December Music Season 2008 – Update 1

I wanted to attend one full season of December music for quite some time. But never had time to fulfill that. But this time, I did it due to recession. Self and my friend Mr.C attending concert / Kacheri in narada gana sabha, ttk road. I love Carnatic music but never learned so I cant identify Raagas but at the same time I am very familiar with lot of songs due to continuous listening. Mr.C is very much aware of raaga and hence, no issues in information.

17 Dec 2008: Vocal - T N Seshagopalan; Violin – V V Ravi; Mrudangam – Trichur Narendran

I went 30m late., hence not really enjoyed the concert.

18 Dec 2008: Vocal – Nithyasree Mahadevan; Violin – Hemalatha; Mrudangam – Neyveli Skandasubramaniam

Good concert. Sasivadana, Allal Enum, Un perumayai evar arivar & Ramakrishna govinda murare are the highlights of this concert.

19 Dec 2008: Vocal – K J Yesudas; Violin – Nagai Muralidharan; Mrudangam – K V Prasad

Average concert. As always, Yesudas impressed us through his devotional songs – like om enbathu omkaram, Harivarasanam Viswamohanam, Krishna nee begane, Innoru jenmam venduma; Solla vallaya kiliye and enna varam ketpen naane is something I listened first time and I fell in love with those song and lyrics. K V Prasad was full of smiles when he was performing and he was interacting with Yesudas nicely throughout.

20 Dec 2008: Vocal – P Unnikrishnan; Violin – S Varadarajan; Mrudangam – Mannargudi A Eswaran

Good concert. Lot of hand movement while singing; I loved the song "Sri Paramaguru" which was sung for 20m. By the way, have you noted the Unnikrishnan's Leg thumb finger movement while he performs?

21 Dec 2008 – Vocal – Aruna Sairam; Violin – Embar Kannan; - Mrudangam – Patri Sathish Kumar

Good concert by the biggest crowd puller of this season. Her concert tickets are getting sold like Rajinikant's movies; As usual, she sang one catchy kavadi sindhu before winding up. I could feel lot of improvement in her singing from last year.

22 Dec 2008 – Vocal – Ranjani & Gayathri ; Venue – Kamaraj Arangam

I went to this concert with zero expectation and I loved it fully. Excellent singing by both – Highlights – Marukelara oh raghava and Sharan Sharan ekanatha (Abhang).

22 Dec 2008 – Instrumental – Kadri Gopalnath; Venue – Kamaraj Arangam

Very good concert. Nagumo was the highlight. But his moresing man Bangalore Rajasekhar's expressive face is even more good. His capturing of Taala for every song reminds us of movie acting !

Y V Reddy is great - New York Times

I have written previously about Y V Reddy's great work as RBI Governor. Now read out the post from New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/business/20nocera.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1

Lyrics of Anjala Anjala from Vaaranam Aayiram

Lyrics of Anjala Anjala from Vaaranam Aayiram

English translation of Anjala Anjala herewith:

Pallavi

Ava Enna Enna Thedi Vantha Anjala
Ava Neratha Paathu Sevakum Sevakum Vethala
Ava Azhaga Solla Vartha Kooda Pathala
Ada Ippo Ippo Enakkau Vendum Anjala
Ava Illa Illa Neruppu Thane Nenjila

Anjala came in search of me
Her complexion will make beetlenut to go red
Words are not enough to describe her beauty
I need anjala right away
Fire in my hearts without her

(Ava Enna Enna Thedi Vantha Anjala…)

O Onnu Kulla Onna, En Nenjikulla Ninna
O Konjam Konjam Aaga, Uyir Pichi Pichi Thinna
Ava Otha Vaartha Sonna, Athu Minnum Minnum Ponna
O Enna Solli Enna, Ava Makki Poana Manna
O Onnu Kulla Onna, En Nenjikulla Ninna
O Enna Solli Enna, Ava Makki Poana Manna

She mergeg and stood in my heart
she took my life bit by bit
one single word of her would glitter like gold
but what to do, she disappeared into sand
She merged into my heart
but what to do, she disappeared into sand

Charanam 1

Adanga Kuthiriya Pola, Ada Alanjavan Naane
Oru Poova Pola Poova Pola Marthivitaley
Padutha Thookamum Illa, En Kanavula Tholla
Antha Sozhi Pola Sozhi Pola Punnagayale
Ethuvo Engala Sertha Irukku Kayuthula Koarka
Oh Kannamuchi Aatamondru Aadi parthome
Thuniyal Kannayum Katti, Kaiya Katthula Neeti
Innum Thedura Avala, Thaniya Enge Ponalo
Thaniya Enge Ponalo
Thaniya Enge Ponalo

I was roaming like a untamed horse
she changed me like a flower
I lost my sleep, dreams were rattling thru
her flashy smile like a dice
something united us but she is playing hide and seek with me
covered my eyes with a ribbon
searching for her in the air thru by hand
where did she go alone
where did she go alone
where did she go alone

Ava Enna Enna Thedi Vantha Anjala...

Charanam 2

Vazhka Raatinam Thaanda, Thinam Suthudhu Jora,
Athu Mela Keezha Mela Keezha Kathuthu Thoda
Mudhal nal Uchathil Irunthaen
Naan Pothunu Vizhundaen
Oru Meena Pola Meena Pola, Tharayila Nelinjen
Yaaro Koodave Varuva, Yaaro Paathiyil Povaar
Athu Yaaru Enna Onnum Namma Kayyil Illaye…
Velicham Thanthathu Oruthi, Avala Irutula Niruthi
Joora Payanatha Kelappi, Thaniya Enge Ponalo
Thaniya Enge Ponalo
Thaniya Enge Ponalo

Life is a roller coaster, rotating tirelessly everyday
goes up and down goes up and down
I was on top of the world
Next day, fallen from my grace
I felt like fish out of water
Some one comes along, parts in between
who would do, when will they go - is not in our hand
she gave light, i keep in my heart
she started my journey - but
where did she go alone
where did she go alone
where did she go alone

Ava Enna Enna Thedi Vantha Anjala....

Vadivelu as Project Manager - 1

Vadivelu dons the role of Project manager in my blog…. Now read this out…. Inspired from his Giri comedy (enna nallavannu sollittan) :

Vadivelu (Project Manager of a Big IT firm) went for an on-site client meeting and gets butchered for failed to meet SLAs and delay in deliverables. Vadivelu is given 30m to discuss with delivery and support head to revert. So., Vadivelu is on a conference call with Delivery and Support Head….

Delivery head: What vadivelu, how much time were you able to buy?

Vadivelu: How can I dear? They blasted me really hard. I am still sweating out.

Support Head: What happened? Who were all in the meeting?

Vadivelu: First, account manager and his 3 team members were only there. They took the defect list and shouted at me for 45 minutes. Then, the customer service head came. He spoke to me in good tamil and enquired about whether I want to have coffee or tea. I told him, coffee. But believe me - nothing came. He also started shouting at me and shared some of the customer' nasty statements for 1 hour. They, every one got tired and went off from the room.

Delivery Head: Oh ! Good that you escaped from the branch representative !

Vadivelu: oh no…. wait wait wait… they all came back again in 10m and asked me to specify clearly what our on-site folks were capable off… are they freshers or techies or just parked for presence? Then, I tried to pacify them… But….

Support Head: (Curiously) What happened?

Vadivelu: Some one came in and reminded that booking for meeting room is over... I was so relieved hearing that and it is my lunch time too! (Sobbing a bit)…. But it evaporated in a 2 minutes when they took me to another meeting room near gents toilet ! & They started all over again without even offering me a sandwich

DH & SH: oh shit…

Vadivelu: In just 15 min, the branch representative also joined for blasting session. He pulled some 10 of his team members on con-call. They screwed me for 90m or so….. How long I will also act that as if it is not painful? (now almost crying)

Delivery Head: Its okay dear…. I will buy you a drink when you come back…. Just buy some 10 days or so for now and come back….

Support Head: Customers always buzzdoze the vendor., you don't lose heart and focus on buying timeline….

Vadivelu: @#$%&*

Funny Song on Home Loan EMIs

Serious Definition of EMI Payment:

You take a loan from bank; They will give a payment schedule; They adjust your payment against loan books; Most of your EMI payments goes into interest adjustment and little portion of your payments gets adjusted against principal outstanding;

So you keep paying for 3 years and realise that principal outstanding never comes down and wonder where your EMI payment goes !!!!!

Now I borrowed liberally from Anbe Anbe song from Dhaam Dhoom to express our despair on the loan statement which we receive every year :)

Tamil version:

Nee Nee vattiyai yethikitte poga
Naan naan udan katupattu nadakka
Indha loan-ai ennikavadhu adaithiduvene
sambalam muzhudum enadhey
Yedhai koduthom yedhai yedhuthom
Theriyavillai kanakku
Yengu tholainthom engu
Kidaithom puriyavillai namakku

English translation:

You keep raising interest rate
I keep obliging
some day i will repay my loan
and would enjoy my salary credit
what did i give, what did i take
i never got into my mind
what did i lose, what did i get
i never understood

Trust, you guys enjoyed my version :)

Satyam's wrong move

Satyam computers is part of Nifty and is one of India's top 5 IT companies !

What a mess they created on a peaceful Dec 16th evening ! They announced buyout of Maytas into Satyam at a price of 1.6billion.

Whats wrong in this?

Raju's are minority share holders of Satyam and Satyam is widely held by instituitions. They are also promoters of Maytas. This move seen as pumping cash into promoter's hands from Satyam ! Stock prices were hit mercilessly in US ADR and Satyam swiftly withdrew the move.

If Satyam has got hugh cash as reserves, why cant they declare high dividend or buy small IT companies? Why are they trying to pay themselves? Is Maytas starved of cash?

Who adviced on this great move and who decided in this mindless episode is something management should answer. It left a bad taste in corporate governance. Satyam has lost its credential and unlikely to recover for another two years !

Lovely Evening Snack Places of Chennai

• I thought I will list out some of the good restaurents of Chennai which serve sumptuous snack / tiffen items for the evening… Evening means between 4pm to 7pm to me J

Try it out…. I recently visited these places so I can say the list is good – I think these items are best prepared in the following places than others !!!

• New Woodlands, Cathedral Road – Mangalore Bonda, Uppuma
  
• Gangotri, Cathedral Road – North Indian snack items, sweets
  
• Sri Krishna Sweets, Pondy Bazaar – Masala Boli, Filter Coffee
  
• Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Peters Road – Mini Tiffen, Rava Kesari, Medu Vadai, Raw banana Chips and Filter Coffee with more sugar
  
• Sangeetha Hotel, Sterling Road – Vendhaya Dosai, Vada Kari, Filter Coffee
  
• Raja Bhavan, Sterling Road – Dosa, Idly
  
• Murugan Idly Kadai, GN Chetty Road – Dosa, Idly, Oothappam
  
• Mansukh, T. Nagar – North Indian snack items
  
• Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Mylapore – Adai Avial, Kaara Dosa, Rava Idly, Raw banana Chips & Filter Coffee
  
• Adyar Anandha Bhavan, Adyar – Adai Avial, Kaara Kozhakattai, Filter Coffee
  
• Palmgrove, Nungambakkam – Assorted Bajji, dosa varieties
  
• Shree Mithai, Chetpet & Spencers – North Indian snack items with Badam Milk
  
• MG Road, Nungambakkam – Near Citibank ATM – Paani Puri (road side)
  
• Sangeetha Hotel, R A Puram – Dosa items, puri, Filter Coffee
  
• 
  
  Carnival - Cake Shop, C P Ramasamy Road – Sandwiches
  
  &
  
  
• Beeda @ Calcutta paan shop – just before Ganpat hotel, Nungambakkam

Update Jan 2, 2010

• Noodles Samosa at hotel saravana bhavan (Mylapore, Venkatnarayan road)
• Hotel Sudha, Egmore - Old udipi hotel - all south indian breakfast items are very very good