Paranjsothy - Chennai Dairy 6

An IPL Cinemas Production * N. Lakshmanan presents * Paranjsothy * Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, Direction * Gopu Balaji * Producer * N. Lakshmanan, N. Gopalakrishnan, N. Tamilselvan, N. Manikandan * Co-Producers * N. Gopalakrishnan, N. Tamilselvan, N. Manikandan * Co-Directors * M. Sheriff, P.K. Raja, Selvam * Music * Sabesh-Murali * Cinematography * S. Chandrashekhar, D.F.T * Editing * Sudha * Art Direction * Vinod * Action * Speed Sayed * Costumes * M. Sreenivasalu * Make-Up * L.V. Raja * P.R.O. * Govindraj * Production Manager * A.R. Chandra Mohan * Design Studio * Mithra Media * Cast * Sarathy, Ansiba, Ganja Karuppu, Bose Venkat, Shakeela

Paranjsothy - Chennai Dairy 5

Shooting begins tomorrow, Monday, 15th July, 2013 at Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.

Paranjsothy - Chennai Diary 4

After all the location hiccups, fund blocks, date hassles, the project, 'Paranjyothy' is all set to roll. Shooting to start tentatively by July 15th, 2013. Will be back with more reports. Expecting prayers and blessings from all of you ..

Paranjsothy - Chennai Dairy 1

Its been almost two years since I came back from London.

And this is the second time something I really wanted is actually happening in my life - that too within the very short span of just about six months time! First it happened in last November, when I got married to the love of my life. And now, I'm joining as one of the key members of the team in Chennai, out there to make - 'Paranjysothy' (with an 's' to sound more Tamilish - 'jysothy' instead of 'jyothy') - my friend Laxman's maiden production venture, to be directed by Gopu Balaji. The movie is planned to be released during Pongal in January.

My wife and me are expecting our first baby in December. I might not be home with Prazi during our very first Onam since marriage. My dad has broken his silence, at least with me. Since Subhash chettan is also busy with script writing for Pramod G Gopal's malayalam film Edison's Photos, due for release in December, the entire burden is on Bibin, to look after 'the adcompani' at Kochi. Now that the adcompani is taking up designing works for films like 'Breaking News Live', 'Bubbles' among others, my mind is full of mixed reactions. Am I missing Kochi a bit too much?!

Meanwhile, Nidheesh's film's is signing in a new writer - Kalavoor Ravikumar, of 'Istam' and 'Nammal' fame will now be handling the scripting job for the story by Director Shafi. The work will start  once Shafikka's '101 Weddings' wraps up soon after Onam. Due in December too.

These days, when I look at things around me, I really feel the divine presence everywhere. Why just yesterday Vicky, our very dear friend from Punjab called with a great news - he has cleared his IAS prilims, now preparing even harder for his mains.

On the way to Chennai, I met these two gentlemen who spoke really high about the movies. In fact, one of them, Nobin Varghese, is a busy associate director from the Malayalam film industry, having assisted directors like Kamal, Amal Neerad, Anwar Rasheed etc. He was on his way to confirm the dates of one of the popular stars from our industry who had promised to be part of Nobin's maiden project. I loved his basic idea - to make a road movie. I too had this in my thoughts. In fact, just like him, I too have a collection of road movies for my reference. His sensibilities about the movies are in the right place. I'm sure its going to be a great movie. Good luck to you dude.

IPL Cinemas has from the very outset appointed a team of marketing guys to assist me in the promotions. This is the ultimate big thing for everyone involved. That includes me too.

God bless us all.

You.

I waited. Not because I wanted to. But because you are worth the wait.

Oct 2

Somewhere sometime back a great man was born.
Somewhere nearby a little while ago someone close just died on me.

Some more pearls

If writing is like shagging, copy writing is like whoring.

Increase in the cost of living is directly proportional to the increase in the advertising revenue collected by the publications.

Till your time hasn't come, keep your senses responding. Stay prepared. Keep at it. When your time comes, take it.

Importance. Of being myself.

I am the child. And the man.
I am the wise. And the fool.
I am the mature. And the immature.
I am the known. And the unknown.
In my efforts to love others around me, I forgot to love myself!!!

Kerala. Damp. Humid. And unreceptive.

Back home in Kerala. Did they miss me in the last three years? Off course, they did. Why? No one has a clue.

Everyone is still the same as I left them three years ago. Stubborn. Unmoving. And harsh. What are the expectations? Again, no clue.

What have I gained over the years? When I haven't been able to convince my own loved ones, what's the use of having the world at my feet? No clue.

Life's is burning out. A stand hasn't been taken as yet. Bloody hell. But what's the worth of the empire that's been built on the dead bodies of your own blood? Any clue?

Emotions. Plain & simple.

3.30 pm, 29th April, 2011, Dubai, UAE

On 29th March, exactly one month before the immensely discussed Royal Wedding, I was actually walking down the road that led to Westminster Abbey from Buckingham Palace with my friends Vicky and Roshan. Then, even for once, it didn't seem so important to me to be there to witness the mega-event just a month later, and in some strange way, be part of history.

In fact, at that point of time, I was somewhat irritated at all the hoopla that was made of it. All I could think of was to get out of that place at the earliest possible instance. Literally.

But today, as I sat watching the whole ceremony on live TV, I did feel a little sad. May be not for not being there to be watching what almost looked like a beautiful climax to a romantic comedy.

Leaving London for good, shouldn’t be bad after all.

May be it had more to do with the fact that it’s been four years since I met her. And three years into the relationship. And still, she’s there and I am here.

And I miss her. Damn.

I?

A normal human being. Living to give love. Take love. Make love.

On Tea vs Coffee...

I don't know what's so much special about a proper 'glass' (available at most of the wayside tea stall just anywhere in Kerala - not 'cup', it kills the joy of having tea) of STRONG tea. Strained (well, it could be the most dangerous part - to ask the chap who makes it for you to give it back strained - But I HATE the layer of butter that forms on the top and the white ones that get in along with the milk and swim around all over the glass - they look like dirty white torn linen flowing in muddy water - so straining is a must!) and spotless. With lots of sugar. With may be a packet of biscuits to go with it. To dip in it and let it melt in your mouth. I love it. Mmmmhh...

But then, the tea I make, PATHETIC...! I am just so hopeless at making tea.

So I always take the safest option out. Sippng hot 'cup' of sweet black coffee. Safe. Ya, as in SAFE! But if you add milk to it, well, I'd rather have plain hot water instead.

You. Me. And us.

I think about you.
I think about me.
I think about us.
I am refreshed. Happy. And inspired.

On courting unhappiness...

"An unhappy home life can trick you into thinking you're in love. The files of marriage counselors are filled with cases of younger people who fell in love and married when all they really wanted was to escape from pressures they considered unbearable. For example, a young girl who is constantly battling with her parents sees her boy friend as the rescuing knight in shining armor who will take her away from all this. She isn't in love- she just wants out."

Never marry for the wrong reasons. You just do not spoil your life but a lot of other people's life and happiness in the process.

For your heart only...

It's terrible living here alone, without you by my side.
I hope you understand. And care.

I miss you, every single moment I spend here.
I hope you understand. And care.

Receding lines ...

"The closer I get, the more elusive you become.
The further you go, the clearer you become."

- 'Antaheen', 2009

Will I be soon crying at my own fate?! I don't know. I really don't know.

This is her. And this is me.

She cried when we spoke over the phone after our first fight.
She cried the first time we hugged.
She cried when I called her from the airport when I was leaving the country.
She cried when I first called her from London.
She cried the first time we did video chat over Skype.
Yesterday she cried when she saw me for the first time this month after she was back from hospital.
In fact, she cried each time I said anything good about her. Or, bad. Or sometimes, even just when I spoke.

Even though I hate to see her crying. Can I ever get to stop her from her outbursts? And can I even doing anything about it other than sheepishly and helplessly looking at her? This is her. And this is me. Do we need a reason why we love each other so much?

(Image courtesy: www.walkofthoughts.blogspot.com)

On fights and more.

Why do we really fight in a relationship? Is it because certain qualities of your partner irritate you? No. Because those are the ones that you fell for in the first place. Plain and simple. You can never hate them. You cease to have any more interest in them if those little imperfections disappear. Your imperfectly perfect partner would be boring.

Nobody is perfect. Everyone has their own share of imperfections. And when these imperfections complement each other, there is magic. That’s heavenly. That’s love.

For a relation to progress, it needs its own ups and downs. You try correcting. You give up. You fight. You sulk. And then, you realise your mistake. You apologize. No questions asked. No answers given. Not because either of you is wrong - but as they say, saying sorry relieves your soul. You thank God that you are imperfectly perfect together. You find yourself even more attached to each other. More than ever before.

Fights are actually little blessings. In a sound relationship, that is.

(Image courtesy: www.kootation.com)

Don't give up. Not now, at least.

Please don't loose hope at this point.
Please hang in there for me.
Please don't give up.

Remember, I love you more than anything else.
And much more than you think I do.

Please get well soon.

When words hurt...

When you have a confrontation with people who don’t know how exactly to talk. And more precisely, what to talk when.

• You accept their silly spiteful comments with a smile and say well, ‘if that's what you feel about me, fine with me buddy’. But to the ones with zero IQ take this as their personal victory and start looking for a meaner weapon to target you, with an assumption you are weak anyways.

• Or, you give them even more hurting reply every time they do it to you. But off course, your presence of mind should back you up - each time when a new form of shit comes out of their mouth.

• Or else, shut them up, by shutting them out totally. Why do you really need such friends who don’t care about your feelings?

• Best way, however, is to kill them.

Remember, your friend’s (or, for that matter anyone else’s) freedom to express ends at the tip of your nose.