Comprehensive mid-term ownership report of i20.
It is more than a year since we bought our first car after a lot of research and a good time to review the ride so far.
Lady in Red
I really regret not going for the CRDi/1.4 AT engine now. It was too much power for a newbie to handle then but sorely missed now.
Specs:
Engine displacement – 1197 cc (1.2 L)
Ground clearance – 165 mm (feels a lot less though)
Fuel tank capacity – 45 L.
Max Power – 80@4500 rpm.
Torque – 11.4 Kgm/4000 rpm.
Brakes – 14″ disc (F) and 8 “ drum (R).
Tyre – 185/65 R14 (Apollo Accelere).
Wheel base – 2525 mm (wider than Verna and Honda City)
Length – 3940 mm
Boot capacity – 295 L.
Stock ICE – 4 speakers + 2 tweeters with built in AUX, steering mounted controls and USB with MID.
City driving:
90% of the driving is within Bangalore city limits in very congested roads and that is the i20′s forte. The engine is super silent and you will be hard pressed to tell that the ignition is on on most of the times. The steering is light and very responsive and the Asta trim’s electronic retractable ORVMs are an essential tool in avoiding brusing against unreasonable 2/4 wheelers trying to squeeze in. The engine has enough power to pull ahead in 3rd gear but 2nd gear range is very narrow. So pickup off the block is on the slower side. Ground clearance is yet another weak point and the perpendicular structures in the guise of humps do scrape the bottom when it is fully occupied. Mileage is decent with 13/14 KM/L with average usage of Air conditioning. Braking is excellent. Visibility is a bit of a problem due to thick A pillars and the low seating more suited to European and Western roads than India. This despite having rake and reach. Cooling is sufficient but the puny 1.2 L engine’s constraint shows up.
Highway ride:
On the highway, it is a completely different story. The acceleration is linear with absolutely no turbo lag and with the right shifting of gears, one can touch 120 KM/h at just 2500-3000 rpms but fooled into believing that you are at 80 KM/h! The engine is silent and the NV insulation levels are unmatched. There is very little outside noise that manages to get in. The volume controls on the steering are very convenient. Surprisingly, the Apollo Accelere tires have excellent grip and the ABS coupled with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) result in very predictive and short braking distance. The fuel economy is very good with light foot - 15-16 KM/L with A/C on. Without A/C, one can expect another KM to be added/L. The dead pedal is a boon on highways.
Straight line driving is good but Punto is the benchmark. I haven’t experienced the supposed lack of feedback from the steering at high speeds. The suspension’s limitations shows up in in-existent roads. Again Punto felt better during the TD. On average roads under normal conditions, suspension is sufficient. Stock horn is meek and have replaced it. Headlights are as per RTO recommended standards and hence don’t try to blind the guy coming in opposite direction! Thankfully, the dash rattling reported in some of the earlier deliveries is absent from mine.
Make no mistake the engine is not suited to climb up to Ooty through the Masinagudi route with an overloaded car. That is where I regreted not going for the 1.4 AT or the 1.4 CRDi. I am planning to try the route with a more typical load and see if the test is cleared.
The car feels very solidly built and with all the safety features like Air bags, ABS with EBD & ESP and its 5 star NCAP rating (6 air bag and traction control version), gives a new boost of confidence that takes driving on a highway to a new level.
Best effort – Bangalore – Sivakasi – 512 KMs – 6.5 hrs including 45 minute lunch break. After that drive felt like I could drive for another 1000 Kms without tiring!
Comfort and Interiors:
The vehicle is comfortable with good ergonomics. The quality of the interiors and the finish is excellent. Panel gaps are even, there is no ugly jutting out of parts and the stock fabric on the seat is of excellent quality. The rear seating position is slightly low giving the occupants a claustrophobic feeling and poor outside visibility. The seat belt is not height adjustable!!! Minimum lumbar support is provided and seats are height adjustable. The electronic mirror and ORVM controls are very convenient and functional.
The quality of parts and the finish gives a premium feel and definitely lot better than what we get in 10-15 Lakh priced cars in India!
Maintenance:
The car is niggle free but repairs are costly. It is electronic everything and that is a bit of a pain in Indian conditions. Once the door closure sensor got clogged and then a street vendor knocked off the ORVM mirror from the case. Scratches and dents too cost a bomb to repair.
However, the Hyundai service guys are excellent. The fact that insurance costs are very low is an indication on the build quality and durability.
Verdict:
Pro’s:
- Premium interiors.
- Responsive steering.
- Acceptable mileage (Honda’s IVTEC is the standard).
- Comfort.
- Loaded with awesome features.
- Stock ICE is more than sufficient in most cases.
- Excellent Braking.
- Safety features.
- Build quality.
- Looks.
- Priced well compared to Jazz and Fabia. Can’t comment on Polo though.
- Dead pedal.
- Outstanding after sales servicing.
- Outstanding NV and good Handing.
- Good MID including intuitive controls and useful information.
Con’s:
- 2nd gear range.
- visibility
- Poor suspension
- rear seat glass house.
- Boot space
- Electronics for even simple functions.
- Low ground clearance.
- Air conditioning takes time to cool interiors due to puny engine – substandard for Indian conditions.
Good car for a first time owner and driver. We have traveled quite a bit and the photo album is filling up fast! We are highly impressed with Hyundai as a whole and plan to buy an i35 if it is priced properly. All foreign automakers – more so Skoda, Honda and Toyota, take Indian car owners for granted and continue with their ridiculous pricing strategy. If Hyundai and VW continue to produce more vehicles like i10, i20 and Polo & Vento, they have a good chance of busting the premium segment market leaders.
Encounters of the Wild Kind
I had set the alarm for 5:15 AM. Before going to bed, I was warned not to roam around at dawn before they switch on the generators. The risk of boars/bears (the guides have a heavy accent) was simply too great. But what kept me inside the tent was the non-stop alarm calls from the Sambhar and Spotted deer herds which were running scared in the valley opposite to the Dining area (Golghar) and tent #4 during dinner. After being the lucky one to shine the beam directly into their eyes making them freeze in fear, it became clear that the Leopard spooking them was staying too close for comfort.
After numerous dreams of strange wild encounters, I woke up at 3:15 AM. Still, the sambhar deers were making occasional alarm calls. I tried rolling over and sleep for another hour or two but couldn’t. Finally around 4:30 AM, I decided that I better try my luck and wound up placing myself between the sad excuse for a wall (canvas sheet) and the fragile door. With the faithful EverReady torch light, I was scanning the horizon for tell tale signs of the presence of the Leopard – Dogs barking like hell and spooked deer. Around 4:45, the pressure in my bladder started increasing. Caught between changing my dress/emptying my bladders, I reminded myself that with patience and perseverance comes rewards. Decided that changing from my boxer shorts to proper shorts would be of the highest priority. I could hear the discussions between the mom-son duo whom I interacted with during the dinner and evening safari. Relieved of my boxers, I was startled by the pounding of hooves on the rock between my tent (#2) and the next (#3 – the mother & son duo’s). It was unbelievably loud – it was as if I was watching a Discovery/NGC program in an IMAX theatre. The dogs started barking like hell and in excitement, I forgot that I was changing my clothes and dashed to the front door where I had kept my torch. I picked it up and in an instant it flashed to me that my best chance of spotting the cat would be to direct the beam near the lanterns. I was rewarded instantly when an unexpected pair of spotted deer came rushing down between #2 & #1, barely 10 feet away from me. Seconds behind them was a dark silhoutte approximately 4-5 feet long and with eyes in a different shape and reflection chasing the deer faster than the wind. And there it was all over in a fleeting second or two. The deer jumped over the rocky cliff and took a detour to the Golghar. Everything froze – even my leaky bladder ! I realised what I had just witnessed. A failed Leopard chase. The mom-son duo too had witnessed it but since they were 20-30 feet away from the action and not directing the beam from their torches in the right direction, heard the sound but didn’t sight anything.
Not that they had to. Having spotted a male tiger, a day earlier in the evening safari, and a tigress with her 2 cubs in the morning safari before being given a majestic show by what probably would have been the same Leopard in broad day light at 12:30 PM barely 200 mts away from the tents near the Chamarajnagar Rd checkpost, they couldn’t ask for more!
The biggest disappointment of my wild life chasing life came 8-9 hrs before. Being lucky to be with the wild life photographers group, we were waiting on the banks of the Annikere pond, paying rapt attention to the roar of the tigress, waiting for her to break cover from 5:45 PM. The deers and the Langur were going berserk and it was just a matter of time. But it was not to be. The father got a call on his mobile (damn the telecom operators for putting a tower in BR Temple!). As if on cue, the child started reciting rhymes to the totally disinterested mother (towards wild life). Pretty much every one of us were irritated and our collective stares moved away from the pond towards her. Completely oblivious to the fact, she was encouraging her child to recite even more. Their jeep driver quickly realised that she could spoil the entire party and asked her husband and their friends to get inside and drove away. By now, the roar of the tiger had stopped. It was 6:15 and a slight drizzle started. But we were too close to back away. After what it seemed like an eternity (10mts in real world), the roar was audible once again. Within a couple of minutes, it was obvious that it was not for the good – it was getting weaker, indicative of the tigress moving AWAY from the pond. My disappointment was beyond belief. Words failed me.
I had the perfect build up till that moment. On my way to the JLR Camp, K. Gudi after taking the diversion 2 Kms before BR Temple, I encountered a grand total of 1 vehicle and that too in the opposite direction. About half-way in to the journey, I took a sharp corner and there it was – a majestic tusker grazing peacefully, oblivious to my presence.
Tusker en route to JLR Wilderness Camp, K Gudi
I was both excited and worried at the same time. I was wedged between 2 rocks camouflaged by super sized ferns giving me absolutely 0% chances to either swerve or reverse if the tusker decided to charge. The only saving grace was that it was at the bottom of a valley and the road was in good condition despite being a single lane and not steep. Being the only person, it was a risky move to take a shot. But I went for it and decided not to be fussy about getting the best shot. I had remembered to turn off the flash and reduce the shutter noise before entering the sanctuary. With the photo done, I changed gears and inched a little forward to see how the tusker reacted. The moment I sensed he was not worried, revved up and fled the scene with an eye on the RVM to see if he was chasing. Sadly, he was not! 
The trip had a great finish when during the morning safari, the photographers were concentrating on a thrush. Bored, I looked around and there it was – something fluffy and brown jumping around in a tree a few 100 metres away from us. I was confused. The Giant Hornbill was supposed to be a no show. Then what was it? It turned out to be a Giant Malabar Squirrel. It was in no big hurry and gave us enough time to click a few shots.
I feel that 3750/- per head is damn cheap if you are there for the wild life. The super sized mosquitoes, centipedes etc are irrelevant. The tiger remains elusive – but I get the feeling that it won’t be that way for too long!
i20 review
Mrs & I decided that we’ll move on to buying a car only after we book our flat. Finally after it was done in mid-november, I was relieved and was all excited to start the search for our first car!
When we started car hunting, we were faced with the same dilemma most Indian buyers face: A sedan or a hatchback? Diesel/Petrol? The fact that both Mrs. and me were first time owners didn’t help. True to Indian customs, advice was coming in from all directions and in all shades -
1.) Play it safe, buy a Honda City/Lancer. Good quality and will help when family grows.
2.) Be careful, you know how the morons in Bangalore drive. Opt for a small hatchback. Saves maintenance & running costs.
3.) Buy a 2nd hand Suzuki Alto. Helps in learning driving and then buy a bigger, better car.
After a month, still unable to decide, I decided to narrow down on my choices. The factors that I prioritized were:
1.) Safety. This is exact opposite of typical Indian mindset where fuel economy and maintenance costs were the top priority. I didn’t want to be penny wise and pound foolish. The car is intended for long drives as much as City driving and all those gruesome accidents that I’ve witnessed played a major decision.
2.) Ease of use. The routes by which Mrs. & I commute to office are some of the lousiest in Bangalore – Bannerghatta Rd, Double Rd, Hosur Rd, Inner Ring Rd & Madiwala mkt etc. I wanted a car that had good response in city conditions and stability during long drives.
3.) Access to dealerships/service centres. Most European car makers have lousy dealership network and there is no point in buying a car which can’t be serviced outside major cities. We intend to drive down to every dusty lane that leads to an interesting destination. 
The lowest priorities:
1.) Prestige/Boasting value: I didn’t want a car that is a white elephant. No matter how cliched it is, how well the car performs in Indian conditions does matter. Besides, if prestige was the factor, I’d rather have a Porsche or a Bentley.
2.) Fuel economy: While fuel economy was definitely a good thing to have, most Indian car makers achieve it due to a big compromise on safety. Most don’t even have a NCAP rating.
3.) Resale value: I didn’t want to buy a car with thoughts about how much it would sell for in another 4/5 yrs. I wanted a car that I’d love to drive around irrespective of whether I will be a able to sell it for a decent sum.
I was lucky that with maturing consumers, the car makers were also introducing premium hatchbacks. Indian city conditions are more similar to European rather than Australian/North American and hence developed a bias for cars that sell well in Europe. Based on my needs, the list was trimmed down to :
Hatchbacks: Hyundai i20, Fiat Grande Punto, Skoda Fabia, Honda Jazz, Suzuki Swift.
Sedans: Ford Fiesta, Ford IKON, Tata Manza, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea, Honda City, Suzuki SX4.
I quickly realized that Japanese car makers were perceived as “premium” brands and hence charge a lot more extra even when there is very little to differentiate. Similarly, safety was the last thing on the minds of car makers given the Indian preferences. Forget dual-stage Air Bags & EBD/ESP, even ABS was available only in the costliest-trim in most brands.
Based on my criteria, I started with the cars having the highest safety rating.
I20:
Hyundai i20 had a 5 star rating (though the European variant comes with 6 air bags by default). The mid-trim Asta comes with
- 2 Air bags, option to disable passenger air bag.
- ABS, EBD.
- seat belt warning for all passengers and a non-stop, irritating chime if the driver & co-passenger doesn’t wear seat belts – courtesy weight sensors in seat.
- Alloy wheels.
- auto door open on sensing impact.
- disc brakes on all wheels in diesel variants.
- door lock sensors including boot.
- electronically controlled ORVMs, day/night inside RVM.
- auto-climate control.
- plush interiors (can beat all cars upto 15L in the market with ease) with excellent quality fabric on very comfortable seats.
- integrated audio with 4 speakers and 2 tweeters, AUX port, USB & iPod compatibility, audio controls on steering wheel.
- Rear wipers with multi speed deployment.
- a/c cooled glove box.
- single control for locks.
- 290 L boot.
- foldable keys.
- power windows, single touch up/down for driver, controls at driver side.
- Cigar lighter.
- Leather clad gear knobs and steering wheel.
- Fantastic info panel – 2 trip meters, calendar, back lit displays for all dials placed in a very comfortable position, info display for audio system, file browser for CDs, a/c air flow information etc.
- Good leg room second only to Tata Motors built vehicles.
- Lots of side pockets on all 4 doors & 1 ash tray, 2 cup holders and 1 bottle holder all placed within reach of both front and rear passengers.
- Non-reflective dash
- Damn good looks!
- dead pedal for resting your feet during long travels on the driver side.
On the downside:
- A fairly ordinary 1.2L Kappa engine which lacks power is the only option for Petrol unless you are willing to shell out extra money for the automatic version.
- Biggest disappointment for me is too many blind spots due to low seat position and high dash & thick pillars.
- the rear seats are extremely comfortable for 2 passengers but 3 makes it too crowded for comfort.
- Can’t believe it still - no vanity mirror!
- No audio remote for rear passengers!
- Only the passenger seat back has a holding area!
- Suspension was not on par with Fiat GP/Linea.
- A/c cooling is slow due to small engine.
Now on to Punto/Linea – we were thinking of only the best trim – Emotion Pack. Most of the above mentioned features except for info panels on the dash and seat belt warnings. But has got
- better engine (1.4 SAFIRE for petrol and 1.3 MULTIJET for diesel).
- a GREAT SUSPENSION
- Excellent on road STABILITY
- BEST LOOKS! Vow!
- Blue & Me, integrated MSFT blue tooth gadget that can take voice commands and sync up with your phone for hands free operation.
- Service for every 15,000 KMs only!
- better cooling when compared to i20.
On the downside,
- Worst rear space
- Cheap finish
- It was a left hand drive moved to the right, typical of all FIAT cars in India. Very bad when it came to controls.
- Was a bit hard to drive in city traffic compared to i20.
- Downright pathetic cup holders. Must have designed on a day when the ENTIRE design team was suffering from constipation. Can’t even hold a chocolate.
- Worst mileage in class.
Tata Manza is based on Fiat platform and has all the features of FIAT plus
- audio remote
- nice touches for Indian conditions like 180º bending ORVMs (must for India where passersby can’t help poking them).
- very well placed interior lighting.
- Folding arm rests with cup holders
- A boot space big enough for a mountain bike. Class leading!
- Same with rear passenger space.
- Light pedals which were a pleasure to use.
On the downside,
- Ultra cheap finish.
- No NCAP rating.
- No alloy wheels!
- No automatic climate control
- downright pathetic looks. Mrs. disagrees.
- Suspension not on par with GP/Linea.
Maruthi Suzuki had a 3 month waiting period for SWIFT and it was very low on comfort, safety, finish, looks etc. Needless to say, lowest maintenance cost and highest mileage. Given the compromises on safety, that was expected.
SX4 had great looks but very little to offer in the form of accessories. Everything was add-on and had more blind spots than i20!
Honda and Skoda were trying to sell to me on a ” premium” tag which definitely put me off. Their vehicles were good – but they were only on par with FIAT or Hyundai but charged anywhere between 20-30% extra.
I decided to skip Verna once I test drove the i20 and GP. Verna’s price tag looked high when compared to i20 though that would comparing apples and oranges.
Ford had a great engine and nice hues. But the cars didn’t have decent comfort/features. The price/features ratio was downright abysmal.
Now on to the dealership experience.
I started with what all SUN guys buying a Hyundai do – rang up Advaith and went to their MG road show room on a rainy day in dec. The place was more crowded than a fish market and had to wait for a long time before being attended by a sales guy. He was more interested in making me book the car than identifying my needs. I felt that he was not much interested once I started probing a lot. I later found out that all the outlets of the dealer was like that. They took me to MG Rd to test drive!!!!! They were offering not even the most basic add-ons like dark shades for windows, reverse parking sensors etc. Their follow up calls were more like threats to buy than sincere enquiries about the decision.
Next up was Tata/Fiat. It is very conveniently located and the sales folks are very friendly, patiently answered all my queries, gave honest opinions about the cars. I could test drive all variants in all traffic conditions as I pleased. They even followed up diligently while I took my own sweet time to decide.
The guy from Skoda (TAFE Access) was a joker. He had no business selling cars.
After test driving Honda else where and calling them up, I realized that there is no point in visiting the show room.
Caught between i20 and GP, I decided to opt for another dealership in Trident Hyundai. It was the exact opposite of Advaith. The staff were very courteous, understanding, gave honest advice (skip diesel for a first buy, I20 better than Verna for city driving etc) and the usual rebates. In fact, after booking the car, I went to their dealership very often to get used to driving a vehicle that was extra-wide when compared to the rest. They gave me their vehicle to drive around every time I asked!!!
USAGE:
I have driven for >2000 KM in the 3 months and have no regrets so far. The car is a dream to drive in the chaotic and moron filled roads of bangalore. It is very wide and the blind spots are a bother but you get used to it. I absolutely love the safety features. The audio system is upto expectation. The short gear movements and the super responsive steering are great for driving along with the foot rest.
The car does have trouble when driving in hilly terrain. You are forced to 2nd/1st gear if the inclination is too much. But 3rd gear worked fine on Ooty road. It takes a while to get warmed up on long drives, but once it does, it cruises comfortably. I do not give in to mad dashes above 60 mph/100 Kmph and hence performs to expectations. The braking is sure and quick, which is great comfort to my mind while cruising on the highway and the break & stop traffic of Bangalore.
The mileage is reasonable considering the engine capacity/kerb weight. En route to office, it gives me 11-12 Km/L without A/c and falls drastically to 8 Km/L with A/c on. On the highway, it gives 14-16 Km/L with A/c and more or less same without A/c.
The build quality is solid. A moron driving a two wheeler and talking on the phone without looking at the road crashed on to the front bumper. His Activa was very badly damaged while the car had minor scratches. It was such a relief to know that the vehicle is very safe in real life situation!
It is a tad expensive to repair. It costs upwards of 3,000 even for minor stuff – I had a minor accident and the boot sensor screwed up. It cost 10,000 to repair. A couple of problems:
- Even if one door is not locked, the rest can’t be locked as well. And a sensor keeps glowing to highlight it very clearly. Very irritating. No manual over rides.
- The ORVM can’t be opened individually. Either both are out or nothing is out. While it makes sense in European conditions, it is a nuisance in India where ORVMs are prime targets of 2 &3 wheelers.
Overall a good car to buy if you know what you want. Don’t go by the sales pitch. Drive it for yourself and you will not regret it!
Based on the overall +ve experience, wouldn’t mind having Santa Fe or the Starex as my next vehicle! 
Lyrics from the movie Goa – இதுவரை இல்லாத
பெண்:
இதுவரை இல்லாத உணர்விது
இதயத்தில் உண்டான கனவிது
பலித்திடும் அந்நாளை தேடிடும்
பாடல் கேட்டாயோ (x2)
மூடாமல் மூடி மறைத்தது
தானாக பூத்து வருகுது
தேடாமல் தேடி கிடைத்தது இங்கே (x2)
இங்கே ஒரு இன்பம் வந்து நிறைய
எப்போது என் உண்மை நிலை அறிய
தாங்காமலும் தூங்கமலும் நாள் செல்லுதே
நில்லாமலே நித்தம் வரும் கனவு
கொல்லாமல் கொல்ல
சுகம் என்னென்று சொல்ல
நீ துணை வர வேண்டும்
நீண்ட வழி என் பயணம்
ஆண்:
அங்கே அங்கே வந்து வந்து கலக்கும்
வெண்மேகமும் வெண்ணிலவும் போல
எந்தன் மன எண்ணங்களை யார் அறிவார்
என்நெஞ்சமோ உன் போல அல்ல
ஏதோ மாற்றம்
நிலை புரியாத தோற்றம்
பெண்:
இது நிரந்திரம் அல்ல
மாறிவிடும் மன நிலை தான்
ஆண்:
மனதிலே உள் ஊறும் உணர்வுகள்
மலர்ந்ததே மொட்டான உறவுகள்
திறந்ததே தன்னாலே கதவுகள்
நமக்கு முன்னாலே (x2)
தேகம் இப்போது உணர்ந்தது
தென்றல் என் மீது படர்ந்தது
மோகம் முன்னேறி வருகுது முன்னே (x2)
Hasile Fisile song lyrics from Aadhavan
அன்பே உன்னால் மனம் crazy
அடடா காதல் என்றும் amazing
excuse me let me tell you something
நீ சிரித்தால் iPhone tring tring
வீசும் அம்பு என் மேல் பாய
காதல் வந்து என்னை ஆள
வருவாயோ எனைக் காப்பாற்ற
வந்தால் மடி சாய்வேன் வாழ
hasile fisile இரசமணி
உன் சிரிப்பிலும் சிரிப்பிலும் கதக்களி
என் இளமையும் இளமையும் பணித்துளி
குதுகலி
எனக்கும் உனக்குமா இடைவெளி
நீ இரவிலும் இரவிலும் இமை வசி
என் பகலிலும் பகலிலும் நடு நிசி
புது ருசி
அஞ்சனா அஞ்சனா
கொஞ்சினால் தேன் தானா
என் கனா ஓ என் கனா
என்றுமே நீ தானா
(x2)
உரசாமல் அலசாமல் உயிரோடு ஊருது ஆசை
அதுங்காமல் பிதுங்காமல் இருந்தால்தான் ஓய்ந்திடும் ஓசை
இரு விழியே ஏவுகணை
உனக்கெது தான் ஈடு இணை
உன் இடையோ ஊசி முனை
உடைத்திடுமோ சேறு எனை
ஏன் என்னை தீண்டினாய் வெப்பமா
நான் உனக்கு பூக்களின் உப்புமா
விரலில் உள்ளதே நுட்பமா
நீ கொஞ்சம் திண்றாய் கொஞ்சிக் கொன்றாய்
hasile fisile ..
உயிரோடு உயிரோடு எனைக் கொல்ல நெருங்குகிறாயே
விரலோடு விரல் சேர்த்து இதழுக்குள் இறங்குகிறாயே
யார் இதழில் யார் இதழோ வேர்த்துவிடும் வேய்ங்குழலோ
உச்சி முதல் பாதம் வரை எத்தனையோ வித்தைகள் ஓ
நீ ஆடை பாதி ஆள் பாதியா
நீ புலியும் மானும் கொண்ட ஜாதியா
உன் அழகின் மீதி தான் பூமியா
நீ முத்தப் பேயா மெத்தைத் தீயா
hasile fisile ..
Example of recursion in a shell script
For those who are new to shell scripting and are looking for a quick example of recursion in shell scripting, here you go.
Problem: Count the number of directories in a given dir/file.
Algorithm:
1. Check if the current input argument is a dir. If not exit.
2. Write a recursive fn to which the current dir is passed as an argument.
3. List the contents of the current dir.
4. In a loop check if the content of the dir is a dir in itself or a file.
5. If it is a file, skip and return to the next listing.
6. If not, initialize an array to store the list of dirs at that leve and pass that sub-dir as current dir and keep going till you reach a dir which has no sub-directories. This procedure gets repeated till all sub-dirs within the current dir are parsed.
7. When there is no more sub-dir, increment global counter by 1 and return the counter value.
Here it is.
#!/bin/ksh
if [ ! -d $1 ]
then
echo “# of dir=0″
exit
fi
function recurse
{
list=`ls $1`
for x in $list
do
cur=$1
if [ -d $cur\/$x ]
then
i=`expr $i + 1`
a[$i]=$cur\/$x
recurse ${a[$i]}
fi
done
k=`expr $k + 1`
return $k
}
recurse $1
echo “# of dirs=$k”
Aadhavan lyrics
Vaarayo Vaarayo:
Most of the results from a Google search seem to be copied from a single source, who didn’t get the concept of the flower resting on the stem as evinced by the lines:
உன் கையில் கண்கள் பூ நான் ..
when it should be:
உன் கையில் காம்பில் பூ நான் ..
And the other mistake that I noticed was
பூவே பூவே நீ போதை கொள்ளம் பாடம்
மனம் காற்றைப் போல ஓதும்
when it should be:
பூவே பூவே நீ போதை கொள்ளம் பாடம்
மனம் காற்றைப் போல ஓடும்
Apparently he/she thought since the preceding line was about lessons, it should be related to teaching. The correct line refers to the flustered heart.
பெண்:
வாராயோ வாராயோ காதல் கொள்ள
பூவோடு பேசாத காற்றே இல்ல
ஏன் இந்த காதலும் நேற்று இல்ல
நீயே சொல் மனமே
ஆண்:
வாராயோ வாராயோ Mona Lisa
பேசாமல் பேசுதே கண்கள் இலேசா
நாள் தோறும் நான் உந்தன் காதல் தாஸா
என்னோடு வா தினமே (x2)
பெண்:
இங்கே இங்கே ஒரு Marilyn Monroe நான் தான்
உன் கையில் காம்பில் பூ நான்
நம் காதல் யாவும் தேன் தான்
ஆண்:
பூவே பூவே நீ போதை கொள்ளம் பாடம்
மனம் காற்றைப் போல ஓடும்
உனைக் காதல் கண்கள் தேடும்
பெண்:
ஆ லை லை லை லை காதல் லீலை
செய் செய் செய் செய் காலை மாலை
ஆண்:
உன் சிலை அழகை விழிகளால் நான் வியந்தேன்
இவனுடன் சேர்ந்தாடு Cindrella
பெண்:
வாராயோ வாராயோ காதல் கொள்ள
பூவோடு பேசாத காற்றே இல்ல
ஏன் இந்த காதலும் நேற்று இல்ல
நீயே சொல் மனமே
ஆண்:
நீயே நீயே அந்த Julietஇன் சாயல்
உன் தேகம் எந்தன் கூடல்
இனி தேவை இல்லை ஊடல்
பெண்:
தீயே தீயே நான் தித்திக்கின்ற தீயே
எனை முத்தமிடுவாயே
இதழ் முத்துக் குளிப்பாயே
ஆண்:
நீ நீ நீ நீ my fair lady
வா வா வா வா என் காதல் ஜோடி
பெண்:
நான் முதல் முதலாய் எழுதிய காதல் இசை
அதற்கொரு வாடாத ஸ்ருதி நீ
ஆண்:
வாராயோ வாராயோ Mona Lisa
பேசாமல் பேசுதே கண்கள் இலேசா
நாள் தோறும் நான் உந்தன் காதல் தாஸா
ஆண், பெண்:
என்னோடு வா தினமே (x2)
ஆண்:
என்னோடு வா தினமே
Now to Yeno Yeno Panithuli :
ஆண்:
ஏனோ ஏனோ பனித் துளி பனித் துளி பெண் மேலே
தேனோ பாலோ எறியுது எறியுது தீ போலே
மேலும் உள்ளம் உருகுது உருகுது தன்னாலே
கண்கள் பார்க்கும் போதே
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே போனாய் நீ போனாய்
என் நெஞ்சம் என்ன மெத்தை தானா
கூறாய் நீ கூறாய் உன்னைப் பூட்டிக் கொண்டாயே
வாராய் வெளி வாராய்
இனி என்னை விட்டு எங்கும் செல்ல மாட்டாய்
மாட்டாய் மாட்டாயே!
(x2)
ஆண்:
மௌனம் என்னும் சாட்டை வீசி என்னைக் கீறாதே
மாலைத் தென்றல் பட்டால் கூட காயம் ஆறாதே
அக்கம் பக்கம் யாரும் இல்லை வா என் பக்கம்
தேடல் கொஞ்சம் ஊடல் கொஞ்சம் நீ யார் பக்கம்
பெண்:
ஏதோ ஒன்று என்னைத் தள்ள
நதிகளின் ஓரம் நாணல் போலே சாய்ந்தேன்
உன்னை மட்டும் எண்ணி எண்ணி
நிலவைப் போலே நீ இல்லாமல் தேய்ந்தேன்
ஆண்: :
ஏனோ ஏனோ பனித் துளி பனித் துளி பெண் மேலே
தேனோ பாலோ எறியுது எறியுது தீ போலே
மேலும் உள்ளம் உருகுது உருகுது தன்னாலே
கண்கள் பார்க்கும் போதே
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே …
i do i do i wanna really make it true
just me and you get locked up in my room
……… <some gibberish>
you are my love ……
i’m just thinking about just having some fun
பெண்:
நானும் நீயும் பேசும் போது தென்றல் வந்ததே
பேசிப் போட்ட வார்த்தையெல்லாம் அள்ளிச் சென்றதே
சேலை ஒன்றும் மாலை ஒன்றும் வாங்கி வந்தாயா
சேதி நல்ல சேதி சொன்னால் வேண்டாம் என்பாயா
ஆண்:
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ …
திரும்பிய பக்கம் எல்லாம் நீ தான் நின்றாய்
காற்றைப் போலே தொட்டுத் தொட்டு
தினசரி வாழ்வில் மாற்றம் செய்தே சென்றாய்
ஆண், பெண்:
ஏனோ ஏனோ பனித் துளி பனித் துளி பெண் மேலே
தேனோ பாலோ எறியுது எறியுது தீ போலே
மேலும் உள்ளம் உருகுது உருகுது தன்னாலே
கண்கள் பார்க்கும் போதே
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே போனாய் நீ போனாய்
என் நெஞ்சம் என்ன மெத்தை தானா
கூறாய் நீ கூறாய் உன்னைப் பூட்டிக் கொண்டாயே
வாராய் வெளி வாராய்
இனி என்னை விட்டு எங்கும் செல்ல மாட்டாய்
மாட்டாய் மாட்டாயே!
i do i do i wanna really make it true
just me and you get locked up in my room
……… <some gibberish>
you are my love ……
i’m just thinking about just having some fun
(x2)
Sivapuranam
நமச்சிவாயம் வாழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க!
இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள் வாழ்க!
கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணிதன் தாள் வாழ்க!
ஆகமம் ஆகிநின்று அண்ணிப்பான் தாள் வாழ்க!
ஏகன் அநேகன் இறைவன்அடி வாழ்க!
………………….
ஈசன் அடிபோற்றி எந்தை அடிபோற்றி
தேசன் அடிபோற்றி சிவன் சேவடிபோற்றி
நேயத்தை நின்ற நிமலன் அடிபோற்றி
மாயப்பிறப்பு அறுக்கும் மன்னன் அடிபோற்றி
சீரார் பெருந்துறை நம் தேவன் அடிபோற்றி
ஆராத இன்பம் அருளும் மாலை போற்றி
Aadhiyum Andamum – Thiruvasagam
ஆதியும் அந்தமும் இல்லா அரும்பெருஞ்
ஜோதியை யாம்பாடக் கேட்டேயும் வாள்தடங்கண்
மாதே வளறுதியோ வன்செவியோ நின்செவி தான்
மாதேவன் வார்கழல்கள் வாழ்த்திய வாழ்த்தொலிபோய்
வீதிவாய்க் கேட்டலுமே விம்மிவிம்மி மெய்மறந்து
போதார் அமளியின்மேல் நின்றும் புரண்டிங்கண்
ஏதேனும் ஆகாள் கிடந்தாள் என்னே என்னே !
ஈதே என்தோழி பரிசேலோர் எம்பாவாய்!
Translation:
The Great Flame without an origin or an end, whose praise I keep singing – inspite of hearing it, you stand unmoved, the girl with beautiful eyes, is your ear deaf? The Lord’s praise echoes in the streets and moves people to tears and sends them into a trance! Yet you stand unmoved which is pitiable. What kind of behaviour is yours, oh girl?
Tamil editor for facebook
For expressing certain things, there is nothing better than your mother tongue. But typing in Tamil with html compatibility has always been problematic. May be I didn’t try enough. For OpenOffice, I prefer Kamban Tamil editor. But the unfortunate thing is it is not html compatible. The viewer has to have unicode enabled in the browser and even then sometimes there is no guarantee!!!
But I found http://quillpad.in/editor.html# to be a very good alternative. Unlike Kamban, it is not intuitive. i.e the letters are not a combination of உயிர் + மெய் letters. You have to resort to phonetics. Sometimes, the letters get lost in translation. Nonetheless, the editor is very useful.
some of the traps I encountered when translating a song which has lots of pure Tamil words and pronunciation from வாரணம் ஆயிரம் movie:
அன்ல் மேலே பனித்துளி
அலை பாயும் ஒரு கிளி
மரம் தேடும் மழைத் துளி
இவை தானே இவள் இனி!
இமை இரண்டும் தனித்தனி
உறக்கங்கள் உறை பனி
எதற்காக தடை இனி?
எந்த காற்றின் அளாவலில் மலர் இதழ்கள் விரிந்திடுமோ
எந்த தேவ வினாடியில் மன அறைகள் திறந்திடுமோ
ஒரு சிறு வலி இருந்ததுவே இதயத்திலே இதயத்திலே
உனது இரு விழி தடவியதால் அமிழிந்துவிட்டேன் ம்யக்கத்திலே
உதிறட்டுமே உடலின் திரை
அது தான் இனி நிலாவின் கறை கறை!
சந்திப்போமே கனாக்களில்
சிலமுறையா பலமுறையா?
அந்தி வானில் உலாவினோம்
அது உனக்கு நினைவில்லையா?
இரு தரைகளை உடைத்திடவே
பெருகிடுவாய் கடல் அலையே
இரு இரு உயிர் தத்தளிக்கையில்
வழி சொல்லுவாய் கலங்கரையே
உனது அலைகள் எனை அடிக்க
கரை சேர்வது உன் கனாவில் நிகழ்ந்திட
1. As you can see, அன்ல் is not rendered properly because I just couldn’t figure out the correct phonetic equivalent.
2. தத்தளிக்கையில் was the most difficult word but I manage to render using a combo of phonetically continuous syllables and individual characters.
3. For ங் use ‘ng’.
4. யே is ‘yae’
5. ந is quite problematic!
6. ழ் is zh – quite obvious
7. ஞ is ‘gna’
