Weekend Downloaded

Navy and I went to see the opening play of The Hindu's Metro Plus Theatre Fest- Anitgone- A play by Motley, directed by Satyadev Dubey. While the cast was compelling with the legendary and usually great chemistry exhibiting Naseruddin and Rathna Shah and also Benjamin Gilani ( as sutradaar) and some others , the play seemed too sober and stark to us. Well, knowing that it was a Greek tragedy I am not sure if I my hopes were misplaced.

Missed Hamlet by my favourite Rajat Kapoor on Sunday. Navy went for it and could not stop gushing about it.


While the Dakshin Chitra plan of some of us Chennai mom bloggers fizzled out due to the heat and exhaustion, we took Anushka to Stayam for a 3D version of Ice Age 3. Awesome experience for tots and their parents- the last one I saw was Chota Chetan (in Telugu) in my Vijayawada years!! While at Satyam went to Idli for the first time, lovely decor elements- using idli and dosas to represent the phases of the moon and the sun!!Had a yummy, authentic pesarettu.


An old friend and her hubby, some of you will know her articualte, thought provoking blog , came over home much to Anush's delight. She was further sold on the couple since they gifted her a most apt colouring set with stencils and jelly paints. After they left, Anush wanted to know why they did not stay over and leave the next day!!


Navy hosted a party for all his friends and colleagues at the current job. He is moving in September to a new assignment. The kind of wishes, cards, posters, drama and gifts he has got, he must be so flattered and proud. My paati's gloating comment ( translated into English here) to Navy captured it all " MGR fab club and all is really a thing of the past huh?"

Went for an Ayush Homam in KK Nagar Ayyappa Kovil ( not as pretty as the one in Anna Nagar or even Mahalingapuram) and the conventional food catered there by an outside caterer was fantastic.

Another instance, we tried Arthi Bhavan in Velachery- since it was open late- the regular no frills South Indian fare is made well. Did not try North Indian and the Chinese, though the former looked good enough but the latter not so good.

The Loorace

When a mother daughter duo visit a loo at any theatre:

Pre Anush

Wait your turn and hope to God that you do not lose control Or that some old person jumps the queue making your wait longer

Post Anush- post Diaper zindabaad stage

Anush , as we wait our turn, loudly " I am getting susu amma"

Me pleadingly " Can you hold on please? We have to wait for our chance na?"

Scared teenagers and others scurry away letting Amma and Anush use the loo first!!

I smile goofily and say " Thanks"

Oh what joy!!

Say Yipee!!

When you are happy and you know it and you really want to show it......Blogger is back to allowing me pic updloads on posts!!

Navy's cousin drew and painted this himself...phew what talent!




Made in Spain and all that and a Laxmi brand sticker on the side for authenticity!!

Analyse this

Does this pic say anything to you?

Time and Again

She wondered why she invited this upon herself time and again.

Why could she not be less fickle?

She knew the perils and yet she went headlong into it.

Now there was no way out.

Because she has a reputation to live up to.

As usual 2 days after boasting about how long her hair had grown and how she had resisted the urge to chop it off!

Moving from The Dora cut I now have what is termed the Anush hair cut - utterly unmanageable and unruly. ( and I just saw this pic today and realised it looks really hot on someone else)

Whirlwind Weekend

Anush seems to have mastered the 4 main petrol bunk logos ( BP/ HP/ Indian Oil, Shell) or gets it right by fluke all the time. She loves to try and identify them and keeps looking out for more as we drive. We have all four in our daily drive between Velachery and Pallikarnai.
She confused one bank logo for a petrol bunk ( BP) and I explained to her that the bank was large piggy bank which seems to have got her fancy. So now she wants me to help identify the bank names. I need to learn them first!

We went to Thiruvallur for a ear piercing of Navy's friend's child. A most scenic drive after you cross Motel Highway and hit the right. It is about 20 kms from the highway. And what a palatial mansion the hosts lived in. Anush enjoyed it though she missed balloons- our fault since we had called it a b'day party. We also were thoroughly at a loss to explain an Indian oil kind of station with an orange and grey logo?

We had the more or less final builder meeting to settle ( scores) Went off better than expected and he has promised to take care of our concerns.

The gardener came in with the water lily for planting and we hope it thrives. Anush was rather busy quizzing him." Uncle, shall I water the plants"..... " Uncle it is dirty here" ......." Uncle shall I smell the flower" :- )

Saw Kuselan ( 11.30 pm show at Mayajaal!!) and it is not a patch on the Malayalam original. It also has a very cheap look barring a few beautiful shots. Some graphics / effects such as the dolphins were really tacky and looked straight out of a gaudy marriage album. The flaw I think was to give undue time to Rajni and not to the main protagonist. It ended up being neither an arty thoughtful movie nor an out and out Rajni entertainer with one liners. Also somebody must explain to Vadivelu that shouting s not equal to comedy.

Given the late night show, we went to GRT Temple Bay- Mahabalipuram for dinner- much like the old times pre Anushka. But Anush was a very cooperative bunny and enjoyed her pasta and carrots at 10.30 at night.

My cousin from the US is back for a stint in Kolkotta for an NGO . He came by for the weekend. Anush could not have enough of him and it helps that he is so patient with her and showers her with gifts (his technique for gift giving is slow release - one every two hours or so) This ways he savours each gift and then awaits the next.

See the purple room featured in "Corners of my home"- well Anush believes that it is only for guests and does not like using it!!

Anush and I invited all the new building residents for a small get together - at least we will know who are our neighbours- given that there is only 10% occupancy till now. The response was enthusiastic verbally- time will tell if they really turn up.

We also saw the play " Electronic City" as part of the Metro Plus theatre festival. I would not recommend it unless you like feeling puzzled and bored. The theme is an old one- man at the mercy of technology and wanting to discover himself again, rebels. The execution started off very interesting- a painter doing a back drop on stage all through, the characters seemingly coming from the audience, a drama within the drama , the wonderful use of ghattam ( likened aptly to a heart beat) , use of a video from a German / American actor- director combo to establish the theme. Yet it was very hard to follow and tested one's endurance despite being endearing in rare parts.

While on the festival- The venue this time is superb and the props beautiful . . .and we want to see this play "The whale" - a solo act with lots of props by an actor- dancer.

August Ahoy

Reasons I love this August

Independence day weekend is a long one
The Hindu Metro Plus theatre festival is just beginning
There are some fantastic dance recitals on at Narada Gana sabhba with rivers as the theme
I might finally do my official Sri Lanka trip
And Anush's bday is mid month.....

Plan so far - I used my lucky draw money from our Family Day to get Little Kangaroo dresses for Anush. Unlike her usual staple Paavadai chattai... which we may still get for her star bday.

Royalty first but second

Our team - Royal Kings- stood second in the group performance, just as in sports - Silympics.
Overall, we were the number one team but there were no prizes for combined scores.

Ours was a musical "extravaganza" with most of Navy's funky clothes put to good use
A lot of props were innovative by yours truly.
The cliched theme was a swayamvaram with a twist in the tale.
The entire team participated which is what was fantastic.

I played a man( SRK in Om Shanti Om - luckily not Dard e Disco ) since one of the team suddenly could not make it. I loved wearing the huge rowdy moustache though Anush had a tough time accepting it. She is not used to a mush even on Navy.

Our group's prize money goes to a group lunch and hopefully some charity as well.
I also won a gift voucher which will be well spent on who else but Anushka.

Chennai Chudaamani

Where does one get props costumes for amateur dramas in Chennai?

There are some seedy looking shops in Vadapalani and a couple in Mylapore.

But so uninspiring and only period drama or extra types! At least what I saw.

Why do I ask- it is family and fun day this weekend and we have skits to perform and it is cut throat competition out there- we are going for the kill as well.

Second in our version of the Olympics, my team is thirsting for first place in the culturals....the prize- we will get talked about till the function next year.

Celebrating Chennai

It was Chennai Day a couple of days back.
Here is celebrating the city that has come to be my home.

From Mylapore Maamis to the cosmopolitan SW brood
From IIT to NIFT & DAV to Abacus
From Kanjeevaran saris with pockets and tubetops and multiplexes
From the stomach friendly idly to unpronouncable cuisines
From sambar to samba
From the intolerance for Hindi to the play Chanakya at Music Academy
From the much loved Rajni to the way too loud heroines
From the lack of drainage to the reverse osmosis
From The Hindu to Radio One
From grumbling about autos to zipping on ECR
From longing for chaat to Dilli Haat

From Madras to Chennai- I am here to stay!
And savour this city with all its contrast.

Though I can never stop loving Bombay there is always a lot more love to give!!

Blogathon

In case you are wondering, why I am posting so much today, I have a self set target of getting to 250 posts. i.e. 20 to go in a week's time.

Anyway the Kodai experience is up for takes.

Life is what happens

to you when you are busy planning things.....

Said Siddhu. The context was Anil Kumble and his surprise century

You will hardly see me write about cricket because I am not a big fan but I adore Kumble, next only to Kapil Dev in my list.

And I loved it- his moment of glory for a new reason, whether it was a fluke or not.

Back to the Siddhuism- I thought it was indeed very profound though my patience wears thin with too much of Siddhu.

I have been planning to read up on all your blogs and have more or less not been able to...but much has been happening with my shift to a different function- it has been exciting , a little tiring, a lot of learning.


Fetish - Tag

HHgmom tagged me on any fetish that I might have

It is not all difficult for me to spell it out- I am inclined towards… no….I cannot control buying clothes- for self, for Navy, for Anush, for family, for the house….

I have a fetish for some eats as well- any fried South Indian bakshanam and boiled corn. No quantity ever satiates me.

I am not exceptionally clean but I am obsessed with order. Inspite of knowing that babies need to be babies, etc-I just cannot help putting things back in their place.

I keep my desk at work very tidy, as I do my Kitchen platform. To the extent that people wonder if I really work at either counter!!

I really HAVE to argue it out and get convinced if I have a difference of opinion with family. I am just not accommodating enough.

Hmmm…not too many, but pretty intense the ones I do have. If I have come across as a Banshee, then it maybe true!


Off for a few days for a holiday. Will be back in time for Independence day and my very own post independence baby bday celebrations

Whistle Stop

Finally collected the booty from the jackpot. Though we missed the jackpot iitself . Read the comments to know what I am talking about.

Not really worth the wait and sounded much better as 54 thousand ( split by 4 participants)

Anyway gifts - anything free for that matter- should not be judged.

But a milk cooker- in this zamaana??

Kahaan gaye Woh log?

Sts wrote a post - "Whatever happened to... " & I could not resist this. But it was so long I deciced I would use my own space and not her comment space. Here is my attempt to clarify and display how updated I am on Bollywood and TV despite hardly watching either and getting to read ONLY The Hindu.

Anu Agarwal – No one is liekly to forget Chandralekha anyway. Into yoga last I heard

Rahul Roy – Was the winner of Big Boss but it did not do for him what Big Brother did for Shilpa Shetty, our classmate ( sts - i could not resist that again)

Ayesha Dharker – Very active abroad also doing theatre in England- Andrew Loyd Webber’s Broadway show “Bombay Dreams”.

Antara Mali- last seen pouting at Jiah Khan

Mamik – came in Kya Kehna last if I recollect- I just love the way he looks. Sts, does that ring a bell?

Aziz Mirza – Chalte Chalte was by him. He is making a movie with Vidya Balan I think sort of reverse of Chennai Kum.

Minu, Sonia Singh, Rini Khanna nee Simon – My favourite was Neethu Ravindran, Komal GB Singh, Sukanya Balakrihsnan, Sunit Tandon & Tejeswar Singh and remeber World of Sport with Narrotam Puri? Appan Menon of World this Week

Siddharth Basu – Produces Kaun Banega Crorepathi and the like- rolling in money , lost a little hair, charming as ever.

Ayesha Jhulka – found her a bit over the top-but she is a sis types in socha na tha . Loved her in Jo Jeeta though

Meenakshi Sheshadri – sure she must have continued with her dancing.

Madhoo – A ribbon cutting expert now

Jugal Hansraj – He is on TV on some serials, is slated for Aaja Nachle with Madhuri Dixit, you would have seen him in Salaam Namaste I think

Mamta Kulkarni, Sonu Walia, Somy Ali – All living incognito in past "glory" !!

Farooque Shaikh – Doing plays, involved in a noble cause- polio vaccination drives

Some of the men I would like to add are dead and gone- Guru of Nukkad, Shafi Inamdar of Yeh jo hai zindagi, Ghokale of Mr Yogi.

Some of the men who are alive and not kicking are possibly Amit Sana, the Indra Danush and Neev guys.

But what about these women- the leading ladies in Hum Log and Buniyaad, Rama Vij, Kitu Gidwani, Malavika Tiwari, Channa Ruparel of Chunauti , Radha Seth the tall one with the husky voice. . .

Puzzle

Yesterday was International puzzle day.

So here is one...
How did i end up with 160 unique visitors and only 3 comments?

And go here for simpler puzzles. . .

Caption Contest

In less than 6 words, pen a caption for this picture taken on our trip, the last couple of days to Bengaluru.

It is raining

Yes in Chennai!! I am not referring to the off season rains the last couple of days.

It will be showering relatives at my place- shortly.

My much awaited maama and Bengali maami with 2 adorable ( when I last saw them) kids will be here by month end. They are visiting after eight long years.

My grand uncle- aunt from Mumbai are joining them here.

My gorgeous sis in law and hubby from Boston MIT, no less, will also be here then with the cutest kids who will be great company for Anush.

My cousin who is doing a project in India at Jaipur will also join by early July.

Anush has learnt to say all their names with the mandatory athai or maama or akka attached to it.

I am still trying to look for an extra empty flat in my building for the luggage not the people.
USA NRIs have 3 suitcases when they travel light and average up to 5 suitcases the size of my study.

I think we can manage the cooking ourselves with some help from the local home based caterers.

Hopefully I do not end up having to go on tour and leaving my mother to fend for all. Counting on my father to manage the show & bring in some order since he will be coming over as well from Mumbai for a break.

Doctor Art

What does this look like to you ?

Nishabd

Saw Nishabd. Old married man falls for daughter's friend. Jia Khan is very provocative hardly innocent or vulnerable looking. They should have cast someone like Amrita Rao instead. Then it would have come across as less of physical adoration/ infatuation. Here one tends to side with Revathi ( the wife) rather than Amitabh. Talk about having nothing to say.

Anyway , lesser said the better.

YEAH!! My 150th Post ! Now u know what I really wanted to say

A Lot of Sunshine

Was away on a holiday.

We went to Georgia Sunshine Village ( off Mysore). The highlight was the weather- such that the resort lived up to its name. It also offers fishing, trekking, short trips to Ganganchukki- Bharachukki falls. Most of the ( foreign) patrons are directed from the Lonely Planet. Weekends are the Bangalore and Mysore crowd. I would not recommend a long journey to the resort from any where else, except in good weather.

We also did Somnathapura and Talakkad temples. Not to mention a short stay at Mysore as well. I realised how little we understand of our history without a guide.

All in all a good break and some focussed time with family.