Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu

I went to see my first Tamil movie in the theater today. Now normally I don't go see Indian movies in the theater because, obviously, I'd either have to have someone translate (not fun for either one of us) or it would have to be subtitled (which I believe only happens in the US) or I would sit there only grasping a portion of what was going on on the screen. However, since many of my friends were going and one of my students (who saw the movie on it's opening night) told me that it had a lot of English dialogues since it was set in NYC, I decided to try it out. ..

First, let me tell you that the definition of "a lot of English dialogues" is completely relative. I should have known better. In fact, maybe 10 lines were completely in English (even the NYC scenes!), plus a couple of randomly-sprinkled English words in the midst of a Tamil dialogue. After discussing this with people afterwards, apparently that DOES constitute a lot of English for a Tamil movie-usually there is zero English! :)

Everyone, however, has been talking about this movie-I didn't want to be left out! And, I have been hearing the soundtrack (though I didn't know it!) blaring during many of my cab rides to and from work. The movie stars Kamal Hassan, one of the reigning legends of Tamil cinema. He plays a police officer searching for a serial killer (actually two), the pursuit of whom takes him around Tamil Nadu, to NYC, and back to Chennai.

My friends warned me that I was in for an experience, seeing a Tamil movie in the theaters. I understood why right from the beginning as people started clapping, cheering & whistling when Kamal Hassan appeared on the screen. It was reminiscent of my DaVinci Code experience (although I still think that crowd was just being obnoxious!) It died down, mostly, as people got absorbed into the movie.

All in all it was a fun experience and I did like the movie, despite some wacky upside down camera shots during some of the chase scenes. Southern movies seem a bit more realistic than their Bollywood relatives (though there are still the musical interludes in exotic locations!) Now all I have to do is learn Tamil so that I can enjoy them even more....

Moo?

Check this out!

I wonder if they have trouble understanding each other when one cow gets sold and moved to a different part of the country. And if the cows in the existing herd make fun of the new cow with the different accent. Do you think that American cows have a different accent all together from the British ones? Do Indian cows moo a different language all together or do they just have a different accent? And is there some sort of "neutral moo" that, theoretically, any of them can understand?

Introducing....

....TIM

Isn't he sexy, ladies? :)

Since he has complained that he hasn't gotten enough face time on my blog, I have decided to remedy the situation and give him a whole post here just to introduce his new blog! :) I encourage you to visit and enjoy his unusual thoughts on India.

Finally, I have convinced one of my roommates to get their own blog instead of living vicariously through mine! :)

Hey! That's my food!

Have you ever had take-out food delivered to your door that you didn't order? Ok, maybe. (though thanks to a standardized address system in the US, it's probably not likely!)

However, have you ever taken said food, pretended that you did order it, pay for it and greedily consume it*? Nope, I didn't think so.

But, yes, that is what happened when Ralph and I attempted to order food from Wang's Kitchen for lunch yesterday. Now last year I ordered quite a bit from them, but this was my first time to order from my new apartment. I was a bit concerned about changing the address, but they seemed*** to understand. So when an hour had passed with no sign of them, I made the (first) call to them. "On it's way, 10 minutes madam." (The standard reply.) 20 more minutes pass. I phone again (because, really, they are closing in 5 minutes!)

Me: "I'm calling about the food I ordered for delivery."

Wang's guy: "But it's been delivered madam..."

Me: "Um [stomach growls], no?"

Wang's guy: "But yes madam and the money is coming...the money has come back"

Me (pitifully-remember I have been waiting for food for an hour and half here!): "But I have no food!"

Wang's guy: Delivery to [reads out address-with incorrect number]?

Me: No, [corrects numbers]

Wang's guy: "Ok madam. I am sending food again there 20 minutes."****

Me (desperately): "20 minutes or no payment!"

Wang's guy: "For sure***** 20 minutes madam."

When the delivery guy showed up (about 22 minutes later, but I paid him anyway), he explained that he had delivered it to the house 3 houses down from us. Now, I don't know my neighbors here, but I have heard that at least one Tamil actress, plus possibly a few other people associated with the film industry, live on our street. Not exactly the people that you would think would need to steal food from a couple of poor, hungry, foreign language trainers, but I guess you never know....

...I only hope they were veg!!!!!! Would serve them right...


*I am only speculating about the greedy consumption part of the story, though I think it is a safe bet**

**asterisk comments inspired by Pete and Tiffany

***this is always the problem

****If it only takes 20 minutes, why did it take an hour the first time?

*****Always a dangerous phrase (means, most likely, never, similarity to definitely) ******

******Hey these comments are kinda fun!