Strategy or Stupidity?

've been an ardent reader of the epaper editon of "The Hindu" since its launch a few months ago and became addicted to it after my move to Singapore. To compliment the idea, I should say its a wonderful service, especially for those who are away from Chennai (and India).

However, It came as a complete surprise to me (and a thousand others?) when I opened up the website as usual this morning and to my horror found that the epaper website was converted into a subscription based one. With heavy heart ;-) I had to digest the fact and then opened up the subscription charges page and was dumb struck at the pricing. A one year subscription is priced at INR 4000/- which is close to 3 times the print edition price!!!

I (maybe a thousand others as well!) simply could not understand whether there was any strategy involved or sheer stupidity in the pricing. With the booming internet usage and the lesser cost to reach out masses, the pricing should ideally have been the other way. I really wish someone can enlighten me on the reality behind such moves (!#$%^&*$%!%^)

A Real Performer!

Sunday morning, 4th Feb 2007, and as always I was hooked to the TV, flipping between the only two Tamil channels (Sun & Vijay) aired here in Singapore before my wife interrupted and wanted to watch 'Koffee with Anu' on Vijay TV which had Malayalam (and Tamil) film actor Jayaram and his wife Parvati as the guests for the show. For a chat / talk show that never had me or my wife glued to it ever before, this one was the most fantastic chat show's 've ever seen.

Jayaram is a real performer. His mimicry capabilities were incredible! His expressions like Sivaji Ganesan and Kamalahassan were too good. The most funniest part of the show was the hilarious narration of his honeymoon trip to Lakshwadeep. I just could not avoid my laughter whenever I think of it!

Again, narration of his friend, Thangappan during their stage performance days, Mammooty's description of their house, pulling his wife parvati during their visit to a cinema theatre in dubai were some of the awesome moments of the show. Definitely Jayaram and Parvati make a wonderful couple!

Definitely this episode has kept me on the watch for the future KWA shows. I heard (?) there is a Sathyaraj & Manivannan episode coming up. That should be an interesting contest, to see if it can topple Jayaram's performance in this one.

Tamizh Thanthuvangal

Some of my favorite Tamizh Thathuvangal from across the internet and mobile world;

1. Meenpidikaravangalai meenavanu sollalam....naye pidikearavangalai nayavanau solla mudiyuma?
2. Enathan oruthan gunda irundhalaum avanai thupakikula poda mudiyadu!
3. School testla bit adikalam,college testla bit adikalam...aana....blood testla bit adika mudiyuma?
4. Pongaluku govrnmentla leave kodupanaga...aana idli dosaiku kodupangala?
5. Kolamavula kolam poda mudiyum kadala mavula kadala poda mudiyuma?
6. Lifela onnumey ilana bore adikum.. thalayil onnumet ilana glare adikum!
7. Vazhai maram thar podum ...aana adhai vachu roadu poda mudiyuma?
8. Pant pottu muttipoda mudiyum aanaaa muttipottu pant poda mudiyumaa?
9. Irukkurappa enna dhaan complan, bournvita nu kudichalum sethadukkapram ellarukkum pal dhaan!
10. South India-la narthangai kidaikkum. Aaana, north India-la southangai kidaikuma?
11. Nee evlo periya paruppa irunthalum, unga veettu samayalukku paruppa kadaila than vanganum!
12. Yevalavu dhaan neechal therinjalum tumbler thannila neentha mudiyuma?
13. Ennathan naiku nalu Kaal irundhalum adhala kaal mela kaal pottu utkkara mudiyuma?
14. Ennathan karatela black belt vanginalum, naai thorathina odi dhaan aganum!
15. Ticket vangitu ulla poradu cinema theatre, Ulae poitu ticket vangaradu operation theatre
16. Mukkalila ukkaralam......... Naakalila ukkaralam......... Ana Thakkali la ukkara mudiyuma?
17. Train yenna thaan fasta ponnalum , Train oda kadaisee potti kadaiseeya thaan varum!
18. Bus la collector yae erinalum...mudhal seetu driveruku dhaan!
19. Aayeram irrunthalum...aayerathu onnu perusuthana?
20. Thookam vantha kanna moodalam, mmmm vanthi vantha vaaya mooda mudiyuma?
21. Files na utkaarndhu paakanum, piles na paarthu utkaranum!
22. Adayar anandha bhavan kilai annanagar la irukkalam, aana adayar aala marathoda kilai angay dhan irukkanum!
23. Yezhu parambaraikku ukkandhu saapida kaasu irundhalum, fast food kadaila ninnukittudhaan saapidanum!
24. Yennathan ahimsavathiya irundhalum chappathiya suttu dhaan sappidanum!