Vanakkam Doctor !

The kites came in different shapes and sizes. There was a tiny weenie one, the shape of the 5 paisa coin and sold for the same and the biggest of all the BAANA kite, which was sold for anything between three and twenty rupees depending upon the season and availability. Amazing names, they had. The lists goes like this: Tube light, Meesai, Thalai pattai, rocket, korai thalai pattai, rettai meesai, othai meesai, thai pattai with korai, and my favourite were tub light and rettai meesai. There were also similar patterns in Bombay kites, which had a funny size and shape to the local vannarapettai kites. They literally looked like an obese bombayite with a big tummy, whilst the local ones were very sleeker, especially the baana kites. Having said that the baana kites were mainly used for colouring the thread or the nool in Tamil, which is also called Maanja! The baanas were also mainly used by the big league players, who enjoyed showing of their prowess with a big kitche...

மகேஷ் ஸ்டோர்ஸ் - 2 In Chennai, the odd sprinkler of kite will appear on the sky, late July or August and soon it will occupy the entire clear blue skyline of Chennai or the old Madras, especially around North Madras, where I grew up. My so called Maa Niram (euphemism for brown skin) would become an African by the time the season was finished, which was the month of October or November, depending on the day Deewali falls. The last day of the season would roughly fall on the weekend after Deewali , as a kid, I would be loaded with tonnes of thread and stacks of kites, caught in our catchment’s area. Kite flying was a sheer delightful past time or a hobby and for some or most in North Chennai, used to be a pride issue. Neighbours became enemies overnight, thick friends became thinner, girls were won or lost, you become nomadic or forgotten in your own household, become thick skinned and in the process become a Delhi erumai or a bullock ! Wars were fought ...

Baana Kathadi(Kite), Bombay Kathadi, Goli,Maanja nool, Siruvandi nool, Peruvandi nool, Stickers, Pens, Pencils, Paattu pusthagam, Pambaram, Kadalai urundai, Vathal, Butter biscuit, Thenga biscuit, Burfi, Jeera mittai, Then mittai, Kadalai mittai, Koli soda, Kaali mark soda, Spencers colour, Spencers soda, ginger ale, patchai vaalai, Poovan or manjal vazhai, peyan, Rasthaali, Malai vazhai, vethilai paakku, muttai, Kaja beedi, Ganesh beedi, Tobacco leaves, Kali paakku, Filter Wills, Gold flakes, scissors, charminar, Ajantha paakku, koku paakku, strong mittai, chiclate(chewing gums), bubble gums, Poondu urukai, mangai oorkai, lime oorkai, …….. yes, you name it and I have sold most of them in during my school life and still maintained my probity and integrity!!!. Well, We owned a vethilai paaku kadai (Corner shop), between 1977 and 1994 in Chennai, Mannadi area, started on my brother’s nick name Mahesh! I started helping my appa, when I was 9 years old and almost ran the ...

Their parents have waited for nearly 14 years. We waited for seven years. Then popped out the twins to the delight of everyone!! Like twin angels, making life, living so worthwhile and meaningful for their parents, with sparkling smile and attentive eyes! Time is constant, when we move at its pace, which we realise, with children around us. It is tiresome, gruel some and frustrating; however worth pursuing, when happiness at stake! Today is their first birthday and we were so happy for the parents of our beloved twins of Tyldseley!!

I have breathed and lived Ilayaraja and his music all these time. I will not be surprised if I carry on doing it for my life time. The impact the maestro had on me has been tremendous and sometimes indescribable. You do not want to waste the words on something, which is completely subjective and so divine, which can at times move you to tears and move you very close to empty- the -shell crying! I have enjoyed and devoured his music, still assimilating his ideas behind them whilst enjoying and will certainly keep on doing so. Here is my take on the great Maestro!

We have been to the great city for the second time. First visit was spent mostly in a coach apart from few sprinklers here and there. So, we planned the second, more thorough visit this time with a good mate of time;Chandru the great from Preston, UK. Been there, seen a lot, done a lot; hang on; been with our family and it was brilliant! Van Gogh, bowled me over and the red light area too!! And my take on Amsterdam and Vincent Vangogh!