Who is a Friend?
Is a friend someone:
Who is always there to listen to you?
Who patiently listens to your advice.
Gets tickets for a movie for you.
In spite of you saying something nasty.
Smiles at you and says - "Chal Yaar Jaane De"
Can someone whom you have never met before!
Be your friend!
Ages back we had pen-pals.
Now we have Facebook friends and Twitter followers.
Then those who blog and photograph-
We have followers and commenters!
Then there are folks at work!
Who are colleagues!
But do colleagues qualify as friends!
And how does one distinguish between:
Friends,colleagues and acquaintances?
Who is a Friend?
There have been best of friends!
Who have parted because of another man or woman!
There have been friends,
Who have let us down!
On close self-examination,
We shall find that-
In the past, we too might have let down---
Some of our friends!
Does it hurt to think of them now!
Is there a tinge of pain or regret?
Who is a Friend?
After all these years of existence-
If I asked you to name one friend-
Who would give your life for you?
Would you have an answer?
And will you ever-
Gladly give up your life-
For at least one friend of yours?
Is this tough to answer?
Who will shed tears for you?
When you leave this mortal world?
Who is a Friend?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
A Musical Friday Evening
It was an adventure reaching the venue in time; jumping in and out of buses, wading through puddles created by a sudden rain-shower and finally meeting the blogger friend Sandeep who kindly arranged for seats at the musical event - Rhythms, Roses and Raja concert.
The event started with a group of children singing "Paruvamae..." This was followed by the key artistes for the day making an entry. Anil Srinivasan on piano, Naveen Iyer on the flute, Keith Peters on the guitar, Sridhar on drums and Bala percussion. Harini, Saindhavi and Bala contributing vocals.
Then it was sheer magic starting with "Nee Parrtha Paarvai ku oru nandri " from Hey Ram a musical symphony of the piano and the flute which overshadowed the other instruments!
The theme was the elements like - Sky,Rain,Moon, Wind etc, songs included - "Andhi Mazhai" from Raajaparvai, "Oho Megham Vandadho" from Mouna Ragam "Thendral Vandhu Theendum Bodhu" from Avatharam and other hits. .
Anil entertained the crowd with information on classical progression of notes, Bach and how one main song's tune was used as a BGM for another and vice-versa.
Tanna Na Na Na - the BGM from Punnagai Mannan and BGM from Johnny were really well done.
Gautham Vasudev Menon landed up to attend the concert!
A Friday well spent!
The event started with a group of children singing "Paruvamae..." This was followed by the key artistes for the day making an entry. Anil Srinivasan on piano, Naveen Iyer on the flute, Keith Peters on the guitar, Sridhar on drums and Bala percussion. Harini, Saindhavi and Bala contributing vocals.
Then it was sheer magic starting with "Nee Parrtha Paarvai ku oru nandri " from Hey Ram a musical symphony of the piano and the flute which overshadowed the other instruments!
The theme was the elements like - Sky,Rain,Moon, Wind etc, songs included - "Andhi Mazhai" from Raajaparvai, "Oho Megham Vandadho" from Mouna Ragam "Thendral Vandhu Theendum Bodhu" from Avatharam and other hits. .
Anil entertained the crowd with information on classical progression of notes, Bach and how one main song's tune was used as a BGM for another and vice-versa.
Tanna Na Na Na - the BGM from Punnagai Mannan and BGM from Johnny were really well done.
Gautham Vasudev Menon landed up to attend the concert!
A Friday well spent!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Rhythms, Roses and Raja - A Tribute to Ilayaraja
It all started with a Facebook post by blogger friend Sandeep about a musical evening! I was intrigued - the name - Anil Srinivasan - a Google Search showed up a website under construction a blog that had not been updated for a while but loads of YouTube videos that held me captivated.
Tomorrow at the Music Academy Alwarpet, a lovely show titled - "Rhythms, Roses and Raja - A Tribute to Ilayaraja" is being held.
For more details visit the link below:
http://allevents.in/Chennai/RHYTHMS,ROSES-and-RAJA-A-Tribute-to-Ilayaraja/451119838294051#
Also visit Facebook Page – Anil Srinivasan – The Madras Pianist and like his musical tributes and compositions!
Hail the Maestro :)!
Tomorrow at the Music Academy Alwarpet, a lovely show titled - "Rhythms, Roses and Raja - A Tribute to Ilayaraja" is being held.
For more details visit the link below:
http://allevents.in/Chennai/RHYTHMS,ROSES-and-RAJA-A-Tribute-to-Ilayaraja/451119838294051#
Also visit Facebook Page – Anil Srinivasan – The Madras Pianist and like his musical tributes and compositions!
Hail the Maestro :)!
Thursday, February 07, 2013
A Tale of Two Weddings
Two weddings this week - one that of a friend's sister - typical Hindu Malayali wedding at Mahalingapuram Ayyappan Temple; great food in traditional Kerala sadhya style! The bride and the groom all happy and hopeful for a new life. Wishing Ramya and Praveen a happy married life. Excessive crowd of people and met friends from school and days gone by when this same batch would play and fight over cricket and football!
Dearest - Note to you - kab samjhogi humein!
The other wedding was unique - the first Marwari wedding that I attended - a colleague's brother's wedding and I am great friends with both my colleague and her brother. I missed the baraat as there were some calls and never-ending meetings at work. When I finally reached the venue - I was flabbergasted at the sheer number of people; it looked like all of Sowcarpet had landed up to bless the couple.
Loads of children everywhere; running about playing versions of chor-police and hide and seek. The groom Sourav who looked resplendent and royal like a prince and Preethi bhabhi dressed like a princess made a handsome couple. Sourav's sister and my colleague looked like a princess from an Arabian fairy-tale with a stone studded crown-like hair-band on her head.
It was a royal affair as elders from both families blessed the couple. The music group belted out some hit songs - Pal pal dil ke pass, Tujhe dekha to ye jaan sanam, Sau Saal Pehle humein tumse pyaar tha. It was great fun!
The food spread was unbelievable with mind-boggling varieties of food and the special moment was when the groom's sister came and personally fed a rasgulla and jalebi to me and three of my colleagues!
Wishing Sourav and Preethi bhabhi all the best for a beautiful and joyful married life!
Dearest - Note to you - kab samjhogi humein!
The other wedding was unique - the first Marwari wedding that I attended - a colleague's brother's wedding and I am great friends with both my colleague and her brother. I missed the baraat as there were some calls and never-ending meetings at work. When I finally reached the venue - I was flabbergasted at the sheer number of people; it looked like all of Sowcarpet had landed up to bless the couple.
Loads of children everywhere; running about playing versions of chor-police and hide and seek. The groom Sourav who looked resplendent and royal like a prince and Preethi bhabhi dressed like a princess made a handsome couple. Sourav's sister and my colleague looked like a princess from an Arabian fairy-tale with a stone studded crown-like hair-band on her head.
It was a royal affair as elders from both families blessed the couple. The music group belted out some hit songs - Pal pal dil ke pass, Tujhe dekha to ye jaan sanam, Sau Saal Pehle humein tumse pyaar tha. It was great fun!
The food spread was unbelievable with mind-boggling varieties of food and the special moment was when the groom's sister came and personally fed a rasgulla and jalebi to me and three of my colleagues!
Wishing Sourav and Preethi bhabhi all the best for a beautiful and joyful married life!
R.I.P: Resurgent Indian Patriots – Mukul Deva – 'Thrill-a-minute book'
Name of Book - "R.I.P: Resurgent Indian Patriots"
Author - Mukul Deva - ex-Indian soldier
Publisher - Westland
Genre - Action-Political Thriller
Cover - Paperback
Price INR 200
This is my second book as part of the Blogadda Book Reviews Program. "R.I.P: Resurgent Indian Patriots" by Mukul Deva is like watching a fast-paced 'Mission Impossible' movie or rather an episode from the hit TV-series '24'.
Are you frustrated at the growing corruption around you? The never-ending scams from fodder-scams, Bofors, coffins for dead soldiers, plot allotments, 2G scams - do all these scams anger you? The growing sense of disappointment that successive governments have tried to create a welfare state doling out freebies and keep the mouths of the general public shut hurts one and all.
The media for all its worth with the likes of Arnab Goswami and Rajdeep Sardesai can go hammer and tongs and provide the same 'breaking news' again and again of one scam or the other; the nation has been bled dry by successive generation of corrupt politicians and a section of public who know that 'We the general public' are screwed!
Well you may ask why I rant like this for a book review?
The book has a lovely cover with the silhouette of a soldier in battle-gear and the image lingered in my mind for quite some time. I am a sucker for secret-ops and assassins and political thrillers and this book has it all. Well my dear friends because this book does not make any bones and goes about in detail about a group of vigilantes who assassinate powerful politicians and judges. The book starts with a set of three killings in three different cities. Close aides of three corrupt politicians are killed by lethal injection at a public place. One at a marriage party, one at a public art gallery and the other in a seedy hotel bar.
Set in modern India riddled by scams and corrupt politicians - the author cleverly plays around with the names of real politicians to give us characters with similar sounding names and equally corrupt natures. Sample these: Ranvijay, Kamble, Karunakaran --- there is a dig at a silent PM and an all powerful Madam head of the ruling party as well. All major scams the 2G scam, defence deals, plots for Kargil warriors find a mention. Anna Hazare has been replaced by Hazarika!
The story is about how a group of ex-paratroopers and special operatives calling themselves RIP go about systematically killing corrupt people. They issue a threat stating that if the government does not take strict action more deaths will follow. RIP is led by by Colonel Krishna Athwale a widower who lost his wife an airhostess during a plane hijack shoot-out.
Colonel Krishna and his renegades are pursued by two groups one led by mercenary and disgraced soldier Raghav and another Vinod Bedi from the CBI. A three-way cat-and-mouse game plays out with shootouts, bomb explosions and killings.
To complicate matters Raghav's wife Reena who is in the process of getting a divorce and Krishna find themselves mutually attracted to each other and this makes Raghav extremely jealous.
There is an emotional aspect as well with Raghav and Reena's son Azaan and Krishna's son Sachin being best friends. The scene where Raghav's son longs for his son; but also knows that he can never be faithful to his wife or any woman for that matter and goes on to have sexual intercourse with his maid-servant brings out the manic nature of a man with clearly disturbing schizophrenic tendencies. If this book gets made into a movie; I would love to see who gets Raghav’s role.
Other emotional scenes are Reena's doubts on whether to forgive Raghav and go back to him for the sake of her son. The turmoil as she realises that she is falling in love with Krishna. The scene where she accompanies Krishna to the temple on the death anniversary of Krishna's wife is well written.
Read this book to find out if RIP team succeeds in its mission or if Vinod manages to track down the renegades or if Raghav and Krishna have a final showdown.
Published by Westland this book is enjoyable; has all the potential for a slick movie-production and at Rs 200 is definitely worth a read. Will rate this book four stars out of five!
This review is a part of the biggest Book Reviews Program. for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!
Author - Mukul Deva - ex-Indian soldier
Publisher - Westland
Genre - Action-Political Thriller
Cover - Paperback
Price INR 200
This is my second book as part of the Blogadda Book Reviews Program. "R.I.P: Resurgent Indian Patriots" by Mukul Deva is like watching a fast-paced 'Mission Impossible' movie or rather an episode from the hit TV-series '24'.
Are you frustrated at the growing corruption around you? The never-ending scams from fodder-scams, Bofors, coffins for dead soldiers, plot allotments, 2G scams - do all these scams anger you? The growing sense of disappointment that successive governments have tried to create a welfare state doling out freebies and keep the mouths of the general public shut hurts one and all.
The media for all its worth with the likes of Arnab Goswami and Rajdeep Sardesai can go hammer and tongs and provide the same 'breaking news' again and again of one scam or the other; the nation has been bled dry by successive generation of corrupt politicians and a section of public who know that 'We the general public' are screwed!
Well you may ask why I rant like this for a book review?
The book has a lovely cover with the silhouette of a soldier in battle-gear and the image lingered in my mind for quite some time. I am a sucker for secret-ops and assassins and political thrillers and this book has it all. Well my dear friends because this book does not make any bones and goes about in detail about a group of vigilantes who assassinate powerful politicians and judges. The book starts with a set of three killings in three different cities. Close aides of three corrupt politicians are killed by lethal injection at a public place. One at a marriage party, one at a public art gallery and the other in a seedy hotel bar.
Set in modern India riddled by scams and corrupt politicians - the author cleverly plays around with the names of real politicians to give us characters with similar sounding names and equally corrupt natures. Sample these: Ranvijay, Kamble, Karunakaran --- there is a dig at a silent PM and an all powerful Madam head of the ruling party as well. All major scams the 2G scam, defence deals, plots for Kargil warriors find a mention. Anna Hazare has been replaced by Hazarika!
The story is about how a group of ex-paratroopers and special operatives calling themselves RIP go about systematically killing corrupt people. They issue a threat stating that if the government does not take strict action more deaths will follow. RIP is led by by Colonel Krishna Athwale a widower who lost his wife an airhostess during a plane hijack shoot-out.
Colonel Krishna and his renegades are pursued by two groups one led by mercenary and disgraced soldier Raghav and another Vinod Bedi from the CBI. A three-way cat-and-mouse game plays out with shootouts, bomb explosions and killings.
To complicate matters Raghav's wife Reena who is in the process of getting a divorce and Krishna find themselves mutually attracted to each other and this makes Raghav extremely jealous.
There is an emotional aspect as well with Raghav and Reena's son Azaan and Krishna's son Sachin being best friends. The scene where Raghav's son longs for his son; but also knows that he can never be faithful to his wife or any woman for that matter and goes on to have sexual intercourse with his maid-servant brings out the manic nature of a man with clearly disturbing schizophrenic tendencies. If this book gets made into a movie; I would love to see who gets Raghav’s role.
Other emotional scenes are Reena's doubts on whether to forgive Raghav and go back to him for the sake of her son. The turmoil as she realises that she is falling in love with Krishna. The scene where she accompanies Krishna to the temple on the death anniversary of Krishna's wife is well written.
Read this book to find out if RIP team succeeds in its mission or if Vinod manages to track down the renegades or if Raghav and Krishna have a final showdown.
Published by Westland this book is enjoyable; has all the potential for a slick movie-production and at Rs 200 is definitely worth a read. Will rate this book four stars out of five!
This review is a part of the biggest Book Reviews Program. for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!
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