Blunders of the past

Firstly I am so sorry for the last post. I myself find it to be so incoherently written. Some of the lines which had to be explained further was just bluntly written. I never intended to do so. But you do know about my skills with a touch screen mobile. So Red Handed here's the clarification for the blogging lingo. Of course every blogger has his or her own way of writing. But a common thing is that may be because most of us want even a layman to understand it, we keep it simple. Or so to say there's a certain tone to how a blog is written. Certainly not a "professional" way. That's what I intended when I wrote the word lingo. And yes television, in the past it was either entirely conversational or entirely narrative. Taking a midway seemed so synchronous with the blogs.


Phew. . So what's making news these days. Well of course AAP is there. Their u-turn is certainly hitting the headlines. Thanks to FB, I am reasonably well informed of the current affairs if not all. Particularly since I have distanced myself from TV and newspaper. Well of course like many others I was also all in for AAP in the beginning but these days ahem ...

But of course we are not here to talk about AAP's blunders. Instead its all about me. For the past few days I have been trying to recollect and sort out incidents from the past. After chotti communi grew up.

There was a certain period in my life where in I was really dumb. Schooling marks the beginning of that era. I was not that academically weak. But I never wanted to understand why we were studying what we were supposed to.

1. Our principal once came in to our school to fill in our SUPW hour. He considered himself to be a math-genius or was he? Whatever. So he started explaining about REAL NUMBERS. "so what's the real purpose of these real numbers? Why do we use them? " he asked. A very valid question... Being a shorty I was always placed in the front row. And because of that insecurity I always used to be heads down, a very successful way of escaping teachers questions. But this time I was being poked by Vinod. And when I lifted my head, I saw our principal's fingers pointing me. Damn it. " To completely represent the number line" , I said. Ha ha ha.... He laughed," that's so similar to saying that you buy potatoes to put them in your pocket". The whole class laughed. To this day I don't know the answer to the question because at that moment I was just thinking about how my classmates would tease me after the class.

2. The principal was so pathetically addicted to maths. So when our 10th classes began, we were sorted into three sections, purely on the basis of maths scores, for a maths class during the assembly time. Now of all the people, I got into the first batch where our princi thought were our future IITians. So one day we were given a test paper IIT standard wala. One problem was solved stepwise and our question was to write whether the steps were correct or incorrect. We were supposed to explain why those "steps" were taken and yours truly wrote

Step 1:__________ correct
Step 2: __________ correct
Step 3:__________ correct
Step 4:__________ the final answer is correct.

3. KV has its summer vacation during May and June. Eventhough June was not "summer" in kerala, it meant that I was never able to celebrate my bday at school. I could never wear a new bday dress to school or distribute chocolates to my classmates. Even in the college june was exam time. But S8 we had classes in June and I wanted to celebrate my bday elaborately. But cash was limited. So I just bought munch for the girls alone. Somehow the boys also came to know about it. Next day morning I saw "is this the way to celebrate a bday" on the blackboard. Lesson learned if you can't do smething secretly don't do it.

4. Farewell party. I was never a famous girl. So I was highly surprised when the guy compering called upon me to emote actor Suresh Gopi. His famous dialogue pa pulle... Ormayundo ee mugham. Two other girls did it decently well and left the stage. My first phrase pa pulle was heavily applauded. I got excited. But then I always had this stage fright which made me say ormayundo ee megham.....*pore pooram*

5. Eventhough I know that I am not a bad singer, I don't even hum in public. The problem is that I have lyricsforgottophobia. Simply I forget them. But during one lazy afternoon at office, "emotional atyachar" stung my tongue. I just couldn't get it off. Things went off guard when I was walking to other end of the hall and I was singing literally loudly. Almost everyone in the hall stood up.

 Well I see that its already a long post.*yawns* . Blunders haven't ended but I am winding up for now.

P.S. :- What I have learned is I can only ask Ananya to understand what she studies in future not force her. If she can't who else to blame for the rotten DNA passed on.

P.S.S.:- The principal in the stories above is no more. He passed away few years back but not before he got his share of irutadi (literally he was beaten up in the dark)from his students' parents. Even after his death, I still cannot sympathise over him. He was such a terror back then. Ironically his was a punishment transfer to our school.

P.S.S.:- Mallus....please watch Drishyam. I haven't recommended a film in a long time. But this one's awesome.

Birthdays with a twist??

Birthdays are always special. But when your birthday is in June. You'll hate it. You can't wear civil-dress to your school nor can you distribute chocolates to your classmates. And what if your father doesn't believe in celebrating birthdays and your mother always tend to forget your birthday. For years I had to suffer such ignorance (My damn lucky brother had his birthday in November which meant he could celebrate his birthday in his class). And my memory of childhood-birthday-celebration was the one and only one birthday I celebrated while I was in the fifth grade. All the neighbours were called and a feast was given to all of 'em. Thats all.

When I was working, I had two suuuper special birthdays. All my friends near me. Cutting the cake, those midnight calls to wish me, cake facials. Birthday treat at dinshaws. Oooh...nostalgic memories. Coming back.

Your first birthday with your spouse. Sounds special na. Coz you know they are never gonna forget it anyways. Nahi toh maar padegi. And think of this. When your birthdays fall on more precious days. A's birthday was on May 31st, the day next to our wedding. And mine was on June 6th, the day on which our Reception was held. We both were in cloud nine.

A's dialogue :- This is my most special birthday. I'm getting you as my birthday gift na.
Yours truly sighs.

So to make his birthday much more special, I conspired with KK into sneaking a birthday card into my new house on my wedding day. And when the clock struck twelve, I gave him the card and planted a kiss on his surprised cheeks.

June 5, 11.59 pm

My N72 was buzzing with birthday messages from around the country. Yeah I have friends all around the country and now all around the globe :-P

Communi to A :- Do you think you're missing something?
A (who was packing his clothes for the next day's Palakkad visit):- What ?? What did I miss?
Communi :- Like saying something.
A(perplexed):- What??
Communi :- I mean, do you want to say something?? to me??
A (perplexed again).

Just then the door knocks. It was KK. He was standing with a birthday card on his hand. KK wished me birthday with a hug and passed on Kamini's wishes also. I glanced A with a look-that-was-what-I-was-talking-about look. He smiled and said, "For that, you have to wait".

And it was worth the wait. At the function, I was the star. Dressed like a princess. Everyone who came there wished me on my birthday. After the function, we were supposed to leave for Palakkad and I was busy getting thmy bags ready.And just when I thought the day was over, A and KK came with a birthday cake. And thus I celebrated my first birthday at sasuraal with umpty relatives in the house.

Chotti Communi Stories

Foetus Communi was a Movie Fanatic

Doctor had set 6th June as the d-date for Amma, for the delivery. Amma till then mother of one-little-obedient child never had forseen that her dreadful days were about to begin. On the d-day, eventhough Amma didn't experience any pain, still went to the hospital, but was send back by the doctor. In actuality, Foetus Communi was well aware that a check-up at Railway Hospital naturally meant a MOVIE following it. So as any day, Amma and Achan went for a movie and all 3 of 'em enjoyed it. After Amma reached home, by 9 pm she started having pain and was quickly rushed to the Hospital. And approximately 11pm THE INEVITABLE HAPPENED....DISASTER.

"More Disasters at theatres : How to make Achan not see a movie"- Sponsored by Chotti Communi and her Brother




Chotti Communi did a volteface. Year 1 and 2, she hated theatres to the core. Chotti Communi and her Big Brother signed on an agreement that they won't allow Achan to watch movies at Theatres. After the initial 10 mins, Chotti Communi would kick off the plan by crying and Achan would rush with her outside the theatre to console her. 10 mins later when Achan finally brings Chotti Communi into the hall, she tags her Big Brother. Now Brother starts crying. Chain Reaction.........


Chotti Communi was a Dumb Genius




Chotti Communi never believed that the hero and heroine of a film would hug each other, let alone kiss each other (Jeezzzzz....how could a girl hug a guy!!). Her theory was that there are two frames for the scene, one in which the hero runs and hugs a guy and the second in which the heroine would run and hug a girl. And these two frames are joined together to make it appear that the hero and heroine are hugging each other.


Chotti Communi was always confused about Cricket

Chotti Communi believed that "Partnership of 100 runs" was some kind of magic number, beyond which neither of the batsmen would get out. Chotti Communi also had some strange formula for projected scores, which almost everyone would laugh at making her dumbstruck.

Chotti Communi: the non-prankster!

After "Bombay", Chotti Communi sings "Amma.. Amma...Amma". Amma comes over to the sit-out running, "What happened????". Then Chotti Communi innocently says, "I was just singing Humma Humma..Ek Ho Gaye...".

Chotti Communi never believed in marriages

TS's mother asking all 3 (TS, Chotti Communi and AKC) what they wanted to do in future.

TS:- I want to be an Engineer.

AKC:- I want to be a Teacher.

Chotti Communi:- Enikku Amma aavanam *I want to be a mother*

TS's mom :- You should get married first.

Chotti Communi:- Venda. Enikku Ammayayaal mathi *No, I just want to be a mother*

Loving Palakkad

So these days I have been in a total nostalgic mood. It kicked off with DD celebrating its 50 years and since I have been always excited with TV and related things all my life, it turned out to be a bigger occasion to remember things in the past. And even the TRIO is back. Me, TS and AKC grew up together and have played all the games that existed at that time for small girls. Inky Pinky Ponky.., Icecream soda ... to playing Amma Achan Kutty.... we've been there, we've done that, we see right through your funky hat. Oooopps.. that just came in a flow. Anyways, AKC is now married and earlier during my college days, her family had shifted to their hometown. Actually I had never seen her after they shifted and wasn't even able to attend her marriage. But now she's back. She has now joined TS's office which is quite near to my CAT coaching classes. Now you won't blame me for being so nostalgic.

Palakkad is famous for its halwa, banana chips, typical Palakkadan wind, the beauty of the places like Neliyampathy, Silent Valley, Malampuzha and Attapaadi, its Railways and finally for its origin, rather its entry to Kerala. Palakkad, it is said that, was originally a part of TamilNadu and it was exchanged to Kerala for Kanyakumari. Apparently, there are people who mourn over the exchange treaty which happened some 50 years back and even after Palakkad became the rice bowl of Kerala. I am sure there are many from other parts of Kerala who believe that Palakkad is full of Tamilians. Sometimes, I too wish if Palakkad were a part of TN atleast we wouldn't have lost the Salem Division from Palakkad Railway Division. I am not a person who admire politicians because they never have been worth it. And to find one uncorrupt politician would be MI. But one thing I admire about the politicians of TN is their "State"smanship. No matter which party rules in the centre or the state, when it comes to a budget (be it the annual union budget or the railway budget) TN always have the biggest share. The MPs see to it that more trains and funds are allocated to the state. Kerala MPs, on the other hand, do an annual ritual going-to-the-centre-with-10-requests. I can assure you that you could find the paper in the dustbin in the next moment itself.

Even in the case of Salem Division, even a layman of Railway Colony had known that the Division is going to divided all the while. But the politicians pretended to have never known it. And when the time of division came, all the parties conducted dharnas and public speeches and demanded for a discussion. The office of the new Division was being built even when the talks were going on. As if they had always known what was going to happen.

And after having lived in Railway Colony for almost 2 decades, even the thought of having to leave this place to move to my hometown is haunting me. I was 3 when I came here. It was after coming here that I got into the Kindergarten. Railway Colony has basically 3 "Big" schools. While I went to KV, TS went to St. Thomas and AKS went to Railway school. The advantage of being in different schools was that we could attend the major events of all the three schools with each others' "pass". And the disadvantage was that I being in KV had odd vacation timings. In April when all others were playing, I had classes and in June when it rained and all others used to go to school, I had my vacation. Even for Onam, we had just 2 days leave and the others never had Pooja holidays when 10 days were rewarded to us. :(

Railway Colony is actually synonymous with Vignesh buses. This Vignesh travels owns as much as 5 to 6 buses and is pretty much the uncrowned prince of the Railway Colony transport. Achan still tease me over "Vignesh" because I used to pronounce it as "Vijnesh". That was long back when I had just started learning English. Anyways, I admire Vignesh bus because 1. it has great looks 2. its fashion sense. Believe me, there are buses in Palakkad which look as if they have landed from one of those fantasy cartoon worlds. Flourescent yellow, flourescent green...wtf ! As for Vignesh, they have very royal look with colors ranging in between green and blue. And another reason I like it is that their conductors give the 50ps back and which makes my day. (The fare to Palakkad town is 4.50 but most of the time, we don't get the 50 ps back from the conductors if we give them Rs 5). But there is one conductor whom I hate from head to toe not just because he doesnt return the 50ps, but also because he is a mouthlooker. Sometimes you feel like he hasn't seen girls for ages and sometimes you can see the extra effort he's putting in to "shine". Leaving that. I think Railway Colony buses can still claim to be humane buses. Almost all the other buses' conductors won't even allow students to sit even if there are no full-charge-adults at all. Just because they pay Conession ticket? Its cruel.

Anyways, I think its been a long post. Time to wind up. But there are more memories to share. Will do that in later posts.

50 Glorious Years For Doordarshan

So when was the last time you tuned to DD. Don't remember? Me too. But that's apart from the fact that I always try to catch up with Rangoli every sunday eventhough I really hate the anchor of the show. But when I came to know that it's been 50 long years for DD, I thought I should pay tribute to the network I grew up with.

So, what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Doordarshan? I did a little sort-of-"survey" on this question among my friends. Interestingly, they came up with things that I hadn't thought of when I was preparing a list of the probable answers from their side. Here goes the result:

1. There is a tie for the No.1 spot between Chitrahaar and News for Hearing Impaired. Eventhough I had expected Chitrahaar, News for Hearing Impaired was a surprise. Even Amma gave the same answers.
2. Next is Surabhi. As Pattar would say, how can you ever forget the beautiful Renuka? But everytime I used to watch Surabhi, I would be so sad because it reminded that the next day you had to go to school.
3. Now, this is interesting. The rainbow colored screensaver when there was any interruption. And also Rangoli. I really didn't expect Rangoli to come down to the third spot.
4. Chandrakanta. Remember that show which was the first of that kind in the television history.
5. I am putting rest of the answers in the fifth spot. Pattar remembers Turning Point with Girish Karnad and Prof Yash Pal. Sree remembers Srikrishna. Musically talented Obamamol remembers the music that comes before the news begins and also Miley Sur Mera Tumhara. Apparently Miley Sur was one of my favorites in the survey. Binu as always had some more interesting answers. Ek Se Badhkar Ek and also Madhumohan serials(?). As for Appimol , it was Sanskrit news and Reporter. Tuttudu also remembers Byomkesh Bakshi while Colonel can't forget the friday night blockbuster movie and the President's address to the nation.

Phew :) One of the famous joke on Madhumohan serials was that the late Veerappan couldn't get a bigger punishment than he being tortured to watch Madhumohan serials continously. I still haven't been able to solve the mystery why all the mummys would watch his serials. But I found one interesting fact about the serials. Madhumohan used to have only 3-4 lungis which he used put in 3 different serials.

It was in 1992 when we got a chance to actually own a TV, a black and white one. I remember the year because it was the Olympics time (Atlanta?) and me, brother, Amma and Achan would lie down on the floor watching Olympics every night. Then DD was the only channel available. I also remember constantly going upto the terrace to adjust the antenna direction so that the "picture becomes clear"( the engineer in me says to write it as "to recieve the signals properly"). So does LJ. Even before we got DD Malayalam, then called as DD4, we used to get the tamil channel along with DD1, the hindi channel. Now you know why I have soft corner for Tamil. Since I never had formal education of both the languages Malayalam and Tamil, I learnt both through TV and newspapers only.

I used to sit through the educational program in the morning, mostly when I'm compelled to do so. Remember Tarang? The program which used to telecasted on our summer vacation. Those puppet shows and the serial of "a very angry girl" and of those 5 friends. I used to eagerly wait for that. Surabhi, Tehkikat, Alif Laila, News and Fri-Sat night movies were a sort of family ritual. If I remember correctly, Doordarshan station used to close down after the 10pm News in English. That tick of ten was my time to sleep. And I could never see the films of Friday and Saturday because of this. The first movie I saw completely was "Love in Tokyo" and the song Sayonara... was a total hit among us. Remember the Vicco Turmeric advertisement? It used to be played during the second break of the films. And when Tezaab was telecasted, it took almost 5 hours to finish. So much was the no. of ads. And how can anyone forget "Roja" which used to be telecasted on every of the Independence and Republic days. I really liked Oshin, particularly when they had the dining scene. I used to be totally amused when they eat rice with chopsticks and also awe at the kimonos they wear. And Discovery of India/ Bharat ek khoj, I never used to understand it. The concert for national integrity which used to be telecasted in the sunday afternoons always put me to sleep. And the panorama movies. Haven't we seen movies of almost all the languages in India, that too without subtitles?

And then there was this era of mythological serials. Srikrishna, Om Namah Sivaya and Jai Hanuman were being played simultaneously. Byomkesh Bakshi and Tehkikaat paved way for Suraag. Shanti was Amma's favorite serial when it was being dubbed in Tamil. I remember how I used to rush from my school just to watch Swaabhimaan. I had the duty of narrating the episodes to my friends who used reach their homes late. And then School Days came. I still remember when I cried for a character in the serial who had a hole in his heart. Some really tried to copycat School Days but hard luck, they didn't fair well. By the end of my 10th grade we had switched over to cable. After that lured by the "satellite channel" programs, we started slowing down on our DD viewership. Still we retained our Rangoli, News and also Kashmirnama in our show-watching-list. So was my journey with Doordarshan which is quite similar to all of you. I was completely transported to my childhood days while writing this. Hope you too have the same feel.