It has been a very long time since I heard this immensely popular devotional song. Today morning it was playing on radio, and I stopped the cab driver from changing the station. I remember my elder brother having this song as a ringer tone few year's back. I loved the voice of this little girl and had to know who she is. It always happens with me. If I like a song, I need to know about the singers, music composer, lyricist, and all that jazz. I largely rely on "Google Baba" and I'm surprised to see there is a video with two segments aired in 2011 with title "Gouthami Alive" by Suvarna News 24x7. Yes, there was a death hoax about this girl, so mother-daughter duo were in studio to clarify the rumors. Her name is Gouthami and she was in 7th grade when she recorded this song. She is an engineering graduate, and must be in renowned IT industry now. There isn't much information online. The song gives me goosebumps every single time I heart it. It is a melodious voice with crystal clear pronunciation of Sanskrit hymns. PS: Happy Krishna Janmashtami folks
It is going to be a lengthy rambling. I do get pick up from company cab daily, but no drop. So I've to travel by bus to home. There are frequency of BMTC buses. Public transport in Bangalore is very good. For that matter it is great throughout the state, be it government or private sector. I digress. I have observed few characteristic behaviors in conductors. The knowledge only comes from ardent experience. These sort of conductors always expect us to render exact change. Some even have the audacity to ask us to get down if we don't have change. They cut the ticket, write the balancing amount at the back of the ticket gibberishly. They never volunteer to return it. When you ask, they pester for change once again like 1 or 2 or 5 rupees depending on the amount. If you don't have that, there is a chance you never get it. Most of the time they demand you to wait untill the stop comes. And when that stops comes, don't be surprised to find them in the back of the bus. If you are dashing and daring enough to make way through the sea of people, you are a lucky dog. It is not uncommon for people to completely forget about it and get down. They have mastered the art of making you feel extremely guilty for hassling them for 1 or 2 rupees. They sometimes act as a matchmaker by challenging you to share change between total strangers. They become extremely rude and unruly if you start conversing logically. They are petrified of rules and regulations and complaints. And be ready for the most standard and hilarious answer for not having change is "I've come to duty just now," no matter what time of day or night it is. It is okay if you're an occasional traveler, but for a regular like me it is annoying. Sometimes I feel silly arguing with them and think it is worthless. Again, it is not about the "money". There is a thing called honesty and fairness right? It is my hard-earned money after all. I'm sure by this means they make minimum 200 to 300 per day. It is extra income for them. Weren't they paid enough? Again, isn't it cheating or to be more precise corruption? Maybe they are small fish in the big corrupt department. BMTC prices shot up when fuel price increased, however, it didn't come down when fuel price reduced. They haven't budge even after several protests. They say BMTC is running in loss. I wonder how and why? Almost all buses are jam-packed throughout the day. Volvos are only exceptional, but those are targeted for IT industry. This dishonesty has been happening for a very long time. It probably is a second skin to them. I realize it is another corrupt department just like other government offices. PS-There are few honest conductors too, but surely they are a rare breed.
Books I'm relishing right now. 1. "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie, a crime/detective novel. It is writer's first published work, and my first book in the Hercule Poirot series. It is a classic murder mystery with too many suspects. I'm so restless to know who killed Ms. Inglethorp.
2. "The Selection" by Kiera Cass, the first book in the Selection series. A young adult/princess diaries kind of novels are my guilty pleasure. I'm halfway through and already loving it. I've already ordered three more books in the series.
3. "The Gift" by Cecelia Ahern. After truly enjoying author's PS: I Love You and Where Rainbows End, I'm expecting one more dazzling story to be told in a typical Ahern Style.
"Kaaka Muttai"-A national award winning Tamil movie and rightfully so, directed by first time director Manikandan and produced by Dhanush and Vetrimaaran. What a stunning movie it is. Casting, screenplay, cinematography, performance, direction, everything about this movie is top-notch. This is by far the best movie I have watched this year. I know I couldn't do justice by reviewing it. However, I have to mention one of my favourite scenes. Grandma's attempt at baking pizza. It is a heart-tugging, brilliantly crafted story. Don't miss it as it is a must watch.
"Yevade Subrahmanyam"-A Telugu movie, hemmed by a new comer, Nag Ashwin. Let us say I sunjected myself to a torture for almost 2-1/2 hours. Despite Nani's good performance, it couldn't hold my attention for more than 10 minutes. Since I'm following a self-made rule of finishing whatever I start, I sat through this squirming in my seat. Best avoid if you ever come across this. PS-I'm so proud of you girls (M and S) for opting and liking "Teesri Manzil." I hope we can do our own "Shake It Shake It like Shammi" in the next hang-out.
