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!

Trichy Experience


Had to drive to Trichy on Saturday to take my Granny & Mom for a condolence. Again it was an electrifying experience. 

  • Started from home by 7:30 AM. Woke up early thought I slept only by 3 AM & had just 3 hours of sleep.
  • Reached my uncles house in 4 hours and drove non stop.
  • After a short nap had to go back to my granny’s village.
  • There was Jallikattu (Bull Taming) which was restricted only to villagers. I’m watching a Jallikattu for the first time. Sadly I forgot to carry my camera to shoot the experience.
  • Had good time with tiny tots & I became their favorite as I got them ice-creams and chocolates.
  • Had dinner in my granny’s house.
  • My granny’s village is on the shores of Kaveri River & spent some time in the river as it had some water.
  • Got back to my uncles house in Trichy and went to sleep.
  • Again went to village early in the morning for condolence.
  • Had breakfast and went back to my uncle’s house.
  • Then returned back to Chennai accompanied by 2 more cars and there was race.
  • Had lunch in a hotel attached to a petrol pump.
  • Reached Chennai and went to my aunt’s house to offload some fruits.
  • Then there was an invite from my cousin for dinner and we had dinner and had nice time pulling each other.
  • Then returned home by 12 o clock and checked my email and crashed as I was too tired to write a blog.

Kutty Review


Kutty is one other movie which i watched for Pongal. This movie had more expectations next to Aayirathil Oruvan since it starts Dhanush. It is a remake of Telegu super hit flick Arya 1.

Since the concept is an one liner (A guy tries to win over a girl who is already in love). Movie depends more on screenplay. So i want to share my thoughts on character.

  • Dhanush has shown he is a natural actor and has done his part well. But i can say he has taken this role too lightly and has given a performance less than what he is known for.
  • Shriya Saran has an image with Kollywood audience and there is a conflict between her image & her character in this movie. Otherwise she has done her prat.
  • Sameer Dattani alies Dhyan a Kannada hero has debuted as Villain in the movie. He has over performed and was below average in his acting too. Don’t know if he has followed the way he acts in Kannada or is it because of his lack of understanding of local language? anyways he got to improve if he needs a hold in kollywood.
  • Devi Sri Prasad has let us down with his music after giving a marvelous performance in Kandasamy.
  • Comedians Aarthi, Srinath, Mayilsamy were all wasted and comedy is by comedians in mediocre.

Movie is a good entertainer and can be watched with family & it is not boring.

Aayirathil Oruvan Review


Yesterday we went for back to back shows for Kutty & Aayirathil Oruvan. Second one has more PR than the latter because this is from Selvaragavan after a long while. And also the Hero has acted after a gap of 2 years after debut. So, movie created a lot of buzz.

First of all i must acknowledge the efforts of the crew and give an applause to Selva for his bold experiment and have this experimenting attitude. But movie has lot of inspiration from;

  • King Solomon Mines
  • Inidana Johns
  • Myth
  • Gladiator

and more hollywood movies. Movie keeps the the excitement till the climax. I some what feel Director got confused or lost track during the climax. Even things were happening in rain & at night and nothing was clear & unable to understand what is happening.

I think director tried to invoke some thing which had happened to LTTE, but that is my thought and not sure if he tried the same.

Then he had an abrupt end and left the doors open to develop a sequel. Talking about the characters;

  • Reema Sen is hot and she sizzles in her acting too. She owes a lot to Selva for giving her such an opportunity.
  • Karthi looks like a puppet Hero. He is not utilized well and don’t know why he was made to underplay soo much.
  • Parthiban has come back after a long gap and he has shown elegance in his acting and he justified his role.
  • Andrea again has shown good glamour. But doesn’t have much to do in second half.

There are lots of loose ends in the movie but we can forgive them because of the initiative they have taken. On the plus side characters have been nicely tied and explained how they converged. Also Selva has opened the corridors to other film makers in Kollywood and hope we will get more such movies which other wise would be possible only in a Hollywood movie.

Chennai Sangamam Rocks


Yesterday myself and Bala were working from home as business was sluggish because of Pongal Holidays. Then i got a call from a Sales guy who said he will visit our office by 4 PM to explain his product.

Me & Bala reached office by 4 PM and then we got a call from that guy telling he cant make it for the day. Then Bala asked if we can goto Chennai Sangamam & without any hesitation i agreed because.

  • Unable to hang out with Bala these days.
  • I missed last 2 Chennai Sangamam & i badly wanted to make it.

Then after attending some unexpected visitors & after picking some calls we left to Natesan Park Sangamam. It was a great for ones eyes to see lights decoration on the entire stretch of Venkarnarayana Road.

We parked the car on a near by road as the stretch was blocked & immediately i started clicking snaps. We enjoyed some half a kilometer walk by seeing the decorations.

On entering the park we were greeted by the aroma of food stalls on the entrance. Then a common welcome from Usman Road shop owners who sponsored the show. We entered the park watching People applying mehandhi, listening to astrology (Kili Josiyam & Regai Josiyam) all these are traditional astrological methods.

Then we went to watch a Mahabarath play. To be frank i’ve never seen a theru koothu / stage plays in my life. I’ve read all about these in books which says these were Tamilian Culture. I was very happy to get a glimpse of things which i’ve just imagined and I felt i must be lucky to see these things in my life time.

Also i’ve read a lot about how these traditional entertainers once were burnt because of cinemas, modern day technology like TV, internet. They find it hard to continue there generational livelihood and how they come out to make a better living. Such events makes audiences feel happy and also the it gives an opportunity to these Kalainargal (Artists) to make a living.

There different types of entertainment showcased like;

  • Oyilattam
  • Kuyilattam
  • Nerupuattam
  • Stage Plays
  • Street Plays
  • Poi Kal Kudurai
  • Thappata
  • Veera Saagasangal

and more types of traditional performances. When audiences & reporters flooded for a photo with them. These artists who were ignored for long felt happy to oblige an pose for photos and videos. Also people encouraged then by shouting, whistling etc.

Talking about the crowd, there were people from all status of life and i saw a bunch of elite crowd. Also there were foreigners who flooded to the show.

Then there were stalls from 5 star hotels to home cooked stalls which offered delicious traditional foods which were a gift to ones taste buds.

I must thank Ms.Kanimozhi for initiating such a spectacular even and making it a grand success. My only wish is to see this as a non-political even thought this was envisioned by someone with political background. I wish even if government changes this event continues.

While returning i came out as a happy man & a proud tamilian to  watch our old traditions & entertainment medias.

Why Petrol Bunk Operators cheat???


I’ve many experience of getting tricked by petrol pump operators and I must blame myself because it all happens because of my impatience.

Last Sunday while returning from a Movie I went to a HP petrol station in Guindy to load GAS. I asked that guy to fill it for 1000 bucks. He filled it for 300 bucks and he had cut it and then when i told him it is for 700 bucks he again filled it.

After making the payment i started the car and while driving i realized the tank indicator was only half way. I know i was tricked I was so angry and i wanted to get back and show my piece of mind.

Then i proceeded back home because;

  • I was almost near to my house.
  • Time was 3 AM.
  • I was not sure if i can get justice form these guys.

For me this is happening for Nth number of time and still I’m not learning from my mistake.

Same thing happened in Bharat Petrolium in Tirupathi. But that time my friend Suresh was there and he took the pump operators for a toss and they immediately accepted their mistake and filled the balance.

Now the question i’ve is how can we prove it that the operator has not filled to the value we have paid. If someone can give me the hack i can give back to operators who trick customers.

So these are the Petrol Stations that is known for cheating;

  • IOC Station ECR Kottivakkam.
  • HP Station near to Guindy Railway Station.

Pyar Impossible


Yesterday i went to watch the movie Pyar Impossible. Crux is how a geekish nerd falls for a Hot babe in his college and who doesn’t express his love for her. Later after seven years how he meets her again and wins over her.

I can draw lot of parallels on why i like the movie;

  • First I never had guts to express my love or liking to any girl. Thought i was neither nerd nor a geek I can relate myself to the character otherwise.
  • I love fathers who raise their kids as friend.
  • How Hero fights back with a guy who has cheated him. Same has happened to me 2 years back.
  • How he gets reunited with his love after seven years.

I’m not a great fan on Uday Chopra. Infact i hate him right from his first movie Mobhathein also i didn’t like him in Dhoom even he did a cool guys character.

But this movie the role has perfectly fit him & also i heard it was his own story. This is the first movie where he inspired me personally. Let see how he is going to make it in long run.

I watched the movie for Piggy Chops and she is Hot as usual & she is the sole lead actor in the movie.

When i saw in Rediff ratings that movie had poor opening. It is sad to see a good movie failing in BO.


Great E-Mail from my CTO


My CTO Mr.Kannan has composed this great email.

Dear Cogzians,

I am very much delighted to make this announcement. Yes! Cogzidel Technologies, one year and 4 months old baby is now growing and prepared to take a next step !!

Guess what !! One year and 4 months baby since it babyhood nourished by mother(Madurai development center) , now going to make an attempt to start walking.

Still any Guess !! Ok. Let me have the proud to break the ice.

Next step for Cogzidel Technologies – Starting second development center in Chennai.

We are starting our Chennai Development Center at Admbakkam ( Near Chennai International Airport – Hoping we will have busy schedule to fly often J) from 22nd Jan 2010.

This dream would have not come true but it happens only b’cos of you Cogzian. I am thanking individually every Cogzian.

We are just now making a small step forward and we have long journey to do, we as Cogzian have the commitment to make this organization as one of the best in the industry. We as team can rock anything in this world.

Believe it and Let us all fuel our energy  for the future to grow stronger and stronger, individually as well as a team.

Let us blow our bells and whistles to warmly welcome the new development center.

Thanks
Kannan

Great job Kannan. Long live Cogzidel!!!