Thinking Out Loud

Those who plan to take the intercity (A/C) train from/to Colombo/Jaffna, in future, please refrain from doing so. It may have started off great (what with the reduced travelling time) but I don't think they have cleaned the compartments from whence they started. There were insects (you name the genus; it was bound to be there) crawling all over the compartment and I tried my best to safeguard my belongings (I hope I succeeded). Don't even think about the snacks available in the canteen: they were open to inspection and a good frolicking by the abovementioned insects. If that won't deter you from the food, then the eating habits our good citizens would surely change your mind. Look, I'm not one to have social pretensions and look down on others (and I believe I have a strong stomach), but there is a goddamned limit that should never be goddamned crossed. I never visited the toilet, so in this case let's apply the Schrödinger's toilet thought experiment: The Co

The phrase "சனியன் பிடிச்ச மூதேவி" harkens back to a time of growing up in வட்டுக்கோட்டை (mostly) and கட்டுடை. It's nowhere close to a swear word (or phrase) but it is so effective where the intended recipient(s) may never recover for years to come. Indian accent, in my most humble and honest opinion, can never match the viciousness (or passion, however you want to look at it) with which the word "மூதேவி" be delivered in the Jaffna dialect. In Tamil films, there usually is a stereotypical retort to மூதேவி: "சீதேவி" or "ஸ்ரீதேவி" (in the மதராஸி dialect, of course), thus rendering the word ineffective and relegating it to a lower, fragile rung in the comedic ladder. My least favourite planet was Saturn. Why? Because the word "சனியன்" is the colloquial term for சனி பகவான் aka Saturn. What if Saturn catches you? சனி பிடிச்சத English-ல சொன்னனாக்கும். Well, once Saturn catches you, you will have to endure more than what Annamalai had