Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is here!! Not that I need an occasion to tell my Mother what she means to me..Touchwood :-)

People address Mothers lovingly with all sorts of names. Maa, Amma, Mom, Mommy,Maamaa..I call mine Mummy..

I quickly decided in the evening to give Mummy a surprise by singing this song and sending it out to her..Am glad she loved it! :-)

I take this opportunity to wish Mothers all over the world a very Happy Mother's day..
All of us cannot do enough to show you how special you people are..HONEST.. :-)

Kahi to hogi woh..

A romantic number beyond compare,with a subtle sadness/poignance attached to it. A genre that appeals to many..

The song starts with hope of finding one's beloved and the protagonist explains, why she is THE one and why he cannot live without her..

The recommended way to enjoy this song would be to close one's eyes..U are sure to be transported to another world by A R Rahman..One of his more "composed with the heart" numbers..

Trivia: This is a 2 singer song (Rashid Ali and Vasundhara Das)..I had no patience to find Vasundhara before the recording and had to sing both myself! Anyway her voice is more "robust" than Rashid Ali's making it easier for me than I thought!

And it was sung from start to finish in single take.

If this song reminds you of your beloved, I will consider it to be a good attempt.. Let me know ;)

Nammuru slaaang

My favorite city. My home.There are lots of things this city means to me..This blog is a satire on Bangalore life, especially its ethereal slang..

2001 May..I relocated to Bangalore from the lovely coastal city of Mangalore..
My baptism by fire with the local lingo began when Mom sent me on an errand to get cashews.
I am particularly notorious at placing vegetable/dry fruit names in any language bar Konkani, so I was told Cashew is "Gerubeeja". "Vondu packet Gerubeeja koDi" I said at the Kaka store in typical Mangalore accent..Kaka was baffled..I then had to say "Cashew" to see a bulb glowing in his brain.. I went home surprised and told Mom "U told me Gerubeeja..But he says Godambi"..First lesson learnt in my head.."Sach,your Kannada is different from the language spoken here"...

This incident impacted me..I became unnecessarily conscious of my Kannada. Early years of engineering, I spoke to my best friends only in English..People who didn't know me might have assumed I was arrogant.."Ganchali biDu Kannada mathaDu" (Hey,leave your attitude and speak Kannada) types..But I was striving for perfection, which I also knew I wouldn't attain without fumbling a few times..A Catch 22 situation..

Luckily, things changed as I began to rapidly embrace Nammuru culture..Things especially changed when I landed in the US in end 2006 and became part of a closely knit (touchwood!) Arizona gang that was made up of hardcore Bangaloreans.Bangalore Kannada slowly, began to seem like a breeze..

The best way to become a Bangalorean,I realized in 2001, was to commute by public transport.You not only learnt the routes, but also got to feel the pulse of the land. Let us be honest, just the IT professionals don't make Bangalore..The lower strata, i.e. lower middle class and the poor form an integral part as well.

Let me list out several hilarious I-have-seen-it scenarios..These can be envisioned on any street in Bangalore..I reiterate that I have utmost respect for my folks and this is merely laughing at oneself...Here goes!

1) Mostly,when left to themselves, guys talk filth..No two thoughts and there is no exception to this rule..NONE :)
But when a girl/girlfriend is around, the language appreciably changes.So if you are seen foul mouthing your way to glory in front of a girl, be prepared to hear this from a bystander "Ree..ladies mundhe hangella mathadbeDree ree.."(Don't speak like that infront of ladies, man..mannn)..
It registered after a couple of times, that even if there was only one girl around,the word always used is "Ladies" :)

2) Jaggesh, the Kannada movie actor pronounces "Touch" as "Taechhh" (like "Awww..taecching").But this usage is as old as the aborigines...While playing gully cricket in childhood,if the batsman did not walk after an edge behind the wicket, the wicket keeper would shout "Taaech aythu maga gaeranTee :D" and vociferously point to the blade of the bat where the ball apparently made contact :)

3) GoLo antha atthbiDodu: translates to sob uncontrollably. But doesn't mean that technically..
"AvLge vondu saNNa maathu heLidre, goLo antha atthbiDthale maga" (I say one small thing means, she goLo cryingu) :)

4) Tiffan (not Tiffin) : I thoroughly desist this word.It is a dirty replacement for breakfast. I learnt this word on the city bus. To strike up a conversation, strangers ask one another "Saar.Hengiddira? Tiffan aytha??" (Sir, how are u?? Tiffan overaa?) I used to have a weird feeling in the mouth on hearing this word then..Things haven't changed :)

5) Rof hakodu: Rough up someone/try to impose yourself on someone.
"Mon monne huTTdavnu, baddi maga henge rof hakthane noDu" (day before day before born uu, how he rof putting see see) :)

6) Nanna magane: Literally means My son..But isn't that.It is used effectively to express surprise, praise, anguish or lambast someone..
"Nanna magane..huDgir mundhe doDDa saadhu thara aDthiyalla, nachike agalla ninge?"
(My son..in front of ladies, sage type you actingu..no shameaa?)

7)Kivi mele hoova OR chombu hakodu or Topi hakodu...means fooling someone.
"Avnu mathaDod noDidre, dodda Don ankobeku.. Naanenu kivi mele hoova iTTkonDiddina?"
(The way he talkingu, it seems he is big don..I what flower on earaa?) :)

8) Oh ho ho ho bandbiTTa..literally means oh ho ho he came..
"Oh ho ho ho..Navella 10 dinadinda plan maDthaa iddivi. Ivnu yellindano bandbiTTa noDree" (We planning for this from 10 days, he came off suddenly from nowhere) :)

9) Da/man/machi/macha/maga/guru/mom: How can u call someone other than your creator as mom? Never understood that part...Anyway :D
But all these are ways of addressing a close friend or buddy or chaddi dost...
"Macha hengiddiya..tumba time aythu..yenu,ee kaDe kaNsode illa anthiya"
(How are u man? Long time..This side, no seeing only) :D

10) Blade: either means one who utters a lot of lies or something that is absurdly expensive (taken for a ride)..
"Avnge clear aagi heLde, Forum mall alli baTTe konDkobeDa, blade hakskonthiya antha..KeLidre taane"
(I told him clearly, don't buy clothes at Forum mall..U will be ripped off..If he listens,no!)

11) PaTaisu: to tame or impress, especially a girl..
"HuDgi paTaisodralli avnu punTa maga"...(In impressing girls, he is damn good!)

12) Joint/ JaainT:to come together.Always wrongly used in place of word "Join" by the auto and taxi drivers of Nammuru...
"Saar, aa roaDu alli mundhe hogi jaainT agatthe" (That roadu, in front will jaainT with other road)

13) Kai koDodu: cheat or deviate from the plan..
"10 ghantege Lalbagh hathra barthini antha heLidlu, kai koTbiTlu guru"
(She told she will come to Lalbagh at 10 o'clock..She gave hand) ..

14) Yedva tadva: All possible ways/methods..
"Uthharakumara baDDi maga avnu..Yedva tadva reel biDthane"
(He is Uthharakumara..He puts reel/lies in all possible ways)..

Nammuru slang is odd, awkward and even at times gramatically wrong..But its comic punch lines are second to none. :)
We love YET crucify our Kannada, just as they do Hindi in Mumbai. But fun is where/when language is used liberally, not according to the whims and fancies of certain people /rule book.

In 2001, I couldn't have imagined that my Kannada would be as Bangalored as it is today..But I am proud it is..I am in true love with this great language's flavors as much as my mother tongue Konkani...

Nammoor bhaashe sakkath bhashe kaNree!!!:)

Save the girl child!!!

Female foeticide..A topic that is still taboo in India.. Everyone believes that its someone else's problem..Well that is one of the reasons this topic is still shouting for help..A skewed sex ratio doesn't help any country...
I have seen many a celebrity raise a noise on this..Most of it has been mere publicity stunt than anything of substance..I believe it is time for us, the common man, to realize this ;rather than any awakening or attending a tutorial session....

This wrong notion that "guys are markedly superior to girls" was prevalent in Indian society long ago...Girls were just supposed to keep their husbands happy, making umpteen sacrifices along the way...."Pati Parmeshwar" "Meri duniya aapke charNo main hain" etc. were reality than just mere filmy dialogues.. Sati was a rule, not a convention..A girl was coerced to immolate herself in her husband's funeral pyre cos she had no right to live anymore..What nonsense!!!

A girl had to abort whatever she is good at and sit at home to take care of the kids..Oh ya? Aren't they your kids too pal? You both had them dint you??...Atleast the girl sitting at home for this reason is better than because the hubby believes she shouldn't even be talking to her male colleagues in office.. What about when you flirt openly with your secretary, mate? Lets not be hypocrites here..

Girls were supposed to know cooking as if it was their birthright.."Yeh sab paDhai choD; sasuraal jaake bartan hi to manjne hain"They were supposed to do the dishes, eat in their husband's plate, compulsorily address husband as "Aap"..Most of these are a direct antithesis to the reality that "Respect ought to be earned, not demanded".. (These days girls address hubby as "Aap" only when the in-laws are in town..The name is different when they aren't in town ;))

Even to this day, when one tries to discuss this female foeticide topic with elders of the family (more seen in our grandparents' time and before than in our parents generation), there is an eerie silence in the room; an admission of guilt almost.. Its as if they know that it was wrong and couldn't do much about it..I also see a glint of pride in their eyes that we are trying to change this preconceived notion..

What has changed and why should this discourage female foeticide? Firstly, the emphasis on education (which was non existent earlier). Today girls are walking the same path as guys; shoulder to shoulder, because they are allowed to study..Girls becoming pilots is something that was unthinkable earlier. A lady going to space and being there for many days (Sunita Williams) and another who has gone down in legend (Kalpana Chawla) for her heroic deeds...

Secondly, the restrictions on girls is now zilch.. Earlier they were limited to saree and salwar kameez; today we guys are jealous of the dressing options they have (We can just wear a pant and shirt :)) ..They can party till late in the night like us, they can do most things a guy can do; this talk was surely just gibberish years ago.. Today, its a fact of life..When you see the freedom enjoyed by your lady friends, you are happy that times-they-are-a-changing..

Thirdly and interestingly;I believe establishing co-education systems in all schools across India will help. When you perceive something as unattainable or out of reach, the possibility of atrocities is higher, obviously aided by testosterone levels. Mingling from such a young age with the opposite sex makes it clear that even they are human beings.. This way atleast people giving birth to a girl would have to worry less about her safety!!

Fourthly; abolish reservations for women. The 33% reservations in parliament and elsewhere is a pile of crap. Only when you think you are weaker, you ask for reservation.. In an ideal scenario, open up the field and let the women with merit come forward and not be suppressed or oppressed...This will take sometime, but let us try.

Recently I learnt that a pregnant lady had claimed that she hoped she would be blessed with a baby boy, because "The environment is not conducive to raise a girl".. Now, this is unthinkable.. Honestly.. This is a retrograde step; its like switching 50 years in the time machine. but in the reverse direction..If we educated folks say this, God bless the world... I don't think we have a right to expect others to do the right thing then.

Why would a girl be a burden today? I am guessing Dowry, which is another pathetic custom.They say it is given for a girl's happiness.. Oh ya? Then why are there murders for Dowry? So it is the in-laws and bridegroom's happiness then.."Girl burnt alive;Not able to meet in-laws demands" was something we always saw in the 90's in the newspapers..I believe the perpetrators should be sent to the gallows; no less..The fear of being punished is playing a major role in averting these crimes today. These incidents have reduced considerably..

In that sense, making sex determination tests illegal and bringing the culprits to book in India has helped. We see that these tests are a part of the pregnancy process in the US; but then as long as there is no hue and cry I don't think there should be a problem..

The only reason I can see a man preferring a baby boy is that he gets control of the remote in the hall; Cricket will rule rather than anything else he will have to put up with on TV.. :-)

By the way,they say a girl gets more traits from her father than the mother...In that case it should be easier for us to go against female foeticide than even ladies.
Cos it should bring a smile on your face when you think "One day, I will see my angel conquer the world".. Think about it!!!

A journey like none other

Yes, my adrenaline is pretty high as I write this.. India has just lost a game ala the 90's to Australia.. Tendulkar, the archetypal boy-on-the-burning-deck..

1992..As an 8 year old, I was up at 5:30 am waiting to watch India's match on Australian soil... Dad and Mom knew it.. Their elder son's religion wasn't just Hinduism..It was Cricket too...
I remember watching a shy teenager on TV endorsing for Gillette razor blades. I don't think he looked of shave-able(!) age.. "Gillette, the best a man can get" was the ad caption...His name was Sachin Tendulkar.. Instantly, I must have thought wow its easy to come on television after playing cricket cos "My name is Sachin too!!"..

World cup 1996.. I was to perform a priest's role in my School Annual Day function in Hyderabad.. As I was practising in the rehearsals, my heart was elsewhere.. India was playing the 1st game of 1996 WC at Cuttack vs Kenya... No cell phones.. Some weird pagers floating around..I wanted to know how Tendulkar was going.. He made 127 magnificent runs and I realized, my heart beats for this game.. By the end of 1996, cricket had fully engulfed me...Prime reason was my namesake..."Sachinn Sachhinn" as the crowds chant..

Wherever I was asked my name, they jokingly used to ask "U said ur name is Sachin? Sachin Tendulkar?? :)".. Instant smile on my face.. Who gets the same name as their hero...Almost an honor I thought..

I will leave the analysis of his career to a later date when he hangs up his boots (a day that I truly dread)...

Just imagine you have a fairytale dream.. You top your class, you get the job you want, the car you want, all the money you need and more, marry the girl of your dreams and end up as an uber successful entrepreneur..You are bound to lose your head somewhere.. "The world is under my feet.. There is no one called God..I am God" etc are thoughts bound to come to your head...

Tendulkar's career is fairytale (forgetting the blood, sweat and guts for a moment)...If someone had told me this man will play for 20 years, I would have been skeptical...I would have said "I think he can..Lets see".. I see it today...He is playing with people who landed on Earth after his debut and he still shows the same commitment...

How he has not let that "I am God" thought go to his head and almost become God for all cricket fanatics is a free tutorial on how to handle money, fame and adulation... I haven't heard one negative report about the man..And I live in the Sansanikhez era of the Aaj Taks and Star News'.. I haven't heard him come up with a cocky statement "I will do this.. I will do that" Nothing. He just lets his bat do the talking..

Me and my friend were discussing how we should wait for Tendulkar to retire, before all of us decide to take the plunge..Cos the spouse will surely not be happy with the lack of attention. (Watching Tendulkar bat will anyday take priority ..I say that on record :) :) )

I usually hate calling anyone God.. Rahman, Sampras, Federer I respect them a lot.. But, God? No... I have usually denied that Tendulkar is God..But in his career, there were fleeting moments when I have felt that there is no purpose living in denial anymore...This feeling isnt very sustained, even this brevity is proof of his stature..

He can be described as the world's greatest cricketer and a far greater human being...

And this isn't hyperbole....But, the day he hangs up his boots and walks off with his India shirt for the last time, I will feel something within me is missing...Many grown up Indian men the world over will shed a tear...I will be one of them...

What's this, Ashu?

Sometimes...Your heroes disappoint you..Its just not the result always, its the thought process that goes behind the effort that mostly determines success/failure..

The man who directed Lagaan and Swades deserves an off day you feel? Well I don't deny him that..But what he was doing directing this movie is beyond me..

We are shown lovely Chicago, where Yogesh Patel resides.. And then for a frivolous reason he is rushed to India.. Grandpa writing all his wealth to his grandson in the States with a rider "He gets the cash on the day he gets married" Are u kidding me Ashutosh? Do we look that gullible?

Seeing 12 gals of 12 different Rashees is fine, but they all look the same if you are in love? That's the reason we saw 12 Priyankas?? What BS.... How could Yogesh be in love with any of the 12 Priyankas? He hadnt known them at all before the "arranged" meeting..

Have you seen an astrologer who doubles up as private detective? If that isn't enough, he blackmails his way to glory too... So obviously these guys dont rate the cranial matter of the audience..
And the finger cutting Goonda.. Please.....spare me...

I believe a 3 hour 26 minute movie length is not justified in most cases.. In this case, most certainly not...It is absurd and excruciatingly long.. Imagine someone going with his gal on a movie date for this movie... She would have left him for sure.. Whatever his Rashee...

Priyanka, well done.. You are a 100% trier... Harman, you aren't as bad as they say...All character actors well done guys.. The lady playing Harman's mom,I saw her for the 1st time after Golmaal (Amol palekar's sister).. Some nostalgia for us movie buffs.... :)

Sohail Sen, we will hear a lot about your music in the coming years.. Bikhri Bikhri was brilliant.. Sau Janam and Jao na, very good..

Everyone job well done.. Except the script writer and Mr.Gowariker..Again proves, you can get all the stars you want..But the script has the final say...

I humbly request Ashutosh to not try to be a Hrishida.. You will not succeed.. Please be your own man..
http://sacshan.blogspot.com/2006/11/middle-class-messiah.html

You disappointed me big time here...But, I have analyzed your work enough to know you are a class act... Bounce back Ashutosh... I am waiting for your next... I will grant you this Rashee....

Appreciating beauty

Thought of a purely hatke topic for this blog...Venturing into a new area so to say.. When I discussed the idea of this blog and sent the list to bro, he described it as a "blog for the masses" :)

That, India is a wonder of the world, shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone..This time, I will talk about the beautiful ladies that have adorned that great land.

Some disclaimers before I proceed..This is purely my opinion... These are beautiful women I have seen (of course with/without make-up and on the telly and the internet).
Women that I have seen live, I can't comment obviously.. For fear of security for myself....If I include someone and don't include someone else, I am gonna be in soup for sure.. So ladies, all of you are beautiful, don't worry... :-)

This list is not just based on looks but on how they carry themselves, the entire persona....
It is in no particular order and is limited to Indian ladies for now.. Here goes....

1) Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: That I have never liked her much as a person shouldn't come in the way of her beauty.. She is easily the most beautiful face in India and maybe the entire world..

2) Kartika Rane : The pretty face on TV...From Ek Se Badhkar Ek to Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye,
I have been absolutely floored by Kartika's persona.. She is intelligent, suave, quasi-traditional and quasi modern... Ticks all my boxes..Take home to Mom basically....:-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoUeQDAEn4U (Check)

3) Simone Singh: The Henna girl... My real favorite.. Many of my friends say she isn't good, but hell, she really is fab....

4) Vidya Balan: Ethereal beauty of Parineeta.. I thought she is this generation's Hemaji.. But seems to be in oblivion now.. Come out of it Vidya..

5) Madhuri Dixit: Who, from my generation can claim that he wasn't smitten by Ms.Dixit's charm? No one...We all loved the superstar.. A beautiful lady who has settled down with kids now and is still a stunner..

6) Preity Zinta: Oh...Those cheek dimples...Tomboyish to the core.. Very beautiful in Indian attire (Jiya Jale anyone?!)

7) Bhagyashree: Faces don't come more beautiful than Bhagyashree's. For any guy who believes beauty is also a factor (ALL of us?!) , this is the reference point... If not for a Himalayan (career blunder, she is doing well personally) mistake in 1990, she would have climbed the Himalayas today in her career... :-)

8) Amrita Rao: Very petite with eyes to die for....Miss Rao is from Mangalore and there by an excessive soft corner from yours truly... ;)

9) Nidhi Razdan: If its news, it has to be from Ms.Razdan.. Excellent newsreader..Though many times I miss the news :-) Easily, the most beautiful face on Indian television..

10) Shreya Ghoshal: Talent and beauty... personified.. The voice is as sweet as the person she seems to be, atleast in most of her interviews.. Very down to earth..

11) Hema Malini : A constant talking point apparently in the 80's was guys, saying "Maa, the girl should look like HemaMalini.."...She really WAS... damn it, IS that good...What a sizzling pair she and Dharmendra make.. Donno how Esha is so ordinary.... Anyway..

12) Mrinal Kulkarni: Beautiful lady... Remember her from the serial Son-Pari..
An example how to be gracious even when one is on the wrong side of 30.

13) Katrina Kaif: I debated real hard whether to include Kat in here.. That she is sexy is beyond debate.. But beautiful? Yes, she probably is.... Haven't seen her enough in Indian attire, but she is in this list for sure..

14) Sharmila Tagore: Regal and royal..Mrs. Pataudi brings a smile on my face.. I love the way she carries herself.. She was breathtakingly beautiful in Kashmir Ki Kali, Chupke Chupke and Aradhana..

The cuties missed the bus.. Juhi Chawla, Genelia D'Souza and the like... They will probably feature in an all time Indian top-10 cutie pies :-)

PS: Sanju and Akshay, thanks for your inputs and for ratifying this list.... :-)

Flirting with greatness

Here I am.. After a one year hiatus almost.. Lots of singing blogs later, with my other true love.. :-)

Ironic it is, that my last cricket blog was on Sourav "Dada" Ganguly..And this one is on his "best buddy" Andrew 'Freddie" Flintoff...

Cut to the summer of 1998.. As a guy just into my teens, I was so-to-say waiting for a hero in Cricket.. To follow, to respect, to idolize....Against SouthAfrica at Nottingham, a 16 stone monster made his debut, with a tremendous reputation.. You are cursed if, you are touted as the next Ian Botham even before you wear your whites.. Flintoff surely was...

My first impression was that the "English tabloids are back to work"... Ruining a career, very much in its infancy.. It was an impression proved right.. Freddie showed flashes of brilliance, but was never consistent and was in-and-out of the side..

He played one scintillating knock against Pakistan at Karachi under lights, chasing 300 odd (with a ball as wet as soap, it must be said!), but then again it was more of an aberration than a regular phenomenon.

Freddie, really was born on the tour of India in late 2001.. Post 2001 attacks in New York City, Caddick, Gough and Croft declined to tour India. The skipper (one of my other heroes) Nasser Hussain, was left with a trundling attack with Hoggard at the helm... Hussain woke up Freddie from his slumber. He set 8-1 fields to the maestro, frustrated him... Giles surely was crucial, but it was Fred toiling away at the other end..Miserly, fearsome, awe inspiring... He really gained the respect of Indian batsmen on that tour and along with that mine too..

2002-2005 was more about the under-achiever Flintoff.. again with flashes of occasional genius...A genius that was eccentric, with an almost rebellious streak... He won games for England, but there were many days when he was oh-so-ordinary.. His bowling though had now taken shape and he was truly world class with the ball, almost becoming a bowling allrounder.. The fact that he had bucket hands in the slip cordon did not do him any harm...

The Ashes 2005 will be a part of folklore... It was Freddie Flintoff's Ashes.. He made runs, he took catches, he took wickets, he shook hands and comforted Lee at Edgbaston in an oh-so-touching moment...It really was stuff of dreams... The major plus during this time, was the advent of another rebel.. Almost like Freddie.. the gum chewing, chest thumping, hair coloring KP.. These two impact players really decided the Ashes, which England won despite 40 Shane Warne wickets and of course with help from that swollen leg of Glenn Mcgrath...

2006 was a big year for Freddie.. He inspired England to a come from behind win in Mumbai, levelling the series at the Wankhede, in the same match in which SRT was booed.. The sight of seeing Shaun Udal running amok, gives one a sick feeling in the stomach even till date.. But Freddie was brilliant as the outspoken captain.. He wasn't silent... He believed that deeds are what you do on the field, not dressing room talk...

2006, the Ashes..His best mate Steve Harmison started by delivering the first ball to him at first slip.. The Ashes were gone.. It was a humiliation.. Freddie looked disinterested in the middle of the campaign..He looked flat, uninspiring with"when-can-I-return-to-Lancashire" written all over him.. It was forgettable really... He bounced back to win the CB Series, but that wasn't any consolation..

2007, the World Cup.. again..England failed and Freddie faltered.. The Fredalo incident was a blot on his career... He turned up drunk, fell off a Pedalo and faced the wrath of the tabloids, rightly so.. He was apologetic about it though and determined to make amends...

2008, at home v SouthAfrica.. The moment that still gives me goosebumps.. Edgbaston it was.. Freddie Flintoff bowling to Jacques Kallis.. Talisman to talisman.... no one was giving an inch... Freddie being very tall, was coming from up above the sight screen..Kallis complained to umpire Aleem Dar, but was told the "its the same for both sides" crap... Flintoff got Kallis out twice really.. both times LBW... one of them was plumb.. Kallis of course dint see either, neither am sure did Aleem Dar... Freddie was pissed.. He then decided to eliminate the umpire altogether.. He got Kallis bowled with an absolute peach.. again one that JK dint see, but we the crowd did...
The roar, after that dismissal, makes me stand up and take notice even today.. It was theatrical, yes, but it was much needed to bring the dying test cricket to life..

Injuries plagued him since and he was on and off in English whites...But, ending as an Ashes winning member in Test cricket was something Fred deserved totally.. The run out of Punter on day 4 was ample proof of "Cometh the hour, cometh the champion"..

Yes, Freddie was theatrical, inconsistent and also a bad boy.. But that doesn't disturb what he achieved.. The unbridled joy he gave us over the past 10 years will remain a lasting memory...

Freddie. post retirement said "I am not a great".. He was a bit of a sledger on the field, but mostly humble off it...Apart from the modesty, there is some merit in his statement for sure.. He underachieved...that fact cannot be hidden..

But is being a great, only taking 5 wickets and making a 100? Freddie was an impact player, a game breaker... He brought people in to the ground, he made cricket a better place.. And he performed exceptionally on the cricket field...How many cricketers can bat at no 6, bowl at 90 miles an hour and take slip catches like plucking mangoes from a tree?

In my book, Freddie Flintoff flirted with greatness..Never fullyachieving/sustaining it.. But I will grant him greatness.. It may be open to debate, but I don't think we will grudge him greatness.

The next time I see an England team on the park, I will still look for that daunting, intimidating figure..We will all miss you Freddie.. Thank you for the memories....

Me singing Roobaroo

I absolutely love this song.. It has a v v special place in my heart.. So I wanted to be extra careful and get this rendition right.. :-)

This is the song that defines my generation.. That in-your-face thing..."We are here, we will conquer" attitude that most of us have... Confidence without treading into the pompous region..

First time I heard this song in 2005, I dint know what was happening...But its one of the few Rahman songs that I liked from say, the 3rd hearing, where as most of them take 7-8 serious hearings to get into your system (never to get out again!) ..

Challenges: Singing Naresh Iyer's part, then switching to the genius' part and then coming back to Iyer's "Dhuaan Chata khula gagan mera"... Wasn't easy at all...

When I started, I wanted this to be one of my best renditions.. Lets see if that is right.. :)

And finally, its my absolute dream that I should hear Rahman singing "Roobaroo" in a live concert... God willing, it will happen...Amen!

PS: This is my all time favorite cell phone ringtone as well ;)

Me singing Tum Ho Toh(Rock on)

I watched Rock On over the weekend... And it was a good movie.. I took something else from the movie...Inspiration.. from Farhan Akhtar..

Seeing someone able to multiple things well... I want to be like that one day...Farhan u rock!! :-)

Shankar Ehsaan Loy once again show their classs.. This time with a slow live band number..


PS: Guys, concentrate on the song..The pic is very distracting... can't take your eyes off gorgeous Prachi Desai.. :-)

Masakali, my Masakali :)

Something that I always wanted to do.. Sing Masakali... I have heard this song innumerable times since January and was finally convinced now I could do some justice to it..

First time I heard it, the singer Mohit Chauhan's nakhraaa(mannerisms) floored me...I knew I could sing this song but the only problem was to incorporate those mannerisms in the song.. :D

Here is the song..



Some behind the scenes trivia (The making of Masakali that is :D)...

It was sung from start to finish (no stop)...The one I uploaded is my second try..the first one I somehow felt could be bettered by myself.. The second one? Ya could be.. but I thought enoughhh..

Things I feel I could have done better... I could have tried singing the part after the anthara , that goes Masakali Masakali, but I had to regain my breath, so let the music run..
Also in the 2nd stanza, I was busy with the Hey Hey Hey and missed the first line (cos there was almost an overlap between the end of Hey Hey and start of the stanza)

Also, before the first stanza starts, u can hear me in the background practising repeatedly to get the "Ghar teraaa Saloniiii" part totally right :-)

Anyways, I have got some nice comments on Facebook for this.. Thanks buddies.. U make the effort seem worthwhile!. Thank you...

Jai Rahman.. Jai Mohit Chauhan :)

PS: Sonam, u look purr-fect in this one (even better than the cutey Masakali!) ... :-)

There's something about Pete!!

Sunday, May 31st...After a very late night voice chat (yo!!, common on weekends), I had slept hoping to get up late and was woken up by a phone call at 9 am..The voice, which sounded like he had suddenly got a lifeline, started with a Hello....I immediately knew Rafael was out of Roland Garros...He ended with "Have a great day buddy".....(I wont take his name, cos patrons of this blog will not like it..LOL)...

My mind went overdrive worrying about the person who I believed would win after Rafael had lost... Some Roger guy... OK, the great RF... I instantly thought "Please no.....please"... I knew that a win here for Roger, would surely make my word redundant/irrelevant(not that a few people gave weightage to it anyway :D).. Sadistic or whatever u want to term it, I don't care, I just followed my heart..

14 slams now for Federer and counting.(abba, he hasn't overtaken Pete yet :))..Having won slams on all surfaces along with his remarkable consistency, he rightfully can claim to be greatest..
But... There is something about Sampras, that I refuse to let go of him as the best player I have seen on a tennis court... May be the emotions he could stir up, that mental fortitude, that walking-on-water belief, that unbelievable slam dunk smash, those magical 2nd serve aces at 0-40..
May be I am biased, hell I am, but for me Sampras is still the best.. Its not logical, but heyy, I truly love my champion...

I don't think any sportsman has had such an impact on me (maybe Ganguly, Tendulkar and Dhoni are close!!)... I remember watching the 1994 Wimbledon final at home in Hyderabad.. All 4 of us watching the match on a Sunday evening, Dad and lil bro vociferously rooting for Ivanisevic and me for the great man.... I prevailed.. I remember the fist clinch and the cry "Come onnnnn Pete!!!"....They made fun of Pete hanging his tongue out like a dog, when asking for ball from the ball boy... But that habit I tried to ape too, albeit unsuccesfully.. :-)

Cut to 1995.. Wimbledon semifinal... Pete v Goran again... Pete was on a hat-trick of Wimbs having won in 1993 and 1994... He lost a set and I thought the hat-trick won't happen.. Imagine a 11 year old crying for loss of a tennis set.. I did...I heard advice from Dad and Mom that its not good to cry in sport.. I just refused to listen.. I couldn't stop...Pete had such an impact on me...I looked up to him.. I must have celebrated like mad that day, when the great man overcame Goran...

In the school summer holidays in Mangalore at Grandpa's in the mid 90s, we did not have cable television, so I couldn't watch French open...I used to be half scared to open the morning papers, to see the results...I feared that Pete might have lost... He dint do justice to his talents and dint try hard enough at the French.. That will remain a blemish... One that I shall regret..

I remember waiting for the Sportstar magazine edition, whenever Pete won Wimbledon, hoping to read a lot of articles that eulogized the champion and also see that exclusive Sportstar poster of Pete holding the trophy aloft..

Clearly, this Pete obsession is something I can't overcome...

Well played Roger..U are a legend... (Get up Rafael... Go get him mate.. Go now!!)...

But Pete, you are my undisputed champion mate... By head, by heart and by Jove... :)

Song of the day

Time for a confession.. I have always had this thing going in my head called "Song of the day"..
I remember even as far back as a 11-year old that I had this song of the day... Its mostly romantic, sometimes devotional, sometimes patriotic, but its usually just one song... I can't stop myself.. I just have to listen to that song pretty much the entire day... I don't have a song of the day for each day obviously, but for most days... :-)

If a song enters my" song of the day" list, rest assured I will love it for the rest of my life.. But the morning after that same song doesn't usually have the same zing, that same feel and aura it had the previous 24 hours.. Why does this happen??? I have no clue... It just happens..
(Seems like the difference between crush and true love eh??!!! :D)

Also why is it that only certain lines of a song stay with me more than others... They give me goosebumps.. sometimes tears.. I remember how I recently was so moved on listening to a song that I was surprised myself how I could react THAT way..

This weekend was one am-AZ-ing weekend with my friends here in AZ :-) We attended a function... We made jokes about each other, we spoke nonsense.. gibberish.. as we always do..Yo peepallll!!!

I heard a devotional ringtone in that function and the entire weekend became one of Bhajans for me.. It was instant.. It was some connection...

Before I sign out, its gotta be some lines of my song of the day.. Its from a Bhajan sung by Lata Mangeshkar from the 1984 movie Subah... "Tum Aasha Vishwas hamare Raama"..

Those lines are..

"Ashru hamari aankhon me tum.. Raamaa..
Tum honton par haas hamare.....
Tum aasha.. vishwaas hamare.. Raama"

"You are the tear in my eye O Raama..
U are the smile on my lips.. You are my hope.. My confidence.. O Raamaa...".. :-)

Listen to the song here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGuCPuVAOCE

It may turn out to be your song of the day too..!!

Me singing Saathiya

A beautiful number from the movie Saathiya..

Singer: Sonu Niigam ..Lyrics(very strange and confusing as always!!) by Gulzar..

This song is my humble tribute to the humble genius ARR...

Hope I have done justice to it :-) U can find the song after this note below..

Note: Talking abt lyrics from Saathiya... The lyrics of another song from this movie simply refuse to leave me.. I am fascinated by its intent.. The aura it exudes.... It appears at the start and middle of the song "Chupke se" sung primarily by Sadhna Sargam..

"Doston se jhooti mooti doosron ka naam leke.. Teri meri baaten karna...
Yaara raat se din karna..
Lambi judaai teri bada mushkil hain.. Aahon se dil bharna...
Yaara raat se din karna...
Kab ye poori hogi.. Door ye doori hogi.. Roz safar karna..
Yaara raat se din karna..."

Waaaah.. outstanding... Analyze these lines and u simply get blown away by the meaning..
I especially adore the last line..It ends with a glimmer of hope.. "roz safar karna" ...

Yipee!!!! I finally understood Gulzar's lyrics for one song atleast.. (So I believe!!) :D

Jashn-e-Bahaara by me

Kehne ko Jashn-e-Bahaaraa hain.. What can one say about this song.. It is sheer genius of A R Rahman.. Whether one has a Jashn-e-Bahara or is searching for one, doesnt matter. This song will consume you.. Amazing composition..

And yes only another genius like Javed Akhtar could have managed the lyrics for this.. Sung by Javed ali.. All in all.. I feel I have done a decent job at managing this song. Please tel me if u agree :-)

For fellow singers, this one is a very tough song.. Be warned :-)

And the lyrics is Urdu mostly, so an English translation can be found at http://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/jashn-e-bahara-lyrics-jodhaa-akbar/

Check the comments section and for a comment by one, Amit.

Hope u enjoyed hearing to this number!

Me singing Ninnindale

This is a Kannada song that I have sung..

I heard this song exactly a year ago and instantly fell in love with this wonderful composition by Mano Murthy.. One of my favorite singers, Sonu Nigam with the vocals in the original. :-)

And I have to give a lot of credit to the truly astounding lyrics by Jayant Kaikini.. :-)

Its an honest attempt to re-create some magic that is surely evident in the original..

I hope u guys like it... :-)

The adorable rebel

Another day, another tribute. It was just a week ago that I bid adieu to India's greatest match-winner. And in the early hours of Monday morning, India's winningest test captain bid farewell to the game that is my passion. Personally, the latter was undoubtedly the bigger of the two farewells.

India regained the Border Gavaskar trophy, currently the most coveted prize in cricket (ahead of the Ashes),led astutely by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the man who will be king one day. It was one of the most important wins for Indian cricket. The coronation was well deserved for the deligent troops who had walked the talk for the better part of a month. In the background though, one man depicted a silent smile, albeit one that spoke a lot. As soon as the 9th wicket fell, MSD called his "Dada" for a chat and asked him to marshall the troops one last time. It was after all, a team he helped build. This gesture by MSD was unprecedented and there was a lump in the throat at witnessing the true passing of the baton.

It all started way back in 1991-92. Sourav, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, 'earned' a trip to Australia on what many thought as East Zone's best player(Indian selection system at that time was not bereft of nepotism). He was a lost soul, in a team dominated by the presence of seniors like Kapil, Shastri,Vengsarkar and Srikkanth..These were people he watched and adored from his multi-storeyed mansion in Behala. He allegedly refused to carry drinks and behaved like a snooty prince. But knowing who said it,I refuse to take it at face value. There might have been an element of truth in the story, but surely not what it was made out to be.

Having played a solitary one-day game on that tour, Ganguly came back into the grind of domestic cricket and performed admirably. Many thought he would be consigned to the trash, but he continued to break into Duleep and Irani trophy sides and his name continued to be around the fringes of national selection for the next 4 years.

His day of reckoning came in 1996, when he was picked for the England tour. There was hullabaloo all over India, that he was a quota selection. When the entire system is flawed, why blame only the benefitiary?There would be no tomorrows if he failed and as he left Indian shores,he bloody well knew it.

In June 1996, in the 2nd test at Lord's (after another meek Indian capitulation abroad, in the 1st test at Edgbaston), he made a hundred on debut. Another debutant, a certain Rahul Dravid made 95 and a new generation of Indian batsmen were born, much to the delight of the over-burdened Sachin Tendulkar and the Indian cricket fans.

For the next 4 years, till early 2000, Ganguly, now known as "Dada" within the team, was a consistent performer for the Indian side, especially in his new found role as Tendulkar's opening partner in the one day game. Together, they obliterated many a record of Haynes-Greenidge and forged what is now rightly called the best opening combination in ODI history.

In 2000, when Tendulkar renounced captaincy and when a match fixing scandal engulfed Indian cricket, the selectors turned to a "youngster" as captain. Since Sourav was the only player established in both test and ODI teams, he was the default choice as skipper.

It was in Nairobi, in the ICC knockout later that year that he flourished as captain and showcased the new India for the first time on the cricket ground. The adage "Team India" was seemingly coined at this juncture and it sure was a proud moment for Dada and India both.He also vouched for a "foreign coach" along with the senior players and the concept of the no-baggage, no bias coach bore fruition with John Wright taking over in late 2000.

The litmus test for the duo was when the all conquering Australians arrived in 2001 and Dada annoyed his counterpart by turning up late for the toss, ignoring him and all such idiosyncrasies which shook his opponents. It wasn't the protocol by any means, but it was damn effective alright. It was all in the intention of getting his team to win the mental battles. The Aussies grudgingly acknowledged that here was a tough cookie, an opponent whom they loved to hate. He backed this behaviour up with innovative tactics and India conjured up their most memorable triumph in history in a series that is part of folklore.

He encouraged Laxman, Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Sehwag, Pathan, Dhoni,Zaheer and many a youngster thrived under his tutelage and took on the mantle of match-winner in the team.

During 2000-2004, Dada became a great batsman in ODI cricket and a damn good one in Tests. India won matches abroad (a new and refreshing phenomenon) during this time and also were pretty much unbeatable at home. But his supposed waterloo came in 2005 v Pakistan. He was struggling with the bat and his often deplorable ground fielding was beginning to show. He didn't seem to deserve a place in the side, but carried on. It was to be a big mistake.
He was inspired by Greg Chappell during the 2003-04 Oz tour, when a few chinks in his techniques were instantly sorted out after a talk with the great man. So, he went ahead and recommended Greg as the successor to John Wright. It was a blunder he was to regret later.

Greg sent out an obnoxious mail, about the bad influence that Dada was having in the side, to the BCCI and it was promptly leaked in the media. Dada felt cheated by Greg. The contents of the mail were truly inflammatory. But as fate would have it, Dada lost the captaincy and thereby his place in the side. For the next one year, he was a true taboo in Indian cricket. With the coach having none of him, he was being spoken about in the past tense. But it was to change.After the youngsters (whom Greg backed)failed to live up to expectations, Ganguly was recalled in December 2006, on the tour of SouthAfrica.

He was all guts and gumption in that SouthAfrica series and the sight of him fighting for a few more runs for India with the No.11 batsman at the crease was something his detractors also appreciated. It's hard to keep a good man down. That was a lesson learnt by many.

He played well in the disastrous World Cup campaign in 2007, but was released from One day duties for good in late 2007 by Dhoni, who wanted to build a team of youth and rightly so.
Dada performed superbly in tests in 2007-08 and made a heroic 239 at Bangalore and an even more personally significant and emotional hundred at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, his theatre of dreams.

However,after a poor series in Srilanka in mid 2008, the knives were out for the umpteenth time. He was dropped from the Rest of India side, jeopardizing his preparation for the Oz series at home.
With the changing of the selection committee, Dada was thrown another lifeline. But this time he had had enough. Visibly frustrated, he announced at the start of the series that it was to be his last.This, he felt,was his only chance to go out on his own terms.

He made a gritty hundred in the Mohali test and was always among the runs in the series. Not least the 85 he made in his penultimate innings. He made a golden duck in this last try, but I am sure it was a moment that he will look back philosophically in due course. He was deeply disappointed to narrowly miss out on joining his "best-buddy" Greg Chappell in the list of players who have made a ton in both their first and last test matches.

To put things in perspective, Dada was not a great test batsman. Far from it. He was an honest trier and fighter. To be fair, he was a trifle lucky to be mentioned in the same sentence as his more illustrious colleagues as part of the Fab Four. He sure was the 4th best in that group, the top 3 of which is a non debate. But to his credit, he performed day in and day out, made utmost use of his talent and played 113 tests for India. Only a handful have played more.

Dada, despite his batting exploits, will always be remembered as the man who changed the face of Indian cricket. "Lambs abroad and tigers at home" was a notion that was erased in his era, so was the favoritism that was a part and parcel of cricket in the land.Many a good player maybe born in the future, but truly inspirational leaders like Dada come once in a generation. Whenever he was down in the dumps, a miracle saved him, proving he truly was a child of destiny.

The nucleus of the present team, which I am sure will do wonders under MSD, was formed in the Ganguly era. Younger players like Sehwag, Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Dhoni will, till date do anything for their beloved Daadi.

He taught the present India to fight. He gave meaning to the theory that we are no less than anyone else.

I salute my hero. He will be sorely missed.
Thanks for everything Dada..

A champion alright!

Saturday night..I switch on Cricinfo and to my utter amazement and disbelief I find that Anil Kumble has announced his retirement from International cricket with immediate effect..
My first reaction was "Oh No.." But the second and more thought out one was "Maybe Yes"..

I then asssessed that since Dada is retiring after Nagpur, could Indian cricket together afford to lose 2 bespectacled heroes, who both ironically had a clear and perfect vision for the future..
Ganguly deserves a tribute on his own too...That wil come later..

The time now is to celebrate Anil Kumble.... This name is synonymous with determination... Hardwork, perserverance, work ethic.. Bring on the thesaurus.

A man who made his debut as a bespectacled, easy to rag engineering student in England in 1990.. At first sight he was a trundler.. Not many who saw him could love him instantly..He wasnt a Shane Warne..The tweak was non existent and beating batsmen in flight was almost an unwelcome visitor.. He seemed to have his ways.. His height was strange for a "spinner".. His modus operandi seemed to rely on the uneven nature of the wicket and hope that the batsman made a mistake when the ball misbehaved..
Easy to say, he dint quite work..Azhar wasn't swept off his feet and traditional spinners like Raju and Hirwani seemed better to his laid-back eye..

But what Kumble did was fight.. He went back home and completed his Engineering ..And kept performing on the domestic circuit, albeit on helpful pitches.. He was moderate without ever being eye catching.. But this was to change and quickly...

The redemption came at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in the capital, one that was to be his bastion later on.. It was the season opener Irani trophy game, an annual fixture between the Ranji champs that year and the Rest of India, an assembled squad which was akin to a quota system realization.. Kumble sure won the quota from the South Zone and off he went to Delhi.. He took 13 wickets against a strong Delhi contingent and made the selectors sit up and take notice..This performance earned him the sobriquet "Jumbo", one given to him by the outspoken Sardar, Navjot Singh Sidhu..

The performance earned him a recall to the SouthAfrican sojourn later that year and he took a 5 wicket haul in his comeback game and did well enough to be picked as one of the 3 spinners to face the "Poms" (England for those who came in late) in the sultry 1993 summer.. He made the Poms smell dust and at the end of the summer had earned a reputation as India's leading spinner..

Throughout the 90s. when Azhar and Tendulkar led India, their concept was simple...When in doubt turn to Kumble.. Most of the fast bowlers(that is sure a misnomer) of the 90s were just people to take the shine off the ball.. Skipper Azhar and coach Wadekar soon sized up the situation that India was better off playing on doctored surfaces, where even the coin at the toss would tweak after landing on the pitch.. Kumble was his right hand man.. No Kumble meant no win..

Crept in the bad habits.. When India went abroad, Kumble wasnt a force cos he was used to bowling on the turners and he was played as a medium pacer by the batsmen.. Jumbo was more of a stock bowler abroad and this was simply not working for India cos the pacers were not upto scratch anyway, apart from Srinath,who again was an honest trier and maybe later Prasad..
Indian team to no one's surprises lost all they played abroad, but come any home game and Kumble and co would run amok at the slightest sign of turn..

His moment of crowning glory came when he took all 10 wickets against Pakistan at home in the Delhi (where else!) test.. The uncharitable would point to JP being the umpire, but hell he deserved them all(OK most).. Then came the bouquets and formation of "Anil Kumble circle" in his homeland..Both his feet all the while were firmly entrenched on the ground..

Post the Azhar and the Sachin era, Ganguly was annointed captain.. Kumble though had a shoulder injury(rotator cuff) due to a heavy workload.. Now that came as no shock for the yeoman services he had rendered to Indian cricket.. In the meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh was born.. A heavily strapped Kumble assisting him in the nets in the 2001 home series against Aus was a sight for sore eyes..

A fit Kumble in 2001-2003 did not find a place in tests abroad because he simply wasnt bowling better than Bhajji.. Ganguly took the "hardest decision of his tenure" and Jumbo was benched.. But the sight of him readying his lens to capture the winning moment in Trinidad test in 2002 is stil embedded in memory. Team came first then came self.. It was a refreshing change in Indian cricket and the humble engineer had showed the way..
2 tests later, bowling with a broken jaw at Antigua was the pinnacle.. Though it seemed a touch foolish, he said "I am going home tomorrow and wil be content that I gave my best"..It was difficult to disagree with such a warrior..

Jumbo at this time was stil king in test matches at home.. The Bhajji-Jumbo duo simply crushed all comers and India continued winning at home, apart from the new found Dada instilled vigour that helped them win a match in all series abroad during 2001-03.

The turning point though came at the Gabba in late 2003... Bhajji had an injury to his bowling hand and he had to leave Oz.. The benched engineer was drafted in to what was to be his biggest project till date.. He took 24 wickets in the 3 ensuing games and 13 no less in Steve Waugh red ragged farewell at Sydney in Jan 2004. A man of the match away from home was a first and made him proud..
Since then he never lost his place and Bhajji had to do the reserve role abroad.. Jumbo had well and truly taken off...

He had that quality..Once he was given a chance, he rarely fluffed it.. Milestones came like there were no tomorrow.. 300 and 400 both at Bangalore(I watched both in the stadium luckily!)..And then 600 at Perth in 2008..
600? U must be kidding me.. For a man who wasn't by any means the Sheik of tweak like the genius Warne or a mystery freak like Muralitharan, this was some achievement..

He became captain in 2007 when Tendulkar refused test captaincy..If u had asked Jumbo to take bullets for India, he would without flinching.. Captaincy was nothing after all... But in the end the bed of thorns that came with being captain consumed him..

His biggest praise was from Steve Waugh who said he was amazed by how relentless Jumbo was.. U could lose focus for a moment against him at ur own peril..

Harsha Bhogle once said that for any growing up schoolboy the role model should be Kumble and not Tendulkar, cos Kumble is a hero for the common man.. He gives us the feeling that "I can become one like him someday".. The Gods surely weren't very impressed with him initially and he was born with very few gifts.. But they would have been showering flowers from the clouds and nodding in approval when he announced his retirement at the Kotla.. It was a win for mankind.. For work ethic against riches..For the mortals against the geniuses..

If any kid today is given a pocket money of 100 bucks, I would suggest him to call Jumbo.. How to make use of one's limited resources is a lesson not many have taught... Hell..Jumbo did that for 19 years..

It was sad to see noises from all quarters when he was on the struggle.. When he had a bad game, people suddenly saw that he dint turn the ball, that he wasnt good anymore.. But 619 wickets? Not a joke.. He had his style and he achieved greatness with it.. Nothing more nothing less..

I will always be proud that I share my birthday with the great man..
Thanks Anil.. I can't imagine what Indian cricket will be without u.. U have influenced my growing up years mate.. And yes u have imparted smiles on the way... Good on u..

When sport is more than just sport..

Its been more than a year since I stopped time and penned down to my heart's content..A couple of busy semesters coupled with "I'd rather relax or listen to songs than blog" attitude was the reason for this prolonged hibernation..
Up side of it is it feels like Aamir khan...one blog a year.. :) (U patrons of this blog must be thanking heavens that I will be writing only 1 a year, but I may not be that kind to u guys!)..

One reason why I showed a stop sign to my laziness was that the topic popped up itself, without me having to go running wild behind it.. It was just last Sunday that arguably the greatest sporting event of the year ended..And this time it very much lived up to its name..
2 of tennis' greatest players perspired and inspired their way to the greatest tennis match in recent times.. The incessant rain at London along with the ever active Sun God in the United Kingdom added more drama to the event..

The match in itself was 4 hours 44 minutes long..Wait wait..Long is not the word.. It was just a measly 4 hrs 44 minutes short.. The way the two artists of the drama were playing, it seemed we could stay in front of the idiot box for another zillion years..It was tense, roller coaster like and an exuberant battle of the best...

Well u may argue that since the man I was backing won, this blog was written..Well that is partly true..Who would watch highlights of a cricket match India just narrowly lost...Thats natural..

Coming back to the artists of the showpiece..The man who lost first...Roger Federer...He who is part of the endangered species of tennis players cos they dont make them like him anymore..A man bristling with talent, surely the most talented player to have ever walked on a tennis court... He sometimes has 2-3 shots for each occasion and surely that backhand to save matchpoint in the 4th set tiebreaker was unthinkable and surreal..

And then the "challenger"..Rafa "vamos" Nadal... He is now the champion, no? I have rarely seen someone who is willing to retreive every ball as if his life depended on it.. A nerveless macho man with amazing resolve and brilliant concentration..

This is not the forum to discuss who is the better player and who will be better.. This is simply a celebration of the riches these guys have provided tennis fans over the past few years, especially the last 2 Grandslam events...

What makes a rivalry tick is if both guys on any given day can beat the other...From what I have seen Sampras-Agassi in the mid 90s was at par the Fedex-Rafa bull fight...Am not qualified enough to comment on Borg-Mac and Connors-Mac cos this was well before the 90s...

I just hope that these 2 guys continue what they do best, decimate opponents along the way and reach finals.. Cos simply put, this has been a salivating rivalry, one that will easily be the paradigm for more to come in this century..

I know for sure that the genius of Roger Federer will keep making semifinals and finals on all surfaces for some time to come yet..Now its up to the man from Mallorca to follow suit... He sure has everything that takes to click on all surfaces..

And yes, the more time Roger takes in exceeding Pete's tally of 14, the better it is for tennis fans and tennis per se.It means that Rafa has made it to more finals along the way and given life to this rivalry as well as to the tremendous sport that we all love..

RIVETING INDIA

This post is an outcome of one of the innumerable chats that I seem to be having these days..Not all are meaningful.But this one bloody sure was.. I am glad I had it.

One of my dear friends was amazed when I told him that even though I have widely covered India and some places in the US now ,Manali was one of the few places which simply blew me off my feet.He told me that I should pen my thoughts even if it is 9 years since that day of unbridled joy,when India looked beautiful to my eye.

I here under describe the places/monuments that are a must see in India,atleast once in one's lifetime.I also furnish the reasons why I feel there is a need to see these places.

They are in no particular order cos I feel each one is so vastly different and hence it wouldnt be fair to keep one of them on a pedestal.Here goes:

1)Venkataramana Temple,Tirupati:

It is ironical that Tirupati is about 5 hours drive from Bangalore and even lesser from Chennai,compared to a 10 hour journey from its very own capital,Hyderabad.

One of the many times I have been there was on a biting cold December day.I was not even into my teens then..

Yet the aura of the place was simply too much to ignore,so me joined the brigade in chants of "Govinda Gooooooooooovinda"..Seeing Lord Balaji in the rush near the sanctum sanctorum,where it is impossible to hear anything apart from "Jaragandi,Jaragandi" from the priests is an enthralling experience and one where you are overtaken by devotion automatically..The power of the place I guess..

I had the previlege of living in Tirumala for sometime too..But I was 3 then and I dont seem to remember much.. :)

2)Birla Mandir,Hyderabad:

The Birla Mandir is a breathtaking sight especially when illuminated.Always seems crowded but is worth going to.It is a turn-off for some of the older folks cos one needs to climb a lot of stairs to reach the actual temple at the top.

Last time I went there 10 years back,there were elevators to aid the elderly,so I am guessing the facilities now have vastly improved and it has become more user friendly.

A day out sightseeing in Hyderabad is worth the time.Salarjung Museum,Golkonda Fort,Charminar et al..Birla Mandir is the best of the lot though.

3)Taj Mahal,Agra:

This one doesnt require any description or introduction.

For many foreigners,India is the land of the beautiful Taj Mahal.
That is the first(and on some unfortunate occasions,the only) thing that strikes them when someone talks about India.Need I say more. :)
Indeed a national treasure.A marvel.The Taj Mahal was dedicated to his wife Mumtaz Mahal by Mughal emperor,Shah Jahan.He has raised the bar..I am sure any other emperor,even at his benevolent best cannot come up with what can be termed as a semblance of a replica of the Taj..

The Taj wil forever continue its hegemony as the best monument in India.

4)Golden Temple,Amritsar:

Situated about 450 kms from Delhi is this small town called Amritsar..Small did I say?? Oh it more than makes up for it cos it features twice on my list.

I was far from impressed by the town per se,but I was bowled over by the monuments,its jewels.

Perhaps the only temple surrounded by water..And yes when you do go there,take the Swarn-Shatabdi from Dilli to enjoy beautiful and picturesque nature.

5)Wagah Border,Amritsar:
This is goosebumps stuff.

When your neighbouring country is ten feet away from you and when the Indian soldiers are in the "zone".

A gamut of emotions engulfs you,cometh the flag hoisting hour.

The soldiers do a march of friendship.But believe you me,each step of the march has the soldier's heart and soul in it,letting his arch-rival know he means business.It moves you.If this is called patriotism,I would love to have some of it.

6)Kulu-Manali:

Switzerland they say is beautiful..Is it Manali-esque I ask..

If yes I would love to see it.

Located 12 hours from Dilli,it is simply the most beautiful place I have seen in Swades.

Rohtang Pass,Hadimba Temple are among the places to visit here.I remember the scenery from my hotel room like yesterday.

It was straight out of a dream sequence in a Hindi movie.

7)Mysore Palace:

Call it partiality or what have you.My birthplace has to feature in the list :)

The land of the Wodeyars is a magnificent place to visit.

Located close to the city's Devraj Urs road and Sayyaji Rao road is the city's palace.

It is a resplendent and simply irresistable setting under lights.The reaction in the crowd when the lights are turned on is a great moment.You are stunned for a minute with its beauty.

The Chamundi betta,Planet-X,Lalitmahal Palace and KRS make up for a perfect weekend plan.

Not to forget the thrill-a-minute Infosys campus located in Hebbal..A must see this one

These are some of the many gems I have seen in India..

Yes there are traffic jams,yes there are small stretches of roads amidst the huge ensemble of potholes and other things of orderly disorder.

But I believe in the phrase,"Give credit where it is due".

These places make up the aura of the land.

Dazzling and Riveting India.