It all started with “aahista aahista” song from Swades which I was playing as a lullaby for the child. She liked it so much that I went about finding other songs of the same raga, Charukesi. My mind was then immersed with this raga which I’ve been humming for quite a while now.Turns out that it seems to be the favourite raga of A R Rahman. And also Raveendran, the music director in Malayalam. Also I did note that there aren’t much classical musical films like Sargam in Mollywood anymore, which has “Krishna kripasagaram” song in the same raga. Another two of my favourites are “Hey Krishna” and “Geyam harinamadheyam”. The raga seems to evoke shantham, shokam and meditative rasa(emotions).
Continue reading →The whirlpool fiasco
Like a regular morning, today I put the clothes today in the washing machine and pressed start. It was not turning on. I checked the switch, which was way dusty as it was in the utility area facing the road. I couldn’t figure out the red light was on or off. Earlier this week, another heater switch in the bathroom had to be replaced so it could be this switch now which is at fault. I opened an adda ticket saying switch is not working.
After few minutes, an idea came to my mind. I can check whether the plug point is working or not. I couldn’t drag the washing machine inside so I got the multi plug point bar from my bedside and checked whether my phone charger is working in here or not. Yes it works! :O I ran to close the adda ticket because on a lucky day, the electrician can come within half hour in this society after posting the complaint! I concluded that plug is indeed working and now washing machine is at fault.
I searched Google for customer care for Whirlpool company, called them on the toll free number, raised the issue saying front panel is not working. I was very helpful to the customer care person by saying the issue summarised as “start button not working. That’s all is the issue”. They were very actively responding to my complaints saying that the technician will be there today itself! Wow! What a day. I thought the husband was way too lucky to have such a proactive wife.
Continue reading →Surrounded by Idiots
A catchy title don’t you think? That’s exactly what made me buy the book with that title. I had never heard of the author or the book before but I was lucky that it was not a bore. Just like how MBTI personality types are famous, this book talks about a similar DISC model which compartmentalises personality into four colors :
Red – The fiery go getters who looks stubborn and rude
Yellow – The positive sunshine who seems like they are in the air and not grounded
Green – The friendly calm hardworking ant workers in a honeybee kingdom who doesn’t take a stand for themselves
Blue – The nerd and geek who is so mysterious that we call them weird!
If that’s all about it why read a book and not a summary like this or a podcast or video? I think the same when it comes to most self help books, why drag the same thing over and over. But what I realised is repetition helps in sneaking the content into your mind consciously or unconsciously. Now it’s upto us, as adults, whether we want to use the info we got to understand others and ourselves. I guess the book was mainly for office workers like sales/marketing/managers who deal with people in general and has to do lots of negotiations, delegation of work, etc. It also helps in smoothening out our relationships with any person, be it colleagues, partners, parents, children, friends or even neighbours.
So though the content is repetitive the good part of the book is it’s not boring. The writing is conversational and funny at times which is perfect for me. Every sentence in the book, I was figuring out myself and few others that I know into these colors. And the effect prevailed for days after.
This was the first book of 2025. Last year I completed more than 40 books. Ever since I started distancing myself from Instagram (though I did my quota of time wasting on chirpy bird app), I think I got more time to read. Planning to write more about them on the blog too.
Which book are you reading or planning to read this year?
Holding onto 2025
As I am writing this post on Jan 15, few of my resolutions are already broken(yes, you are not alone!) but I have not given up. Hope is what makes you wake up everyday and I’m holding on like the song from Bandish Bandits season 2.
I had liked the season 1 of the series Bandish Bandits considering how I loved the classical Indian music. I considered the gharanas of the north India another traditional version of its counterpart in southern carnatic music. I remember relating to the scenes where fusion and rock filmy songs are considered “corrupted mindset”. I was similarly not allowed to play film songs on my carnatic veena when young. Maybe it did sour the relationship with the instrument a teeny bit, but seeing the insta worthy videos and reels and old artists adapting to the new tech is renewing my interest slowly.
I felt the new season was little repetitive on the romantic aspect. Many reviews were based on why the female protagonist kept crying and blaming etc but I felt the conflict was more clearer in this season rather than first. Personal relationship expectations is dangerously high from the person you are inspired for your art and unless you can balance that thin line, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
The music was alright to me but since band championship which looks similar to Indian reality shows was brought into the script, the story went beyond limiting itself to our age old traditional classical music. Garaj garaj rock version was obviously the highlight for me with that sitar from Mahi aka Purbayanji giving me the goosebumps.
How’s your first two weeks of 2025?
The Let it go attitude
Like all other moms, I have always been tormented with mommy guilt. Feeling of not being “good enough” mom. Slowly I realised it’s nothing to do with gender or being a parent but a conditioning problem. I noticed others who doesn’t have this attitude, at least in parenting or self confidence. There is an “I don’t care” attitude in general which doesn’t mean they don’t give **** about the person but means they don’t give **** to the outcome of what they do. They will take decisions and if they end up being wrong they are gonna brush off and start again or different but without any wallowing guilt or berating themselves or without any worries of how the outcome can affect others. I so want to have that.
The instances where I saw this happening is in parenting usually. From young age children are given mobile phones to play(been there, done that) for unlimited times. The patience is running out indeed and it will, but have you stopped for a second and figured out what else could be done. How to improve the quality of life of yours and your child’s? Maybe take deep breaths and “regulate” emotions. Work out the boundaries with other family members for which you need to first work on yourself. I learnt this the hard way, of course, but that shouldn’t stop me from writing it all down to make it easy for you, right? (Or rather preach your ears out!)
I have felt jealous of older men and women who gets up at 4-5am, travel a lot, keep themselves busy with multiple jobs or side businesses, doing exercising, playing sports and what not(going on dates!??!). All I wanted to ask them is what do they do with their kids? Where are they? Watching tv at home? Are they burning your house? Or killing (chilling?)with their “besties” at their house?
Continue reading →Friendships as butterflies
For some writers, writing is cathartic. To let go of the emotions which are overflowing through their minds. I remember writing this blog to put out my experiences as a way to create connections with other people. In my retrospective times, I realise I have always been wanting to make “connections” and “long lasting friendships” as seen in movies and shows.
I wonder whether we seek friendships or societal connections for meeting the needs of self- validation through friendships. To have the impression that I am important to someone, for them to take time out and call me or go for chit chat, have intellectual talk, seek advice etc. I remember feeling the need to fill the void after being in college, though it actually started in high school. Whoever I have asked for feedback, kept telling me they considered me as a weirdo in those times. I don’t deny, considering how I have sent prank emails to someone in college to get attention! It took me years and few broken hearts to figure that, our friendships too, like in relationships, can break up, can get cheated on, be lonely etc. Social media validation in the form of likes and followers are clear examples of what we were looking for in the 90s era. To realise that those were not even crushes, but an effort for ourselves to feel good in the eyes of random people. I remember reading Normal People by Sally Rooney and quite relatable to being Marianne.
Continue reading →