Thursday, July 12, 2007

Chennai Man and Pineapple Rasam

Enigmatic, bold, brilliant, handsome... Well, these are how men are portrayed. Men who haven’t set foot in the arena of fashion, will find this opportunity exciting, for they get this never before chance to express their mystifying personality. The search for the 'Chennai Man' – an ideal combination of brain and brawn begins here...

I want to quit my job.

And I wish to become the judge of this contest.

Imagine how much fun it shall be?

May be, they will have a Veshti Round. Hot Tamizh boys, wearing white jarigai veshti will be too much. A master-stroke. The most brilliant marketing strategy.

Pity that T Anna is not in Madras. Else, he could have tried. I am certain that he would have had a good chance. After all, he is tall, is Bharadwaja Gothram and believes in world peace. Really. He does. What else can explain that he drove for four hours, while being swamped under work, to go and meet a visiting chitti. Not because he was dying to meet the chitti, but because she was making Pineapple Rasam. Yes, that is why. And he would also win the coveted, Loving Nephew/Niece in USA contest.

This act certainly proves that he is an advocate of world peace. I mean:
• We never eat Pineapple rasam in “our” house. You are being unfair to both the rasam and to yourself
• T Anna is actually allergic to pineapples
• T Anna is somewhat allergic to the chitti. I think, the feeling is mutual
• And chitti is not a great cook or anything. What I am saying is, she is a terrible cook

But he still went. Because amma asked him to. And that is what good Tamizh Brahmin boys do.

T Anna is forever raising the bar. I wish amma will understand that, I cannot have this unquestioning love for Pineapple rasam or for the chittis who rustle them up for you.

I suppose, which is why, I will never be Miss Chennai.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thoppai irundha parava illai thaane?

Oru naaLai ppol mookk pidikka idli-vadai-sambar, madhyaanam 'full meals', sayangaalam tibbun-kaapi, raathri thirumba sappathi saappitta, ennathaan iLamai konjinaalum, thoppai illaada vaalibarhaL (yaen, vaalibi-haLum) kaNNil pada maattengara.

Parava illai nna sollungo, modhal panthiyilae naan!

Unknown said...

Kiddo, someday you will understand this social exercise. Leave Madras and then we will talk.

Asal Tamil Penn said...

@T Anna: Are you cursing me?

Anonymous said...

I like that Airtel Super Singer Junior programme. I like anything besides that monster called, Sun TV.
And at least chitti didn't make poondu rasam! :)

Anonymous said...

Why discriminate against the lungi?
Why is the contest called Chennai Man, I wonder?

Anonymous said...

Heh! No controversy aa? Tchah!

Karthik Sriram said...

Pineapple rasam, palapazham seed based sambar, fruit pachadi all this must be banned from tamizh cuisines!

LKS

Anonymous said...

Yes, please. Quit job. What is the point of being a journalist who writes about things that nobody wishes to read. I say, a bank teller job is far more meaningful.
Will we see you at the, Fiddler of the Hoof?

Krish Ashok said...

@Kadambari,
Poondu Rasam? Please first go wash the fingers that typed these words and then read
this

umm oviya said...

a friend sent your blog link. hilarious and bang on!! esply the north indian bit, i totally agree.
hope you are enjoying The Hindu. got tonnes of friends there from my Express days.
looking forward to more from you.

Pri said...

um one is supposed to announce when one is on a break.

impatient reader.

The Regular Joe said...

Am entertained and all smiles.

Su said...

Pineapple rasam :) Yum. It's a typical ' kalyanam saapadu' rasam.

Anonymous said...

New post?

Sasha said...

pineapple rasam is definetly 'kalyanam saapadu' rasam.

Anonymous said...

Pudhu post illai. Aen??

reNdu-le oNNu nadanthirukku.

ONNu-ATP aatthilae blog-ai patthi vishayam therinju poyirukku. Ellaam padicchuttu, ellaarum oreyadiya amukki vecchirukka-“ blog ezhutharaen paervazhi-nnu, nammatthu vishayam ellaam ambael paNNinadhu porum, nirutthu”-nnu, GaNiNi-ai (compooter) pidungi vecchinDirukka.

ReNdu-Hindu aabees-le evan(L)o ‘thuppariyum saambu’ ATP-ai kaNdu pidicchu, Iyengaar mama kittae ‘vaitthi’ vecchirukkaan(L). Iyengaar mama-vum ultimatum kudutthuttaar, Hindu aabees vaelai vaeNuma, blog vaeNuma-nnu!

Adhaan ATP KaaNom!

Pri said...

come back ASAP ATP

sobs hysterically.

is some angry north indian boy responsible for this?

come back.

Anonymous said...

Post!

Kalai said...

Hi:
I was originally looking for something else and magically landed on your Blog. I am a Tamil boy (now MAN) but agreed to most of your thoughts! Anyway I liked your way of writing, astounding narrations and the thin line of humor, like writer "Sujatha's" old stories! On a Sunday night at 11:00, reading your Blog from start to end, seems to be strange but true, "I like it and I will visit very often".
- A Tamil manithan from USA!

Anonymous said...

And what keeps you busy these days? :)

Anonymous said...

Di, what happened?

Anonymous said...

i have flagged this blog as offensive. heh. others shud also

iyer56 said...

Vazhkaila enna perisa saddhikaporom.Sambadhichadu sethu vechu ennadha kanaporom.Pidithai sappidaradhile dhan irukku vazhkai.Adhuvum andh andha vellai ku.Namma enna Kotagaila kutti irukara mada.Manusha dhane.Pinnakum,arisi kalanja thanium,vella vella velaiku vaikola thinna Mada.Mundihargal.Sambadhipadhu edharku.Nalla rendu vellai ill moonu vellai pidichadhai sapidradhuku romba kuduthu vechirukanum.Chithi podra kapi yo illa anasi pazham rasam,adhu sariya irukko, illayo,andha manidhabimanam ,andha nerathila vara varthai complimenting on good kapi even if its worse makes the life for chithi.What do you loose by uttering such words,which gives immense pleasure to the reciever as a compliment.Life is always full of such surprises,Its how one takes it on his stride.

iyer56 said...

Possibly pineapple was introduced into rasam to mask the unsavoury oosipona rasam.One doesnt know.For a person who is a master at making rasam,he may not require pineapple to make the rasam more delicious.Its typicaly the madras style of putting all unwanted vegetables in vendakkai/murungakai sambar to cover up the deficiencies in cooking.

Anonymous said...

ennamma ponnu -- you don't blog anymore?

Anonymous said...

This blog is racist bcos it tells Because brown is beautiful..does it being being fair or dark is ugly?

Anonymous said...

en di ma ponnu, enga poita?

Anonymous said...

Dead?

Anonymous said...

By the powers that be, I pronounce this Blog as dead.

Prabu said...

aval parandhu ponaale...
engalai marandhu ponaale

naam paakadha podhu
ambi oruthanai
kalyaanam pannindaale

Anonymous said...

Hail ATP!
ATP shall return!

And all the doomsday prophecy makers shall feel like the total jokers that they are!

Hail ATP!

Anonymous said...

Miss you!! Where are you?

Spunky Monkey said...

Asal Tamizh Penn!
Rumba nalla irakka.
(Is that right?)

Anonymous said...

Please post!!

Anonymous said...

Enna ma kannu, kalyanam over a?