To Dad - With Love :)

I must have been around five. We had just moved to Madras (Yes it was known as Madras back then, the name I prefer sticking to till date! :)I had to join UKG at the only primary school in the locality - St.John's Annex, while my brother joined class 5 in the giant sister in the same area- St.John's CBSE. The very first event I participated in was a "fancy dress" competition. That was my first attempt in something even close to a technically "extracurricular" activity. I think it was on the event of Independence Day. So naturally, the theme was "National leaders". Guess who I got to play - Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. *AVM bgm* Though for my kindergarten IQ, this name was too long and hence just Jhansi Rani or rather the easier to grasp - "Jhonsi Rani", I still remember the excitement I felt over the whole issue. My Dad was the sole purpose behind all the "fancy" stuff happening in my commendable new life at a new place. Well, we went around the whole of Mylapore (amazing place for anything related to "ARTS") in search of a store for an appropriate attire for a 2 feet something, who wanted to "look" like a miniature mannequin version of the queen of Jhansi! We found a place which sold all sorts of "Raja Rani" costumes , plus the extra stuff - wig(very important - since people hadn't even seen Joan of Arc then and probably didn't allow females to sport a crop for a hairdo!). The jewellery - enough to sink the 2 feet mannequin down, with one wrong move! The best thing about the whole shopping is that we "hired" them all! Thank God, we didn't have to buy all that stuff. Like a novice director, my Dad decided to give me my "speech" only in the last minute - the day before the "D-Day". Having done my few years schooling dealing primarily with A.B.C.D plus 2+2=4, any other language, other than "English, Tamil" was "?" to me. Since we had picked a character from history, it would be insane if I spoke in "English". Hence, Dad turned into the writer, from the director, or rather "art director"! He wrote me a four liner in Hindi (a language I still can't fathom much!) which went like this...
"Main Jhansi Ki Raani hoon..............blah blah blah(I don't remember)...there were some tough words in between and it ended with "Jai Hind!" (ofcourse I remember this, that was the easiest part! :D ) So, we went about it in a logically sane fashion - him teaching me lines, me byhearting (or rather cramming - a skill which I've still not mastered!). We went on for sometime, till I was sure of "those four lines" and would spit it out, even if I was woken up from deep slumber. Then came the D-day. *Tadaaaa!* It was a bright and sunny day :) As is the routine, my Mom shampooed my hair (like always, whenever the day had a D prefix!). I felt like a princess already. We went to school. The costume was ready, the make up guy was there. Everything was perfect. The wig was in place...So was the plastic+paper jewellery (No, I didn't sink to the ground!God forbid!) I even had a crown. Awe I didn't forget the sword! I loved the way I looked. It gave me a lot of importance. I was bursting with energy. After "make up" and other trivial things, we were made to stand in a line, at the side of the stage. Some of the worst things that can happen to someone just about to keep her first step on-stage to give her first performance is this - waiting for her turn to come! I was waiting, fidgeting, or doing whatever with my sword, crown, jewellery. Anything to distract me from the fear of facing "the others"! And then, like all queues, mine ended and it was my turn. I stepped onto the stage. I had the sword in hand. Crown on wig - all in place. Not a maskara out of place. I thought I'd close my eyes. Didn't want to face them. But the curiousity of a child is unbeatable and mine took over. I had to look at them, and try locating "family". That was and has always been my top priority. I spent some time, searching for a familiar face. Couldn't spot them. And in a jiffy, "Gajini "took over instead of Jhansi Rani. I lost my lines. I was staring at the anxious audience, my legs started shaking. I swallowed a huge gulp of saliva and all that came out was "I AM JHONSI KI RAANI" and I was off stage, in a jiffy, my legs still shivering. But my Dad was there for me, not even a flinch on his face. He was smiling and gave me a hug( something close to "its ok sweetheart! You did your best!) That was all I wanted. I went home, a happy princess ,smiling away to glory! This post is for my Dad! For trying to teach my first and last four lines of Hindi! :)

21st Dec was his b'day!

Here's what me bro cooked up for him !


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl3F2I6jodU


:) :) :) Love ya Dad!

O-R-I-G-I-N-S

Bang! Here comes a post - actually a brainwave at a place with K's and O's! :P (k's and o's = censored!:PWill be referred to as K&O in the post)This post is about the origins of the nursery rhymes! I remember two of them so vividly that even now I can recite them with the actions and all that, with a combination of "Awe" and "Oh My God" expressions highlighting my face! One is Jack and Jill - Born out of reminiscences at K&O about a Tamil movie - Jillunu Oru Kadhal starring Surya and Jyothika :D The next rhyme is Jhonny Jhonny Yes Papa which came into my mind when I was thinking about Jim Carreys Liar Liar Liar!:)Then I got into thinking about how these rhymes actually originated. Google was my first device. After hitting a few search buttons, I decided to post my findings in the blog...It would be right to rephrase the title to "Believe it or Not!" :)

Jack and Jill

In a small town called Hilla, there lived a boy and a girl...Jack was the boy, Jill was the girl - Can Avril make it any more obvious?!;) They were basically peasants of the upper class, who had workers working for them. In short, they were rich. It was a time when there was great strife between the upper class and the working class.A lot of riots broke out and the working class demanded more freedom and better wages from the upper class. One fine day, a strike came into play and the workers did not turn up for work. So Jack and Jill were left to their own devices to carry out the chores on their own. The first step to managing a farm is to fetch water, precisely, a pail of water. Jack and Jill carried a pail, one pail each or Jack carried one, Jill went along without any. Inorder to make the people understand the importance of water, the only well in the town Hilla was situated atop a Hill called Hillashill. Hence Jack and Jill went up the Hillashill to fetch a pail of water.( Note: Hillashill got redacted in the later versions to normal and plain "Hill" since the children couldn't quite catch the sssh sound, much to the annoyance of the adults who felt that the place was more important than Jack and Jill themselves!)

As they were walking up the hill,the path was full of sticks, stones, debris from the strike. Jill immediately grew apprehensive and suggested going back. Jack was a brave boy.He had come all this way up the hill for a pail of water and he wasn't going to back off now. He convinced Jill that nothing would happen.He had a sudden brainwave. He asked Jill to make holes in her dress. He tore at his shirt and trousers. Now they looked like the working class. Happily they set out to fetch water. They reached the top of the hill. The well was deserted with no trace of existence of a life. Jack put in his pail, and was fetching water when suddenly a mob of men with sticks came into the region threatening them to go back. Jack did not give up. He wanted to do his duty and he carried the pail of water, and ran down the hill, with the pail in hand. Jill ran back after him, making us question the universal theory that "Behind every successful man there is a woman! " Conversely, behind any man running for his life, there is a woman! All pun intended! As Jack was running for his life, with Jill tagging along, the working class mob was chasing them with all force and vigor. The sticks, stones and debris aforementioned now came into play . Jack tripped the water spilled, Jill is caught in a moment of confusion as to attend to which one first - Jack or the water? She decides to give Jack company and goes tumbling after him. In the effort to save some water, Jack broke his crown and blood oozes out. Jill is faking the tumbling just to give Jack company. Hence nothing happens to Jill (Nothing is mentioned in the rhyme anyway about Jill - Chauvinism?!)Then finally Jack reached home and told his Mom about what happened. She wraps his head in vinegar and brown paper. Jill was forgotten. The town came to know of this incident. Immediately, they built a well in the town premises, forgetting all crap about the importance of water! The townfolk were happy and praised Jack and Jill for their courage. Jack and Jill became famous for their tumbling and toppling, while the strike of the working class was forgotten.

Jhonny Jhonny

Jhonny was a naughty 5 year old kid who had a thing for anything sweet. Jhonny's Papa was a partial psychotic who had Diabetes, a disease which can be a curse to those with a sweet tooth. The basic theme of the rhyme is to spread awareness about Diabetes. On a more philosophical line of thought, it speaks about the virtues of truth, knowledge and wisdom. Back to the story, Jhonny's Papa was a strict person who felt that his family should suffer what he was going through - an ache to touch a sweet while in handcuffs. The household was banned of anything sweet , be it fruits or nuts or chocolates - anything that spelt the word "Diabetes" was banned. Sugar was a staple ingredient - atleast for coffees and tea and hence it was the only sweet commodity permitted in the household. Back then, there were no sexy ads about sugar free tablets. All people had to do was to bring down 2 spoons of sugar servings to one spoon, which itself was a sacrifice on its own. Jhonny had many cravings for the sweetest of things, the only reachable thing was the sugar within premises. Jhonny had a lot of plans to carry out the task of pirating the sugar. He had two plan of actions - Plan A and Plan B. Given his age and innocence, it is surprising that he came up with two plan of actions. Plan A was to happen in the morning, Plan B in the night. Both the plans involved smuggling a jar burried in his shorts and saving some stolen sugar for the future, only difference being the time of action. Even as a kid, Jhonny showed signs of a budding entrepreneur for his foresight into saving for the future, an implicit management strategy.

On the D day, Jhonny wanted to put the plan A into action. He stayed up all night, waiting to hear the rooster give the war cry. He set out to carry out his plan. He emptied the contents of his pebble collection jar into a cardboard box and stuffed the jar into his shorts. He tiptoed towards the kitchen, and slowly tried to reach for the sugar container. It so happens that Papa had heard an old guy on television say that jogging was the best to keep Diabetes under control. Being a disciplinarian, Papa decided to jog every morning. Poor Jhonny was unaware of his father's new found habit. As Jhonny opened the sugar container, his first instinct was to stuff as much as possible into the jar ASAP. But greed overtook and having deprived of his love for so long, Jhonny quickly put a spoon of sugar into his mouth. He was lost in ecstasy for a few seconds before which his father walked into the kitchen for some water, tired after his juvenile jog. His father was alarmed at the sight and called out "Jhonny!"...No reaction. Papa thought he wasn't loud enough and again called out "Jhonny" (thus explaining the reason for two Jhonnys in the rhyme :P). Jhonny replies "Yes Papa". The dimwitted Papa then spots the open container, not looking at the bulging shorts!( Read as Jar in shorts :D) He asks "Eating Sugar?" ( It would've been Stealing sugar - if he had noticed the shorts. Even if it had been "Stealing sugar", according to the censorship, it would've been rephrased to "eating sugar", after going through generations of re-visions and re-editing!:P) Back to "Eating Sugar?" . Jhonny replies " No Papa"... His father is furious "Telling Lies?"...Jhonny says "No Papa". Papa then manages to say "Open your mouth", by which time Jhonny had gone through the entire process of digestion of the spoon of sugar, greeted by the salivary amylases onwards to the intestinal pipeline, safely seated in a pouch- the stomach. Jhonny then opens his mouth and laughs "HAHAHA", making us wonder if "Hehehe" even existed back then. If he had said Hehehe, and the sugar was still in his mouth, he could have escapes! Hehehe afterall does not require one's mouth to be inevitably open. Whatever happened to Jhonny after this, is still a mystery. Did Papa atlast notice the jar in his shorts? Did Jhonny get spankings for his mischief? Did Jhonny grow up and get to know how the sugar dissolved so quickly in his mouth? Somehow, Papa was devastated at his son's attitude. He was narrating the incident to his friend in a park, when a passerby eavesdropped and decided to write a rhyme, to indirectly spread awareness about Diabetes. Afterall it was Diabetes that was the reason for Papa's attitude and Jhonny's craving towards sugar. A few philosophers feel that the rhyme speaks more about the virtues of truth and wisdom. It is okay to lie when you know you're doing the right thing. That is the most valuable lesson one can get from Jhonny Jhonny! :) :)

P.S:The above mentioned origin(s) is pure bull-piled up- shit! Thank you, if you've read till here! :) :)

Now relax with this Madrasi Version of Jhonny Jhonny :P

Jaaani Jaaani - Inaaa Nainaaa?

Chakra Thunriya? -- Illa nainaa!

Peela udraaa neee ......! - Illa nainaa!

Vaya thorada somali -- HAHAHA!

:) :) :p :p

This Love has taken its toll on me - Maroon 5 :-)

Taggglooooooo - After a Long Break! :-) - Thanks to Sindhu! :)

This tag game is very simple..! I was in deep remorse about not having blogged for almost 2 whole months and my cousin pinged me to check out her blog - a new post! And I did. As I was reading the post, I came scrolling down and my eyes fell upon the post next in line with a weird title..! I was surprised to find a Tag post and at the bottom, she had tagged me! So here I am, trying to compensate for the loss with a post which requires very little thinking and just the right playlist on the background!

Rules of the Game ( To those unfortunately lucky ones who will be tagged by moi! )

1.Copy the questions to a new post page

2. Keep your mp3, winamp, media player on shuffle mode

3. Play any song of your choice (Only once..!After this you will strictly follow the instructions..)

4. Read the first question

5. After you've read the question, click on the next button

6. Write the name of the song - whichever song is playing

7. Go through step 4,5,6 till you reach the last question numbered 25

8. Blog this and Tag people!

1. If someone asks you, "are you okay" you say:

Pehli Nazar mein Kaise jadoo kar diya…! :P

2. How would you describe yourself ?

New York nagaram..urangum neram…thanimai adanguthey…naangu kannadi chuvargalukulle naanum meluguvathiyum! Thanimai thanimaiyo…kodumai kodumaiooo

3. What do you like in a guy/girl ?

But somebody to love
Somebody to hold
Somebody that I can feel in my blood
Somebody to hold
Somebody to own
Somebody to make me feel I'm in love

- Nelly Furtado! :P :P

4. How do you feel today ?

You fill up my senses…! :D - John Denver :)

5. What is your life's purpose ?

Who am I?- Casting Crowns.

I am a flower quickly fading…Here today and gone tomorrow..! A wave tossed in the ocean….vapour in the wind..still u hear me when I m calling ..lord u catch me when I m falling..and u told me who I am….I am yours…! I am yours! …!

Makes sense eh?:) :)

6. What's your motto ?

To fall in love - Poovukellam..siragu mulaithadhu..endhan thottatil…Idhu epadi epadi nyaayam..elaam kadhal seidha mayam! Kadhal enbadhu sariya thavara…idhu dhaan enaku theriyavillai!

7. What do your friends think of you ?

Aaj mein Upar…Aasmaan neeche - Khamoshi :)

8. What do your parents think of you ?

Indian Rain - Colonial Cousins ! Rain clouds in the sky… I don’t know why.. they make me bloom..when I m thinking of you..!( There are more reasons to why they'd think of me when this song plays! :) )

9. What do you think of often ?

What you say will be forgotten someday..

What you do will be remembered

Empty promises always fade away…What you keep will last forever

Don’t tell me - Hoobastank

Very true! :P

10. What is 2 + 2 ?

Ore nyabagam - Minnale!

11. What do you think of your best friend ?

Hahahha! Same mistake – James Blunt…! Why blood..same blood! :P

12. What is your life story ?

Bhool Bhullaya! :P :P Hare Ram Hare ram..Hare Krishna hare ram

13. What do you want to be when you grow up ?

On a dark desert highway..cool wind in my hair..! :) Hotel California - Eagles :)

14. What do you think when you see the person you like

Moi Lolita - Alizee ( translates to - All my love is gone! ) - :O !

15. What will you dance to at your wedding ?

Whoa! Adiye Kolludhey! Azhago aludhey! -Varanam ayiram

16. What will they play at your funeral ?

Shit~! :O :O Guess I m wishing my life away…with these things I ll never say!! :O :O

17. What is your hobby/interest ?

Thendrale…thendrale…mella nee veesu..poovudan mella nee pesu..! To sleep! :P

18. What is your biggest fear ?

:O I dint think it could ever happen again.Maybe Id given up on romance..in my longing to give up pain…look at me now..coz I m falling in love again- John Denver :O :O!

19. What is your biggest secret ?

Loveless..and cold..with your last breath…you stirred my soul…you smiled at me..Like Jesus to a child.. – George Michael :)

20. What do you want right now ?

Title track of Subramaniyapuram - Vayasu vayasu parakura vayasu! Idhu manasa manasu rasikara manasu endrum…endrum! :P

21. What do you think of your friends ?

Soch zara jaan-e-jaan tujhko humein kitna chahte hain
Rote hain hum bhi agar teri aankhon mein aansoo aate hai
Gaana to aata nahin hai magar phir bhi hum gaate hai
Hey, Aditi.. Maan kabhi kabhi saare jahaan mein andhera hota hai
Lekin raat ke baad hi to savera hota hai
:)

22. When you want to rush to the toilet, what do you think ?

Strawberry kanne! :P :P Hahaha Maybe..if I had too many strawberries for dessert! :P

23. The person you hate the most is in front of you, what will you tell the person ?

Just a teenage dirt bag baby- Wheatus!

24. You have a lottery. What will you sing ?

Hahahaha ---> Smooth Operator - Sade

25. What will you post this as?

This Love has taken its toll on me– Maroon5 (Title makes sense now?)

*** The End***

Those unfortunately lucky ones! :P

Sharanya
Niru
Arunesh
Divz
Vidhya
:D

P.S.
Excerpts from the past - Recap!

http://creativeexplosives.blogspot.com/2008/03/tagggloooooo-after-break.html

http://creativeexplosives.blogspot.com/2008/03/taggglooooo.html