Watched 'Shivaji' over the weekend. At San Antonio, Texas, of all places :) I can safely say, I've never enjoyed a movie more. Public at San Antonio were clamouring outside the gates of the theatre several hours in advance for a 10 AM Sunday morning show. Suddenly there was an ear splitting whistle, thunderous applause and shouts of thalaivaaaa...and this was just because the gates had finally opened. Kala told me of one chap at the Houston premiere who had appeared in a blond wig causing the devotees to go into paroxysms of ecstasy.
The movie was a whirlwind of rajini style, rehman beats, shreya glamour and vivek one liners. Camera work was superb..it had to be. Making rajini appear 30 years younger, not to mention Caucasian and dancing is no mean feat. He is, after all, not really known for any of the above...but no criticisms please. As Abbas says in Padayappa..."What a man!!!!"
Forget about stopping bullets with a look. ..Rajini has conquered the final frontier in this flick...Death itself!! He exudes charisma with every costume, wig, skin color, facial hair arrangement, designer accessory and most of all, while chomping on a Bajji. For a man who is by no means classically handsome, he puts George Clooney to shame.
And then, when the movie ended, the Tamizhans of San Antonio performed a mini puja in the parking lot of the theatre with flowers, coconut, karpooram and 2% reduced fat milk. I almost had tears in my eyes :)
For people who don't get it- rajini is a 'one and only' type of cultural phenomenon- a Super Being if you will. As he himself puts so eloquently- "Panni thaan koottama varum..Singhaam, Single aa thaan Varum"!!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
1st Down
Goki and I visited Pittsburgh last weekend. Met up with Viks and Aruna.
When I studied at Ohio State, Goks and I would drop in on Viks a few weekends every football season. We used to have ourselves virtual tailgate parties in front of the television, complete with frozen pizza and beer. (Hey, living with guys makes u crazy...there was a time I actually enjoyed watching 300 pound men try to kill each other every monday nite).
No trip to Steeler City was complete till we paid our respects at the Venkateswara temple. Typically, we would bypass 'darshan' and head straight for the kitchen to pick up dozens of boxes of puliyanshadam and curd rice to cart back to Columbus.
This weekend however, things were a lil different, no doubt, due to the addition of a lady to the party. (not me, I promise)
We went hiking at the McConnells Mill state park, visited the Viva Vetro! glass exhibition at the Carnegie museum of art, spent a few hours with 'Pulitzer Prize' winning photographs at the Heinz History center and watched 'Babel' without subtitles. I also managed to read 'The Emerging Mind' in snatches and watch lots of Russell Peters (incredible Indian-Canadian stand up comic) on U Tube.
The highlight of this trip had to be a visit to the Church Brew Works, housed in an old church (how did the conservatives let this happen?!!) converted into a restaurant/microbrewery which goes by the tag line- "On the 8th day, man created BEER". The church is magnificent, with tall ceilings, carved doors, winged angels, stained glass windows, even a pipe organ and an altar. No Jesus though...just stainless steel tanks containing fermented specialty beers. A spiritual experience nevertheless.
Unfortunately, the sample beer selection proved beyond my capabilities but I did meet the dish of my dreams.......a luscious strawberry Crème brulée....heavenly!!!
All in all....amaazzzin weekend. Happy, Happy :)
When I studied at Ohio State, Goks and I would drop in on Viks a few weekends every football season. We used to have ourselves virtual tailgate parties in front of the television, complete with frozen pizza and beer. (Hey, living with guys makes u crazy...there was a time I actually enjoyed watching 300 pound men try to kill each other every monday nite).
No trip to Steeler City was complete till we paid our respects at the Venkateswara temple. Typically, we would bypass 'darshan' and head straight for the kitchen to pick up dozens of boxes of puliyanshadam and curd rice to cart back to Columbus.
This weekend however, things were a lil different, no doubt, due to the addition of a lady to the party. (not me, I promise)
We went hiking at the McConnells Mill state park, visited the Viva Vetro! glass exhibition at the Carnegie museum of art, spent a few hours with 'Pulitzer Prize' winning photographs at the Heinz History center and watched 'Babel' without subtitles. I also managed to read 'The Emerging Mind' in snatches and watch lots of Russell Peters (incredible Indian-Canadian stand up comic) on U Tube.
The highlight of this trip had to be a visit to the Church Brew Works, housed in an old church (how did the conservatives let this happen?!!) converted into a restaurant/microbrewery which goes by the tag line- "On the 8th day, man created BEER". The church is magnificent, with tall ceilings, carved doors, winged angels, stained glass windows, even a pipe organ and an altar. No Jesus though...just stainless steel tanks containing fermented specialty beers. A spiritual experience nevertheless.
Unfortunately, the sample beer selection proved beyond my capabilities but I did meet the dish of my dreams.......a luscious strawberry Crème brulée....heavenly!!!
All in all....amaazzzin weekend. Happy, Happy :)
Monday, June 11, 2007
Strawberry Picking
The melting rays a'trickle down my hair
a cool wind rushes up my knees
smells of sweet and tart; they infuse the air,
about a berry of wond'rous make
colored by the hues of a warm sunset
flavored by the breath of a frozen lake.
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