Away from the maddening crowd

Every day I am bombarded with a million things. Timelines to keep, shrieking phones, sneaky friends, traffic jams, bad air, lack of sleep, unread books… I feel stuck to this reality of mechanical life. My New Year resolution is to break free from all the responsibilities for a week.

A week shut from the world with access only to home delivery. No clock to tick-tock through the free reign of my thoughts and no cell phone to dictate terms. The television stays. And every other hour, I’ll order something.

Pizza packed with chicken and pepperoni, extra cheesy. Hyderbadi dum biryani gheefull. Chocolate cake, sinful and mean. Everything I was warned against eating by calorie counters.

I’ll paint, I’ll dream, I’ll sleep and maybe read the contours of my face all through the days, with some books and 350 channels for company.

So if I am off for a week, and not reachable through any medium of communication, don’t fret, I’ll come back to you, fattened and ready to run the rat race.

Namitha Jayanarayanan, Corporate Communication

Say no

I have two resolutions for 2009. 1: Don’t make any resolutions for 2009. 2: Do not follow any resolutions made.

Nivas Nazeer, Software Engineer, HCL Technologies Ltd.

Risky proposition

My resolution is to take risks. Reason: Taking risks helps keep one youthful, as well as prevent his/her life from becoming a yawn-inducing routine.

Archana Ramasubbu, Tata Consultancy Services

Love story 2009

To impress my lady love LUKUMU, I will learn my mother tongue (Malayalam) and converse in Malayalam with my in-laws. As a first step, I am buying a tutor book ‘Learn Malayalam in 30 days’ on December 31.

Kartikayan, CitiGroup

This year I plan to become more optimistic. I plan to start believing in people. I want to be nice to my family members. I do not want to view their every action with suspicion. I want to accept them as they are. I do not want to be too inquisitive in their affairs. I want to have a congenial and happy atmosphere at home.

At office, I want to become more assertive of my rights. But at the same time I do not want to be rude. I want to become a member of a social organisation that cares for orphaned children and animals. I wish to contribute some amount for this cause and also involve actively in the activities of these organisations.

I want this new year to bring similar changes in people around me, who need to change. I want this new year to bring more joy into the lives of people, who already bring joy into the lives of those around them. I want to have some personal time for myself everyday in this new year, to muse about the day’s happenings. I want God to give me mental strength to carryout the above resolutions throughout 2009 and the years that follow.

K.S.Rajan, AB DRC

My resolution for 2009 is to earn good money in the stock market and have a healthy happy family.

P Chandru, Tata Consultancy Services

Keeping every one happy and laughing till they are with me, even it may be one min or one hour or one day. I took this resolution in the 2nd year my college days. And I am proud to say that I am keeping up my resolution for the last six years.

Salauddin, HCL Technologies

Non-veg food is not good for health and we used to kill other living beings to have our food. I am not inspired by this act of killing and having food, so I dislike to have non-veg items. So this is my resolution for the New Year.

A V Suresh

I will obey traffic rules

V Ponvanaraja, Birlasoft

I resolve to handle all things cool rather than get angry, go to work out regularly, go jogging in morning at 5.30 a.m. and watch less of TV.

Prasanna. R, HCL Technologies Ltd

Not something you would like to start New Year’s morning. Yes? Ergo spoke to a few doctors, who have suggested some simple remedies that could help you overcome a hangover.

Fresh as water: That’s one golden rule everyone will tell you. Drink plenty of water, preferably water stored in clay pots.

Milky way: When was the last time you drank milk? Let it remain a top secret, but drinking milk after a hangover is said to absorb all the alcohol content in the body.

Juice it up: Lime, pomegranate, sugarcane juice, or coconut water – each of them is said to have its own nutritive value in soothing the system.

Make it at home: According to ayurveda, rice mixed with ghee is a good bet as it lubricates the body. Wheat-based food like chapatti and herbal rice can also be tried.

Massage it: A good oil massage after a night of drinking regulates blood circulation. Taking an oil bath in gingely oil should be a good cure.

Dates and grapes: Having dates and grape juice or water mixed with sugar and salt has proved effective in many cases.

The remedies might sound simple but it also depends on how much you have consumed. Sometimes drinking a little of the night’s leftover the next day could just work wonders, say some regulars.

Starring Jai, Sasi Kumar, Swathi and Kanja Karuppu, the movie revolved around love, friendship and betrayal of both. Subramaniapuram also marked the entry of TV personality James Vasanthan into music direction in tinsel town. The song ‘Kangal irandaal’ from the movie became one of the most popular caller tunes.

Dasavatharam

The magnum opus of actor Kamal Hassan, Dasavatharam, saw him donning 10 different roles. Directed by K.S. Ravikumar, the story revolved around a research scientist who loses a biological weapon of mass destruction in USA and how he reaches India in search of the vial. The cast included Asin and Mallika Sherawat. The music of the film was composed by Himesh Reshammiya, while Devi Sri Prasad composed the background score. Dasavatharam is one of the biggest blockbusters Tamil cinema has ever seen.

Yaaradi Nee Mohini

A remake of the superhit Telugu film Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule, Yaaradi Nee Mohini had Dhanush and Nayanthara playing the lead roles. Directed by A. Jawahar, the movie revolved around the life of a middle-class boy who falls in love with his friend’s fiancée. The music for the film was scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Dubbed a family entertainer, the movie made with a shoestring budget of Rs. 4 crore reportedly earned a total revenue of Rs. 35 crore.

Santhosh Subramaniam

A romantic film directed and co-written by Raja, Santhosh Subramaniapuram was a remake of Telugu film Bommarillu. Jayam Ravi and Genelia played the lead roles, while Prakash Raj and Geetha had prominent roles, too. The film revolved around the father-son relationship. It had six songs composed by Devi Sri Prasad with the lyrics penned by Na. Muthukumar and Yugabharathi.

Saroja

The directorial venture of Venkat Prabhu after the mega hit Chennai 600028, Saroja had a big opening and was liked by many. Starring Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Shiva, Charan, Premji Amaran, Vega and Vaibhav, the story revolved around the adventures of four carefree friends who are forced into a life-threatening situation. The soundtrack was taken care of by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

Anjathey

One of the best movies of the year, Anjathey was directed by Mysskin. The cast of the movie included Narain, Prasanna and Ajmal. Though made with a minimum budget, the movie made many take notice. The song ‘Kattazha kannala’ topped the charts for many months. A gangster movie, the story basically dealt with friendship. The movie was well-received by both the class and mass.

“There aren’t many stores here that offer good casuals for partying and we heard from friends around the country that a lot of other designers are looking for a market in Chennai. We asked ourselves, ‘Why not we bring it here!’ And so it happened,” says Deepal.

In early April this year, Mee opened, stocked with western wear, apparel, clothes, accessories, shoes and bags for women. Strategically placed near two women’s colleges, the store does roaring business as the college crowd keeps flocking in every other day.

“We get our stuff from all over the country and around it. It requires us to travel a lot but in a way that’s fun, too. Shivani and I take turns travelling every month looking for trendy stuff to pick up. We also outsource some designs.”

Deepal (21) and sister-in-law Shivani (26) regularly update themselves with the latest trends and sometimes take custom orders from customers and get it designed from them. But they keep mum when asked where they get their regular clothes from.

“Mee’s USP are its clothes because you don’t get them anywhere else in the city. It wouldn’t be so much fun if we told you where we get them from,” she smiles.

It’s around three decades since this retired banker started sending this self-designed card with which he surprises friends, doctors and traders on New Year. The Account Payee cheque reads ‘Days 365/-’ (Three hundred and sixty-five days of peace, prosperity and happiness) and is issued by ‘Bank of Almighty’ which is ‘Incorporated in Heaven’.

“I am a staunch Hindu, but ‘Bank of Almighty’ is to signify that God is universal,” says the former Indian Bank employee, who has also designed currency notes and raffle tickets. Sivakumar, through his unique card, strikes a difference for the 230-odd well-wishers who receive his message.

“Every year I print 300 cards, of which I send around 230, and with the remaining I surprise friends during birthdays, house-warming ceremonies and other functions,” he says. “It has my name and address… enough for people to remember me for a lifetime.”

Unfortunately, nobody is coming forward to take his concept forward as they say the cost incurred in printing such a card is more. And, if people haven’t received the card, a telephone call comes in saying, “Sivakumar, I haven’t received the cheque this year.”

The office in charge of maintaining the government’s network explained that they sought to avoid a meltdown of its system from excess traffic. A statement reads, “Therefore, during working hours, access to certain potentially malicious and huge traffic generating websites is disabled.”

Montenegro, an Adriatic country of 650,000 that has posted significant growth in Internet use in recent years, has 14,100 Facebook users. The popularity of YouTube, which is owned by Google, has also grown quickly.According to the latest providers’ data, the current Internet penetration rate is close to 40 per cent, compared to just 8 per cent three years ago.

Celebrate NYE at Ballroom, Taj Coromandel. It will be a night filled with excitement, entertainment and fun.

Hotel Trident Hilton

Dine on NYE with a special dinner buffet.

Contact: 2234 4747

The Raintree Hotel

All the four restaurant are gearing up for NYE. Dance the night at Havana or enjoy a lavish dinner at Above Sea Level, Lemon Grass or Coffee Shop. Contact: 24 30 40 50/ 4225 2525

Quality Hotel Sabari Classic

The Zero Degree bar will don the James Bond theme, where the stewards will be dressed in formal suits with looks that could put Daniel Craig to shame. The music is sure to make your legs move endlessly with mixes from Retro, Trance, Pop, Jive, Salsa and our own good old Desi Hits, belted out by DJ Rammy. Contact: Ashutosh Sinha at 99406 36884 or 4744 5030.

Le Waterina Resort & Spa

Join in the theme party by the lakeside, where DJ Gladwin and DJ Arlene from Bangalore will rock the night. With a dinner buffet and plenty of prizes to be won, this party is sure to keep you entertained. Contact: Anita at 9840097650

GRT Grand

Chef Joseph Chahine has set out a delectable menu for the NYE at the Mediterranean restaurant.

Sriram, Narayan, Viswanath and Shobha – the young group with music flowing in their veins and a strong academic background – in two months were ready to recreate the joy of storytelling through talking books, aimed at developing reading, listening and language skills.

Home away from home

The story of Karadi Tales Company Pvt. Ltd. started in 1996 in the calm environs of their home in Adyar, where C.P. Viswanath and Shobha decided to relocate to the city to start the venture. Also, Chennai was considered one of the best independent children’s centres.

“Chennai’s conservative culture was quite substantial at that time and was probably the best,” recalls C.P. Viswanath, director. “The Carnatic music route was another reason which brought my brothers (both musicians) to the city quite regularly.”

For the next eight months their home was the office where Karadi (the bachelor bear of indeterminate age) and other characters were born. “An alter ego of a grandfather was what we were creating, and that’s Karadi,” he says. They never had to look back ever since. Panchatantra Tales was their first audio book launched.

“We had no idea of the business of publishing, so we printed 10,000 copies. Thankfully, our marketing was purely through word-of-mouth and in four months we managed to sell all 10,000 copies,” says Viswanath.

Journey so far

The famous rhyme children sang in schools, My name is Madhavi. I am from Allepey. I speak Malayalam…; the bi-lingual audio books with Indian fables and folktale; Charkha Audio Books, where you understood autobiographies of Mahatma Gandhi and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam; or Dreaming Fingers, the picture book series for the visually-challenged… Karadi only seems to be exploring new paths.

As Shobha rightly says, “I look for a story in whoever I meet. It is a creative process which evolves wherever I go.” “I was in Italy when the Braille concept came up. A Dutch publisher asked me about the concept of colour for the blind,” she brims talking about how the project was totally her baby.

And, largely responsible for its success is the number of stars who have lent their voice to the audio books. From Nasseruddin Shah to Gulzar, Usha Uthup, Nandita Das, Saeed Jaffrey and Nassar, to name a few, their patronage only seems to be growing like the many children who have grown with Karadi.

(Made in Chennai is a column that showcases the evolution of home-grown businesses)

More than 15 children, in the age group of three to 15, were all ready to welcome the actress with a rose in their hands. Posing briskly for the lensmen in the beginning, the kids became too tired after some time.

After receiving their gifts and sweets, they regained their joviality. The function was organised by Trisha Foundation, an arm of Trisha Fans Association, which is involved in social welfare activities for the underprivileged.

“Abhiyum Naanum is a beautiful movie about the lovely relationship shared between a father and daughter. I think it is apt to watch the movie along with these kids. I feel proud to be part of this movie directed by Radha Mohan. The response I have received for the movie so far has been tremendous,” Trisha said.

The actress also said that her new Telugu movie, King, also had a great opening. She pairs with Nagarjuna in the film. Trisha also added that she is now very choosy about the projects she is signing. On a question about Marmayogi, she replied, “You’d better ask Kamal Hassan about it.”