Naan Padum Mouna Raagam from Idhaya Kovil

I ABSOLUTELY love Fridays. Today is another. For plenty of reasons. The fact that I get to rest, relax and unwind for the following 48 hours, being one steadfast justification. I love weekends. More so, if they are longer than the usual two days. Holidays are so counted on. 
Lunch was Chinese vegetarian with a couple of girlfriends. Glutted and gorged, in other words. There goes my remain-at-43kgs-diet. Sad. But, the calling for delicious food is stronger than slimming regiments. 
I cannot remember hearing much of this song. It played on the radio during my drive back home. A confounding number that left a mark in my thoughts. An emotional number with powerful, poignant lyrics. 
A google search reveals that this number comes from a 1985 movie titled Idhaya Kovil. One directed by the great Maniratnam with music by Maestro Illayaraja. I am sure I have never watched the movie. That's why the song does not ring a bell. But, yesterday, it struck my chord. Enormously. 
This SP Bala rendition is a must listen. 
நான் பாடும் மௌன ராகம் கேட்கவில்லையா
என் காதல் ராணி இன்னும் தூங்கவில்லையா
கண்ணீரில் உன்னைத் தேடுகின்றேன்
என்னோடு நானே பாடுகின்றேன்
உன்னைக் கண்டு தென்றலும் நின்று போனதுண்டு

உன்னை காண வெண்ணிலா வந்து போனதுண்டு
ஏன் தேவி இன்று நீ என்னைக் கொல்கிறாய்
முள் மீது ஏனடி தூங்கச் சொல்கிறாய்
உன்னைத் தேடி தேடியே எந்தன் ஆவி போனது
கூடுதானே இன்று பாடுது
உடு இன்று குயிலைத் தானே தேடுது

கண்கள் என்னும் சோலையில் காதல் வாங்கி வந்தேன்
வாங்கி வந்த பின்புதான் சாபம் என்று கண்டேன்
என் சாபம் தீரவே யோகம் இல்லையே
என் சோகம் பாடவே ராகம் இல்லையே
பூவும் வீழ்ந்து போனது
காம்பு இங்கு வாடுது
காலம் என்னைக் கேள்வி கேட்குது
கேள்வி இன்று கேலியாகிப் போனது

Kumaripennin Ullathile from Engal Veetu Pillai

The song, I tuned in to this morning. A peppy and perky number from yesteryears. Remember humming this song all day long after watching this super hit Makkal Thilagam M.G.R starrer, back then. 

The haze is lighter, today. It would have been a radiant Sunday morning had it not been for the brume. Hope the weather will change for good real soon. The agonies of Mother Earth are aplenty. Thanks to the emergence of  the materialistic mankind. How sad, at times..... 

I plan to do some gardening this evening. It gives me a sense of rejuvenation and exhilaration. Come join me.... 

Karumthulasi leaves (Ocimum tenuiflorum) and an array of green potted plants from Amma's garden.

குமரிப்பெண்ணின் உள்ளத்திலே குடியிருக்க நான் வரவேண்டும்

குடியிருக்க நான் வருவதென்றால் வாடகை என்ன தரவேண்டும்
குமரி பெண்ணின் கைகளிலே காதல் நெஞ்சை தரவேண்டும்
காதல் நெஞ்சை தந்து விட்டு குடியிருக்க நீ வரவேண்டும்

திங்கள் தங்கையாம் தென்றல் தோழியாம்
கன்னி ஊர்வலம் வருவாள்
அவள் உன்னைக்கண்டு உயிர் காதல் கொண்டு
தன் உள்ளம் தன்னையே தருவாள்
நான் அள்ளிக்கொள்ள அவள் பள்ளிக்கொள்ள
சுகம் மெல்ல மெல்லவே புரியும்
கை தொடுவார் தொடாமல் தூக்கம் வருமோ
துணையை தேடி நீ வரலாம்

குமரிப்பெண்ணின் உள்ளத்திலே குடியிருக்க நான் வரவேண்டும்
குடியிருக்க நான் வருவதென்றால் வாடகை என்ன தரவேண்டும்

பூவை என்பதோர் பூவை கண்டதும்
தேவை தேவை என்று வருவேன்
இடை மின்னல் கேட்க நடை அன்னம் கேட்க
அதை உன்னை கேட்டு நான் தருவேன்
கொடுத்தாலும் என்ன எடுத்தாலும் என்ன
ஒரு நாளும் அழகு குறையாது
அந்த அழகே வராமல் ஆசை வருமோ
அமுதும் தேனும் நீ பெரலாம்

குமரிப்பெண்ணின் உள்ளத்திலே குடியிருக்க நான் வரவேண்டும்
குடியிருக்க நான் வருவதென்றால் வாடகை என்ன தரவேண்டும்
குமரி பெண்ணின் கைகளிலே காதல் நெஞ்சை தரவேண்டும்
காதல் நெஞ்சை தந்து விட்டு குடியிருக்க நீ வரவேண்டும்

Nilavenna Pesum from Rani Samyuktha

One from my father's well liked melodies.  I am indebted to him for some many great things in life. The good, positive and honorable ones. 
Deepavali is about a month away. That time of the year, when I miss him more than ever. Yes - I miss him all the time, but the festive season adds fuel to the yearning. Deepavali, with him around, was perfect. The doting and devoted father that he was to me and to us, siblings. All throughout the year. Every day of his life - while he was still around. 
Amma must miss him more than me. It is just that she does not have a channel to pen her feelings - like yours truly. Theirs was love marriage, so I can imagine the intensity of the loss. Relationships are the sustenance of life. The shot in the arm that keeps us going. And, losing them is devastating.....
Saturday afternoon was spent out shopping with my sister. Yet again. She wanted to get a pair of gold earrings. Me - a tag along, as always. Evening was spent watching a favourite movie, Siva Manasula Sakthi, on Sun TV with, mum and my favourite cup of home made coffee - after my Puratasi Sani prayers, of course. 
This is a beautiful, old number. Melodious. And, lyrical. Love is a beautiful feeling. Do not wait for tomorrow to spill that heart of yours. Do it, today. Make someone happy, by confessing the entrails of your soul.....
Have a happy day !!

Mannan Koorai Selai from Siraichalai

Alas - I am back. The weekend getaway was marred by a viral fever that attacked me and a couple of other girlfriends. Most of us stayed in the hotel room, to recuperate, while the luckier ones went out to enjoy the island sun, and had a blast at it. The only activities we (the-not-so-healthy-ones) did was night shopping and laughing hard in the confines of our rooms.
The island was wonderful, no doubt. The timing and the health issues, did not sync. That's all.
I am already planning one in the near future. Thanks to the awesome Sunday morning weather on this legendary island. The romantic - cloudy, misty, drizzly, and breezy kind.
Tomorrow is the first Saturday of the month of Puratasi. The month considered highly auspicious to us, Hindus. The month, when special prayers are offered to Lord Balaji, Navagrahas and Lord Shani. The popular belief is that Lord Venkateswara made his divine presence on the earth while Lord Shani loses his power, during this entire month.
I am a vegetarian this Puratasi, and a single meal devotee on its auspicious Saturdays'. And, yes, I have a red dot on my forehead - for my Lord Balaji, who I revere and worship with all my heart, to.
Great day folks !!!

Oru Vetkam Nooru Kilo from Mallukattu

Tired. But stopping by, to leave a few lines. I will be away for the long weekend, which starts on Friday. And, when I come back, week days would have started. So, chances of me posting anything until the 23rd of September, are thin. Thus, here I am. Leaving some scrawls and scribbles. 
I miss so many people. My father, being number one. Miss him so much. So, very much. Also, a close girlfriend, named Jeslyn. It has been ages since we last caught up. She is such an angel. I miss so many things, too. Walking in the rain. Listening to the waves by the beach. Eating ice cream with hot chocolate toppings, on a cold night. Watching a good Tamil movie, at home - late Friday. Tuning in to my playlist of llayaraja songs from the 80's - in the calm of my room. Slobbering over the beautiful, green potted plants in Amma's garden. And, India. The country where my soul, resides. My motherland. The nation I can dream hours about. The list goes on, but this is all I can think of, this very moment, taking into account, that my mind is heading towards end of day exhaustion. 
Signing off, with a song that my heart easily corresponds to, of late. My favourite femme pick. Love the fact that the lyrics chronicle the sentiments of yours truly...... 
Take care & God bless !!

Ippadi Mazhai Adithaal from Vedi

இப்படி கண் இமைத்தால்..... நான் எப்படி உன்னை ரசிப்பேன் ?????
இப்படி நீ சிரித்தால்..... நான் எப்படி உயிர் பிழைப்பேன் ?????
A very new and peppy number. Love the level of rectitude that Karthik and Saindhavi have give the song, in addition to its energetic rhythm and impelling lyrics. 
Saturday was spent out and about. It passed with a bat of the eye. Poor me. Sunday is here. Hoping for it to be lengthened, by sheer miracle. Yours truly, is attempting to be upbeat.
The week ahead is going to see less of my posts, as well. Thanks to a longer weekend. The country is celebrating Malaysia Day, this Friday. Plans have been drawn. 
Do have a great week ahead. Keep your hopes high that everything will go as per your wishes, hopes and prayers. Optimism is the word.
Have a optimistic week, and, God Bless !!

Yaar Veetil Roja from Idhayam Oru Kovil

Ha sido un tiempo... That's "been a while", in Spanish. Ya. I guess, it has. Been a while - since my last post. 

Appa's death anniversary, was last 3rd September. Hence, me being a little, morose. I miss him. All the time. Greater during that week. The hours, days and years I could have shared with him..... 

I woke up, around 7.05am, to the sound of heavy rain and the comfort of cool breeze. TGIS. That was exactly what ran through my head. Thank God It's Saturday. Hinting and suggesting - I was entitled to sleep a little longer. How nice. How fair. And, despite feeling dopey and slumberous, I reached out for my I-Pod, and plugged my ears with, what else, but Maalai Mangum Neram. Contradicting. "Maalai" is night in Tamil. Here, morning had just emerged. But, the situation was just so, right. The essential song for a rainy morning when the heart feels  schmaltzy. Vintage material - in other words. 

Today's song comes from Idhayam Oru Kovil. Chosen for these particular lyrics, :-
ராகங்கள் நூறு அவர் கொடுப்பார்
கீதங்கள் நூறு அவர் தொடுத்தார்
ஜீவன் அங்கே என்னை தேடும்
பாடல் இங்கே காற்றில் ஓடும்
காணாமல் கண்கள் நோகின்றதோ.....
தெய்வம் இல்லை என்று போகுமோ.....

Cheers, good day and enjoy !!!

p/s - The roses, thulsi leaves and jasmines are all fresh from Amma's garden. யார் வீட்டில் ரோஜா பூ பூத்ததோ ???? என் வீட்டில் ... என் மனதில்.....