Signal & Noise

Finally after a lot of start-stop, false starts , I managed to finish Nate Silver's Signal and Noise - Why so many predictions fail and some don't. Nate Silver and his fivethirtyeight.com blog were hugely successful and popular for his US presidential elections and analysis.

This book covers a wide range of chapters - economics, stock markets, earthquakes, weather forecasting, terrorist attacks, baseball games. Reading can get a bit cumbersome and boring especially if you don't have a finance background or US-centric baseball/election stuff. The purpose of the book is to in a way identify what we know and what we think we know. The constant recurring in the book is to embrace uncertainty and bayesian way of thinking. The constant need to revise your understanding and hypothesis as and when you encounter newer evidence is what is missing most predictions and forecasting. Isolating false positives, noise from signals plays a key role - but on most occasions, it is difficult to differentiate signal from noise. This is where the bayesian reasoning provides a contextual information to solving.


Most times we think we are good at prediction than we actually are.

we focus on stories about the world as we would like to be, not how it really is

When you can't state your innocence, proclaim your ignorance.

When facts change, i change my mind -  John Maynard Keynes

A forecast is no good if no one is listening to it

Prediction is as much a means to the end. It can play a key role in hypothesis testing. Model is a tool to understand the complexities of the universe, not a substitute.

Heuristics are useful, but they are prone to biases and blindspots.

what good is a prediction, if you arent wiling to put money on it - put money on your predictions

Bayesian thinking : New evidence should not lower the estimate of likelihood. Should increase the overall strength n theory

A consensus is not synonymous with unanimity. The consensus is merely a simple majority

Known knowns, unknown knowns, unknown unknowns - Donald Rumsfeld

Creative Confidence

Creative confidence busts the myth that only few people can be creative and others are not creative. Most people under-utilize the creative talent. Creative confidence helps us reclaim our creativity, passion and fun. True potential of our brain is unknown and it is not limited by what we’ve done before. The Process of Guided Mastery will help to overcome fear and help people believe that they can change the situation and accomplish what they had set to do in the world. To be creative, we need to fail more. Experiment with experiences; embrace continuous learning and start designing your own life. Life is a creative innovation lab. Life is full of side hobbies and experiments. Try doing experiments, do it creatively.

Be a fly on the wall in your customer world, understand his pain points, try your own service, talk with unexpected experts. The best way to gain creative confidence is through action – taken one step at a time.. Doug Diez at GE with scan machine, Embrace infant warmers, Pulse news creators, etc and many more examples.

References/Quotes:

Failure sucks, but instructs – IDEO

Job.Career. Calling – People’s relation to their work Amy Wrzseniewski (Curse of competence. (Actively unhappy about work)

How can we ‘Improving video conference’ to how can we provide viable alternative to air travel – John Chambers Cisco (reframing challenges)

Knowing – Doing gap : HBR  how to turn knowledge to action

How to draw anything (Napkin academy)

Kelley brothers – David and Tom Kelley, Albert Bandura, SirKen Robinson, Claudia Kotchka (P&G)

Toolkits : Dschool.stanford.edu | OpenIDEO |

Key methods (writing this so that I keep track for my future use):

1. Mind maps – for convergent + divergent thinking
2. Note down list of all ideas you get in a day
3. SAY – Think – Do – Feel (all need to be aligned to successful)
4. Empathy maps
5. I Like / I wish Constructive and effective feedback (My favorite!)
6. Speed dating 
7. - how would your family members describe you
   - If you had $100000000000,..
   - You wish your parents told..
8. Nick names in a group event
9. Journey maps
10. Dream/Gripe. Convert Dream/Dripe into  Problems to works – How might we..?

Another review of the book in yourstory

Steve Jobs

Fascinating to read about Steve Jobs and his approach to changing people's life.  As a person deeply interested in building products, companies, entrepreneurship and business, i read this book very slowly - Googled for the stories and people mentioned in the book, watched his keynote speeches, searched for interviews and quotes. There were many goosebumps level moments and quotes that i awed. Not always you get a truly inspiring account (Both positives and negatives) of person who lived in your contemporary world.

The last chapter 'Legacy' aptly summarizes Jobs in his own words. He was definitely not an inventor. He possessed a remarkable ability to connect different ideas and different things to build products and companies that transformed people's lives. Empathy, Focus, Impute were tools he used his endeavor. He made people do impossible with his reality distortion field and bring out the best in them. What you see is what you get

'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication' - Da Vinci

I you're don't love something, you're not going to go the extra mile, work the extra weekend and challenge the status quo as much.

In craziness we see genius.

Approach to building companies/Products
'You never start a company with the goal of getting rich. Your goal will be to make something you believe in and making a company that will last'

As a start-up scales
It is too easy as a team grows to put up with a few B players

Why apple and not HP/Altair at the valley
'It is better to be a pirate than to join the navy'

Relationship with people
He was both a romantic and afraid to be a romantic. Arrogant, peevish, emotional were all part of his mood swings. Either you're a hero or a bozo. He had a deep connect with every girl friend he had. So many people he slept with. Wonder how he found purest and deepest connect with every women! (#whatisthisidonteven)

Music 
Every time the book talked about i was excited. Given my knowledge about Bob Dylan and Beatles were limited, I googled for 'Like a rolling stone', 'You say want a revolution', 'Here comes the sun'

If he was an asshole, How to put up with him

Every one had their problems with Jobs. Chrisann Bernnan, John Sculley, Mike Markula, BillG, EricS, Steve Woz, endless list. Two people who managed him well Tim Cook and Jon Ivey. Both had deep connect with Jobs philosophies, but a bit more grounded persona. He was better at being an underdog than being a humble giant.

'If you didn't voice your opinion he would mow you down. He takes contrary positions to create more discussions because it might lead to better result' - Tim Cook

'Ideas are fragile. You have to be tender when they're in development' - Jon Ivey

'The best way to create the future is to invent it' 
His life, his philosophy, his products leaves an indelible impression on my thinking, career and life. Thank you Steve!

Outliers

Outliers - The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Outliers are people who had the strength and presence of mind to seize the opportunities that come their way. Gladwell uses life examples of Bill gates, Beatles, Bill joy, Hockey players, and air crashes of Korean airlines to understand different outliers. He argues that Achievement is talent plus preparation and Successful people don’t do it alone. Even factors like where they come from matters and the ancestors have an impact. The cumulative effect of small but significant factors can make a huge difference.

Not all people born in a month or in a place are successful.  People at the top who work much much harder than others and have more than 10000 hours in a field become successful. Success is a function of persistence and doggedness and the willingness to work hard.

While conceptually the book covers the concept of 10000 hours, and explains about successful people. But I wonder how many of these factors are controllable and can help a personal become successful in life.

Here’s one more example of Outliers concept. On class 12 exams in Tamil Nadu.

Gladwell is a good story teller. Worth a read.

Book Review: India after Gandhi

Boy o boy whaddabook!! Take a bow Mr.Guha and his team :)

There are two reasons why i wanted to read this book:

1. Big Fan of History: I've always believed that history should be studied for the attitude, mental strength of the people involved and for the causes that lead to extraordinary events in world history. Unfortunately our textbooks preach only events and when things happened than why they happened.

2. The need to know what happened after 1947 (where our school textbooks stop) till say 1998 when i starting knowing things myself (Vevaram therinja vayasu)

Ram Guha gives a balanced view on most of the mercurial events pertaining to Independent India. He covers almost all regions of the country including Kashmir Issue, Kerala/Bengal Communist story, Naxalite problem, Language based Dravidian politics, Emergency, Riots, Nagas Issue, Indo-Pak, Sino-India ties and the inevitable Nehru Gandhi family.

Living in a generation of constant outrage against the Gandhi family and peevish Modituva politics, it was important for us to know why the Nehru-Gandhi family took center stage in the first place. Moving from a Kashmiri Brahmin Pandit, erudite scholar, freedom fighter, consensus builder, Mass leader, face of the nation, beleaguered and withered leader, Nehru has seen it all. Ram Guha covers most of these crucial later half of Nehru’s life. April/May 1964 events provide a peculiarly poignant coda to the life of nehru’s illustrious career. With so many administrators but not leaders around, Kamraj found a sense of elegance and charisma with Indira, which powered her way to the top job.

As you read, you find a lot of similarities between Modi and Indira. Both are authoritative people who keep servile leaders at their positions of responsibilities and play the card of growth and governance. Both have their share of baggage with Gujarat Riots and Emergency. Despite having efficient leaders, these two leaders possess unparalleled charisma and populist opinion among their party members. Decision making gets centralized and is thrust upon individuals rather than them voting for a custodian of people's rights.

I feel sorry for Lal Bahadur Shastri and Rajiv Gandhi. Both visionaries in their own league, but couldn’t extend their prowess due to their untimely deaths. Also for J.P.Narayan and Rajaji for their experience and wisdom, but couldn’t take up active roles due to old age. Sheik Abdullah, a man who wanted to uphold the interests of the people of Kashmir, has succumbed to the political leadership of India and Pakistan and the mantle is now carried forward by his son Farooq and grandson Omar. We've moved away from a nation which casts its vote to a nation which votes its caste.

It is exhilarating to read the story of a nation with religious fanaticism, language barriers, regional feuds, population explosion, food shortages, inflation and still managed to progress due to some bold and practical decisions.

Overall, this book is an enriching experience for those who want to know the India story and its slow crawl to become what it is today.

Neethaane En Ponvasantham

This is not a review post from an armchair critic or eulogy post from Younngg Lauvvers. I'd watched this movie with minimal expectations after people showed thumbs down for the move and box office ringing alarm bells.

I'm no one to tell plus and minus of the film or to share my experience in soundcloud like RJ Balaji. The plot set in an urban middle class family, there were lot more things i could relate to.

Strong pragmatic yet egoistic characters. Life's simple, but we complicate it. Understanding women is even more complicated. Having interacted with so many women, each having unique characters that separate stories can be made on their personality.

Working in a NGO sector and interacting with women's arts college students. Oh My Goodness! I think i see so many multilayered Nithyas.

Infact, in real life, i can literally point out so many girls who are like Nithya Vasudevan.

CAT-IIM. MBA plan from an Engineering Student. IIM Kozhikode call.  Family difficulties woven with the dreams and aspirations. Konjam sontha kadhai oda related.


Being a love guru(thanks to Mirchi Shiva's show) myself, this movie depicted the mindset of an average college going boy or girl. The scene where there breakup after Varun's IIM call, Nithya starts quantifying how much she has sacrificed for Varun and lists them out. Most of the breakups that i've consulted had this problem. 'I did so much for him, he/she didn't even realize that' was the common reason.


Innocent > Childish immature > practical decision making. This movie symbolizes that. Life doesn't always give instant gratification. Love is even more like that.

Ravi Ragavender's dialogue 3 hours before marriage seizes it for me. "Be a Man". (For this 3 word dialogue, Rs.120 you want to spend-a. I know your mind voice). At some point in each one's life(around 24 yrs) we'll make decisions and stay firm on them. come what may, you will have the guts to face the consequences because you know that it is your decision and your life.

Last but not Least, Santhanam laugh riot (Best thing GVM has done in the movie). chill dude. Just for fun!

PS: I did challenge Suren and Madhan from LXG that i'll never like this movie. It sucked. But now i stand corrected.

The Big IPL Auction

Chennai Super Kings:

Master stroke in retaining Dhoni, Raina, Vijay ,Albie and retaining most of the previous players Badrinath, Ashwin, Bollinger, Hussey, Jogi(ball boy), Tyagi(towel boy). CSK and fans will definitely miss Murali(mappilai) and Balaji(Happydent smile). New players Bravo, Styris,Randiv, Kulasekara, Hilfenaus, Faf du Plessis, Saha at cheap prices . Chennai has more less retained the same team thereby saving money on uniforms. Smart. Well balanced team with each spot in the team having two players . Whistle podu !!!

Royal Challengers Banglore:

King of Good times, Mallya wanted to revamp his team and get some young guns on board. With Anil Kumble as mentor he’s heading in right direction. Young blood like Kohli, Pujara, S.Tiwary, Mithun with the international experience of AB Devilliers, Dishan, Nannes, Vettori (all Delhi previously). Zaheer Khan spearheads the bowling. They’ll definitely miss the services of Vinay kumar, Uthappa, Dravid, Kumble himself. It would be interesting to see the uncapped players they hire.

Team Kochi :

They had a pretty decent auction given that it’s their first outing. They have a formidable attack with Murali, R.P.Singh, Sreesanth. Vinay kumar, romesh Powar, Jadeja. Mahela, Laxman, Mccullum and Hodge will bring experience in their batting line up. Their batting looks really thing on paper and need to sign in top talents from uncapped Indian Pool. Half the time kochi wasted on talking to their other partners on phone.

Deccan chargers:

One more team looking thin on Indian Talent except Ojha, Dhawan, Ishant, Mishra and Gony. Indian contigent is without Rohit Sharma, Venugopal Rao, RP Singh; hence T.Suman, Monish Mishra might be signed from uncapped. Sanga, KP,Steyn, Duminy, White are all good deals. Interesting price paid for Daniel Christian(who’s he). Sanga/White looks to Captain the team. Boy this team needs to play at home, Paavam da. Good tat no one bid for their team owner !!

Kolkata knight Riders:

One team to have set the agenda clear from the start and leave the past experiences behind to make a difference in next season. Gauti, Yusuf(so much money) , Kallis, Shakib, Morgan, Brett Lee, Haddin all are real T20 match winners on their day. They have retained Tiwary, Unadkat(their discovery) and got Balaji. Still their bowling looks weak as injury prone Lee will lead the attack. At the end of the day, not bidding for Dada was a big call they had to make.

Delhi Daredevils:

What the hell are you doing with the money. They have lost all major players from their previous years. Team heavily relied on Sehwag , warner, Venugopal rao and Bowling on Umesh yadav, Dinda. How can one pay so much for Irfan Pathan(not even fit). Their Sangwans ,Rajat Bhatias, Mithun Manhas are all very much need for this star to perform atleast decently. Van Der Merwe and James Hopes are great match winners in their side. But still get think-tank ready. Bad outing.

Rajasthan Royals:

Warne’s team can definitely surprise everyone with the local talent and the amount of unknown players they sign in. Rahul Dravid and Pankaj singh will their mainstay at batting and Bowling. Ross Taylor, Watson, Tait and Collingwood are excellent T20 players. Botha was a bizarre buy. They need the services of Jhunjhunwalas, Asnodkars, Sid Trivedis.

Sahara Pune Warriors:

First time at IPL was not bad for these men. Very satisfactory performance. Yuvraj Singh and Uthappa are perfect T20 game changer, With seasoned pros Ashish Nehra and Murali Karthik . Ferguson, Mathews, N.Mccullum, Jesse Ryder are all pretty good buys at reasonable costs. Mitchell Marsh will play under his father Geoff Marsh(coach). Smith provides the fire at the top order. In all sense, Yuvi is likely to lead.

Mumbai Indians :

Batting Bolstered by the new signings of Rohit Sharma and Symmonds, with Davy Jacobs opening with Sachin and Pollard to finish things. Bowling Department will be heavily dependent on Bhajji and Malinga, with Munaf patel and Clint Mckay. The most interesting factor would be Bhajji-Symmonds combo of Maaki Monkey fight fame, will be playing in same jerseys. Man, I would have if Sreesanth was also there.

At the end of the day, when all the owners sit down for a small meeting, CSK owners can say"Malai da.. AnnaMalai"

Death of criticism

There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who have opinions and think that they are right. Then there are people who seek other's opinion before to evaluate the right and wrong. Of all junta in the world, our people who always believe that, "The hare that i caught had 3 legs".

Thanks to web 2.0 and news channels, everyone's gotta opinion and they air their opinions on these issues. Even those people who don't even have the slightest knowledge on the subject give their opinion. Its like T.Rajendar or Cab10 Vijaykanth expressing their opinion on six packs and fitness. Every movie that is being watched, and blogs and twitter are filled with each one's ratings on the movie. Even certain reviews are influenced by external factors leading to biased ratings.(Like the Age old Sun TV Top 10 movies.. Which is actually Sun pictures top 10 now).

With High speed internet and broadband, any movie or music can be downloaded free of cost, people are even watching Chinese,french and Italian movies as compared to conventional English movies. Hence even a slightest of plagiarisms are easily noticeable and publicized in blogs and websites. Even JK Rowling was on the similar lines of an inspiration another work. But after its successful stint at the box office, no one talked about it. "Let it be,wats wrong!!" was the attitude of the people.

Being a writer, there are just 8-9 genres where you can base your stories on. So, when you repeat a movie in the same genre, i can be cliched and boring. Just because VTV is a love story similar to a 500 days of summer(with central park bench scene), the plot and characterization have always been different. No writer ever likes to thrive other people's work. There is a lot of difference between a rip-off and an inspiration. Harris Jayaraj, Honey Musical wind Deva or copy cat Pritam have all been people who prefer having a xerox machine and duplicating it exactly. They are Kumbakonam Degree Copy Followers and truly live up to their membership.

Accusing Gautham Menon for ripping off from English movies would be too harsh on GM. Also off beat comments on GM being a Pseudo Mani Rathnam seems to venomous. Mani and Kamal's films are called Inspiration, while GM is being Rip-off. Wat Bullshit. Just because you have seen the original movie via the internet downloaded dvdrip, you can't go on making false comments. You like something new and refreshing, you should also like something on similar lines. Your criticism doesn't seem constructive and leading no where.

PS: Like it or hate it, personal choice. Don't comment(make irrelevant comments) unless you are an expert in that field. Don't try to convince others, that their favorite celebrity is vethu vaettu.

Most Pitiable - MP

It’s tough to be at the top job of this country, Paid on par with an IIM graduate, and even getting more Kimbalam(also called Mamool ..Rhyme with Samblam) .When people come into limelight in politics, they are 55+ and still head the Party’s Youth Wing. By the time they become MPs, they r in 60s and 70s. So at their age, doctors advice them to go for walking to keep themselves fit. As soon as they parliament begins some issue is discussed, they are reminded of what their doctors had advised them, hence walk out.

Like How Ultimate Star Ajithkumar keeps walking in all his movies to reduce his six sagging pack. With BP, sugar, Bypass surgeries already done, you are bound to expect them got for walking. All these Dharna, Hartals and Protests are a mere eyewash, to fool the citizens that they r really concerned about the people. At least these people attend sessions and come out. So of the celebrity actor turned politicians like Govinda needs to be reminded that he’s an MP and needs to attend Parliament. He should stop acting in Navarathna Oil Ads with Rambha and work for people.

Actually we should not blame politicians for all these issues. While the front benchers in parliament squawk and squeal, there are some MPs who prefer back benches. Before they attend 11:00AM session, they have a sumptuous brunch to fill their appetite. Also the mellifluous and soothing voice of the speaker and sometimes the sweet and soothing lullabies of the President Prathiba Paati make them lethargic and hence they sleep in.

I particularly feel for the politicians who make film stars as MPs. They ratify this move, on the pretext that they can have some Ghilphansi, Gilma and do Jalsa at parliament. They expected to see Artificial implants of Sakhi Rawant and Slender legs Peepika Dadukone( like in phir mile sur mera tumhara). But to their disappointment they end up seeing Attu Piece Aaya figures in MemaHalini and Paya Jradha.

They also find it difficult with to cope up with increasing no. of criminals, rowdies in the countries. Every kutti rowdy (they a part of ‘Nannum rowdy... Naanum Rowdy’ Family) just find their way up into Parliament by hitting Jalra(ching Chak) for their Party heads. Even after giving lot of VIP suitcases to become VIPs, their places cannot be taken for granted. Hence it’s highly difficult to be a MP and politician. Hence we, citizens of this country need to question them less. On the contrary, give them more sympathy,empathy,allopathy, homeopathy.

Will you cross the skies for me??

Two reasons for me to watch this movie, Gautam Menon and A.R Rahman. With Simbu as lead,i was skeptical about it. Gautam proves that Simbu is a very different person from what people think we are. This is not a post to recommend people to watch this movie, but an opinion. I liked the movie bcos, i realized that may be in 2 years, i would be karthik (simbhu). There was so much into that character i could associate to.

5 minutes into the movie, you dont talk of Simbu and Trisha, Its just karthik and Jessie all the way. The last time i like simbu performance was in Thotti Jaya. And Trisha as Jessie, stunning, gorgeous,ravishing. Mark my words, guys after watching the movie, will think about the style associated with each girl he meets. Trisha's character is a confused, perplexed, instinctive and how things have changed. Costumes and colours associated with the Protagonists were picture Perfect. I guess this a season of Self Kallai and Kindal . Simbu says "When people go to America for their love, i can go for the nearb Kerala". Ganesh who plays the simbu's cinematographer friend and his kallai dialogues were comical.

Every one who's in love should definitely ask, why should they love her of all the girls?? U can never find answer to that. Trisha makes us chant "Jessie,Jessie.."

Music from the Mozart of Madras, Rahman Sir. All 7 songs have a video in the movie and movie is a musical by all means. The BGMs and Soundtracks were Fitting, a long time( ATM,SOK,Sakkarakati) Rahman scores with his BGMs. I really liked the Hard Rock music that comes up in the Gaandu scenes. Movie has got a Gautam Menon stamp all over. Handling a simple story with too much of pheeelings, that transforms to the audience at the end of the movie. Gautam efficiently uses His Telugu Lead Naga Chaitanya and Samantha as actors in simbu film. The end of the movie was neat, not very emotional and leaves the audience to feel for the emotion. To handle an emotional story with too much of feelings, with maturity and deftness, and to make audience believe that his end is the right thing to do. and to move on. Simbu, Trisha,Gautam and Rahman definitely score with VTV. for once i'm a Simbu's fan in the movie.

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya is definitely a 500 days of Summer in chennai.

PS: If u hate this movie, Hate it.. your stand i can never question that. Never can u question my stance that i like the movie.

Enact

I'd completed My first onscreen film appearance for a Friend's project at Film Institute. 
For long, I've preferred to stay behind camera and contribute in Direction and cinematography. No introduction scenes, no punch dialogues, no female stars :(

Writer had briefed me about the story on some forest expedition and i play the role of a wildlife photographer, who's on a 4th day shoot for a tiger safari. I'd written dialogues for the movie. We used live sound recording and delivering my dialogues took multiple takes. You can be a jabber or an orator, once they say, "action!", Its tough. Your mind searches for dialogues, Expressions, Modulations,tone, Posture, etc etc. Imagine me taking 13 takes for a dialogue which I'd written(I'd counted the no. of takes while I'd failed in delivering my dialogue).

Already earned a nickname of Joey Tribbiani of friends, from my office colleagues. No wonder these actors have buildup names like cab10, PuratchiThalapathi, Ilayathalapathi, Young Superstar. One thing i know, I'm pathetic at acting. Learn where all i need to work on to be an actor. At memory skills,Voice Tone and Modulation, Expression, try Single take of Lengthy dialogues, Body language. I'm Bad at it, Will grow with age and with the character i do.

PS: Not yet seen the final outcome, Will upload if the video comes out well.
Bloopers is even more comical than the actual video.

Book Review : 2 States by Chetan Bhagat

It’s hard to treat a book like 2states as fiction, given that book is inspired from some of his own experiences. The book is all about an IIMA couple’s love and their struggle to get married, keeping their parents smiling on the wedding. Krish is north Indian Punjabi boy . Krish in love with Tamilian Brahmin girl Ananya. Despite their North/south divide, relatives pressure, cajoling parents, parent’s priorities different from theirs, they still manage to be in love and get married,”they lived happily ever after”.

Its not hard to write like Chetan Bhagat. With young and Modern protagonists, a successful love story (which cud be turned into a film), urban language (with F words) and sex, you are into make a novel. But what connects chetan wit his urban audience is his style of writing. Simple language, wit lotta emotions, inspirational leads. His stories cud happen to ur boy/girl next door, may be even to u. I cud relate his books, to 3 real life stories already. Chetan is able to connect with his audience and pass on his works. A trendsetter in his easy going style of writing, no wonder he’s a best seller.

Personally IIM MBA love story from Chetan Bhagat made me restless and anxious. This shows how the real Indian Middle class reacts to a love affair. How culturally apart they, but still can come to an understanding. How mature the leads handle their parents, not elope and add further trouble to them and their families. Chennai descriptions, local Chennai Tamil F words , carnatic music, Punjabi pop music, Hindu reading, Rajni worship, Dowry acceptance, ECR ride, Banking sector, Relatives interference, egoistic parents, distant love story, just friends tag, frustration, anger, money. These connected wit strings of humour all round his dialogues. Ananya’s nerdy brother Manju, bank employee Father Swaminathan, Carnatic singing mother Radha, Typical Punjabi Soap Mother Kavita, Army officer dad, Boss Bala, Blissful Guruji, Dr.Neha.. All come in their lovable journey to marriage.
After reading this book, People who are single will love to fall in love wit a pretty gal/guy, for people in love,I can’t comment on that(a perfect gift for ur loved ones), Parents, rethink abt the social importance for narrow minded castes as compared global Love.

As global warming increases, Warmth of love shud all increase on this earth. Love and be loved :)

From India to the World Outside

I'd just watched Shashi Tharoor's TED talk abt soft power, clearly a responsible and articulated talk. India as a Pluralistic Nation is wat we are known to the outside world. Contrastingly, minutes ago every news channel discussing Liberhan-Babri never ending debate. Politicians accusing the opposite party for some leaders' role. That too leaders who have died or on the verge of dying. Spokespersons managed to move from channel to another and continue to talk the something, like an old tape recorder. Dont they feel a prick in their heart for continuously lying against their conscience, just because some sotta grandpa wished to construct a Ram temple. 17 years after babri, today's India doesnt give a damn if Temple existed there or not.

News Channels have become news makers rather than news seekers. Parliament is an old age home, where MPs need to be given money to ask questions. Or staging walk out for some reason or the other, as Vadivel says "Room pottu yosikuraanga", (thinking by booking a room). Opposition talks as if they r kins of harichandra, ruling party is just Gandhian in its name. All those 50C and 15% commission(bribe,mamool) for every file that comes to the table, sleeps in cold Swiss banks. The tweeting ,Facebooking indian youth just wants the politicians to spend their money for them. Wake up call is not just Sid, To the politicians too.

Is this wat the outside world see in India?? Corrupt, religious violence, anarchy, devoid of any unity,super poor slum dogs,loot,nepotistic nation. For Outside world, India is a known by its culture , pluralism, tradition, ethics, diversity, films, music, arts, cuisines, tourism, knowledge. we are super poor, we need to improve to become super power.


But after all without these politicians, whom its easy to blame, we can't live.Without them the system isn't complete. Its always fun to let them talk on things irrelevant to today's world and u do all the watching. Its like Mansur Ali Khan challenging Superstar Rajni for a movie release clash.

A R Rahman Jai Ho Chennai Concert

My time spent for the concert was 2:30 pm on 11th Oct and ended at 3:30 am the next day. The venue, Marg SwarnaBhoomi was more closer to Pondicherry and could have been a Marakannam concert instead of being Called a Chennai concert. Thanks to Organizers for plying 300 MTC buses and providing free transportation to the fans. You reach the venue and realise, it was not organized inside the city. More than 70,000 people before and after the concert would have resulted in massive security and traffic problems. I wore My trademark ARR Jai Ho Tshirt, felt proud on others' envy :P



1. Fusion by sivamani- started with a small bit of drumming similar to start in LA 2000 concert.
2. Rahman's Words on Music- This was a surprise, ARR's signature words for World Space Radio about music.
3. Jaage Hain from Guru - There appeared a man in black Tshirt for whom these maniacs where waiting for hours. Audiences went really crazy, i'd shouted so much that my voice had already cracked.
4. Kalbali from Rang De Basanti- ARR with Chorus, benny,blaaze, Rehanna, Tanvi,Aslam.
5. Athiradee from Sivaji- ARR went offstage and came back with stylish coolers. Superstar song and wat do u expect the audience to do.. Even ARR went crazy, his gun shoot act like the one Rajni does in the song.
6. Kaadhal Rojave from Roja - Enter to ARR's classics, rendered by Sadhana Sargam and Hariharan. song started in Tamil,went into Telugu,hindi, stunned with their sangadis.
7. Dilli Theme from Delhi6 : Time for peepy music. Enter B-l-a-a-z-e, Benny Dayal, Tanvi for Delhi hai mera Yaar. Ultimate voicing and mixing.
8. Jiya se Jiya from Connections : Great Sync with video, Sivamani drumming with ARR like in the video, ARR performed a stanze in the song on a crane.
9. Style from Sivaji : blaaze asked chennai, "Chennai,Give me one time style" and after 3 times, Oru koodai Sunlight with Tanvi. The spl chennai RAP followed and end with "..chennai, u got style"
10. Liquid Dance from SDM- with Lead Choreographer and Rapper Lush(new upcoming artist) performing the dance.
11. Konjam Nilavu form Thiruda Thiruda- sung by Shweta Pandit and Luch with additional RAP lyrics, Lighting and effects were splendid, in timing with beats.
12. Ring Ringa from SDM - started with a fusion with Taal Theme and gradually went into Ringa. Performed by Neeti Mohan and Shweta.
13. Fiqrana from Blue - Latest entry in Jai Ho series. The voice mode was in techno mode and ARR testing with "Hello Chennai"
14. Dilse re from Dilse - blissful classic, audience harmonious with ARR in singing.
15. Jashne Bahara from Jodhaa Akbar - clean,soothing Javed Ali's rendition.
16. Snegithane from Alaipayuthey - Sadhana sargam sung but in telugu and Hindi, to audience's disappointment. Audience by this time wanted more tamil songs.
By this time ppl were disppointed as less number of tamil songs were sung.
ARR said,"Now time for Some unplugged sessions and love songs"

17. Mausam and Escape from SDM- unplugged with ARR on piano and continuum(yes he played live). ARR's unplugged version of Mausam ,then Azad on sitar, Keith peters and others on guitar.
18. Kahin to from Jaane Tu - Rashid Ali intro singing.
19. Tamizha Tamizha from Roja - Hariharan's evergreen cult song in Indian Music, with Sangadhis from hari. Rightfully fans wit Indian flags waved proudly.
20. Vaishnava Jana To - Tamizha unplugged was mixed with dis song, with few words of Gandhi in backgound.
21. Uyire Uyire from Bombay - The classic Love song with feelings with godlevel sangadhis of hariharan.
22. Kabhi Kabhi Aditi from Jaane Tu - Rashid Ali's love Anthem , for all the Aditis in the audience.

23. Rehna Tu from Dilli6 - ARR explaining the purpose behind the song, "its dedicated to state of mind of accepting people, unconditionally" a few words in tamil. ARR hummed the continuum part also.
24. Chayya Chayya From Dilse : rendered by Rehenna and Chorus, male lead Aslam. The low point in the concert, as if the song was wantedly inserted.
25.Taxi Taxi from Sakkarakati- Every one on their chairs to "Make a way.. Make some sound" . High energy Benny,Blaaze,vivianne Poche.
26. Mayya Mayya from Guru- Neeti Mohan (as gorgeous as ever), Her hip shapes were as though they wer goin to Pondicherry and coming back. Sivamani joined her at the stage centre with navin's flute.

A break, which the audience detested. Organizers speech, ARR presented with holy waters of Jerusalem, Ganges, Mecca by the Religious heads of Three Religions. Audience were, " kellambunga pa.. kaathu varattum", "start Music".

27. Medley mix of Azeem o shaan , 28.Rukkumani, 29.Veerapaandi Kottayilae- The beats , vocals,lighting effects were in full flow.

30. Drums bit bit Sivamani, starting from classic to Kuthu.
31. Kwaja mera Kwaja from Jodha Akbar and 32. Arziyan from Dilli6 - sufi styled songs, dat comes and touches ur hearts, soulful. with Aslam's and Javed Ali's improvisations.
33. Kannalane from Bombay-late vandhalum correct ah vanthaga evergreen Chitra ma'm. Entire audience gave her standing ovation with "once more" cries.
34. Jiya Jale from Dilse- chitra's rendition, over gethu with Lighting and dancers dancing with fire.

Hari and ARR enter. Hari,"Wat shall we make them do". ARR said," Atleast not trouble them".
35. Ay hairathe from Guru: with hari's starting aalaps , supported in the song by Sadhana Sargam. Totally into feeling and time for Pop
36. Aye Bachoo from Ghajini : Suzzane's amazing vocals, mind blowing and lights to the beats. Awesomeness.
37. Mustafa Mustafa from Kadhal Desam: Amazing guitar by Keith,Sanjeev, Rashid in the start. Audience totally experiencing the lyrics and waving both hands L->R and viceversa. Lamp ballons were raised.
38. Humma Humma from Bombay : with Blaaze's RAP "Take it from the Bottom me to the take it to the top" and semma rendition by ARR.
39. Jai Ho from SDM : The lead song of the concert,Jai ho. Pyrometric rockets were lighting the skies, every color cud be spotted.
40. Vande Mataram - Classic closing with Everyone joining and Indian flags flew high.


I strongly blame organisers for poor screens. The perverted camera man, without musical knowledge couldn't pan and cover everyone.He covered as if he was covering a cricket match. Everyone felt , "Has Rahman Become Jade-ish" with less tamil songs for tamil audience??" That's justified bye the fact that last year only one tamil movie and more hindi movies, no wonder more hindi songs. After all, music doesnt need language.

As if walked back from concert, i saw a huge banner on a the floodlights post,which said, " Thank You , A R Rahman!!!"

PS: My mobile camera pics quality were poor, the offical photos of Hindu are available in dis slideshow

Iruvar : The Duo

Just watched(not first time) this movie on Star Vijay and couldn't stop myself from blogging.

The movie is the fictional account of two big stalwarts of TamilNadu, M.G.Ramachandran aka MGR and M.Karunanidhi aka kalaignar. This is the only movie which showcases these two superstars characters and its a masterpiece for the Genext, to know about their lifes and how tamil cinema and Dravidian Politics amalgamated. This is one of my favourite scenes. Portrayal of even the minutest details from the leaders extramarital affairs to their respect for each other in their final years.



The casting cannot be so perfect in any movie, but Mani sir does it again. Prakash Raj, Mohanlal play the lead supported by Revathi,Tabu, Gouthami, Aiswarya Rai(JJ's role), Naaser( Annadurai's role), the movie comes with a power packed performance. Prakash Won his National Award for His role of a writer/politician.

Music by Rahman sir was Outstanding. Its not easy to compose music of a period film with reality. Those Background Bgm enhances each scene and carries the viewers into that period.

Santhosh Sivan's cinematography is a class act. The apt lighting and filming requires a head bow to this technical superstar.

I would fail in my duty if i miss Vairamuthu, in a movie which has lead characters as a tamil writer/politician. His Rebellious "kannai katti kollathae" and "Aayirathil Naan Oruvan" , Romantic "Narumagiyae". His kavidhaigal also stands out in this movie, especially " Udal Mannukku.. Uyir Tamilzhukku.. Idhu Urakka solvom Ullagirkku".

I thank mani sir for taking this gr8 fictional biopic, to show movies and politics got intertwined and give us an idea of the life of two great human beings.

How to make/bake tamil commercial cinema

A conversation between Mamooty(deva) and Rajnikant (surya) from ManiRatnam's Thalapathi(A smart adaptation of Karna)

Deva(D): En surya En.. Tamila en intha madiri mokkai commercial padama eddukuraanga..En da..
Surya(s): A small silence..(actually controlling emotions..fingers folded)
D: Neeeyum intha categoryla iruukuranala..
s: naan nadiganaanu santhegapaduriya deva.. Yedhuthuko.. Intha Uyir irrukura varaikkum naan hero va than da naadipaen..star hero na ennanu theriyumma.. Fan support na ennanu theriyumma..

D: stunned by surya's outburst..
s: Evalo vissiyam irruku oru commercial cinema le...

I hereby explain u how to make/take/bake tamil commercial cinema :)
lets take the required ingredients for the movie..

6 songs

a)intro song with message and with youth, old people dancing, flowers flying, everyone liking hero

b)before love acceptance by heroine(in some foreign location, dancing in foreign streets..with foreigners kaevallamma look vutting)

c)after love (again some another foreign location, pink shirts, green pants, yellow shoes, heroine dress..poduraangala)

d)one unnecssary song to inserted somewhere..(1. mostly item number by any actress whose market is almost negligible or (2) a rags to riches songs where hero becomes rich in 1 song)

e)Kuthu climax song (in a suuubber nad colourful sets (yellow,blue, red)..fast paced, danndanakka style)

f)Theme song(background song for hero build up)

At the end of the day, film music proportional to Cigaratte, popcorn, ice cream business in theatre.

Casting and Acting

Mother,sister,father,aunty ,uncle sentiments

Innocent and Sexy Heroine (salary is inversely proportional to their costumes)..

Ordinary heroes with extraordinary powers

Stunts scenes defying gravity( thanks to ropes n graphics)

Punch dialogues(with fire.. " Nee adicha Peesu.. Naan adicha Maasssu " style)

Really ruthless and terrorizing villains (on their eyesight government will change)

Hero is always a kind-hearted, mother fearing, people caring person who does
different innovative, stylish things in different movies( tie handkerchief in left hand in 1 movie..in right hand in another)

When hero takes revenge on villain, his eyes shud become red..

Pakistan terrorist and gr8 international smugglers will speak tamil only..

The jurisdiction of the hero is limited to making changes in script, write lyrics, sing song, edit with editor.

Now that we have got all the ingredients for the movie.. Mix everything in such a way to give "comedy->song->action..comedy(iteratively)" sequence to give a commercial panchamirtham.

A perfect commercial movie is ready to be watched..

PS:
1. The post comes as a result of me watching Thoranai in theatre, Villu and Silambattam in laptop and Veerasaamy in KTv (Switched off after a while.. cudnt take it)

2. Dare someone watch all these..to add to this sequence u need to watch Daas.. Lovable rascal movie also..

From lasts to firsts

When everyone expected a Hung parliament, ManMohan & Co stunned everyone with Clean sweep. When Rajasthan Royals were considered favourites for IPL season II, again, you are in for a surprise. Look who has got into the IPL finals, Deccan (gulti) Chargers and Royal Challengers(Kingfisher) Bangalore. The last two teams of season one.

Both teams have almost same set of players who played last year also. Wat had changed things for them??

Captains: With new captains Gilly and Jumbo, the teams have scaled new heights.
Venue: may be south africa is a new place.. everything starts fresh again..

Dhoni supporters shud realize that all that Dhoni touches cannot become gold. His birth stars have changed their positions and things wont be same for Dhoni. Anti Dhoni is always on the rise. Its a custom in India that " if ur liked.. u'll have a temple, get all awards Rahul Gandhi Khel Ratna(in future), have maximum ADs" :P. "If ur performance dips.. Stones will be hurled, ur photos will be burnt, slipper garlands, applying tar" wat not..

CSK shud realize that L.Balaji is a lokka bowler( lacks pace). The team owner shud say to M. Gony, " Go neee..". CSK can make hay when the sun(Hayden) shines. CSK can join the elite Vada poche community. Either Raina or Rain cAn save matches for CSK. Only player who plays consistently in the CSK camp is Drums Sivamani


PS: someone pls tell Dr.Mallaya that too much for Partying and too much hugs and kisses from Katrina Kaif to the players(like preity zinta) could have a glaring effect on tomo's match. He could indirectly help Deccan.

PPS: with Karunaaadhi's effort for Cabinet post, i can say onething.. "intha pozhappuku urine kudikallam" :P

Raman Thediya Seethai

I’m a big well wisher of Tamil cinema, strongly believing in good movies with novelle ideas. Be it a thriller or action movies like Goutam’s Kaakha Kaakha or like silent stunner Mozhi of Radha Mohan. When Stylish, innovative thrillers with hollywood kinda narratives being made, the big corporates like Moserbaer, UTV, Pyramid Saimira should also encourage quality movies. It’s those Cherans, Ameers, Balas , Thankar Bachans who continue to keep the audience spell bound with their clean n down to earth stories.

I’ve always like cheran’s movies, be it thaavamai thavamiruthu ( I remember many of the older generation heaping laurels on this movie) , Simple concept of respecting ypur elders and forgiveness of younger generation by older ones was the story. These movies are slow, at some point’s stationary, but they are so natural as though it happens in your neighbourhood.

Cheran’s Raman Thediya Seethai. As it says the protagonist searching for his better half is the crux of the story. After being psychologically affected in his childhood, despite getting state 2^nd in class 10^th examination, the no. of rejected proposals make his life bitterer. The belief and the perseverance of the protagonist is the story. Pasupathi as a Blind RJ was fantafabulous. He shares his motivation with cheran over a coffee session and influences him greatly. His good hearted helping nature and subtle performance by cheran stands out and evokes sympathy from me. He even helps the girl, who eloped with her boy friend on eve of her marriage with cheran. The screenplay is as though it’s the story of someone in my neighborhood.

Kudos to these Tamil cinema makers who make realistic films inviting family audience to movies, even when tamil cinema is making Hollywood style fast paced thrillers

Appreciate the Hardwork

First, this post is not a review of Dasavatharam, U would have read many blogs posted on that topic. I personally felt, they are certain things more than cliche reviews. I always reiterate my stand of being a lover of good cinema, not inclined towards any stars or have their fan following.

If people cannot appreciate the nuances of dasavatharam, then they are being hypocritical. Stating " after all the hype abt make-up, it turned out to be a buzzavatar" These people need to know we are making Indian films , for Indian people. Please don't compare it with an hollywood movie. As Yuhi Sethu, actor-writer exclaims, " Americans are just 200 years old, but we need to make movies for 2000 years old tamil audience with the tamil traditions and culture in mind. Oscars are awards given to Americans/British for their movies, Our movies need not be recognised by the Oscar Academy". There are other pool of stars and superstar to give a full fledged entertainers. We don't expect that from a kamal movie. Something extraordinary is what kamal gives.

Morethan the entertainment, the audience needs to be prepared for this movie. K.S. RaviKumar in his interview ," even the illiterate can understand the movie". He completely overrules the belief in hypocrites about the complex nature of story.For a layman on the street, " Some virus inside a box , if dispersed can spread exponentially and kill humanity. A scientist who invented it tries to prevent it from happening .A villain tries to get that box because of his inhumane money-minded nature. finally tsunami comes from saves mankind from a catastrophy" as simple as it can get. you don't understand the english part to know this story. All the complexity about the chaos theory, butterfly effect, biowarfare is for the literate to do a wikipedia referral.

Things that amazed me. The very range of the story from 12th century and present age tells u abt the research n background work to write such a script. The perserverance and determination in transforming what he has scripted.The Journey of thousand miles begins in a footstep. Dasavatharam character have a close resemblance to Lord Vishnu's Dasavathar, their character , appearance, body language. No special comedy tracks, no duets with heroines,no intro songs, movies breaks the conventional cinema. Climax states, even the deadly tsunamis happen for the sake of good. Everything happens for a reason, be optimistic and search for the good.

The movie makes audience prepare themselves for the movie rather than other way. This will be a new trend to tamil cinema, Movie takes tamil cinema to a different platform. Hats off to Ashtadhavani Kamal, Master director KSR . Dasa is a feather in ever growing tamil cinema.

PS: all these comments were personal statements and didn't meant to insult other stars or their fans.

Nittfest-08.. infested by ece..

One of the most awaited events of Nit-Trichy, The inter dept cult fest, NITTFEST. This year my bench mate, Arun Balaji, was the event chairman. But still I maintained my stand of not working for Nittfest. I prefer participating in the cult events. Of course, I like dancing n participating in English litz events. I didn’t want my dept to loose bcos of me (even otherwise they’ll lose.). So no other go, Tamil litz is the only hope.

The event Nittfest is turning out more like an ECEfest, so no use in other dept people competing with them. Imagine the plight of metallurgy dept (no offences) with a class strength around 30, competing with the mighty ECEs of 80 in number. There’s a talk that the strength might rise to 120 next academic year. I agree with the director’s point, that there’s no need to have a Nittfest, if this situation continues. There were times in this Nittfest’08, where the audience knew the results before they were announced. “Obviously, ECE first da, whatever they do…”. Almost every other dept students uttered these words. EEE movie spoof was much better than ECE or any other department.

So what plans for next nittfest?? May be we can have ECE vs. all other 10 departments. While the ECE’s can have their Veni...vidi...vici, all the other department can have a t-shirt mocking at the ECEs. The best part was the dedication of the Mech Machos to ECE paddips, “naanda vanathil oru aandi...” song from Oram Po, (if u have not heard, pls do hear dat one!!!!)

This year edition was a bit fruitful as I qualified for most of the prelims, but lost out in the finals. The best part was the movie spoof. My department played “imsai Arasan...Elikaesi... B.tech”. with Rivat Haans, ARS playing the lead role, me as his minister with Koundamani character. Another guy, Adarsh as another minister imitating Lollu Sabha Manohar. Wow... adarsh is the exact replacement for ARS when he passes out. The worst thing ever could happen was that we had our first rehearsal on the stage in front of the audience. Fulltime Comedy.

Overall it was a nice time, fun filled, with department senti as always like anyother edition of Nittfest!!!!