எஸ். ராமகிருஷ்ணனின் கதாவிலாசம்

"Kadhaavilaasam" is one series I never miss in the Tamil magazine "Ananda Vikatan".

I have become the fan of S.Ramakrishnan(S.Ra) when I read his "Thunai Ezhuthu" in Vikatan. I liked his lucid style of writing. Kathaavilaasam is a collection of Episodes of various Writers, their works. S.Ra starts with a situation he faced or an incident happened to others and relates with one of the stories of the writer whom he specialises in that episode.

I have just heard he names of some of the writers mentioned in this. Indra Parthasarathy, Naanjil Naadan, Paavannan, Nakulan, Mouni, T.Janakiraman, Asokamithran, Ki.Rajanarayanan, Pudhumaipithan, Vannadasan, Vannanilavan, Narasayya, La.Sa.Ra, Ku.Pa.Ra, Sa.Kandhasamy, and the one and only Sujatha. And I have read very few of the works. But still it gave me an introduction to good authors and their works.

S.Ramakrishnan's preface to the Book published by Vikatan Publications:

கல்வெட்டுகள், சரித்திரத்தை காலம் கடந்தும் வெளிப்படுத்திக் கொண்டிருப்பதைப்போல வாழ்வின் சாரத்தை, கதைகள் வரிகளாக மாற்றி நம் மனதில் எழுதி விடுகின்றன. இந்தக் கதா வரிகள் காலத்தில் அழிக்க முடியாதவை. தண்ணீரைப் போல சதா ஓடிக்கொண்டே இருக்கக் கூடியவை. உடலில் மச்சத்தைப் போல கதைகளும் ஒட்டிக் கொண்டுதான் இருக்கின்றன. எந்த இடத்தில் எந்த வடிவில் என்பது ஒவ்வெருவரும் கண்டறிய வேண்டியது. எனக்கு விருப்பமான சில கதைகளையும் அந்தக் கதைகளை எழுதியவர்களையும் கதைகளின் வழியே நான் அடைந்த தருணங்களையும் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ள ஏற்பட்ட ஆசையே கதாவிலாசம்

Woodland Shoe

I’ve been longing for a pair of Woodland Shoes for years since one of my family friends rejected to get a pair of brown leather shoes given by my father which was available for lower price in his company and which I used to wear during my schooldays and hesitated to wear in my college days. That uncle told that he never wears any shoe other than woodland which was around Rs.1500 before 5 years.

Yesterday I bought a pair in my own salary for just Rs. 2299 only. When I entered my office with those shoes everyone was surprised and started asking about my appraisal % (Since we got the Appraised Salary with 2 months Arrears yesterday).

Many people confirmed that I got 100% appraisal as I wear a pair of New Wrangler Jeans for Rs.1495. Some people who earn more than me and who do not possess told with jealous “What’s there for Rs.2000? A mere waste of Money.” Very few gave Honest Comments. Some are jealous of my lavish spending and some people advise me to spend less and to save more. Sometimes I too feel that I’m an example for the Tamil Proverb “Arpanukku Vaazhvu vandhaa…”


After leaving from office, I kept staring my Shoes while walking. After coming to my flat I removed my shoes and kept it outside. Although it costs around 2000, I can’t keep it inside the cup-board. But at the same time I wont throw a two rupee coin on the floor. So everything has its own place. That is LIFE!!!

12.06.07

Speciality of Camera in Mani's movies


Mani Ratnam, the versatile film director is known for his unique way of narrating the story. Not only, he ponders on the script, he also gives equal importance to technical aspects of the movie. Especially, when it comes to camera he is one of the best directors to get the maximum out of the cinematographers. His cinematographers are in the top position all over India. In his movie the camera speaks louder than dialogues. Now, let us see the details of his camera man in his movies.





Balu Mahendra :His first movie was Pallavi Anu Pallavi in Kannada. The movie had Anil Kapoor in the peak role. The camera was handled by the veteran camera man cum director Balu Mahendra . Initially, Balu had his own doubts about Mani because he has neither worked as an assistant director nor trained from any film institute. After, completing the movie Balu made a remarkable statement. The statement was “His enthusiasm is infectious.”





P.C.Sreeram :P.C.Sreeram is a long time friend of Mani Ratnam. The movies for this flourishing duo include Mouna Ragam, Nayagan, Agni Nakshatiram, Geetanjali (Telugu), Thiruda Thiruda and Alai payudhey. Madhavan after receiving the filmfare award for debut actor thanked Mani as well as Sreeram, for showing him beautifully in the screen. So, whatever may be the situation P.C.Sreeram comes up in his own style and endorses the beauty to the film. Both of them have a great mutual understanding. P C Sreeram's work was much-admired in Mani Ratnam's films, as he always had the freedom to experiment.





Rajiv Menon : Rajiv Menon , a multi-faceted personality, a director as well as a cinematographer by profession. They both joined together for the movie Bombay. Frames in movie Bombay were perfectly composed and beautifully backlit even if this style involves total violation of tonal,focal and color continuity. The usual darkness that permeates the Mani screen is mostly not evidenced in this movie, partly because of the need for realism in much of the film. Rajiv’s feeling about Mani Ratnam is “I enjoyed working with him in Bombay. Mani Ratnam is a perfectionist. He will not stop until he is satisfied with his work. He is one of the very few directors in India who never compromises on details".





Santhosh Sivan : Santhosh Sivan, one of the renowned cinematographers in India, has 9 national awards under his name. He has joined hands with Mani Ratnam in movie like Dalapathi, Roja, Iruvar and Dil Se (Uyire in Tamil). The movie Dil Se was a great example for wonderful work of camera. Especially, in Dil Se Re song the camera work was extremely superb. Also, in movie Roja the terror in Jammu & Kashmir was picturised fantastically. The real situation prevailing there was brought before your eyes. No one could forget those wonderful shots!


Ravi.K.Chandran :The latest tie-up of Mani Ratnam was with the ace cinematographer Ravi. K. Chandran. They both in cooperation worked for two movies, one was Kannathil Muthamittal and the other was Ayudha Ezhuthu (Yuva in Hindi). For the movie Kannathil Muthamital, Ravi bagged the national award. Ravi tried something different in Ayudha Eluthu. The whole movie was picturised in three different colors narrating the character of the heroes. A perfect match for the movie! “Mani Sir is the fastest among the directors, I have worked with”, Ravi said in an interview. He also added that “The good thing about Mani Ratnam is that he gives you the full concentration and energy required to shoot.”


Manikandan :Manikandan shot the mammoth song sequence Yakkai Thiri ... for Ayudha Ezhuthu and also some of the Ajay Devgan scenes for Yuva. Describing the experience of working with Mani Ratnam as "ultimate" the cameraman says, "Mani would be on the sets at 5 in the morning,

and would work through the day. We would have a 30-minute break for breakfast and lunch and that's it. None would leave the sets and neither would he. The shooting was down South in Pollachi and Theni. Ajay Devgan would tell us that he had never seen sunrise till he began shooting for Yuva. But that's how Mani Ratnam worked."

Pillayar Suzhi

I've been thinking for a long time to start writing Blogs.
But today only my wish was fulfilled.

Today is a rare date too... 05.06.07.

After 1.4 yrs of Kolkata life, atlast I've visited to Kalighat, the main Temple of Kali.
But I didnt feel I was in a Temple because of the rush.