London - 2nd Innings - Ich will hier Bleiben!

My Art Beats - Naveen

Could you just skip these paintings? If not, just imagine how the actuals would have been? And could you just say one which is your favourate? For each his own or multiple right...

As the only thing better than singing is more singing, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Truely blessed are the people with special skills to paint, sing, dance, play...And an artist might need appreciation!

And I felt specially blessed when an artist - Naveen painted for me three sketches and 10 beautiful paintings in a short span of around 10 days...

Words fail to describe them....

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Naveen for these..

There could not have been more personalised gifts than these!

These are done by my colleague at Williams Lea...I am privelaged to be his first customer.

Look out for his Face book page - 'My Art Beats'..

The Ra of Me....

Ah! Never realised this!

So many Ra's of Me...

Indeed so my name!!!

The name and numerology book say - our name and Date of Birth has a great impact on our life.

So may be some consider naming children based on the timing of birth and corresponding alphabet.

Once there was a Me..

And this me now has always Ra's...

My name meaning say:

Me - Is a word of Hebrew Origin Meaning -FAITHFUL &
Era- Is a word of Hebrew Origin Meaning - Protecterness

Life must go on

We are busy making plans, but God has something planned for us.

A humble request - please keep the handful of people I really have in my life happy and healthy. I am tired of being tired; and seeing my dears unhealthy.

Why is it that since I have read and really appreciated that - Health is the first of life - we are all unhealthy and untill then all were healthy?

Inspite of all this Life is going on, and must go on. Unbeliveably old I have become in last two years both physically and metally - Keeping a smile on my face - No matter the time or effort - To the best of my ability - Yet with lot of negative feedbacks.

Indeed it is so consoling and motivating to hear positive feedbacks at time when one is alive - Very true we need to keep aside our ego in order to do that!

"It's so weird how we start thinking, reading, wondering, about a person when he is gone forever. We start looking to know about them more when they are no more!! Sad but true!!It's rightly said " don't take things for granted because they might not be there tomorrow" - Ritu Chopra in FB.

From the bottom of my heart - my humble request - My dear God! Please no more deaths & Losses for some time now; or I would really break down!

How beautifully has the 9th standard girl written - Ishitha - My Schoolie Preetha's daughter, and this has brought tears in my eyes:

He's not dead,
No, he is not,
Only the body left the world,
The soul will always stay in our heart...

He wasthe devottee of science,
He the missile man,
I don't know about others,
But every Indian is surely his fan.

He was the best president,
With only one vision,
To make India eminant,
And he worked hard for his mission.

He saw vision 2020,
We will surely complete his desire,
He is our role model,
The person who gave us 'Wings on fire'

We know you are no more,
But we will keep your thoughts alive,
And as being the new Youth,
To live upto your vision we will strive.

For right now, everyone is mute,
Sir- to you, we all give a ground salute!

This is the only real truth of life - Everything that is born, has to die!

DIGITAL DETOX

Thanks to technology...for all the good things that it has done to mankind...Guess it is how we use it that matter...Balance is the need of the hour; true we need trees to live and not wi-fi's ...

Reading a post of a friend in Facebook made me look into interent on more regarding this topic and courtesy technology this is the view:

Our ability to stay balanced in this time of exponential technological growth, and create healthy relationships with our digital devices is the need of the hour.

Everywhere you see people are all looking at their phones,texting,e-mails, taking pictures etc. This world can be a better place by communicating with the person beside you. I have been hurt many a times, when I have wanted to talk to people but they have been busy with their technology devices, so also I have hurt many of them - My Mother the most.

May I disagree with those who say no or criticise the technology devises, in a gentle way? I understand the sentiments expressed, there can be no substitute for living, breathing humanity. A real hug in real life from a real friend is worth more than a million 'likes' on facebook. But as long as we use social media to enhance real friendships I think it can be a power for good. I am talking to you right now, through this media, it doesn't mean I can't have friends in real life, it means we can keep in touch with each other, share our thoughts, our dreams, our photos, and where appropriate, our news, when we are apart. We can support each other in times of need. I see the photos of cousins and friends at the other side of the world, and I can share their lives in a way that was impossible before. Used properly, facebook, Whats app,Skype,you tube, twitter etc are a power for good. It's not the medium that matters, it's the people who use it.

Yes, technology has helped us in many ways, made our job easier, everything easier but the easier it becomes the more we forget how much struggle we had to do before technology. But what really bothers me is the future of the kids today, they barely go out anymore, they stay indoors and would rather play games on the tab. What will be their childhood? All they can remember is those silly games, which you just tap and tap and I realize we'll be the last generation to go outdoors, get all sweaty, get your knees scraped, get sunburns and laugh like it's the best time of our life. And I don't want us to be the last, I want it to go on and on and on. Technology has many uses and it was made for us, but I guess we've crossed the line and are depended on it too much...

Developing a new code of ethics around technologies, creating social etiquette, setting positive cultural norms, and raising awareness around harmful habits while sharing the importance of mindfulness is urgent.

"These social networks will not "miss us" or "shed a tear" " - Agree- But we do not know who exactly our friend in need would turn out to be, this helps us to be connected. Indeed primarily we need to be focused on our important job - but for growth, it is important that we are connected. And in this age, where the world has shrunk to such a great extend, where we do not know, who is where next hour, what better way to be connected?

All said and done I really liked these statement of 'Rajesh Krishna' in Face book - Which I could read- Again Thanks to Technology.

"So, my friends on social media...

I dont want to know where you eat everyday, but do call me and tell me what food you love and what we can eat together....

I dont want to know where you went with your girlfriend, but definitely let me know over a call if she accepted your proposal and included you in her life....

I dont want to know how much you like someone or like something over the social media, but please let me know when you would like to get together to talk about the good times and the good deeds we would commit together....."

Sometimes doing all this in person is not feasible...and Technology would definitely help us do it...

Simplicity

Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan and SS Rajamouli's Baahubali: The Beginning have a unique connection and that's KV Vijayendra Prasad, who penned the story of both the films. Baahubali has epic violence and Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a sweet story promoting non-violence.

Have not seen both, but I am in between the two...Various teams have gone for one movie or the other, and it is at the cost of my sleep. Does anyone realise that? Own office team - my second home to the former, and personal home team from office to the first, at this mid night hour. And how they make me do...By saying Chechi, chechi...

I am reminded of Chechi from Circus serial during my school days...Yes, the same one in doordarshan with Shahrukh Khan as Shekharan, a Malayalee / Keralite Circus person. There was a chechi in that. Today I am a chechi in my office of most of them....So is my office a circus?

No wonder, there are lot many similarities. We do have the ring master, the monkeys, the treasurer, the hard work, the pay checks, the tigers, the elephants, the owls and ha..the Joker...But mind you, I am not a joker.


There is one thing common in both the movies, as in me - simplicity. Now I am not boosting. A shere fact.

Don't dare to play with it. I love me, and don't want me hurt and broken like that of a joker....

Malayalam Movies - Time for Pride

There is a time for everything, and everything has its own time.

Though was not quite interested with Malayalam films for sometime - say after Chitram, Kilukam, Saragam times - guess there are good directors and movies on the horizon. Malayalam industry is back to the right track with the help of the makers like Anwer Rasheed, Vineeth Srinivasan, Anjali Menon, Roshan Andrews, Alphonse Puthren, Jeethu Joseph etc…Musics simply amazing in all front - lyrics, music, cinematography.. It is a matter of great pride to see many of them being remade in other languages as well:

Notably many; but few to mention:
1. Drishyam -Jeethu Joseph’s enduring masterpiece is a captivating story of a family coming out of a trouble that is far above than them. Drishyam is released in Tamil with Kamal Haasan and Gouthami in 'Papanasam'!The Hindi remake of Drishyam, starring Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Tabu in leading roles too releases towards the end of the month on July 31.- This move has been one of its kind - and thought provoking - with climax even spell bound. You keep wondering - if not for the hero - was it right what they have done? Is it right to take law in hand? What else could be done? - How to hide a lie, situation is created - Drishyam - by an ordinary man - whose interest was watching movies - to save his daughter from - police and her son.

2. How Old are you- - Manju's film after a 14-year sabbatical gave her and the movie a much needed applause. Manju Warrier plays the character of Nirupama Rajeev, a UD clerk in Revenue department.The film was remade in Tamil as 36 Vayadhinile with Jyothika in the lead also making her comeback. In this movie Rajeev copes with the everyday situations with which a woman approaching 40 might deal.

3.Bangalore Days – Its success launched the career of Anwer Rasheed as producer and Anjali Menon as director. Anjali Menon can be called as the cinematic poet for her amazing scripts like Ustaad Hotel, Manjadikuru and now the Bangalore Days. Bangalore Days’ is one of the most playful Malayalam movies, full of next-door characters and incidents, with memorable set pieces. The chemistry between the actors (Dulquer Salman, Nivin Pauly, Fahad Fazil and Nazriya) is simply outstanding and something which cannot be recreated by any means.

Here are the three last movie which I saw with my father @ home - which marked the beginning of a better trend:

1.Diamond Necklace – The stark portrait of a young man’s lavish life and uncontrolled life, represented the new generation who is disillusioned of many things. Iqbal Kuttipuram’s excellent script and Fahad Fazil’s performance makes it a must watch. Diamond Necklace is one of the Lal Jose’s most engaging movies, loaded with well-developed characters, unexpected twists and heartbreaking moments. It is one of the starters of the wave.

2.Pranchiyettan & the Saint - A 2010 Malayalam satirical comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith.[1] The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based rice merchant C.E. Francis aka Pranchiyettan (Mammootty) and St. Francis of Assisi (Jesse Fox Allen). A malayalam movie which we from office team watched in the theater after a decade - because system was down.

3. Pranayam - A 2011 Malayalam romantic drama film written and directed by Blessy. The film revolves around the love bound between the characters of Mathews (Mohanlal), Grace (Jaya Prada) and Achutha Menon (Anupam Kher). Not sure why, but this again had tears in my fathers eyes...and the last one I wathched with my Hero.


And finally now we have:
Premam – A very entertaining homage to our memories and yesteryears’ Malayalam classic romantic movies. This movie relatable and connects viewers in one way or another, with absolute zero doubt. (Though I had a dose in the first half);music is mismerising. Watching this film - listening to its music will give you a feel of being in love, and will make you wanting for love. Especially the song Malare Ninne Kanathirunnal ......(Is this why, I had been writing of Love these days?)

Indeed one persons Joy is another persons sorrow and wise versa. Here is Neil who would only like to listen to Scene contra and Kaalam Keely Poyi, his father would want to listen to Kallipu... while grand mother would want to listen to Malare Ninne Kanathirunnal

Which type of drunk you are?

Kerala with large many number of drinkers, you find just a handful of guys here who do not drink - well this is not a state or country like west, where beer is like water. On a lighter note, it is said that how christianity came to Kerala is because of promised wine - and that all could drink and there is nothing wrong in it.

Psychologists have found that people turn into one of four character types when drunk.Do you know which type of drunk you are — a menacing Mr Hyde or a friendly Mary Poppins?

These include the Ernest Hemingway who is barely affected by excessive alcohol; the Mary Poppins who is friendly and compassionate and the Nutty Professor who is transformed from a quiet type to a confident extrovert.

Worst of all is the menacing and hostile Mr Hyde, researchers said, adding that most people who fall into the last category were women.

Psychologists at the University of Missouri-Columbia asked more than 360 men and women to complete a personality test: once when they were sober and once when they were under the influence of alcohol.

The results showed that the largest group of drunks were the Hemingways, who changed very little. Hemingways were almost exactly as reliable, organised and prompt intoxicated as when they were sober, and they had very little trouble with their intellects, imaginations and abstract ideas.

The menacing Mr Hyde drunks, however, should be avoided at all costs.

Love

Questions don't have to provide answers. Questions can springboard into new thoughts, ideas and interpretations. There are no right answers.

Sometimes you just need to be silent. Because no words can explain what is going on in your head, mind and heart. This brought me into another reading-



I know it is our interdependence that makes our independence possible. .. and I love my freedom. Was so happy to be single, without bonds and cares..Remember Gareth's words - and it is echoing in my head 'Never say Never'. It is so true:



Aankhen khuli ho ya ho band,Deedar unka hota hai,Kaise kahoon main o yaara yeh pyaar kaise hota .. This too is an awesome feeling..

The King of Love My Shepherd Is
By: Henry W. Baker

The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
And he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
My ransomed soul he leadeth
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me
And on his shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me,
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spredst a table in my sight;
Thine unction grace bestoweth;
And, oh, what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house forever.


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We live life only once, we need to live it right with dignity. Experience all and see all that we can, in the one life that we have. Glad that you let me know this as well:

What this love is like, falling in love I will see
Lost in thoughts, I have decorated dreams
Asleep by myself, I have made you mine
Oh friend, one in love
How can I say, oh friend, what this love is like



And then there is the love of siblings...

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Well it could be for material or abstract things as well...

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Anything more wonderful than the love of God...who guides us, protects us...

Whatever - No one can tell you what love is, you will simply know it when you feel it.

@ Home Finally...

A house is build by hands, but a home is build by heart.


We do not earn to pay builders and interior designers, caterers and decorators..Nor do we earn to give it off as rent, and when we have no earnings, have no place to go.

It is wise to have an investment for peaceful retirement. Also as long as we live, we need to have an address for everything.

20 years ago, this day, we had moved to Kerala and were staying in a rented house. A house under construction, both of us studying...

And now, here we are - three of us from the family - with one having a three member family - with three houses - See am back to three. Did I not say everything in life is three?





A chawl,hut, banglow, building, individual house, besides water front, above the mountain, in a hill station - where ever- a home is where the heart is.

So much of hard work, and involvement goes behind its construction - materils, labour - setting, arranging. Some promises kept, some unkept, a lot of delay and follow up. Feeling sad that even when the house is ready, the follow up for the flat continues. This again show, it is always good to be independent. At the end what matters is harmony among the people staying there and God's blessing for a healthy, happy Life.

Yes, I mean it. Just about 4 years since return from US, 4 death - Both Fathers, one mother, and one grandmother...With the home being a dream for two of them....and as Sangs said - they would have collapsed with joy on the move, and have constantly called and informed everyone.

When people are around, and do it, we scold them - and when they are not around, we miss them. So indeed what matters is harmony among the people staying there and God's blessing for a healthy, happy Life. With Prayers for Happiness & Health Humesha!

Death Speaks...

A great loss for my mom and me. I did update this in our family blog but for some reason, without my ammukutty, this space appears to be incomplete.

Had been wondering if the death was timely or untimely; and happen to read this:
---
There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling and said, Master, just now when I was in the market - place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there death will not find me. The merchent lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the hosrse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the market place and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Bagdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.

---

As soon as you die, your identity becomes a 'body'. People use phrases like 'bring the body';lower the body in the grave, people don't even call you by the name...Death is not the greates loss in life. Loss is when life dies inside you when you are alive. Celebrate the event called life.

----

If we remember everyday that we could lose someone at any moment, we would love them more fiercely and freely, and without fear- not because there is nothing to lose, but because everything can always be lost.

----


Death is a one way ticket, nobody can bring back the dead. This journey had begun on the 27th of December 2014; nobody living; really knew when the final time to bid good bye was; it could have been in a week, a month or a year.

I have never been an ardent follower of rituals, and have always belived that we need to serve people when alive. But wanted to do this; a last attempt - of every mother to see their children together. Wish it would have happened when alive but unfortunately not even after death...Who can bring them together?

Believe in signs : So has been said - by our ancestors, tradition and even the modern day scholors - and what do signs say? Always keep in touch.

-----

Is it true, when we offer balipindam, the dead come as birds? This reminded me of Ammuma & Muttachan,with the escort......


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When I'll be dead,
Your tears will flow,
But I won't know,
Cry for me now instead!

You will send flowers,
But I won't see,
Sent them now instead!

You will say words of praise,
But I won't hear,
Praise me now instead!

You'll forget my faults,
But I won't know,
Forget them now, instead!

You'll miss me then,
But I won't feel,
Miss me now, instead!

You'll want to say Love you,
But I won't be able to hear,
Say it now instead!

You'll wish you could
have spent more time with me,
Spend it now instead!

Spend time with every person around you,
Your families, friends, acquainted,
Make them feel special,

B'Cause you never know,
When time will take them away from you forever.
Life is too short,

Love all & Forgive all.

Love Vs. Marriage

There is no statistical study or result on what exactly love or marriage is. They just happen. No age for it, no time for it, no place for it...The feeling could trigger when you are young, or when your are old; when you are single or when you are married; when you are alone or when you are in a group.

In Love marriages, love may be at first sight, or may be after one or two breakups.

If you have no courage to take the risk of love...no risk, no reward.

Love is like alcohol. Its a bottled poem. Age no bar, caste no bar...

And here is what our LLB guy from the team said:

"Resolved that love is though eternal, it depends on each person's personality and attitude to take it to next level called marriage.

Resolved further that since there are no proven statistics to showcase whether the Love and marriage are correlated or not, it has been decided that we need to understand the words not by its literal meaning but it has to be read along with the relationship two people had before they got married.

Sd/-
Dr. Love. "

Any guesses who is Dr. Love? The young all rounder, whose shortfilm was recently selected ..Gives strong definitions, and claims that he does not want to be married...


P.S. A discussion by the lovers of the team - Rakesh, Anoop& Prasanth (cum writer); and writer Anil.- This is what we the professional accountants discuss in Whatapp...Ooops...

Jokes apart, this made me ponder -

No one can tell you what love is, you will simply know it when you feel it. Love someone who is honest, honest with you, with others and with themselves. It’s a great feeling, indeed!

More than Ram & Sita; Krishna & Rukmani or Sathyabama – Stories of Krishan and Radha are famous, oftesn spoken about – and it is believed that even after death – it is Krishna and Radha who become one?

Marriage is not about procreation, the infertile marry. Marriage is not about finance, the poor marry. Marriage is about love, That’s it. And that’s beautiful.

It is not an objective or goal of any person to get married, but that is one thing that more than 90% of the human being end up doing.

Marriages are neither what you see in movies, nor what you read or listen to people say. It is indeed made in heaven. Sometime I wonder if two people cannot be together why did destiny let them meet at all? So sad to see so many divorces these days..

Wish people could really find their better half – as Devi mentioned “ the critical half that you can’t do without…that half that comes alive when you are totally down in the dumps…that half that does not want to capture your half of the deal and lets your half operate independently…simply lets you breathe and just “BE””

Marriages begin as a simple road trip, and turns out to be a lethal tightrope establishment with family circuses. Happy Marriage is where you can fall asleep and wake knowing your heart is safe. When you stumble down, you have a steady hand to hold on.

“.You start comparing, contrasting, contradicting….Those creeping moments when you start wondering whether hell had anything to do with the origin of marriages…..the blame game erupts at the drop of a hat..err..may be drop of a nappy when you also become ‘parents’ apart from ‘married couple’ .

Like wise Motherhood is when a girl actually transforms into a women. One need not have a kid of own..but having a kid around makes one more responsible, sincere and affectionate in all the things that we do and see.


Truly blessed are those who get into a relationship where they talk like best friends, play like kids, argue like couples and protect each other like siblings. That does not mean someone else is less blessed than they are. It’s just that we are blessed in different ways.

Life is so ironic. It takes sadness to know happiness, noise to appreciate silence and absence to value presence. I type this surrounded with two laptops, two mobiles, facebook, Whatsapp...But with no single soul except mine around! With no regrets - But Thanking God for blessing me in a different way.

Zindagi mein koyi kabhi aaye na rabba
Aaye jo koyi toh phir jaaye na rabba
Dene ho gar mujhe baad mein aansoon
Toh pehele koyi hasaaye na rabba

Rainbows

RAINBOWS ARE RAINBOWS BECAUSE SUNSHINE MEETS RAIN...

Rainbows, would not be rainbows, unless sunshine meets the rain.
I would not see it, unless you were mine.

A rainbow is a promise of sunshine after rain,
Of calm after storm, of joy after sadness,
Of peace after pain, of love after loss.

Hope this is true...Wish good times are ahead.

Humming...Main Meerase devani ho gayi..iss dunya se begani ho gayi...

Thank you very much...for bringing this to my attention.

Hamari Adhuri Kahani

Not sure...was busy in office...did not even know about this movie...heard half of a dialogue and there I go...within minutes...I was in the theater watching the movie on the day of release...

Though there were many negative comments on it, I do not regret having seen it.

The movie opens with a woman (Vidya - old but hair dyed) getting off from the bus at Chatisghar, she tumbles and falls down after walking a few steps. An elderly man (Hari) is seeing psychiatrist about hallucinations of his wife, & he is then recruited by his son's wife who takes him to his wife's funeral, where he steals her ashes and leaves a diary for his son.

It then jumps to past where, Vasudha (Vidya Balan) is a florist and a single mother whose husband is missing for five years, bound to traditions she has been waiting for him since he left her. Vasudha meets Aarav Ruparel ( Emraan Hashmi) in one of his hotels, where she works as a floral arranger. Here we have some unnecessary dialogues.


She becomes romantically involved with a Aarav;her husband Hari ( Rajkumar Rao) returns....And thus they Vidya and Aarav become like Radha and Krishna.

It had some puch dialogues; some were little too much.

You also love me very much, but you won't say that ... you'll wriggle without me but you won't show that ... you want to come to me, you want to hug me and cry, you want to stay in my heart but you won't stay ... but I'm not like you ... I can't live without saying that I love you.

The mother son story is touching. But there is something missing, some mismatch between past and present in the movie. Though Vidya was cool...not as ever...

Oh my God....2nd movie in the theater in such a short span of time...May be making up for the lost years...

Need a driver...

Took a test to find out what my perfect job is, and got the response - motivational speaker! Details being

"You're a true student of human nature and have a great eye for the strengths and abilities of your fellow man. You should definitely offer coaching and motivational training! You can assess someone's personality as soon as they enter the room, and you know exactly where and how you need to tickle your clients to deliver top performance! You know exactly how to inspire someone; at the same time, your compassion and kindness cause people to feel accepted and understood around you. You should really become a motivational speaker!" Way to go....

Would love to do it - need a driver.

Read-'India's IT Party is over. Reinvent yourself or suffer'- and how automation is going to reduce the job of middle managers. Happy with the present job, but need to develop Plan A - skills in the current role and Plan B- Another Career B; so it matches with the above.

Would love to develp and understand it - need a driver.

I know being with no one is better than being with the wrong one, sometimes those who fly solo has the strongest wings, but at times feel that I am all alone amidst the busy crowd. Something that is pulling me backwards, when in fact, I would want to go forward.

Would love to go forward - need a driver.

At this juncture, with all the losses, and so many things to be done, Missing Achan a Lot; wishing he would be around. Know death is the end of suffering, but

Would love to live untill I die - need a driver.

One life, so many places to visit, so many things to be done, miles to go. But the path is difficult, long and dense. Moreover I am unable to drive myself, Though

Would want to do all that can be done in this life - need a driver.

Tanu Weds Manu Returns....

How often we have wondered what have happened to the characters of a story or the movie after the end? I have upteen times, and loved to see Tanu weds Manu Returns...The movie was tight, light, yet layered.

"Tanu Weds Manu Returns" starts in London with its protagonists (a terrific Kangana Ranaut and a very likeable and mature R Madhavan)falling out of love and traying to take psychiatric help to save their marriage. With things falling out of place, Tanu returns to her home town and gets close and flirty with Raja Avasthi(Jimmy Shergill, Superb), her ex love interest. She also ignites love in Adv. Arun (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub in top form) who has been living in her room without paying rent for quite sometime now. In the meantime Manu is back in Delhi and while giving lecture at Delhi University meets Datto (Kangana in her secondrole and with a spot on Haryanvi accent), who reminds him of Tanu and starts following her only to fall in love with her. Pappi (Deepak Dobriyal, as good as ever)who had fallen for Komal in the last instalment travels to Chandigarh with Manu and Datto so that he could stop her wedding. Tanu and her family are already there in the wedding and Payal (Swara Bhaskar - terrific)has had a child through ART but is terrified of revealing to Jassi (Ijaz Khan) that heis not the father of the kid. At the wedding, everyonetakes Datto for Tanu and Manu's verbal exchanges result in Manu declaring that he is going to marry Datto - only to Raja's disappointment ashis wedding was already finalised with Datto. Finally Manu is back to Tanu...for her determination. It's interesting watch and scores better than its prequel. My heart was with Kusum though!

Weekend with Kangana Ranaut as Tanu & Kusum with colleague and mom(who reminded me of my Father and Grandmother) and Sunday -Queen with mom..She is simply awesome..looks like 3 complete different person..Kusum reminded me of Geena George; not sure if it was like Sachin Tendulkar hitting a century and India loosing a cricket match or otherwise..

But it was a special watch, and Thanks for the day,not sure when and how I am gonna repay ...It reminded me of a similar incident 8 years before watching Om Shanti Om in 2007.

It's so hard to Love easily, Yet so easy. Belive this is not true...Everyone, everything has its/their own place and when replaced the vaccum remains. But deep down these words give temporary hope -

God will never leave you empty. He will replace everything you lost. If he asks you to put something down, it's because He wants you to pick up something greater.

World Wonders...

Definitely it is life....We need to live and let live...

World Wonders –Team in Kochi attended a Team Building/Experiential Learning Program; by vimingo to energize, enlighten and engage that covered:



The Leaning Tower for Building Trust



· Say what you do and do what you say

· Communicate, communicate and communicate

· Trust generates commitment and commitment fosters teamwork

· Show people you care

· Be transparent, authentic and willing to share your mistakes



The Colosseum for Conflict Resolution



· Remain Calm

· Genuinely consider the other person’s view

· There is power in your words

· If your are wrong, quickly admit

· Before speaking, ask yourself, “ Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it true?”



Taj Mahal for effective communication



· Watch your body language

S – Face the person Squarely

O- Open posture, no crossed arms or fidgeting

L – Lean towards the person, not too much but just enough to show interest

E – Maintain eye contact, without staring

R – Be relaxed, don’t fidget and be comfortable

· Get rid of unnecessary conversation fillers

· Have a script for small talk and other occasions

· Ask questions and repeat the other person

· Tailor your message to your audience

· Be brief yet specific

· Listen actively

· Don’t Ass-U-Me!



The Statue of Liberty for Creative thinking



· Read more books

· Watch a TED

· Draw a doodle for fun

· Travel

· Go for a walk

· Pick up a new hobby

· Try a new ice cream

· Be mindful and stay open

· Spend time in nature

· Listen to music

· Do your thing



Eiffel Tower for Time Management



· Make a to-do list every day – A Time Diary

· Don’t be afraid to say no

· Find your productive time

· Avoid Procrastination

· Multi Task

· Reward yourself



The Pyramid for One Team, One Goal, One Organisation



· Create a culture of quality

· Communicate with your clients

· Be Transparent

· Set Realistic Expectations

· Add Value

· Share Updates

· Measure your satisfaction

· Own up to mistakes

· Show your appreciation

· Empower your customers



The Great Wall for Customer Centricity



· Adopt an open communication style

· Set expectations and clearly communicate those objectives

· Establish acceptable policies as well as the consequences should the policies be violated

· Conduct demonstration and brainstorming sessions before implementing change

· Energize and have fun

Abundance of Choice

Where our generation lucker than the new with fewer choices? Has the life become easier or difficult with more choices?

An affliction of our time is the abundance of choice. When there was little or none , we were happy with what we had. Today, when there is plenty of choice, we are dissatisfied, no matter what we have!

The application of mind, reason and individual choice is not something that sits easy with all. And when you have to live with the consequence of that choice, the process acquires greater criticallity and makes you highly anxious. Anxiety leads to wrong decision-making, creating unhappiness and depression.

With more opportunities, for travell, education, purchase etc. indeed we can choose our lifestyle and go places, but it is upto us to make approprate decision.

Movement is life, stagnation is death. What one person cannot do, two can; what one person can do, two can do still better. Life is what has been happening to me when I had been busy making other choices.

Moving forward as long as God Willing; letting go what cannot be held on;unaware what was set to come; the year began with a hiking onto Munnar. As scheduled soon after that my sis went through the surgery;we had prayed that:

Wipe out the paints, unmould the clay.
Let nothing remain of that yesterday....

Then February Month End; I had to take leave being unwell; and after a week of leave - suddenly there is a call for a couple of questions to be published in the newspaper - was an unexpected opportunity - accepted after aconsiderable thought.



Answers should have been precise; but I couldnot limit myself.

Life must be rooted in (dharma) - ethical values which is the foundation. Without compromising these one should establish meaningful human relationships (kama) which are like furnishings in a house and secure financial assets (artha) to make walls or bridges. These are not the ends in themselves and in this process we should not lose sight of the ultimate goal of moksha (liberation)

This matches with our corporate Strategy 20-20. Focus -) Connect -) Grow.

Single, But not lonely

Indeed as mentioned in Times Life! by Eric Klinenberg,the author of Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone -

Living alone, feeling alone, being lonely and being isolated are four distinct conditions, but we often combine them. Singletons(People who live alone), are generally neither lonely or isolated. They are actually more likely to spend time with friends and neighbours than married people, and volunteer in civic organisation too.

In the past 50 years, living alone has become one of the most rapidly increasing social trends. India, along with China and Brazil, has recorded the fastest growth of single-person households.

People who are successfully married do relatively well on conventional happiness measure. Do they enjoy life more? Not sure. But then there are all those who marry and then divorce or separate.(or compromise and stay together). People who live alone tend to be happier than them. Human history is full of people living, trapped, in marriages that are lonely and isolating. Living alone is a way of escaping it. As hard as it can be to go solo, there's nothing lonelier than living with the wrong person.

Living alone comports with many of our most sacred modern values: freedom, control of one's own time and space, the search for solitude, the capacity to socialise on our own terms. This is appealing to millions of people around the world.

The disadvantages are that it's expensive, sometimes impossibly so. It can be lonely and if you get depressed while living alone, the problem can spiral out of control. Also, aging alone can be brutal, particularly if you are frail and poor.

Whatever you choose, life sometimes get so bogged down in the details, you forget you are living it. There is always another appointment to be met, another bill to pay, another symptom presenting, another uneventful day to be notched onto the wooden wall. We have synchronized our watches, studied our calendars, existed in minutes, and completely forgotten to step back and see what we've accomplished.

It is our interdependence that makes our independence possible.

We would one day, be removed from the rotation, God is like The rising Sun, 'Too bright in her losing eyes'; Giving light and heat. Both a necessity. But Light to be more than heat.



One swing set, will make memories, to give you in future, an ache of sentimentality. All fragile and fleeting, but it introduces you to ups and downs of human life gently and safely, and teach you : No matter how hard you kick, no matter how high you get, you can't go all the way around. - As in the advertisement for the sale of the swing, in'The Fault in our Stars'. You have the freedom to make your choices, and when you do it; there is no regret, that you are living someone elses life.

New Year: Rejuvenation, Renewal And Rebirth

James Allen, spiritual writer, reminds us:- " Every day is a new birth in time, holding out new beginnings, new possibilities and new achievements. "

We are all in the habit of making New Year resolutions only to see them getting broken in a matter of days or weeks. These resolutions may centre around career, health, education or may be about overcoming certain bad habits. But doing without any goal is no answer. We ought to know where we are going!

We need to be physically and mentally fit. We need faith to meet challenges of the unknown future. German theologian Paul E Billheimer wrote - " Life without love is a disaster. The person who has made the most spectacular success but reaches life's end without learning love has totally failed. Do not envy those in the limelight of publicity, those with scintillating intellects or those who have accumulated great wealth and all that it affords. If one hasn't leaned to love in the process, his life is a disaster. Look for opportunities to express this love, you will find them in plenty. As you go along, sow seeds of empathy, compassion and encouragement; appreciate and motivate people to do their best - your year will be enriched thereby.

Our sense of righteousness is coloured by our selfishness, greed and pride and hence we should guard againt these. Most conflicts among humans can be traced to a lack of concurrence on what constitutes righteousness. Life is often measured by time, andthose who waste time, are actually wating life. The fading of the pastyear and the dawn of the New Year must alert us to the need to live every moment of it. Since life is short we must determine to 'redeem time'. Procrastination, idleness and aimless drifting have proved to be very costly to many would-be achievers.

1. Try to get up early (you can accomplish 30% more during 5 am to 10 am)
2. Exerciseat least for 30 minutes 4 times a week (you have no choice on this)
3. Visualize positive things for 30 minutes every day.
4. If you do the three above, your behaviour will be impeccable.
5. Invest in the best clothes you can afford - along with good shoes (better dressed people earn 15%more - all things)
6. At work, do only things, whcih will increase your productivity. (Whatever you focus on - expands)
7. Outsource everything which is not your core competence. (Don't waste time on improving your weakness)
8. Reduce mobile billsby 30%. (Mobile phones are the biggest time waster)
9. Atleast take one risky decision, which you were always scared to take. (I don't want to die of boredom-do you?)
10.Take 2 vacations in a year.
11. Devote at least one day (sunday)for family only. No business calls, no laptops. Does not matter, how big business/position is.
12. Smile at everyone you meet (Even at the liftman)
13. Read at least 2 books in a year.
14. Call two old friends, whom you have not spoken for in years.
15. You have only 52 weekends,do not let anyone spoil it.

"See People When they are invisible" - (Because you saw me when I was invisible)- A very relevant statement from Princess Diaries.

There was this ugly girl, whom no one liked. But there was a guy who liked her and cared for her. And later when she bcomes aprincessshe calls him out of all prince to dance with her saying "you saw me when I was invisible" Very relevant- People seeing you when you are invisible to the world. We become visible only when we gain success.It is important to see people when they are invisible and bring out the best in them.

Omnis cellula e cellula.....

Journey into 2015

Everything in this world comes with an expiry date, including you and me. Each of us would have our own manufacturing defects, some that can be rectified, some that cannot be. There is no use of generalising things. We are all God's creations, Unique in each of our own ways, but similar in others. Good to forgive, best to forget, Easy to say, Difficult to do. Tough time never last, but tough people do.

Recently someone said about a team/group: 'Negalu Kutathil Ninu Paravekunavar anoo'; ever since I had been wondering the English word for 'Para'; is it backstabbing? Not exactly. Is it ditching? Not exactly. Had a discussion on this, and realised; thereis no word to describe that in any other language..backstabbing comes close, 'Athu MalayaleesinteSwantham Kala Aanu' - Again hurting generalisation. We find this quality in people across, and not all malayalees are like this. What should you do, when someone tell this on your face? Keep your mouth shut? If I had to keep my mouth shut, God would not have given me the ability to speak. So is it wrong to open our mouth? No, then realised we should not react but respond. We cannot fix everything in this world, but just let go. Who realise the worth of being together will stay together, there is no use trying to impose on others. Helping one in need, being there to support can happen only when there are people around and they realise and appreciate the needs with eyes and ears open. Feel sorry and sad, to see people only cribbing, not realising how the responsibility and help rendered by being in a group has given them their own free time to do what they want, in the way they want to do it.

Talents differ, all is well and wisely put. Not sure, how my mother could be so responsible and accountable, without expecting anything in return, so very independent. Working hard with her heads down, with so much of love for her neighbours, friends, and relatives weather it be the washer man, milk man, postman. Keeping a smile on her face, with pain in her heart with love for her brothers.

This is one thing I would like to imbide in me - So strengthen the family bond - to keep the spirit of India alive - Not to adopt what is bad, but keep up the good in 2015 and am glad that I have no brother. (For each their own! Scnecdoche and no pun intended) Brother could meet sister and do much, make things positive; but sister is left saying:


Brother, I am fire
Surging under ocean floor.
I shall never meet you, brother -
Not for years, anyhow;
May be thousands of years, brother.
Then I will warm you,
Hold you close, wrap you in circles,
Use you and change you -
May be thousands of years, brother.


There is a relationship between sisters that is unlike other sibling bonds

- Jodi Picoult'' through 'My Sister's Keeper'


Walls and Bridges are made by the same material; but one unites people while other divides...It is upto each of us to be a bridge or a wall. You cannot blame the skin and blood. Circumstances, controls and priorities matter.

Life is like a journey on a train, with its stations, with changes of routes and with accidents!
We board this train when we are born and our parents are the ones who get our ticket.
We believe they will always travel on this train with us.
However, at some station our parents will get off the train, leaving us alone on this journey.
As time goes by, other passengers will board the train,many of whom will be significant- our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life.
Many will get off during the journey and leave a permanent Vaccuum in our lives.
Many will go so unnoticed that we won't even know when they vacated their seats and got off the train!
The train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, good-byes and farewells.
A good journey is helping, loving, having a good relationship with all co passengers..and making sure that we give our best to make their journey comfortable.
The mystery of this fabulous journey is we do not know at which station we ourselves are going to get off.
So we must live in the best way - adjust, forget, forgive,and offer the best of what we have.
It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to leave our seat, we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train oflife.
Thank you for being one of the important passengers on my train...don't know when my station will come. Don't want to miss saying:"Thank You"

Thank you all for being part of this journey. Hope to see a positive and inspiring 2015 ahead.

PK

Glad to have watched this movie....Had been to a cinema theater after couple of years, and this was worth it! Like 3 Idiots/Munnabhai...could be because it is directed by Rajkumar Hirani.

Movie is the narration of a book PK by Anushka (Janani)to readers and finally has her father wisteling, who once send her an SMS 'Ashamed of you'.

As satire on God and God man; Aamir Khan is awesome as PK the Alien.The first half is flawless as the director stitches together implausible ideas to tell a very believable story. While as an audience you laugh at the absurdities, you also realize how true each of them holds in the Indian context. You also sense PK’s desperation, as you see him frantically persuade every religious custom available to him in an attempt to convey his plea to God.

Whether it be wrong number, or why human wear dress, or why different fashion between different religion, or is there any mark on individuals distinguishing religion, or the lie and theft being common on Earth and every one crazy about Money and Gandhi.

As PK lands on earth, there is love blooming in the hearts of Jagat Janani (Anushka Sharma) and Sarafaraz (Sushant Singh Rajput), a man from Pakistan she met in Bruges but seperates due to miscommunication.

Tapsvi Maharaj versus PK face-off and open criticisam can happen only in India; and to this religion, else this would have been banned or criticised heavily for sure. Jaggu's channel head (Boman Irani) helps them by using his channel as platform to expose Tapasvi. PK succeeds to unite Jaggu and Sarafaraz,but returning home is not easy for PK because he loves Janani, he takes two suitcases with audio tapes of her voice with him, and many spare batteries for his radio recorder. Movie ends with PK coming back on earth for more research with another alien.

Songs are awesome, and the one on Bhagavan reminds me of Maa in Thare Zamen pai. To reconfirm, that our maa is our bhagavan on earth!

A year of Hotels & Hospitals @ 2014

As I look back at 2014, it was a year of hotels and hospitals. Dreams comming true and getting shattered.

Live each day to the fullest, you never know if you have a tomorrow.

Love not just to be good or to make the world a better place out of some abstract moral responsibility, or to give up our hedonism. Connect with energy, it feels like excitement, euphoria and then love. Finding enough energy to maintain that state of love certainly helps the world,but it most directly helps us. It is the most hedonistic thing we can do.

Lead- Let your perception of beauty and iridescence lead your way. Places and people who have answers for you will appear more luminous and attractive. Help others on your way by all means possible.

Learn....what we know is just drops in the ocean, as is said, he who reads leads, so if you learn new skill sets, new things, it will help you in every walk of your life.

Live a legacy...Three deaths in three years, Two in four months. We never know when the time to say good bye is. Live a legacay, keep a mark with good deeds and actions, which would help the world and make a difference.

This year, have covered most of the present hotels and hospitals in and around Kakkanad and Kochi. Three lives shattered. Cannot come out of the shock of one of it, yet. Savithri Amma -Aunty - Why did you go away?