1. Stayed at Mayura River view, or Karnataka Holidays, Srirangapatna. Very nice place, overlooking the river cauvery. Food is not that good. Value for money. You can book online. Cottages are really good.

This Mayura River view is very good for relaxing. During our stay on one of the days, we had a very heavy lunch and then dozed off for a while. Once we got up, I was amazed to see around 150 people waiting outside my cottage. I was wondering if people misunderstood me to be someone influential. Only later I realized that the crowd was for Karnataka home minister R Ashok who had come to the resort for lunch. I had not brought that many business cards as well. From next time I will make it a point to carry more business cards.

2. Brindavan Gardens musical fountain is wonderful.

3. Chamundi hills and sunset is great as usual. Mysore palace looks gorgeous at night with the special lighting. I am not very sure if its there in all evenings.

We went on a Saturday evening (Between 7 to 7.30 PM. Lights were turned off at 7.30 PM).

4. Ranganathittu is good. Apart from the boating, even other areas within the sanctuary is good for bird watching. Dont worry about the couples who are hidden behind shady areas. Even birds don’t go there. We even spotted a kingfisher close to the parking.

5. There is a huge huge water tank called Thonnur Kere somewhere near Pandavapura (From SH17 take left after srirangapatna while going towards bangalore. Once you reach Pandavapura ask people for banghetta cross and take left there. You can follow the typical bangalorean directions of straigghtt hogi(Which means go for 10 kms by asking people every 1 km if you are on the right track, dead end means t junction etc).

Its a must visit place for people who love old temples (Krishna and Yoganarasimha temples), lovely paddy fields and this water body and lots of birds(Look at the blue bird in the photos above). But better be prepared to watch the mass bathing and diving ritual of fat indian men. In fact some families do group bathing following the kattoadu kuzhalaada aada (Tamil sentence which means something funny) sequence

Entire set of photos available here.

Last night around 7.30 PM CET, 12 AM IST I suddenly started getting hiccups. I was wondering if someone was missing me, and thats why I had these hiccups. Immediately my flatmate(not roommate) also started getting hiccups. Only then I realised the rasam I made was too spicy

What’s the craziest thing you have done?

Yesterday, I had gone to a friends place near my house. He had come over the weekend from Bangalore. I will not get to the details of entire conversation except for the last part.

He: You look quite tired
Me: Yeah. Feeling sleepy
He: Have this
(He gave me a laddoo kind of thing)
Me: Whats this?
He: Its called kobre undi. Its a kind of laddoo. Quite tasty. Have it
Me: Thank you
(After I had it)
He: Feeling better?
Me: Sorry?
He: In our place, they give this ladoo everyday to the guy who is getting married. So that he has enough energy before first night.
Me: !!!!
He: Liked it?
Me: Yeah. Thank you. Good night.

P.S. I had a sound sleep.

I was actually waiting for Star Plus to telecast the Delhi concert, to write a post on it. Looks like it might take some more time! Anyways, here are some observations from the concert.

*One of the best concerts I attended. The stage looked good exept for the sleazy background videos whenever some romantic song was being sung. Very colorful. And thankfully, no rain!
*Not just ARR, but his family and close associates are extremely humble.
*ARR recognized me. He was playing keyboard, during rehearsals, and I was standing behind him in the stage and watching. He waved a hi and smiled
*I was standing for close to 2 hours just watching him play keyboard. One of the best moments for ARR fan You should see him concentrate, closing his eyes and tapping his foot while his fingers do all the magic.
*During the concert I was standing next to Krishnan Chetan(Ponmagal vandhaaL).
*Jodha Akbar song was mesemerizing. And the way ARR transformed it to Veerapandi Koattayile was brilliant.
*In this concert, right from the word ARR was at his peak form. I remember, in Bangalore, he was out of form for the first few songs.

This is my favorite video of all ARR songs picturised till now.

Here are some of my other favorite ARR videos (Youtube videos). I like all of them, not in any preferred order.

Pachai Nirame – Alaipayuthey. Video link
Snehidhane – Alaipayuthey – Video link
Dol Dol – Ayutha Ezhuthu – Video link
Oru deivam thandha poove- Kannathil Muthamittaal – Video link
Minnale – Maymaadham – Video link
Roobaroo – Rang De Basanti – Video link
Pudhu Vellai mazhai – Roja – Video link
Oh vennila – Kadhal desam – Video link
Shakalaka Baby – Mudhalvan – Video link
Chandralekha – Thiruda Thiruda – Video link
Thirakaadha kaatukulle – En Swaasa Kaatre – Video link
Nahin Saamne – Taal – Video link
Dilse re – Dilse – Video link
Pukar – Kismat se tum – Video link
What are your favorite videos? Please get me the links if they are not there in this list

I took this photo today at Chandrachoodeshwarar temple, Hosur. 2007 for me, has been like this. Colorful, calm, bright and a little bit dirty. I never knew I can lead such a peaceful uneventful life Hope 2008 is same, if not better

Wish you all a very happy new year.

P.S. I tag Guru, Sowmya, Bala, and Vishy.

*Very popular among women and children.
*6 pack
*Barks in short bursts, and then at normal pace
*Looks quite innocent, but very naughty

So, I named him SRK.

Yesterday I was watching this movie ‘Chathriyan’. Its a moive starring two of my favorites ‘Captain’ and Banupriya. But this movie got released before Captain became Gaptun. So there is no fun. On the contrary, it is a treat for all Banupriya fans. Do you like the song ‘maalayil Yaaro manadhoadu pesa’? It is one of my alltime favorites.


The best thing I like in this song is that, there is only Banupriya. For instance, according to the movie she dreams about Vijayakanth. But not in a single frame of this song, we get to see Vijayakanth or any other group dancers. It is Banupriya and only Banupriya. I dont remember seeing many such dream songs.

Next, the location of the song. Is it in India? If yes, where? Or by any chance Thailand?
Finally, do you associate your favorite Hero/Heroines with a song or scene? Whenever someone mentions Banupriya the first thing that comes to my mind is this song.

So, there you go. Orkut, Banupriya and Association!

Update: I was chatting with my friend, Nochu Nagamma, and she asked me about Visu, Nagesh, Revathi, Jothika and Aamir Khan!

Visu – Kudumbam oru kadhambam and Samsaram adhu Minsaram
Nagesh – Server Sundaram
Revathi – mouna Ragam
Jothika – Oh sona -Vaali
Aamir Khan – Pehla Nasha, JJWS

Whats in your list?

Life is cruel, I tell you!

Here are some of my favorite sets, to make your choice easier
1. Padavedu
2. Parsonns Valley
3. Jaisalmer
4.Tromso
5. Narvik
6.Castle

Please help

I was more than happy to visit A.R.R’s studio. That in itself was a great thing for me. But I never knew that I would be so lucky. Saturday evening, we were initially supposed to be at A.M.Studios by around 7 PM. But due to some work, he got delayed and we were able to reach the studio by only 8.30 PM. It seems A.R.R had left by that time. But people from his office told my cousin ‘Sir ungala wait panna sonnaar’ (Sir, has asked you to wait) and made us wait in the first floor of A.M. Studios. We waited for some time, looking at the awards gallery and at his books collection.

The studio was so calm, and the interiors are tastefully done. Time just flew by and by around 11 or so, we received a message to meet A.R.R at his home. We rushed to his house, and were asked to wait at Panchathann. We were there for some 10 minutes or so, and before I realized I was shaking hands with the man, the maestro, the great A.R.R. Phew. Guess I looked so nervous. AC was on, but still I was sweating like crazy.

I have heard from people who have met him that he is so simple and humble. I can’t agree more. He came and sat next to me, and asked ‘Hey man, whats up?’ He was very friendly, and he has a great sense of humor. We were there for some 30 minutes or so, and I realized that I hadn’t asked him for his autograph or for a photograph. Boss was discussing something with my cousin and they decided to meet next day as well. And then he turned towards me and asked ‘Are you vegetarian or non vegetarian?’. I said ‘vegetarian’ and he said ‘Enna pa. Id anniku vandhu Biriyani vendaam solriye’ (What man? You are coming on the day of Ramzan, and don’t want to eat Biriyani?’) and he continued ‘Don’t worry, I will arrange Vegetarian’. I immediately agreed, as it meant I was also invited for the next day. Yay!!!

Next day we reached A.M.Studios by around 10.30 AM and this time, we had to wait for only 15 minutes or so. Boss came in a traditional dress (The one in the photograph), and this time I mustered enough courage to ask him for a photograph and autograph. I showed him the ‘Salaam Bombay Dreams DVD’ which Radhakrishnan from ARR Fans group had brought for some of us from London. I told Boss the same thing, as he was quite surprised how I got hold of it, as it was released only in UK and US. He is extremely friendly. I mean, he can just pose for the photograph and say bye bye. When my cousin took the photograph, he said ‘Inga avlova light irukaadhe pa. (There is not much light here) Come lets go near the window and stand facing the sun so that face is clearly visible’. Oh man! How much he understands a fans feeling? I really don’t have words to describe the emotions I underwent when the photograph was taken. Guess the photo says it all! After a while, he said ‘Come lets go home’. And you know what? He took us in his car.

My cousin was talking with ARR for some time and after that, we had lunch. They had ordered full meals from Saravana Bhavan, which I could not finish:D Who wants to eat? Post lunch, there were more guests and I could barely stand. My forearm had turned red by this time. Well, I was pinching myself for the entire day to find out if I was dreaming. Boss came back from lunch, spent some more time and bid adieu to us. (In the middle of all this, my cousin was discussing things related to their work with boss. It was all overhead transmission for me, since it was about music technology and things like that. But I didn’t care or even bother to understand what they were talking. Why on earth will I disturb them?’).

He shook hands again, and said bye after spending close to 5 hours with us. What a man? I am nothing to him. To spend close to 5 hours with a fan like me and treating me as a guest, shows how simple and down to earth he is. He needn’t have done all this. Talk to me for so long, invite to his house for lunch, share jokes with me, show some photos and videos, take me in his car. Even in the wildest of my dreams, I could not have imagined for something like this to happen. Not once did he behave like a celebrity, or try to show off. Really words fail me, when I have to describe Boss and his simple nature. While I was walking back to his studio to pick my car, I was quite overwhelmed with emotions. I didn’t know what I spoke with my cousin. I might have blabbered something

I left chennai by around 7 in evening, and during the entire journey was listening to A.R.R songs, and reached home by around 1 AM. For the first time in my life, a wonderful dream preceded the sleep. A dream that lasted for 24 hours. I don’t know if it has sunk in yet. If this is not luck, what is? I am really proud of being a fan of such a wonderful person.