A Room full of Tears

Jerry Ham

I visited a room the other day,
In the back of my mind, well tucked away.
No one was there as I opened the door.
An empty room, but wait, there was more.
But just what it was, I could not tell,
And yet, I sensed that all was not well.
My spirit was troubled and it seemed to shout,
"Too long I've been captive, please, let me out!
"There in the darkness I struggled to see,
Trying to grasp what was troubling me.
I told myself that I'm tough and I'm strong,
But a voice spoke softly, "That's where you're wrong."
"You tell yourself, 'I can handle it all.
'No matter what happens, I must stand tall.
'"Let go of your pride and admit that you hurt.
"The pain that you feel, don't try to skirt.
"You're not alone with this illness you face.
"There are so many others who are in the same place.
"And rest assured, that they're frightened too,
"In so many ways, they're no different than you.
"Let go and reach out, take hold of their hands,
"No longer alone, but together you'll stand.
"And then there was peace, and I wept as it came,
I knew that no longer would I be the same.
Then I saw a small sign, neglected for years.
The sign said this is a Room Full of Tears

Jai Ho!!!

Truly an emotional moment to watch our very own A.R.Rahman receiving the Oscars for his original score and best song in Slum Dog Millionaire. I should say it was such a terrific moment to watch him receiving the world’s most prestigious award in front of so many Hollywood people. Rahman, the fourth Indian to win the coveted golden statuette, picked up the awards for his best original score and also the best original song "Jai ho" from the film with lyrics by Gulzar and Sukhwinder Singh as the lead singer. I personally felt so proud for that moment, for being an Indian to receive the Oscars, not one but two, which is unbelievable. I still wonder how humble and simple this man who said “எல்லா புகழும் இறைவனுக்கே!” in tamil in front of all the audience. Congratulations to A.R.Rahman, who deserves more than the Oscars, and I’m sure these Oscars are not going to bring to an end to his musical expedition.

Pain

Night falls...doubts rise
...and the fear of knowing nothing creeps in.
Loneliness becomes your companion
...depression becomes your friend
...the world changes shape, everything becomes alien.
Sorrow emanates from you, in your soul a bleeding heart
Pain is all you know
...suffering is all you practice.
The demons dance insanely
...The eagles' wings are clipped
...the hungry dog is left to die.
Pain is only eased by greater pain.
A vacuum inside sucks away everything leaving you with
......nothing, emptiness.
All attempts have failed, all avenues now blocked.
You are behind God's back and persecution becomes your punishment.
The leaves turn brown and die
......a cold wind caresses your body.
Lost in a maze, searching for a way out
Check............and mate
......the game is over, the battle is lost.
Welcome home my friend.
Feel free to dance among the dead.

Funny Pictures

When I feel very low and when feel I cud take no more stress and frustrations, I try to cheer myself, as I don’t have any other choice. So I try to browse some funny pictures through the web. Initially they really don’t bring a smile, but as I keep clicking and watching these different pictures, it does bring me lot of differences like I cud feel that my head is feeling light and so my temper. So this is one among my ‘stress reliever’. Some of the pictures does brought me a huge smile, and sometime a big laughter too and brought a difference in my life for that moment, so here I felt like sharing some of them, thinking it might change someone else’s temper too. Simple things does bring huge difference in one's life.
OWNED USB!!!


















DIVORCE CAKE !!!

KIDS CAN FLY???






















LITTLE MARYLIN!!
































Screw Your Boat Race, Im outta Here!!















TITANIC FAIL!!






















I Said Drop Your Weapons!!!





















Where is my Waist??





















PINK PANTHER!!!

















POINTS OF VIEW!!

உடைந்த கண்ணாடியில்....

எஸ். செந்தில்குமார்

உடைந்த கண்ணாடியில்
முகம் பார்க்க பழகி கொள்
அதில்
உன் தலையில் இருக்கும் பூக்கள் தெரியாமல் போகலாம்
ஆகாயம் தெரிய கூடும்
ஆகாயத்தில் பறக்கின்ற பறவைகளும் தெரியலாம் ஒரு வேளை
உடைந்த கண்ணாடியில் முகம் பார்கின்ற
வருத்தத்தை அறிந்த பறவைகளில் ஒன்று
கண்ணாடியின் அருகாமையில் முகம் தெரியப்
பறந்து கடக்கலாம் உன்னை.
வருத்தமற்ற முகத்தை
உடைந்த கண்ணாடி துண்டில்
அப்பறவை வேறெங்கேனும் காணும்
அப்போது
ஜன்னலின் வழியே
பறவைகள் ஒவ்வொன்றும் விட்டுச் செல்லும்
ஆகாயத்தைப் பார்த்து கொண்டிருப்பாய்.

Bouquet of BAFTA’s for Slum Dog

“Jai Ho” to Slum Dog Millionaire for 7 awards in BAFTA held at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden, on Feb 9,2009. The movie has bagged 7 awards including the Best film, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, Music, Cinematography, Sound and Editing out of 11 nominations.


"It's getting better and better and let's hope for the biggest one-the Oscars," said Rahman after winning the award, for best music.





"We are hugely indebted for everybody honoured and those who were nominated tonight, to the people of Mumbai especially the actors Anil and Irrfan and all the other young actors who helped us- Ayush and Azhar," said Boyle after accepting the award for Best director.






Earlier, the film swept the Critics' Choice Awards in California, winning five prizes, including best film, best director and best composer. Pushing back the “Curious case of Benjamin Button, Slum Dog Millionaire dominated the BAFTA and the team is now ready to face the Oscars.

Priceless Slum Dog!

Somehow managed to watch “Slum Dog Millionaire”, since wanted to know what this talk of the town movie is all about. I should say “What a Movie!” A remarkable movie by Danny Boyle, taken in a very desi style and at the same times technically, this sunshine director shines in each and every aspect of the movie.

The movie starts in mumbai, where an eighteen year old boy orphan been tortured by the policemen and accused for cheating a game show. Jamal, who has no education and works in a call center serving tea, is close to wining twenty million rupees in show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" giving precise answers to the questions and raising suspicion of fraud.The police officer (Irfan khan), says to the constable, “how can a slum dog win a million when doctor when other geniuses are not able to make it?” Listening to this conversation, Jamal malik who is physically torn apart and still has the energy to say “I Knew…… the answers”. Movie then rolls over to the title song “O saaya” which captures picturesque of slum kids playing cricket in a rustic air ground. Anthony Dod mantle’s camera revolves around the nooks and corners of the Mumbai slums, cinematography is simply awesome, be it the title song or the “paper plane” song that comes behind while the two brothers having their journey in trains, truly deserves an applause. And thereafter the story follows how Jamal knew all the answers.

I would say screenplay is the most important factor for this movie to go places, it’s amazing and made me to sit back throughout the movie. Not even a single scene I felt the pace is going down. Though the movie is inspired by a novel “Q & A” by vikas swarup, Simon Beaufoy has given the picture a wholesome look with his inspirational screenplay.

Performances by the entire cast in ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’ are noteworthy. Especially Dev patel (Jamal malik), being a debut actor he has done a tremendous performance. This London based actor already has a feather in his hat by winning the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for this movie. I’m sure he will go places.

The one character which I loved the most is the youngest Jamal malik (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar).I remembered him seeing this cute boy in sunfeast cream treat ad. Such a spontaneous kid who shines at his best in his “professional” singing scene.This tiny guy is incredibly talented.



After screenplay, it’s A.R.Rahman’s music that dominates the whole film, though this music genius has to wait for all these years for a platform like Danny Boyle to reveal his astounding composition to the world, no wonder he has been nominated for Oscars. He truly deserves.

This movie is rocking the whole world, having 10 nominations for Oscars and 11 nominations for BAFTA, including best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best cinematography and best music score. Already having achieved 4 Golden Globes, movie is still waiting to the prestigious ‘Oscars’.

Cucumber Curry

This famous curry is from the kanyakumari district which is my parent’s native, is almost considered as the life saver recipe, because of its simple preparation. The taste of this curry stands out from the rest of the curry dishes. Its best served with steamed rice with an egg omlette.





Ingredients:
Cucumber (cubed) -2 Nos
Tamarind -size of a lemon (diluted in 3 cups of water)
Turmeric powder -1/4tsp
Salt - as per taste
Oil -2tbsp
Mustard seeds -1/4tsp
Broken urad dhal -1/4tsp
Curry leaves - few
Shallots (chopped) -1tbsp

Masala to grind:
Coconut -1 cup
Jeera -1tsp
Red Chillies -8-10
Pearl Onion (peeled) -8nos

Grind to a fine and smooth paste.

Method:
In a pan, cook the tamarind water with cubed cucumber, salt and turmeric for 10-15 minutes. When the cucumber is cooked, add the ground masala mix well, and slow the fire. When the sides of the curry start to rise to froth, just like rasam and curd curry, switch off the stove and remove from stove.

In a tempering pan, add oil, season with mustard, urad dhal, curry leaves and chopped pearl onions. Fry till the onions become golden brown and pour on top of the cucumber curry, mix well and serve with steamed plain rice.

Egg Burji Kurma

This particular recipe I came across from one of my friend’s mom, whom I completely lost touch. But then the taste of the food they served whenever I visited their place still lingers in my mouth. My friend’s mom cooks so well, such that even simple onion chutney taste divine. I have tried many recipes with help of her tips and guidance, and this burji kurma is one such recipe, which goes well with all tiffin like idly, dosa, and chappathi.

Ingredients:
Eggs -3nos
Onion (finely chopped) -2nos
Tomatoes (finely chopped) -2nos
Ginger and garlic paste -1tsp
Garam masala powder -1tsp
Chilli powder -1tbsp
Dhania powder -2tbsp
Turmeric Powder -1/4tsp
Oil -3tbsp
Salt -as per taste

Masala to grind:
Coconut (grated) -1cup
Cashew nut -4nos
Poppy seeds -1tsp
Fennel seeds (perunjeeragam) -1tsp

Grind these ingredients into a fine and smooth paste.

Method:
1. In heavy bottomed pan, add oil, when its hot enough sauté the onions followed by ginger and garlic paste. Fry till the raw smell goes, then add chopped tomatoes. When oil separates from tomatoes add chilli powder, dhania powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder, salt.

2. Fry for 3 minutes, make sure the dry masala’s should not get burnt. Then add the coconut masala and sauté for another 5 minutes. Allow it to boil for another 10-15 minutes after adding sufficient amount of water to gravy consistency.

3. Finally before removing from the stove, break 3 eggs into the kurma, jus swirl it once with a spoon and close with lid and allow it to stand for jus 5 minutes in slow fire. After 5 minutes garnish the kurma with chopped coriander and pudhina leaves.

4. Can be served with chappathi, idly, dosa and parotta

Soul Moving Song in my Recent Days!

Being a music lover, I normally listen to all kinds of songs. But I have always loved the slow numbers which makes me to get into the groove and take me somewhere, where I really feel I’m lost. And so far only those kind of songs have become my all time favorites. ”Dreams on fire” is one such song, which moves me a lot whenever I listen. Suzanne’s voice does suit the song perfectly. The Lyrics are so simple and so deep and so close to my heart. Infact I never noticed this song when I downloaded the slum dog millionaire tracks. But I started loving it after watching the movie. The slow humming version (Latika’s theme) of the same song comes throughout the movie whenever the protagonist sees his lady love, which really gives life to the whole scene. I am somehow got hooked on to this song, and love listening to it throughout the day. A.R.Rahman has composed this song in a right combination with simple notes yet soul stirring one.

LISTEN TO Dreams on Fire!



LYRICS

You are my waking dream
You're all that's real to me
You are the magic in the world I see

You are the prayer I sing
You brought me to my knees
You are the faith that made me believe

Dreams on fire
Higher n higher
Passions burning
Right on the pyre

Once for, forever yours
In me
All your heart
Dreams on fire
Higher n higher


You are my ocean waves
You are my thought each day
You are the laughter from childhood games

You are the spark of dawn
You are where I belong
You are the ache I feel in every song

Dreams on fire
Higher n higher
Passions burning
Right on the pyre

Once for, forever yours
In me
All your heart
Dreams on fire
Higher n higher

Wish i could listen to this song on and on sitting near a seashore, reading my favourite book with my favourite cup of coffee...