Certificates

During my school days receiving a certificate either in competition, sports or in academics was celebratory news. The certificates were considered as real honour and only the best would receive it.

I remember the first certificate I received when I was in the Fifth grade for being part of the M.B.Srinivisan’s troupe for an audition at A.I.R., Chennai. For me, then, it was a great possession.

Nowadays, children are given certificates even for trivial achievements. My six year old daughter bagged her first certificate when she was 2.5 yrs old from her play home during a sports event. Though she has merit certificates in literary fest and chess tournaments still her school recently awarded a certificate for passing U.K.G !!

I feel the child, going forward, will not understand the real value of certificates.

Couple of days before, I was arranging the cup-board and was going through my certificates which I received during the school and college days. My little one sat beside and asked that how many I have – I said ‘30

certificates’.

Immediately she brought her certificates and counted and said ‘amma I have only eleven certificates. You have more’.

Poor girl was unaware of the fact that her mom has received only 30 certificates throughout her student life!!!!

First Chess Tournament

My 5.5 year Old Daughter won four matches out of five she played and bagged the sixth place in the chess tournament (under eight category). Totally there were 33 participants.


Her school has acknowledged her victory. Thanks, DPS East, for the encouragement given to the little one.

Summer vacations in the eighties

The summer vacations are approaching and everyday I come across a new list of names of camps that are with mixed package of “learning with fun for the kids.”

I always think that how our parents managed when we were kids. I still remember that not even a single summer vacation was spent without visiting our athai’s and mama’s houses. We used to play from morning till night with our cousins. It was like a camp with no time limit.

But nowadays relatives do not stay in the same city, in fact in my daughter’s case her cousins stay in a different country. So, it becomes totally impossible to meet during every vacation.

Moreover, In today’s nuclear family it is really difficult to manage the children at home, especially during summer vacations. The children are so active that they need to be engaged throughout the day. Hence, summer camps take the place of the relative’s houses and teachers play the role of aunts and uncles.

But I personally feel that the summer vacations in the eighties were more enjoyable with lots of fun filled games invented by children themselves when compared to the summer camps which are similar to the monotonous routine of schooling.

Endhiran…. ‘engeyo poyittan’

'Endhiran' is the third rajini movie I watched in the big screen. The other two were 'annai or aalayam' and 'sri raaghavendra'.(rajini fans please forgive). I entered the movie hall with a pre-conceived thought that the film will be boring.

But I admit that this man has got some charisma that no Indian actor has. Especially the last forty minutes was really a celebration for the rajini fans when the spark like rajini in the role of chitti, version 2.0 appears. enna acting? I could visualize all the characters that rajini acted in his earlier days. Infact, when chitti uttered the word ‘adaan robot’ , I felt like clapping.

No other actor will be suitable to play the role of chitti other than our super star. Shankar made a correct decision of offering the role to superstar which made this film a hit.Though the film did not have a lengthy story to narrate or punch dialogues like other rajini movies , still the three hours was really exciting.

A cat at the concert

Yesterday my husband, daughter and I went for T.M.Krishna’s concert held at sankar mutt, maleswaram. There was a huge crowd and each one of us were finding a seat for ourselves. The main artist along with the accompanist entered the premises on time. Suddenly, a group of people raised their voices saying, ‘it will disturb the concert please send it out’. We, sitting at the back row could not understand the reason for the commotion. Finally, T.M.Krishna jumped out of the dais and pulled the distressed ‘kitten’ and there was instantaneous applause from the audience.

My daughter was busy with her drawing and was totally unperturbed by the turn of events around her. We decided to leave the concert hall after the rendition of subaraya sastri’s ‘sankari neeve ..’ in raga begada. While we were discussing the intricacies of the concert my daughter interrupted us with a pertinent question-‘amma what happened to the cat?’.

Four today!!!

Happy birthday ananu kutty....

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In praise of mother

We have heard many songs in the tamil movies in praise of mother and motherhood. But the first song that everybody has in mind is ‘amma enrazhaikaadha’ sung by yesudass from the movie ‘mannan’ starring super star rajini kanth.

But there are many songs that are equally melodious and sung by great singers. The list goes-

1 chinna thai aval

2 naanaga naanillai taaye

3 kaalayil dinamum kanvizhithu

My all time favourite song is ‘Uyirum neeye’ from the film ‘pavithra’ sung by unnikrishnan.

You can hear the song here…

belated mother's day wishes to all..

Mein aisa kyon hoon………

I have recently ventured into the weight reduction bandwagon. And joined the gym by name ‘inch by inch’… whether I lose in inches or not but at least my confidence level increases by doing the cardios and the weights. The trainers will always be behind us to see whether we dodge and their never ending counts and speed will really boost the morale. We can see men and women of different shapes and sizes, standing in different corners facing the mirror. And the only song that comes in everybody’s mind is ‘mein aisa kyon hoon…….’

Radio mirchi contest

Radio mirchi bangalore team were in my apartment for a small contest/program.the sponsors were Tvs scooty streak,sobha builders and kotak mahidra bank.They had conducted many contests for the kids and their mothers.My daughter actively participated in the drawing,dancing and singing competitions. She also bagged a prize for the dance.Yours truly was adjudged as the 'super mom' of the event for having participated in almost all the events and won a couple of them. You can hear me shortly on radio mirchi.... keep it tuned....

A Grand master in the making

My six year old nephew played four hours of game of chess and in the process defeated fifteen contestants to bag the gold medal. Congrats M kutty...

A rare recording of esoteric T.Brinda

Iam mad about the song and with the voice of the singer.Listening to this as a continuous loop.

Who needs a break?

I have never stayed away from my daughter for 24 hours in the past three and a quarter of years. I always thought that she will never stay without me. But last week I had to visit Chennai for a personal work. Hence, I had to leave my daughter here in Bangalore with her father. But to my great surprise she accompanied her father to the railway station to drop me and said ‘bye amma jaagaradaya po’ (have a safe trip). And whenever I called her she was talking with full enthu and I could get it from her tone that she has a wonderful time with her father.
All these years I thought that I need a break from the baby care but now I realize that she felt the need much more than I…..

Engal veetu varalakshmi

Among the festivals 'Varalakshmi vratam' is one that I celeberate with full enthusiasm. Here is the amman alankaaram that I have done this year.

Birthdays + Schools = Trouble with teeth

My three year old daughter brings a chocolate bar almost everyday from school, since the day she joined. We have been telling her on the bad effects of chocolates. At home we strictly say no for chocolates and the good part is, she brings the chocolate home and only with our permission she eats it.

But why can’t the school ban chocolates like they have banned coke, pepsi and maggi in their canteen. Two weeks before, during the orientation session, a psychologist addressed the parents about the bad effects of children consuming chocolates and sugar. Even after that I do not understand why the school is still encouraging chocolates.

On the other hand the parents should also be aware of the fact that sending chocolates during birthdays not only spoil their own children but also the other wards in the school. Instead of chocolates why can’t they send small gifts like pencil or crayons which is useful but not harmful.

Not sure if Cadbury refers to this aspect as their “khaas baath” ...

என்னைப்பற்றி நான் Tag.

ப்ளாகேஸ்வரி அவர்களால் டேக் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளேன்.

1) உங்களுக்கு ஏன் இந்தப் பெயர் வந்தது? உங்களுக்கு உங்க பெயர் பிடிக்குமா?

பாமினி என்றால் பெண் என்று பொருள். இந்தப் பெயர் பிடித்ததினால் ப்ளாக்குக்கு இந்தப் பெயரை வைத்தேன்.

2) கடைசியா அழுதது எப்போது?

ஞாபகமில்லை... .

3) உங்களுக்கு உங்க கையெழுத்து பிடிக்குமா?

சில சமயங்களில் பிடிக்கும்.

4) பிடித்த மதிய உணவு?

வத்தக்குழம்பு பருப்பு உசிலி.

5) நீங்க வேற யாருடனாவது நட்பு வெச்சுக்குவீங்களா?

எல்லோருடனும் சகஜமாக பேசுவேன். ஆனால் சிலருடன் தான் நட்பு.

6) கடல்ல குளிக்கப் பிடிக்குமா? அருவியில குளிக்கப் பிடிக்குமா?

நீச்சல் குளத்துல.

7) ஒருவரைப் பார்க்கும்போது முதலில் எதைக் கவனிப்பீர்கள்?

அவர்கள் கண்களை.

8) உங்க கிட்ட உங்களுக்குப் பிடிச்ச விஷயம் என்ன? பிடிக்காத விஷயம் என்ன?

பிடிச்சது : ஞாபகசக்தி
.
பிடிக்காத விஷயம் : ரொம்ப வெளிப்படையாக பேசுவது. இதனால் பலரின் வெறுப்புக்கு பாத்திரமாவது.

9)உங்கள் துணைவர்/துணைவி கிட்டே உங்களுக்குப் பிடிச்ச/பிடிக்காத விஷயம்?

ப்ளாக்கில் என்னைப் பற்றி யோசித்து எழுதுவதே கக்ஷ்டமாக உள்ளது. இதில் அவரைப்பற்றி எழுதவேண்டுமா....


10) இப்போ யார் பக்கத்துல இல்லாம போனதுக்கு வருந்துகிறீர்கள்?

அப்படி யாருமே இல்லை

11) இதை எழுதும்போது என்ன நிறத்தில் ஆடை அணிந்துள்ளீர்கள்?

கறுப்பு + சிகப்புநிற சல்வார் கமீஸ்.

12) என்ன பார்த்து/கேட்டுக்கொண்டு இருக்கிறீர்கள்?

கண்ணே என் கண்மணியே என்ற பாபநாசம் சிவன் பாடலை பம்பாய் ஜயஸ்ரி குரலில் கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்.

13) வர்ணப் பேனாவாக உங்களை மாற்றினால், என்ன நிறப் பேனாவாக மாற ஆசை?

கறுப்புத்தான் எனக்குப் புடிச்சக் கலர்.

14) பிடித்த மணம்?

பூக்களின் வாசம் பிடிக்கும்.

15) நீங்கள் அழைக்கப்போகும் பதிவரிடம் உங்களுக்குப் பிடித்த விஷயம்? அவரை நீங்கள் அழைக்கக் காரணம் என்ன?

என் தோழி : இந்த காரணம் போதாதா !!!!!

16)உங்களுக்கு இதை அனுப்பிய பதிவரின் பதிவுகளில் உங்களுக்குப் பிடித்த பதிவு?

டெலி வெட்டிகள்.


17) பிடித்த விளையாட்டு?

Cards.

18) கண்ணாடி அணிபவரா?

இல்லை.

19) எந்த மாதிரியான திரைப்படம் பிடிக்கும்?

1. காமெடி படங்கள்.
2. ரொமான்ஸ் படங்கள்.

20) கடைசியாகப் பார்த்த படம்?

பசங்க

21) பிடித்த பருவ காலம் எது?

பங்களூரில் ஒரு பனிக்காலம்.

22) என்ன புத்தகம் படித்துக்கொண்டு இருக்கிறீர்கள்?

கல்கியின் பார்த்திபன் கனவு.

23) உங்கள் டெஸ்க்டாப்பில் இருக்கும் படத்தை எத்தனை நாளைக்கு ஒருமுறை மாற்றுவீர்கள்?

நான்கைந்து மாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு முறை.

24) பிடித்த சத்தம்? பிடிக்காத சத்தம்?

பிடிச்சது - எல்லா இசை கருவியின் சத்தம்.
பிடிக்காதது: எரிச்சலை உண்டாக்கும் சத்தம்.

25) வீட்டை விட்டு நீங்கள் சென்ற அதிக தொலைவு?

இந்தப் பக்கம் துபாய். அந்தப்பக்கம் தாய்லாந்து.

26) உங்களிடம் ஏதாவது தனித்திறமை இருக்கிறதா?

மற்றவர்கள் தான் சொல்ல வேண்டும்.

27) உங்களால் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியாத ஒரு விஷயம்?

பொய் சொல்வது.
திருடுவது.

28) உங்களுக்கு உள்ளே இருக்கும் சாத்தான்?

கோபம்.

29) உங்களுக்குப் பிடித்த சுற்றுலாத் தலம்?

வயனாட்.

30) எப்படி இருக்கணும்னு ஆசை?

இம்மியளவு இன்ச் குறையாமல் இப்படியே

31) கணவர்/மனைவி இல்லாமல் செய்ய விரும்பும் காரியம்?

எதுவுமில்லை.

32) வாழ்வு பற்றி ஒரு வரியில் சொல்லுங்க

நாளை இருப்போமா இல்லையா என்பதை நினைவு கொள்ளாமல் எவ்வளவு மனக்கோட்டைகள்.

What to cook?

“Is there anything in this world other than satisfying the stomach from morning till night?” She thinks every time while entering the kitchen.
More than cooking deciding the menu takes her time. There are lots of rules in the house regarding the menu. There should not be any repetition of the menu in the same week. The side dish should suite the main menu. There is constant danger of the menu being decided by ‘others’ in the house if the frustration was expressed, explicitly. Cooking is the only thing where she has complete freedom over and she will fight to retain that domain…at any cost.

Tagged again!!!!

I have been tagged by blogeswari and I am supposed to pick a blog that really impressed me, but it can't be someone I know. Not even virtually. It has to be a blog you stumbled upon or walked into through links. It can't be a blogger I have built an online relationship with.

And the award goes to sriram.v, who is not only a blogger but also writes for hindu, madras musings and he has also authored a book on bangalore nagarathamma. This blog is an informative one on madras and music.

NRIs (Not Rich Indeed)

We have a notion that NRIs are richer than people living in India. It is true to some extent. The NRIs are rich in India but we do not know their status in the place they live. I had stayed in the middle east for one and a half years. I had seen many people who literally struggle to run their family. If they have kids it is more difficult to maintain the expenses within the budget.

On the other hand there are many people here in India who are ignorant about the status of the NRIs and demand things from them. In fact these people forget that the NRIs also run a family with kids.
One kg of toor daal is 62 rupees in India it is double/triple the rate in US/UK and in other countries. Working abroad is not just a cake walk for them they too slog for every penny they earn.

Moreover, whatever that is available in the western countries are available now in India. So, next time spare a thought for your poor country cousin before mailing your shopping list.

Three already !!

How wonderful life is when you are with us

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Happy birthday, ananu kutty

‘ kasmaalam’ (origin a guess)

I have come across many sites on the tamil slang.
‘Kasmaalam’ is a word used in tamil. I am not sure of the meaning of the word. But for sure it is used in an abusing sense. In many tamil movies this word is spoken as a madras slang. There are many words used in tamil slang that are meaningless. But I think this word has taken its origin from the Sanskrit word ‘kashmalam’ which means dirty, disgraceful or foul. There are many tamilians who are anti- Sanskrit have accepted to use the Sanskrit word at least as a jargon. (albeit unknowingly)