The Bollywood tinseltown seems to be at it's glory as it did the IIFA awards in Bangkok this weekend. I couldn't help but think about the politics within the Tinseltown. I seem to be at a loss to understand what is the definition of Bollywood and what constitutes a Bollywood movie.
SRK seemed to rule with Chak De and his home production Om Shanti Om. Of course no award ceremony is complete without the Bacchan family being there. However, what seemed amiss was the Best movie of 2008 - "Taare Zameen Par". Amir Khan has been the rebel in Bollywood who hasn't cared for the Filmfare award and I guess hasn't been to one in over a decade. He is an idealist who does not care for the fancy publicity stunts. He is now ostracized not just from the Filmfare but also from IIFA!!!
Is it fair to not consider the good movies because of the politics or is the award just another staged reality show!!!
Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
IPL - Viva La Carnival
Indian Premier League (IPL), the mega melodrama starts this April and will go on for 6 weeks at prime time. The franchise for the eight city has been sold to some of the most respected names in the Business and Bollywood. The best of the players have been bought in auctions and the media rights have been sold to Sony for a sweeping 1 billion USD for a decade.
The advertising slots for the main sponsor is about 2.5 crores with a 200 min ad slot and the last minute ad slots might be as steep as 4-5 lakhs..
The matches will be held across India with entertainment package in the intervals. You can see shows from the bollywood stars, some of whom own these teams to the cheer leaders. If shah rukh can perform for his team.. am sure Vijay Mallya can hold wine tasting sessions during the break or organize a fashion show with the KF calendar gals...
The cricket is packaged to be a family entertainment than a sport.. welcome to the carnival.
Match Schedule
The advertising slots for the main sponsor is about 2.5 crores with a 200 min ad slot and the last minute ad slots might be as steep as 4-5 lakhs..
The matches will be held across India with entertainment package in the intervals. You can see shows from the bollywood stars, some of whom own these teams to the cheer leaders. If shah rukh can perform for his team.. am sure Vijay Mallya can hold wine tasting sessions during the break or organize a fashion show with the KF calendar gals...
The cricket is packaged to be a family entertainment than a sport.. welcome to the carnival.
Match Schedule
Sunday, February 24, 2008
History ka Mystery - Jodhaa Akbar
Definition:
HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.
- Ambrose Bierce
Historical sense and poetic sense should not, in the end, be contradictory, for if poetry is the little myth we make, history is the big myth we live, and in our living, constantly remake.
Robert Penn Warren
Anyone who believes you can't change history has never tried to write his memoirs.
- David Ben Gurion
I happened to watch Jodha Akbar this weekend inspite of all the controversies around it.
After awesome movies like Lagaan and Swadesh, I had better expectations from Ashutosh Gowrikar. The movie was worth a watch but not as thought provoking as Swadesh nor had the chutzpah of Lagaan.
The movie has been banned in Rajasthan, MP and a few other states. Historians (read politicians) claimed that history has been distorted in this case.
History definitely is not one of my strong points and I used the tool I use the most for my research.. Google :)
While Wikipedia showed Jodha as Akbar's wife and Salim's mother; other sites talked about the controversy being discussed. I could not get a real site that has documented history.
Some excerpts that I found are:
Abul Fazal wrote the Akbar Nama, Abdul Qadir Badayuni wrote the Mutakhabutawarikh and Nizamuddin Ahmed (also called Nizamuddin Bakshi) wrote the Tabqat-i-Akbari. None of them have mentioned 'Jodhabhai' in their books.
None of Akbar's 34 wives were named Jodhabai. Akbar married the former maharaja of Amer, Bharmal's elder daughter Karkbai alias Heer Kumar in Fatehpur Sikri on Feburary 6, 1562. Prince Salim was born in 1569. Jodhabai was the daughter of Moteraja Udai Singh and she would have been three years younger than Salim and hence, in no way could she have been his mother.
With all these controversies, I guess the movie should start with the disclaimer:
All roles played in this movie are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is just co-incidential ;)
On the other lines, it is true that Akbar did bring in a lot of reforms for the aam admi (with the budget a week ahead aam admi and taes are in everybody's mind). He tried to bring in religious harmony. His openess for the quest of truth in religion led to his founding of Din-i-ilahi.
Was Jodha bai the woman behind the tranformation of Akbar and the thought process leading to Din-i-ilahi!!!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Best of Cricket Sledging
Viv Richards v Greg Thomas
This incident took place during a county championship match between Glamorgan and Somerset. Glamorgan paceman Thomas had beaten Richards' bat a couple of times and informed him: "It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering."
The very next ball Sir Issac Vivian Andrews Richards gave him the royal treament and smashed the ball out of the ground, into a nearby river - at which point he piped up: "Greg, you know what it looks like. Now go and fetch it."
When Botham took guard in a Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the wicket with the immortal words: "So how's your wife and my kids?"
Worth remembering Ian Botham's reply"The wife's fine. The kids are retarded !"
Sunil Gavaskar
Once, during the tour of West Indies, a young bowler was trying to get under Gavaskar's skin by sledging. Gavaskar, a senior player retorted "Son, don't waste time sledging at me. I have been sledged at more often than you have taken a piss".
Glenn McGrath & Eddo Brandes
Glen McGrath, employing gamesmanship tactics tried to get under the skin of Zimbabwe player Eddo Brandes. He ran up to Brandes during a follow through and enquired: "Oi, Brandes, why the hell are you so fat?" Without missing a beat, Brandes replied "Cos every time I f**k your wife she gives me a biscuit"
Mark Waugh standing at second slip, the new player (Adam Parore) comes to the crease playing and missing the first ball. Mark - “Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were sh it then, you’re f (_)cking useless now”. Parore- (Turning around) “Yeah, that’s me and when I was there you were going out with that
old, ugly sl(_)t and now I hear you’ve married her. You dumb cuuntt”.
Yet another Australian witticism with this time porky Sri Lankan batsman Arjuna Ranatunga the victim. Shane Warne, trying to tempt the batsman out of his crease mused what it took to get the plump character to get out of his crease and drive. Wicketkeeper Ian Healy piped up, “Put a Mars Bar on a good length. That should do it.”
Malcolm Marshall was bowling to David Boon who had played and missed a couple of times. Marshall : “Now David, Are you going to get out now or am I going to have to bowl around the wicket and kill you?”
The year was 1989, the little master had recently made his debut in Pakistan. Sachin not even old enough to get a driving licence Sachin Tendulkar was facing the best bowlers in the business. As the Pakistani crows jeered and mocked Sachin holding out the placards saying ""Dudh Pita Bhachcha ..ghar jaake dhoodh pee", (hey kid, go home and drink milk), Sachin sent the then young leg spinner Mustaq Ahmed hiding for cover (he had hit two sixes in one over. The frustaded mentor of Mustaq Ahmed the legendary Abdul Qadir challenges Sachin saying "Bachchon ko kyon mar rahe ho? Hamein bhi maar dikhao` (`Why are you hitting kids? Try and hit me.`).
Sachin was silent, since then we all have come to know that he lets his bat do the talking. Abdul Quadir had made a simple request and Sachin obliged, and how. Sachin hit 4 sixes in the over, making the spinner look the kid in the contest. The over read 6, 0, 4, 6 6 6, David had felled Goliath ... and a legend was born.
Mark Waugh was standing at second slip, Adam Parore relatively new to cricket came to the crease played & missed the first ball.
Mark Waugh- "Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were sh*t then, you're fu*king useless now".
Parore- (Turning around) "Yeah, that's me & when I was there you were going out with that old, ugly sl*t & now I hear you've married her. You dumb c*nt". “
In one of the tour matches in South Africa, Australia played Hansie Cronje's province. Cronje was at the non strikers end, there was a short chubby batsman on strike.
Ian Healy yelled to Warne, "Bowl a Mars Bar half way down...We'll get him stumped"
The Aussies and Cronje were all in hysterics, all this was before a classic reply from the batsman.
The exact words: "Nah, Boonie (David Boon) fielding at short leg will be onto it before I can move."
In an England v Australia Test during early 1960's Trueman was fielding close to the gate from the pavilion. As a new batsman came out he turned to shut the gate,
Trueman said "Don't bother son, you won't be out there long enough."
In the 1980's Ian Botham returned early from a tour of Pakistan, and on radio joked "Pakistan is the sort of country to send your mother in-law to." Needless to say the Pakistanis did not find this amusing, and when Pakistan defeated England in the 1992 World Cup Final, Aamer Sohail told Ian Botham "Why don't you send your mother-in-law out to play, she cannot do much worse."
Freddie Trueman & Raman Subba Row
Fearsome English fast bowler Fred Trueman extraced an edge from the batsman, which flew straight into the hands of Raman Subba Row at first slip. The ball however went right between Row's legs to the third man boundary. Fred didn't say a word. At the end of the over, Row ambled past Trueman and apologised sheepishly. "Sorry Fred. I should've kept my legs together". Trueman retorted in classic fashion "Not you, son. Your mother should've!"
Ravi Shastri v/s the Aussie 12th man , Mike Whitney
Shastri hits the ball towards Whitney and tries to steal a single. Whitney snaps up the ball quickly avoiding the single and yells "Get back into your f***ing crease or I'll rip your f***ing head off". Unfazed, Shastri responds, "Mike, if only you could bowl as well as you can talk, you wouldn't be the f***ing 12th man"
Bill Lawry & Richie Benaud
While commentating during a match in which Pakistan was faring badly in all departments of the game, Bill Lawry, offering a solution said "I think Pakistan's problem is they've got to relax", to which
Benaud replies nonchalantly, "I don't agree. I think Pakistan have got to learn how to bat, bowl and field. It's a simple game."
David Hookes & Tony Greig
Centenary Test in Melbourne 1977. A young David Hookes makes his way to the crease in his debut test. The English captain was South African born Tony Greig.
Greig : "When are balls going to drop sonny"
Hookes : "Don't know but at least I'm playing Cricket for my own country"
James Ormond & Mark Waugh
James Ormond (England) had just come out to bat on an ashes tour and was greeted by Mark Waugh(Australia).
Mark Waugh :"F*** me, look who it is! Mate, what are you doing out here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England"
James Ormond : "Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family"
Daryll Cullinan & Shane Warne
South African Daryl Cullinan was making a comeback into the team after spending 2 years on the sidelines due to injury and poor form. As he made his way to the wicket at the start of his innings, The "porky" Aussie leggie Shane Warne tried to unsettle him and play on his nervousness "I have been waiting 2 years for this opportunity to humiliate you in front of your own crowd". Cullinan, not new to such tactics replied "Looks like you spent it eating".
The spontaneous retort sent even the aussie slip fielders into delirium who were seen lying on the ground clutching their stomach all the while as McGrath retraced his steps to the start of his run-up for his next delivery
Robin Smith & Merv Hughes
During 1989 Lords Test, Smith plays and misses a few, at which Hughes comments: "Robin, you can't f**king bat". As luck would have it, Smith dispatches the next ball to the boundary and replies "Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't f**king bat & you can't f**king bowl."
Merv Hughes & Javed Miandad
During 1991 Adelaide Test, Javed Miandad called Merv a fat bus conductor. A few balls latter Merv dismissed Javed and as he ran past the departing batsmen in his victory celeration, called out "Tickets please"
Merv Hughes & Viv Richards
During a test match in the West Indies, Hughes at the end of every delivery would stare at Richards without saying a word. After a few of these stares, Richards chides Merv saying "This is my island, my culture. Don't you be staring at me. In my culture we just bowl." Merv didn't reply, but sure enough, had him dismissed and announced to the batsman: "In my culture we just say f**k off."
Ian Healy & Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga called for a runner on a particularly hot night during a one dayer in Sydney. Seizing a chance to indulge in mind games, Ian Healy made the legendary comment which was picked up by the Channel Nine microphones for all the world to hear: "You don't get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat c**t!!!"
Steve Waugh & Parthiv Patel
This happened during India's tour of Australia in 2001. The series was level at 1-1. It was the 5th and final test at Sydney and India was 4 wickets away from a historic series victory on Aussie soil. However, the aussie Captain, Steve Waugh was proving a thorn in India's back. Playing in his last test match (as he had announced retirement), he mounted a rear-guard action and was fighting for a draw, and was the only one who stood between India and victory. In an attempt to induce him to do something foolish, the 16 year old Indian wicket keeper chirps " Hey Steve, how about one of those famous slog sweep of yours before you leave forever?". Waugh, a veteran of such tactics replied " Sonny! You better show some respect! You were pooping in your diapers when I made my debut"
McGrath to Ramnaresh Sarwan: “So what does Brian Lara’s dick taste like?”
Sarwan: “I don’t know. Ask your wife.” McGrath (losing it): “If you ever F(_)cking mention my wife again, I’ll F(_)cking rip your Fing throat out.”
This incident took place during a county championship match between Glamorgan and Somerset. Glamorgan paceman Thomas had beaten Richards' bat a couple of times and informed him: "It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering."
The very next ball Sir Issac Vivian Andrews Richards gave him the royal treament and smashed the ball out of the ground, into a nearby river - at which point he piped up: "Greg, you know what it looks like. Now go and fetch it."
When Botham took guard in a Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the wicket with the immortal words: "So how's your wife and my kids?"
Worth remembering Ian Botham's reply"The wife's fine. The kids are retarded !"
Sunil Gavaskar
Once, during the tour of West Indies, a young bowler was trying to get under Gavaskar's skin by sledging. Gavaskar, a senior player retorted "Son, don't waste time sledging at me. I have been sledged at more often than you have taken a piss".
Glenn McGrath & Eddo Brandes
Glen McGrath, employing gamesmanship tactics tried to get under the skin of Zimbabwe player Eddo Brandes. He ran up to Brandes during a follow through and enquired: "Oi, Brandes, why the hell are you so fat?" Without missing a beat, Brandes replied "Cos every time I f**k your wife she gives me a biscuit"
Mark Waugh standing at second slip, the new player (Adam Parore) comes to the crease playing and missing the first ball. Mark - “Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were sh it then, you’re f (_)cking useless now”. Parore- (Turning around) “Yeah, that’s me and when I was there you were going out with that
old, ugly sl(_)t and now I hear you’ve married her. You dumb cuuntt”.
Yet another Australian witticism with this time porky Sri Lankan batsman Arjuna Ranatunga the victim. Shane Warne, trying to tempt the batsman out of his crease mused what it took to get the plump character to get out of his crease and drive. Wicketkeeper Ian Healy piped up, “Put a Mars Bar on a good length. That should do it.”
Malcolm Marshall was bowling to David Boon who had played and missed a couple of times. Marshall : “Now David, Are you going to get out now or am I going to have to bowl around the wicket and kill you?”
The year was 1989, the little master had recently made his debut in Pakistan. Sachin not even old enough to get a driving licence Sachin Tendulkar was facing the best bowlers in the business. As the Pakistani crows jeered and mocked Sachin holding out the placards saying ""Dudh Pita Bhachcha ..ghar jaake dhoodh pee", (hey kid, go home and drink milk), Sachin sent the then young leg spinner Mustaq Ahmed hiding for cover (he had hit two sixes in one over. The frustaded mentor of Mustaq Ahmed the legendary Abdul Qadir challenges Sachin saying "Bachchon ko kyon mar rahe ho? Hamein bhi maar dikhao` (`Why are you hitting kids? Try and hit me.`).
Sachin was silent, since then we all have come to know that he lets his bat do the talking. Abdul Quadir had made a simple request and Sachin obliged, and how. Sachin hit 4 sixes in the over, making the spinner look the kid in the contest. The over read 6, 0, 4, 6 6 6, David had felled Goliath ... and a legend was born.
Mark Waugh was standing at second slip, Adam Parore relatively new to cricket came to the crease played & missed the first ball.
Mark Waugh- "Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were sh*t then, you're fu*king useless now".
Parore- (Turning around) "Yeah, that's me & when I was there you were going out with that old, ugly sl*t & now I hear you've married her. You dumb c*nt". “
In one of the tour matches in South Africa, Australia played Hansie Cronje's province. Cronje was at the non strikers end, there was a short chubby batsman on strike.
Ian Healy yelled to Warne, "Bowl a Mars Bar half way down...We'll get him stumped"
The Aussies and Cronje were all in hysterics, all this was before a classic reply from the batsman.
The exact words: "Nah, Boonie (David Boon) fielding at short leg will be onto it before I can move."
In an England v Australia Test during early 1960's Trueman was fielding close to the gate from the pavilion. As a new batsman came out he turned to shut the gate,
Trueman said "Don't bother son, you won't be out there long enough."
In the 1980's Ian Botham returned early from a tour of Pakistan, and on radio joked "Pakistan is the sort of country to send your mother in-law to." Needless to say the Pakistanis did not find this amusing, and when Pakistan defeated England in the 1992 World Cup Final, Aamer Sohail told Ian Botham "Why don't you send your mother-in-law out to play, she cannot do much worse."
Freddie Trueman & Raman Subba Row
Fearsome English fast bowler Fred Trueman extraced an edge from the batsman, which flew straight into the hands of Raman Subba Row at first slip. The ball however went right between Row's legs to the third man boundary. Fred didn't say a word. At the end of the over, Row ambled past Trueman and apologised sheepishly. "Sorry Fred. I should've kept my legs together". Trueman retorted in classic fashion "Not you, son. Your mother should've!"
Ravi Shastri v/s the Aussie 12th man , Mike Whitney
Shastri hits the ball towards Whitney and tries to steal a single. Whitney snaps up the ball quickly avoiding the single and yells "Get back into your f***ing crease or I'll rip your f***ing head off". Unfazed, Shastri responds, "Mike, if only you could bowl as well as you can talk, you wouldn't be the f***ing 12th man"
Bill Lawry & Richie Benaud
While commentating during a match in which Pakistan was faring badly in all departments of the game, Bill Lawry, offering a solution said "I think Pakistan's problem is they've got to relax", to which
Benaud replies nonchalantly, "I don't agree. I think Pakistan have got to learn how to bat, bowl and field. It's a simple game."
David Hookes & Tony Greig
Centenary Test in Melbourne 1977. A young David Hookes makes his way to the crease in his debut test. The English captain was South African born Tony Greig.
Greig : "When are balls going to drop sonny"
Hookes : "Don't know but at least I'm playing Cricket for my own country"
James Ormond & Mark Waugh
James Ormond (England) had just come out to bat on an ashes tour and was greeted by Mark Waugh(Australia).
Mark Waugh :"F*** me, look who it is! Mate, what are you doing out here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England"
James Ormond : "Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family"
Daryll Cullinan & Shane Warne
South African Daryl Cullinan was making a comeback into the team after spending 2 years on the sidelines due to injury and poor form. As he made his way to the wicket at the start of his innings, The "porky" Aussie leggie Shane Warne tried to unsettle him and play on his nervousness "I have been waiting 2 years for this opportunity to humiliate you in front of your own crowd". Cullinan, not new to such tactics replied "Looks like you spent it eating".
The spontaneous retort sent even the aussie slip fielders into delirium who were seen lying on the ground clutching their stomach all the while as McGrath retraced his steps to the start of his run-up for his next delivery
Robin Smith & Merv Hughes
During 1989 Lords Test, Smith plays and misses a few, at which Hughes comments: "Robin, you can't f**king bat". As luck would have it, Smith dispatches the next ball to the boundary and replies "Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't f**king bat & you can't f**king bowl."
Merv Hughes & Javed Miandad
During 1991 Adelaide Test, Javed Miandad called Merv a fat bus conductor. A few balls latter Merv dismissed Javed and as he ran past the departing batsmen in his victory celeration, called out "Tickets please"
Merv Hughes & Viv Richards
During a test match in the West Indies, Hughes at the end of every delivery would stare at Richards without saying a word. After a few of these stares, Richards chides Merv saying "This is my island, my culture. Don't you be staring at me. In my culture we just bowl." Merv didn't reply, but sure enough, had him dismissed and announced to the batsman: "In my culture we just say f**k off."
Ian Healy & Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga called for a runner on a particularly hot night during a one dayer in Sydney. Seizing a chance to indulge in mind games, Ian Healy made the legendary comment which was picked up by the Channel Nine microphones for all the world to hear: "You don't get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat c**t!!!"
Steve Waugh & Parthiv Patel
This happened during India's tour of Australia in 2001. The series was level at 1-1. It was the 5th and final test at Sydney and India was 4 wickets away from a historic series victory on Aussie soil. However, the aussie Captain, Steve Waugh was proving a thorn in India's back. Playing in his last test match (as he had announced retirement), he mounted a rear-guard action and was fighting for a draw, and was the only one who stood between India and victory. In an attempt to induce him to do something foolish, the 16 year old Indian wicket keeper chirps " Hey Steve, how about one of those famous slog sweep of yours before you leave forever?". Waugh, a veteran of such tactics replied " Sonny! You better show some respect! You were pooping in your diapers when I made my debut"
McGrath to Ramnaresh Sarwan: “So what does Brian Lara’s dick taste like?”
Sarwan: “I don’t know. Ask your wife.” McGrath (losing it): “If you ever F(_)cking mention my wife again, I’ll F(_)cking rip your Fing throat out.”
Sunday, January 27, 2008
How Stock Market works
This short story is doing the rounds on the Internet.
It was autumn, and the Red Indians on the remote reservation asked their New Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a Red Indian chief in a modern society, he couldn’t tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared.
But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the Weather Bureau and asked, “Is the coming winter going to be cold?”
“It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed,” the meteorologist responded. So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood. A week later, he called the weather bureau again. “Is it going to be a very cold winter?” “Yes,” the man replied, “it’s definitely going to be a very cold winter.”
The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later, he called the weather bureau again. “Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?” “Absolutely,” the man replied. “It’s going to be one of the coldest winters ever.” “How can you be so sure?” the chief asked. The weatherman replied, “The Red Indians are collecting wood like crazy.”
This is how stock markets work!
It was autumn, and the Red Indians on the remote reservation asked their New Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a Red Indian chief in a modern society, he couldn’t tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared.
But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the Weather Bureau and asked, “Is the coming winter going to be cold?”
“It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed,” the meteorologist responded. So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood. A week later, he called the weather bureau again. “Is it going to be a very cold winter?” “Yes,” the man replied, “it’s definitely going to be a very cold winter.”
The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later, he called the weather bureau again. “Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?” “Absolutely,” the man replied. “It’s going to be one of the coldest winters ever.” “How can you be so sure?” the chief asked. The weatherman replied, “The Red Indians are collecting wood like crazy.”
This is how stock markets work!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
We are the Champions
Here's an hilarious fictional version of the factors by which we became the world champions for T20.
Dhoni "Thanks Ravi, the match was pretty close encounter between two great teams and our guys held the nerve to win the game and cup."
Shastri, "Who was the main reason for this thrilling victory?"
Dhoni, "All us played well but I would say the main reason and man behind this great victory is Ajit Agarkar"
Shocked Shastri..., "Agarkar ? ? .. how come Agarkar... he didn't played in the final"..
Dhoni, "Yeaph.. that's the reason we won this low scoring match.. if he could have bowled in final, Pakistan would have scored the winning runs from his 4 overs...."
Shastri, "ok.. fine, To whom you want to thank for winning this final..."
Dhoni, "The team doctor deserves the credit... he really helped us to prepare for the final..."
Shastri, "Is it? ?.... how the doctor helped to prepare for the final...
he is not the coach or physical trainer...Dhoni.. I am getting confusion"
Dhoni, "Ravi... nothing to confuse... he has failed Sehwag in the fitness test according to our game plan and we managed to pick a good playing team.. thus we weigh the doctor's contribution as very high...
infact its better than our team effort in the field.. our game tactic worked well"
Shastri, "To whom you want to dedicate this World Cup?"
Dhoni, "The entire team including myself wants to dedicate this cup to Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly..."
Shastri, "I really really appreciate you... its good that you have so much respect to the seniors....and you ...." Dhoni interrupts....
"Ravi.. let me complete... India would have exited in the Group matches if they decided to play in the series... thank god they opted out and we managed to play cricket and won the cup.."
Shastri, "The match was thrilling encounter and was concluded by a single mistake of Misbah.. Isn't it? "
Dhoni, "Yes you are right, after lofting the ball Misbah told me that he has sent the ball to where there was no one....but he didn't know that there is a malayali in every corner of the world.... This single mistake has coasted the game and won the cup..."
Shastri faints and Dhoni receives the CUP and thats the end of the great Twenty-20 world cup...
Dhoni "Thanks Ravi, the match was pretty close encounter between two great teams and our guys held the nerve to win the game and cup."
Shastri, "Who was the main reason for this thrilling victory?"
Dhoni, "All us played well but I would say the main reason and man behind this great victory is Ajit Agarkar"
Shocked Shastri..., "Agarkar ? ? .. how come Agarkar... he didn't played in the final"..
Dhoni, "Yeaph.. that's the reason we won this low scoring match.. if he could have bowled in final, Pakistan would have scored the winning runs from his 4 overs...."
Shastri, "ok.. fine, To whom you want to thank for winning this final..."
Dhoni, "The team doctor deserves the credit... he really helped us to prepare for the final..."
Shastri, "Is it? ?.... how the doctor helped to prepare for the final...
he is not the coach or physical trainer...Dhoni.. I am getting confusion"
Dhoni, "Ravi... nothing to confuse... he has failed Sehwag in the fitness test according to our game plan and we managed to pick a good playing team.. thus we weigh the doctor's contribution as very high...
infact its better than our team effort in the field.. our game tactic worked well"
Shastri, "To whom you want to dedicate this World Cup?"
Dhoni, "The entire team including myself wants to dedicate this cup to Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly..."
Shastri, "I really really appreciate you... its good that you have so much respect to the seniors....and you ...." Dhoni interrupts....
"Ravi.. let me complete... India would have exited in the Group matches if they decided to play in the series... thank god they opted out and we managed to play cricket and won the cup.."
Shastri, "The match was thrilling encounter and was concluded by a single mistake of Misbah.. Isn't it? "
Dhoni, "Yes you are right, after lofting the ball Misbah told me that he has sent the ball to where there was no one....but he didn't know that there is a malayali in every corner of the world.... This single mistake has coasted the game and won the cup..."
Shastri faints and Dhoni receives the CUP and thats the end of the great Twenty-20 world cup...
Monday, September 24, 2007
Dhamaal Da Kamaal
I guess it is a little too late to write a review on the movie nor do I want to have just another review out there. I happened to see Dhamaal this weekend and this is certainly a hilarious laugh riot. What I liked about the movie was it was clean fun, simple jokes, a lot of PJ's; No Double meaning or cheesy stuff. Asrani and Javed Jaffrey were at thier best, they seemed too natural for thier roles. Arshad Warsi seemed to be a bit lost and was not his usual self. What I did not realise during the movie but something that struck me when I was driving back home.. was that the movie had no heroines.. which is pretty unique for a hindi movie.. I can't remember any other bollywood movie which did not have any heroine in it.
The movie certainly makes itself in the all time comedy list along with the likes of Andaz Apna Apna, Hera Pheri, Golmaal, Angoor and others...
The movie certainly makes itself in the all time comedy list along with the likes of Andaz Apna Apna, Hera Pheri, Golmaal, Angoor and others...
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Socialistic Myth
In continuation of my previous two blogs on how the so called socialism can turn against you; here's yet another parable that depicts our so called socialistic justice.
________________________________________________
OLD VERSION.....
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant's a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MODERN VERSION
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant's a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house.
Medha Patkar goes on a fast alongwith other grasshoppers demanding that grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter.
Amnesty International and Koffi Annan criticizes the Indian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the grasshopper.
The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance).
Opposition MP's stage a walkout. Left parties call for "Bharat Bandh" in West Bengaland Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry. CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among ants and grasshoppers.
Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway Trains, aptly named as the 'Grasshopper Rath'.
Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the Prevention of Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act [POTAGA]", with effect from the beginning of the winter.
The ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and,having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.
Arundhati Roy calls it "a triumph of justice". Lalu calls it 'Socialistic Justice'. CPM calls it the 'revolutionary resurgence of the downtrodden'
Koffi Annan invites the grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly.
*****************************************************
Many years later...
The ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi billion dollar company in silicon valley.
100s of grasshoppers die of starvation somewhere in India.
_______________________________________________
So Mr Prime Minister, you want to make sure that you stay on the right course. We are at a stage where the brain drain is on a low and a lot of guys are looking at making a come back to India. You do not want this trend to stop.
________________________________________________
OLD VERSION.....
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant's a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MODERN VERSION
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant's a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house.
Medha Patkar goes on a fast alongwith other grasshoppers demanding that grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter.
Amnesty International and Koffi Annan criticizes the Indian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the grasshopper.
The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance).
Opposition MP's stage a walkout. Left parties call for "Bharat Bandh" in West Bengaland Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry. CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among ants and grasshoppers.
Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway Trains, aptly named as the 'Grasshopper Rath'.
Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the Prevention of Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act [POTAGA]", with effect from the beginning of the winter.
The ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and,having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.
Arundhati Roy calls it "a triumph of justice". Lalu calls it 'Socialistic Justice'. CPM calls it the 'revolutionary resurgence of the downtrodden'
Koffi Annan invites the grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly.
*****************************************************
Many years later...
The ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi billion dollar company in silicon valley.
100s of grasshoppers die of starvation somewhere in India.
_______________________________________________
So Mr Prime Minister, you want to make sure that you stay on the right course. We are at a stage where the brain drain is on a low and a lot of guys are looking at making a come back to India. You do not want this trend to stop.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Taxation Demystified
An article pulled off the net but awesome.....
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until on day, the owner threw them a curve.
"Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings) .
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings) .
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got TEN times more than I!"
"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We! didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, dear people, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
This was developed by Prof.David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. Professor of Economics, University of Georgia
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until on day, the owner threw them a curve.
"Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings) .
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings) .
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got TEN times more than I!"
"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We! didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, dear people, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
This was developed by Prof.David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. Professor of Economics, University of Georgia
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Our Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman is back
Our friendly neighbourhood spiderman is back with a bang. This time it's a mega melodrama with all the right ingrediants to keep the audience on the edge of thier seats for the 2.5 hrs. There is humor, Action, Emotion, Love, Jealousy and Hatred.
Spidey seems to be attracting more villians. They add two more nemesis, the Sand man and another arachnid Venom apart from the second gen Green Goblin (Harry Osborn)
Spidey gets taken over by an outer space host that enhances his super powers but the one's on his dark side. We can see spidey turning into a casanova. He gives some groovy moves, flirts around and gives a spidey kiss.He has to fight a internal battle a kinda Dr Jekyl n Mr Hyde... the super hero vs sycophant.
Sandman comes out as a result of a phsyics experiment where he is de-molecuralized and resurrects from sand.
When spidey finally gets to sway away from his dark side, the host takes over Topher and makes him venom (his dark side).Venom has an arachnid suit similar to Spidey but has a vicious face.
The film is filled with a lot of humorous moment as spidey tries to be a casanova, who gives some saturday night groovy moves. The Boss of Daily Buggle is also entertaining.
The movie is full of feel good factors; Peter Parker forgives Sandman, who had killed his uncle; Harry turns away from the effect of Green Goblin and turns around to help Spidey fight Sandman and Venom.
Overall, it's a movie that is worth watching. The movie seems to be the last of the series as the character trail ends here.
Spidey seems to be attracting more villians. They add two more nemesis, the Sand man and another arachnid Venom apart from the second gen Green Goblin (Harry Osborn)
Spidey gets taken over by an outer space host that enhances his super powers but the one's on his dark side. We can see spidey turning into a casanova. He gives some groovy moves, flirts around and gives a spidey kiss.He has to fight a internal battle a kinda Dr Jekyl n Mr Hyde... the super hero vs sycophant.
Sandman comes out as a result of a phsyics experiment where he is de-molecuralized and resurrects from sand.
When spidey finally gets to sway away from his dark side, the host takes over Topher and makes him venom (his dark side).Venom has an arachnid suit similar to Spidey but has a vicious face.
The film is filled with a lot of humorous moment as spidey tries to be a casanova, who gives some saturday night groovy moves. The Boss of Daily Buggle is also entertaining.
The movie is full of feel good factors; Peter Parker forgives Sandman, who had killed his uncle; Harry turns away from the effect of Green Goblin and turns around to help Spidey fight Sandman and Venom.
Overall, it's a movie that is worth watching. The movie seems to be the last of the series as the character trail ends here.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Don - The Remake or Remix
Don ka remake karna muskil hi nahin, na munkin hain
When I saw the New Don, a few months earlier, I felt it was kinda different from the Don I remember; So I spent the weekend watching both the Don movies; the 1978 Javed Akhtar and 2006 Farhan Akhtar versions. I would classify this a remix rather than remake. Farhan is obviously INSPIRED by a lot of movies and has made a mdeley into the original plot of Don.
The main plot has been inspired by DOn (obviously) as well as Face off. The stunt scenes have been inspired from The Matrix, Rush Hour and XXX(the action movie.. don't get any wrong ideas here).
Some salient differences are
1. In the original movie Don dies, but in the remix version, he is replaced.. call it the face off twist.
2. In the end, Inspector D'Silva turns out to be the Vardhan as opposed to the Interpol Malik ... playing the public mindset i guess
3. Jasjeet has been promoted from a small time treasury crook to the upscale computer expert aka hacker.
4. The seventies slogan was Hum Do Humare Do, the new slogan is have a single Kid. This idea is promoted by Jasjeet having a single kid as opposed to 2 kids.
Now the bigger question, Whoz the Don of the Indian movies Big B or SRK... seems to have been the buzz with media a few weeks back. Although am not a mega fan of the Big B, there is no denying that pretty boy SRK is nowhere close. While Big B plays Don and Vijay with 2 different personalities; SRK does a cliche job at it.
As far as acting is concened, I believe Aamir and Ajay Devgan are much above SRK's rank. Abhishek bacchan has been evolving a lot and his versatile acting in the Bunty n Bubli as well as Bluffmaster shows an evolving star.. SRK... face it... You can't do a stereo role and try to call yourself the Baadhshah
When I saw the New Don, a few months earlier, I felt it was kinda different from the Don I remember; So I spent the weekend watching both the Don movies; the 1978 Javed Akhtar and 2006 Farhan Akhtar versions. I would classify this a remix rather than remake. Farhan is obviously INSPIRED by a lot of movies and has made a mdeley into the original plot of Don.
The main plot has been inspired by DOn (obviously) as well as Face off. The stunt scenes have been inspired from The Matrix, Rush Hour and XXX(the action movie.. don't get any wrong ideas here).
Some salient differences are
1. In the original movie Don dies, but in the remix version, he is replaced.. call it the face off twist.
2. In the end, Inspector D'Silva turns out to be the Vardhan as opposed to the Interpol Malik ... playing the public mindset i guess
3. Jasjeet has been promoted from a small time treasury crook to the upscale computer expert aka hacker.
4. The seventies slogan was Hum Do Humare Do, the new slogan is have a single Kid. This idea is promoted by Jasjeet having a single kid as opposed to 2 kids.
Now the bigger question, Whoz the Don of the Indian movies Big B or SRK... seems to have been the buzz with media a few weeks back. Although am not a mega fan of the Big B, there is no denying that pretty boy SRK is nowhere close. While Big B plays Don and Vijay with 2 different personalities; SRK does a cliche job at it.
As far as acting is concened, I believe Aamir and Ajay Devgan are much above SRK's rank. Abhishek bacchan has been evolving a lot and his versatile acting in the Bunty n Bubli as well as Bluffmaster shows an evolving star.. SRK... face it... You can't do a stereo role and try to call yourself the Baadhshah
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