After hearing positive reviews on Puttakkana Highway, we trooped to the theatre to watch it.

The music is amazing. Hamsalekha has done a really done a good job on that. In fact, i would consider it the best aspect of the movie. The protagonist, Puttakka played by Shruthi lacks expressions. In fact Veena Sundar who plays her friend in the film expresses herself quite well, even though her character is a small one.

After having seen Do Bigha Zameen and this film, i so wish that everybody is educated to an extent where they can read, write and know things, lest they be cheated by greedy people. On seeing such films, one feels miserable. They are taken advantage of so easily.

Do see such films, for leading a life in the city is not the end of it all.

Subarnalata by Ashapurna Debi is violent. If i can say. this is the most violent books on women, that i have read. In terms of the protagonist's (who goes by the name of the novel) fight against traditions and male dominance.

Having read the book, i am still wondering if any woman could be that stubborn, fighting against each and everything. Earlier to reading Subarnalata, i read Gulabhi Talkies by Vaidehi. The latter being a collection of short stories. Vaidehi also speaks about the progress of women in her style. And definitely she would have faced many hurdles too, but her stories aren't rough.

I somehow didn't appreciate Subarnalata very much, maybe she was too desperate to notice any positivity around her. Maybe it's so progessionist (i hope i've used the right word) that i fail to comprehend.

Every sixth person of Karnataka resides in Bengaluru. And our Chief Minister (if you still hold respect for that title) wants to allot property to the Cricket World Cup winning team including the physiotherapist, the coach and anyone else who is part of it. Why Bengaluru? Like we have somebody from Karnataka in the present team. And we are crammed up, big time, for want of space.

This is probably the week's best joke.

If Aishwarya Rai Bachchan spoke 'chaste' Kannada (as mentioned in The Times of India) during the inauguration of the Vishwa Kannada Sammalena 2011, then i should be somebody who is known for my superlative Kannada speaking abilities including my diction and vocabulary. And my friends and family know me as a person who struggles to express herself in pure Kannada, and who gets words wrong frequently.

By the way, what was she doing there? A superstar, looking glamorous who has nothing related to Kannada. Period. I was surprised when i read in the newspaper that she was to be there. Seriously, we've got better people. And i wonder how she agreed to be part of the Sammalena?

God save us!

Hudson Circle looked good today. Shimmering colourful lights lit the area apart from the bright streetlights. The tower was also decked up and looked grand. Thanks to the Kannada Sahithya Sammelena.

Floats stood in front of the BBMP office as i walked to the bus-stop. I had never assumed that they'd arrange so many floats. What if the floats rolled in the evening, with lights flashing on them. That would have been real nice.

Of late, i've started appreciating film songs from old Hindi and Kannada films. Well, i never bothered listening to them a few years ago. Some lyrics and tunes are really catchy. Maybe it is the melody which makes one want to listen to them after a tiring day.

When i was in Mysuru, the 'fm' channels made their entry into the local airspace. They played only Kannada songs. That's when i began to liking some old music, i guess.

Today being Lakshmi Habba, we were to celebrate it. But we didn't for other reasons.

The one thing that flashes to my mind when one talks about this particular festival is the rendition of Purandara Dasa's verse on the Goddess by the maestro Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. A song from the Kannada film Nodi Swami Naavu Irodhu Heege. Chandana (the Kannada wing of Doordharshan) used to telecast that song as part of an evening programme. I would wait for them to play this song every Lakshmi Puje.

Divine.

A group of people in the city conducted an event - Pustaka Parishe, where books can be exchanged. An idea which sounded novel to me. I proceeded to call them and to enquire about the same. And was told that it was limited to Kannada books only. Disappointed, i asked father to participate. He didn't go for other reasons.

I wish something of the same kind was organized with books in English. I'll certainly benefit.

After the completion of the famous 'Crime Diary' (or was it Crime Story?) by Ravi Belegere, we've had a plethora of such programmes. At that point in time, every Kannada channel had a similar show. And Belegere's voice was talked about. A monotonous tone which rang through out the half hour (or one hour?) of the episode, with little variations.

Many people have continued to ape it and continue to do so. One annoying factor is the voice of the narrator, which are nasal and lifeless. It makes one stop viewing the telecast instantly.

Can they please put an end to this, or simply narrate in a tone which can be listened to?