Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
A Great Evening in Dallas!
OK, so you go to a music concert by some South Indian singers and you expect some
"kuthu paattu" and "item numbers". And what if you did not get them all but a very
good rendering of good songs and as a bonus some Karnatic and Hindustani "aalaaps"?
A great evening with "complete" entertainment?
Then I would like to call it a complete entertainment for the concert that was held by Vibha
on 5th October 2007 in Dallas. The singers were Unni Krishnan, Sadhana Sargam,
Ganga & Karthik. Wow, what a night it was!
After a brief introduction, Unni walks in with a Ramarajan kinda shirt (Is Vijayakant
auctioning off his wardrobe after getting into politics?) and starts singing "Haira Haira
Hairabba" from the movie "Jeans". It was really superb. He sang a couple of Tamil
songs originally sung by him. Ganga joined with him for a couple of songs too. Then came
Sadhana Sargam. She sung some good Tamil songs with her mellifluous voice. Her Tamil
pronounciation was much better than some Tamil singers who sing Tamil Songs
(KK, Yuvan Shankar Raja to name a few).
Then came that "podi payal" Karthik. Wow.... I still remember that kid singing in
"Saptha Swarangal" with large glasses :-) He has a great voice and he sung many songs
with Ganga & Sadhana and a few solos too.
In all, Unni, Sadhana, Ganga & Karthik gave an outstanding performance that night and
was enjoying every bit of that.Needless to say, the band consisting of just four people
(Tabela/Mridhangam, Drums, Keyboard and Guitar) performed excellently and giving
the best out of them. I would say, it was my good luck not to have missed such a concert
if not for my wife.
The surprise is yet to come.
When the concert ended about 11:45, I was pestering my wife's friend whose wife was
a volunteer for Vibha, to take me to the back stage and let me talk to Unni for a few
minutes. For, I had a question to ask. He tried all possibile ways and finallygave up and
said he doesn't have much influence to take me to the back stage. So much dejected, my
wife and I walked out of the Auditorium at about 12am, got into the car, pulled out of the
Auditorium and was about to get into the street. That's when I noticed Unni talking to
someone at the side entrance to the Auditorium. Voila, there's my opportunity!
I took my wife along with me to speak a few words with Unni. Guess what, he spoke to us in
a nice manner as we did to him. My wife was all of appreciating his voice and thanked him
for providing such a magnificent performance that evening. He acceptedall that and was
just magnanimous. Then came my question to Unni if he got the shirt from Ramarajan
or someone as it was just as jazzy as Ramarajan would wear in his movie songs. For this
Unni gave a big time laughter as an answer. And I liked that in him. Before leaving, he gave
his email ID to contact him in the future.
Thanks to you all. A special thanks to Unni for singing the Indian National Anthem after someone from the Audience yelled at him to sing the National Anthem.
OK, so you go to a music concert by some South Indian singers and you expect some
"kuthu paattu" and "item numbers". And what if you did not get them all but a very
good rendering of good songs and as a bonus some Karnatic and Hindustani "aalaaps"?
A great evening with "complete" entertainment?
Then I would like to call it a complete entertainment for the concert that was held by Vibha
on 5th October 2007 in Dallas. The singers were Unni Krishnan, Sadhana Sargam,
Ganga & Karthik. Wow, what a night it was!
After a brief introduction, Unni walks in with a Ramarajan kinda shirt (Is Vijayakant
auctioning off his wardrobe after getting into politics?) and starts singing "Haira Haira
Hairabba" from the movie "Jeans". It was really superb. He sang a couple of Tamil
songs originally sung by him. Ganga joined with him for a couple of songs too. Then came
Sadhana Sargam. She sung some good Tamil songs with her mellifluous voice. Her Tamil
pronounciation was much better than some Tamil singers who sing Tamil Songs
(KK, Yuvan Shankar Raja to name a few).
Then came that "podi payal" Karthik. Wow.... I still remember that kid singing in
"Saptha Swarangal" with large glasses :-) He has a great voice and he sung many songs
with Ganga & Sadhana and a few solos too.
In all, Unni, Sadhana, Ganga & Karthik gave an outstanding performance that night and
was enjoying every bit of that.Needless to say, the band consisting of just four people
(Tabela/Mridhangam, Drums, Keyboard and Guitar) performed excellently and giving
the best out of them. I would say, it was my good luck not to have missed such a concert
if not for my wife.
The surprise is yet to come.
When the concert ended about 11:45, I was pestering my wife's friend whose wife was
a volunteer for Vibha, to take me to the back stage and let me talk to Unni for a few
minutes. For, I had a question to ask. He tried all possibile ways and finallygave up and
said he doesn't have much influence to take me to the back stage. So much dejected, my
wife and I walked out of the Auditorium at about 12am, got into the car, pulled out of the
Auditorium and was about to get into the street. That's when I noticed Unni talking to
someone at the side entrance to the Auditorium. Voila, there's my opportunity!
I took my wife along with me to speak a few words with Unni. Guess what, he spoke to us in
a nice manner as we did to him. My wife was all of appreciating his voice and thanked him
for providing such a magnificent performance that evening. He acceptedall that and was
just magnanimous. Then came my question to Unni if he got the shirt from Ramarajan
or someone as it was just as jazzy as Ramarajan would wear in his movie songs. For this
Unni gave a big time laughter as an answer. And I liked that in him. Before leaving, he gave
his email ID to contact him in the future.
Thanks to you all. A special thanks to Unni for singing the Indian National Anthem after someone from the Audience yelled at him to sing the National Anthem.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
SONIA GANDHI IS NOT RELATED TO MAHATMA GANDHI
TO THOSE IT MAY CONCERN:
THIS IS TO ANNOUNCE THAT SONIA GANDHI IS NOT RELATED TO MAHATMA GANDHI IN ANYWAY. SHE IS NEITHER HIS DAUGHER NOR HIS GRAND DAUGHER.
HER ACTUAL NAME IS ANTONIA MAINO. SHE IS AN ITALIAN. SHE HAPPENED TO BEFRIEND RAJIV GANDHI WHO HAPPENED TO BE THE SECOND SON OF FORMER INDIAN PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI. THEY EVENTUALLY MARRIED AND THUS GOT HER LAST NAME "GANDHI". SHE WAS AN ITALIAN CITIZEN UNTIL 1999 AND GOT HER INDIAN CITIZENSHIP AFTER THAT. SO, SHE IS NOT AN INDIAN BY BIRTH. SHE IS AN ITALIAN BY BIRTH AND WILL ALWAYS BE EVER. DUE TO THE STUPIDITY OF RAJIV GANDHI SHE GOT INTO INDIAN POLITICS AND NOW SHE IS THE KING MAKER OF ONE OF THE LARGEST POLICITAL PARTIES IN INDIA.
BEWARE FOLKS! SHE IS SAID TO BE SENDING OUT FALSE PROPAGANDA THAT SHE IS FROM GANDHI FAMILY!
ANYONE SAYS SO, PLEASE CORRECT THEM, ONCE AND FOR ALL!
THANK YOU
AN INDIAN
TO THOSE IT MAY CONCERN:
THIS IS TO ANNOUNCE THAT SONIA GANDHI IS NOT RELATED TO MAHATMA GANDHI IN ANYWAY. SHE IS NEITHER HIS DAUGHER NOR HIS GRAND DAUGHER.
HER ACTUAL NAME IS ANTONIA MAINO. SHE IS AN ITALIAN. SHE HAPPENED TO BEFRIEND RAJIV GANDHI WHO HAPPENED TO BE THE SECOND SON OF FORMER INDIAN PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI. THEY EVENTUALLY MARRIED AND THUS GOT HER LAST NAME "GANDHI". SHE WAS AN ITALIAN CITIZEN UNTIL 1999 AND GOT HER INDIAN CITIZENSHIP AFTER THAT. SO, SHE IS NOT AN INDIAN BY BIRTH. SHE IS AN ITALIAN BY BIRTH AND WILL ALWAYS BE EVER. DUE TO THE STUPIDITY OF RAJIV GANDHI SHE GOT INTO INDIAN POLITICS AND NOW SHE IS THE KING MAKER OF ONE OF THE LARGEST POLICITAL PARTIES IN INDIA.
BEWARE FOLKS! SHE IS SAID TO BE SENDING OUT FALSE PROPAGANDA THAT SHE IS FROM GANDHI FAMILY!
ANYONE SAYS SO, PLEASE CORRECT THEM, ONCE AND FOR ALL!
THANK YOU
AN INDIAN
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Do you have kids?
Well, this happened about ten years ago. It was the time when I was trying to settle down in the US. Before coming to the US,I lived with my family (duh! Everybody lives with ther family..) but the difference is I lived in a joint family (which was becoming uncommon even during those days.. Tell me about it now). The reason for my precursor is that, I was so much of a "pazham"while in India and never went to a restaurant that served meat (mutton, chicken etc. I will write a seperate posting about an experience.).
Back to what I was saying... It was the first time that I had to interact with friends who are not actually your "close friends" but"just" friends. So, I was being careful with not only with the fellow Indians but also with Americans (well, I have to be careful even now but I know the moves now so don't have to be "too" careful). In this situation, I happened to befriend two Americans inmy work place. One used to be very naughty (Pat) & playful and the other used to be calm & quiet (Gat). Both of them admired Indiansespeically me (varey wah!). Hence the time I was working there was real fun.
We were sharing an Office along with another fellow Indian who is really well educated (M. Tech. from IIT Karagpur) and he was real fun for us as he was not even as streetsmart as I was! Let's name him Amar.
One day Pat asked Amar, "Do you have children?". For this Amar replied "I am not married". Thinking that his accent was too much for Amar, Pat this time asked slowly "D o y o u h a v e c h i l d r e n ?"! Amar replied the same "I am not married".
This time Pat got kinda mad at himself, for he asked something to Amar that Amar didn't like the question plus he wasn'tsure if he understood Pat. So this time, Pat told me to tell this to Amar as Amar seems to have understood my accent (!).Amar, again responded the same way "I am not married.".
Gat was watching us all the way through and apparently he was looking at me. By then I understood what Pat meant and at the same time what Amar thought in his mind. I was trying hard not to laugh but somehow I lost the edge and started giggling. Now, Pat looked at me in a weird way and was asking me "So you knew what he was saying and you didn't tell me about it?". I responded to Pat that it is Indian thing, or better yet, the eastern thing. Now, Gat started realizing Amar's response andstarted laughing too.
This put off Pat and he got kinda mat at us and started cursing in American slang and asked us in loud voice what the hell was going on? After a brief pause, Amar tried to compose himself and said "How can I have kids if I am not married?".
Needless to say Pat joined our laughter. And Amar never got it.
Of rubber gobs and monkeys!
A few days ago, our great CM of Tamil Nadu opened his ever widening mouth and uttered an insensitive and idiotic remarkabout Lord Ram. The question is NOT whether Ram existed or not; his question was did Ram actually built the Sethu and if he did then what engineering school he studied to build it? Well, many have responded to his nonsensical utterance and I am not going to go deep into it. My only point is, what gives Mr KK an authority to use is "rational" thoughts on Hinduism. Keep this in mind, he has never commented on other religions nor has he guts to comment - or even to talk - about other religions. That clearly means he has no right to talk on religions. Period. He can all day long claim that that there is no GOD but not mess with religions and the beliefs associated with them.
Then there is this monkey called Ramvilas Vedanti! This man considers himself the Representative of Hindu Religion and calls for beheading of KK and whoever brings his corpse, would give gold for every gram of KK's flesh/body. What a barbaric thought. To begin with, he should not be considered Hindu as Hindu religion does NOT recognize killing of humans. Period. On top of all that, he is going to give Gold for KK's flesh/bones... It is sad that nobody came forward to denounce his stupid response to KK's nonsense. May be he realized that he had said something very stupid, stupider than what KK had said and just yesterday he took back what he said and claimed he never said what he had originally said. What a bozo!
The subsequent attacks of DMK on BJP (which is so stupid and childish because BJP has nothing to do with what the "monkey" had said) and attacks of BJP guys on DMK guys in Mumbai clearly indicate the kind of respect us Tamilians would get in the future from the Centre (New Delhi).
What I don't understand is, KK took about forty years to bring back the kind of respect that TN needed badly, after having created an "anti-Indian and/or "anti-North Indian" image while trying to protest introduction of Hindi in TN (during 50's & 60's). Now he himself is creating a situation again, where TN would become alienated from the national stream.
I hope it doesn't happen but you don't know what is in KK's mind. At least he seems to have gotten matured (after 80 years of age... Come'on...) that he let out a statement that his party won't protest against the so called "announcement" made by the "monkey".
A few days ago, our great CM of Tamil Nadu opened his ever widening mouth and uttered an insensitive and idiotic remarkabout Lord Ram. The question is NOT whether Ram existed or not; his question was did Ram actually built the Sethu and if he did then what engineering school he studied to build it? Well, many have responded to his nonsensical utterance and I am not going to go deep into it. My only point is, what gives Mr KK an authority to use is "rational" thoughts on Hinduism. Keep this in mind, he has never commented on other religions nor has he guts to comment - or even to talk - about other religions. That clearly means he has no right to talk on religions. Period. He can all day long claim that that there is no GOD but not mess with religions and the beliefs associated with them.
Then there is this monkey called Ramvilas Vedanti! This man considers himself the Representative of Hindu Religion and calls for beheading of KK and whoever brings his corpse, would give gold for every gram of KK's flesh/body. What a barbaric thought. To begin with, he should not be considered Hindu as Hindu religion does NOT recognize killing of humans. Period. On top of all that, he is going to give Gold for KK's flesh/bones... It is sad that nobody came forward to denounce his stupid response to KK's nonsense. May be he realized that he had said something very stupid, stupider than what KK had said and just yesterday he took back what he said and claimed he never said what he had originally said. What a bozo!
The subsequent attacks of DMK on BJP (which is so stupid and childish because BJP has nothing to do with what the "monkey" had said) and attacks of BJP guys on DMK guys in Mumbai clearly indicate the kind of respect us Tamilians would get in the future from the Centre (New Delhi).
What I don't understand is, KK took about forty years to bring back the kind of respect that TN needed badly, after having created an "anti-Indian and/or "anti-North Indian" image while trying to protest introduction of Hindi in TN (during 50's & 60's). Now he himself is creating a situation again, where TN would become alienated from the national stream.
I hope it doesn't happen but you don't know what is in KK's mind. At least he seems to have gotten matured (after 80 years of age... Come'on...) that he let out a statement that his party won't protest against the so called "announcement" made by the "monkey".
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Folks, watch this video of Yuvraj hitting six sixers in an over in 20-20 match against England.
Well, first of all he washed off all his sins he committed by letting Mascaranhas hit five sixes in his over in a one day match just a few weeks ago. Secondly, he let his fists take a back seat and let his wrists give answers to Flintoff's racial slurs.
Here is the shorter version:
Here is the full version:
Ensoyyyy...
Well, first of all he washed off all his sins he committed by letting Mascaranhas hit five sixes in his over in a one day match just a few weeks ago. Secondly, he let his fists take a back seat and let his wrists give answers to Flintoff's racial slurs.
Here is the shorter version:
Here is the full version:
Ensoyyyy...
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
What is wrong with these two?
Scene 1
Location: Somewhere in San Jose area in California
Backdrop: A lazy fall afternoon day which happens to be the day before Christmas during mid-90's.
Actors: A woman who is a bus driver and two young (?) guys from India who are FOB
(fresh on-board). Needless to say, they are those h1 visa holders from India who were entering the US in flocks those days. Let's name one of them Raj & the other as Gaj. Incidentally, they became friends while working at the same client site for just over a month.
Let's go to the scene:
Both the guys hop on to the bus that's parked on the bus stop. They couldn't find the driver inside the Bus and in fact, there is no one inside the bus. So they decide tomove to the back side of the bus and wait for the driver. They wait for about five minutes and the driver gets onto the bus with a large drink in her hands.
Driver: Hi guys... Merry Christmas.. Where are you guys heading today?
Gaj: Hi... We are heading to Santa Clara.
Driver: OK. Let's wait for a few more minutes and get going.... Let's see if some other passengers show up..
Raj to Gaj: What is this man? I have never seen an empty bus in India like this where the driver is actuallywaiting for passengers. If it is in Madras, there will be about 100 people waiting for the bus in the bus stop andthe driver would stop the bus at least few hundred yards away from the stop to avoid passengers boarding thealready full-house bus.
Gaj: In the US it is this way man! People have cars to go around places and plus it is holiday season-naa, so people would have gone shopping in their cars.
Driver: OK guys. Let's go. Looks like it is going to be an empty bus so let me know where you want to get down, allright?
Gaj: Sure..
After a few momens, the bus gets started. Now the driver feels that she is alone in the front part of the bus and she needs someone to talk to (apparently). Without showing her feeling, she says "Guys... There is no one in the bus except us three. So, come to the front side of the bus to balance the load(?)".
Now, Gaj and Raj both go and sit near the driver's seat.
Driver: So, what are you guys planning to do for Christmas?
Gaj: Well, we have no plans. May be some movies!
Driver: Do you have any family here?
Gaj: No.. We don't have our families here.
Driver: That's bad... How about you mister?
This time the question is posed at Raj who has been quitely watching Gaj and driver conversing. Not that he didn't want to disturb their conversation but he had no idea how to converse with strangers (don't ask him why! This is one of Eastern stuff he brought with him).
Raj: Well, I too don't have any family here!
Driver: So, what have YOU planned for Christmas then?
Gaj: Well, I am a Hindu so I don't celeberate Christmas!!!!
Uh, oh... Now, Raj has woken up a sleeping giant and all hell is gonna break loose.
After hearing this answer, the driver waits for a moment and parks the bus at the next stop and turns around towards Raj. Raj is now terrified man not knowing exactly what he told her to piss her off!
Driver: Let me tell you one thing..... When you are in America, you are an American. So, don't bring that Indian or Hindu type of thing here. Christmas is not a religious festival in the US. It is a holiday celeberated to enjoy winter weather where family and friends get to gether. So, next time someone asks this question to you, you better say that you are going to watch movies, or eat lunch/dinner with your friends and stuff. And don't ever say that you don't celeberate Christmas.
Raj: I am sorry.. I didn't mean to offend you but I told you the truth.
Driver: I know for a fact that most people from India don't celeberate Christmas. As I said, be an American when you are in America. And you are American since you are in America.
Raj: OK. I will remember.
The scene continues such that both of them are dropped at the bus stop eventually and they go home to celeberate the Holidays.
Let's fast forward our story to exactly five years. Now we are in 2001.
Scene 2:
Location: An Office Building in Texas
Backdrop: A lazy afternoon during Office hours which happens to be the day before Christmas.
Actors: Two men. One is Raj (who acted in Scene 1) and the other is John Doe (original name protected). Both are colleagues in a Company and each works in different departments of the Company. John Doe is in Sales & Raj is a developer.
Let's go to the conversation.
JD: Hi Raj ... So, what's happening? What are you planning to do for the holiday?
Raj: No.. But, I am going to celeberate Christmas by watching movies and stuff...
JD: Wait a minute... I thought you are a Hindu!
Raj: Yes, I am a Hindu.
JD: But, I thought Hindus don't celeberate Christmas.
Raj: Yes, Hindus don't celeberate Christmas.. But I celeberate it.
JD: How?
Raj: Because, I am an American. In America, Christmas is not a religious day.. It is a day when family and friends get togetherand have family time. Those who don't, just hang out with friends and stuff. Basically, everybody celeberates Christmas as a holiday, one way or the other.
JD: But, you are not an American.
Raj: Well, I am.. I am in America so I am American.
JD: No, you cannot be an American. You are neither naturlized citizen nor born in the US. So, you are not American. Nor you canceleberate Christmas.
The scene continued with these two men's conversation on other stuff. Raj never brought up this subject ever after with JD.
Now, the question to you: What is wrong with these two scenes?
Scene 1
Location: Somewhere in San Jose area in California
Backdrop: A lazy fall afternoon day which happens to be the day before Christmas during mid-90's.
Actors: A woman who is a bus driver and two young (?) guys from India who are FOB
(fresh on-board). Needless to say, they are those h1 visa holders from India who were entering the US in flocks those days. Let's name one of them Raj & the other as Gaj. Incidentally, they became friends while working at the same client site for just over a month.
Let's go to the scene:
Both the guys hop on to the bus that's parked on the bus stop. They couldn't find the driver inside the Bus and in fact, there is no one inside the bus. So they decide tomove to the back side of the bus and wait for the driver. They wait for about five minutes and the driver gets onto the bus with a large drink in her hands.
Driver: Hi guys... Merry Christmas.. Where are you guys heading today?
Gaj: Hi... We are heading to Santa Clara.
Driver: OK. Let's wait for a few more minutes and get going.... Let's see if some other passengers show up..
Raj to Gaj: What is this man? I have never seen an empty bus in India like this where the driver is actuallywaiting for passengers. If it is in Madras, there will be about 100 people waiting for the bus in the bus stop andthe driver would stop the bus at least few hundred yards away from the stop to avoid passengers boarding thealready full-house bus.
Gaj: In the US it is this way man! People have cars to go around places and plus it is holiday season-naa, so people would have gone shopping in their cars.
Driver: OK guys. Let's go. Looks like it is going to be an empty bus so let me know where you want to get down, allright?
Gaj: Sure..
After a few momens, the bus gets started. Now the driver feels that she is alone in the front part of the bus and she needs someone to talk to (apparently). Without showing her feeling, she says "Guys... There is no one in the bus except us three. So, come to the front side of the bus to balance the load(?)".
Now, Gaj and Raj both go and sit near the driver's seat.
Driver: So, what are you guys planning to do for Christmas?
Gaj: Well, we have no plans. May be some movies!
Driver: Do you have any family here?
Gaj: No.. We don't have our families here.
Driver: That's bad... How about you mister?
This time the question is posed at Raj who has been quitely watching Gaj and driver conversing. Not that he didn't want to disturb their conversation but he had no idea how to converse with strangers (don't ask him why! This is one of Eastern stuff he brought with him).
Raj: Well, I too don't have any family here!
Driver: So, what have YOU planned for Christmas then?
Gaj: Well, I am a Hindu so I don't celeberate Christmas!!!!
Uh, oh... Now, Raj has woken up a sleeping giant and all hell is gonna break loose.
After hearing this answer, the driver waits for a moment and parks the bus at the next stop and turns around towards Raj. Raj is now terrified man not knowing exactly what he told her to piss her off!
Driver: Let me tell you one thing..... When you are in America, you are an American. So, don't bring that Indian or Hindu type of thing here. Christmas is not a religious festival in the US. It is a holiday celeberated to enjoy winter weather where family and friends get to gether. So, next time someone asks this question to you, you better say that you are going to watch movies, or eat lunch/dinner with your friends and stuff. And don't ever say that you don't celeberate Christmas.
Raj: I am sorry.. I didn't mean to offend you but I told you the truth.
Driver: I know for a fact that most people from India don't celeberate Christmas. As I said, be an American when you are in America. And you are American since you are in America.
Raj: OK. I will remember.
The scene continues such that both of them are dropped at the bus stop eventually and they go home to celeberate the Holidays.
Let's fast forward our story to exactly five years. Now we are in 2001.
Scene 2:
Location: An Office Building in Texas
Backdrop: A lazy afternoon during Office hours which happens to be the day before Christmas.
Actors: Two men. One is Raj (who acted in Scene 1) and the other is John Doe (original name protected). Both are colleagues in a Company and each works in different departments of the Company. John Doe is in Sales & Raj is a developer.
Let's go to the conversation.
JD: Hi Raj ... So, what's happening? What are you planning to do for the holiday?
Raj: No.. But, I am going to celeberate Christmas by watching movies and stuff...
JD: Wait a minute... I thought you are a Hindu!
Raj: Yes, I am a Hindu.
JD: But, I thought Hindus don't celeberate Christmas.
Raj: Yes, Hindus don't celeberate Christmas.. But I celeberate it.
JD: How?
Raj: Because, I am an American. In America, Christmas is not a religious day.. It is a day when family and friends get togetherand have family time. Those who don't, just hang out with friends and stuff. Basically, everybody celeberates Christmas as a holiday, one way or the other.
JD: But, you are not an American.
Raj: Well, I am.. I am in America so I am American.
JD: No, you cannot be an American. You are neither naturlized citizen nor born in the US. So, you are not American. Nor you canceleberate Christmas.
The scene continued with these two men's conversation on other stuff. Raj never brought up this subject ever after with JD.
Now, the question to you: What is wrong with these two scenes?
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