Woke up to an urgent call from sis' enquiring about an earthquake. The TV news items added the suspense with reports of trmors in Thiruvanmiyur and Velachery. Tremors were felt in Cuddalore and Kanyakumari too.
I did not feel a thing and thank God for that!
There is a tsunami warning too!
Let us see what happens!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Old Movies on a Sunday
Hectic work, frustrations at work and a strange feeling of emptiness within were all forgotten on Sunday as yours truly went on a cinematic voyage through some classics.
I saw the following movies yesterday:
Wages of Fear-French
Branded to Kill-Japanese
Rebel without a Cause-English
Singin' the Rain-English.
Each movie in the list deserves a separate blog post as a review. Currently I am limiting myself to brief summaries.
Wages of Fear-Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Peter Van Eyck, William Tubbs, Véra Clouzot.
Directed by-Henry James Clouzot.
The movie directed by Henry James Clouzot is a slow haunting psychological case-study of the fears and unfulfilled desires of mankind, coupled with lust for money and women. An unnamed Lain American country, an oil-field operated by an American conglomerate, a rag-tag bunch of vagabond-like characters, two truckloads of nitroglycerine. How is that for a plot? The movie is shot in monochrome and the first hour progresses in introducing us to the characters. Then the challenge of transporting two truckloads of nitroglycerine across 300 miles of rugged terrain. Two drivers for each truck. You have got to see the movie to experience the fears, tensions, courage that the actors portray. A scene where a truck almost falls into a ravine as a wooden bridge breaks is brilliantly shot. Do both trucks reach their destination? Do all the four drivers survive? Watch the movie for answers. The movie deserves five stars!
Branded to Kill-Jo Shishido, Mariko Ogawa, Koji Nanbara, Mari Annu
Directed by-Seijun Suzuki
This was indeed a special movie. I had purchased this dvd almost a year ago, inexplicably I never viewed it. The movie is a real treat for its visual appeal, symbolism-imagery and slick editing. The striking aspect is that the visual appeal holds greater value as the movie was shot in monochrome. You have obsessed women, disturbed-assassins, thrilling chases and shootouts, strange imagery of dead butterflies and birds, a couple of explicit sexual encounters with abundant nudity. An anti-hero who sniffs boiled rice for sexual arousal. The movie is a bit difficult to understand but never loses its tempo. Condemned in Japan on release the movie has since built a cult-following and served as inspiration to many directors like John Woo. Deserves 5 stars but I was put off by the nudity and I guess language is a barrier. So I give it 4 stars.
Rebel without a Cause-James Dean, Natalie Wood, Corey Allen, Sal Mineo, Dennis Hopper
Directed by-Nicholas Ray
James Dean why did you die so young? The movie showcases the acting skills of James as a teenager who tries hard to fit in the scheme of normal American life. Shot in colour the movie serves as a mirror of American society in the fifties. Life was about status in society, how to present and conduct oneself so that society would look up to you. The movie is set in a time-frame of 24 hours. from getting arrested for drunkenness, to joining a new high-school, a fight, a racing challenge, an inadvertent death, fleeing from home and once again another inadvertent death.
Frustrations in society that are universal. A must-watch for all teenagers and their parents. Sometimes parents never understand kids and many a time kids end up living a life that their parents envisage for them! Five stars for James and the gang!
Singin' in the Rain-Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell
Directed by-Stanley Donnen and Gene Kelly
The all-time favourite seen long back on TNT. The movie describes the transition of Hollywood from the silent era to the musical talkie. A sweet little movie with elaborate sets, songs and dance. A romance woven into it. A star who falls for small-time artiste. Great lines, beautiful songs, awesome tap-dancing, some really funny lines. Watch this on a rainy day with your beloved beside you. Five stars again!
Friday, August 07, 2009
Murali Leaves Us
Talented actor Murali passed away this morning in Kerala. He was 55. An actor par excellence, a lawyer by profession whose first love was theatre. Murali had the depth and power to reign supreme in Malayalam cinema. There are many rumours that Mammooty tried to sabotage Murali's career as a hero. Such accusations are common in all the various "woods" when character actors give the so-called heroes a run for their money.
Murali has played the cold-blooded villain, the friend, father, honest police inspector and countless other roles. His performance in Pulijanmam won him an award. He had won accolades for many other movies too. Of late he appeared in some Tamil movies too. He also appeared in the Deccan Air ad of a small town villager who ends up travelling in an aeroplane.
On par with Thilakan for his powerful dialogue delivery and magnetic gaze-Malayalam cinema has lost another good actor.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
State of My Mind
Life sometimes is cruel,
But when the cruelties,
Strike one after the other,
Without a break in between.
When prayers that come,
From a devout heart,
Get lost in the confines-
Of space and time,
What does one do?
When the folks-
Who always stood by you.
Stand helpless and weak.
How does one provide support and solace?
Is this the cruel joke!
That was in store for me!
I cried when I realised-
That I had lost her.
That I could no longer call her-"Dearest."
I was sad but then I quickly recovered!
And wished her the best.
But now-
I am lost for words.
Lost on every count!
And in spite of everything that I tried.
I ended up as a loser!
Not just in love.
But in life too.
As I continue this dreary monotonous existence and fall into new depths of depression with each passing day. I continue to hope that the light would shine out of the gloomy depths.
But when the cruelties,
Strike one after the other,
Without a break in between.
When prayers that come,
From a devout heart,
Get lost in the confines-
Of space and time,
What does one do?
When the folks-
Who always stood by you.
Stand helpless and weak.
How does one provide support and solace?
Is this the cruel joke!
That was in store for me!
I cried when I realised-
That I had lost her.
That I could no longer call her-"Dearest."
I was sad but then I quickly recovered!
And wished her the best.
But now-
I am lost for words.
Lost on every count!
And in spite of everything that I tried.
I ended up as a loser!
Not just in love.
But in life too.
As I continue this dreary monotonous existence and fall into new depths of depression with each passing day. I continue to hope that the light would shine out of the gloomy depths.
Avani Avittam without Father
The yearly ritual of changing the sacred thread, went without a hitch. Managed to get a day's leave for the ritual. It is good to have an Iyengar/Iyer as the boss. They know the importance of the day and do not ask silly questions. This year holds special significance as I performed the ritual in the absence of my father. The Lord knows what he is doing. For all practical purposes I guess he has fled the state. I spoke to some staff at his office and they said that he comes to office irregularly.
I try not to worry or think about him. But my work keeps getting disrupted as my mind wanders back to the past when I thought I was a part of a happy family-20 years back in a block of flats in Pune. Never did my child's mind realize that Fate would play such a curious trick on me and I would end up like this.
For 11 years when the three of us stayed together and tried to build a rapport, cracks kept appearing and disappearing in the bonds of affection. Finally as the proverbial final blow that struck, I was surprised to see how happily my father washed his hands off all responsibilities and left us.
All these years of prayers, meditation and devout belief have resulted in this. Perhaps the Good Lord wanted things to be like this. I made a choice to chart a career again in Instructional Design and I will be honest when I say that I am failing in my quest. An environment that is filled with self-created pressure does not help things.
If things go on at this pace and tempo-I am definitely calling it quits. Salary being delayed again and again, lame excuses of a strike that started today when pay was promised on the fourth of every month(maximum by the fifth!). This blog started with a definite purpose of providing insights into cinema, literature, my poems and short stories. Now it has turned in to my cribbing/crying/ranting notebook. I have lost my follower too.
I try not to worry or think about him. But my work keeps getting disrupted as my mind wanders back to the past when I thought I was a part of a happy family-20 years back in a block of flats in Pune. Never did my child's mind realize that Fate would play such a curious trick on me and I would end up like this.
For 11 years when the three of us stayed together and tried to build a rapport, cracks kept appearing and disappearing in the bonds of affection. Finally as the proverbial final blow that struck, I was surprised to see how happily my father washed his hands off all responsibilities and left us.
All these years of prayers, meditation and devout belief have resulted in this. Perhaps the Good Lord wanted things to be like this. I made a choice to chart a career again in Instructional Design and I will be honest when I say that I am failing in my quest. An environment that is filled with self-created pressure does not help things.
If things go on at this pace and tempo-I am definitely calling it quits. Salary being delayed again and again, lame excuses of a strike that started today when pay was promised on the fourth of every month(maximum by the fifth!). This blog started with a definite purpose of providing insights into cinema, literature, my poems and short stories. Now it has turned in to my cribbing/crying/ranting notebook. I have lost my follower too.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Nadodigal and Meiporul
Finally I managed to see two movies.
Nadodigal and Meiporul
Nadodigal
Directed by Samudrakani starring Sasikumar, Ganja Karupopu and others.
Sasikumar is turning out to be the man with the Midas touch. He has found success as a director, producer and actor. Nadodigal is about a group of friends who help another friend marry the girl he loves. The impact of this action and how this changes the lives of the original group of friends forms the crux of the story. Good energetic feel in the movie, one unwanted gaana-item by a buxom lady, decent comedy track and a foot-tapping mood-setter "Shambo-Shiva Shambo."
The movie becomes preachy at the end and suddenly Sasi reminds one of T. Rajendar but the movie is a superhit in all centres and the producers are laughing all the way to the bank.
Meiporul
Shot in the U.S. and made by a bunch of non-filmi software professionals this movie deserved a better run. There is a doctor and his wife( a reporter for a Tamil magazine). They are friends with another couple. The doctor is an atheist and he befriends a man who predicts the future. He says that the doctor would be killed by his wife.
What happpens? Does the doctor get killed? Who is this strange man who predicts the future? Who is the American who shadows the doctor?
Watch the movie for answers!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Musings
I just do not know. I am cracking up! Losing my sanity and patience. After my father returned home after a massive alcoholic binge and listening to another cock-and-bull story. I finally asked my father to leave. Surprisingly he was extremely happy and thanked me for liberating him of his duties. He never did do anything good and that is another story.
Mother frequently falls sick and is becoming frailer with each passing day as she keeps worrying herself.
Work-load is heavy and I feel that I have signed a pact leading to my own doom.
If things keep going at the current pace-I am going to call it quits and start working from home as I cannot keep worrying about mother while I am in office.
Let me see what happens.
Wish me luck!
Saw some movies on dvd-finally!
Will post reviews soon.
Mother frequently falls sick and is becoming frailer with each passing day as she keeps worrying herself.
Work-load is heavy and I feel that I have signed a pact leading to my own doom.
If things keep going at the current pace-I am going to call it quits and start working from home as I cannot keep worrying about mother while I am in office.
Let me see what happens.
Wish me luck!
Saw some movies on dvd-finally!
Will post reviews soon.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Work, Work and more Work
I seem to be loaded with work and have not seen a movie for a record period of 20 days now. That is indeed a weird statistic considering that I am one real movie fanatic.
Loads of work at work[I am being poetic!]
Good I guess!
Hope pay gets credited properly on time.
Last month was one long complicated waiting process.
Things not well on the domestic front too as Daddy Dearest has begun his ritual of the Betaal climbing the old tree and returned to his nefarious ways of drinking hard and absconding from work and home. God knows that I have been very very patient all these years and I do not know when I will snap and take a serious action. Mother continues to suffer in silence and has been afflicted with fever and tiredness.
Things continue to go and I try to find some sense in this life.
May be I am cursed to be this way and suffer for the sins of others!
Loads of work at work[I am being poetic!]
Good I guess!
Hope pay gets credited properly on time.
Last month was one long complicated waiting process.
Things not well on the domestic front too as Daddy Dearest has begun his ritual of the Betaal climbing the old tree and returned to his nefarious ways of drinking hard and absconding from work and home. God knows that I have been very very patient all these years and I do not know when I will snap and take a serious action. Mother continues to suffer in silence and has been afflicted with fever and tiredness.
Things continue to go and I try to find some sense in this life.
May be I am cursed to be this way and suffer for the sins of others!
Cricket News
Bangladesh secured a historic test win against West Indies.
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan twice in the current test-series.
England managed to escape by a whisker to secure a draw in the first Ashes Test.
The second test is underway.
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan twice in the current test-series.
England managed to escape by a whisker to secure a draw in the first Ashes Test.
The second test is underway.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Cricket News
When everyone talks about the demise of Test Cricket and how T:20 is changing the world of cricket-the first test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan provided twists and turns and a striking batting-order collapse. Pakistan lost 8 wickets in quick succession and lost a match that was by all means in their pocket.
The Ashes Test in Wales is in progress and Ricky has cracked century number 38. Today's play should provide some interesting fodder for thought.
England 435 all out. Australia 249/1. Katich is on 104 and Ponting is on 100.
The Ashes Test in Wales is in progress and Ricky has cracked century number 38. Today's play should provide some interesting fodder for thought.
England 435 all out. Australia 249/1. Katich is on 104 and Ponting is on 100.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
A Month
It is exactly a month since I joined this firm. It is too early to say anything. But it is very evident that there is absolute chaos in everything that goes on here. Having the head office in another city and allocating work across branches and people does not help matters. Remote management, communication gap, miscommunication, money-transfer issues. A set of people who do not know what to do? Conflicting and confusing job roles and responsibilities. The list can go on... Added to that this is a small office functioning out of a flat.
But among all this chaos there is a good bonding among all the staff and there is a sincerity of purpose and dedication to get the job done. Additionally there are a couple of stalwarts of the e-learning industry who are on the board of directors and offer lot of valuable insights.
Let me see how long I last here.
Folks wish me luck!
But among all this chaos there is a good bonding among all the staff and there is a sincerity of purpose and dedication to get the job done. Additionally there are a couple of stalwarts of the e-learning industry who are on the board of directors and offer lot of valuable insights.
Let me see how long I last here.
Folks wish me luck!
Saturday, July 04, 2009
A New Friend
Well after four years of company in which you provided me joy, good news, sorrow and fun. I decided to move on. But do not worry you will still be with me.
Well folks I got a new mobile phone. The Samsung Star. It looks awesome and is loaded with features. A huge screen and only three buttons at the bottom. The phone is a total-touch enabled one and has a host of widgets. A 3.2 megapixel camera with lots of photo-composing features. Dedicated music player and FM radio. The phone is black in colour and cost me Rs 9500 plus taxes.
My old friend the Sony Ericsson z530i is safely secured in its original package in my cupboard at home. Too many memories of using Ziggy. Well you can stare that's the name for my old mobile. I have spent many an hour talking to someone whom I can no longer claim to be mine. Tracked cricket match updates while traveling on the train by calling up friends. Shot a whole lot of pictures in Ooty. The list can just go on and on. Ziggy thanks for being such a good companion. I almost had a shock when someone tried to steal the phone in the bus, but by good luck and presence of mind I got you back in one piece.
Thanks for all the good times!
Now it's time to keep moving with the times with Sammy! That's my new friend:)
Holy Shit
HOLY SHIT
I am going to think twice before I utter the phrase again. The past week has been hectic. A case of food poisoning and dehydration-leading to upto four trips to the toilet every hour for three days. Three days of Sick Leave in office. A delay in completing my work. The Lord knows how much water has passed:)
My stomach still feels strange and I have a suspicious feeling that I might need to rush to the toilet any time.
Folks my advice-"Avoid red cabbage and spinach for a while."
Those were the suspects in my case.
I am going to think twice before I utter the phrase again. The past week has been hectic. A case of food poisoning and dehydration-leading to upto four trips to the toilet every hour for three days. Three days of Sick Leave in office. A delay in completing my work. The Lord knows how much water has passed:)
My stomach still feels strange and I have a suspicious feeling that I might need to rush to the toilet any time.
Folks my advice-"Avoid red cabbage and spinach for a while."
Those were the suspects in my case.
Thiruvanamalai
THIRUVANAMALAI
An opportunity to visit Thiruvanamalai came my way and I jumped to the chance. A magnificent temple and well maintained too. The overpowering feeling of strength and devotion is unmistakable here. I also managed to visit the Ramana Ashram and met spiritualist Nochur Venkatraman-popular for his discourses on the Bhagavatham.
The whirlwind trip was completed in 10 hours-Chennai-Thiruvanamalai-Chennai.
A proper trip is in my mind and I intend to spend a couple of days at the ashram.
As God wills!
An opportunity to visit Thiruvanamalai came my way and I jumped to the chance. A magnificent temple and well maintained too. The overpowering feeling of strength and devotion is unmistakable here. I also managed to visit the Ramana Ashram and met spiritualist Nochur Venkatraman-popular for his discourses on the Bhagavatham.
The whirlwind trip was completed in 10 hours-Chennai-Thiruvanamalai-Chennai.
A proper trip is in my mind and I intend to spend a couple of days at the ashram.
As God wills!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Pakistan Win
In troubled times some good news for Pakistan. An all-round performance by the team and a brilliant spell of fast-bowling ensured that Pakistan are the new T:20 world champions.
Afridi, Razzaq and Gul did a good job.
Younis Khan announced his retirement from T:20 cricket.
Afridi might be the new T:20 captain
Afridi, Razzaq and Gul did a good job.
Younis Khan announced his retirement from T:20 cricket.
Afridi might be the new T:20 captain
Friday, June 19, 2009
Pakistan enter the finals
South Africa with all their experience and positive vibes continued to retain the "chokers tag" as they were defeated by Pakistan in the first semi-final by 7 runs.
Afridi won the match for Pakistan with a brilliant performance with both bat and ball.
The second semi between Sri Lanka and West Indies will be a thriller.
Let us see what happens.
Afridi won the match for Pakistan with a brilliant performance with both bat and ball.
The second semi between Sri Lanka and West Indies will be a thriller.
Let us see what happens.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Three Defeats in a Row
Well Captain Cool-Three defeats in a row. Disastrous captaincy horrible running between the wickets. A target of 131 against South Africa and you lose with wickets still in hand. Soul-searching, accusations and resignations are expected soon. The honeymoon is over let us see what the big bosses say.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Team-India Falter
The first true test and our first Super-Eight Match against the mighty West Indies!
India bat first and wickets fall in quick succession. Yuvi and Yusuf Pathan do the rescue act. A decent total of 157 thanks to a solid knock from Yuvi.
West Indies lost early wickets but Dwayne Bravo sizzled with the bat to add to his 4 wickets to lead the Windies to victory.
Dhoni's captaincy was poor as the bowling changes do not make sense.
Let us see if we can make it to the semis.
England are in a desperate situation too and the India vs England match will prove to be a thriller.
India bat first and wickets fall in quick succession. Yuvi and Yusuf Pathan do the rescue act. A decent total of 157 thanks to a solid knock from Yuvi.
West Indies lost early wickets but Dwayne Bravo sizzled with the bat to add to his 4 wickets to lead the Windies to victory.
Dhoni's captaincy was poor as the bowling changes do not make sense.
Let us see if we can make it to the semis.
England are in a desperate situation too and the India vs England match will prove to be a thriller.
Another Innings in Instructional Design
The past week has been hectic. I have joined a another firm in the e-learning domain. I have the designation of an Assistant Manager. The new place is a small outfit and they are in the process of setting up a full-fledged team. There is absolute chaos. We have a big and prestigious project that means a lot to the company. An induction is yet to take place. I was supposed to go to another city for a formal induction but it got canceled. It is a young and dynamic team. We were told that it was a 5-day week but the project and the deadline means it is a six-day week.
A colleague celebrated his birthday yesterday. There was cake and ice cream. In the evening it was time to go for a wedding reception. Met some old colleagues from SFY and EK.
Let us see how things go!
Wish me luck.
A colleague celebrated his birthday yesterday. There was cake and ice cream. In the evening it was time to go for a wedding reception. Met some old colleagues from SFY and EK.
Let us see how things go!
Wish me luck.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
The Last Day
The last day at work was spent in the usual order. Saying good-byes! Wishing luck and all that emotional nonsense!
Memories:
Sethu Sir-Truly one of the great inspiring men that I have met in my life-time. Thanks for the books that you gave me and for the blessings.
Honestly the best manager I ever worked with - Vicky. Always cool and calm composed and steady and a great human being.
Deepak-Funny, honest, frank and sometimes too damn philosophical for even me to interpret what he means!
Robin-Great all-rounder and always ready to crack a joke.
And everyone else who made my stay at the firm memorable.
Now I await the settlement amount!
Memories:
Sethu Sir-Truly one of the great inspiring men that I have met in my life-time. Thanks for the books that you gave me and for the blessings.
Honestly the best manager I ever worked with - Vicky. Always cool and calm composed and steady and a great human being.
Deepak-Funny, honest, frank and sometimes too damn philosophical for even me to interpret what he means!
Robin-Great all-rounder and always ready to crack a joke.
And everyone else who made my stay at the firm memorable.
Now I await the settlement amount!
Friday, June 05, 2009
Rohit Sizzles with the Bat
India continued its supremacy over arch rival Pakistan and defeated them by 9 wickets in a warm-up game. Pakistan lost a wicket in the first over. Then they went ballistic and reached 45 in four overs. Then a suicidal run cost Kamran Akmal his wicket courtesy a superb throw from Raina. Then Pakistan were reduced to 45 for 4 as Afridi too lost his wicket alongwith the other opener.
Misbah as usual was the mainstay as Pakistan reached 157. The Indian openers Rohit Sharma in the form of his life and Gautam Gambhir blasted the ball to all corners of the park. Rohit's quickfire 80 and a composed 50 from Gambhir ensured that India won.
The main tournament starts tonight and we can expect loads of fire works.
May the best team win.
Misbah as usual was the mainstay as Pakistan reached 157. The Indian openers Rohit Sharma in the form of his life and Gautam Gambhir blasted the ball to all corners of the park. Rohit's quickfire 80 and a composed 50 from Gambhir ensured that India won.
The main tournament starts tonight and we can expect loads of fire works.
May the best team win.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
I WONDER
[Image Source-Google Image Search]
I wonder. I wonder a lot. No wonder I was labelled a day-dreamer when I was still very young. When I was in Class I-I used to wonder what it would be to be a famous cricketer. When I reached Class V-I used to wonder what it would be to be a tram-driver.[I was in Calcutta during that peiod]. Class VIII and the first crush on a girl in class and I wanted to emulate the antics of Shahrukh and Aamir. Reality struck a crushing blow when we had to move to another city. The first crush remained in my heart forever. I had never spoken to her in that year in class. I guess the shyness-syndrome continues as many of the readers of this blog already know:). By the time I completed the torture that was Trignometry and Analytical Calculus and Differential Calculus and drawing diagrams of the human heart and preparing herbariums of Clitoria ternatea. I was done with Science and Maths. Three years of college were full of fun, two life-threatening accidents. A long-period of recovery, which led to a spiritual awakening. A campus-recruitment drive that I attended by accident. I wonder what would have happened if I had never written that test. Four years down the line and heading in to my fifth job.
These four years have brought in so many incidents! The pangs of a failed attempt in love. The realization that I belong to a fractured family where the factors may change but some couples will remain incompatible and at loggerheads forever. The knowledge that the powers vested in me are great and the responsibilities and roles that I have to perform are greater. The absolute truth-that the path that I have chosen was destined to have come to me. I know that I am different and though folks may say I am difficult to understand and slightly cracked:). They will nver know what is in store!
Now I really wonder if something is wrong with my head:)!
These four years have brought in so many incidents! The pangs of a failed attempt in love. The realization that I belong to a fractured family where the factors may change but some couples will remain incompatible and at loggerheads forever. The knowledge that the powers vested in me are great and the responsibilities and roles that I have to perform are greater. The absolute truth-that the path that I have chosen was destined to have come to me. I know that I am different and though folks may say I am difficult to understand and slightly cracked:). They will nver know what is in store!
Now I really wonder if something is wrong with my head:)!
India take on Pakistan
Team India faltered in its chase and lost to New Zealand in the first T:20 warm-up. Tonight the boys-in-blue take on Pakistan. Let us see what happens. The match is scheduled at 10 PM IST. So watching the full match live is ruled out.
May the best team win!
May the best team win!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
The little piece of plastic-the credit card
Know how your credit card
works before you swipe...."
It is just a piece of plastic the size of a visiting card, which has changed the way we handle our money and finances. You do not have money right now, do not worry, use your credit cards, make your purchase, wait for your monthly statement, and pay the bill in installments. Is that all that there is to using a credit card?
The credit card as a concept started in America. The success and popularity of the concept led to the global presence and usage of the credit card. A credit card is essentially a plastic card containing a magnetic strip. The card is issued in the user's name and allows the user to purchase products without making any cash/cheque payment. At the beginning of every month the user receives a statement from his/her bank. The user has to pay the bank the amount within a specified period either in installments or as a one-time payment. If the user pays the amount in installments the bank charges interest for the balance amount.
The bank specifies a credit limit based on the user's income and financial security. The user can make purchases using the credit card within the specified credit limit. A credit card is valid only if it has the user's signature on the reverse of the card.
Identity theft is an issue of growing concern as more and more cases of online fraud are being reported everyday. This is primarily due to the increase in the number of users conducting their transactions on the Internet and the carelessness of the credit card users. There have been instances where portable card-readers were used to get data from credit cards and this information was misused. Hackers also use this information to conduct online transactions.
Some simple tips that can help prevent identity theft and misuse of credit card details are as follows:
1-Never reveal your credit card details, like account number and PIN(Personal Identification Number) to others.
2-Be sure to tear all receipts or bills once the transaction is over and the bills are paid.
3-If you are buying something online, ensure that the Website is approved by digital security firms like Verisign, Entrust, RSA Security, etc...
4-Always collect your credit card once you complete your transaction and keep analysing your bills to check if someone has misused your credit card.
A credit card is a boon for the middle-class citizen as it allows the luxury of buying things now on credit and paying for them later. One has to remember that all things should be used in moderation and it is always good to pay one's bills on time.
works before you swipe...."
It is just a piece of plastic the size of a visiting card, which has changed the way we handle our money and finances. You do not have money right now, do not worry, use your credit cards, make your purchase, wait for your monthly statement, and pay the bill in installments. Is that all that there is to using a credit card?
The credit card as a concept started in America. The success and popularity of the concept led to the global presence and usage of the credit card. A credit card is essentially a plastic card containing a magnetic strip. The card is issued in the user's name and allows the user to purchase products without making any cash/cheque payment. At the beginning of every month the user receives a statement from his/her bank. The user has to pay the bank the amount within a specified period either in installments or as a one-time payment. If the user pays the amount in installments the bank charges interest for the balance amount.
The bank specifies a credit limit based on the user's income and financial security. The user can make purchases using the credit card within the specified credit limit. A credit card is valid only if it has the user's signature on the reverse of the card.
Identity theft is an issue of growing concern as more and more cases of online fraud are being reported everyday. This is primarily due to the increase in the number of users conducting their transactions on the Internet and the carelessness of the credit card users. There have been instances where portable card-readers were used to get data from credit cards and this information was misused. Hackers also use this information to conduct online transactions.
Some simple tips that can help prevent identity theft and misuse of credit card details are as follows:
1-Never reveal your credit card details, like account number and PIN(Personal Identification Number) to others.
2-Be sure to tear all receipts or bills once the transaction is over and the bills are paid.
3-If you are buying something online, ensure that the Website is approved by digital security firms like Verisign, Entrust, RSA Security, etc...
4-Always collect your credit card once you complete your transaction and keep analysing your bills to check if someone has misused your credit card.
A credit card is a boon for the middle-class citizen as it allows the luxury of buying things now on credit and paying for them later. One has to remember that all things should be used in moderation and it is always good to pay one's bills on time.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Good Used-Books at Low Prices
The book-lover is bothered by the rising cost of books. Some have also gravitated towards buying pirated copies of books. In a world where everyone wants to spend the minimum to get the maximum pirated movies and pirated books are a major source of income to many entrepreneurs and source of joy to many book-lovers and movie-lovers. A Sidney Sheldon thriller that costs Rs 250 to Rs 300 in Landmark is available for Rs 50 to Rs 60 in many of the pavement stalls that dot Chennai.
But not all books make it to the pavement in its pirated form. Only the books by Jeffrey Archer, Sidney Sheldon, Frederick Forsyth, Paulo Coelho, Stephen R. Covey, Linda Goodman, Robert Ludlum, Arundhati Roy, Arvind Adiga and a few other chosen ones make it to the pavement.
The other option is to visit the many used-book shops to find old forgotten novels and comics. Indulge in nostalgia from childhood and an age of innocence when one fought with siblings to read Enid Blyton and Asterix and the Biggles series. Adolescence was devoted to the exploits of the Hardy boys, Nancy Drew and the Three Investigators.
I am listing a few of my favourite haunts in Chennai to find old books.
1-Moore Market
This has been my favourite ever since I started college and went hunting for copies of Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.” Moore Market has a long chequered history. The current suburban railway complex is where the original Moore Market stood. My uncle used to say you could get each and every type of electronic item, exotic perfumes and various birds here. The biggest section was reserved to rows of book stalls. A planned fire led to the shop-keepers to be evacuated. A new complex (the current one) was built but many shop-keepers left the place. Today one finds most of the shops selling engineering books. Only about 12 shops spread across three floors sell novels and magazines. There are some shops that sell stamps and coins. The current complex has a lot of shops that sell exotic fishes, aquariums and related equipment. I visit the place and browse through the books. Some of the gems that I got here include: “An Anthology of American Poetry”(Got for Rs 350) a bargain as a new one costs about Rs 2000. The original James Bond novels by Ian Fleming at Rs 30 a piece. A new one at Landmark costs around Rs 200. Four Agatha Christie novels at Rs 45 a piece. The books look new and none of the pages are missing.
2-Adjacent GPO on Mount Road
There are about four stalls on the pavement on Mount Road adjacent to the GPO. Three sell pirated new novels. The fourth shop sells old books on a wide variety of topics. Novels starting from Rs 10 to coffee table books selling at Rs 500. I have picked many Enid Blyton novels here for Rs 10 and Rs 20. Other buys include an encyclopedia on dogs for Rs 200.(a picture book with details on breeds and health care tips for dogs). Lots of pulp fiction thrillers for Rs 20 and Rs 30.
Folks more shops coming soon. Cross-posted on Art, Books, Cinema and Music.
Chelsea Win!
Finally the silverware and joy for Chelsea Chelsea defeated Everton 2-1 to win the FA Cup. A parting gift for their Dutch coach Hiddink. Everton struck the fastest goal in the tournament's history but Chelsea won under the stable leadership of Lampard and a good game by Drogba.
Friday, May 29, 2009
BARCELONA THRASH MAN-U
Manchester United were outplayed in all departments as Messi sealed a win for Barca. A good match and a day where Man-U will rue their missed chances.
Now Barca are the UEFA champs.
Let us see what Chelsea can do at Wembley stadium when they take on Everton in the FA Cup final.
Now Barca are the UEFA champs.
Let us see what Chelsea can do at Wembley stadium when they take on Everton in the FA Cup final.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Gilchrist has the Last Laugh!
It ended in an anti-climax as the whipping boys of IPL-1 made it to the finals of IPL-2. Dhoni and his team lost the plot against RCB in the second semi-final while Gilchrist's power-packed 85 kicked Sehwag's Devils out of contention.
The final started with a surprise as Kumble bowled the first over to Gilchrist and the gamble worked as he was bowled by Kumble in the first over. The Deccan Chargers aided by Gibbs and Symonds reached 143. RCB faltered and lost by six runs.
In my opinion the turning point of the match was Dravid dropping Symo's catch at slip. Robin Uthappa and Dravid's failure with the bat is an added negative.
So folks applaud the Hyderabad team who won the coveted but ugly trophy.
Wish they made more beautiful trophies. All that gold and diamonds and rubies in an uninspiring trophy.
The final started with a surprise as Kumble bowled the first over to Gilchrist and the gamble worked as he was bowled by Kumble in the first over. The Deccan Chargers aided by Gibbs and Symonds reached 143. RCB faltered and lost by six runs.
In my opinion the turning point of the match was Dravid dropping Symo's catch at slip. Robin Uthappa and Dravid's failure with the bat is an added negative.
So folks applaud the Hyderabad team who won the coveted but ugly trophy.
Wish they made more beautiful trophies. All that gold and diamonds and rubies in an uninspiring trophy.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
An Eventful Day
E-mail 1
There is a bomb scare at XXXX.The bomb squad has been summoned to carry out necessary precautionary checkup.
E-mail 2
Dear All,
Well folks to cut a long story short, some chap who needed a break from his monotonous job called the building administration office and said that a bomb has been planted. All mayhem broke out and the building was quickly evacuated and the bomb squad, dog squad and the police were called in. Our company decided to remain silent as the smokers gang spotted the sudden rush of people trooping out from other floors. A while later the first e-mail confirmed our worst fears. But even then no signs of evacuation and the blokes joked about "End of Days" and "The Apocalypse." Some of the women staff were really worried and began to panic.
Two hours later some of the brave guys went out and found out there was no danger. Another two hours later we received the second e-mail.
Now just imagine if the hoax had been real. Well I cannot imagine anything. Any way the folks at the company are a sporting lot and continue to work without too much complaints. A great company and its brave employees.
I traded on the stock exchange today. Spent close to Rs 2000 and already I am running a loss of Rs 300. Hope things turn for the better tomorrow.
Folks Chennai are thru' to the semis with a win over Kings XI Punjab in yesterday's low-scoring spinners'-thriller.
This was my post no. 400.
Thanks to the encouragement of my beloved readers and friends.
Thanks Ashwin (Common Man Dreamer), Priya (cool dudette), Kavitha (The Book-Lover), Sowmitha (Editorial Trainer and dog-lover), Siva(handsome rocker), Sudha(wish you posted an actual comment), Sevi(Great News Soon).
Thanks again everybody!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The race for the IPL semi-finals heats up as Rajasthan Royals play the Kolkata Knightriders and Kings XI Punjab play the Chennai Super Kings. CSK had a rude wake up call when Mc Cullum and Hodge blasted the CSK bowlers to snatch an awesome victory by overhauling the improbabale 189-run target.
The Royals are on to a horrible start and are at 46/4 in the seventh over now. If Chennai win today then they will not have to worry about run rates. The way Kumble-led Bangalore Royal Challengers are playing I think net run-rates will play a big part in deciding the final 4. Let us see what happens.
In other cricket news-England defeated West Indies to retain the Wisden Trophy. Chris Gayle has a lot of introspection to do now after his T:20 v/s Test cricket comments. Symmonds has been left out of the Australian squad for the Ashes. India will play Pakistan in an invitational T:20 at the Oval before the ICC T:20 World Cup.
The Royals are on to a horrible start and are at 46/4 in the seventh over now. If Chennai win today then they will not have to worry about run rates. The way Kumble-led Bangalore Royal Challengers are playing I think net run-rates will play a big part in deciding the final 4. Let us see what happens.
In other cricket news-England defeated West Indies to retain the Wisden Trophy. Chris Gayle has a lot of introspection to do now after his T:20 v/s Test cricket comments. Symmonds has been left out of the Australian squad for the Ashes. India will play Pakistan in an invitational T:20 at the Oval before the ICC T:20 World Cup.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Is Prabhakaran Dead?
The struggle in Sri Lanka has ended! Or is it the beginning of another struggle? The bloody war against terrorism and the Tamil cause has cost close to 80000 lives on both sides. In addition to several high-profile assassinations and the first suicide bomb killing of India's former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. What started as a fight for a real cause, lost its initial impetus as the LTTE slowly morphed into a demon led by a leader who lost sight of his original mission.
News came in yesterday that Prabhakaran had been killed but no photos were released. This morning photos were circulated with Prabhakaran's dead body. He had been shot in the head above the eyes, very similar to Veerappan's end. The real struggle will start now and the government led by Rajapakse has to ensure that the Tamil people are not abused.
Let us see how things go about in the island nation. Supporters continue to claim that Prabhakaran is alive and the dead body is of a decoy/dummy. Only the Lord knows the truth and perhaps Prabhakaran too.
We can only wish that the country stabilises itself. The Sri Lankan army inspite of all the claims by agencies of harming civilians has done a thorough job. Why can't India with more resources and a powerful well-equipeed army put a stop to the cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Maruti Suzuki Ritz Goof-Up
The Maruti Suzuki Ritz is one of the most eagerly awaited hatchbacks of the year. They spend millions on R&D and marketing but make an error in spelling. Look at the image. "Compliant" is spelled as "Complaint." Click on the image to see it in full-size.
The website is http://www.marutisuzuki.com/.
The website is http://www.marutisuzuki.com/.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Measuring Productivity
The sorry state of affairs of "Under Maintenance" continues. Just imagine you have important work to be completed an internal deadline. You visit the loo to answer the Second Call of Nature and to your consternation both stalls are occupied and the third stall mocks you with the "Under Maintenance" poster. Well that is life. If all loos function properly that means reduced waiting time in the restroom. So more time to sit in front of the computer and complete the official work! That translates into increased employee productivity and more profitability for the company.
Well who bothers to listen to the rants of a disgruntled blogger. When I get to run my own company I will ensure that all loos are fully functional. Damn! I am beginning to sound like a phony politician begging for votes:)
Well who bothers to listen to the rants of a disgruntled blogger. When I get to run my own company I will ensure that all loos are fully functional. Damn! I am beginning to sound like a phony politician begging for votes:)
SMS
Read this SMS:
10 Terrorists came by Boat.
539 Terrorists will be coming by VOTE.
Vote Responsibly.
Great SMS!
10 Terrorists came by Boat.
539 Terrorists will be coming by VOTE.
Vote Responsibly.
Great SMS!
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Mother
In celebration of the "Living Divine" dedicated to all Mothers and of course my Mother.
MOTHER
You sheltered me,
In your womb.
So that I could see,
The light of this world.
You nourished me,
With your love and care.
Ever present to help me.
Guide me when I was confused.
Comfort me when I was frightened.
You were there to comfort me,
In my failures,
Be it in exams or in love.
A story to put me to sleep,
When I was a little boy.
In my troubled teens,
When I was confused!
And on the verge of entering the troubled vortex,
Of a life of crime.
You reiterated the importance of "Good Company."
I brushed away your advice and paid the price for it.
Even then-you stood by me.
And guided me to recovery.
Nursing my wounds both physical and mental.
I am what I am!
Because of your love and care.
If there were an after-life!
My only plea to God!
Would be to make me a woman!
So that I can undergo the pain and suffering that you felt!
And be a loving mother to my child!
MOTHER
You sheltered me,
In your womb.
So that I could see,
The light of this world.
You nourished me,
With your love and care.
Ever present to help me.
Guide me when I was confused.
Comfort me when I was frightened.
You were there to comfort me,
In my failures,
Be it in exams or in love.
A story to put me to sleep,
When I was a little boy.
In my troubled teens,
When I was confused!
And on the verge of entering the troubled vortex,
Of a life of crime.
You reiterated the importance of "Good Company."
I brushed away your advice and paid the price for it.
Even then-you stood by me.
And guided me to recovery.
Nursing my wounds both physical and mental.
I am what I am!
Because of your love and care.
If there were an after-life!
My only plea to God!
Would be to make me a woman!
So that I can undergo the pain and suffering that you felt!
And be a loving mother to my child!
England the Lords at Lords
West Indies were thrashed by England in the first test. Onions the rookie England bowler and Swann the spinner shared the honours as the West Indian batting order crumbled under the Ebglish bowling attack. Chanderpaul had his lowest test aggregate score of 4 runs. Ravi Bopara's wonderful century should England's No.3 batting woes to rest. Graeme Swann was named the man-of-the-match for his excellent all-round performance.
Brief scores:
England-377 and 32/0.
West Indies-152 and 256.
Brief scores:
England-377 and 32/0.
West Indies-152 and 256.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Another Resignation!
"I am sending my resignation through this e-mail. It has been a great pleasure to work under your guidance and leadership, but I guess it is time for me to move on to a more challenging assignment. Please send this e-mail to HR so that the relieving procedures can be put into action and I am relieved at the end of my notice period."
Well folks that was my resignation e-mail. Is it a moment of madness in this recession? I do not know. I guess it will be forwarded to HR and I might be relieved in the first week of June. It has been fun working here and I have met a wide range of people and have had the best boss so far in my stint with various companies.
I am moving back to my core area of expertise Instructional Design. The field has changed in this gap of 2 years and there have been lots of improvements and changes in the various associated models and theories of learning. Lots of new tools and technologies have come in to vogue too.
So like the Prodigal Son returning to his father's house I have chosen to return to Instructional Design. Will keep you posted on all updates!
Wish me luck folks!
Well folks that was my resignation e-mail. Is it a moment of madness in this recession? I do not know. I guess it will be forwarded to HR and I might be relieved in the first week of June. It has been fun working here and I have met a wide range of people and have had the best boss so far in my stint with various companies.
I am moving back to my core area of expertise Instructional Design. The field has changed in this gap of 2 years and there have been lots of improvements and changes in the various associated models and theories of learning. Lots of new tools and technologies have come in to vogue too.
So like the Prodigal Son returning to his father's house I have chosen to return to Instructional Design. Will keep you posted on all updates!
Wish me luck folks!
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
DVD Reviews
Well I guess more reviews are headed your way! You folks must be wondering how does this guy get time to see so many movies! Well I just manage my time-the same 24 hours that God has provided to everyone is what I get too. No more philosophy. The reviews follow:
THE ODESSA FILE
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth this is a fast-paced thriller with the tension building slowly. A Nazi plot to regain power, a secret society called the Odessa, a group trying to infiltrate the Odessa, a journalist who discovers the truth based on the suicide of an old Jew. Lot of plots and sub-plots ending in a shootout. Starring Jon Voight as the journalist Peter this is a definite must-watch. Shot on location in Europe good cinematography and simple but interesting action sequences keep up the tempo of the movie.
FELON
Star Cast-Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer and Harold Perinneau.
Director-Ric Roman Waugh.
This is the saga of a man who ends up in jail after accidentally killing a burglar. The ramifications of his action on his family and his personal life are brought out well. In prison a sadistic warden creates a mini=arena of sorts where the prisoners indulge in fighting with each other to remain alive. The movie shows the bitter truth about life and racist divisions American prisons. Val Kilmer gets a solid role as Stephen's protector and old-timer in prison. A grim looking movie with excellent performances by all.
DVD Reviews
It has been a while since I posted movie reviews here So folks get ready for a bunch of reviews.
FRENZY
Star Cast-Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Anna Massey, Alec McCowen.
This Alfred Hitchcock classic is about a serial murderer who rapes women and strangles them with a silk tie. The movie has a scene in which the killer puts the corpse of a woman in a sack and loads the sack on to a van carrying potato sacks. Then he realizes that his tie-pin is missing and returns to the van and hunts for the sack with the corpse. The van starts moving an he panics and struggles in trying to retrieve the pin. A well-made thriller.
INKHEART
This Brendan Fraser movie is a nice fantasy tale. Based on the best-selling Inkheart series of novels. It describes the adventures of a book-doctor(Fraser) who has the power to bring characters to life when he reads aloud. A well-made movie thorough family-fare for the long summer.
BEDTIME STORIES
Starring Adam Sandler this Walt Disney production has a similar premise like Inkheart. Sandler works as a handyman in a massive luxury hotel which was built on the site of his father's old motel. Sandler gets to baby-sit his nephew and niece and when he tells them stories the next day it happens to him. A good family-movie.
THE DARK CITY
Star Cast-Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Richard O'Brien
Directed by Alex Proyas this 1998 movie went surprisingly unnoticed. Imagine you wake up in a hotel having no memory of what you are and what you do. You find the corpse of a young woman in your room and you are on the run. The police wants you a young woman claims to be your wife and a sinister group of bald-headed men are out to kill you. To add to the confusion a strange psychiatrist also follows you. What is the mystery? Watch this movie to find the answers. The suspense quotient is high and the dark locales are complimented by the stunning cinematography and massive sets.
FRENZY
Star Cast-Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Anna Massey, Alec McCowen.
This Alfred Hitchcock classic is about a serial murderer who rapes women and strangles them with a silk tie. The movie has a scene in which the killer puts the corpse of a woman in a sack and loads the sack on to a van carrying potato sacks. Then he realizes that his tie-pin is missing and returns to the van and hunts for the sack with the corpse. The van starts moving an he panics and struggles in trying to retrieve the pin. A well-made thriller.
INKHEART
This Brendan Fraser movie is a nice fantasy tale. Based on the best-selling Inkheart series of novels. It describes the adventures of a book-doctor(Fraser) who has the power to bring characters to life when he reads aloud. A well-made movie thorough family-fare for the long summer.
BEDTIME STORIES
Starring Adam Sandler this Walt Disney production has a similar premise like Inkheart. Sandler works as a handyman in a massive luxury hotel which was built on the site of his father's old motel. Sandler gets to baby-sit his nephew and niece and when he tells them stories the next day it happens to him. A good family-movie.
THE DARK CITY
Star Cast-Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Richard O'Brien
Directed by Alex Proyas this 1998 movie went surprisingly unnoticed. Imagine you wake up in a hotel having no memory of what you are and what you do. You find the corpse of a young woman in your room and you are on the run. The police wants you a young woman claims to be your wife and a sinister group of bald-headed men are out to kill you. To add to the confusion a strange psychiatrist also follows you. What is the mystery? Watch this movie to find the answers. The suspense quotient is high and the dark locales are complimented by the stunning cinematography and massive sets.
IPL News
So some good news for the Chennai Super Kings after three consecutive wins we are at the top of the table with 9 points from 8 matches. Most other teams have just played 7. So in all probability we will slide to place 2 or 3 by the end of today's matches. Dhoni and Raina played well, with a mature knock by M. Vijay. Jakati the spinner is doing a good job and has been instrumental in CSK winning the last two matches.
Hope that Kolkata Knight-Riders win today I feel terribly sorry for them and Mc Cullum who has tried every possible thing but he has been weighed down by the burden of captaincy. Let us see if he can recreate the fiery 150 of IPL-1 today.
Hope that Kolkata Knight-Riders win today I feel terribly sorry for them and Mc Cullum who has tried every possible thing but he has been weighed down by the burden of captaincy. Let us see if he can recreate the fiery 150 of IPL-1 today.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Good Morning!
This happened to me to this morning.
I was waiting for the elevator, when I noticed one of the top bosses of the company also waiting for the elevator. As a matter of courtesy I went up to him and said-"Good Morning." To my consternation I did not even get a blank stare. A minute later one of the beauties of our office walked in flashing her pearly smile and you know what happened? The top boss walked up to her and said-"Good Morning. How are you?"
Damn! I never knew being born as a woman had such advantages.
Any way life goes on.....
I was waiting for the elevator, when I noticed one of the top bosses of the company also waiting for the elevator. As a matter of courtesy I went up to him and said-"Good Morning." To my consternation I did not even get a blank stare. A minute later one of the beauties of our office walked in flashing her pearly smile and you know what happened? The top boss walked up to her and said-"Good Morning. How are you?"
Damn! I never knew being born as a woman had such advantages.
Any way life goes on.....
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
IPL News
Things are pretty bad for Chennai, Kolkata, Rajasthan and Bangalore. The teams have performed horribly and with Hyderabad and Delhi comfortably perched at the top with Mumbai Indians following the leaders it is time for the other teams to perform.
Shahrukh and Shilpa must be fuming with the mediocre performances of their teams. Kings XI Punjab had bad weather spoil their chances but the other matches that they played they have done well.
To early to say anything but it looks like Delhi and Hyderabad are serious title contenders now. The way things are going the fourth semi-finalist will be the place which the teams will fight it out for as Mumbai Indians are likely to be the third semi-finalist.
The big news is the person who is running this blog- www.fakeiplplayer.blogspot.com
Some posts are real vintage humour. No one knows who the author is though I doubt if any actual KKR player is behind the blog.
Come on Superkings with Flintoff gone now play Ntini for God's sake. Dhoni you better score runs or you are going to end up like Laxman and Dravid. Remember no individual is greater than the team. Come on Superkings set the stadiums afire!
Shahrukh and Shilpa must be fuming with the mediocre performances of their teams. Kings XI Punjab had bad weather spoil their chances but the other matches that they played they have done well.
To early to say anything but it looks like Delhi and Hyderabad are serious title contenders now. The way things are going the fourth semi-finalist will be the place which the teams will fight it out for as Mumbai Indians are likely to be the third semi-finalist.
The big news is the person who is running this blog- www.fakeiplplayer.blogspot.com
Some posts are real vintage humour. No one knows who the author is though I doubt if any actual KKR player is behind the blog.
Come on Superkings with Flintoff gone now play Ntini for God's sake. Dhoni you better score runs or you are going to end up like Laxman and Dravid. Remember no individual is greater than the team. Come on Superkings set the stadiums afire!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
CSK vs DD
Chennai Superkings lost the match to Delhi Daredevils by 9 runs. A match that should have been won.
De Villiers got a super century 105 not out that ensured that DD won. Hayden provided a solid platform but Dhoni's boys panicked and made a mess of it. Dhoni you better start scoring runs and play Ntini for God's sake. We have lost two matches now.
Buck up boys!
De Villiers got a super century 105 not out that ensured that DD won. Hayden provided a solid platform but Dhoni's boys panicked and made a mess of it. Dhoni you better start scoring runs and play Ntini for God's sake. We have lost two matches now.
Buck up boys!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
In the Name of My Father-3
The great man whom I greatly hate-my Father-has decided that come what may he will continue to drink himself to death. All medication suggested by doctors will not be taken. He feels that a great injustice has been meted out to him. Two sets of sleeping pills prescribed by the doctor are rotting in their strips untouched by him.
The fights continue at home. I am losing my sanity and returning home has become a dreaded prospect. I am seriously contemplating some drastic step and just do not know what to do! Perhaps I will be forced to admit my father to an alcohol de-addiction centre. That remains the only option now.
I wonder how he manages to sleep for just three hours every night go to work drink all he can and again get up early in the morning at 1 AM to disturb me and my mother's sleep. Will there ever be a possible solution. I don't know. I try to stop thinking about him but there is a constant fear at the back of my head that he has fallen down somewhere and is lying injured or in an alcohol-induced stupor.
God give me strength in times of darkness and suffering!
The sins committed by men continue to haunt their sons and daughters!
I am a living testimony to this fallacy.
The fights continue at home. I am losing my sanity and returning home has become a dreaded prospect. I am seriously contemplating some drastic step and just do not know what to do! Perhaps I will be forced to admit my father to an alcohol de-addiction centre. That remains the only option now.
I wonder how he manages to sleep for just three hours every night go to work drink all he can and again get up early in the morning at 1 AM to disturb me and my mother's sleep. Will there ever be a possible solution. I don't know. I try to stop thinking about him but there is a constant fear at the back of my head that he has fallen down somewhere and is lying injured or in an alcohol-induced stupor.
God give me strength in times of darkness and suffering!
The sins committed by men continue to haunt their sons and daughters!
I am a living testimony to this fallacy.
IPL-2 News
Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Hydearbad have one victory each to their name. Hayden's batting heroics were awesome. Kumble the old war-horse deserved a MOM award for his 5-wicket haul in their match against RR, but justice was once again denied. Rajasthan Royals have made a bad start. Today's double-header promises much. If the weather holds we will have a pair of interesting matches.
Let us see what happens!
Let us see what happens!
Friday, April 17, 2009
IPL Season-2
So folks after all the political tamasha, security concerns and a hundred other lame reasons the second season of the IPL is beginning in South Africa tomorrow.
Wishing all the teams best. With KP at the helm of Royal Challengers Bangalore and many Australian players expressing their inability to participate you don't know what is going to happen.
So folks may the best team win.
Wishing all the teams best. With KP at the helm of Royal Challengers Bangalore and many Australian players expressing their inability to participate you don't know what is going to happen.
So folks may the best team win.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Another Corporate Cultural Show
So folks a long break from blogging. Well lot of stuff-firstly a lot of work, secondly a corporate cultural show that has six teams with four teams in the branch that I work in. Folks in office are busy with work, the people who ain't got work are creating a proper tamasha with their campaigns.
India won the series in New Zealand. The last match ended in a draw because of rain. Well if Dhoni had declared at least an hour or two earlier we would have won the series 2-0.
The IPL-2 will start on April 18. So expect more articles on cricket.
On the personal front nothing seems to be happening. When I think that I have forgotten her, I get a phone call from her and suddenly I feel happy. But then again we know that things are over for the better. Life is indeed a cocktail and I guess my drink is a bit on the stronger side now.
Horoscopes as usual are flying thick and fast. But it seems that my horoscope is a muddled mess and lots of special parameters have to be matched to find the perfect match:)
I promised that I would write a detailed post on my trip to Kolkata and indeed I will write it.
So long folks!
You will get to read about six movie reviews soon. All old classics. So keep reading and have fun.
India won the series in New Zealand. The last match ended in a draw because of rain. Well if Dhoni had declared at least an hour or two earlier we would have won the series 2-0.
The IPL-2 will start on April 18. So expect more articles on cricket.
On the personal front nothing seems to be happening. When I think that I have forgotten her, I get a phone call from her and suddenly I feel happy. But then again we know that things are over for the better. Life is indeed a cocktail and I guess my drink is a bit on the stronger side now.
Horoscopes as usual are flying thick and fast. But it seems that my horoscope is a muddled mess and lots of special parameters have to be matched to find the perfect match:)
I promised that I would write a detailed post on my trip to Kolkata and indeed I will write it.
So long folks!
You will get to read about six movie reviews soon. All old classics. So keep reading and have fun.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Can Team India Create Cricketing History?
Many summers ago the Nawab of Pataudi led the Indian cricket team to a famous series win over New Zealand in Wellington. Unfortunately that was India's last series win in New Zealand. Now Dhoni and his men have a chance to recreate history by winning the third and final test. Napier was a bad dream and Gambhir, Dravid and Laxman saved India the blushes with useful contributions from Sachin and Yuvraj too.
Will Balaji be playing tomorrow? Will Dhoni be fit enough to play?
Let us see what happens tomorrow!
Will Balaji be playing tomorrow? Will Dhoni be fit enough to play?
Let us see what happens tomorrow!
Friday, March 27, 2009
From Calcutta to Kolkata
I was born in a city that was called Calcutta. When I left the city more than a decade ago it had a strange old world charm about it and I thought that there can never be another city like it.
12 years later when I returned to the city of my birth I realized that the city had changed. It had gone back to its native name - Kolkata. The occasion was the sacred thread ceremony of my cousin.
A trip on the Coromandal Express with my parents and my uncle, aunt and their son. The trip was delightful as the other passengers in our compartment included two kids aged three years old. It was fascinating to look at them play, fight, eat, sing and dance. It was truly a memorable journey.
We reached Kolkata at around 12:30 in the afternoon. A Bolero was hired after much haggling over fares and we reached our hotel-Komala Vilas. A quick bath to wash away the grime and sweat of the long journey and we visited the restaurant to have a sumptuous lunch.
Later in the evening I went around the city and was fascinated by the changes that had taken place. Huge malls have come up in places that were vast plots and closed factories. The traffic has increased with bikes, cars and pedestrians jostling for space. The popular tram service has been relegated to a bare minimum because of road-work. The locals say that the trams will be fully operational soon.
I visited Esplanade, New Market and College Road revisiting my memories of a childhood when Sundays meant going shopping on Mirza Ghalib Street for second-hand books, sampling "jhaal muri" and "puchka" ended by a glass of fresh orange juice.
I travelled by the underground train service-the Metro. The system is efficient and well maintained. The service is well used and the trains are crowded. The girls look beautiful and one can see a fashion parade with the bevy of beauties outdoing one another with their elegance, grace and make-up.
Also managed to visit the Kalighat temple and seek the blessings of the all powerful Mother Goddess. The temple was thankfully not crowded and we had a good "darshan." I also visited the South City Mall on Prince Anwar Shah Street and was amazed by the design of the building and the facilities and range of products/shops in the mall. Spencers' and Citi Centre can learn a lot from this mall in Kolkata.
The ceremony went well and I returned to Chennai with a multitude of memories and thoughts about the city. One more update could be a possible bride for yours truly from Kolkata. Nothing is being finalized and I don't know any details but if the horoscopes match well it will be Mr & Mrs. Iyer.
So folks wish me luck!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
13 B/Yaavarum Nalam Movie Review
Movie-13 B/Yaavarum Nalam.
Starring-Madhavan, Neetu Chandra, Sachin Khedekar and others.
Music-Shankar, Eeshan and Loy.
Direction-Vikram Kumar.
Genre-Horror/Thriller.
In Bollywood horror is a genre that is terribly stereotyped. You have haunted mansions, tantriks, spirits, and young girls possessed by ghouls. All this ends in a showdown between the hero and the evil spirits. Ram Gopal Verma showed a bit of change with Bhoot.
Madhavan's latest movie 13 B titled as Yaavarum Nalam in Tamil is a new intelligent movie that treads between a thriller and a horror flick. Two brothers with their wives and mother and two kids move into a new apartment on the thirteenth floor. Strange happenings like the milk getting spoilt, the inability to affix nails on the wall begin to happen. Madhavan is troubled because the lift never works when he is all alone and wants to use it.
Then we have a TV serial that is broadcast at 1 PM and only visible on the TV in Madhavan's flat. Slowly Madhavan realizes that the serial and his life is interlinked. Neetu Chandra as Madhavan's wife looks like a million bucks and has done a good job. Sachin Khedekar plays a doctor/psychiatrist and has a plum role.
What is the mystery? Why is Madhavan alone able to interpret the story from the serial. Why does a dog of Madhavan's neighbour a blind man-refuse to enter Madhavan's house? The tension builds slowly and the climax answers all the questions. This is one of those films whose second half is much better than the first. Interesting cameos by Sampath Kumar and the characters who appear in the TV serial.
Director Vikram Kumar uses the TV as a medium for the spirits to interact with the protagonist. What is the mystery behind Apartment 13 B and is Madhavan able to save his family and himself from the starnge forces in his house. Great music by Shankar, Eeshan and Loy and nice cinematography by PC Sreeram.
Watch the movie to find the answers.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Week in Review
Well so many things happened in the past 1 week. I embarked on a quick trip to Nagpur to participate in the house-warming ceremony of my sister's new flat. The trip was really fascinating and it will be a separate long and juicy post. Met some really beautiful people:) on the trip! Then again those friends are just people who are forgoten who just provide conversations on the train to battle a boring journey.
India won the one-day series in New Zealand a record after 40 odd years. Sehwag broke the psyche of the New Zealand attack with his heroics but India lost the last one-dayer. Elsewhere West Indies won a test-series against England 1-0.
Political equations keep changing with Patnaik in Orissa flummoxing everybody. The third-front being launched by Deve Gowda and Co.
The IPL seems to be doomed and it still does not have a schedule approved by the state governments.
Work seems to be going on. One more colleague quit. Best of luck to you:)
Horoscopes are flying through couriers to all parts of the country and responses are being awaited. Saw a lot of movies on Saturday and Sunday-Dev D, Vennila Kabbadi Kuzhu, Delhi 6, Colours (Malayalam and absolute rot). Detailed reviews will appear soon. VKK was really touching but the director seems to be from the Bala school of film-making and spoiled the end by killing the hero.
India won the one-day series in New Zealand a record after 40 odd years. Sehwag broke the psyche of the New Zealand attack with his heroics but India lost the last one-dayer. Elsewhere West Indies won a test-series against England 1-0.
Political equations keep changing with Patnaik in Orissa flummoxing everybody. The third-front being launched by Deve Gowda and Co.
The IPL seems to be doomed and it still does not have a schedule approved by the state governments.
Work seems to be going on. One more colleague quit. Best of luck to you:)
Horoscopes are flying through couriers to all parts of the country and responses are being awaited. Saw a lot of movies on Saturday and Sunday-Dev D, Vennila Kabbadi Kuzhu, Delhi 6, Colours (Malayalam and absolute rot). Detailed reviews will appear soon. VKK was really touching but the director seems to be from the Bala school of film-making and spoiled the end by killing the hero.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Under Maintenance
There are about 200 to 250 men working in our office. At any given time an attendance of 200 men is confirmed. Now there is the mens' restroom. It has 4 urinals and three toilets/latrines[Pardon my language but if there is a beter word-do let me know].
It is almost a month since one of the latrines has been locked and an "Under Maintenace" sign has been stuck on the door. Now this is really disturbing. To assume that among 200 men no more than 2 men would want to use the latrine/toilet at the same time is insane.
God knows when the third latrine is going to become operational!
Till then it is a matter of luck and timing!!!!!
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
In the Name of My Father-2
Years of alcohol abuse and he continues to drink on the sly even after the doctors have warned him. A broken family, an unhappy childhood, a mother who was forever sad but nevertheless continued to toil and stayed with her brother practically doing every task in the house so that her children would not suffer. I continue to wonder at my mother's inner strength.
My father never managed to stick to one job for more than two years. The sole exception being his 18 years of service in the Indian Navy. If not for my two uncles I would have been on the road-begging to survive.
I feel like slapping my father and holding him by the scruff of his neck and ask him-"Why did you do this to us you bloody....! What mistake did my mother do to bear this tortured life? What was my crime to have suffered such a psychologically painful childhood?"
He shamelessly continues to pretend to be a great devotee of a plethora of Gods and yet drinks, utters lies, and torments us psychologically. People often ridicule me for being cynical and negative in many of my actions. I guess my father has a big role in the negative traits of my character. One good thing that his actions have done is my absolute hatred for alcohol! I am 27 and yet to have a beer!
Oh Lord! Give me patience, one of these days I am really going to end up slapping my father! His latest fad is to pretend that he is suffering from a big heart ailment and he needs to have a big surgery done. I have taken him to two different cardiologists and all they say is that he has to stop drinking and nothing else is wrong with him. He is staying with my sister and he is feeling the heat there as he is afraid of my brother-in-law who is a strict disciplinarian.
He cannot go out to drink and he feels his freedom is stifled. The only solution that I see now is to get him admitted to an alcohol deaddiction centre. But I am sure once he gets out of there he will start drinking again.
How am I ever going to find a solution and with this messy state of affairs, how am I going to find the courage to move ahead and start looking for a life-partner!
Life is too complicated!
Death is an option for the weak!
Is there a state in between?
My father never managed to stick to one job for more than two years. The sole exception being his 18 years of service in the Indian Navy. If not for my two uncles I would have been on the road-begging to survive.
I feel like slapping my father and holding him by the scruff of his neck and ask him-"Why did you do this to us you bloody....! What mistake did my mother do to bear this tortured life? What was my crime to have suffered such a psychologically painful childhood?"
He shamelessly continues to pretend to be a great devotee of a plethora of Gods and yet drinks, utters lies, and torments us psychologically. People often ridicule me for being cynical and negative in many of my actions. I guess my father has a big role in the negative traits of my character. One good thing that his actions have done is my absolute hatred for alcohol! I am 27 and yet to have a beer!
Oh Lord! Give me patience, one of these days I am really going to end up slapping my father! His latest fad is to pretend that he is suffering from a big heart ailment and he needs to have a big surgery done. I have taken him to two different cardiologists and all they say is that he has to stop drinking and nothing else is wrong with him. He is staying with my sister and he is feeling the heat there as he is afraid of my brother-in-law who is a strict disciplinarian.
He cannot go out to drink and he feels his freedom is stifled. The only solution that I see now is to get him admitted to an alcohol deaddiction centre. But I am sure once he gets out of there he will start drinking again.
How am I ever going to find a solution and with this messy state of affairs, how am I going to find the courage to move ahead and start looking for a life-partner!
Life is too complicated!
Death is an option for the weak!
Is there a state in between?
Taxi Driver
So after years of hearing praises about Taxidriver. I finally got to see it.
Martin Scorcese’s classic that catapulted Robert de Niro to fame. A movie that is relevant even today. Travis Bickle[De Niro] is a taxi driver. He drives the taxi in the streets of New York. He is a lonely man who suffers from insomnia. He drives the cab all through the night but he can’t sleep. He visits 24 hour porn theatres but he still can’t sleep. He is disgusted with the city and its people.
He is attracted to Betsy who works in the campaign office of a Presidential candidate-Senator Pallantine. He asks her out on a date. He takes her to a movie-confoundedly to a porn movie. I still don’t get it. Why would a man on his first date take the girl to a porn movie? Is Bickle naive/sex-maniac/crazy? As the movie progresses we realize his frustrations coupled by his service in Vietnam. The movie moves aimlessly till we get to see Iris a twelve-year old prostitute[Jodie Foster].
Travis becomes emotionally attached to the girl and all his suppressed anger erupts when he finds out how Sport uses the naive girl Iris as a prostitute by making her a cocaine-addict. Travis buys a lot of guns and a knife and decides to become the vigilante-one man army and decides to clean New York of its filth and scum.
He shaves his head[mohawk style] and decides to start by assassinating the Presidential candidate. His uneasiness is spotted by the Secret Service agents-and Travis flees the scene. The climax is bloody and violent as Travis goes on a shooting/killing spree and shoots Sport and other runners of the prostitution racket. He is also injured in the shooting spree.
The next scene shows the wall of Bickle’s room full of newspaper clippings proclaiming him to be the hero. We also listen to the contents of a letter from Iris’s father to Bickle. He thanks Bickle for his heroism.
The movie ends with Bickle dropping Betsy home and refusing to accept the fare. The movie is an intense study of the psyche of the American male. Times of war and unstable economic conditions, drug-use the tough seventies, black-white conflict, prostitution-many facets of American life that have been touched upon in the movie. We sympathise with Bickle and secretly wish that he finds true love in Betsy. But in our minds we know that Bickle is a drifter and he can never find calm and inner peace or true love.
Robert de Niro and Jodie Foster shine in this movie. The back ground music is haunting and cinematography simple and effective.
Iconic lines-”You talking to me….” “Flush it out.”[To clean New York]
A powerful movie that leaves a bitter taste in our mouths and a long-lasting impression on our minds.
The biggest upset was when Rocky won the Oscar for best movie in 1977.
Cross-posted at www.mramani.wordpress.com
Friday, February 27, 2009
India in New Zealand
India have lost a thriller.
The batting was disappointing and a target of 150 was set.
The match went down to the last ball and the Mc Cullum brothers won the match for the Kiwis.
A big doubt! Why was Sehwag not given a chance to bowl? Yuvraj's 50 went in vain and
Dhoni and Co. have a long trip in New Zealand with three tests and 5 ODIs to be played. We can't sit and analyze too much. The batsmen need a crash course in shot-selection and the team has to play together properly.
This series will test and decide Dhoni's success outside the sub-continent.
Let us see what happens!
The batting was disappointing and a target of 150 was set.
The match went down to the last ball and the Mc Cullum brothers won the match for the Kiwis.
A big doubt! Why was Sehwag not given a chance to bowl? Yuvraj's 50 went in vain and
Dhoni and Co. have a long trip in New Zealand with three tests and 5 ODIs to be played. We can't sit and analyze too much. The batsmen need a crash course in shot-selection and the team has to play together properly.
This series will test and decide Dhoni's success outside the sub-continent.
Let us see what happens!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Nan Kadavul-Movie Review
Movie-Nan Kadavul.
Director-Bala.
Cast-Arya, Pooja and others.
Music-Ilayaraja.
Year of Release-2009.
Genre-Drama.
Bala is one director whose movies mix the commercialism and realism in the right proportions. His three previous movies have been box-office hits but this time I believe Bala might be lucky if the movie recovers its production costs. The problem being it took more than 3 years to make with several heroines being cast and then replaced. The movie presents a stark portrayal of the organized beggary in India, specially in Tamil Nadu.
If you thought Slumdog had difficult scenes, then this movie will shock you. Bala presents a coterie of real life beggars-Eunuchs, midgets, deformed people, physically challenged people, blind people. The attention to detail is indeed detailed.
A man visits Kashi/Benaras to find his son Rudra-whom he had abandoned 14 years ago in the holy city based on the advice of an astrologer. The beginning is flawed and a bit unbelievable when the man spots an aghori-Arya and faints. He realises that Arya is his son Rudra in just one glance.
The story shifts to Malaikottai in Tamil Nadu, where a tall bald man is a kingpin running the beggar-mafia. Pooja is introduced as a blind girl singing in the train and getting alms.
Pooja is inducted into the bald man's group and is made to sing at a temple atop a hill. Arya stays there smoking ganja and uttering mantras once in a while. A Keralite businessman comes to the bald man and pays money and takes beggars to Kerala.
He comes again with an offer of Rs 10 lakhs to buy Pooja as a companion for a man whose face is deformed. When his goons come to kidnap Pooja, Arya bashes the group and kills the businessman.
Then a court case scene follows. A bit of forced humour perhaps!
A final confrontation with the bald-headed villain follows with Arya killing the villain.
Then comes the twist-an expected one-Bala killed the heroes in his earlier movies-here he kills Pooja. Pooja pleads with Arya to save her from the pains of the world. The next scene shows her lying in a pool of blood. So we assume that Arya kills her to guide her to her salvation.
A role worthy of an award by Pooja. Arya has worked reallly hard for his role and deserves applause for his physical makeover. Music is great.
We can only sympathise with Bala and pray that his next venture has a strong script.
How about a crime thriller Mr Bala or an urban college romance?
India in New Zealand
So reality hit Team India hard at the end of the first T:20 match.
Vettori won the toss and decided to bowl.
Sehwag plastered the first three balls he faced for sixers. The small ground theory was proved right. Then the madness started-Gambhir was out and the procession of wickets started as the star batsmen fell quickly. At 101 for the loss of 7 wickets things were looking tough. Somehow Raina and Harbhajan played sensibly and a decent target of 163 runs was achieved.
New Zealand started on a disastrous note with Ishant and Zaheer firing on full steam. But Brendon Mc Cullum who is become Mr. Dependable for the Kiwis ensured that New Zealand won comfortably.
The second T:20 tomorrow will be a challenge for Dhoni's Team and the team is likely to undergo changes. The batsmen need to play with maturity and responsibility and not throw their wickets. Let us see what happens!
Vettori won the toss and decided to bowl.
Sehwag plastered the first three balls he faced for sixers. The small ground theory was proved right. Then the madness started-Gambhir was out and the procession of wickets started as the star batsmen fell quickly. At 101 for the loss of 7 wickets things were looking tough. Somehow Raina and Harbhajan played sensibly and a decent target of 163 runs was achieved.
New Zealand started on a disastrous note with Ishant and Zaheer firing on full steam. But Brendon Mc Cullum who is become Mr. Dependable for the Kiwis ensured that New Zealand won comfortably.
The second T:20 tomorrow will be a challenge for Dhoni's Team and the team is likely to undergo changes. The batsmen need to play with maturity and responsibility and not throw their wickets. Let us see what happens!
Monday, February 23, 2009
At the Oscars
So the Oscars have been announced and what a show by Hugh Jackman! A special mention for his wit, charm and dancing skills.
Slumdog Millionaire won 8 awards including best picture and best director. The big hit was A.R. Rahman who won two awards.
Resul Pookutty won for best sound-mixing and Simon Beaufoy won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay.
A summary of the list of nominees and winners is provided below:
Best Motion Picture
Slumdog Millionaire: Winner
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Milk
Best Director
Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire: Winner
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
David Fincher – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant – Milk
Best Performance by an Actor
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk: Winner
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
Best Performance by an Actress
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader: Winner
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role
Amy Adams – Doubt
Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Winner
Viola Davis – Doubt
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight: Winner
Best Foreign Language Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan): Winner
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
Best Animated Feature Film Of The Year
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E: Winner
Original Screenplay
Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
In Bruges - Martin McDonagh
Milk - Dustin Lance Black: Winner
Wall-E - Andrew Stanton
Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth
Doubt -John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan
Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy : Winner
The Reader - David Hare
Best Animated Short Film
La Maison en Petits Cubes: Winner
Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up
Best Art Director
Changeling - James J. Murakami
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Donald Graham Burt: Winner
The Dark Knight
The Duchess - Michael Carlin
Revolutionary Road - Kristi Zea
Best Costume Design
Australia - Catherine Martin
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Jacqueline West
The Duchess - Michael O'Connor: Winner
Milk - Danny Glicker
Revolutionary Road - Albert Wolsky
Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Greg Cannom: Winner
The Dark Knight - John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O'Sullivan
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz
Best Cinematography
Changeling - Tom Stern
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Claudio Miranda
The Dark Knight - Wally Pfister
The Reader - Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
Slumdog Millionaire - Anthony Dod Mantle: Winner
Best Film Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
The Dark Knight - Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
Frost/Nixon - Wally Pfister
Milk - Elliot Graham
Slumdog Millionaire - Chris Dickens: Winner
Best Live Action Short Film
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy: Winner
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Best Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Alexandre Desplat
Defiance - James Newton Howard
Milk - Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman: Winner
Wall-E - Thomas Newman
Best Original Song
Down to Earth - Wall-E - Music by Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman; Lyric by Peter Gabriel
Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire - Music by AR Rahman; Lyric by Gulzar : Winner
O Saya - Slumdog Millionaire - Music and Lyric by AR Rahman, Maya Arulpragasam
Best Documentary Feature
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon): Winner
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water
Best Documentary Short
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki: Winner
The Witness
Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron: Winner
The Dark Knight - Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber, Paul Franklin
Iron Man - John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick, Shane Mahan
Best Sound Editing
The Dark Knight - Richard King: Winner
Iron Man - Frank Eulner, Christopher Boyes
Slumdog Millionaire - Glenn Freemantle, Tom Sayers
Wall-E - Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood
Wanted - Wylie Stateman
Best Sound Mixing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
The Dark Knight - Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
Slumdog Millionaire - Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty: Winner
Wall-E - Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
Wanted - Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt
The big surprises were Slumdog winning best picture and Mickey Rourke being pipped to the post by Sean Penn.
Heath Ledger's Oscar was assured and he became the second artiste to win an Oscar posthumously.
Kate Winslet has done a much better role in The Revolutionary Road but somehow this outing with "The Reader" finally got her a long-belated Best Actress Award.
27
So here I am sitting in front of my computer in office. Taking a break from work typing this post. I turned 27 today. Nothing special just another day. The past year was full of varied experiences. A new job and a new office with a new work-profile and staying in a new house-albeit a rented one. One of the most tumultous years of my life as I realized-"It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
I realized that sometimes it is better to be silent when you realize that someone else has won a prize that you deserved. One does not win all the games that one participates.
A couple of phonecalls in the morning from relatives in other parts of the country wishing me on my birthday. Some messages from friends!
I still pine for a call at least a message from her. Have I become such an alien that I have been totally erased from her psyche. I don't know. Perhaps in this world at least from her point of view there can be no platonic friendship between a man and a woman.
Last year around this time my heart was up in the clouds! Today if there is a place below rock bottom-it has reached there.
If things go the way they are going now, by the time I type a post titled 28 I might be actually married.
Let me see what happens!
The Reader
Well Kate Winslet is as ravishing as usual. But if you tend to overlook the fact that the lady is practically naked for most of the movie, one realizes that it is a powerful role that she has enacted.
Ralph Fiennes is a succesful lawyer who recounts his past. His affair with a ticket-checker Kate, when he is just a 14-year old boy. They make love on the sly and Kate forces the boy to read works by folks like Shakespeare and Marx.
She is convicted of persecuting Jews and commits suicide in jail. There are too many loose end s and the big secret that Kate is illiterate and the other secret which you figure out by watching the movie.
The movie is likely to be seriously censored and folks preparing to salivate in the theatre better go buy a dvd and watch the movie.
This could have been a movie on a totally different plane and explore the anguish and helplessness of the young boy and the tortured Kate but somehow peters down into a well cinematographed piece of soft-porn with mainstream actors, a decent background score and a story that tries to recreate Germany during the Second World War.
The chap David Kross (young Fiennes) would have enjoyed the most I feel. Jokes apart the movie covers a wide range of topics-sexual awakening, forbidden relationships, persecution of Jews, war crimes tribunal, wrong judgements, guilt, emotional self-punishment, etc……
Somehow I felt that the movie was an attempt at winning an award and not a genuine effort from the director Stephen Daldry.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
West Indies deny England a Win
Strauss would be frustrated with all of England for failing to get the last wicket and redeem English pride after the debacle at Sabina Park.
Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards somehow managed to hold their wits and managed to secure a draw against a buoyant English bowling attack.
With Flintoff ruled out of the series the next match will be crucial.
Let us see what happens.
In other cricketing news the Indian team has reached New Zealand. The first T:20 will be held on Feb 25.
Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards somehow managed to hold their wits and managed to secure a draw against a buoyant English bowling attack.
With Flintoff ruled out of the series the next match will be crucial.
Let us see what happens.
In other cricketing news the Indian team has reached New Zealand. The first T:20 will be held on Feb 25.
The Judiciary versus the Police
[Image courtesy sify.com]
I sensed something amiss when the bus going to Broadway took a detour. Instead of going via the Secretariat and Madras High Court the bus took the road adjacent to the Government General Hospital to reach Broadway. The road was blocked and there was heavy police security. The stretch from Broadway busstand to Parrys corner was dark as all shops had closed their shutters. Traffic was practically closed.
I learnt from other commuters that a big fight had broken out between the lawyers and the police and C.R.P.F. and additional police reinforcements had been called in.
I decided to take one of the narrow lanes that criscross the Parrys area to reach Beach station. There was silence and darkness and even the stray dogs seemed to have gone in to hiding. I was walking along with four other men returning home from work when we heard a shout behind us.
To our horror a bunch of law college students about 15 in number were running shouting obscenities. The five us were shocked and immediately ran in to one of the open doorways and pulled the shutters down.
I never ever thought that I would be in such a situation. Mob violence is a serious thing. When both the lawyers and the policemen go crazy no one is safe.
Fifteen minutes later we raised the shutters and walked quickly to the Beach Railway Station.
The video clips on the news channels showed the magnitude of the violence of the infuriated lawyers and policemen.
If this is the state of affairs, nobody can save us!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
V-Day, Fever, Movies, Insecurity, and Bride-Hunting
Well so another Valentine's Day has come and gone. By the grace of a couple of my friends some really fiery discussions thru' e-mail happened. Nothing important but then some people do not understand humour and I better stop using "superfluous" words and take care of my punctuation marks while drafting e-mails.
I never celebrated V-Day as I never had a Valentine. Last year was an exception(2008) when I was too damn confused to figure out if it was infatuation or true love.
By the time I figured out it was love on my part the chapter was already closed by the "other party."
This year I was bundled at home with a nasty cold and fever. I popped Paracetamols and Erythromycins while half the world was feasting on cakes and starwberry milkshakes.
I saw some movies on my DVD player. I saw "Rock-n-Rolla," "Revolutionary Road," "Charade," and "From Here to Eternity."
There is a definite feeling of insecurity. People at the office are glued to their desks semingly trying to focus on their work. There have been assurances that no more lay-offs will happen. But you never know!
I don't know what the future holds. It seems a couple of horoscopes matched. Now the next round of discussions have been initiated and there is a genuine possibility of an "official sighting" in March. I will be travelling to Kolkatta in March for a family function and it seems the conspiracy to conduct my marriage will reach the next level there.
Wish me luck folks!
I never celebrated V-Day as I never had a Valentine. Last year was an exception(2008) when I was too damn confused to figure out if it was infatuation or true love.
By the time I figured out it was love on my part the chapter was already closed by the "other party."
This year I was bundled at home with a nasty cold and fever. I popped Paracetamols and Erythromycins while half the world was feasting on cakes and starwberry milkshakes.
I saw some movies on my DVD player. I saw "Rock-n-Rolla," "Revolutionary Road," "Charade," and "From Here to Eternity."
There is a definite feeling of insecurity. People at the office are glued to their desks semingly trying to focus on their work. There have been assurances that no more lay-offs will happen. But you never know!
I don't know what the future holds. It seems a couple of horoscopes matched. Now the next round of discussions have been initiated and there is a genuine possibility of an "official sighting" in March. I will be travelling to Kolkatta in March for a family function and it seems the conspiracy to conduct my marriage will reach the next level there.
Wish me luck folks!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Five Years!
Time flies so fast.
Five years back on this day I met with a horrible accident.
I would have died and even the doctors gave up on me.
I was in a coma for a week.
I was on life-support.
Somewhere deep within me a point of light glowed and I realized my purpose.
My guardian angel took me to heaven and to hell and said-"Mate! There is a time to live and a time to die."
On the eighth day I showed signs of consciousness. I was in the hospital for three months and after two complicated surgeries I survived and am alive and typing my tale here.
I may no longer have a Valentine, but the significance of Valentine's Day will continue to haunt me till my guardian angel calls me.
Five years back on this day I met with a horrible accident.
I would have died and even the doctors gave up on me.
I was in a coma for a week.
I was on life-support.
Somewhere deep within me a point of light glowed and I realized my purpose.
My guardian angel took me to heaven and to hell and said-"Mate! There is a time to live and a time to die."
On the eighth day I showed signs of consciousness. I was in the hospital for three months and after two complicated surgeries I survived and am alive and typing my tale here.
I may no longer have a Valentine, but the significance of Valentine's Day will continue to haunt me till my guardian angel calls me.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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