Cycling

I used go for morning walk, sometimes biking with Arivu, my friend, till Ashok Pillar ( 1 Km ) from home. The objective is to take strong cofee at Saravana Bhavan. But things changed bit when started cycling.

Yes this month my budget Rs.3000 allotted for

bicycle purchase. My friend Ganesh bought it couple of months before and so I am now. I join him every alternate days. Other alternate days with Arivu.

It is good to see traffic free Chennai city early morning. Let me watch how long it goes..

Krishna Charitra - Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya

Krishna Charitra, Originally written in Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya is now available in English version. It is translated by Ms. Alo Shome.
This is a masterpiece work by Bankim. In his book, he visualizes Sri Krishna as a normal human being who lived in period of Mahabaratha. Eleminating divine powers, tricks and tales, Bankim shows Krishna us a perfect human being.
Interesting and refreshing.

Alma Mater - 14th Anniversary

I was invited by my friend for 'Alma Mater' 14th anniversary on Sunday, 15th Feb, 10am -12pm, Kamaraj memorial hall, Chennai.
I usually do not take part or show interest on any of speeches given by 'special' group or person. I do like speeches on Hinduism or Carnatic music concerts. But for change, I said ok for this.

The hall of 1800 seats was full by 9:30am. The crowd was from 'Rich' background (and not even upper middle class). About 50% were Hindi speaking. On my observation, there were many volunteers, Hugs, 'Happy morning' wishes, exchanging business cards, Adding contacts, etc.
The function was simple. Mr. TT Rangarajan, founder gave speech for 2 Hrs.
Nothing much attractive or special in his speech. For first 1 hr, he was giving various example to make us understand Tagore's " Where the mind is without fear ". Next 1 hr about mobile phone usage.
As this was 14th anniversary occasion, I was expecting their achievements and what did they change?
I wonder, what makes people wake up early on Sunday and gather for such a program.

Naan Kadavul - Movie review

The meaning of the title "Naan Kadavul" ( I am God ), sounded little bravery and made me watch at first show.
I was in assumption that story would be around saadhu's, Kasi, something that would take us near the 'meaning of God'. My assumption was wrong.

This is a typical action movie without commercial stuff. The movie was not boring. It makes you to sit 2.5 hrs expecting more and more from screen. But after the last frame, It makes us feel that movie is incomplete.

Bala ( The director ) should have gone bit deep into Saadhu life style, which might have added flavor to the movie. He extracted the best performance from Arya (Hero) and Pooja (Heroin). For Arya, except the action scene there is no scope. Pooja takes all the aplaz. Her extraordinary performance and Music Maestro Ilayaraja's background music together grabs every audience attention. The other notable characters in this movie are Arya's guru in Kasi, Arya's Father, Arya's Mom , Pooja's Father and the Beggars. They all fit for the role and script exactly.

About the story, It portrays the life of Beggars. It shows the hidden side of their life and the business around them.

The best scenes:
1. Arya's introduction song.
2. Arya's father collapses seeing his son first time before burning bodies.
3. Arya's sharp comment on her mom, when she ties to convey her pathetic situation.
4. When a beggar whistles seeing young girl at temple.
5. Pooja's father's non stop dance when police visit home.
6. No reaction from Pooja's father when police hit him with rope.
7. Pooja steals the show wherever she appears. Especially the climax. No heroine would have fit that role.
8. The way Arya drags Nayar inside bushes.
9. Comedy the beggars play casually about Ambani and Politics.
10. Nayantara actress in Pooja's family.

What is missing:
1. Story.
2. Arya's guru instructs him to get rid off (kill ?) all his relatives and come back to Kasi. But the script later misses that.
3. Very less dialogue. More Sanskrit and Hindi used.
4. Few sensitive dialogues gets buried in background music.
5. Why does always Bala want to give importance to old songs and stage artists? Especially in police station, where Pooja's family performing dance is too boring and lengthy.
6. At court, does Arya say "I ate him" ? Censor's mute sound is more across scenes. Can't director convey that in some other means?


Poor parents should kill the child if baby born with disability, at the earliest. Is that the message of the movie? Ada Kadavulae! ( Oh My God!)

Overall, the movie can be seen once for Pooja and Music.
Keep kids away from this movie.

Alagiri at Chennai

Chennai now sees Alagiri ( Son of TN chief minister) posters widely. His 58th birthday wish banners were placed for each 100 feet.

One display says: Anja Nenjarae (brave heart)

The other says: Thirumangalathu Yaanaiyae (Elephant of Thirumangalam district).

What they try to say?

Match Point

Match Point (2005) directed by Woody Allen and starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer. It was shown in Sony Pix channel Sunday 01,Feb.
Extraordinary performance by all three leads and wonderful direction.
The dialogue were sharp and interesting Drama with thrill.

Worth watching it and I'm looking for DVD to stack it to my collection.

Scrum in depth

I completed my Scrum master certification from goodagile August 2008. Since then I was trying to consolidate a quick walk through on scrum process for better understanding for beginners.

Hope these presentations might trigger.

http://docs.google.com/EmbedSlideshow?docid=dcg4vtmc_2czmmgngj

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dcg4vtmc_23fj29spw7