Spirits Liberated..!!

Gokarna Trip

2011-11-10T04:13:00.002-08:00

Event Date: Oct 6-9
Team: Vishwa,Bishwes,Mohan,Tushar me and Driver uncle

Route: B'lore>Jog Falls>Murudeshwar>Gokarna and back

Beaches covered: Gokarna,Kudle,Om,Half-moon,Paradise (Full-moon)

Brahmagiri and Iruppu Falls Trek

2011-11-10T04:13:00.001-08:00

Event Date: Oct 1-2
Team: BASC

Kumara Parvata Trek

2011-11-10T04:10:00.002-08:00

Event Date: Sep 24-25
Team: BASC

Munnar trip

2011-08-17T03:48:00.000-07:00

The Independence day weeekend was well spent on a trip to Munnar, my 3rd trip with BASC. The 3 day trip started on friday evening and we were back in Bangalore early morning on Tuesday. Places do not get more picturesque than Munnar. Beautiful hills graced with never ending tea-gardens and numerous streams, nature was at its creative best. We visited Chinnar wildlife sanctuary, Lakkom waterfalls, Eravikulam national park, Top station and Tata tea estate in Chinnakal. The drive was beautiful all along. Jinu was the organizer and the 20 member strong team was really energetic. Evening forays into the city market were fun. The stock of tea, spices, oils and handicrafts was compelling. Kerala parothas and chicken made for sumptuous dinner. The stay in the lodge was equally enjoyable and was made interesting by the long drawn card games that went into late nights.

Sakleshpura trek

2011-02-14T04:31:00.000-08:00

Went on a forest and mountain trek to Jenkal Gudda and Deepadkallu. Started on friday night (Feb 11) from Corporation office, Bangalore and was back in the town early morning on Monday(3:30 am). Tough ad risky. The peaks were too steep and the jungles were really dense.

Half-century in Centurion

2010-12-19T21:58:00.000-08:00

Sachin hit his 50th test century in Centurion against a steaming south african fast bowling attack... Special day for Indian cricket fans. The man never ceases to amaze.

Mudumalai trip

2010-10-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve lies in Tamilnadu, 15-20 kms after the state border with Karnataka. It's 250 kms from Bangalore. We started on Oct 2 7:30 in the morning and took the Mysore road. It's 90 kms from Mysore. reached their by 3. We were 10 guys and had booked a homestay. There were some per turkeys in my life, first time I saw those creatures. Went for a jungle trek on foot alongwith a local guide who charged 100 bucks per head. Beautiful and slightly dangerous roads. The dangerous part was used as there are a few tigers sighted now and then along our trek path. Breathtaking mountain ranges and small streams. Came back after 2 hours and a severe rain lashing. Another first - a leech attack that spared none. Then came the time for real fun.. the bonfire. A good setup given that it rains very frequently and hence dry woods are tough to get. By 8 everyone was well set to start with and when the fire died it was beyond midnight. Dinner and a short sleep followed. Next morning we started the trip back by 12. Thought of a safari in Bandipur but that didn't work out. The weather was excellent. Clear blue skies sprinkled with white fluffy clouds and a bright sun. We did sight a few elephants and deer in Bandipur. Finally reached abode by 8 in the evening. Excellent trip.

Skandagiri Trek

2010-09-20T03:29:00.000-07:00

18-Sep-2010

It was 3:30 on a Saturday morning and I along with a friend, started off on my 125cc bike. The mission was Skandagiri (Kalawara Betta) in Chikballapur, 75kms from Bangalore. We took the MG road route and our first stop came after 1 hr at a tea stall just after the BIAL flyover. After a 10 min stop we started again and were at the mountain base by 5:45am. One should be aware of fake guides here who ask you to park their vehicles with you. Do not heed any if them. Keep going till the temple and park there. It's a govt parking stall and the guy would charge 30 bucks for 2-wheelers. It was still dark when we started the ascent. It started raining after some time and we were drenched by the time we conquered our peak. Reached the peak by 7:45 and were met with super-fast winds blowing at 70-80 kph. The cold and the mist numbed us out completely. There is a small stall at the top. The boy serves tea, maggi and egg-omlettes.We started coming down at 8:45 and were at the base by 10:30. The journey back took us another 2 hours, this time through the Outer Ring Road route.

RCB show their magic

2010-03-17T01:46:00.000-07:00

IPL 2010 is back with full throttle. Yesterday'a match saw RCB decimate Kings XI Punjab with a cracker of a batting show. Uthappa was at his best creaming Sreesanth for 25 in one over. Kallis meted out similar treatment to take 23 off one Bipul Sharma over. In the end Bangalore XI chased down 203 with 7 balls and 8 wickets to spare. What a treat for us fans!

Tadiandamol Trek

2010-03-01T00:44:00.000-08:00

Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and universe - Anatole France.

Feb 26, 2010: As the sun set down and the stars lit the sky above, 34 enthusiasts from our office TMS team boarded the bus and started off on an unforgettable trekking trip. Our mission was to scale the Tadiandamol peak in Western Ghats, Coorg. It’s the second highest peak in Karnataka standing tall at 5800 feet high. By 11 in the night, almost everyone was asleep and when our slumber broke, we were travelling amidst the twilight drenched coffee estates of Coorg. Around 6 am we freshened up at Virajpet and then moved to Nalknad palace, an elegant 200 year old structure with a long history. The place had a somewhat creepy feeling to it. With a small patchy flat surface surrounded by dense forests, it made for a perfect base camp. Here we met a team of 4 people, some of them previous employees from our office, who were going to guide us along the trek. They had arranged for our tents and food. We had some fantastic uppi and soup for breakfast. There were a few other groups who too had come down from Bangalore.

(Our Base Camp at Nalknad Palace)

Having reinforced ourselves with the necessary equipment and basic instructions, we set off on our trek. Right from the word go, it was a steep climb. Initially the roads were tarred and in good condition but lack of fitness did most of us in. Legs ached and backs broke as all our initial enthusiasm started fading away. Gradually, the paths became dusty and stony. The sun was getting bright and the water bottles were emptying fast. Adrenaline dipping, spirits soaring, the trek was on. However, once we gained some altitude, the resplendent beauty started revealing itself. As the trees thinned and the roads climbed, we stretched our eyes towards the never ending horizon only to find the alluring beauty of the green hills stretch itself further more. At some points the landscapes would get so captivating that we would just stand there, amazed and awestruck, and with our souls liberated. Deep into the forest we came across a narrow stream. Oh what beauty and what a relief! I could realize why so many wars had been fought around oases.

X-Trails

Two miles into our trek and most of us seemed drained out. We had to halt for an impromptu lunch break as the Gypsy carrying our food materials could not negotiate further. Few of us had gone a lot further ahead and could not be intimated of the same. They were going to stay without food for the next 5 hours. Dumb charades followed as few of us started cooking. After having rice and palya, we set off again. This was the most tedious part of the trek. We had achieved some good elevation by now. The track was getting really rough and rocky. At places, a single false step could have sent one hurtling down hundreds of feet down the steep cliffs. But on the other hand the sceneries were getting awesome. The thick trees with their mix and contrast of brilliant colours were really picturesque. There was this small stretch where we had to cross a dense patch of trees. The sunlight was almost cut off by the trees and that gave this place an eerie touch. It was like being in the middle of a thick forest. But once out of it we could sight the peak. However there was still a lot of climbing to do. By now most of us were breaking down. The effort had taken its toll and the difficult roads ahead were not a tempting motivation either. But then as they say, those seemingly hopeless situations that are very painful to deal with are also instruments of change. Gatorade, glucose and water mixed with some will power did the trick. As we neared the peak, the air started getting thin. We were well above the clouds now and it was getting cold. The tracks were moist and risky. At around 4 in the evening, having trekked for 11 kms, we finally did it. Ah! There I was, right on the peak. For once, everything seemed to be at our feet, literally.
Me and Rajesh
The mystic clouds

I wasn’t the first one though. Some of our friends had already conquered the peak (those brave boys who missed their lunch). Once on top, all fatigue left us. Languishing bodies but invigorated souls, each one of us had a sweet, content smile that told a great story about team effort and gumption. The camps were put up close to the peak. Each camp was big enough for 3-4 people. The sun was going down and we brought out our lenses to capture the panoramic views. As the evening set in, it was time to light the bonfire. We collected the firewood, and believe me it was a huge amount, from the hillside near our camps. It was dark and it was cold. The winds were gaining speed and getting chilly. Sweaters and jackets were pulled out of the bags. Dumb charades ensued, followed by some hilarious games. What made our evening absolutely delightful was that it was a full moon night (some of us were really psyched up for their tryst with Nagavalli and co!!). Night progressed and dinner beckoned. Empty stomachs breed impeccable philosophies or so they say. Our insightful mates were no less, delivering some delightful anecdotes and thoughtful takes on life and its trivialities. Laughter and shrieks filled the air as the fire and the spirits picked up. At around 9 we had chapatti, pickle and salads for dinner. By 9:30 few had already surrendered to the temptation of their sleep and were safely ensconced in the secure confines of their tents. The remaining fellas kept the bonfire and the bonhomie going. We gathered around the fire and took our turns churning out songs and shayaris one after the other. A few other groups had camped nearby and they stayed huddled around their own bonfires. As midnight approached, firewood and people started depleting. Only a few of us were awake. We went up the peak only to be slapped by tight blows from the cold winds. It was pitch-dark and except each other’s faces, nothing else met the eyes. We cheered ourselves up and retired to our tents.

5:30 in the morning and most of us were up. I got out of my tent and I will never ever forget what I saw next. As I looked around, all that met my eyes was a white unending expanse of smoky, mystical clouds. Everything was so calm and tranquil as if the world had come to a standstill. This was life at its pristine best. A few peaks rose above the cloud spread as if to meet us. It was a moment to behold. And as the sun rinsed the skies, I couldn't feel anything but gratitude. That was the moment, moments that come once in your life and take your breath away.
and a tired me...
Sunrise.. as beautiful as it gets

For me it’s always an enigma how lack of rest during outings never tires you down. Perhaps there’s something in the cradles of nature that replenishes us mortals and keeps us going. We packed up by 7, took a few snaps and then started the trek down. We cooked maggi for breakfast (at the same spot where we had last day’s lunch) and then made it to the base camp without losing too much steam. The bus was waiting there and we made our way to the majestic Chelavara falls (an hour’s drive) for a refreshing bath. Then we walked to a nearby government school for lunch (rice, sambar, curd rice, pickle and buttermilk). We finished by 2 and the bus started moving towards Bangalore. A small dinner break at 8 and by 10 I was getting down at my stop. But there was only one thought fleeting across my mind - of those smoky mystic clouds, still and serene, high and far away from all the worldly confusion.

Chikmaglur Trip

2009-12-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

Spent X'Mas 2009 in nature's cradle... Chikmaglur, 240 kms from Bangalore and a nature lover's delight. We were 5 - Bishwes, Situn, Sabya, Tapas and me. We started at around 8 on Saturday morning and hit the Mysore road. Had hot idlis and tea for breakfast after 2 hours drive. Then we went to Gomateshwara. Climbing those steps really drained us out. But the view from the top was worth the effort. It was a great experience to see the colossal molithic statue from so up-close. After that we went to the Chennakesava temple (built by the Hoysala rulers in 1117 AD) in Belur. The tower of the gopura is a standout feature. One should also observe the intricately carved pillars to appreciate the level of architecture. We reached Chikmaglur by 3:30 and had lunch there. As we moved towards Kemmengundi the roads started deteriorating. On the way we had to drive through the Bhadra tiger reserve. Reached Kemmengundi by evening and all luck seemed to have deserted us. There was not a single room available to spend the night. This was tourism at its best. People were driving back to Chikmaglur for accomodation. However that was a 1 hour drive and our driver (also us) were too tired to drive back. We were standing in the middle of thick hilly forests. There were a couple of small tea-shops and a few homes but it was very silent out there. The half-lit moon and no electricity added to the scary feel. And then, destiny struck. An old watchman in khaki uniform and with a dimly lit lantern caught our eyes. Clandestine negotations ensued and 15 minutes later we hit gold. The great old man was the watchman for a nearby IB (govt inspection bungalow) and he had agreed to rent out 2 rooms to us for 1000 rupees. And yeah, the package also included rice and chicken curry for all of us. The night was cold and we had no hesitation gulping down the watchman's wife cooked dinner. We hit the bed in no time as all of us were dog-tired after the day's adventures. Next morning we got up to see the clouds pouring down. Went to the nearby tea-shop for some omlettes and coffee. It wasn't till 10:30am that the rains allowed us to resume our trip. We bade the IB people goodbye and got into our Qualis. Went to Kalahatti falls and did some mini-trekking. Our next drive was to Baba Budan Giri hills and then to the Mulayanagiri peak (the gighest peak between himalayas and Nilgiris). All along the way, we were held in amazement by the awesome green hills, rising majestically over the clouds and silently speaking the glory of nature.
Photos and further updates later..

A True Compliment

2009-10-27T03:26:00.000-07:00

Quote on a placard during an ODI:

'"Two thirds of the earth is covered by water; the other one third by Jonty Rhodes".'

Prasad and Robin sacked – how fair?

2009-10-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

The Indian selectors yesterday declared the ODI team for the upcoming Ind-Aus 7 match series. With it came the shocking news that the bowling coach as well as the fielding coach, namely Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh respectively, had been sacked. Reason – the Indian team’s pathetic bowling and fielding display in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy and Twenty20 WC tournaments.

I do not agree with giving Prasad the boot. The apparent paucity of fast-bowling reserves has to do with the recurring injuries to the fast bowlers too. Zaheer Khan is currently out, which obviously takes away a lot of edge from the bowling attack. Munaf Patel is consistently injury-prone. Sreesanth has had attitude problems besides physical fitness and RP Singh has spent time out due to injury too. Bhajji has surely improved over the last 2 years. It is also very well known that the rehabilitation, the training patterns and fitness tests of injured players are not always communicated to the national coach.

What might also have worked against Prasad was the rapid decline of Ishant. Strangely enough, it was only last year that Prasad was being given credit for the team’s extraordinary show in Australia and in the home Tests against them, when our seamers would start getting vicious reverse-swing as early as the first hour with the new ball.

Among all this exercise, the BCCI ensured that it maintained its unprofessional ways. Both the coaches got the news from the media rather than from the concerned officials. Also, the selection/sacking report did not mention the reasons for their exit. What was let known to the media though was that the captain and head coach were not part of the process.

A coach gets sacked and the head coach is not consulted. Inexplicable stuff. They should have realised that it was under Robin and Prasad that we won the the first T20 championship without any “head” coach. Singh and Prasad do deserve a less disgraceful adieu.

To end it on an ironical note, all this news came on a day when Praveen Kumar thanked Prasad for helping him grow as a bowler at international level. Life does show strange ways!

2009-10-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

Went for Sonu Nigam's nite at Palace Grounds last weekend. It's pure exhilaration when this man exercises his vocal chords.

New King of Queens

2009-09-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

Take a bow Juan Martin Del Potro!

In one of the biggest upsets in grand-slam finals history, a 20 year old Argentine dethroned the reigning emperor Roger Federer to win the 2009 men's singles US open and with it his first Grand Slam title. It was a surprise success but a victory hugely deserved for Del Potro. The 6ft 6in Argentine is the tallest grand slam champion in history, as well as the first man to defeat both Rafael Nadal and Federer at the same slam. The manner of Federer's defeat came as a suprise as, in contrast to the French Open where he struggled all the way, the Swiss star had looked imperious throughout the fortnight. Waiting for the Champions Trophy to take-off next week.

What a tournament for Del Potro, who had demolished Rafael Nadal for the loss of just six games in the semi-finals. On his first appearance in a grand slam final, and after more than four hours of tennis, Del Potro completed a well-earned victory over an opponent who has won 15 slam titles.
DelPo's game looks decent though he plays a power-game from the baseline. Of course he may look more gracious if he learns to volley well. If you are looking for an X factor in him, the sense of judgement, anticipation and timing of the baseline shots put him in a different league. And to top it all, the composure he has shown for a 20 year old pushes him a notch ahead of Novak and probably even both the Andy's.

In years to come, this will be remembered as the 'Hawk-Eye Final’, as the occasion when the video technology got to Federer, with the Swiss even using a four-letter word during an exchange with the umpire about how Del Potro was using the computer. Okay, it wasn’t quite up there with Serena Williams, but this is Federer, and it was a bit like hearing the Pope swear. Roger, who was bidding to win his sixth consecutive US Open title, had looked relaxed and the more likely to take the title having eased through the first set 6-3. But the turning point came late on in the second when the Hawk-Eye video technology - a system Federer has never been a fan of - turned the match on its head. At 5-4 up and 30-all, the line-calling technology denied Federer a set point after his Argentine opponent challenged a call by umpire Jake Garner. The ruling went in Del Potro's favour; the 20 year-old went on to take the set 7-5 and was back in the match. Unconvinced by the computer's calls and incensed by the amount of time it took del Potro to make his challenges, the third set saw Federer snap. "Don't you have any rules for this? I wasn't allowed to challenge after two seconds. The guy takes, like, 10. You can't allow that stuff to happen.", Federer said to Garner who appeared to tell the world No 1 to stop complaining.

This warning was met with further wrath when the 15-time major champion said: "Don't tell me to be quiet, OK? When I want to talk, I talk. I don't give a s*** what he said." Federer won that set. Del Potro came back to win the match. For the first time since 2003, when Del Potro was 14, Federer had lost in New York, going down 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.

There are now two players younger than Murray, who is 22, to have won a major – Djokovic, the 2008 Australian Open champion, who is a week younger than the Scot, and Del Potro, the first non-European to score a slam since his countryman, Gaston Gaudio, was the 2004 French Open champion.

"I had two dreams this week. One was to win the US Open and the other one was to be like Roger. One is done, but I need to improve a lot to be like Roger" said Del Potro, who moved up one place in the rankings, from sixth to fifth. "Roger fought until the final point. He is a great champion. I'm very happy to be here with this trophy, with these people, on this court. This will be in my mind forever."

For Federer, it was a remarkable end to an incredible year that began with him unable to stem the tears at the Australian Open when he lost an epic five-set battle to Nadal. His first French Open triumph changed everything and, when he won Wimbledon, he broke the record of wins in grand-slam tournaments set by

Pete Sampras. Win No 16 was agonisingly close but Del Potro snatched it away from him with a brilliant performance.

In his six US Open finals, Federer had played six different opponents. Beating Federer in the New York final had been beyond Lleyton Hewitt,Andre Agassi,Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic and Murray. But it was not beyond the man nicknamed 'Enano' or 'Dwarf', who came from behind to win 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. So Del Potro stopped Federer from becoming the first man to win six successive US Open titles since Bill Tilden in the 1920s. "You can't have them all," said Federer.

The wins in Paris and London appeared to have lifted a weight off his shoulders and he was once again playing with the flair and panache that marked his game in 2006 and 2007, when he won three out of the four Grand Slam titles in each year.

"I don't get hit emotionally as bad maybe in Wimbledon and Australia where it becomes super quiet at the end of the games and you have a lot of things going through your mind.

"Here it's music, so your mind goes to the music instead of the match."

The men's tennis league seems to be getting very interesting with a lot of young and talented contenders. Definitely good news for the game.

On the women's front, I was extremely glad to watch Kim Clijsters win the US Open once again, the first mother to do so in 21 years! Way to go. Her SF match against Serena did generate some controversy when a foot fault at match point got Serena to lose her cool and then freak out at the line judge. Certainly not the way you want things to go in such a big match.

Not to forget the big moment for India, Leander Pase alongwith Mark Dlouhy winning the men's doubles trophy. You rock man!

We did have some cricket action this week. I'm talking about the Compaq cup tri-series that was played out in Sri Lanka with India becoming eventual champions. Sachin's magnificient 138, 100 no. 44 in ODIs, was his best performance till date by his own admission, given the tough conditions. The innings catapulted India to 319, a total made unsurpassable by Bhajji's 5 wicket haul.

Also, kudos to Vijender Singh for winning the bronze in the World Boxing Championships, a first for any Indian.

Kaminey

2009-08-26T03:47:00.000-07:00

Yeh duniya badi kutti cheez hai aur is duniya me kutton ka sirf ek hi jawab hai?

Grand Slam History Created

2009-07-06T03:42:00.001-07:00

The greatest of all times? Of that, there never was any doubt. And great players love creating invincible records to manifest their achievements. Federer did it here.. and how! One of the greatest finals ever to have unfolded on Wimbledon grass, a match that never seemed to end, finally concluded with crowning glory for Roger Federer. A record Grand Slam no 15 and a return to the throne of world tennis, dismantling an absent Rafael Nadal from his numero uno rank.

By the time the marathon duel came to an end, a few glorious statistics had been achieved. Federer etched his name as the highest aggregator of Grand Slam singles titles. 4 hours and 18 mins made it the second longest wimbledon finals of all times(next to 2008 final of 4hrs and 48 mins). The match was the longest ever men's Grand Slam final in terms of games, clocking up a total of 77 across five sets. At 16-14 the final set was the longest fifth set in a men's Grand Slam final in games. Federer served 50 aces, a personal best in all matches and 1 behind an all time Wimbledon high of 51, courtesy Karlovic.

The highly awaited final was studded with glitterati - Laver,Borg,Nataste,Sampras apart from Sachin,Warne and Russell Crowe. But the second set was when Roger Federer, on the brink of falling into a two-set hole to Andy Roddick, reminded Pete Sampras that he hadn’t come all the way from Los Angeles to congratulate the first American Wimbledon winner since Sampras won here in 2000. Long before Roddick mis-hit a forehand, finally surrendered, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14, to Federer’s quest for a 15th Grand Slam singles victory after 4 hours 18 minutes, Roddick hit a blistering forehand on the first of those four set points in the second-set tie breaker. The ball landed deep in the court, at Federer’s feet, on his backhand side. On pure instinct, he flicked at it with his wand of a racket, angled it just enough to direct the ball cross-court, over the net, into open space. “Come on,” Federer shouted, convincing nobody except himself that there was still a way out of the trap. He believed because he is Federer. Five points later, it was one-all
in sets. The match of Federer’s record-setting dreams and — some would say — Roddick’s life, was on.

I always believed he was just an unforced error or another winner away to be at level with Roddick. He got it all the same. And the backhand was not just instinct it was that unmatched ability to move and think in the court. Strange enough, it was surprising that a man hitting 50 aces never appeared to be running away with the match. Such was the resolve of the opponent that it took 77 games in a match of 77 games for arguably the best tennis player of all generations to convert a break point. A mind-boggling 107 winners (he had 89 winners in the last final) and it still went to the wire.

The 2nd set tiebreaker does remind us of a US Open quarter finals between Krajicek and Sampras. Krajicek had a pretty good record agains Pete and at that time he won Wimbledon (by beating Pete in the quarters). Krajicek was a set up and led 6-2 in second set tiebreak. Pete came back, won 6 points in a row and won in four sets! Only the greatest players of all time can do this.

Last year, Bjorn Borg turned out for the final and the match proved a little too much for Federer.This year Pete Sampras had turned up. And Federer was not having a great time in the first-half. But I do agree Sampras became the very reason for Roddick's defeat. He pushed Roger to play harder, tougher and probably crazier (a word Roger kept repeating in his awards speech).

Comparisons with last year's final are inevitable. So which one was more of a tennis treat? Definitely 2008. Service, Volley and even the baseline game was slightly better this year but the return of serve was definitely better than last year. I believe Rafa would have attacked more of Roger's 2nd serve which was patchy in pieces.Federer was again below par in both the matches. 2009 he survived because he served billiantly and 2008 the other way. To me, this one was no less intense, emotional and psychological. Get into the shoes of Roddick and his box of people, and you'd have felt the heat. But the rain delays, Roger's fightback and the rivalry between Roger and Rafa made 2008 more memorable. There the context was between "Roger's grass court reign and Rafa's threat to thwart that". There was a great pre-tournamnet buzz back then. Here it was more of a surprise show from
Roddick and no pre-match tension or hangover gripped the audience other than Roger's 15th which he would have achieved eventually.

Roger could not play a single lob volley or a drop volley successfully in the entire match, those have been two of his most deceptive weapons since last 3-4 years or even more. That is precisely the reason the match was dragged till eternity until the string lost its tension. Roddick terminating the match with two wayward forehands was an absolute anti-climax. In the end how could you expect him to win when he had hit lesser winners, far lesser aces and had bettered the unforced error count by only 5. But then I can also say that another player had done the same thing last year and turned up champion. However I have always believed that Federer plays his worst tennis against Rafa. Nemesis is not a new word in any game.

To end it on a positive note, I want to spray some uninhibited admiration on the man who lost as a fighter. One of the most brilliant stages of the match was watching Roddick win ten games in a row while serving to stay in the match. Somehow, if Federer would have been serving second in that set, he probably would have been more vulnerable. I was simply floored by the unrelenting determination of this guy. He was conceiving shots which he would not even have thought of 2 years back. His net game was as good as it can get for anyone. His strategy of hammering down aces at Federer's body was a fantastic strategy that was impeccably executed. At Roddick's pace and with the accuracy he had that day, it was marvellous that Roger still managed to return a few of those bodyliners. And in the end, it was awesome to see him wave to the crowd after having lost the marathon. I was happy for Roger but somehow, would have felt better if Andy had won the battle. Alas, he didn't just lose to someone. He just bowed down before the greatest!

An Era Ends

2009-06-26T02:31:00.000-07:00

As MJ moonwalks into history.

The Inevitable Happens

2009-06-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

AS FED CONQUERS CLAY

The Marathon ends

2009-06-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

Incredible emotions gripped the Roland Garros Stadium as the defending champion crashed out. Nadal was convincingly defeated in 4 sets thereby bringing to an end a record unbeaten run of 31 straight wins in French Open, that had started right from his debut here in 2005. The undisputed King of Clay was done in by an unstoppable performance from Sweden's Robin Soderling. It did no help to Nadal's fans that in the post-match conference, he attributed the loss to his own bad game rather than his opponent's sterling show. To add to this shock, even the ladies' defending champion, Ana Ivanovic, crashed out in the 4th round

Wimbledon 2007 had seen a terribly ill-tempered match between the two. Soderling had mimicked Nadal's habit of picking at his shorts, failed to apologise after a lucky break from the net cord, a halfhearted handshake with no eye contact and then had conceded that he was irked Nadal took so long between points on his service games. All this I guess would make the loss much more bitter. Also, Soderling had been virtually grounded by Nadal in last month's Rome Masters clay tournament losing the match 6-1, 6-0.

Nadal was beaten in his own game. Any player who can play as hard as Nadal, run as hard as Nadal and that too ceaselessly, can defeat him, Which is not easy at all. Tsonga,Youzhney have done it before, Soderling did it here. Rafa was not really playing that bad at all, he was just outplayed at his own game of ferocious hitting and running around that did not give him any chance to come to the net. The world No 1 did not even have a plan B against a player who was serving big and hitting hard.

Now what this does is it keeps Borg's record of 4 consecutive French Open victories intact. This was Nadal's chance of bettering the master's record but it was not to be. Interestingly, it was Nadal who had preserved Borg's record of 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles by defeating Federer in last year's terrific Wimbledon final. Life comes a full circle. Was this destiny's way of gifting something and then taking back something else which you would have least expected to lose. Rafa has been probably the best clay-court player ever. A fourth round French Open loss is no less than a disaster. This might be a favourable opportunity for Fedex to win the French Open title and thus re-affirm his stature as an all time great, of which there is no doubt. But then we also have Roddick, Murray and yes Soderling who might spring up a surprise as the tournament progresses towards the business end. Come next Sunday, we'll know the strange games destiny plays!

Paris Calleth!

2009-05-26T22:21:00.001-07:00

Even before the euphoria of IPL '09 could wear out, the French Open took off this Sunday in Paris. Nadal managed to win his opening battle in straight sets whereas Fedex was at his sublime best in marching towards the 2nd round. Even Roddick looked impressive in his opening match. He had not made it past the first round in French Open since 2005 but yesterday he broke the jinx in a commanding way. Djoker too had a no-nonsense match and his clay-court game looks better than ever. Federer will be attempting to pocket the only GS that has evaded him and Nadal will be looking to break Borg's record of 4 consecutive French Open titles. Last week Fed defeated Nadal in the Madrid open final(which is played on clay court) to claim the trophy. Let's see if it's a sign of the times to come!

IPL comes a full circle

2009-05-24T22:51:00.001-07:00

Finally, DC it had to be, beating RCB by 6 runs in a nerve-wracking finale. IPL 2009 winners - Deccan Chargers!

And what a match it was. Fortunes swung with every passing moment and it took great nerves to swing the tide one final time in favour of Gilly's team.

Immaculate bowling from Kumble, resilient batting from Gibbs, a smashing cameo from Symonds, excellent fielding all through, they all made for an exciting contest that went undecided till the last over. And yes, not to forget the bright and colourful function that went on and on, either side of the match.

As curtains fell on the Bullring, Jo'Burg, the IPL cycle came a full circle. DC had been the worst team last year and RCB had ranked 7th. Both of them had a few close matches but ultimately had not got anything going right for them. They received a lot of flak. RCB even had the ignominy of being labelled as a 'Test Team'. DC no doubt had good players, absolutely the same team as this year. But they just never got going.
Come 2009 and circumstances saw the event being moved out of India. South Africa became the preferred venue. With change in destination came changes in playing conditions, definitely more bowler-friendly wickets and more demanding conditions compared to India. Teams defended 120s. 170s became a rarity. Class took precedence over mindless powerplay. The so called 'above 35s' became the norm of the series with Hayden, Gilly, Kumble, Kallis, Murali, Warne et al becoming absolute match-winners for their teams. Teams that made it to the last 4 - CSK, DD, DC and RCB had to dish out top-grade cricket and innovative captaincy (DD missed a trick here :-)) all through the series. Cometh the D-day and we had last year's bottomers contesting for the trophy. It was overwhelming to observe that even in T20 version, a good player cannot be kept out of the equation. India's flat tracks had somewhat dimmed this theory and that had caused a lot of heart-burn for connoisseurs of the game. Above all, IPL 2009 ensured that next time you blame or tag a team, just remember that old saying 'Form is temporary, Class is premanent'.

I have been an RCB fan ever since IPL took off last year. The last year losses and ranking had left me disgusted, but I never felt like blaming the team. I knew they would come good and they proved me right. I am really proud that they made it to the finals. I was pleased when they made it to the semi-finals, with one match to spare. Kumble has been a terrific captain ever since he took over. Manish Pandey is an interesting find for the team. Uthappa disappointed a bit. Dravid and Kallis exihibited class at its best. Taylor shouldered a lot of responsibility and Boucher displayed his finisher credentials more than once. PK did well with the ball on most occasions. Roelof Merwe, what a fighter. Kohli showed that he'll be a good player one day. They all made for a good team that gelled well. Ray Jennings' efforts have obviously worked. Mallya, the boss should be pleased.

So what's your guess for IPL 2010 finals - KKR vs MI!!

The pic that follows is my dedication to the big fella.(Kumble snaps Gilly in the IPL '09 final)

2009-05-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

Watched the movie Philadelphia today. Revolving around AIDS awareness, the movie stars Tom hanks, Denzel Washington and also Antonio Banderas. Hanks and Washington are absolutely impeccable in their portrayals. Tom Hanks plays a lawyer who contracts AIDS and receives an unfair termination from his job. Denzel plays his lawyer. Having watched this, my count of Tom Hanks movies goes to 8, a statistic I'm really pleased with and plan to bolster up!

IPL update:
RCB defeated, or rather thumped, Mumbai Indians and thus made it 3 wins in a row. I had mentioned in my last post that the victory against KXIP could just be the renaissance for the Bangalore team. Touche!

RCB thou renaissance

2009-05-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

RCB beat KXIP by 8 runs in a Durban thriller. Having done that they have now 2 out of 2 after having lost 4 in a row. In the process, they have shot up to 5th position. For the reminder, Kumble was the captain as Pietersen has left for English duties. This might just be a renaissance for the RCB, a team that has just not found it way ever since the IPL began. And yeah, the match saw a surprise. The first hat-trick of IPL 2... the bowler.. Yuvraj!!

Zoozoo

2009-04-30T04:01:00.001-07:00

Most of you must have come across the new set of vodafone's animated commercials during the recent IPL matches. The character in these ads is called zoozoo. Built across a range of valued added vodafone services, these white coloured inflated characters are engrossing. The ads too are brilliantly schemed to push the climax till the end where the theme of the ad is divulged. Fundoo entertaining stuff.
Go ahead and watch a few of those.

The Human Element

2009-04-30T03:50:00.001-07:00

One of my office cabmates had his last day in office today. All along, he kept gazing out of the window. Perhaps absorbing the images along the daily route
in absolute totality for one final time. Perhaps taking in the stillframes and burning them somewhere in his mind. Nostalgia. These last day events have the
power to churn human emotions in a strong way. Last days.. school, hostel, college, office, rented home, some city. You feel some degree of reluctance in
breaking away the bonds. But then we have time.. the eternal healer. Days go by and some day you realize you were there not so long back. You smile. Nostalgia fades away into sweet memories.

A Beautiful Write-up

2009-04-27T03:54:00.001-07:00

Got this from a newspaper.. absolutely fantastic.

A Letter From A Father To His Little Son

Dear Pranav,

It's been 20 years since you set foot in the world. When I held you for the first time in my arms at the hospital, your tiny hands were twitching and your eyes were shut tight. Your clenched fist reminded me of a science lesson which said that to get an idea about the size of your heart, you should clench your fist. I could imagine the little heart throbbing inside you. The eternal miracle of birth. When it was my turn to witness it, I cried. Before i married your mother, I used to debate one question endlessly with my friend. Which is, "Is it really worth bringing another life into this world?" Especially when terror has become an ugly leitmotif in the canvas of our lives? When I switched on the TV that Wednesday night, the question of whether I was right in bringing you into this world haunted me again. This is my attempt at an answer. Call it catharsis. I feel there are two ways to raise you. One is to wean you on cynicism. Where you'll erect a sky-high wall in your mind and live your life pouring scorn on everything you see. Which is one way of insulating yourself from fear... A kind of indifferent machismo. The other way is to prepare you to live in this world. I can't imagine the world for you, son. But I can certainly show you the way to live in an uncertain world. Make a pact with yourself. Understand the following early on. Life is precious. And equally fragile. So every day is a gift. Get up early once in a while just to watch the sun rise. Stare at it intently and burn it in your memory. Be aware of every passing second. Look around you. There's a thin stalk of plant finding its place under the sun in a crevice on the wall of our apartment. Appreciate your mother's cooking. Praise it to heavens... Make it a habit to eat together as a family. No, make it a rule. Fall in love with books. Words will transport you to worlds far away. It will also keep you informed and prepared. Follow your heart. The mind can waver but the heart seldom does. Respect your conscience. It's like a post-it note from God. When you grow up, seek a job you love. As you enter the world of careers and cocktails, you'll get sucked into a vortex called rat race. Don't be overwhelmed. We're all human. But have the courage to step out of it. Nothing will be lost. Some illusions will shatter. Good riddance. Money. It's important. But it has its place. Don't make the mistake of putting it right on top. Find your love. Hold it dearly. Be a good husband. A patient father. Give your children space to make their mistakes. But hold them when they fall. Speak up when you have to. Like this occasion. Whether we like it or not, we're living in a democracy. Sure it has its pitfalls. But don't forget the positives too. The real fight in a democracy is between remembering and forgetting. Go and vote. It's your chance to give shape to the kind of society you want to live in. Be alert. But try not to live in a state of fear. It you were to get caught in a situation similar to what happened and should we lose you, then you will have left us with enough lovely memories for the remaining years. That will only happen if you start living every day like it is the last day of your life. Though it can never compensate your loss, at least we'll find strength in your love for life. Don't have regrets. They defeat the very purpose of life. Immersed as I am in work most of the time, this letter is also a wake-up call for me.

Love, Dad

Romping Away

2009-04-27T02:48:00.001-07:00

I had been to Ooty this weekend.. Decided to exihibit some logistical flexibility and twisted the schedule. Dropped Connoor from our tour map and planned to channelise the extra hours for another of those re-trips to Mysore palace. Along the Ooty-Mysore road, the driver decided to emulate my smart designs and took a 'short-cut' that ultimately proved to be 30kms longer than the normal route. Now then, the proverbial silver lining behind the dark cloud flashed and there I was, a ride through Wayanad wildlife sanctuary, Kerala. We reached Bangalore at night, of course after stopovers at the Mysore Palace and Brindavan Gardens..and in case you want to know why I'm writing all this here's the connection. I made it through 3 states in one day by road (Ooty in tamilnadu, Wayanad in Kerala and B'lore of course in Karnataka), and boy, overjoyed I am..

IPL safari takes off

2009-04-19T01:06:00.000-07:00

IPL's second edition took off at the Newlands stadium in Cape town, South Africa.

Before the tournament started I had my apprehensions regarding how responsive the crowd would be. 10 minutes into the show, all doubts were rested. The packed stadium and the boisterous crowd kept the carnival mood upbeat and that set the ball rolling for the tournament. It was pleasing to see Indians in such large numbers dotting the crowd all around. Kudos to Lalit Modi and the IPL management team for keeping the tournament going!

Dravid's brilliant 66 and a free-flowing 59 from Sachin were the opening day's top draws. So were Kumble's 5/5 and Warnie's turners. Both the finalists of IPL '08 - CSK and Raj Royals were defeated in the opening matches. KP's RCB, yours truly's adopted team (hmm.. I've been in Bangalore for the last 3 years) did well to announce their arrival in IPL 2.0 by humiliating the defending champs. Sachin's MI also exihibited their all-round prowess. Good competitive matches to the start the event and set the momentum for the rest of the
matches. Way to go!

Some things never change

2009-04-18T23:53:00.000-07:00

Those were the words I felt like shouting from the top of my building after Day 1 of IPL-II.

Ten years on... it is still the classy names that matter. Sachin, Dravid, Warne, Hayden, Kumble.. heroes of the two IPL matches that were played on the opening day of the cricket mela. I missed most of the first match, and thereby a fantastic Sachin innings, courtesy a trip to Commercial Street followed by a romp around Bangalore Central. Managed to rush home by 8 so that I could catch my team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, start their IPL tourney. 3 balls later, the fear and pessimism of the last IPL started clouding all the hopes I had laid on my team. At 0/2 and with Ryder and Ross Taylor gone I was sure the defending champions, Rajasthan Royals, were up to the task yet again. In walked Pietersen, the new captain and started working up the scorecard but couldn't stay long enough. Uthappa too joined the beeline back to the pavilion. And look who came in to the rescue act. Dravid. Classic cover drives and on drives ensued from one end whereas the T20 specialists at the other end were beguiled by the magic of Warne. Flight, drift, spin oozed from the Aussie leggie legend's fingers as he plotted the opponent's downfall. 20 overs later, a 48 ball 66 laced with 8 fours and a lofty six from Rahul hauled up the RCB total to 134, a fighting total by any means when chasing under lights under seam-friendly conditions. PK (Praveen Kumar) and Ryder gobbled up the Rajasthani top order and Kumble ripped through the middle and lower order with 5, yes 5, wickets in 3 overs to handle a defeat, sorry.. mauling, to the last year's champions.

Last year, every time RCB were defeated, it had pained me hard enough. I had always believed that there was nothing the T20 specialist youngsters could do which the RCB batsmen (most of them labelled as Test players - Kallis, Chanderpaul, Dravid, Jaffer) could not. Dravid had played some spectacular innings even in the last edition and please remember that most of the matches that RCB had lost had gone down to the wire. Compared to India, wickets in SA are more true and hence will need genuine cricketing shots and greater variety in bowling. Infusion of Ryder, Pietersen, Van Der Merwe will definitely help the team in its pursuit this year but going by the opening day performances, most of the myth regarding veterans and T20s should definitely be put to rest. If you've got the talent, it will show up... absolutely no second thoughts on that. Legends are and will be.

Let's hope ten years later I'll still be mouthing the same words!

C is for cricket, D is for Dev

2009-02-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

Went for Dev D this Sunday. What's it with this creature Anurag Kashyap? I mean where does he rent his grey cells from! Such a fabulous modern rendition of the epic hero Devdas. Abhay Deol in his usual brilliant self backed by the charming Paro make it a good watch. Mr. Devinder Singh Dhillon aka Dev D (Abhay Deol) has been blatantly projected as a scumbag. This is a very dark movie with lots of emotions, alcohol, fag and coke. The movie is drenched in the art of self-destruction. There are some heart rendering sequences where Anurag Kashyap easily showcases his filmmaking brilliance. Watch it out! The song 'Emotional Attyachar' seems to be a style-hit as was pretty clear from the movie audience who seemed thoroughly immersed during the song.

Also watched this movie 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. Adapted from a short story, this movie has received 13 Academy Award nominations! It has some really beautiful lessons on life. A real visionary treat with soul filling vision. The filmmaker has explored the philosophical conundrums and emotional paradoxes of its protagonist who suggests that a life lived backwards can be far more enriching. Pitt has put up a splendid performance and deserves more than a few accolades. Academy Awards Calleth!

I did watch LuckByChance last week. Fabulous movie by Zoya Akhtar. Hrithik Roshan turns up after a long time and is expectedly impressive. Farhan and Konkona too have put up laudable performances. It's a bold story with very good dialogues and a decent musical score. A good hindi movie after a long time. I also watched this movie titled 'Mongol', a 2007 movie that also received an Oscar nomination in the foreign language film category. Based on the early life of the savae emperor Genghis Khan, it gives a very touching account of the rough and tumble that this man had to encounter before the world gave him recognition. I watched this movie after I came across numerous bloggers proclaiming it to be among their all-time favourite movies. And, they were true!

Time to talk cricket.

First of all - The IPL Auction. I am glad glad and more glad that Mallya managed to pocket Kevin Pietersen, of course for Bangalore Royal Challengers! The Bangalore IPL team had put up a forgettable performance last time and getting Pietersen should definitely help improve things this time. We also have Uthappa and NZ's Jesse Ryder. That definitely gives the batting some aggressive edge. However with Zaheer gone, the Royal Challengers think-tank would have to scratch out some strategy.

Meanwhile, the Aussie downfall remained uninterrupted. They are 2-nil down to the Kiwis in the ODI series and the performance of most of the players has been pathetic. Now they stand No.3 in the ICC ODI charts (yesss, India are No.2 now. Yippee!). Where is their much touted bench strength which they had always been boasting to be the best in the world, capable of replacing any void left over by the McGraths, Haydens, Martyns and Gillys???

India defeated Sri lanka 4-1 thereby making it two series wins in SL in a row. Gambhir and Yuvi were brilliant throughout. The comprehensive domination of the M twins (Murali, Mendis) was such a liberating experience for me and obviously millions of Indian fans:)))...

The T-20 match today (1st T20 international in SL) was an absolute thriller. The Pathan brothers rocked and rocked hard. Indiaaaaa - the perennial World T20 conquerors. YOU ROCK!!!

Relentless!

2009-02-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

The one word that surely defines Rafael Nadals' Australian Open victory last week.
2009 could not have begun on a more classical note for the Spaniard. First, he romped all the way to the semi-finals, decimating his opponents and failing to lose a single set. Then, he had the most unexpected semi-final against countryman Fernado Verdasco. The 5hr 14 min thriller, longest ever in Australian Open history, saw the best tennis of the tournament. Stretched and drained, the two racquet wielding warriors kept coming at each other exhibiting unbelievable energy levels. It all ended with a seriously anti-climactic double-fault from Verdasco, much to the relief of Nadal. Which meant, another battle of battles was drawn up for the grand finale. World No. 1 vs World No. 2. The tennis world waited in nervous anticipation. It all started, and then fizzed with some erroneous tennis from both players. Five service breaks in the first set and it looked like it was more hype than drama. But then, the set ended and the match started. Federer rested all notions of an upset by pocketing the second set. The tennis was getting hot, or rather I say steaming. There was no dearth of commitment and effort from either of the champions. Federer was getting into his groove. His shots were undoubtedly elegance personified. But, that elegance was being mangled by some uncompromising athleticism from across the nets. Rafael Nadal - This man was supposed to be physically tired after his semi final. But he simply appeared indefatigable. The shelling from him just never ceased. His forehand seemed to be a weapon of destruction. Federer's mechanism was clueless on how to get the ball past this perpetually moving human wall. Federer was hitting returns with supposedly uninterceptible angles. And Nadal was converting them into out-of the-world winners. The crowd gazed, gasping to absorb the amazement. Rod Laver arena looked like a tennis heaven, given the quality of tennis being dished out. Nadal won the 3rd set and Fedex the 4th. 220 minutes into the game, it was all evens. Suddenly, something somewhere snapped. The mental grit collapsed and Federer gave it away. It seemed as if he had known the result of the tournament walking into the fifth set. Another marathon. 4 hours and 14 minutes. The assault was over and the crowd finally breathed. The match was put into perspective in the awards ceremony when Federer failed to speak and broke down with the following words 'God, It's killing me'. Now that was something which one doesn't get to see/hear often. Nadal fans (I being one of those!) can argue that Rafa's moment of success was marred by Federer's emotional histrionics. But then, he might just be wondering how much more will he have to endure before he conquers Nadal again.. The best part however was to watch Nadal consoling Roger and eventually restoring certain decorum. Way to go Champ. Or, as they now famously say - VAMOS RAFA!!!

Slumdog Millionaire - a perspective

2009-01-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

Guten tag.

wie geht's Sie??

Hold on boy. wassup..?

Well I have started learning German as a part of my new year resolution. Yipee!! And what u read just now was some proof.. Way to go.

Coming back to english, the first 2 lines would translate to:

Hello.

How are you?

Onto some movie chat.

Slumdog Millionaire won four Golden Globes and India erupted in joy. But why?

AR Rahman won the Best Original Score award. Agreed. But then that was it. Is there any other Indian connection to it? Yes, the movie is based on a Mumbai boy's travails and some of the actors are Indian. This is a British movie. The director is not Indian. Neither is the producer and nor are the distributors. The movie has been released in UK 2 weeks prior to than in India. And Dev Patel, the main protagonist, though of Indian origin is UK based.

Watching the movie will make you realize that the filmmaker has criticized the Indian system. You show religious riots, poverty, child exploitation, prostitution, mafia, sleazy individuals all in one country. The international community appreciates it, applauds it and then rewards it. Our countrymen fail to catch the drift and start celebrating the adulation. The media joins in and, as is its wont, cashes on it. One national newspaper even goes on to say that Bollywood should not stop here and keep making more such movies as if this was ever a Bollywood movie. At a time when India is riding towards becoming a major world power, we should shed our colonial mindset and refrain from basking in anything remotely Indian. Wake up people. An Englishman making a movie that desecrates our social, economic and political fabric is sweeping the awards ceremonies. And all that we are getting is a bad name nonetheless. On top of it we have Gerson Da Cunha, an Indian actor and social activist, who remarked that it is "extraordinary that it takes a foreigner to make a true, inventive film about Mumbai". One question Mr. Cunha. Did you not watch Mira Nair (an Indian for your info) made Salaam Bombay (need I say it made it to the final five in the Oscars foreign film category)? Big talking chauvinists. Open your eyes. For the nation's sake.

Well that's it for now.

C Ya. Chuss. .... Ahh, I mean Bye.

Judgement time.

2009-01-02T04:50:00.000-08:00

Let me make a personal assessment of the year gone by, my achievements, failures, high and low moments, things that could have been done, lessons learnt.

Achievements:

I managed to lay my hands on some quality books and movies.

Books I read - Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, Digital Fortress (Deception Point was done away with in 2007 :)), The Alchemist, The Monk who Sold his Ferrari, One Night @ a Call Center, The Andromeda Strain

Movies I watched and loved- Into the Wild, A Wednesday, Aamir, Cast Away, The Terminal, The Green Mile, The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, Scarface, The Insider, Mumbai Meri Jaan,

The Transition

2009-01-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

Adios 2008.

Welcome 2009!!

Another year dawns upon our lives.

With new times come resolutions new;
First day of a year is the time to make a few.

some poetry huh..
So, here goes my small checklist for '09:

Learn a new language or two, but which one? German, French err.. Spanish (haha.. Mr. Confused into the play)

Take up reading more seriously. Read and finish atleast 2 books each month.. (could finish only 10 last year :((( )

Get back to playing TT or cricket. has been almost a year since I last played any of them.. (I am just praying for my office sports building to come up fast)

And yes, my most famous resolution. Try my hands on everything I feel I should so that I don't have to make another checklist 365 days hence!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To Home and Back

2008-12-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

Had been to home on a 2 week vacation for my sis' marriage. That explains my e-absence.

Coming back to life in Bangalore, I had a good time this weekend. Christmas on thursday gave me a mid-week break. (you know people like me need those breaks after a long lay-off from work :-)). The holiday got me watching the movie 'Black Friday'. Another classic from Anurag Kashyap. Man, my respect for you keeps swelling each time.

Saturday morning session was taken care of by Sharmaan Joshi's histrionics in 'Sorry Bhai'. Post-lunch session belonged to Abhay Deol who does a fantastic job in 'Oye Lucky Lucky Oye' as the superchor (well he's addressed so in the title song). Then came the classic - Slumdog Millionaire. Based on the novel 'Q&A' by Vikas Swarup and directed by Danny Boyle, this movie is surely refreshing. The concept is catchy and you are kept glued to it till the end. The main protagonist, Dev Patel, has delivered a commendable performance as have the two other boys who play his past selves. But at some points it does hit you that India has been shown in some bad light. Anyways. there has been talk of the movie going for the Oscars, and believe me, it does stand some chance.

Sunday had been planned for Ghajini. Well, when it's Aamir 'the Ace' Khan, I prefer visiting the movie theatres rather than keep my laptop busy. So, it was Urvashi cinemas at 2:30pm with two of my friends . 3 hrs later, I was disappointed. The music was good and Asin was praiseworthy. Aamir, as expected, did his part with brilliance, especially the emotional and comedy scenes. But then, that was it. The movie, as a single entity, was below average even though at an elementary level everything looked fine. The action scenes were not upto the mark. Most remarkably the director lacked a strong script to bind all the elements together. Jiah Khan...... you would be mistaken to expect something from her though. In one sentence, the movie was not worth the hype. Ultimately, Aamir proved that if SRK could make RNBDJ a mega-hit, then he too can make a drab film a top-grosser. Went to nearby Lalbagh Garden after the movie. Alas, some communion with nature.

Met some more friends in the evening.. dinner.. and that wrapped up the weekend for me.

Not done any reading since last couple of days. Am currently feeding on Jeffrey Archer's 'Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less'. Plan to finish by next weekend. Missed out even on the newspapers. :(( ...

Last week of the year awaits. So Monday, here I come. Thy not scared of thou blues!!!

Mumbai hurt again

2008-11-27T22:34:00.000-08:00

Gloom across the nation following the Bombay terror incidents, which by now has lasted for around 40 hours.

All my Sincere Salutations to our armymen and police forces.

May the deceased rest in peace

Weekend, thou art great

2008-11-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

Last weekend went good. Movies, friends, loitering.. life at its careless best.

Saturday:

8am - get up. Sun is at its best. Rarity in Bangalore!

9-12 - watch Shakespeare in Love. boyyy... Gwyneth Paltrow is amazing (she won an oscar for this) hey wait, did you think my amazement was a tribute to her acting skills??

2-5 - afternoon naps, how I love them!

5-9 - catch up with college friends.. booze a bit, stuff some.. err.. lot of chicken, loiter around in Forum Mall. Aaahhhh.. finally breathe in some multiplex air after almost half a year (courtesy my exquisite and utterly mental mba plans)

10-12 - watch Salaam Bombay. Mira Nair, take a bow..!!

Sunday:

Well well well. Finally comes a sunday that does not have me rushing to appear for the mock cat.
9-12 - Marlon Brando and Al Pacino ensure I do not budge for the next two hours. Yes, Godfather 1 is pure magic

2-4 - Ind vs Eng 4th ODI (didn't go to Chinnaswamy stadium.. tv does the trick :)). Yes, noon snaps rank second to cricket.

5-8 - Taxi Driver (movie). No not the one with Dev Anand (I did see that a long back) but the Hollywood one with Mr. Robert DeNiro in all his usual charisma. Well man, the movie does get you thinking. Perspective gets some theory in this Martin Scorcese creation.

10-12 - African Queen(1951 movie). Filled with some amazing drama. Well the only one that got Humphrey Bogart an Oscar though!

Acknowledgements:

Laptop - HP Pavilion DV6000 - it ensures i get my regular doses of movies

Roomie - he does well not to bother me when I am in a trance (awake or asleep, take your guess)
BESCOM - Bangalore Electricity Board. Thank God there were no usual marathon power cuts this weekend. My laptop has a massive power back-up of three and a half minutes... yes minutes, not hours.

Yo weekend, CHEERS to thou!!!

Finally..!!

2008-11-23T21:59:00.000-08:00

Yesss.... Finally my blogging career takes off.!
Aided by an uninterrrupted torrent of thoughts, I finally pounded the keyboard to let my imagination blot some e-space. Well, decorum was re-instated and here I am, with only a small part of my thought processes making it to my first blog. The remaining mayhem will be let loose in the blogs to follow.

The CAT season is over and with all the available analyses concurring that I will not be able to make it to where I desired for, (and this being my last go at my MBA plans) I finally feel relieved that from now onwards I can devote my time to whatever I feel like.. that is, apart from my 12 hours at office though :) ..

Yes, I can finally come back from and watch the movie of my choice. Yes, I can finally come back from and devour the choicest item from my petty novel collection. Yes, I can finally come back from and just loiter around the nearby tea-shop. Not that I never did those before. But that everytime I indulged myself in my favourite pastimes, I had a guilty conscience pricking me. Well, it's another matter that the pricks just never hurt me. And yeah, this is the very reason I never felt bad having screwed up on Nov 16..!!
So, what now?
Nov 16 is gone.
No more pricks. All delight.

Loads of time henceforth.. BLOGSPOT - Here I Cometh.