Anniyan Movie Screening

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Man... what an experience. I am not here to write a review abt the movie (too much of hype already left a lot of us disappointed :( ) but to just pen down a few keywords that will help me remember all the fun that we had while organizing the show.

* The "big" decision: to screen the movie.
* Cincinnati trip - Temple and Udipi - posters.
* Tickets.
* Reel Deal Cinemas.
* A BIG crowd - a helluva response to the event :)

Open book!

I am happy right now because I am back with a book!

I was recently tagged by PB and here I am with my list:

Famous Five - Enid Blyton.

Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys series.

Hercule Poirot series (esp Murder on the Orient Express)- Agatha Christie.

Not a penny more Not a penny less, The Prodigal daughter, The eleventh commandment - Jeffrey Archer.

Rage of Angels, Tell me your dreams, If tomorrow comes - Sidney Sheldon.

The firm, Pelican Brief - John grisham.

Doctors, Love story, The Class - Eric Segal.

Coma, Toxin, Chromosome 6, Mindbend - Robin Cook.

The Sum of all Fears, The Bear and the Dragon, Executive orders - Tom Clancy.

Disclosure, Congo, Jurassic park - Michael Crichton.

Complete Collection of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare.

Malgudi Days - R K Narayan.

These are books that I read over and over again.

I am really interested in knowing what Ranganathan, Ammani and Raapi read. So, now it's you chance to become an "open book"!

First Anniyan review

Enakku vanda first suda suda Anniyan review!

Anniyan!

anniyan

Lexington Tamil Cultural Association
Proudly Presents
Tamil Cinema's Magnum-opus
"Anniyan"

***ing: ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram, Sada, Vivek, Yana Gupta
Music: Harris Jeyaraj (Haven’t you heard the Andan-Kaaka song yet!)
Producer: Oscar V Ravichandran
Direction: Shankar (Gentleman, Indian, Muthalvan fame)

Wednesday, 22nd June 2005
Time: 7:30 p.m
Venue: Reel Deal Cinemas,
South Park Shopping Center,
Nicholasville Road
(Behind Best Buy n Toys’R’us stores)
Lexington, KY

Tickets:
$12 per person.
Ages 7 to 15: $6, under 7 years: Free

Tickets Available @:
Vishal Intl.
Saagar Indian Stores
Tandoor

Illusion

"Soorya, it's time for you to get up and brush". It's the same dialogue that Maaya screamed from within the kitchen to get her 5 year old up and off to school. Vinay had been a supportive husband and he had felt that it was his duty to bathe the kid and dress him up while she dutifully cooked and did her morning prayers. She thanked God for having given her a gem of a son. "Neighbors envy, owners pride" is what they say! Vinay honked the horn and announced that he was ready to leave. Maaya rushed to wave a bye to them only to see the car moving out of the gate. "How many times have I told him to tell me before he gets into the car...", she wondered. It was the usual routine again - wrapping up her prayers, cleaning, mega serials, phone conversations with club members and the other chores of a homemaker. She went into Soorya's room in search of her kid's clothes but she found them neatly stacked and in place. Smiling at the work of her husband she proceeded to make some eatables for the evening. A walk to the temple, music class and other activities were scheduled for the evening. At dinner time, Maaya was concerned whether Soorya had completed his homework and had had his dinner. Vinay answered all her questions and accompanied her to their bedroom. "Vinay, has Soorya slept? I will just wish him goodnight without disturbing him pa." Maaya rushed towards his bedroom and silence prevailed for about a minute. "Ahhhhhhhhhh" came a hysterical scream and Maaya came out clasping a doll to her chest. "Soorya...Soorya...Soorya..." Maaya sobbed and mumbled Soorya's name till Vinay embraced her. She fainted in his arms and went into a trance. Vinay sat back and shut his eyes. That fateful day still haunted him - an accident which killed their son; that which made Maaya lose her mental stability.

Disappointment

Kripa felt queasy breathing in the hospital smell with every breath that she took in. It somehow seemed ominous bringing flashes of an operation theater, bright focus lights, doctors clad in green gowns and sharp knives. She took in a deep breath to clear her head of all those thoughts. It wasn't going to be bad news she kept telling herself. "Kripa Sethuraman, your report is ready", called out the nurse on duty. She heard a distant cry of a baby, saw visuals of its teething ring, johnson and johnson powder, its nappies, its little play room, its 5th birthday party, a high school graduation party, a tiff about the child's choice of life partner, its profession..."Kripa Sethuraman" She walked in a trance towards the desk and picked up her folder and opened it. She relived the same experience that she had had a couple of times earlier and wondered whether she would go through a different phase atleast this time. "Recommended: Abortion" read her report and tears rolled down her cheeks. The visuals that she had had just a minute earlier rolled back and flashes of a surgery, depressed family, arasa maram (Peepul tree) and trips to temples were all that came to her mind.

A day of fun & frolic

Kings Island!

Another weekend of outdoor activity and merry making! June 5th will remain etched in my memory for a long time to come for the following reasons

* Fun-filled car drive: Songs, Stories and Speed (limits)!
* Kings Island's thrill rides: Drop Zone, Face Off, Vortex, Beast, Son of the Beast
* THE GANG
* and also bcoz my long time dream of bungee jumping was realized this very day! - Three of us did manage to go on the 'Sky Flyer' - Hey, we grew wings!
* Post Kings Island dinner session - Part I & II

A picture speaks more than 1000 words. Check it out for yourselves!

KI 

Pics Courtesy: S & P

Selfishness...

Sitting in one corner of the hospital room I wondered why my granny couldn't stay alive when I really wanted her to. Why did she have to leave me when she knew that she meant so much to me? Did that mean my love wasn't being reciprocated? That is what the kid in me thought when my granny was still worried about leaving me alone even when she gasped for air during her last few seconds...

Why did I want her to live though I did acknowledge the fact that she had to endure pain and why on the other hand was I chanting prayers for her soul to rest in peace during those very last few seconds?

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Dasher lay under the center table, his skin sagging in folds indicating that he was too old for any activity. My entry into the house would evoke only a glitter in his eyes and a slight wag of his tail in response; I have never seen him full of energy. As a kid I have wanted a companion who would run around with me, fetch a ball that I threw at a distance, perform 'shake-hand' with all my friends who would come home. I have wanted a dog that I could proudly take around but Dasher shyed away from people. He was being extra sweet to his masters - showered love on all of us in his own style.

I should have realized that my dog was at a level higher than the other dogs. Contrary to his name he could never move at all... Dasher was a physically challenged dog.

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A ritual usually takes place in my house where all the old clothes and toys are given away each year. Being a teddy bear freak that I am, it was hard for me to part with one of my fave teddies. A big, cuddly one that it was - a definite NO for giving it away. I was forced to send it with the other stuff and I sat cribbing about it for almost one whole day. It was when we received a 'Thank you' note from the orphange did I realize that a teddy that was just yet another one in my collection was instrumental in bringing a big smile across several faces!

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To end on a lighter note, when I was questioned by anyone whether I would like to have a sibling, my reply was always on the negative. I guess I didn't want to share my parents' love and affection with anyone else (typical kiddish behaviour)... I had replied saying that if I ever missed a sibling then I would bring home one of those cute kids in the pram who come to Nilgiris departmental store!