Random Reviews

The label Review has always been behind in posts count, not because I am short of topics to review but because I’ve watched too much movies and read too many books lately to write a review for each. A quick review on everything that has kept me occupied this week apart from watching the entire Star Wars series and a season of FRIENDS…

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Amazingly dullish. Not the king of box office, but boredom. The heroine has a poke marked unattractive face. So, waiting for the odd you-know-what scene is worthless. Save 2 hours.

Varanam Aayiram

You’ll love the movie
IF you think a student with two arrears can easily start a company and become rich in a few years.
IF you think a normal person can save a child kidnapped by Delhis most feared don.
IF you think a normal parent will send his son to USA just to usharpannify a girl.
IF you think a normal person can rise upto the rank of a major in the army by a two minute music segment. ( I pardon Surya Vamsam)
IF you are one of the lot, who calls everything cute from a movie to an ant.
IF you are searching for a movie to go with your gf/bf and wanna make sure you don’t get involved with the movie even for a second!
IF all friends in your gang say the movie is great and you can’t disagree with them!

The director never told us what the ‘Daddy’ Surya did to make a living. All he did was to smoke, drink and read a book right through the movie!

Midnights Children
Imagine you need to buy a book. You walk into a library with stacks full of MC and find that it sells only Midnights Children and nothing else. If you are not so stubborn to buy a book, happily walk out of the library. The greatest literary work all right, but not a fascinating read. I finally stopped at page 299 after having extended my wits end several times.

Not a Penny More Not a penny less – An international fraud deceives four different people. The affected quadruple group decide to play the villains own game and get back their money ( till the last penny) from the fraud by deceit.

Honor Among Thieves Saddam Hussein steals the Declaration of Independence of USA by a cleverly devised plan in order to bring disgrace to USA and the CIA attempts to save the country’s pride. Jeffrey Archer is not a great literary writer but definitely one of the finest storytellers of all time. Both these books are page turners, with a great plot and narration.

What Levis, Nike and Calvin have in common!

People in urban areas are trying to catch on to the western wave by buying overpriced branded shirts in highly lit shining showrooms with grand draperies, even though half of the commodities are actually made in Asia.
Large retailers and multinational apparel companies have discovered a new lowcost method of advertising in shopping bags. They pay millions of dollars in advertising companies and dig deep into their treasury in the royal battle for celluloid space. And the chances of an average consumer flipping the channel when ads intervene is more than that of watching it patiently ( liril rexona are few of the exceptions ;) ). Understandably, shopping bags are with extra glitz and thickness these days helping all the companies and retailers to advertise free of cost.

For the people who are always short of ways to splash big bucks, for the people who want to show off their branded clothes/accessories (briefs too) and for the unfortunate guys with demanding girlfriends, there is an added advantage of going for branded items - The branded shopping bag (which is one of the few things that isnt duplicated in this country!) .

Imagine carrying some jeweller's yellow bag ( namma ooru manja pye) and walking through the portals of Citi Center? On a milder note, how about carrying a Poomukar vests and briefs name bearing shopping bag while walking down a street? Definitely not a great idea, unless maybe if you are the model for Poomukar briefs. People have become very brand conscious, right from what they buy to the shopping bags that they use for non buying purposes.

So, the next time you buy a shirt from a popular retailer, remember you are walking out with two proud possessions !

ROAARRRR....

When Ganguly announced his retirement from international cricket, the news dint affect me much as I missed Ganguly the ODI player more, but when he signed the camera on the last day of Border Gavaskar trophy, the feeling that Dada will not wear a cap adorned by the Indian crest left me shaken and stirred, as millions like me grew up watching Sachin and Sourav open the innings.

Rarely does a glittering cricket career in India end on a high. But Dada's career of controversies and centuries did. India's favourite southpaw retired from INternational cricket, provoked by the BCCIs( Vengsarkar,you bloody swine) baffling decision to drop him from Challenger series.

After announcing his arrival at the international arena in England with a bang, he has spent most of his career in the shadow of Sachin, popping out sporadically by match winning knocks and controversies! In the sport stricken city of Kolkatta, the young Ganguly had a brief fling at soccer but found his destiny in cricket,pursued it with all his heart, rose above all the odds and reached it in stlye.

During his debut century at Lords on a swinging wicket,during his fearless slaying of Pakistani attack in the INdependane cup final at Dhaka, during his five wicket haul at Toronto, during his topless jersey waving act at Lords signalling India's resurgence, during his career best ODI knock which came against Srilanka and during his classy century at Sydney, we have always unflinchingly supported and cheered the Prince of Kolkatta. And the vociferous roaring of the crowd in Eden Gardens when the Bengal Tiger walks down to bat, hunts down and rips apart the opposition bowling attack, is one of the most brilliant sights in any country and in any sport.

Innumerous times we've seen the Dada taking on spinners,treating them like high school fellas and whacking them out of) the park by dancing down the pitch fearlessly and arrogantly ; the way he pierces a packed offside field during the first 15 overs with ease, the way he pierces a packed offside field during non-powerplay overs with elegance and natural flair, the way he creates room and slams thunderously a boundary... All these beautiful moments which ascertain Sunny's statement. "On the offside, first there is God and then Ganguly".
And for atheists like me, he is the God of offside. Yeah, the He of offside.

An unrelenting warrior in heart,a journalist-friendly controversialist, a successful captain, a mentor for youngsters, a loving dad and husband, one of the world's greatest to wield the willow... Sourav C. Ganguly. Thanks for all the hours when you left millions rooted to the couch before the TV,whistling and hooting in sheer joy.

This is just a tribute to our Dada. Mind you, I havent yet started to exaggerate about Him :)



RECORDS THAT YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF
-First Indian to score an ODI century against Australia in Australia.
-Highest ODI runs scorer in the world (in a calendar year) in 1997,1999,2000.
-Second in the list of highest number of centuries in a single calendar year ever. 7 centuries in 2000
-He is also the only player to win 4 consecutive man of the match awards in ODIs
-His Test average has never been less than 40.
-Hold the record of most 200+ ODI partnerships (6 times) along with Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting
-Sourav, along with Sachin Tendulkar, formed by far the most successful opening pair in One Day Cricket, having amassed the highest number of century partnerships (26) for the first wicket. Together, they have scored more than 7000 runs at an average of 48.98, now with Sachin he is a world record holder for creating most no. of 50 run partnership in the first wicket(44 fifties)
-Third player to cross 10,000 ODI runs and so far the fastest in ODI history, after Sachin Tendulkar. He also reached 6000, 7000, 8000 and 9000 ODI runs milestones in the fewest number of matches.

PADMA 'SIRI'

Cinema can either embrace pure entertainment or send across a social welfare message to the masses. No other industry in the world (as far as I know) has a breed of comedians who form an essential (not adjunct) part of at least 9 out of every 10 movies that hit the screens. And Kollywood has been embellished by full-fledged comedians for the past 6 decades.
Myriad reporters have taken innumerous potshots at Kollywood for producing baseless masala movies. But its not any star’s presence that makes such movies bearable. The only silver lining is the comedy track!

Madhuri Dixit and AIshwarya Rai are few of the undeserving winners of the fourth highest civilian honor, Padma Shri. Both the heroines have done only 1/10th of the number of movies that veteran actor Nagesh has acted in. Both just act out the script written by the director, unlike Nagesh!
Take Madhuri Dixit’s case. She was awarded the Padma SHri for presumably popularizing Indian dance while there are women who have dedicated their lives for dance, like Shobana! And moreover she was living in USA when the award was announced. Someone feed some sense into the Padma Shri awards nominating committee!
Aishwarya Rai , former Miss World has not won even a single national award for acting in her life! So the Padma Shri is arguably for her looks!

The government has always ignored and failed to acknowledge the unparalleled entertainment provided by the comedians of our nation. Nagesh and the rest truly deserve a Padma Shri. For Ash can stun people with her pretty looks and MAdhuri can mesmerize people with her dance, but it’s the rare breed of full-fledged comedians who can bring a smile to your face and have you in splitsJ !
This post is a tribute to a man who has enthralled the masses with his humorous acting on screen and later with subtle cameos in a number of movies.
You’ve made your fans do something that you’ve never done before… you made them shed tears for the first time (on your demise)… Fuck Padma Shri… May you rest in peace, Padma ‘Siri’ Nagesh…

My Journo Avatar!

Saarang 09 - the Fourth Estate event.
Prelims - Of the four topics given below, an original article should be mailed to the Fourth Estate organising team.

1. Catastrophes in 2008 so far.
2. Nuclear Trust Vote.
3. Prevailing Economic crisis around the world.
4. Legendary rivalries in sports.

Naturally, I chose the last topic, penned down an article about Real Madrid-Barca rivalry and sent the unedited version erroneously on Sunday, the last day for submission! And during electronics lab today, while I casually browsed through saarang's fourth estate page in my mobile, I found my name in the shortlist for the finals !! The first phase of the finals requires the finalists to choose any event in Saarang, prepare a report and present it on stage. In the second phase, the participants will be shown a video and given a few minutes off the record to prepare. The participants are expected to report "live" on the video shown to them. In short, I have to act, think and be a reporter for the next two days, presenting news and maybe even creating them!



THE EIGHTY YEARS WAR…

A civil war bisecting the nation, a battle not manifested by artillery army tanks and bloodshed, a cold contest that is not fought for imperialistic or monetary reasons… This is Real Madrid v Barcelona FC – a politically charged rivalry dividing Spain, militated by 22 ‘soccerors’ for salvaging the pride of their club, the ideologies of their respective culture and moreover living the dreams of the soccer crazy Spanish supporters.
SPAIN – During El Clasico !

The rivalry can be traced back to the troubled times of Spanish Civil War, when Real Madrid was the face of the despotic dictatorship and Barca echoed every Catalan’s cry for a democratic nation. Barca was a symbol of defiance against Fransesco Franco’s dictatorship and the regime was behind Real Madrid. The clubs were seen as representatives of two rival regions in Spain, Catalonia and Castile. While the Catalans voiced their demand for a separate nation, Real Madrid (Castilians) tried to reassert its authority over the nation.

The Spanish giants locked horns for the first time in 1929. The match, which rewrote the grammar of a sporting rivalry, was eyed as a clash of two nationalisms, as the clubs played not only for the 3 points but also for honor and pride. Immediately after the Spanish Civil war, the friction and intensity of the enmity reached astronomical heights and the Catalans gave vent to their feelings through the El Clasico.

NOU CAMP (BARCA)

SANTIAGO BERNABEU(REAL MADRID)

HEAD TO HEAD: (WINS) BARCA -59 REALMADRID - 68

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"For Catalans, who see themselves as a nation that has lost so much politically, economically, and socially, a win against Real Madrid is especially pleasurable” remarked Jordi Josep Salvador, a Spanish sports affairs specialist. For the Catalans, Barcelona FC is more than a club( mes que un club). The El Clasico has seen footballic poetry from the finest pairs of legs in soccer history… Johan Cruyff, Maradona, Alfred Di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Figo.

In war, there is no prize for runner-up. Barca and Real Madrid know it and this classic rivalry has produced some captivating matches, a few controversies that has hogged headlines and also legendary footballers, thus placing it in a stratosphere far ahead of any other sporting rivalry. Both the clubs have always had several local players from Youth Academies, who grew up with El Clasico’s intense history imbued in their blood. They make sure the rest of the team doesn’t forget that a lot more is at stake than mere points. The crowd chants and inspires their home team vociferously (if there was a roof in the stadium, it would be blown off by the thunderous sound!) while remaining hostile and intimidating to the visiting team with loud booing and shrill whistling.

Alfred di Stefano (the Argentinean legend) was up for grabs in the mid 40s and both the clubs were involved in an intense race to sign him up. He eventually joined Real Madrid; a decision alleged to be influenced by political pressures which led the club to unprecedented glory in the following years. The real fireworks though fly when a player leaves one of the two Spanish giants and joins the other. Luis Figo of Portugal moved from Barca to Real Madrid and he was welcomed frostily at Nou Camp, Barca’s stadium, with suckling fried pig heads and the like. Every time he came close to the touchline, a flurry of missiles and libelous words rained from the stimulated crowd in the stands. The match was ferociously fought and Barca eventually triumphed 2-0.

Eighty years have passed, nearly 200 matches have been played, Fransesco Franco is six feet under pushing up daisies, Spanish Civil War is only a part of history books, but this fierce battle will continue, as it is more than a game to the Spaniards… Més Que Un Game!