Manja Velu Review


Yesterday I went to watch the movie Manja Velu which starred my favorite start Karthik in a important role after a long gap and also i had no choice of movie.

When i booked the ticket and went to watch the movie along with Kaviraj i had nothing to complain as I picked him by 8.30 PM and took him for dinner & went straight to the theatre.

The movie had hilarious comedy track from Santhanam. Karthik sizzles as usual and it is nice to see him after  long gap. Would be nice if Hero would have reduced on his style and punch dilaguw which didn’t suit him. One unexpected treat is the heroine who sizzles through out. Her name is Dhanishka and this is her first movie. She is very tall and has resemblance to Asin & Sunaina. Hope she will have a decent run in Kollyhood. Overall movie was a good masala movie which was not boring.

Miranda’s new ad with Asin rocks!!!


Asin once again does some galatta as she takes on Chennai’s famous auto man, Speed Sangar. I really love this ad here is the video for you with has sub-title;

Thekkady Experience


It was a hectic month of April and we slogged and finally reached our Months target. But excessive work load and personal financial commitments took its tool and I started suffering from severe Fatigue. I was able to feel it as i was unable to take decisions, my planning were slow and really i was unable to work. I badly wanted a break.

Then i called my friend Laxman and asked him if we can go for a vacation. Again I was not in a position to loose any of the working day. Since it was vacation Laxman, Sathish & I decided to goto Thekkady, Kumily. We started our drive from Madurai by 8 AM on Saturday.

Kumily is just 120 KM from Madurai and we reached the place in 2 hours in spite of having breakfast in a place near Madurai. This place is special for Mutton dishes and no other dish would be available here. Since i’m a Veggie i had to settle with Papad, Vegetables & Curd.

Upon reaching Kumily we went to a resort named Greenwoods and we were given a authentic welcome. I’ve seen such welcome given to Cricket players in airport or at hotels. We were welcomed by offering a jasmine garland, keeping a sandal bindi & tender coconut water.

The we checked in the room and we immediately proceeded to Pool, the playing room & then we drove some 15 KM towards Kattapana to taste Toddy. But the toddy was old one and it took a tool on our stomach immediately. Then we returned to resort and started partying.

Then next day morning i had good Keraly ayurvedic Massage to reduce the body heat and immediately we proceeded to Thekkady. But the park was closed due to over rush. But we made some shopping and we were stratled to see how place was changed. I’ve been here 20 years back as a child and it has none of what the place sports now. The lodge we stayed was bad. But this time there were many 5 star resorts & Hotels, Shops etc.

On returning we vacated the room and we drove back to Madurai. En route we made a halt near a Vinyard in Cumban and brought some fresh grapes & drank some fresh grape juice. From there we drove non-stop to Madurai and reached Madurai by 4 PM on Sunday.

I must say this 2 days stay really was rejuvenating and bought me back to my routine & fresh. This trip was really exciting as it was not a tedious journey as it is just 2 hours drive from Madurai and also the the travel is a gift to ones eye as we have to cross lust green farms, mountains, vineyards, rivers et more.

Also Greenwoods Resort provided a great experience. When every i want a break i’ve planned to simply goto Kumily & stay in Greenwoods Resort for 2 days and i can be back fresh.

Difference between Focusing on Problems and Focusing on Solutions


Case 1

When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn’t work at zero gravity (ink won’t flow down to the writing surface).

To solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12 million. They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C.

And what did the Russians do…?? They used a pencil.

Case 2

One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soapbox, which happened in one ofJapan ‘s biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soapbox that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soapbox went through the assembly line empty.
Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soapboxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent a whoopee amount to do so.

But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but instead came out with another solution.
He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soapbox passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.

Moral :

Always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems.

What Ratan Tata did for the Mumbai victims…. Don’t miss!!!!!!


The Tata Gesture

  1. All category of employees including those who had completed even 1 day as casuals were treated on duty during the time the hotel was closed.
  2. Relief and assistance to all those who were injured and killed.
  3. The relief and assistance was extended to all those who died at the railway station, surroundings including the “Pav- Bha ji” vendor and the pan shop owners.
  4. During the time the hotel was closed, the salaries were sent by money order.
  5. A psychiatric cell was established in collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences to counsel those who needed such help.
  6. The thoughts and anxieties going on people’s mind was constantly tracked and where needed psychological help provided.
  7. Employee outreach centers were opened where all help, food, water, sanitation, first aid and counseling was provided. 1600 employees were covered by this facility.
  8. Every employee was assigned to one mentor and it was that person’s responsibility to act as a “single window” clearance for any help that the person required.
  9. Ratan Tata personally visited the families of all the 80 employees who in some manner – either through injury or getting killed – were affected.
  10. The dependents of the employees were flown from outside Mumbai to Mumbai and taken care off in terms of ensuring mental assurance and peace. They were all accommodated in Hotel President for 3 weeks.
  11. Ratan Tata himself asked the families and dependents – as to what they wanted him to do.
  12. In a record time of 20 days, a new trust was created by the Tatas for the purpose of relief of employees.
  13. What is unique is that even the other people, the railway employees, the police staff, the pedestrians who had nothing to do with Tatas were covered by compensation. Each one of them was provided subsistence allowance of Rs. 10K per month for all these people for 6 months.
  14. A 4 year old granddaughter of a vendor got 4 bullets in her and only one was removed in the Government hospital. She was taken to Bombay hospital and several lacs were spent by the Tatas on her to fully recover her.
  15. New hand carts were provided to several vendors who lost their carts.
  16. Tata will take responsibility of life education of 46 children of the victims of the terror.
  17. This was the most trying period in the life of the organisation. Senior managers including Ratan Tata were visiting funeral to funeral over the 3 days that were most horrible.
  18. The settlement for every deceased member ranged from Rs. 36 to 85 lacs [One lakh rupees tranlates to approx 2200 US $ ].

Early morning love


It is always pleasant to wake up early and enjoy the fresh air & watch fresh green trees.

Sadly in cities corporate life has taken a toll on lifestyle & we don’t get a chance to wake up early.

Also urbanization has killed the nature and everything is artificial.

Now i’m traveling to Madurai & didn’t want to miss a chance to document such pleasant experience.

10 most Stupid Questions & Funny Answers


Here are the 10 most stupid questions people usually ask in obvious situations.

Many of you might have already experienced few of these situations.

Next time someone asks you these questions, you can answer them as given below:

1. At the movies: When you meet acquaintances/ friends…
Stupid Question: Hey, what are you doing here?
Funny Answer: Don’t u know, I sell tickets in black over here.

2. In the bus: A heavy lady wearing pointed high-heeled shoes steps on your feet…
Stupid Question: Sorry, did that hurt?
Funny Answer: No, not at all, I’m on local anesthesia. Why don’t you try again?

3. At a funeral: One of the teary-eyed people ask…
Stupid Question: Why, why him, of all people.
Funny Answer: Why? Would it rather have been you?

4. At a restaurant: When you ask the waiter…
Stupid Question: Is ! the “Butter Paneer Masala” dish good?
Funny Answer: No, its terrible and made of adulterated stuff. We occassionaly also spit in it.

5. At a family get-together: When some distant aunt meets you after years…
Stupid Question: Munna, Chickoo, you’ve become so big.
Funny Answer: Well, you haven’t particularly shrunk yourself.

6. When a friend announces her wedding, and you ask.
Stupid Question: Is the guy you’re marrying good?
Funny Answer: No,he’s a miserable wife-beating , insensitive lout… It’s just the money.

7. When you get woken up at midnight by a phone call…
Stupid Question: Sorry, were you sleeping?
Funny Answer: No. I was doing research on whether the Zulu tribes in Africa marry or not. You thought I was sleeping? You dumb witted moron.

8. When you see a friend/colleague with evidently shorter hair…
Stupid Question: Hey have you had a haircut?
Funny Answer: No, its autumn and I’m shedding….

9. At the dentist when he’s sticking pointed objects in your mouth…
Stupid Question: Tell me if it hurts?
Funny Answer: No it won’t. It will just bleed.

10. You are smoking a cigarette and a cute woman asks…
Stupid Question: Oh, so you smoke.
Funny Answer: Gosh, it’s a miracle. It was a piece of chalk and now it’s in flames!!!

Boring Start & Happy Ending


Yesterday was one fine day where in i was clueless on what to do. My sleeping hours have come down and got up by 10 AM. Since it was too hot outside i had no choice. So i was;

  • I did self Oil Massage to bring down body heat…
  • Then Learned how to do Pedicure from my sister…
  • Finally was watching some Tamil dubbed english movie…

Then it was 3 PM and got a call from Kavi and he asked me to pick him. With no thinking i started and picked him from his office. As usual we had no clue on what to do. I started driving through ECR and after getting the toll we decided to goto Mahabalipuram have Dinner at Moon Rackers and then watch a movie at Mayajaal and return back.

In-between we had some delicious Tadgola to cool our body during a hot day.

While driving we came across a Banner Off Road ECR before Mahabalipuram. It is here we waited for an hour to get a chance to ride this Bike which lasted for 2 min. Then while returning my car got struck on the mud and we had to get the assistance from the people working on there to rescue us.

By this time we were drenched with sweat and we drove to Mahabs and we had good dinner at Moon Rackers and returned. We didn’t have any new movies to watch at Mayajaal and we came to city and gave a try at PVR cinemas and again no luck.

Then we went to Freeze Zone to have some Kulfis. The place was too crowded and it took us 20 min to get a Kulfi. We entered the place by 10.30 PM and came out by 11.15PM…

Then i dropped Kavi at his office and returned. Finally i ended the day with a Happy note.

Yet another speech from Chetan Bhagat


I’m really carried away by this Chetan Bhagat speech and also it makes sense.

Don’t just have career or academic goals. set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. i use the word balanced before successful. balanced means ensuring your health, relationship, mental peace are all in good order. there is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. there is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tension.

Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. if the marble falls, there is no point coming first. same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. your striving is only worth if it there is harmony in your life. else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being exciting and alive, will start to die.

One thing about nurturing the spark – don’t take life seriously. life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. we are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. if we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. and 50 years just 2500 weekends. do we really need to get so worked up?

It’s ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, Enjoy with your friends, fall in love, little fights with your loved ones. We are people, not programmed decided.

Don’t be serious, be sincere.

Invictus Motivates But Drags


Just reached home after watching Invictus for second time. Though the movie has couple of motivational for Freeman it looses sheen when it comes to Rugby & for Matt Damon. Infact movies like Lagaan & Chack De India were much better and entertaining than this one.

Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon & Client Eastwood has raised the expectation and this being a real story the movie could have been taken much better. But one good part is the movie is not boring either.

I’ll watch the movie once again to collect & document all the famous quotes from Freeman.