Sid's heart... desires what?

Three friends....go on a road trip to Goa from Mumbai on a convertible Benz.... pull over on the national highway...take turns in driving and sleeping...yup! You got it. I'm talking about Akash, Sid and Sameer and their Dil Chahta Hai. The story that talks about the lives of three urban youngsters and thereby is heavily adulterated with western especially American culture. The film ends by the scene that shows the three friends sitting in the same beach in Goa where they spent their summer a couple of years ago. While Akash and Sameer have come with their wives, Sid is all alone. There he sees his old college mate Deepa and the last shot of the film ends by all the six going for a toast in a restaurant. "This is called character assasination" - Ravi said this statement seeing this. I did not agree first. But this made me to think for a while.... a long while. BTW, Who is Sid? How about the other two guys? When I was trying to get an answer to justify my stand, there came a few reasons in my mind.

Sid is shown as an obsessive lover of a middle aged alchoholic divorcee. Quite an impressive character. Right from the beginning he is portrayed as a soft and genteel person. He never goes behind girls like his buddy Sameer or plays some practical jokes like Akash. He seems to be responsible, reserved and respectable.

What made him to fall for his elderly neighbor? I would say sympathy. We are shown Sid's mom, but not his dad. Maybe there is a story behind it. Maybe Sid could have been brought up by a single mom and hence the compassion. Okay... Why he married his old college mate finally? Again the same compassion and commiseration. He did not see his soul mate in Goa; but he saw a lonely girl who was deprived of her love by her dream boy and laments over the dead infactuation. Poor guy, he couldn't understand that his feelings are merely an understanding of others' sufferings and nothing beyond that. I can go further by saying that any girl in place of Deepa would have attracted Sid provided she had been left alone.

In one way or other I can analogize these friends to the three Gandhian monkeys. Sameer is the one who closes his eyes. He never takes the pain to open and see things around. Just hears to others and talks in a haste. Akash on the other hand never opens his mouth. It is not that he could not do it; it is he does not want to do it. All because of his fear of getting rejected, he fakes his opinion about love and goes to the extent of saying that no such emotion exists in this planet. After talking about these guys, we are only left with Sid and the monkey that has closed ears. Does it mean he never listens to anyone? Could be. He did not listen to his mom, friend or his neighbor that his feeling towards the old lady is unnecessary.

Eventually, I would say Sid is not that matured as seen. He is as confused as Sameer. He is not able to judge his feelings and often misunderstands them. Also like Akash he is afraid of failures. If Akash is reluctant to open his mouth fearing of being thrown down, Sid satisfies himself with whatsoever without getting into the game. In that sense, the silly sameer scores the points. Anyways, there must be something in common among friends...after all they are friends to share their commons. And yeah... it is very hard to find what every one's heart desires for?

Long long ago....

That's how ninety percent of my childhood stories begin. Another ten percent begin with the words "Once upon a time..." Isn't story telling an art? I remember the good old days where I used to hear stories from my elders and sometimes I was forced narrate stories in 'story telling competitions' (Man! I hate such competitions!!)

Getting use to conventional story narration from childhood, when I came across different styles of telling a story in later days, I could do nothing to stop me from being suprised. It was not known to me till recent past that such a simple story of jackal cheating the crow can be told in numerous ways and ofcourse be interesting at the same time!

The one page short stories in weekly magazines that were my favorite in my schooldays and teens mostly told a story from the beginning to the end either in a third person view or in a 'first person singular' style (mostly the first person being the author). Almost all the movies that I had seen then also had such a narration (if I ignore the oft repeated flashback technique).

Later (actually in the recent past) when I got a chance to read some sci-fis or watch some flicks that did not have a linear narration or the usual first person narration, I understood the importance that a narration holds more than the story itself! The short stories of Kalki or Devan that I have been reading now and then for the past few months have most of the stories told through some other person who is neither involved in the story nor he the author. I don't know how such a style is categorized. The short story "Mudivu" by Sujatha where three letters explains the events is classified as sci-fi. What? It was a story without even a tint of science in it. Experts say the stlye of narration was unconventional and hence the story could be called a sci-fi. Okay, that's fine. Then what you call about films that have back and forth narration and where the story is told in bits and pieces (sometimes so confusing and profound to contrieve a conclusion!) and don't have anything that is scientific?

Anyways, I realized that the power of the story lies in the way in which it is told. Influenced by such elements, I tried some uncoventional way of explaining things. My earlier post on Dude and Buddy is a perfect example of a lame attempt of explaining a story through script sheets (similar to letters). So the post that explains about the anonymous meeting in the eyes of a third person. Hmm! People often are reluctant to accept their weaknesses. I must soon shed my reluctance.....hopefully....very soon!

Musical colors

Day1:

It was midnight. There was pitch black darkness in my room. I was not getting my sleep. After spending a couple of minutes closing my eyes, turning around in the bed and other futile efforts to fall asleep, I took my walkman. When I pressed the play button....an electronic flute gives out a fresh tender lead music, as fresh as a dew drop on a newly formed light green grass. A male mellifluous voice takes over the music and adds meaning to the tune.The song begins..."Pachai Niramae...".

Truly an amazing song. Can colors be conveyed through music? Yes is the answer. Not only the colors, but shades too! The song begins from the fresh green grass, travelling all the way through the chlorophyll green leaves and the dull green nerves and musically explaining all the shades of red, yellow, blue, black and white. Just by music and words. After green, the tender music becomes hard and begins to portray the shades of red. Now slowly there is a bright transition to yellow family, as bright as the solar rays and hot as a flame. Suddenly it slows down and becomes as deep as a silent sea and a silent sky to show us the blue varieties. Gradually a chorus note takes you to the haunted dark night and opens up all the shades from dark rain clouds through the wings of crow and the color of sparrow. Again the flute plays supported by some female chorus. This time it is fresh and clear, as clear as a white labiatae flower. Yes! We have been shown the whites finally. Slowly the song ends after the flute sound fades..... And I don't know when I slept.

Day 2:

Next day. Around noon. Was so hungry and tired to concentrate in my work. Almost felt like blacking out. Now I play a song in my computer. The moment I pressed the play button, I hear a group of female voices humming fast at the instant, reaching a cresendo and slowing down gradually and interrupted by a coarse male voice melodiously humming the tune.....the words say "Thendral Vandhu theendum...."

Another song that shows you the colors. Just by music. Just ONLY by music. There are no words that explain the hues. Hence the subtlety. But as strong as the previous song. You can't find colors and shades explicitly as Pachai Niramae.., but you do have colors in this tune. The sounds you hear will be the colors you would see if they change form. While the previous songs is an attempt to see different colors and shades through music, this is an effort to explain colors to a visually impaired person through other senses. You hear, you see. You feel, you see. You taste, you see. You smell, you see. This is the end result.

The haunting voices in the first interlude and the violin chords in the second interlude shows you the two extremes of the spectrum. The sense of sorrow and eagerness in the femal voice and the feel of diffidence in the male voice throughout the song explains the lady's grief for not able to see the colors and the quest to understand them as well as the lack of ability of her man to show her what it is. The words show you the other four senses, but the music takes you to the fifth sense - vision.

Just close your eyes and don't visualize anything when you hear these songs. I bet you'll have the feeling of passing through a prism. You will enter as a plain white light and get yourself refracted and exit as the seven colors of the spectrum. Believe me.

There is a short story by writer Sujatha in which he tries to explain the colors to a visually impaired person through the seven swarams. I say these two songs stand a good testimony. What say?

Anonymous rendezvous

I was so hungry. The cafeteria was crowded. I was walking with my sandwich in one hand and pop on the other. Can I find some place to sit? There seems to be none. What? Not even a single chair? I think someone is leaving on the left corner....near the ornamental plant. Yes, that guy is moving. I got catch the place. Walk fast. Hmm... faster will be better. C'mon.. you got to sit. Don't miss this table...please...Yeah.. I reached the table and I am sitting now.

Sometimes, ranch is not too good with black olives. Next time I should try either one. BTW, who is this guy who is looking at me? Maybe not at me. Someone else. Ah! I forgot to tell you. At times I feel Italian Herbs and Cheese is better than Hearty Italian. Is he again looking at me? I turn around. No one else. Only the plant. Yes. He IS looking at me. And he is smiling. Do I know him? I don't think so.

I shouldn't get strong soda always. Maybe diet will be good occasionally. I see him coming towards me. Does he want something? Is he going to take any survey or talk about those business kinda stuff? I am in no mood. I have to eat and go to my class. No time to answer questions. He is in front of me. He says, "Hi. How are you?"
"Doing pretty good. How you doin?"
"Great".
"Good".
Some silence....
He goes, "Hey, Are you graduating this sem?"
"Yes. This is my last sem".
"Are you taking seminar course this sem".
"Yeah..."
"I saw you the other day. Tried to talk to you, but you were busy".
"I see".
"Ok.. catch u later. Bye".
"Bye".

He left. But who is he? He is average height, medium built, fair and has a sharp nose with short black hair. But who the hell is he? He had seen me during the seminar class. He must be in my department. People from other department are not allowed to take seminar course generally. He knows I'm graudating this semester. But I don't know who he is. Gosh! I hate when people talk to me without any introduction taken for granted that I know them. Silly! Anyway I got to eat fast and make it to the class. I have only five minutes. Hmm.... sometimes we meet some anonymously familiar persons!

This was the story written by a fellow student based on an incident in his life, with whom I took a class two years ago. Shit! I often forget to tell my name and reintroduce myself to my old classmates. How can I think they know me and my name even after a couple of years?

Fourth Dimension

"Time is our fourth dimension", said my IC Design lecturer in my junior year. Then I was in no position to appreciate it. Now, after a couple of years, I think I can accept it; atleast agree with a receiving nod. Having spent more than a score of months in this land of opportunity (so-claimed by all, I stick to it), and after shedding my mischievous childhood and bubbly teen years, I can now realize how I had moved with my fourth dimension.

Dictionary.com gives the meaning of Dimension as "A measure of spatial extent, or an extent or magnitude or scope, or an aspect or element". Seems like going by the meaning we can say the extent or scope of one's life is measured by his fourth dimension - time. It's hard to imagine a world without clock. We live time, eat time, work time, play time, sleep time and... also blame time. Absurd! Truly ridiculous to blame time. The fact is we hardly complain about the lack of our other three dimensions, but we never feel shame to complain the fourth one. Why to blame the scale if you are not slim? Why to blame the clock if you are not punctual?

Okay... Did I spent all my time wisely? Didn't I ever complain about lack of time? I am dumb. I can't do anything more than drooping my head. My explanation is....really......what I mean to say is......Oh God! I've got to do some stuff soon. Catch u later. Shit! I really don't have any time. Oops........!

I made a snowman

Today it was snowing cats and dogs (can I say that?). I remember the last heavy snowfall was the unforgettable snow storm last Thanksgiving. I know it is not difficult to say that snow is lovely and enjoyable when you are inside a building and watching it through the window pane. Real snow is what you see if you are on the other side of the window glass.

I fulfilled two of my long term wishes today. First, I took a bunch of snaps in snow (thanks to Naren). Second, I made a snowman with Raj (which turned out to be snow clown). Silly, isn't it? True. Some childhood desires that failed to see the reality may still be in you. You might never know you are carrying those desires at your back. Only when you feel its weight, you rediscover them in you. At such times you are not what you are; but you are what you were. A rewind of ages happens, as it happened to me. Hmm... that's interesting. You travel time, but you really don't.

Did I say I learnt two things today?

1. Don't stand or play for a long time in snow. Your hands and feet will get numb and you will feel pricking pain atleast for the next half an hour.
2. Making snowman is not my cup of tea; kids are really smart and creative.

When it rains, it pours

Whenever I say the words in the title, I am remembered of the picture of the little girl in a yellow frock holding umbrella on one hand and salt tin on the other hand, that is usually seen in the side of Morton Salt container. These words aptly describe the weather condition in Tamilnadu.

This year it has been a monsoon marathon all over India. If it was south-west monsoon during August that raided the west and the north parts of the country, it is north-east now taking care of the south-eastern parts. The south-west monsoon usually never fails, providing enough rain to the western ghats contour line. The north-east or retreating usually never forgets to fail, leaving the farmers in the southern states to sit in front of their fields and have their neck turned upwards hoping some dark clouds come over.

This year, the usual thing happened for the south-west monsoon, but excessively. Also the unsual thing happened for north-east monsoon. When the cities and villages in the north started to recover from the floods, the southern villages and cities began to submerge in another deludge. Seems like there has been no such rain for the past fifty years in the country. It reminds me of the statement my Geography teacher in seventh standard used to say "Indialae one kaanchu kedukkum, illa paenchu kedukkum". This time the second one. Sigh!

Iruvar-Not the Maniratnam film

Before we get on to this post, let me introduce two people. Ofcourse I have to. Afterall this post is about them.

Dude-a twenty some post graduate student in engineering. He has a strong passion for script writing and still trying to get a perfect script from various incidents and people he had met with in his life.

Buddy-Dude's best buddy (they mutually believe in this fact!!). A software professional who always feels his professional life needs to be more challenging. More pragmatic than Dude.

Accidentally, I saw a loose sheet of paper from Dude's lecture notes. Looked like one of his attempted script. It only had two scenes. I'm not sure whether they are in sequence. But I thought I can share it with you guys. Unfortunately some words were not readable (blame his handwriting!). So I'm leaving a blank space for those. Here you go!

Scene 1:

Location: A crowded moving train in a big city in an Asian country.
Time: Present day. (A bright summer evening).
Characters: Dude & Buddy.

Buddy: Yeah. Thats it. I'm not taking the offer.
Dude: Why?
B: It's not for me. I'm not the man.
D: So, you are goin to go for higher studies? (looks straight into Buddy's eyes).
B: Yup. But not abroad. I wish to do a masters in ...... university.
D: I know. But don't you think you have to work now to pay your loans.
B: (looking Dude in a pensive way) That's true. But that job is not going to be interesting. You read the work description and were listening to m big lecture so far, right?
D: (nodding) Hmm..
B: Still you want me to take that one?
D: Yeah. It's going to help you. You'll get some money and payback your debts. You can help your parents.
B: But it is a....
D: No 'But'. Hey, you can study whenever you feel like but right now you need some money. (looking more intensly) Listen, you are smarter than me and more intelligent. I'm not pretending or teasing. Just straight from my heart. I know you deserve more than this. You got to understand the need of the hour. I too wish you to study further. Infact I wish you could come with me to States. But we must take things as they come. Just say yes now. We can decide about other things later. Okay?
B: (After some silence and a deep breath) Okay.
D: yeah, that's good. My station has arrived. Catch you later. Bye.

(Dude gets down the train with a smile).

Scene 2:

(Placard display: Two years later....)

Style: A telephone conversation between Dude who is somewhere in a big city in USA and Buddy who is working in an Australian county.
Time: An early fall morning.

Dude: So, when are you going back?
Buddy: In a couple of months, maybe by the end of the year.
D: How do you feel in ......?
B: Mmmm.. Okay, but I don't like staying here for a long time. Kinda boring.
D: Think you miss her a lot. (chuckles)
B: Yeah. I miss all my folks a lot.
D: Have you planned your wedding?
B: Not yet. But her folks want her to get her married soon.
D: What about your Masters plan?
B: She is fine with it. But no clue when should I take it. Afraid how could I manage it. Lost the touch and think I have no fire in me. Probably shouldn't have taken the offer then. Got stuck in this corporate world. But again, I paid all my debts. Let's see...Things are pretty hazy.
D: Yeah.. I can understand your situation. You should've gone to study then. I've also felt that I pursued you a lot to take up the job, which I shouldn't have. But as you say, this one helped you a lot.
B: How about you? Did you get a chance to write something?
D: Me...no. I haven't got anything. hard luck! And....yeah... I hope to graduate by next sem.
B: That's okay. You'll get one soon. And congrats on your graduation. Any idea of signing up further?
D: Nothing clear. Research is interesting, although I feel like studying for a long time. As well, you know the passion is still on me.
B: I think you have to go ahead and sign up further.
D: What do you mean? You are the one who told me to try different companies and not to give it up.
B: Yeah. It was mistake. Something told hastily.You are the man for doing research. May be you can take up writing as a hobby and not a profession. But anyways we can't stop good things from happening. And I've just 30 seconds left in my card.
D: Okay. I'll consider that. And good luck to you too. Say hi to .......
(Dial tone...)

I couldn't comprehend anything from these two scenes of an amateur writer. But I guess this story is about two friends who are filled with self-centered ideas and concern for mutual welfare equally. Any other guesses?