An all-in-all trip

Exciting, different, beautiful, unique, peaceful, thought-provoking, frustrating, tiring... Our 2-day trip to Mantralayam was everything. I got to experience a conglomerate of emotions.

Exciting it was because I was visiting a new place, travelling in a new direction, passing through new railway stations (So far, the next railway station after Bangalore City was always Cantonment, now I realize it can also be Malleswaram).

Thought provoking it was as it made me think why not prepare dinner, bring them in hot pack containers and eat while travelling in the train. Is this another option for us apart from Comesum restaurant's menu? Another string of thought struck me while watching people who sit on the floors near the stinking train toilets and travel all the way. Why doesn't the government increase the number of unreserved compartments? Why people have to struggle to find a seat and end up sitting on the floors of reserved compartments?

Beautiful it was as I have never admired such a spectacular sunset and sunrise ever before. A red ball arising slowly, far from the stretched barren lands, step by step, painting the sky with all possible colours. Isn't this a wonderful sight to watch in the morning? A phenomenon which we miss everyday in this dull, boring city routine.

Unique it was since this was the first temple I have seen where the priest allows you to show the aarti plate in front of God. And ofcourse, the priest expecting you to drop some money for this privilege offered to you is not unique.

Peaceful it was as I felt a sense of tranquility and calmness after a round of adi-pradakshanam( a step by step walk around the temple).

Different it was as I got a chance to visit Panchamukhi temple after travelling 20 kms on bumpy, dusty and narrow roads with no concrete structures to be seen around and eating kadala pori (puffed rice) on the way.

Frustrating it was as I hate to wait in temples for hours together. We had booked a seva which was supposed to start at 7.30 pm but it actually started at 8.40 pm and went on till 10.15 pm. I am more at peace and can feel the blessings of God in a small temple (a Ganesha temple beneath a banyan tree is perfect for me). I'm very impatient as far as waiting for hours together, being pushed by people behind and all I get is just a glimpse of God's idol.

Tiring it was as I had to come to work as soon as I landed back in Bangalore with half-asleep eyes and a bad headache.

Overall, I can feel the effect that an activity apart from the usual routine can impart in me.

என்ன வேண்டும்?

ஏணி வேண்டும்
வானத்தை தொட்டு பார்க்க
சிறகு வேண்டும்
மேகத்தோடு மிதந்து பறக்க

வலிமை வேண்டும்
மலைகளோடு முட்டி மோத
எளிமை வேண்டும்
சிரித்துக் கொண்டே வாழ

துணிவு வேண்டும்
பாற்கடலை நீந்தி கடக்க
தெளிவு வேண்டும்
வாழ்க்கை பாதையில் நடக்க

முயற்சி வேண்டும்
புது திட்டங்கள் செயற்படுத்த
உறுதி வேண்டும்
தடைக்கற்களை தகர்த்தெறிய

தோல்வி வேண்டும்
வெற்றியின் சிறப்பு உணர
தன்னம்பிக்கை வேண்டும்
இவை அத்தனையும் நடைபெற

English translation

What do we need?

Need a ladder
to touch the sky
Need a feather
to float amidst the clouds

Need strength
to break the mountains
Need simplicity
to lead a happy life

Need courage
to swim across the vast ocean
Need clarity
to walk the paths of life

Need hardwork
to execute new plans
Need willpower
to tackle the obstacles

Need failure
to appreciate success
Need self-confidence
to achieve the above mentioned

One passion, One nation

Dedicated to all the past, present and future cricket players of our country

One billion souls
One single prayer.
To all deities,
we give a milk shower.

The entire nation
gripped in fever
The sense of passion
flowing as a river

The eleven
are our heroes
We can't stand them
hit zeroes

Eyes glued to
television sets
We don't move
a single step

A common
discussion thread
About all that
happened in the end

A roller-coaster ride
for the players
The big pride
for the supporters

The only
aspect common
Cricket makes
us one.

What's up?

Off-late, my blog is seeing more poems. My thinking is also slowly graduating from thinking in pure, plain text to poetic words in Tamil. When I see a beautiful sunset, my mind starts to think of ways to express this beauty in a poetic fashion. I like this feeling. It makes me appreciate the little moments of life.

Apart from that, happened to watch a couple of excellent movies. And am sure, by now you would have guessed that one of them has to be Rang De Basanti. Definitely, it is.

I've seen such kind of inspiring movies in Tamil. But very rarely a Bollywood movie of such calibre had been made before. This movie starts off as a usual college subject and slowly builds the tempo. Some of the dialogues are witty while others make you ponder on the young generation's attitude towards country, patriotism and freedom struggle ("they are boring, yaar" - one of the hero's dialogue). There is a smooth transition projected in these college-goers' attitude shift. After the first half, I felt "Yeah, it's a nice movie. But what was the hype all about? ". The second half has a twist in the story and the last few minutes are so appealing that the effect will last on you forever.

The other movie was "The Chronicles of Narnia". Harry Potter fans (Count me in :-) ) might sense that a few scenes were copied in this movie. But that doesn't stop one from admiring this fantasy treat. Visuals and locales are so wonderfully picturised that you feel awe for each and every frame. The protogonist is definitely the little girl who has played the role of Lucy. She is damn cute, her eyes are very expressive and she is intelligent (Does it remind you of Hermione? ). I heard that this movie is based on a book. I'm planning to read it. If you like adventure and fantasy, don't miss this movie.

என் ஆசை

Inspired by the greatest lyricist according to me, Mr.Vairamuthu, the beautiful song "Chinna Chinna Aasai" ("Choti si Aasha") from the brilliant movie "Roja"....

சின்ன சின்ன ஆசை
பெருகி வரும் ஆசை
பரந்து விரிந்த ஆசை
என் பொக்கிஷமான ஆசை

கடற்கரை மணலில்
கால் வைக்க ஆசை
காய்ந்த இலைகளின் மேல்
நடந்து செல்ல ஆசை

சிகப்பு சூரியனை
தட்டி எழுப்ப ஆசை
பூக்கும் மலர்களை
கண்டு ரசிக்க ஆசை

சிட்டுக் குருவிகளோடு
பறந்து போக ஆசை
மரங்களின் நிழலில்
அமைதியாய் உறங்க ஆசை

ரோஜா வனத்தில்
ஓடி விளையாட ஆசை
ஆர்ப்பரிக்கும் வண்டுகளோடு
சிரித்து மகிழ ஆசை

கொட்டும் மழையில்
நனைந்து தும்ம ஆசை
எட்டுத்திக்கிலும் எந்தன்
பாடல் எதிரொலிக்க ஆசை

காஷ்மீர் பனிமலையில்
சரிந்து விழ ஆசை
என் இரு கைகளில்
இந்தியாவை ஏந்த ஆசை

Tamil version in English

en aasai

chinna chinna aasai
perugi varum aasai
parandhu virindha aasai
en pokkishamaana aasai

kadaRkarai maNalil
kaal vaikka aasai
kaay ndha ilaigaLin meel
nadandhu sella aasai

sigappu suuriyanai
thatti ezhuppa aasai
puukkum malargaLai
kaNdu rasikka aasai

sittuk kuruvigaLoodu
paRandhu pooga aasai
marangkaLin nizhalil
amaidhiyaay uRangka aasai

roojaa vanaththil
oodi viLaiyaada aasai
aarpparikkum vaNdugaLoodu
siriththu magizha aasai

kottum mazhaiyil
nanaindhu thumma aasai
ettuththikkilum endhan
paadal edhirolikka aasai

kaashmiir panimalaiyil
sarindhu vizha aasai
en iru kaigaLil
indhiyaavai eendha aasai

A rough translation in English

My wishes

My tiny wishes
Flowing in me,
High and wide
My precious are thee.

My wish to place
my feet in sea sand,
My wish to take a
stroll on dried leaves

My wish to wake up
the red sun,
My wish to admire
the blossoming flowers

My wish to fly
with the little cuckoos,
My wish to sleep
under the tree shades

My wish to play
in a rose garden,
My wish to laugh with
the buzzing bees

My wish to get
drenched and sneeze in rain,
My wish to echo
my songs in eight directions

My wish to skate
in Kashmir snow-clad mountains,
My wish to hold
India on my two hands

நாங்கள்...

வேண்டும் விடியல்
மறுபடியும்,
நம் கைகளில் உள்ளது
அத்தனையும்

மேகத்திரை விலகியது
திறந்த வானம் தெரிய
மனத்திரை விலகியது
வாழ்வின் அர்த்தம் புரிய

பற்பல நீரோடை
சேர்ந்து நதி ஆனது
பற்பல சிந்தனைகள்
கலந்து பலம் ஆனது

எழுந்து விட்டோம் நாம்
புதிய குருதியோடு
துணிந்து விட்டோம் நாம்
சீறிய மன உறுதியோடு

அணை போட முயலாதீர்
தடுக்க முடியாத சுனாமி நாங்கள்
அணைக்க முயலாதீர்
அடங்காத காட்டுத்தீ நாங்கள்

அழிக்க வரவில்லை,
நம் மண்ணில் படிந்திருக்கும்
கரை அழிக்க எழுந்தோம்

எரிக்க வரவில்லை,
மக்கள் உள்ளங்களில் எரியும்
தீ அணைக்க துணிந்தோம்

ஆம், நாங்கள்
நேற்றைய பகத்சிங்குகள்
இன்றைய அப்துல் கலாம்கள்
நாளைய மன்னர்கள்
இந்த தேசத்தின்....

Tamil version in English

naangkaL...

veeNdum vidiyal
maRupadiyum,
nam kaigaLil uLLadhu
aththanaiyum

meegaththirai vilagiyadhu
thiRandha vaanam theriya
manaththirai vilagiyadhu
vaazhvin arththam puriya

paRpala neeroodai
seerndhu nadhi aanadhu
paRpala sindhanaigaL
kalandhu balam aanadhu

ezhundhu vittoom naam
pudhiya kurudhiyoodu
thuNindhu vittoom naam
siiRiya mana uRudhiyoodu

aNai pooda muyalaadhiir
thadukka mudiyaadha sunaami naangkaL
aNaikka muyalaadhiir
adangkaatha kaattuththii naangkaL

azhikka varavillai,
nam maNNil padi ndhirukkum
karai azhikka ezhu ndhoom

erikka varavillai,
makkaL uLLangkaLil eriyum
thii aNaikka thuNi ndhoom

aam, naangkaL
neeRRaiya bagathsingkukaL
inRaiya abdhul kalaamkaL
naaLaiya mannargaL
indha dheesaththin

A rough translation in English

We...

We need
a dawn,
It's in
our hands.

Clouds have moved
An open sky is seen.
Mindblocks are removed
Life's purpose is understood.

Many streams join
to form a river.
Many thoughts mingle
to become our strength.

We have woken up
with a fresh stream of blood.
We are ready to face
with a sharp sense of will power.

Don't try to stop us
We are an unstoppable Tsunami.
Don't try to control us
We are the fast spreading wildfire.

We are not here
to destroy anything.
We are here to
clean the dirt in
our soil.

We are not here
to burn anything.
We are here to
cool the minds of
our people.

Yes, we are
yesterday's Bhagat Singhs.
Today's Abdul Kalams.
Tomorrow's kings
of this nation...

PS : Not just an inspiration from Rang de Basanti. :-)

முதற் பூவே

தோட்டத்தில் பூத்த
முதற் பூவே
மலர்ந்த முகத்தில்
சிறு புன்னகை

சிவந்த கன்னக்
குழிகளின் நடுவே
மஞ்சள் விதைகள்
உயிர் வித்துக்கள்

ஆதவன் எழுப்பும்
சின்ன பூவே
ஒரு நாள் வாழ்வது
உனக்கு சிறப்பே

உன்னை காண்பது
எனக்கு மகிழ்ச்சி
என்றும் இல்லையே
உனக்கு இகழ்ச்சி

காலையில் மலர்ந்து
இரவில் துவண்டு
இடையில் வாழ்கிறாய்
ஓர் அர்த்தமுள்ள
வாழ்க்கை.....


For readers who can understand Tamil but cannot read :-

mudhaR puuvee

thoottaththil puuththa
mudhaR puuvee
malarndha mugaththil
siRu punnagai

sivandha kannak
kuzhikaLin naduvee
manjsaL vidhaigaL
uyir viththukkaL

aadhavan ezhuppum
chinna puuvee
oru naaL vaazhvathu
unakku siRappee

unnai kaaNbathu
enakku magizchchi
enRum illaiyee
unakku igazhchchi

kaalaiyil malarndhu
iravil thuvaNdu
idaiyil vaazgiRaay
oor arththamuLLa
vaazhkkai.....


A rough translation in English :-

First Flower

First flower
in my garden.
Blossomed face,
little smile

Inside your
blushing cheeks,
yellow seeds
your soul

You wake up
during sun's rays
Your identity
lives for a day

I feel happy
watching you
Never a bad
remark on you

Life starts at dawn
ends at dusk
You live a
purposeful life
in between...