Surprises Galore.

Surprises and shocks have been the order of the day. While I made plans of surprising my family, life planned a better one for me.

I got through the first round of my dream college. Its half mission accomplished. I remember writing how the exam's GK paper got out the hidden power in me to see the marvels of night sky in broad day light. The examiner would have also seen the same reading my analytical and insightful answers and called me for an interview to just get more information on my hidden powers. Anyways, I get to go and attend the interview.

There is a small hiccup though. Two of my interviews are clashing. And there is a lot of opposition. Problems are part of life, I know. And yes, I am putting my foot down and standing up. This time I am winning.

On the surprise I planned:

I landed up in Bombay, without informing anybody and surprised paati (Granny)  and my cousin who was celebrating her 16th birthday. The rest knew I was coming. So, they were surprised and speechless for sometime. And I was too ecstatic to have successfully accomplished the plan and of course the feeling of being in Bombay.

So, let's see how things plan out. My mom just read an horoscope in a Tamil magazine that said 'nothing is going right in my life'. And I decided to look beyond it and say Mr. Astrologer and all the stars who are plotting against me, all the best. I am going for the kill.

The crazy sunday and a glimmer of hope.

It took me one crazy exam to figure out what mess my life is in?

Trust me on the crazy exam part, I could see stars, moons, planets, asteroids, comets, dinosaurs, even the new solar system that the hairless scientists have found. The paper had so many names, I dint even know some of those even exist in this world, leave alone their occupation ( The exam was on GK ). After the initial panic, I gave up and started laughing at the questions. I couldn't do anything better.

The best part was when a girl remarked after the exam 'I am flunking. What the hell was that?' and relief set in. When you know a fellow exam taker has written as badly as you have, the feeling of you not being alone in the war against the brains that dint work and the brains that set this damn question paper is simply awesome.

And then came the movie I was longing to see, Ishaqzaade. It was about honour killing. The songs were good and the movie was okay.

Coming to the messed up part.

So, I came back from the movie with a friend with whom I had a long conversation about many things. That talk made me hit back to the reality. I have this habit of going into the fantasy world when things don't go right. I switch off for a while and this time that became my abode for a very long time. So, when reality came gushing at me like the tsunami, I couldn't take it. And the rest is mathematics.*

On why I entered the fantasy world? I had a big exam and I left my JOB for it. So, I screwed up the exam, is unemployed and the reality pangs are still not sinking in. Whatte life macha!

There is a glimmer of hope though, I got through the Xavier's entrance exam  and have an interview soon. Hope its Bombay calling again. :D

*And the rest is mathematics - All through my school life I kept cursing that one person who invented maths. It was fine till class 4 ( the only time I got a 99 ), but later I started flunking. And dint know what the hell was going wrong. That's exactly how I felt when I came out of my fantasy world.

nervous post.

I have an impending result tomorrow and a BIG exam on Sunday. No doubt, I have been acting weird.

I have been away from all these exams and results stuff for almost a year. Coming back to them feels odd. And this time I don't even have people to share my nervousness with. Crap, this is not happening one wee bit to me.

About the exam preparation, I have been watching the seventh season of how I met your mother. And also planning for a movie post exam. I can get incorrigible at times. Lets see how it goes.

Unpalatable experience.

A first hand account of an unpalatable experience that shook me up.

I had one hell of an experience, travelling from Coimbatore to Chennai, couple of weeks back by a bus.

I was going alone. There was nobody sitting in the seat beside mine.There was another guy who was sitting on the other side. Even he did not have anybody sitting beside him. And the journey to hell started.

I was excited about travelling alone for the first time. I ensconced in my seat and switched on my music player and drifted into my dream world. I wasn't able to sleep, so,  I woke up and moved the curtains to see where we were. After a while, I fell asleep only to be woken up by continuous shakes. It was a lady and her daughter from behind. Even before I could realise what was happening she started warning me about the guy sitting on the other side. Apparently, he was staring at me continuously and his intentions didn't seem to be good. It was 2:30 am and the bus had stopped at a toll gate. It took sometime for the information to sink in.

The bus then started and my heart beat raised all of a sudden. I had always been a fighter kid and was never scared to shout or fight if somebody was misbehaving. But this time I was scared. I didn't know what was happening. Just about that time the guy put his hand on the seat beside mine and I shrieked. The minute he realised I wasn't sleeping ( my head was turned towards the window side ) he took his hand back and kept looking at me. I turned to shout but I couldn't. Fear gripped me. It was 4:00 am by then and Chennai was about 3 hours away.

I didn't know what to do, so I messaged a friend for some words of strength. I didn't get a reply. I turned towards the window and tears engulfed. I was too tired by then and was fighting to keep my eyes open. After an hour I turned to look at him and realised he wasn't there. The bus hadn't stopped anywhere so he couldn't have got down. Just when I started to think that, I was probably over reacting, a hand hit my right thigh. Before even I could realise what was happening the guy was looking behind from the front seat and I lost my senses. I screamed at him in English and started shivering so much that I wasn't even able to abuse him. People in the bus then took notice but nobody came around to scold him. The guy meekly said Sorry and I couldn't shout more. I was shivering so much that sense wasn't hitting me. He later moved to his place and did not look at me until we got down. I was just coming into senses when koyambedu bus stand arrived. I hadn't been there before and didn't know to read Tamil. I realised a little late after asking somebody for the name of the place that this is where I had to get down.

As I was getting up and pulling out my bags from the baggage loft somebody hit my back. Before I could turn and see, the guy had left. I know I should have seen if he was around and waited for him to go before I could get down. But, I was way too relieved to have reached intact.

I don't know how things would have been different had I shouted and abused him. I learnt a lesson for life.

All this just because I am a girl in her twenties and has the guts to travel alone or because they think I am travelling alone, thus modern and open to anything. This happened while I was totally covered by a blanket. Does it make a girl susceptible to severe damage just because she's independent and travels alone? What makes the guy invite himself? The questions are not going to stop and answers are too many.

Everybody has a say in it, some say the boy is at fault while some others say the girl is at fault. But, what beyond the talks? Its all no words and no action. what about the lakhs of girls facing such incidents day in and out? We can't stop going out and nor are we from aristocratically rich families wherein travelling in public transport is looked down upon.

This is happening widely and people have accepted it. People think raising voice against these small things are signs of immaturity. To all those who say this, you haven't faced it so don't talk, if you have then stand up against it. Why accept and let it grow?

Some say such things keep happening, the wiser would ignore and move. Probably, its true. But, these small things later lead to the big things and cause irreparable damage. Its good to move on but not ignore. But then how do we fight against it? If we shout or abuse they get provoked and resort to deadlier ways to avenge the insult. They override the laws and are wealthy enough to pay for the bail and damage, to come out easily and cause havoc.

A solution to this is the need of the hour. The more we delay, the more the damage is done. Waking up after everything is over will not solve the problem. We'll have to pluck out the malady from the root. And such incidents form the roots. If these are controlled then we could probably see a change for the better. And provide a safer place for the women to live.  

Probably I should have carried a pepper spray or something. But, then would that solve the problem?

Today its me, tomorrow it can be anybody.  Beware and be safe! And stand up, don't succumb.

Yeah, Its tonty wone now.

My hair fall rate has gone up drastically, my mom's been talking too much about marriage, suddenly everybody looks at me like the before-using-age-miracle kind of women in the commercial ads, people have started associating words like mature, responsible, thoughtful all of a sudden. No, I'm not turning 30, just 21.

Wondering why such hoopla? Because 21 sounds crazy. 21 sounds old. And yeah and people around me go,  oh! YOU ARE 21. Its not like I am turning 45, still unmarried and jobless sitting at home.

Anyways, I can only say, Its all in the mind. Okay I am sounding auntyish. The mind thing is true though.

I have my insecurities yes!, but that does not stop me from celebrating my birthday. I am legally an adult.

I have exams. So celebrations would happen a little post the actual date.

This could probably be the most experimental year by far. C'mon now I am sitting at home, jobless, hoping to crack the entrance exams by playing games, talking crap, sleeping, dreaming  and studying (occasionally).

Crossing the heart and hoping everything would fall in place.

Goodbye 20, you have been awesome in every way. Couldn't have asked for more. Ask 21 to be good and well behaved. 


tonty wone ( twenty one ) beckoning! :)

 

 

NOW, is the time.

Now is the time to awaken, to rise above everything that brings you down, to make a difference, to stand up for atrocities and to fight for the justice.

The television has umpteen shows that promise to bring about change. Their success rate is dismal. But there is one such show that might stay true to its words in bringing about change, Satyameva jayate. I might be judging it a bit too early but the first episode showed a lot of promise. I know first episodes are always neatly packaged because only then will people take notice of it. But, there is something right about it. It can be the research, the host (Aamir Khan), the channel, the presentation or even the interviewees.

The first episode was about female infanticide. Now, how many of us know that this social evil is more prevalent in cities than in villages? The women who were interviewed told facts that would stir up anybody, even a stone hearted person. That is the amount of atrocity faced by them. A women was aborted 6 times in 8 years because she was pregnant with a girl child. Another women was beaten up and her face was eaten up by her husband because she gave birth to two girl children. A well educated family in Delhi, tried to kill a girl child by pushing her down from a staircase. These are just few cases that came to light. There are many such women facing it day in and out. Why is being a girl such a big burden? Only because she has to be married off to another family. When will people understand there's more to life of a girl than being married off? She could well be on par with boys and we have so many examples.Its time to stop them.

A sting operation carried by 2 journalists in Rajasthan has exposed close to 100 doctors who support female infanticide and go against the law and reveal the sex of the baby. These doctors are still practising and nothing has been done against them until now*.

For how long do we close our eyes and say its not happening in our area and family so I am not concerned or bothered. Why do we keep talking about shining India without trying to tackle the very problems that is causing an hindrance to the growth. The sex ratio in the census conducted in 2011 reveals that there are only 914 females to every 1000 males, the lowest since independence.

 Infanticide is just one among the social maladies faced by women. Rape is another malady that has been creating havoc. 1 among every four rape in the country happens in Delhi. It is the rape capital. What concrete steps have been taken apart from asking girls to not venture out of the house after 9'O clock? The maximum number of deaths due to dowry also happens in Delhi. What exactly is the government doing? We in fact have a female CM ruling Delhi. Sad sight!


Apart from that we have the ever increasing number of dowry related murders and suicides, girl child trafficking and so much more. The situation has worsened so much that , girls are being sold and married to 3-4 members of the same family because of the low sex ratio.  How much more can we torture the creation of god that brings new life into the world?


The IPC states that a person accused of rape is liable to an imprisonment of not less than seven years along with fine, which might even extend up to ten years. It holds good only if the person is caught and is not from an affluent family, if he is, then money does all the talking. There is no concrete law in place against female infanticide.


This is not a promotion or a review about the show. It is the truth that needs to reach the masses. This is just one such medium to make people aware of what is happening in and around you. If we don't stand up and fight against this, nobody ever will.

Lets take a step towards empowerment of the country, of the women.

Satyameva Jayate.

The show, satyameva jayate hosted by Aamir Khan has promised to write to the government of Rajasthan to fast track the cases against these 100 doctors.

OK OK -- Review

Here comes my first movie review. I am on Tamil movie watching spree, this is the second in a month.

The movie -- oru kal oru kannadi ( translates into, one stone one mirror).

Starring -- Udhayanidhi Stalin ( Karunanidhi's grandson ), Hansika Motwani ( it should be moti*- wani ) Santhanam and Saranya. 

The film is fun, the comedian ( has a more prominent role than the main lead ) carried the movie ably on his shoulders. If not for him, the movie would have been worse than RGV ki Aag ( you cannot remake sholay )*

The hero is ok. He doesn't boast of national award winning acting skills but is not a pain on the eyes. He's completely over shadowed by Santhanam. The dialouges are witty and crisp. 

Saranya is amazing. She plays the role of a mother and a troubled wife who’s husband hasn’t spoken for 20 years because her father lied that she was a graduate to the Tee. She steals the show every time she appears on the screen. The father’s character played by Azhagam perumal, is very good. 

About the heroine, she is as fat as a buffalo and her dresses are easily a size or two smaller which makes her look even fatter. Sadly, even the camera angles don’t help, she looks fat from every angle, thus causing grief to the camera man’s talent. He should be awarded for the very fact that he made her fit in the frame. She looks much older than the hero. Her limited expressions and the horrible dubbing do not do much to save her from being laughed at. 

I am remembered of a scene, where she meets a marriage-able guy as per her wants and conditions and also calls the hero to the same restaurant to degrade and insult him. But, the perfect guy comes in and insults and calls her an over weight, badly dressed aunty leaving her baffled. All the guys in the theatre were hooting and clapping hands. Which proves, You have to be more than fair skinned to be an actress.  

Santhanam has shined through the movie. His dialog delivery is hilarious.  And his expressions will only make you laugh more. He has out done himself, considering his role and dialogs in Boss engira Bhaskaran ( Boss alias Bhaskaran ) were trend setters. 

The director who gave movies like siva manasula shakti and Boss engira bhaskaran could have woven a story and cast a better heroine. Anyways his dialogs are crackler and his penchant for comedy is visible. Kudos to him for making movies that has humour throughout and not in bits and pieces.

The songs are strictly OK. The song Vendam macha vendam ( dont want brother dont want ) is listenable.

The background score is good. The movie could have been edited more. There could have been a story. Its just comedy all the way. 

Otherwise what could have been a head banging, foot wear throwing and tears out of pain to the brain affair was actually humourous. On the flip side, the movie drags endlessly. After a point one becomes restless as its 3 hours long. 

Bottomline: Comedy movies are fun. But its best served with a story line. 

* Sholay is considered to be one of the best movies ever made in Indian cinema. I'm sorry to include it in a tamil movie review. But I couldn't help it. I haven't come across a worse movie than aag though drona, saawariya, Azhagiya tamil magan and london dreams come really close.

* moti means fat in Hindi.