Get Thicker, Healthier Hair with Ayurvedic Hair Care

 These are just a few of the many Ayurvedic ingredients that can be used to promote hair health and prevent hair loss. It's important to keep in mind that individual results may vary and that it's best to consult with a licensed Ayurvedic practitioner before starting any new treatments.

Hair Care for men- well mostly

Say Goodbye to Hair Loss with These Natural Ayurvedic Remedies

It’s no surprise that there’s a rise of natural and holistic beauty products everywhere but you need not spend a whole lot of you willing to give an ancient science form a try. It’s not just by chance that there’s an increasing interest in Ayurveda and a growing concern over harsh chemicals in hair care products

It’s a well known fact that more baby oil is sold to men than it is to babies. The hidden fallacy is that men believe if it’s good for babies, it must be harmless to them. Right? Wrong!

Here are some Ayurvedic hair care recommendations for men with thinning or sparse hair:

• Amla (Indian Gooseberry) Oil: Amla oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can promote hair growth and prevent hair loss.

Usage recommendation: 3x a week. Let it soak overnight or for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off. With Shampoo? No. Scroll down for options.

• Bhringraj (Eclipta Alba) Oil: Bhringraj oil is known for its ability to strengthen hair roots and improve hair thickness.

Now this could be hard to get your hands on . So if you do, tell me what works for you from a usage schedule perspective.

Hair Care for men- well mostly

• Brahmi (Centella Asiatica) Oil: Brahmi oil can help improve blood circulation to the scalp and promote hair growth.

I used Brahmi in powder form, buying it off Amazon India and getting it sent with someone, by adding it to hot oil and filtering. After all that hassle, if you ask me if it was worth it, I’ll say yes. A 100%, yes. 

• Shikakai (Acacia Concinna) Powder: Shikakai powder is a natural conditioner that can strengthen hair and prevent hair loss.

This is the cleanser/ conditioner for hair I promised to reveal above.

• Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Oil: Neem oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties that can help treat dandruff and other scalp conditions that can lead to hair loss.

I have had a major problem with dry scalp and Neem, although it stinks like there’s no tomorrow, is great. Regular use can do miracles.

Hair Care for men- well mostly

I’ll conclude with a reminder: These are just a few of the many Ayurvedic ingredients that can be used to promote hair health and prevent hair loss. It's important to keep in mind that individual results may vary and that it's best to consult with a licensed Ayurvedic practitioner before starting any new treatments

#AyurvedicHairCare #NaturalHairProducts #HairGrowth #ThinHair #HairLossPrevention

From:

 
To:

Hair care

• Men's hair
• Ayurvedic hair care
• Thin or sparse hair
• Hair loss prevention
• Natural hair products
• Ayurvedic remedies
• Hair growth
• Healthy hair tips
• Scalp health

Pricing Hacks for Consumers

As consumers, it can be difficult to see through the pricing strategies used by large corporations. Here are some tips to help you make informed purchasing decisions and save money:

1. Compare prices: Research and compare prices from different companies to determine the average market price for a product.

2. Look for sales and promotions: Companies often offer sales or promotions, especially during holidays or special events. Keep an eye out for these opportunities to save money.

3. Utilize coupons and discount codes: Take advantage of coupons and discount codes when available. You can find these online or through email newsletters.

4. Buy in bulk: Buying products in bulk can sometimes result in a lower overall cost per unit.

5. Shop at discount stores: Retailers such as Walmart or Amazon often offer lower prices compared to specialty stores.

6. Know the value of the product: Consider the value of the product, including its quality and features, when comparing prices.

7. Be a smart negotiator: If negotiating is possible, be confident and knowledgeable in your approach.

By utilizing these tips, individuals can gain a better understanding of pricing strategies and make informed purchasing decisions.

Discovering the Beauty of Kerala Mural Painting: A Journey into India's Rich Cultural Heritage

As an art lover, I've always been fascinated by the various styles and techniques of painting from around the world. However, I recently stumbled upon a form of Indian painting that I had never heard of before - Kerala Mural Painting. The intricate designs, bold colors, and captivating stories that these paintings tell immediately caught my attention, and I knew I had to learn more.

Kerala Mural Painting, also known as "Keralam Pattu," is a traditional form of Indian painting that originates from the state of Kerala in southern India. This style of painting is characterized by its large size, bright colors, and intricate designs that tell religious and mythological stories. The paintings are typically created on the walls of temples, palaces, and houses, serving as a visual representation of the rich cultural heritage of Kerala.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Kerala Mural Painting is the intricate details and vivid colors used in the paintings. The artists use natural pigments made from crushed minerals, shells, and plants to create the vibrant hues. They also employ a technique known as "gesso work," which involves applying a mixture of plaster and chalk to the surface to create a smooth and durable base for the painting.

Another notable feature of Kerala Mural Painting is the stories that the paintings depict. From Hindu mythology to traditional folktales, the paintings tell stories of gods, goddesses, and other legendary figures, serving as a window into the rich cultural heritage of India. The intricate details and intricate designs serve to bring these stories to life, captivating the viewer with their beauty and meaning.

Discovering Kerala Mural Painting has been a true joy for me. The intricate details, bold colors, and captivating stories that these paintings tell offer a unique and beautiful insight into the rich cultural heritage of India. If you're an art lover, I highly recommend taking the time to explore this fascinating style of painting and the rich cultural heritage of Kerala.

Here’s one I’ve recently created. Please leave your comments and thoughts on my first attempt here.

Never have I ever... painted a mural

 New to painting? So was I, until...

Like you I've doodled all my life but then I've gone beyond too. I've attempted to draw use pencil, color using crayons and water colors. Face painting for kids has been a great way to master strokes and patterns. I'll be honest here, I've even considered becoming a face painitng artist for kids' birthday parties considering how mediocre work dodne by some people has been, but let's leave that for another conversation.

I graduated from these behind the doors type efforts to acrylics not too long ago. It was through attending a sip and paint class when my family was out somewhere. The work product from that one session was just mind-blowing for me. It got me a lot of good attention from guests and visitors. My older one adopted the painting and moved it into her room to give it some room to breathe after all that downpour of attention. <3 my big baby! 

So the journey contnued with trying a few more acrylic on canvasa paintings, particularly with my kids. If there's one thing you need to know, it's this: Kids are the best critics and judges of your work. They appreciate you no matter what and they're usuallyt happy with the outcome so long as you didnt get them mad during the creation process. Simply.. da best!

Here are a couple of our paintings created together.

After working with acrylics, I gave oil-pastels a try. Once agin, with my kids. I’ll share those pics in a future post.

Despite all these I've never considered myself an artist. Well, atleast not until this one. It’s a mural. I’ll tell you all about that too in a future post. 

#PaintingWithKids #DadAndMePainting #FamilyPainting #PaintingFun #PaintAndCreate #ArtWithKids #KidsArt #DIYArt #FamilyArt #ParentAndChildArt

Creating a Strong and Lasting Marriage: Tips for Couples in their Thirties and Beyond

Marriage is a beautiful and fulfilling journey, but it can also be challenging at times. As couples settle into their roles and responsibilities, the excitement and romance of early marriage may start to fade. However, with a little effort, it's possible to reignite the spark and create a strong and lasting marriage.

Communicate openly and honestly: Good communication is the foundation of a strong marriage. Take the time to listen to each other and express your feelings, thoughts, and concerns.

Maintain a strong physical connection: Physical intimacy is an important part of a healthy marriage. Make an effort to prioritize physical affection, such as holding hands, hugging, and kissing.

Invest in your relationship: Just like any other investment, your marriage requires time and effort. Set aside time each week to spend together and prioritize your relationship.

Support each other's growth and interests: Encourage each other to pursue personal interests, hobbies, and passions. This will not only benefit each individual but will also bring new experiences and perspectives to your marriage.

Laugh together: Laughter is an essential part of any relationship, especially a marriage. Share jokes, watch comedies, and enjoy each other's company.

A strong and lasting marriage is built on love, trust, and mutual support. By making an effort to communicate openly, maintain a physical connection, invest in your relationship, support each other's growth, and laugh together, you can create a marriage that will last a lifetime.

#MarriageTips, #StrongMarriage, #MarriageGoals,  #MarriageAdvice, #CouplesGoals, #HappilyMarried, #MarriedLife, #MarriedLove, #MarriageMatters, #LoveAndMarriage

Inspiration

The inspiration to be creative ebbs and flows in me, time and again. And this time, the resurgence has honestly been after several months. I blame it on life and its offerings. Always easier to walk away from something once you have transferred the blame to something outside of yourself. But isn't Life inside you.. ? How then can you transfer the blame for doing or not doing something on Life and still get away with it. Again.. strange are the ways of ..er...Life.

This time the inspiration in me is to write a play and direct it, maybe even make a movie of it. The thought started with a friend (now they have all become acquaintances, not so friends really) suggesting I put together a play. She wants to act and relive her youth but little does she know that putting a play together ain't all that easy missy. It requires a script, a strong script. Then it needs like-minded folk, artists, to come together. And finally and most importantly, pulling it together into a play, finding the location to perform and finding the audience to come view it.

It's a slow build-up, from idea to thought to inspiration. My inspiration today stems from the world of parallel cinema in  India and how those eminent artists who we today call Satyajit Ray, Shabana Azmi, Ananth Nag, Sai Paranjpye emerged from their own shadows and with masterpieces as their first creation. Where did they really start and how did they put the stories, the narratives together to captivate their audience in a mesmerizing world of their own?

I dislike the languid flow that several of these parallel folk portrayed and would much rather it portrayed life in its true, livid mishmash of colors & emotions.

How did I build up to this post..? Well, a few different things, really. The fact that I have gotten back to reading (oops, listening to books while at work), the recommendation by another friend (acquaintance) to take up acting lessons and just this blog.. a harsh reminder to myself that I could be creative and wordsmith my way with a dark, yet real story.

The story could be about her. Dark, languid in her expressions yet alive in her raunchy lifestyle. She makes a great starting point for a story but I feel like her story lacks any additional spirit or drama. If she were to be the protagonist of my story, I don't know if she would have the characteristics required for a character to be endearing to the audience. And then the character would need to face this insurmountable obstacle that she overcomes, allowing the tale to ride its way to its end.

Where else then is my inspiration, my story, my drama, my movie?

Poetry submitted to GATS and selected among top 10

இன்று  வேலகியது  தூரம்  இவ்வுலகம்  (Inru velakiyathu dhooram ivvulagam - Aaj mujhse door ye duniya)

உணர்வுகளால்  உற்பத்தி   செய்த ,

கற்பனைகளால்  பொருத்திய ,

அழித்தது  அந்த இதயத்தின்  கனவுகளை  இவ்வுலகம் ,

இன்று  வேலகியது  தூரம்  இவ்வுலகம் 

கடந்தவை  மறந்து உறவாடிடும் ,

தீர்வுபெற இரண்டாவது  உலகம்  உருவாக்கிடும் ,

காதலர்களை  சோதிக்கும்  இவ்வுலகம் ,

இன்று  வேலகியது  தூரம்  இவ்வுலகம் 

அவள்  என்னை  புரிந்துகொள்ளாமல் 

தீகுச்சி  ஒன்று உரசாமல் ,

ஐயோ சிதையி  சாம்பல் ஆக்கி , குங்குமம் கேட்குத்  இவ்வுலகம் ,

இன்று வேலகியது தூரம் இவ்வுலகம்

Sai jo jo...

In a phase where songs learned and heard in my childhood play a whole another purpose than singing for pleasure, my memory fails me more often than I'd like. I thought it better to borrow my mom's books to pen it down, so I have it etched for ever.. well, at least for as long as this blog exists.
Oft heard from the footsteps of 15th cross Malleswaram, Sai mandir (in Bangalore, India) this is a jogula (lullaby) for Shirdhi Sai Baba. In Kannada, the song goes:

ಸಾಯಿ ಜೋಜೋ ಸಾಯಿ ಬಾಬ ಜೋಜೋ, ಭಕ್ತರ ಕಣ್ಮಣಿ ಸಂತರ ಸುಖಮಣಿ ಜೋಜೋ, ಜೋಜೋ
ಸಂತ ಪುತ್ರ ಸತ್ಯ ಚರಿತ ಭಕ್ತರಿಗೆ ಮಿತ್ರ, ಪ್ರೇಮ ಪಾತ್ರ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಚರಿತ ಎಲ್ಲ ನಿನ್ನ ಸೋತ್ರ.. ಜೋ, ಜೋ ।

ಶಿರಡಿ ವಾಸ ಸಾದು ವೇಷ ನೀನೆ ಜಗದೀಶ, ಭಕ್ತ ಪೋಷ ಭಯವಿನಶ ಬಾಬಾ ಪರಮೇಶ ಜೋಜೋ,
ಬಾಬಾ ನಿನಗೆ ಹೃದಯ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಲು ಪ್ರೇಮ ಸರವಣಿಯ, ಗುರುವೇ ನಿನಗೆ ಭಕ್ತಿಗೀತೆ ಹಾಡಿ ಕೊರುವೆನು.. ಜೋಜೋ।

Sai jojo sai baba jojo, bhaktara kanmani santara sukhamani jojo.. jojo
santa putra satya charita bhaktarige mitra, prema patra punya charita ella ninna sootra.. jo, jo
shirdhi vasa sadhu vesha neene jagadisha, bhakta posha bhaya vinasha baba paramesha jo.. jo
baba ninage hrudya thottilu prema saravaniyu, guruve ninage bhaktigeete hadi koruvenu, jo..jo

And sound asleep...in the arms of love!

Radio show script - Tamil - Gokulashtami

golukashtami pandigai vaazhtthukkal neyargale.. ellarum veetla krishnan per solli nalla seeda- murukku paal-venna ella saaptuteengla? wikipedia la poturkkanga.. krishnan piranthulenthu ippo 5239 varsham ayidthu.. enna information super thaane.. kettu appdiye koovichu poyinteengla..? hehehe.. ithellam inga romba jagajanga.. ipdi paatukku munnadi naduvula ethavuthu pesikkitte irubtha thaane ungalukku ucchagama irukkum..seri ippo intha varum radio dil in souther spice la muthal paatta dasavatharam padatthilirunthu Mukunda mukunda paatu kekkalam vaanga..
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namma krishnan romba kurumbu paiyyan pola. oorila irukkara pomblainga ellarukkume avan pannrathellame attgasama irunthalaum romba pudikkuma.. aana parunga namma pasangala irukkarcha epdillaam oda patturkkom.. kannanukku enna oru vaazhkka.. enna oru adrushtum.. ipch.. chance e illa. colony la kozhandainga pannara koshti ellame cute aa irukkardille.. appappo pidichu rendu vekkalam pola irukkum.. ana enna pannarthu.. sonna periyavanga nammala veral kaati namma panna seshtagala patthi sollidraanga.. romba munthikkittanga.. namakku eppo thaan kalam varumo! I wanna do something about this! something something..ayyo anjali padatthu paatunga.. naan onnume sollale..
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there are a few things that should happen for kids to be born. enga ipdi thappu thappave yosikkreenga? naan sonnathu kalyanatha patthi. puthussa kalyanam aanavangulukku periyavanga friends kudukkara advice enna nu ketteenga na.. rendu perume eppome perfect aa irukka mudiyaathu. neenga pannarthikkum avanaga pannarathikkum rombave vithysangal irukkalam. konjam mela keezha ups n downs iruntha thaan vaazhkaye swarasyama irukkum. expect that in a marriage. seri.. ithellathukkum mela important enna na.. unga kudumbatha irukkaravangala unga kanavaro mainaiviyo avanga kudumbama nenchu treat pannanon nu expect pannadeenga. it will take some time before you take real interest in the other person's family of origin. enna sollreenga. unga opinions engalukku ezhuthi annuppavendiya email address satish@radiodil.com. ippo southern spice show la aduttha paatu samsaram athu minsaram padatthilirunthu
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veedu velayuttu ithellathukkum mukkiyathuvum kudukkala naalum pirantha mannukku viswasama irukkanamnu periyavanga sollirkkanga. august maasam 15 thedi namma indiya naatukku suthandiram kadachu 64 varsham aachu. next year india will be eligible for medicare. kadi thaangaleya? haha .. seri. neenga namma inthiya nadu illa tamizh naatukkaga enna pannreenga nu engalukku ezhuthi sollunga. email address thaan erkanave kudutthene. nyapagam irukku le.. illaina intha paatu mudinja aprom solren.
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nayanthara patthi puthussa oru kisu kisu.. Nayan simbuva kai vitta kathai unga ellarukkume erkanave thirinjirkkum. ippa prabhu deva kooda kalyanam aagarthikku munthiye drywash pannika Nayan thayar ayirkkanga pola irukku. Intercaste marriages cannot be anulled as per the law, athunaala thaan nayan christianity vittu hindu aa maarirkkanga nu kisu kisu.. prabhu deva vum hindu anathunala.. eppa venume vivagaratthu vaangalam nu. intha cinema karanga pannara velai parunga.. thaangala. ippo engeyum eppothum padatthu intha paatu kelunga
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antha chhhinna idaivelai ku piragu meendum ungalai sandippathil romba santosanga. naan Satish Dharmarajan, Cihcago vilirinthu unga host ungala southern spice irku varaverkkiren. 96.3 subcarrier frequency, straight from New York city across the ulagam right into your idhayam.
tamil isai nu sonna namma ellarukkume ratthathila apdiye oorina pona oru  isai gaana pattu. athoda dappangutthun senthichna parunga ore kummalam thaan. thirai isaiyila ilayaraja sirodu gaana pattu na apdiye namma nattuparattha urichu vechirkkum. ade deva isai la irukkara gaana pattu namma machaans and machis ku romba pidicha paadalgal. ithu oru thani genre ne sollalam. break ku munndai nayanthara prabhu deva va patthi pesinom. ippo athe inthiya michael jacksonnu peru vaangirkkum prabhu deva va vechu eduttha oru gaana paatu kekkalam- Ninaivirukkum varai padathillirinthu
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sila masam munnadi thayarippalar Shankarin aduttha padam, 3 idiots engira hit bollywood padattha patthi sollirnden. antha padatthula kooda namma Ilaya thalapathi Vijay, Aaamir Khan role la varathaaga irunthaar. Aana ippo Vijay antha padatthilirnthu neengittaaram. Padatthukkaga thannudeya looks change pannikka viruppam illama intha padatthilenthe vilgattiram. Vijay ippo romba varshame unga oru padame seriya odala. intha padattha apdiye director sollara maathiri pannnitteenga na unga padamum konjam odirkkum.. yoschiparunga.
sura padatthilirnthu thanjavur jillakari back to back with a pazheya padal puthiya vadivil. New thiraipadathhilirunthu Thottal poo malarum
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namma inthiya oru secular country.. athula namma kollywood atha vada secular. nama tamizhana thavira inthiya la irukkara evanukku venumnalum chance kudukka thayara iruppom. azhaga talented aa irukkara etthaneyo nadigaigal irunthalum namakku vada naattu vella tholum abcdefgh solliye padam muzhukka ottara nadigaiga thaan theva nu sollarom. prodcuersa solli kuttham illa. nadigargal mattum illainga namma pala varshamave padagar padagiyareyum import senjukitte thaan irukkom. ungalukkum tamizh theriyama oru vithamana accentoda pesi kollywood la periya peru venamna sollunga.. romba producers line la ninnutiruppanga.
sadhna sargam, udit narayan, asha bhonsle, romba paatu padirkkanga.. erkanavae ketturkkom. ippa lata manageshkar kuralil oru paattu keppom.. athukku aprom adnan sami kuralil matroru paadal.. radio dil in souther spice il.. kettu magizhungal

Radio show script - Tamil - Mazhai/ Rain

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Mazhayai kandu rasippathu kangal irukaravangalukku mattume irukkum oru bhaagyam nu sollalaam. kuyilin mozhiyai..kuzhanthayin mazhalayai kaathaal ketka mudiyum, mazhayai viralgaLaal thottu rassikka mudiyum aana athu kooda atha kandu rasippathe oru athiyasam.. oru miga cchirantha anubavam.
kangale kaanamal.. ovvoru thuLiyilum thanakku pidiccha than kathaliyin mugathai paarka vendiya soozhnilai..kamala hassanukku
kamala haasanin nadippai patri koora vaarthaigal thedave mudiyathu. avar nadippin ucchakattatthil veli vantha thirai padam Raja Paarvai. Isaignyani ilayaraja vin isaiyil kamala haasan madhavi nadippil veli vantha intha padatthilirunthu Anthi MAzhai engira padaludan inraya Southern Spice showvin muthal paadal
Innakki namma intha show la Mazhaya patriya padalgal kettu magizhvom.
Ippozhuthu.. Raja Paarvai thirai padatthil irinthu intha paatu
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Mazhai thulligal vovondrum
un muttangalaga-vendum
endru yengum
en manadhai arivaiya?

Mazhaiyai kanddu
maraindhu kolvadu polla
un marbil olindhu kolla vendum
endru yengum
en aasaiyai purindhu kollvaya?

Mazhaiye Mazhaiye
ennai muzhudhaga
nanaika varuvaiya...

ovvoru mazhaiyilum pala puthu puthu anubavangal. Athe mazhai vellaiyaga peyinthaal eppadi irukkum? sujatha matrum unni menon kuralil kettu arivom
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inga veliyoorila irukkaravanga ellarukkume mazhainaale vera vera anubavangal irukkum. aana namma inthiya vittu vanthavangalukku inga irukkum seasons paarthu nyabagam varum ore season - mazhakkalam thaan. vaazhkayin ovvoru kattathillum mazhai ezhuthum varigal aaha.. bhale. Twilight entertainment in thayarippil vantha short video.. mazhaikkalangal. S.U. Arun Kumar in intha siru kathai kelunga. kathayin pala paguthigal ungalil palarukkum anubava pattadaaga irukkum..
Kathaikku piragu vara irukkum paadal Bheema thiraipadatthil irunthu.. mathalil kathai pinbu Muthal mazhai nanaikkattum
****
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mazhai nu sonna pala perukku mudhalla nyabagam varum vishayam Isai. MAzhaiyila drive seyyum pothu pala perukku kavithaigal varum/... saadharanamaga kavithaigal ezhuthum pazhakkam illathavanga koodi vairamutthaga marividarom. appadi irukkayil.. kaviyarasu vairamutthu avargalin mazhaiyai patriya varigal evvalavu azhagaga irukkum nu naam solla thevayillai.En swasa kaatre thiraipadatthilirunthu intha paadal kelungal.
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saathiyum sanangalum-num
kaadhalai edhirthapozuthu
unnaiyum ennaiyum-oru
kudaikkul serthu vaitha mazhai.
idi idikkum pothellaam
idhayam bayathil thudithudikka
iravu muzukka num anaivaraiyum
irukki anaithu inaitha mazhai.
ippozuthe vendum endru
azhuthu puranda maganukku
sattendru sambala panathil
kappal seyya vaitha mazhai.
soodaana bajjiyudan
suvaiyaana chutni serthu
saapidumpozuthu jannaloram
saaralai therithu siritha mazhai.

antha siru thuli iduvelaikku piragu southern spice in inraya intha nigazhchikku naan Satish Dharmarajan ungalai anbu mazhai udan varaverkkiren. mazhaineerai patriya paadalgal kettu rasichitrikkeengla?
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muthal mazhaiyin maNam.. aaha. antha thuligalin seyal oru athisayama thaan irukku! vaanukkum mannukkum naduvula oru puthu vithamana natpai uruvakkirum pola.. Nikkama peyum antha mazhai, vittukudukkatha oru natpu.
oru sippikulirunthu vantha mutthin vadivil irukkum Ovvoru thuliyum boomiyai theendum pothu anbu taai kuzhandaigalukku itta muttham ponrave azhagai Thonrum.
athe mazhaiyoda vaanavilum vanthoootta paarunga.. antha azhagukku vera iNaiye illa.
Intha iNai illa mazhaiya patri Shreya Saran matrum Jayam Ravi enna solraanga nu  kekkalam vaanga\\
6nee varum pothu (mazhai)
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semmannukkum mazhaikkum etho solla theriyatha thodar idrukku.Iruvar thiraipadatthilirunthu NArumugai, Sillenru Oru Kaathal padatthil Munbe vaa..Dharma Yuddham padatthin ORu thanga rathatthil engira paatu.. intha ella pattuleyume semmannum mazhaiyum onnu serartha patthi sollirkkanga.. The reference in all these cases is to the fact that red earth and puring rains migle beyond parting.. and such are the feelings expressed by the artist.

Radio show script - Tamil - Flowers/Poo

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vaazhaikayil pala vishangala pookkalukku compare panni pesuruthu onnum puthusilla..
kortha poovodu sernthu naarum maNam perum enru sirutthana pookkaL. Naangal illai yenraal neengal uthirippookkaLe enru ninaitthana naargal
its a world of inter dependence.. Naan engira ahambaavam iruntha vetri romba naal koodavey irukkathu.
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vithavaiyin veLLai netriyil muLLai kutthiya poo
peNNin thaavani kanavugaLil managaLamaai maNakkum poo
maraNa saalayil sunami kuvittha piNangaLaai kasangi mithipadum poo
thirupathiyo thirutthaNiyo thottu vittaal thiru pirasaatham poo
therukkaLil koovi koovi vitravaLin vayitru pasikku uNavu tharum poo
poo-poovena katthiyavaLin niraya naaL pasiyil pathittha poo
muzham vaangi mutintha koNdathil aezhaiyin veettilum maNakkum poo
azhagu maNamum minjiya serukkaal mutkaLa thaaNdiyum parikkappadum poo
poottha idatthin adaiyaaLam tholaitthu vaitthu avvidatthil athigaaram seyyum poo
kaai kani maramena thazhaittha vithaiyin muthal nirvaaNam poo
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Chicagovin ohare airport ilirunthu ungalukka radio dil dil in ore tamizh show.. Southern Spice inru ungalukkaga..
pookkolam: azhagiya kolam
kaatruthaan kalaitthirukka vendum
sitharikkidakkum murungai pookkaL
 Thiruvonam nakshatratthil maveliyin arasanai varaverrkka keraLa naattin makkal veetukku veedu.. pooKkalala oru kambalam ponra kolam podum pazhakkum ippovum irukku
There was the golden era of Mahabali. Mahabaliyin rajjiyatthila ellarume romba santhoshama sugakarama iruthangalaam. Itha paartha Inthiranukku  ore erucchala irunthu Mahavishnu kitta poyi ore neratthula ulagatthila rendu inthiran iruppathu muraiilla nu solli.. vishnu vaamana avatharatthil vanthu mahabaliyai pathalathirkku thalliya kathai thaan onam pandigaiyin kathai
Radio dil in southern spice irku naan unga host Satish dharmarajan ungalai varaverkkiren. Pookkalaya patthiya inraya show minsara kanavu thiraippadtthin intha padaludan aarambippom..back to back with Pothi Vachha malligai from the movie Mann Vaasanai
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pengaLin manathai vella aaNglirkku kamathevan kodutthu anbalippu poonu solluvaanga. nammoorla nattupura pengalukku thalayila poo vecchikka pudikkum na.. konjam westernized cities la pengalukku a bunch of roses can help a relationship go places.
kobamo theerkka kaathal perukka kaNNeer thudaikka punnagai varuttha .. whatever be your goal, pookkaLaala seyya mudiyaathathu ethuvume illai nu pala kazinyargal sollirkkanga..
tann kathalukkaga veettu thottathil irukkum pookaLaal solla koodiya vishayam thaan switzerland naatin pookkalaleyum solla koodum. Once again A.R. Rehman isaiyil veli vantha irandu vetrigaramana thiraipandaganLirunthu paadalgal kekka tayyara irukkeengala? Gentleman matrum Kathalan thiraipadatthin padalgal itho kelunga..
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When it rains, it pours

And at the end of the day, its those things that you have least control on, that return to haunt your thoughts and dreams I listen to songs and sink back into times from yonder.

chubhte kaante yaadon ke daaman se chunta hoon
ab yaadon ke kaante jab chubhte hain, aasoon nahi behte
zakhm wahi phir khilte hain, khoon si lehren gulaal aankhon ko
bas zara ojhal karti hain nazaaron ko

dard ke saaye se tarne ki kashish liye phirta hoon
ab yaadon ke kaante jab chubhte hain, aasoon nahi behte
saayon se bojhal phir wahi khwaab, kaalikh si tanhayi ko
bas zara nam karti hain iraadon ko

sannate ki goonj armaanon ki raahon me bharta hoon
ab yaadon ke kaante jab chubhte hain, aasoon nahi behte
darta hoon taqdeer ke modh par, na ho gar hariyali toh
bas rok leta hoon khayalon ko

phir sacchai ka saamna karne joojhta hoon, khud se doharaata hoon
ab yaadon ke kaante na tokenge gulistano me mehak rehte
raushni bhar jaani hai zindagani ki raahon me
bas datkar chhoona hai naye un mukaamon  ko

Thoughts of the life behind remain but laden with that streak of light I derive energy from within. Blocking untold memories from inflicting an unseen future, I stride ahead with a quest for that phoenix acknowledging my need to rise back from the ashes. I repeat hope is not a good strategy but having one sure is better than none..

Echoes of Life

After years of digging and probing my friend, I managed to get my hands on the first novel I attempted writing several years ago - when I was in college. It was interesting enough to read now- sufficiently amateur and yet bringing back a lot many chain of thoughts lost in transit... If it bears your interest to read further- an incomplete, amateur novel.. get started below:

1

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India


Rahul Arya was 17 years old. The only son to his parents he had never seen misery or poverty. Working parents with handsome incomes and a nice well furnished, interior-decorated house to live in, Rahul had nothing to worry about in the whole wide world. 
Rahuls' architect mother, Mrs Radha Arya -well known in her circle of up-society friends for her fashion consciousness- was almost never home to create any hassles for Rahul. When home, all she had time for was to get ready to go to the parlor at the other end of the town or to attend one of her close friends' parties or attend some charity function. She had all the time in the world for the poor and helpless or the special children from the Spastic Society. She was one doleful mother to all of them. She got teary eyed just by listening to their troubles and miseries, when the organizations came home looking for her and found her home. She always ended up sparing five or ten thousand rupees to one of the orphanages to fulfill her motherly role to them all. But, today was one day she'd do away with all of those duties for Rahul. She had made sure she'd be home from morning till past midnight for him, after which she'd have to go drop off one of the partners or colleagues of her husband home. And then the turning point in her life would come, she hoped, for this she had waited several years now.
Dr. Ulhas Arya was quite the opposite of his wife. He hated all the charity-work and help -the-needy stuff his wife did. He loved only one child in the whole world - she was the one who studied so hard she hardly had time for anything else. Dr. Arya sometimes wondered how his daughter was so similar to her mother, yet so different. Rahul's sister Ashi, as he fondly called Ashwati. 
Ashwati was in her 8th grade. At five feet six inches she was already the tallest girl in her class and constantly getting asked out on dates by classmates and other seniors in school. Till date, she had turned them all down, to go home. She adored her dad, almost more than how much he doted her. In her mind, he was really the best out there. He took her out to his private beaches, to the game-shooting ranches and the best of them all, to the yacht club. But there was this one thing that always troubled her  -he never took her to this other club he said he was going to - the one palce he'd be gone several hours at length and return looking pleased, relaxed and with the glow of satisfaction on his shiny bald head. She would surely find out soon, but just how, she did not know. She assured herself she would find out but only when he stopped paying attention to her.
The doctor did have his own troubles. He lived on a bridge over troubled waters when at work. His hospital had become the hotbed of politics and he had become an incurable victim. Matters he could never discuss with anyone other than the red haired woman, who was the root cause of it all. She was known to everyone who had ever worked in the hospital. Her husband had originally built the hospital with all his life's earnings but had died in a freak accident a day before the hospital was scheduled to be inaugurated. He had jumped off the thirteenth floor window without leaving as much as a note. Dr Shinde's ancestral wealth had already been written by his father to his daughter-in-law. With no motive found for a murder, the case had been closed shut.
Dr. Mrs. Shinde, with hair so red with repeated use of color, it was hard to guess the real color of her hair, as was the case with her age. There were times when she could pass off as being about thirty, and others when she looked well past her sixties. No one ever knew if she had charmed the senior Mr Shinde or his son Dr. Shinde. She was known in the hospital, apart from being the chair woman, as the chief doctor. 

..and the rest is history

I have to pen this down while the experience is still fresh in my memory and I can leave the masala out of the narration and stick only only only to pure facts (duh.. like I can ever do that!)

You must first read this mail.. the ah-so-moving version I sent to the airline asking to be duly compensated..

.......................................................................................................................................................................

I was scheduled to travel from ND to xyz Airport , with a connection at LH Airport. Scheduled for departure on 09 Jan 2010 at 0330hrs but with a delay in departure of 11 hrs..I staggered my way into the plane. My connection from LH was scheduled for 1505hrs on 09 Jan 2010 which I missed due to the delay in the first leg of the journey. Subsequently I was booked on AA departing LH on 10 Jan 2010 at about 1030hrs. This left me with a 16.5 hr break. Despite mentioning to the airline authorities at Delhi and London airports that I did not wish to stay back in London, I was given hotel accommodation and transport tickets at London and asked to proceed for a transit visa. I was given complete assurances by the said officials that there would be no issues and the process would be smooth and easy. Although I did not want it, this situation forced me to request entry to London.

At LHR, the immigration officials however denied me a transit visa and forced into Detention. The questioning and harassment meted out by the UK Border Agency was completely embarrassing. I was not given fresh food and made to spend the night sitting on chairs in a room locked from outside and held behind under close supervision with potentially illegal immigrants. It was as bad as being sentenced to jail imprisonment. My passport was confiscated to be stamped mentioning a denied entry to the country, and not handed back to me until I reached United States!

Worse still I was accompanied to my flight net morning by two immigration officers like almost like I was a petty criminal. I was taken to the airport in a caged van. To add to my woes, the looks I got from fellow passengers and other airport crew who saw me being escorted to the check-in counter, was of complete distrust, disgust and disrespect. In short this experience was completely in bad taste, filling me with anxiety, disgrace and humiliation.

.......................................................................................................................................................................

The rest of the message concluded with stating a sum I expected from this airline. Now that I've stated the facts I can give you the more gory details, like this wasn't sufficiently gory already.

I was quite happy I had received the hotel accommodation and had all plans of getting to see some part of LH and maybe even meet up with a friend who lives a couple of hours away, if only he would take the time to make it to meet with me. Being one of my closest buddies, he had already met me during my trip to KA and may not really be able to come all the way out to the airport at my whim.. but I was happy nevertheless.

I chanced upon a cute girl in the line - I had already overheard she was traveling on work and going to SWZ. She was going to stay at the same hotel I had been asked to stay at. Knowing that she was already married gave me a sense of relief.. I guess I let my shield down when I speak to the married women believing in my mind that all the talking we'll have will only be loose talk and nothing that will out me in a difficult circumstance will ever arise! I was in safe zone.. Great conversationalist and she even offered to wait up for me at the other side of the immigration clearance line.

Lugging my bags and clutching the packet of t-shirt and bathroom products I strode confidently to the immigration officer. What could go wrong.. I knew exactly where I was going to be, when I was leaving and had all the necessary documentation to go back home (.. yup, back where I am now)! Reaching the counter I saw cute-HR-chick sitting in bench.. she smiled at me from the distance indicating she was waiting for me. I smiled back and gave a subtle look of exasperation. How was this guy going to take writing down mundane details. I was ready to go into the freedom of the Q's land, even if only for a few hours. I smiled back at him with a countenance of confidence as he looked up at me verifying if my face really matched the one on my passport and smiled back as he put his head down again , continuing to write on the 4x3 card!

"No sweat" I reassured myself, just before he asked me if I had ever been refused a visa for this country. Casual as it seemed, I said yes indeed I had been when I applied for a tourist visa and had only received a decline letter screaming for want of more documentation around where I was going to live and who was the guy I indicated as my invitation to the country. Little had I known then that a formal invitation was required not just by me but also by the country. Well that mentioned 'i was ready for the immi off to just stamp my passport with a 24 hour entry permission and let me pass through.

My little world of words and thoughts came crashing on me when our man said in other words, sorry boss.. you said the wring password. No entry, be glad I'm not throwing you into the prison! The like-prison treatment, the food and everything else you already might hv read about in that letter above is totally true and that moment when I sat on a bench waiting for the immigration officer to return with my passport after an initial inquiry was the only moment I realized I might have made someone wait for me.. I stood up to see she was gone. With a sigh of relief for not subjecting the lady to any further wait, I stared in the direction of the door the immi officer had vanished into..uncertain of what my future beheld

Dil Bole Hadippa - A movie full of Dreams, that (predictably) come true

Watching a Hindi movie in St. Joseph, MI is nothing short of a miracle for me.. my first ever since I moved to this part of the world. Co-ordinated with a couple of friends before arrival to the movie hall so we could get seats together - whats in a movie if you dont have the right company with you to share a running commentary with or have the parallel conversations amid cold stares and "shhh" sounds from the people around you.

A,K and I had more company in the form of other Indian friends to add to the melee.

We picked seats close enough to the higher end of the hall to give us the balcony effect. By the time we settled in our chairs we had already missed the opening scene.

The minute I saw Rani Mukherjee, I cursed one of the Chopras under my breath ;-)

In the hot pink salwar kameez, swinging a cricket bad and mouthing off lines with a heavy "punjabbbi ucksent" she looked nothing like the plump 18 yr old damsel in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The only ding in this new slim n trim avatar was the nose-ring she had on - but well, I guess it was required for the karector she plays. Veera is a cricket crazy sardarni who repeatedly announces she is a Left te Right handed batsmen who can not be bowled out by any munda around. Working and living in the gaanv's naatak company, she has friends who remind her to give up on the big dreams she sees with her "nanhi aankhein". She dreams of playing alongside the stalwarts of Indian cricket and prays to them as her demi-gods and along with wahe-guru ofcourse in very typical bollywood ishtyle..

Cut-to Wagah border: Dilip Tahil and Anupam Kher speak of their ever lsating friendship across the borders but remind us that all friendships aside, when it comes to cricket, India and Pakistan dont see each other eye to eye. Predictably they play a match and India loses to Pakistan with a fuming Rani announcing she'd have made the Pak team run for shelter if only she could..

A weird haired Shahid Kapoor a.k.a Rohan (where do they get these names?) is introduced as the key player of English County cricket. He wins matches and runs around like a Brazilian football player. His team huddles like a bollywood version version of an African tribal dance and always responds to him in chorus sync.

Surprise element in the form of Poonam Dhillon playing the pretty mom. Anupam Kher, dont be surprised, plays the dad who lives away alone in India. Kher sentimails Kapoor into coming to India and fulfilling his dream of winning the Aman Cup- giving him all leeway to form his own team.

If you've seen the trailers you know Rani Mukherjee comes dressed as a Sardar. To add some details, without giving away the ending, "Veer" plays cricket for the India team with Rohan and the movie has a happy ending. I wont divulge all details here and steal away the thunder..

High points in the movie include "jokey" conversations between the firangi munda Rohan and the bhains-lo girl Veera. Rani Mukherjee carries the movie with elan and great comic timing, with some support from the muscle-flexing guy in pink shirt n skinny jeans.

Overall rating? Worth the 2.5 hrs intermission-less presentation... Paisa, full vasool in one sitting.

If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull

After I landed in town, I took my niece, nephew and mom in my sister's SUV to go to Ruby Falls and the Chattanooga Incline rail at TN.

Knowing our mom and her kids just a little too well, my sister had in her casual but sarcastic tone piped in I was with "awesome" company - right before we had stepped out!

From the minute we got out, my nephew was cranky, my niece was fighting with her brother and my mom was pissed we were starting two hours too late and that we may not be able to cover all points she had thought we had planned for the visit! Like these conditions were not all bad by themselves.. guess how they all wanted to communicate their feelings to me.. They wanted to speak to me all at the same time and all with breath-taking high intensity and fervor.

After a couple of hours of what I should not be calling my mom's cribbing came to a stop, we made it to our destination. My nephew thankfully had slept through the last leg of the drive and woke up after we reached Lookout Mountains containing Ruby Falls.

My nephew woke up.. well, as you may guess, cranky! He wanted to go home rightaway. I had managed to keep my niece engrossed with a story telling challenge (which I have to narrate as another blog entry!) Seeing a cranky sibling up and about, my niece easily distracted herself into fighting with him..

After the few hours of constant frying, my brains were ready to burst out of the seams and I wanted to run downhill screaming..even jump, but I managed to contain myself and keep my humor alive. A vain joke or two later, I got back to ground zero.

SO what do kids really want? I'm baffled! For that matter I'm baffled with what grown ups want as well.

Once we got on the inclined train and then made it into the mysterious caves of Ruby falls everyone was (blessfully) distracted to their surroundings. The sights and sounds of Ruby falls were an audio-visual treat.

I did not get to wield my photographic talent as much as I would've otherwise, but I was happy we went to this place and everyone getting into the car was a seemingly more happy person (including whiny me).

Knowing that some friend of my niece was going to be home by the time we would reach home excited my niece, my mom was glad she was going to have a few more mamis to speak to once home.. my nephew did not thnk either of those ideas were too appealing. He chose to switch back to his "I wanna go home" mode but one nag-ma is definitely more manageable than three..

Maybe, just maybe.. all's well that ends well. Some distracting games later, my nephew was in his right senses and I was a happier person driving back home! Isn't that the most important thing?

These are a few of my..

Raindrops on roses and Whiskers on kittens..inevitably reminds you of Julie Andrews. Sweet, melodious, mellifluous!

The tune kept ringing in my ears today as I took a walk down to the beach. Pitter patter of raindrops on my head n nose while the waves lashed at my feet, I sat on the rocks feeling all poetic and at ease.

With some of my favorite people in town, hanging out at the beach watching the sun set crimson at the horizon was never so much fun. When boredom runs after you to bite, meeting with friends n laughing over a joke or two makes such a lot of difference. I have always had lots of friends and always only a few of those friends I cherished being around with. Today I felt that long lost feeling of "cherishment" I say, for lack of a better picture that truly expresses my emoticon.

With the sweet sound of music ringing through my laptop I smile now as I wipe my wet head with the towel... These are a few of my favorite things!!

Where demons dare to tread..

As the dark veils set in, the light of anxiety shone in her eyes, some sparks flew and some reactions occurred - faster than the speed of light. She had given birth to something that mankind had never dreamt of, never believed in the ability of science to create and definitely nothing in this quantity..! Shrill beads of sweat trickled down many a forehead and a wave of joy engulfed the laboratory where the first antimatter was created. Science had created what was always believed to have been created by god in the pre-universe universe, the first speck of energy that heads the genealogy of everything that matters.

A few crimes, some theft and a story shrouded in the dark politics of the papacy- Angels and Demons walks one into the mystique of Roman and Vatican art. From Galileo to Newton- a heady mix of symbolism, science and religion form the crux of the movie. With astounding casting, the characters mouthing words with beguiling expressions stole every heartbeat the book had managed to tick. My mind kept racing back to the words I had heard as I read the book and the visions I had approbated to the streets, the corners and the priceless art. Much more than anyone would imagine, the movie kept the artist in me spell bound.

While I noticed a few dramatic variations to the narration, I could almost flip through the pages of the book and be just as mesmerized. There were a few minutes, a few scenes when you knew what to expect and the movie chugged along those exact same lines, appearing to fall through the cracks when it caught back up on the speed and raced along, keeping the audience at the nail biting edges of their seats. Nervous laughter, sighs of relief and laughs to the subtle humor – I heard them all in the movie hall as I nibbled away on my non-existent tub of popcorn through the two and half hours of excitement, give or take a few minutes.

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown is a highly recommended read and Angels and Demons by Ron Howard -starring Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor and Ayelet Zurer- is a highly recommended watch.

Truly.. yet another decision

To be or to not to be.. the ultimate conundrum when the bug of life bit me.

Today is a great milestone in my parents' life.. but it has remained only a milestone with little or no emotions and memories attached to it. I look back, a little hurt, a a little empty.

Today as I think back ot the occurings of the day, were not too special- in fact come to think of it, it was bad.. but here I am nevertheless., blogging my thoughts, voicing my feelings and channeling my energies. 

Wait wait.. before you leave thinking this is yet another spot with ramblings unlimited, I will run my thoughts by you. The question  is "was it the right thing to do..?" Am I acting in haste when I tell someone who is/was attracted to me that I am/was not.. and that for no apparent reason.

Instinctively, I know the answer.. I know I did the right thing for her and for me.. but someewhere deep in the dark alleys, a thought prevails. No else seems to see why I would say no to such a sweet and "universally" acceptable/ likable person. Young, haughty she maybe a little bit of both, but not in complete vain. She has her long list of merits.

Everyone, including my family thinks, I should hv gone for it..But I wait, but question myself..

Will I stand to regret the decision I made today tomorrow? Will I end up with someone who is nowhere close to the talents this girl is bestowed with and think back, "if only..."?

Maybe.. things may well, turn out to be that way, but gut says.. despite all lessons that I havelearned in school and in life to never go by gut, but to go by experience or even better to go with data.. I go by gut, to say I wont.

Time will stand testimony to my decisions and maybe someday I will return to this spot and go hmm.. wasn't I right!