Life as a Tree

Sometimes i like to think of life as a tree. At every juncture, life presents us with myriad choices and multitude of options. Our choice further determines the course and nature of our journey. Every choice or circumstance exercise their influence on our lives. Even small things matter. Suppose, my name had not been what it is, i may have ended up in a different class,grown up in a different atmosphere with a different peer group. My character may have moulded differently and i may not be the person that i am today.So basically, from the moment we are born, there are potentially infinite number of ways we can live it. The possibilities are limitless. We all start at the root, but there are infinite leaf nodes that are potentially achievable.

Assume i'm at the root of that subtree in the image. Had i taken the left branch highlighted by yellow, i will have ended up in a completely different leaf. Had i taken the right red one, i will end up in a different leaf. This same idea has been talked about in the movie 'Butterfly Effect'. There, Ashton Kutcher goes back to the past and just changes a small insignificant detail. That will further cascade throughout his life and when he's back to the present he's in a completely different place and a different person. Of course, we humans dont have the luxury to "Backtrack" :D . So every decision counts.Right now i'm at a particular juncture but there are a thousand different endings possible here based on the decisions i take in life. So every time i screw up, i'm still hopeful i can always turn it around and end up in a favourable 'leaf' :D. That further sums up the innate beauty and intricacy of life.So, even if you are in a difficult position right now. Remember, there a thousand endings possible. The power is in your hands. A happy ending is always possible.

Rahman- A Rare Genius

A genius always makes him mark early. You always know a genius when you see one.Their stuff separates them from the herd.When Sachin Tendulkar made his debut as a 16 year old the world knew that they were witnessing a phenomenon unfold. Similarly when Roger Federer downed "Grass-emperor" Pete Sampras, the tennis community knew that he was going to make it really big. When Ilayaraja, the Maestro, started with his "Annakili" the people knew he was going to be a trendsetter and he lived upto it. Similarly, when Roja hit the screens and its music took India by storm, the country knew that this new kid on the block was going to redefine the way music was made in this country and would be the face of Indian music for many years to come. Thus started the journey of A.R.Rahman

Before Rahman broke into the scene, Tamil music was monopoplized by Ilayaraja, the Maestro. While he churned out chartbusters at a perplexing rate and while his genius was never in doubt, he started stagnating quite a bit towards a late 80's and early 90's. It was the same orchestrated scores with pallavi-charanam format, the use of same instruments, minimal technology and same voices. While the music was compelling in itself, Tamil music definitely needed a makeover. Then Roja happened.It took India by storm. The reason for its unprecedented success was because it was fresh and different. Nobody had heard anything like that before. The tunes, the intruments, voices, technology, recording everything was different.Coming from a debutant, it was bold stuff. Roja made India, stand up and take notice of A.R.Rahman. Soon a national award ensued. It was the first time ever a debutant music composer was awarded. Since then, there has been no looking back. And after 2 decades, he still is one of the most sought-after music composers not only in India but throughout the globe. So what makes Rahman's music work? Well the answer lies in the fact that Rahman has a rare musical vision and instinct. He has an impeccable knack of choosing the right voice and the right instruments. That combined with his love for experimentation works wonders. Its his succesful amalgamation of various elements and genres is what sets him apart. Take 'Thiruda Thiruda' for instance. It released in 1993, one of Rahman's earliest albums. But its music is so stunning and way ahead of its time.Every song is a gem. Whether it be the pulsating 'Chandralekha' or Bassy 'thee thee' and 'Kannum Kannum' or a very simple but attractive 'Rasathi' and the famous 'Veerapandi Kottayile', its what you call a revolutionary album.Its Rahman's guts that took him this far. He dared to do the unthinkable.This caught the fancy of the youth. Thus he gained many ardent fans and followers over a very short period of time. Most of Rahman's critics rant about his dependence on technology. But thats one of their misconceived fallacies i'm afraid. Either thet've not heard some of his scores especially in period films or they've chosen to ignore it. While Rahman pioneered the use of technology to enhance his compositions, he never used technology as a substitute for music.He has always maintained that perfect balance. And he has excelled in movies had no or very little technology. The best example would be an another outstanding score for 'Lagaan' which won him another National award. He is the king of period movies. He always manages to dole out some fabulous and grand scores. 'Water' '1947 earth', 'Lagaan', 'Jodha Akbar','Bose-the Forgotten hero', 'Guru' etc are testimony to the fact. Another impressive quality in Rahman is his versatility.He can handle melodies, period scores, Youthful albums,Classical scores,Techno etc. He has composed for movies spanning across various genres.His recent number 'Aaromale' for Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya is a fantastic case of experimentation and is one of my recent favourites.Like all composers he's also had rough patches and bumps along the path, but he's always managed to reinvent himself and bounce back.

And Rahman always reserves his very best for "chosen" directors. Mani-ARR combo is one of the greatest associations in Indian cinema.'Roja','Thiruda thiruda','Dil se','Iruvar', 'Kannathil Muthammital', 'Alaipayuthe' , etc etc. Every album that has come out of their association has been nothing short of legendary. Another personal favourite of mine is Ashutosh Gowariker-Rahman combine.Even though they recently split, they have created magic on screen. I cannot imagine anyone producing and album like 'Swades' other than Rahman. I also like Raykesh mehra-ARR combo."Rang De Basanti" is one of my all time favourites.

With all these path breaking scores it was only a matter of time before the West would take notice of his talent. While he composed for 'Bombay Dreams', 'Elizabeth', 'The warriors of heaven and Earth' it was 'Slumdod Millionaire' that gave him his big break in Hollywood.Even though it was by no means his best work,he won 2 oscars for it.Thus Rahman fulfilled what Destiny had in store for him.Now, Rahman is a very sought-after composer in Hollywood and is juggling between Indian and Western projects.

In spite of being such a runaway success the most charming thing about Rahman is that he has his head firmly on his shoulders. He never indulges in mud-slinging of any sort. He is a very humble person inpite of all the fame and popularity. This endearing quality is what makes this man a legend. He's here to stay and will continue to revolutionize music for many more years to come.

Sad state of Indian Politics

India, is known to be the largest democracy in the world. Ours is a country which takes pride in fusing the high ideals of the west and the oriental teachings of our forefathers. We have ample Human resource,great minds and the potential to reach the very pinnacle and yet after 63 years of "building" the nation i would say we have not at all lived upto our caliber. One of the major contributing factors has been the complete inefficacy of our politicians. The current scenario of our political system presents a really sorry picture for the future and beyond. We need miracles to bail us out of the abyss that we have plunged into.

There are a plethora of issues that are plaguing our nation today.We are currently living in an era which has been marred by corruption of the highest and the most perverted order.We switch on the TV and we see new and shocking scams unearthed every day.Newspapers are all screaming about it.Corruption has become so rampant that it has become a part of the system.The statistics and figures and appalling. Our whole federal system is in shambles.Politicians, once they capture a post of power, make use of that 5 years not for solving legitimate issues, but unfortunately they are more bent upon filling their bank balances and what is even more sorrowful is that these "thieves" have the backing of "great" and "tall" leaders of this country.
Just look at the number scams: CWG , 2G, Aadarsh,land greab scam, swiss bank scam, the newly unravelled "S Band" scam...I'm starting to lose count. And what is more sickening and pathetic is that some leaders are now playing the caste card to bail their man out of trouble.Its been 63 years and its heart-wrenching to see still public is being hoodwinked by petty caste politics. When will we rise above it? I'm starting to lose faith in the system and the leaders.Are there any genuine leaders around today? I cant help but notice that almost all the corruption cases are linked to the congress party directly or indirectly.This cancer called corruption is slowly enveloping the entire nation and we need to weed it out as fast as possible.

The other issue is that we have become a very "soft" nation. China makes unwarranted provocations and encroachments into our land. But we simply let it go.We do not respond strongly. A strong leadership is the need of the hour. We must show the world that we are a force to reckon with. But we give a free hand to people like Arundhati Roy who is giving seditious speeches time and again. She openly said that Kashmir should be freed from "bhooka nanga hindustan". When such outrageous acts of treason are tolerated you can imagine how utterly spineless the central leadership has become. Such anti-national acts should be cast down with an iron fist. But right now we are completely helpless about the naxal problem that is threatening to explode into a major problem if not controlled.

There are innumerable other issues like price rise, inflation, which have spun out of control. Onion is now a luxury for most people. Inflation has hit the common man hard as the prices of the essential commodities have rocketed. The recent Nira Radia tapes have revealed that even corporates have hand in this grand "loot". I was really shocked when i found out even Ratan Tata was involved. He was like a role-model for so many of us.

The whole political system is in utter chaos. This is primarily because politicians think they can get away with anything.They think themselves to be greater than law. This should first be solved. These criminals who are in the garb of leaders must be taken to task and must be jailed irrespective of their "stature". We must teach these politicos a lesson and must free the system from their iron clutches.

I would still say its not too late. The ball is partially in our court. We must make sure we vote these hooligans out of power. Well the public is in such a position that it has to now choose between the lesser of the evils. There is no great leader to lead by example, atleast at the national level. A towering, honest and a strong leader in the urgent need of the hour. I believe in miracles and i believe there is still a way out of this horror. Lets hope...

Christmas is here!...its that period of the year where joy and happiness rule the roost and emotions like hatred and anger are put on the backburner! Christmas wasnt as dull and unhappening as it is today!...Christmas used to be one of the festivals which i looked forward to with glee and expectation! So, at the mere thought of christmas iam flooded with sweet and unforgettable memories. Till i was at xaviers, christmas time used to be a blast and the whole school wore a festive look. I was a part of the choir and we used to sing christmas carols. i remember all the carols till this day. 'joy to the world', 'Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer','santa claus is coming to town'...and many more. After each session we were given sweets. :) And Christmas was always accompanied with the legend of Santa Claus. A legend which i used to have great belief in. Because every year Santa used to come to our school and dstribute goodies and you cannot imagine how much i used to love santa!...he was the darling of all kids alike. With his great white beard and a perpetual smile on his face he was a 'phenomenon'. Legend has it that Santa used to examine if the kids were nice to others and whether or not they were naughty,before distributin gifts. So every year from dec 1st, i used to temporarily cease being naughty and try being nice! :). I used to believe that santa really came from the north pole,riding on his sled along with his reindeer. All of those beliefs came crashing one day!

When i was around 8 or 9 years old ,right before my christmas hols my friends had assured me that Santa would come during midnight on christmas eve and give you what you demand. I implicitly believed them. So as my friends had told i wrote a letter to santa assuring him i had been a nice kid and that i was worthy of his gifts(which i was :P). I dont exactly remember what i asked him.I am sure a cricket bat was on the fairly lengthy list and also a new yonex badminton racquet. i folded the letter with great care and placed it in a newly washed pure white sock.i placed the sock under my pillow as i was told and went to sleep,positive that santa would appear out of nowhere in midnight and shower me with the gifts that i had demanded. I was very excited and had to force myself to sleep as santa wouldn appear if we were awake. So i woke up next morning with happiness and hope,brushed my teeth and ran to bed, looked under my pillow. The sock was intact and hadnt moved an inch. I searched the whole house. But couldnt find anything that i had asked for. Oh! The dissappointment! It was too much for me to bear.All my hopes came crashing down.I even asked my dad if santa had come...he merely laughed!. It was then that i realized that the myth of santa was balderdash and that real santa were parents themselves.The dissapointment was quite huge,you know.Nevertheless till i was at xaviers christmas was always great fun.
This is one memory of christmas which i can never forget. Of course now when i look back at this incident i laugh it off. But those sweet childhood memories of christmas will always remain in my heart as vivid as it is today!. It is when i think of these memories and incidents that i long for childhood and miss childhood a lot. *sigh* Anyway! HO hO HO! Merry christmas and a happy new year to all!.Ciao.
P.S:I'm too lazy to post articles frequently, but i will definitely make an effort to return soon. Bye till then! ...:)

A TRIBUTE TO MY IDOL.

Ever since childhood I have had this penchant for beauty. Beauty in its various forms have always attracted and fascinated me.So when I first beheld roger federer wield his racquet (it seemed more like a magic wand),I was just dazed. He had such a beautiful game.it is a visual treat to anybody who watches him play,especially when in full flow.Tennis has always caught my fancy. It was always my favourite sport. Federer only made it more special.
He is an artist in motion. He is such a pleasure to watch .its just impossible to describe in words. I have always been perplexed at his mastery over this craft. He is widely touted as the ‘most talented tennis player ever’. how true. This guy has all the shots in the book and also has invented quite a few of them. Watch some of his video compilations .you’ll be blown away ,point blank. This man can hit some crazy, baffling shots. Shots ,which never existed till he hit them. That is why he’s a “connoisseur’s delight”. You just don’t know what he’s going to come up with. He keeps you guessing with his variety. roger has an impressive repertoire of shots which leaves him with a large number of options. He has a whiplash of a forehand which is hit flat and also one other with a good amount of topspin. Then he possesses that ripping crosscourt forehand that just shoots off the court in no time. His stylish single handed backhand is a piece of art. He attacks with his backhand on both wings. His volleys are crisp.Then you always have those “magic shots” which he hits from time to time in order to keep the opponents off-guard.The only chink in his otherwise impregnable fortress is the high backhand which draws a lot of errors from his racquet ( nadal exploits this weakness with great effect). His movement(which has deteriorated off late) is fluid,its almost as if he’s gliding on court. he's all class and composure. Such was his dominance in tennis that he ruled the tennis world for around 5 years. That was something unprecedented in tennis history. No person was this dominant, not even pistol pete. There were times when his opponents didn’t have a clue what was going on. they were merely a witness to federer’s prodigious skill and talent. Most of the times they didnt know what hit them. The 5 years when he ruled, he kept winning. he had a staggering win:loss ratio. this was the time when He was an unstoppable force. Opponents used to cower before him. Most of the times they gave up mentally before the match even started. He only lost on one surface : clay(and that too to one man: his nemesis nadal) . in short he was invincible. Some of his records just defied logic. Example: he won two grand slams 5 times successively.(wimbledon and us open).“he floats like a butterfly stings like bee”. But all of a sudden the federer express came to screeching halt or atleast he slowed down considerably. He started losing a lot more and started commiting many uncharacteristic unforced errors.till 2007 he consistently maintained the mind-boggling record of winning 3 slams out of 4. in 2008 he had to settle for just 1.in his worst year since he became world no.1. he made it to the finals of 2 slams and won a grand slam.That is a great achievement for any other player. but by federer’s elevated standards it was an ordinary year. As he himself accepted federer had created some sort of a monster. People always expect a lot from him. He is expected to win every match , every point. Despite being a die-hard roger federer fan I’m convinced that 2008 is the beginning of the end . A person just cant keep winning. Sooner or later the law of averages is bound to to catch up. Today roger is the palest shadow of his illustrious past . i sometimes even wonder if it was the same man whom i admire. I’m left in no doubt however that he will resurrect himself and fulfill his destiny of overtaking pete sampras’ record of 14 slams(he’s just one short on 13
There have been very few things that have given me as much pleasure as watching the emperor play. i just run out of superlatives while describing him. He has been the guiding light,my inspiration,my role model. In short he has now become an indispensable part of my life….even more than an obsession. whether you win or lose I will always continue to support you Roger. Federer forever......

A nostalgic glimpse at a memorable past.....kolkata!

As i was thinking of what to write today....my mind drifted back through the sands of time and i was dragged back into my childhood.Those were the most remarkable moments i've ever had as of yet and with a feeling of intense nostalgia i write this blog today..
todays topic??...obviously ,my childhood.
A large chunk of my childhood was spent in kolkata(then calcutta). i went to kolkata when i was 3 and by the time i returned to chennai i was approx 13.I regard these days as the "golden days".Those were days when happiness still ruled the roost and moments of sadness and worry were few and far.those were days when i looked forward to every day with enthusiasm and every day brought with it a new bundle of joy and a new set of experiences.those were the days when my mind was then untainted by any negative emotions like hatred,fear,jealousy,anger.those were the days when every little job was done with zeal and vigour(even studies).i took pride in my work.In short those were days when i was truly happy.not that i aint happy now....its just that i was always happy then.i still vaguely remember my first interview at summer days kindergarten school for admission.That princi was asking me questions.Honestly i dont remember the answers i gave...but there was was this beautiful multi coloured butterfly which was drifting to and fro the cupboard.It caught my attention.i took off at once her questions falling on deaf ears.i ran and hopped after the butterfly my hands outstretched.I still dont remember if i managed to catch it...but i can never forget the look of utter disbelief on the princi's face.She did have a hearty laugh.But she told my mom i was too distracted.duh! ...i was a 3 year old kid.what did she expect?
I lived in an indian bank quarters.there were many flats.many.....luckily for me there were several children of my age group.from 1st standard onwards i mover to a bigger and a better school.Infact its the best school in kolkata till date,St xaviers kolkata.I remember i was never among the top 10 academically.i was neither too good nor too bad.i was always above average but didn waste much time studying.i used to return from school by around 3 30.Then i played from 4 to 7 non stop.Our quarters was huge.So i had many friends coming from various states and cultures. We played hide n seek,cricket,badminton,lock and key etc etc.i was fat back then so my friends used to call me 'motu'.As a kid i was very docile.i never hurt anyone and was always welcome everywhere. There were several memorable incidents. However i'll recall one very funny incident..There was this bong lady in the ground floor who was the spoilsport in our flat. she din allow the kids to play cricket(we broke her windowpanes many times) .she used to come out running with that expression of rage and sadism on her face "maine manaa kiya tha naa?"(i warned u right?).so one day we could take it no longer.one of the guys locked the door from outside and we began playing.as usual she waned she would call police and shouted at the top of her voice....and then came the legendary retort from my friends "chup kar ,bandar".Her face turned into a multitude of hues,shock and disbelief writ large on her face.But it had the desired effect.she din trouble us anymore and shifted to second floor :P we also din break any of her windowpanes(I think :P).
I also took part in several competitions in school,south india club, etc etc,....and won quite a few prizes.I remember i always used to bag the first prize in elocution and recitation.and then there was music.i learnt carnatic vocal.though i used to attend those classes with a certain amount of disinterest(i had to sacrifice play!) my guru used to like me a lot.I gave concerts for Thyagaraja uthsavam. It used to be a lot of fun.
I made a lot of friends.We shared some unforgettable moments. Obviously we used to quarrel frequently(generally over petty issues) .But we forgave and forgot very easily.We never held any grudges against anyone.Not like now, when a small misunderstanding becomes a big problem and causes permanent rift. Back at home i was the apple of my parents' eyes. I too was a silent kid and never made any unreasonable demands....but whenever i asked them something i was seldom denied.I remember how even a small praise from my parents or teachers would swell my heart with pride.
Back then i used to read a lot! It was really a blessing that i spent my childhood is an era where computers were not yet popular.Kids back then used to spend time much more constructively, rather than sitting in front of the computer for hours.We had so much outdoor activity.I really pity the kids these days They dont have a life. They dont read books, they dont go out and play...they just live fake virtual lives which are of no good...
I sorely miss those days now. They truly were days of untainted and unadulterated happiness. Those are memories which i'll harbour and cherish forever.
Having said this, i am optimistic that life has a lot more great things in store.
This post really got me nostalgic. Those were great days indeed...

my first blog!!!

Here we go!!....my first blog!....i was wondering what to start,where to start with.....i mean there are sooooo many things to write.Even as i write here now ,i dont have an idea what i'm gonna come up with....so this is wat u can expect frm my future blogs!. According to me blogs are mere reflections of ur thoughts, ideals,views. So basically i'm gonna give vent to my feelings.i plan to write about everything that catches my fancyJust to give u an idea,There will definitely be copious amount of sports esp tennis and roger federer, music ,etc.then i plan to write a lot about myself, my childhood...blah blah. Pensive moods might even bring up certain philosophical gibberish. so readers(not even a handful i believe) be forewarned!!!:i'm capable writing a lot of crap.Feel free to comment on my blogs if u care to even glance them by some nasty quirk of fate!.So thats all i guess.I know my first blog was dull,boring,nauseating,unimpressive,uncool etc etc. i know that a lot of what i wrote was balderdash to most of the readers.I'll try to come up with something more interesting next time...promise!.With that i take leave.will be back soon enough hopefully with something more interesting.