A Separation

For the first time in my 6 years of blogging, I am blogging about a movie I watched. Last night, I watched an Iranian film 'A Separation'. I refrain from reviewing the movie. It is best in its own rights. It is an intricate, complex, intimate and non-simplified/simplistic film. One thing (IMO) that stands out in the movie is the poignant Termeh (played by Sarina Farhadi), a 11-year old daughter of the lead characters of the film.  Termeh excellently displayed the mental trauma, grave pain when her parents separate. I recommend this movie to everyone, especially, to the people who are filing divorce.  

--
ஔவியம் பேசேல்.
Meaning - Never speak with jealousy and envy

Nelliyampathy (நெல்லியம்பதி)

In continuation with my previous blog I continue here - it was my plan to visit Nelliyampathy, a hill settlement - 75km south of Palakkad, after the marriage. I boarded into a hourly bus to Nelliyampathy from the KSRTC bus stand, Palakkad. First 50 kms till Nemara is surrounded by calm paddy fields. Cloudy day it was and refreshing to enjoy the freshness and aroma of the paddy fields. After reaching Nemara, the mountain roads started. Green dense teak forests were welcoming with flowery bushes, scented seasonal blossoms of the trees, tea and cardamom plantations. Sitting near the window of the bus, catching  the sight of numerous waterfalls by the sides of road and listening its crumbing sounds is different from the bus trips  to my office (bus trips to and from C2B Janakpuri is of course unparalleled for me :-)). It was getting colder. That said, Nelliyampathy, spread over undulating terrain at an attitude of a little above 1500m, is set amid some magnificent scenery, and the journey to get there, winding up a succession of spurs above the Pothundi Dam and reservoir, ranks among the most spectacular in the state. It was approximately a 3 hour bus journey when I reached Nelliyampathy.

I and Mr Manu, driver of the jeep ferry, reached the view point. Listening to the perky sounds of Myna, we walked half a kilometer. It was THE view! I can say. The magnificent panoramic view of mosaics of paddy fields in the Palakkad and other towns was breathtaking. (Most views that I have seen from mountains such as Palani, Ajmer Fort, Thirupathi, Mysore were dominated by the buildings, thanks to urbanization).

Just a word of caution: We were just a few foot away from the unmarked exposed ridges encircling the plateau may be lethal in poor visibility. Thought Nelliyampathy is a popular escape yet the forest is neat. Hope it is not exploited in future. 

Manu and I continued to walk towards the Pothundi mountain. God!! it is a beautiful view of the waterfalls amid dense forests (which you will find in the below photograph). It is an excellent place to listen and rejoice with the music of the water fall (while I write this the "Songs of the River" (Album: Music of Rivers) by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia comes to my mind). In front of the waterfalls I could spend 20 minutes because I had to catch the last return bus of the day. As we returned to the ferry it was drizzling - a romantic end to this trip (wish she was with me). Various grey and black shades of mountains and Pothundi Dam made a resplendent foreground to silvery sunset. That was another beautiful Kerala Trip.

Note: I hardly had 2 hours to spend there. But if we reach Nelliyampathy by 8am it is a wonderful place to spend entire day and it has lots of others places around to visit for a complete day. But it lacks decent accommodations.

P.S: First time I missed my lover (obsessive when I am with her), my camera Canon S5 IS. I got to repair her soon.

Nelliyampathy - Recommended.

Few photos here, thanks to my mobile phone.

Waterfalls

On a walk to catch the glimpse of the waterfalls

Bird's eye view of the Palakkad town

One more snap of the Bird's eye view of the Palakkad Town

Rajesh Mottai :-)

On way to Nelliyampathy from Palakkad

--

தூக்கி வினை செய்.

Meaning - Analysis, research and then act

Indian Wedding

Yesterday I went to Palakkad to attend a marriage of my good friend (who was my Violin classmate in Delhi under our Guruji Sri Durga Prasad). Palakkad can be said as a gateway to the western ghats from Tamil Nadu. This was the first time I attended a Keralian wedding. It was a pleasant gloomy day with cool breeze. I straightaway went to the marriage hall and fresh'd up. The Muhurtham was between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. By the time I got ready it was 9 a.m. I was thinking how to pass the time till Muhurtham because I went alone and didn't know anyone there. To not to look as an odd person in the hall I chose not to put my headsets but observe. Thanks to Arun, who was from Cochin, who kept me engaged for a while with him.

In few words I will say that this marriage was well organised. The stage was well-decorated and set for the nuptials. Lots of people - Oldies; chit-chats, nalam-visaaripps; recently wedded people introducing their wife's to their relatives (on the day of marriage thousands turn up hence the married people do not remember all the relatives/friends who come for the marriage); few couples carry their just born's to their relatives for their blessings- people cheer up the groovy yawn of the just born and do a drishiti; kids playing and roaming around with their cousins, some of them are new friends; [in my opinion] the hot property of this marriage was the bride's brother - he was, in a typical fashion, clean shaven in glittering long red silk kurtha and Mundu dhoti running on his toes, looking after everyone and coordinating the events and the people; parents with lots of smiles for their ward's marriage and a great sense of satisfaction in their eyes that their ward is gonna be in safe hands and warm family - a sign of successful positive upbringing; relatives flaunting their silk sarees and accessories (artwork blouses, necklaces, pendants, bangles) bought with great care; obviously girls and boys; inevitable gossips; some oral marriage suggestions (there is a saying many marriage engagements happen in marriages); some grannies carried their sleeping grand children in their shoulders; and with a background music of mangala Naadhaswaram-Thavil-Jalra (one purpose of this music is to cut down the evil things especially gossips and rumors). 

Now it was 10:30 a.m, the groom arrived and was staged. Around 10:45 a.m the bride arrived. Both of them, carrying million hopes dreams (wish each comes true) in their heart and best dressed, exchanged  garlands and the marriage happened with the blessings of parents, elders, relatives and friends. Parents and relatives congratulate each other. Now its time to receive blessings from the elders individually. People throng the stage to bless the just weds', to gift and to pose in group with entire family for photographs. The group photo of the immediate families of the nuptials will be framed and finally decorate the walls. And another important aspect of the weddings is the grand lunch. One side of the leaf had 15 side dishes which include two paayasams, porriyals, paruppu, two pickles - sweet and spicy, chips, applams, kootu etc. Other side of the leaf had rice, sambar, rasam and pappad. At the end they provided a delicious paaysam Adapradhaman.

I can safely say, one place where most people keep smiling would be marriages. It is really nice to be part of such well "organised" marriages. I am glad to have been part of this marriage. Aparna Anupkumar (formerly Aparna Menon): you thanked me for coming for the marriage but the pleasure was mine. Hence I thank you and your family for inviting me to witness the occasion. 

P.S: It is not that I attended a marriage after a long time or for the first time that led to write a post about it. This time, I was almost lonely and had a good amount of time to observe and cherish, but not the first time. It would go on to be one of the memorable weddings, perhaps due to the timing of it. Few dreams does not come true but it is great to be part of similar such dreams of others. :-)

P.S: Recently I read that "We marry not the individual but the families too" - Courtesy Chinmayee

P.S: Next post would be on Nelliyampathy (coming soon)

Glossary
Muhurtham - auspicious time for marriage
kurtha - shirt like
nalam-visaaripps - abouts and whereabouts
drishiti - safeguarding and throwing away all the jealous of the people that are surrounding the kid
Mundu dhoti - White Dhoti with Jariga/silk-thread borders
mangala - auspicious
paaysam - a dessert 
Adapradhaman -  ada and jaggery in highly condensed milk

--

கிழமைப்பட வாழ்.

Meaning - Helps others and live

My Egyptian Lotus

உன்னோடு நான் கண்ட பந்தம்

மண்ணோடு மழை கொண்ட சொந்தம்

காய்ந்தாலும் அதில் ஈரம் எஞ்சும்

- வைரமுத்து

Happy Tanabata Day 2010

July 7 2010 - still fresh in me. In Gurgaon, it was in me. It was raining heavily. The roads were jammed at Plot 314. Amidst flooded roads, I went down to search for biscuits . But I could not get it. Came back. A brilliant idea flashed. Maggi!!! Then we went down, had a walk - ecstasy. From Route 4 bus near the Tea shop to Plot-314, for me, it looked like a runway in heaven. The moment I said Maggi, that bright face fresh from wet rain, sparkling eyes, the black hair giving a clean look + the child like enthusiasm for Maggi - it was serene. Went in search for Maggi @ Plot-314 cafeteria. There was a huge demand. Came back. Ten minutes later, approached once again. Got it. Maggi!! I was just telling myself - Unlike at college canteens, have it slowly. Yummy Maggi it was. Both of us enjoyed it. Yummiest Maggi I have had in my life! Wanted to tell what I had for the last two days in me.  But to live the present, I deliberately procrastinated it and didn't tell it. And went back to the bus and waited for another 2 hours for the roads to clear. And we chatted a lot that day. Best day in my life!

நினைவென்னடி பெண்ணே நீ இல்லாமல் 

நிலைகுளைந்துள்ளேன் நீ இல்லாமல்

நீர்வீழ்ச்சியாய் என்மேல் பாய்வாய்

நில்லாமல் என்னுடன் பேசுவாய் 

நித்திரை தனை தருவாய் 

நின்கதியாய் நான் உள்ளேன் மறவாதே 

Happy Tanabata Day. My wish for this Tanabata day is next Tanabata should be like 2010.

Again at Athirappilly Falls on my birthday

I celebrated my 28th birthday (on 9th June), rather in an unusual way, as a nomad travelling around Kerala. First I went to Guruvayoor to seek the blessings of Lord Guruvaayoorappan (Krishna) and Mammiyoor's Lord Mahadevan (Siva) and Thriprayaar's Lord Ramanamaswamy. Then I went to Athirappilly falls. 

Athirappilly falls is one of my favorite destinations. This visit, my third, to Athirappilly falls was simply rejuvenating. This time, the timing was perfect, monsoon has just started and the water in the falls was adequate. My previous visits to Athirappilly happened in peak monsoon, hence I could not view the falls from the bottom. But this time I could view the falls from the bottom. And luckily the clouds were gracing the spot beautifully. The view was spectacular. The rocky landscape mountain plus the river were simply majestic. Whatever may be the lack of words, Athirappilly falls is truly spectacular.  A must visit kind. 

I would recommend everyone to visit Athirappilly in the first week of June (onset of Monsoon). If it is on a weekend you might feel bit crowded. If you are going with your fiance/spouse alone you will "feel" a lot more than me :-) 

In short, my 29th year started beautifully. 

Farväl

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Version 0.1_Draft

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My Dear All,

3.75 years in Aricent has gone by very quickly. It was pleasure working with you all!!

May the almighty give you the best to reach great heights in life filled with peace, happiness, love, joy, etc.

Thanks.

Warm Regards,

RBA aka Rajesh

P.S:

My Email:           rajeshbalaa@gmail.com

My Blog:            http://rajeshbalasubramanian.blogspot.com/

My LinkedIn        http://in.linkedin.com/in/rajeshbalaa

Current Location: Pondicherry

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Version 0.1 (review comments from sub-conscious mind incorporated)

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M E M O R A N D U M
From	RBA
Sent	Friday, March 30, 2012 06:00 PM
To	Ahava bolingo cinta
	My Fantastic Friends
	My Majestic Mentors
	My Priceless Partners
	My Colourful Colleagues
Subject	ferˈwel

Table: Contents

1. Experience

Figure: Last day speech in letter

3.75 years in Aricent has gone by very quickly. Quicker than I expected. Time flies. I just enjoyed it. In between coding and designing, I surfed the internet a lot, wrote poems, dreamed(will do that everywhere) and will not forget my time here. And at times I didn't enjoy it. It is a circle. When I boarded into my flight from Chennai to Delhi on 01-July-2008, it didn't even flash a second in my mind that I would be at Aricent for more than 2 years. There is something sspecial. And you have been great and instrumental to have made my stay at Aricent longer.  It was pleasure working with you and knowing you (all)!! Will miss all of you I have come to know.

2. Reason

Figure: Reason for leaving

As all of you know, I planning into the next episode of my career.

3. Time machine

Figure: Nomad Birds

When I came as a nomad bird, people warmly admitted to share space on their branches of the tree, gave me shade, gave me warmth and shared the fruits. It's quite a long time and great time. The next second (should I put (LTE sub-frame) symbol??) is hidden with many surprises. The bird is not supposed to be always on the branches. It has to dream. It is dreaming. It has to fly. In the time machine we shall meet once again in the same tree or on different branches or different trees.

4. Wishes

May the almighty give you the best to reach great heights in life filled with peace, happiness, love, joy, etc.

Shabba Kher! Godspeed!

Thanking you.

Thanks.

Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely/ Best

Warm Regards

Love and Smiles

RBA Code Machine

RBA aka Rajesh   

5. Contact Details

P.S:

My Email	rajeshbalaa@gmail.com
My Blog	http://rajeshbalasubramanian.blogspot.com/
My LinkedIn	http://in.linkedin.com/in/rajeshbalaa
Current Location	Pondicherry

.

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Version 3.0 (after discussions)

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From: RBA

Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 06:00 PM
To: Dear All
Subject: Departure

Well well well,

     Just wanted to say thanks for the last 3.75 years. You have been great.

       After many a summer it's time to move on.   It was fun while it lasted.

                               Love and kisses and all that jazz.

                                               Cheers
                                                RBA

P.S. Starting  now I can be reached at:

                        rajeshbalaa@gmail.com
                        http://in.linkedin.com/in/rajeshbalaa 
                        Pondicherry

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Version 7.0

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                                                 12-3-30

Dear All

Thanks for 8-7-3 to 12-3-30 @ Aricent

Cheers

rajeshbalaa@gmail.com

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for important disclosures regarding this electronic communication.
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Kerala Trip - Day5 [Munnar - Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam]

We spent Day5 at Munnar. We covered the Mattupetty Dam, few view spots, and the Eravikulam National Park. The best things about Munnar are majestic view points, landscapes, tea gardens. No words to describe. Do go there and realize it.

Eravikulam National Park

This park is special for two things first Nilgiri Thar and second Neelakurinji flowers.

Nilgiri Thar are stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. It is mostly found at Eravikulam National Park and at Annamalai. 

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) (Tamil: நீலக்குறிஞ்சி),  is a shrub that used to grow abundantly in the shola grasslands of the Western Ghats in South India above 1800 metres. The Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms gregariously only once in 12 years. Next Neelakurinji's blossoming season is at Sep-Nov 2018. I have already marked it in my google calender :-p