Imaiyora Sumai

Chitrakavi (சித்திரகவி) is a form of poem written to be meaningful and at the same time appear as a figure. This poem was written by me at a university level (inter-college) Chitrakavi competition - long long ago. It was, surprisingly, awarded a Silver medal.

Topic and rules given were:
                              Figure: Linga
                              Starting word: 'Imaiyora' (இமையோர)
                              Ending word: 'Sumai' (சுமை)

Click on images for a larger view.

 

The manuscript I wrote at the competition

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Caught Grinning - 3

Many times we come across amusing sign-boards or objects or incidents in our journey, the life. Interesting, funny, and, at times, thought-provoking too. Just for fun and pun. There is absolutely no intention to hurt or offend anybody or anyone's feelings.

This is a series posting such pictures I captured at different places. Under the Labels list on the right hand side, click on 'Caught Grinning' to see all postings in this series. 

[Note: Click on pictures to see a bigger version for better clarity]
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Near the road-side canal in one of the streets in Kumarakom town, Kerala...

What an idea saare!

 If you look closely you can see that the gate even has a chain and lock!

What are you waiting for...?

The first time, and the only time, I heard this song was on Radio, one fine morning, sometime in 2005, when Radio City's RJ Darius Sunawala played it while I was driving to my office. Wholesome mesmeric song! Added to that, Darius' praise in a husky base voice, prior to and towards the end of the song, did add icing to my experience with this song.

When I partially heard Darius announce that the song he was going to play was a great one by A R Rahman and Pakistani singer, late, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, I knew nothing about its credits and details. But the song just rejuvenated. It infused energy.

Years later, when I dug and found out that this song is part of the same A R Rahman Album Vande Mataram as Maa Tujhe Salaam (Thaai Manne Vanakkam / தாய் மண்ணே வணக்கம்), I was very surprised - more and particularly because no one on Radio is ever playing this wonderful song. Just don't know why. I think it is loaded with so much of qualities that it can be played every day on all Radio channels.

Money!

It was sometime in 1994. Our office was in Parry's Corner, Chennai. My friend and colleague, KK, a Maharashtrian, had come from our Mumbai branch for the annual meet that runs for 2-3 days. 

On one of the days, he got ready for the meeting from his hotel. We arrived at the Parry's Corner by auto at around 9:00 AM. We walked though one of those narrow streets (very common in this locality - 2nd line beach, Angappan street, Lingi street, etc.) towards our office in a corner. The roads were slowly getting busy with many pedestrians, cyclists, auto-rickshaws, (Pallavan) city buses, etc. in brisk pace. 

There were these rows and rows of tiny shops who sell all imported stuffs. KK wanted to buy a Uni-ball pen for himself. We got into a shop and I helped him check the type, rate etc. with the shopkeeper in Tamil. Once the price negotiation was over, KK took a step back and stood outside the shop. I was inside the shop talking to the shopkeeper to get back some small change, when KK suddenly stretched his hand inside the shop and poked my shoulder frantically. I turned and asked him what was wrong. He pointed at the man on the road standing beside him and said that he was asking him Money! I was taken aback and thought something has gone amiss. I stepped out of the shop and asked that man what was it about. He appeared to be a middle aged worker somewhere in the neighborhood. To my surprise, there was no anger or agitation in his face or body manners. So I tended to relax, but was eager to know why he was asking KK for Money. Instantly and casually he now repeated the question that he had asked KK, to me: 'Mani sir?'. I burst out in laughter and told him the time, and he again casually walked off with tinge of a smile at the corners of his lips. 

KK, learning that the man actually asked for the time, was also amused along with me about this incident. The real-time comedy happened due to the fact that the word Mani in Tamil is phonetically identical to Money in English, while Mani (மணி) in Tamil actually means time!

I think about this incident once in a while, and it brings a smile on my face.

Caught Grinning - 2

Many times we come across amusing sign-boards or objects or incidents in our journey, the life. Interesting, funny, and, at times, thought-provoking too. Just for fun and pun. There is absolutely no intention to hurt or offend anybody or anyone's feelings.

This is a series posting such pictures I captured at different places. Under the Labels list on the right hand side, click on 'Caught Grinning' to see all postings in this series. 

[Note: Click on pictures to see a bigger version for better clarity]
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At a Marriage hall...

Rent For Contact

Banashankari to Bommanahalli

I did not know that letting out our old Banashankari flat was going to be so tough and an experience by itself. Especially since we had always found our neighbors / co-residents in our building, as well as other friends and relatives in Bangalore were able to very quickly and easily let out their property. But when it came to us, the same task appeared Herculean! That, in spite of our flat being several touches better class than identically sized replica flats in the same building. Well, a good learning experience it was.

It was in December 2008 we had moved from our old flat in Banashankari to another in Bommanahalli, and immediately we started the process to get the old flat rented out. Yes, it was that time when the economic recession had just set-in, alright, but I never expected it to affect me in letting out the flat, particularly so badly.

Vaai Thirandhu Pesaayo...?

'Vaai Thirandhu Pesaayo...?', meaning 'Would you open your mouth to speak...?', is from the mind of a talented sculpt0r. After several months of hard work, he was on the verge of finishing one of his most beautiful works, a masterpiece... a beautiful statue of a Lady. One day... he sees tears suddenly rolling down her cheeks... and, he, absolutely shocked, speaks to her from the bottom of his heart...

வாய் திறந்து பேசாயோ...?

Caught Grinning - 1

Many times we come across amusing sign-boards or objects or incidents in our journey, the life. Interesting, funny, and, at times, thought-provoking too. Just for fun and pun. There is absolutely no intention to hurt or offend anybody or anyone's feelings.

This is a series posting such pictures I captured at different places. Under the Labels list on the right hand side, click on 'Caught Grinning' to see all postings in this series.

[Note: Click on pictures to see a bigger version for better clarity]
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In the Dining area, at a Marriage hall...

Well tried!

Yes!