Destination Infinity's Blog, page 58

My Visit to Regional Science Center, Coimbatore

 

Regional Science Center, near CODISSIA Trade Center, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu was a pleasant surprise. I went to attend a Wind Energy expo in CBE and saw the board for this museum/park on the way. Curious, I decided to step in and explore. I am glad I did.

This science museum is like Visweswaraiah Museum in Bangalore. It contains scientific exhibits and demonstration models. There are four galleries within the building. The first gallery shows the technologies used in the textile industry, both historic and present times. The above pic shows a handloom machine. The below pic shows a Warping machine. 

 

The next gallery was about the history of Astronomy — right from Galileo to modern day astronomers.  The third gallery demonstrated scientific principles. It was supposed to be interactive but when I went to touch a button, the security asked me not to touch any! Some of them were not working. There were detailed explanations next to each exhibit for people to read and learn. 

 

The next gallery had many engineering exhibits and explained the technological principles behind each. The above picture, for example, shows an airplane engine! The working principles of both simple and complex objects was available. Since I went late in the day, I couldn’t read much. You could go in the morning and plan to spend around half-a-day. 

There is also a 3D theater where they show a short film about prehistoric-times. I think the ticket costs Rs. 15, in addition to the Rs. 15 entry ticket cost. The staff were helpful and offered to show me the movie, although I was the only one there! The museum works from morning 10 A.M. to evening 5:30 P.M.

There is a “pre-historic park” outside the building. Have a look at the pictures of dinosaurs I took there

 

  Outside, in the park area, there are still more scientific exhibits. But few are in working condition. This and the pre-historic dinosaurs section had boards with information. There is a children’s play area in this park — just in case they get bored with too much science and dinosaurs

 

They allow photography, but only with cell phone cameras! I went on a weekday so it was almost empty. Perhaps people come on weekends. It’s a good place to take your kids — they can enjoy and learn something. Adults can also try to learn

Destination Infinity

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Review: Naalu Policesum Nalla Irundha Oorum (Tamil Movie)

Trailer:

நாலு போலிசும் நல்லா இருந்த ஊரும் (Naalu Policesum Nalla Irundha Oorum) is a Tamil movie written and directed by N. J. Srikrishna.

This is a very different movie, and I like such experimental movies.

சமீபத்துலே நான் பார்த்ததுலே இது ரொம்ப வித்தியாசமான படம். எனக்கு இம்மாதிரி படங்கள் பிடிக்கும்.

Gist: There is an ideal village in a remote corner of TN where there is a police station with four policemen, but no cases have been filed over the last 25 years. People are so good and helpful that even when a 10-Soverign gold chain is on the road, they leave it right there for the owner to come back and pick it up!!

Since there is no problem at all, higher authorities decide to close the police station and shift the policemen to problematic Ramanad where additional police force is needed. The protagonists (policemen), happily used to the lackluster life in that village, are now petrified about their new posting. They want to somehow “create” a case and justify the existence of the police station, so that they can continue to stay there.

What they do, and how their actions affect the people of the village inadvertently, forms the rest of the movie.

The first half is comedy and the second half is serious. முதற் பாதி நகைச்சுவை. இரண்டாம் பாதி சீரியஸ்.

The comedy in the first half is good, and I enjoyed the first half. The model village is “too model” — the goodness of people has been exaggerated so much!! Same with the second half — it is serious, and the seriousness has also been exaggerated too much.

I mean, can such good people for many years suddenly undergo a 180-degree character transformation? That’s not believable. The director has handled the story quite well, but I wish his focus was more on telling the story than twist the story to convey a message. But this is not a big deal as it keeps happening routinely in movies, especially in India.

I enjoyed the first half, but although I did not enjoy the second half immediately, I guess it will sink into me eventually. There is no happy ending or any kind of ending to this movie, and that’s a small gripe.

I like the theme and the story. This movie is very different attempt and I welcome and appreciate movies like that. I like the fact that Tamil directors are attempting such different movies and I, for one, would like to encourage them.

Like me, if you like different and experimental movies, you should see this movie in the theater.

உங்களுக்கும் வித்தியாசமான படங்கள் பிடிக்கும்னா தியேட்டர்ல பாருங்க.

Destination Infinity

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Is a Law Required to Wear Helmet?

Don’t people have enough common sense to wear helmets while driving two-wheelers? Is a law required to make them wear it?

Recently, it has become compulsory for drivers and pillion riders to wear helmets in Chennai. So the number of people who wear helmets has increased from 30% earlier (approx — based on my observation) to 80% or more, now. But why was a law required in the first place? Can’t people themselves take basic precautions like wearing a helmet while driving on the *chaotic* roads of India?

To illustrate what I am trying to say, I will narrate a true incident. During my 6th Standard we had a Class teacher who had some brilliant ideas, and more importantly, executed them bravely in spite of schools here not being receptive to experimentation.

I’ll tell you one interesting thing she did — she replicated parliament-like set-up in our class. Any major decisions (normally decided by the management or teacher) will be up for voting. She will tell the merits and demerits of the issue and students vote by thumping their hands on the desk. (Imagine this in an otherwise discipline-inducing silence-loving school!) And the majority-voted decision will be followed.

Also, she was particular about encouraging extra-curricular activities. I remember her encouraging kids to sing Tamil songs (occasionally) during her class hours, in spite if being an English teacher! I am not sure how she managed with the Principal, Department heads, etc. but I guess they did not object due to her sincerity.

I went to a new school the following year, but we were in touch with a few people in the old school. One year later someone told us that she died. You know how? She was riding pillion with her husband on their bike but suddenly her saree was struck in the back wheel. She was thrown off the bike and died instantly due to head injury.

She could have saved her life had she worn a helmet.

Imagine — such an exceptional, talented, and brave teacher losing her life for what? NOTHING!

Would you want your loved ones to die like this?

If not, irrespective of the “law”, please encourage everyone to wear helmets and make sure they know its importance. More critically, make sure YOU wear a helmet when you drive or ride pillion. I always do.

Destination Infinity

PS: Do you know anyone who suffered injuries or died because they didn’t wear a helmet? Let know in the comments section.

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Off-roading Experience in Chennai with Terra Tigers

I went to an off-roading event for 4×4 Jeeps and SUVs organised by Terra Tigers in Chennai last Sunday because — I didn’t have anything else to do

Baahubali Review: Violence & Sound *Thoda* Zyaada!!

Baahubali is a Tri-lingual movie released in Telugu, Tamil & Hindi, today. I watched this movie (Telugu version) at Rakki Cinemas, Chennai. Assuming that the Telugu and the Tamil versions are the same, I don’t think this movie will be a Super-Hit in Tamil Nadu. Not sure about AP/Telangana, people there might still like all the Fantasy, Sound, and Violence which is all there is to this supposedly Historical Fiction movie.

But the experience of watching the movie with so much crowd all shouting at the top of their voice is, I must agree, incredible! This kinda crowd/enthusiasm was there earlier for Rajnikanth movies in TN, but even Kochadiyan that had a much better story than this movie and had Rajnikanth in the lead, didn’t do that well in TN.

The movie started well. I loved the huge waterfalls amidst the scenic mountains. Wonder where it is . . .

3 Quotes that Blew Me Off!! (Quotes Challenge)

I have a notebook full of quotes. I took these three from a random page I turned to, today. I love such insightful quotes that blows my mind away!!

“Great teachers teach commitment, not technique.” – Seth Godin.



“The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all of your money.” – Collective Evolution.

“The enemy is fear. We think it is hate, but it is fear.” – Mahatma Gandhi.

I was tagged by Shilpa, Ramya, Sulaiman, Madhavi to take up this quotes challenge. Actually, I was supposed to publish three quotes on three different days as per the rules, but the rules-hater that I am

Guddu Rangeela Hindi Movie Review

There was a time in ’00s when I thought Bollywood was at least 10-20 years ahead of Tamil/Telugu movies. But with movies like Dabangg (few years back) and Guddu Rangeela (now), I guess Bollywood has proved that they can also make movies with ’80-’90s flavor and fervor.

I am not saying this movie is bad. I am saying this movie is targeted towards a different audience that likes the revenge-fight-dance movies of the yesteryear. Minus the dance, for Guddu Rangeela. But if you liked Dabangg, you might like this one too.

Gist: Guddu and Rangeela are two small-time criminals. But a new Inspector comes to their area and demands 10 Lakhs to withdraw the cases against them. They, helped by a friend, decide to kidnap a girl (heroine) who turns out to be the very person who masterminded the kidnap! What does she want from them? How do all them collude to take revenge against a powerful MLA? That’s the story.

The story is OK. Some twists were unexpected and even good. The twist in the beginning where the heroine escapes from the kidnapper-duo (Heroes) only to be found in the same place from where they lose her set some expectations on her capabilities. But for some reason her role was diminished from there on.

There were some funny moments here and there, but these were not fitting the mood set by the movie, which is predominantly serious. The Heroine ‘falling’ for one of the Heroes is rushed, but who knows, there might be some real life stories that are even more rushed than that!

The biggest disadvantage of this movie from my point of view is the lack of realism, especially in the fighting scenes. The climax was particularly unrealistic. But then, no fighting scene can be realistic, and if you remember the old movies they were there to entertain the audience, not to give them a dose of realism!

Among the plus points, the movie is a decent entertainer. The story was fine. The characterization of the police was interesting. The action of the villain was very good.  I did feel the ‘terror’ whenever he came to the screen. Good selection.

I guess in the end it all depends on what you want. If you want to watch a movie with ’80-’90s touch, this movie is not all that bad. But if you are expecting to see a different movie that is refreshingly fresh (like Ishquia), Guddu Rangeela may not be for you.

You decide. I didn’t like the movie because my expectations were different.

Destination Infinity

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Papanasam (Movie Review): Common Man Vs. Police Department

A common man accidentally commits a crime. And that crime is murder. The murdered person is IG’s son. In this situation, the common man can do two things: Admit the murder and go to jail (or) . . .

Welcome to Papanasam. 

பாபநாசம் உங்களை வரவேற்கிறது  

Papanasam is the Tamil remake of super-hit Malayalam movie Drishyam. When I went to see the movie today, I knew it will be good, but didn’t expect it to be so good! A realistic movie that shows the GRIT of a Common Man when defending his family against the MIGHT of the Police Department.

The Common Man is the criminal in this movie — no secret that. And the police department is trying to prove that by uncovering the truth. To what extent can (does) a Common Man go to hide his/her crime? That’s the story.

At last, a movie to showcase the action skills of our Ulaga Nayagan Kamal Hassan, after a long time! You should just see his action as the movie proceeds towards the climax and during the climax — just excellent

Full credit to the writer and movie maker Jeethu Joseph, who has also directed the original movie in Malayalam. A very strong script with excellent actors is the best recipe for getting applause in the theater. Wait a minute, applause in a serious movie? Yes!! There were a number of instances, especially when the family keeps getting away from difficult-to-impossible situations, where the crowed cheers for them. After the climax people gave a standing ovation!

Of course, the movie is good and I recommend everyone to watch it in the theater and all that, but is what the Common Man did in this movie the best thing to do?

Irrespective of whether someone gets punished or not, the truth cannot be hidden for long. And even in this movie, everyone, including the police & press, know the truth. How can a family live in peace once the truth is out everywhere, even though the entire mistake was not theirs?

How about admitting the truth and fighting the case in the court establishing that the murder was done in self-defense? Ideal, but not practical? A difficult situation, especially for a Common Man. The story/director exploits that situation very well.

But let’s not digress too much away from the story, which is that of a Common Man fighting the Police Department, getting away with a crime, and getting lots of applause for that! Don’t mistake me for giving away the story or anything, but I anticipated this end right in the middle of the movie.

Although the ending of the movie was not unexpected, how the events lead to the ending, and what all the Common Man did to achieve the ending he wanted was indeed surprising.

The movie is realistic for the most part, but I don’t think the Police Department will not even get a single evidence in a case like this. It’s very difficult to hide the date/time of an entire trip without messing up somewhere.

But then, this Common Man does it flawlessly (almost) and that’s what makes the story memorable. Kudos to the team for making us believe in the story, and the cause — that there is Hope against Might, even for a Common Man

@ Chennai Metro Train: My Experience on the First Day!!

Woohoooo!! I managed to travel in the Chennai Metro Train whose service was inaugurated by the CM just today. That’s why you find all those flowers and garlands both outside and inside the train Anyway, I went to CMBT (Koyambedu) to catch the Chennai Metro train at this junction. I then went to the Alandur junction (10 KM) by Metro and came back. In this post, I present some info gathered and some pics taken during this trip.

 

The Chennai Metro stations have both escalators and lifts for people to go up and down easily. And steps are there too

Why I Don’t Have a Passport

‘Whaaa….. You don’t have a Passport???’ is one question I face from time to time. People are totally surprised and look at me like I am some alien who doesn’t know what a passport is.

When I say I didn’t need one until now, they tell me ‘You might need it anytime . . . why don’t you take one immediately?’

Then I tell them I won’t not need one suddenly. When I do, I will take one then. They are flabbergasted.

‘You should have taken a passport for attempting GRE/GMAT?’

‘No, I didn’t attempt those exams.’

‘You should have needed one for Onsite?’

‘No, I don’t get Onsite opportunities in my line of work.’

‘But you could take it for ID/Address proof no?’

‘No, I have other documents for ID proofs.’

‘You are very different. You are . . . (Insert: Strange, Non-conformist, Rebellious, etc. that they want to add, but don’t for politeness sake.)

Then they tell me – ‘Don’t you want to go abroad for a tour sometime?’

‘Maybe in the future, I’ll take a passport then. But first I want to see India.’

They stare at me thinking, ‘What’s going on with this guy, why is he so insane?’.

Then they ask, ‘Are you not interested to work abroad and settle down there?’

I just say, ‘No.’  Needless to say, they are open-mouthed.

After my interactions with people on this topic, I realize that there is a new slogan that people follow nowadays: ‘Roti, Kapda, Makaan, Bandwidth, aur Passport.’