‘Ya We No’ and What It Means!

You might be wondering what this ‘Ya We No’ refers to. It is a random expression which a few of us in college used very frequently. It was generally used in a humorous context and it meant exactly the same – ‘Yeah, We Know!’. It was slowly morphed into what it is on the top of my blog.

But going beyond the humor part of it, I consider ‘Ya We No’  to refer to the collective wisdom of people. It refers to the power of the internet. When each one of us contribute something, and encourage others to do so, then we get an ocean of knowledge. Wikipedia is the best example of collective wisdom of the internet junta. There are millions of people interacting every instant on the Internet. Be it twitter, facebook or any other social networking site. With the internet at our disposal, there is nothing that ‘we cannot know’.

There is a new phenomenon emerging. Its called crowdsourcing. It refers to the trend of mass collaboration enabled by the Web 2.0 technologies. It is so because, ‘Yeah! We Know’ it all.

I’m just reiterating the same with the title of my blog. You and I, together we know it all. Ya We No.

Update – I’ve changed my Blog Title again. Its no longer Ya We No. So you might actually find this post pointless.

My Review of ‘Prince of Persia – The Sands of Time’

This movie, based on the video game going by the same name, can be termed as a decent adaptation, with some major changes in the story.

The story revolves around an ancient dagger which gives the possessor the ability to travel in time whenever they press a joystick like button on the dagger.

The plot is ridiculously simple unlike the plot of the video game series. The story has nothing more than Prince Dastan joining Princess Tamina to rescue the Dagger and the Sands of Time from his treacherous uncle Nizam.

Gyllenhaal has the looks of a prince and portrays the character well. He surely should have been given more action sequences to prove his mettle. Alfred Molina as the opportunistic ostrich-race organizer is quite impressive. Ben Kingsley as the wicked uncle Nizam is pretty ordinary. Gemma Arterton looks charming and gorgeous.

Considering that this was a high-budget movie, I expected much more impressive action sequences. There is never a flow in all those action sequences and we are never given a chance to see the prince flexing his muscles in an impressive stunt sequence. Even the sword sequence was shown just for a short span of time. Its meant to be an adventure film, but if feels like all the action has been squeezed out of the movie.

My Opinion – Not Awful. It entertains. Could have been better.

Tamil Lyrics – Mun Paniya – Nandha

This post is a part of my new Tamil Lyrics series, which provides you with lyrics of famous and/or latest Tamil songs. Tamil cinema has some of the most talented lyricists who stir the hearts of music lovers creating a deep memorable impact on them. If you would like to have a song’s lyrics included here, please contact me.

Movie Name – Nandha

Composer      - Yuvan Shankar Raja

Lyricist           – Arivumathi

Mun paniyaa
Mudhal mazhaiyaa
En manadhil aedho vizhugiradhae
Vizhugiradhae
Uyir nanaigiradhae

Puriyaadha uravil nindraen
Ariyaadha sugangal kandaen
Maattram thandhaval nee dhaanae

Mun paniyaa
Mudhal mazhaiyaa
En manadhil aedho vizhugiradhae
Vizhugiradhae
Uyir nanaigiradhae

manasu edhaiyum
maraikkum kiliyae
manasa thirandhu
solladi velliyae
karaiya kadandhu nee vandhadhu edharkku?
kannukkullae oru ragasiyam irukku
manasa thirandhu
solladi velliyae-ae…

(Instrumental)

Mun paniyaa
Mudhal mazhaiyaa
En manadhil aedho vizhugiradhae
Vizhugiradhae
Uyir nanaigiradhae

salanga kulunga
Odum alaiyae
sangadhi aena
solladi velliyae
karaiyil vandhu nee thulluvadhu edhukku?
nilava pidichukka nanappadhu edhukku?
aylo aylo aylay aylo-o

(Instrumental)

(Whistling)

Tamil Lyrics – Sollamal Thottu – Dheena

This post is a part of my new Tamil Lyrics series, which provides you with lyrics of famous and/or latest Tamil songs. Tamil cinema has some of the most talented lyricists who stir the hearts of music lovers creating a deep memorable impact on them. If you would like to have a song’s lyrics included here, please contact me.

Movie Name – Dheena

Composer      - Yuvan Shankar Raja

Lyricist           – Vaali

Tamil Lyrics – Kaadhal Vandhaal – Iyarkai

This post is a part of my new Tamil Lyrics series, which provides you with lyrics of famous and/or latest Tamil songs. Tamil cinema has some of the most talented lyricists who stir the hearts of music lovers creating a deep memorable impact on them. If you would like to have a song’s lyrics included here, please contact me.

Movie Name – Iyarkai

Composer      - Vidyasagar

Lyricist           – Vairamuthu

Babe, Tell me you love me
I hope I hear it when I’m alive.

Kaadhal vandhaal solli anuppu
Uyirodu irundhaal varugiraen
En kanneer vazhiyae uyirum veliyae
Karaiyil karaindhu irukkiraen
Sutta mannilae meenaaga
Manam vetta veLiyilae vaadudhadi
Kanneer kalandhu kanneer kalandhu
Kadal neer mattum koodudhadi

(Kaadhal vandhaal…)

Uyirai thavira sondham illaiyae kaadhalikkum munbu
Indha ulagae endhan sondham aanadhae kaadhal vandha pinbu

Babe, Tell me you love me
It’s never late, Don’t hesitate

Saavai azhaithu kadidham kaettaen kaadhalikkum munbu
Oru saavai pudhaikka sakthi kaetkiRaen kaadhal vandha pinbu
Unnaal en kadal alai urangavae illai
Unnaal en nilavukku udal nalam illai
Kadal thuyil kolvadhum nila kunam kolvadhum
Naan uyir vaazhvadhum un sollil ulladhadi
Un irukkam dhaan en uyirai kolludhadi kolludhadi…

(Kaadhal vandhaal…)

Pirandha mannai alli thindraen unnai kaanum munbu
Nee nadandha mannai alli thindraen unnai kanda pinbu
Annai thandhai kandadhillai naan kan thirandha pinbu
En aththanai uravum motham kandaen unnai kanda pinbu
Pennae en payanamo thodangavae illai
Adharkul adhu mudivadhaa vilangavae illai
Naan karaiyaavadhum illai nuraiyaavadhum
Valar piraiyaavadhum un sollil ulladhadi
Un irukkam dhaan en uyirai kolludhadi kolludhadi…

(Kaadhal vandhaal…)

Solving the Rubik’s Cube

Am a beginner at solving the original 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube. Its the world’s top selling puzzle having sold over 350 millions cubes. I started about a couple of week backs and I have already solved it over a hundred times. Each time I see a solved cube, I have that uncontrollable urge to scramble it and start solving it all over again. Believe me, its really addictive.

If you are a beginner, it can be really frustrating and may seem next to impossible to solve the cube. However if you learn a few simple algorithms, it is very easy to solve. You too can learn to solve a Rubik’s cube by watching this wonderful two part video tutorial by Dan Brown.  Part 1. Part 2. These two videos should be sufficient. If you want more, there is also a tutorial on wH giving you all the details that you might need.

Tamil Lyrics – Tamizha Tamizha – Roja

This post is a part of my new Tamil Lyrics series, which provides you with lyrics of famous and/or latest Tamil songs. Tamil cinema has some of the most talented lyricists who stir the hearts of music lovers creating a deep memorable impact on them. If you would like to have a song’s lyrics included here, please contact me.

This being the first post in the series, I wish to begin with one of my favorite songs. Its a patriotic song from the movie Roja which is also the debut movie of my favorite composer ARR.

Movie Name – Roja

Composer      - A.R.Rahman

Lyricist           – Vairamuthu

Tamizha Tamizha naalai nam naalae
Tamizha Tamizha naadum nam naadae (2)
En veedu thaai tamil nadu endrae sollada
En naamam Indian endrae endrum nillada
Tamizha Tamizha naalai nam naalae
Tamizha Tamizha naadum nam naadae

Nilam maaralaam kunam ondru dhaan
Idam maaralaam nilam ondru dhaan
Mozhi maaralaam porul ondru dhaan
Kali maaralaam kodi ondru dhaan
Dhisai maaralaam nilam ondru dhaan
Isai maaralaam mozhi ondru dhaan
Nam India motham ondru dhaan vaa…

Tamizha Tamizha kangal kalangaadhey
Vidiyum vidiyum ullam mayangaadhey
Tamizha Tamizha kangal kalangaadhey
Vidiyum vidiyum ullam mayangaadhey
Unakkullae indhiya raththam undaa illaiya?
Ondraana bharatham unnai kaakkum illaiya
Tamizha Tamizha naalai nam naalae
Tamizha Tamizha naadum nam naadae

Nava bharadham podhuvaanadhu
Idhu vaervaiyaal uruvaanadhu
Pala desamo edhuvaanathu
Athnaal idhu uruvaanathu
Subha dhandamaai valuvaanathu
Ada vaalibaa idhai velvathu
Ithu mannilaa privenbadhu vaa….

Time to say Goodbye…

After four years at this hot and dry place called NIT Trichy, it is time to pack our bags and leave. This place has been my home for the past four years. This place and the time I have spent here with seniors, batch mates and juniors have been responsible for shaping me into what I  am now. During my stay here I have made a lot of friends and have had a lot of fun with them. A lot of post are pending about this campus and my life here at NIT Trichy. I’ll eventually bring all those posts from the drafts stage to the published stage. This place has also taught me a lot about life and how to tackle it.

Its is now time for me to change the ‘About Me’ stuff in various social networks. From ‘a student of NIT-T’ to ‘an alumnus of NIT-T’. It does feel different.

It is now time to say goodbye. Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simple mean that I’ll miss the place and all my friends here. We part only to meet again. Love you all.

NIT Trichy Alumni Network and the First Ever Global Alumni Meet

About a month back I got to know of a site, NIT Trichy Alumni Network which says that there’s a Global Aluni Meet happening at Bangalore on August 7th 2010.  It is a new site being developed by the RECAL which is the Alumni association of REC/NIT Trichy. It is also in the process of creating a comprehensive up-to-date database of alumni contacts. A new site at the new domain is coming soon and till then the previous RECAL site remains the official site.

Here is the link for you. If you are an Alumni of REC/NIT Trichy then register yourself at the following link to include yourself to the database. Even those students passing out of NITT in the year 2010 are requested to register themselves at the site. You can also register for the Global Alumni Meet to be held on August 7th. It is a full day event and the targeted participation is around 1500.

If you have any suggestions/questons you can mail them at alumni[at]nittrichyalumni[dot]org

Kiruba Shankar at NITT

On an uneventful Sunday I chose to attend one of the guest lectures of Currents 2010. The reason being the topic of discussion – Blogging, something which I’m very passionate about. And more importantly the speaker – Kiruba Shankar. He is probably the best example  one can give of  Personal Branding. So I went for the lecture in spite of the fact that I’m from a different dept and not many other-dept guys were present at the lecture. Though the lecture got delayed too much, it was worth the wait.

He managed to keep the audience entertained through the entire duration of the lecture, something which is not easily achieved especially at NITT. He started off with a story of two friends trying to run away from a tiger and then went on to discuss how businesses could benefit from the social media. He cited quite a few interesting examples like Dominoes Pizzas, IIPM,  Trisha etc etc to emphasize on the fact that social media can have a huge impact.Though I have read/heard most of what he said earlier, it was interesting just because of the way he presented the lecture.

Like him I too give importance to something called the digital presence. If you google for ‘Alagappan’ you are sure to find my domain name at the top. As Kiruba said during the lecture, my domain is my digital property and this simple search can be a substitute of a business card.

He also made people think on the fact that so much of data could be generated if all of us start blogging. Even his lecture at NITT could be soon forgotten unless someone writes about it. As of now there would be just a couple of tweets, a few facebook updates and this blog post which records his presence at NITT on this day.

“If only everybody starts making proper use of the various tools available to them, they can have a huge impact on this world.”