Woke up on a Monday morning to find a surprise mail from Zomato inviting me for their year end celebrations at this restaurant named 'Hola'. The excitement turned into disappointment as my wavering mind started to think that surely such a restaurant doesn't exist in Chennai only to find out how wrong I was. It was very much in Namma Ooru and somewhat even closer to home. Coming to know that it was a roof top restaurant and looking at the scenic beauty in the pictures made me palpably excited and that very moment I decided that come what may , I am surely not going to let go of this opportunity :).
The cornerstone of this restaurant is the ambiance which wins hands down. Strategically located close to the beach , this is an ideal place to have a peaceful , laidback lunch/dinner amidst the gentle zephyr blowing across serenely. It is located in a 2 storied building called Malgaadi adjacent to the age old Dhabba Express and looks like the only real upscale restaurant in that area especially since its surrounded by a cluster of smaller restaurants closer to the beach.
On the food side , they primarily focus on Italian and Mexican. On this starry evening managed to lay my hands and mouth on the following :
Drink - Curry Leaves Mojito
Starter - Italian Cheese Baked Nachos
Main Course - 4 summers Pizza , 4 cheese Pasta
Dessert - Chilled Cheese Cake
The Mojito was decent however the big sized curry leaves were quite a dampener disturbing the flow in relishing the drink.The Italian Cheese Baked Nachos were copious in quantity but wasn't as luxuriating and decorated as I expected. The tortilla chips were kind of dry and the spread of the topping was not judicious with some of the pieces being alienated with nothing on them. As condiment they had the Cheese\Salsa\Cream sauce and Kidney beans to toss up but being the lazy kind would have ideally liked them to have been already prevalent in the standalone dish. The Main course was the best on the day with both the 4 summers Pizza and 4 cheese Pasta living close to expectation. The Pizza was thin crust spruced up with Mushroom , Brocolli , Zucchini , Bell Peppers etc and gave a nice crunchy feel. The four cheese pasta again like the Pizza were loaded with similar ingredients and gave an aromatic lingering taste. The Cheese cake was a complete hoodwink , it wasn't one by any stretch of the imagination and was just a normal pastry which tasted decent.
Overall the food was a mixed bag with the Main course taking the prize and the others occupying a distant subaltern position. Must be said that they still have quite a lot of ground to cover. The rates seem to be extremely exorbitant which almost relegates it to being a restaurant apt to be visited only on a special occasion. The service was amiable and would expect the same irrespective of this being an invite only event.
I would like to Thank Team Zomato for taking the efforts and arranging this Eatles meetup. It surely was a memorable evening visiting this new resplendent restaurant, confabulating in food talk with like minded foodies and receiving all those wonderful presents.
Truly, an experience to remember!.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Old is Gold - Maneka, Palmgrove
They say Old is Gold and God only knows how many years this restaurant has been in existence. It still continues to get a sizeable crowd every now and then. You get an old world charm here. It feels so 90s, nothing about the place has changed but taste of food remains the same.
The ambiance is plain jane but perhaps that's what makes it appealing. Unlike the new age restaurants which harps on colored lighting and radiant designs , this one still uses the traditional good old tube lighting. Even the waiters are clad in full white.
They really don't feel the need to ape any of their contemporaries. They know well their strengths and play to the cards. It doesn't try to be fancy by any stretch of the imagination and prides itself in its old age methods.
The food here is a delight and their Thali's seem to be the most preferred. I mostly tend to have the Palmgrove Special Thali which comprises of a Naan/Roti , Paneer Butter Masala , Dal Tadka (Really enjoy their Dal!), Chole, Pulav, Plain Rice, Rasam, Raita, Curd rice, soup and to boot Gulab Jamun and an Ice cream sundae. Its quite a wholesome meal, only grouse is they could make it unlimited. The other meals are also nice and if you like spicy you should try the Andhra Special meals which comes with Podi and Gongura Chutney which is unbeatable. Their tiffin items also muster up some weight.
The service is usually pretty fast. The rates have gotten high over the years, but still wouldn't consider it being too expensive. Would always perenially be a good choice restaurant especially for the family audience.
The ambiance is plain jane but perhaps that's what makes it appealing. Unlike the new age restaurants which harps on colored lighting and radiant designs , this one still uses the traditional good old tube lighting. Even the waiters are clad in full white.
They really don't feel the need to ape any of their contemporaries. They know well their strengths and play to the cards. It doesn't try to be fancy by any stretch of the imagination and prides itself in its old age methods.
The food here is a delight and their Thali's seem to be the most preferred. I mostly tend to have the Palmgrove Special Thali which comprises of a Naan/Roti , Paneer Butter Masala , Dal Tadka (Really enjoy their Dal!), Chole, Pulav, Plain Rice, Rasam, Raita, Curd rice, soup and to boot Gulab Jamun and an Ice cream sundae. Its quite a wholesome meal, only grouse is they could make it unlimited. The other meals are also nice and if you like spicy you should try the Andhra Special meals which comes with Podi and Gongura Chutney which is unbeatable. Their tiffin items also muster up some weight.
The service is usually pretty fast. The rates have gotten high over the years, but still wouldn't consider it being too expensive. Would always perenially be a good choice restaurant especially for the family audience.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Above Sea Level @Raintree, St Mary's Road
Its the ambiance which blows you away. Surely stakes claim for being one of the best outdoor restaurant's in the city. The panoramic view is just wondrous and has to be witnessed to be believed. Its a place to experience the beauty of the night sky over a quiet dinner.
The food is primarily of North Indian and Sea food and you would be hard done if you're vegetarian. However at Above Sea Level its more about being there and enjoying the zephyr billow across your face than about the food and drinks you have.
I went plain sailing on this occasion and just had a mocktail, a baked nachos for a starter and a grilled panneer dish for main course. The mocktail was a concoction of apple , orange and lemon and pretty nice on the mouth. The Nachos was strictly ok, i found the juiciness and creaminess to be missing and also expected it to be more wholesome and evenly spread out but it didn't turn out that way with some being abundantly layered with cheese , jalapeno and toppings and some being just plain dry tortilla chips with nothing on them. The grilled paneer was a skewer type also containing brocolis in between the chunks of cottage cheese with some salad and potato wedges for company. Both the panneer and brocolli were well cooked but however felt the zing was missing.
It really wasn't a night where I was in the mood to go full out on the food. Quite interested to try out some of their North Indian Bread and Curries on another visit perhaps. The rates are obviously expensive burning quite a fire hole on your credit card. Felt the service to be slow taking enormous amount of time to bring in the food.
But whatever said of the minuses , this is a place to enjoy the scenery and sereneness engulfing you. A perfect place for a candlelit dinner , special occasion or even just to enjoy a relaxed soothing dinner away from the vicissitude of life. You should experience Above Sea Level atleast once!.
The food is primarily of North Indian and Sea food and you would be hard done if you're vegetarian. However at Above Sea Level its more about being there and enjoying the zephyr billow across your face than about the food and drinks you have.
I went plain sailing on this occasion and just had a mocktail, a baked nachos for a starter and a grilled panneer dish for main course. The mocktail was a concoction of apple , orange and lemon and pretty nice on the mouth. The Nachos was strictly ok, i found the juiciness and creaminess to be missing and also expected it to be more wholesome and evenly spread out but it didn't turn out that way with some being abundantly layered with cheese , jalapeno and toppings and some being just plain dry tortilla chips with nothing on them. The grilled paneer was a skewer type also containing brocolis in between the chunks of cottage cheese with some salad and potato wedges for company. Both the panneer and brocolli were well cooked but however felt the zing was missing.
It really wasn't a night where I was in the mood to go full out on the food. Quite interested to try out some of their North Indian Bread and Curries on another visit perhaps. The rates are obviously expensive burning quite a fire hole on your credit card. Felt the service to be slow taking enormous amount of time to bring in the food.
But whatever said of the minuses , this is a place to enjoy the scenery and sereneness engulfing you. A perfect place for a candlelit dinner , special occasion or even just to enjoy a relaxed soothing dinner away from the vicissitude of life. You should experience Above Sea Level atleast once!.
Friday, October 3, 2014
ARR Concert at Nehru Indoor Stadium!
The ARR concert at the Nehru Indoor Stadium was a mixed bag. The show started off with Vaanga Makka Vaanga rendered by Haricharan even before Rahman made an entry and then the showman arrived in a palanquin to an absolutely deafening roar. The crowd were literally on their feet giving a raptourous welcome and then when he got underway to perform Oorvasi Oorvasi the atmosphere was electrifying.
The unplugged on piano was lovely comprising of Thendrale Thendrale , Anjali Anjali and Netru Illadha Maatram. The choice of selection of songs were good and included a lot of his early 90's which I am extremely fond of and biassed. The thud of the opening Mridangam and the resonating flute bits made Narumugaye delightful , Chandralekha / Mukaala Mukaabala / Kaloori Salai / Endrendrum Punnagai were high octane trailblazing and set the stage on fire , Minsaara Kanna began sedately and then Srinivas and Kalpana unleashed absolute brilliance going forward making it one of the highlights of the show , Aathangaara Marame was cherubic and fun esp with the added attraction of the set , En Kaadhale by Hari and Mano with sax backing brought back childhood memories of repeated listening of this gem in napster & winamp eons ago. In the recent songs Aila Aila acored high where the female singer Natalie who seems to have a dynamic voice range gave an awe inspiring energetic rendition.
The stage set up , lighting and design was top notch and the wonderful array of colors glittering across the venue was a bedazzling spectacle. It was so chic and quirky especially witnessing the fireworks sparkling from the guitars.
There were also a lot of scope for the instrumentalists and they did a fabulous job. Raghav Sachar played sax with elan and Punya Srinivas on the veena along with a duet on the sitar with Azad Khan made Netru Illadha sound even sweeter. Naveen pirichu menjified in his flute portions and Violinist Ganesh took Ennavale and Kedaram to a different plane. Sivamani playing different percussions was entertaining as usual.
However some of the disappointments were the show began extremely late which is happening time and again and there is no excuse for starting a show at quarter to 8 when scheduled for 6.30. There were some off pitching and slip up's by the singers in certain songs , also the sound of the vocals appeared quite jarring at places and to boot were some obviously visible minus one tracks in the background.
Personally would have liked the concert to end with Thai Manne Vanakkam as opposed to a Jai Ho. Despite some of the quibbles overall it was a decent experience and I enjoyed it much more than the previous ARR concert at YMCA in Dec , 2012.
Pros :
- Breathtaking entry by ARR
- Nice selection of songs comprising vintage 90's and fairly recent ones
- Wonderful set design and lighting
- Great scope and performance by instrumentalists and percussionists
Cons :
- Very delayed start and early completion making the concert last less than three hours .. Also ARR being the man of the show not being constantly on stage was a touch disappointing
- Too much time wasting in between songs .. (Thankfully no anchor)
- Going off shruti by singers in quite a few numbers and also missing lines or singing in advance
- Some obvious in your face karaoke tracks
List of Songs :
1) Vaanga Makka Vaanga - Kaaviya Thalaivan
2) Karna Veeran - Kochadaiyaan
3) Oorvasi Oorvasi - Kadhalan
4) Thendrale Thendrale - Kadhal Desam
5) Anjali Anjali - Duet
6) Netru Illadha Maatram - Kadhalan
7) Kannodu Kaanbathellaam - Jeans
8) Narumugaye - Iruvar
9) Rasathi - Thiruda Thiruda
10) Thirai Kaadhu - En Swasa Kaatre
11) Naan En Pirandhen - Coke Studio
12) Sa Re Ga Me - Boys
13) Kanden - Ambikapathy
14) Kalloori Salai - Kadhal Desam
15) Nenjukkule - Kadal
16) En Kadhale - Duet
17) Aathangaara Marame - Kizhakku Seemaiyile
18) Ennavale Adi Ennavale - Kadhalan
19) Nenje Ezhu - Mariyaan
20) Minsara Kanna - Padayappa
21) Konjam Nilavu - Thiruda Thiruda
22) Enge Pogudhe - Kochadaiyaan
23) Oruvan Oruvan Mudhalaali - Muthu
24) Maatram Ondrudhaan - Kochadaiyaan
25) Aila Aila - I
26) Mukaala Mukabala - Kadhalan
27) Endrendrum Punnagai - Alai Payudhey
28) Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire
The unplugged on piano was lovely comprising of Thendrale Thendrale , Anjali Anjali and Netru Illadha Maatram. The choice of selection of songs were good and included a lot of his early 90's which I am extremely fond of and biassed. The thud of the opening Mridangam and the resonating flute bits made Narumugaye delightful , Chandralekha / Mukaala Mukaabala / Kaloori Salai / Endrendrum Punnagai were high octane trailblazing and set the stage on fire , Minsaara Kanna began sedately and then Srinivas and Kalpana unleashed absolute brilliance going forward making it one of the highlights of the show , Aathangaara Marame was cherubic and fun esp with the added attraction of the set , En Kaadhale by Hari and Mano with sax backing brought back childhood memories of repeated listening of this gem in napster & winamp eons ago. In the recent songs Aila Aila acored high where the female singer Natalie who seems to have a dynamic voice range gave an awe inspiring energetic rendition.
The stage set up , lighting and design was top notch and the wonderful array of colors glittering across the venue was a bedazzling spectacle. It was so chic and quirky especially witnessing the fireworks sparkling from the guitars.
There were also a lot of scope for the instrumentalists and they did a fabulous job. Raghav Sachar played sax with elan and Punya Srinivas on the veena along with a duet on the sitar with Azad Khan made Netru Illadha sound even sweeter. Naveen pirichu menjified in his flute portions and Violinist Ganesh took Ennavale and Kedaram to a different plane. Sivamani playing different percussions was entertaining as usual.
However some of the disappointments were the show began extremely late which is happening time and again and there is no excuse for starting a show at quarter to 8 when scheduled for 6.30. There were some off pitching and slip up's by the singers in certain songs , also the sound of the vocals appeared quite jarring at places and to boot were some obviously visible minus one tracks in the background.
Personally would have liked the concert to end with Thai Manne Vanakkam as opposed to a Jai Ho. Despite some of the quibbles overall it was a decent experience and I enjoyed it much more than the previous ARR concert at YMCA in Dec , 2012.
Pros :
- Breathtaking entry by ARR
- Nice selection of songs comprising vintage 90's and fairly recent ones
- Wonderful set design and lighting
- Great scope and performance by instrumentalists and percussionists
Cons :
- Very delayed start and early completion making the concert last less than three hours .. Also ARR being the man of the show not being constantly on stage was a touch disappointing
- Too much time wasting in between songs .. (Thankfully no anchor)
- Going off shruti by singers in quite a few numbers and also missing lines or singing in advance
- Some obvious in your face karaoke tracks
List of Songs :
1) Vaanga Makka Vaanga - Kaaviya Thalaivan
2) Karna Veeran - Kochadaiyaan
3) Oorvasi Oorvasi - Kadhalan
4) Thendrale Thendrale - Kadhal Desam
5) Anjali Anjali - Duet
6) Netru Illadha Maatram - Kadhalan
7) Kannodu Kaanbathellaam - Jeans
8) Narumugaye - Iruvar
9) Rasathi - Thiruda Thiruda
10) Thirai Kaadhu - En Swasa Kaatre
11) Naan En Pirandhen - Coke Studio
12) Sa Re Ga Me - Boys
13) Kanden - Ambikapathy
14) Kalloori Salai - Kadhal Desam
15) Nenjukkule - Kadal
16) En Kadhale - Duet
17) Aathangaara Marame - Kizhakku Seemaiyile
18) Ennavale Adi Ennavale - Kadhalan
19) Nenje Ezhu - Mariyaan
20) Minsara Kanna - Padayappa
21) Konjam Nilavu - Thiruda Thiruda
22) Enge Pogudhe - Kochadaiyaan
23) Oruvan Oruvan Mudhalaali - Muthu
24) Maatram Ondrudhaan - Kochadaiyaan
25) Aila Aila - I
26) Mukaala Mukabala - Kadhalan
27) Endrendrum Punnagai - Alai Payudhey
28) Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire
Friday, September 12, 2014
Bombay Brasserie - Indian Food and French Renaissance !!
Finally dawned upon the chance to have a peekaboo into the most happening and trending restaurant in Chennai right now. I was simply taken aback by the sheer class of this place. Both the exteriors and interiors have been so tastefully designed that you just can't but marvel about the opulence glittering right across you. The picturesque setup and the different palate of colors esp. their signature Turquoise blue make it look so cool , chic , urban , quirky and delightfully appealing. This Hi-fi restaurant is totally designed to excellence and the place sure stakes claim for being perhaps the most good looking restaurant in town . The ambience is superlative and needs to be experienced to be believed.
Speaking about all the good looks , you wonder whether the food quotient will be able to match up to the class of the decor. This place primarily focuses on the culinary delicacies from the North of India. Started off on our foodie journey by having a Nariyal Aur Subz shorba which was a watery coconut soup with veggies mostly comprising of smudged pieces of cottage cheese. It was light on the tummy and felt like having rasam.
Coming to the starters and this being a predominantly Tandoori restaurant you sure were going to have a veritable Paneer affair on the cards. It is one thing which never fails to excite me and seeing copious offerings of it on the menu with different names decided to ask the waiter to help in choosing and the suggestion was Lucknowi Paneer Paraath. They were just 4 pieces but large in size and jawdropping in taste. They were succulently soft and marshmellowy mellow and you could literally feel them melting juicily into the mouth. It was also pretty unique as it was coated on top with a masala which looked like a layer of omelette , but whatever it was surely didn't let any stones unturned and was delightfully salivating. The non veg starters ordered met with a kind of mixed response.
For the main course , decided to go only with Indian Bread and ordered Naan , Chilli cheese Kulcha , Hare Pyaaz Kulcha. The kulcha's especially were soft and fluffy and loaded inside judiciously with the relevant toppings. It sure was intriguing and felt as if they could do justice on their own without any side dish.
However we did order couple of gravies , one being the Dum Ke Kali Dal and the Tarkari Masaledar. The Black Dal was good but the zing was missing somewhere and it wasn't as creamy as some of the Makhani's i've had elsewhere. The Masala gravy was pretty nice with an amalgam of veggies comprising Aloo , Gobi , Paneer , Capsicum , Peas etc.
Ended our dinner sojourn by having a Paper baked chocolate pudding. I envisaged this dessert in some way but the resultant was something else. It was basically fudged chocolate cake in one strata with vanilla ice cream on another and chocolate sauce to dip in a small bowl. The ice cream to accompany the cake was quite too little and nothing much to write home about on this one.
Overall had a mixed experience on the foodie side with some items standing out and some bordering on the decent category. In relative terms with the ambience factor , the food part has some catching up to do. The service was ok but the refilling of water and the add-ons could have been a wee bit quicker. The rates are on the high side but justified considering the location and the resplendent setting.
Nungambakkam is home to some of the finest dine outs and can boast of being the Numero Uno in the food circle of Chennai. With Bombay Brasserie , its reputation just got elevated a notch further up the ladder.
Speaking about all the good looks , you wonder whether the food quotient will be able to match up to the class of the decor. This place primarily focuses on the culinary delicacies from the North of India. Started off on our foodie journey by having a Nariyal Aur Subz shorba which was a watery coconut soup with veggies mostly comprising of smudged pieces of cottage cheese. It was light on the tummy and felt like having rasam.
Coming to the starters and this being a predominantly Tandoori restaurant you sure were going to have a veritable Paneer affair on the cards. It is one thing which never fails to excite me and seeing copious offerings of it on the menu with different names decided to ask the waiter to help in choosing and the suggestion was Lucknowi Paneer Paraath. They were just 4 pieces but large in size and jawdropping in taste. They were succulently soft and marshmellowy mellow and you could literally feel them melting juicily into the mouth. It was also pretty unique as it was coated on top with a masala which looked like a layer of omelette , but whatever it was surely didn't let any stones unturned and was delightfully salivating. The non veg starters ordered met with a kind of mixed response.
For the main course , decided to go only with Indian Bread and ordered Naan , Chilli cheese Kulcha , Hare Pyaaz Kulcha. The kulcha's especially were soft and fluffy and loaded inside judiciously with the relevant toppings. It sure was intriguing and felt as if they could do justice on their own without any side dish.
However we did order couple of gravies , one being the Dum Ke Kali Dal and the Tarkari Masaledar. The Black Dal was good but the zing was missing somewhere and it wasn't as creamy as some of the Makhani's i've had elsewhere. The Masala gravy was pretty nice with an amalgam of veggies comprising Aloo , Gobi , Paneer , Capsicum , Peas etc.
Ended our dinner sojourn by having a Paper baked chocolate pudding. I envisaged this dessert in some way but the resultant was something else. It was basically fudged chocolate cake in one strata with vanilla ice cream on another and chocolate sauce to dip in a small bowl. The ice cream to accompany the cake was quite too little and nothing much to write home about on this one.
Overall had a mixed experience on the foodie side with some items standing out and some bordering on the decent category. In relative terms with the ambience factor , the food part has some catching up to do. The service was ok but the refilling of water and the add-ons could have been a wee bit quicker. The rates are on the high side but justified considering the location and the resplendent setting.
Nungambakkam is home to some of the finest dine outs and can boast of being the Numero Uno in the food circle of Chennai. With Bombay Brasserie , its reputation just got elevated a notch further up the ladder.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
An evening with Jalpaan!
After hearing all the rave reviews , a visit to Jalpaan was always on the cards. Having heard that they had opened their new outlet closer to home at Adyar , was all the more looking to seize the opportunity to dine at this place and finally the transition from 'Wishlist' to 'Been there list' was complete as I headed here for dinner on a Saturday evening.
It is located in Sardar Patel Road in the complex that also houses GRT Jewellers. It is on the 3rd floor and as you peekaboo from below , it looks like a pretty small place but on actually entering you find that it is very spacious and can accomodate quite a large bunch of customers. There is a lot of brownness converging the surroundings with Brown seats and surfaces. In between the walls are square lit yellow coverings and the roofs are smeared with an array of small bright lights sparkling over. It gives you that mild Punjabi feel and flavour.
The plates and glasses were covered with silver coating and the menu was in the form of a thick binded album book running across quite a few pages comprising mainly of Tandoori and Italian food. We started our foray with the Big Nachos which had large thin slices of the Tortilla chips garnished on the side with an amalgam of exotic veggies. It was deceptive in appearance as when you unveil the bottom portion of the chips you find a luxurious spread of Red kidney beans with cheese topping. It was very heavy and totally relishing. Wanted to try one of their chats and the Karara Palak chat looked interesting. It was like a Dahi Puri chaat with Fried spinach pieces replacing the Puris and sprinkled with the curd and the desired sweet and spices. It was different and kudos for the experimentation.
The next in line was the much awaited Paneer Tikka. In many restaurants , the taste of Paneer seems to have a big weightage in rating the overall portfolio of the cuisine and as an evergreen lover of this sinful delicacy my curiosity and temptation was pretty high. And it perfectly lived up to the billing by being superlative. Had the SARSONWALA PANEER which were marinated in yoghurt paste tossed up with herbs and spices. It was spongy soft and it was an experience slicing and dicing the yellow square and seeing it melt waftly in the mouth :)
For the main course had a Naan , Paneer Kulcha and Jalpaan Dal. The Indian Bread was fluffy and well made and their signature Dal Makhani was out of the world. The lentils were simmering over the delightful gravy giving the perfect feel to the taste buds. Easily one of the best Black Dals i have ever had. Also had a Boondi Raita for additional company which was decent with a slight tinge of masala. Rounded off dinner by having one of their mocktails "Pink Panther" flavoured with a dash of strawberry , pineapple , almond and hazelnut blended with cream and it was absolutely delightful and a perfect signal to end a very satisfying meal.
The pricing is par for the course and the service was pretty quick barring the regular refilling of water which could have been more prompt. The ambience is pretty neat but still a little way off from being exceptional. But the most important part the food is scrumptious and that's what holds the key. All in all looks like another epicurean success story. For me personally , another welcome addition to the list of good restaurants to dine out in the city thus further widening the radar :).
It is located in Sardar Patel Road in the complex that also houses GRT Jewellers. It is on the 3rd floor and as you peekaboo from below , it looks like a pretty small place but on actually entering you find that it is very spacious and can accomodate quite a large bunch of customers. There is a lot of brownness converging the surroundings with Brown seats and surfaces. In between the walls are square lit yellow coverings and the roofs are smeared with an array of small bright lights sparkling over. It gives you that mild Punjabi feel and flavour.
The plates and glasses were covered with silver coating and the menu was in the form of a thick binded album book running across quite a few pages comprising mainly of Tandoori and Italian food. We started our foray with the Big Nachos which had large thin slices of the Tortilla chips garnished on the side with an amalgam of exotic veggies. It was deceptive in appearance as when you unveil the bottom portion of the chips you find a luxurious spread of Red kidney beans with cheese topping. It was very heavy and totally relishing. Wanted to try one of their chats and the Karara Palak chat looked interesting. It was like a Dahi Puri chaat with Fried spinach pieces replacing the Puris and sprinkled with the curd and the desired sweet and spices. It was different and kudos for the experimentation.
The next in line was the much awaited Paneer Tikka. In many restaurants , the taste of Paneer seems to have a big weightage in rating the overall portfolio of the cuisine and as an evergreen lover of this sinful delicacy my curiosity and temptation was pretty high. And it perfectly lived up to the billing by being superlative. Had the SARSONWALA PANEER which were marinated in yoghurt paste tossed up with herbs and spices. It was spongy soft and it was an experience slicing and dicing the yellow square and seeing it melt waftly in the mouth :)
For the main course had a Naan , Paneer Kulcha and Jalpaan Dal. The Indian Bread was fluffy and well made and their signature Dal Makhani was out of the world. The lentils were simmering over the delightful gravy giving the perfect feel to the taste buds. Easily one of the best Black Dals i have ever had. Also had a Boondi Raita for additional company which was decent with a slight tinge of masala. Rounded off dinner by having one of their mocktails "Pink Panther" flavoured with a dash of strawberry , pineapple , almond and hazelnut blended with cream and it was absolutely delightful and a perfect signal to end a very satisfying meal.
The pricing is par for the course and the service was pretty quick barring the regular refilling of water which could have been more prompt. The ambience is pretty neat but still a little way off from being exceptional. But the most important part the food is scrumptious and that's what holds the key. All in all looks like another epicurean success story. For me personally , another welcome addition to the list of good restaurants to dine out in the city thus further widening the radar :).
Monday, July 28, 2014
Remembering the melody King V Kumar!
V Kumar was an excellent composer whose melodies continue to hold stead even today. Most of his tunes are embellished with such a fine melody structure and the nonchalant way in which he has played with the swaras in his compositions are such a delight.
The mellifluous melody "Unnidam Mayanguguren" rendered by KJ Yesudas with the scintillating piano run-ins is haunting to this day , still remember how captivated I was listening to the arresting tune of "Oru Naal Yaaro" for the first time , the hilariously tuned Tam Brahm dialect based song "Aduthatha Ambujathai Paarthela" is so much fun and always brings a smile and what can one say about his other beautiful compositions such as "Punnagai Mannan Poovizhi Kannan" , "Oraayiram Karpanai" , "Kathodu Naan Paaduven" , "Vaazhvil Sowbagiyam" , "Sapthaswaram Punnagayil" , "Madhanorchavam Rathiyoduthaan" , "Naan Unnai Vaazhtthi Paadugiren" etc which have truly stood the test of time. Many of K Balachander's movies are adorned with musical gems thanks to this man.
Remembering the melody king Mr V Kumar on his birth anniversary !!
Unnidam Mayangugiren - Then Sindhudhe Vaanam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc1v6uBKtKs
Oru Naal Yaaro - Major Chandrakanth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFHqu24QevA
Aduthathu Ambujatha Paathela - Edhir Neechal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gfOuldRWzU
A nice playlist comprising some of V Kumar's best compositions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNFckaXXUwE&list=PL5CAKqOYehDv0x_aUviFfzcyR_FFPwtfz
The mellifluous melody "Unnidam Mayanguguren" rendered by KJ Yesudas with the scintillating piano run-ins is haunting to this day , still remember how captivated I was listening to the arresting tune of "Oru Naal Yaaro" for the first time , the hilariously tuned Tam Brahm dialect based song "Aduthatha Ambujathai Paarthela" is so much fun and always brings a smile and what can one say about his other beautiful compositions such as "Punnagai Mannan Poovizhi Kannan" , "Oraayiram Karpanai" , "Kathodu Naan Paaduven" , "Vaazhvil Sowbagiyam" , "Sapthaswaram Punnagayil" , "Madhanorchavam Rathiyoduthaan" , "Naan Unnai Vaazhtthi Paadugiren" etc which have truly stood the test of time. Many of K Balachander's movies are adorned with musical gems thanks to this man.
Remembering the melody king Mr V Kumar on his birth anniversary !!
Unnidam Mayangugiren - Then Sindhudhe Vaanam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc1v6uBKtKs
Oru Naal Yaaro - Major Chandrakanth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFHqu24QevA
Aduthathu Ambujatha Paathela - Edhir Neechal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gfOuldRWzU
A nice playlist comprising some of V Kumar's best compositions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNFckaXXUwE&list=PL5CAKqOYehDv0x_aUviFfzcyR_FFPwtfz
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Mahela's SSC Love Affair!
The love affair between Mahela Jayawardene and SSC just simply refuses to stop brewing.
It is almost like an unwritten rule that Mahela has to always score a truckload of runs each and every time he goes on to bat on this featherbed of a track tailormade just for him to keep making centuries.
The eye-popping hegemonizing 11 centuries at the SSC apart , it has been a truly defining test career for Sri Lanka's Mr Silken Touch. Over 11 and a half thousand runs , highest ever test score of 374 by a right handed batsman , highest ever partnership of 624 runs with his buddy Sangakkara , 34 test centuries equaling the likes of legends like Sunny and Lara.
The caressing drive through the covers , the finessely timed late cut and the clinicality of his inside out shot will always hold a special place in the hearts of cricket lovers. When Mahela is on song its truly a sight to behold. We will truly miss you.
It is almost like an unwritten rule that Mahela has to always score a truckload of runs each and every time he goes on to bat on this featherbed of a track tailormade just for him to keep making centuries.
The eye-popping hegemonizing 11 centuries at the SSC apart , it has been a truly defining test career for Sri Lanka's Mr Silken Touch. Over 11 and a half thousand runs , highest ever test score of 374 by a right handed batsman , highest ever partnership of 624 runs with his buddy Sangakkara , 34 test centuries equaling the likes of legends like Sunny and Lara.
The caressing drive through the covers , the finessely timed late cut and the clinicality of his inside out shot will always hold a special place in the hearts of cricket lovers. When Mahela is on song its truly a sight to behold. We will truly miss you.
Monday, July 21, 2014
The 28 year special syndrome!
28 years after Kapil Dev won the world cup in 1983 , Mahendra Dhoni does the same in 2011.
And now 28 years after Kapil took India to victory in the Lords test in 1986 , Dhoni follows the same path by taking India to a famous win in 2014.
Whether you are an average cricket fan or connoisseur or a cricketer toiling his sweat out in the field , nothing can beat the satisfaction and happiness of a compelling hard fought test victory and if it happens overseas it just makes it all the more sweeter and memorable and when it happens in the historic so called Mecca of cricket 'Lords' , it just makes the occassion more so very extra special and momentous.
#Lords2014 #Testcricketrules #Legends #History
And now 28 years after Kapil took India to victory in the Lords test in 1986 , Dhoni follows the same path by taking India to a famous win in 2014.
Whether you are an average cricket fan or connoisseur or a cricketer toiling his sweat out in the field , nothing can beat the satisfaction and happiness of a compelling hard fought test victory and if it happens overseas it just makes it all the more sweeter and memorable and when it happens in the historic so called Mecca of cricket 'Lords' , it just makes the occassion more so very extra special and momentous.
#Lords2014 #Testcricketrules #Legends #History
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Remembering 24 years of Anjali (1990)
Anjali is a special film in many ways. An emotional tearjerker showcasing the plight of a family dealing with a special child. The subtleties , poignancy and undercurrent prevailing are all wonderfully captured on Motion Picture. And the way it portrayed the community/colony style of living makes every child growing up in the 80's and 90's to really connect with the movie.
Above all it is the music which gives life to the scenes. The title music leaves a lump in your throat and is so powerful to even move a precipice , the end score shatters and breaks your heart into smithereens and all the pieces which come in between are so precisionly scored and timed elevating the movie viewing experience to another level. A masterpiece of a re-recording worth celebrating for eons , listen to the full Background score and relive the experience of the magical force behind this motion picture.
Remembering 24 years of Anjali which released on 12th July 1990 !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4gYTNOujRU
Above all it is the music which gives life to the scenes. The title music leaves a lump in your throat and is so powerful to even move a precipice , the end score shatters and breaks your heart into smithereens and all the pieces which come in between are so precisionly scored and timed elevating the movie viewing experience to another level. A masterpiece of a re-recording worth celebrating for eons , listen to the full Background score and relive the experience of the magical force behind this motion picture.
Remembering 24 years of Anjali which released on 12th July 1990 !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4gYTNOujRU
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Unthinkable 10 Year Tennis Hegemony on Clay and Grass
From 2005 to 2014 barring the 2013 Wimbledon final alone , either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal have been part of every single French Open and Wimbledon final contested in the last 10 years.
Beat that which accounts to a staggering 19 of a possible 20 Grand Slam Finals *_* out of which they themselves have contested in 7 of these Grand Finales.
This is something more than just domination , hegemony , ruthlessness and legendryness.
Hats off to Rafa and Fedex !! _^_
Beat that which accounts to a staggering 19 of a possible 20 Grand Slam Finals *_* out of which they themselves have contested in 7 of these Grand Finales.
This is something more than just domination , hegemony , ruthlessness and legendryness.
Hats off to Rafa and Fedex !! _^_
Monday, July 7, 2014
Disappointment of a Federer Wimbledon Defeat
So disappointed that Federer lost. As a young kid , was so fascinated reading the name William Renshaw all over the winners list , then personally saw the best of Sampras and was witness to him equal the record set of Renshaw by winning 7 wimbledon's.
And now when I hoped that Roger Federer will do the impossible by winning his 8th wimbledon , he falls agonisingly short in a humdinger of a 5 setter. I know serving first always helps in a decider but after the way you fought back in the 4th and the way you started in the 5th by winning your initial games to love , really can't accept nor digest this defeat.
However well played Djoko , it will do you a world of good for defeating the greatest grass court player ever in a wimbledon final and also in the process get the mickey off your back which has clung on to you in your last 3 slam finals.
As a lover of stats and a fan of Federer , a tinge of disappointment remains but thanks for the breathtaking entertainment provided on thy hallowed turf of grass at Wimbledon.
And now when I hoped that Roger Federer will do the impossible by winning his 8th wimbledon , he falls agonisingly short in a humdinger of a 5 setter. I know serving first always helps in a decider but after the way you fought back in the 4th and the way you started in the 5th by winning your initial games to love , really can't accept nor digest this defeat.
However well played Djoko , it will do you a world of good for defeating the greatest grass court player ever in a wimbledon final and also in the process get the mickey off your back which has clung on to you in your last 3 slam finals.
As a lover of stats and a fan of Federer , a tinge of disappointment remains but thanks for the breathtaking entertainment provided on thy hallowed turf of grass at Wimbledon.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Orkut Memoirs!
Can't believe Orkut is soon going to be erstwhile and a thing of the past.
So many fond moments and memories to cherish - What fun it was to trade testimonials from friends :) , oogling into friends wall's and peeping to see with whom they were kadala pottyfying :D , getting embroiled in crazy banters and accusing each other all for a suppa matter just to prove the authenticity of who is having more no. of friends :P , logging in from some other account to view a profile in order to avoid being seen on the recent visitor's list ;) , taking pride and time in updating profile , hopelessly hoping that somebody awesome takes a visit to the profile :B , uploading the most wannabe photo ever as display pic :O (even now looking back gives the creeps) , communities la adi dhadi sandai mostly but also meaningful discussions once in a while , scrapping endlessly with fellow vetti's :Y , re-connecting with lost friends , forming friendship with people who you've never met and even know of certain love stories blossoming and taking shape via the Orkut route <3 .. phew the list is just endless.
Orkut has truly given a lot to smile and laugh about.
Facebook maybe the all conquering emperor of Social Networking but it is Orkut who was the true trendsetter and which laid the foundation for the giant today that is Facebook .. #RIPOrkut #Thanksfortheamazingmemories
So many fond moments and memories to cherish - What fun it was to trade testimonials from friends :) , oogling into friends wall's and peeping to see with whom they were kadala pottyfying :D , getting embroiled in crazy banters and accusing each other all for a suppa matter just to prove the authenticity of who is having more no. of friends :P , logging in from some other account to view a profile in order to avoid being seen on the recent visitor's list ;) , taking pride and time in updating profile , hopelessly hoping that somebody awesome takes a visit to the profile :B , uploading the most wannabe photo ever as display pic :O (even now looking back gives the creeps) , communities la adi dhadi sandai mostly but also meaningful discussions once in a while , scrapping endlessly with fellow vetti's :Y , re-connecting with lost friends , forming friendship with people who you've never met and even know of certain love stories blossoming and taking shape via the Orkut route <3 .. phew the list is just endless.
Orkut has truly given a lot to smile and laugh about.
Facebook maybe the all conquering emperor of Social Networking but it is Orkut who was the true trendsetter and which laid the foundation for the giant today that is Facebook .. #RIPOrkut #Thanksfortheamazingmemories
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Stunning Composition from Ramanujam
Thuli Thuliyai from Ramanujam is indeed a stunner of a composition tuned by Ramesh Vinayakam.
Looks like he has indulged in some scale play by taking the Harikambhoji raga and by more or less obliterating the 'Pa' (Panchamam) creates an interesting soundscape in Rageshri ragam. And on the rhythm side is the hardly noticeable camoulflaging of the 7 beat cycle Misram.
Abundantly rich on soul and feel , its a simple yet striking Indian melody laced with a tingy western influence and layered with a mild Hindustani touch making it a song that has a lot going for it.
Give in a listen !!
Thuli Thuliyai - Ramanujan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7JZBc4hTgQ
Looks like he has indulged in some scale play by taking the Harikambhoji raga and by more or less obliterating the 'Pa' (Panchamam) creates an interesting soundscape in Rageshri ragam. And on the rhythm side is the hardly noticeable camoulflaging of the 7 beat cycle Misram.
Abundantly rich on soul and feel , its a simple yet striking Indian melody laced with a tingy western influence and layered with a mild Hindustani touch making it a song that has a lot going for it.
Give in a listen !!
Thuli Thuliyai - Ramanujan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7JZBc4hTgQ
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Lord Sanga conquers Lords!
Another ton for Kumara Sangakkaara this time at the Mecca of cricket , Lords and he now equals Rahul Dravid with 36 test centuries.
The kind of distinguished records he possesses :
1)Fastest to 8000 , 9000 , 10000 and 11000 test runs.
2) Only player to make 4 consecutive scores of 150+ and only one to score 3 centuries in a row on 3 occasions.
3) Also the man to be involved in the highest ever partnership of 624 runs along with Mahela Jayawardene.
4) Easily the greatest southpaw since Brian Charles Lara and perhaps one of the greatest test players amongst those who made their debut only in the new millenium.
Lord Sanga - you truly are an all time Test Cricket Legend !!
The kind of distinguished records he possesses :
1)Fastest to 8000 , 9000 , 10000 and 11000 test runs.
2) Only player to make 4 consecutive scores of 150+ and only one to score 3 centuries in a row on 3 occasions.
3) Also the man to be involved in the highest ever partnership of 624 runs along with Mahela Jayawardene.
4) Easily the greatest southpaw since Brian Charles Lara and perhaps one of the greatest test players amongst those who made their debut only in the new millenium.
Lord Sanga - you truly are an all time Test Cricket Legend !!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Kaidi Kitchen - A Prisoner's Paradise !!
First things first , when i heard about a restaurant by the name Kaidi Kitchen , had a hunch that it would perhaps be authentic South Indian Veg cuisine but soon realised how way off the boil my intuitions were , not that I am complaining one bit.
I heard that this place gets very crowded over the weekends and so we decided to go on a weekday evening. The first thing you spot as you enter is the large Jail gate adjourning the entrance. As you open the jail to get inside , you find a slew of waiters adorning prisoner clothes with No.s written on each of their shirts and persons dressed as policeman taking the orders. You will also find a mocktail counter with bartenders. There are also Big Jails with No.s to accomodate large groups of people. Its thematically cool and definitely quite chic.
Now coming to the main part the food. The menu is gargantuan and it keeps going on an on as you keep flipping the pages. It was virtually a never ending menu with the left hand side having interesting info on prisons in different countries and right side explaining about the food. This place specialises on Mexican , Chinese , Italian and Indian. To boot , you really have so much to choose that you really will not know what to choose :).
We had a mexican soup which was spicy and red in colour. It had quite a few ingredients and gave a nice feel to the mouth. For starters we ordered one of their signature dishes - Greek Cottage cheese which was enticing to just look at and it totally lived up to its looks by literally melting in the mouth. This is a different kind of Paneer which i have tasted which are served in Popsicle sticks marinated over with cheese and cream and underneath you have a few grilled veggies and as you further splash the cheese sauce on it , it just turns totally yummyliscious. We had another appetiser - Champignon's ala toast which was herbed bread flooded with a coated layer of cheese with suateed mushroom interspersed in between along with clove garlic , chilli flakes and olives and was served with a salsa sauce. This too was a definite winner. Both the items win the brownie points not only for their delightful looks but also their delectable taste.
The main course was a tough choice to decide and we zeroed in on having a Lasagne Mexican style. We simply gorged on this where on one side you had a greenish spinach flour tortilla squishied over with a cheesy layer and on the other were an amalgam of exotic mexican veggies containing black beans , corn , roasted tomato , bell pepper , jalapenos , coriander etc . The whitish cheesy portion and the reddish Mexican veggie portion went along really well giving the thumbs up. The other item we had was an Italian Baked Macaroni with Cheddar and Asparagus. This contained pieces of Macaroni loaded in an abundance of bechamel sauce accompanied along with Olives , Parsley and garlic along with a layer of baked cheese. This too was impressive but we had the feeling of having something similar in other restaurants. We were already heavily loaded but wanted to try one of the desserts and had the Chocolate Fondue which was simply put a bowl of molten hot chocolate sauce served along with fruits such as apple , banana , grapes , pappaya and sweet cake where you had to fork the accompanient , dip it into the chocolate gravy and have it. Nothing special about this one but the choco lovers will surely devour over the chocolate sauce.
The rates are pretty exorbitant with almost each dish costing on an average 300 bucks. The ambience is nice and people love taking pictures inside the jail like setting and with the menu being so elaborate with such a widespread of items , it is ideal especially for visiting as large groups. The service is also really quick and those taking the order seem to have a good fair idea of the different items on the menu.
For veg afficianados craving for food different from what you get in Sangeetha and Saravana Bhavan , this comes as a welcome edition and I have a feeling this place will pick up the stakes big time like Creme Center. And for me personally with a good first time experience and being so much of a Paneer and cheese lover I still have so much to try and so will definitely keep going again to have a feel of the other items in store :). Surely seems like a prisoner's paradise.
I heard that this place gets very crowded over the weekends and so we decided to go on a weekday evening. The first thing you spot as you enter is the large Jail gate adjourning the entrance. As you open the jail to get inside , you find a slew of waiters adorning prisoner clothes with No.s written on each of their shirts and persons dressed as policeman taking the orders. You will also find a mocktail counter with bartenders. There are also Big Jails with No.s to accomodate large groups of people. Its thematically cool and definitely quite chic.
Now coming to the main part the food. The menu is gargantuan and it keeps going on an on as you keep flipping the pages. It was virtually a never ending menu with the left hand side having interesting info on prisons in different countries and right side explaining about the food. This place specialises on Mexican , Chinese , Italian and Indian. To boot , you really have so much to choose that you really will not know what to choose :).
We had a mexican soup which was spicy and red in colour. It had quite a few ingredients and gave a nice feel to the mouth. For starters we ordered one of their signature dishes - Greek Cottage cheese which was enticing to just look at and it totally lived up to its looks by literally melting in the mouth. This is a different kind of Paneer which i have tasted which are served in Popsicle sticks marinated over with cheese and cream and underneath you have a few grilled veggies and as you further splash the cheese sauce on it , it just turns totally yummyliscious. We had another appetiser - Champignon's ala toast which was herbed bread flooded with a coated layer of cheese with suateed mushroom interspersed in between along with clove garlic , chilli flakes and olives and was served with a salsa sauce. This too was a definite winner. Both the items win the brownie points not only for their delightful looks but also their delectable taste.
The main course was a tough choice to decide and we zeroed in on having a Lasagne Mexican style. We simply gorged on this where on one side you had a greenish spinach flour tortilla squishied over with a cheesy layer and on the other were an amalgam of exotic mexican veggies containing black beans , corn , roasted tomato , bell pepper , jalapenos , coriander etc . The whitish cheesy portion and the reddish Mexican veggie portion went along really well giving the thumbs up. The other item we had was an Italian Baked Macaroni with Cheddar and Asparagus. This contained pieces of Macaroni loaded in an abundance of bechamel sauce accompanied along with Olives , Parsley and garlic along with a layer of baked cheese. This too was impressive but we had the feeling of having something similar in other restaurants. We were already heavily loaded but wanted to try one of the desserts and had the Chocolate Fondue which was simply put a bowl of molten hot chocolate sauce served along with fruits such as apple , banana , grapes , pappaya and sweet cake where you had to fork the accompanient , dip it into the chocolate gravy and have it. Nothing special about this one but the choco lovers will surely devour over the chocolate sauce.
The rates are pretty exorbitant with almost each dish costing on an average 300 bucks. The ambience is nice and people love taking pictures inside the jail like setting and with the menu being so elaborate with such a widespread of items , it is ideal especially for visiting as large groups. The service is also really quick and those taking the order seem to have a good fair idea of the different items on the menu.
For veg afficianados craving for food different from what you get in Sangeetha and Saravana Bhavan , this comes as a welcome edition and I have a feeling this place will pick up the stakes big time like Creme Center. And for me personally with a good first time experience and being so much of a Paneer and cheese lover I still have so much to try and so will definitely keep going again to have a feel of the other items in store :). Surely seems like a prisoner's paradise.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Resilient Rafa - The Emperor of Clay!
With Djokovic not only winning his last 4 encounters but literally dismantling Nadal by claiming the last 8 of 9 sets played against him , this was one Roland Garros Final I was pretty apprehensive about Rafa coming through. Too many ominous signs and it was only further accentuated with Nadal dropping the first set.
But what a comeback by the Champ when under the pump raising his game to another level and winning the coveted La Coupe des Mousquetaires yet again for an all encompassing herculean 9th time.
Cometh the hour cometh the man - the raging Bull from Mallorca does it once again. Rafa you truly are the closest thing to perfection anyone has seen or perhaps would ever see on the hallowed Red clay.
9 time French Open Champion , 14 Grand slam Championships and now also winning atleast a solitary Grand Slam for the 10th year in succession. Truly the stuff of legends. Salute !!
But what a comeback by the Champ when under the pump raising his game to another level and winning the coveted La Coupe des Mousquetaires yet again for an all encompassing herculean 9th time.
Cometh the hour cometh the man - the raging Bull from Mallorca does it once again. Rafa you truly are the closest thing to perfection anyone has seen or perhaps would ever see on the hallowed Red clay.
9 time French Open Champion , 14 Grand slam Championships and now also winning atleast a solitary Grand Slam for the 10th year in succession. Truly the stuff of legends. Salute !!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Energetic and Inimitable SPB!
There are certain songs which nobody but the great man can do real justice - the unmatchable energy , feel and sizzle he brings is truly a class of his own. In his own inimitable style he can elevate a song to an all together different level through his impeccable rendition.
Check out the way he just freaks out in this outstanding composition bringing out the perfect ambience of funkiness , craziness and wackiness. The way he goes Pa Pa Pa Pa Paaaaahhhh is just kickass awesomeness.
Sir , you really are a rockstar and truly epitomise legendaryness.
Happy B'day Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam aka SPB !!
Appappa Thithikkum - Japanil Kalyanaraman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2yGiUUAZ6c
Check out the way he just freaks out in this outstanding composition bringing out the perfect ambience of funkiness , craziness and wackiness. The way he goes Pa Pa Pa Pa Paaaaahhhh is just kickass awesomeness.
Sir , you really are a rockstar and truly epitomise legendaryness.
Happy B'day Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam aka SPB !!
Appappa Thithikkum - Japanil Kalyanaraman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2yGiUUAZ6c
Friday, May 30, 2014
Sindhu Bhairavi in a New Jawdropping Avatar!
Ellarum Sindhu Bhairavi ketrukom but this one's redefined in a new avatar.
Absolutely brilliant composition by Navneeth Sundar with out of the world singing by Sathyaprakash Dharmar , the violin by Embar Kannan literally talks and just no words for the precision in the percussion.
Completely insane composition from start to end. Call it gobsmacking or jaw dropping or whatever , this is the most Thaaru Maaru Sindhu Bhairavi Thillana ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4UDgbTyP7M
Absolutely brilliant composition by Navneeth Sundar with out of the world singing by Sathyaprakash Dharmar , the violin by Embar Kannan literally talks and just no words for the precision in the percussion.
Completely insane composition from start to end. Call it gobsmacking or jaw dropping or whatever , this is the most Thaaru Maaru Sindhu Bhairavi Thillana ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4UDgbTyP7M
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Barbequed at Barbeque Nation !!
This is a place where you can eat till you drop. Its their starters which pack a punch and you are served an overdose of them which keeps getting refilled like an avalanche as you keep polishing. The barbeque's taste awesome and seldom go wrong tempered with the right blend of juice , texture and tenderness. This is a place where you get the best of both worlds - veg and non veg. The veg afficianados are always guaranteed of a Paneer , Mushroom , Aloo , Corn etc and likewise the non veg lovers get their share of Chicken , Fish , Lamb and Prawn.
If you have to mention one signature starter which stands out - its the Cajun spiced Potato. Infact i like coming here just to gorge on this Caribean style melting potatoes floating over a simmering creamy gravy which just wallows in your mouth making your taste buds to crave for more and more. This item is unique and have never tasted something like this anywhere else. Interestingly , this is the only really liquidy thingy amongst all the starters.
In Barbeque nation , it is the starters which stake claim for being the main course and the real so called main course occupies a distant secondary position. To be frank , atleast 80% of your meal will be consumed on just relishing the barbeque's and the rest barring the starters just make up for the remaining numbers. That said they have quite an elaborate spread consisting of soup , roti , rice , salad and a plethora of curries and desserts. I usually find the curries having the same ingredients as those of the starters where you get your quintessential paneer/mushroom gravy , aloo curry etc. You never really get to do justice to this portion of the meal due to the over indulgence in consuming the Barbeque's. From what little I have tasted would say it just borders along the decent and nothing really great to write home about.
Coming to the ambience , you feel a lot of brownness all over perhaps adhering to the Barbeques which are also more or less Brown in colour. :) Lots of brown colored brick walls and brown seats converge the surroundings. The chairs are a little uncomfortable and it would be good if they raise the height a wee bit. This is a place where you cannot expect to have a quite meal and its more ideal to visit as a group. Its a bit noisy and added to that is the loud english music playing along.
The service is excellent and really quick and rest assured you will be taken care of all your needs. The barbeques were refreshed promptly and never felt the need to request for anything particular. Here their ideology is Customer is King. Found this really impressive as they are always overcrowded and yet they strive hard to serve each and every customer to the best of their ability. The prices are little on the higher side. I remember paying only half the rate when i used to frequent a couple of years ago.
Despite the minor shortcomings , they have managed to keep their fan base intact and only enlarge it over a period of time and the popularity they command stands a true testimony to the quality of food and service of this restaurant.
If you have to mention one signature starter which stands out - its the Cajun spiced Potato. Infact i like coming here just to gorge on this Caribean style melting potatoes floating over a simmering creamy gravy which just wallows in your mouth making your taste buds to crave for more and more. This item is unique and have never tasted something like this anywhere else. Interestingly , this is the only really liquidy thingy amongst all the starters.
In Barbeque nation , it is the starters which stake claim for being the main course and the real so called main course occupies a distant secondary position. To be frank , atleast 80% of your meal will be consumed on just relishing the barbeque's and the rest barring the starters just make up for the remaining numbers. That said they have quite an elaborate spread consisting of soup , roti , rice , salad and a plethora of curries and desserts. I usually find the curries having the same ingredients as those of the starters where you get your quintessential paneer/mushroom gravy , aloo curry etc. You never really get to do justice to this portion of the meal due to the over indulgence in consuming the Barbeque's. From what little I have tasted would say it just borders along the decent and nothing really great to write home about.
Coming to the ambience , you feel a lot of brownness all over perhaps adhering to the Barbeques which are also more or less Brown in colour. :) Lots of brown colored brick walls and brown seats converge the surroundings. The chairs are a little uncomfortable and it would be good if they raise the height a wee bit. This is a place where you cannot expect to have a quite meal and its more ideal to visit as a group. Its a bit noisy and added to that is the loud english music playing along.
The service is excellent and really quick and rest assured you will be taken care of all your needs. The barbeques were refreshed promptly and never felt the need to request for anything particular. Here their ideology is Customer is King. Found this really impressive as they are always overcrowded and yet they strive hard to serve each and every customer to the best of their ability. The prices are little on the higher side. I remember paying only half the rate when i used to frequent a couple of years ago.
Despite the minor shortcomings , they have managed to keep their fan base intact and only enlarge it over a period of time and the popularity they command stands a true testimony to the quality of food and service of this restaurant.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Dheem Dheem Eargasm!
I have lost count of the number of times I have replayed this track in the last couple of days. Complete eargasm !!
Raaga Bhatiyar at its effervescent best bringing out the real beauty of this raag and the usage of the leapfrogging Dhaivatam as one of the pivotal note adds such a vibrant spark. The violin portions by Embar Kannan are just mindblowing transcending across octaves and those subtle illuppus just caresses and Deepika Varadarajan brings vigour and life to the composition through her resplendent rendition , the flow in the voice while singing swaras and the stress at the crucial Dheem portions radiates and the mellow percussion throughout the song adds such a nice touch. Great job Prithvi Chandrasekhar for producing this wonderful composition and the ambience at Krimson Avenue Studios adds to the awesomeness. Everything in this song is such a win.
Just too much of soul ingrained all over !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv50uThyHLY&feature=youtu.be
Raaga Bhatiyar at its effervescent best bringing out the real beauty of this raag and the usage of the leapfrogging Dhaivatam as one of the pivotal note adds such a vibrant spark. The violin portions by Embar Kannan are just mindblowing transcending across octaves and those subtle illuppus just caresses and Deepika Varadarajan brings vigour and life to the composition through her resplendent rendition , the flow in the voice while singing swaras and the stress at the crucial Dheem portions radiates and the mellow percussion throughout the song adds such a nice touch. Great job Prithvi Chandrasekhar for producing this wonderful composition and the ambience at Krimson Avenue Studios adds to the awesomeness. Everything in this song is such a win.
Just too much of soul ingrained all over !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv50uThyHLY&feature=youtu.be
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Experiencing Avenue 195 !!
Avenue 195 is this new restaurant located just off Khader Nawaz Khan Road (on Mohd Shafee Road) and when you walk in you are greeted with a signpost with the wordings Global Buffet - "Your Gastronomic journey begins here". And as you are exposed to the oeuvre of the buffet , you are reminded of not one but 3 big G words - Gastronomical , Gargantuan and Grandiloquent.
Its like an avalanche of food , food and more food flowing from different cuisines across the globe.
In a nutshell , they have over 60 items on the menu comprising of 2 soups (1 Veg & 1 Non Veg) , 14 starters (7 veg incl. Chat & 7 Non Veg) , 5-6 types of Salad , Indian Bread , Biriyani , Plain rice , Raita , around 10-15 main course dishes , 10 varieties of Desserts (5 European & 5 Indian) , 4 flavours of Ice-cream and on top of this they have live counters of Oriental and Pasta where you get to make them your way ad lib style with the ingredients added of your choice.
Now coming to the food in detail , started off with the Veg minestrone soup an Italian style soup containing carrot, onion, beans, cabbage etc., it was pretty decent and I just had a little bit for taste as i was waiting to indulge on the bigger palate in store. Then started arriving the starters to the table with Chat making the first appearance. There was Bhel Puri, Pani Puri and Dahi Papdi. Generally in most buffets you find Chat just making up the numbers and they tend to taste very average but here it was anything but that and it was a refreshing surprise. The Bhel Puri was really yummy and made well with the right toppings giving a nice crispy taste , Pani puri also had a nice mixture inside and gave a good feel to the mouth and so was the Dahi Papdi chat which was simple yet delicious. This was easily the best Chat i have had at a place not specializing on this genre. And then arrived the other starters - Veg Tempura which is basically your traditional Bhajji with stuffing's of Carrot and Zucchini , Vol au vent which was a puff pastry garnished with a layer of corn , peas and cheese topped with olive ( A thumbs up to this one which made me have extra pieces), panneer tikka was succulent and a small dollop of Masala paste gave it a nice zingy taste and the last of the starters of Veg was Cocktail Samosa which were cute and small in size and on the inside loaded with potato , peas and herbs (A definite winner). I don't take Non Veg but from what I heard most of the items had the affirmative nod.
Just gorging on the starters occupied over 80% of the tummy capacity and so much of the spread was still uncovered. Tried my forceful best to have whatever little of the remaining which had items like Parsley with Cauliflower , Corn and Brocoli Chinese balls , Tandoori Ananas , Herb Potato , Baked Mushroom , Punjabi Chole Masala , Mutter Paneer , Dhal Makhani et al. The former 4 items could perhaps again get categorized again under the Starters bracket and among them the Ananas hit the mark by being juicy and tender. On the gravy side , just had the wherewithal to mildly taste and most of them deserve the brownie points.The salad bar also had some interesting things lined up such as Paneer Corn Bhutte and Lettuce & Egg salad.
Coming to the Oriental Live counter , they give you the option of sprucing up your own and you have 8 varieties of sauces to choose from - Chilli/Oyster/Plum/Soya&Ginger/Red Thai/Green Thai/Hot Garlic/Schezwan. The same ad-libbing style holds good for the Pasta where you not only get to choose the sauce - Tomato/Pesto/Cream/Mushroom but also the Pasta - Penne , Spaghetti , Fusili. Chose the coloured fusili with Cream sauce topped with ingredients of Brocoli , Corn , Bell Pepper and a dash of Chilli flakes and crushed black pepper as condiment. It left a lingering taste and you really felt like craving for more sans your stomach capacity.
Its like an avalanche of food , food and more food flowing from different cuisines across the globe.
In a nutshell , they have over 60 items on the menu comprising of 2 soups (1 Veg & 1 Non Veg) , 14 starters (7 veg incl. Chat & 7 Non Veg) , 5-6 types of Salad , Indian Bread , Biriyani , Plain rice , Raita , around 10-15 main course dishes , 10 varieties of Desserts (5 European & 5 Indian) , 4 flavours of Ice-cream and on top of this they have live counters of Oriental and Pasta where you get to make them your way ad lib style with the ingredients added of your choice.
Now coming to the food in detail , started off with the Veg minestrone soup an Italian style soup containing carrot, onion, beans, cabbage etc., it was pretty decent and I just had a little bit for taste as i was waiting to indulge on the bigger palate in store. Then started arriving the starters to the table with Chat making the first appearance. There was Bhel Puri, Pani Puri and Dahi Papdi. Generally in most buffets you find Chat just making up the numbers and they tend to taste very average but here it was anything but that and it was a refreshing surprise. The Bhel Puri was really yummy and made well with the right toppings giving a nice crispy taste , Pani puri also had a nice mixture inside and gave a good feel to the mouth and so was the Dahi Papdi chat which was simple yet delicious. This was easily the best Chat i have had at a place not specializing on this genre. And then arrived the other starters - Veg Tempura which is basically your traditional Bhajji with stuffing's of Carrot and Zucchini , Vol au vent which was a puff pastry garnished with a layer of corn , peas and cheese topped with olive ( A thumbs up to this one which made me have extra pieces), panneer tikka was succulent and a small dollop of Masala paste gave it a nice zingy taste and the last of the starters of Veg was Cocktail Samosa which were cute and small in size and on the inside loaded with potato , peas and herbs (A definite winner). I don't take Non Veg but from what I heard most of the items had the affirmative nod.
Just gorging on the starters occupied over 80% of the tummy capacity and so much of the spread was still uncovered. Tried my forceful best to have whatever little of the remaining which had items like Parsley with Cauliflower , Corn and Brocoli Chinese balls , Tandoori Ananas , Herb Potato , Baked Mushroom , Punjabi Chole Masala , Mutter Paneer , Dhal Makhani et al. The former 4 items could perhaps again get categorized again under the Starters bracket and among them the Ananas hit the mark by being juicy and tender. On the gravy side , just had the wherewithal to mildly taste and most of them deserve the brownie points.The salad bar also had some interesting things lined up such as Paneer Corn Bhutte and Lettuce & Egg salad.
Coming to the Oriental Live counter , they give you the option of sprucing up your own and you have 8 varieties of sauces to choose from - Chilli/Oyster/Plum/Soya&Ginger/Red Thai/Green Thai/Hot Garlic/Schezwan. The same ad-libbing style holds good for the Pasta where you not only get to choose the sauce - Tomato/Pesto/Cream/Mushroom but also the Pasta - Penne , Spaghetti , Fusili. Chose the coloured fusili with Cream sauce topped with ingredients of Brocoli , Corn , Bell Pepper and a dash of Chilli flakes and crushed black pepper as condiment. It left a lingering taste and you really felt like craving for more sans your stomach capacity.
Rounding off on the desserts you had a mix of Indian - Rosagulla , Kala Jamun , Bombay Halwa , Tuti fruti Burfi (the latter 2 were enticing) and western which had a green apple jelly and a few others like date cake , blueberry cheese cake (delightful!) et al. And not to forget you had the luxury of 4 flavors of ice cream to go along - Vanilla , Mango , Butter scotch and Strawberry.
Coming to the ambience , the décor isn't extravagant but decent enough and the portraits and hanging wall clocks showcasing the time zones of different countries gives a nice touch. So are the interesting foodie quotes from across the globes adorned on the leaflets.
There isn't much to complain about this place but if you however want to pinpoint a few things , these are some which could be improved :
1) It would be good to have a drink as part of the buffet (I know its asking too much when their spread is fit enough to feed a giant but come to think of it drink is essential and is a good add-on especially with the starters).
2) Felt the oil content to be pretty heavy in some of the items and they could be reduced a bit.
3) Minor issues like it was so hot inside and we had to request them to switch on the A/c's. The benefit of doubt can definitely be given as its a new place and these things get sorted out with time.
Having said this, these are just minor quibbles and the positives far far outweigh the negatives.
And the icing on the cake is the fact that such a lavish , humongous and monstrous buffet at the end of the day costs less than Rs 650 per person all inclusive. Truly value for money !!
Coming to the ambience , the décor isn't extravagant but decent enough and the portraits and hanging wall clocks showcasing the time zones of different countries gives a nice touch. So are the interesting foodie quotes from across the globes adorned on the leaflets.
There isn't much to complain about this place but if you however want to pinpoint a few things , these are some which could be improved :
1) It would be good to have a drink as part of the buffet (I know its asking too much when their spread is fit enough to feed a giant but come to think of it drink is essential and is a good add-on especially with the starters).
2) Felt the oil content to be pretty heavy in some of the items and they could be reduced a bit.
3) Minor issues like it was so hot inside and we had to request them to switch on the A/c's. The benefit of doubt can definitely be given as its a new place and these things get sorted out with time.
Having said this, these are just minor quibbles and the positives far far outweigh the negatives.
And the icing on the cake is the fact that such a lavish , humongous and monstrous buffet at the end of the day costs less than Rs 650 per person all inclusive. Truly value for money !!
There is really so much on the platter that you wish there was a magic trick to increase your intake capacity to 500 % of your original size in order to do full justice and truly enjoy all the dishes to your hearts content :).
Its unbelievable how all these amazing restaurants keep sprouting up on Nungambakkam time and again. And Avenue 195 is another welcome addition and raises the class of food in this area a notch higher through its epicurean delicacy.
Its unbelievable how all these amazing restaurants keep sprouting up on Nungambakkam time and again. And Avenue 195 is another welcome addition and raises the class of food in this area a notch higher through its epicurean delicacy.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Royal Indianaa - Accord Metropolitan
Visited Royal Indianaa for the first time today and must say it was a pretty decent experience. A tandoori festival is going on currently titled "Chandigarh se Chennai Tak" where they claim to serve some of the best tandoori cuisine from the heart of the north. And true to the Punjabi culture and style , the buffet spread was gastronomical and lavish. Beleive it or not , this is the first time I'm witness to a place serving a truckload of 10 varieties of veg starters.
Well , here goes the list of starters :
1) Patiala ki Paneer Tikka
2) Multani Tandoori Gobhi
3) Lawrence Road ke Bhuthe
4) Aloo Khurmani ki Tikka
5) Dahi Bhalla
6) Potli Samosa
7) Chatkare Arbi
8) Sabziyon ki Khush Seekh
9) Kunbh Tawa Takatak
10) Moong Dal ke Vada
You might think the above list itself will more than satiate your hunger , but the main course is as giantly as this comprising of plethora of gravies - 2-3 types of Dal , Rajma , Paneer , Aloo , Bhindi , Bhaingan and what not. There are just too many things on the platter that you probably will never be able to really do justice to all the items and invariably you will listen to a cry from your stomach saying please stop , i am unable to digest the overload. :) They also offer unlimited Punjabi Lassi and a welcome drink of your choice - either a Kingfisher Beer or Fresh/canned juice. Also they have a few salad varieties comprising of Papdi chat et al which i couldn't try because of the already over indulgence of my tummy. A live counter with Chole Bhatoore and Pindi Chole too was part of the already elaborate spread. For Indian bread again , you had the option to choose from 3-4 different varieties. Also on the table was Pulao and the customary curd rice. Desserts too didn't want to be left behind offering you Gajar ki Halwa , Gulab Jamun , fresh fruits , ice cream , strawberry mousse , mango mousse , red velvet gateaux , some other couple of pastries etc.
You are totally spoilt for choice at this place and if you looking for sumptuousness , this is probably a go to place for Tandoori Veg. On the flip side , despite the majestically colossal spread , there wasn't any starter which stood apart leaving a lingering taste in your mouth craving for more. Ofcourse , you wouldn't say anything was bad but somehow felt that extra zing was missing.
The ambience is nice and the dim lights are ideal for gorging on this kind of Punjabi khana. The service too was pretty quick and they kept re-filling the starters and glasses at regular intervals.
The buffet is priced at INR 975 all inclusive on the weekends which you would perhaps say is decent for such a monstrous spread plus the fact that it has got a good ambience going and also being located in a star hotel. The hotel staff were however very magnanimous to additionally give us extra 20% discount on the bill.
This was my first dining at Royal Indiana and definitely it deserves a thumbs up for the overall experience.
With some minor tweaks like perhaps reducing the spread marginally and concentrating more on the toothsomeness , it can only tend to get better.
Definitely recommended !!
Well , here goes the list of starters :
1) Patiala ki Paneer Tikka
2) Multani Tandoori Gobhi
3) Lawrence Road ke Bhuthe
4) Aloo Khurmani ki Tikka
5) Dahi Bhalla
6) Potli Samosa
7) Chatkare Arbi
8) Sabziyon ki Khush Seekh
9) Kunbh Tawa Takatak
10) Moong Dal ke Vada
You might think the above list itself will more than satiate your hunger , but the main course is as giantly as this comprising of plethora of gravies - 2-3 types of Dal , Rajma , Paneer , Aloo , Bhindi , Bhaingan and what not. There are just too many things on the platter that you probably will never be able to really do justice to all the items and invariably you will listen to a cry from your stomach saying please stop , i am unable to digest the overload. :) They also offer unlimited Punjabi Lassi and a welcome drink of your choice - either a Kingfisher Beer or Fresh/canned juice. Also they have a few salad varieties comprising of Papdi chat et al which i couldn't try because of the already over indulgence of my tummy. A live counter with Chole Bhatoore and Pindi Chole too was part of the already elaborate spread. For Indian bread again , you had the option to choose from 3-4 different varieties. Also on the table was Pulao and the customary curd rice. Desserts too didn't want to be left behind offering you Gajar ki Halwa , Gulab Jamun , fresh fruits , ice cream , strawberry mousse , mango mousse , red velvet gateaux , some other couple of pastries etc.
You are totally spoilt for choice at this place and if you looking for sumptuousness , this is probably a go to place for Tandoori Veg. On the flip side , despite the majestically colossal spread , there wasn't any starter which stood apart leaving a lingering taste in your mouth craving for more. Ofcourse , you wouldn't say anything was bad but somehow felt that extra zing was missing.
The ambience is nice and the dim lights are ideal for gorging on this kind of Punjabi khana. The service too was pretty quick and they kept re-filling the starters and glasses at regular intervals.
The buffet is priced at INR 975 all inclusive on the weekends which you would perhaps say is decent for such a monstrous spread plus the fact that it has got a good ambience going and also being located in a star hotel. The hotel staff were however very magnanimous to additionally give us extra 20% discount on the bill.
This was my first dining at Royal Indiana and definitely it deserves a thumbs up for the overall experience.
With some minor tweaks like perhaps reducing the spread marginally and concentrating more on the toothsomeness , it can only tend to get better.
Definitely recommended !!
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Chepauk 2001 - A great Missed Opportunity!
This day 13 years ago on 22nd March 2001 happened to be a Thursday and an unforgettable day in my life. It was the 5th and last day of the final test in the series between India and Australia and all roads pointed to an epic final day finish at Chepauk. The series was locked horns at 1 apiece in the series dubbed as "The Final Frontier" and it all came boiling down to that final day's play which would decide the outcome of one of the greatest test series ever played on Indian soil.
India was on top going into Day 5 but there was a certain Steve Waugh still there at the crease seeing through Day 4. The Aussies were 100 odd ahead with 7 down and everyone knew that if Waugh was castled early on Day 5, the game was there to be taken for India.
A bunch of us from Class X A - PS Senior Sec School had cut school the previous day and gone to witness the penultimate day's action and with the way match was placed and history beckoning, all of us again wanted to bunk and watch the final days play too. But then we got calls from fellow classmates on the 4th day evening saying the situation was serious in school and they were collecting fines and another day of absence will result in parents being called and given a severe warning. It was a big decision to take whether to go to Chepauk and watch history being created or go to school like typical chamathu P.S pasanga and avoid the consequences.
We came to school on the 5th day morning but our minds were still not in place and constantly deviating. It was '0' period and the teacher had still not come, we suddenly gathered courage and decided 'Let hell break loose' we will end up going for the match. And then we made our way till the P.S back gate to leave when it suddenly dawned upon us as to what will happen if someone complained that we all came to class and left for the match. There were always some Naradars :O.
I even now vividly remember the discussion we had in Gate 2 (Back Gate) and after speaking for couple of minutes we all disappointingly but unanimously decided to get back to class. In fact even after getting back to class, the teacher had still not come and there were semblances of hope once again to go back but it was too late.
And then History happened...
Waugh was dismissed early on Day 5 and India quickly wrapped up the tail requiring just 155 to win. Then there was a mini stutter as you always expect with India as they started losing quick wickets. Laxman however was again standing between the Aussies ticking along and taking India to safety. As I was about to leave school for the day, I heard in the transistor (no cell phones back then) that Laxman was caught brilliantly by Mark Waugh with India still needing 20 to win. And then just as I reached home, I entered with the news that Sameer Dighe and the series superstar Harbhajan Singh had taken India to victory and I was just in time to witness the presentation ceremony.
Chepauk was buzzing with excitement and there were scenes of euphoria all round. India had staged a remarkable comeback which all started on Day 4 of the Eden Gardens test which culminated and reached the pinnacle on Day 5 at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium. India had won perhaps the greatest test series ever played in its cricketing history.
Looking back now, there is still a tinge of disappointment and resentment. In hindsight wondering how amazing it would have been had we got the courage on that eventful day to go ahead with our plan and be part of the Chepauk crowd who got to witness history. It would have made the memories fonder and also contributed to a much better and more daring story.
In the end, a small chickening act put paid hopes of creating our own slice of cricketing history. Just only wish there is a time machine to go back in history and re-write the past :)
India was on top going into Day 5 but there was a certain Steve Waugh still there at the crease seeing through Day 4. The Aussies were 100 odd ahead with 7 down and everyone knew that if Waugh was castled early on Day 5, the game was there to be taken for India.
A bunch of us from Class X A - PS Senior Sec School had cut school the previous day and gone to witness the penultimate day's action and with the way match was placed and history beckoning, all of us again wanted to bunk and watch the final days play too. But then we got calls from fellow classmates on the 4th day evening saying the situation was serious in school and they were collecting fines and another day of absence will result in parents being called and given a severe warning. It was a big decision to take whether to go to Chepauk and watch history being created or go to school like typical chamathu P.S pasanga and avoid the consequences.
We came to school on the 5th day morning but our minds were still not in place and constantly deviating. It was '0' period and the teacher had still not come, we suddenly gathered courage and decided 'Let hell break loose' we will end up going for the match. And then we made our way till the P.S back gate to leave when it suddenly dawned upon us as to what will happen if someone complained that we all came to class and left for the match. There were always some Naradars :O.
I even now vividly remember the discussion we had in Gate 2 (Back Gate) and after speaking for couple of minutes we all disappointingly but unanimously decided to get back to class. In fact even after getting back to class, the teacher had still not come and there were semblances of hope once again to go back but it was too late.
And then History happened...
Waugh was dismissed early on Day 5 and India quickly wrapped up the tail requiring just 155 to win. Then there was a mini stutter as you always expect with India as they started losing quick wickets. Laxman however was again standing between the Aussies ticking along and taking India to safety. As I was about to leave school for the day, I heard in the transistor (no cell phones back then) that Laxman was caught brilliantly by Mark Waugh with India still needing 20 to win. And then just as I reached home, I entered with the news that Sameer Dighe and the series superstar Harbhajan Singh had taken India to victory and I was just in time to witness the presentation ceremony.
Chepauk was buzzing with excitement and there were scenes of euphoria all round. India had staged a remarkable comeback which all started on Day 4 of the Eden Gardens test which culminated and reached the pinnacle on Day 5 at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium. India had won perhaps the greatest test series ever played in its cricketing history.
Looking back now, there is still a tinge of disappointment and resentment. In hindsight wondering how amazing it would have been had we got the courage on that eventful day to go ahead with our plan and be part of the Chepauk crowd who got to witness history. It would have made the memories fonder and also contributed to a much better and more daring story.
In the end, a small chickening act put paid hopes of creating our own slice of cricketing history. Just only wish there is a time machine to go back in history and re-write the past :)
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Truly Goosebumpy Raajaish Moments !!
A myriad of emotions are experienced when listening to IlaiyaRaaja songs.
Some of the feelings you get are innermost to your senses and so deep that it is really hard to describe them in words.
I often tend to think Goosebumps has become a very common and often over rated word and generally used at will to describe different feelings.
I myself am guilty on occassions but there are portions/parts in certain songs which makes you inexplicably get a Namalukku Ariyamalaye Vara feel.
Somehow more than the musically histrionic numbers , it is those simple folkish songs mostly in 3 beat cycle which gives that உணர்ச்சி.
Here are some of my truly Goosebumpy Raaja moments :
1) Oorelaam Un Paattu Dhaan - Oorelaam Un Paattu
Am a big fan of Swarnalatha's version of this song. There is so much of soul ingrained all over this number that you just can't help but falling in love with it..Especially that Charanam portion when she renders 'Aalam Vizhudhugal Pole Aadum Ninaivugal Pole' with the violins backing up in arrangement , pppppaaaaahhhhh that’s all you want to say.
2) Thaana Vandha Sandhaname - Ooru Vittu Ooru Vandhu
Another folkish beauty based on the Karaharapriya scale , this one is a total stunner every way you look at it ..The way the word "Thaana" is illuthified giving such a nice variation and the heavenly violins in the 1st interlude is complete Pularippu..
But the truly defining moment is in the Charanam area when SPB renders 'கொத்துமல்லி கொண்டையிலாட குளிர் பார்வை வண்டுகளாட
புத்தம் புது செண்டுகளாட புது தாகம் தோணுமே' - what an impact he generates by traversing from one octave to another twice back and forth (Ri--->Ri , Ni---->Ni) , totally out of the skin singing by Balu leaving you stumped.
3) Kuyil Paattu - En Rasavin Manasule
Another Swarnalatha favourite folkish number based on the monstrous Shivaranjini.Here the sound of the flute feels like the chirping of the birds. The true moment of reckoning arrives during the portion 'mannavanum pOgum paadhaiyil vaasamulla malligaippoo meththai virippaen'
You just feel this line appears suddenly out of the blue and parallelly with the violins at the background communicating the desired emotion leaves you with a lump in your heart. Totally unexpected and out of the box.
4) Raasave Unnai Nambi - Mudhal Mariyadhai
Example of feel good is defined in this song .. Avalo oru mey marandha feel kudukkum indha paattu. Janaki Amma kudukara feele thani .. Edho pannum especially andha portion 'Unakke vachirukken moochu Ethukku intha kadhi aachu' giving the perfect tranquil ambience.
5) Indha Maan - Karagatakkaran
Personal favourite - a song which transports you to another world. Vayathu ellaam kalakkum when the violins are injected in the first interlude Uchchathukku pora feel when Raaja sings 'anname ahhhh (alaap) anname endhan swarname' adhukku mela additionally oru violins movement apdiye vera ulagam koindu poyidum that very moment.
6) Malligaiye Malligaiye - Periya Veetu Panakkaran
A song very close to my heart - thaana oru palpable excitement varum whenever I listen to it. The starting violins tell you whats in store and the portions that follow just blows you away.
However the defining moment of awesomeness happens during the takeover of the flute in the first interlude , the way it carries the interlude on top of the Tabla rhythm and leads towards the Charanam is simply mesmerising. Napolean sir at his real best , this bit just makes you jump with joy. Used to have this bit as my ringtone - Sarasangi Bliss
Ringtone :
https://soundcloud.com/skrajiv/malligaiye-flute-interlude
Song :
7) Madhurai Maarikozhundhu Vaasam - Enga Ooru Paattukkaaran
A feeling of துள்ளல் comes in whenever you listen to this song making you sway away to the quintessential Ta Ki Ta rhythm.
What a delight it is to listen to the violins unfurl briefly before being subjected to the introduction of Shehnai piece suddenly giving a totally different color and again paving way for the violins to finish off in style.
Then comes the Charanam and when you feel the song to be moving in one direction , a sudden burst of energy is witnessed when Chitra renders 'vettu adhu unakku mattum dhaanaa' going on a full throttle jump forward to the next octave giving such a wonderful rippling effect making you feel relished.
8 ) Maanguyile Poonguyile - Karagatakkaaran
Speaking of folk , one just cannot ignore the gargantuan Maanguyile .. Eppo indha paattu ketaalum oru thani sugam.
The employment of flute , violins , Nadaswaram , Thavil etc make it a grand orchestral spectacle but not for a moment does it compromise on the soul of the song which is truly rustic and native.These are things which mind boggle you about Raaja as to how he paints the perfect caricature in his own inimitable style according to the desired setting not diluting the essence at the slightest.
The most bamboozling part of this song however is the twist in the Charanam when SPB sings 'yaereduththu paaththu yemmaa neereduththu ooththu' - where a new note (Periya Gandharam) is introduced for the first time creating an unexpected sparkling chiaroscura making you completely bedazzled.
This note is not introduced till that part and when it is what a marvellous transmogrification it brings to the table enhancing the song to an alltogether different level.
9) Shenbagame Shenbagame - Enga Ooru Paattukkaran
This song in Sindhu Bhairavi ragam is inundated , soaked and embellished completely with soul in abundance , just the initial Alaap by Asha Bhosle gives such a magical feel and on top of it the portions of flute resonate and the violins tug at your heart strings stirring your emotions.
When Ashaji finishes the Charanam by singing 'ennoda pattu satham serum unna pinnale eppodhum unnathottu paadaporen munnale' , such an ineffable feel is generated making you truly lost for words.
10) Un Paarvaiyil - Amman Kovil Kizhakaale
Ennavo oru power irukku indha paattula , every next time you listen the more you tend to fall in love with it.
Raaja dumbfounds by taking a Hindustani based scale for a village setting and the output he creates is simply bewitching and breathtaking.
Every part of the song just makes you go bonkers but if you have to pick that one hair raising moment it is that flute portion in the second interlude.It just automatically brings a smile to your face and you just don't know what to say but if you have to describe this beauty in a single word maybe you can say its supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Another flute bit i pride on having as a ringtone.
Ringtone :
https://soundcloud.com/skrajiv/un-paarvaiyil-oraayiram-flute
Song :
Its unbeleivable to think how Raaja impacts and transcends our lives by churning out songs which truly touch the soul.
He is not just a composer but a Vaggeyakara and a rare breed.
Whether one is a Pati Thotti Rasigan or a musical connoisseur , Raaja connects everyone through his soul infusing music.
There is that amazing power in his music which just makes you forget yourself and be completely hypnotised to his music.
And thats precisely the most significant reason which makes his music truly special and in a league of its own.
#RaajaConnect #Goosebumpy
Some of the feelings you get are innermost to your senses and so deep that it is really hard to describe them in words.
I often tend to think Goosebumps has become a very common and often over rated word and generally used at will to describe different feelings.
I myself am guilty on occassions but there are portions/parts in certain songs which makes you inexplicably get a Namalukku Ariyamalaye Vara feel.
Somehow more than the musically histrionic numbers , it is those simple folkish songs mostly in 3 beat cycle which gives that உணர்ச்சி.
Here are some of my truly Goosebumpy Raaja moments :
1) Oorelaam Un Paattu Dhaan - Oorelaam Un Paattu
Am a big fan of Swarnalatha's version of this song. There is so much of soul ingrained all over this number that you just can't help but falling in love with it..Especially that Charanam portion when she renders 'Aalam Vizhudhugal Pole Aadum Ninaivugal Pole' with the violins backing up in arrangement , pppppaaaaahhhhh that’s all you want to say.
2) Thaana Vandha Sandhaname - Ooru Vittu Ooru Vandhu
Another folkish beauty based on the Karaharapriya scale , this one is a total stunner every way you look at it ..The way the word "Thaana" is illuthified giving such a nice variation and the heavenly violins in the 1st interlude is complete Pularippu..
But the truly defining moment is in the Charanam area when SPB renders 'கொத்துமல்லி கொண்டையிலாட குளிர் பார்வை வண்டுகளாட
புத்தம் புது செண்டுகளாட புது தாகம் தோணுமே' - what an impact he generates by traversing from one octave to another twice back and forth (Ri--->Ri , Ni---->Ni) , totally out of the skin singing by Balu leaving you stumped.
3) Kuyil Paattu - En Rasavin Manasule
Another Swarnalatha favourite folkish number based on the monstrous Shivaranjini.Here the sound of the flute feels like the chirping of the birds. The true moment of reckoning arrives during the portion 'mannavanum pOgum paadhaiyil vaasamulla malligaippoo meththai virippaen'
You just feel this line appears suddenly out of the blue and parallelly with the violins at the background communicating the desired emotion leaves you with a lump in your heart. Totally unexpected and out of the box.
4) Raasave Unnai Nambi - Mudhal Mariyadhai
Example of feel good is defined in this song .. Avalo oru mey marandha feel kudukkum indha paattu. Janaki Amma kudukara feele thani .. Edho pannum especially andha portion 'Unakke vachirukken moochu Ethukku intha kadhi aachu' giving the perfect tranquil ambience.
5) Indha Maan - Karagatakkaran
Personal favourite - a song which transports you to another world. Vayathu ellaam kalakkum when the violins are injected in the first interlude Uchchathukku pora feel when Raaja sings 'anname ahhhh (alaap) anname endhan swarname' adhukku mela additionally oru violins movement apdiye vera ulagam koindu poyidum that very moment.
6) Malligaiye Malligaiye - Periya Veetu Panakkaran
A song very close to my heart - thaana oru palpable excitement varum whenever I listen to it. The starting violins tell you whats in store and the portions that follow just blows you away.
However the defining moment of awesomeness happens during the takeover of the flute in the first interlude , the way it carries the interlude on top of the Tabla rhythm and leads towards the Charanam is simply mesmerising. Napolean sir at his real best , this bit just makes you jump with joy. Used to have this bit as my ringtone - Sarasangi Bliss
Ringtone :
https://soundcloud.com/skrajiv/malligaiye-flute-interlude
Song :
7) Madhurai Maarikozhundhu Vaasam - Enga Ooru Paattukkaaran
A feeling of துள்ளல் comes in whenever you listen to this song making you sway away to the quintessential Ta Ki Ta rhythm.
What a delight it is to listen to the violins unfurl briefly before being subjected to the introduction of Shehnai piece suddenly giving a totally different color and again paving way for the violins to finish off in style.
Then comes the Charanam and when you feel the song to be moving in one direction , a sudden burst of energy is witnessed when Chitra renders 'vettu adhu unakku mattum dhaanaa' going on a full throttle jump forward to the next octave giving such a wonderful rippling effect making you feel relished.
8 ) Maanguyile Poonguyile - Karagatakkaaran
Speaking of folk , one just cannot ignore the gargantuan Maanguyile .. Eppo indha paattu ketaalum oru thani sugam.
The employment of flute , violins , Nadaswaram , Thavil etc make it a grand orchestral spectacle but not for a moment does it compromise on the soul of the song which is truly rustic and native.These are things which mind boggle you about Raaja as to how he paints the perfect caricature in his own inimitable style according to the desired setting not diluting the essence at the slightest.
The most bamboozling part of this song however is the twist in the Charanam when SPB sings 'yaereduththu paaththu yemmaa neereduththu ooththu' - where a new note (Periya Gandharam) is introduced for the first time creating an unexpected sparkling chiaroscura making you completely bedazzled.
This note is not introduced till that part and when it is what a marvellous transmogrification it brings to the table enhancing the song to an alltogether different level.
9) Shenbagame Shenbagame - Enga Ooru Paattukkaran
This song in Sindhu Bhairavi ragam is inundated , soaked and embellished completely with soul in abundance , just the initial Alaap by Asha Bhosle gives such a magical feel and on top of it the portions of flute resonate and the violins tug at your heart strings stirring your emotions.
When Ashaji finishes the Charanam by singing 'ennoda pattu satham serum unna pinnale eppodhum unnathottu paadaporen munnale' , such an ineffable feel is generated making you truly lost for words.
10) Un Paarvaiyil - Amman Kovil Kizhakaale
Ennavo oru power irukku indha paattula , every next time you listen the more you tend to fall in love with it.
Raaja dumbfounds by taking a Hindustani based scale for a village setting and the output he creates is simply bewitching and breathtaking.
Every part of the song just makes you go bonkers but if you have to pick that one hair raising moment it is that flute portion in the second interlude.It just automatically brings a smile to your face and you just don't know what to say but if you have to describe this beauty in a single word maybe you can say its supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Another flute bit i pride on having as a ringtone.
Ringtone :
https://soundcloud.com/skrajiv/un-paarvaiyil-oraayiram-flute
Song :
Its unbeleivable to think how Raaja impacts and transcends our lives by churning out songs which truly touch the soul.
He is not just a composer but a Vaggeyakara and a rare breed.
Whether one is a Pati Thotti Rasigan or a musical connoisseur , Raaja connects everyone through his soul infusing music.
There is that amazing power in his music which just makes you forget yourself and be completely hypnotised to his music.
And thats precisely the most significant reason which makes his music truly special and in a league of its own.
#RaajaConnect #Goosebumpy
Saturday, March 15, 2014
"Vaayai Moodi Pesanum" - A refreshingly different album
Not really a fan of most of the stuff dished out in Tamil Film Music but this new album "Vaayai Moodi Pesanum" by the amazingly talented Sean Roldan is such a welcome change.
Have been hooked on ever since i lent my ears to it.
The Beediya Kelappu Jazz theme is so wacky and those sax movements are such a delight to hear and it gels so well with the funky rhythm and is instantly likeable. Kadhal Ara Onnu is a fantastic rock based composition and reminds a bit of his very own Mayakkara Poo Vaasam.Maatra Paravaiyo shows the class of the Chennai Orchestra and so does Mr Fixit theme which also comprises of some stupendous chromatic passages.
Podhum Nee Ini Varundhadhe is an absolute stunner rendered wonderfully by Haricharan , the harmony is amazing and the way the chorus is employed enhances the song to an all together different level.The out of the box interlude and the usage of fillers add a fine freeflowing touch to the composition.
Shut Up Vaaya Moodu Pesadhe is such a fun song having some crazy lyrics giving a real kick and also leaving a smile on your face. The sound of silence is another theme piece showcasing the repertoire and skill of the young composer.
And to top it , Udaigiren Udaigiren is a nice breezy melody accompanied by some lovely guitar strumming.
Vaayai Moodi Pesanum (VMP) is refreshing , different and uber-cool. Its overall a fabulous package interweaving different genres and producing the desired concoction thus giving the listener a great musical experience. Raghavendra Raja (RR) also known as Sean Roldan makes a rollicking debut as a Tamil film Music Director making a statement with his brand of music. Here's hoping for a new revolution in TFM.
Online Link for listening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmdhZNZcQZ4&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6FZZjavkO87Oe3bA2YSFiSl
Have been hooked on ever since i lent my ears to it.
The Beediya Kelappu Jazz theme is so wacky and those sax movements are such a delight to hear and it gels so well with the funky rhythm and is instantly likeable. Kadhal Ara Onnu is a fantastic rock based composition and reminds a bit of his very own Mayakkara Poo Vaasam.Maatra Paravaiyo shows the class of the Chennai Orchestra and so does Mr Fixit theme which also comprises of some stupendous chromatic passages.
Podhum Nee Ini Varundhadhe is an absolute stunner rendered wonderfully by Haricharan , the harmony is amazing and the way the chorus is employed enhances the song to an all together different level.The out of the box interlude and the usage of fillers add a fine freeflowing touch to the composition.
Shut Up Vaaya Moodu Pesadhe is such a fun song having some crazy lyrics giving a real kick and also leaving a smile on your face. The sound of silence is another theme piece showcasing the repertoire and skill of the young composer.
And to top it , Udaigiren Udaigiren is a nice breezy melody accompanied by some lovely guitar strumming.
Vaayai Moodi Pesanum (VMP) is refreshing , different and uber-cool. Its overall a fabulous package interweaving different genres and producing the desired concoction thus giving the listener a great musical experience. Raghavendra Raja (RR) also known as Sean Roldan makes a rollicking debut as a Tamil film Music Director making a statement with his brand of music. Here's hoping for a new revolution in TFM.
Online Link for listening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmdhZNZcQZ4&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6FZZjavkO87Oe3bA2YSFiSl
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Revisiting Nostalgia - A Blast from the Past !!
Rewinding the clock back 10 years to this day 13th March 2004.
Reviving Memoirs of an epic cricketing encounter between India and Pakistan.
The Indian Cricket team had been given the go ahead by the Government to tour Pakistan after almost 15 years. Sachin was going back to the place where he made his debut as a diminutive young precocious 16 year old. No Indian or Pakistani cricketer barring Tendulkar had been part of the earlier 1989 tour. The entire country was waiting with bated breath for the series to get underway.
It was a blockbuster in the making and we were all privy to the fact that we were going to witness an historic epoch-making series between the 2 arch rivals.
On the other side of the fence, we were facing our 12th CBSE Board exams which criss-crossed right in between the epicness of epochness which was unfolding at the other end.I wrote my Mathematics Board exam a couple of days ago and was extremely agitated and gutted at myself that I wasn't able to perform as well as I had hoped for. :( It was the subject I was banking on the most but alas it didn't go exactly as I thought , the reactions in the house were para va illa do try to make up by doing better in the other subjects.Surely doing well in the Board exams were in the back of the mind but definitely not at the expense of missing out Indo Pak cricket knowing especially well that the whole world would be glued to their television sets.Decided on a cheap confluencing deal with myself as to how I will watch the cricket and also study parallelly by taking even breaks between both and not getting distracted by either. Of course there was no doubt about the former. :)
And then the real action unfolded on a Saturday morning with the 1st of 5 One Day Internationals played at Karachi. Inzy won the toss and inserted India in. Viru and Sachin got India off to a great start with especially the former in a bull dozing mood flaying the hapless Paki bowlers to all corners of the ground. Especially remember the burly Rana Naved Ul Hasan getting royally murdered by the assassin from Delhi.It was one of the first instances where we go to witness the Nawab of Najafgarh in such a ruthless pile driving mode and in years to come he made Pakistan eat humble pie many a time through his unflinching onslaughts.By the time Sehwag went after belting a whirlwind 79 , Ind had reached close to 150 and were going at almost 10 runs an over. Thoughts of a monumental score crossed the mind.
However the initial momentum sunk and the pace of scoring deteriorated. Rahul Dravid was playing the rearguard anchor innings slowly but steadily taking India to a score of great proportion.It was agonising to see him get castled by a Shoaib Akhtar slow ball for a perilous 99 , (only a single bail had fallen down :() but he had done his job and took India to a commanding total of 349 from their 50 overs.A very high score in those days and perhaps even now. Also the fact that no team had chased 350 before in the history of the game. (Ironically exactly almost 2 yrs hence on 12th March 2006 , South Africa chased down an improbable score of 434 to gun down the Aussies).
Pakistan then began faultily losing 2 quick wickets but then it was the stiching together of a great partnership between the 2 veterans - Mohd. Yousuf (the erstwhile Yousuf Youhana) and Inzamam Ul Haq.Yousuf fell after a well made half century but Inzy continued on his merry way tormenting the Indian bowlers. He was belligerent yet so effortless in the way he made his century.It looked like curtains for India if they didn't get Inzy out soon. And then it happened - Dravid the keeper snapped up a catch off Karthik to end a remarkable innings.
Now the match was neck to neck and it was totally game on. The match was swinging fortunes from one end to another and it was unbearable to watch. Just when you thought India was on top , out came Abdur Razzaq who smashed a few lusty blows to again put Pakis on the ascendancy. And when Razzaq was dismissed, you still had the dangerous Moin Khan and Shoaib Malik who generally take pride in these kind of situations. However when the match was reaching a crescendo , Mohd Kaif leaped across almost air borne avoiding collision with another fielder to pull off a superlative catch to dismiss Shoaib Malik.It was the catch of the match and coming at such a crucial pressure situation , it did really sap up not only the cricketers spirits but also the fans in believing that India could still pull this off. And then the equation narrowed down to 9 runs off the final over , there were discussions on who was to bowl the final over and out came Ashish Nehra. He kept his cool and delivered a series of accurate yorker length deliveries not giving enough room to clear for the Pakistani batsman. It finally boiled down to 6 runs off the final ball.
The intensity was electrifying and the tension of an unyielding proposition. Celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan , Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were at the ground. Javed Miandad the man who hit that infamous six off the last ball off Chetan Sharma all those years ago was voicing out his opinion as coach from the dressing room.I had read and heard about that ill fated acrimonious day in Indian cricket and the last thing I wanted was to see a similar experience getting re-captured all over again.
And then landed that final delivery , it was a low full toss not a great ball by any stretch of imagination but thankfully Moin played the shot too early not getting enough power thus scooping the ball to Zaheer to take a simple catch. There were celebrations all around and also a great sense of relief. India came out of a great escape.
It was a great game of cricket and justified all the initial hype and euphoria surrounding the series.
India went on to win the ODI series 3-2 and also the test series thereafter 2-1.
Its unthinkable and unbelievable to recall that a decade has passed since this game of cricket.
Certain imprints of the game remain truly etched and impregnated in the mind even now. Some days are truly unforgettable and the 13th of March 2004 bears a true testimony to this fact. 10 years is a long time but even now looking back at all the backdrop events surrounding the game, the high octane on and off field events and savouring all those goosebumpy moments makes this date 13th March 2004 and cricket match between India and Pakistan all the more special and nostalgic.
Scorecard : http://www.espncricinfo.com/.../current/match/64880.html
Report : http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/139999.html
Reviving Memoirs of an epic cricketing encounter between India and Pakistan.
The Indian Cricket team had been given the go ahead by the Government to tour Pakistan after almost 15 years. Sachin was going back to the place where he made his debut as a diminutive young precocious 16 year old. No Indian or Pakistani cricketer barring Tendulkar had been part of the earlier 1989 tour. The entire country was waiting with bated breath for the series to get underway.
It was a blockbuster in the making and we were all privy to the fact that we were going to witness an historic epoch-making series between the 2 arch rivals.
On the other side of the fence, we were facing our 12th CBSE Board exams which criss-crossed right in between the epicness of epochness which was unfolding at the other end.I wrote my Mathematics Board exam a couple of days ago and was extremely agitated and gutted at myself that I wasn't able to perform as well as I had hoped for. :( It was the subject I was banking on the most but alas it didn't go exactly as I thought , the reactions in the house were para va illa do try to make up by doing better in the other subjects.Surely doing well in the Board exams were in the back of the mind but definitely not at the expense of missing out Indo Pak cricket knowing especially well that the whole world would be glued to their television sets.Decided on a cheap confluencing deal with myself as to how I will watch the cricket and also study parallelly by taking even breaks between both and not getting distracted by either. Of course there was no doubt about the former. :)
And then the real action unfolded on a Saturday morning with the 1st of 5 One Day Internationals played at Karachi. Inzy won the toss and inserted India in. Viru and Sachin got India off to a great start with especially the former in a bull dozing mood flaying the hapless Paki bowlers to all corners of the ground. Especially remember the burly Rana Naved Ul Hasan getting royally murdered by the assassin from Delhi.It was one of the first instances where we go to witness the Nawab of Najafgarh in such a ruthless pile driving mode and in years to come he made Pakistan eat humble pie many a time through his unflinching onslaughts.By the time Sehwag went after belting a whirlwind 79 , Ind had reached close to 150 and were going at almost 10 runs an over. Thoughts of a monumental score crossed the mind.
However the initial momentum sunk and the pace of scoring deteriorated. Rahul Dravid was playing the rearguard anchor innings slowly but steadily taking India to a score of great proportion.It was agonising to see him get castled by a Shoaib Akhtar slow ball for a perilous 99 , (only a single bail had fallen down :() but he had done his job and took India to a commanding total of 349 from their 50 overs.A very high score in those days and perhaps even now. Also the fact that no team had chased 350 before in the history of the game. (Ironically exactly almost 2 yrs hence on 12th March 2006 , South Africa chased down an improbable score of 434 to gun down the Aussies).
Pakistan then began faultily losing 2 quick wickets but then it was the stiching together of a great partnership between the 2 veterans - Mohd. Yousuf (the erstwhile Yousuf Youhana) and Inzamam Ul Haq.Yousuf fell after a well made half century but Inzy continued on his merry way tormenting the Indian bowlers. He was belligerent yet so effortless in the way he made his century.It looked like curtains for India if they didn't get Inzy out soon. And then it happened - Dravid the keeper snapped up a catch off Karthik to end a remarkable innings.
Now the match was neck to neck and it was totally game on. The match was swinging fortunes from one end to another and it was unbearable to watch. Just when you thought India was on top , out came Abdur Razzaq who smashed a few lusty blows to again put Pakis on the ascendancy. And when Razzaq was dismissed, you still had the dangerous Moin Khan and Shoaib Malik who generally take pride in these kind of situations. However when the match was reaching a crescendo , Mohd Kaif leaped across almost air borne avoiding collision with another fielder to pull off a superlative catch to dismiss Shoaib Malik.It was the catch of the match and coming at such a crucial pressure situation , it did really sap up not only the cricketers spirits but also the fans in believing that India could still pull this off. And then the equation narrowed down to 9 runs off the final over , there were discussions on who was to bowl the final over and out came Ashish Nehra. He kept his cool and delivered a series of accurate yorker length deliveries not giving enough room to clear for the Pakistani batsman. It finally boiled down to 6 runs off the final ball.
The intensity was electrifying and the tension of an unyielding proposition. Celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan , Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were at the ground. Javed Miandad the man who hit that infamous six off the last ball off Chetan Sharma all those years ago was voicing out his opinion as coach from the dressing room.I had read and heard about that ill fated acrimonious day in Indian cricket and the last thing I wanted was to see a similar experience getting re-captured all over again.
And then landed that final delivery , it was a low full toss not a great ball by any stretch of imagination but thankfully Moin played the shot too early not getting enough power thus scooping the ball to Zaheer to take a simple catch. There were celebrations all around and also a great sense of relief. India came out of a great escape.
It was a great game of cricket and justified all the initial hype and euphoria surrounding the series.
India went on to win the ODI series 3-2 and also the test series thereafter 2-1.
Its unthinkable and unbelievable to recall that a decade has passed since this game of cricket.
Certain imprints of the game remain truly etched and impregnated in the mind even now. Some days are truly unforgettable and the 13th of March 2004 bears a true testimony to this fact. 10 years is a long time but even now looking back at all the backdrop events surrounding the game, the high octane on and off field events and savouring all those goosebumpy moments makes this date 13th March 2004 and cricket match between India and Pakistan all the more special and nostalgic.
Scorecard : http://www.espncricinfo.com/.../current/match/64880.html
Report : http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/139999.html
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Rain (மழை) Connection !!
I recently happened to listen to this gem of a song rendered by Asha Bhosle and put to tune by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja viz "Mazhai Megam" from "Sakkarai Pandhal" and my mind immediately correlated to the popular "Mazhai Varudhu Mazhai Varudhu" from Raja Kaiya Vacha.
I just couldn't help but understanding the analogy of the 2 songs
Mazhai Megam somehow looks like a pre-runner to the immensely successful Mazhai Varudhu Mazhai Varudhu.
Some interesting analogies between both these songs :
1) They both are based on the theme of Rain (மழை).
2) Both the songs begin with a lovely Aalaap.
3) Both have an underlying Hindustani undertone.
4) Both are based on the same Raga "Bhageshri".
5) Infact in both the songs , the first 4 swaras are Sa Ri Ga Ma.
But despite the imminent similarities , somehow the song Mazhai Megam happens to be rare and not often listened as compared to its illustrious counterpart Mazhai Varudhu Mazhai Varudhu.
But hey when you think of it, aren't there enough brilliant Raaja songs which haven't got its due because of some or other reason. Perhaps this is just one more to the list. Am thankful however for discovering this serenely delightful beauty of a composition.
Mazhai Megham - Sakkarai Panthaal (The rare beauty)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpKvVrwPGmc
Mazhai Varudhu - Raja Kaiya Vacha (The evergreen beauty)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiMy6ZYYBDQ
I just couldn't help but understanding the analogy of the 2 songs
Mazhai Megam somehow looks like a pre-runner to the immensely successful Mazhai Varudhu Mazhai Varudhu.
Some interesting analogies between both these songs :
1) They both are based on the theme of Rain (மழை).
2) Both the songs begin with a lovely Aalaap.
3) Both have an underlying Hindustani undertone.
4) Both are based on the same Raga "Bhageshri".
5) Infact in both the songs , the first 4 swaras are Sa Ri Ga Ma.
But despite the imminent similarities , somehow the song Mazhai Megam happens to be rare and not often listened as compared to its illustrious counterpart Mazhai Varudhu Mazhai Varudhu.
But hey when you think of it, aren't there enough brilliant Raaja songs which haven't got its due because of some or other reason. Perhaps this is just one more to the list. Am thankful however for discovering this serenely delightful beauty of a composition.
Mazhai Megham - Sakkarai Panthaal (The rare beauty)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpKvVrwPGmc
Mazhai Varudhu - Raja Kaiya Vacha (The evergreen beauty)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiMy6ZYYBDQ
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Yellow Chilli Restaurant - A first hand experience !!
Was pretty excited to check out this new venture of Sanjeev Kapoor in Chennai. Checked out the reviews on Zomato and they were kind of mixed ranging from great to bad. What's better than checking out yourself by directly indulging in the food and so here i was today afternoon. They have both Ala-carte and Buffet , I had the veg buffet option , I believe they have scaled up the price since i read that it was Rs.750 for veg and 950 for non veg, but today I got to believe that its the same rate for both costing Rs.1000 all inclusive.
Coming to the place , its located in Nungambakkam opposite the Income Tax office and is on the top floor of the same building which houses Papa Jones and Croma. You wouldn't think the place is so big but when you enter its spacious and pretty grandesque and has a nice ambience going for it. It has comfortable seats and a nice outside view and on the inside there is a window to the kitchen from where you can just about view the Kababs being cooked from a fair distance.
Coming to the food , its not the traditional buffet types and here you get all the food served directly to the table. The buffet comprised of a clear soup which felt good on the mouth containing ingredients such as crushed bell pepper , capsicum etc. It was pretty nicely flavored and then arrived the starters which had Paneer , Mushroom and Raw Banana Tikki. The Paneer was tender and layered with a tomato puree paste (Harippa Paneer Tikka), the mushroom was quite zingy and topped with a mild yellow gravy and grated cheese (Shabnam Ke Moti), the Banana tikki was like a cutlet tasted pretty nice was kind of different to the usual tandoori starters and had Jawarasi as an addon which went well (Motiya Tikki). Also a small word on the round onions accompanying the starters which were soaked with Malai spread acting as an interesting condiment.
Then arrived the main course which had Indian Bread , Biriyani , Papad , Salad - (Baby Potato with Bell Peppers and Boondi Raita) , 3 Main course items and 2 dals. The Roti was the usual fare nothing exceptional about it , the Biriyani tasted decent and the main courses comprised of Veg Paneer gravy which was nicely cooked esp a word about the cottage cheese which was soft and succulent (Mulayam Methi Chaman) , Corn Palak gravy which was thick with the corn finely interspersed in between the Palak (Corn Chatkara Palak) and an Aloo dish which had a mild sweet tangy taste to it (Kashmiri Dum Aloo). The 2 varieties of Dal comprised one yellow (Dal Mizaz) which tasted a touch different from the usual Dal Tadka and a black Dal (Lalla Mussa Dal). The simmering Makhni Dal left a lingering taste wanting you to crave for more. And for desert we were served small pieces of Gulab Jamun floating over a Malai kind of Milk which was delectable. (Gulab-e-Gulkhand).
Overall it was a good first time experience at the Yellow Chilli. The best part was there were quite a few items which truly had a signature taste associated. On the flip side - I would say its quite heavy on the pocket and a price of Rs 750-800 would have been ideal. Assuming they do want to maintain price skimming they should have considered adding an extra starter or two and atleast one more dessert.
Nungambakkam has well and truly become the go to place for Restaurants in Chennai and "The Yellow Chilli" serves another welcome addition to this area's already bustling food circle.
Coming to the place , its located in Nungambakkam opposite the Income Tax office and is on the top floor of the same building which houses Papa Jones and Croma. You wouldn't think the place is so big but when you enter its spacious and pretty grandesque and has a nice ambience going for it. It has comfortable seats and a nice outside view and on the inside there is a window to the kitchen from where you can just about view the Kababs being cooked from a fair distance.
Coming to the food , its not the traditional buffet types and here you get all the food served directly to the table. The buffet comprised of a clear soup which felt good on the mouth containing ingredients such as crushed bell pepper , capsicum etc. It was pretty nicely flavored and then arrived the starters which had Paneer , Mushroom and Raw Banana Tikki. The Paneer was tender and layered with a tomato puree paste (Harippa Paneer Tikka), the mushroom was quite zingy and topped with a mild yellow gravy and grated cheese (Shabnam Ke Moti), the Banana tikki was like a cutlet tasted pretty nice was kind of different to the usual tandoori starters and had Jawarasi as an addon which went well (Motiya Tikki). Also a small word on the round onions accompanying the starters which were soaked with Malai spread acting as an interesting condiment.
Then arrived the main course which had Indian Bread , Biriyani , Papad , Salad - (Baby Potato with Bell Peppers and Boondi Raita) , 3 Main course items and 2 dals. The Roti was the usual fare nothing exceptional about it , the Biriyani tasted decent and the main courses comprised of Veg Paneer gravy which was nicely cooked esp a word about the cottage cheese which was soft and succulent (Mulayam Methi Chaman) , Corn Palak gravy which was thick with the corn finely interspersed in between the Palak (Corn Chatkara Palak) and an Aloo dish which had a mild sweet tangy taste to it (Kashmiri Dum Aloo). The 2 varieties of Dal comprised one yellow (Dal Mizaz) which tasted a touch different from the usual Dal Tadka and a black Dal (Lalla Mussa Dal). The simmering Makhni Dal left a lingering taste wanting you to crave for more. And for desert we were served small pieces of Gulab Jamun floating over a Malai kind of Milk which was delectable. (Gulab-e-Gulkhand).
Overall it was a good first time experience at the Yellow Chilli. The best part was there were quite a few items which truly had a signature taste associated. On the flip side - I would say its quite heavy on the pocket and a price of Rs 750-800 would have been ideal. Assuming they do want to maintain price skimming they should have considered adding an extra starter or two and atleast one more dessert.
Nungambakkam has well and truly become the go to place for Restaurants in Chennai and "The Yellow Chilli" serves another welcome addition to this area's already bustling food circle.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Redux of Aatama Therottama song in A Totally New Different Avatar !!
One is lengthier in duration , other is short
One is fast paced , other is slow
One is zestful and energetic , other is soulful and sweet
One is in Chatushra Nadai , Other in Tisra Nadai
One is a song , other is a BGM bit
Despite the diversities they happen to be one and the same
They both happen to be the song Äatama Therotama" from the movie "Captain Prabhakaran".
The former is the actual popular song which can be listened from the below link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlBVLXaslHU
The latter is a small re-recording bit which appears as part of the movie.
Link to listen to the BGM portion
https://soundcloud.com/skrajiv/aatama-therottama-bgm-bit
One is fast paced , other is slow
One is zestful and energetic , other is soulful and sweet
One is in Chatushra Nadai , Other in Tisra Nadai
One is a song , other is a BGM bit
Despite the diversities they happen to be one and the same
They both happen to be the song Äatama Therotama" from the movie "Captain Prabhakaran".
The former is the actual popular song which can be listened from the below link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlBVLXaslHU
The latter is a small re-recording bit which appears as part of the movie.
Link to listen to the BGM portion
https://soundcloud.com/skrajiv/aatama-therottama-bgm-bit
Friday, January 3, 2014
Jai Ho Test Cricket !!
Test Cricket continues to churn out surprises time and again .. Despite being in existence for over 135 years , something or the other happens in the form of new records being achieved/rare events taking place which have never occured before.
Here is a list of memorable never seen before Test cricket moments of 2013.
1) Graeme Smith becoming the first cricketer ever to Captain 100 Tests during the test vs Pak at Johannesburg.
2) Shikhar Dhawan smashing the fastest ever test century by a debutant off a mere 85 balls in the Mohali Test vs Australia. (Incidentally it is also the highest score made by a debutant Indian)
3) Ashton Agar in his debut test batting at No.11 scoring a record breaking 98 vs Eng at Trent Bridge. (No No.11 Batsman has yet made a century in the illustrious history of Test Cricket)
4) MS Dhoni & AB Devilliers bowling in the Jo'burg test - the first and only occasion where 2 wicketkeepers have bowled in the same match.
5) Alastair Cook & Michael Clarke both appearing in their 100th test at Perth. The only time 2 players/Captains have simultaneously appeared in their respective 100th test.
6) Alastair Cook becoming the fastest cricketer to play 100 tests in a span of just 7 and 3 quarter years. (Unbeleivable to think he made his debut vs India only in Mar 2006)
2012 had its own slice of history having witnessed many significant landmarks .. Just to reprise the significant test cricketing moments of 2012 ..
1) Tino Best of WI scoring 95 vs Eng , the highest score recorded by a No.11 Batsman. (Ironically this record was subsequently broken by Ashton Agar in 2013)
2) Abul Hasan of Bangladesh scoring a hundred on Debut against the Windies batting at No.10, only 2nd player ever to have done it on Debut. (Only 4 players in the annals of Test Cricket have even managed to score a hundred batting at No.10)
3) Chris Gayle becoming the first player to hit a Six off the very first ball of a Test Match vs Bangladesh.
4) Michael Clarke becoming the only player to crack 4 Double Centuries in a single Calendar year. (Bradman and Ponting have scored 3 in a year)
5) Alastair Cook garnering 4 successive hundreds in the first 4 test matches that he has captained. (No Captain has even scored 3 hundreds before in their first 3 tests as skipper)
If one thought 2012 was unique , 2013 has gone a step further ..
Test Cricket truly never ceases to amaze .. Jai Ho Test Cricket !!
Here is a list of memorable never seen before Test cricket moments of 2013.
1) Graeme Smith becoming the first cricketer ever to Captain 100 Tests during the test vs Pak at Johannesburg.
2) Shikhar Dhawan smashing the fastest ever test century by a debutant off a mere 85 balls in the Mohali Test vs Australia. (Incidentally it is also the highest score made by a debutant Indian)
3) Ashton Agar in his debut test batting at No.11 scoring a record breaking 98 vs Eng at Trent Bridge. (No No.11 Batsman has yet made a century in the illustrious history of Test Cricket)
4) MS Dhoni & AB Devilliers bowling in the Jo'burg test - the first and only occasion where 2 wicketkeepers have bowled in the same match.
5) Alastair Cook & Michael Clarke both appearing in their 100th test at Perth. The only time 2 players/Captains have simultaneously appeared in their respective 100th test.
6) Alastair Cook becoming the fastest cricketer to play 100 tests in a span of just 7 and 3 quarter years. (Unbeleivable to think he made his debut vs India only in Mar 2006)
2012 had its own slice of history having witnessed many significant landmarks .. Just to reprise the significant test cricketing moments of 2012 ..
1) Tino Best of WI scoring 95 vs Eng , the highest score recorded by a No.11 Batsman. (Ironically this record was subsequently broken by Ashton Agar in 2013)
2) Abul Hasan of Bangladesh scoring a hundred on Debut against the Windies batting at No.10, only 2nd player ever to have done it on Debut. (Only 4 players in the annals of Test Cricket have even managed to score a hundred batting at No.10)
3) Chris Gayle becoming the first player to hit a Six off the very first ball of a Test Match vs Bangladesh.
4) Michael Clarke becoming the only player to crack 4 Double Centuries in a single Calendar year. (Bradman and Ponting have scored 3 in a year)
5) Alastair Cook garnering 4 successive hundreds in the first 4 test matches that he has captained. (No Captain has even scored 3 hundreds before in their first 3 tests as skipper)
If one thought 2012 was unique , 2013 has gone a step further ..
Test Cricket truly never ceases to amaze .. Jai Ho Test Cricket !!
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