First Indian Oratorio Thiruvasagam

George Uglow Pope popularly known as Rev. G.U. Pope or G.U. Pope is a Christian missionary who spent many years in Tamil Nadu and translated many Tamil texts into English. His popular translations include Tirukkural and Tiruvachagam.

Thiruvasagam. Written by Mannikkavasagar, one whose words are like gems wrote the eighth ThirumuRai consisting of ThiruvAchakam, ThiruvempAvai and ThirukkOvaiyAr. He was born in ThiruvAthavUr in the late 8th or early 9th century A.D. He was a minister in the PAndya Kingdom but when he was sent to purchase horses for the army, he spent all the money in religious pursuits. Lord Sivan is supposed to have blessed him with his grace and saved him from the wrath of the King.



Maestro Illayaraja The famous Music composer of south india, attempted to compose this Tamil script into a magnificant western musical form called Oratorio . Its really superb master piece by this great leagend. In this music he composed 2 song in form of western March and in Ballet form.
In second song Illaraja tryes to combine the Manikkavasagars tamil script with G.U. Popes English Translation into one and make it wonderful Song.


The Album contains six tracks.

1. Poovaar Senni Mannan ( Singer : Illayaraja & Chorus) :
The album starts with the song " Poovaar Senni Mannan", which has booming chorus and soulful singing by Illayaraja.
A great start to the Album. In western this is called as March. Manikkavasagar calls those people who want to follow hime to reach lotus feet of the lord.

2. Pollaa Vinayen ( Singers : Illayaraja,Ray Harcourt) :
This is the crown jewel of the Album. Its a lengthy piece with lyrics in both English & Tamil. Tamil lyric by Mannika vasagar and English: a translation of original lyrics. Translatted by Rev. G.U. Pope.
Stunned composition and excellent orchestration. Raja oozes with emotion in this song.

3. Pooerukonum Purantharanum ( Singers : Illayaraja,Bavatharini) :
A melodious song with a strong carnatic base. A typical Raja's unique duet.

4. Umbarkatkarasaey ( Singer : Illayaraja) :
Another Soulful number. Wonderful singing and excellent orchestration. Here poet expresses his feeling after hugging the Lord. In this song, Manikkavasagar asks the lord who is already in his captive, how he will be seen in other places.

5. Muthu Natramam ( Singers :Unnikrishnan, Madhu Balakrishnan,VijayJesudas,Manjari,Asha,Gayathri & Chorus) :
A very "crispy" song with wonderful chorus. This song is almost like a Western Ballet.

6. Puttril Vazh Aravum Anjen :
Raja's tribute to Manickavasagar. The song has nice "wordy" interludes in the beginning . Poet express his feeling of his fear. The starting stanza depects the emotion of the poet to the sumeet.

The "Thiruvachagam" is a must buy for music lovers and hope Raja continues such musical endeavors in the future.To paraphrase one of raja's film songs " Raja Kayya vecha adhu raanga ponadhillai".This is definitely a stunning fusion of Western Classical & Carnatic music. I bow to his genius.
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First lady CEO of india-Indra Nooyi

The world's second largest soft drink maker’s new chairperson would take over on October 1, 2006.


CHICAGO: Chennai-born Indra Nooyi was on Monday assigned the task of the Chief Executive Officer of Pepsico.

The 50-year-old Indra Nooyi will succeed Steve Reinemund, who would retire on May , 2007 to spend more time with his family.

The appointment would take effect from October 1, 2006.

Reinemund will be the executive chairman and also serve as a director till his retirement.

Indra Nooyi was made president and chief financial officer of Pepsico in 1994.

Nooyi’s elevation to the CEO’s post makes Pepsico the 2nd major US firm after grain maker Archer Daniels Midland Co. to be headed by a woman. Patricia Woertz took over as Archer Daniels Midland Co’s chief executive in April.

Pepsico named Richard Goodman, 57, chief financial officer of PepsiCo to replace Nooyi as its CFO, while Hugh Johnston, 44, will be elevated to the newly created post of executive vice president, operations. Hugh Johnston is currently senior vice president, transformation at Pepsico. Pepsico is not filling up the post of President.

After Reinemund took over as Chairman and Chief Executive of Pepsico in May, 2001, the firm’s notable acquisition was that of Quaker Oats Co., in a deal valued at $13 billion.
Before PepsiCo:


A short stint at Mettur Beardsell and later at Johnson & Johnson where she helped in launching 'Stayfree', a brand of sanitary napkins.

Later, in the US, she started her career with The Boston Consulting Group, from where she moved on to become Director- international corporate strategy projects in six years.

Joined Motorola as business development executive for its automotive and industrial electronics group. She became the vice-president and director of corporate strategy and planning before she quit.
At PepsiCo:


Nooyi joined PepsiCo in 1994 as senior vice-president of strategic planning and development, and became the Chief Financial Officer in May 2001. Major achievements of Nooyi at PepsiCo:


Played a vital role in starting Tricon.

Oversaw the sale of Pepsico’s Yum! Brands - comprising Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC

Managed the $13.3-billion Quaker Oats Co acquisition in 2001 which added the Gatorade brand to the Pepsi portfolio

Took the lead in the $3.3-billion Tropicana Juices acquisition in 1998.
Other accomplishments:


Named on the Wall Street Journal's list of 50 women to watch in 2005.

Ranked #11 on Fortune Magazines list of most powerful women in Business.

Is the fifth CEO and the first woman CEO in PepsiCo's 41-year history.

Successor Fellow at Yale Corporation

Serves on the board of directors of several organisations, including Motorola, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the International Rescue Committee, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

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