Archive for November, 2008|Monthly archive page
Change in pattern of train services
May be useful for people who are from Tamilnadu (India) and may travel via coimbatore (to and from).
CHANGE IN PATTERN OF TRAIN SERVICES
Due to remodelling works at Coimbatore yard, following changes will be made in the pattern of train services between Chennai Central and Coimbatore.
I. TRAINS DIVERTED
All Mail/Express trains presently running via. Coimbatore will not touch Coimbatore from 25.11.2008 to 12.12.2008. Instead they will be diverted via. Irugur – Podanur route with stoppage at Podanur.
II. EXPRESS TRAINS PARTIALLY CANCELLED
a) Train No.2679 Chennai Central – Coimbatore Intercity Express will run upto Erode instead of Coimbatore on 26th, 29th November and 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th December 2008.
b) Train No.2970 Jaipur – Coimbatore Jaipur (weekly) Express (via. Chennai Central) will run upto Erode instead of Coimbatore on 27th November and 4th and 11th December 2008.
c) Train No.2969 Coimbatore – Jaipur (weekly) Express (via. Chennai Central) will leave from Erode instead ofCoimbatore on 28th November and 5th and 12th December 2008.
d) The Coimbatore portion of Train Nos.2671/2672 Chennai Central – Mettupalayam – Chennai Central Nilgiri Expresses will be terminated at/ leave from Coimbatore North from 25.11.2008 to 12.12.2008 and Mettupalayam portion will run upto Mettupalayam.
III. TRAINS FULLY CANCELLED
a) Train 2681 Chennai Central – Coimbatore (Weekly) Express scheduled to leave Chennai Central at 22.20 hrs. on Saturdays will be cancelled on 29.11.2008, 6.12.2008 and 13.12.2008.
b) Train 2682 Coimbatore – Chennai Central (Weekly) Express scheduled to leave Coimbatore at 23.30 hrs. on Fridays will be cancelled on 28.11.2008, 5.12.2008 and 12.12.2008.
IV. TRAINS WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE DEALT AT COIMBATORE
There will be no change in the Arrival and Departure of the following Mail/Express trains terminating/originating at Coimbatore during the period.
a) Train Nos.2673/2674 Chennai Central – Coimbatore – Chennai Central Cheran Expresses.
b) Train Nos.2675/2676 Chennai Central – Coimbatore – Chennai Central Kovai Expresses.
c) Train No.2680 Coimbatore – Chennai Central Intercity Express.
d) Train Nos.1013/1014 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus – Coimbatore – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Expresses.
e) Train Nos.6609/6610 Nagercoil – Coimbatore – Nagercoil Expresses.
f) Train Nos.2083/2084 Mayiladuturai – Coimbatore – Mayiladuturai Jan Shatabdi Expresses.
g) 2647/2648 Coimbatore – H.Nizamuddin – Coimbatore Kongu Expresses.
h) 6614/6613 Coimbatore – Rajkot – Coimbatore (weekly) Expresses.
V. TERMINATING/PASSING THROUGH PASSENGER TRAINS FROM 25.11.2008 TO 12.12.2008.
a) Train Nos.610/611 Mangalore – Coimbatore – Mangalore passengers will run upto and leave from Podanur instead of Coimbatore.
b) Train Nos.634/633 Shoranur – Coimbatore – Trichur passengers will run upto and leave from Podanur.
c) Train Nos.631/632 Coimbatore – Palghat Town – Coimbatore passengers will run upto Podanur instead ofCoimbatore.
d) Train Nos.0633/0634 Coimbatore – Shoranur-Coimbatore passengers will run upto Podanur instead ofCoimbatore.
e) Train Nos.607/608 Erode – Coimbatore – Coimbatore passengers will run upto Coimbatore North duly canceling the run between Coimbatore North and Coimbatore.
f) Train Nos.383/384 Nagercoil – Coimbatore – Nagercoil passengers will run upto and leave fromCoimbatore.
g) Train Nos.387/388 Coimbatore – Mangalore – Coimbatore passengers will leave from and run upto Podanur instead of Coimbatore.
h) Train Nos.887/888 Tiruchchirappalli – Palghat town- Tiruchchirappalli passengers will run via. Irugur , Podanur. In lieu of stoppages of T.No.888 passenger between Coimbatore – Irugur, T.No.1014 Coimbatore – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express will be stopped at Coimbatore North, Pilamedu, Singanallur and Irugur as a special case during the above period
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Courtesy: Thanks to my colleague Vidhya R for sharing this through an e-mail.
Happy Birthday Appa
Here I am wishing my dad a Very Happy Birthday today! 😛
Happy Birthday Image in Colour!
Of course, honestly speaking, “You are my very first guru and many aspects I have learned from you is yielding benefits not just to me but also to my buddies“. My sincere gratitude to you and let the almighty accept my prayers to keep you happy and healthy forever!
Have a great year ahead!!
Damn Happy at the moment
How many of you (us) capture, save, cherish the moments and momentary occasions? I am glad to say that I fall in that category.
I would like to say I am damn happy at the moment because of having bought one Audio CD that contains one of my most favorite songs in the movie ‘Dhinandhorum‘ [casting: Murali, Suvalakshmi and Directed by Nagaraj, released in Feb 1998]. The reason being all my efforts in searching for the song in the music portals, websites were in vain. Also with my friends!
The songs are:
1. Oh Kannukkul Sugam Paaindhadhenna (Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha)
2. Nenjathil Vegu Naatkalaai (Unnikrishnan, Anuradha Sriram)
3. En Vaanam Neethaanaa (SP Balasubramaniam)
As I had been to Reliance Timeout (Cunningham Road, Bangalore) to get a headphone and to grab some books, happened to see one music CD named ‘Azhagoviyam’ which contained this movie with other few. Felt so glad and had a dilemma whether should I get this CD or can i continue searching? Finally purchased the CD as NOT to regret later (as usual) for having missed the chance!
Now I am listening to the songs of Dhinandhorum 🙂 and felt like sharing the happiness I do enjoy at the moment..
Tags: personal, experience
Vaaranam Aayiram – Review
Its my maiden effect in posting the review of a tamil movie! 🙂 It would be good if you can share your comments on this and it would help me improve!
It happened to be my 100th post in this blog 🙂
Vaaranam Aayiram [‘surrounded by 1000 elephants‘ in english – the terms taken from the old song ‘vaaranam aayiram soozha valam seidhu’, though the literal meaning is just ‘1000 elephants’] – An excellent movie packed with emotions, sentiments, feelings and of course a great lesson on how to take life and move on with it amidst of all events occurring around! Though tried to watch in on the very first day (nostalgic of college days.. huh) could just get the bulb after rushing into the theater [Garuda Mall,Bangalore] as the tickets were sold off! Though we managed to book it via SMS, they should have to be bought before an hour of show time it seems!
Somehow got the tickets for the next day in Innovative Multiplex, Marathahalli, Bangalore (15 November 2008 Saturday]. Was heavily impressed and moved with the movie.
Surya in Vaaranam Aayiram
Gowtham Vasudev Menon: The director of the movie has definitely done his best. This movie is a gratitude to his father it seems. The first time his name in full has been mentioned I believe. I felt really glad that he did NOT disappoint me as that of his previous-and-recent movie ‘Pachaikili Muthucharam’.
The director seems to have paid enough attention to the story and screenplay and definitely he accomplished the mission. The movie is a flashback type and visual effects really adds value to the scenes. The movie definitely has a strong message about how to go on with life amidst all odds! Hats off Gowtham 🙂
Surya (Krishnan) – Dad Role: His flash back comes for a short span and there he has the punch for the entire life span of the character. ‘Do what your heart says‘ type of attitude. He follows and preaches the same to his kid(s) and let them do the same :). A good idea to propose a girl was given to audience. Simran (Malini) keeps hearing from everyone around saying ‘Krishnan wanted to convey that you are very beautiful’‘. And their first meeting is beautiful and lasts only for a minute and proceeds to the song ‘Mundhinam paarthaenae’. The smile he wears all through the movie is a trademark.
The way he understands the kids and works with them for dealing with their day-to-day routines, issues is to be really appreciated. That’s how almost every kid wants. Nowhere he gets tensed though it may be next-to-impossible in practical life. One remarkable track is when he pacifies his son surya about reminding his school days as how he won the match by converting all his negative feelings (hatred nature and anger) to a positive energy!! Deserves to get an applause!! Message conveyed by Gowtham via the film!
The smile is a little special as it has so many things in it – patience, understanding, care, affection etc.,! Even when lying on the death bed! Awesome.. Way to go Surya:)
Surya – Son Role: The Hero of the movie has done a splendid performance. Awesome expressions man! Be it the dance, fight, romance – all rounder and gathers an appealing score! One excellent track not-to-be-missed and worth mentioning in the movie is the love track between Surya and Sameera. Though he tries to almost always imitate his father). The initial expressions and reactions he shows when meeting Sameera for the first time in the train is wonderful and romantic !! You may fall in love with the track for sure! Later how he reacts to the events and how he proceeds in taking up the life is what the rest of the film conveys! In the overall movie, he utters the word ‘Dad’, ‘Daddy’ more than 200 times I believe :). The character is of that kind.
His school life scenes are very close to reality and no cinematic effects. Like how we used to feel when you just had a clash with someone with no fault of yours, and the emotions related to that. He scores well in those scenes!
He did well in all the romantic scenes with Sameera! – Jothika, don’t miss 🙂
His second love with Ramya (Priya) is again justified as he takes years time (5 years) to decide and still carrying the memories of Sameera!! Well acceptable in the reality and with the consequences.
Like Vishal in his ‘Satyam’, surya also has nicely developed a ‘six pack’ :). Different costumes, emotions, expressions.. everywhere he hits a sixer!! For sure he is climbing the ladder! Keep it up Surya!
Surya and Sameera Reddy in Vaaranam Aayiram
Sameera (Meghana): I fell in love with this character and the way she was portrayed! I never had a liking towards her till before watching the movie. Though looking like a pretty modern girl, she was a typical traditional girl respecting parent’s opinions regarding marriage, education etc., Her facial expressions get her the pass mark! She really did act in the movie and NOT falling in the yet another just-for-glamour-and-for-the-sake-of herione category. Lots of opportunities may definitely be in store!
‘What have you done to me’ – the dialogue which she starts off when accepting Surya’s proposal and revealing out her acceptance is very nice and a milestone! Adiyea Kolludhea Song is a nice beat and romantic duet!
Divya aka Kuthu Ramya (Priya): The real herione of the movie as she gets married to Surya has been given a role and chance. I think she did utilize to certain extent. Compared to her previous movies though the timespan of the character was NOT much she picked up well and did her BEST. But somehow Sameer’s role dominates Divya’s role for sure! :). But the attitude of the character was nice when she says, “I know you can’t forget Meghana and I would not want you to react to that. Still I love you”. A character without commanding and demanding and also waits for the approval of the same years together. One song for her is ‘Anal meale panithuli’ — sung by Sudha Raghunathan. Excellent one. Nice lyrics, music, voice. My 2 cents to {Harris Jayaraj, Thamarai} team 🙂
Simran (Malini): Father Surya (Krishnan)’s wife role is played by Simran. Though she is there in almost all the scenes, the role was NOT that powerful and influential. Perhaps the movie is much of saluting and expressing the gratitude to the Dad! But few places she justifies her existence! She reminds the kids about how their dad wants them to be in their life even after his demise. That’s yet another message. ‘Life has to move on’.
Plus
Not to deny, all songs are nice and the visual effects really added values and more worth to the songs! Both the surya characters plus Sameera really did well and has contributed considerably.
Good lessons of life has been neatly portrayed:
1. Life has to move on no matter what
2. Life(time) is the best healer for every wound!
3. Do what your heart says.
4. During tough times, convert your negative thoughts to a positive energy!
Minus
1. A slight frustration comes when you see everyone in the home speaks in english mostly in the home! and you get a doubt on the language of the movie! Gowtham could have paid a little more attention here!
2. Most audiences may disagree with the father surya’s approval of sending his son surya to USA (Berklyn University) to just search for his love! A slight justification/excuse is he does this after completing his commitments. Still, how many parents would agree and allow such activity? Perhaps, children doing such activities without the parent’s knowledge – that is out of discussion here ;). Again, listen to your heart and may be for the ‘real and true love’ its acceptable!? Might be!
Vaaranam aayiram – has definitely created a deep impact and yet another milestone in Gowtham’s films. Worth watching it!
Tamil Actor Nambiar passed away!
Just happened to read about the news in today’s newspaper that senior tamil actor Nambiar passed away yesterday at the age of 87. He has been acting for about 70 years and with 7 generations.
One of the excellent aspect/nature of Nambiar was he never had a habit of smoking, boozing it seems 🙂 Its a well known factor apart from he being a ‘Guru Swami’ for ‘Lord Aiyappa”s Sabarimala Yatra. He went for about 65 years.
He is a well known villain in the movies but in the real life he had always been a ‘real-and-true’ Hero!!
May your soul rest in peace dear Nambiar sir!! I am sure your existence was justified and you would always be honored!
New GMail with Themes
New Gmail Theme
Looks Like I am working on a Mainframes Terminal? 🙂 Huh.. No way.. Its the ‘Gmail’ with the ‘Themes’ 🙂
Always been wondering about the 6 letter world ‘Google’ as their breathing mantra is all about ‘Innovation’, ‘Creativity’. They just rock and I simply fall in love with every aspect of Gmail.
I do remember I was one of the few to comment the same sharing the addiction towards Gmail service by bypassing all the predecessors Yahoo, Rediffmail which were ruling till then.
Thanks to my colleagye Vivek Juneja for just setting this theme ‘Terminal‘ (with Courier New font — towards which I started having a liking of late) accidentally when he was trying to find out a theme called ‘Mountain‘ which he is using in his machine. I guess the set of themes vary depends on the browser you use. Vivek uses Google’s own new browser ‘Google Chrome’ and there he has little more different themes. As I do use ‘Flock’ which is based on ‘Mozilla Firefox’, I don’t.
Though I always go with the simple and pleasant colours, this one has dominated today because of the power saving thought [Check out www.blackle.com – yet another stuff from Google which suggests you to go for black background to save the power consumption]. Moreover accidental events sometimes yield good results 🙂
One good aspect whih has NOT dissatisfied me was the font style is retained in the mail content with this theme :). Way to go Google..
I Love you Google 🙂
An Atrocity from Citibank
I do keep facing atrocities at various parts and with few people at times! Its just one sample to describe.
There exists a facility called ‘Ready Credit‘ from Citibank which the bank offers to certain (valued added — they say) customers based on the level of usage, salary credit, funds maintained etc., I have used this facility once and of course I am thankful to citibank for the same. The situation was, when I have given a cheque to ING Vysya bank and they did NOT process it on time but they did it on the next month for 2 cheques altogether. Being the very first month I did not keep a track and the next month there was a shortage for two cheques at the same time! ;(. By then Citibank did really help me by pulling out some money from the so called Ready Credit account and they honored the cheque as well as preventing a black mark on my transaction history. Hats Off! The very next day I paid them back the money with the applicable interest (it was Rs. 10/- i guess). This happened in last year (July 2007).
Today I happened to receive the Suvidha Account Statement via email (which I have opted for). As I do check my account everyday (the helping stuff I do insist me to check and acknowledge me promptly the individual volunteers for their contribution), I thought of skipping it. But somehow there was an instinct to just glimpse! I was just browsing through as all were known transactions until the last few which triggered me. It was like ‘Education Cess 2%, Service Charge 10%’. I was surprised and shocked to see such entries as I have NOT done any such transactions. I found out later that these 2 charges for the ‘Citibank Ready Credit Account Charges‘ which was Rs. 750/- and the Service Charge for the same is Rs.90/– plus the Education Cess was Rs.2.10/– which is altogether Rs. 842/-. Isnt it a good/big sum? All happened without my knowledge:(.
The ultimate ATROCITY was all these happened albeit I rejected for the same on all the 3 calls in last month from Citibank executives asking for the same Ready Credit Account!
Immediately called up the Customer Care and asked for the clarification. With no feelings, he just apologized for the same – at the max what he could do being an employee of citibank! He said that he will ensure the same does NOT repeat again in future. But he could not proceed further when I replied him back for the same saying, “this is the 3rd time I face such thing with citibank but with various aspects”! 😦 He does NOT have answer for my query stating, “Does Citibank look the money from customers like this?“! Moreover, he said the money would be credited back to my account within 13th of this month. I have to wait for 3 more days.Huh?
I just asked, “When you have an Auto Debit System” why not you have an “Auto Credit System?”. Again no answer! :(. Moreover “If I had used the money from bank and give it back after few days, would not the bank levy some interest towards the amount? “. Here my money was blocked for about 13 days (if at all it gets credited within 13th of this month as promised) and there is NO interest for the same! — Again no answer/reciprocation and I was just left with my own satisfaction of having asked! That’s it!
I had already one such scenario in the year 2006 wherein I just happened to find out that there was an auto debit of Rs. 13,000 or so. Obviously wondering and shocked to see that, had to call up the customer care from the ATM Centre itself (opposite to KPN Travels, Madiwala, Bangalore) and it was extended 4,5 times to various divisions but no one had the proper answer for the sudden auto debit. Later it got escalated to the Head Office, Chennai and a person named ‘Ashok’ who took it up and asked for 2 days time to investigate. He got back to me saying that it was not just mine but almost all the employees of my company. It was all because the main reason for the auto debit was one transaction entry in our salary account and that was entered as ‘Salary Credit‘ instead of ‘Reimbursement‘ for the claims we do every month. No doubt, the claims would be very less compared to the salary and there the discrepancy. But I had no answer for my query, “Would not there be any sense to detect the sudden decrease of salary and how come there would be two salary credits on a single month?”. As we do have two salaries – one is the base component gets credited on the last day of the month and the other – the flexible credit for reimbursements which happens on the 10th of the same month. But NO proper answer because it was all done on a dumb terminal with which they just get escaped — “System“! Thank god, I just noticed it a littler earlier before one of my cheques to a friend was processed. otherwise it would have got bounced 😦 All because of this barbarity from my employer and the Citibank with no fault of mine! :(. After all the issues are sorted out, I had to wait for more than a weeks’ time to get back my own money with NO interest! Same answer for the question asking would the bank simply accept the principal alone? — Silence was the answer I was given!
I do understand that “If at all something is destined to happen, no matter what we would face”. But still, there should be a limit/extent to which our candidature can be considered. For no fault of us, it keeps going and growing! What else I would better call this, except “Atrocity“!?
a prolonged journey
Filed under: experience, Personal, pozhuthupokku, travelogue |
Comments (2) its been sometimes blogged as well. of course there are loads of contents/thoughts to be blogged, some or the other way there are factors keep pulling me out. some are worth mentioning and few are not! :(.
Blogosphere – more or like an university/college where people come in, join you, experience you something during the association. The impressions are also of varying in nature! huh! neways, the journey has to move on. so keeping it going..
last weekend had been to various places in TN and it was a joyous experience. As I had been dealing with some production issues in a neighbouring team and also some release work in my team here, the important activity called ‘sleep’ was not considered much for about a week’s time. Saturday morning had to come to office for interviewing some people as I agreed to my manager for the same a day before. Finished with a couple of people and rushed to get into the Bus (ABT Travels) to go to Coimbatore. The main reason was to visit Lord Subramaniah in Pazhani (due to Kandha Sashti and I keep fasting for the same) and also to attend two of my friends weddings! Somehow managed to stop the bus through constant follow up and updating over phone every now and then and got into the bus by 140 PM at madiwala, Bangalore :).
Good that the co passengers were neither starring at me nor shouting at me :). Escaped. I guess just 10 – 15 mts of waiting dint make them feel so sad. During the journey had been reading a book ‘Head First EJB‘ as I got to train some new people in this week ;). Had to refresh the concepts as its been some years I worked on. After browsing through few pages, somehow was attracted towards the ‘Shivaji – The Boss‘ movie which was running on the 27″ flat screen :). Continued with that. Next was with ‘Daas‘ – the movie by Jeyam Ravi and Renuga Menon. Remember had seen that movie in 2005 once it was released. As I like 3 songs in that movie, somehow switching between Head First EJB and Daas now and then :). After a couple of hours though I thought i could read but i was nt able to. As the sun had set and 3rd movie was started – again Jeyam Ravi’s ‘M Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi‘. A nice movie. Started revising the movie for 5th time :).
My co-passenger named ‘Jasper’ who is working as a Service Engineer in Tekenome, Coimbatore was going back from bangalore after his client visit. Man.. he was resembling the Actor Surya! – Not just the facial expressions but also mannerism, smile etc., altogether:) Nice guy and we had a good timepass. Two things were new to me. First time I met a person with the resemblance of a celebrity and his name is a part of one reporting tool we use ‘JasperReports‘ :). Got a good friend though!
Reached coimbatore and attended my BE classmate Bino’s reception. Phew! the auto’s are all really a nightmare in Coimbatore! Though I had completed my BE in Coimbatore, I never travelled in an auto. so never aware of the consequences! For less than half a km, he charged 50 Rupees and the time constraint made me nod! Was very happy seeing my friend after 2,3 years so as he. As I kept checking with him over phone during the journey about the timings and his stay over there, i was expecting to see him in the main hall soon after I entered. But he was missing. Called him twice but no reply. Then i saw a room with utensils, plates. Assumed it would be the dining hall and there got a solution for the equation. Found my friend Bino in the dining hall with his partner and friends around :). Had dinner with them and exchanged some conversation, greetings. After sometime we had a photo session, gift giving etc., then I left from there!
Saw ‘Seval‘ Movie in Royal Theatre as was interested because of Director Hari and the good-looking-and-nicely-portrayed heroine Pooja Bavnam. very homely face :). The movie was okay kind. He had taken a different subject this time. But the violence was more and not much having interest towards it.
After the movie, went to Ukkadam bus stand by walk. It was again a nostalgic as I used to do the same during my college days. Thinking all those sweet memories, was walking on the road. Got a bus in Ukkadam bus stand to Pazhani. Reached there in the early morning at around 4.20 AM. Reached the temple by 5.15 AM and waited for the shrine to get opened by 6 AM for the very first dharshan (alankar called ‘vishu’). It was almost 1.5 years I visited my boss and so damn happy after seeing him :)).
Came down and went to Erode to visit one my best buddies home. It was also like after 2 years visit. I could get the happiness from their faces and the conversations. Had a very good time over there by conversing about many different topics right from spiritual, religious, cinema, personal updates etc.,. My friend Ramesh VG and his wife Suganthi were also a part of our conversation through yahoo messenger with a webcam :). Good recreation.
Went to Namakkal from Erode to attend the other wedding of my unseen-but-good friend Krishna Srinivasan, whom I got to know through the technical forums (JavaRanch, JavaBeat – which he manages). Both of us were happy due to our very first meet on his marriage occasion 🙂.
From Namakkal, had to get a bus to Salem. During the journey, had completed one novel of Ramanichandran named “Laavanya” which was in progress till then. :).
From Salem, got into a bus till Krishnagiri. There a movie was played. Again of Jeyam Ravi’s :). Gosh.. I was thinking whether it was Jeyam ravi’s week (like the advt in Sun Tv – Indha vaaram jeyam raviyin vaaram).
From Krishnagiri to Hosur. The journey was quite interesting as got a friend named Somasundaram (though there are many somasundarams’ I have known). He is working a shift supervisor in CNC, Hosur. Exchanged the basic stuff our whereabouts, working nature etc., Again got a good friend :).
Then finally from Hosur to Bangalore. It was around 11 AM almost when I reached. Huh… visited many places in a short span with nice experiences, new people.
I always love travelling mainly because of the new scenarios we happen to get, new sort/set of people we happen to meet. So thrilling and interesting. Mostly I have never failed in this!
Though had been longing to take leave because of lack of sleep and tiredness, the unresolved-and-still-pending production issue was inviting me for long! Of course have to keep up the name and belief the people have on us!
Let the journey continue.. 🙂
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