Sriram.com

Kuselan's Stunning Stills...

2008-06-18T21:21:00.001-05:00

Sujatha Passes Away!!!!

2008-02-28T11:24:00.001-05:00

Sujatha, the famous Tamil writer passed away yesterday night. The distinctive writer, who has penned dialogues for many distinguished films, has been admitted in Apollo Hospital a couple of days ago. He was in coma before leaving his last breath.

S. Rangarajan (Sujatha’s real name) was 73 years old when he passed away. The prolific writer has written over 100 novels, 200 short stories, stage plays and number of essays. He has also been writing regular columns and Q&A series on science in popular magazines. He also served for a short time as the editor of Kumudham magazine. In addition, he has contributed to educational CD-ROMs.

Sujatha and Tamil cinema

The writer’s close association with Tamil cinema is second only to his association with literature. He has written stories, screenplays and dialogues for several Tamil movies. He has been an integral part of the films by ace directors Mani Rathnam and Shankar. His dialogues in Kannathil Muthamittaal (Mani Rathnam) and Anniyan (Shankar) were well received by the public and critics.

His demise has come as a shock to the literary circles and the film fraternity. Just like his fresh and unique way of writing has rejuvenated Tamil literature, his contribution to Tamil cinema – in terms of scientific approach and sharp intelligence – has changed the way dialogues are penned in Tamil films. The dialogues have become more practical and shorter after the entry of Sujatha into Tamil films. Aging has never affected his writing, which always used to be smart and young.

He was also the Chief of the team that designed the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) during his tenure in Bharat Electronics as GM of R & D. The machine is now used in elections all over India.

He is survived by his wife (Sujatha Rangarajan) and two sons.

Sultan

2008-01-14T20:26:00.000-05:00

Check this out... The new avatar...

India Poised....

2007-12-14T19:04:00.000-05:00

I was going through Times of India yesterday, and i was suddenly stuck by this indifferent video by them... Later i learn't that the video was suppose to have been launched by November 14th itself... But apparently it got delayed... Check out the video....

The video portrays the real india so long... Full of people complaining about but never take an initiative on their own.... The Young boy does understand the situation and see his willingness and determination.... I can see the future of india in him, through kids like him... i can see india in year 2040... Wow...

See today's politicians just wanted to cross the traffic, he just changes the cab and goes off... other people just cursing that thing... Even today's youth (everyone having hope in today's youth) are no different... they do the same thing... Just Complain!!! Those young children... see the determination... Who said India is going to ruins... See it and Learn from it...

Thanks to Times of India group, Shankar Mahadaven, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa...

The following video, Amitabh Bachchan talks about the two indias... Ofcourse we can see two Indias on the rise... The difference is sure to take up...

Billa Theme Song...

2007-12-14T17:22:00.000-05:00

Finally Billa 2007 releases amidst much hip and expectation.... Will Ajith satisfy what is been expected of him??? Can he equal our evergreen Superstar??? Following the lines of this year's greatest hit, Sivaji, The movie as said to have the greatest openings.... An achievement in its own way!!!! The much talked about Song "MY NAME IS BILLA" has been remade and shot in a totally new way...

I have compared both the versions of the song.

The original song... Thalaivar summa kalakuvaar....

This is the remixed version of the song...(Cam Rip)

It was like if the old song is shot in 2007 with today's technology the song would have looked like how it was in the second video.... They made a humble remake... kudos to ajith and vishunuvardhan... did grace thalaivar with this.... What thalaivar did in 1980, ajith did in 2007... I suggest u should watch both the videos at the same time, muting one video.... u will feel it... i really loved the new version as much as the original one...... Waiting to watch the movie!!!!

Cricket at Its Funny Best....

2007-12-07T16:38:00.000-05:00

Ever heard of ICL before... well.. Indian Cricket League (ICL) is a private cricket league that runs parallel to the existing cricket league managed by BCCI. Matches in the ICL follow the Twenty20 format. Tau Devi Lal stadium is near chandigarh, will be hosting the ICL for the 2007 season. Teams participating this season include Mumbai Champs, Chennai Superstars, Chandigarh Lions, Hyderabad Heroes, Kolkata Tigers, Delhi Jets.... Ever heard of such names???? When Kolkata is famous for Tigers and Delhi for Jets why is chennai famous for superstars... it has just one superstar... (Hee!! Hee!!!)... See how the promo goes for each of them...

CHENNAI SUPERSTARS

The awesome of all... but at the same time, they are mocking the chennai's pride.... i mean't thalaivar Rajini... This can't be done... ever imagined stopping a ball mid air and deciding where the ball to be hit (Andha englisha gavanichingala... "WHERE YOU WANT IT") ... thats a comedy... even rajini didn't try such similar stuff...

HYDERABAD HEROES

Cricket ke Ustad!!!!! Ye log baath karke karke dushronko karab kardhetha hai... Well done HEROES.....

MUMBAI CHAMPS

An inspirational mumbaikar.... hee hee... breaking window pane makes him the next sachin is his dream... All the best dude!!!

DELHI JETS

Isko Dum Nahi haire... arrey... ye tho delhivaala hai na... Ho saktha hai...? hamara delhi log aisehi hai... !!!

KOLKATA TIGERS

Hee... Hee... ever seen a batsman getting scared of a bowler.... as though he is looking at 100s of bowlers running towards him... this batsman getting scared of as though the bowler is gonna kill him...

CHANDIGARH LIONS

The name says they are Lions, but this batsman is.............!!! enna panradhu... kaadhal yaaradhan vituvechidhu????

They have thought innovative for the new form of the game... well done.!!! kudos to Kapil Dev and Co.

Billa

2007-11-29T15:15:00.000-05:00

This is a 1980 movie... done by who else???????? NAMBA THALAIVAR dhaan....

The movie which gave him a breakthrough in his career.... The movie which recognized him as a superstar.... Here is a sample of the movie, the popular song

The movie is now being remade again which is expected to be a visual treat by now a days THALA (his fans fondly call him) Ajith Kumar...

Lets see if this BILLA gives a breakthrough to our thala... The same song has been remixed and here it goes...

Ever Wondering!!!!

2007-11-29T15:09:00.001-05:00

Ever wondering if only tamil movies has this cry baby songs were men keep crying for having failed in love. here goes our thalaivar James Blunt

Break The Rules

2007-11-29T15:07:00.000-05:00

The video shows what confidence of a person can bring in............

Break the rules! Subvert the Paradigm!! Victory is Yours!!!

John Carpenter

2007-11-29T15:05:00.000-05:00

John Carpenter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Confidence Redefined

The first millionaire of the world's famous TV show "WHO WANTS TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE"

3 Frogs....

2007-11-29T15:01:00.000-05:00

The story of Vettayan which was edited in the record breaking movie "Chandramukhi" told by the master himself... Rajini tells about the vettayan character here... This is not the reason why the video is here... Rajini later tells a story how successful people think and what they practice? Rajini has guided me a lot and will keep guiding me...

Phil Collins - Another Day In Paradise

2007-11-29T14:57:00.000-05:00

I kept wondering how this song was made... For me, this song is the dream of every keyboard player..........

Superstar Rajini's New Intro

2007-11-29T14:46:00.000-05:00

My Dream Come True...

Superstar Rajini started this trend. Then almost every indian actor follows it... No matter if he is Big B or Small B ;-) !!!

No matter if he is Padma Shri or Verum Shri.........

No matter if he is King Khan or Ordinary Khan....

Everyone started to give importance to this. At the start of the movie, when the screen shows "S-U-P-E-R-S-T-A-R" R-A-J-N-I..........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, there u can see audience go mad... Thats the charisma and screen presence of Rajini... Don't know whats there in his face... But i will spend lakhs to watch that... and enjoy the 3 hour extravaganza he gives... right from the first frame which displays his name till the end, which finishes of with his photo, he controls the audience fully. thats the aura and screen presence. of thalaivar... Now a days we even have actors fighting for the title...

By Yours Truly....

A Good One.....

2007-08-30T14:54:00.001-05:00

I read this real life story in one storyboard... A housewife writes...

My husband is an Engineer by profession, I love him for his steady nature,
and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.

Three years of courtship and now, two years into marriage, I would have to
admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of me loving him before
has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness. I am a
sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship
and my feelings, I yearn for the

romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy. My husband, is my
complete opposite, his lack of sensitivity, and the inability of bringing
romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about love. One day,
I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce.

"Why?" he asked, shocked. "I am tired, there are no reasons for everything
in the world!" I answered. He kept silent the whole night, seems to be in
deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times. My feeling of
disappointment only increased, here was a man who can't even express his
predicament, what else can I hope from him? And finally he asked me:" What
can I do to change your mind?" Somebody said it right, it's hard to change a
person's personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.

Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered: "Here is the question, if you
can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind, Let's say, I want a
flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that
picking the flower will cause your death, will you do it for me?"

He said:" I will give you your answer tomorrow...." My hopes just sank by
listening to his response.

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with
his scratchy handwriting, underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near
the front door, that goes....

My dear, "I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to
explain the reasons further.." This first line was already breaking my
heart. I continued reading.....

1. When you use the computer you always mess up the Software programs, and
you cry in front of the screen, I have to save my fingers so that I can help
to restore the programs.

2. You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to
rush home to open the door for you.

3. You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city, I have to
save my eyes to show you the way.

4. You always have the cramps whenever your "good friend" approaches every
month, I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your Tummy.

5. You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by
infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to
cure your boredom.

6. You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your
eyes, I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip
your nails, and help to remove those annoying white hairs.

7. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you
enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand... and tell you the color of
flowers, just like the color of the glow on your young face...

Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more
than I do... I could not pick that flower yet, and die..

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting...and as
I continue on reading...

"Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please
open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread
and fresh milk... I rush to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face,
clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread.... Now
I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have
decided to leave the flower alone... That's life, and love.

When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and
one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and
dullness.

This Story has always reminded me of my past life and past relationships....

A Perfect Business Mind!!!

2007-08-30T14:48:00.001-05:00

Father : "I want you to marry a girl of my choice"
Son : "I will choose my own bride!"
Father : "But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter."
Son : "Well, in that case...ok"

Next - Father approaches Bill Gates.
Father : "I have a husband for your daughter."
Bill Gates : "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
Father : "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates : "Ah, in that case...ok"

Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.
Father : "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president."
President : "But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!"
Father : "But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law."
President : "Ah, in that case...ok"

This is how business is done!!

Moral:Even If you have nothing
You can get Anything.
But your attitude should be positive

Four Stages of Life !!!

2007-01-22T15:34:00.000-05:00

Great Heights

2007-01-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

1. What is height of Fashion?
Dhoti with a zip.

2. What is height of Secrecy ?
Offering black visiting cards.

3. What is height of Active laziness?
Asking for a lift to house while on a morning walk.

4. What is height of Laziness?
Adopt a child.

5. What is height of Craziness?
Getting a black paper Xeroxed.

6. What is height of Forgetfulness?
Seeing the mirror and trying to recollect when you
saw him / her last.

7. What is height of Stupidity?
A man looking through a keyhole of a glass door.

8. What is height of Honesty?
A pregnant woman taking one and a half ticket.

9. What is height of Suicide?
A dwarf jumping from the footpath on the road.

10. What is height of De-hydration ?
A cow giving milk powder.

2007-01-19T23:49:00.000-05:00

While visiting India, George Bush is invited to tea
with the Abdul Kalam. He asks Kalam what his
leadership philosophy is. He says that, it is to
surround himself with intelligent people.

Bush asks how he knows if they're intelligent.

"I do so by asking them the right questions," says
the Kalam. "Allow me to demonstrate." Bush watches
as Kalam phones Manmohan Singh and says, "Mr. Prime
Minister, please answer this question: your mother
has a child, and your father has a child, and this
child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?"

Manmohan immediately responds, "It's me, Sir !."

"Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir," says the
Kalam. He hangs up and says, "Did you get that, Mr.
Bush?" Bush nods: "Yes Mr. President.

Thanks a lot. I'll definitely be using that!" Bush,
upon returning to Washington, decides he'd better
put the Condoleeza Rice to the test.

Bush summons her to the White House and says,
"Condoleeza, I wonder if you can answer a question
for me."

"Why, of course, sir. What's on your mind?"

Bush poses the question: "Uhh, your mother has a
child, and your father has a child, and this child
is not your brother or your sister.

Who is it?"

Rice was puzzled and finally asks, "Can I think
about it and get back to you?" Bush agrees, and Rice
leaves. Rice immediately calls a meeting of senior
senators, and they puzzle over the question for
several hours, but nobody can come up with an
answer.

Finally, in desperation, Rice calls Colin Powell and
explains the problem. "Mr. Powell, your mother has a
child, and your father has a child, and this child
is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"

Powell answers immediately, "It's me, of course."

Much relieved, Rice rushes back to the White House,
finds George Bush, and exclaims, "I know the answer,
sir! I know who it is! It's our Colin Powell!"

And Bush replies in disgust, "Wrong, you Jackass,
its Manmohan Singh!"

Will I do this when i come back to India ???

2007-01-19T23:43:00.000-05:00

21. Tries to use credit card in road side hotel.

20. Drinks and carries mineral water and always speaks of health
conscious.

19. Sprays duo such so that he doesn't need to take bath.

18. Sneezes and says 'Excuse me'.

17. Says "Hey" instead of "Hi".
says "Yogurt" instead says "Curds".
Says "Cab" instead of "Taxi".
Says "Candy" instead of "Chocolate".
Says "Cookie" instead of "Biscuit".
Says "Free Way" instead of "Highway".
Says "got to go" instead of "Have to go".
Says "Oh" instead of "Zero", (for 704, says Seven Oh Four
Instead of Seven Zero Four)

16. Doesn't forget to crib about air pollution. Keeps cribbing every
time he steps out.
15. Says all the distances in Miles (Not in Kilo Meters), and counts
in Millions. (Not in Lakhs)
14. Tries to figure all the prices in Dollars as far as possible
(but deep down the heart multiplies by 43 times).

13. Tries to see the % of fat on the cover of a milk pocket.
12. When need to say Z (zed), never says Z (Zed), repeats "Zee"
several times, if the other person unable to get, then says X, Y
Zee(but never says Zed)
11. Writes date as MM/DD/YYYY, on watching traditional DD/MM/YYYY,
says "Oh! British Style!!!!"
10. Makes fun of Indian Standard Time and Indian Road Conditions.
9. Even after 2 months, complaints about "Jet Lag".
8. Avoids eating more chili (hot) stuff.
7. Tries to drink "Diet Coke", instead of Normal Coke.
6. Tries to complain about any thing in India as if he is
experiencing it for the first time.
5. Pronounces "schedule" as "skejule", and "module" as "mojule".
4. Looks speciously towards Hotel/Dhaba food.

Few more important

3. From the luggage bag, does not remove the stickers of Airways by
which he traveled back to India, even after 4 months of arrival.
2. Takes the cabin luggage bag to short visits in India, tries to
roll the bag on Indian Roads.

Ultimate one

1. Tries to begin conversation with
"In US ...." or "When I was in US..."

Think You are Clever?

2007-01-19T23:41:00.000-05:00

Think You are Clever?

Below are 4 questions. Answer them instantly. You

can't take your time.

Answer them immediately. No pencil or paper! OK?

Let's find out just how smart and clever you really

are. Ready? ... GO!!!

FIRST QUESTION: You are participating in a race.

You overtake the second person.

What position are you in?

ANSWER: If you answer that you are first, then you are

Absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person

And you take his place, you are second! Try not to

Screw up in the next question.

To answer the second question, don't take as much

time as you took for the first question.

(You know you took too much time.)

SECOND QUESTION: If you overtake the last person, then

you are...?

ANSWER: If you answered that you are second to last,

then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you

overtake the LAST person?!

THIRD QUESTION: Very tricky math! Note: This must be

done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or

a calculator. Try it.

Take 1000 and add 40 to it.

Now add another 1000.

Now add 30.

Add another 1000.

Now add 20.

Now add another 1000.

Now add 10.

What is the total?

ANSWER: Did you get 5000? The correct answer is

actually 4100.

Don't believe it? Check with your calculator! Today is

definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last

question right?

LAST QUESTION: Mary's father has five daughters:

Nana, Nene, Nini, Nono.

What is the name of the fifth daughter?

ANSWER: Nunu? Nana? Nene? NONO! Of course not. The

fifth daughter's name is Mary.

Read the question again.

You ARE the WEAKEST LINK!! Pass this along to someone

else who could stand a little fun and a challenge

today.

English is Powerful !!!

2007-01-19T23:39:00.000-05:00

This has got to be one of the good E-mails I've received in a while. Someone out there either has too much spare time or is deadly at Scrabble.

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM

THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
I M A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

2 Beautiful Stories

2007-01-19T23:30:00.000-05:00

There was once this guy very much in love with his girl. This romantic guy folded 1,000 pieces of paper cranes as a gift to his girl. Although, at that time he was just a small fry in his company, his future didn't seem too bright, they were very happy together. Until one day, his girl told him she was going to Paris and will never come back.

She also told him that she cannot visualize any future for the both of them, so they went their own ways there and then...

Heartbroken, the guy agreed. But when he regained his confidence, he worked hard day and night, slogging his body and mind just to make something out of himself.

Finally with all the hard work and the help of friends, this guy had set up his own company .. You never fail until you stop trying. One rainy day, while this guy was driving, he saw an elderly couple sharing an umbrella in the rain walking to some destination. Even with the umbrella, they were still drenched. It didn't take him long to realize they were

his girl's parents. With a heart in getting back at them, he drove slowly beside the couple, wanting them to spot him in his luxury sedan. He wanted them to know that he wasn't the same any more; he had his own company, car, condo, etc. He made it! What he saw next confused him, the couple was walking towards a cemetery, and so he got out of his car and followed...and he saw his girl, a photograph of her smiling sweetly as ever at him from her tombstone and he saw his paper cranes right beside her...

Her parents saw him. He asked them why this had happened. They explained, she did not leave for France at all. She was ill with cancer. She had believed that he will make it someday, but she did not want to be his obstacle... therefore she had chosen to leave him. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. She had wanted her parents to put his paper cranes beside her, because, if the day comes when fate brings him to her again...he can take some of those back with him...

Once you have loved, you will always love. For what's in your mind may escape but what's in your heart will remain forever. The guy just wept...The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside her knowing you can't have her, see her or be with her ever again.........hope you understand.

Find time to realize that there is one person who means so much to you, for you might wake up one morning losing that person who you thought meant nothing to you.

KINDNESS Pays !

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" You don't owe me anything," she replied "Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness." He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught ; her attention on the side as she read these words..... "Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."

Mani Ratnam on Ilayaraja and A.R.R.

2007-01-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

When i was going through some webpages, i came across this article wherein The brilliant director Mani ratnam talks about his experiences with both music directors he has worked with - Illayaraja and A.R. Rahman !!!

Not too many people in the world would have had the opportunity to work with two top music directors of the world - both Ilayaraja and A R Rehman. And not many would readily answer a question on how to rate the two, and who was better in comparison. This is a question that one would prefer to duck.

However, ace director Mani Ratnam was candid in his assessment of the two music directors, when fans and music buffs posed this question at Landmark where a collection of DVDs of his films was released.

"Both Ilayaraja and Rehman are fantastic music directors and I had the good fortune to work with two great music directors," Mani said.

"However, they are poles apart - perhaps very little in common," added the director. When he said they are worlds apart, someone wanted to know whether he was referring to Ilayaraja working in the day, and Rehman late at night. Mani laughed and said he was referring to their style of working.

In fact, initially he had go through a culture shock, when Rehman was signed up for 'Roja'. Ilayaraja, once he made up his mind, would not make too many changes. With Rehman, it was different. He would keep adding to the song.

However, Mani Ratnam, put Ilayaraja on a higher pedestal, and lavished praise on the maestro's re-recording, so important for a film. Ilayaraja would look at the scene once, and immediately start giving notes to his assistants, as a bunch of musicians, hovering around him, would collect the notes for their instrument and go to their places. When the orchestra played out the notes, they would be perfect, not just in harmony but also in timing - the background score would commence exactly where it should and end at the exact place required, pointed out Mani Ratnam, amidst applause. Ilayaraja was a genius, he said, who could compose music with just one look at the scene.

However, for a director, there was just one handicap. "Ilayaraja will listen to you as you explain the scene, and what he intends to convey. Once the film rolls, Ilayaraja's gaze will be on the screen and a few seconds later, papers would go to the musicians giving them the score, and then there would be no further changes. A director can be taken by surprise at the speed of events. If at all you want to convey anything to Ilayaraja, it must be before he watches the shot (before the background score is added) on to the screen," said Mani amidst both laughter and applause.

There were several questions flung at Mani on why music was important to him and why he needed songs in hs films. Mani said he couldn't imagine his films without music. "Music is an integral part of my films. If you look at 'Anjali', 'Mouna Ragam' or 'Thalapathi' without music, it would be a different experience for the viewers. Similarly, Rehman's songs have been a big contributing factor too. Howeer, we directors do have problems in providing for songs while we do the screenplay! The toughest thing is to break the story to provide a song. I would like to do away with songs, but everyone wants songs in an Indian film."

Looking at P C Sreeram, who was seated in the front row, "Among the few who have made films without songs is Sreeram, who provided Kuruthipunal," Mani said.

"I like listening to songs, even watching clips of songs on TV but the tough thing is to provide songs in films," he added.

Courtesy : www.chennaionline.com

The Dream Machine !!!

2007-01-19T22:41:00.000-05:00

This is the most expected dream machine that one can expect... here i got a glimpse of the apple's new innovation iPhone.... here goes an review presented by engadget...

The Apple iPhone

Capping literally years of speculation on perhaps the most intensely followed unconfirmed product in Apple's history -- and that's saying a lot -- the iPhone has been announced today. Yeah, we said it: "iPhone," the name the entire free world had all but unanimously christened it from the time it'd been nothing more than a twinkle in Stevie J's eye (comments, Cisco?). Sweet, glorious specs of the 11.6 millimeter device (that's frickin' thin, by the way) include a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 touchscreen display with multi-touch support and a proximity sensor to turn off the screen when it's close to your face, 2 megapixel cam, 4GB or 8 GB of storage, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP, WiFi that automatically engages when in range, and quad-band GSM radio with EDGE. Perhaps most amazingly, though, it somehow runs OS X with support for Widgets, Google Maps, and Safari, and iTunes (of course) with CoverFlow out of the gate. A partnership with Yahoo will allow all iPhone customers to hook up with free push IMAP email. Apple quotes 5 hours of battery life for talk or video, with a full 16 hours in music mode -- no word on standby time yet. In a twisted way, this is one rumor mill we're almost sad to see grind to a halt; after all, when is the next time we're going to have an opportunity to run this picture? The 4GB iPhone will go out the door in the US as a Cingular exclusive for $499 on a two-year contract, 8GB for $599. Ships Stateside in June, Europe in fourth quarter, Asia in 2008.

Courtesy : http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone/

Stay Hungry ! Stay Foolish !!

2007-01-19T22:29:00.000-05:00

'You've got to find what you love,' Jobs says

This is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, its likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope its the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.

Final Days @ My College !!!!

2006-07-03T00:52:00.000-05:00

hi guys...

I am back after a good huge gap i suppose... Well we had our sem exams, results, mark sheets...... blah blah....... this S never ends....

Life after college has to get settled... Will miss all college friends. Each has to find their own way. No one is going to wait for anyone in this fast moving world...

It was joyful days in my college... People Have many friends... fought with few of them... some came back... some didn't.... some still my friends.... Well I'll miss all of them hereafter...

Farewell my friend

I could easily foretell
You had something to tell
As you dropped a stinking bombshell

Farewell, farewell my friend
With words I spell
It all out in a nutshell

Farewell, farewell my friend
What else can I say?
When you take off today for good

Farewell I say with a broken mood
Farewell there goes my wedding bellFarewell there goes your innocent smell
Farewell there goes our fun in and out of hotels
Farewell I hope that life treats you well

Farewell in your ventures
Our spent time is my treasure
Your heart must wander to where it belongs
Friend, I only urge you to be strong
With love you can simply do no wrong
I say it with these words tipping off my tongue

Farewell, farewell my friend
I am a great believer
Farewell is not forever
I say not goodbye
I do not wish to sit and cry

Farewell, farewell my friend
What else can I say?
You weren’t meant to stay
I will do nothing to detain
You from flying on that plane

Farewell, farewell my friend
I say with pain
Farewell, farewell my friend
In sunshine or in rain
One day, one day
I know we’ll see again

Farewell, farewell my friend
I cannot stand and pretend
That a part me
With you, would still like to be!

Photos of ECR Bash !!!

2006-03-15T10:45:00.000-05:00

The final snap at Besant Nagar Beach !!!

"Lunch Time" at a Pine View Lake point of Kovalam

At a runaway halt in ECR

Photos of ECR Bash !!!

2006-03-15T10:33:00.000-05:00

Ya... Thts Me !!!

Prashanth Becomes a Kid !!!

Shiva putting "Scene" with the Avenger

Prakash and Selvam

Sudakar and Girish

Photos of ECR Bash !!!

2006-03-15T10:22:00.000-05:00

Me and Rajeev

Sabarees and Vivian

VAsanth and Vignesh

Venkat and Arun

Shiva and KB

Photos of ECR Bash !!!

2006-03-15T09:57:00.000-05:00

With Chuddu posing with his trademark "sign"

At the Temple in the Rocks with the other GODs.

Achieving the Peak...

KB at his best in climbing the mountain...

Watching something interesting.....

Photos of ECR Bash !!!

2006-03-15T09:40:00.000-05:00

On our way to the top most rock temple

Taking Rest after the ride before the "mountain climbing"

Bikers trying to move the rock in Mamallapuram

At the Rock Temple posing with our friends sculptured behind centuries back !!!

Bikers getting ready to roll out !!!

ECR Bash with Photos !!!

2006-03-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

Guys... Its 15th March 2005. We had nearly 8 bikes... All were ready to set ECR on fire... Where ever we go, We Rock !!! The Bikers include girish, sudharshan, balaji kadambi, arun, shiva, vivian, Selvam, Prakash, Vignesh, Vasanth, Venkat, Prashanth, Senthil and Yours Truly. We went to Mamallapuram Rock Temple, then a halt near Crocodile Park ( brief one) then Kovalam beach where we had our lunch, then 2 hours @ Blue Lagon Beach Resort...... Then we brought ourselves back to the ONE and ONLY BESANT NAGAR BEACH..... The Photos will be hear in a shortwhile... Thank You...

Karunai Illam Photoshoot (Contd.)

2006-03-13T08:29:00.000-05:00

ECHOians Serving Lunch to the inmates

Our new friend cute little boy "Mukesheh"

Conversation with inmates are ECHOians Ismail and Abdul

Playing Cricket

Karunai Illam Photoshoot (Contd.)

2006-03-13T08:17:00.000-05:00

Two Doctors in conversation

We were taught how to play "Goli" game

Doctor in Conversation with ECHOians

Doctor after examining a child writing a prescription

Doctor engrossed in Examining a child

Karunai Illam Photoshoot

2006-03-12T16:49:00.002-05:00

The welcome Board at the Place
The doctor examining the children and explaining us about how to note the symtoms of any deficiency

Children eagerly listening to Dr. Jayachandran

Mr. Singam, Warden of Karunai Illam making children pray

Doctor explaining the things about the health camp to ECHOians and the inmates

Karunai Illam, Madambakkam

2006-03-12T16:49:00.000-05:00

Today was a great day, We the Echo Club members, about 20 of them spent time with children of an orphanage named Karunai Illam. This home is located in Madambakkam, about 5 Km from Raja Kilpakkam, near Tambaram. Before i continue, let me give a hearty hug to Mrs. Amritha Rajagopalan, a very famous social worker who is one of the supporters for the home and the doctors, Dr. Jayachandran and Dr.Mrs.Parveen who took all the pain to come to the place and serve the children. Mr. Power Singam, who runs the home, had everything in place when we arrived.It was certainly awesome fun being with the children, their max age being 12. When Mrs. Amritha arrived at the home, the children greeted her unanimously saying, "Good Morning! Aunty". She became very happy at such a enthusiastic response.

We arranged for a free medical camp

Things rolled well and we were on schedule. We reached the place by 8.30AM. The medical checkup started by 9.30AM. Dr. Jayachandran started by addressing the small gathering of students by telling them a story. Every single child listened with utmost patience and it was pin-drop silence when the doctor was talking (something that we college guys should learn). Every child was bubbling with enthusiam. It was a pleasure !!Medical ExaminationAll the boys were examined by Dr. Jayachandran and girls by Dr. Mrs. Parveen. The checkup began by stripping the boys naked. One of us measured the height, another one weighed the kid and then was sent to the doctor. Some kids got so shy that they started doing brake dance ha ha! It was funny. All the children were physically very fit. Thanks to Mr.Power Singam who is running the home. The children are provided good food.As the doc was examining the children,
he was telling some medical terms that needed to be recorded.
1. CVS RS NAD (Cardio Vascular System, Respiratory System - No Abnormality Detected)
2. Genitals NAD
3. Liver Spleen Normal
4. Tonsils (+) - for those who had tonsils
5. Ears NAD or Ear wax or Ear fungus (if they needed to be cleaned)
6. Spine normal
7. Tooth normal or Tooth Cavity (+)

the no. of teeth that had cavitySome children (about 3 or 4) had a small swelling on their neck, for which they needed to be tested for Primary Complex. Some other children who were hard of hearing due to ear wax or ear fungus needed to be taken to ENT specialists.

We learnt how to recognise tonsils, abnormalities in the male genitalia, vitamin A deficiency, B-complex deficiency, abnormalities in spinal cord, liver and spleen abnormalities and problems in ear, tooth and nose. It was a very good experience by becoming doctors for 2 hours ;) an opportunity that can't be missed for a lifetime :D.

One of the symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency was rashes on the elbow, just above the joint. For B-complex deficiency, there would be miniature wounds on the edges of lips, that look like rashes. Those who look very dull or their bottom eyelid is pale white or pale pink, they have iron deficiency. Of the 86 children that were examined, only about 1% of them had some deficiencies. Rest of them are 100% normal and very healthy. Every child was advised to take half tea spoon of Trifer syrup and dates (they have high iron content) for normal iron in the blood. They were advised to drink a lot of milk, a tea spoon of butter and vitamin A tablets daily so that there would be no vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency is 1 of the major problems faced in our country. Even though 99% of them were completely normal and since most of them are aged below 12, they were advised for daily intake of dates and butter so that they would grow into super healthy humans :D :D

We played with themAs the camp was going on, a small crowd began forming around the tables where the doctors were seated. They were the children for whom the checkup was over and they wanted to understand what was going on. So, 5 of us engaged them by taking them over to a nearby ground, forming teams of 6 each and played cricket for the next hour.Those kids taught us the long forgotten street game of Goli :). Ismail and Abdul did a really cool job of calling groups of children in turn to clear their doubts of what was going on in the camp. Many of them came to ask us vidu-kadhais. We even took small group photos. This excited them very much and they crowded around the digital camera to see their faces :). Prashant was patiently explaining how the cam worked, and they did listen to him. Good job dude!

We thanked the doctors, gave them a small gift and they left with their heart and soul very contented. They rang a bell to signal lunch. All the children stood in queue with their plates to get the lunch. They stood in height order with no pushing or pulling and shouting. They behaved very decently. After getting their food, they settled with a glass of water at their table. What surprised me was, even the smallest kid hadn't spilled a bit of food on the floor. They were very clean.We also had our lunch along with them. After the lunch, we looked thro' the prescriptions that the doctors had given us, split the tablets for each of them and gave them to Mr.Singam so that he can give them to the kids.

We took a big family photo with the kids and left Karunai Illam by 3pm. It was a very nice heart-warming experience today.

Here is the list of people who made it to Karunai Illam. Myself, Sriram Nishwanth, Balaji B, Mangai, Aarthi Sarma, Uma, Prasanth, Ismail, Abdul, Nachal, Saranya Ranganathan, Rajeev, Arun, Anusha, Dilli Boy (she is a girl actually) and Senthil. If you had seen clearly, half of the team were girls. A wake up call to all the hyper-conservative dads !!