*From To Sathish*-Sathish's new movie Info & Pics pg20! - Page 116

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWJsFJIRmZs

AACHI KULAMBU MILAGAI THOOL 40SEC

Thanks for sharing, Satish.
Nice, fun ad.

Devaiyani looks so pretty here...
one actress who commands respect through her mannerisms and attitude alone.
Someone should convince her to act in a movie again...
and be paired exclusively with Ajith.
Their "Nalam Nalamariya Aaval" (of Kathal Kottai) was the National Love Anthem during my growing years.
They remain my favourite on-screen pair too.

Happy to see her back in this ad...
looks like it was a fun, colourful and tasty shoot!

CHOICE

"Good evening," the matre d' said. "Table for four?"

"Yes, Thank you."

"Smoking or non smoking?"

"Non smoking."

"Would you prefer to dine indoors or outdoors this evening?"

"I guess indoors would be good."

"Very well, sir," he said. "Would you like to be seated in the main dining room, the enclosed patio, or our lovely solarium?"

"Uh, let me see...uh..."

"I can give you a table with a lovely view in our lovely solarium."

"I think the solarium would be lovely," I said.

We followed him there...

"Now, would you prefer a view overlooking the golf course, the sunset on the lake or the majestic mountains to the West?"

"Whatever you recommend," I said.

Let HIM make a decision for a change, I thought.

He sat us by a window facing the golf course, lake or mountains. I couldn't tell which, because it was dark outside.

Then, a young man, better dressed and better looking than any of us, presented himself at our table...

"Good evening, my name is Paul, and I'll be your waiter this evening. Would you like a few minutes before I take your order?"

"No," I said. "I'm just a meat-and-potatoes guy, so I'll have the filet mignon and a baked potato."

"Soup, or salad?"

"Salad."

"We have a mixed-green salad, hearts of palm, or a very fine endive salad with baby shrimp."

"Just a mixed-green salad, okay?"

"Whatever you say, sir. Dressing?"

I didn't want to make another decision... "Whatever you've got will be fine."

"We have creamy Italian, Blue Cheese, Vinaigrette, Thousand Island, Honey Dijon and Ranch."

"Just bring me one. Surprise me."

"Creamy Italian is our house specialty. Would that be all right, sir?"

"Yeah."

I was curt. I was done with civility.

"And for your baked potato?"

I knew what was coming! "I just want the baked potato dry, you understand? I don't want anything on it."

"No butter? No sour cream?"

"No."

"No chives? No bacon chips ? "

"No! Don't you understand English?" "I don't want anything on it. Just bring me a baked potato and a steak."

"Would you prefer the six, eight, or 12-ounce steak, sir?"

"Whatever."

"Would you like that rare, medium rare, medium, medium well or well done? Or, if you prefer, we can butterfly it for you."

"Pauly Boy," I said, "you are really starting to get me steamed."

"Which brings up the vegetables, sir. Would you like steamed broccoli, creamed corn, sauted zucchini, or diced carrots?"

That did it. I threw my napkin to the floor, stood up, put my face right in his face and said, "How'd you like to settle this outside?"

"Fine with me, sir. Would you prefer the parking lot, the side alley or the street in front of the restaurant?"

"I prefer right here."

Then I punched him:

He ducked, then countered with a left hook right under my eye. It was the first time all night he hadn't offered me a selection.

I collapsed semiconscious into my chair, as someone in authority rushed over and berated Pauly.

I felt my tie being loosened, my collar unbuttoned, hands slapping my face. When I regained my senses, I saw the very concerned maitre d' right in front of my nose. He apologized and offered to buy me a drink, call the paramedics, whatever I wanted.

"No, no," I said. "I'll be all right. Just bring me a glass of water."

"Yes, sir, right away," he said.

"Would you prefer imported mineral water, sparkling water, or club soda with a wedge of lime?"...!!!!!!!!

Chapter 10


"Travel is like love, mostly because it's a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end." " Pico Iyer


Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space

Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die

Born to be wild
Born to be wild

STEPPENWOLF "Born To Be Wild"


January and march of 1995will remain forever etched in my mind for they were the months seeni and me left chennai on my rx 100 yamaha and travelled through kerala,karnataka and reached goa.Two skinny guys in their 20's and armed with two carry bags one on the tank and one on the rack which seeni said was good for him to lean on.Two jeans,a few cotton tees and a couple of stone washed shirts and a kodak hot shot camera and my loafers and we cruised with the wind on my face and free air swirling like whirlpools around us.I sped,ran,raced and escaped the mundane and made history.Even today seeni talks in a hushed tone and his eyes widen in amazement ' machaan,did we actually ride all the way to goa.wow.' I tell him yes and i think back to the black tarmac as it slithered and whizzed under our wheels as we flew on it.I nurse this ache to leave everything behind and wander all over india in my car.Stop at villages which are not on maps and stop to see the green carpet of paddy fields.Stop and look at people going on with their lives.Walk the earth all over my country and feel its history and try to understand my heritage.I am going to do it someday and off i will go,just me,my car and my freedom with the open road welcoming me.




Life is a highway


The digital clock stuck to the dashboard gleamed 8.30 in red and Buddha whined a gentle noise that made sadashivam turn and he understood.He switched on the left indicator and slowly pulled to the side of the road under a huge tamarind tree.Many more of the trees kith and kin stood in a straight line and their lineage continued off into the horizon.It was the same on the opposite side of the road and sadashivam opened the door and let buddha out and he himself slowly got out and with a sigh stretched his body.He had driven at a speed which he was comfortable with and even though the 80 to 90 kms felt slow they had managed to cover nearly 200 kms and were in the outskirts of Virudhachalam.Buddha gently got out and went to nearby bush and did the same thing which sadashivam did.Buddha went around sniffing the air and generally walked around the trees and the adjoining paddy fields and sadashivam thought this would be a good time to finish breakfast and then he thought of buddha and what to give him to eat.Sadashivam opened the four storey tiffin carrier which had a five storey friend next to it.Sadashivam ' What did kamalam think while she packed these giant food vessels? did she think that i was going to feed people all the way to madurai or did she want me to survive on this food alone for the time i am away from home? '

The four storey steel containers had idlis packed in two and chutney in the other.the top most compartment was filled with a few cheese sandwiches and the minute he opened that one,buddha came and sat next to him and let out a small whine,and looked at the sandwiches longingly.The two sets of sandwiches vanished into thin air like a trick performed by a master magician and all sadashivam was left with was his open mouth in amazement.

Sadashivam was happy that at least the dogs food problem was solved for the moment and wondered what else the animal fancied.But he didn't have to wonder for long for buddha let out another whine and sadashivam with an idli that was about to attain nirvana in his hungry tummy,turned and looked questioningly at buddha.The huge dog looked at the idli in his hand and then looked down at the tiffin carrier where mini mountains of idlis were tightly packed together.
Saashivam had never heard of a dog eating idlis although he had heard one of his friends raghuraman tell him that his dog liked athirasam a lot.
He slowly put a newspaper next to buddha and placed two idlis on it.One moment they were there and next moment they had travelled at the speed of light into buddha's huge mouth.The dog whined again and sadashivam placed two more and then two more and the dog looked at him with an expression more of content than gratitude and gently burped in his face.

Sadashivam rolled his eyes and thought ' when it comes to food,it looks like buddha is similar to kamalam' and started laughing.The dog stretched itself in the cool shade,but its eyes were on sadashivam. The road vibrated constantly when a huge truck or lorry whizzed past leaving a vrrooom noise.Alone,highway,under the shade of the tree,not a care in the world and all the time to go about the plans.well this is bliss thought sadashivam and he wondered why he had not done this earlier.


The calm was stirred when buddha let out a small growl of warning and then lay stretched on the grass but the growl shook sadashivam out of his thoughts and he turned to see an old man standing near his car.Sadashivam asked him waht he wanted and the man gestured to his throat and mouth and sadashivam realising he was thirsty gave him a bottle of water to drink.

Sadashivam asked him if he wanted any money to buy breakfast but the old man gently refused it.

The old man ' where are you off to sir ?'

' sadashivam.please call me sadashivam. i am off to madurai.'

'Madurai.Its been such a long time since i saw my mother meenakshi amman and my father sundareswarar.sadashivam is travelling to madurai to see himself.'

Sadashivam thought to himself that the old man was rambling and decided to let the poor man finish before he and buddha got ready to leave.


The old man looked at sadashivam ' ellam shivamayam.sadashivam,if you dont mind me telling you,then do as i tell you.for it will help you.after you visit the meenakshi amman temple,please go visit azhagar kovil for it will be good for you.'

Sadashivam nodded ok,just to please the man and thought of telling him that they had to leave and try to reach madurai by late afternoon.But the old man himself got up and thanking shivam was about to leave,when buddha went up to the old man and put his paw out.The old man,surprisingly agile for his age,crouched by buddha and took his paw and shook it.He then slowly lifted the dogs jaw and stared at the markings on the neck and tears bloomed in his eye.he then laughed to himself.

The old man saw sadashivam staring at this and said ' please go visit azhagar kovil as per my request and i am also now very sure that i have met you for a reason and realise that our paths will cross again.'

Saying this the old man walked away and sadashivam stood staring at buddha and the receding figure of the old man.He did not know what to make of the whole incident and also was getting a feeling that something was happening and that it was beyond his perception and intelligence.He looked at buddha ' so madurai temple and then azhagar kovil.what next i wonder, for but poor me everyone else including you seem to know what is going on.'

With both in the car and with his seat belt on,sadashivam checked his rearview mirrors for traffic and also checked the lane he was getting into, for in india people drove on which lane their heart fancied or which lane lord yama,the god of death had fixed their appointment to hell or heaven.With the lane clear,and his right indicator switched on he slipped into the highway and accelerated towards madurai and to his final destination.


"The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark." Barbara Hall

HARI HARA

Flowers rained softly from the skies and the sun dimmed himself behind some clouds.He did it for all the gold and jewels on the people and gods assembled there were reflecting his light and competing with the bright light sitting on the throne.

Lord rama sat in all glory with sita next to him and with his brothers around him.Mighty kings and powerful men paid their homage and secretly paid homage to the mighty king of the world and the almighty god of the whole universe.Rama with a benevolent smile acknowledged all this and blessed them and thanked them for the love and affection.He and sita honored all the warriors who had fought with him in the great war against Ravan.

He then slowly raised his hand and a silence filled the air and skies.Gently taking sita's hand,they both stepped down and everybody looked on in amazement, wondering what was happening and anxious to know what was going to happen.

Rama and sita came and stood before the kneeling hanuman and holding sanjeevini's shoulders slowly raised him up.Yet hanuman stood with his hands folded and with his eyes cast on rama's feet.The people looked on at this amazing spectacle for it looked like two mighty suns stood facing each other and though hanuman stood in his monkey form,people felt the divinity flow from his presence.

Rama looked at hanuman ' My friend,i have thanked all those who helped me during my troubles and all those who stood shoulder to shoulder with me and fought against ravan.You are the only person who i have yet to thank for all the help you gave us and for saving all our lives,many times.But my dear one,by saving my life you have risen above me in stature and are now in the status of protector. A mother is a protector,a father is a protector and our parents are the ones who give us our very lives.Since you have given me and laxman our lives back,you are now equal to our parents.So tell me how do i gift or what can i give one who has given everything to us.Our lives,our kingdom and all the wealth in it are yours.I offer all this in my love and devotion for you.'

Hanuman's eyes filled with tears and he kneeled again and held on to rama's feet and said 'my only wish is that as long as there is life in me,promise me that you will be in my soul and i should die the minute you leave my soul.'

Rama smiled and granted his wish and then looked at hanuman ' i have one wish,one request that i want you to do for me.will you please do it.'

Hanuman with tears pouring from his eyes ' my lord,this body,every drop of blood in it and every breath i take chants your holy name.what more can i ask for than be of use to you,not once but millions of times.so,command me my lord,what do you want me to do ?'

Rama ' will you hold me in your arms,so that i can feel the same love and protection i used to feel when my father used to hold me.'

Hanuman gently took rama in his arms and as rama laid his head on hanumans chest,he heard his name being chanted by the mighty heart.'

Rama smiled and it was hanuman's turn to be surprised when he heard his lord's heart chant his other name' Rudra,Rudra'

Both stood in each other's arms and in their avatars and the whole universe rang with the chants of 'HARI HARA,HARI HARA'

Heaven or Hell

I wish you well though you wish me hell
You wish me hell though you see me drowning in a well
i wish you heaven though you wish me hell
i wish you well though you play sly games
without naming names
i wish you well though you wish me hell
for i know hell very well and i don't wish you hell
hell or heaven they wait for the bell
when it will toll or for whom the bells toll
baby you just can never tell
i offer to take and share your pain
and you know there is nothing for me to gain
for it matters not your pain or my pain
but you wish me hell for you are in hell
though i wish you heaven
you wish me hell and prefer me drowning in a well
for rather than swim and escape you prefer to drag me
down into your well that is filled with your hell

Broken and partitioned


Time was when the windows of the bedroom fogged up
steam drifted from our bodies and the sheets were wet with our sweat
we rocked from morning to night and the legs of the cot
squeaked and broke for we were too hot and too heavy
now there is cold in the room and the sheet is freezing
you on your side and i on my side
we are like poles drifting apart far away and away

Time was when we were stuck together and they said siamese twins
and now we are two islands with a iron curtain
where is the heat and where has the steam gone

Time was when you thought and i spoke
you felt and i did all your hidden thoughts and desires
but now we speak an alien language

men in black coats stand and talk for us
and a man in black sits high above and judges us
they talk about partition of wealth and property
and they talk about movable and immovable assets
but what do we baby with our souls
for you still have mine and i still own yours

the wind could not penetrate us when together
but now a huge chasm lies deep and broad

time was when we were two and became one
and one has become two and we go our ways
ways of loneliness,you north and i south

Time,baby what has time done to us

A wife texts her husband on a cold winter's morning: "Windows frozen."
Her husband texts back: "Pour some lukewarm water over it."
The wife texts back 5 minutes later: "Computer completely messed up now."

Kiran bedi on 7th. Yeh dilli, woh dilli,meri dilli, achi dilli, Sachi dilli, a dilli b dilli...
Bedi on 10th. Kya dilli.. Kiska dilli!!!!!