முடித்திருத்தம்

“யெஸ் சார்.. வெல்கம்” - யூனிஃபார்ம் அணிந்த இளைஞன் புன்சிரிப்போடு கண்ணாடிக் கதவு திறந்து வரவேற்றான்.

அது ஏறக்குறைய எல்லா நகரங்களிலும் கிளைபரப்பி, புதியதாக எங்களூருக்கு வந்திருக்கும் ஃபேமலி ப்யூட்டி சலூன்.

உள்ளே சென்றதும் சுற்று முற்றும் பார்த்தேன். உயரமான நாற்காலி ஒன்றில் உட்காரவைக்கப்பட்ட குழந்தையொன்று சிரித்தபடி கண்ணாடி பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருக்க அதற்கு வலிக்காமல் முடி வெட்டிக் கொண்டிருந்தார் ஒரு இளைஞர்.

“வாட் கேன் வி டூ ஃபார் யூ சார்?”

முற்றிலும் குளிரூட்டப்பட்ட அறை. அங்கங்கே ஆங்கில இதழ்கள். மெலிதான இசை கேட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தது.

“ஹேர் ஸ்டைல் சேஞ்ச் பண்ணனும்”

“ஷ்யூர் சார். ஐ’ல் ப்ரிங் த புக்லெட்” என்றபடி என்னை அமரச் செய்துவிட்டு போனான்.

எனக்கு சின்ன வயது ஞாபகம் வந்தது.

நினைவு தெரிந்த நாளிலிருந்தே முடிவெட்டிக் கொள்ள நான் செல்வது பழனியண்ணன் சலூன்கடைதான். அவரும் எவரெஸ்ட் சலூன், ஹாலிவுட் சலூன், ஸ்டார் ஹேர்லைன்ஸ் என்று என்னென்னவோ பெயர் மாற்றியிருக்கிறார். ஆனாலும் அது எங்களுக்கு பழனியண்ணன் கடைதான். முடிவெட்டிக் கொள்ள என்றில்லாமல் நண்பர்கள் அவ்வப்போது கூடுமிடமாகவும் அது இருந்தது.

முடிவெட்டிக் கொள்ள போகும்போது கூட்டம் அதிகமாக இருந்தால் அவரே
“குமாரு.. எட்டரை மணிக்கு வர்றியா? சரியா இருக்கும்” என்பார்..

எட்டரை மணிக்குப் போனாலும் ஐந்தாறு பேர் அமர்ந்திருப்பார்கள். பழனியண்ணன் கண்ணால் ஒரு சைகை காண்பிப்பார். ‘கொஞ்சம் பொறுடா’ என்றர்த்தம் அதற்கு. அங்கிருக்கும் பெஞ்சில் அமர்வேன்.

அனைத்து தினசரிகளும், நாளிதழும் இருக்கும். சுவற்றில் பாம்பே டையிங் காலண்டரில் முன்னணி நடிகை சிரித்துக் கொண்டிருப்பாள். அனுராதா, டிஸ்கோ சாந்தி வகையறா ஒட்டப்பட்டிருக்காது எனினும் நிச்சயமாக நடிகைகளின் ப்ளோ அப்புகள் சுவற்றில் இருக்கும். கண்ணாடியில் மூலைகளில் சில விசிட்டிங் கார்டுகள் சொருகப்பட்டிருக்கும். ஒரே ஒரு கண்ணாடிக்கு நேர் எதிர் சுவற்றில் மற்றொரு கண்ணாடி மாட்டியிருப்பார். ‘இன்னொரு கண்ணாடி வாங்கணும் குமாரு. எங்க.. வர்றது கைக்கும் வாய்க்குமே சரியா இருக்கு’ என்பார்.

வாரமலரின் குறுக்கெழுத்துப் புதிரை நான் முடிப்பதற்குள் எனக்கான முறை வந்துவிடும்.

முடிவெட்டி முடித்து எவ்வளவு கொடுத்தாலும் வாங்கிக் கொள்வார். ஓரிரு முறை ஒன்றும் கொடுக்காமலே ‘சினிமா போகணும்னே... அப்பா கேட்டா தரமாட்டாரு’ என்று அந்தக் காசை கமிஷனடித்திருக்கிறேன். ஒன்றுமே சொல்ல மாட்டார்.

நடுவில் நாங்கள் சொந்த வீடுகட்டி ஏரியா மாறிய பிறகு அவருடனான தொடர்பு குறைந்தது. கல்லூரிப் படிப்புக்காக சென்னை வந்தபிறகு அவரோடான தொடர்பு முற்றிலும் அற்றுப் போனது.

“எக்ஸ்யுஸ்மி சார்” - புக்லெட்டுடன் வந்த இளைஞன் என் ஃப்ளாஷ்பேக்கைக் கலைத்தான். “ ஃபோர் ஹண்ட்ரட் வரும்சார். உங்க ஃபேஸ் கட்டுக்கு இதோ இந்த நாலு ஸ்டைலும் பொருந்தி வரும் சார்” என்றான்.

“எவ்வளவு நேரமாகும்?”

“ஒன் ஹவர்” என்றான்.

சம்மதித்து கிங்க்ஸ் என்றெழுதப்பட்ட அறைக்குள் அழைத்துச் செல்லப் பட்டேன். ஷாம்பூ வாஷ் என்று ஈஸி சேர் ஒன்றில் படுக்க வைத்து குளிக்க வைக்கப்பட்டேன். முடித்ததும் தலையை கருப்பு பூத்துவாலையால் துடைத்துவிட்டார்கள். எனக்கு மறுபடி பழனியண்ணனும் அவர் தோளில் கிடக்கும் ஈரிழைத்துண்டும் ஞாபகத்துக்கு வந்தது.

அரைமணி நேரம் தலையை என்னென்னவோ செய்தார்கள். நான் போட்டிருந்த டீ ஷர்ட் கொஞ்சமும் கசங்காமல் மென்மையாக என்னைக் கையாண்டார்கள். இடையே சில நிமிடங்கள் என் தலை காய அமரவைக்கப்பட்டபோது தடிமனான சில புத்தங்கங்கள் தரப்பட்டது. எதுவும் பழனியண்ணன் கடை வாரமலருக்கு ஈடாகுமாவெனத் தோன்றியது.

எல்லாம் முடிந்து என்னை சரிபார்த்துக் கொண்டே முன்னறையில் வந்து அமர்ந்தேன்.

பில் கொண்டு வரப்பட, காசை எடுத்து வைத்து விட்டு வாசல் நோக்கி நடந்தேன்.

கதவருகே வந்த இளைஞன் ‘தேங்க்யூ சார்’ என்று கண்ணாடிக் கதவைத் திறந்தான். வெளியே இன்னோவா ஒன்று வந்து நிற்க.. அந்த இளைஞன் ‘பாஸ் வந்துட்டாரு’ என்று உள்ளே திரும்பி குரல் குடுத்தவாறு எனக்கு புன்னகையைச் சிந்தினான். தூரத்தில் நின்ற இன்னோவாவிலிருந்து கதர் வேட்டி சட்டையோடு யாரோ இறங்குவது தெரிந்தது.

என் காரருகே செல்லும்போதுதான் இன்னோவாவிலிருந்து இறங்கி என்னைக் கடந்து செல்லும் நபரைப் பார்த்தேன்..

தோளில் அதே ஈரிழைத்துண்டோடு - பழனியண்ணன்.

Nice forward mail

First-year students at Veterinary school were attending their first Anatomy class, with a real dead pig.



They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a White sheet. The professor started the class by telling them, 'In Veterinary Medicine it is necessary to have two important qualities as a Doctor: The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the Animal body'. For an example, the Professor pulled back the sheet, touched his finger in the mouth of the dead pig, withdrew it and put his Finger in his mouth. 'Go ahead and do the same thing,' he told his students.



The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes. But eventually took turns putting their finger in the mouth of the dead pig and tasted in their mouth.



When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and said, 'The Second most important quality is observation. I touched with my middle Finger and tasted on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention

How not to get sleep

How not to get sleep?????????????

It is pretty easy. May be I can give you a lot of ideas with all the sleeping problems I have. I found one of the best last night.

Try talking to some one dearest to you, after a long hiatus. I spoke to a friend(once upon a time probably the closest) after almost 2 years. Even though I spoke just for just 30 mins on phone, I wasn't able to sleep the whole night. I really don't know the reason. I was just thinking about the great time we spent together and I was just lost in those thoughts.

Those were the best days of my life.

Good one!!!

A yuppie was opening the door of his BMW when a car came along and hit the door, ripping it off completely. When the police arrived at the scene, the yuppie complained bitterly about the damage to his car.

"Officer, look what they've done to my Beemer!"

"You yuppies are so materialistic, it's ridiculous" retorted the officer. "You're so worried about your stupid BMW, you didn't even notice that your left arm was ripped off."

"Oh, my God!" screamed the yuppie, noticing the bloody stump where his arm used to be. "My Rolex!"

My day at the bank

I am not sure about the other Indians in US, but most of the students here do not carry much cash in the wallets. There are very few places where you would need cash like laundry, cab drivers, road side shops(very few though). I cannot think of any other place where they wont accept credit or debit cards. I was planning to shift my house over the weekend so I had to rent a cab for shifting my stuffs. So I wanted some cash for paying the cab driver.

On Friday afternoon at around 3 pm I went to an ATM and picked up a $20 bill. Normally cab drivers do give the exact change back but there have been instances where they run out of change(at least that's what they tell us). So I wanted to make sure that I get change from the bank for the $20 bill.

Banks here in the US is not as crowded as we used to see in India so I entered one of the nearest banks and it was almost deserted. It was a bank pretty close to the university and I normally frequent that bank. There was a girl at the teller counter who was damn beautiful and I always wanted to talk to her for quite a long time. As no one was there at her counter I went and stood there in the line waiting for her to call me.

When she called me in after 10 secs my heart was pounding and I really don't know that reason. I have never felt like that before. :-)

She welcomed me and asked how she can help me out.

I was in such a state that I blurted out, "I need some change for 20 ducks". I mixed 20 bucks and 20 dollars and blurted it as 20 ducks.

She was laughing like hell and told me that we do not give changes here for ducks. Then I came back to reality and showed her my $20 bill and told that I wanted change for this. She gave me the change and asked me whether I was a student here in the university.

Then she was talking to me about general stuffs like my school, which I am from, etc. etc. The conversation lasted for almost 10 mins as she had too many questions about India. I was happily answering all the questions and she was very happy that I was talking to her. She even inquired me if the foreigners are exploited so badly as it is shown in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

At last I don't feel bad for the mistake I made initially, though I feel embarrassed now. May be you will also agree to that.

It was my day at the bank

This one is for my Mom

I was talking to my parents yesterday on my phone. The usual Saturday evening talk, which happens to be the only time we talk for the week. I was telling my father that I am vacating from the current place and I will be moving to a new one. This is how the conversation went.

FYI: My parents always put their mobile on speaker phone when they talk to me.

Me: Appa, I am shifting my house to a better place this weekend.

Appa: How come it is a better place?

Me: It is a bigger house and the rent is also pretty less

Appa: How can that happen? Are you moving away from the University?

Me: Hmmmm, yes I am moving away. But not very much. Just an extra 5 mins walk.

Appa: Why do you need to do that? Are you moving with the same set of people with whom you are staying now?

Me: No, I am going to stay with a new person. All the other people are going to stay in the same apartment

Appa: Oh, Ok.

I was able to hear my Amma tell something in the background (probably she was little far away from the phone)

Amma: Ask him whether he is going to stay with a guy or a girl????????????

Appa: Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha

Me: @#!$%^%#@%&**%^$##%#$#^&*&^


I didnt expect this from my Mom though. May be she got suspicious with my replies. It took me 5 mins to clarify that I am going to stay only with a guy.

மகாபாரதக் கதை - For a change

ஓஷோ சொல்லும் கதைகளில் ஒன்று இது



திண்ணையில் அமர்ந்திருந்த தருமரிடம் பிச்சை கேட்கிறான் ஒருவன். ஏதோ வேலையாய் இருந்த அவர் ‘நாளைக்கு வாப்பா’ என்கிறார்.

இதைப் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்த பீமன் உடனே முரசை எடுத்துக் கொண்டுபோய் கிராமத்தின் நடுவில் நின்று கொண்டு முரசடிக்கிறான்.

“தம்பி... என்னப்பா செய்கிறாய்? எதற்கு இப்போது முரசடித்து ஊரைக்கூட்டுகிறாய்?” என்று கேட்கிறார் தர்மர்.

“எங்கள் அண்ணன் காலத்தை வென்று விட்டான்’ என்று இந்த ஊருக்கு அறிவிக்கப்போகிறேன் அண்ணா..”

தருமருக்கு ஒன்றும் விளங்கவில்லை. “காலத்தை வென்றேனா.. நானா..?” குழப்பத்தோடே கேட்கிறார்.

“ஆமாம் அண்ணா. பிச்சைக்காரரை நாளைக்கு வரச் சொன்னீர்களே? நீங்கள் நாளைக்கு இருப்பீர்களா? அவன் நாளைக்கு இருப்பானா? நீங்கள் இருந்தால் பிச்சையிடும் மனோபாவம் உங்களுக்கு இருக்குமா? அவன் இருந்தால் நாளைக்கும் அவன் பிச்சைக்காரனாகவே இருப்பானா? நாளைக்கு உங்கள் இருவரின் சந்திப்பு நடைபெறுமா? அப்படியே நடைபெற்றாலும் பிச்சை போடுவீர்களா? எவ்வளவு நிச்சயமாய் இத்தனை கேள்விகளின் சாத்தியங்களை உணர்ந்து நாளை அவனை வரச் சொன்னீர்கள்? அப்படியானால் நீங்கள் காலத்தை வென்றுவிட்டீர்கள் என்றுதானே அர்த்தம்? என்னை விடுங்கள். இப்போதோ இதை ஊராருக்கு அறிவிக்கிறேன். ஏனென்றால் என்னைப் பொறுத்தவரை இந்த கணத்தை நான் தவறவிட்டால் அடுத்த கணம் நிச்சயமாய் என் வசமில்லை. அதனால்தான் இப்போதே அறிவிக்கிறேன் என்று அவசரப்படுகிறேன்” என்றான் பீமன்.

“பொறு தம்பி. தவறுதான். அவனை அழை. இப்போதே உதவுகிறேன். நாளை என்ன அடுத்த நிமிஷமே நிஜமில்லைதான்” என்று சொல்கிறார் தருமர்.


ஆக.. நல்லதை அன்றே அப்போதே செய்துவிடுங்கள். இந்த நிமிஷம் மட்டுமே நிஜம்!

This is how an Engineer thinks

A pastor, a doctor and an engineer wait for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumes, "What's with these guys? We've been waiting for 15 minutes!"

The pastor says, "Hey, here comes the groundskeeper. Let's have a word with him."

"Say, George, what's with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?" the doctor asks.

The groundskeeper tells them that the other golfers are a group of blind firefighters who lost their sight saving the clubhouse from a fire and that they come and play for free whenever they want.

The group is silent for a moment.

The pastor says, "That's so sad. I will say a special prayer for them tonight."

The doctor says, "Good idea. I'm going to contact my ophthalmologist buddy and see if there's anything he can do for them."

The engineer says, "Why can't these guys play at night?"

Super star - The Greatest

Amazing Golf Joke

A man staggers into an emergency room with two black eyes and a five iron wrapped tightly around his throat.

"I was having a quiet round of golf with my wife," he tells the doctor, "when she sliced her ball into a pasture of cows. We went to look for it, and I noticed one of the cows had something white in its rear end. I walked over and lifted up the tail, and sure enough, there was my wife's golf ball stuck right in the cow's butt. That's when I made my mistake."

"What did you do?" asks the doctor.

"Well, as I was standing there holding up the tail, I yelled to my wife, 'Hey, this looks like yours!'"

Lunatics are better than Humans

Jon and Dan are in a mental institution which has an annual contest that picks two of the best patients and gives them two questions. If they answer correctly, they are released.

Jon is called into the doctor's office first. The doctor says, "Jon, what would happen if I poked out one of your eyes?"

Jon says, "I'd be half blind."

"That's correct. What would happen if I poked out both your eyes?"

"I'd be completely blind." The doctor tells him that he is free to go. On Jon's way out he tells Dan the questions and answers.

The doctor asks Dan, "What would happen if I cut off one of your ears?"

Dan says, "I'd be half blind."

The doctor, slightly puzzled, continues, "What would happen if I cut off both your ears?"

"I'd be completely blind."

"Dan, how can you explain that you'd be blind?" asks the doctor.

"Well," replies Dan, "my hat would fall over my eyes."

The many firsts of India's 60th R-Day

India's 60th Republic Day was the nation's first such celebration without a Prime Minister. Defence Minister A K Antony took over the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's duties on Monday.


There were 11 Ashok Chakra awardees. The number was the highest ever.

Among them were Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar and Tukaram Omble -- the policemen who lost their lives on the first night of the Mumbai attacks exactly two months ago.

A woman President taking salute as the commander in chief of the armed forces.

A woman officer leading the Air Force contingent -- a sign of resurgent India marching on.

The President's Joke

Dick Cheney walks into the Oval Office and sees The President whooping and hollering.

"What's the matter, Mr. President?" The Vice President inquired.

"Nothing at all, boss. I just done finished a jigsaw puzzle in record time!" The President beamed.

"How long did it take you?"

"Well, the box said '3 to 5 Years' but I did it in a month!"

Keep your Popcorns ready

A very Happy and prosperous New year 2009 to All....

This year is going to be crucial for Kollywood. Almost all the big stars have made it clear that they will have a release this year. Here’s a list of the 10 most eagerly awaited films…

AAYIRATHIL ORUVAN
Cast: Parthiban, Karthi, Reema Sen, Andrea Director: Selvaraghavan, Music: G V Prakash

The film is the first-of-its-kind in the genre of action-adventure-fantasy and has been in the making for the last 18 months. Selva has opted for the state-of-the-art special effects and graphics in this big-budget entertainer, which sources say costs around Rs 20 crore.

ASOKAVANAM
Cast: Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Prithviraj, Prabhu, Priyamani Director: Mani Ratnam, Music: A R Rahman

No one, just no one in mainstream cinema portrays gossamer romances and human relationships the way Mani Ratnam does. Now, he is making this film as a trilingual in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu. The film, it is said, is a modern day Ramayan.

AYAN
Cast: Surya, Tamannaah, Akashdeep Saigal Director: K V Anand Music: Harris Jayaraj

A brand new pair with a director who is innovative. If that isn’t enough, the movie will see Tammu doing her first glamour role, while Surya with his six-pack abs will look awesome.

ENDHIRAN
Cast: Rajinikanth, Aishwarya Rai Director: Shankar Music: A R Rahman

Rajinikanth and Shankar are coming together again in this sciencefiction movie being billed as a mass entertainer. The movie is said to be the costliest film being made in India with Hollywood technicians.

GOA
Cast: Premji, Vaibhav, Aravind and Jai Director: Venkat Prabhu Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Venkat Prabhu, in his last two films, has established that he can do films with little known actors. The director is on the lookout for a Hollywood actress to play the female lead in the film. Today, the director is a brand who has an audience for his kind of films.

KANTHASAMY
Cast: Vikram, Shriya Director: Susi Ganesan Music: Devi Sri Prasad

Size does matter, is what Tamil cinema’s first super hero film is all about. It is going to be an outand-out Vikram fantasy film, with Shriya doing a glamorous role.

NAAN KADAVUL
Cast: Arya, Pooja Director: Bala Music: Illayaraja

The film, said to be Bala’s magnum opus, has taken nearly two years to complete. Many believe it is going to be Arya’s ticket to stardom as Bala has the reputation of giving big breaks to his artistes.

PADIKKATHAVAN
Cast: Dhanush, Tamannaah, Atul Kulkarni and Vivek Director: Sooraj Music: Mani Sharma

Dhanush is riding a wave and has worked his way up with light- hearted entertainers. It is an all-new team and the director is known for his masala films laced with comedy. There is not going to be a dull moment in this slapstick, action comedy.

SULTAN — THE WARRIOR
Cast: Rajinikanth, Vijayalakshmi. Director: Soundarya Rajinikanth Music: A R Rahman

It is a bold and daring experiment being carried out by Soundarya Rajinikanth and her Ocher Studios, as she is making a full length animation film with her dad, the superstar, playing the central character.

VILLU
Cast: Vijay, Nayanthara, Prakash Raj, Vadivel Director: Prabhudeva Music: Devi Sri Prasad

The movie is expected to be a complete mass entertainer. Vijay is a one-man army when it comes to providing comedy, romance, action and dance.Vijay is being paired opposite Nayanthara for the first time and his favourite director Prabhudeva is in charge. Their last film together Pokkiri was a big hit and fans are expecting a lot from this film too.

Truely Inspirational

This is what you called as perfection!!!

A man once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God. Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby.

Surprised, he asked the sculptor, "Do you need two statues of the same idol?"

"No," said the sculptor without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage."

The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage. "Where is the damage?" he asked.

"There is a scratch on the nose of the idol." said the sculptor, still busy with his work.

"Where are you going to install the idol?" The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high.

"If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?" the gentleman asked.

The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, "I will know it."

Good joke!!!

A housewife buys a parrot to keep her company during the day.

The clerk warns that the parrot was donated by a brothel, where he may have picked up some colorful language.

The housewife doesn't mind and brings the parrot home. When she uncovers the cage, the parrot says, "Brawkk! New Madam. Hello Madam."

When her three daughters come home from school, the parrot says, "Brawkk! New Girls. Hello Girls."

Finally, her husband, Phil, comes home from work, just in time for dinner.

When he walks past the parrot, the parrot says, "Brawkk! Hi Phil!"

Love - A Beautiful feeling

I got this forwardd mail from one of my friend.

Dearest Appa, 27th Jan'1965

Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have missed this winter's biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa. You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan, Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil, filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Physics Department and of course Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn't brought his name in this letter.But not to worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you thought it was best for your daughter. I still remember Amma wiping her silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I told you about Sakthi. Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20 is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected greatly by my 'mistake', the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you'd still have objected and offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk. Visu on the other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man.

Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous. Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn't speak Bengali and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood. Do you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn't ask, he just did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri's son and that made it imposible for Subramania Iyer's daughter Kalyani to marry him.

I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don't think I can make it to Seenu's Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal, I don't use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

===================================================================

Dearest Appa, 20th Oct'1968
We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they sounded like 'Dosai'. But Visu claims it's just gibberish. From your previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and settled in Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his school final exams. Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi's father, your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother's wishes.

How did Avani Avittam go? Visu's mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn't have used it anyway, I haven't seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess. Visu is making sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and Bharathiyaar's poetry when I am alone with him. It's more of reading to myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi, it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.

By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold your breath Appa, he didn't throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no question. He said it is okay and that he doesn't mind. And then he told me of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in New York. Nice lady, she was.
Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and give it to her. I will collect it from her here.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

===================================================================

Dearest Appa, 3rd June'1974

We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam and vaazhai ilai here. Visu's relieved to be back in America. I left a set of my books there. If it's not in Trichy it must be in Visu's parents' place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out Sakthi's present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long. You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika.
He called me. You know what, he's still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He didn't revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him, when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Ra ra Venu Gopala. That's when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then, I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy; after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call, I tried singing 'Kurai Onrum Illai'. I could not rquite reach Charanam, because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and daughter could not just wait for me to finish!
By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I would like to start singing again.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

===================================================================
Dearest Appa, 14th Aug 1978

Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu's parents. It was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening. Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour - I finally got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I'm reminded of AIR, almost! I'm circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is, I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English speaking nation.

The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you, Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don't find an answer, Appa. Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted. Researcher, American Post Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time in Trichy with someone else.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

===================================================================

Dearest Appa, 14th Apr'1984

Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. In fact, they did most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

===================================================================

Dearest Appa, 20th Jan' 1990

I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you. Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn't want to go further. Society, I know. Family… I know… And all these letters would have only wounded you more. Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr. Sakthivel's untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters mean a life that could have been.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

Vaaranam Aayiram - A Big Disapointment

Yes, it was a very big disappointment from Gautam Vasudev Menon. There is nothing good in the movie except for the songs, cinematography and Surya's acting. I didn't see anything great in older Surya as the director explains so that he would be so very influential in his son's life. He loved a girl, proposed and married her. He had lot of debts in the family to an extent that his son graduates and solves all the problems. Smokes and drinks till he gets throat cancer but still he is portrayed as a God Father. That's stupid. There is no proper justification for the younger Surya to be inspired by his father. The movie loses its meaning in that itself.

Surya getting a 6 pack abs, donning different roles were all farce and nothing needed for the movie. Other than Surya, none acted well in the movie. Gautam has not yet found a proper replacement for Jothika, both Sameera Reddy and Divya Spandana suck big time. Simran could have done a lot better.

I do agree that there are very few movies in Tamil depicting a father-son relationship. One of them which I really liked was "Thavamai Thavamirunthu", directed by Cheran. If Gautam had seen that movie he would have definitely re-written the whole script of Vaaranam Aayiram. "Thavamai Thavamirunthu" was a movie in which I was able to identify myself in the character played by Cheran. It would be hard to believe that I cried continuosly for the last one hour of the movie. It portrayed the love between a father and son so very practically that you would cry instantaneously if you loved your Dad so much.

The bottom-line is it was a great performance by Surya and he deserves all the accolades he is getting. Script by Gautam has spoiled the movie and it got very boring at the climax. If you are a fan of Surya watch it once, or else don't waste 3 hrs of your life as I did.

Ghanjni - Music released

The Rahmania strikes again. Music for the hindi version of Ghajini released.

The film has six song tracks composed by the Music God A. R. Rahman , with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi:

* Guzarish - Javed Ali, Sonu Nigam - Vocals

* Aye Bachchoo - Suzanne D'Mello

* Kaise Mujhe - Benny Dayal & Shreya Ghoshal

* Behka - Karthik

* Latoo - Shreya Ghoshal

* Kaise Mujhe (Instrumental) - Instrumental

As always it took some time for the songs to sink in. I cant stop listening to them now. I would have listened to Guzarish atleast 40 time yesterday. Awesome music and commendable lyrics by Prasoon Joshi.

Remember Dec 25, of course for Christmas and also for the release of Ghajini.