Interim Solutions

© 2010 Manoj Chennamangalam  Disclaimer : Any resemblance to anyone is purely coincidental Looking up from my window I can see him on the balcony Covered by a thin blanket, shivering in the cold Short, slightly built and a big scar on his chin He looked 10 or 11 but may have been more He was a slave and slept in the balcony of the house across mine Teary eyes, worn out clothes I see him look out into the night and at the stars I perceive blankness in his gaze where I am sure dreams played around in the past Occasionally I have seen him on the ground floor walking the dog He never looked up at me and never returned my half smiles He was a slave and existed in the balcony across mine Was he good looking, was he intelligent? Did he have loving parents, naughty siblings or even a home somewhere? Did he get stolen, sold or did he run away ? I don’t know and may never know I know he is not hungry or sick but is not free He was a slave and existed i...

© 2010 Manoj Chennamangalam Disclaimer : Any resemblance to anyone is purely coincidental -- Sunday morning on a cold winter day ACT 1 The wake up drill Aaakash (first 2 'A's for conquering the world numerologically and third as triple insurance to be first in the attendance roster) is sleeping blissfully on his double bed with his nappies on (the quilt is imported and cannot be risked for the one in a million statistical risk of him peeing in his sleep) Maid servant/ child governess enters (All of 7 years - you frown thinking child labor and I say aha!! read on for gorier crimes!) MS/CG: Aaakash wake up! Aakash, Akash (accompanied by pushes and shoves) - the most glorious one please wake up! Today is Sunday; you have to go for Swimming, Skating, Walking, Painting, Drawing, Piano, Football (in no particular order) lessons!! Hey @$%@^%# wake up you filthy rascal - I have to get you ready in 2 minutes!! That works. Aaakash (the most glorious one) replies: Brrr,...

Minor clean-up done on a wiki link that badly needed a face lift. WIP as yet, but here is the current version authored by me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unnayi_Variyar

Thoughts - they come from all directions at almost all times ,some come straight at me and sometimes straight from me. Few have been captured and tied firmly to the letters below.Others ? well others I don't know - look around you , they must be floating around freely. -- Contrary to the majority belief, majority is seldom right. -- Many a times I hear an interview on Teli or read a famous person’s experiences and feel “hey, that has happened to me, still happens to me”. I feel slightly happy, gently elated and vaguely hope may be our paths will cross at some time so that you can share the experience and multiply the emotions. Thoughts like these, however are like unfortunate rivers that end in deserts – casually disappears into the maze of mind and life -- Purity is a myth, the closer you get to it the farther it goes away -- No man is an island, hell - neither are they Oceans !! -- Inside of Aero planes, new bags and air conditioned data centers smell the same to me an...

Nodding their heads in unison Bright orange garlands on their neck Marble green eyes dripping innocence On walked the lambs as if on a picnic Walking in rows of two Tethered to a soft cloth rope Bright white from a nice fresh bath On walked the lambs as if on a picnic Past the lush green fields Onto the tarred main road by the lake Accompanied by a loud saffron crowd On walked the lambs as if on a picnic The drum beats became louder So did the chants of the frenzied crowd The temple was looming around the corner and on walked the lambs as if on a picnic Pick them up all and run away I wish Atleast mellow the hearts of stone I wish I could Slowing down,they entered the place of worship !! Celebrate, dance and sing, Eat,drink and make merry - for the gods are being sacrificed by mere humans !! © 2010 Manoj Chennamangalam

Trying my hand at a different genre this time - 'review'.The inevitable phase that all self respecting blogs go through - restaurant reviews, movie reviews, book reviews are some of the common 'sustainability tricks', but end of the day what better way to be creative than feed off some one else's creativity. Pranchiyettan and yes of course The Saint was a charmingly pleasant experience.First and foremost I am amazed at the deftness with which Renjith blends in the essence of Christian theology into what could otherwise be easily called a 'Comedy Film'.I am willing to argue to no end that the movie is a spiritual one - a new brand of spiritual movies that was pioneered by Renjith in his 2002 hit Nandanam (read my earlier post titled Monsoon Wedding for a little more)and almost perfected in 'Pranchiyettan'. What has gotten into Renjith ? Is it the same guy who delivered obnoxiously loud scripts supporting larger than life movies like 'Devasuram,...