The Animal in Me!!!

Have u ever wondered which animal you relate to the most??? I have thought about this several times but more in terms of my own attributes but not which animal per se. I have often thought myself to be powerful (hold on! Why do most people have negative connotations to this word??). Powerful in the sense of having the capability, capacity and will to achieve what I want to achieve. Powerful as in having the courage to take risks, fight all odds and alter uncomfortable situations in life. Powerful because I think I have the ability to influence and convince people whom I want to!!

Recently, I came across an article on the Chinese calendar. I was interested in finding out which animal is associated with my birth year!!! Viola! It’s the TIGER!! Reading the attributes mentioned in the article did bring a wide grin on my face!!!!! Read on…..

“Tiger people are daring fighters, they are capable of standing up to the better end for what they think is right. Although they could be selfish from time to time in the little things, they are capable of great generosity. Tigers are unpredictable, always tense and like to be in a hurry. Tiger people are difficult to resist, for they are magnetic characters and their natural air of authority confers a certain prestige on them. They are tempestuous yet calm, warm-hearted yet fearsome, courageous in the face of danger yet yielding and soft in mysterious, unexpected places. Tigers are very confident, perhaps too confident sometimes. Although they love adventures, and are addicted to excitement it is better not to challenge a Tiger's confidence”.

The Tamil connection…

In my growing years (no! I am not that old now!!) I was not someone who was heavily into ‘arty’ movies – just didn’t like the idea of having to sit through a movie with your brains on!!!!!!!!!!! As years passed on, thanks to my development work and my interest in people and relationships, started watching the so called ‘non mainstream’ cinema. I cant claim to have watched too many of them and go and see one only if it is highly recommended.

Aparna Sen is a director who was highly recommended by a friend. I watched Mr & Mrs Iyer and loved it for its sensitivities and sensibilities! Then I watched 15 Park Avenue recently, a depressing movie but I appreciated it for the riveting performances of all its actors especially Konkana Sen. Something that struck me after seeing both the movies………….there is an important character (more so in the former movie than the latter) in both the movies who has a Tamil connection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is it with Sen and Tamil??? I am yet to decipher!! But I loved it!! Better than the clichéd portrayal of all south Indians as Madrasis with those typical accents!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that I have mentioned this………can’t rest till I explore this connection………….watch this space!!

Musical disillusionment ...............

I am a sucker for reality shows especially the ones that showcase music talent. I would religiously plonk myself in front of the idiot box to curse the judges for their harsh remarks or to shed a few tears for my favourite contestant who was voted out!! Thankfully I have always stopped short of voting for my favourite contestant by sending them an SMS or calling them!! (I always wonder – do people actually sit and send those SMS’s or it’s a gimmick that the channel plays on all of us that they have received lakhs and lakhs of votes for the contestants. Could people be so jobless??!!! Well, if there are jobless ones like me watching such shows then I guess there must be jobless ones who send these SMSs too!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Off late I have been glued to couple of music shows that proclaim to be the best talent hunt shows ever to hit Indian Television!!!!!!!!! Some of the singers have genuine talent and I sit and admire (and sometimes envy too!!) their passion and their dedication.The transformation (I mean the physical appearance!) of some of the contestants is phenomenal and the focus these days is more on this and the packaging and less on singing talent per se. Something that struck me recently and irritated me to no end was the fact that few of the contestants did not sing live and it was after all lip sync!! Can u believe that!! Voices recorded in a studio and the contestant woes the audience (studio and TV) with his live wire performance!! It’s a different matter that some of them sang awfully despite having recorded their songs and they didn’t have to face the ordeal of singing live!!

This is such a shame! I feel terrible that I am one of those ardent followers who has been taken for a royal musical ride………………..

What’s in a name!!!

My daughter is 20 months old and at the cost of sounding clichéd, let me tell you all that she is the apple of our eyes. She is naughty, hyperactive, very inquisitive and above all a great actress!!! She grasps everything very fast……… I have to deliberate a hundred zillion times before I utter a ‘bad’ word in front of her lest she picks it up and uses it back at me!!! She is everything that I want a child to be!!!

Her latest fascination is names of people whom she knows. What is periamma’s name, navya? and she promptly replies “Apparnaaaaaaaa”; What is appa’s name? and pat comes the reply “Aanand”. She goes on to loudly pronounce all names but one………………… To date she has never been able to (or she doesn’t want to only she knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) say my name! A name that was associated with her much before she was born; a name she carries along with her name now and a name her mother yearns to listen!!

Strange are the ways of life…………………….