tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17041554590934735912024-03-07T14:33:37.001+05:30Random thoughtsShalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.comBlogger536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-32795146574495905432013-03-03T01:04:00.002+05:302013-03-03T01:09:06.506+05:30When all roads in Chennai led to the Madras Market !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The most talked about event in Chennai during the recent times is the Madras Market. An idea that brought the Virtual Chennai shopping group to life in Wesley Grounds last weekend. Almost everyone I knew were so looking forward to being there including yours truly.<br />
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It was held last weekend (23rd and 24th Feb) with the theme of a flea market and had over 100 different stalls selling variety of stuff ranging from organic food stuff at Terra, colorful baskets, kids jewelery from Little Nathella, Gehna, Quirky magnets with an Indian theme at Chumbak, Chennai themed merchandise at Urumi, Natural body care products, Clothes, accessories and I can just keep going on and on ..<br />
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The evening saw some fun activities for kids and some real good music and performances were being staged. And ofcourse like every other event the food stalls were stormed the most ! We happened to taste some global street food from Spoonbill that we really enjoyed. For, the first time I tried the much raved about Elaneer Souffle from Crimson Chakra stall , it was good but guess my expectations were too high..<br />
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Had a bit from almost all the stalls, my favourite was Spoonbill. Unfortunately, couldn't taste Biriyani from Daawat as they were completely sold out by the time I wanted veg. biriyani.<br />
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It was a fun filled day ! And hoping it turns out to be an Annual event with lot more variety. I should say the event was very well planned and organized, right through promotion to selecting a suitable location to bringing in variety for entertainment to managing parking of vehicles on the day of the event. It was a complete hassle free fun experience !! </div>
Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-35592068714497323272013-02-01T21:50:00.001+05:302013-02-01T21:50:19.320+05:30Having the "Me" time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes life becomes so full of activity that you completely forget when your day starts, ends including what meal of the day you are about to have, such was 2012 for me. Looking back, it makes me feel sad despite having a lot of good times and wonderful memories last year there were hardly any pics that I clicked that I could connect with the various happenings of last year except may be the times when I went on a vacation.<br />
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Irony has it that I fell sick just after pongal and having a slow yet steady start to 2013 ! For almost a week now I am having the much needed "Me" time as I am trying to rest and get well soon.<br />
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It is so much fun talking to and catching up with friends with whom you haven't spoke to for ages (that's what I did during the pongal holidays), visited a book exhibition, as I rest to get well soon I have all the time in the world to catch up with reading all the articles I missed out in my huge collection of Lonely planet magazines :)<br />
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This year I promise to take more pics and share them all with you !</div>
Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-6182547056759714322013-01-08T02:04:00.000+05:302013-01-08T02:04:13.422+05:30My Best of 2012 !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am late in doing this post, been thinking about not having to miss posting about my 2012 here for over 2 weeks now.<br />
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I thought I was the only one thinking feeling bad about not writing much in my blog like I used to, but thanks to each of you who remember to ask me and letting me know that all enjoyed reading it ! - Thanks for bringing me out of my hibernation mode and on to here :)<br />
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Thanks a Lot Kg Kumar (For the first time in my life, you have actually told me something that I will feel good about) and Neha :)<br />
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Here we go to the year that has given me many firsts, unfolded many dreams and given me memories that I will cherish for my whole life through !!<br />
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Big things first - Star of 2012 has to be Brown Station<br />
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What started in a small way during the end of 2011 turns out to be the biggest event in my life. It was a passion of two friends who enjoyed good food, bonded over dreams of wanting to start restaurants finally took the plunge to start Brown Station - a Gourmet Chocolate and Dessert boutique.<br />
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In between all the chocolates , truffles, cupcakes et all , my family decided on making a short family trip to the US. It was my first time to the US and I totally enjoyed visiting cousins, aunt , uncle and all the fun times we had together !! That just reminds me that I have a travel blog where I am yet to write my travel adventures in the US. It was lots of fun to holiday together :)) We missed being able to meet our other friends and family in the US, but we sure will the next time we are there.<br />
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I met my cousin and her family who I haven't met in almost a decade.<br />
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Couple of our best friends from college got married in Kolkatta - which led to the short fun filled trip to the land of Gol gappas with mom and friends. It was a re-union of sorts and gladly had a mini get together when few friends visited Chennai later part of the year.<br />
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We (Brown Station) got featured in 3 leading Newspapers !! and we also got an opportunity to be part of the Breakfast show in Chennai Live's Radio program during the Christmas week.<br />
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I test drove almost every car that was introduced in the first half of the year :D Silly, but it was fun and I still have a whole list of them to do when I find time.<br />
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I learnt to bake and do chocolate art! My creativity has not stopped since then :))<br />
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2012 was a year of wonderful people - who stood by me to help me live my dreams despite their apprehensions , my bunch of friends from work at KPMG who turned out to be well wishers and brought about the belief in me that you could still meet wonderful people and make friends even when you grow up , all the helping hands and hearts who came out to help us while we were drenched with orders at Brown Station when 24 hours a day and 7 days a week were just not sufficient to meet our client requirements, my friends who taught me patience, and all my friends, family and well - wishers who took time to create memories and make 2012 a very special year for me :)<br />
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Wishing you all a very Happy 2013 !! May the year be filled with good times, happy memories, good health, great people, safe and peaceful for each of us :)</div>
Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-8617159600703817592012-12-28T01:09:00.000+05:302012-12-28T01:09:20.242+05:30To the man who continues to inspire millions around the world<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is Ratan Tata's 75th birthday today and also the day when he will be retiring as the Chairman from the Tata Group. </div>
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I don't remember since when but it was during my late teens that I got a chance to read about him and everything that I came to know about him only inspired me more and it still continues :)</div>
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To the man who has inspired me to pursue my passion, Wish you wonderful 75th birthday and many more to come !!</div>
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Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-23996772432111820572012-09-10T02:08:00.000+05:302012-09-10T02:08:27.082+05:30Nostalgia <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I missed writing in this space so much and didn't want to hold myself back any longer.<br />
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Each day is turning out to become busier and I don't really want to miss out on the small things that I enjoy doing and the little things that add so much fun to each day :)<br />
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So, here I am back after a relaxing , lovely weekend.<br />
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For the last few months, I literally didn't know whether it was a weekday or a weekend. All that I knew was that we had work to do.. After a long long time had a relaxed happy weekend :)<br />
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It was a fun weekend - outing with college friends and catching up with college bus juniors over lunch.<br />
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I sooo miss the good times from College.<br />
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Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-42195189102309717812012-06-14T00:34:00.003+05:302012-06-14T00:36:30.527+05:30Meet the Bakers !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I love to write as much as I love good food, so when I get an opportunity to write about food there is no better reason that gets me back to blogsville :)<br />
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If somebody asked me what's news in the Chennai front , the first thing I usually come up with is there is this new place that has opened so we might go there for may be lunch or dinner over the weekend. But, to anybody whom I spoke to over the last few months there haven't been any conversation that ended without discussing about the amazing stuff the home bakers in Chennai create.<br />
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I honestly don't remember the last time I ordered cake from a cake shop, I'm sure it's been more than a year. <br />
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When the best of Home Bakers from Chennai get together for a mega event to show case all their lovely creations under one roof, this can't get any sweeter or better !<br />
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The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/homebakersguild/404538469588326/?notif_t=group_activity">Home Baker's Guild</a>(founded by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=698034049">KP Balakumar</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NandithaSweetLeaf">Nanditha Sashidharan</a>) in association with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crimson.chakra">Crimson Chakra</a> (Thanks to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nmoturi">Nikhil Moturi</a>) along with the 14 lovely bakers who will be baking for the event .... presents ... "Meet The Bakers, a mega baker showcase in Chennai". From cookies totarts to pies to cakes to cup cakes to muffins to puddings to what not, they are all going to be available for sale made by our very own home bakers. A great way to get to meet and chat with them as we munch on their freshly baked goodies :)<br />
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To get to know more details on the Home Bakers Guild or the bakers who will be showcasing their products on the big day, you can also follow <a href="http://notjustanothercookeryblog.blogspot.in/">Deepa's blog</a> who is doing interviews with the Bakers :)<br />
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There will also be a lot more details about the event and the bakers in the coming days :) watch this space for more !<br />
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P.S. : I have also started baking in the last month or so .. if your wondering, no I'm not baking for this event :D <br />
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<br /></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-29659438557707245492012-05-27T16:05:00.000+05:302012-05-27T16:05:07.087+05:30Galgalapu - Movie experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happened to watch this movie on Friday evening and it turned out to be a full time laughing session, what more can we expect when we have RJ Shiva and Santhanam. <div>
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Its not a bit serious movie with a decent story line and loads of comedy, happened to be a super time pass film worth a watch :) </div>
</div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-61601825388354478102012-04-22T15:59:00.001+05:302012-04-22T15:59:18.922+05:30Happy Earth Day !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Nature is beautiful and most the time I get to realize this when we are out on a hill holiday or a beach destination, but I am sure every place has a beauty and charm of its own..<br />
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It's always good to use resources wisely and to the need, I just got this into me because of the frequent power shortages in the city and the almost day long power cuts across various towns in Tamil Nadu which I came to realise when I visited Trichy and Mayiladuthurai last month.<br />
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My little bit to our beautiful Earth ..<br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>I am going to take my own shopping bag, else carry stuff I buy in hand. Its no to plastic covers!!</li>
<li>I am getting a non-plastic water bottle to carry water every day and stop buying Aquafina and Bisleri bottles as much as I can </li>
<li>Car pool, I have been very successfully doing this as much as I can and would continue doing it :)</li>
<li>Switch off unused lights and fans </li>
</ol>
<div>
Small contribution by each of us, would surely make a big difference :) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy Earth day ! </div>
</div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-85835526833977803202012-04-07T00:44:00.002+05:302012-04-07T00:44:33.958+05:30Honda Brio - Test Drive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When my friends decided on buying new cars few months ago, one of the better ways we spent our weekends were by test driving every car we came across right from a Maruthi Alto to a BMW :) :)<br />
<br />
Among the series of Test drives over the month, the latest that got ticked off in our been there, drove that list is the Honda Brio.<br />
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Brio has always been the cute little car that has been zipping across the city for couple of months now. To me, its one of the best option if you are looking to buy a small hatch back petrol variant along with I10 and the new Maruthi swift.<br />
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<a href="http://static.zigwheels.com/media/newcar/cars_1935/brio_320x240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://static.zigwheels.com/media/newcar/cars_1935/brio_320x240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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However, I would rate Brio higher when it comes to maneuverability, the look and feel of the car and the interior space for a car of its size.<br />
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The only draw back that I found of the car during the time we spent driving it was the rough gear shifting, else the car was a dream on wheels :) totally enjoyed the drive !!<br />
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<br /></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-83723340351406787772012-04-05T00:47:00.003+05:302012-04-05T00:55:00.713+05:30Summer Time !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
End of March .. early April .. I always get excited when summer approaches. It is not approaching anymore, its already there !<br />
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Couple of years back, summer meant holidays, friends, family, outing and all the nice things in life. It was a big break from books and doing the routine of going to school / college. It was the time of the year that was most awaited :)<br />
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I still cannot contain the excitement when I come to hear of summer vacation, though it significantly doesn't change much to my routine. Today was one such day, when one of my colleague was discussing about summer camp activities for his 5 year old son. I with all my excitement suggested skating, swimming etc.. making me realize how much I miss summer as a kid.<br />
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Over the years, I have always made a list of things of what summer meant to me !! So, here it is for Summer of 2012 !<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>MANGO, I wish I get to savor some Pathuri mangoes this year as well</li>
<li>Birthdays ... including mine ;)</li>
<li>IPL</li>
<li>Garnished curd rice with pickle .. nothing can taste better in summer, this is turning out to be my staple morning meal</li>
<li>series of 3 day weekends for almost a month</li>
<li>Lots of new ice cream parlors in the city that I am waiting to visit </li>
<li>PANI PURI, I get <a href="http://shals88.blogspot.in/2009/05/my-summer-cravings.html">pani puri craving during summer</a>. And thankfully the most famous pani puri walla of Chennai is very close to my work place :) . Its already 3 continuous days that I have been visiting the pani puri shop *slurrrp*</li>
<li>Loads of chocolate making !!</li>
<li>Learn something new</li>
<li>And the never ending power cuts and this is only getting worse every year</li>
</ul>
<div>
Now, did that list just contain things that I am planning to eat for the next couple of months :D </div>
<div>
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<div>
What are you doing this SUMMER ??<br />
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</div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-34882703974279228412012-04-04T00:53:00.001+05:302012-04-05T00:51:22.860+05:30Kaustav weds Ritu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For almost couple of months a huge bunch of us were waiting for February to arrive, as couple of our friends from college were getting married to each other and it was in Kolkata :) what better reason to visit Kolkata ? And it was also my first visit to the land of Golgappa.<br />
<br />
Kolkatta happened to be a 19th century city with 21st century cars. I strongly believe it is the people who make the place, in that sense we had a nightmare getting to reach out hotel from the airport. With recommendations from people to take a cab from airport, we booked one and were told we would reach our hotel in about 45 mins and it took us close to 3 ours to reach the place (the cab driver was very unfriendly, he decided to drop us off midway telling us the hotel was at walking distance and the road to the hotel has been made one way ) . With amma's broken Hindi we kinda managed to find the route and reached the hotel room with a layer of dust and pollution covered face :) :)<br />
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Sigh! but, that was about the bad part of our Kolkata trip.<br />
<br />
This trip to me meant relaxing in the hotel with mom, attending the wedding and visit my cousin if her place is not too far away from where we were ! I was too tired with work that I just wanted to relax and even shopping didnt seem to interest me.<br />
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<b><u>Day 1: </u></b><br />
<br />
After the horrible ride from airport to the hotel, Amma and I settled for lunch with Roti, aloo subzi, vegetable coins (this tasted yummy) and lassi *Slurrp*.<br />
<br />
Did I say "even shopping didn't interest me" ?? Well, ya that was only until I reached the hotel, after lunch we headed to a nearby mall, just to see how malls looked like in Kolkatta ;) ;) and I came across an interesting shop - Chocolates by Manju sethiya which made us get couple of boxes of gourmet chocolates. They were really good, but not great. I loved the clothes stores in Kolkatta !!<br />
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By evening, we were at our room and were getting ready for the late night wedding. This was the first time I was attending a north Indian wedding. Friends from Hyderabad, banagalore, Kolkatta, Chennai meeting after almost a year .. need we say more, we missed a lot of others who couldn't make it to the wedding. But, I am glad I was able to make it. Thanks to amma who accompanied me, else I wouldn't have been able to be part of the wedding pics of 2 of my good friends :) :)<br />
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The wedding rituals extended into the early hours of the following day, I could control my sleep until about 2 am post which we decided to get back to the hotel.<br />
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<br />
<b><u>Day 2:</u></b><br />
<br />
We had our flight back to Chennai at 6 in the evening. And also thinking about the traffic snail in Kolkatta we decided on making it to the airport by 4:30pm. However, I was also looking to meet my cousin who I haven't met for a decade now and thankfully her place was not too far from where we stayed. We were there for a very brief time as Kolkatta traffic was very un predictable, but that little sometime made so much difference to all of us. <br />
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I should say it is so good meeting family and friends, because I feel after a point we don't really make as much friends we made while in school or college :) :)<br />
<br />
I was a happy girl with loads of beautiful memories that I carried back with me from Kolkatta :)<br />
<br /></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-86391405101565855402012-01-29T23:04:00.000+05:302012-01-29T23:04:05.972+05:30Nanban - Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.vijayfansclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/nanban-stills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.vijayfansclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/nanban-stills.jpg" width="241" /></a>*No spoiler*<br />
<br />
When I heard months back about Vijay performing the role of Aamir Khan in 3 idiots, I was a bit doubtful how it would turn out to be and so was is with Srikanth playing Maddy's role especially because I loved 3 Idiots to the level that it would be one of my all time favourite movie.<br />
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I am a huge fan of Vijay, but still I kept wondering how well Nanban would materialize and all my doubts were answered when I came out happy and smiling out of the theatre.<br />
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The cast in Nanban was brilliant, especially after seeing each of their performance :) The movie happened to be a scene by scene clone from 3 idiots, however after the first ten mins into the movie I totally lost the feel of it being a remake. Each of the actors took the show by a storm..<br />
<br />
I still like 3 idiot .5% more than Nanban. But, Nanban is an awesome movie !! <br />
<br />
When I was browsing through channels in TV today, just came across a show in which they were showing the making of the movie Nanban .. I was totally in awe thinking about the beautiful locations, where they had shot the "aska laska" song, they looked so pristine and unspoiled.<br />
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A kind of movie that I can see many many times and still not get enough of it :)<br />
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Don't miss watching the movie, I am sure you will enjoy it !<br />
<br /></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-15184835431972004942012-01-14T03:46:00.000+05:302012-01-14T04:19:41.151+05:30Some people Some moments # 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My last weekend (the first weekend of 2012) was so very very good.. thinking about it I am still smiling :)<br />
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On Saturday, after a bit of running around the city and getting some work done I had plans to catch up with couple of college friends. It was almost after a year we were meeting though we happen to be living in the same city .. so for dinner my friend 'D' and I caught up with 'N' and 'K'. It was a very special evening for all of us as friend 'K' had come to give his wedding invite :) :) He was getting married to another friend of ours 'R'. What more reason for us to rejoice ??? We spent close to three hours talking , eating, talking, talking .. it was of course more talking than eating we did :)<br />
<br />
We spoke about everything under the sun from Why this kolaveri di .. to wedding shopping .. to college gossip .. to work life .. to cooking .. to bunking work .. it just took me few minutes to get into the care free mode.<br />
I just realized that many months later, I actually felt a sense of happiness that only moments like these could create, it added more to the fun when friend 'K' said almost 50 to 60 of our college friends were coming to the wedding .. I immediately wanted to go book tickets to Kolkatta (the wedding destination). I was more thrilled as I will be visiting seeing a Bengali wedding for the first time :) :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPVkk4ktCTE99T7kL2GmjedgbKmqCoSlMkNzju5jENM52GRW5kIkHHd_WgToQ9xLmk4WZVZG1-dfNOaOzqtb0NVPfacFC6amDzTXdv4TCjAtbV97N8K1GE6e17colkcmV8LODJDORiXSw/s1600/kaustav%2527s+wedding+invitation2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPVkk4ktCTE99T7kL2GmjedgbKmqCoSlMkNzju5jENM52GRW5kIkHHd_WgToQ9xLmk4WZVZG1-dfNOaOzqtb0NVPfacFC6amDzTXdv4TCjAtbV97N8K1GE6e17colkcmV8LODJDORiXSw/s640/kaustav%2527s+wedding+invitation2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dhruv, me, Nami and Kaustav</td></tr>
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After an evening filled with moments that I will hold close to my heart and with friends "K" and "R"s wedding invitation in hand we got back home .. Did I say friend"K' is the best singer I have ever known .. so, we have asked him to sing to "R" in his wedding ;) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XptYi_G2_0k&context=C32eb3f4ADOEgsToPDskL4V8OkfdYyw5E_jXfY2_UI">Here's a video of one of his jamming session </a><br />
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If saturday took me back by a year letting me re-live my college days, on sunday I ahppened to meet my friend 'N', he is my kinder garden friend and the first friend I made :) :) and also is friend "D's" cousin. After high school, we hardly were in touch. It came as a surprise to him when he saw me at his place. Though it was a short meet, it was so good catching up with "N", his mom and grand mom ..<br />
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We looked different, we were no more kids or teens, we weren't in touch with each other regularly .. However, nothing had changed between us .. we had only grown fonder and valued our friendship a lot more and the minute we met it was life as usual the way it used to be when in college or school.<br />
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Now, I am looking forward to friend "K" and "R"'s wedding and my trip to Kolkatta :) :)<br />
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<br /></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-12951763605583088602011-12-31T21:06:00.000+05:302012-01-01T21:42:00.401+05:30My Best of 2011 !! :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2011 has turned out to be yet another year gone by leaving behind happy memories that bring up a smile on my face as I look back at 2011...<br />
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Some of the wonderful times and memories of 2011 that would always remain close to my heart ..<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li> I travelled alone from Trivandrum to Chennai to Trivandrum alone .. and yea, I got flight tickets with money I earned :) :)</li>
<li>I went on a speed boat in Bay of Bengal as part of my friend's Bday surprise and we did that again on my parent's 25th Anniversary</li>
<li>It was sooo much fun organising my parent's 25th anniversary :) :)</li>
<li>My best friend from school got married to the love of her life .. </li>
<li>Test driving cars almost became a hobby, I would be sillily laughing at myself when I think about the number of cars I would have test driven the entire year .. and I'm sure its to continue for some more time now.. </li>
<li>I got the lovely chance to go bullock cart riding with my cousins and family </li>
<li>I started making chocolates and the response I get from everyone who has tasted it has only made me want to do more and better :) :)</li>
<li> Went to Yercaud with family and friends :) :)</li>
</ul>
<div>
May this New year bring you wonderful opportunities, turning dreams into reality and all your efforts into achievements :) :) Have a happy 2012 !! :)</div>
</div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-7676028505095327692011-12-29T19:05:00.001+05:302011-12-29T19:05:24.282+05:30Its storming in Chennai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I think its the first time I'm gonna experience a storm .. Watta way to bring in NYE and welcome 2012 !! :) :)<br />
Couple of times earlier when it stormed in Chennai, I was not in the city. It has been pouring cats and dogs since morning with heavy winds .. :)<br />
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<br /></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-76395734661300314702011-12-19T23:53:00.002+05:302011-12-19T23:53:41.447+05:30Monday Morning Inspiration # 105<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Though its almost gonna be tuesday already .. jut didnt want to miss it this week.. My last week was super hectic, but I loved doing what I did :) :)<br />
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It was also a week that made me realise the words in the pic above ... Feel positive and good about your self and everything around you will turn out to be the same :)<br />
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Happy Holidays !!!<br />
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What are you guys doing this holiday season ??</div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-66556410326912202702011-12-12T06:53:00.001+05:302011-12-12T06:58:25.760+05:30Monday Morning Inspiration # 104<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After a super busy weekend and just before I start my Monday .. here it goes ..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqksoMRgku6gKdolux1ZYGT6FrDtBNgHMF9JITW_Lm59Z7uBnaOqU8gNpJaxIvQHsP8NlBmgfyMDCFi249nMt2nXOPsr1I6Kq6dqdbSY0a3V6Q8VoO2ykyPJNQIQI70WwXpQ7atyLPBlvZ/s1600/dont+give+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqksoMRgku6gKdolux1ZYGT6FrDtBNgHMF9JITW_Lm59Z7uBnaOqU8gNpJaxIvQHsP8NlBmgfyMDCFi249nMt2nXOPsr1I6Kq6dqdbSY0a3V6Q8VoO2ykyPJNQIQI70WwXpQ7atyLPBlvZ/s640/dont+give+up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I can't agree more with these lines or thoughts :) :)<br />
Have a great week ahead ! :)<br />
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To read other Monday Morning Inspiration click <a href="http://shals88.blogspot.com/search/label/Inspiration" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-87634210972224761442011-12-06T00:25:00.001+05:302011-12-06T00:39:40.656+05:30Monday morning Inspiration # 103<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy2x5y3-WMqcsUVxdDSuw0tnJqT5FBuZF43xMDctW6BXEb29F_RtEkGu3hZ0WjJgnduyTb3JBAYlsCR5Kr7j6Hdz9RWzj-vhbdBgpkoezTCWqc9HqaLKoruIsKwrHz1k7e8kWq6p8WrSI/s1600/Dontworrybe+happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
A friend of mine shared this pic with me last evening and it totally lifted my spirit !! and I thought why not begin another series of Monday Morning Inspiration :) :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy2x5y3-WMqcsUVxdDSuw0tnJqT5FBuZF43xMDctW6BXEb29F_RtEkGu3hZ0WjJgnduyTb3JBAYlsCR5Kr7j6Hdz9RWzj-vhbdBgpkoezTCWqc9HqaLKoruIsKwrHz1k7e8kWq6p8WrSI/s1600/Dontworrybe+happy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy2x5y3-WMqcsUVxdDSuw0tnJqT5FBuZF43xMDctW6BXEb29F_RtEkGu3hZ0WjJgnduyTb3JBAYlsCR5Kr7j6Hdz9RWzj-vhbdBgpkoezTCWqc9HqaLKoruIsKwrHz1k7e8kWq6p8WrSI/s640/Dontworrybe+happy.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Pic Courtesy - santabanta.com , thanks to friend D for sharing it with me :)<br />
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To read other Monday Morning Inspiration, click <a href="http://shals88.blogspot.com/search/label/Inspiration" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-39843432695195994672011-11-20T21:34:00.001+05:302011-11-20T22:33:25.682+05:30It was a chocolicious weekend :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This weekend was a lot different from my other weekends.. I learnt how to make chocolates at home and went out shopping to buy stuff to make chocolates and did a dozen of them at home today .. something that I wanted to do for a long time now :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Uul7GTlkZD-cvs6l17C3U-ZmVz86d-_AetA1g8gy-XLge-N80kFov5pnSirKPq6dNamGPApdtSLE5KrPRXyX1DGBj5C-5oT21YROuyeuJdDiEz1nGKk9TE6td75cEnOtx0q3fRriRoMy/s1600/DSC_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Uul7GTlkZD-cvs6l17C3U-ZmVz86d-_AetA1g8gy-XLge-N80kFov5pnSirKPq6dNamGPApdtSLE5KrPRXyX1DGBj5C-5oT21YROuyeuJdDiEz1nGKk9TE6td75cEnOtx0q3fRriRoMy/s320/DSC_0064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-56992250195205601602011-11-13T19:49:00.001+05:302011-11-13T19:56:32.099+05:30Time is Precious .. !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I was just checking out <a href="http://indiblogger.in/">Indiblogger</a> site, I came across the <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=46">Surf Excel Matic's Get smart contest</a> .. Looking at the topic for the contest .. It brought on an instant smile in my face, specially on a Sunday evening when you think of getting extra 2 hours to do what you like to do, it can't get any better .. <br />
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While I was thinking about it, there were just too many things that came to my thought and how I missed doing stuff that I love so much ... <br />
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It takes two to tango ... but with two hours everday I would opt to go to dance class. It is something that I always loved doing but never got the time to learn it professionally .. <br />
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I am also thinking of learning cooking .. 2 more hours a day would certainly help me try out a new dish each day .. even if it is going to mean making a mess of the place or my clothes (Surf Excel Hai na .. ;) )<br />
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I would love to blog .. there is just so much of thought and so many experiences that I come across everyday and having got into the habit of blogging about almost anything .. I find the experience to be incomplete when I don't blog about them .. Blogging in the move would be great as well .. ! <br />
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Two extra hours over the weekend would also mean time for long drives, a little bit of cleaning my room ..<br />
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I might also catch up with reading, doing my daily bit of walking, getting in touch with friends from school and college, spend time with family at home and visit friends whom I haven't met for many months now .. <br />
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I would really love to hear what you would do, if you had two extra hours ??<br />
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Thanks to Indiblogger and Surf Excel Matic to have come up with this competition. It actually made me think of things that I love doing and would make me conciously devote sometime to do them all :) :) <br />
<br />If you like my post, do vote for me <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=91958">here</a>. </div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-45156449016475168862011-11-13T14:51:00.001+05:302011-11-13T15:00:20.725+05:30Lunch Box !!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have always associated lunch box with school times .. and thinking about the lunch breaks we had when in school, those really are special memories .. <br />
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Trying to hide and have lunch during the maths class .. when you are asked an answer when your mouth is full with roti and subzi .. I'm still grinning like crazy when I am writing these lines, thinking of the fun times with lunch boxes in school .. <br />
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We always happened to have a multi-cuisine lunch ranging from roti - channa to puttu - kadala curry to thepala with imli chutney to sambar rice with appalam .. the list is endless. <br />
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After about six years of missing the fun of taking lunch from home .. Im back to having home cooked food for lunch .. Its yet again time for multi-cuisine lunch times :) :) <br />
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I am also thinking of preparing my own lunch, but now really sure how good that would turn out and primarily depends on me getting up early ?!?! to prepare the food :)</div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-72433679604321440452011-11-05T20:07:00.001+05:302011-11-05T20:07:36.019+05:30Chennai Rains ... !!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The only thing that can keep me indoors for a few hours over the weekend is the rains in Chennai .. I like it when it rains .. but surely not when it pours throughout for over 48 hours ..<br />
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I love to be indoors reading a book or browsing or just listening to music when it rains .. For the first time I went test driving a car which a friend is planning to get .. test driving a car in the flooded streets of Chennai wasn't all that bad either .. It was the first time I drove an automatic transmission car :) :) <br />
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<br /></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-9519540318028753252011-11-05T12:59:00.000+05:302011-11-05T12:59:30.020+05:30Revolution 2020 - Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<a href="http://dfuse.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Chetan-Bhagat-Revolution-2020-e1318436251648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://dfuse.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Chetan-Bhagat-Revolution-2020-e1318436251648.jpg" width="244" /></a>The story starts when Chetan Bhagat visits GangaTech college in Varnasi to deliver a speech, where he meets Gopal (the director of the college) who just wants to have a drink with Chetan Bhagat so he could tell his friends that he had a drink with 'the' Chetan Bhagat. Bhagat finally agrees to the request and as time went by Gopal over drunk and had to be rushed to the hospital<br />
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Revolution 2020 is a triangle love story between Gopal, Raghav and Aarthi, three child hood friends from Varnasi. Gopal falls in love with Aarthi, who professes her love for Raghav and vice - versa. Raghav clears his JEE exams to get into the famed Benares Hindu University in Varnasi and Gopal with not so good entrance exam marks tries for another attempt by joining coaching classes in Kota.<br />
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Finally unable to make it to any good university and after the death of his father, Gopal finds himself in the company of an MLA and works with him start an Engineering college in his ancestral agricultural land .. which comes along with a lot of corruption.. In the mean time Raghav after his engineering joins as a news reporter in one of the leading news papers in the city from where he was later chucked out for having written about the corrupt practices followed by the MLA of their region. Revolution 2020 happens to be Raghav's News paper which highlights the various corrupt practices happening in the city of Varnasi. <br />
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Throughout the story the one thing in Gopal's mind was to prove to Aarthi that he was better than Raghav ..<br />
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The book was a good time pass read, however it was not very fast paced and the story line did not get me addicted to finish the book in one go.. I liked reading Chetan's Two States much better, <br />
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I loved the way Varnasi was described between the story line, about the boat rides in Ganga .. small pathways around the temple area with no place to move around when you have a cow coming in the same street as you .. it reminded me of my trip to Varnasi almost a decade ago, the same incident happened when we hurriedly got on to the verandahs of the houses on the street when a cow started coming on the same road we were waling in .. I should say the cows in Varnasi are really healthy. It is one of the beautiful historic pilgrim place in India .. I miss not having taken pictures during my Varnasi trip. <br />
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<br /></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-85008961928517623582011-10-12T13:46:00.002+05:302011-10-12T14:09:53.400+05:30The onset of the Diwali season ..I love the festive season in Chennai and when it is Diwali the fun is a lot more .. You know Diwali is just around the corner when,<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>People around you are talking about what they have shopped or where to shop for clothes ..</li><br /><li>When everyone at workplace are planning to go on extended leaves .. </li><br /><li>When the traffic in Chennai grows manifold just the day after Ayudha pooja.. </li><br /><li>When super markets start stacking boxes of Haldiram sweets, dry fruits and chocloate boxes .. </li><br /><li>When you are easily able to book tickets for a weekend show in Satyam Cinemas just a day before, most of the janta is shopping anyway .. </li><br /><li>When the smell of sulphur start setting in the air .. </li><br /><li>When kids around the place run around with cape guns .. </li><br /><li>When they take no more orders for stictching in your tailor shop .. </li><br /><li>When all the ads in the newspaper are that of clothes stores and jewellery shop apart from the exclusive supplements we recieve along with the daily news papers ..</li></ul><br /><p>Thank god I am no more in school/ college where my diwali holidays were always followed by some exam :) :) </p><br /><p>What are you doing this Diwali ?? </p><br /><p></p>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704155459093473591.post-82910569834224515742011-10-12T13:15:00.004+05:302011-10-12T13:33:34.267+05:30Engaeyum Epothum<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRvCQLCt7a0/TnksKa4QM3I/AAAAAAAAI3E/uIy9B6zyM0Q/s1600/engeyum_eppothum_movie_online.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 273px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 341px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRvCQLCt7a0/TnksKa4QM3I/AAAAAAAAI3E/uIy9B6zyM0Q/s1600/engeyum_eppothum_movie_online.jpg" /></a> After hearing good reviews about the movie, I decided to see it over the weekend with my parents. I would have been more happy getting a good nights sleep instead of the night show we went to.<br /><br /><br /><div>The story revolves around a bus accident, and the moral of the story is to not drive while talking over the phone or when you are drunk or when you are feeling sleepy or the likes. Period.</div><br /><br /><div>At the end of the movie I somehow felt like having seen a documentary film. The cast were good, there was appropriate humour and the movie was shot in a really nice manner. However, there was this feeling that the movie is still not over even when it actually was. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There are other good movies running in the theatres, I surely wouldn't suggest this one.</div><br /><div></div>Shalini Gowrisankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505545194544593572noreply@blogger.com3