Just Joe

Maruti SWIFT

“A Cat On The Hot Tin Roof”

A glass of Vodka with Leo, Ajith and Arun

I met this man in the journey from Mysore to Coimbatore. He is a member of Pradesh Congress Committee, a tamilian hails from Anniyur near Coimbatore. I talked to him in Tamil (of my own) and it was great talking to him. We talked about a variety of subjects like Culture, Tamil Nadu and Kerala politics, Carnatic music, globalisation, Thirukkural, communal issues etc. It was fun.

I thought “Thirukkural” is a religious epic like Mahabharata or Ramayana. But he said it is not and it addresses each and everything in this universe. He even quoted some “kurals” from that and translated for me. He said he has a son studying in 10th and he is not interested in learning Tamil language and literature. He said the youngsters are very much addicted to the western culture and it leaves them in hyper tension.

He asked me what people in Kerala think about Jayalalitha being elected as Chief Minister. I told him that Keralites think that Tamilians are not wise enought to worship that corrupted politican like goddess and to keep electing her again and again. He said that Jayalalitha gets vote in the name of M.G.R., a former chief minister and a great helping hand to poor.

He said his boy is kind of an introvert and dont speak much. There was a kind of dissapointment and great affection in his voice while saying it. I wonder why parents still expect a lot from their children and get dissapointed.

He got down at Anniyur and I continued with my boring trip to Coimbatore.

The trip to Bangalore was fun. I wish if I could stay there for long. Well, it’s not the place that plays a big part, but the friends out there. It was sad to say good-bye. The only change I see there since the last time, is the crowd moving from Brigades to The Forum and Central. I could see the new car Maruti SWIFT in display at Forum. Similar to a Beetle. Really cool.

I got three Lee Ts for 600 bucks from Bangalore Central (sounds like a railway station!) and also DVDs of “The Last Emperor” and “Good Will Hunting” from Planet M. So that was okay. But it was too expensive to have a Pizza from Pizza Corner before I went to see Hitch in PVR Cinemas. I can get a chicken Pizza in Thrissur for just 40 bucks while they charge Rs. 280 for 1 pizza and 2 pepsies. Well, uh, hmm… its Bangalore. Also a movie ticket for Rs. 130! Well, if you are lucky you will get the front-row tickets to see the movie in a much bigger angle.

“Hitch” was a cool movie. I have seen half of it in a DVD at home, then the DVD got stuck, so couldn’t see the rest. The movie was total fun, but the crowd was laughing out loud even at some scenes in which you can have just a smile. I have seen the same thing at theatres in Thrissur also. Aargh! that would make me get so irritated and want to tell them “Okay, now I know you understand English. Would you please just be quiet now?”. Same thing was happening there in Bangalore also.

I was searching for the Steve Martin starrer Out of Towners at Music World in Bangalore Central and Leo told me that the girl in sales was stepping back at each question I asked her and I was stepping forward to explain the movie. Ha ha… She thought that I was trying to grab her?? Anyways, I didnt get it from there. Actually it was not for me. It was for Babu uncle.

Went to see Arun’s new apartment at Koramangala. Posh and nice place, but the road is too bad. We had some Romanov with him. The return journey was boring as hell. I had to go to Coimbatore via Mysore and then to Thrissur. 14 hours long journey as there is no straight bus in the morning time.

I am going to Bangalore on a weekend trip after 6 months or so. It seems quite a lot. The work from home thing is, you can say, its boring – in a way. It has its own advantages and disadvantages. You can take rest whenever you want, you can go out (even if there is no good place to hang around) whenever you want, You can visit people , friends or family, whenever you want (that too, even if there not many you get to visit).

I’ve been sitting before my computer for a long time, having the old couple to keep me company. To see their fights, and to involve in it, lose myself with complete anger, dissapointing at the fact that how much I need my own life and peace. But I adjust with life, like Jack Nicholson says in About Schmidt, “You have to appreciate what you have in life, while you have it”. I agree.

Anyway, I need an off from the busy and boring hours of work to chill out a bit. And many of my friends are in Bangalore now. I have already given up the idea of having close friends. From my own experiences and observation of life, you have nobody other than yourself. (sounds a bit cliche’ though).

I am only worried about Amma. I’m always worried about leaving Amma at home. I hope she’d be just fine. I doubt Amma knows how much I love her. I do. But she doesn’t seem to understand that. She is the only one I have in my life and to support me, but does she really know that? From her own words it seems to me that she think I am kind of any other youngster who would need to get separated from his mother and to lead his own life. Well, I do need to lead my own life, but that doesnt mean I want for a life without her. I only wish if she’d knew this.

I know some day I’ll go free of all these boredom to freedom of my own. I wish that time come soon. For now, Off to B’lore… off to my friends…

Check out this link. It tells the real story of a beggar who earns Rs.1000 a day, in Mumbai.

There are not many movies which made me feel so romantic and happy. “Shall We Dance” is one of those movies which gave me a good time. J.Lo was superb in her dancing. A wonderful film. In between, I found myself smiling so happily at some scenes.

In another news, I got the DVD of “Motorcycle Diaries”. Babu uncle found that in a video shop and got it for me.

So you can say am happy, at least for the time being…

I saw “Morning Raga” just now. A nice film with a fresh subject. Shabana Azmi was amazing as a lady from South and a carnatic musician. She was great at singing carnatic krithis in the movie. Fantastic, she was. Nasser and Perizaad were also great. But the young man in the lead role was dissapointing. I heard that he is a “Lee Strasberg school” product. He could barely show expressions on his face. Everyone else in the movie done a good job. Also it has Rajiv Menon for Cinematography.

The fusion music in this film sucks, most of the times. When I listened to “Maha Ganapthim” in the soothing voice of Bombay Jayashree, suddenly the houling (supposed to be aalaap) came from the character of Perizaad (I don’t know who sang it actually) and it was a disaster. It was like operah music mixing up with Carnatic and aargh! I really hated it. Then again in the climax scene, the same happened while Azmi singing “Thaaye Yashodha”.

I liked the fusion in the Malayalam movie “Devadhoothan”, the version of “Entharo mahaanubhaavulu” by Vidyasagar. It was great. But the fusion music in this film dissapointed me very much.

Interview with Shabana Azmi
Official Website

After reading my previous post, many of you would have thought that I’m under depression and I’m seriously going to do something. Well, I was/am not. There are times that I want to burst out myself into this blog and it is a big healing. That is all. It is one of the freaky notes I would write in the freakiest moments in my life.

Some guest, after seeing my webpage, said that I’m a pessimist. Another one said “isn’t pessimism an attitude?” It is. If facing reality is pessimism, I’m a pessimist. If you do not expect anything in life, whatever comes to you is a bonus.