Chinnaari Chitti Mutyamaa...

Bulli Trukkaay,

I love you bangaarayya, andari kante ekkuva... nuvvante naaku ento ittam :)... iiiiiiiiiiiiiiintthhha itttam :).  Happy Valentines Day gundappadam!

Boldu rojulani ninchi neeku oka pedda uttaram raayalani undi, ededo raaseyyaali.. uhhuu.. uuhhuu.. ippudu neeku artham kaadu kaabatti cheppinaa edo amma mogutundile anukuni madhya madhyalo muddulu pettukuntoo illantaa tirigi gantulu vesukuntoo veltaav kaabatti, anukunnadi neeku cheraali ante ippudu raasukuni uha telisaaka mallee mallee veera baadudu sessions pedataanu annamaata :).

Computer screen meeda nalakalagaaa modalu pettaanu ninnu choodatam, rendu arachetullo ettukunnaanu.. annee ninna monna laagane unnaay, ippudu chooste naalo sagam kante ettu aipoyi chengu chengu mantu ledi pillalaaga tirugutunnaav, kaalam etu egiripoyindi chittodaa?  muddu muddu maatala mucchata teerane ledu appude anni spashtamgaa cheppestunnaav entraa idi?

Enno cheppaali anukuntoone velakattaleni paathaalu nee ninchi nerchukuntunnaanu.  Nee prati kadalika naakoka vinta, acchata mucchata.  Nee prati adugu naakoka kotta daari choopedutundi.  Puttagaane ammo penchagalana, ee pasiguddini emi chesukonu, ela choodanu ani bembelu padipoyaanu kaani, enchakkaa neeku kaavalasinavi naaku teliselaa chesi, eppudu elaanti ibbandi raakundaa.. arey nene penchesaana, pillalni penchatam inta telikaa anukunelaaga chesesaav.. edo maaya chesesaav.

Nenu pakkaki tirigi naligipotaavemo, nenu ninnu ettukuni padipotaanemo, mancham meeda ninchi dollipotaavemo, paalu saripotunnaayo ledo, aaharam saripotundo ledo, sarigga perugutunnaavo ledo.. chuttu unde pillalu boddugaa undi nuvvu sannagaa unte adoka benga, pallu raakapote oka badha, vastoo vastoo avi ninnu pette baadha choosi inko baadha, paakadam raaledu ani oka benga, vacchaaka etu vellipotaavo ani inko benga... nadavtledentra, kaali balam chaalatleda ani oka bhayam, nadaka saagaaka dhabee dhabee ani padipotunte hadilipoyenta bhayam.. prati adugulo, prati malupulo enno bhayaalu...gandaala gundam daatinattu prati saree oopiri peelchukovadam antalo kotta bhayam.. anneee kevalam nee bhayalenamma antoo abhaya hastam istunnattugaa nuvvu mundukellipovadam... edo ilaa picchi picchigaa penchesaanu raa kannalu.. nenu penchaanu anatam kante nuvvu perigipoyaavu anatam correctemo.

Enno vishayaalu neekelaa cheppaalo antoo nenu tarjana bharjanalu padelopu adi ento saamanyamaina vishayamgaa teesukuni telusukuntaavu.. Chaavu ante ento, aa bhayam ento aa baadha ento neeku teliyadu, pattadu kaani adi okati undi ani, vaallu tirigi raarani artham ayyindi... elaa cheppaala, emi bhayapadipotaava ani nenu alochinchinde ekkuva, adedo saamaanyamaina vishayam neeku.. annee kottagaa nerchukuntunnaa idi kooda kotta vishayam annatlu unnaavu.

Prema gurinchi neeku cheppalsindi ledu nerchukovadam tappa.. prapamchamlo prati daanni anta premato choodatam kevalam pasi biddalaki maatrame saadhyamavutundemo.  Egire pakshi, paake purugu, kukka pilla, kodi pilla, aavulu, doodalu, gedalu, chetlu, aakulu, poolu, eegalu, domalu manishi andaru samaaname, andaru okate.. pasitanamlo inta kalmasham lenitanam ninchi ee naadu ee kullu, kasi, kutralu kutantraalu, ekkada alavadutunanayo manaki...

entoraa ee madhya englishlo raaddamante akkada maatalu raatledu, telugu raaddamante adi kooda raatledu, gundenindaa prema gontu daati raavadam kashtame kaani maree inta kashtama... ento!!!!

I used to think loving yourself is like a sin, you need to love everyone else around you or at least show that you do not to be tagged selfish.. but my love, you need to love yourself first to be able to enjoy this world.    Love and respect yourself 'cos if you don't you cannot expect others to do the same to you. Rise in your own eyes to raise in other's.  Be confident about everything but just do not let it go to your head.  Find love in small things of life and they will keep you going no matter what.  Little desires, tiny pleasures give you the greatest and continuous joys of life.  Aim high, keep your focus at a level above what you are currently but do not forget to feel the moment.  Love everything and every one but do not have expectations on anything/one other than yourself... tamaraaku meeda neeti bottu antaare alaaaga.  Neeku cheppestunna kadaa nenu anni chestunnaana anukuntunnaav kadoo... ledu bangaaram, paatinchaka nenu pade badha neeku raakoodadu ani oka verri prayatnam.

These days I just seem to be barking at you that does not mean that I do not love you, it only means that I am a person with so many imperfections and not able to control my anger.  I feel terrible when I just yell at you and the only reason for that is you are the next most helpless person other than me in that particular situation and it is easier to vent it on you.  I know it is the worst form of an abuse I can subject you to.. I am working on it kid, just not getting there.. sorry with all my heart.  It is easier to preach as an outsider as to how not to raise voice in front of your kids, worse still on them.. yes, agreed but still that just is not an excuse!!  You are the most precious thing to me and no matter what might slip out of my mouth in anger and rage in my even though rare but i-don't-know-what-I-say bouts, it is not your fault and it is just my problem that I need to tackle.  You are loved just the same..

When I see you battle with your sickness, refusing not to take any medicines, it kind of kills me.  I know it is most certainly not easy for you, burning with fever, tearing your tiny inner organs with that damn dirty barking cough, puking your guts out literally not retaining anything in, it is like putting me through hell and trust me my love these are the times when WHY NOT ME comes in.  From a stage of why me??? bickering..  I am willing to bear it thousand times over if it soothes you, but my darling this is the reality of life and you need to fight your own battles.  I used to do wish your pains on me earlier but now I realize I must pray for you to have the strength to overcome the difficulties than not to have them at all.  If we need to bear the weight anyways  at any stage, even if it is a bit later rather than wishing off the weight I would wish for you to have broader shoulders and a greater strength to carry the burden and not feel the load.

I wish and hope you spread love and cheer everywhere you go always just the way you do now and you understand the power of giving.  Love yourself and not be ashamed of it.  Love everything that belongs to you with the same intensity and do not forget that every single things Universe has to offer you belongs to you.. the air, water, all the elements, life around you in all forms, breeds, species, shapes, sizes and colors.  You have an equal share with everyone else around you, use resources sparingly and caringly and send them forward the generation next.

Abbo chaala preaching aipoyindi kada.. mana bhashalo malli okasaari... nuvvante naakento ittam, nenu ninnu vadili ekkadiki vellanu, nee chuttoone, nee lone, nee tone eppudu untaanu bangaaram...ottesi cheptunnaa!!

Amma...

Idee Naa Kadha - Mallemaala (MS Reddy)

Actually, I read this book while watching over my sick kid.  She had high fevers and kind of did a night out watching her over and this book came handy.  In fact this is my first read in the Ipad and I really appreciated reading in that!!

She has been feeling terrible, cough, cold, vomiting phlegm and making all the mess only a kid can make in a minute and then once done with her round of vomit and stuff, she is back to playing even with high fever.. sigh!!


I came to know about this book through the controversy it created actually.  As usual the media created hype about the content and all.  I tried various sources of my usual book buying centers and online book stores but they were banned or something and I could not even get them for a higher price.  At one point, the crazy me thought of hunting down his home address and getting a copy of it and questioning the author  a bit but unfortunately the golden oldie took a leave from this world before I could do that.  I am not a big e-book reading type of a person, so did not even try searching for one, then suddenly found the link on a blogging buddy's FB profile and promptly downloaded it on the Ipad and finished it.

Having known MS Reddy earlier through some film functions and having heard him speak, the book did not come as a surprise but what left me wondering was the book only dealt with NTR and Sobhan Babu no mention about ANR family, to an extent Krishna but no other major stars of those days... !

I truly feel the book is from his heart.  In this world of distracted biographies, I really do not mind reading it.  I do not consider them facts and facts only but I certainly will not rubbish them either.  He does a bit of a self-praise... err lots of it actually and criticizes every one equally including his own family and son which kind of gives a genuine feel.  He was not trying to mask his emotions, he was just letting it go which is one good point.

In short, it is a book, I felt set in the tone my grandfather or any other person of that generation would have put in words.  His life, his experiences, his view point... !  Not as spicy as it is projected to be, a honest effort is what I personally feel...

Chuttu Pakkala Choodaraa...

Was listening to some Sirivennela songs as I was a little disturbed.  I believe that a person's real strength comes across when he/she is passing through a rough patch.  These days I am really losing my temper quite frequently and worse still on the kid JUST because she happens to be a lot more helpless than me in that particular situation... hate myself for doing it but I need a lot more restraint.

Movie: Rudraveena
Lyrics: Sirivennela

chuttu pakkala choodaraa chinavaada
chukkalo choopu chikkukunnavaada

kalla mundu katika nijam, kaanaleni guddi japam
sadhinchadu ae paramaardham, bratukuni kaneeyaku vyardham - Chuttu-

swargaalanu anudukonaalani vadigaa gudi metlekkevu
saati manishi vedana choostu jaali leni silavainavu
karunanu maripinchedaa chaduvu samskaaram ante
gunde bandagaa marchedaa saampradaayamante - Chuttu-

nuvvu thine prathi oka metuku, ee sangam pandinchindi
garvinche ee nee batuku ee samajame malachindi
runam tirchu tarunam vaste tappinchukupotunnaava, teppa tagalapettestaava yeru datagaane -Chuttu-

Siri Vennela... Evaru raayagalaru...!

Naaku Sirivennela gaaru ante picchi istham... aayana paatale laali paatalugaa pandugaadiki paadenta ishtam... naa Musically Sush posts modalu pettindi tana paatala kosam actually.  Eppudu oppokovadduraa otami... ee paata jeevitamlo nenu inka emi cheyyalenemo ani nispruha kaliginappudu talchukunte chaalu abbo naakenti anenta balam icchedi.. aa kalam nichi jaalu vaarina padaalu manchi mutyaalu... telikaina maatalu, pondikaina maatalu, Telugu bhaasha ante intandamgaa untundi inni bhaavaalu inni konni maatalato akshaarala roopamlo choopettoccha anipistundi..

He is a gift to music lovers.. I loved this speech by Trivikram, it is a true fan speaking; however, there is one simple point I do not really think is cent percent right.  "Telugu cinemaa paatalu raayadam valana aayana alaa undipoyaaremo"... telugu saahityam, saahitee viluvalu anevi enta maatram teliyani ee taraaniki, potta koste aksharam mukka raani vaadiki kooda pandu valichi chetilo pettinatlu unde paatalu raasi enno manasulalo chirastaayigaa nilichipoyaaru, nilichipotaaru...  If he were to be some renowned writer working for the love of language, I would have missed him totally. I am really selfish that way, I am glad he writes for us, makes me feel he wrote that particular song just for me.  I guess a lot of us would actually feel the same way too... For a person who loves simplicity and is scared of complexity, he is one person who can make the transition really smooth and not even let me feel that the transition happened.. it is just magic when it comes to his words!

In his words.. Tarali raada tane vasantam, tana dariki raani vanaala kosam... naa drushtilo aayana naa deggari vacchina naa vasantam.

Sirivennela gaaru ante hrudayamlo aanandapu sirula vennela kuripinche mahaa manishi ani maatram cheppagalanu..!!!!

Loved the AV but somehow felt Sunitha's voice-over did not really do justice, I would have loved some strong voice coming through than the silky soft, catch my words carefully tone. I actually like her voice but somehow it seemed odd.  I heard her say in one interview, I think with Jhansi that she loves Telugu and words in particular so much that she speaks them so very carefully and handles them like flowers.. she does indeed do that but somehow it seems to be bedroom whisper-y kind of voice at times killing the spirit of what is being told... I guess I am being overtly critical but that voice-over was the only Kill Joy!

Anyways, I am a lot more greedy and would like him to write like forever for me :).

Jai Sirivennela Garu... He is in my to-meet list at least once in lifetime.  Maybe I would just be speechless in front of the master of words but still would like to just meet him.

Oka Sex Worker Aatmakadha - Nalini Jameela (Kaatyaayini)

One more booked I picked from VJA book exhibition.

I dont usually prefer translations, I actually want to read this book in Malayalam, the way it is told by her or maybe even meet her.

Thanks to the movies, I got to know about Mumbai Red Light Area, Amalapuram area, or Calcutta Sonagachi but Kerala company houses or thaarvads is where born as Nalini and re-named Jameela now known as Nalini Jameela comes from!

There are certain statements and incidents in the book that kind of left a lingering impact on me, so many questions raised by her are valid not just for sex workers but for all the women, irrespective of the class or society she comes from.  Truth is bitter.  It is easy to become judgmental but the trauma, the struggle that goes into their becoming what they are is something that is conveniently ignored.  Nalini raises a fundamental question as to the dual standards of the society where it looks down on the SW but goes easy on their clients.  The system which conveniently forgives/forgets what a man has done never even hesitates to hurl abuses on the woman indulged in the same activity.

The book not only deals with the life of sex workers but the insecurity of living a life of a woman on roads, becoming an easy prey to the world outside.  The abuse of various forms, changing in degree and form but still existing by and large, the harassment.  The way they see it as the only reason for protecting themselves.  When I was actually reading it, I felt that such women did a right thing deciding to do it voluntarily and feed and protect themselves from the men who would at any rate use her as object of desires.  Is it the right way or the only way.. CERTAINLY NOT... but judging them based on what they do, isolating them from the society, tagging them.. what good is it.

With the rapidly changing morals and values in the society and being fully aware of so many extra-marital, premarital affairs, flings, for fun, for pocket money, on a high, in the name of love things that keep happening in front of our very own eyes, if we are quick to condemn what they do for a living, then we must certainly RETHINK!!!

I also personally doubt the rehabilitation of ex-sex workers.  How far is it successful, forcibly taking them away without their willing.

The author defends the rights of people who still want to continue as SW, their forum while helping those want to get out of the trade get settled elsewhere also works towards the problems of the SW.

I want to watch the documentary/video that she made, a day in the life of a SW.  Married thrice, all the times against her wish, getting in and out of the profession, begging in temples and mosques, kept away from children, one of whom died, a daughter who she knows nothing about now and a daughter who supports her now knowing everything.. a life full of lows and lowest lows and a little bit of hope which she wants to give others whose plight she understands...

A book that got me thinking!!!

Dheerubhai Ambani Edureeta - AG Krishnamurthy

I really did not know much about DBA other than maybe when I read in newspapers, there was no personal interest in his life, did not actually know anything about him.  I was so innocent to even know Vimal was a Reliance group company.  The only time I really got to know him much was during the Mukesh Anil fight, even then I was not too much into knowing about him, it was just about the issue as a current affairs thing but no personal interest.

Come to think of it I did even know where Aden was where he started his career, then Yemen kind of rang a bell and then just geographical knowledge again, nothing much.

When I had been to the exhibition this Jan I was looking out for biographies and autobiographies as is my general tendency I happened to notice this and picked it up.  Written by AGK of Mudra Communications, the book is not an indepth biography.  It gives an insight into his struggle to get to the peak and his persistence in getting things done his way, how he unknowingly set so many path breaking victories in the fields he had relatively no knowledge to begin with.  AGK intertwines his stint with DBA and how he had reacted in the circumstances DBA had done differently and all that.  This book gives an insight into his life in a very short and crisp narrative, seemed to me like a summary of his life.  Good one for starters, got to know many interesting facts.. the Only Vimal ads that we used to love watching on TV, the reliance brand, his foray into equity, shares and getting middle class involved and the way he left a mark on whatever he did.. inspiring!

Cinema India - The Visual Culture of Indian Films - Rachel Dwyer Diviya Patel

The book concentrates on the visual culture and trends in the annals of Indian cinema which at its peak kind of produced more than 700 films per year.. dealing with everything from lights, camera, cinematography, action, costumes, sets, advertising, posters..

good read for someone intending to go into the industry.. to me, there were some interesting topics and some kind of felt like text book read to me considering I do not generally go that deeper into technical aspects of movie making.  For me end product means a lot more than the ground work :).. overall an interesting insight into many aspects of film making

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen - Paul Torday

Again, this is a book I happened to read just because it had to be returned, a random pick.

A British comedy dealing with a fisheries scientist brought in reluctantly into a project involving salmon fishing, a love story interwoven with political touch and a touch of comedy...

zipped through reading... could not sustain my interest just because of lack my personal interest!

Saguna - Krupabai Satthianadhan

Supposedly the first autobiographical tale in English by an Indian Woman.

This story is a chronicle of lives of a mother and a daughter, the mother born into Hinduism, later converted to Christianity who still followed Hindu Practices.  The life and times of these women, the thought processes of life as such is truly what it claims it is Saguna - The Story of Native Christian life.

A complicated read to me because of the complex flow of language but for language lovers it would certainly be more enjoyable.

Movie Time of late :)

Books and movies are what keep me going in a place without any real human friends who I am in sync with to talk to.  It is only virtually that I get to meet a lot of people.  The people that I see day in and day out are just kid, mom, a few relatives in and around the village, household help, kid's friends, the golden oldies, driver/s, shopkeeper/s.

I love living this laid-back lazy life and do not really want to move out of this place as of yet, for kid's schooling maybe I would have to but not just yet.

So, these days I have covered a whole range of movies.. new to old to not so old ones... a quick zip-through review of them all :).

It is really tough to give a one-word verdict on the craft called movie on which a whole lot of lives depend.. keeping aside the bigwigs, from clap-boy to the door man of theaters (the very micro level)..



Journey


One of the very good and sensibly made movies of the recent times.  Loved watching the movie, subtle and close-to-real life performances by all the artists.  Kind of showcases the fact that life is a bubble.  Just loved every frame and shot in the movie.  Great job.


Businessman


Watched this one in our dabba Poornima, first day first show after a long long time :).  It is a old world theater, no DTS, not even proper seating or fans but still I go there 'cos I love watching movies on big screen and encourage them for running in this remote area.

One happy thing is that it is much better to release movies in such C- graded theaters instead of 25/- 3 movie pirated DVDs!!

Can Watch Once In Theaters.. For fans, it is Mahesh all the way, at his best actually. Watch it with an open mind, don't try to use logic, 'cos it is nonexistent. What is with Kajal who just seems to be paid to look bad with each movie. Of course looking good next to MB is a tough task but still!

"Mindlessly Mahesh" in one word!

PS: - Sir Ostaaru song's choreography awesome... ROFL'lably cute!

Raajanna


Must admire Nagarjuna and Supriya to have undertaken this movie.  No doubt it is because of Nag's sale-ability did we get to watch this movie on screen, any small actor, it would have been termed as a documentary or arty-type movie.  The little girl Ani has really performed well.  I have not really seen any mainstream movies on Telangana struggle for freedom, their living conditions, I have read about oppression by Doras the very pitiable living conditions of the poor, the lack of opportunities but nothing really has been presented this good.

Nagarjuna was good, Sneha did justice to her very small role and so did the rest of the characters.  Music, the girl are no doubt heroes.  It is the girl's struggle to meet the PM, Nehru to let him know about the problems in her area and making them aware of the need of working towards their upliftment.  Wonderful performances.

Great effort!

Solo


I loved all the songs in the movie and of course wanted to see the second movie of Nara Rohit after Banam.  He is definitely not a typical tollywood hero material but I love his strong voice and seems to me like just boy next door, speaks the language the way I do :), so kind of connected there ;).  Good story line.  An orphan wanting to get married to a girl from a big joint family.  How he meets a girl and how he gets married to her eventually convincing everyone of his love and ability to take care of her despite being an orphan.

"nenu poyetappudu naa chuttu naluguru lekapote naa tappu gaani, puttinappudu lekapote naadela tappu avutundi sir"


alaa gurtundipoyindi ee dialogue and that is the essence of the story.

Kshetram

Typical re-birth revenge story starring JPB and Priyamani... can skip it and watch it on TV if you want to!

Veedinte

The only reason I wanted to watch this movie was K. Viswanth and he indeed has played a different role, one we can not really associate with him, so that being the only fresh point.. the rest of the movie is DVD or TV watch.

7th Sense 
Personally, I am a Surya-Jyo fan and wanted to watch 7th sense after favorable reviews from a couple of buddies but then again period movies are something I dont really enjoy so was kind of having lesser expectations of me liking it... but I did watch without actually getting bored and thanks to the movie I got to know about Bodhi Dharma and Shaolin temple and stuff !  Sruthi Hasan has a good role to portray and for a new comer she did well.

Oh My Friend

Siddarth... phew!!! This seemingly sensible in real life guy has of late been selecting not-so good story line movies and same old kind of message oriented youth dramas are kind of getting on to me.  It is okay to watch once kind of a movie which deals about how a boy and a girl can just be friends and be really good friends without actually having to fall in love or get married.  The question raised is very genuine in today's scenario, how they overcome it might be what I personally approve of but something workable.

Rati Nirvedam

A movie with steamy exposing posters of Swetha Menon is something I had not originally intended to watch.  It is the story set in a Malayalam household where the son of the house visits his native village for his vacation before joining Engineering in a nearby town.  Adolescence and exploits in youth lead him to fall for Rathi, his neighbor who is older than him and a close family friend.  She resists initially but finally succumbs to the feeling.. the movie has a tragic ending but the story line does not really hold good for changing morals of today; however, such things do happen still... kind of left me thinking for a while.

Hammayya.... raasesaanoch!!!

Wanted to watch Dirty Picture but could not, waiting if it would come to Poornima Hall but this Businessman seems to be stuck for 100 days here ;).

The Truth About Love - Jane Elizabeth Varley

Unputdownable fiction which tackles emotions, insecurities, struggle, peaks and lows of life, well written, a mystery woven around the story of a couple going through adjustment phases, the insecurity of the second wife, trying to get a grip over the fear of the glamarous ex-wife getting back to get the man of her life and treading around step-kids, the issues thereof.

The mystery part is about the house the couple buys after a squeezing-tight financially dry divorce settlement with the first wife.  The house has a historical touch to it with the letters of a Victorian couple broadcasted by BBC and loved by many.  When Sally with her toddler Louis and husband Edward get in to the house as a second wife fighting her own battles of insecurities with a high-flying ex-wife Pia and two grown-up kids, Hope and Dan, she gets herself busy trying to dig up the actual history of the house, as to what happened to the couple involved.  It takes quite a bit of digging through archives and long-dead, reluctant sources.  Intertwined is the story of Anna, a neighbor who takes up the basement flat of the same house who happens to be a workaholic film maker and media person whose life takes a different turn when the ambitious project "marriage menders" which she works on gets into unexpected troubles.  In the process, she tries to understand the meaning of love, family ties and support system along the way trying to get back the hold on her life.

There are quite a few threads left unanswered but then that is fine to me :), the less complicated and easy flowing, the better.!

Enjoyed reading this book a lot!

Freedom at Midnight - Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins

An extensive and exhaustive read in the recent times.

I have always wanted to know what actually transpired towards the end of the freedom struggle
why India is the way it is?
Was Gandhi an architect of Indian freedom or just happened to be a lucky man who caught the pulse of the Britishers who were at any rate going to leave the country?
What about the revolutionary leaders and many others who were just sidelined and not gotten any importance as such?
Why Nehru and why not Sardar Patel who was definitely much more qualified and Indian to the core at heart?
When Britishers could bring under their rule the whole nation irrespective of their religions why did Religion enter in the way of freedom struggle?
Why did people who let a firangi rule unquestioned have so many problems to be under the same roof governing themselves peacefully?

There are so many questions and I do not say the book is an answer to those questions but in a way this is one book which has come closest to even trying to attempt to answer my queries.  Firstly, the fact it was written by a French Man and an American, I guess is the reason for being not as judgmental or one-sided about Indians and English in general.  However, this book kind of glorifies Mountbatten and at some point I felt it is through his eyes we see the history at that time, considering much of the text and data is taken from his journals, notes, scraps.  Interwoven in that is the story of Mahatma, subtly putting forth the criticism and gently tackling it.  Gently touching all aspects of the personalities of people involved in the final days of British Colonial Rule end and partition, the rise of two nations, the aftermath.. the strengths and weaknesses of the involved.

It does not give a complete picture of what really happened throughout the nation but most certainly around what and who lead to it from close quarters.

Would definitely suggest to someone who would read something different for a change... into fiction and biographies for a while, going through defining moments of history of India.  

A book that attempts to put forth the defining the final moments of Freedom Struggle, the transfer of power, birth of 2 nations. The moments surrounding the times when we as Indians entered self-rule or self-ruin???

To My Sreya Baby

Naa Kukdoo Makdoo Gaadiki,

It has been a while since I wrote you anything specifically.  Dont I have to say anything to you or do I say to you that often that I dont write to you any more.

You have grown up leaps and bounds, talk a lot not the baby talk but you hold on to adult conversations quite by yourself for quite some time.  When people look at you talking ,they mistake you for some kid quite older than you actually are (touchwood) but I do miss those baby days terribly.  Those words like "neena (water), beeba (blanket with a baby pic) and that cute little "tea" you used to say so delicately like a baby parrot.  That tiny baby who I could carry along in a half-folded towel fashioned like a swing is walking, talking and just about a tiny individual already.  You have choices, tastes and you just make sure that I know them and not force mine on you though I occasionally insist in case it involves your nutrition intake!... err not just insist.. beg, shout, shove, push, carrot and stick approach whatever it is that takes to get something into that tiny little tummy of yours.. sigh!!!


One major change in your life is your knowing your father and spending a lot of time in person with him, being spoilt rotten with him dancing to your tunes, just giving you everything from a car to an ipad which you surprisingly are so adept at using (and I am like, what the hell an i-pad to a toddler, crazy or what???) just because you happen to ask him for them.

There is so much love in you to share it equally with both of us and surprisingly though I was initially angry and frustrated at so many changes happening so quickly and also for just not being able to let them out in front of you and occasionally bursting out not being able to contain the rage any longer.. there were so many ups and downs, highs and lows and now that the things have plateau'd I consider that it is in your best interest that things are working out, so let them be and not resist.  To be honest to you and myself, maybe I just gave up the struggle giving it a mask of maturity.  Whatever is the case, let me assure you kid that you will never ever be blamed for whatever has happened or will happen.  It has been my doing and will be so.

Some times I get scared when you talk that you might turn into those "buduru bendakaay kids" who talk anything and everything that comes to their mind watching those damn telugu serials and listening to their parents/relatives/neighbors/maids talk but (touchwood) you are still a baby no matter how much you think you are BIGGG and blissfully unaware of any such language.

We stepped into the year 2012 together on a very sad note losing my loved maama and your Duddaai and surprisingly as much as I was working out on telling you what it actually meant, you seem to have understood just like you do everything else.  You know he will not return and you know no pain as such.  I just want you to remain to be so unaffected by anything and everything.  While I struggle with my own pain, I see you putting into practice what is taught to us adults but never practiced.. MOVE ON UNAFFECTED.

We have been to many trips, visited so many places, met so many people and had so much of fun together as a unit called family which I thought I could never give you besides me and you making up for everything else, which I must say takes a load off my chest.

You know nothing in English, including basic "what is your name?" because I just have not felt the need to teach you English which you will be bombarded with the for your entire life once you enter into the school.  When you are at loss to answer when someone talks to you in English suddenly, I used to feel a pinch of guilt and run to your rescue explaining to the people, perfectly telugu speaking individuals, that we prefer to talk in Telugu, so you do not actually understand and get those dirty looks (yes, they do give) as if I am ruining your life talking to you in our mother tongue.   When it is a conscious decision, why that guilt in me?  just because you are lagging behind in understanding for NOW does not mean you will never know it.  Now when you are moving with some English speaking telugu kids you do understand and will gradually know.  I am not depriving you of anything, you will just take your time to get there :).

I want to say so much to you, write a lot more but English is failing me.. now that we have a mode of communication and you do understand it pretty well, I guess my mind is tuned to talk to you, think about you in Telugu.. will get back to that in some time.. like every time, there is sooooooooooooooo much to say and you know that I wont rest until I tell it to you.. so stay tuned for some...errrrr a LOT more..

Retain that lovely nature of yours, be good, do good, spread cheer, love and joy just the same way ever!!!

Love you naaanu,
Amma (your tuttuma).

Sree Raama Raajyam - A Visual Delight

An absolutely fantabulous, magnanimous visual treat.. is what I would call the movie.

I watched this movie a while ago and wanted to review it, did not want to do it hurriedly and then it got postponed indefinitely and then yesterday while channel surfing got to watch the 50-day celebrations and then had to do this post!

I do not actually remember Lavakusa which is supposed to be the first attempt at Rama Charita which was immensely popular.  Still remember the song "vinudi vinudi raamaayaana gaadha, vinudee janulaara", Rama meant NTR, it still means him and only HIM and Seetha meant Anjali Devi... well to me I imagine "Sneha" to be apt for some reason but just loved Nayantara to the core as Seetha.  She just gave a mind-blowing performance, maybe it is apt to say she lived the character than acted.

Being a Bapu fan, was absolutely certain he would make the heroine look awesomely lovable and he did exactly what is best at doing.  God, the sets, even the graphics made it give an epic-like feeling.  Everything was so huge, so larger than life but then the epic is larger than life too which suits it perfect.  Ramana garu wherever he is must be happy with the final output.

Coming to the actual story and all, our generation kids hardly anything other than chota bheem and all those cartoon characters and this visual delight with kids Lava and Kusa and Hanuman as another child makes it fun for the kids to watch and understand, surely eye catching for them.  Great attempt, something which will go down in the history of this generation kids like "Lavakusa" was for us.

The music is the backbone of the movie and it gradually grows on us... all in all a wonderful wholesome package.

What I loved the most in the movie was Seetha's Gorintaaku applied hands, it was so authentic and each time I saw her, I was so smitten.  Baalayya was good and I am sure no one else would have been as good except for Jr. NTR in that role but comparing it with NTR coupled with high-exceptions, he seemed old with wrinkles and pot belly.  ANR as Valmeeki was the best of all even at that ripe age, lots to learn from this man.

Wanted to come home and watch Lavakusa at home right after SRR but somehow just could not, will watch it some time today if possible, at least in episodes and maybe I would be doing LK vs SRR in my own way :).

One sad thing I noted that most of the people that were on the stage yesterday, had lost someone really dear in their lives... Bapu - Ramana, Ilaya Raja - Wife, Dasari - Wife and just recently ANR - Wife.  He was not around but it did feel sad seeing them at one place.  May their souls rest in peace.

Kamal and Minnu

One of the very good virtual friends I made is kamal.  I liked him for his sensible performances in Aavakay Biryani and Kalavaramaaye Madilo and of course love his paintings and all things he does with passion, like the animation series he tried to do and the society conscious behavior kind of holds in a very good light and high respect in my view.

and the surprise is, he pinged me up one fine day, to be precise Deepavali day and I still have that transcript with me and stop myself from pinching hard if it all actually happened!! anyways, the point is it was a chat with someone I truly respect, so it made all the difference.


kamalkamaraju: hi sushma.. morning and a happy deepawali to you and yuour family
Sushma: wooooooooooooooooooooooow
Thank you and some to you Kamal
it is such a pleasure
and a toooo good surprise...


and that surprise lasted for quite some time and when it did wear off, it was an extremely wonderful morale boosting one on one for almost an hour... yay!!! was I on cloud 9... 99!! actually..  Then when he got made this book shelf, I was like I should have this one, even spoke to his mom about getting it shipped to my place but then I fell, broke my leg once, then fell again broke the other leg and rest as they was history and the deal was kind of let hanging and since it was a limited edition model, I could not ask for it again!!

We chat off and on when he gets time and I happen to be around... it has been quite some time, in fact just about at the time of release of Virodhi, but then I got really busy to even be online and he being his usual busy self got busier with his theater, paintings and multitude of other things!  I keep a track of what is happening but hardly interact any longer.. now is a chance to bond up with him in person, so if any one is interested do visit the place, take your kids along!

His passion for painting with his social consciousness took a turn and then Minnu was born...In his own words MINNU.

There is an exhibition  in MUSE Art Gallery, Marriott, Hyderabad on 7th January from 06:30 p.m. onwards .. Please contact Kaali Sudheer, the owner and the curator of the gallery, who also happens to have a cute little daughter of two, just like my Sreya, and get further information from him about the exhibition at +91 9396 4444 24. Kamal will be there to see you.. I wish I could be there too... I will surely try to send in OA to represent us and get one of those lovely limited edition Minnu calenders!!

Good luck Kamal and Happy Touchdown in artworld Minnu.. love you girl, you rock!!

Another Kill

Phew... I happened to kill yet another baby snake yesterday!!

vaanalu vaste chaalu paamulu intlo kanipistunnaayi ee madhya, chuttoo paadu badipoyina illu, andulo manishettu molichina gaddi, ee paamulu, elukalu, chedalu, appudappudu vaati pakka illaki vihaaraalu, baaboye, okkosaari vanukocchestundi...

We have a diwan outside the house in the open balcony but since a dog got used to coming there and sleeping at night I put a cover on it every single night, yesterday when putting that I see something fall on my hand and then on the ground and began to crawl away, it was dark and I had not switched on the light and could just see the outline, the book I was reading fell on it and it hid in the pages of the book.  when I switched on the light, I see just a tiny tail out of the book and then I had to kill it before it hurt my baby.. well, she was not around but I cant trust that they wont cross paths again even if i let it go.

Then I just killed it and there goes another one to my credit!!! It was maybe days' old, it hurts when I remember the entire episode..  I am yet to get over it.. should I have let it go out of the way just the way it had come??? No idea!!!! but kill I did.

Rambling Away On The Year Past

There is so much to say, so many lines forming and erasing themselves in the mind.. too many backlogs, want to write but not really sure as to how much I explore those thoughts without losing the current balance and frame of mind.

The year left behind so many memories, what began with a disastrous fall and getting bedridden for 2 months ended with being really fit and fine than I had been in the last few years, so that is a blessing!

Relationships stable and plateaued with an understanding not to rush things, daughter growing up beautifully (touchwood) some times a chatterbox, some times a naughty toddler, some times mature beyond years baby, some times just plain my baby :), amazing how they grow up leaving you to wonder wherever their supposed innocence and babyhood has been left behind.

Loss of my youngest maternal uncle bringing out varied emotions, anger, frustration, sadness everything in equal measure.  So much of distress and it still seems like he is around somewhere just like he was and any time we would hear his very familiar scream "Pandu gaaaaaaaaaaaa" the name with which the kid is identified in the village, a life wasted... extreme sadness, uncontrollable anger and a lesson to just not get drowned by emotions!!!

Job front went for a toss with so many breaks but stressors have gone down a lot.  I have been relaxing all I want, not really wanting to work.  Some times there is this fear that I am getting used to not work, a nagging fear that I am gradually rusting myself very far from being the ambitious professional girl that I was at one point.  I need to push myself doubly harder just to focus and sit and make myself want to work and not find excuses.  I need to motivate myself to cut myself from the extended holidaying break-taking mode.

Personally, I feel that I am a better person than I had been for quite some time, I see my good old self resurfacing at times though not fully.  There is not that much of anger, resignation to fate has not set in but a deeper understanding gave way to matured thinking leaving the cool me take over the hot-blooded decision maker.  Being a rebel, aggressive everything is slowing giving way to being more passive.. but the anger still kindles from time to time, need to work a lot more on this aspect.

All in all, I would say, the last year left me a very changed person, a lot more at peace with myself and pretty much relaxed and content person, the restlessness factor takes a backseat and that really calls for YAYYYYYY!!!!

Dhyaanam - The Journey Within - 1

It has been a while, to be precise exactly 41 days today since the Dhyaana workshop of Pyramid Spiritual Societies started in our village Guraza, the final ceremony is today.  I have been meaning to do a journey within article right from the beginning but just could not bring myself to doing it, better late than never, so I begin it today.

Whenever I have been down in dumps throughout my adolescent and adult life, Dhyaana has come to my rescue in one form or the other but I have never really persisted on that and taken it to another level or at least continued it once I was out of the blue.. edo chesaama, tedaa kanipinchindaa, malli daarlo paddaama, sare inka nenu normal.. thank you Dhyaanam... malli naaku edaina gatti debba tagilinaa, ledante evarikaina tagilinaa.. arey nenu cheste bhale undi telusaa, nuvvu kooda cheyyi cheppataaniki tappite eppudu saadhana cheyyaledu.


The past 3 years, which have undoubtedly been the most testing periods of my life, I lost trust on everything and even the best tool I had in my hand, meditation, left me.  I just could not bring myself to do it because of so much pent up anger, mistrust and hopeless feelings.. well to look back and say, maybe the time was not yet ripe.. inkaa naaku anubhavinchaalsina paapa phalitaalu migilipoyi unnaayemo.


Even when I wanted to do it there was no motivation, there was so much of anger on everything and everyone and a question WHY ME.. before anything, a passion to give it back to everyone in my own way, silent, violent or whatever it takes to make the people around me shut up, let me lead my life the way I knew would be better.. just give me some breathing space.  Forget providing support, all I requested, pleaded and begged was to be left alone..  I was under the impression that the whole wide world was out to bash me and mash me little realizing I was doing the worse to myself, abusing my body beyond what it could, the mind beyond everything else which was just hanging on bare threads...

Some times a fleeting realization would dawn in but I found respite in books and internet which most certainly did help but only to a superficial extent, just barely keeping me from falling into an endless abyss. I had been longing for a group to meditate, some place where I can have a break from everything and just pursue the journey to peace, not really looking for solutions, just the strength to breeze through it all.

Through this all, the health took a downward spiral taking me even close quarters to death, which left everything in a limbo for a while.  A few of my friends tried helping me sending the cds of Ramdev baba's meditation, breathing techniques, yoga, exercise and caps even came down to teach me the Isha Kriya but just a day or two and everything is kind of forgotten.  I really wanted to do it with a group, regularly without a break, needed that motivation but in the rural place that I am currently put up, it can only be dreamt of.. a kid to take care of, a household to run, a job to be dealt with, health to be taken care of, it just remained a distant dream... then came the Pyramid thing that was announced, a relative (maama) of mine a senior pyramid guru who was born in this village, organized a workshop with an aim to make AP "Dhyaana Andhra Pradesh".  Good for me, it was a perfect solution to my problem.. and thus began my journey, which kind of changed the course of my life and still continues to, how what and why, the feelings through it all... will follow in the next few posts.

Rama Rama Rama ane Raaja Mandiram

Saw the movie on big screen finally... a visual delight.. more on the movie in a detailed review... but for now the song that me and kid and the OA unanimously like and the one which played on the entire trip for a lot of times, so that even the kid memorizes the lyrics...

Lovely song...HERE

Movie:  Sree Rama Rajyam

Raama raama.. raama raama.. raama rama ram mara maraama, raama, raama
raama aney raaja mandiram, ghallu ghallumani tirigey raama sundaram.. raaja mandiram, baala raama sundaram.

muddu maatalanta muddu gaari potadanta,
aapaleni allaranta, tepa tepa teeyananta
baala raamudallarante vasishtuniki isthamanta.. -- raama--

baanamuto goda meeda kothi bomma geesthadanta
vajaraputungaramu teesi kaaki paiki visrunanta
silakengili jaampandey kori maree tintadanta
karjuralu draakshalu udathalake pedatadanta
dakkuntunadantaa settu chaatukelli, raallu vestadanta seruvu lona malli..
ammaa naanna antha aa allari mecchukoni, baala raamuni bhaley ani muddulu petaranta --maraama, raama--

paala buvva tinamantey meda paiki parugulanta
pasidi bindeloni panneeru volakapostadanta
sandamaava kaavalani sandekada godavanta
addamlo choopiste sanchi lona daasenanta
sriramudina chinappudu inthe, akasamanthaa allari chesaadanta
ammaa naanna anni maku nuvve kadaa amma...
 eppudu inka haddulu meeram, tappuni manninchamma...--raama, raama--maraamaraama--


Lovely!!!!

Bed of Roses - Daisy Waugh

An interesting fiction light read.  Loved reading it through and through.  There is so much going on in the story, not just a single line, too much to keep one busy reading, yet not confusing.

Story revolves around a very young school mistress who is running away from ghosts of her past in a very restless manner, fears overriding the rationality part, strong yet vulnerable at times.. As part of her move, she joins a school that is about to shutdown.  She brings in a lot of changes and gets respected by her pupils and the parents, how she brings about changes in her life along with the school and too many conflicts resolving at the end.

Read it on the move, in bits and pieces during the trip but enjoyed reading it.

Thriller - Yandamoori Veerendranath

Like I have mentioned many times before, the foreword and afterward of the book makes the reading experience even better in case of YV.

Through this book, he introduces the concept of absurd writing in Telugu fictional literature.  In the foreword he brings about clarity on the technique of writing which involves drastic dramatization of events showing them in unbelievable proportions thereby showing the subtle feelings, emotions in a larger angle which leave a mark on the viewer/reader.

This book is about a beautiful, young and lonely girl Vidhyadhari who all through her life has been suspecting the concept of love because of her childhood experiences in a dysfunctional family, the mistrust she has on people who proclaim love and her questions and thoughts pondering over the reality/credibility of what people around her do or say.

She comes across a guy Anudeep who claims that he has been loving her for the past 7 yrs, went on to do penace in Vindhya Hills, realized God and came back to win her love not in a most unselfish and true manner.  How the events in their lives take a turn which lead to death of Anudeep.. and whether he actually dies or not is left hanging which is an experimental techinque in Telugu fiction world..

as usual a very interesting read!

.... and then

the realization dawns that my blog is kind of becoming a review based one rather than my place... but then again, thanks to this asthma all I get to think is illness which I am fed up ranting about and that leaves me with the kid and me which I normally dont go overboard on discussing in the blog in general or any person in specific... leaving it to be just the review corner.. maybe a wake up call... looking back I feel like I am a part of the Evening Hour marathon I did a while ago all over again, which also reminds me that I am yet to get my participation certificates from last year.... sigh!!!!!....

now you know why dont do constructive blogging any longer.. buck up!

The Death of Vishnu - Minal Suri

A story set about in a 3-storied building in mumbai which houses a couple of families Pathaks and Asrani's sharing a common kitchen in the first floor, Jalaals in the second and Mr. Taneja who is a loner widow on the top floor.  Vishnu is an errand-man in the apartment block who is in the final stages of his life, alone and uncared for whom the families take turn to feed and take care of even if it is unwillingly.

The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Vishnu, who sick and left to die looks back on his life, his love affair with Padmini, his role in lives of the apartment dwellers as well as their own life stories weaving it up with a mythological connective and how the death finally arrives.

It is a thought provoking book which beautifully captures the essence of lives of common people, their conflicts, joys, desires and duties!!

Good read.

Nallanchu Tella Cheera - Yandamoori Veerendranath

Pure fiction with a good research and information about saree weaving, wholesale manufacturing and retail sales.

Reading this book reminded me of a movie, although the story line is a bit different there are certain scenes taken from the movie script, so when I was reading the book I was kind of imagining the actors who played those roles in the movie.. Chiru, Madhavi, Bhanupriya :))).  I know I am crazy that way.

The story which starts with a young door-to-door saree salesman with an amazing skill of fashion and beauty tips for women and makes it big with the help of a big wig in the industry and climbs up the ladder with hardwork and honesty suddenly takes a twist with a murder, who did it, why what and how forms the crux of it all..

all in all, an interesting read.

PS:  Thanks for correction Keerthi nene marchipoyaa Bhanupriya anukuntoo Bhanumati kottaa burra!!1

Difficult Daughters - Manju Kapoor

Loved reading this book which is set around the time of partition interweaving the love story of a young Punjabi girl from a traditional family with a married professor from south India, who ultimately marries her as a second wife and how the life takes its twists and turns in the due course.

It is actually the couple's daughter who sets out to find the life and times of her parents right after the death of her mother.  The book tackles in detail the conflicts of opinions of mothers and daughters of 3 generations, the lives during their times how they got sucked into life willingly or unwillingly.  Mixing it up with the events in the partition times and the inner feelings of the protagonist Virmati are explained well..

Lovely read

Tulasi - Yandamoori Veerandranath

Supposed to be a sequel to his previous novel Tulasi Dalam where a 11-year-old girl is rescued by her father and friends from the clutches of an evil creature Kashmora and death of Kaadra, the sequel shows the grown up girl Tulasi and the belief as to how Kashmora gets reactivated with more powers after 11 years and how this time the girl will most certainly die.

The book is a good read for a reader like me who loves such stories.  However, there is always a linkup, scientific backing for everything happening and the question of whether the witchcraft and wizardry as mentioned exists or not is left hanging..

Pratidaaniki Hetuvaadi drushtito choostoo raayadam.. makes the book an interesting read!

A Mother's Hope - Katie Flynn

A story about 2 foundlings who meet by accident and start living together by chance and decide to make it permanent by choice standing by each other through thick and thin touched my heart.

A typical non-complex no-nonsense my type of easy-flow read!

Albert who prefers to call himself Martin is  an albino and an orphan meets Gertrude who prefers to call herself Rose meet by accident when both of them go job hunting in terrible raining weather.  Albert unable to take in the ridicule due to his skin condition gets out of the YMCA and sleeps rough at night near doorsteps in his sleeping bag and Rose a pregnant teenage (15 yrs) unwed girl whose mother left her during the blitz at a doorstep with the note that she will come back but could never really make it who gets assaulted by the incharge's husband at a girls camp meet up unexpectedly how they stay with each other through thick and thin and how they come together forms the story line.

Loved reading it!

Siggestondi - Yandamoori Veerendranath

A fiction that springs from the daily harassment of woman and children in one way or the other in the society, the problems of middle class working families, the troubles with residential school system, the sexual harassment day in and day out, subtly, harshly encountered by women..

The fear, the lack of it, the consequences of being forthright and society conscious... there are times when I could relate to the protagonist in the way I think.

As usual, I like the ending the explanation at the end by the author as to what led him to write this one.

Trip to SOS village

A few of us might know about the SOS villages in India.  I happened to visit one village in Hyderabad recently with the kid and OA.

HERE.. The village in Hyderabad consists of 12 families.  Each family has a house and a mother with a few kids assigned to her.  It is a normal household, the kids have family ties like mother, sister, brother and uncles and aunties.  They go to school, they have tutions, they play, they grow up in a wholesome environment.

The first time I got to know about it I was like, well the concept sounds good, it better be good in implementation as well.  I have seen so many places who form a charitable organization for the name of it and nothing is hygienic but the first feel as we enter this village is that it is truly an ashram, midst greenery and clean fresh air.

We tried calling up the numbers provided on the Hyd site  but due to some faulty phone lines could not reach them and decided to carry on with the trip no matter what, just chose the evening time because all the kids would be back from schools by then.  Did not know what to take and how to go about, so just took a few sweets to give them to the kids, did not know the number of kids nor the number of families.

As we reach and enter the campus I am like in love with that place there is a place assigned for ducks and pigeons where they tried to provide a natural habitat kind of thing for them where they were brooding and living normally, there was so much of greenery and order.  There was peace all around, the kids started coming one after the other. the management was good in receiving us introduced us to the families, wanted us to have a trip, get the feel of how things are and go and see any family we wanted to.  We wanted the kid to distribute sweets but they denied for the reason they were not sure if he had enough for all the families and that they will do the needful but agreed to take a few to the families and give it to the mother of the family we wanted to visit.

The children were good, friendly and got used well to the culture there.  There was discipline in general.. the kids were a little unruly here and there but then that is normal everywhere.  Sponsoring a kid there for education, food or in general is something really worthy is what I felt after that visit.

The boys are transferred to a youth house after they are 14 as the mother might not control the adolescent behavior but the girls stay within the family.  even if the children go to hostels for higher studies, they do visit home like normal kids too.. the eldest kid in the village was doing her degree and was staying in a hostel.. the youngest entrant to the village was a girl "Sai" a 2-day old now 7 year old who is loved by everyone in the village as their own.. the medical and day-to-day needs are taken care of well.

For NRIs or high-earning individuals the amount of sponsoring a kid might not be much but if we are able to spend time with them when we can we can inspire them a lot more is what I personally felt.  When we sponsor a kid, we are assigned a child, we cannot pick a kid, but we are assigned to the kid and we can go and meet the kid in whatever family he or she is.. we are given the details of the kid.  More than the money factor, it is the human interaction that I liked much.  The concept of mother is good, the ambiance is lovely and there is trained help available 24/7... if you happen to be in Hyderabad and can spare some time, please do visit them... take your kid to play with them, you play with them as a kid, listen to them, tell them about your life.. trust me we are helping ourselves doing this tiny ritual than the other way round.

They give us so much in turn and that is immeasurable.

Telangana Devadasu - Dr. Kaaluva Mallayya

First book I read with conversations in proper telangana to an extent.

The novel came as an extension to Swathi - Monthly, a good story base as to how feudal system came to an end in today's times and the life and experiences of a boy from a lower class and a girl from the "dora" family, how they grow up together and the girl kind of develops a love to the boy and wants to marry him but they are separated by the families in the name of respect and honor.. but as the title suggests the book is not about how the guy becomes a drunkard in the name of the girl and her cheating, it is about how they both mould their lives happily understanding the realities of life and not regretting and there by ruining everything for themselves or each other.  A good narration and a theme.