Book Review: 'A Sip of Love and A Sip of Coffee' by Ganga Bharani Vasudevan

I was there at the book launch of Ganga Bharani's ' A sip of Love and A Sip of Coffee' and also grabbed a copy of the author signed book.   However, several other priorities did not give a chance to read this book till this week. 

I know this book focuses on the puppy love.  The teenage urge for attention, the phone calls, the exam tension, group studies, cycling to school, the craving for marks and the academic results and the regular parental care and pressures.  This book covered it all.   

It takes you through a simple realistic story of Avanthika (Ave) and Gautham, how they fall in love, in-fact a first crush for her, an infatuation and longing for the first kiss, makes you laugh at times remembering the puppy love that you would have come across in life.   The intermediary conversations with the author and the characters of the book is refreshing and a good attempt by Ganga.  I am sure she succeeded in the portrayal of the characters.   

For a not so young reader like me, I felt the story was bit more circling around the fever of exams for longer than it wanted.  The  concept of 'best friend forever' between a boy and a girl portrayed with the character of 'Srinivas' in Ave's life made it realistic.   

As the turn of events, and as the story moves from the school stage, to college and professional lives of the protagonist Avantika and her first love Gautham, the script moves on at a faster pace.   It quickly takes you through the sudden changes and shift in their thinking and thorough understanding of love and relationships.  

The final chapter shows you that real love is not in always ending up with marriage, but in understanding to the extent where you can actually give it up, for the benefit of the people involved in it.  Being practical and actually understanding the essence of wanting a relationship or letting it go.  

This story ends with a twist that is welcoming.   Not every first love ends up in life long companionship, but the warmth, the aura of puppy love, the feeling of first crush, the sweet nothing conversations and the attention seeking watching over each other, the phone calls and pretending with parents, the kisses that fly across the telephone lines, reminds of a teenage that is normal and charismatic.   

Accepting of reality and understanding of love in its purest form makes this book readable.   Kudos to the attempt of Ganga Bharani.   I am sure the younger people will love this book alot and we middle age folks will smile with happiness remembering our teenage and its own tantrums....Ofcourse it does remind you of the first love :-)

Bottonline :  Please grab your copy and enjoy the book with a cup of hot coffee...if possible made by your spouse with love!

My Two Cents for Kabali - Why this movie is different and classic of Rajnikanth - A Review on 'Kabali' da!

maya nadhi indru maarbil vazhiyudhe
thuya naraiyilum kaadhal malaruthe

Best shot of Kabali

Keeping aside the fact that I am a die-hard fan of Rajinikanth like millions of people in Tamil Nadu and world all over,  I have my insights into the movie that had mixed reviews from the public.  

 Few beautiful things that make this film, a classic and absolutely different including the concepts of love, betrayal, hero worship, gangs and drugs, prostitution and school drop-outs, and above all, first time Rajnikanth acting of his age.   A elderly man who takes with him, both the pride of being a revolutionary of his times and wanting to take this to the future,  holding on an in-depth pain of a man madly in love for his wife and losing her.     The movie like any other does have its own misses and lengthy scenes, however, those can be overlooked, when you look deep into this movie's beauty of love. 

This movie also gives equal opportunity to every small artist who is part of this team work.  From the school drop out Tiger to the hero worshiping Jeeva, to the rebel Kumaran , to the Free Life Foundation Fathima and Meena,  to the normally dressed Jeeva's mother and Kumaran's mother,  every artist gets an equal screen-space.  Instead of a son, it is the daughter who is shown as a strong willed gangster who turns out to be Kabali's own daughter.   Yogi does an amazing job.  The conscious effort to show the feminine character of Yogi, despite her boyish appearance and fights in the scenes where she takes her foster father Velu to the washroom,  where she slips the coffee cup at the ring of the bell, and the tears that she sheds when she sees her mother for the first time.  You should really watch this movie with no first week whistle sounds in the theater, and cherish each expression that has been beautifully expressed by the artists.   They did an amazing job.  

Beautiful Portrayal of Yogi

The antagonists did no less.    Right from Tony Lee, Vaseekaran and his gang, every one did a decent job.   Somehow, I really missed 'Raghuvaran' being alive to having donned the role of the key antogonist in this movie...he would have been the BEST fit.   Probably, the makers could have also thought about Prakash Raj to be partnering with Tony Lee...the presence of the strong villain would any day make Rajini's movies long living.   

Few scenes, that I felt like watching again and again.   The happy Kabali after meeting Tamilarasan, keeping on talking about it to Kumudhavalli and the kind of full face smiles on their faces,   the silent hallucinations of Kabali in search of his wife,  as he goes near the river side bench and sitting and the way Kumudha keeps on asking ' na enga irukeynu vunaku teriyada...evalovv neram unakaga kathirkaradhu....and the way her ear rings moves as she talks....its a moment to cherish.   

Lovely expressions from Radhika and Rajini

The beautiful scene where he stands and watches from the french window, and thinks about what his wife will be doing, thinking and will react when he meets her the next day,  the expression in his eyes shows what an absolute actor Rajinikanth can be.   The way he says to Yogi...'po da,,nee poi thungu...nee poooo' shows his age and maturity as a father.    He had played the role of father before, but this particular movie, shows the vulnerability and emotionally drained father.   The way he holds Velu when he murmurs that he has a daughter, shows the desperate search of an aged man for his long lost family.    

Under the coat of the gangster, lies a heart full of love.   The way he looks at Kumudha when she does the bed, and he keeps on disturbing it, the way he watches her with a glitter in his eyes, and during the party, when a french couple keep kissing, the way he looks at his wife and smiles,  shows a true love beyond ordinary expressions,  expressing togetherness forever.  The blushing and glee on their faces, when he approaches her as she gets draped in the saree...the sharp expressions and acts of quick moves makes Rajini ..our best.

Romance, Love, Happiness....what an expression!

Radhika Apte can just be the apt artist.  PA Ranjith as director has done a wonderful job in selecting his cast for the film.   Though many earlier reviewers felt that there is overdose of his friends from earlier movies of the director,  I felt he gave a fair chance to all in this movie.  Nasser did his role with ease.   The Young Rajini looks like a charming young man from Mullum Malarum..taking us back to 80's easily.   

The mannerism is unique to Rajini..The way he sits in the Le Meridian when he reaches Chennai...the way he laughs when Anbu tells him about 'Saraku'....makes him the super star we all love.    I get goosebumps when I hear the song ' Maya Nadhi'...what a beautiful song from lyrics of Umadevi...wow.   One dialogue that stands out of Kumudha is when Rajini  says "Nee sethutenu neniachen". And she replies "Sethu dhan poirndhen, nee vandhu paakara varaikum" - shows how a woman in love for her husband will wait for years together for him to come back in life....truly touching....

Style Mannan !  Super Star Rajini !

One reason why the movie did not touch the fans in the first few days, is to the fact that the urban crowd probably do not know the pains of the rubber tapper or oil farm workers and their problematic lives in Malaysia.   This is reflection of an on going issue.   The deprived generations of people who migrated to the land in dreams of fortunes and ended up in unfortunate situations.   Malaysia Indians, especially Tamils have made the country their own.   However, they have their share of pain and anguish which is very well reflected in this movie.   The dialogues on Gandhi or Ambedkar shows that despite the country or the community, we still have the struggles across the globe.   The story of the crabs is not only true but thought provoking.   The growing dominance of Chinese and controlling our segments of retail and wholesale industry and this subsequently more in the underworld thus making our vulnerable youngsters easy prey to their activities is well reflected in this movie.  

The visuals of Malaysia and Thailand, Hongkong and Chennai are equally colorful and refreshing.   The background music is kind of not in pace with the movie...and could have been better.   The slowness in few shorts is of-course a minus.   One probable thing that could have been avoided is the overdose of violence.   Especially, I was taken back at the scene where "Jeeva's'' hand is packed and sent to Kabali in a box.   We are not seeing this first time in Tamil movie,  we have seen much dreadful scenes in 'Vettayadu Villayadu' and other movies...but over all our movies can stop showing such violence as it effects the viewers.       Critics have all rights to criticize.   You watch it with no preset assumptions and too much of expectations.  It is definitely worth watching.  If you are fan of Rajini or no, you will still enjoy the movie.

Kudos to the makers of this movie.   For God's sake, don't ever compare with Linga.   This is far better movie with depth of acting and entertainment.     I only wish Thaliavar Rajni is at best of health and happiness to give us few more movies and entertain us in what ever way he wishes it is right.  Stop the stereotypes and breaking the protocols and inhibitions,  we need to take a movie as a movie and enjoy, instead of making this a personal success or failure.    After all, what you pay is for a movie ticket...but what the actors and makers of the movie,  technicians and the crew gives is their precious time, efforts and love for the art.   No one will plan to give a failure..If you don't like it, please ignore, it is no body's loss.   If you like it..go watch it again...in the theater...and no piracy!

Magizhchi !!!    

Love you Rajini!
Nerupu Da!

Good work Team Kabali!

Na Vanthutenu Solu
Thirumbi Vanthutenu,
25 Varshathuku Munadi Epdi Ponano Kabali,
Apdiye Thirumbi Vanthutenu Solu..
‪#‎Kabali‬ Da 😎

My spirituality begins in my bathroom :-) :-) :-) ...

Yes, you heard me right!   My spirituality unusually begins in my bathroom....It is one place in this whole world. where I can just be myself.  I can laugh for nothing,  I can cry my heart out,  I can giggle at myself in the mirror,  sitting on the closet, I dream letting myself relieved.   It is in my bathroom, that I have my life's biggest decisions sparking in my head.   It is here, that I look at the mirror and talk to myself endlessly, seeing and stopping my unwanted frowning...smiling at my silly thoughts of adventures that I cannot take and the fantasies of life that I cannot explore otherwise.  It is my world of peace..It is my place of spirituality.

After every bad day, I get to my mirror on the wall and let it out.  I talk to God there, I find him next to me.  I stop worrying what others would think or if I am pleasing or not pleasing my Gods.   We share a very unique and fervent  relationship in our eternity.  I am not a religious addict, but I have strong beliefs injected into my system ever since I was born.   Religion and Spirituality are two absolutely different things but go hand in hand.  They cannot be discarded as opposites nor taken for granted as synonyms.   Religion teaches us a way of faith, a way of worship and way of living.   Spirituality takes you closer to God, within you and outside you.  

I have done my share of mistakes in this world.  I am not perfect and I never tried to be one as well.  It is an absolute delight to be yourself, the way you want and the way you feel comfortable.  My family thinks that I am a nerd not trying to be matching to the corporate world I work for.  It is an additional value to how we present, than a necessity.  I do my job.  So being presentable in a different way makes no sense to me.  I am the same old traditional, non-fashionable girl from a uprising town far away from the modern melodrama of metropolitan city.  I live in midst of the city and I enjoy being a socialite, enjoying parties, long drives, dance (of course crazy for others to watch), attending events all over the city for all kinds and above all, I am allowed to be myself.  To me it is my own spiritual elevation.  To be myself.

Not many would acknowledge the fact that the utmost and absolute privacy begins only in the bathroom....but to  me it is the small space of my own.  I don't spend long time than required there, for I have the fear of over dose of my spiritual calling.   My thoughts get clear, my appreciation for my body is high, my level of admiration for my dreams is elevated and I find some kind of calmness.   One day, I was thinking why the hell I am having this unusual quest of finding my inner self.   I realized that I am in search for something unique and different.   I am honestly contended person with my own share of ups and downs that keep my life easy and enjoyable.  It spices my life.  However, there is sharp contrast to the search of unknown.   

Three things like loan, hatred and unhealthy body collapses a life easily.  If we keep  running behind the quest of making money aimlessly and in the process lose the very life, it is meaningless....The peace is gone when we take the loan....we end up in hatred of the situation, hating people and these two finally destroys our health with worries..  Few simple mantras in life actually change the entire thinking we have in life.   Until we realize that we don't realize the purpose of our life.   Spirituality is not practicing and learning Vedas and scriptures.  It is a simple process of following the goodness of mankind.   It is not easy as said

To me spirituality is not a different process.  It is a way of life.  It is how I identify myself with my inner urges.  My crazy and mind boggling thoughts and deeds.  I did hurt many people in my life and I beg their forgiveness.   I had worst times and I wish to forget them.  I spoke ill of few people and I apologize for the words cannot be taken back.   I repent for the hurt I gave to few.   Amidst all that I also abused my mind and body.   This realization is my spiritual enlightenment.   Emerging out of the self-defined crisis and re-making things around me is the spiritual realization.  I am at peace.  I am at peace with my self.  My small world.   

This post is written as part of the #ChennaiBloggersClub contest on "What spirituality means to me?"  #Spirituality #ChennaiBloggersClub #Songsofthemist

 #TheMonkKey Contest

Link to CBC website and the monk key website.

www.chennaibloggers.in

http://themonkkey.com

Suicide Story Calling for Hope and Help

Expression of life with smiles and cheers

The loud laughter’s for such silly jokes

Confidently standing beyond arrogance

False countenance nonchalantly reticence

As I pulled over the mask to show different me

So fake and so conflicting to nonexistent inner glee

Not with intentions to cheat everyone around

But disguising with pretense to one thyself

Murky gorge of reality without an escape

As my skull becomes evil’s warehouse

It is nothing but a curse being titled strong

For the actual struggle hidden all along

Swinging precarious between hope and surrender

Hiding tears and fears battling scary bearers

Consummating the artists within in disguise

Desponding alive in growing stronger 

Unable to eat, sleep, travel or wander

Trying to slip into the little dodging slumber

Absolute frames of absurd thoughts derider

Hugging the lifeless pillow to cry aloud

Of falling into the valley deep into the grounds

Running behind the leaving train

Waking up with a jerk and disdain

Succumbing to the loneliness of the chest

Sweating unusual than on a wilder trek

Where is my inner strength disappear

And the ardent faith ruled over by devils

Cries in cowers laid to rest in corner

The provocation to die chanting over life

Darkness and death looking alluring

Life be uphill struggle and non-fetching

Scared of another day and survival

Everything looked repulse and pointless

Hearing my fore-fathers calling me to the shore

Another life, another time, welcoming to meet

Where is the hope that made life everything?

Heartache, emptiness of the inner soul

Lost merry, life easy, trading my nothing

The curtains are ready to be brought down

The drama of life is ready to sure end

Free from the masks of public appearance

No more delving in pity of others around

Time to put an end to the corrosion of mind

Beyond the layers of wisdom thick to grind

Depression is never seen till it’s too late

Death can seem to be the only solace

Finding the Story of Suicide around,

Look again, think and stop by for a second

Give them a hug, hope and helping hand!

That moment, may bring them back to life again!

My Blessed Sleep !

The thoughts smirk to run haphazard

Unrecognized worries crawl and groove

Winces my sleep that takes to its heels

The pride of the day shatters to disdain

Trying to hold things that go unaware

Capturing millions dreams not letting sleep

Her hare on the marrow sounds like nightmare

Making me toss in the bed all night along

Hopelessness is not my state of mind

Hope, solace, peace, pain all in grind

Staring into the darkness of the soul

Looking for the sunlight in the roof hole

 Brazen tears rolling down on my cheeks

Thinking beyond like the techy geeks

Not a moment to wink and ensue sleep

Words unspoken and tasks still not done

Restlessness looking towards in leap

Tormenting my heart as it inner bleeds

As sleep refuses to usher its blessings

The demand with contrasting short supply

Closing eyes and waiting for the god’s reply

To treasure the most cherished sleep

That adjourns my life and refuses to reap

As the stars and night birds venture out

The moon dashingly hides behind the clouds

Letting the lovers explore the nocturnal beauties

I stay wide awake looking into the still night

As mind runs behind the poetic masterpiece

I look into the mass wondrous black canopy

And the trees that try to sing my lullaby

Don’t know when I slipped into the silent night

Woke up with warmth, love and tender might!