Happy New Year 2011

Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year. May 2011 brings out more joy and  peace around us.

Trying to force a resolution to write regular blogs in 2011. Atleast one in a month.


Another area of resolution is about work-life balance with more family time. God give more peace and happiness to one and all.

Social Media - Powers and Misuses

Everyone is concerned, angered, excited, curious about the leaks happening all over the world. I am also concerned about the leak in my restroom pipe. Ok that's different story in which I called up the plumber to fix it :)

I was more surprised and felt disappointed by the mainstream media handling Radia Tapes leak story barring airtimes with denial of the wrong doings. They were even trying to take cover under the ethos of Journalistic manipulation. They put out some jargons of journalism like String along the source to get more info.

My concern is all about transparency and bold journalism with guts to attack your own house even if it is built in glass to expose wrong doings, otherwise you should close the shop / leave the job and go and work do some desk job in 9 to 5 environs without fame and money.

On a discussion on this topic, someone said, fame and money bring ego to any individual. I am not sure about it because some of the celebrated journalists have toiled hard day night for years to be recognized so the ego part is not correct. But surely insecurity has been built in. It has become rat race to claim #1 spot in reporting.

Every channel exposed various scams but some channels have breaking news "After XXXX expose, Govt acts tough"..

Anyways coming to the tittle of blog... various bloggers, tweeters were persistent to discuss about this radia tapes issue to trigger some sense of responsibility to get some channels to discuss on the matter. Think about it, without media, CWG Scam would have been buried and now Social Media made sure that mediagate is not buried quietly.

But again, there are some elements start abusing individuals with so much ranting by calling names to demean some of the people noted / listed in the issue. There needs to be maturity and restraint on commenting such issues.

I think people active in Social Media needs to remember this line

With Power Comes Responsibility

Maybe this holds true for Media by large extent

Football World Cup - 2010.. Time to Get into Groove

Here it is.. the World Cup Football Carnival in South Africa is starting in 2 days time (June 11) and guess most of Soccer Crazy nations will come to standstill.

I would like to see new play makers, stunning goal saves, aggressive build-up, solid defences, etc and also the drama behind false fouls and the crowds with the south african trumpet which has been a concern for few visiting teams.

But this time around, I am going to miss Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Cafu, Ballack, Beckham, Raul. I always admire Carlos' cover up of the whole football ground with agility and also the high powerful free kicks or long passes. Man he was like mean machine, always on the prowl and moving around swiftly. It is always a treat to watch.

Similarly Ronaldhinho / Ronaldo has the flair for their passes, attacking versatility, beautiful way of tribbling around the defenders. Gonna miss those even though we still have Messi, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, etc.

Ever since Luzio came into defending position for Brazil, I admire the way he charges from their half to opponent half with the ball. The long steps with the ball and he has the ability to make the pass at right time. When I saw that for first time, I thought he is being over confident, but later understood that his ability to be a great playmaker and good defence player as well. On the defenders, other eye catching guy is none other than Azurri skipper Camavarro. He has his own style and man.. he just goes about the job and get the ball from opponent.

I think one common thing football does is to keep people engage in TV for full duration of the tournament.

My Final 4 is Brazil, Germany, Spain and England. From there as always Brazil is the winner.

General Updates.. May 2010.. happening month

It's been happening month of May.. as I had some few important dates to cherish in my life.

Moving to new project

After six years in the program supporting critical business application for our organization, I moved out to another group within the same company to part of the team that supports BI tools for an important client.

Apprehensive while joining the previous team (yeah now it's prev team :( ) in 2004 June end but the team which gave me platform to showcause my capabilities, which may not be in cutting edge technologies or innovation, but gradual understanding of my capability, my business acumen, managerial jargons or practical management actions, etc have indeed blossomed and made me a rounded IT professional. These years made me moving laterally into managerial roles coupled with technical mentoring and understanding the realities of big organization and the mantra of being agile even when you are large.

In early 2006, we had to start building a team with varied skill sets; What an experience it turned out to be. The team was built in quick time as the faster absorption of the work was vital factor in that time. Every individual came onbaord was unique but to our fortunate times, they jelled with the team in jiffy.

I miss our coffee talk sessions in evening as 15+ people troop into cafeteria and take coffee/ tea / juices for health consicious and sit on water pipes in a long queue. Those sessions were major ice-breakers and helped the team understand each other activities in more informal way.

The best part of the team is that leadership was transparent in any aspect of running the team. The team was first to know the strategies, objectives and policy decisions whichever can be shared with the team. I felt privileged that I was in middle of the leaderhsip and individuals of the team. Some say these roles are like punching bag but I wasn't privy to experience that.

There were ups and downs but the team understood the realities of cost optimization, agility, efficiency and also almost all in the team grew out of their roles to be higher platform than when we started the team.

To fulfil one's wishlist or ambitions, you need a change and I had to take decision of moving into different and more challenging role than the current one. The decision was well supported by all in team and they were happy that I am pursuing my wish and not the forced change in some of the cases.

The guys were with heavy heart while doing the farewell but gave me heavy gift box and it was great to receive it from the longest companion of the team Mahesh.

Surely LSS, as we call ourselves is a rocking team and happy that I am part of the people that built with open, frankness, joy with so many jolly good moments of team outing, lunches, crisis situations, major releases, et al. I am sure the super cool Mahesh and team will go places if not in the same place but whatever they pursue. I hope to be a good member of the new team and contribute significant to the success of the team.

Grahapravesh Pooja

We did small family gathering in our new flat booked and did grahapravesh (aka house warming). It was hectic few days of preparations as ever supporting bros and sisters, cousins arrived only on previous day. But I could pull out with help of local friends. The priest was cool and informative even though there is language setback since he is fluent in Kannada, Telugu and Hindi and our family are into Tamil, English. I have to do the translator job even while in hotseat. Attached in the picture of the pooja.

Before you ask, we plan to have elaborate house warming function once we move into new apartment as the building has good open terrace with provisions for gazebo, seating arrangements, etc.

Engagement of cousin..

One of the happiest news in 2010, that my cousin could finally say that he liked someone and we all family went ahead in quick moves to confirm the alliance. The engagement was done on May 26.

With the action time coming in all 3 updates, hope the coming months will be more exciting and challenging.

Tailpiece: The Week starting May 23 is eventful one with accomplishing so many things, couldn't when Sunday dawned and am already in dusk of Saturday writing this update.

Dec '09 and Jan '10 - Memories (Places) Re-visited - Cherished / Teary Moments

As a starting point, this post is pending one since late December, but fortunately I delayed so that I can add more memories into this post.

Early December 2009, I booked a trip to hill station so that I can spend some days of my two week break from office. Suddenly my younger sis and brother-in-law told that I should visit them since the hill station is nearby. So I had to revisit the plans and made reservation. The other motivation to visit my sis family is that the town Pollachi where they stay is linked with my schooling. I did my elementary schooling (3-5) in Lourdes Matriculation School, Pollachi and our dwelling was in the Official Residence provided by our father's office.

I can go on writing about the house we stayed as it was sprawling house with big garden, front open space, 2 garages with 8 Guava trees, few Papaya ones, with one big kodikkaipuli fruit looks like curled tamarind literally means Vine Tamarind, trying hard to get the english or botanical name of it. But this post is not for this, will do detailed blog on this house.

I landed in Pollachi early morning 6 AM and straight went to my sister's home. My original intention was to hire a vehicle and to see my old school, our house, then Aiyappa temple, few of by-lanes still I remember where I go and meet my classmates and spend most part of the days.

But due to my over enthusiastic watching of ghat road section from Mysore to Sathy and losing sleep for few hours in night, I over slept during the day and suddenly realised that it is almost evening. I sneaked out of my sister's place as they were planning for different trips. I hired an Auto Rickshaw (3-Wheeler) and told him where I all intend to go. He was surprised and gave me a smile which was worse than a stare to indicate my madness.

I went near LMS and alas the school looked same atleast the block near the gate where my classes were located. But the surrounding is full of concrete jungle different from open fields and some maize fields while we were studying. Then I told the auto driver, it is almost 2 decades that I have visited my old school, then he apologetically acknowledged my enthusiasm.

As it was X-max holiday season, the school was closed and I didn't have chance to see students coming out of the school. I never had urge to get into school even though auto guy said he can get me in for stroll.

Then I asked him to take me into our old house.

One thing about these official quarters are that, they are in prominent place of the town / city and my experience has been always that we stayed in big houses with one or two rooms kept free and locked. All the houses had open spaces or garden both in front and back of the houses. Again digressing... :)

Man.. the house is not changed much, but again shy to venture in, looked from outside and a early teen boy came out with basket ball in his hands. I suddenly went into Autograph mode (term / slang inspired by recent Tamil movie about childhood memories) and remembering how I used to run from our gate to portico with a ball and practice bowling. On those days, somehow I felt, Kapil Dev, Ian Botham were running at least a kilometer before delivery a ball.

I then rushed back to sister's place and joined them for temple visit and market visit. I searched near bus stand for Metro bakery where we all used to come for coconut bun and cup of tea, I mean when I was in 3rd or 4th :). The coconut bun used to be divine in taste, but unlucky me couldn't find and then I asked the local who was taking us to that shop said it is moved to different place. Time changes things.

Next day we started off to Munnar, a hill station with full of tea gardens and water bodies. The again old memories kicked in.. Continued in next blog.. too much of typing in single window for a day :)

Embarassing Post

I have deleted my previous post.. Too much embarassing but it revealed that few of my family (siblings / niece / nephews) are reading the posts. It triggered bit of low moments with so much of phone call. Hence removed it.

The Interview That Wasn't

I know I am copying famous weekly show in English TV Channel in India but the show's core idea is to present things in humor sense. My friend just called and shared his experience with an random interview he encountered in a mall. It seems he was doing windshoping in the mall and was planning to move out of the mall, as his wife wants to catch some bite nearby restra.

Suddenly he noticed a huge crowd, as curious as any aam junta, he sneaked his way to centre and see the thick of action. Suddenly the person holding the mike (the same words which got justified at the end of narration) thrust the stick to his face and started questions.. Here are the list of questions..

• Question: Which is recent Hindi movie you have seen ?
• Answer : It's been few years in theaters and last movie was Dhoom 2
• Question : So which one you liked most in 2009 releases
• Answer : Oops.. I haven't seen anyone in 2009
• Question: What do you think of nominations in XYZ Awards 2009
• Answer : I haven't read or heard about the nominations ; Maybe I will see the Awards function when it gets telecast
• Question : Do you think nominations for best supporting actress are relevant to the box office results and critics views on each of the nominees
• Answer : Relevance is not there in the way you ask question all along
• Question : So, which movie you wanted to see in near future
• Answer : Avatar

Abruptly, the interview came to an end and the stick was thrust into another person.. The First Question was similar to that, seems like that person, a gentleman in mid 40s wasnt comfortable but he obliged to answer the first one.

• Question: Which is recent Hindi movie you have seen ?
• Answer : I never watched Hindi movies in full and never in theatres
• Question : So which one you liked most in 2009 releases
• Answer : I dont watch movies at all in any language
• Question : Atleast name one sir,
• Answer : I think it should be that elephant one which Dharmender acted (Whoa is that 2009 release?)
• Question : Did you like that movie?
• Answer :
• Question: What do you think of nominations in XYZ Awards 2009
• Answer : Does that company give awards for movies, I didn't know that
• Question : Do you think nominations for best supporting actress are relevant to the box office results and critics views on each of the nominees
• Answer : Best Actress Award should be given to you for asking such irrelevant questions without battling an eyelid.
• Question : Do you think someone like Vidya Balan should get Best Actress award?
• Answer : I again stress you should get the best actress award or your producer should get best technician award for having wonderful robot doing interviews and look so real on road
• Question : What is that supposed to mean?
• Answer : I said you are either Robot or Best Actress to do such insane interviewing without any reactions. .. Is it some kind of candid camera show going on?
• Mike Holding Person : Not sure what you are talking about, I don't really observe the answers should I proceed with the XYZ Awards nomination.
• Gentleman : Please ask someone else, I am off from this place and will never come near camera even in marriages :)

My friend then happened to move away from the crowd and bearing the cold vibes from wife why waste time for such dumb thing all because someone wears modern clothing and you want to drool :)

But he noticed the channel van was waiting outside and two gentleman animatedly discussing, our guy moves near them to hear them properly. They were indeed discussing about that the interview routine going around.

What he concluded is very pathetic. It seems that the person was hired new and she is in training session to be on road for news gathering so they want to see how she reacts to various points coming from random people. Seems like she is nervous and just went on flow with the list of questions printed on the chit she has.

Seems like somene's training didn't go well.. Nervousness can make you act weird but not with bizarre flow of questions :)

Should the Blog title be "The Job That wasn't" which is bit rude to aspiring Journo or TV personality. Hope that she overcomes nervousness to be successful one that she yearns for.

Ayirathil Oruvan - One of Kind Tamil Movie.. Na, one kind of movie from Indian Film Industry

There was hype in Tamil Movie Industry about Ayirathil Oruvan (AO).. It is translated to One in Thousand.. actually a old movie title which legenday actor and ex-Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MGR acted. The movie stars Karthi of Paruthi Veeran fame, Reema Sen, Andrea, Parthipan..

The director on his pre-release shows in all TV Channels told that this movie is outright fantasy movie and full of my imagination. The movie has clear disclaimer on this line that it is totally imagination and no inaccuracies of history is not intended.

It is an out & out fantasy movie about two erstwhile kingdoms of Tamilnadu.. Cholas and Pandiyas, mostly on their rivalry and Cholas last (or lost!!) emperor. The Archaeological Dept goes for search trip to an island in Vietnam to find the remains of Cholas who fled after a defeated war wtih clear objective of safeguarding the heir apparents of the king.

The adventures and traps are clearly a hallmark of creativity and the logical reasoning and effective computer graphics makes one feel attached to the movie and the script.

All the lead actors have performed their life out for this movie especially Parthipan who as an estranged king, shows the emotions of life lost in wilderness and also scores point with clear diction of ancient tamil verses in the dialogue. The two lead actress were justified in the role selection.

The climax of the movie is a stretched affair with unwarranted scenes of violence on women who are captivated. The director should have made a difference by showing some other means of getting the chola group disappear or killed.

If you want to be nit picking film critic, sure I think there will be lot of doubts and loopholes in the story line, script and also some of the scenes. Also there will be comments or criticism that the movie is inspired by English movies. Such adventure / search related movies will sure look similar.

I think Director Selvaraghavan ignited atleast few people to go back to historical references of Chola kingdom. Their engineering prowess is clearly highlighted in the movie with traps, barricades and checks for anyone to enter the area of hiding.

It is sure Ayirathil Oru Padam.. meaning One in Thousand Movie to be watched. I am sure it requires lot of effort, research and continuous creativity to come up with such screenplay, dialogues, etc.

For those willing to spend 3 hours on creative surge, go ahead and watch the movie. I think the movie should be marketed pan India for more viewership but it is grey area whether pan India people is aware of history related to Cholas, Pandiyas :(

How one can create another controversy out of 3 Idiots movie :)

Is Chatur reflection of South Indian Students

The success of 3 Idiots seems to be surprising for few bloggers though they are appreciative of the message it carries. Rote learning / Race behind marks are not the ideal education system.

Also the high pitched war of words of the credits controversy seemed to have blown down another controversy with the movie's characters. Here is my funny take on possible interpretations by public / media on that one.

During the ragging scene, the character "Silencer" or "Chatur" introduces himself as "Chatur Ramalingam" and speaks only English. The senior guy chides him to speak in Hindi. Chatur says "I am born in Uganda and studies in Pondicherry, so I cannot speak Hindi". Then he goes on to learn the lingo. The controversy is hidden here :)

There are ways to interpret any scene in a movie but here is 2 ways of interpreting and blowing it as controversy.

Interpretation#1 : I think director / script writers (I wouldn't tell them as story writers obviously because of the other controversy)wanted to convey the point that South Indian students are behind the marks race and adding that they are not Hindi literate per se.

Interpretation#2 : The other way it can be interpreted is that writers wanted to portray that those who do not know Hindi are not born in India and written the script such that Chatur says he is born in Uganda and raised in Pondicherry.

I think the Media didn't bring it up because they are pretty sure this will not get them the TRP pointers. Also there are no major TV Channels that are dependent on South Indian viewership as one of the famous TV Editors agreed that English channels don't allocate much airtime for South Indian news.

On the other angle, one can be pretty sure, the South Indian language media or English media (both print & TV) based in Southern part will not get into such matters, they by far have better news to cover rather than mindless controversies.

So Script writers' arrogance came in while creating such character because they could have kept one of 3 Idiots to be from South India.

Now the serious part, Chatur was pivotal role in 3 Idiots to stitch the screen play and also driving home the message that the movie intend to convey.

At the same time, somehow I was not impressed with characterisation of 3 Idiots because it reminds of lot of earlier such rigid characters like Big B's Mohabbatein role or Dean from Munnabhai MBBS or some strict family headman in few village oriented movies. The exaggerated way of gross dressing (not cross dressing) of a director of an reputed institution doesn't go well.

I have not read the book, so I won't comment on the controversy but the book should make a good read, will sure buy one legal copy from a book stall so that the royalty goes to either of the CBs (Charity Books or Chetan Bhagats). Hey I do follow CB in Twitter and one of the message he indicated that money made during that controversy will go to charity.

One of the hidden message from the movie is not to stereo type education or life but somehow script writers stereotyped Pondicherry / South India educated students, which is bad from people who made Gandhigiri famous after 60 years.

Tail Piece: Maybe CB vs 3 Idiots controversy was triggered to avoid this getting blown up :)