Jai “Mata” Dee!??

Jai “Mata” Dee!??
Maa…you can be such a pain in the…..@$$#!

Last Friday when my husband said, come and pick me up early. I was excited, hoping for a dinner or a (long due) walk to the beach during sun-set. Being in Chennai, with all my friends back in Delhi, I endlessly whine and wait for Fridays where I can have a bit of a go-out session! And all decked up, I picked him up and said where do we go, while he almost simultaneously informed at home – Amma, I am on my way home! People, who know me, would have seen the VIBGYOR on my face fade to the expression of that of LIVID. (BTW, my good friend Dr. Dominic told me once that LIVID that can mean angry/annoyed- is actually a medical term now used commonly. When you have a concussion or a small blood clot - the color that you see changes from red, violet, greenish blue…that’s called LIVID - FYI) So I figured my husband who is a fitness fanatic had done thigh exercise at the gym and was feeling the heat “Perhaps”. He realized the tension in me for the weekend was falling and I would get bored watching the SUN and the MOON TV’s. Nobody’s got an interest in Hindi channels and I don’t blame them and Discoveries and NGC’s are not allowed in a vegetarian household! How could you watch a Lion tearing apart Oh Dear, Disgusting! He said I am feeling tired! And I was mum! (Thinking why did you have to go all out at the GYM) But later I realized, Mum is actually the word!!! Thereafter I started cursing myself, for I realized what a stupid un-understanding and selfish wife I was becoming. He kept quite, but I felt the heat (literally), he was running a temperature and while I did what I can, I was quite ashamed of being such a jerk! Anyways, so Saturday came and he rested and slept endlessly… Sunday morning happened and I saw something, that didn’t look like acne or a heat-boil. Suggested him to get it tested for Chicken Pox…and then the shit hit the ceiling…!!!!

Incredible India that we live in can be quite amazing and annoying at the same time. Like I mentioned in my previous post about similarities in addressing people across cultures as bhai jaan, bhaiyya, anna, dada or chettan…For conjunctivitis also, the term is EYES… Aankhein in Hindi, Madras Eye for here and likewise! And for Chicken Pox too…the word is MOTHER! In North it is called Mata and in South it is called Ammai! (Chinna Ammai/Chotee Mata is Chicken Pox, Periya Ammai/Barhi Mata – Small Pox and Thaata Ammai/well thaata means grandpa…so I am assuming Measles in hindi it should be Nana?Nah.. doesn’t sound like it – how about DADA MATA???).

So Goddess has come home! And while, surfing enough on the net, I figured there is nothing much you can do about it and this one is purely treated by home remedies… BUT My dear COOK MAMI was all active. (She will figure quite a lot in my posts hereafter, for she is our lifeline, literally pampering me like a kid from morning coffee to lunch dabba to dinner…she is somebody we can’t do without and I have to admit she is extremely nice and a warm lady, and that’s also because my Mother-in-law is also all caring I am not saying this to impress her…she doesn’t read this). But then we all are annoying at times aren’t we? And the dear cook MAMI is no exception…I think it can also be because of her all screechy voice…

So there she was...Firm! NO Going to the doctor! For God sake WHY? Arey, Amman has come home/Maata ghar aayee hai, It’s a good thing!! Don't worry! Oh Yeah? To see the poor guy erupting like a cracker is a good thing? And what if this is Herpes and not Chicken Pox…Well, Thanks but no thanks… Helplessness, anger and teary eyed all I wanted desperately was to confirm if these 2 boils are actually courtesy –Teri…Maa kee! But while I was Hyper, I must give my husband 100% credit for the patience he has (I think all Pisceans have it in them), he kept nodding, waited and tolerated her for the next hour and a half and after she left cooking more than meals for us…he forced all at home to go and get it at least confirmed with the Doctor. But ask any original and ultra religious MOM, and you are told, “If you go to a doctor and do anything against the wishes, Ammai/Maata will get angry”. What will you do? It was a difficult choice – Hell difficult. Nobody was to be blamed. I believed in medicine and she believed in GOD and why the disease itself is named after GODDESS DURGA/KALI…so what to do? But thankfully, the cooking influence was greasy enough, for we finally convinced at home and to my relief went to the doc! And yes, it was confirmed as Chicken POX. And while doctor, gave medicines, he also rationally made everyone including ME understand that home-remedy is the best cure and these medicines are only to lessen itching and scarring. So both the parties were relieved. While the traditional therapy is being followed, medical intervention was a big phew - to me!

I think scientifically the disease is considered a blessing in disguise for the cure leaves you with some strong antibodies that hold your immune system even better. And probably that’s why Ammai/Mata coming home is considered good…And for traditional therapies like neem any guesses. Actually when the boils explode, the pus attracts a lot of ants and unwarranted insects and bitter Margosa leaves around the patient help stay them away. Oh Okay! So the moral of the story was don’t confuse everything with orthodoxy and superstition! Like I did! Honestly, While we sometimes get too aggressive about the whole deal about what the heck and I don’t believe in this orthodox and stupid superstition –And I am modern shit …I couldn’t deny that the vegetarian household finally had a chicken suffering from Mata… and much to kick off my false- ego; Reality bit me… Indeed one has to go by what the oldies say. It is indeed the good old Neem/ Margosa leaves and turmeric that cure the disease from spreading and while it is contagious, I see my poor man’s Cherubian face look like more and more like that of Archie!

And while he is trying his best to take it all by himself so it doesn’t spread to anyone of us.…he forced me to run to office…And when I was leaving, despite high temperature and a very-very tired look on his face, Archie managed to say with a faint smile – Hey I told you I wasn’t 30!!!! I was quick to reply controlling my emotions Sure “Jai Mata Dee”!

I am my own Bappida!

“Chinamma Chilakkama ….Choodu Choodu Choodu,
Chinamma Chilakkamma…. Aadu Aadu Aadu!
Koochamma, Uravamma, Tulasamma, Raagamma…
Chinamma Chilakkama!!!!”
I have heard this song before - Yes I have heard this song before… And I know it was a Rahman song... A Chorus song with that husky Sukhiwinder’s voice. While I hear the same song in Tamil in the car, I sing the original version thinking to myself how M F Hussain’s disaster has tortured poor Tamil Audiences as well… But then my much in tune (?) husband doesn’t hum this one – Ohk! Chalo, so MF
jee spared the dubbing of Meenaxi! The Great!!!!When Film “Meenaxi” - A tale of 3 Cities hit the screens and protestors in turn also hit the screens protesting against almost everything!!!! (and in the end failed to stay even in one city when released.) Meenaxi was protested from the moment go because of practically everything! Be it, MF Hussain or the film itself or the qawwali, in fact could be some Godess’s biology painting also…I remember practically nothing of Meenaxi as a movie. To me Tabu's Meenaxi was just a musical treat, thanks to A R Rehman. He loaded Meenaxi with nice songs like (mentioned above) “Chinamma Chilakkamma- Titttleeee (butterfly) daboch lee maine” and “Ye rishta kya kehlata hai…” But most of all, I was most fond of this qawwali – Noor Un-Alah! I think apart from 100 thousand other reasons against almost invisible but much around MF Hussain (And may God bless him for that), the song Noor-Un-Alah song was one other reason that troubled the attention of Muslim Clerics…Again, I remember vaguely – in those good old… Delhi days…FM refused to play that Qawwali all of a sudden. I think it had to do something with the picturization of the songs on prostitutes vis-à-vis the holy Qawwali (Apparently). Sorry, not done! And so, Tittleeee flew away…suddenly Meenaxi left theatres! But one thing that remained and most outstanding thing was a certain Kunal Kapoor of Rang De Basanti fame!
Coming back to my post… while the stereo was going all Tamil-ly “Chinamma Chilakkamma”…I started humming the original version, arguing - the song is in Hindi as well…And suddenly my Husband is weirdly annoyed! He wonders why I would hum a song in Telugu; claim it’s origin as Hindi – while listening to something in Tamil! For that brief moment, I couldn’t explain much and burst out laughing real loudly!!!! One of those lol types! Anyways, I didn’t bother explaining to him, and ignored it but I had already fetched a new peg for another post! I am my own Bappida! Yes welcome to the new remixed world of Bappida kaa gaan, Baapida ke hee naam! (Is that Possible? Go Figure!) But Unlike Bappida who’s (also) famous for plagiarism – Oh sorry inspiration – The now famous and legends of the music industry are for once genuinely inspired! And by none other than themselves! Yes and they are remixing their own songs. Take Legendary Illayaraja for instance, His film“Cheeni-Kum” s same titled song is nothing but a good 18 year old song called “Manram Vantha” from Mani Ratnam’s slick film Mouna Raagam. And perhaps Rehman thought if Illayaraja Sarr… can do it why not I? Why, hardly anybody saw Meenaxi, plus such good songs were being wasted… So kya karein, remix them – and guess what – “The Chinamma Chilakamma and “Ye Rishta kya kehlaataa hai” are now hit numbers in Kollywood, s new film called Sakarakkatti (meaning – Mishree/Sugarballs)
Is the trend of remakes God or Bad….? To me, for once nothing wrong…. I don’t see anything wrong at all in doing this. You can’t steal you own thing! And do what you want with your songs… In fact its much better, to see the old songs in a new beat and new scenarios…Its almost hard to believe that this crunchy number of Cheeni-Kum could have been the real back bone for the film Mouna Raagam – in a more serous way.. Amazing…! Sometimes the recycle can work and sometimes they won’t, but No harm in experimenting the same song in different genres and age. I think it’s far more difficult.

We can always wonder; if creativity is diminishing; I think it is very simple: A good song is a good song is a good song! What say:-?

Insignificant now but forever significant for me - Arvind Swamy!

This.com & That.com... !!!!!

Register and Tell us more about yourself...

Favorite Actor...Male/Female...

Favorite movies…

Favorite Actor/Actress...

Favorite Singer...Male/Female...

And the Onser… goes to...Favorite – MY FOOT!

"Favorites change every Friday when Box Office opens!"

I have never been able to ever answer these unanswerable questions on networking sites or by people in general (Ok! Kids exempted!). How can you ever pick out a favorite or two when there is an entire Encyclopedia to choose from? I think favorites are like some fever that come and grip you over and go and then come back in greater or lesser mercury levels... As for my favorites - it can be even a Bhagyashree – A one time Wonder! And her MPK flick! For me a favorite could be a Manisha Koirala for her innocence in 1942 A love story…A Sri devi in Chandni or why favorite could be even Amrish Puri in Mr. India, Pankaj Kapoor in Maqbool…There surely must be something favorite about everybody in the film industry across the world and hence they are there damn-it! And so one other actor that comes to my mind is Arvind Swamy! For the simple reason – that I spotted him in Chennai and hence the blog! While I quickly slipped in and out of Hotel “Chola Sheraton” after a leak (For me venting out possibilities exist only in these 5 star hotels apart home and office…FYI!!!!) I happened to spot a certain somebody at the parking lot of the hotel. After wondering for good 10-15 secs, thinking where I have seen this guy… It came as a surprise, disbelief and a mild shock - Hain???? Arvind Swamy hai ye???? And then I realized quickly enough that, I haven’t seen him, I have actually watched him and tons of times. I have adoringly watched him and sometimes only for him in films like Roja, Bombay and even Devaragam (Even though Malayalam is like writing from my non-writing hand). And we all have repeatedly watched him especially on every 15th of August and 26th of January till about 5 years ago, until films like Gadar, Veer Zaara, Lakshya’s, Rang De Basanti’s and now Chak De’s – replaced them. But when it came to southy flicks the general perception was more of shake your bon-bon…shake your bon-bon… thing! I have often heard my north Indian friends joke about Southern Film industry with their witty and outrageous/hilarious comments! Some I still remember… Maximum qualification for an actor was – to be NOT at all handsome, good in monkey jumping dance and for actresses – Weight lifter Karnam Malleshwari type with Thunder Thighs would make for supermodel looks! (I mean heavy duty here and nothing personal) Comments like if you want to watch porn, try watching the Southy channels at night. I think somewhere down the line even I felt the same about the common perception. This Arvind Swamy came as someone who I was and I am still very proud of, someone I could use as a weapon to win arguments with my friends and Yes when this name cropped up – there was never 2 ways about what we were talking!!!! Arvind Swamy might have done handful of films but we all have seen them despite the dubbing… Give equal credit or more to the makers of those films… but this blog is about him… So kindly excuse me! From a passionate Indian to a passionate lover – I doubt if any of those post-10pm viewing on the channels would induce that much passion, as much a single passionate scene of this guy in his films. Be it his romantic fling with Madhu in the Kitchen in Roja or Manisha in Bombay.. to his serious role in Devaragam. This is one classy actor and I have not heard anyone talk anything about this actor – No never. I have had people talk extremes about even Big B, SRK also but I am yet to find people say anything about this one! That was the charisma of this actor. An actor for whom acting was more of a hobby and work more of a priority. Apparently an adopted son of an Industrialist, Arvind Swamy is equally famous in his current work profile! But Hello!!!! what happened then?

Seeing him and his receding hair line – I realized what my dear friend Misha often says… Time flies!!!! And yes the so called “Favorites” have changed…But in this bald look also, the real Arvind Swamy is still there somewhere…Outside of his now and then pictures/ mould, there is still that fine, brilliant and a captivating actor residing… They say it is extremely important for people to maintain themselves for people generally take the usual famous nautanks as role models. But I think in Due-south, it’s more like “I don’t have any pretentions – I am what I am!” Motto! Look at Rajnikanth! While I dare not comment yet on Rajnikanth – For Arvind, a little fitness on the girth side and weighty issues can sort it out! But big deal – If we can have favorites in Pankaj Kapoors, Irfan Khans, and why even SRK’s – not ideally the most beautiful people around – with some kind of flaw this way or that way… Arvind can be back like Alaizpayuthay(tide) and blow us away once again…

And while I had decided to end the piece, something came to my mind…It might be slightly out of context, I am not sure but, one other not so beautiful, handsome, charming or good looking – lets say nothing of all of this and yet everything of all this was actor Raghuvaran (for people who haven't seen much of him in Hindi, His hit dubbed films in Hindi include that of RGV's Shiva and of course another hit of Ratnam - Anjali!) . But with his untimely demise, we have definitely and undoubtedly lost a fine, fine actor... There are only few of these rare breed of actors in the entire Indian Film Industry I would say, who can fit in any role, father, son, villain, hero, husband, you name it... and when somebody like Raghuvaran leaves us in lurch, shouldn't actors like Arvind Swamy come to rescue and think aloud if they could try and fill the shoes of actors like him... If not a hero now, then a passionate father, brother, son...maybe even a villain...the roles and scripts will automatically be written once fine actors are around...

Anyways, I strongly feel some people should never give up acting, they can act less but they should never quit – AS I say again Arvind Swamy, come entertain us, once again!

God's own country

Vallara Sandosham Aana!!!
As someone from Kerala or well from the so called no man's land (palghat), I had visited Kerala twice but not really...(once when I was too young to remember and second time during the world cup last year, work was my priority than seeing the place in its actuality). Visiting the "Malayalam" (Malai - meaning the hills, aalam meaning - down/low lying?) and do i guess why Kerala's language is called Malayalam (ulta seedha ek samaan, try reading it from the back). I need not say why Kerala was breathtakingly beautiful, with its downhills, temples, coconut trees, etc etc etc...oh yes chitra and yesudas?? - But, A lot was amazing about the place. By now many know, that south indians do have their respective village names attached to their sur names, my father was no exception... P.D.Padmanabhan... Pallavur Doraiswamy Padmanabhan. We (my father and his sister) visited the village after nearly half a century... and behold, the temples, the pozhai (pond), the neigbours - some still around,still alive, recognized my old man, just by his father's reference... Amazingly, the entire village came out to greet him as if some big celebrity had come.. What pretty sight, ponds still full and so were my father's eyes...and that said a lot! the shararat was back, as if he was just in his teens, the sadness to know his best friend was no more, the pain to see his own house occupied by someone else, the pride to see that the village was proud of him..For him, To see his ancestral home - that now resides a Nair family - he was reminded of how the same place was once hustling and bustling with a big big family of 10 brothers and sisters... hmm and now we wonder if we can even manage or frankly AFFORD a child!!! Pallavur was pleasant and so was my now pukkaattu or the village I am married into..Elapully. I was indeed lucky to witness the "Kumbhabhisekham" of the Elapully Gramam (or maha pooja for the temple that happens only once in 12-15 years). Houses built like those of oldies in karol bagh with green/blue walls and wooden doors with iron bolts and big locks... The ancestral home of my husband has been through the same journey for more than a century..not a stone unturned.. Wow! Kumbhabhishekham (KA) being a week long festival, had its rules. NO cooking for the entire gramam (village, grameen) for that whole week. breakfast, lunch and dinner all courtesy Elapully temple. All you had to do was mingle, mingle and jingle in god Gopalakrishna's name. And finally the last day of the KA, saw the beauty of Kerala in its trademark of 3 elephants nicely decorated with 70..yes 70 drums beaters (medavadyam). The sound that could never ever be termed as noisy..soothed you. For the first time i realised that soothing need not mean anything - subtle, it could be loud and yet soothing.. the vibrations that skipped your heart and yet you wanted to skip it everytime... Kerala's was truly becoming god's own country for me...
Then happened, the visit of Angadipuram temple in Mallapuram.. Mainly Muslim occupied Mallapuram - the sounds of Allah-o-akba at the mosques and the ringing of bells of the Angadipuram temple sounded like a beautiful harmony...
But how can anyone's visit in Kerala be incomeple without the visit of the 5000 yrs old Guruvayur? I finally visited the temple, but honestly, pallavur temple and angadipuram temples were far more authentic than the now modern Guruvayur, of course, you can't wear anything else but saris for women and veshti/mundu for men...or you won't be allowed! Kerala, was showcasing itself even better to me...
Now...For the people.. keralites/malayalis.. lovely people...one thing that's common of all languages/dialects in india it seems is that of the addressing of people/ bhaiyya, anna, and in Kerala "Chettan"!!!! All these chettans love only 2 things in kerala, politics and kallu (alcohol). If you don't have these qualities, you are clearly disqualified. Kerala is proud of its communism and of course even more popular for Bandhs. Why else, would there be a bandh in kerala...there was such a big shit happening in Kashmir/Amarnath...of course if was Kerala's prerogative to call for a bandh... (Apparently Idukki district had 6 bandhs last month). Kerala is proud of it. And I am amused, reminds me of Kolkata...cholbe na cholbe na...Kerala, is full of bustle, everyhouse has a seating outside and i can see why, politics will have to start at the doorstep...afterall!
Now, that I am back from the place, I want to go there again! Before I left, the Asia Cup final was to happen, and the jing bang was much worried about Jayasuriya, and hey, the popeye armed- matara mauler, mauled India, despite sri lanka being 66 for 4? huh...
Now, I m waiting for another bandh there...I want to hear that there is a bandh cos rain gods are shifting focus on to dilli... Keralites are angry, Lord Indra - its also your country...have you forgotten or what..?
But I know they are intelligent...they want tanni/vellam - agreed (Water) but they also have that in plenty (tanni also meaning alcohol)..
Kerala... You are Awesome!
While I rue the fact I didn't have my camera, Kerala - "the journey's been etched on my skin!"