Bye Bye CIFF

Chennai International Film Festival got over on December 25th, but I’m updating this column late, because I had to travel for a long weekend (Got to give some excuse for being lazy!).

The last day, which was my 4th day in the CIFF. Having already seen 5 films in the festival, I thought of making the money worth spent (Rs 500 for the pass). This was not strictly on ROI, but to make use of the opportunity and see as much films as I can, else my main source is torrents. 

I had a chance to catch two films on the last day. Behaviour (Conducta), a film from Cuba. A film about a young boy and to-be retired teacher. The boy, who is having behavioral issues, due to his family condition is given support by the teacher, who in-turn makes him to realize his responsibility.

The next film was from Serbia, Monument to Michael Jackson. A light comic story of a man who proposes an idea of having statue of Michael Jackson in their town to get tourists.

Having seen two back to back films, we (Me, Mahesh and Bragadeesh) were hungry. The nearby eateries were crowded, so we had to skip the 4:30 PM show. We took refuge inside EA.

In spite of Mahesh reminding about the CIFF booklet, I missed it. When we went back to Woodlands the front office was closed and all the staff were busy for the closing ceremony. 

Overall, my first experience was good. Sacrificing (sleep) for an art always satisfies the soul!. I dont have any qualms about the event, some said last year there were 8 screens, whereas this year it was only 5. I sticked to Woodlands and didn't take chances in hopping theaters (Chennai Traffic!).

Next year, if I’m available in the city, I’ll surely visit CIFF-2015.

Previous CIFF-2014 posts

My Day 1- www.teashoptalks.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-first-day-in-film-fest.html

My Day 2- www.eashoptalks.blogspot.com/2014/12/potti-maaripochi-in-ciff.html

My Day 3- www.teashoptalks.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-day-3-at-ciff.html

The Seven Habits of a Highly Smart Driver in Chennai

You might have driven bikes (motorbikes) in your town or city, but if you come to Chennai, you have to follow these seven habits of a smartest driver in Chennai.

1. Accessories & Checks

No helmet. You are going to become smart. So make sure you have your cell phone and earphones. Mirror -Don’t check the side mirrors, because a “smart driver” will never use it. Horn- Make sure the horn is working, because you’ll be using it often.

2. Traffic Jams

Traffic jams are like bread-butter-jam for you (we are still in 2nd point, see you are already smart). You have “n” number of ways to get in between them, just like a circuit board.

3. Traffic signal

Very rarely, you’ll stop for red, that too if the traffic police in waiting on the other end to catch violators. Even though you stop, you are the “smart” driver right, so you should stop after the zebra crossing & STOP sign.

4. Pedestrian Crossing

If you see a group of people trying to cross the road, you have to increase the speed and make sure you get past them, before they cross the road. You should think like Will Smith in the movie Independence Day, on how he drove the space shuttle through the closing door on the alien space ship (final scene. Ref the image).

5. Honking

You should constantly honk, because you are smart and always you’ll keep yourselves busy. Again, very rarely you’ll get stuck in a traffic signal. Once the light turns green, immediately (with in 10 nanoseconds) you have to start honking. If you don’t do it, then the guy who is in front your bike will start eating Saravana Bhavan full meals in the middle of the road. OK, be careful.

6. Narrow Roads

Sometimes, traffic will build in narrow roads (Usually, it will be your smart friend, who parked his\er car in the middle of the road), in this situation you shouldn't wait, you should take the other side of the road and block the incoming traffic. The same is applicable while waiting to take bridges\subways.

7. Taking calls

Since you are smart, you are always busy. So if you get a call while driving, don’t park the bike on the side of the road to take the call. If you don’t have earphone, put the cell phone on your shoulder and bend your head for 45 degrees to support. Keep talking.

There are still more pointers, but these are essentials. 

Happy Driving!!

Motorcycle Diaries - 1

I was not very fond of riding bikes (motorcycles!), I should confess that I was extremely scared because I had an accident in my school days. This accident put me in an immovable state for 15 days, no bones were broken, but severe wounds (perunggayam). I tried to overcome the fear while in college, but it got worst, I went on to hit the railway track, fortunately no train was passing at that time otherwise the train would have experienced severe damages.

After coming to Chennai, there was no opportunity to have a bike, actually and factually- I didn't create the opportunity, whichever office I went cabs were given and when I want to roam around the city I used to take the public transport. Years went by peacefully, but then it became a necessity to have a bike. (Kudumbam Peruthudichi). I couldn't escape the crowd, I had to yield for it. I had to go for a gear-less. I went for Wego, which was new to the market then and a unique choice of white color. 

I was scared of driving in the city roads, as I’m experienced in seeing/feeling how the cab drivers maneuver their cars. In few days, after few kilometers of practicing, I felt the fellow drivers were very kind, may be everyone knew that I was new. The only secret I didn't know then was if the driver (bike) turns his\her head to right, it means s\he is going to turn right, no indicator or hand signal is needed. If you want to turn right, then turn your head right. If you want to turn left, turn your head left. So Simple. But, the biggest hurdle was yet to come. Licence.

To be continued..

PS: Later, this post writer became the first man to ride the Wego for 258.4 Kms in 5 Hours and 24 mins. www.teashoptalks.blogspot.in/2014/05/a-brainless-journey.html

Photo Credit: IVaR

A Brainless Journey!!

There is something which you can do only once in your life, it can be daring adventure or a simple task. I always had this urge to go on a long ride in a bike, not 50.. or 100 Kms, but very long, say 200.. 300.

Many would have gone for long drives, it could be in gear-bikes, but not in an automatic gear scooters!!. I got this TVS Wego a few years back, I was waiting for a good opportunity to surprise my family members. This week, I had a perfect chance for a long ride, 258 Kms, Chennai to Krishnagiri.

Pre-planning

I browsed through the internet to see if anyone had written about their experiences of riding an Active or Wego type bike for a long ride. The best, I could see was from Bangalore to Mysore, which is around 140 Kms. I thought- I can make it. One 15 mins stop for every 60 mins. Stay in 60-70 Kms./hr. Drink plenty of water in the break and make sure to take a leak, so that I won’t get dehydrated. And, make sure I feed the bike with petrol whenever the fuel tank needle touches red. So this was a four pit-stop strategy, Three- 15 mins stop and one 30 mins stop for breakfast.

Get set-go

May 1st, after completing my night-shift, I went home, I wasn’t still sure to take this ride, but then I thought this is something which I can never do later, this is a first\ last chance. No one will ever permit me to do such an idiotic and stupidest act. So I called wife and said, I’m taking the bus, but instead my bike turned toward the Arcot Road to catch the Chennai – Bangalore Highway.

6:00 AM. With already, 150 Rs of petrol in the tank, I just filled 100 Rs petrol in Vadapalani. Arcot Road which is usually busy road was now less crowded. I made swiftly to Porur and to Poonamalle. Just after Poonamalle, when the city road meets the HighWay it took for a while to adjust the heavy vehicle’ movements. After, few mins, I was able to judge their movements. I was moving in 70Kms/hr., occasionally it could touch 80-85, I had to then pull it down to 70 again!.

The ride was comfortable, I got some pain in my knee after 200 Kms, but once I stopped and stretched a bit, it was OK. I went with the planned breaks. 11:30 AM- I was in my home at Krishnagiri, it was a surprise for my family. Yes, I made it. 

There was a function on May 2nd, so I had all day rest. I started back to complete my adventure on May 3rd afternoon. When, I say adventure, this is IT, the return was terrifying for few moments.

Cloud formation!

May 3rd, could be my "May Day" call!

I started at 1:00 PM from Krishnagiri. Having known the nuances of riding in the highway, I was making it easily, 75-80 Kms/hr . I reached Vellore at 3:10 PM. Had my lunch and started to move forward, my next target was to stop at 4:30 PM, possibly near to Kanichipuram bye-pass. But this is when things turned bad. While I was crossing Melvisharam, I saw a smoke kind formation at a distance, this may be few KMs before me. I thought it might be some fire accident. But, it was dusty wind from the ever dry Pallar river. While I was crossing the Pallar bridge before Ranipet, I can feel\see the dust and sand from the river bed throw up in the air like twisters. The wind became so heavy, right before me a hoarding of a hotel was pulled down by the wind, for a while my heart stopped! The heavy wind was pushing my bike off the track, I couldn’t go beyond 40 Kms/hr., and then it started to rain heavily. I had to stop in a tea shop (They didn’t have tea there) for a good 40 – 50 mins. My plan was to enter the city before 6:00 PM, but my return plan was a dis-array due to rain. I was in Poonamalle at 7:00 PM and it took an hour to reach Vadapalani.

250 Kms is an insane act. But to try once there is no harm I guess.

My next plan is to take a bi-cycle ?

Ezutha ezupuku ellam vanda anda appavi bike- White Rabbit.

Chennai Smile Please - 1

Never knew my phone can take this kind of images. Here are some clicks I took last week while travelling through Chennai city. As the city traffic meter kept raising- the light & shadow started playing with my camera (ok, phone :-( ). 

I don't know the grammar of photography (English grammar're ollunga theriyadu) so professional photographers please excuse me.

Vetti Korner - 1

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நகரத்தில் இருப்பவனுக்கு அதிஷ்டமான நாள்,

எல்லா போக்குவரத்து சந்திப்பு விளக்குகளும் பச்சையாகும் போது.

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மார்கழி மாதம் முடிந்த நிலையில்,

தேருவில் நாய்களின் உலா அதிகமாயின.

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லிப்டில் கூட்டம் அதிகமானதும்

ஒருவன் சொல்லாமல் கவுண்டமணியின் வசனத்தை நினைவுடினன்

மொச்சை கொட்டைய திங்கதிங்கடா

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Some Strange Characters - Part 2

Few weeks before, TeaShop Talks wrote about strange characters in Tamil Nadu, , it talks about characters in general and doesn't indicate any particular person – Disclaimer L. This week Ananda Vikakan there was an article somewhat similar to my post.

The following few from the magazine with my list,

• Most people are obsessed with Kattai Bag, especially ladies.
• After or while eating biriyani definitely a coke\pepsi is must, geeranathuku romba nalladu- pati sonangee.

• Talk about prohibiting pirated CD/DVD’s, but will be ready to watch movies in the thirutudvd.com\torrent or pirated disk. They will “proudly” say .. “I downloaded it” as if they solved a Ramanujam’ Math problem.

•  Constant honking while driving. There are some geniuses who tail behind the speeding ambulances.

Note: This pic is not from Tamil Nadu, it looks like Delhi

• In departmental stores, they don’t use plastic bags for consumers  because corporation has banned it, but the products are packed using plastic materials!. One rule for manufacture\distributor and one rule for customer-ra (Typical Tamil to English translation).

Endnote: After doing all the listed above, they will write an article. Not strange !!

வேலை இல்லாதவன் பூனை மையிர செரசான்னா

There are lots of problems and issues to be taken care by the govt, they should concentrate on these issues rather is going gaga over a movie.

To Drive or not to Drive... To Walk or not to Walk

The roads of Chennai is full of chaotic activities, unreasonable things are happening all the time, but somehow everything gets even at the end of the day.

To Stop or not to Stop…

Sometimes the drivers think to stop or not to stop in a signal. RED signal the driver is looking for the traffic cop (TC) , if there aren’t one then wizzzzz-off the road. So the RED signal becomes unimportant but the TC is.

Pedestrians crossing the signal, even though the GREEN MAN is blinking they can’t cross as they are in the mercy of the vehicles, elder people don’t even get in the road as there are hungry cabs waiting to take you. Sometimes its other way around, the pedestrians crosses the road even its RED MAN, they just hold one hand up to stop the incoming traffic and do a cat walk.

Most of the roads don’t have a foot-path, so walking in the road and getting home without brushing two-wheeler is luck. Even if there is a foot-path, some pedestrians won’t walk on it or it will be used by the shops, there is something called Nadai Pathai Viyabarigal Sangam, Association meant for foot-path shops.

 

While writing this article one of my friend shared a link in Facebook, a short film regarding the traffic and civic sense in Vadodara, similar things does happen in Chennai too.

 

More pics in http://cute-pictures.blogspot.com/2009/07/driving-sense-pictures-from-hyderabad.html

Thanks for your time in reading, comments and feedbacks are welcome.