Folks just back from a long bout of illness - Typhoid.
Two weeks of fever, puking away to glory and severe body pain.
I am still weak and somehow pulled myself to type this.
Folks need all your prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery!
Bye for now.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Cup of Joy
In a few hours from now the FIFA World Cup 2010 will start. For a cricket-crazy nation, football holds its sway in pockets in Kerala, Goa, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
This year the core favourites remain the same - Brazil and Germany.
My dark-horse bets are on the Netherlands the team that deserves the Cup for its consistent fair-play and "total football".
The second bet is on Spain who have been the most consistent team during the qualifiers and in recent months.
Argentina under the highly psychotic and unpredictable Diego Maradona might throw a surprise or too.
England, Portugal, the U.S.A., Cameroon, Italy, Mexico, Australia, Greece and Ivory Coast are likely to enter the quarter-finals.
Let us wait as the magic unfolds.
May the best team win!
This year the core favourites remain the same - Brazil and Germany.
My dark-horse bets are on the Netherlands the team that deserves the Cup for its consistent fair-play and "total football".
The second bet is on Spain who have been the most consistent team during the qualifiers and in recent months.
Argentina under the highly psychotic and unpredictable Diego Maradona might throw a surprise or too.
England, Portugal, the U.S.A., Cameroon, Italy, Mexico, Australia, Greece and Ivory Coast are likely to enter the quarter-finals.
Let us wait as the magic unfolds.
May the best team win!
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
The House of Fear
Ibn-e-Safi was a famous Urdu novelist born in India who settled in Pakistan after partition. He was famous for his detective Imran and the Jasoosi Duniya series thathe created.
The English translation from random House carries two novellas - The House of Fear and Shootout at the Rocks. Translated by Bilal Tanweer the book is a big disappointment for me.
The cover looks shabby and the book looks to have been printed on poor quality paper. Mind you the book costs Rs. 195 and is pretty slim.
The first story is about murders occurring in an old mansion. The second one is about a drug-trafficking ring.
Translation is crude with the couplets of Ghalib used in extremely odd circumstances. It would have been good if the couplets had been transliterated from Urdu to English along with the English translations.
The hero Imran is an MSc Phd. from Oxford University and the son of the head of intelligence. He pretends to be a fool and keeps muttering nonsense. This is a facade and his calculating mind solves problems.
Truly disappointed with Random House. I am awaiting Blaft's translations of the Jasoosi Duniya series.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Conversations on Matrimony
Sunday saw me at the betrothal ceremony of a cousin. The chap is just 22 and the bride is 20. As usual the conversation petered towards my marriage. "Ennada Meshu, Amma iniyum evalo naal thaniya kashta padanum?" "What Meshu, how many more days does your mother have to suffer alone?"
I wonder why they start the conversation with an emphasis on loneliness and suffering. None of these mamas and mamis are willing to marry off their daughters to me. So why do they keep asking the question at every damn opportunity they get.
They come, eat the feast, bless the poor chap and bride, give a small monetary gift and go home commenting -"Aanalum Srini kalyana sappadu alavukku illai" "The feast wasn't as delicious as the one served during Srini's marriage."
Now in this case the chap Venky has an elder brother who is 26 years old, his face was a picture of misery. His horoscope was a bit perplexing and the chap had not secured an IT job. He was working in an electronics store as an accountant. He told me "Anna Ab Mera Kya Hoga?"
I told him -"Dei Seshu, why to worry if we had studied Maths and Science properly we would have also become IT engineers and got marriage proposals from Infosys and Wipro "ponnus". Ellam vidhi!"
So life goes on as one more cousin gets entangled into "Grihastashram".
Horoscopes are shuttling and nothing is materializing. Everyone wants at least a Rs 50000 p.m. salary for their "sweet, god-fearing and good-natured girls". The mind wanders like a monkey, some cousins who are much younger than me are married and settled with kids in tow. Looks like this innings is going to go on for a long time without a partner.
What worries me, is my mother's persistence in wanting a working girl. I would prefer a girl who would take care of my mother.
So folks if you know any good-natured Iyer-girl let me know!
Best wishes to Venky and his bride and the bride-hunt continues for Seshu, Meshu and the many other non-IT-Iyer bachelors.
I wonder why they start the conversation with an emphasis on loneliness and suffering. None of these mamas and mamis are willing to marry off their daughters to me. So why do they keep asking the question at every damn opportunity they get.
They come, eat the feast, bless the poor chap and bride, give a small monetary gift and go home commenting -"Aanalum Srini kalyana sappadu alavukku illai" "The feast wasn't as delicious as the one served during Srini's marriage."
Now in this case the chap Venky has an elder brother who is 26 years old, his face was a picture of misery. His horoscope was a bit perplexing and the chap had not secured an IT job. He was working in an electronics store as an accountant. He told me "Anna Ab Mera Kya Hoga?"
I told him -"Dei Seshu, why to worry if we had studied Maths and Science properly we would have also become IT engineers and got marriage proposals from Infosys and Wipro "ponnus". Ellam vidhi!"
So life goes on as one more cousin gets entangled into "Grihastashram".
Horoscopes are shuttling and nothing is materializing. Everyone wants at least a Rs 50000 p.m. salary for their "sweet, god-fearing and good-natured girls". The mind wanders like a monkey, some cousins who are much younger than me are married and settled with kids in tow. Looks like this innings is going to go on for a long time without a partner.
What worries me, is my mother's persistence in wanting a working girl. I would prefer a girl who would take care of my mother.
So folks if you know any good-natured Iyer-girl let me know!
Best wishes to Venky and his bride and the bride-hunt continues for Seshu, Meshu and the many other non-IT-Iyer bachelors.
Team India Crash Out
Team India crashed out of the tri-nation series in Zimbabwe with just one victory to their name from the four matches that they played. Consecutive defeats against Zimbabwe, one victory and one loss against Sri Lanka.
Raina's first series as a captain will be a big learning experience, unfortunately the collective failure of the team, horrendous batting, disastrous running between the wickets and below par bowling have let the fans down.
The Asia Cup will be extremely challenging with Pakistan fielding its most powerful side in recent times. With an announcement ruling out Sachin's participation can Dhoni inspire his team to victory?
Time will tell!
Raina's first series as a captain will be a big learning experience, unfortunately the collective failure of the team, horrendous batting, disastrous running between the wickets and below par bowling have let the fans down.
The Asia Cup will be extremely challenging with Pakistan fielding its most powerful side in recent times. With an announcement ruling out Sachin's participation can Dhoni inspire his team to victory?
Time will tell!
Friday, June 04, 2010
SURA
Vijay's fiftieth movie is a golden bomb. The movie which released with very little pre-publicity appears to have been made in a hurry. Listless acting by Vijay, same boring expressions by Tamannah voiced by singer Chinmayee, the buffoonery of Vadivelu make this an absolute mess.
Vijay's list of flops is as follows now--Azhagiya Tamizh Magan, Aadhi, Kuruvi, Villu, Vettaikaran and Sura.
In Sura, Vijay plays the titular role of a fisherman who works for the upliftment of his colony of fisher-folk.
An evil minister Dev Gill intends to destroy the colony to build a theme park. Sura manages to botch up the minister's smuggling operations and uses the money to build houses, schools and improve the living conditions in the colony.
What could have been presented as an interesting cat-and-mouse game between the hero and villain ends up as insufferable idiocy.
The fights, the dance, the plot, everything looks like if the movie is made on a Vijay template.
Vijay is working with Asin in Malayalam director Siddique's Kaavalkaran the remake of the Dileep-Nayanthara average grosser Bodyguard.
If and only if the movie hits the mark can Vijay rescue his career now.
I have enjoyed his earlier movies like Priyamudan, Kadhalikku Mariyadhai and Kannukul Nilavu. Mass hero movie Pokkiri was enjoyable in bits and pieces, since then is a downward journey.
The powerful theatre distributor owners of Tamil Nadu have asked Vijay to act in a film free of cost to help them recover their losses.
I am sure Vijay will bounce back with Kaavalkaran. With Ajith firmly moving in to racing and unlikely to act in a movie any time in the near future, Vijay has a chance to redeem himself with some good author-backed roles that break away from the mould in which he has been typecast in to. Surya is the actor who has benefitted the most because of Vijay's debacles.
Let us see what the future brings for lovers of Tamil cinema.
Vijay's list of flops is as follows now--Azhagiya Tamizh Magan, Aadhi, Kuruvi, Villu, Vettaikaran and Sura.
In Sura, Vijay plays the titular role of a fisherman who works for the upliftment of his colony of fisher-folk.
An evil minister Dev Gill intends to destroy the colony to build a theme park. Sura manages to botch up the minister's smuggling operations and uses the money to build houses, schools and improve the living conditions in the colony.
What could have been presented as an interesting cat-and-mouse game between the hero and villain ends up as insufferable idiocy.
The fights, the dance, the plot, everything looks like if the movie is made on a Vijay template.
Vijay is working with Asin in Malayalam director Siddique's Kaavalkaran the remake of the Dileep-Nayanthara average grosser Bodyguard.
If and only if the movie hits the mark can Vijay rescue his career now.
I have enjoyed his earlier movies like Priyamudan, Kadhalikku Mariyadhai and Kannukul Nilavu. Mass hero movie Pokkiri was enjoyable in bits and pieces, since then is a downward journey.
The powerful theatre distributor owners of Tamil Nadu have asked Vijay to act in a film free of cost to help them recover their losses.
I am sure Vijay will bounce back with Kaavalkaran. With Ajith firmly moving in to racing and unlikely to act in a movie any time in the near future, Vijay has a chance to redeem himself with some good author-backed roles that break away from the mould in which he has been typecast in to. Surya is the actor who has benefitted the most because of Vijay's debacles.
Let us see what the future brings for lovers of Tamil cinema.
Suresh Raina Clueless
Zimbabwe's victory over India was a resounding slap on the face of Indian cricket. For the first time Zimbabwe has defeated India twice in a row.
India needs to defeat Sri Lanka convincingly to reach the finals.
Suresh Raina & CO. have lot of soul-searching to do now.
India needs to defeat Sri Lanka convincingly to reach the finals.
Suresh Raina & CO. have lot of soul-searching to do now.
Image courtesy-Flipkart.com
Fast-paced, quick, a steady mix of pulp fiction, kitsch and a good measure of ancient Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. Karan Bajaj in his second novel takes the reader on a ride from a graduation ceremony in MIT, to Cambodia, Thailand, Brazil, back to the U.S. and finally to Delhi.
The protagonist Nikhil and his friend Sam visit Cambodia after graduating from MIT. Sam has an offer from GE and Nikhil has been selected to work in NASA. They land in Cambodia right in the middle of the Khmer Rogue revolution. Nick sacrifices his passport to help save the life of his friend Sam. Nick is captured by the revolutionaries and imprisoned for two years. He is pronounced a CIA spy and is about to be executed. While travelling on a jeep through the forest he seeks his chance and escapes. In the process he is injured and somehow manages to reach Thailand where he is rescued by a monk. In the monk he recovers and wakes up to see that he has lost one of his arms. Ten years in the monastery and with a new name - Monk Namche he lands up in Brazil to set up a Vipassana Centre. On the flight he is enamoured by a beautiful model Lara.
Once the centre is built he obtains permission to leave the monastery. He walks through the streets of Rio de Janerio, finally reaching a slum. Here walks in to a restaurant where some folks are sitting and drinking beer. Suddenly he notices a person about to fire a gun from the road. Namche protects the person who is targeted. He is none other than Marco a local don and cocaine distributor. Marco provides a roof and a new identity to Nick.
The story goes through many twists and turns tracking the ups and downs of Nick's life. He undergoes many more adventures, which I do not intend to reveal here.
The book just costs Rs. 99 and has great potential for conversion as a film.
The book is a powerful punch on the Chetan Bhagat School of Writing.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
A Prayer
A prayer for all the victims for the ill-fated Dubai-Mangalore flight that crashed.
158 people dead and eight survivors.
A crash that occurred due to pilot error!
Was the pilot stressed and over-worked?
No one knows!
Kasargod in Kerala mourns the death of 30 people who died in that ill-fated crash.
More than 20 children in the flight died!
Let us hope the black box reveals what exactly happened!
The families of the victims are in shock and grief as many bodies are charred beyond recognition.
May God give strength to the families in this time of sorrow!
158 people dead and eight survivors.
A crash that occurred due to pilot error!
Was the pilot stressed and over-worked?
No one knows!
Kasargod in Kerala mourns the death of 30 people who died in that ill-fated crash.
More than 20 children in the flight died!
Let us hope the black box reveals what exactly happened!
The families of the victims are in shock and grief as many bodies are charred beyond recognition.
May God give strength to the families in this time of sorrow!
Friday, May 21, 2010
I Wonder Why!
I wonder why!
We as a nation are still to learn how to use a Western Toilet!
We wear flashy coats, suits, ties; carry laptops and blackberries, talk of overtaking America as a superpower and so on....
But 90% of corporate India is still low on toilet etiquette!
No one flushes the toilet after use, tissues are left scattered, the seat remains wet.
Life goes on.....
May be they should start putting posters within the toilet:
Do unto the toilet as you expect others to do unto it :)
We as a nation are still to learn how to use a Western Toilet!
We wear flashy coats, suits, ties; carry laptops and blackberries, talk of overtaking America as a superpower and so on....
But 90% of corporate India is still low on toilet etiquette!
No one flushes the toilet after use, tissues are left scattered, the seat remains wet.
Life goes on.....
May be they should start putting posters within the toilet:
Do unto the toilet as you expect others to do unto it :)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Laila Wreaks Havoc in Chennai
Cyclone Laila centred of the coast of Vishakapatnam is wreaking havoc, with heavy rains and winds. Most of Chennai is flooded with all low-lying roads flooded with knee-deep water.
More rains have been predicted for the next couple of days.
More rains have been predicted for the next couple of days.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
England Lift the T:20 World Cup
England lifted the ICC T:20 World Cup by defeating Australia.
The English finally have a reason to rejoice and have broken the jinx
Collingwood has led his team from the front and coupled with Pietersen's heroics the team has the potential to lift the 2011 50-overs World Cup!
The English finally have a reason to rejoice and have broken the jinx
Collingwood has led his team from the front and coupled with Pietersen's heroics the team has the potential to lift the 2011 50-overs World Cup!
England Lift the T:20 World Cup
England lifted the ICC T:20 World Cup by defeating Australia.
The English finally have a reason to rejoice and have broken the jinx
Collingwood has led his team from the front and coupled with Pietersen's heroics the team has the potential to lift the 2011 50-overs World Cup!
The English finally have a reason to rejoice and have broken the jinx
Collingwood has led his team from the front and coupled with Pietersen's heroics the team has the potential to lift the 2011 50-overs World Cup!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Free Willy-4
Thoroughly enjoyed this movie about a young girl Kirra, played by Bindi Irwin, helping a young orca return to its family in the ocean.
Bindi is the daughter of crocodile-hunter Steve Irwin. The movie starts in Australia, where Kirra's father a vet is injured and hospitalized.
She lands up at her grandfather's amusement park in South Africa till her father is discharged from hospital.
The banter between grandpa and Kirra is fun.
The amusement park has a lagoon in which an orca is washed up after a storm.
The orca becomes the star attraction in the park and loads of people start visiting it. Kirra tries to convince her grandpa to free the orca who is named Willy. During all this the owner of another amusement park offers to buy Willy for 500000 dollars.
Watch the movie to find out the fate of Willy!
A simple, well-made movie with two good songs. Great photography combined with animatronics and underwater effects. The scene where the pod of orcas swim after a school of smaller fish during a storm is shot well.
My rating-***/5.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
I am Back!
A hectic week of exams!
As usual the Maths-based paper was a gamble!
The remaining papers were also tough with an unpredictable pattern of essay-type questions.
God help me!
India have been licked by Australia, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Our campaign in the West Indies has come to a bitter disappointing end.
Loads of movies to watch, bunch of books to read and well bride-hunting on in full swing, while the heart still pines for the lost chance.
The future does have a chance for some interesting surprises, while I am planning a couple of things!
All in good time.
Folks wish me luck:)
As usual the Maths-based paper was a gamble!
The remaining papers were also tough with an unpredictable pattern of essay-type questions.
God help me!
India have been licked by Australia, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Our campaign in the West Indies has come to a bitter disappointing end.
Loads of movies to watch, bunch of books to read and well bride-hunting on in full swing, while the heart still pines for the lost chance.
The future does have a chance for some interesting surprises, while I am planning a couple of things!
All in good time.
Folks wish me luck:)
Monday, May 03, 2010
India thru' to the Super-Eights
India defeated Afghanistan on Saturday.
On Sunday, Suresh Raina hit a fantastic knock of 101 that set up a mammoth target of 187 for South Africa.
Tight bowling by Nehra and Harbhajan ensured that India won the match despite a valiant 73 run knock by Kallis.
In another match Australia defeated Pakistan.
On Sunday, Suresh Raina hit a fantastic knock of 101 that set up a mammoth target of 187 for South Africa.
Tight bowling by Nehra and Harbhajan ensured that India won the match despite a valiant 73 run knock by Kallis.
In another match Australia defeated Pakistan.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Dog-catchers
Yesterday was an extremely sad one for me.
The municipal dog-catchers came and caught all the stray dogs in our locality. This happened yesterday afternoon.
The streets are empty. Tiger and Brownie the two dogs near my house will be missed.
The municipality does not fix broken lights, bad roads or open drains but they are ready to capture the dogs.
A bigger menace are the huge black pigs that roam about. No one captures them.
The municipal dog-catchers came and caught all the stray dogs in our locality. This happened yesterday afternoon.
The streets are empty. Tiger and Brownie the two dogs near my house will be missed.
The municipality does not fix broken lights, bad roads or open drains but they are ready to capture the dogs.
A bigger menace are the huge black pigs that roam about. No one captures them.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
"Catches win Matches"
Mumbai Indians learned this the hard way. Suresh Raina was dropped twice once when he was on 13 and then when he was on 28. The mistakes proved to be costly as he went on to score a match-winning fifty.
CSK won the toss and batted first. A steady start saw the opening pair cross 40 runs in the sixth over. Hayden and Murali Vijay fell in quick succession and at one stage CSK were 68 for 3 in 12 overs. Then Raina and Dhoni blasted the ball to all corners of the park. The last 8 overs yielded 100 runs and CSK set a target of 169.
Ashwin started the proceedings by bowling a maiden over. As wickets fell at regular intervals courtesy a strange shuffling of batting positions as Harbhajan was promoted above Pollard, Sachin tried to bring stability. Run-outs were aplenty and in spite of a counter-attack by Pollard where he plundered 20 odd runs of an over Mumbai Indians lost the finals.
Dhoni found form when it mattered most-the match at Dharamshala against Kings XI Punjab. Under his inspiring, cool and calm leadership CSK XI have been crowned champions of IPL-3.
The ICC World T:20 Championship starts in another five days in the West Indies. Can Dhoni inspire Team India to lift the trophy?
Time will tell and a lot depends on Yuvaraj Singh's form!
Mumbai Indians learned this the hard way. Suresh Raina was dropped twice once when he was on 13 and then when he was on 28. The mistakes proved to be costly as he went on to score a match-winning fifty.
CSK won the toss and batted first. A steady start saw the opening pair cross 40 runs in the sixth over. Hayden and Murali Vijay fell in quick succession and at one stage CSK were 68 for 3 in 12 overs. Then Raina and Dhoni blasted the ball to all corners of the park. The last 8 overs yielded 100 runs and CSK set a target of 169.
Ashwin started the proceedings by bowling a maiden over. As wickets fell at regular intervals courtesy a strange shuffling of batting positions as Harbhajan was promoted above Pollard, Sachin tried to bring stability. Run-outs were aplenty and in spite of a counter-attack by Pollard where he plundered 20 odd runs of an over Mumbai Indians lost the finals.
Dhoni found form when it mattered most-the match at Dharamshala against Kings XI Punjab. Under his inspiring, cool and calm leadership CSK XI have been crowned champions of IPL-3.
The ICC World T:20 Championship starts in another five days in the West Indies. Can Dhoni inspire Team India to lift the trophy?
Time will tell and a lot depends on Yuvaraj Singh's form!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Bollinger's Charge Discharges the Deccan Chargers
In a low scoring match CSK defended a target of 143 and bowled out DC for 104.
The finals against Mumbai Indians will be tough and let us see if Dhoni can manage to lift the trophy.
Batting is a big cause of worry and the one-day rest will have Stephen Fleming wondering what to do?
Will Hayden be dropped for the finals?
Sachin is highly unlikely to play in the finals.
Let us see what happens!
The finals against Mumbai Indians will be tough and let us see if Dhoni can manage to lift the trophy.
Batting is a big cause of worry and the one-day rest will have Stephen Fleming wondering what to do?
Will Hayden be dropped for the finals?
Sachin is highly unlikely to play in the finals.
Let us see what happens!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
