Author: anandnataraj

Entrepreneur, Blogger, Traveller, Pet Lover, Networker, Social Drinker, Party Animal, Movie Addict, Startup Enthusiast, Organic Gardner, Avid Reader....

Confused Planning


I’m known for bad planning for giving appointments to friends. Since i’ve a huge friends base and i want to accommodate everyone during my one and half day break during weekends. This leads to lot of commission and confusion. I’m really confused on how to overcome this situation. Today i’ve given following appointments;

  • Promised to goto furniture ship and order for 2 PC tables.
  • Promised to friends to make it to SAARANG (IIT-M Culturals) by 5:30 PM.
  • Promised to meet a friend of my friend and they are on their way.
  • Promised to meet my ex-GYM instructor by evening.
  • Promised to meet my financial advisor by evening.

I’m sure I’m gonna bounce couple of promises. But i don’t know how to take control over these kind of situations…

Leader Insulted


One common trend in india is gaining popularity by aligning with Late(dead) leaders. Some common things they do are;

  • Building statues for leaders. Which is mostly used by birds to shit.
  • Celebrating their Birth & Death anniversaries by blocking roads.

Today while driving to office i came across images of Late leader M.G.Ramachandran fondly called as MGR all over Arcot road in chennai. Mostly all places were deserted and no one was there to take care of those images. Near Valasaravakkam i came across this scene and i immediately shot it. A cow eats the garland & flower kept for the leader.

I don’t know why at all they waste money, time & be a hindrance to public. Also they don’t do it with respect or from the heart. These things look like insulting the leader and in-fact general public only gets irritated by seeing these kind of non-sense.

Missing Madurai


It is true that we don’t realize the importance of things we have in hand. we miss it only when we loose it or when we are away from it.

Likewise i use to curse madurai when i was there a year back. i thought my life is gone there. but over days i got the opportunity to penetrate into their culture and got linked with lots of people, lot of hangouts, lots joints etc.

Its been three months since i’ve been to madurai and now i really miss the place, miss my friends out there, miss Pandiyan Hotel, Big Cinemas, Coffee Float, Cafe Coffee Day and my taste buds long to have Dosai’s from Ayyappan Tiffin Center, Amma mess, ice-creams of tornado, flavors of sugarcane juice, Padaneer et more.

Because of my work schedule in chennai I’m not sure when i’ll be making to madurai soon. but when i visit madurai next it will definitely be for 15 – 20 days as i dont want to miss the experience this time.

Love you Madurai!! Miss You!! Miss Anjaanenjan Annan!!

ONE PARAGRAPH THAT EXPLAINS LIFE


Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of CANCER. From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed:

“Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease”? 

To this Arthur Ashe replied: The world over — 5 crore children start playing tennis,

50 lakh learn to play tennis, 5 lakh learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD “Why me?” And today in pain I should not be asking GOD “Why me?”

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, sorrow keeps you Human, Failure Keeps u Humble and Success keeps you glowing, but only God Keeps you going.

Azhagiri effect in Madurai


Azhagiri, fondly called as Annan (elder brother) the elder son of Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi is bastioned in Madurai for last 3 decade. We can see him dictating the rules in the city.

Last year when I first visited Madurai there will be his banners all over the city. I’ve seen roads dug to fit his banners and hoardings. In Madurai there is a rule not to have banners, but that doesn’t apply for this gentleman.

What ever the case is I heard he started doing good things after becoming a Member of Parliament for first time & a central minister.

But on a funny side I use to see his image in all marriage banners, ear piercing function banners, on bikes & cars. With the help of my PRO I’ve taken some snaps for my readers. Hope you all will enjoy it :).

Sharpen Your Skills


Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job with a timber merchant, and he got it. His salary was really good and so were the working conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to cut the trees. The first day, the woodcutter brought down 15 trees.

” Congratulations, ” the boss said. ” Carry on with your work!”

Highly motivated by the words of his boss, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could bring 10 trees down. The third day he tried even harder, but he was only able to bring down 7 trees.

Day after day he was bringing lesser number of trees down.

” I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

” When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked.
” Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”

That’s right. Most of us NEVER update our skills. We think that whatever we have learned is very much enough. But good is not good when better is expected. Sharpening our skills from time to time is the key to success.

Chance Pe Dance Review


My favorite of the new generation is this Kapoors yes it is Shahid & Ranbir. Yesterday i went to see Chance Pe Dance starring Shahid Kapoor & Genelia De’souza. First half of the movie moves very fast with more fun and it is more of a present day young man’s struggle to make a career for himself in a new city.

Second half of the movie is not boring but it lacks the punch in it. Struggles are not highlighted and everything looks like happening like a cake-walk. Director has neither shown a mentor like Chack De nor makes it difficult for the Hero to make it Big.

So here goes my review;

  • Shahid has rocked in acting & dance. He has done his part well.
  • Genelia has done her part well.
  • Music is average.
  • Director has handled a good subject very lightly/casually.

Second half hero takes up a job of a dance master in a school and he makes them come first in competition. Dance performance was shown so lightly and the schools wins the cup as expected.

Then there is a twist where in his fathers shop in demolished and shahid returns home to stay with his father to give him a moral boost. His father sees the reality show only then and asks his son to get back.

In climax hero is late for the show and he easily convinces the judge and he wins it easily. Infact in the reality show we are never shown the competitors and it is only shahid and it becomes as if hero makes it unopposed.

I really love subjects where someone really fights it hard to create a niche in his career. Something which is shown well in Rocket Singh. Anyways for a normal cinema goer it will not be boring and it is worth the money.

Muthu’s Birthday 2010


Yesterday was Mr.Muthu Kumar’s birthday and he invited us for a treat in Zara Tapas Pub. I was startled for two reason;

  • One is Muthu inviting us for a treat.
  • Second is Muthu inviting us to an expensive pub for treat.

It all happened in a flash as i called Vicky to check if today is muthu’s birthday as i just got an alert from Facebook. By the time there were at Zaras. Since i was in office i reached the place in 10 min. As usual i was without shoes and was not allowed an entry and since it was a birthday invite they gave me a stinking old shoe to maintain their dress code policy.

Since i had my dinner Muthu was spared. I just settled for a Mango juice and as usual Muthu was at his peak in cracking jokes. Madhu and Lakshmi were discussing something which none of us were able to hear.

Then i exploited Muthu by telling him i had a gift for him in my car and made him crazy. None of the folks carried a camera to document the memorable day. Fortunately they had invited me and i immediately went down to my car to pick my camera.

Then we had some photo session & then happened the cake cutting ceremony. Sadly the DJ was a dumb guy who didn’t have a Birthday Song not a Mike to announce the Birthday Wish also he played all old and boring songs.

Now comes the important past. We got the bill and for the first time i saw Muthu taking the responsibility to pay the bill. So we didn’t want to miss the opportunity and we shot snaps of the bill and Muthu placing his card and signing the counterfoil.

Then the important event where in i gifted the Birthday Boy and everyone joined hands to show that they have also contributed.

Over all it was a nice day and really enjoyed the evening. Once again we wish Muthu a Happy Birthday!!!

Bureaucrats Biggest Hassle for Business


Interference of Bureaucrats over businesses in India is a growing concern. There is not a proper forum to condemn their arrogance & ill-treatment. There are several instances where in we are affected because of bureaucrats.

Two days back one of our employee has put in his papers. He boldly says that he have put fake experience and has got a job in another company. Not only he has broken his bond he is also not prepared to give one month notice which he agreed while signing his agreement with the company.

When the HR team conveyed things seriously to him, there was a call from Labour Commissioner & Madurai north zone Labour Inspector asking to relieve the person smoothly. When the HR told them about company policy the officers has said that they have helped break several bonds & notice period with TVS group.

They repeatedly called HR and has literally blackmailed him asking if they had to come in person. This is all because the mother of the candidate is also a Labour Inspector. Now Labour officers have intruded unnecessarily into a matter which is totally unnecessary to them.

I don’t know when politicians talk about promoting entrepreneurism in the society. How can that be achieved with unnecessary influence from Bureaucrats which is totally not their mistake.

Most of the company have to live with their shit fearing unnecessary harassment by the officials. We could have taken legal action against the candidate and the concerned officials. But  it will be like throwing a stone in a piece of shit it makes the entire area stink. So, we have left it for now.

Since i didn’t take it legally and teach such people a lesson i thought i can at-least write this blog and reduce my anger.

IF Poem


I love this IF poem by Rudyard Kipling. This poem motivates me a lot and thanks to my friend Kaviraj for letting me know about this poem. 

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!