Train Journeys

Writing this as I’m doing the usual monthly Chennai-Dindigul-Chennai travel and reflecting on the evolution of my train journeys.

Chennai Electric Train: 

As I started working back in 2002, I had to switch from bike ride to electric train due to the distance and traffic. Whilst the crowd and commotion irritated me initially, it introduced me to a solitude state - mostly spent reading, watching people, and often losing myself in thoughts and reflections.

(Being forgetful and careless didn’t help as I often missed my station and ended up taking an auto back 🙁)

Singapore MRT:

Singapore always excites me, and MRT was no exception - particularly for a routine/discipline freak like me, it was a boon as I almost took the same train every morning and evening. I still remember ~20-30 min MRT delays getting onto newspaper headlines.

(No wonder *Thalaivar quoted Lee Kuan Yew as his political idol but I’m happy that he decided to keep doing what he does best being reel hero and waiting for “Coolie”)

London Rail/Tube:

A blend of the above 2 experiences but not so pleasant given the long journey, early morning, and unpredictable weather. However, this time helped me to get back into the reading habit and also connect with family and friends. 

(These journeys attributes to completing the **“Ponniyan Selvan”series - so essentially, I read the Chola heritage in Britan)

Bottomline: Unfortunately, train journey these days are just between you and your mobile. 

*Thalaivar - Rajnikanth 

**Ponnuyin Selvam - Tamil historical fiction relating to chola kingdom

Monday Blues

Kind of long and eventfull weekend - so can’t help to have a lull Monday start…

- Another India independence day with money spent across the country for pride rather than purpose (I have the right to ask as it’s my tax money being spent)

- Watched “Raghu Thatha” as my daughter wasn’t interested in “Thangalan”. Not so bad but a very flat and quite predictable plot - better for OTT (PVR popcorn/nachos/hotdog helped justify the money & time spent)

- Went out dining not just once but twice. Whilst I’d prefer ordering home for economical & physical benefits, gained some brownie points from wifey for making the effort (kumudha happy annachi !!!)

- Not a great start for EPL 24/25 season for Chelsea with a defeat against MC but could see glimpses of hope (Mindvoice - you told the same last season and the season before too)

- Another day of cab ride to office with car @ service and already missing my ride badly. Also lately lots of thought around upgrading to EV - hopefully next year 

Mid Life Progression

Here are some symptoms of Mid life progression - I’d not call it crisis as many does and you will know why at the end:

1) Financial planning - starting or increasing your investments and starting to read boring books on finance (I recommend “The Richest Man in Babylon” and also please avoid those youtubers talking about “how ro retire early” as that’s their mid-life plan)

2) Life planning - getting or upgrading your life & health insurance policies (my 2 cents - keep the life cover and investment separate as I’ve been through the same mistake)

3) Health planning - starting to focus on diet and physical activities eg. keto diet, intermittent fasting, 5k/10k run, yoga retreat, cycling to mahabalipuram (Some still think cigarette to Vape and moderate amount of alcohol consumption are better - time to wake up bros)

Last & most importantly:

4) Friends  planning - Having focused on work & family across their 30s, everyone wants to get onto entertainment bandwagon once in a while and I need not tell the popular destination choices

I’d say all these are good but do it without regretting the past as we have gotten to this stage because of some level of achievement & content and you are just getting to the next life stage…

As thalaivar said,

“Ettu etta manusha vaazhva pirichikko, Nee   endha ettil ippo irrukka nenaichukko”

KILL WITH YOUR SUCCESS AND BURY WITH YOUR SMILE

[Back after a longgg break - so excuse me for being rusty]

Having completed 4 decades of this humanly life, I've outgrown many habits and grew apart from many thoughts and dreams...

But there are those very few finer things that defines you and don't go away you like it or not. One of them being, movies 🎬 and especially VIJAY 😎

Whilst I've evolved personally on my favorites and tastes - Trisha to Vithya 😏, Latte to Flat White, Basics to UCB, Jackie Chan to Martin Scoresese - I continue to admire this reel hero and his evolvement like iPhone living to the expectation across generations and becoming the next *super star*

May be he was more relatable to myself - not an exuberant artistic intellectual self but a simple calm one with self belief defining & working through your own path to stardom

Belated Happy Birthday "MASTER" 🎂


PS:
*super star* Ajith rasikarkal mannikkavum but you know the truth that real life’la Ajith could be a class apart but when it comes to on screen mass, THALAPTHY is the BOSS

*politics* Don’t forget that you’re VIJAY and not MGR in case any of your perusu or sidekicks are giving you any ideas

Asal -> Ajith -> ayoo amma...

Anyone who sympathizes Ajith, please avoid this movie and wait for his next one (rather pray for him)

Additional info: Vettaikaran is the Chinese New Year Special movie on Feb 16th in a singapore channel...HOW IS IT ?

All ezz well...

[this is not about '3 idiots']

Read the below somewhere - how true it is...

A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is
when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.

Relationship(s) are by far the best thing you could experiance as a human (nah, it's just a comment & nothing serious about it)

On the other side, looking back at my most unselfish friends & our "no nonsense" friendship, there can't be any more reasons for how well my life is...

To get to the crux of this message, "Off late, I've not been so much in touch with all my lovely buddies but my thoughts always has them heartful & hope the same at their end"

So guys, hope "All ezz well" at your end...

Vettaikaran

A very simple storyline - hero fights villian(s) and wins !

As usual a hero intro, couple of duets, one kuthu & one karuthu song - Anushka is worth an intro song ;-)

Fortunately no flashback or getup change - ithula yethu na onnu irunthalum, thalaphy darrr aayirupparrruuuu...

and

A mass hero at his usual best - can dance, romance, deliver dialogues & comedy !

Ithukku maela sollurathu onnum illa - of course, "really bad" villains /"mama" police / "crazy" friend are all things you got to getaway with !

in short, this is a simple entertiner meant for simple hearts !