tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41258749775702146462024-02-20T12:40:32.899+05:30From KL to Chennai: Shobha JanardananMy notes, logs, observations, analysis and everything in between - Experienced today, forgotten tomorrow but recorded forever.:-)Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-34551743136671502892020-06-20T19:28:00.000+05:302020-06-24T18:25:52.565+05:305 ODDITIES ABOUT GOING ONLINE SINCE THE MCO STARTED<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Something strange has come over our collective national
online experience since the Movement Control Order began. Rumour has it, the
internet is not broken, just slightly bent, warped and out there! Read on and
see what I mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Slow Internet<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So slow that I had enough time to reminisce internet-dial-up
days from the 1990s, repeat every memory twice, blow soap bubbles as I washed
my hands to Happy Birthday, and then complete this article in time for Google
to load so that I could start researching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to
write this article</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.tenor.com/images/2798fa534283517b890f34dca3249fe0/tenor.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" src="https://media.tenor.com/images/2798fa534283517b890f34dca3249fe0/tenor.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Aggressive Ads<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Websites that used to be classy and chill now throw pop up
ads at you like you're the enemy. Pop up ads used to be docile, respectful and
dismissible (yep, with that little “x” you could click). That was before. Now
the ads don’t hold back. They pop up and make you forget what you were looking
for with their violent outbursts. The story goes something like this; At first,
you get excited when Google (finally!) survives the slow internet and
loads. Then you click a page and, wham! Pop up bars 2 inches thick on the
bottom of the screen. On top! On the right hand corner! And this one
niggly 2"×3" video overlaps text on the south-southeast border. It
has NO “x” to click. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And if you try to close it or be smart about how you scroll
through the contents you searched for, the video expands to full screen like a
screaming banshee! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.tenor.com/images/c2a849430d99db0deb95354b9561b004/tenor.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="220" src="https://media.tenor.com/images/c2a849430d99db0deb95354b9561b004/tenor.gif" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Sci-Fi Jobs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">New job titles that sound like you’re working inside a Will
Smith sci-fi movie story. AI Tech Master, IoT Engineer, Cybersecurity Officer.
Notice them taking 70% of your "recommended job roles" on JobLane
(not a real jobsite!) when your degree is clearly stated as Mass Communications
in the field marked “Education”? Suddenly, boring jobs you never applied for (because
your degree saved you from them), sound far more relatable than these “i-Robot”
jobs. So now, you're shamelessly winging that Legal Assistant or Finance
Associate application, cos you're more likely to land that than Cyborg Site
Manager. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.tenor.com/images/3e81f8730752114906abf8ebfc49b8ee/tenor.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="144" data-original-width="220" src="https://media.tenor.com/images/3e81f8730752114906abf8ebfc49b8ee/tenor.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Don't Call Me, Maybe<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back-to-back conference work calls that invite everyone and
their cat though the discussion relates to all of 3 people from your team of
15. If you do not relate to this problem,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">YOU…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">…are one of those 3 people, and who ends up inviting us; Do
everyone else a favour and pray DON'T INVITE us 12 team members for those 2
hour arias. Frankly my dear, we'd rather be working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also, heard of email?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.tenor.com/images/2c856d24df0b8bf20e49d46a77026a09/tenor.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="220" src="https://media.tenor.com/images/2c856d24df0b8bf20e49d46a77026a09/tenor.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Fame is Lame<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Influencers and stars look lame and embarrassing posing
smugly against their $900 champagne on social media because they are not real
front liners as they portray in their films. It is not their fault that they
acted so well in your fave movie that you fell in love with Will, I mean ...the
actors, in 2004. So yeah - Will Smith today, looks lame in Independence Day in
the face of COVID-19, next to Nurse Kiah of Hospital Gomen Kuala Lumpur. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.tenor.com/images/31ecb5b7cbba404ad298c5e50936ad86/tenor.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="220" src="https://media.tenor.com/images/31ecb5b7cbba404ad298c5e50936ad86/tenor.gif" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-55301519134226852752019-08-13T10:19:00.000+05:302019-08-13T18:56:15.291+05:3015 minutes of fame on LinkedIn<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hello, happy surfers, harried researchers and haze sufferers (the last one applies only if you are Malaysian)!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I need to break the silence and scream from the mountaintops (or condo rooftops in my case), that </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I trended. On a hashtag. On LinkedIn. I typed friggin' LinkedIn and then deleted friggin'. Can you tell?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So as you can see, I was pumped. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here's what happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I Had Two Problems to Solve</b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One was that <b>I wanted to put out video content </b>for a while, but was just spoiled for choice in terms of ideas. It comes with the territory when you can sing, act and voice and can use any permutation to get attention on a video. But then you want to make sure you've a point, you're sharing something useful and honest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The other problem was that people I met at professional events would ask me how my organisation came up with show ideas being one of the biggest creators and curators of Malay content to-date (in Malaysia). They also wanted to know <b>what my particular role was</b> and I started using words like storyteller, creative agency, art director, content writer and more. It was time a video did the talking for me, so I didn't have to explain it all the time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The Solution</b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I made a video. It was simple - no graphics or effects or inserts or fancy stickers even. I then hashtagged it with a few faves before I uploaded it. 24 hours later, I received a notification that my post was trending on #media in LinkedIn. I have not deciphered the key to that bout of success. So I consulted a couple of guys - one is a super duper copywriter and the other is a social media consultant. But I can say it threw them off a little too. One of them said I'd need around 2000 views to begin trending on a hashtag. But my views definitely did not reach that many. I have a personal counter. I know. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So that, is a total mystery. But hey, I got a little boost to keep making content. Like this <i>bloggyboo</i> right here. Read: Like this blog post right here.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMepVo9FgiDXY-9jCCrINReGfBB8n3dX-SBm6iX56e5htqwICzasUQmou17-SbQ53zN21ki5uqk3H8saUvHMk51JPJI7lNrZG4QUqWkcIBhQBGnwk4FH7FPCOetV4puCch-nf6m8pzn9DK/s1600/trending+media.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="1060" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMepVo9FgiDXY-9jCCrINReGfBB8n3dX-SBm6iX56e5htqwICzasUQmou17-SbQ53zN21ki5uqk3H8saUvHMk51JPJI7lNrZG4QUqWkcIBhQBGnwk4FH7FPCOetV4puCch-nf6m8pzn9DK/s320/trending+media.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2P4b-8_bgMnWPYThxB4eze3aPvrqRQx9_R30DYMd3ZIbi0cuop_sHQNL2YU-FCYeqK4gaBH-ZrPfMSk810B_inKfG8kyC_U4jqPXDoV3P5ALz1spqvnRDI98oIOfPWduEHauVD-qjB3e/s1600/snapshot+of+Content+Development+Writer+in+LinkedIn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2P4b-8_bgMnWPYThxB4eze3aPvrqRQx9_R30DYMd3ZIbi0cuop_sHQNL2YU-FCYeqK4gaBH-ZrPfMSk810B_inKfG8kyC_U4jqPXDoV3P5ALz1spqvnRDI98oIOfPWduEHauVD-qjB3e/s320/snapshot+of+Content+Development+Writer+in+LinkedIn.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I realised the people in my industry who also worked in content development and creation appreciated this. I received public and private message encouraging me to share more. Maybe I will. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Watch the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6564439112466694144-A1ZW" target="_blank">video</a> and let me know what you'd like to know about the job of a Content Development Writer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Screaming from condo rooftop? Or on a blog post at least? Done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Bloggyboo</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just wanted to type that. </span><br />
<br />Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-51441064749540949492018-04-25T12:31:00.000+05:302018-04-25T12:31:20.481+05:30A Letter to My Father 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXxWYd4lEPa91dkfU_ixbBBJYvOKpe7CInSYHK7OO5jN2w5GW9wwXbqtGFzV59H7S8b6GtNugOgg0C7LEi0Y6U7ih-oEKaCoTMsUnxLheqtyC5jMjGkJ_WwAC1Y2SWjihRO4zB8kc2hRI/s1600/dad+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXxWYd4lEPa91dkfU_ixbBBJYvOKpe7CInSYHK7OO5jN2w5GW9wwXbqtGFzV59H7S8b6GtNugOgg0C7LEi0Y6U7ih-oEKaCoTMsUnxLheqtyC5jMjGkJ_WwAC1Y2SWjihRO4zB8kc2hRI/s640/dad+and+me.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-9843325474415149842018-01-29T17:52:00.000+05:302018-01-29T17:52:50.531+05:30Flight of A Pigeon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZPDfKtQJQnbk1WgRXlPQhKRTu-amRQomLQgq9VCCxJfzjMbUfPehxqc2nXX_xmHun9W0gxWTas0KewPRgnDrnpl5lrECUjrOuycOIAwUN1w12QBBd_1nFQOOzJ4wPgm_k05XV3b23Onf/s1600/received_10155476330426731+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZPDfKtQJQnbk1WgRXlPQhKRTu-amRQomLQgq9VCCxJfzjMbUfPehxqc2nXX_xmHun9W0gxWTas0KewPRgnDrnpl5lrECUjrOuycOIAwUN1w12QBBd_1nFQOOzJ4wPgm_k05XV3b23Onf/s320/received_10155476330426731+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHCS9cXHFw75TPQwhJJJZ_8tOiE4-_0Lp6ipCiK8Dzo_M-ZrWUWGfktTUjMAWbe6wQ1p_jT6X9xEz-vRe1wYP1vvtuTjaOjeb2j9QrCIcl2AmolFzNBqzV2CPv2x-_SGBQ2Ue0Fw2opF7/s1600/20180128_111116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHCS9cXHFw75TPQwhJJJZ_8tOiE4-_0Lp6ipCiK8Dzo_M-ZrWUWGfktTUjMAWbe6wQ1p_jT6X9xEz-vRe1wYP1vvtuTjaOjeb2j9QrCIcl2AmolFzNBqzV2CPv2x-_SGBQ2Ue0Fw2opF7/s200/20180128_111116.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>DAY 1</b></span></div>
<div>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Little baby crow landed in my balcony. Looks sick.. ... This has never happened to me. I don't know how to take care of it. I put some seeds inside tub for him to eat and left water in a little cup inside... but he doesn't move so he does not reach the water. So just took the water out to give him space. Feeling helpless and sad. <span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/fe/1/16/1f622.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px;">😢</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px;">😢</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px;">😢</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px;">😢</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/fe/1/16/1f622.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px;">😢</span></span> Anyone know what to do??"</i></div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">This is what my post said on FB. Comments were many but solutions, none.</span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />DAY 2<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-weight: normal;">I cried over the next three days, starting on DAY 1 and getting worse on DAY 2. In tears, I took the baby bird to the vet (and found out it was a pigeon), and cried while the vet cleaned its wounds, cried while my husband syringe fed it, cried while it chirped for reasons unknown and fell asleep at a moment's instance. While it relieved itself, occasionally palpitated or even if it didn't even move, again I cried! I was clearly terrified</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-weight: normal;"> of knowing nothing of caring for this baby.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">DAY 3</span></span><i style="font-weight: normal;">"The orphaned/ lost baby pigeon in my balcony ...is not a crow, as confirmed after going to the vet yesterday. Will be taking care of him until he is strong enough to join his species. As advised, we feed him water and mushy oats or rice through a syringe. The vet also made him a nest with newspapers and cleaned wounds. We are giving him vitamins twice a day. **Thanks to all of you who have been advising and checking in on FB**"</i></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As soon as I finished typing up the above message, I read through some of the most heart warming and encouraging messages on FB in support of my efforts to care for baby #Jana. Just after, I got a phone call from an artist friend.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>LATER ON DAY 3</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"A NEW LIFE<br />Seeing my posts on FB, an artist friend who loves birds and has been rearing them off and on, reached out to me and offered to care for the bird from now on. My hubby (also a doting dad to the lil fella by now) and I, had mixed feelings at first. It was hard to let the baby pigeon go but I have been crying for 3 days because I didn't feel equipped to care for it as well as a mother bird can. But when artist <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/heartvasal?source=feed_text&story_id=10156166732736204" style="color: #365899; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm">heartvasal</span></span></a> reached out to me, he put me at ease with his <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">love, feeding technique and his experience with bird-care. This bird will live with a famous artist-cum-birdrearer here on - and maybe even inspire an art piece or two! Who knows! Most of all this <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/babypigeon?source=feed_text&story_id=10156166732736204" style="color: #365899; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm">babypigeon</span></span></a> will be in good hands and with great hearts<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f6c/1/16/2764.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px;">❤</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f6c/1/16/2764.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px;">❤</span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Hubby and I transported him earlier this evening - nest, vitamins and all, to his loving new Appa and 2 wonderful Ammas. We miss him but we know this move is best for the lil fella. I am touched that the new Appa has named the bird <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/jana?source=feed_text&story_id=10156166732736204" style="color: #365899; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm">Jana</span></span></a>. I am emotional just writing this. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED LOVE ON FB. ESPECIALLY TO #HEARTVASAL for his love for orphaned birds!"</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
And so my journey with baby #Jana takes on a trajectory different from what I initially envisioned. I still cry. Lesser now that I know it is being cared for by experienced people. But I cry because I am not them. And because baby #Jana will not know me when I visit him in the weeks to come. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
XOXOXOXO to baby #Jana! Soon you will fly.</div>
</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-29622013335744910852017-04-28T11:37:00.000+05:302017-04-28T12:06:18.984+05:30Jamming with Datuk Hattan - Backstory!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jGj6noueXJ9Fq4dYTPc7emUHu0Stsf-uoVFDBVoVUvrJnqjiWz3Fg1GM1-OLz4eyH8WJXCsZ7i7kJ5f2g26TGnU3oGk88KnA760KRaZwLYFv_F_P8aLuUfWnFoXs63xj0H2s-1KT39LL/s1600/Screenshot+you+tube+astro+gempak.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jGj6noueXJ9Fq4dYTPc7emUHu0Stsf-uoVFDBVoVUvrJnqjiWz3Fg1GM1-OLz4eyH8WJXCsZ7i7kJ5f2g26TGnU3oGk88KnA760KRaZwLYFv_F_P8aLuUfWnFoXs63xj0H2s-1KT39LL/s640/Screenshot+you+tube+astro+gempak.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">14,500 views on Facebook to-date, featured on Astro Gempak and covered by Free Malaysia Today's FMT Ohsem, friends and fans are asking me about how this rock n' raga happened. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a tale of musical experimentation and nothing more:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a regular work day. Several projects were on my mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But somewhere in the recesses of my mind, a little explosion of tunes and raga phrases in Purvikalyani Raga and Thodi Raga pre-occupied my thoughts. This is completely normal for me and I think most musicians, even if like me, we love our day-jobs. In fact, though silent, occasionally, when I am brave enough that no one was around listening, I'd up the volume. I always thought the genre I sing in would sound alien and at worst, unmusical to my colleagues. It was the same that day. Hence the deftly perfected volume adjustment maneuver was applied. My colleagues I had always thought, simply humoured my occasional bursts of musical expression with their encouraging quips of " kuat sikit plis" or "lagu mana tu?". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, back to the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Funnily enough, later in the day I was at the Rockanova set and Datuk Hattan peered over from a little away, when I was pouring over something on my notepad. I was at a quiet corner, so I was in deep focus on work but was aware by the corner of my eye that he had glanced over. Maybe a phrase or two unwittingly escaped my humming lips. Or not. I will never know. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next thing I knew, I was summoned to stage where Biso Bonar's chorus was being played. The instrumentalists paused when I walked up the stage, and a few voices from the darkness of the unlit audience and control areas, asked me to prepare for a short experiment; an Indian vocalist is to...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKbGveIt8iU" target="_blank">JAM BISO BONAR WITH DATUK HATTAN!</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Biso Bonar was a creation of Datuk's from 2013. It had some exotic flavour to it and what made it additionally unique was that the lyrics is in the Negeri Sembilan dialect! I knew the song and some phrases crossed my mind in Nattai Raga - or actually, Nattai plus some phrases and note embellishments borrowed from other ragas to suit the melody. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think I may have mouthed the words "help" in silence (hahaha!) when a</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> mic was passed to me. I all of gasped when the first sound of pads came on but I knew I <i>had to</i> switch from work mode to performance mode in a second. I always wondered if I'd be able to switch if that ever was needed of me. Here the moment was. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And the switch felt completely natural. Thank God it did! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was an amazing experience in many ways - I had not practiced or pow-wowed sections with Datuk nor the band I had just been introduced to. I mean I knew of Datuk Hattan. I knew of Shah Slam. But them knowing me by name, among the many folks on set was amazing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think we all just took off with this song from the first sound, and let it flow from there. Shah and his band mates were awesome to say the least and Datuk Hattan was hands down a rockstar to be reckoned with! Though the lights were on us, through the darkness, I felt all eyes on us - from the make up artistes to PAs to senior production staff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A moment to remember, savour and share indeed. Soon after, the video was uploaded online and the rest is history.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking to do more of this here on. Let's see what roads this leads me to and through. Sometimes, that which you least expect can give you new perspective on life and music. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Basically, experiments have a way of rocking our worlds. True?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS OF THE AUTHOR OF THIS BLOG POST COMPLETELY ARE HER OWN, AND DO NOT REPRESENT THOSE OF ANY ORGANISATION OR PUBLICATION.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5SHt400DlfpO-zUPT_HNT2tpur-O-8Bllo7B5ZW3VJihAwqYbggGn-KGzjYspsNjcRPFslWpUXhk5NxyVI0b0Ez-y4LI9uIPoT9M3JbDN4b4vWTrHHTLsUWVLHjm5XkNXDD_Rf9ovGNW/s1600/screenshot+ASTRO+GEMPAK+page++-+datuk+hattan+rock.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5SHt400DlfpO-zUPT_HNT2tpur-O-8Bllo7B5ZW3VJihAwqYbggGn-KGzjYspsNjcRPFslWpUXhk5NxyVI0b0Ez-y4LI9uIPoT9M3JbDN4b4vWTrHHTLsUWVLHjm5XkNXDD_Rf9ovGNW/s640/screenshot+ASTRO+GEMPAK+page++-+datuk+hattan+rock.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-5197036834197453602017-03-10T19:11:00.001+05:302017-03-10T22:37:38.861+05:30How To Go from Singer to First-Time Lyricist in 30 Minutes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHMq6Fjwo3Do7gDjh8oZDZKGh517DzVP_RzenP_WbR3ZWzNzoXAfD4OsWW4NOjqbHsk4FDK2inFgnSul94UfqQmI1N_XMZCnzYE3Orn4z_xn1ZILlJRGH29QyyHfKg-RCWvBipxknZuzq/s1600/anbe+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHMq6Fjwo3Do7gDjh8oZDZKGh517DzVP_RzenP_WbR3ZWzNzoXAfD4OsWW4NOjqbHsk4FDK2inFgnSul94UfqQmI1N_XMZCnzYE3Orn4z_xn1ZILlJRGH29QyyHfKg-RCWvBipxknZuzq/s320/anbe+cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Funny how things happen!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A few months ago, I was going about my business when out of nowhere an opportunity to collaborate with Smule-famed Keralite composer, who for the sake of the article I shall name Komposer (a hybrid word marrying Keralite and Composer! Yes, I know. Not very creative for a Creative!). Ok, fine... this amazing talent's name is Murali. He was introduced to me by a friend Mr. Unni, violinist from Kerala. "Thrilled" does not quite describe how it felt, when I listened to the melody which is now of the song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHMdgLgpCLU" target="_blank">ANBE AAYIRAM AASAIGAL</a>. When I heard that Murali had chosen me to sing the song, I was floored.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He wanted me to write the lyrics for this melody of his.<br />
<br />
After 5 minutes convincing Mr. Unni that I was not a lyricist, I heard from Murali. I warned him I was no lyricist though he was somehow convinced otherwise. He had spoken to me all of 15 minutes but at the end of it, he decided I was writing Tamil love song lyrics. I watched myself failing every attempt to talk myself out of this uncomfortable 15 minute conversation with a composer who'd never met me except through Smule recordings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In his impeccable Malayalam, he rattled off his 'top 10 reasons' as to why I would do such an awesome job, writing the lyrics and singing the song, both. I had a feeling he had help from Mr. Unni for some of them, but of course, I speculate. Though above average in conversational Malayalam by Malaysian standards, had to remind myself that I was 120 years and 3 generations behind him every time he used an interesting new word which I had never heard in local usage. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I didn't back down! I accessed 'Shogle Translate' (a translation app only available in the brain of a stressed Shobha) from the very start of the conversation. The tension threw me off naturally, and the interaction went something like this.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Command to 'Shogle Translate': Translate succinct, gob-smacking, powerful arguments from English to Malayalam, to say "no" to being lyricist. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brain: ~frozen~ </div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I refreshed it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"English to Malayalam" Enter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Buffering...:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">I waited, I refreshed it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
53485p434k#3 <b> Oh My Malayalam!</b> dfpiofi@456o9%$##^</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I refreshed it.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
r059u 42@#$ow eifojir302@#^!oskp</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
With all that "refreshing" you would think I'd have come up with some kick-ass sentences. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But nothing. I was intimidated by his well-crafted sentences and native Keralite command of the language.</div>
<br />
Murali had no clue all this was going on, so he interrupted all this English-Malayalam translation traffic from brain to mouth, along with my self-talk. By now we were on our 25th minute of dialogue and he had already heard a sample of my Malayalam. He complimented 'Shogle Translate' for its 25 or so phrases and sentences. And it seems he was extra impressed with my pronunciation in both, Tamil and Malayalam, after hearing my voiceovers and singing samples!<br />
<br />
I sat back and took in the compliment. It was just for a moment!</div>
<div>
<br />
And then, that fateful moment - I lost focus. I swear it was all of 2 seconds!<br />
<br />
But that was enough; it dis-armoured me. He closed with, "Beyond doubt, you can do both the singing and writing. I know this!". In an instant, I found myself releasing that grip I had so firmly held on <b>Not. Writing. Lyrics. </b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yup. I had at the 30th minute, I accepted defeat.<br />
<br />
I said yes to writing lyrics for his mesmerising melody. In Tamil. In a week.<br />
<br />
At this point of this post, feel free to think that my fear stemmed from not having ever written lyrics. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But you'd be wrong! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My state was that lyrics I had written for other songs over the years, were safely preserved, "dodging" release under various excuses. I was never one to "make and release" as soon as I had WRITTEN something. I would spend weeks or months improving it. Critiquing it. Clinging to it. Maybe singing to it.<br />
<br />
Sometimes years. Mostly years. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ok, ok.... always years. So much so, I'd never released any lyrics I'd penned. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There I said it!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But with Murali's song this time, I had a mission; to write something that I knew would be released almost immediately. It was not going to have the luxury of morphing from brick, to wall, to house. It was not going to get lost amidst books I'd read over the years, to be found and worked on, later. This one was going to be out there for all to see.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One week of sleepless nights later, the song was out on You Tube. I felt satisfied, having allowed my words to spill from paper, to You Tube, to radio.<br />
<br />
A select set of Tamil writers and orators from whom I had sought inspiration and counsel over the years, were the first ones to compliment the lyrics for ANBE AAYIRAM AASAIGAL. I felt a sense of relief, being blessed with approvals from those who've led the way in Tamil writing and speaking.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
But most of all, my thanks to Mr. Unni and Murali, both of whom saw something special enough, to shine some light on!<br />
<br />
In summary, it appears that a singer needs all of 30 minutes in persuasive speech, to step into uncharted territory and assume a new role! That was indeed an adrenaline rush of sorts. Hmmm.... But I wonder if I will ever do it again!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMVQb5JGmSAy927XZDEHFQ82UIdv8bsBQtg5uggCGp1R1iYJbwzzQ2NO7mkTM9rhdwH1gJq-dbD4KA4OAu7dnK05IyvmX40H3NHS6KmlrbW5RTN8_gx_-8Hs4QGZ_53UGxxPhW2Cov5Vf/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMVQb5JGmSAy927XZDEHFQ82UIdv8bsBQtg5uggCGp1R1iYJbwzzQ2NO7mkTM9rhdwH1gJq-dbD4KA4OAu7dnK05IyvmX40H3NHS6KmlrbW5RTN8_gx_-8Hs4QGZ_53UGxxPhW2Cov5Vf/s320/Slide1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-23335529543298080302016-12-01T12:54:00.001+05:302016-12-01T13:04:46.514+05:30My First Cover on YouTube! - And it's not in Tamil, but Malay!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dear friends, fans, visitors,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nCcz-i6nm3w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nCcz-i6nm3w?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yes, I know it's been a while. I have no grand excuses or clever stories to explain my long hiatus. Just one word: Life! And amidst all that, this video comes along. If you asked me a year ago, covers were not the first thing on my mind. My family and sometimes even colleagues at work had asked before, "why not explore a Kolly-, Bolly-pop song and do a cover"? Covers somehow felt "less" - like I was standing on a stool to look over a wall rather than climbing it and earning the scenery for my effort. I felt it wasn't something I can sound unique with. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But then, I met <i>this</i> song. I met the people behind <i>this</i> song, starting with Krish, who serenaded Mirip's audiences with his compositions. And then there was Toi (who though I've only seen in AF before), whose words felt like they fit the brief of the song like a glove. In summary, it was love at first note. And this cover seemed right. Not less, not more. Just right. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another attraction towards Wahai was that I felt for once, I was not peering over the wall standing on a stool, but was BEING the stool. Why? Because I realized so few people were doing covers of this lovely creation in spite of the artistry of it all! It felt right to step in at the time I did, and do this for the artistes who poured into making music. The only cover I found of this song was by a lovely lass called Nadia Fharshah. Check her out too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If by the time you read this there is another one online, I think it would be like giving the creators of this song, a thumbs up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Love always, to all striving artistes, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Shobha</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
P.S. I get no ad revenue from this effort. Just your love. And really, that is enough.Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-77635599654789160352014-04-28T15:10:00.000+05:302014-05-29T23:36:32.630+05:30TV Reality, Reality TV!My first memories of being on TV are those from early reality TV in Malaysia. These were the first attempts by Malaysia at creating reality TV content for the Tamil speaking audience; I was on Paadal Thiran Potti 2002. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeBaxQWzcq66t_Uqo_4qHmZeB2tkDnxEAT3mEu9EykAQiJD7ScaoF0H90MqXuq4X2WhJfG1SCScs6mVzmS-K60gt3bkFzrh2U67QwsuCSHAAQwmznI3TQX7bKg7yYTGh2O2iinrPXCJsM/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeBaxQWzcq66t_Uqo_4qHmZeB2tkDnxEAT3mEu9EykAQiJD7ScaoF0H90MqXuq4X2WhJfG1SCScs6mVzmS-K60gt3bkFzrh2U67QwsuCSHAAQwmznI3TQX7bKg7yYTGh2O2iinrPXCJsM/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
Like any dejected reality artiste and aspiring singer, I cried hopelessly when I failed the quarter finals. Funny thing is I tried half-heartedly in 2003 and got selected again. In those days, no back story was done, so I had nothing to sell myself with, on the show. The experience was still new to me in 2003, but this time I expected little from a TV show which seemed more interested in ratings than talent. That was a strange concept to me then, but is something I realise only now, was an issue Indian talent programmes in Malaysia grappled with, having no reference point other than AI at the time, no format creation guide and no specialist reality show consultant. Today all that is availed upon an approved budget in TV, I guess.<br />
<br />
I was voted out by the then esteemed public-voting method which again, today, is not a preferred selection method at quarter finals in reality singing competitions around the world, including Malaysia. Why? Because the public has gradually realised that it is not as equipped with a skill as fine as that of a specialist in a certain talent, to gauge the artistry of an <i>aspiring</i> actor, singer, model or chef! That and the then weaker economics of digital entertainment. Few people voted in those days via sms among the Indian masses, which this show was meant to appeal to. But public voting was used and if the contestant did not prompt tonnes of friends to vote them in, you were only going to garner what I term "genuine" votes, i.e. votes of those who genuinely listened and liked a performer. There was no FB and Twitter, remember?<br />
<br />
In any case, once I was out in 2003, I thought I'd lost all chance of being an artiste. I was wrong. Against the odds, again, TV selected me for shows for Merdeka, for shows needing talent in classical Indian vocal music etc. I thought that with such limited opportunity in the Malaysian commercial music scene for vernacular artistes, I'd have to just continue my corporate career until my end. But no - I was 'found' by those wanting a good recording voice. Radio commercial - check. Recording artiste for album - check. Musical theatre - check. Interesting - and there I thought tv viewers voting singers in or out had written me off as a singer. Wrong!<br />
<br />
The music education I took on my own ringgit starting 1998 in India, and the various performance opps I considered lessons in experience, paid off when in 2006, I got entry in Madras University for my Masters in Indian Music. The rest of my story up until 2009, when Bernama interviewed me, is <a href="http://education.bernama.com/index.php?sid=news_content&id=419582">here.</a><br />
<br />
It's been a ride worth taking and as time passes, the journey gets even more interesting. Peaks and troughs. Ups and downs. And they're all here to stay. <br />
<br />
I finally turned towards music and away from the life of a corporate employee. Or did I?<br />
<br />
Today however, I shall say no more. More to come, my friends. I've a feeling I can let my story unravel itself - in TV, in recording music, in writing, in survival, in prayer, in forgiveness, in humility and in gratitude. But revealing all at once dulls the taste for drama. So here's a piece, no more.<br />
<br />
Just stay tuned. ;-)<br />
<br />Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-81517875705572375472014-03-17T12:07:00.004+05:302014-06-18T14:34:28.554+05:30“Shobha-approved” Top Ten Indian Wedding Vendors 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY7Ju7y4adbAit5E2ARaxPVkg9TrsNt3h-CDxCHCHVF0us5Gs9lKtWmuM22v5b1T2K4I1E4D_uyUtPvUTcB8D2Z7qKrqC1HZvPUY-sLk9KMA8TR7MkGeU_-RZZm0JID9d-k5EzyoUbeur/s1600/IMG_7652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_125208="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY7Ju7y4adbAit5E2ARaxPVkg9TrsNt3h-CDxCHCHVF0us5Gs9lKtWmuM22v5b1T2K4I1E4D_uyUtPvUTcB8D2Z7qKrqC1HZvPUY-sLk9KMA8TR7MkGeU_-RZZm0JID9d-k5EzyoUbeur/s1600/IMG_7652.JPG" height="320" lta="true" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3 style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="color: #fce5cd;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Besides the non-negotiable ingredient, i.e. a loving groom, a bride looks for the best wedding vendors to make her happy on her big day!</i></span></h3>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->Engagement, Wedding & Reception location: Malaysia. <br />
Vendors: Malaysia and India.</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Feb, Mar 2014<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">It appears that every bride goes through a learning curve. I am not talking about the advent of married life hitting you like a ton of bricks. Well, that is inevitable. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">The part I talk of, is the wisdom slowly acquired upon engaging vendors for a wedding. Good ones, rotten ones, accommodative ones, affordable ones, arrogant ones, rude ones, diligent ones, memorable ones and ones you’d rather have not met.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">I had three events; engagement, wedding and dinner reception. I cannot recommend all the vendors from all the events as not everyone deserves a Shobha-approved stamp!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">So, here’s my list of best bridal vendors in order of superb-ness!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSiriqCeGRc94lgthfv6n8ghfyEA1nF0Aa3HtbINdMD3run6NwkFyLkdy8DGpsPBZDn2blymHU02uwPmNfwyTnBFNkq-Tt3kRGzRUTtC-_zAh0XanCZukkWW9vjWgU8587-T0DWj7GIPQ/s1600/IMG_8155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_125208="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSiriqCeGRc94lgthfv6n8ghfyEA1nF0Aa3HtbINdMD3run6NwkFyLkdy8DGpsPBZDn2blymHU02uwPmNfwyTnBFNkq-Tt3kRGzRUTtC-_zAh0XanCZukkWW9vjWgU8587-T0DWj7GIPQ/s1600/IMG_8155.JPG" height="133" lta="true" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Saree Blouse Designer and Tailor</span> </span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">for engagement, wedding and reception - Navira Tailor, Brickfields, KL. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Led by a vibrant Mrs. Rajah, this tailor promised (and delivered!) quality work. She even professionally undid the horrendous work of a so-called celebrity tailor I engaged in Ernakulam, and re-constructed my blouse by using the orginal blouse piece material, with absolutely no visible flaws! Any tailor who can undo the disastrous handiwork I brought back from India (for my engagement, wedding and reception), deserves commendation in my book! Navira Tailor deserves the first “Shobha-approved” stamp! Contact me for her number.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAatjC4YwLwBFnPHejn6qFMpo4i7oHeFcNeEB2xE-Rvz4HjPllW8uyEhGPWBGQMhFDBY7nTnPBYVknJ9yuC-90AFEUUDx0bhPBXsDkwVq4Gdw9ThjXobp37WdVtvY2wU8qOfUfrJHobgpY/s1600/IMG_7661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAatjC4YwLwBFnPHejn6qFMpo4i7oHeFcNeEB2xE-Rvz4HjPllW8uyEhGPWBGQMhFDBY7nTnPBYVknJ9yuC-90AFEUUDx0bhPBXsDkwVq4Gdw9ThjXobp37WdVtvY2wU8qOfUfrJHobgpY/s1600/IMG_7661.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a>
<li><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Venue Decorators</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> at reception – Sareenpaal Creatives. They were not interested in a long sales talk that my bridal deco vendor experience had until then, reeked of. These guys just did their job and did it well. I asked for samples and they did not guide me to any physical studio, which would have wasted half my day. Instead, they sent me options based on my specific deco requests, via whatsapp, with photos! Choosing was thus made easy. They had a positive can-do attitude about my suggestions and did not pressure add-on stuff just to inflate my bill. They respected my love for minimalism and even suggested how I could keep cost low. Now that is a trait every bride and her groom cannot disregard in recommending vendors. Second “Shobha-approved” stamp goes to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/SareenPaal-CreativesMalaysian-Apna-PunjabBollywood-Dance-Academy/171660652845014" target="_blank">Sareenpaal Creatives</a>. </span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: orange;"> </span></span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Wedding Dinner Saree</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Jayalakshmi Silks, Trishur. I know a Textile shop is not a service-based vendor. Or is it?! The service I received at Jayalakshmi in Trishur and Kochi(India) were a notch above the rest in India. The personable staff, impeccable service and choice of dreamy sarees gave me the kind of experience that every bride wishes for, during her bridal shopping. My saree was a hit with the groom, our families, my tailors, my photographer, my makeup artiste, my saree-draper and even my launderette! Everywhere this champagne studded lame gold, thread work saree went, it received gasps! Best part – it cost me far less than it would, to buy one exported out of India. That is, if at all by some miracle, it were available in local stores. Well done, Jayalakshmi. <a href="http://www.jayalakshmisilks.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jayalakshmisilks.com/</a></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Make Up and Hair</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> – I had three different ones, one for each of my events. I attended 6 trials – so I have experienced 6 vendors and dare say I have sampled enough to know what I am talking about. The only makeup and hair artiste I would recommend of them all would be Cut Above @ BV II (artiste/stylist Pink), who did both my makeup and hair for my engagement. The others I considered were typically affordably priced, as she is. But my grouse isn’t on price; Though all vendors’ skills and price were at par with each other’s, Pink at Cut Above beat the other vendors at attitude, service levels, reliability, professionalism and speed. <a href="http://acutabove.com.my/" target="_blank">http://acutabove.com.my/</a></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Wedding video montage</span> </span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">– Mr. Kannan (contact available upon request), came through for us where so many others claimed a week between the wedding and reception was too short to produce a video montage. Jaws dropped at the reception dinner because skeptics had earlier concluded that Mr. Kannan would not be ready given his low prices. They had to eat their words when at the reception dinner, the video montage played on repeat, on a projection screen! His pricing and attitude are bankable. His commitment thrilled my groom and our family members.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Door Gift </span></b></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">–<a href="http://www.magnetking.my/" target="_blank"> Magnetking.com</a> was perfect for my groom and me. My groom is an artiste and I am a writer of sorts. I proposed fridge magnets with a variety of wordings thanking my guests, alongside prints of my groom’s had drawn art. The company took the order and produced these within no time. No fuss, no hassle – at less than RM1.50 a piece for 300 dinner guests. And these are items your guests will find useful to pin up notes and lists on their frideges. It also has my personal messages to them so taht they know that their presence is appreciated. Best of all - no mess of handling messy cupcakes or melting chocolates.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlMjXQv6L5v-_ePyVgvDst498zlEE6yoYESLjGtDen153y2ZjuVrNhsoC08E1Wq3Ksoux7yLhMP6nOorf-D4UBqdxYgeoL8EqA-0YWFwKNDaon0WfqXZm6EGtE617-68Rjgc6vTZPenbk/s1600/doorgift+-+pink+to+match+deco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlMjXQv6L5v-_ePyVgvDst498zlEE6yoYESLjGtDen153y2ZjuVrNhsoC08E1Wq3Ksoux7yLhMP6nOorf-D4UBqdxYgeoL8EqA-0YWFwKNDaon0WfqXZm6EGtE617-68Rjgc6vTZPenbk/s1600/doorgift+-+pink+to+match+deco.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Wedding Cake</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> - Suguna Creative Cakes is owned by an effervescent Mrs. Suguna who revels in the art of making special-occasion cakes. She made us a three tier pink and white butter cake, in theme with my dinner deco colours. I was tied up with so much to do, that I all I did was give her a verbal description of what I wanted. She intelligently <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>used just that and her own creativity to bake her masterpiece. She kept the cost affordable but gave us the best possible<b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">taste</i></b> that caused guests to rave about her cake on the way home. She also went beyond her call of duty and recommended Magnetking to us. We now call her our <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“resourceful aunty<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sugunacreativecakes"> Suguna</a>”! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sugunacreativecakes" target="_blank"></a></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: orange;"> </span></span></span></span></b><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Saree-draper</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> - Now this is a service you don’t see advertised very often. But make no mistake, it is big business in Malaysia. Brides needing this service come from modern and traditional families. Typically, those in Malaysia who have delved in traditional dance forms </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">(whether of modern or traditional upbringing), </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">learn saree-draping as it is woven into their dance lesson. The rest of us, despite being able to boast a strong base in traditional arts such as in singing or instrument-playing, are often detached from the art unless we happen to wear the garment every day! We Malaysian women often get away with moderate saree-draping skills by intermittently opting for other Indian attire such as Salwar Khameez or Lehengas. Saree-draping has been thus not a compulsory skill to acquire. Corp jobs require more pant suits and skirts than the flowing saree. But the occasional traditional occasion throws us a surprise every now and then. Hence the newfound career for many beauticians, in saree-draping. My artful draper did a good job for my wedding and engagement, and draped sarees for many others who managed to queue for their turn once the bride was done. He deserves mention. Here’s to every woman’s best friend at an Indian wedding; Mr. Joseph of Petaling Jaya (contact available upon request)! </span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Wedding card</span> </span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">– Often forgotten about once the wedding planning is underway, the card is the first step to kick-starting the event! Shippraas at Brickfields was easy to deal with. We told them we wanted them to print the card as per our design, and they were willing to negotiate on price with us. No delay. No drama. No hidden costs. Tel: +603 22721290</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Catering</span> </span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">- We used <a href="http://www.littlecaterers.com/" target="_blank">Little Caterers</a> at all 3 events and had no complaints other than the fact the sales person was usually hard to reach. However, once we got him, he was easy to work with. The food got great reviews and they lived up to their reputation with both, the vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d love to name my other makeup/ hair artistes, my AV vendor etc, but really, the names above are the only ones I’d put my money on without a doubt. They are all “Shobha-approved”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">The rest, predominantly one of the makeup artistes, was hard to deal with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also those who never made my vendor list as they were never shortlisted to begin with ;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a card vendor, several caterers, etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">If I had a list of who <u>NOT</u> to hire, I’d have their names on it, starting with a Malaysian Indian hair / makeup artiste who seemingly made up many television and film stars at her shop in Brickfields. She had skilled hands but was not able to keep appointments, produced only a verbal pricelist, tried to wrangle more money than I had paid for services within her package and was polite only until her deposit was banked in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d love to tell you who she is, but <b>remember I talked about the vendors I would “rather have not met”</b> in my first para? This is one of them. So, I'd rather forget her existance. Well, it depends – if you’re getting married and desperately need to know who she is, so that you don’t repeat my mistake, just ask me nicely….</span></div>
Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-79686248399977935662013-09-12T16:08:00.002+05:302013-09-30T20:47:52.334+05:30The Anti Designer Handbag Revolution<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's time for an Anti Designer Handbag Revolution, I say! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just this past week, there have been 3 snatch thefts. First a friend's friend engrossed in a Mee Siam at a local food stall, then a colleague whose car side-mirror was smashed into, to yank her Coach bag out. And then the last straw was my neighbour's Miu Miu at the red light on a busy street.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's it! I'm done with the quest for a new designer-labeled, statement-making handbag. I am fine with my old Poloz... Benettini...Vinzi whatever-it-is! It's one of those bags nobody looks at or aspires to have after a bonus payout. It's a squishy-squashy black canvassy-beanbag-lookalike with more zips than compartments. No brand you'd want to hear about. The icing on that cake would be the unsightly navy-blue handle which conveniently slides on and off your shoulder with a single yank. The bag does does fine whether I swing it over my shoulder, carry it daintily on the crease of my elbow or just grasp the handle like it were a tiny briefcase. The basis of my love for it is that I know it is the least sightly among its counterparts in any female social setting. The Old Frump's the underdog!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My girlfriends often hint to me that some sale is on , in the hope that I'd scurry over to buy a Prada or a Miu Miu or any other high browed brand. And sometimes, I want to hold what they hold, to feel the priceless caress of Italian leather. But wait - I think Chien's bag is China-made like many bags out there that masquerade as Italian made masterpieces! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe it is time for the anti-designer handbag revolution. It is not<i> just</i> because I am resisting the temptation to buy and own excruciatingly high priced goods on a sadly average income. Well I AM! But that is not the only driver here. ~hmmmpf~ I believe that if we all decide to lay off expensive-looking bags, in Malaysia, that could be a life-saver! No more snatch theft worry! I know some of you must be amused or bemused reading that. But those of you who've been through the agony of a smashed side-window, a break-in or a mugging will quickly agree with me - even if you do so with discreet silence, in accordance with social decorum and in the interest of false reverence for the uppity designer brand. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would love to also imagine that a drop in demand for designer bags could lower the price, indirectly affording me and all my average-income buddies one. And in an ideal world, no victims of cheap labour or child, would have suffered the brunt of price drops. Instead, it would be the result of efficient supply-chains and moderated capitalism. And if everyone starts carrying a cheap designer bag, then I'd like to argue that thieves wouldn't benefit from snatch theft anymore, huh? A little reductionist my theory is, I know. But hey, as I mentioned at the start of the para, "I would love to imagine". Besides, if a widespread revolution like this has never been sparked in my neck of the woods, should we be quick to dismiss it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I admit, in any case, I cannot do completely without a bag of sorts, even if it means hauling my Old Frump. I do know however, that though I am not guaranteed complete safety against snatch theft, that at least she looks like the weakest horse in the race, that no one would want to bet on. Meanwhile, the labyrinth of zippers creates an additional repulsion for the thief which I would not earn even at the highest of designer handbag prices! With security systems like that, who'd want a designer bag?! :-D</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hence begins my trial period of the Anti Designer Handbag Revolution. And now I pray. That I may successfully resist the temptation.</span>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-3369811982263127522013-09-06T15:15:00.001+05:302013-09-07T22:17:26.768+05:30Shobha Vocalist for Malaysian TV2 Drama Series (Alarum Pookal) Montage Song <a href="https://soundcloud.com/tiban-1/alarum-pookal-featuring-shobha" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click here to listen to SHOBHA JANARDANAN </span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear reader, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a soundtrack sung for a 13 episode Malaysian Indian made drama series that will be aired on terrestrial tv. The song title and the drama series title are the same - Alarum Pookal .</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Drama Title: Alarum Pookkal (3 Doctors)</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Channel: RTM TV2</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Starring: Bala Ganapathi William - BGW</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> (Hero), Nazira Ibrahim </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">(Heroine) & Seelan Manoheran, Jegan, Aghonderan Sahadevan II, Kishok Kumar, Singer Manivannan Subramaniam, Suthakar Zack, Gayathri Moorthi, Pritha, Priyanka Letchumanan, Rathii Rajagopal, Kogila, Banu, Bavani-Minnal FM and many more.</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Production: Radical Media Sdn Bhd</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Directon: Alliyar Kutty </span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Music: Tiban, </span> <b>Vocals: Shobha Janardanan</b><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span style="line-height: 18px;">DOP: MG Kumar</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for listening. Lots of love.</span>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-6116719303658853042013-08-21T16:07:00.000+05:302013-08-21T16:10:05.194+05:30Shobha's Book Reviews (Just Humour Me!)<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shobha has reviewed eight books recently written and published by high achiever ex-employees of homegrown companies in country X. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To be brickbat-free, the reviews (and books themselves) will not be shared in public. This is to protect the the writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, companies mentioned and the identities of the over-compensated subcontractors. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQocQ2Nm5cImlhcogMkm1DxmNHP47A6HyToIHPFnL-Cpl8CaiGGMSdTUd5WmVuwYB8VNdFHmFl2oE6jAOze7KIHB8euSklSGjYu8pO-vp4Hngscj3se6-9rF4qJVOgafzSvC8onXyuGfjo/s1600/face.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQocQ2Nm5cImlhcogMkm1DxmNHP47A6HyToIHPFnL-Cpl8CaiGGMSdTUd5WmVuwYB8VNdFHmFl2oE6jAOze7KIHB8euSklSGjYu8pO-vp4Hngscj3se6-9rF4qJVOgafzSvC8onXyuGfjo/s1600/face.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Entities referred to in these books, bear no intentional resemblance to any entity dead or alive in any country, dead or alive. Any similarity is intentionally coincidentally intentional.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. <b>Communication: Be Vague or Something Like</b> It <i>by May Bee </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. <b>How to Excel at Mediocrity: Take It Down A Notch</b> <i>by Relak Singh </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. <b>How to Excel at Mediocrity II: Work After Hours </b><i>by Relak Singh </i>(Audiobook available for non-readers) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4.<b> Get That Increment: Pass the Buck for Bigger Bucks</b> <i>by Hugh Dewitte </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. <b>Plan to Execute... Your Best People</b> <i>by Usen Throw </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6.<b> Learn to Burn the Intern</b><i> by Jaswant Slave </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7.<b> 'Dog In the Manger': Every Selfish Employer's Guide </b><i>by Ivin Yuloos </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">8. <b> Sub-contract for a Better Lifestyle</b><i><b> </b>by Lay Tze Guy </i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To those who've taken this note seriously, please take a chill pill. It's not about you, your company or your country. Honest. :-) </span></span>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-85215833245901694712013-06-30T21:49:00.000+05:302013-06-30T21:49:19.914+05:30Femina India Catches Up with Malaysian singer, Shobha Janardanan (2013)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNg-qQ1lLIw0gOC72JxJU9p6a5kTsvL5Zx7rWw7ib_PxRwKTk2Ts40qTkd8Ue-BsKbg32KE3F31UvTkK68D1k8nExHBV_wKlC-b459vm-J7n_2sYyL0XY7S2HJzz2i0_reGLcgX1Jx2wXt/s1012/Just+Passing+152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNg-qQ1lLIw0gOC72JxJU9p6a5kTsvL5Zx7rWw7ib_PxRwKTk2Ts40qTkd8Ue-BsKbg32KE3F31UvTkK68D1k8nExHBV_wKlC-b459vm-J7n_2sYyL0XY7S2HJzz2i0_reGLcgX1Jx2wXt/s640/Just+Passing+152.jpg" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shobha's vocal samples on Soundcloud :<br />https://soundcloud.com/jshobha28/carnatic-singer-attempts-dream<br />https://soundcloud.com/jshobha28/jingle-support-children-with<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-78141309577493410692013-05-20T14:11:00.001+05:302013-05-20T14:18:32.602+05:30Jingle - Shobha and Jay - duet - "For the children" - ASTRO VaanavilFirst of many shares to come... Enjoy!<br />
<a href="http://soundcloud.com/jshobha28/jingle-shobha-and-jay-duet-for?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=blogger&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/jshobha28/jingle-shobha-and-jay-duet-for">Jingle - Shobha and Jay - duet - "For the children" - ASTRO Vaanavil</a>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-67075957361942556572013-02-01T12:24:00.000+05:302013-05-18T14:17:50.075+05:30Guess What? We're Still Here!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Shobha JANARDANAN </span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ramblings post-doomsday. Why? Because I can! </span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><b>Armageddon outa here!</b> <br /><br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I booked my flight tickets in September for 2012 December Music Season, my mother wanted me to confirm if I would be in India or in on flight, during the much talked about “21st December 2012”. She was, like many innocent consumers of media prophecy (that foretells of an imminent Armageddon), a little worried. If you watch some TV channels you will know </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">what I mean</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the - the supposed scientific calculations by </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ancient beings,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the prepper shows,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the mapping of actual events to prophecies past. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Somewhere in an abandoned corner of my mind, despite a supposed lack of faith in the media’s interpretation of Mayan Prophecy, I was contemplating a choice of activities for my last hours. Apparently, having been born into a family that consults astrologers for everything from buying a home to removing an ingrown nail, I had acquired a fear that accompanies seekers of truth via prophecy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><b>A Winter Solstice Brings Bad Tidings </b><br /><br /><br />On December 21st, to the relief of my mother the world remained intact. But a beautiful Carnatic nightingale lost her husband to suicide and the word in town was that the singer cancelled all her concerts for the entire Season. I was in Chennai - for the very purpose of enjoying the Music Season! A great name in music suffered a loss, and we her fans lost a Season of heartfelt renditions! No one <i>predicted</i> this incident, and yet, no fan in media asked ‘why’ in a traditional culture that is steeped in vedic astrology. They only watched TV reports which stated fact. No prophecies were quoted.<br /><br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The shock of the incident reverberated throughout the musical community and I met many tearing fans as I queued for various artistes’ shows, or caught up with old friends over filter-kapi. Personally, I felt a little attached to the tragedy myself, as the family was known to me, during a brief but profoundly educational period I spent with a late doyenne of Carnatic music. The doyenne in question, the affectionately-called Amma, was the grandmother of the widowed singer. When Amma was alive, there was not a day in class when her prized achievement of a grand-daughter, was not mentioned with love. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br />I felt a little sick in a way I cannot articulate, and am still wondering how no revered traditional astrologer was consulted prior to the recent widow’s marriage.Or, if I had presumed wrong and astrologers were indeed consulted, why had they not predicted, such a catastrophic eventuality for this talented diva! If predicted, could the incident have been averted?<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>The Future is Nigh </b><br /><br /><br />The Mayan Prophecy for one, seemed to fade into the background with most folk, including mom - and myself as January 2013 approached. The lack of faith I had in the Mayan Prophecy as interpreted by documentaries and news channels on television, was now validated. <br /><br /><br />In this world where every seer boasts prowess in prediction, I guess no one prophesized that Illayaraja would be commended for (1) experimental music by the revered Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2012, (2) shortly after the world it seemed, was supposed to end. Well, not in the news anyway. So, I itch to know if Illayaraja was given a heads-up in private by his personal astrologer. Perhaps he knew that he would win a prestigious award in 2012 and that the funny thing is that the astrologer would have had to predict this win for sometime just after the Mayans apparently drew the curtain on the world - the latter being the widely announced prophecy by docu makers on say <i>Inter</i>national Geographic* or <i>Un</i>covery* channels! <br /><br /><br />In any event, it appears nothing bypasses the astrologer if you consult him (or her) in retrospect. Suddenly there is a reason for everything, an exception to every rule of prediction and a justification for why something did not go as foretold. Basically, if the prediction is true, he says "I told you so!". If it isn't, he says, "Well, some things are God's will". And yet astrology thrives! It's just like how we still watch tweaked versions of prophecies on TV, well after Dec 2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can't go around blaming the media's version of prophecy anymore. Or the astrologer. It's those of us who condone soothsaying, prophecy and prophetic tv programming that need a little questioning. What say you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>* not real tv channel names - obviously!</i></span>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India13.060422 80.2495830000000312.565430500000002 79.604136000000025 13.5554135 80.895030000000034tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-85057577959123257062012-05-26T17:39:00.001+05:302013-02-17T00:03:25.068+05:30My Performance - Indian Traditional/ Classical Compositions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tBwsMznh0Pc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBwsMznh0Pc"></a>
It was an honour to sing at an event to mark the release of a documentary DVD titiled "200 years of Malaysian Indians" in Jalan Ipoh, on 17 May 2012. Accompanying me is Aaron Paige, Wesleyan University.Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-65073730986125927142012-02-06T21:08:00.003+05:302013-02-16T15:01:07.992+05:30MY RECENTLY RECORDED TRACK - tamil song<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QuSwKSjXh-A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Here's a track I recorded recently. Needless to say, a ballad is far from what people would expect my first youtube "publication" to be, considering that I mostly gravitate to classical, semi classical and devotional renditions.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, it may lead me to learn about my own musical flavours through experimentation. The song was recorded in a friend's lounge area, which holds a mic, keyboard and system that has churned out many other similar projects for others in similar modes of experimentation. <br />
<br />
Hope you enjoy it!Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-78246421448983549932012-01-28T12:26:00.005+05:302012-01-28T19:29:14.403+05:30Paper Banana Leaves in Restaurants; Progress Gone WrongA local (Malaysian) Indian restaurant has decided to serve food on PAPER banana leaves! Today's THE STAR, page 3! <br /><br />Why do I feel people are moving backwards in Malaysia? I don't peg myself for a tree hugger, but this is just too embarrassing to ignore.<br /><br />The point of banana leaves is that they are biodegradable. Our forefathers in India knew that. Hence its widespread priority as a use-and-throw "plate". The leaf also accentuates aromas and taste. Nasi lemak packagers all over Malaysia know that. If the leaves are scarce, grow more banana trees, with your fellow restaurantiers! The last time I checked, Malaysia was near the equator. <br /><br />If it is too expensive to clean leaves individually, clean them the way they do in India; Each customer is given a cup of water and it's sprinkled on the leaf. This is then shrugged off the leaf or wiped off it, by the customer. <br /><br />Indians and their culture have always been seen to promote green living - and not by way of building multi-million dollar structures that harness solar power via large panels, or hybrid cars that cost the user an arm and a leg. Like other old cultures around the world, India boasts self cooling mud huts that keep inhabitants cool in hot climates, green bean body scrubs that don't cause chemical soap suds to flow into sewers and voila, the humble banana leaf to eat on!<br /><br />The spokesperson of the restaurant claims that the paper leaves are biodegradable. True, if the leaves are NOT placed in a landfill for 2.5 months, which is the time the "paper" leaf needs to decompose. By using the term "biodegradable" very loosely, it is sometimes a little easy to avoid scrutiny. A real definition of biodegradable is available at http://www.ecolife.com/define/biodegradable.html<br /><br />How profit driven my Malaysian brothers have become, scares me! Sadly, I feel that if this restaurant has its way, soon others in Malaysia will follow, citing the first restaurant as a precedent. Progress, this isn't!<br /><br />The article on the use of paper leaves in The Star, pg. 3<br />http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/28/nation/10557826&sec=nation#13277585889211&if_height=467Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-8019918994995348402011-12-28T12:21:00.006+05:302011-12-28T14:10:50.465+05:30Jakarta Calling<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITNk6Deofr2o9q27b1GJ6Ojm76rsbK7XUFPzrBGsO5pQiGsHk98AvQk9mUzk8K56gDJytiq5C_cjKTTB3ULNdIwIRDpwBFu3ZFdwq8yHBH6RQKRJf8nGVKgWFwepPYL9jRxtylmzQjML3/s1600/logo-ojek.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 194px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITNk6Deofr2o9q27b1GJ6Ojm76rsbK7XUFPzrBGsO5pQiGsHk98AvQk9mUzk8K56gDJytiq5C_cjKTTB3ULNdIwIRDpwBFu3ZFdwq8yHBH6RQKRJf8nGVKgWFwepPYL9jRxtylmzQjML3/s200/logo-ojek.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691094080769146578" /></a><br />If you had told me ten years ago that I'd holiday in Jakarta, I'd have responded with the question, "Why?".<br /><br />But here I am ten years into the future telling you about my break in Jakarta, a city that surprised me, inspired me and most of all welcomed me, answering "Why not?". Granted this isn't my first trip to Jakarta to be awed by its novelties, nor is it my first blog on it. But it is indeed 2011, two years since my last visit. Some opinions of the city got reaffirmed. Others, newly formed. In any case, it felt "new" again.<br /><br />The first thing that struck me about the city (just like in 2009!), is how I felt about it. Being a very "touchy feely" sort of person, I often intuit my surroundings quickly, before I adjust behaviour or acclamatise to a new environemnt. My first feel of Jakarta was that it reminded me of Kuala Lumpur in the 1980s, when people were simpler, warmer and had more time. Amidst the high rise wonders and sleek, stylish malls, the people remained starkly simple. The economist would immediately attribute this to poverty and population; The entire Malaysian population fits in Jakarta alone. The artiste and the vagabond will immediately tell you however, that the people there wear their hearts on their sleeves and are not afraid to be who they really are. It is perhaps that energy that led me to soon feel as though I was accepted as an Indonesian, just as I had spoken one meagre sentence of the language. I felt little need thus, to adjust my behaviour to fit in, was minimal. Another deja-vu created, was by the greenery that co-exists inspite of skeel malls and high rise buildings.<br /><br />Unlike other Malaysians, I seek to make a quick comparison to the other city that is close to my heart besides KL; Chennai, the home of my music education. The one thing that stood out as a great advantage to the traveller in Jakarta was that running AC taxis are available. <blockquote><strong>Yes, the traffic is horrendous as it can be in most third world cities. But the luxury of running taxis and that too, in tiers according to afordability, quickly creates options for travellers</strong>.</blockquote> In case that wasn't enough in terms of being sensitive to the public's needs, there is also the "ojek", or motorcycle taxi! This is the answer to beating the traffic at all costs! :-D Though not a viable option for all ocassions, still, it gives me the impression that the country is opening up to the advent of market forces. In comparison, in Chennai, if you wanted a running cab, you'd be left to a running auto-rickshaw, which means no AC and far less safety. My elderly mother naturally made a remark about how much easier it was to holiday with my Jakarta-resident brother than to do so with me in Chennai. Of course, it did leave me a little defensive about 'my' Chennai. I quickly retorted saying that the Nano could soon phase-out the entire auto-rickshaw presence and was happy to have had the last word. In my mind of course, the question remained whether Jakarta, though not my choice for a holiday if I wanted to attend the Margazhi Music Season, was indeed the answer to many families' budget trips that wanted all-year-round easy travel and a dab of culture entwined in a single trip.<br /><br />Speaking of culture, another fact that made me feel entirely at home in Jakarta was their acceptance of ALL cultural and religious influences on their nation to date. <strong>They displayed Sanskrit inscripted stones and script even older than that, from the Hindu Tarumanagara Civilization.</strong> While their artifact preservation techniques in say the Fattahilah Museum (Kota)are questionable in my view, the acceptance of their history is show of true character and interest in knowing themselves. <br /><br />Character is not only endowed by their heritage but also their deep rooted lives in visually inspiring, hand crafted art. Steeped in a culture of using their hands, this is no wonder! You can see statues in metal, erected throughout the city, depicting Hindu Mythology, recent ploitical leaders, and simply pieces that present the underlying psych of the people. What's more the use of the people's hands is also evident in the treatment of ailments and in pleasuring the senses - which brings me to the spa / Jamu / Urut culture of the land. It is no surprise thus, that almost every spa treatment outlet I went to, was booked to the brim by locals and foreign visitors alike.<br /><br />Overall, I think coutries like Malaysia and India could perhaps start looking to the gem of South East Asia a little harder; Perhaps they can begin to learn little things that they may have missed out on, while caught up on their journey for acknowledgement on the world map. <br /><br />As for me, in Jakarta, I know that I am one ojek ride away from the next Ramayana based Wayang performance; Pieces of Indian and Malay culture rolled into one? Can't wait!<br /><br /><em>Logo courtesy:http://yellowcis.blogspot.com/2009/08/logo-ojek.html</em><blockquote></blockquote>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-5363106068234230982011-01-17T18:41:00.000+05:302011-01-17T18:41:36.844+05:30Scholarship Promo 3<iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s8yNdV6-NMs?fs=1" frameborder="0"></iframe>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-11236936061203206572010-12-23T12:09:00.009+05:302010-12-24T12:17:52.754+05:30(Music) Season's Greetings : A Concert Fiesta!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacbi4876TucHqiW_h13ZshoERwiXfLeCx_dyvZuangLmb8IbPCscaAqYirjg45UJKS8bJRYwQ8p9AX5w7NG-SKOQZsmm8Zl6TexjALhlRY_DryYb32T0eUV76SRKz-sUPyXeaBUHtSKI2/s1600/2008123050060201.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacbi4876TucHqiW_h13ZshoERwiXfLeCx_dyvZuangLmb8IbPCscaAqYirjg45UJKS8bJRYwQ8p9AX5w7NG-SKOQZsmm8Zl6TexjALhlRY_DryYb32T0eUV76SRKz-sUPyXeaBUHtSKI2/s200/2008123050060201.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553798002675298866" /></a><br />And once again, this Malaysian made her way through the December Music Festival in Chennai, to feed her soul!<br /><br />Strangely, this year felt different - somehow, lots of new singers were given primtetime slots and seasoned faves seemed to sit this season out a little. Very uncharacteristic of the Madras Music Season. My best friend's take is that seasoned musicians are now flying around the world, performing all year round, hence leaving slots open for newbies in Margazhi! A reliable source also informed me that one or two seasoned performers had intentionally decided to be in the audience, rather than take the stage this year, but did not say why the unexpected move was taken specifically <em>this</em> year. Fortunately however, I got the best of the seasonsed and new performers, with a little advanced planning and loads of luck.<br /><br />Chennai was wet, wet, wet! And cold! Riding through the streets in my Fast Track taxi from the airport, it was soon discernible that the city was just recovering from the infamous winter floods that never fail to be reported on local and international primtetime news every year. By the time I'd cruised through Chennai's streets and pulled up to my hotel however, I was absolutely excited at the familiar sights, sounds and smells of Chennai! <br /><br />The next days were nothing short of musically delightful. Starting with friend <strong>Kuldeep Pai's </strong>concert at BVB's mini hall was a great appetiser to the season. One of his best pieces was Ata Modi ( raga: Charukesi), which to me, was a primer of the bliss to come this season! Humbly accepting a warm invite home for lunch next week from the starlet and his wife, I made my way to the bulettin board of BVB to see what was in store for the next day. A session on 'sanskrit in carnatic music' caught my eye on the board and my plans were magically etched for the next day.<br /><br /><br />Following days included one particularly long auto ride to Adyar, to catch the expressively rebellious <strong>OS Arun</strong>. Unfortunately, the concert was predominantly Murugan "songs", rather than krithis, which meant several folk numbers were interspersed into his repertoire. Of course, he never failed to infuse his personal style into these numbers, but an artiste with talent like his always fills out a krithi far better than a small folk number! Nonetheless, I was determined to stay for the full performance and catch the little vocal nuggets he threw into concerts without fail! My conclusion is that this man could sing a nursery rhyme and it would sound out of this world!<br /><br />The start of the season at Music Academy on 15th Dec was a free <strong>TVS</strong> concert which was indeed a treat for me, since I'd not experienced his concerts in Chennai, in the past. As I was recovering from a flu, I was bummed that I'd missed Suguna Varadachari and Shankari Krishnan earlier the same day. In fact, missing those ones led me to haul myself for the evening concert at the academy 'against the odds' - i.e. despite having low energy levels and several spoons of drowsiness-causing cough syrup!<br /><br />The most disappointing part of my trip was making it to Mylapore Fine Arts just in time to be told that <strong>Aruna Sayeeram's </strong>concert was filled to the brim! The only place I could listen to the concert, was in the drizzle outside the gates, amidst auto horns and speeding motorcycles! I noticed that some ardent fans preferred to wait in the wet weather, hoping for seats to free up in the course of the evening. Knowing it was too much of a long shot and a particularly uncomfortable wait in the winter rain, I quickly hailed an auto and made my way to Music Academy. I was glad to have thus caught the tail end of <strong>Kanyakumari and Embar Kannan's </strong>violin treat! Next in the same venue, was <strong>Manda Sudharani</strong>, who took the primetime slot. Curious about this new name in such a coveted slot, I stayed on after the violin concert. I was pleasantly surprised to be engaged from start to finish!<br /><br />Having 'bathed' in musical notes over the last few days, I realised it was time for some left-brain activity. Attending Sumathi Krishnan's lec-dem was a priority the next day. She covered the varieties in varnams - chowka, pada, daru. And as is usual fashion in academy lec-dems, she was mercilessly bombarded by learned scholars, aspiring theorists and seasoned musicologists on her assertions and research.<br /><br />I stayed on for <strong>Savita Narasimhan</strong>, yet another newbie, who amazed me with her melifluous vocals. But I stayed on just until 3.30pm, just in time to make a dash for the NGS main hall concert which I had been waiting for! It was <strong>P. Unnikrishan</strong>! Having proudly and successfully purchased a good seat in his concert, I was one of the first in the queue to enter the hall - availing me the best choice of seats. I was elated. However, when the concert started, I realised I'd been to better katcheris of Unni's in the past. Unfortunately, the percussion was playing over his singing and his sahitya was indiscernible. I was heartbroken, as in the past, this singing sensation had taken me to a plane of bliss that I felt even 3 days after his concert! As some friends told me, he could have been having a bad day. My disappointment of course, was that it was just unfortunate that I had to go all the way to Chennai to see him perform on one of his "bad days"!<br /><br />The next concert made the wound all better! Primtetime in the academy, <strong>Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna</strong>, the (ex)child prodigy who is all grown up now, and still makes waves with every piece he sings! You're awesome, boy! Of course, his pakkavadyam (Mrdangam) Umayalpuram Sivaraman lifted the entire performance another notch! This mrdangist needs neither intro nor praise; Suffice to say "Listen to him once, and you're hooked"!<br /><br />Probably the highlight of the season for me was young <strong>Abhishek Raghuram</strong>, who I first heard in 2008. This chap just keeps growing and growing, musically! He is so creative that he can't help formulating new and beautiful sangathis for krithis, and give every musical mathematician/ mathematical musician a run for his money! If it weren't for squeezing into the Mini Hall at NGS and ducking from enthusiastic thala gestures of excited fans, I may have enjoyed Abhishek even more - if that is at all possible!<br /><br />You can't leave Chennai without one <strong>KJ Jesudas</strong> concert on your itenerary. So I did just that. Thanks to friends, a free ticket was at hand for the concert. Jesudas made his usual magic and left an impression on me with a piece in Reethigowla, followed by another in Devamanohari. Known more for invoking emotion than for technical prowess, I think my soul food quota was filled for the day, despite short falls in kanaku. But that was ok! Variety in katcheris is the spice of life! I guess I was ready to head home, feeling fulfilled for the day.<br /><br />I am however, a tad greedy when it comes to katcheris. So I did not want to pass up the opportunity to avail a dose of <strong>Sikkil Gurcharan</strong> at the Sivagami Petachi Auditorium. He enthralled audience for three hours and is one of the few atistes I've seen who appears to give the concert a "band" feel rather than a solo-performance feel. This is quite (pleasantly!)uncharacteristic of carnatic concerts I've otherwise attended and hence is yet another novelty witnessed this time during the season. I was awestruck as soon as he started his Ranjani RTP which at the pallavi stage, morphed into Sriranjani and then Janaranani before spawning Kharaharapriya. He also challenged the audience by singing a long alapana in a raga some thought resembled Thodi and others knew belonged to the Nethrachakra given G1 and M1. I realised the raga was #11 in the Melakartha, but it was my genius of a university senior who effortlessly whispered "Kokilapriya" into my ear within seconds of the full scale being rendered.<br /><br />Ready for another dose of intellectual nourishment, I attended two lectures; "Harikatha in four south indian states" and "Varnam in Six Kalas", at the music academy. I missed the Suguna Purushotaman concert in Forum, but managed to finally attend <strong>Shankari Krishnan</strong> on my last day, catching her in Thodi-action. It was great that I bumped into about ten people I knew from my uni days that day and made a small reunion out of it! <br /><br />Shortly after, grappling between <strong>Sanjay Subramanyam </strong>and <strong>Bombay Jayshree</strong> to attend, I finally resorted to the former's concert. And boy, did I make the right decision! Though I got a seat on the dias, about 6 feet away from the singer, it was a fabulous experience! I thought it would be uncomfortable, but I can't say I felt disadvantaged even for a second. Sanjay's energy draws you into his performance and he gives you moments when neither you nor he exists! Such is the power of his music. "Who knew Hindolam could be sung like that?!" was all I was thinking as he belted the RTP. And I love the way he never fails to display his thala while singing, making it both, a learning experience as well as a purely-pleasurable one for me.<br /><br />Overall, the season was well-spent where I was concerned. <em>Paatu katcheri and saapaatu katcheri</em>, were equally good. Can't wait for next year's experience!<br /><br /><em>Photo Courtesy: The Hindu</em>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-13865323208830859172010-08-04T12:23:00.014+05:302010-08-04T16:44:02.232+05:30Hobson's Choice: A TV Addict's Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzbD4joXpqMcnDzour_Rc1nZP8d7kpV8PsBlANxSdKXVgYfxrGttyUnR0-t-ixpo69PcRUBm9NbA2lgPQIavhDSUg7ZY99FC8Jw7wGu1ZdJro1rJL6veQ6zABNRh0s-SaCfM2UvRpvasp/s1600/0Y0RJCAE6O3ATCAHNLPY1CAQG6FVQCAH7EO0DCA7EXAYUCA7FLGO0CATW54M9CAULBNKBCAHN3AE6CAC79AV5CA9S8FP1CAR6A2H1CAMTR4CNCAA2B0MJCARHR8KOCA85HCH9CA63II88CAM13IRJCAXWP3DP.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzbD4joXpqMcnDzour_Rc1nZP8d7kpV8PsBlANxSdKXVgYfxrGttyUnR0-t-ixpo69PcRUBm9NbA2lgPQIavhDSUg7ZY99FC8Jw7wGu1ZdJro1rJL6veQ6zABNRh0s-SaCfM2UvRpvasp/s200/0Y0RJCAE6O3ATCAHNLPY1CAQG6FVQCAH7EO0DCA7EXAYUCA7FLGO0CATW54M9CAULBNKBCAHN3AE6CAC79AV5CA9S8FP1CAR6A2H1CAMTR4CNCAA2B0MJCARHR8KOCA85HCH9CA63II88CAM13IRJCAXWP3DP.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501510810989144258" /></a><br /><br />I. WATCH. TV. A. LOT.<br /><br />Do you? Oh! You don't, you say? <br /><br />Well then, don't read ahead, because you wouldn't have a clue as to what I'm saying here.<br /><br />The rest of you TV-addicts, follow me...<br /><br />It's 8pm. A weeknight. Or a weekend. Immaterial, really.<br /><br />You're back from work after several earth-shattering meetings. You're on your couch, recalling a squabble with the attendant at the gas station moments ago, who could not understand that a request for "petrol for 30 ringgit please", does NOT mean he can fill you up for RM 50 and then ask for the remainder with a snooty grin.<br /><br />Ah, but now, you're home, aren't you? And that glorious thing called the TV will slowly bring your heart rate back to where it's meant to be.<br /><br />You turn it on and start the usual surf. The usual being, HB-OWW, Minimax, Supernova Movies, Hallingtonmark, Star Universe, Bayou, Grandad, Hisherstory, Discoveroot and Flox.<br /><br /><strong>MOVIES ON THE REMOTE!</strong><br /><br />Click!<br /><br />"Nope, saw that yesterday."<br />"Nope, saw that last week."<br />"Nope, saw that last Wesak."<br />"Nope, saw that in 2006 - and seven times since! What the...?"<br /><br />Ok, so it seems you're done with the movie channels. You give up and move on.<br /><br /><strong>SITCOMS N' SUCH</strong><br /><br />Maybe some good situational comedy. You enjoy both British and American comedy so long as it isn't in French yeah, so why not checkout your favourite channels for a good hour of laughs.<br /><br />"Huh?! 'American Ideal' again?! Now that the show is over for the season, we have to watch reruns. We ALLLLL know who won already! Please save us the agony of that reality show's rerun!"<br /><br />"NCEyeS...what? Click."<br /><br />"Oh look... Midslumer Murders with not male, but GET THIS - - - FEMALE British detectives! What a twist, I say Jeeves! Move on!"<br /><br /><strong>THE LAST STRAW</strong><br /><br />It's 8.45pm and you've yet to settle on a channel. This is bad. Maybe you should move on to something you can learn from despite weary eyes. Why? Because everything else sucks ...sigh!<br /><br />"Nope, don't want to learn how to build a mosoleum."<br /><br />"Nope, no interest in the immortalisation of Gods in Greek Mythology when we Asians already have enough Gods to populate a small planet, with the same stories - if not more intricate. Yes, a tad ethnocentric there. But someone HAS to be if we're going to get anything Asian on knowledge-oriented channels."<br /><br />"Nope,don't want to see someone pulling out her hair and the world trying to save her from herself."<br /><br />"Hmmm...DEFINATELY don't want to see 15 obese people on bicycles in Finland OR China OR Uranus, now that I've seen the American, Australian and Malaysian versions! Repeatedly!"<br /><br />Click! The TV is switched off. It is now 9pm and you've gone over all your favourite channels and even some other random ones and then back to your faves again.<br /><br />Silence.<br /><br />You ponder your choices - movie at the nearest cinema resulting in a late night and a groggy morning? Or a DVD of Leaonardo Di Cappucino's Interception my aunt left behind on my TV stand last week?<br /><br />What do YOU think?<br /><br />;-)<br /><br /><em>(Any people, places, events, objects, movies,brands or gas stations mentioned in this post are purely fictional and do not intend to bear resemblence to real life. Any resemblence is purely coincidental. Smites here represent those of the blogger and not of any organisation or authority.)</em><br /><br /><em>(Really.)</em>Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-81986495635617420022010-05-30T19:19:00.003+05:302010-05-31T13:17:05.665+05:30Sitiawan Stylo, My HeroSitiawan Stylo was a portly man with a pleasant and somewhat alluring disposition. He often made friends of everyone from big wig corporate men to waiters at the local Chinese restaurant. He was fair-skinned, bordering on a yellowish tan he said he got from his mother. He had a thick head of hair which never seemed to grey and light brown eyes that had a hint of bluish grey at the iris edges. He always saw the glass half full and led others to see the same through his actions and sheer energy. In his later years, it was common for him to have a pack of youngsters around his chair during the holidays, usually seeking his counsel or just basking in the warmth of his affection.<br /><br /><br />1980<br /><br />Sitiawan Stylo accompanied his 6 y.o. daughter to her first kindergarten race. What he did not expect was for the headmistress to suddenly announce a parents’ race as part of the events. Stylo’s daughter knew he knew he had little chance of winning, but instead of backing out of the race he had been randomly picked for, he chose to be a sport and take part in the race. As expected Stylo did not win. Or stand second or third or fourth. He was the second last. He was no runner for sure. And in spite of his daughter standing on the sidelines looking aghast at what she thought would be a colossal failure for anyone in a competiton, Sitiawan Stylo trotted back from the finish line, gleaming and clapping. When his daughter asked, “Acha, aren’t you sad you didn’t win?”, he cheerfully responded, “I would be sad if I didn't try. Because if I didn't try, I would not be able to show you that you don't always have to be sure of success to try something. Trying, whether it brings you failure or not, is the first step to success." His daughter was still sad then, but as she grew up, these words resounded in her head at every class debate, singing contest and writing competiton.<br /><br />1985<br /><br />Stylo, now 55, was medically boarded out of work where he'd earned accolades like "Insurance Man of the Year" and made manager despite his lack of education. He was diagnosed with a severe heart condition. His now 11 y.o. daughter and 7 y.o. son were oblivious of the lifestyle implications. Instead, the kids were ecstatic that there would be someone at home when they returned from school every day, especially since both their parents worked late. Stylo felt restless and restricted at home, as he was still completely mentally productive and alert. Despite the high likelihood that he would descend into depression, it was amazing that Stylo did the opposite; He found ways to keep his mind satiated - teaching his daughter and son cooking, home chores, fix-its, wood work, pet care etc. He also inculcated their reading habit, set a time for listening to classical music and introduced physical activity on alternate days of the week for good measure. His daughter, being the elder of the two, was the first to notice how he turned his life around all on his own. Later in her own life, she always looked to that part of Stylo's for strength in her own.<br /><br />1992<br /><br />No one but the angels knew that 62 y.o. Stylo was days away from his fatal heart attack. He was smiling and happy during his last few days, but increasingly demanding of his children; especially of his daughter, who he insisted, enters the accounting profession. His daughter was peeved feeling that a career in English literature or music would be more up her alley. However, after futile arguments, she begrudgingly settled for an accounting course. Stylo died on the day she signed up. It was only four years later that she understood how far sighted and planned Stylo’s decision was, given that financially, the family was struggling. Stylo's daughter graduated in accounting and was snapped up by a major accounting firm, laying foundations for a very stable income source and therefore being able to support her retiree mother.<br /><br /><br />To date, these three episodes with Stylo remain monumental in his daughter’s life. She always remembers - "failure is what you encounter while you practice for success", "strength is something you build, not have" and, "think through your plans before you act". <br /><br />Acha, you are Sitiawan Stylo, my hero!Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-76490743226773657552010-05-06T11:57:00.014+05:302020-06-24T18:24:28.939+05:30Beyond Idli and Naan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5KI_L46w9IK8Q2L5Lix1GpVUGs7TUXx9EdFWC9sEsz6XJdQYqRMLiCyhpcWhmCH55NhTRkSnLjjj1QjnmpjPN00AdrIHBHfS-wNGHSmUbl5lbDqj7iFBrMVyMp0vKGNmWmWqBHUYlL1O/s1600/pic08.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566462554483184306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5KI_L46w9IK8Q2L5Lix1GpVUGs7TUXx9EdFWC9sEsz6XJdQYqRMLiCyhpcWhmCH55NhTRkSnLjjj1QjnmpjPN00AdrIHBHfS-wNGHSmUbl5lbDqj7iFBrMVyMp0vKGNmWmWqBHUYlL1O/s400/pic08.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 266px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Dear South Indian Expat friend,<br />
<br />
Fret not! You are not alone.<br />
<br />
There is a large community of Indian expats in Malaysia, with most of them hailing from South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andra Pradesh and Karnataka. And though I'd in the past found most to be cautious about stepping away from familiar food, they are all not just rotating between doshas, idlis and naans.<br />
<br />
Yes, you the South Indian expat, is tempted to keep an eye out for the familiar smells and sights of food. To some of you, you may have been somewhat concerned at the onset, that living in a foreign land could mean no Indian food within quick reach. But you discovered quickly that Malaysia hardly fits into that stereotype. Here, getting acquainted with the quintessential Malaysian past time, i.e. food (Indian or otherwise), would have been followed by the realisation that the familiar tastes of India are all at a stones throw from wherever it is you are!<br />
<br />
Yet other South Indian expats have been timidly declining food choices that my fellow Malaysians have been pointing out over time. Sometimes, you may have accepted a dinner treat or two, realising post-meal, that neither the treator nor you, was educated on what was going to be acceptable to your palate. Those meals could have turned out to be disastrous, leaving you hungry, unsatisfied and craving for a good biriyani. Worse still you would have gone on to conclude that the best thing would be to remain safely devoted to your previously chosen Indian restaurants. You must have made about 15 trips to Sharavan Bhavan in two weeks, if you'd done that! <br />
<br />
<br />
However, what my point is that your journey does not <em>need </em> to end with successfully identifying Indian places to eat. The induction to Malaysian food that you will receive, if you so allow it, will cover the smorgasbord of fascinating Malaysian cuisine. And all within the boundaries of familiar meats (chicken, fish, prawns, beef, mutton and lamb). Vegetarians may be at a loss away from India, but the meat eater has no excuse to seek the comfort of sambar a day into your Malaysian stay. You need not worry that eating in a regular city restaurant will result in the unwitting introduction to pig's blood or snake meat, as some of my friends have experienced in their trips around exotic Asian cities. Having said that, a choice of extreme cuisine is not impossible to find. This post is however, not about the extreme choices, but just everyday ones.<br />
<br />
Back to "common Malaysian food" - You can often discern the palatability of a dish, through your nose, can't you? So, to start with, remember use it to guide you to what's good to eat. Chances are, perhaps the spicier dishes will call to you immediately. <br />
<br />
My advice is to try, try and keep trying different "common Malaysian food" like nasi lemak, roti canai, char kuay teow, mi siam, nasi goreng, rendang ayam/ daging (photo above)etc. If your saliva glands do not respond the first time, remember to start with something closest in smell to your more familair foods. These would be chicken rendang, roti canai and nasi goreng - the last of which I've even found in menus at restaurants in Chennai! Roti canai is probably the best example of something that is very close to home - it is almost synonymous in taste and texture to the pranthas you will find in India. And though your next instinct will drive you to a meal of that ever so familiar idli or tandoori roti, try steering yourself in the direction of a well-prepared nasi lemak. You may be pleasantly surprised and best of all, you'd have expanded your food repertoire.<br />
<br />
Remember that repeated trials of the items in the above list of Malaysian choices will most likely lead you to a new opinion of a particular dish you've already sampled. Why? Because it is not guaranteed that a dish tried in two different places is likely to be exactly the same! Though a nasi lemak is a nasi lemak, you will find more than a few subtle differences from one vendor to another. This is characteristic of Malaysians who love to vary their recipes of standard dishes, to show off their creativity in the kitchen.<br />
<br />
A nasi goreng pattaya with its eggy covering may be just about the only common denominator between the dish being served in shop A versus shop B. I've had red hot looking nasi goreng pattaya and a completely bland version. The best part is that Malaysia is so diverse that consumers who enjoyed shop A's version may be a set of clientele that is completely different from those who prefer shop B's. And yet, both shops thrive. There is no absolute answer to the best dish. <br />
<br />
So the best test? Your nose. If it smells good, you'll probably like it. So dive in. If your nose has deceived you once, don't give up. As your nose trains you to distinguish tastes you prefer among Malaysian dishes, you'll get savvy enough to be the official food guide for your friends and family visiting from your homeland! <br />
<br />
So, be adventurous and try Malaysian food. Rest assured that by the time you leave Malaysia, you'll be wishing Chennai had a restaurant selling Char Kuay Teow!Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125874977570214646.post-77339542736230804812010-05-03T12:13:00.037+05:302019-07-10T08:50:11.853+05:30Are You Happy Yet?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfFtDsSDd5XxNNWlpOrrWI1BELKvRo2EvnMG0khNG8nIouuFTWrdDA_4vyNkDzghiO8a0CsTpuc6q_Eqou1fIy-loP1lTusvIpGvYqBE9rbfYcCufTkwWA3JZKeRRuqEIBZCtsEXks2K8/s1600/ksmn1992l.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467322235635891330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfFtDsSDd5XxNNWlpOrrWI1BELKvRo2EvnMG0khNG8nIouuFTWrdDA_4vyNkDzghiO8a0CsTpuc6q_Eqou1fIy-loP1lTusvIpGvYqBE9rbfYcCufTkwWA3JZKeRRuqEIBZCtsEXks2K8/s200/ksmn1992l.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 154px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">“Declare War on Negative Thoughts!”, is a quote I see proudly displayed on a poster in my office pantry everyday... Probably the souvenir from a very vivaciously delivered motivational speech on positive thinking. Sure it sounds logical at first glance, but really, is that the best way to treat negative thoughts - by denying any dignity to the moment?<br /><br />I’ve always felt that society rewards us a bit too much, not for positive thinking, but for simply and successfully denying communication of negative thoughts. Yes, yes, I've heard that positive thought is the highway to happiness. Or is it?</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div align="right">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #ffccff; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 130%;"><em><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #ffccff; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 130%;"><em></em></span></span></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<blockquote>
<div align="right">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"><i>I've always felt that society rewards</i></span></span></div>
<div align="right">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #ffccff;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">us a </span><span style="font-size: 130%;">bit too much, </span><span style="font-size: 130%;">not for<br />positive thinking, </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;">but for simply and successfully </span></i></span></div>
<div align="right">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"><i>denying communication of negative thoughts.</i></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Perhaps a case in point would be how when I once lost my enviable placement in a singing competition due to some underhandedness of the orgnisers’, I was overcome with rage to the point that I could not pinpoint what it was that drove me up the wall – Was it my hatred for these unscrupulous organizers? Was it the feeling of helplessness from a lack of control over the situation? Was it the sheer nonchalance of the others in the competition with the same fate, who seemed to take the incident with such a lack of remorse? </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Allowed a little more exploration of my negative thoughts, I may have come to the root of my erupting emotions. I recall keeping my calm at the competition, waiting to enter the safe arms of family and friends to vent. However, upon sharing my experience, my friends’ and family’s immediate response was to dismiss the “negative thoughts” and instead, to “think positive”! But how? Why was the crowd around me quick to suggest, “Don’t cry!”, instead of saying, “Go on - Cry and let it all out”? In a turbulent sea of rage and hatred, is it that simple to skip one’s probable response to impropriety and directly ascend to peace and equilibrium? I think not!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">It may feel all to obvious that if a negative thought ceases to exist in our minds, that the obvious replacement for it is a positive one. How reductionist and simplistic. Not logical to me, simply because the positive negative relationship of thought is far from balck-and white. Sorry, my dear compulsive optimists, but I think people are afraid of negative thought more than they are sold on the benefits of positive ones! So we always try to appear happy just to avoid the "think positive" admonishment - even when doing so isn't the best thing. Think of all the mondays you have come into the workplace feeling like you've been hit by a bus, but chirped, "Oh...great!", to a workmate enquiring about your weekend. Isn't that just to avoid being seen as negative by another person?</span></div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="right">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div align="right">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"><i>Think of all the mondays you have come into </i></span></div>
<div align="right">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"><i>the workplace feeling like you've been hit </i></span></div>
<div align="right">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"><i>by a bus, but chirped, "Oh... great!", to a </i></span></div>
<div align="right">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>workmate enquiring about your weekend.</i></span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">We’d much rather get really quickly from the point of negative thought to a place of resolve at the fastest possible speed. Perhaps there is a misconception that one cannot cope with another iota of misery that comes from acknowledging negativity. Little do we realize the recovery we so desire is sometimes cloaked in the delicacy and graduality with which we explore those negative thoughts. So, let those thoughts linger a while! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Perhaps the most ironic behaviour in the pursuit of (urgent!) happiness is how we consider negative thought to have a space and time within which they are considered valid. Apparently, within these parameters, negative thoughts are not only accepted, but also expected! A 4 year old child laughing innocently during his grand-uncle’s funeral is quickly shushed. But one year later at the deceased's death anniversary gatehring, his grieving spouse of 50 years was coaxed and cajoled by relatives, quite insistently, out of her misery! All this in the pursuit of getting from that negative thought, oh so quickly to acceptance because apparently, someone had decided that her time to grieve was over!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I say let her cry. Let her have her fears magnified, purpose questioned, reality checked and her emotions inundated. She’s earned the right to treat this event as she wants to, for it defines her life. Remember that each person is different and each situation is unique for every individual. Be there for her, but for God’s sake, even if she takes more time than <em>you</em> can accept, don’t tell the woman to “Declare War on Negative Thoughts”! Her negative thoughts are hers to work out or wallow in. The question is whether you acknowledge yours enough to give them the dignity she has given hers!</span></div>
Shobha Janardananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00823908845910132161noreply@blogger.com0