Bitter Journey:(

Last week, when I was travelling to my hometown[Thiruvannamalai - which is hardly 3.5 hrs from Tambaram], bus driver stopped the bus near unknown hotel for dinner. Normally as per the rules I think they shouldnt stop anywhere as it is just 3.5 hrs of journey and also most of the buses to my hometown has been upgraded to Express Bus status. Even if they are stopping they should stop at Mamandur Hotel[which is a government run hotel]. Two of the passengers started fighting with the driver and conductor after they came back for the reason that they had not stopped bus @ Mamandur bcoz the food was not good at the stopped place and its been around 25 minutes time bus was stopped[they will stop for a max of 15 min normally].. Driver was not responding properly.. After bus started off, one of the passenger went near to him and asked for his name with the intention to book a complaint against the driver, he didnt tell the name and stopped the bus in the road. The passenger then came back as other passengers requested the driver to start the bus and asked this passenger to return back. All this fighting between passenger and driver had taken for just 5 min and driver started off the bus as per the request of the other passengers without giving his name. I remain a mute spectator. I found my guilty that I was not able to do anything like going in support to the passenger. I noted down the bus number and it is TN25 N 0057. When I informed this incident to my friend and one of relative both they told that nothing would happend even if you complain.. Also it seems that the drivers are stopping at unknown places just because of the fact that they will get free food from that hotel... Any suggestions if something can be done on this??

Elections are ahead

Elections are barely 20 days ahead. Requesting you all eligible citizens to vote without fail. If you are not voting you dont have the eligibility to criticise the government. Do vote and select appropriate candidates after which you cannot feel for not voting. If you are not able to find eligible candidate for whom you can vote, you can use 49-O rule which tells you are not voting anyone thereby avoiding "kalla votes". For more information on 49-O, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/49-O

Unhealthy Trend

Came to know that there are lot of dubbed movies[Originally in Telugu] to be released in Thamizh sooner. Here are some lists. Tholi Valappu as Hari, Kotha Katha as Puthu Kathai, Naa Ayina Chanti Pillodu as Neeya Naana, Naa Anevaadu as Vasu, King as Pattukkottai Azhagiri and Chingaari as Peyar Sandya, Thozhil Dasi[Original in Hindi]. Main reason which forces producers to go for dubbing is getting a dubbing rights would be much cheaper than getting a remake rights or for that matter to produce a new movie that too during these recession times. Also, it is not story which determines the hero, but the hero who determines the story especially in Tamil Industry or Southern Industry. There are few exceptional heroes who still depends on the storyline like Surya, Vikram, Prasanna among others. Better solution to put a full stop to this issue is make movies with moderate or low budgets and be sure to have a faith on storyline and screenplay rather than depending of star power because out of more than hundred tamil films released last year, only less than 20 films are superhits and made their producers profitable of which many are small budgeted movies with strong script.

My Weekend

I had watched two movies on this weekend. One is Padikathavan starring Dhanush as a lead and the other Arundhathi starring Anushka as the lead. Both are of different genres. First - Arundhathi It is a thriller movie spanning over 2 decades. Anushka dons double role for the first time in her career and has done her best. Eventhough veterans like Manorama and many others are there,it is mainly she who is present all over the movie and does proves her skills. Sonu sood plays the baddie. Be it dance, acting, Anushka excels!! Actually I had seen the dubbed version[Thamizh] of the original. I think the original would be surely better than this. Dubbing voice was not apt for Anushka in Thamizh version. The story has several loopholes like the concept of punar janma, pretatma but still it makes you glued to the screen and does not let your mind to trigger such questions till the end of the movie. Secondly about Padikkathavan nothing much special to speak about. It's just another commercial movie. Hero is illiterate who has an ambition in life to love and marry a well-educated woman[Good Aim indeed!!] just because he is teased by his father for not passing 10th standard. Acting wise, there is not enough scope for anyone except Dhanush[for action and comedy sequences] and Vivek. Actor Tamannah was indeed good in both Happy days and Kalloori. But she is here just for dance sequences. Anyways, we can't except anything more than this for a hero-oriented movie. Padikkathavan was released by Sun Pictures. Till date whatever movies released by Sun Pictures are all commercial movies and I hope all the films were atleast profitable because of Sun Network. Hope Ayan will be different from Sun Pictures's other releases. Entrance of Raj TV Production will slightly pressurize Sun Pictures. As Sun Pictures and Raj TV has their strong base in TamilNadu having many channels under their company, they can make a film a decent hit. They should also come forward for taking experimental movies. Atleast 20-30% of the films they produce every year should be experimental. This will pave a way for encouraging fresh talents as well as give a relief to people who really appreciates different movies nowadays.

Coimbatore Trip

I started from my hometown yesterday morning to Coimbatore. I went to Salem and then catched a bus from there to Kovai. When I entered Kovai, I could feel the chillness which would not be there in Chennai or in my hometown, Tiruvannamalai. I reached Gandhipuram[Kovai bus stand] and from there took a city bus to reach the reception hall of my Friend's brother marriage. There were lot of changes in Coimbatore now. Be it new city buses[|||lr to blue board buses in Chennai] or IT Parks[I had only seen few IT Parks on the way I travelled], etc. Coimbatore had already become second largest city after Chennai in TamilNadu to have such developments in IT Field or industrial related ones. I met few of my old room mates from Hyderabad also and it was really fun talking with them after long time. Also I met few of my college class mates. Started off from there by 10.00 PM by bus[Jayam Renugambal] and reached Chennai today morning @ 9.00 AM. Bus was not quite good. Be it seating arrangement, maintainance, time management. Actually bus should have started by 9.45 PM yesterday and reached 6.45 AM but then everything changed when they started very late and not taking NH highway road for travelling[Had taken some unknown small roads].

Back to Coimbatore this week after long time

I had studied my Engineering in Coimbatore. I am going to Kovai this weekend for a marriage. Hope I will enjoy the trip because it's been almost 3 years after which i am going now. The last time I went was for the convocation ceremony on May 2006. Four years when I was there studying in Kovai @ PSG College of Technology were memorable ones and I had learnt a lot over there from how to behave in public to stay away from home apart from my technical skills. Will update you on the trip once I am back.

Weekend @ Marina and Besant Nagar Beach

After a long time I had a chance to go to Marina Beach on saturday. It was pleasent to see and hear Sea waves and the sound that the waves make. I stood in the waves for 5 minutes and then came back. I went along with my friend. I was really happy that I could go to the beach and I think it's my 5th or 6th visit to the beach. Not more than 6th I am sure about. About Besant nagar[I went yesterday], truly speaking I didnt like the experience because first the beach was very small and it is mainly occupied by shops[if government can remove few shops which stretches near even the sea shore it will be better] and second that the place was not clean as compared to Marina. Also, there were more crowd. And I had a bitter experience in Marina. Transgender came and asked for money and had taken Rs.15 from me. This is the first time ever I face such situation in Marina beach. I used to face similar problem when I was travelling to Hyderabad by train from Chennai previously when I was working there. I dont know if these transgenders whether they will change eventhough our TN government are bringing many programmes[right from introducing new sex column to giving seats to them in college to what not] for them.. I could understand their problems but when they actually irritates us, its just anger which is more on them than sympathy.. I wish they should change in near future. Looking for a better future which will be good for both us and them..

Samsaram adhu minsaram

Got to see the movie 'Samsaram adhu Minsaram'[Released in 1986] yesterday in KTV. One of the real life movie about the joint family system and its issues of 80's. It could be even more better if it's said as a classic movie. Story is about how people in the joint family have their own views and the problem being raised as a result of this. Eventhough the movie is an out n out Visu movie, there is one person scores better than Visu and its none other than Veteran and national award winning actress Lakshmi. That too her acting at the climax is one of the highlights of the film. Everyone right from Visu, Manorama, Kamala kamesh, Raghuvaran, Chandrasekar, Delhi Ganesh, Kishmu done their part very well and the movie gives a feel as if we were one of the family member in that family for 2.5 hrs. I feel the talents of Manorama, Lakshmi have not been utilised to full extent. I am not aware of their performances in other languages but atleast in Tamil, I feel so. They are spontaneous actors. Regarding music, the soundtracks are really good. Most probably it would be our Maestro Ilayaraja only. Who else was there during 1980's and 1990's in the south film industry other than him giving such good music.. The comedy track is not separate, but along with movie and it pays well.

FM Stations in my hometown

Last weekend when I went to my hometown Thiruvannamalai I was surprised to hear that the FM stations available in Chennai are now in TVM[Thiruvannamalai]. Actually, I was thinking about this for a while after I got transferred to Chennai from Hyderabad that city people are enjoying not only entertainment but also get to hear some good programmes like 'Aahaa coffee club' hosted by Chinmayi @ Aahaa FM, 'Vanakkam Chennai' hosted by Gopinath @ Radio City FM or fun programmes in Hello FM especially 'Bigil' hosted by Suresh. But for now, this seems to be of no worry because they are available. Thought of sharing the same..