Rāgamālika

Friday, April 13, 2007

TRIP !!

People, in the first place, sorry for a very late update. Here it goes:

14 of us, highly enthued about the trip to Shimla and Kulu-manali; out of which 8 of them formed the orgcom07! That was indeed nice to have manojh too :) We had too sumos - 7+7!

23rd night: Phew! It flew over with people cracking jokes throughout the entire journey and of course few "enthued" people shuttling between the 2 cars to keep everyone alive.

The 24th: We reached shimla around 10 in the morning and after refreshing ourselves, we went down the hill to reach the northern railways canteen and had a sumptuous breakfast. Once done, we got back to our cars and drove to this place called Kufri - Famous for mule rides to reach the snow. But yeah, as majority of us were slihgtly psyched by the maintanance, we had climb up the hill. Went into the Shimla National Park and had awsome fun. Few of us went to down a narrow streaky pathway and compassed the snowy places - where in this video called "pudhu vellai mazhai" from roja was shot, with screening artists Soumi and Sankar (Pattikadu and Rishi). And we found out this new technique of singing specific ragas to specific animals and hence bring them out of their cages, courtesy Sankar. The park fun got over with a small chat lunch in the nearby redi. We got back to our rooms and quickly left to "THE MALL ROAD". As the name says it is famous for shopping. It is on the top of a hill and we had to reach it with the help of elevators. Had funky "saravana bavan" oriented southindian food in "Nalini" restaurant ;) Did few shopping here and there and started walking (again) to the hotel as the elevators were closed half past 10. After taking a while's rest we ran million miles (an exaggeration thouhg) to reach manali the next morning.

The 25th: Booked rooms in the hotel and yay! yay! the snowy day! On our way to Solang valley we haulted to wear on our jackets, gloves and shoes. And now - THE snow! Traced the path to find that sexy place. We spent almost the entire day there. Almost enervated, we reached our cars by mules! Then yeah, the dinner time - Madras cafe :D after which ppl did shopping and everyone well settled in one room to play "customs"!!!

The 26th: After breakfast we left to this temple called "Hadimba". A cute temple; looked like it was submerged in snow. After some gaala time here and there, we went to a Budhist Monastry. Meanwhile, few of us went boating too.By then, the time was well set for lunch. Of course! Madras cafe again :D All packed up our bags and bid a big adieu to manali. One car had to leave Manojh and hence went to delhi. The other one, with atmost difficulty, numerous punctures, somehow reached pilani safe the next day. There ends this short sweet trip.

Memories will stay green forever.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

SANGAMAM '07

Well, a long time absence. N now incredibly vetti – so am back to what I used to do all the time in my third year.

SANGAMAM ’07 has come n gone now – but it defnly has been the most happening sangamam of all ages. Well to top the list – we had the change in prof incharge like 4 days before sangamam. Following that was a loan procedure that had the org comm waiting endlessly in front of prof cubes and getting blasted by all.

But in anycase, things were largely smooth. Sangamam inaug was the most perfect presentation in all that I ve seen thus far. Pracs sessions were terribly smooth. Tickets and t shirts sales rocked like last yeara and semester respectively.

N all the three concerts were super awesome!

TVS, Despite all the money issues with him – the concert was awesome.

Ravi Kiran n Pravin Godkhindi – were brilliant. It was the first time that we had seen such an interactive n appreciative audience staying till the end of the concert n thoroughly enjoying it. This was the biggest hit of the 3 concerts.

The ballet – had mixed reviews from the audience side – cos it was not a very conventional bharathanatyam ballet. This was typical of the anita ratnam types – with more of style n modern thought. But was brilliant – and 5 dancers on stage looked bful. N more than anything – this LARGE gumball – were the easiest to tackle. They were all real sweet – n had actually gotten RAAG sweets from Hyderabad!

Well, most imp mention – to manojh. Such a sey surprise it was. Friday moning – n some of us were jus recollecting happy images from a previous sangamam about surprise visits and entering audi – n we found manojh. Sexy surprise it was – and absolutely completed the festive feeling! A million thanks da!

Aprom enna, after sangamam got done with – we had one more day together. From morning till night. There was cleaning session, dhaba, proj presentations, mela and cnot and surprise at SAC and a bye bye.

It was Brilliant.