from 29000 feet above sea level !!!

a few mins back while i was watching “before sunset,” it suddenly struck me that i should be writing this post asap. sometimes it’s very important that when ur mind wanders better than a bird, u should follow it with a laptop that has MS office. but my pc has been overused as always leaving inconsiderable amount of charge in it, making me beg my good old friend shaan to give me his MAC. of course i hate using MAC b’coz of my reluctance towards updating on technology. but all this is not important. what is important is this post and the fact that i am writing it. i am 29000 feet above the sea level, flying above international waters with a heart full of happiness. my U S tour is over and i am on my way back home. i ve got the show director G S VIjayan sitting right next to me wondering what i am typing [or he's probably sleeping, i don't know] and the most talented sayanora in the next seat glued to some movie playing in Qatar airways. but the world of vision is becoming smaller to me as and when i am writing this and the heart is filled with amazing memories i ve lived for the last forty days.

ever since Karale in 2005, i ve done umpteen number of stage shows in and out of my country, but this is for the first time that a stage tour has left me with so much of hangover and excitement. United states of America was not quite cordial when we arrived last month. there was this hurricane disaster called Irene [i don't know y storms are named after such beautiful female names]. The first week shows we had at Boston and New York got cancelled because of this beautiful feminine disaster. but truly it was a blessing in disguise. it gave all of us more time to rehearse, more time to get acquainted and more time to be a family. every day of rehearsal made the flow of the show better and crisp. by the time we did our first show in Orlando, all of us were thorough with our parts. after each show, we had this feeling that we were getting better as a group. having a good team is a rarity, but we were lucky to own this rarity. right from, seniors like Rahman kka [actor Rahman] to juniors like me, everyone tried to give their best. but that’s not just the thing that is making me write this post. more than the success of the show, the experience that this period gave my life is making me write this.

the tour bus that we would hop into every weekend would take us to different parts of america. not just america, it even took us to canada. but the beautiful nayagra falls is not even worth mentioning compared to the moments that i had on stage and at the back stage. i ve always been fascinated by back stages. it’s a place which would transform an ordinary man with undeniable passion into an artist of distinction. it’s the magic room which prepares you to go stand in front of thousands of people with a smile and an intention to touch their hearts. If u ask me, i could narrate hundreds of back stage experiences which has enthralled me in my short span of career. it’s the only place in this world where i could meet a shankar mahadevan or an SPB in close proximity, sipping the tea taken from the same flask as me. in this tour, this back stage was the place where i prepared myself to unleash all the madness clogged inside me. i believe, all of us have a lot of madness hidden inside us. that’s y we feel the need to do something adventurous or exciting. for a guy like me, the back stage and the vocal cord helps. the feeling of being ordinary vanishes the moment every artist reaches the back stage. when u pass that door and enter the back stage, everything changes. state of mind, intentions, energy level, paranoia.. everything. all you want to do is go out there and give ur best. Everytime the show was over, we had hundreds of people rushing to the back stage, clicking pictures with every single artist and speaking their heart out about the experience they had.

when we had our final show in houston, an old friend of mine called barath had come to watch our show. i feel really happy when my friends come to see my stage shows. after the show, i got out of the back stage with barath and we were walking towards his car while people going back were screaming “good show” & “come back to houston” and things like that. it’s those moments when u thank god for making all this happen. when we got into the car, barath asked me; “dude, u r touching people’s lives. what more do u want?” i had no answer. i simply smiled. there is no achievement beyond happy human faces, happy human lives. this understanding is definitely going to make my life simpler and my aspirations humbler. i feel that my life has some significance and some purpose in this mighty world of delusions. these forty days have made me a believer. and this belief would take me home to do the things ahead.

feels better.. i would go back and watch the movie now..

[will post this once i am in chennai. 29000 feet above the sea level provide thoughts, but not internet]

vineeth

Eli – trailer

for a couple of weeks now, i ve been touring across U.S.A with our stage shows and even forgot about the fact that my short film production is happening in Chennai. Alphonse [the director of Eli] told me that, by the time i am back, it’ ll be ready for screening. if any of u guys are interested to come for our preview show in chennai pls let me know. i guess a sexy tale is in the making

in the making!!

this is goa my friend…

There is a wooden cottage in Small Vagatore facing the sea; the sea which rumbles so beautifully 24/7 making me happy about the fact that I am alive and I am here.. If I go down the hill to reach the sands, I would find a shack wherein a 60 year old ‘maaji’ would cook fresh Mackerel rava masala fry for me. Sitting in one of those broken chairs there, u could feel the sea breeze touching ur soul. If u close ur eyes, it’s even more powerful. This is Goa my friend!!!

Goa is nothing like what u hear from ur friends or watch in movies. Every single Tom returning from goa will have a story to tell about how he got sloshed, how he partied, where he found “the grass,” blah blah blah… This is not goa.. This is what people make out of it. Goa is actually much much much more than that. It’s a place where u can actually communicate with nature. For instance, I went to Chappora fort a few days back. The archeological department has not yet taken up responsibilities on this amazing place which is a shame; but in a way a blessing. It’s not at all crowded like Aguada fort or Dona Paula or Calangute beach and there are no securities also. But once u climb up the hill and reach the fort, u would actually feel so peaceful. U would feel so connected to nature. For me, there was a constant piano playing in my heart and the moment it started to rain, it had an additional string back up . Rain is such a beautiful inconvenience. And once it stops, the breeze walks in with a twist and when u close ur eyes, it ll embrace u like ur mother. So pure, so sanctifying!!!

Goa brings such amazing visuals in front of ur eyes. My favorite is north goa, where I ve been staying for the past one week. Vagatore, anjuna, arambol, mapusa, tiracol there are so many places in north goa where u would find the villages of kerala with a Baskin Robbins Some places are just like kerala, but u would find a lot more smiling faces. People are nice but not too nice that they would poke their nose into ur lives. Just the right amount.

Goa is flooded with couples in love. Everywhere u go, u would find them. I love seeing people who are in love. You don’t get to watch them in public in kerala. Our small towns and villages treat adolescent romance like a sin. When I was in school, all of us used to keep our crushes like big secrets. If ur teacher finds it out, u ll ve to bring ur parents to school. It’s like a black mark on ur character. so the most sacred feeling of this planet was often hidden like a dark emotion. But of course there were exceptions. I ve a friend of mine called Abhilash who started seeing a junior girl called Jisha when we were in 7th std. They were caught by the teachers a million times and convicted for feeling for each other. But both of them were fearless. May be they knew it’s a sacred thing. By god’s grace now they are happily married and today when I see them, I feel proud. Standing for love is not a small thing. Of course true romance and unconditional love are all big words, but making an attempt towards it is a human responsibility. More than responsibility, it’s a necessity. There is so much to learn from a woman for a man and vice versa. I don’t know why I am saying all this, may be it’s because of Goa.

Tomorrow I am packing my bags from here. All these moments of experiences would become memories from the past. But one thing is for sure. From now on, if I am traveling, I would carry a map; not the stories that my friends tell me. Because, to a large extent, my experiences are going to shape from what I am and what I do. Goa has managed to teach me this. Thank u goa. I am taking u with me!!!! [with a piano playing and a string back up]

Vineeth..

goa calling..

guys, i am planning to go to goa..
reading, writing, eating and a bit of aimless roaming.. that’s the plan..
if u guys know any good places to eat, pls let me know.. [inexpensive would be nice]
also, if u could suggest some peaceful hangouts in goa, pls do..
tata..

thank u for the comments

i am extremely thankful to everyone who has commented in the previous post. The response for chappa kurishu was mixed initially, so i didn’t check the blog for a few days. but after seeing the response here today, I feel completely thankful.
I used the word “thankful” coz it takes a mighty heart to accept such sudden change. I remember what my good friend RJ Shaan from radio mango told me after watching chappa. “when tractors and computers were introduced in India, everyone went haywire. But eventually they couldn’t do without it. So is Chappa Kurishu. They might hate it in the beginning but eventually they ll all receive it with all the love it deserves.” This is exactly what is happening right now. People burst out on the first day, but now they seem to identify the change that Chappa has tried to bring. And when directors like Laljose and Sathyan Anthikkad says that they are inspired by this change, how can I not be happy?
I whole heartedly thank Sameer kka and Listin for making me a part of this. I don’t know what figures this movie is gonna fetch at the box office; but a few golden letters are waiting to be written about Chappa in the history of Malayalam cinema.

Vineeth..

p.s. special thanks to Mazin, amith mohan, arjun babu, ammini, quasiaesthetic, anoop kumar, rachana, kannan ravi, shal joseph and moobienut [apologies for leaving out a few names. This is a quick one] for their interesting views about the film.

This is something that quasiaesthetic wrote which I found to be the most interesting:

“Chappa Kurishu” assuredly stays clear of the trappings of an escapist entertainment – there is no deliberate or heavy handed attempt to excite, entertain or evoke a response.Also,no indulgent ego-tripping to alienate either. Instead, it just lets itself unfold slowly, reminding you all the way that there is more to it than meets the eye.

chappa kurish on july 15

chappa kurish is confirmed to release on july 15.
the censor just got over a few mins back and the reports are good!!
malayalam film industry is on its changing phase and i am hoping Chappa could make some positive contribution..
48 hours remaining now to hear people’s verdict!!
if everything goes well on july 15th, i could celebrate one year of Malarvaadi with a heartily smile on july 16th..
prayers… prayers… prayers..
vineeth…

my first single take recording ever!!!

lots ‘s happening at SHAAN’s ETERNAL RAY {his recording studio} these days..
composing for my new film.
also he has provided me a table to write.. so scripting while not composing.
also there is a cot in the corner of the studio where i am allowed to sleep..
so literally i don’t ve to go out at all [courtesy: attached bathroom]
now this is something that happened a couple of hours back.. bored of scripting and composing, we decided to jam. shaan was on the keys and i was in front of his “audio technica” mic and we went recording this on a single take.
pls give it a hearing guys.. i hope u like it..

From Vineeth & I Unplugged by Shaan Rahman

vineeth..

chappa kurish – the official trailer!!!

july is about to come.
the same month when malarvaadi got released last year,its Chappa Kurish this year.
here is the official trailer guys..
PLS USE UR HEADPHONES!!!

vineeth..

chappa kurish – first teaser!!

our blog is moving towards one lakh hits.. my relationship with u guys has definitely helped me to be a better person and more committed towards my work. it has been wonderful sharing so much of my personal and professional thoughts with u guys.. thank u for the good words, prayers and criticism. i hope this continues!!! god bless u all..