Temporal Love

A pleasant experience,

You left a lingering memory on my senses,

There was a sublime urge,

Urge to meet you again,

To know you better

For you are like an ocean

Too deep to fathom

Little by little you reveal yourself,

Subtly showing your vulnerabilities,

Shades, tones, meaning

A new one each time

And slowly,

You take over my senses

Like love does to us

Enraptured

You are tangible,

Though you've never touched me

And those marks sustain

On sweet memories

Sweet, sweet memories

Of you, your meaning, your sound

But you and I knew,

We knew we've got to part

And you will never be mine.

We never made any promises to each other but one.

Promise of keeping those memories,

Your gifts, smile

Tears

Nostalgia I promised you,

My dear song,

You came, you stayed, and you took off

But I shall remember you

Always.

*This was my entry for Saarang Writing Awards 2013
http://www.saarang.org/main/#!/events

Music and Me Part 1

There is usually that one topic that, when you start writing about, will not be able to complete because the very topic gets you carried away. Or you have too much to say, that you might fear you’re at loss of words. For example, you ask a passionate dancer to talk about his dance. You know, one might feel tongue tied, getting virtually entrapped in the memories of the same in the process of penning it down.

For me, that dreaded topic would be Music. So why am I writing this one? Just simply, to talk about my music. No strong intensions to impress you or what so ever. So yea, Music and me. You get the drift?

Read further then.

To kind of make it simpler for me and also you, I would classify this article into four parts:

Chapter 1 : A. R. Rahman

Chapter 2: Carnatic music

Chapter 3: Western/ English music. Transcending backwards. (Oxymoron yea?)

Chapter 4: Ilayaraja

Chapter 1:

I am a 90s kid. A.R.Rahman was the talk of the town then, in the Tamil music scene. Yielding one hit after the other, it was A.R.Rahman , I can quite confidently say, grew up listening to. (Confidently, because my memories of childhood is quite vague). I remember my first goose bumps moment happened with the solo saxophone piece by Kadri Gopalnath. On weekends, dad would play this A.R.Rahman's Collection CD. The first album on it was the movie Duet. SPB’s singing and the saxophone was an integral component. Marghazi Poove struck a chord with the lyrics. And I can say that these songs formed the initial impressions of music on my mind for I grew up watching these movies- the Prabu Deva ones, the Mani Ratnam ones, the Shankar ones.

Of course there were a lot of other movies I saw with Ilayaraja music, but I’ll get to them in chapter 4. So yea, getting back to A.R.Rahman, he did make some great creations. Actually, still is.

Chapter 2:

I started learning Carnatic music when I was in 1^st standard. So yea, Carnatic music became an integral part of my growing up.

When I started learning keerthanais, the favourite ones would invariably play in my mind.

A beautiful form of music. Something I realized later when I came quite away from it. But the love for it has been rekindled in the recent months.

Music and Me Part 2

Chapter 3:

If one can say the music you listen to while growing up has a lot of it reflected on you, I think the music that comes after that, with age has the same impact if not more. For me, the music since my late teens has come through exploring, listening to the radio and reading. It’s not usually from the charts or the ‘what’s-new’ category.

I somehow found it important to mention the above stated fact.

It typically started with 3 Doors Down, Green Day, Nickleback, Bon Jovi, Creed, Hinder. Yea my stint with Pop didn't go down well with me. Another Brick In The Wall, Winds Of Change is kinda fresh in my mind because we sang it in school and with YMCA respectively.

There was Maroon 5, The Rasmus, The Killers, Foo Fighters.

Thanks to a cousin of mine who shared his music collection. My first tryst with retro music was White Lion. Somehow I feel, it’s a band that is pretty under rated. And then, just like that, a brilliant event took place- my introduction to All India Radio- the Western Music Section.

Around the same time, I started my stint with poetry.

American Idol helped a lot too. You know, to understand vocals, the way an artist interprets a song. So yea, with time, I transcended from alternative rock to alternative metal, then grunge.

Yea, it was the time when you go gaga over Nirvana, Peal Jam, Korn, Evanescence.

And yea, there is this one band that a person, typically idolizes right? For me it was Evanescence.

Oh boy, what an impregnable influence the lady, Amy Lee left on me.

A few songs down the line I came across My Immortal. It did magic on me.

The lyrics, the video, the music, the vocals.

Everything about it, I feel, is flawless.

‘Lithium’,’ Lacrymosa’, ‘Like you’ are some other great works of theirs.

And then, the song Good Enough- ETHEREAL One must watch the video to get understand what I am trying to express.

And when you get to reading about the song, the stories, inspirations and details, you fathom more depth in the song.

Patti Smith was another interesting artist- with her vocals and interpretation of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and 'Heart Shaped Box'.

And next to Amy Lee, there was a fixation for Kurt Cobain.

You know what am talking about? Don’t you?

His influence on people goes beyond the horizons of music.

You read about him, and he comes out to you as a character. A very basic order of human being, at that.

Then came Soundgarden, Alter Bridge and hence, Chris Cornell.

What a voice. Man!

Seriously. Him, Eddie Vedder, Scott Stapp to my eyes hold a high pedestal in the order of vocalists.

I guess from here, it was nothing but retrogression.

Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Doors.

There is a period when you are obsessed with 'Black' (Pearl Jam). There is a time when you are obsessed with 'Stairway to Heaven' (Led Zepplin).

And I am no exception.

Oh, how can I forget the crazy lady, Janis Joplin. Isn’t she just cool?

Then there was The Beatles mania.

Guess this was the genre turn for me.

The Beatles were followed by Dylan, Frankie, Aretha, Ella Flizgerald, Louis Armstrong and on the other side, Sting.  Few popular numbers by Eric Clapton, Dave Mathews Band, Norah Jones and plenty of others.

So yea, here I am. Totally drenched in classics.

Of course there are a lot of good current artists.

On one side there is music that seems to never fade away, and on the other side, creations that are invariably going to join the former in the future.

Note:

I wanted to write this before I end this chapter. There is a popular notion that drugs and this sort of music go very well or rather, one starts seeing new & diverse dimensions when you are high.

Believe me, I didn't need those drugs to feel the high and sense those crazy dimensions to this music. Yes, I DIDN'T!

Chapter 4:

Now let’s talk about the last chapter. The one I am meddling with currently. A beautiful chapter. The music of Ilayaraja.

Aha!

Of course, I've heard his music while growing up. The various Kamal and Rajini movies.

But the real Ilayaraja impact happened to me in college.

I would sound clichéd to someone who studied in college during the 80s 90s.

(Correct me if I am wrong).

So yea, this music can touch your heart and transport you to a new era all together.

And these amazing god sent singers like SPB and Yesudas, Mano and Chitra.

Take for that matter, the maestro him self’s voice. (I've always found it quite interesting when I realized that most of these musicians from MSV to GV Prakash have a great voice themselves.)

Most of his songs know no boundaries of language and age.

They just live, live on till eternity.

When beautiful words are set to a beautiful tune and assigned to brilliant artists, you've got your layman audience’s vote on your side.

Thiruvasagam used to play at my house each morning when the album was released. I would get ready to go to school with my ears focused on the music system.

It leaves you very calm and kind of introspective.

That was my first confrontation with his music.

The recently held Nee Thane En Pon Vasantham  movie’s audio release tried to kind of sum it up.  His music, the impact and the passion with which people pursue it.

So yea, that was a little bit about music and me.

I warned you! I wouldn't be able to do justice.

Ha ha!

Thanks for reading nonetheless. Do  leave your opinions for me to read.

Visuals from My Life

So well, today, I thought, let’s post some pictures. Photographs that I clicked or were taken by others and mark a particular experience or event.

This one was taken when my friend, Nandini and I were obsessing over some coffee.  We tend to go a little bonkers when we are together. Some times in creative ways, like this one.

That is a view of my room. I don’t get to spend much time here, but this little den of mine holds a special place in my heart. It induces the feeling of being ‘at home’, if you know what I mean.

Teenage times. Phase when it was a lot about writing, music, poetry, dreams about future. Ah! Wasn't it one time when we thought the world was our own! Haha!

Some stuff I did to my cupboard in the name of creativity. I like it. It's music, come on!

Kodaikanal. It was a beautiful 2 day trip with a handful of friends. In between scorching summer times, a little trip to a hill station is really helpful.

While boating, in the lake at Kodai. The pictures were taken by my friend, Spurthi

Kerala. My stint with Champakulam for about 7 to 10 days was very memorable. A quaint village. A beautiful place with its own culture. It was a very special period of my life. We were studying a church and a residence and Kerala architecture and history related to it. It was a beautiful one month. Fond memories of spending an entire month in the campus when the rest of the students were off for the winter break. Working in the studios from morning to evening. Analyzing if I may say so.

The evening tea (occasionally coffee) breaks. The great weather of Trichy. Funny the fact that we are given holidays and sent back to our houses when Trichy has good weather to offer.

This picture was taken by my friend, Giri.

Pondicherry- When we had gone to watch the sun rise. Talking about Pondicherry, the place holds a special place in my mind -with its culture, people, architecture and the innumerable stories about Auroville. Man, it’s one of its kind places I have been to in my short life.

Heserghatta near Bangalore.  

From Tanjore Palace.

It’s a majestic building quite close to my college. The Tanjore Brihadishwara Temple.We go there once in a while.It was a lucky day 2 years ago when my batch mates and I could witness a Bharatnatyam performance at  the temple. Could watch only for a few minutes, but it was something special. The moonlight, flood lights, classical dance with the backdrop of Chola architecture. Beautiful!

Something fun that my friends and I did in Taj Mahal.

Beautiful, aren’t they, colourful bangles!

A beautiful place that goes by the name Hauz Khas village. Would like to mention the good times (once with each bunch) I've had with Mayank, Subro and Satta, Tejal and Swati, Nisha and Harish.

A place I've been accustomed to in the past 3 months. A beautiful place. Amidst the Ayanagar crowd and ever-maddening work (that could qualify to be exaggeration), this soothes the eyes and the mind, each day,every day.

Beautiful weather at the Qutub Complex. It was a great day.

A picture taken in Ooty last year. We went in search of a site for one of our college competitions.We chose the Toda community of Nilgiris. A one day trip, but definitely very special for I was born in Ooty and  I must confess that visiting the place after almost 7 years leaves you with too much nostalgia. And I saw through my eyes how much a place can change over a course of a few years. (Photographed-not by me)

Rain, believe you me, is one beautiful phenomenon. It can turn tables when it comes to some people’s mood. Well, it's almost intoxicating in my case. A view of the roads from my studio in college. (National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli)

This post is an outcome of good mood or rather a mood for nostalgia. Please don’t mistake it for an attempt at photography. I believe photographs are a way of keeping records. Like a diary. Photos serving the purpose, visually. And they are handpicked from pictures I have stacked. It’s a post by a hopeless romantic who finds a photograph of a bunch of bangles beautiful. So well, that’s the kind of stuff you can expect from me.

Metro Stew

Have you travelled in the Delhi Metro? Have you been to Rajiv Chowk metro station during the office hours? Well then you know exactly what I mean. Well to begin with, what is wrong with us? Yes, you (with the fingers pointing at you). Where does our common sense go when we are travelling in the metro?

Please make way for passengers to de-board the train before you push your way into the coach.

Ever heard of that?

Someone should video shoot this stuff man. You behave like getting into the train is the one last chance the human race has to save themselves from destruction. And there is never a next metro. What if you choose to take the next one? If that is no better, wait for the next one. You won’t get sacked from your job. But well yea, your cab wala might leave from the metro station sharp at 10. If that’s the case, please leave your house 10 minutes early.

It’s always someone ‘piche’ (behind) who pushes you forward. It’s always that invisible someone. And it’s quite entertaining I must confess to see people get into a tiff cuz of the previous mentioned act or for having held the hand support and hence disturbing their equilibrium. (Man, we are fighting for some space to keep our feet on the floor of the metro). And then those namunaes who think its heroic to put their bags or themselves in between the train doors when its just about to close so that they can get in. Do you realize that each time you do that, the train doors open and close again hence leading to a short delay in the services and hence affecting the entire line?

And ladies with heels, please watch your feet, god will bless you.

It bloody hurts.

Its quite shameful to realize that we need a guard at each gate of the train to bring in some order. And have you seen him bang at the doors to get your attention and some order? Please note that it just shows how atrocious and ill-mannered we are.

The other day a girl fell in between the little gap that’s there between the platform and the train. All because of us. If it wasn’t for the guard who immediately lifted her, it could have turned out quite serious. And I am sure such incidents keep happening.

Well, DMRC should take the necessary actions but the basic problem here is US- the 17 million residents of the city. We are just too many in number (a lot of us with quite some baggage too).

So it is on us to act like a civilized crowd.

Act sensible, allow passengers to get off first, not block their way, not push about and be patient, watch your temper and words and have yourself a pleasant journey and let others have one too.

A fellow passenger