்த நான்  இப்படி ஆயிட்டேன் 

3.பதில் சொன்ன prize ஒரு கோடி எங்க ஆளுங்க அடிச்ச்சா டெட் பாடி

4. பிகர பாத்தா உடனே   ஃபிரெண்ட கட் பண்ணிட்டயேடா

5 .. டோன்ட் வரி  பி  ஹாப்பி

6 எனக்கு ஜிய நல்லா தெரியும் ……… ஆனா அவருக்கு என்ன தெரியவே….   தெரியாது

7.யாருமே இல்லாத கடையில யாருக்கு டா டீ ஆதர

8.இன்னைக்கு செத்தா நாளைக்கு பால்!

9.அட பாவி கள்ளிக்காட்டு இதிகாசம் எழுதுண்ண வைரமுத்து மாதரில்லா                நடந்துட்டிருக்கான்

10.. என் ஸ்டோரிதான்,  ஆனா என்னக்கு தெரியாமலே ஏகப்பட்ட  ட்விஸ்டு

வெச்சிருக்காங்கபபா

11, பில் கேட்ஸ்(Bill Gates) இருக்கும்போது, ஆள் கேஸ் னு (Alagesh) இருக்கக்கூடாதா

________________________________________________________________________

If you are able to visualize the related sequences and dialogues by the actor in the movie while reading the lines and if even a faint smile lights up  your face ,I will consider this attempt a success

 


Paradox, Contradiction, Ambiguity … a measure of enlightenment

  Paradox, Contradiction,  Ambiguity …                a measure of enlightenment   Over the last few weeks I have been meeting old cla...