FAVOURITE SONGS OF 2011

Was surprised that I liked more Hindi and Malayalam songs than Tamil songs in 2011. My favourite overall album of the year was 'Rockstar'.

TAMIL
01. Ayyayyo (Aadukalam)
02. Yaathe Yaathe (Aadukalam)
03. Ennamo Edho (Ko)
04. Nee Korinaal (Nootrenbadhu)
05. Imai Thoodhane (Ilaignan)
06. Mazhayil Kulitha (Ilaignan)
07. Narmada (Kandaen)
08. Maasamaa (Engeyum Eppodhum)
09. Naa Sonnadhum Mazhavandhucha (Mayakkam Enna)
10. Porkalam (Aadukalam)

HINDI
01. Jadugari (Dil To Bachha Hai Ji)
02. Phir Mohabbat (Murder 2)
03. Isq Risk (Mere Brother Ki Dulhan)
04. Tum Ko & Tum Ho (Rockstar)
05. Tere Bin (Dil To Bachha Hai Ji)
06. Sheher Mein (Rockstar)
07. Jiyein Kyun (Dum Maro Dum)
08. Choomantar (Mere Brother Ki Dulhan)
09. Rangrez (Tanu Weds Manu)
10. Der Lagi Lekin (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara)
11. Haal e Dil (Murder 2)
12. Hey Na Na Na Shabana (Hum Tum Shabana)
13. Chammak Challo (Ra One)
14. Aa Zara (Murder 2)
15. Khaabon Ke Parinde (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara)

MALAYALAM
01. Kaanaamullal (Salt n Pepper)
02. Ithile Varoo (The Train)
03. Arike Ninnaalum (China Town)
04. Chirakengu (The Train)
05. Madhumaasa Mounaraagam (Rathinirvedam)
06. Chembarathi (Manikyakallu)
07. Kannoram Chingaaram (Rathinirvedam)
08. Chengadhir Kayyum Veeshi (Snehaveedu)
09. Chimmi Chimmi (Urumi)
10. Ninnodenikkulla Pranayam (Doctor Love)

FAVOURITE SONGS OF 2010

Though I don't listen to as much music as I used to before, I try and keep up with the latest Tamil and Hindi film music. To remember the songs that brought me much delight in 2010, I put together a list of my favourite songs in 2010. Have always wanted to make year-end lists, so maybe this will be the beginning.

TAMIL
01. KadhaigaLai paesum vizhi aruge (Angaadi Theru)
02. Mannippaaya (ViNNaithaaNdi Varuvaayaa)
03. Maegam vandhu pogum (Mandhira Punnagai)
04. Thooral ninraalum (Chikku Bukku)
05. PookkaL pookkum tharuNam (Madharaasappattinam)
06. Enna kurayo (Mandhira Punnagai)
07. Neela vaanam (Manmadhan Ambu)
08. Un paerai sollum bodhe (Angaadi Theru)
09. Naan pogiren maele maele (NaaNayam)
10. Adada mazhada (Payyaa)
11. Usure pogudhe (RaavaNan)
12. Hosanna (ViNNaithaandi Varuvaayaa)
13. Idhuvarai illaadha uNarvidhu (Goa)
14. Kayya pudi (Mynaa)
15. Who's the hero (Manmadhan Ambu)

HINDI
01. Dil to bachha hai ji (Ishqiya)
02. Nana chi tang (Khatta Meetha)
03. Baarhaan dil mein - male and female versions(Mr Singh Mrs Mehta)
04. Dil kyun ye mera (Kites)
05. Zindagi do pal ki (Kites)
06. Ajnabi aankhein (Mr Singh Mrs Mehta)
07. Tere mast mast do nain (Dabangg)
08. Ab mujhe koi (Ishqiya)
09. Ae khuda tu kuchh to bata (Mr Singh Mrs Mehta)
10. Pee loon (Once Upon A Time In Mumbai)

LOSING MORE

Lost my mobile phone (again) today. Feeling desolate and inconsolable.

What did I lose, apart from the money value of the phone...hmm..
Almost every piece of information can somehow be retrieved or stutteringly restored.

Except for the sms-es of someone who is not an active part of my daily life anymore. Looking at these sms-es were my way of injecting that person's memories (and my love for her) into my constant mental system. Even though it may not exist anymore (in the other person's heart), to see the past intensity of love (for me) that was expressed in words still used to make me feel loved.

Tonight, I stand deprived. Of even those keepsake memories, that I so dearly hung on to for several years.

La la la

Bro: La la la
Sis: What are you humming, bro?
Bro: The song of life
Sis: La la la?
Bro: Yes, la la la. That's the lyric.
Sis: There must be more...
Bro: No, that's it. La la la.
Sis: What does that mean?
Bro: What do you think that means? Try and guess...
Sis: Mm... You're trying to call me by name, but you're stammering out of grief?
Bro: It's the song of life, sis! Think again. Think profound.
Sis: Mm... la la is lullaby. Lullabies are for babies. Babies mean the beginning. It's about birth?
Bro: Good try. What else?
Sis: La La La. At continuous intervals. Life is a periodic cycle?
Bro: Not bad. Ok. Now what do you think the tune of the song is?
Sis: Sa Ni Pa.... Ma Ga Ri.... Come on, how can i guess that? :-) Enough guessing. You tell me what it means.
Bro: Listen carefully...there is no meaning to the lyrics, just as there is none to life.
Sis: !!!
Bro: You can only try and make sense of it to the best of your knowledge. Each one's interpretation to his/her own.
Sis: I'm speechless!
Bro: Now the tune. There is no fixed tune to la la la. Anyone can sing it in any way. No one can correct you and say 'hey, that tune is wrong' because no one knows the tune themselves. It is just that some people's tunes sound better so more people follow that tune, but really - there's no one correct tune.
Sis: I'm not sure if i've wasted my time here, or if i've learned anything of value.
Bro: That must be exactly what people think... on their death beds...

CAN YOU SEE THE LOGIC?

Have seen this billboard in several locations in Bangalore; this one near Silk Board Jn (Thanks for the pic, Raju). Pray, what would the logic be? That the person who CANNOT see the image of the eye CAN READ the smaller font below it, and CAN ALSO READ the mobile number which is in smaller font? By the way, if someone can't see the eye nor the words, what the hell are they doing at the traffic signal at Silk Board Junction?!

FIFA WC 2010 FINAL - PAUL Vs MANI

I am totally tickled by the global popularity achieved by Paul the Octopus and Mani the Parakeet. While the former is an international, death-threat-receiving celebrity, the latter is a relatively less famous Singaporean 'psychic bird'. Both of them hit the headlines because of their ability to "predict" the outcomes of the FIFA 2010 World Cup matches. But the grand final promises to reveal who the real king is - Paul has chosen Spain to win FIFA WC 2010, while Mani has picked Holland!

So, will it be Paul or Mani? (more interesting for me than the outcome of the match itself!)

While we wait to find out, check out this video of yet another animal prophet, this time an amateur cocker spaniel - Leone the Psychic Dog. (My favourite part is between 1:17 and 1:28 - when the owner spins Leone around, counting from one to ten - ha ha!)



I hear the KiLi Josiyars Association of Tamil Nadu is planning to send a contingent of parrots & their owners to the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE

I was shocked to read that the President of Nigeria has banned the Nigerian national football team from playing in international tournaments for two years because of their dismal performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This reminded me of an engineering college administrator who used to threaten to debar students with many arrears from appearing for next semester's exams! Reward failure with no-return-from-failure!

But then, a bit of googling pointed me to worse consequences that other footballing nations have faced in the past:
* The Ivory Coast team was held for three days in a military camp after being eliminated in the first round of the African Cup of Nations.
* North Korean footballers were allegedly sent to labour camps after on-field debacles, and are likely to come under fire from their "Dear Leader" for their huge-margin losses in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
* And the most draconian of them all - Iraqi players' punishments included flogging (with electric cables), baths in raw sewage, feet whipping (with thorns), and more.

Qualifying for the World Cup finals is no mean task, especially for the weaker footballing nations. Players struggle in difficult social and economic conditions to rise and perform at the international level. Instead of encouraging their team's achievements and providing them the support they need, ruthless governments shame and humiliate them. On the other hand, I also read that the English footballers are vacationing with their families and girlfriends after their humiliating first-round exit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup!

Whose fault for being born in the wrong country?