Oru Devathai - A Review

It starts with a usual chorus with a bunch of girls singing the much clichéd tune. Well, nothing different in that now, is there? When you almost come to the conclusion that there is nothing new in that song, comes the violin background, followed by a simple tabla beat and then it goes Oru Devathai...

The first thing that caught my attention was his singing. Roop Kumar Rathod has done justice to the song. Although, he is from Bollywood, he has given the right stresses at the right places. When he sings ‘Oh’ and goes with it, that is all you need, you’ll get addicted to it. When you listen to him sing ‘nerathil’ in the second stanza all you’ll want do is to listen to him for the rest of your lives. The high notes that he reaches are just flawless. Especially when he is about to finish it off, that was the icing it needed. He has given his soul to the song.

Muthukumar has penned great lyrics for the tune. ‘Kaalgal irandum tharaiyil irunthum vaanil parakiren’ - Even though my two feet were on the ground, I was flying in the sky. I mean, to put something like that in words, it was just B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. ‘Vazhigal therinthum tholainthu pogiren’ – Despite knowing the way, I kept getting lost. Paarkathey endraalum kekathey – I kept telling myself not to look at her but my heart wouldn’t listen. Marana nerathil un madiyin orathil idamum kidaithal iranthum vazhuven – If I get a place on your lap when I am about I would die and live that way. May be it doesn’t sound all that great in English but then anyone with even a little knowledge of Tamil would understand the depth in that sentence. It’s all simple, yet the meaning and the feel that is conveyed is just magnificent.

It is indeed one of Yuvan’s masterpieces. The tabla throughout the song with a little of paino makes it very soothing to listen. Of course, the violin refrain leaves you humming that tune the rest of the day much to the annoyance of your classmates. You might think that the tune is not all that interesting but that is what makes it great. That lyrics needed a simple music and Yuvan gave that.

Bottom line, it’s an amazing song!

Just A Dream

     I was walking in the corridor, twisting my scooter key in my hand. I saw him at a distance, he looked surprised. He turned his back immediately. I didn’t bother. I went to get my scooter which was right beside him.  I take my scooter and turn only to see him seeing me with a greeting smile. He said “Hey! Long time no see.” I was surprised, for all along, he had all but ignored me. I didn’t know what to say. He asked the usual how are you-hows college. I answered not knowing what to talk. He offered me to accompany me till the gate. I was just excited, something I have always wanted. I didn’t bother to think why or how, I just right on said “Sure”.

     I took out my two wheeler and pushed it. He walked beside me, talking. We talked and talked. Sense and nonsense but it didn't matter. The usually heavy vehicle seemed a lot lighter. The corridor didn't seem to have an end. I didn't bother to know where I was going. I just listened to him, spoke to him, told him everything I wanted to tell him for a very long time.

     Suddenly there was a lot of commotion. There were people running everywhere. Someone came and told us that our sisters where stuck somewhere and that we had to go find them. We rush in the direction opposite to where people were running to. He held my hand in his and started running. It came out as a surprise but I didn't say anything. I followed him to a place which looked the lounge of a hotel. He went to the receptionist and asked something. She pointed her hand to a direction and I was about to run towards that place. But he pulled my hand, put his arms around me, and caressed me. My eyes were closed but I could see him better. When I opened my eyes, I could only see the blue bed sheet which didn't cover my feet. It had just been a dream all along. If only it was true...

-Shreeji

How to get a Bus Pass?

I wanted to write about this almost a year ago just so I'll know where to look if I wanted the procedure. But I got too lazy to put it down. The process is itself exhausted me and I didn't want to go though the whole thing by writing about it. But now when I'm applying for it again, I didn't know where to start, how to start and when to start. So here it is, the procedure to apply for a Student's Bus Pass in the city of Coimbatore at Gandhipuram.

Let me warn you about something, this in one lengthy procedure. And if you tell me that you got it done by skipping a few steps then I'm happy for you, for you need to be lucky to get it that way. For the rest of us, I'm sorry to say, it is the following steps:

1) Get a Certificate of Bonafide from your College. Most of the colleges have a separate type of Bonafide just for Bus passes, the colleges which do not have their own college buses. And also have a photocopy of your Ration Card/ College ID card if it carries your house address, as an address proof. (Get this done by 3rd of the month)

2) You need the above two proofs to 'get the bus pass form'. Yes, you need them to get a form which I'm sure is hardly worth over a rupee. This form is generally called the 'Grey form' simply because it is grey in colour. Oh yeah, by the way, the form will cost you five rupees. (By the 4th)

3) Fill this form, stick a passport size photo and get it attested from your college principal or whoever is responsible for signing such stuff. This will usually take a while. (By the 6th)

4) After getting this attested, you need to go to the main bus stand, stand is a huge queue along with the bonafide certificate, address proof and the grey form just to discover that they are simply collecting it. Now, if you're a girl you need to stand only for one evening and if you're a guy and an unlucky one in that, you may have to stand for a couple of evenings to get it done. (By the 9th)

5) They'll probably tell you when you ll get the Bus Pass ID card which is commonly known as the White card (even if sometimes it is yellow in colour) and you need to get back with them on that day. And if they don't you need to check with then every single day. (By the 12th)

6) Once you get the White card, you need stick a stamp size photo and get it attested in your college. (By the 13th)

7) With this White card, you must go to the main stand, stand in the queue for a couple of hours, pay the amount printed in the white card and get your pass. This last step, you will have to repeat every month before the 15th of that month.

I know it is one huge, never-ending procedure. But then when we come to the whole reason as to why we get a pass, it is worth it. I mean. I save almost Rs500 every month just because of the Pass. So my advice would be, don't try to skip any step for it may only lead to delay the end result.

Good luck with getting your Bus Pass!

 

The Back Bench Band

  Another day of college and I was walking towards the bus stand. I was very late and was hoping to catch a bus as soon as possible and one with a seat in that. Guess I was lucky that day, I got a window seat! As I was enjoying the cool breeze, I was thinking of an excuse for being late that day. Of course, I cannot tell my mom that I went for a treat. Only after sometime did I realise that I was humming the tunes of Mundhinam paarthene from Vaarnam Aayiram along with the radio in the bus.

  We were in the 10th std. when that movie was released. Some might think that movie was awesome and some might think it was bad. I was indifferent about the movie but the memories that are attached to the songs are priceless. A few friends of mine and I used to sing in class, especially math class (No we are not singers not even close). We never listened to class, never bothered to know what they were teaching. One of them used to help me out with the lyrics cause I was always bad with learning by just listening and then we would start. I still remember mimicking the chords and trying to play the drums by hitting the bench which was an epic fail. Of all the songs, Yethi Yethi was a hit!( Not among others but ourselves. Others used hate it because of our highly trained vocal chords) It was because of the lyrics of the song.

  Once, a substitute teacher came to our class and just let us free. As usual, we met up in the last bench (No our class is not huge, we just sat in different places) and started singing. Mundhinam Paarthene, Adiye Kolluthe, Nenjukul Peithidum and of course, Yethi yethi. The teacher thought that we were practicing for some competition and almost wished us good luck. It was then that some of our classmates named us "The Back Bench Band". (If you're one of those critics, I'm sure you're probably thinking that the name doesn't make sense. It should have been last bench band and not back bench band. But come one, it alliterates, it sounds good and we like it!)

  One hell of a time we had doing all that. I miss those days. I wish I could just rewind the time and start all over again. If only that possible.

-Shreeji

I want to escape

   There is still a lot of time before my semester exams are gonna start, but I'm stressing already. I'm worried about my marks and I hate myself for that. Is circumstances making me feel like that or have I turned into one of those geeks. Well I hope it's not the former. My nights.. well, let's just say they are not 8hrs per day and I'm definitely not sleeping because of Facebook. Roaming and hanging out with friends have decreased immensely. All this, but I'm not studying either. I think it's just the stress that is making me do all this.

  I want to escape this hell that I'm living.. Somewhere I can live with no worries, eat ice cream and not worry about falling sick, sit under shade and read a book.  Some place where I can feel the breeze hitting my face and messing up my hair. May be a place where I can fly a kite, swim, and just relax. Take a bike ride without any idea of where I'm headed. Dance in the rain and not care about what people might think. Feel every drop that's touching me. A place where I can do whatever I want without being criticized. Feel like I'm walking on sunshine. Feel like all is gonna be fine. Think about nothing. No Electronic Devices and no books under the same name to learn. No exams to take. No goal to be reached. No commitments. No responsibilities. Nothing. It's just me and the happiness in me.

 

I want be without thinking about what might happen tomorrow, what should be done tomorrow, and how things must go the next week. I'm just done planning my life like it's gonna happen the way I plan. I'm just done making others happy. In all this I feel I have forgotten about myself. I have stopped spending time for myself.


   I don't remember the last time I went on a vacation. I don't remember the last time I went out with friends. I don't remember my best friend's voice. Makes me wonder what I'm working for, what I'm living for. Makes me  wonder a of things. I'm just done thinking and analyzing my life and circuits. I'm just done doing what people ask me to do. I just want to escape.

-Shreeji

Stuck in a Mess!

What am I stuck in!? Seriously! Feels like one huge mess! On one hand, I feel guilty. On the other I feel my stance is absolutely right. And it's the I-don't-open-up-thing all over again! I am like that. Period. I don't know why! It's just how it is. End of story. Something I wrote in reply for a something that went like this: "I don't know if it's already over but I hope it is not. You know I like you most in the class and I still do.The mistake can be on either sides. Both of us are offended. Why not just talk and set things right? I don't know your mindset 'cause you never tell about it. But if you are offended I'm sorry and I meant every word."

I don't know what to say;
I just forget things right away.
There are things I wish never happened.
There are also stuff I wish I told.
I know I don't open up,
But it's just because I suck at it;
And sometimes I don't want to open up,
For reasons which words can't say.
I know I'm one complicated person,
I know it's tough when one gets close to me,
But somehow, I don't mind being that way.
The reason - I don't know how to say.
There are so many things I want you to know,
I don't know the right way, so I keep them low.
There was this huge rush of thoughts the other evening,
And then, just an empty mind.
All I know is that I'm exhausted-
To think, to talk, to analyse.
May be some day when I feel better,
May be some day when I'm stronger,
May be some day...

-Shreeji

Principles

(If you don't know me, there is no point in reading it. Those who do know me, well, I have nothing to say.)

I have a few principles in my life and I stick to it. Like big time!
1) I stick to my word. When I tell someone I'll do it, then I'll do it. I don't believe that the word promise must be used for a person to stick to their word 'cause I haven't used it till date but I have stuck to what I have said.
2) I don't lie. That doesn't mean I'll tell the truth, but I won't lie.
3) I don't comment on others, be it good or bad. I don't gossip, and I never will.
It just pisses me so much when I'm in a position to break one of them.

Recently, I had an argument with two of my classmates one of whom I considered as my friend before. And if anyone of you is reading it, I'm sure you'll guess it wrong. I fell into the argument because they wanted to make last minute changes and I was against it because it involved another human being even though I'm not very fond of that person. All I wanted to do was do no more changes to it. The classmate wanted to change - expected, but my former-thought-to-be-a-friend did, I was surprised.

What is wrong with people? Why are they so self-centered to see nothing beyond themselves? I'm not that great a person who does good deeds and all, but I would never do something like that. And when you vouch for something other than yourself, all that happens is that you get screwed. And now, the whole class is against me. Apparently, they heard a more manipulated version of it. Expect for the "I won't make any last minute changes part" they thought it was the "I'm not gonna let you take out the I'm-not-fond-of-human-being".

And now, all of sudden I have no one to share what I feel. It's just me and this keyboard which can only give words and not expression. Just this page in front of me which can provide me enough space to vent out all my feelings, but not a word in return to comfort me.

Now, I don't know if what I did was right. They say that people around you are the way you are to them. So does that mean I'm as selfish as they are? Does that mean I'm that narrow-minded as they are? I don't know anymore.

-Shreeji

Lost in Thoughts

I log in my facebook account. No notifications.
I check for mail. None.
I open my twitter account to tweet. Nothing strikes my head.
I check my blog stats. No change.
I open another tab to study about 'Smart Materials' but I simply cannot concentrate in them.
Something is missing in my life. But what is it?

What am I doing with my life?
Where am I headed?
Why am I wasting so much time?
Why am I becoming an Insomniac?
What is it that I want and what is it that I got?
Why am I even asking so many questions?

I seem to be jobless.
I seem to be useless.
I seem to lack talent.
I seem to be nothing.

I have nothing to look forward to.
I have nothing to relish.

I don't make use of what I've got.
I don't make sure I get what I want.

In this world, I just wander.
Wander with no thoughts, no ideas, no innovations
But with a mind that is empty and a heart that is dark.

There is a never ending path with
No trees and No shade
No breeze and No lake
No pain and No gain

It's just me and my empty self.
Relating my life to that song which I found depressing.

Going through facebook profiles of long lost friends
Wishing life can be rewound
Wishing I didn't do what I did
Wishing things went differently.

In this life, I seem to be able to only wish
And wish and just wish.

Everything seems impossible.
Everything seems unattainable.

-Shreeji

I miss you.

I miss you.
I miss you a lot.

I miss the chat during lectures.
I miss solving C structures.
I miss the geek talks we had.
I miss the intimate stuff we shared.

Never thought it would end this way,
Never thought it would go astray.
Never thought I would miss you so much.
Never though I would need you this much.

What I wanted was more than friendship.
What you had wanted was the same-
But somehow you didn't believe i it anymore;
Or was it something even more?

You got your promise,
To always stay in touch.
I forgot to get yours,
And now I miss you much.

-Shreeji

Is it really that Important?

beauty n. - The quality that gives pleasure to the mind or senses and is associated with such properties as harmony of form or color, excellence of artistry, truthfulness, and originality.

Almost everyone forget the part of it which is to be truthful and original. Everyone is so stuck up on how they look externally that they forget the inner beauty which is the most important part! I don't understand why people give so much importance to how others look let alone themselves. These are the continuous comments I get from people.

My classmates: Why don't you let your hair free? It looks good on you.
My mind : I can't concentrate my classes if I let it free. I'm not gonna waste my time adjusting it every nanosecond!

My sister: What kind of sister are you? You don't use nail polish, and you call yourself a girl! And what is this plaiting your hair? You call yourself a college student?

My mind : I don't give a shit to my nails, so just stop bossing me!

My Aunt: Why don't you wear a pony than a plait? Plaits don't go with jeans
My mind : Why is everyone bothered about my hair?

My Grandma: Don't you get bored of your earrings? Why don't you change them everyday so that they match your clothes? I saw the students outside your college, you don't look like you belong there.
My mind : -_-

My Dad: Look at your face, How much pimples you have got. Why don't you take care of yourself?

My mind. Grrrr...

Why does everyone want me to look good when I don't give a damn? Is it really that important to be attractive? What happened to 'Smile is the best ornament a girl could wear'? When 'All that glitters is not gold', why does everyone want to be glittery and want their loved ones to be glittery as well?  

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So what may look beautiful to me, may not be appealing to you. I'm absolutely fine the way I am. So, 

If you're gonna say that I'm not gonna get any guy If I don't follow those standards, SO WHAT? In fact I don't want a guy who goes by the looks. I'm not gonna have friends to whom looks matters. If you're gonna say that there is no one in this damn world to whom looks don't matter other than me, then fine I don't mind being a loner.

I read this comic strip of Tiger a few years back which goes like this: (unfortunately I couldn't find the strip itself)


Bonnie: (Looking at the beauty products in Suzy's bag) This gives you beauty that is only skin deep.
Suzy: That is good enough for me.. cause that's the part that shows.


But remember this,

A woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears. 

-Shreeji


P.S. This is my last post as a kid :P

Lukka Chuppi

 I wake up in the morning and the only thing I want to do is to listen to "Luka chuppi" one more time. Only a few days back I realized how beautifully the song was written. Nobody writes like that these days, do they? The more I think about the song, the more beautiful it becomes. It is a conversation between a mother and her son. Her son passed away and she is calling him back home while the son is describing the place where he is in. She is calling her lamp back. The song describes the son's view of the place where he is (heaven). He is in such a place where he can simply jump and attain his dreams. He can be free and fly as high as he can. The way Javed Akhtar has written the song is just...(leaves me speechless) A.R.Rahman and Lata Mangeshkhar have definitely don justice to the song. I love the part when she says 'bahut' with full frustration of a mother.

The song goes like this:

Lukka chuppi bahut hui saamne aaja nah
Enough of hide & seek, come home
Kahan kahan dhoonda tuje thak gayi hai abh teri maa
I searched for you everywhere, I'm tired now
Aaja saanj hui mujhe teri phiker
It's evening now, I'm worried about you
Dhoondhula gayi dekh meri nazar aaja nah
My sight has become hazy, come home

Kya bataoon maa kahan hoon main
I don't know how to describe the place I am at.
Yahan udune ko mere khula aasman hai
There is an open sky here to fly
Tere kisson jaise bhola salona jahan hai yahan sapnonwala
The place is as beautiful and innocent as you described in your stories
Meri patang ho befikar udd rahi hai maa
My kite is flying without any fear
Dor koi loote nahin beech se kaate na
No one will cut my kite's string


Teri raah thakey akhiyaan jaane kaisa kaisa hoye jiyaa
My eyes are waiting for your arrival, my mind is goin through various emotions
Dheere dheere aangon uthre andhera mera deep kahan
The street is becoming dark slowly, where is my lamp
Dalkhe suraj kare ishaara chandha tu hau kahan
The sun is setting and gesturing the moon, where are you?
Mere chandha tu hai kahan
Where are you my moon?

Kaise tujhkho dhikaoon yahan hai kya
How an I show you what is here?
Maine jharne se paani maa todke piyaa hai
I drank water from the fountain
Guchcha guchcha kai khwabhon uchalke chuan hai
I have touched my dreams with a jump
Chaaya liye bhali dhoop yahan
Sunlight also has shelter here
Nayaa nayaa sa hai roop yahan
Everything has a new outlook her
Yahan sabh kuch hai maa phir bhi lagey bin ere mujhko akhela
Everything is there here, yet I feel lonely without


          I don't know if the meaning I have given brings the full beauty of the lyrics, but those who can understand Hindi and poetry will know what I'm talking about. No one writes songs like these now a days and no one has the time to appreciate poetry. I made my neighbour listen to it and she went "What's so good about this song? Nothing enjoyable about it!" In a time of "Sheila ki Jawani" and "Why this Kolaveri" (not that I don't enjoy them at all) there is hardly any soul to appreciate good poetry. Hope this doesn't end up in the disappearance of it.

-Shreeji

Flash Fiction 1

She always wanted to go to that restaurant but never got the chance to. He promised her he would take her one day. And there they were on that beautiful evening. The musicians played the most beautiful music. The lighting was just perfect, not too bright not too dim. She looked at the couple sitting near by. She could sense the love they had for each other. She remembered the day, he first asked her out. The joy in her put everything to a stand still. She could think about him and only him. She saw him sitting opposite to her, but something was wrong. She asked, "What's wrong darling?" He told her something that she never expected. The music grew loud almost deafening her. The lights were too blinding. She wanted nothing but to get out of that place.

-Shreeji