Reviewing ‘Raavan, Enemy of Aryavarta’

Work of Author Amish Tripathi

This book is a classic work.

If you are yet to read the book, I wish to keep you informed that this write-up has spoilers.

Don’t you think evilness in human is a cause-effect? Don’t you think external factors contribute to the rise of villains?

In general parlance, it is difficult to view a story from the perspective of a villain. Here, author Amish brought us the intense side of Ramayana from the angle of Raavan. I wonder how he had been able to consistently work on the same plot from three different angles forming up his Ram Chandra Series. He calls it challenging.

Raavan seems to have been an active musician (special mention: Veena and Hatha) and an artist. Book makes us rethink on what we had been acknowledging as wrongdoing. Focusing on the character sketch of Raavan, I had started to rethink if he had been really villainous. The character leaves his resident at the age of nine as he undergoes a lot of trauma being born as a Naga at his very own house. From a very young age, Raavan had been bundled up with responsibilities as he had to protect the life of his brother and mother. Kumbhakarna always came first in Raavan’s priority list before his mother. He makes money in all ways possible.

He gets to meet Vedavati. A personal favourite was the conversation Raavan has with Vedavati before she is been murdered. She makes him realize his potential, mankind and emphasizes on dharma. Following pages portrayed Raavan as a good-man in becoming. Subsequently, the death of Vedavati ignites violent nature in him. Her demise made him groan and turned him as a destroyer. Further, the depth of his villainous character is spoken through various instances covering his trade relations, tightened trade laws, swayamvar of Sita, the war against Mithila and others. I realize his monstrous nature is a cause-effect. The exemplary focus was given to detail on the use of Asuraastra and the impact it had on Kumbhakarna. It led to the defeat of the Lankans. After capturing Sita, his recognition of her identity was well expressed.

We the readers have to wait for the final book of this series to read about the trios, Ram, Sita and Raavan with details on the clash between Vishwamithra and Vasishta on the other hand.

Water from Jolarpettai to Chennai taps

“Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink,” quoted Samuel Taylor in one of his work. With the latter part being the reality, we witnessed some optimistic posts on social media to visualize the former part of the quote believing the power of positivity.

We spoke cricket, politics, GST, inflation, and a thousand other things beyond the basic needs all these years. At least this period has made us complain about water scarcity and discuss conservation. The water level has drained in various parts of Chennai. Do we all recollect how Chennai was hit by flood previously? Where did the water go by? Do we have proper water reservoirs? Proud that we decided to act for it.

Day after day news on residents initiating ‘clean-up’ campaigns popped in including the Chitlapakkam lake restoration. I came across various social media posts discussing water supplies, minimizing the consumption level, and others. Luckily, there was no question of wastage as there was no possibility for the same. When the first spell of rain was expected, we did activities required to store the rainwater for our use.  Now, the water from Jolarpettai has arrived in Chennai.

Reportedly, 2.5 million litres of water has reached Chennai by train. The authorities claim that the arrangement is expected to serve us for the next six months ‘until the advent of North-East monsoon.’ Let us ensure we meet our needs and not greed. What nature can do to a man is inevitable. Let us continue to practice sustainable development. Let us always remember we owe our future generations.

Agatha’s ‘A Murder is Announced’

One of my favorites from Agatha Christie. Her thriller and mysteries are incomparable. This one featuring the fictional character Miss Marple is woven with an interesting plot. Primarily, I fall for the titles of her books. Isn’t “A Murder is Announced” daring?

The novel starts with an advertisement in the local newspaper announcing a murder at Little Paddocks on 29th October. Though the death of Scherz at the gathering is initially believed to be a suicide, the inspector Craddock proved his brilliance by solving the murder case arresting Letitia Blacklock.

The fun in arranging a birthday party for Bunny was engaging. The cake baked by the cook is wittily nicknamed as ‘Delicious Death.’ It is more of an oxymoron. Though it all added to the fun factor, another death hits the house costing the life of Bunny. I would say that the novel had collective emotion.

A thrilling read!

Celebrating music: Chithirai Thiruvizha 2019

To the performers, the two best things about musical events are learning and practices.

One of the two grand events conducted every year by the SAIFINE ARTS is the Chithirai Thiruvizha. The students are awarded for their performances in the music grade exams conducted annually at this event. The number of students who get facilitated at this occasion always amazed me. I had the opportunity to see what it takes. Our ideal Guru Nellai M Vinayagamoorthy gave us the opportunity to teach basics at the class and I observed how the Gurus train the students, test them periodically and appreciate these budding artists.

I still remember a class hour at which our Guru cited to use the chance of teaching other students through which we will improve collectively. Special thanks to Guru Nellai M Vinayagamoorthy for believing in us and allowing us to handle classes. It definitely helps us grow. I had to listen to various lessons I didn’t know in the first place. I go directly to any of the Gurus including the two brilliant violinists, Ms Sai Priyadharshini and Ms Sai Meenalochani.  I learn and then help the student who learns a particular lesson.

We had an instrumental concert at the start of the Chithirai Thiruvizha event. Every performance including that of seniors has put a ‘wow’ emotion. Each practice session is a fine memory. For the instrumental concert, I paired with my sister- herself on violin and me- veena. I take joy in mentioning that we never lose out on opportunities as our Gurus and our beloved parents always encouraged us to pursue it. Thanks do not equalize the teachings and support we received from Guru Nellai M Vinayagamoorthy and Guru A Vishwamithran. The ‘you people are improving’ report from our Guru Nellai M Vinayagamoorthy post the event meant a lot to us.

I never thought I would equally practice Carnatic vocal too. The consistent practice sessions for various concerts developed the interest, I must mention. Speaking of the vocal concert of this Chithirai Thiruvizha, we learnt songs in various ragas namely Keeravani, Hamsadhwani, Kapi, and others. This time the opportunity coupled with responsibility. I was instructed to assist the kids while practising bhajans. It made me ensure I learn every song right. I used to seek my sister, Archena, to rehearse the songs as she is skilled at this than myself. I remember the first practice session with the kids at which we sang Krishna Krishna Manamohana, a bhajan in Kapi raga. I used to ask myself if I’m doing it right. I recollect, I requested Ms Sai Priyadharshini to check if we are singing it in the way it should be. I must say that the whole sessions I had with those kids were always interesting. I admit that they know most of the lyrics by heart while we adolescents always have a lyric note to support. When I shared such experiences at home, my mother came with a witty statement saying “You should practise at home too, in the morning. Not sufficient when you do it only in class.” Realizing mom is always a mom, I would go silent. I rejoice the session of practice sessions we used to have at 8 pm with extra attention.

Practising Ayi Giri Nandini, Vinayaga in Hamsadhwani, Rama Kodanda Rama in Bhairavi and all the other songs were exciting and challenging. Varum Ondru in Sudha Dhanyasi raga gets a special mention because every time we sing it, the chittaswaras that comes in the song always puts a smile on my face in the memory of my elder sister. We have a memory lined to it. Let the mention of it here put a smile on her face too as she reads it. We had a lot of learning and practice sessions. Sincere thanks to Guru Nellai M Vinayagamoorthy for teaching, supporting, and encouraging us in all possible ways and grateful for the extended opportunities in all forms.

Realizing I have a long way to go and cherishing the journey.

Happy music!

Reviewing Kalki by Kevin Missal

An engaging plot. Flair story telling. However, the language was not error-free.  The sequences are well structured by showing us a tribe after tribe.

The emotion Arjan had towards the family was well covered. Of all the characters portrayed, Lakshmi's charming and daring nature is close to the heart. Kalki's talk persuading the villagers to fight the Asuras was heroic. Lakshmi's courageous death did choke the throat.

The way Kalki was rescued by Arjan, Kripa, Bala and Padma was fantasy filled. Personally, I felt the defeat of Matranja was not that hard-fought. Perhaps he tasted Soma, and yet he didn't seem tough, battling Kalki, equalising his gigantic physique.

Padma's revenge mission was captivating. Fatefully, it brought Arjan towards death, the character that preached the importance of forgiveness. The murder of Ratri and Bala were sorrowful.

This comes to my mind when I think of Kali, "As a brother, he should be protective. Not jealous." Speaking of Kali, though being a powerful king, he had no trustworthy people around him. The mankind in him was vanishing as he began to seek pleasure causing bodily suffering to the people like Arjan, Ratri, prisoners and also his own sister.

Kalki's journey to master the art to fight Adharma is welcoming though it had cost many lives.

It had been worth reading. And personal favourite were the characters of Arjan and Lakshmi for they rose for themselves and also fought for their dear people, all at once until death invited them.

Becoming a Senior Partner

Correlating the Street Lawyer and the Suits

The two ideal characters from the Street lawyer and the Suits television series are both equally inspiring; Michael Brook, a lead character of the Street Lawyer and Harvey Specter, a front-runner in the Suits.

Michael Brook leads a life that goes in line with Harvey’s desire to sustain at a position high above the normal living standards while he works at the Drake & Sweeney law firm. Harvey does not miss a chance to attract the viewers by throwing inspiring and motivational phrases. One such that relates to the life of Michael Brook is ‘When life is this, I like this’ where both the Drake & Sweeney and the Pearson Hardman operates as the revenue generating firms. Expressively, both prioritize their appearance that symbolizes their social status.

Both the lead characters encounter treacherous and ordeal personal lives in their own way. Michael experiences a failed marriage that worries his parents and the big brother. Harvey exposes that he knows what it feels to be alone when the family was around and the unfaithful relationship his mother held towards his father haunted him.

The realization that hits Michael after the death of Mister transforms himself to work for the homeless. When it comes to humanity and ethics, both the characters, Michael and Harvey, stand likewise. John Grisham makes the reader the travel along with Michael Brook who gradually gives up on the luxurious life and serves as a street lawyer dealing pro bono cases with less or no income. Though Harvey expresses ‘If they think you care, they’ll walk all over you’ and that he is against ‘having emotions,’ deep down he cares for people around him which seems visible when he voices for Donna, Jessica, Mike Ross, and others at various circumstances. Forming part of ethics at work, Michael sues and fights the Drake & Sweeney law firm and Harvey settles a suit filed on him with a false memo as evidence, and comes forward to fight a case involving a teen who would have been wrongly accused of murder.

The agreements and dealings contracted for the partnerships after ruling out the association with Daniel Hardman in Suits deliver a lot about the internal relationships that the senior partners possess. The consequences Michael undergoes after filing a suit against the firm to which he belonged, encountering a charge against him for possessing files that evident the involvement of Drake & Sweeney law firm in the eviction of the homeless. Remarkably, both the characters played the man like Harvey quotes, “I don’t play the odds, I play the man” to do whatever it takes to win big. The characters choose to have goals over dreams. The portrayal of their attitude astonishes especially when it suits “It’s going to happen because I’m going to make it happen.”

Forever,

An Admirer

Events marking the International Women’s Day

The news on the all-female spacewalk scheduled to happen on 29th March broke out today, the International Women’s Day. The NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch are to perform the spacewalk as revealed by NASA which is expected to last about seven hours. According to the NASA spokeswoman, the spacewalk scheduled on 29th stands second to the three planned spacewalks.

All-women crew flights were how the airlines in India sketched to celebrate the day. The Air India expressed, "Seldom has a single airline scheduled so many flights operated by its women employees, setting a benchmark to reiterate the equal role and opportunity women rightly deserve in any organization.”

Though Google doodle had stories to tell, I take the chance to cheer all dear women by quoting ‘let nothing bind you.’

Reference: 1 & 2

Retire from the unorganized sector with pension benefit

Prime Minister Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana (PM-SYM) has been launched. The effective scheme is aimed at extending pension benefits to the workers in the unorganized sector. It attracts workers earning INR 15,000 or less.

Reportedly, the scheme guarantees a minimum of INR 3,000 as the pension on attaining the age of 60. The prerequisites to register for the scheme include, the income of the worker should not be subject to tax and uncovered under any other pension scheme, ESI or EPF schemes. The registrations for the scheme has commenced.

Under the scheme, both the beneficiary and the Centre contributes on a 50:50 basis while the latter has allocated INR 500 crore for the scheme. The initiative is expected to benefit more than 40 crore workers in the unorganized sector.

Reference

The Splendid 'Nanganalluril Margazhi Maha Utsav'

A home to witness the definition of patience, hard work, and perseverance pitched to the music

The happening of 'Nanganalluril Margazhi Maha Utsav' has always brought a festive mode to everyone associated with the Sai Fine Arts. It has been the second consecutive year of me and my sibling, Archena, participating in the Utsav.

The event took place on 30th December 2018, with Shrimathi Manjula, the sub-editor of Dinamani; Shrimathi Varalakshmi Anandakumar, an All India A grade artist; Shri Vijaya Murugesh, the founder of Sai Music School & Fine Arts, and the father of Guru Shri Nellai M Vinayaga Moorthy; along with various other dignitaries, as the guests of honour.

Subsequent to the grand event, I recalled the effort put by Guru Shri Nellai M Vinayaga Moorthy, Guru Shrimathi V Thanga Selvi, Guru Shri A Vishwamithran and also Nellai Sai Sisters. It all began immediately after the Chithirai Thiruvizha. The lessons we learned were tremendous. Respect to the Gurus for intensifying our standards in music.

We were asked if we desire to play any song for the group concert. Frankly speaking, I had no idea and surrendered to the choice of Guru Shri Nellai M Vinayaga Moorthy. I grouped with my cousin this time. (However, she also learns violin. Hopefully the succeeding year, I also will). A song titled Adi kondar (Mayamalavagowla raga) which we used to sing for vocal concerts was taught to us. The charanam of the particular song was challenging. We had to make up with the speed and yes we endured it.

For the major happening of the event, the mega concert, our Guru embraced the technological advancements and uploaded the songs for supporting us to learn through his YouTube channel. Tutoring 150 students and coordinating their efforts on stage is made possible by the Sai Fine Arts. We had to sing them during our classes before the guru. I reminisce how we used to cherish singing English notes each time during the practice session.

We had the opportunity to learn pancharatna krithis. Charana Sevanam, a Sai Pancharatna Krithi, was taught to us through YouTube channel. Learning Jagadananda Karaka was a huge task for us. Instrumental practices began soon after that. Going by the success mantra of the ideal Guru, I believe that consistent practices always help us get good outcomes.

Every time before the mass practice session, I ensure I do the individual practices of popular songs to go along with the speed at which the seniors play. We did learn a couple of songs for the previous Margazhi Maha Utsav. And I still remember how we used to struggle to play those songs. Self-assessing, I wanted to play those songs way better than the previous event. We used to practice it with the previous videos uploaded on Youtube. The mega concert did go live on the channel. The speedier versions of each bhajan were challenging as nearer to the Krithis. Special thanks to all the Gurus for concentrating on improving the standards of all budding musicians and directing us to play right.

I was given the opportunity to play the Veena for vocal group concerts. We were taught various bhajans. One of my favourites is the Thatpurusha song. I recollect how I used to repeatedly ask Guru for notes. I also observed that I was able to follow his notes (though after he played it on keyboard several times very patiently) which I used to find hard during my vocal classes while learning various ragas. Practising the Veena along with the vocal was yet another challenge. To accompany, we hold the responsibility to be extra careful because messing up ruins the whole performance, I realized. With Guru on Harmonium for the vocal concerts going along with Violin, Veena, Keyboard by various disciples of Guru Shri Nellai M Vinayaga Moorthy in turns, Tabla, and Mridangam was pleasant. I commit to equip my level to go well with them in the upcoming event aimed at making the righteous happen.

During the event, one of the chief guests addressed on handling personal and professional careers and advised us not to discontinue music due to academic pressure. I thought though we did months of practice at the midst of work, news on job transfers, and others, the execution on stage mattered.

Interestingly, during one of my usual class post the happening of our Margazhi Maha Utsav, expressing on our performances Guru Shri Nellai M Vinayaga Moorthy stated that the learnings throughout the period were huge and it will support us in handling our respective instruments way better than we did before due to consistent practice. It seemed to be a gratifying philosophical perception to me. Special thanks to the Guru for leading us in the right way. Each day counts when you work towards a long-term goal. Let us keep moving forward!

Penned as gratitude to Guru Shri Nellai M Vinayaga Moorthy and all other Gurus at the Sai Fine Arts for identifying the potentials and focusing on developing the musical skills in each of us.