Gateway '05 - A National level short film competition!!!

My long absence from the blogosphere is accounted to this. Well... it is the very first time my Department of Media Sciences, College of Engineering, Giundy, Anna University is conducting such an event. This would now follow every year.

Combined Effort:
There was no dearth in helping hands. Gateway '05 was a grand success because of the help and participation of all the members of the Society of Media Sciences. Almost everyone were doing something or the other.

Exposure:
To me and a few others this experience was definetely very enriching and purposeful. We managed to bring out a publication titled " Media and Disaster ". It was a great moment for all of us when this book was released. We also had a seminar on the same title following the release.

Some of the eminent media persons who contributed their expertise to our book are as follows:

1.T. S. Subramanian,

Senior Assistant Editor, Frontline, Chennai

2.Alok Verma,

Executive Producer, TV Today Network Limited, Delhi

3.N.S. Issac, Deputy Director General, AIR, Delhi.

4.K.P.Sunil,

Vice President, Jaya News, Chennai.

5.Vijay Grover, Chief of Bureau,

Zee News, Chennai.

The other contributors are:

6.Dr. R. Sreedher

Director, EM2RC, Anna University, Chennai.

7.Dr. K. Banumathi,

Co - ordinator,

Hindu Media Resource Centre,

MSSRF, Chennai.

8. S.Shanthi,

Lecturer, Department of Media Sciences,

Anna University, Chennai.

9.R. Subramani,

Lecturer,

Department of Media Sciences,

Anna University, Chennai.

Myself along with 2 other friends were the STUDENT EDITORS of the book!!!

Celebration:
Now its time for celebration as we have seen weeks of "real" hard-work, which has to a great extent resulted in the successful completion of the Gateway Awards '05.

Indian New Year

This year started on a sad note, Tsunami having created an unforgettable havoc within a matter of ten minutes, leaving thousands in a trauma, difficult to overcome.

Today I sit at a comfortable position at home typing letters to form words, but I know around the world at some parts there is untold suffering going on. But yes… just like we cope with things and always try to go on with life… the days go by… fast, REAL fast, at least in my life…. so much has already happened.

Unity – World Over

One real happy thing is the whole world getting together TO HELP. Isn’t this what we need… a simple thing… for all to live with peace… the whole world would be happy!!! And We … The People – closer, friendly and happy – without despair.

The Tsunami Minutes

I had a personal story of the Tsunami, I was not at stake… but five of my cousins and my dear uncle were. They had gone to this wonderful beach surrounded by fishermen hamlets near our place, played running and catching with the waves, getting themselves completely drenched.

This was happening for nearly 2 hours, when my uncle called out to them saying that it was getting late for breakfast (he actually thought of his sister, one of my aunts cutting Cauliflower to make breakfast. This had happened before they started out to the beach). 

In order to go home soon and please my aunt, my uncle who was on his morning walk pulled and persuaded my cousins out of the waters and told them to dry themselves. They took this opportunity to play Frisbee. Now they were about 10 feet away from the shore and standing in a circle. Luckily, the youngest of my cousins who was facing the sea found the wave suddenly rising differently. Shouting “Daddy Daddy”, he started running. 

My uncle immediately called out to my cousins and told them to run towards home!!!. When these people were running they turned back once and lo!!… the waters were just touching their feet. A boat on beach was chasing them from behind and they saw huts in the fishermen hamlets being washed away. They just ran, ran and ran till they reached home. 

Puffing and panting my cousin called me. He said that the waters were just rising and coming into land, “something like The Day After Tomorrow movie. We are evacuating and coming to your house”, he said. Initially, we thought it to be something to do with global warming.

Fate – Did I miss something I could have experienced?

On that fateful day actually I was supposed to go to the beach with my cousins… but as usual I had slept late not even bothering about the morning earthquake. Then my other cousin who was also to go along with me to the beach and myself felt it was too late to go ahead with plans and we where ironically discussing about Global Warming and how people don’t bother to sit and care nature. 

Well… this was when I got my cousins call and then followed flash news in TV, which became headlines and world headlines.

December Debuts…

December comes and so does new beginnings, another debut with my blog… an effort to revive it.

December Jottings:
A most welcome month. Christmas season, the joy and excitement it brings along within everyone is wordless. In school, we would get the air of Christmas right from the 3rd week of November.

Being in the school choir, everyday we were bound to cut 2 classes. It really used to be cool. They would call the choir students over the common announcement speaker anytime our master was free. And sometimes it would come as a relief while attending periods where teachers ask Questions, especially when you are totally unprepared and wondering when your turn to answer would come. Can never forget the anxiousness in the Chemistry classes.

Then, we would go to a huge serene auditorium with a most striking picture of Christ in the middle of the stage and start singing and practicing…. Oh what a holy mood we would be immersed in! 

In this context, I would definitely have to mention the most friendly, encouraging and committed sir ever, to guide us. He was our music master, Mr.Solomen Nesakumar.

Not only the choir, we would have all kinds of activities for the season… competitions, celebrations, Christmas decorations and wishes between classes and also the Chris mom, Chris child gifts. One December, when I was in 9th class I guess, I got 4 shades of nail polishes from my Chris dad!!!

Then, there would be a hustle and bustle in choosing our Christmas costume. At last we would end up wearing the brightest, colourful, funky frock or skirt that could ever exist for the season!!!

Christmas
A time for giving and forgiving!!!
A time for peace and joy!!!

And for new beginnings!!!

Tight... very Tight indeed!!!

The last two days were very tight for me.... cos there was so much to do and so little a time.

There is a work going on in my house and all things are on the bed and floor. Every room is spread with stuffs which catch my attention everyday..., but most things have caught my attention after a very long time bringing some fond memories, some exciting memories, some surprising and funny memories and also some disgusting memories... everything lying piled up puts in my brain some nostalgia.

Well... my house has been this way for the past entire month, but I somehow put up with it. Now... it is time the work is over and the most tedious work according to me is all set to begin... ARRANGING.

Arranging my things and keeping my room neat is by itself a big work for me... imagine now we have to arrange my entire house!!! Let me now get going... time is getting tighter and tighter... i have to do lotsa work.

It has been a really long while since i blogged... there were so many other distractions in my simple life. More than all the other reasons, it was also my laziness and complacency.

Well.. now that i am back to this... lets see how regular i am gonna be.

These few months ... my absence from the blogging world would definitely not have made a big difference cos i know i have been really irregular all the way.

But i definitely have grown a bit more wise and my knowledge base should have increased.. or so i pray. I met and came across people from various walks of life and it was a very enlightening period in my life.... many characters, many ideas and many experiences.

Expected things did not happen as i expected and totally unexpected things just happened out of the sky! But all turned out to be gloriously good!!!

Hellooooo Bloggies!!!

This year has had a great start.... and hope it has much more pleasantries to give.

I am back to business... and i am happy today, cos i hav at last changed my font size which was really so dull to read. Well... according to me, blogging is to write about happenings!!

The Mylapore Festival.... revival of our old traditional art forms:
The other day i had gone to see this fest, actually i was forced to it.... but it felt Really Great to have been there..... had i not gone, i would hav missed something very dear...
There was:-

• A street play-done by Chennai street play theatre artists (most of them are social workers)
• A skillful art of dancing while beating various drums (doing rolls along with the drum and other gymnastics)
• An amazing art of dancing while balancing on long sticks (done by a group of men, coming from a village)

#I felt these performances were simply incredible#

Tribute to my Tree….

I can sing long odes to you my friend…
I can think numerous possibilities, in which I could have saved you,
But that precious moment has passed….
The moment of truth lingers, with its cruel smile!
Whatever I do now…
You will never come back…
The feeling makes me shiver…
But you will always be where I stand…
In my thoughts and in my heart…

It was a lazy afternoon today... first day of my semester holidays and i was lying flat on my bench, listening to an audio-story, least bothered about what was happening around. The doorbell rang... somebody came... i did not bother to even getup, still listening intently to the story... wilderness overshadowing everything!

Then... my mum and my house maid went hurrying to the balcony... my mum said something loudly and hurried downstairs... They had felled a really thick branch of our most loved tree.... I jumped from my bench and ran over... Oh God!!! I could hardly bear to see the sight... It was like I lost my most precious thing... this was one of the trees my grandpa planted... it has been there for more than 50 years!

It is a very rare tree!!!... a beautiful tree. I was in tears. Its branches touch my balcony. I always used to think this tree as something my grandpa left behind as him. I used to shake its branches as if it were my grandpas hands... many a times I have whispered joyous as well as sad things to it. It has seen every season of my life. It used to look over the progress of every activity in my house as if my grandpa was watching over and shake its head in approval.

...as my mum questioned my watchman... the reason came to light and it makes me feel even worse. Instead of cutting just the extra twigs... this dumb watchman and the tree killer (feller) had cut the entire thick bark... now my tree will never come back!!!

He said numerous sorries and apologies but... Will my vibrant, beautiful, green tree... a sight of unknown joy ever come back... will it?

I hate him forever...
What to do now??? The truth has to be accepted.... but I cannot.... my tree... it will never come back... I want it back...

***Why should the principle of life be... to lose certain things, which we would never get back???***

My Special Day...

Yes... it was the day i was born, yesterday.... it was a really nice day... this time, i had wonderful moments!!!

I was preparing for my Computer practicals.... and to me it is a more serious thing that i should be good at Comp. languages... and so i had a simple but splendid birthday!!!

All my near and very dear ones... living really very far, wished me well!!!... and their thoughtfulness and blessings.... added more spirits of joy. The 2 calls I really expected from Coimbatore came real early, adding to my mirth!!!

Well.... i did cut my Birthday Cake and everything.... but i was having my Comp practicals on mind. Those who know me well... know how Robotic i become once at Comp.lab.

So...this is to THANK all the people who wished me.... to those who did not, but thought about me.... to those who forgot... and also to those who don't even know me!!! It is just that I'm happy :)

Beatification of Mother Teresa...

I simply loved every moment of this event. I watched every second of it on the television, despite the fact that i have an assessment and an assignment to be submitted tomorrow.

The atmosphere at St.Peter's Square was filled with divinity. Pope John Paul II, is really a very inspiring person, whose Global thinking is admirable. The entire event was very serene and holy, filled with the mystical choir music, transporting everybody into a world of peace, joy and happiness.

The Indian-ness in the event was also very warm. All cultures at the magnificent St.Peter's Square in full joy to support the Saint hood being given to Mother Teresa is a hope to the World.

I love Rome....an amazingly magnificent place.

Me with the flow of days.... :)

The days have been flowing since i blogged last.

Well... a lots been happening... assessments, assignments.... Some interesting, exciting events were our visit to a Television Station, some Quizzes and other competitions.... the most coolest of them being our College Culturals AGNI!!! Hey...we won a first prize in Dumd C!

All these with the reading of Order of Phoenix! I really felt more upset than Harry, when Sirius had to die. Sirius was the character i admired, pitied and liked so much, next to Hermione.

During AGNI, we were asked to report to a hall called "X-Hall" in the Electrical department (God knows what connection X has with electricals). This hall is a truly amazing hall with thick teak benches that rise steeply up... quite out of ordinary. It gave a really enchanting effect.

Seriously, I have been to a number of colleges or any organisation for that matter... but this hall was cool. It is basically a Presentation Hall. It made me think I was in a Hogwarts classroom or rather.... on the high stands waiting for a Quidditch game!!! Hurrah For the Gryffindors!!!

Clinging to my old favourite!

I was wondering whether I can change my blog colour to something more lively than a dull splash of blue and green. But the secret of adhering to my own favourites green and blue is because of the famous blogger Salam Pax. His blog is something similar to mine.......... atleast in terms of colour!

When the war in Iraq was going on, he created a stir with his blogs. Me and my friends used to check his blogs from our computer lab. He did inspire me a lot. Today I am not sure whether he is alive, but I am quite his fan.

So... Elsa's blog will remain the same!!!

A fine day!

It was a fine day today! I did some real help, so my mother was beaming.

Well.....but i have got this best news, for me to start beaming---my cousins are coming from cbe in a few days. Too cool,huh?

Okay, it is like this......we all have this special bond that keeps us anticipating to meet each other.My cousins over here and myself have already started planning a tight outdoor schedule!!!

I learned from my friend Archs about the Science City plan for the Sardar Patel road stretch. Too bad.... such a nice plan would have to be disturbed for the secretariat to come!

A splendid display of Air Show!!!

It was simply amazing to be a witness of such a magnificent event. Kudos, to the pilot of the Sukhoi-30, Ramesh if I am right. Su-30 was my personal favourite. The way the pilot dived down and soared high was unbelievably thrilling.

The Kiran aircrafts were another beauty on the sky. The air stunts were simply superb. And, to see everything from the top of my terrace was another lucky thing. All our neighbours were with us. And after the display the aircrafts flew almost over our heads.

The helicopters and everything were really cool. We could even see the Indian Flag formation of the triple parachutes. The feel was really electric!!!

Every time Elsa blogs, it is a Great day!!!

Well then..... today was a cool day cos my friends got the tickets for a movie i really fancied watching.

Yesterday, I went to one of my friends, Archs sister's dance program after my language class. She danced gracefully adorning a cute smile. It brought back my memories of the past.

My language classes are turning out to be real fun. It is cooler by the day and every hour of it is really worth it!

Planning to sing at a place tommorrow! The crunchy feel is suddenly dawning. But once i start then I am not damn bothered. But still..... its been a couple of weeks since i had my music class.

What a feeling!!!

It started as a great day! Everything was going fine. Then we decide to go to a movie. My aunts family and ours set out. The direction, songs and picturization was really good. But the entire concept, was unacceptable for any story, let alone the Question of something like that happening in real life.

God! But my cousins cooly said "Hey! It was Cool!!!" I was taken aback for a sec. Infact they were discussing the disgusting scenes so causually and laughing.

I was reminded of Full House, where Becky gives her twin sons a doll to play instead of fighter men and toy jeeps, annoying Jessy, just to ensure they grow into caring elders with feelings.

It was a day of surprise

My parents allowed me to take my Scooty all on my own. It felt great.

Realization

Today I was feeling kinda confused and disturbed over something, so I was standing deep in thoughts in my balcony. I heard some loud giggles and laughter suddenly and as I looked down I saw an uncle and his daughter.

Basically, the young girl is a Special child (Spastic). I have seen them many a times on the road, but I know nothing more. The scene I saw was very touchy. The girl’s father was running along and playing with her very normally. I think that was a “Gentleman” behaviour.

All that I have known of the Special children is a sad looking parent pushing a miserable looking child over wheel chairs, while this father tries to bring back his daughter to normal.

When I was at school I have heard many a sayings like “Lord sends his Special child to a good person, because he would care the child as Lord did". I was small then and used to wonder what it all meant. But, now I seem to understand everything my dear teachers taught me.

I get the realization that “Real Joy” lies in the way we take things and proceed! Well….. This made me feel sick of the silly thing that disturbed me.

Two Funny Days

The past two days were filled with funny pleasantries with my 2-year-old cousin staying with us.

Every second, you see something rocketing out of the house. All my precious gifts and things get missing by the minute.

Every display had to find its place in a cupboard. And, my sweet angel of a cousin also brought his car, on which he sits and drives around the house bumping over all. But the moment you look at him he gives such an innocent, genuine smile that we stand laughing back at him!

Yesterday, my dear brother was being “Unreasonably Unbelievable”. I had some very surprising moments!

Hulllllllllllllllllooooooooooo!!!!!

Howz everyone doing??? Well I was getting a bit lazy. It was reason enough with the Wimbledon for 2 weeks and some "Real working".

Wimbledon’s Winners!!!
The exciting wait is over and the winners of the prestigious game have emerged! I am happy Federer and Serena did it. But one has to look at players like Mark Philipoussis, Paradorn, and Justine with awe. I was on Srichapans side till he was on court. It was sad that he lost to Andy Roddick, but it was a kind of expected thing.

This year it was amazing to see the aces the players skillfully hit. The men’s game was more exciting because there were so many unexpected upsets like that of Agassi and Hewitt. In women’s game it was only the top five who dominated.

Bloggys

I know its been long time since I blogged. Sorry to myself!!! But....I had been having some really lovely days. I was kinda busy with a lot of travelling.We had soooo many visits and with that FOOD!!! Huh.....I am kinda choosy about food stuffs.

I love animals, but birds.....I never had an idea about them. Now, I have joined my aunt in her passion for birds. For the first time in my life I have started liking Birds sooooo much. This vacation I learnt lots about Birds. Every morning, I wake up and go to her backyard to see whether the tiny sparrow eggs have hatched.
At nights, we can see mama Sparrow. She does not move at nights. When the torch falls on her she stares back. The feeling you get then......is amazing. I hope the eggs hatch by the time i start from here.

Then.......I spent a few days at a very beautiful place, where the Western Ghats rise. We went into deep farms just outside the forest reserve. We played in the private river....... only me and my cousins. Here we swung over the river clinging on the Banyan roots. Well...... I wished I had a sail boat and went
"Row row row my boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily,merrily,merrily,merrily
Life is but a dream"

As I waded through the waters, I could feel and see the fishes biting my fingers. Here ...I made friends with Betsy, my cousins dog. He is the cutest dog I have ever seen. Always scampering and jumping about your legs.

Okay..... then, then, then...... I watched many movies with my cousins..... as usual we go 10 minutes late for any movie!

Okay for the moment ..... I am having a lot of fun and games with my cousins, a lot of Food and visits!!!