A Song in Sydney

(This blog dates back to January)

The Sydney Cricket Ground as rightly told by Ian Chappell was the only place where the Indian think-tank could have beaten the kangaroos. The Sydney wicket prepared for the contest was so special, that it provided 5 days of noteworthy cricket as what it was not some 10 or 15 years back. The curator deserves accolades; to get a result on the last day with about some minutes barely left must be a curator's dream.

Of Sledging:
The game scaled new height that it involved more than 11 players for the Aussies to pull off a dramatic contest and rewrite history. Australia as a part of their game perfects their invention- Sledging. Very few of their players remain nonchalant while most of them go short in believing their potential when things doesn't go their way. They've made it a compulsive element that even the 20nodd cameras capturing them live couldn't stop them from doing it. It'll remain dominant in every cricket match until the captain comes to the fore, preaches his boys on their behavior. Its absolutely unhealthy considering the growing popularity of cricket. Its high time for the ICC to put a bridle on this fast spreading pathogen.

Of Umpiring Errors:
It still remains obscure among the cricket fans about what to be referred to the third-umpire and what not. But one fact, the people are certain with- it shouldn't be referred to the players. Ricky ponting usually demands decisions, pressurizing umpires. He yells false disappointment on appeals turned down against him, kicks the ground, gazes the batsman and does all sorts of non sense. I wonder what the poor punter would decide when he is asked to judge his own catch. He isn't Jesus Christ. Is He ?? The Umpire wouldn't have lost a penny on referring it to the third umpire.

Ponting's aggression and attitude fails to strike a right balance and its been proved time and again. Awfully, talented youngsters like Michael Clarke get inspired from his captain. The match never seemed to be India's when the benefit of doubt were given to the Aussies. Andrew Symonds who hardly gives a chance, survived many crucial calls and went on to score a match winning 148 to earmark a page in the history books. A Simple apology from the umpire's part would do it all for the ICC. However, the pages can't be torn from the books.

P.S: In case you are unable to differentiate Australian players and umpires in this match then you have simple clue. Those wearing black trousers are umpires and those wearing green caps are Aussies.

The New Volvo-MTC bus

It was a fine evening (month’s beginning) and my wallet had enough to do the talking. So I stepped into the 'New Volvo MTC bus'-one which I had been longing since its roll out. Man what a sight it was. Felt like something that was at all times felt visionary came into existence.

Some admirable features which we never imagined seeing in a MTC bus were,

1) A/C – Each seated passenger has individual ducts. It’s going to be ur travel-haven during the summer.
2) 2- Cameras (Rear and Front) and LCD screens for them. The driver has no problems.
3) Complete electronic control for the driver (He dresses like a pilot-good. But speaks local Tamil *gasps*)
4) It looked disabled-friendly. One end was low-floored and the other was a controlled protrusive ramp. Alleviative for already struggling handicapped and elders.
5) One half of the bus had seats that were ramp just as in a theatre. It was a nice feeling I tell u.
6) Smooth & swift. Very less noise.
7) Last but not the least – The CD player was playing soothing ‘Ilayaraja’ melodies with speakers all over the bus.

The fare is justified against the facilities MTC offers in its Volvo line of buses. But a common man needs to pay through his Nose. I was charged 2.5 times the normal charge. The MTC can introduce season tickets to attract passengers in the lean hours too. It runs empty sometimes.

P.S. I would have missed some features too. I gave my best to note down those, but then I was unable to stay awake for a longtime inside the bus. I badly needed a blanket-Its December. Finally the conductor shouted ‘Thambi enchirppa Tambaram vandudichi’ (Get up kiddo, we’ve reached Tambaram).

My Top 3 of 2007

Here's my Top 3 list of 2007.

Mozhi
Paruthi Veeran
Chennai 600028

P.S. There are some movies which I'm yet to see. Perhaps, they may head the list if i had seen. Evano oruvan, katradu thamizh to name some.

Lage Raho Munnabhai- A Tribute to 'Mahatma'

* Where on earth could I see one like this *

I took to watch the film late after much hype where expectation was going out of bounds. But it was treated with a feast of marvelous film making. Rajkumar Hirani revisits the streets of the Bombay-goons munna and circuit to deliver an exemplary successor. A first-of-its-kind for sanjay dutt and not everyday in Indian cinema u get to see films of this type.

Its evident in each frame of the film, the director had taken pains to carve a tight script in which emotion and comedy were seen on one eye each. That's probably where the director succeeds and had won hearts. Arshad Warsi is brilliant and matches up with sanjaydutt in every damn thing- He does tat so easily. The ravishing Vidya balan was never short of charm and her acting just gets better with each film.

There is one instance where Arshad Warsi cries when his 'bhai' slaps him and the same night the goons engage in emotional exchanges. This is one among the few places where the director was tested in binding the 2 major parts of the film-Bully-ism, Gandhism. Well he succeeds with ease (Watch out for the dialogues in this scene). Also munna says ‘if everybody starts practicing Gandhigiri then the lawyers would never find their bread and butter’. That was too good a one-liner to explain the film’s theme. Boman Irani’s ripe in acting was substantial to the film’s success. One cannot complain about the songs or the picturization either. It strikes a right balance with the script. Everything about this film works.

A respite to Hindi film making which has seen Karan johar, aditya chopra stereotypes the khan's dancing in moonlight, the same love story, different screenplay and different heroine. Just for the heck of standing on a critic’s shoe I would say: The director was seen stumbling for the film once went too preachy and when Arshad Warsi was apparently missing. Also the script had too many scenes tat were just visionary. Nonetheless, for too many good things in it 'Lage raho Munnabhai' catches the hearts of al ages and classes with the mindblowing humor and the heartwarming sentiment. Just takes me to say 'Lage raho Munnabhai....'there is no one to stop you...,

P.S: Only few good films occur in Indian cinema. Make hay while the sun shines. Don’t ever dare to miss this. As I told earlier ‘not everyday in Indian cinema u get to see films of this kind’ and be on the watch for the Lage raho trilogy…

Simbu’s New release- Jodi No.1 (Season 2)

Here’s my review on simbu’s new film:
Man wat a performance. I never knew simbu could act that well. It was extremely good. It’s astonishing to see someone who had made the audience cry all these years with his horrible performance, crying (Kamalji, sorry I give 2nd place to Nayakan). The vijay tv cameraman was dumbstruck with such a performance. Call sheets has been on queue for simbu after tat. 'Simbu pl tel me wat is der 2 cry' especially when one pair did a good performance today, I saw u tried something again. I still wonder. Ypur movies were reviewed so badly, but u never cared and kept delivering the same non sense. But one thing, it was really happy to see himself admitting ‘Enak saththiyama nadikka theriyadu’.

This is 'Chennai' for you

It was a sunny evening. I was on my way back home from Tnagar ofcourse in bike. Just for a moment I felt proud abt myself. For, I attracted the attention of everybody standing near a signal. I dint perform a skit, I never had a mic, der wasn't a mishap either. Guess what i did, I just stopped in a signal while it was showing 'red' perhaps when everybody else went evading (We are supposed 2 stop der isnt it ?). Is tat such a strange sight for the ppl around? A Govt bus driver kept looking at me fixedly til he went past atleast 10m ahead. I m happy my foto wasnt flashed in the next day's 'dinathandhi'.
Hats Off ChennaIteS......you made me proud :):)

Say 'No' to Crackers.....

Hi …
Just 2 mins n I ll leav u..,
As we all r heading 2wards the most awaited festival in our calender, we keep track on the TV programs 4 that day (Luk out for the much celebrated and awaited new film on the small screen).

Yes, I m talking about ‘deepavali’…The festival of lights redefined over the years to ‘festival of crackers’. Show me one house in south India where u see lights lit on a deepavali day??? Impossible..U cud hear the sound of crackers even if u run away for that day to Mars.
Wel as literates we need 2 think abt the adverse impacts of burning crackers. More than pollution the sudden explosive sound can be a ‘deathblow’. Imagine the state of a new born baby, smal kid or elders for that matter hearing a sudden 145dB explosion *yuck* (Just take a minute 2 perceive dis).

The SC has actually banned the production of crackers above 120dB(Some say 125dB.,) but crackers hitting the market these days aren’t less than 140dB., The manufacturers r also supposed 2 disclose the facts abt the composition of their product, the sound level wen fired etc etc but they fail to do so. The onus lies on us to understand these obscure facts and act accordingly. If we start inculcating this to our kids at least by now, we are about to save our next generation from this growing threat.
Expecting at least a minimal response from u not in the form of comments, but in action, here’s wishing u a ‘happy and safe deepavali’ in advance…thanks 4 spending ur valuable time…
Post Script: I recommend those colorful nighttime skiers to those bloody horrible crackers. You know, we are at least sound-free if not pollution-free and we are nothing short of a real good fun and amusement at the same time.