Dosa Calling - Four Stars!

After a rather tiring sponsor trip yesterday this board that said DC caught our eye. M, N & me that is. We enter inside and செம சாம்பார் வாசனை pulls us in. Nice menu they have. Ranging from paper roast to Mayo Schezwan Dosa a whole array of innovative  Dosa varieties adorn the menu card. The menu book, rather. RED is splashed all over the place and the decor is, how do i put it... Funky: a bit too much for a dosa joint. And hell it reminds you of Coffee Day what with the speech bubbles and all. Apart from Dosas and Idlys and  Oothappams and Aapams they've added on phulkas and naans as well. The chaat menu is pretty long and is full of new stuff like "Murukku Sandwich" (Wonder how it would taste). Affordability of the place is a crowd puller. There's an Ice Cream Shack inside. And YES they have Ice Cream Dosa! [can't wait to taste that one, though the idea makes my teeth tingle]. P said it might taste like a crepe. [really?] I loved the ambience, would say it's the ideal place to go to with 1. Family, 2. Friends, 3. Special People. or even alone.
Likes:
Sambhaar , Chutney, Student - Friendly prices
Decor, Music, Ice Cream Shack
Not - So - Likes:
Why ape CCD? You guys have good food.

Fantasy/ Magical Realis in Salman Rushdie's Selected Works

The Objective of my Research Project

Salman Rushdie is known more as a Magical Realist than a Fantasy Writer. His most famous works include Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses and The Moor’s Last Sigh; all of them (especially Midnight’s Children) often quoted as examples for Magical Realist fiction. Apart from these novels that reveal this dark, deep, realistic and nostalgic shades of Rushdie, there are two important books written by him that are less discussed by literary critics, that reveal the rather light-hearted, witty, soulful and a truly enjoyable side of this otherwise grim writer who writes controversial novels. Often dismissed as Children’s Literature, “Haroun and the Sea of Stories” and “Luka and the Fire of Life” are two Fantasy Novels aimed at children, whose true meaning only adults can understand.

The primary objective of the project is to critically analyse these two works of Salman Rushdie from the magical realist point of view, in spite of their classification under fantastic literature. The project also aims to discuss in detail the two genres of fiction that seem to culminate in these works; Magical Realism and Fantasy. Both the genres are to be treated as two separate entities but the possibility of the two being one and the same is also to be examined; keeping in mind the very minute difference that separates them.

Is Magical Realism but a fancy name for Fantasy or a different genre altogether? If yes then what are the attributes of this unique literary genre? Why do the both of them look similar? What are the common aspects between the two? Where in the selected works under one specific genre possible? The project aims to answer these  questions as well by means of in-depth analysis of these two works and Magical Realist and Fantasy works by other authors.

This project is an attempt to clearly understand the difference between Fantasy and Magical Realism while observing works of Fantasy through the lens of Magical Realism – experimenting with both the lens and the object.

The Perfect Time To Set The Microcosm Right

The Individual – a prism that refracts; not a mirror that reflects

An Abstract

The difference between life today and life in the pre – independence period is evident. This is mainly due to the various factors like economic, medical and social development that has happened in the last sixty three years. These factors have caused what is called an ‘attitude change’.

An attitude is a ‘way of thinking’ or an opinion. The young mind forms an attitude at an early age in life, when the mind is still mouldable. The young mind learns from everyone around it. It is not like a mirror that just reflects the object in front of it. It is rather like a prism that gathers light from all three sides and scatters it brilliantly in a million ways.

The society is responsible for moulding the young mind in the right way. The individual will also have to play his part and be receptive to the changes.

How can we mould the mind in the right way?

Mahatma Gandhi gives us a simple solution. Nayi Talim. New education that involves kindling the student’s creativity, binding him to his own culture and language. Making him love his country and his motherland, creating a true intellectual out of him.

This change is a mass revolution. It needs preparation. Preparation of the Indian psyche to face change. How? Through silent and subtle change; change at the microcosmic level.

 I the individual, I the parent, I the teacher, I the society, I the media must change. Because everything is there in me. And I am a part of everything. Change happens only when everybody says ‘I must change’ ; it doesn’t happen when everyone points  a finger at someone else. Let’s listen to the Mahatma and be the change we want to see.

Srunika. K

II^nd  B.A English Literature.

Ethiraj College

Haroun and the Sea of Stories - Salman Rushdie

Not Exactly the same cover, but still... 

Long back , Almost two years ago I saw this shiny blue book that said "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" written by someone called Salman Rushdie. "hey!" I thought, " isn't this the guy that wrote something very scandalous, about Islam or something...." Yes. I belonged to the uninitiated then. Turned the book back to read the blurb, that instantly impressed me. Whoa! I had just finished the latest Harry Potter, longing for something Good to read, something warm and magical and yet not dark and Nice. After that Time just whizzed by. Finished the book in record time and loved it too! For once the blurb did tell the truth! The man is unbeatable at witticisms and wordplay! The Hindi names he'd given his characters suggested their personality traits, they don't just serve as names. But did he take into consideration his English audience too while making these up? Of course there's a glossary...

It was something I immediately fell in love with, "Abhinaya" and "Khattam - Shud" and The Valley of K and The Dull Lake and all... :) The story per se, kids would love it. It makes, easy, absorbing interesting reading; But the true meaning of what he is trying to say only adults can understand.

A LOT of allegories, one finds in the book. The Sea of Stories - The Whole Tradition of Writing (i.e) The accumulation of Writings - fiction and otherwise. The threat posed to Writing and Literature - Pollution of the Sea of Stories. Courageous Haroun defeats the Shadow of the Evil Master Khattam Shud and saves the Sea. Removing the threat of pollution forever.

After reading I realised there was so much more detail to be explained, so much to be explored, so many things you can relate to and understand and so much scope for 'reading between lines'. Thats when I decided I would work on this book if I ever have to do some Research.

Unlike his Midnight's Children there isn't this dark and suffocating feeling about this book. It feels like sitting at the beach on a cool sunny day. It's the Beach after all Haroun and Mali and Butt and Iff might spot you anytime! Feel good. Interesting. Thumbs up and Five Stars!

Enthiran! - Thalaivar hits back, this time really well!

Rajnikanth has always been a name that makes me feel - Fanatic! people who really know me well know I don't stick on to one thing and call it my favorite. Be it colours, books, food, music, people... I generally appreciate things. If not I act indifferent. It has never been that way with the Superstar! This urge to gape at him and say "He is the best!" is just too strong.

But I must say the last few movies he did, kinda didn't get the same response from me. What with too much idealization and over done heroism. Or maybe it was just board exams and English Literature. I was expecting the same thing from Enthiran as well. Thankfully the movie just went past everything i had expected!

The other day A literally dragged me with her to some unknown ambathu rooba theater. But then it turned out to be the 'most perfect place' to watch a Rajni movie! Screaming, hooting fans! All around! it's such a good feeling, you feel like just joining the gang and forgetting what your mother might have had to say had she seen you do something like this! Whoa!

Two. Rajni looks ... AWESOME! clean shaved Chitti the picture of Handsomeness. Vaseegaran is Handsome in his own way. No patchy, bad make up. :) GO GIRL FANS!

Three. He actually DANCES! Kilimanjaro - it shows - and he is so cute in a way! like how sweet your mom looks to you when she struggles to type a text on the phone and manages to do it within ten min!

Four. How often have you seen Rajni fall at another character's feet? (even if its another Rajni!)The part where Chitti falls at vaseegaran's feet, denied of love, put down by his own creator, begs him for an opportunity to LIVE and LOVE! sniff sniff!

Saw this scene just before Kilimanjaro? He could have heroically fought the bad guy and killed him with his pinkie finger. Couldn't believe it when he helplessly tries to call the commissioner on his phone! And saves Sana, fleeing the place with her!

The conflict here is not between GOOD and EVIL perse. It's between the 'Intelligent human with his Adam Apple Knowledge of Good And Evil' and the 'Mechanically strong, wrongly programmed, immature, mislead Simplistic Robot whose only pre dominant feeling is true love for a Woman'
And this makes the story all the more poignant.

Stunts were NOT Over done Heroism Manifestations but actually Wow Sci Fi, Tai Chi martial stunts that remind you of Terminator and Men in Black, at a few places.

Ash looks Divinely Beautiful at places, though sometimes age peeps out beneath her eyes. ASh i Love You! Pretty decent acting this time. Don't you think so Mr. Sudhish?

Sujatha Dialogues - Goosebumps. At the right places! In the movie that is. Kudos!

MUSIC - OMG! TECHNO - Rahman's done an amazing JOB! Irumbile and Kadhal anukkal being my favorites!

Villain Chitti! ! ! ABSOULUTELY NO ONE BUT THALAIVAR can bear that role! Nobody! Only Rajni can push two lorries with his bare hands and get a roaring applause. He need not be a Robot to do that! What attitude! "Blacksheep"!!! WE screamed our lungs out for him!! A and me we saw the pazhaiya Rajni who carried roles like that when he does this villainous laugh in front of a mirror!

Moral of the story: I simply can't get over This Movie! :) WHOA!

childhood and related things

It's summer and i currently have a lot of children at home. which made me feel quite old. for once! I dunno if i was like them then but i couldnt help noticing how DIFFERENT children are. Different not wierd. They love to ask questions, un answerable questions mind you. And they truly beleive the answers you give them.They want all your attention to themselves. They want to keep the make up kit to themselves. Tantrums are their ways of keeping you to themselves. They irritate you and yet they jump up and hug you every time you enter home. They are so cute! They are so innocent naive kind and loving which we adults arent.

The reason why i am posting this apparently not so okay thought is that i find my cousin of three years old very cute and adorable.

Children! !

On krushers from KFC

Happened to try the new krushers from KFC today. They have them in three variations. Sparkly, Crunchy and Smoothie. Now sparkly and smoothie are pretty good. Crunchy well ... Not really. Why do they call it crunchy? Crunchy is more like fluid-semisolid-tiny-crackly- chewable stuff. Well wat you actually get is more like milky-grainy-nonhomogenous-sludge type thingy. A thorough disappointment. Choco lash has no chocolate at all. Not good chocolate atleast. Whipped cookies! Looks more like tea decoction, tastes kinda unfamiliar. Dont even think of trying crunchies from KFC.
Coming from KFC that is a disappointment. Especially to a foodie like me.

Moral of the story: Dont ever judge a food or drink by its SFX ad. Even if its from KFC.

My first Post. nearly.

Hello blogosphere! This is my latest blog. My second one to be precise. Irregular posts, a hacked account and a long gap and my blog and i, we parted ways. Stubborn wish to be a blogger this. Which explains why i post from my mobile device burning up cash. I hope to be more regular this time. Allons donc!

I would be posting here wat i find interesting or intriguing. It depends. Its going to be an experiment for me too. Hope sincerely to stay in the path.
regards! :)