No Facebook. No Twitter. Oh my god how do the Chinese live. They have their own Baidu and Kaixin . China is magnificently huge with naturally sweet people who surprisingly love the sarees and Indians. My tryst with China started with the flight from Bangalore to HongKong. I was cursing the tour operators for having put me in the Bangalore but it was blessing in disguise when we were the first team to arrive the Hotel. It gave us the time to settle down. Having a syndicated tour operator always has more disadvantages than advantages. I will write a separate post on why you should backpack instead of operating tours.

First day went in long travel and ended up in a Indian restaurant (tour operator). If you are in foreign and if you are Indian – you are always considered to be North Indians – too bad. Beijing is the only city we are visiting in Mainland China. Man, you will get amazed at the infrastructure they have put up. The whole city is linked up with ring roads which connect most part of the city, overhead or multi level bridges where ever needed, AC buses and electric buses (fascinating). Audis and Volkswagens plying around with Hyundai Elantras as standard taxis, even saw a few Rolls Royces. Surprisingly there were very less motorcycles spotted and even lesser bicycles. The people are very friendly except for those who sell in shops and hawkers. They can easily cheat you with sweet talk one of the girls told me that I look charming (!!!?) and asked for a date just  to sell a pull over worth 30 Yuans for 100.

If Great wall of China was old China architectural beauty, Bird’s next represents the liberated China. You can see girls in micro mini skirts, lovers closely tugged in public places and open sex shops on the roads. If that’s the one end, I also saw a small girl begging for money to eat and a small boy selling balloons to pull off his livelihood. The other side of liberalization was evident in China too. May be a trip to hinterland will give you more such examples. I was so determined to touch the Tianamen square and watch the road where the iconic guy stood in front of the barrage of tanks to fight against oppression. Initially the tour operator had a pass through but I fought with our guide to take us for a stroll in the square. When i saw those buildings and the place where it all happened, it was chilling. I could hear the whirling sounds of 1000s of people who died that day. Nobody including our guide wants to talk about it. There was a security check on baggage when we entered the square. War monument, Mao Tse Tung’s Mausoleum, National Musuem, National Hall – nothing fascinated me except for the feeling that this place has taken the lives of those students who wanted democracy

May be they have moved on, may be this radical change is what they expected. The liberated china which works tirelessly towards development, which wants to conquer the world economically, which wants to be friendly with people, which wants to learn English at every chance they get, which wants to respect the cultures of other nations and which wants to take over your hearts rather than your money. If India does half of what the Chinese had done, India would have been economic super power already. But to be true, we haven’t done even 5% of it. My love with China started with my NEP presentation in MBA and this trip just reinforced it. I will come back to this country to explore more and fall in love all over again

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You get a ticket to one of the most awaited movies of the year. When you step in to the theater, you are given one of the most complex mazes on the giant screen to solve. How would you feel? Feel like killing the director? But what if you fall in love with the brilliance of the movie maker? Inception is one such rare gem.

Inception is just like its plot. Impossibly awesome, overtly brilliant and challenges you every moment. It’s part heist, part psycho thriller, part James Bondish topped with Kubrick style intelligence. Cobb (Leonardo Di Caprio) is a mind extractor who can skillfully get in to the minds of people to extract information. Saito (Ken Watanabe) one of the corporate head honcho wants Cobb to incept an idea in to his competitors mind. A idea that will break the biggest energy conglomerate. What Cobb will get is an amnesty to get back in to US and be with his children. Cobb forms his team along with his associate Arthur (Joseph Gordon Levitt), who researches the subjects before the actual extraction. Ariadne (Ellen Page), a master architect who creates dream spaces, Eames ( Tom Hardy), who can forge as anybody inside the dream and Yusuf (Dileep Rao) who creates compounds thats needed to make people get in to the dream world are the team members. Cobb in between needs to fight his wife Mal (Marion Cottilard) inside the dreams who tries to sabotage the whole plan.

Inception demands your concentration throughout the movie and earns it with respect. Not a single scene is wasted, not a single dialogue is unwanted and never does it lag in pace.   The conceptualisation of dreams, sequences and way its deftly handled shows the mastery of Christopher Nolan in every frame. The way he has handled his dialogues is just mind blowing. The different connotations when the same statements given by 3 different people are just amazing. What an actor Dicaprio has become, the way he eases through Cobb’s character and his interactions with Marion and Ellen Page are brilliantly done. The supporting cast have done their job so perfectly. Hans Zimmer’s background score is one of the strengths of the movie.

Inception is inexplicably good because it challenges the viewer with its smartness. It makes you think every moment. Even a momentary slip would get you confused. It’s unbelievably flawless and a sincere attempt to redefine movies. It’s a very long time that a movie has made you think.

Christopher Nolan has made a good shot at the seat of Stanley Kubrick’s heir. Watch Inception as much as you can provided you have your totem with you. I needed it when i came out of the theater :)

A 4.5/5 and miss it at your own peril.

P.S: I am going to check the movie again in a hope to find a mistake

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Sometimes you just earnestly wish that some movies become classics but those just flatter to deceive you because of a few bad choices. Madrasapattinam is one of that.

From the title slides which have a stark resemblance to the title card sequence of Lagaan, you just get reminded of Titanic  all through the movie but Madrasapattinam’s uniqueness stays with the technical wizardry and the genuine attempt of the actors to present a perfect love story (almost)…

The movie starts with a death of Amy’s husband and she for some reason wants to come back to India. Accompanied by her grand daughter, she lands in chennai in search of Parithi (Arya) with a photo taken 65 years back. You are taken back to 1947 when India is preparing for it’s independence when the young Amy (Amy Jackson), daughter of the governor comes to Chennai to live with her father. She meets Parithi, a dhobi from Washermenpet area in interesting circumstances. After a few interludes, they both fall in love whereas Amy is forcibly engaged to Robert Ellis (Alex O’Neill), the commissioner of Police. Parithi enters in to a conflict with Robert in a land acquisition issue and the conflict ensues. At the brink of India’s independence, the lovers try to elope while the Governor and Robert plot the killing of Parithi. In between the fights, Parithi kills Robert and Amy leaves injured Parithi below the Basin Bridge. Whether Amy finds Parithi after 65 years is told in a interesting but predictable climax.

Pic Courtesy: www.galatta.com

The real heroes of the movie are the trio of Nirav Shah, Antony and Selvakumr. Nirav Shah proves why he is the most wanted lens man in the country (he rejected Endhiran by the way). Extremely different color tones, beautiful lighting of the Central Station and the grandeur of Old Madras creates a beautiful poem in front of your eyes. Antony on the other hand, packing his fast paced cuts in his attic settled down for a more subtle editing techniques. The back and forth time line editing and perfect synching of the timeline is a treat to watch even though the first half seems to be little longer. Selvakumar (remember the broken lighthouse in Iyarkai) wows the audience with remarkable research he has done for the sets. Central Station,  Basin Bridge, Mount Road, Washermenpet, exotic  Chennai Tramways and even Lux ads amaze you in every frame. The CG work of iCube (Mumbai) is so perfect that you can’t say the difference in most of the scenes. If you have seen the movie, the whole top of Central Station is created through CG (Courtesy: Vijay Tv Special Program) – interesting isn’t it?

I thought Arya is going to cakewalk the role while Amy will be the glamdoll of the movie. It actually became the topsy turvy with Arya portraying stoned expressions and Amy giving her best in every scene. In fact in the climax scene where she tries to save Arya below the bridge, she just nominated herself for a few awards. The supporting cast of Nasser, Balasingh, the friends and Vijay’s usual suspects from Poi Solla Porom do their parts perfectly. Alex O’Neill as the menacing Robert  Ellis provides the ample antagonism and evokes sympathy when he asks “Kill Me? Why? For loving you”. Another important mention should be old Amy (Carla), to be true she has acted better than Arya in the movie. Even the smallest characters like the Taxi Driver, the ever sleeping lazy guy, Police Sub Inspector stay in your mind after the movie. Last but not the least, we have lost one of the finest actors, VMC Haneefa and it’s hard to believe that this is his last movie.

Pic Courtesy: www.galatta.com

The real villain of the movie is GV Prakash Kumar. Yes the love theme is so mellifluous and the Pookul Pookum’s orchestration sinks your heart. But why GV you needed 3 Hindi Singers to sing the three most beautiful songs of the movie. While Sonu Nigam scrapes through, Udit Naryanan and Roop Kumar Rathod murder Na.Muthukumar’s lyrics like butchers. It sounds awkward to listen to Udit when he pronounces செந்தமிழ் (Senthamizh) and it took me at least 3 listening to find the word ‘Aaruyire’ in Roop Kumar Rathod’s rendering. ( Can the Tamizh saviors formulate a rule that we need correct pronunciations of the wonderful Tamil Lyrics? It really hurts people like me who love the language). The other important let down in GV’s music was his BGM in the important scenes like the scene where Amy saves Arya  and the climax. The climax scene should leave the audience in tears but the music was so mediocre that it became just another climax scene. GV needs to learn from pros like Ilayaraja and James Horner. He just disappoints. I think GV was Vijay’s only mistake.

Vijay and AGS Cinemas should be congratulated for taking back in times and trying a risky project. Yes the eternal love looks like Titanic sans the painting scene of course but the research and recreation of Madras wows you. Yes there are mistakes like Robert Ellis and the Governor getting to speak Tamil suddenly and bad casting in the old characters. The deft screenplay and grandeur of Madrasapattinam makes it as one of the best movies this year. It just loses the classic status by a whisker.

A 3.5/5 for Nirav Shah, Selvakumar, Antony and Vijay. Don’t miss this wonderful ride to Madharasapattinam to visit the things we miss in Chennai.

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I never like to cry. In fact I hate crying because I feel it shows your weakness but sometimes tears are more meaningful than words. I dunno how many of you saw “Nadodigal”, a Tamil movie which came in 2009. The movie was directed by Samudrakani with Sasikumar in the lead. It’s about 3 friends who help another friend to succeed in love and how it affects their own life. One lady in the movie by the name Abhinaya, who acted as Sasikumar’s sister got rave reviews for her portrayal. She recently won her First award for Best Supporting Actress in the annual Vijay Awards conducted by Vijay TV….When i saw the video, tears rolled down from my eyes instantly… Do you want to know why?

Check the video

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Mani Rathnam’s movie for me is like Rajini Movie for Rajini Fan. In fact, I find it difficult to eliminate his movies in my list of 50 Tamil Movies to watch before you die because the last two decades he redefined the movies not only in Tamil Nadu but India. The experimentations that a few directors speak were made by this prolific director long back through his movies.  But somehow I have become a reluctant fan who is waiting to dump my beloved with his last few movies. Be it futile attempt to recreate Amores Perros in Ayutha Yezuthu (Yuva) or commercially successful Guru, I am forced to believe he is losing his aura and magic…Raavanan just substantiated my belief.

Raavanan is a modern adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana ( a few claim that it’s an adaptation of Veerappan Story- the only link being the name of the protagonist) but the director says it’s his take on caste differences in rural India. I would have agreed to Director’s claim if i haven’t seen the inherent symbolisms spread all over the movie from the start. I am not going to go for the synopsis of the movie because you don’t need to know the story if you know the epic except that in here Raavanan is the protagonist and Ram is the antagonist. Yes, there is a little twist at the end.

image courtesy - Raavan Facebook Page

The biggest problem of Raavanan it looks like a Lonely Planet documentary on Kerala by a celebrated director rather than a movie. The characters are badly defined, the screenplay lags at many points with unimpressive acting performances. Yes, Vikram as Veeraiyan shows his spark of brilliance when he expresses his love to Ragini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) but how many times we have seen him portraying similar characters. He has become stereotypical and predictable. Yes, Aishwarya was fantastic in the scene where she reacts to Veeraiyan’s flash back. But her expressions fail her miserably throughout the parts of the movie ( and that voice – Rohini? – uff, incorrigible) . Prithviraj as Dev (Ragini’s Husband) looks jaded for most of the movie, if you are a policeman doesn’t mean that you need to be stiff as a stone. But he has is moments when he tortures Veeraiyan’s brother in law who is injured and during his confrontation scene with Ragini in Train after saving her.

As usual the supporting cast takes the glory, Karthik and Prabu are so brilliant on screen that you wish they got more time on screen. These two veterans just cake walk their characters with suave and style. They are natural born actors, aren’t they? One more actor who stole the screen in the limited time she had is Priya Mani as Vennila ( Veeraiyan’s Sister) who becomes the focal point for the kidnap and revenge.

Image Courtesy - Raavan Facebook Page

I don’t deny that movie will be one of the most beautiful movies ever shot. Every frame can make up a desktop wallpaper in your PC. Santhosh Sivan has written a sonnet in camera whereas the Art work of Sameer Chanda is spell binding. That mandap like setup on the river and the broken goddess statue, are astounding. I can’t say the same thing with AR Rahman’s music. Yes couple of songs are heart wrenching ( Usure and Kaattu Siruki ), even the final song (not in the original album) is excellent but this is his worst performance when it comes to the back ground score. The first half is brash, erratic, loud and I think he was absolutely clueless on what the characters are made of. Every time, Vikram is shown on the screen in a serious mood, he starts with that loud theme sound and suddenly he switches to soft instrumentals  – jumpy. I dunno why used Kaatu Siruki for both Aishwarya and Priya Mani (mismatch?). He pulls back in the second half but this one is the most unimpressive BGM score from AR Rahman ever. I loved his work in VTV but I am taking back my words that he has graduated to the next level in BGM. Ilayaraja, James Horner, Ennio Moricone and Mancini are called Maestros not because of their songs but because of the back ground scores and original soundtracks

Image Courtesy - Raavan Facebook Page

The dialogues are too childish for a movie of this genre (Suhasini) and editing is a big let down ( Sreekar Prasad) as the 2 hr and odd movie seems to be a drag.

I don’t understand why he needs to deliberately show the symbolisms to represent Ramayana like hopping of Karthik, catching Priya Mani by the nose, polygraph test etc., where is the subtelty of portraying Mahabaratha in Dalapathi gone. Although his characters were grey in his previous movies, the audience were able to understand the intentions of those characters whereas in Raavanan, although he claims the characters to be black and white, the characters are confusing because of the extremely unclear portrayals. The way he is trying to establish the North Indian locales as Tirunelveli dampened the effect of the situations even more..
As a whole, Raavanan will mark the lowest point of Mani in his career. From the days of Pallavi Anu Pallavi, he has raised his benchmark to a newer level with every movie he has made. Even Mani needs a bad movie so that we appreciate his classics. Let Raavanan be the one and only from him.

2/5 only for the Cinematography, Artwork and few brilliant scenes. Skip it if you wish, it’s not a must watch…

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Although I wrote this post for Blog Adda First Crush Contest, I should thank them for giving me an opportunity for making blog about my first crush. This post is waiting for a long time in my list. I dunno whether I will win this contest, but writing about it feels so wonderful. Thank you Blog Adda…

“Patrick”, that was the first time I heard her calling my name with her sweet voice. But it was too late…

I am a small towner, Thanjavur – if you have a car you can measure the length and breadth of the town in half an hour but it’s beautiful, peaceful and laid back. I studied in a boys school, not that my parents forced me to but all the Christian school except one was either boys or girls school. There was a  Hindu Co-Ed school, where my heroine was studying without my knowledge for years.

The only place you can even see girls were inter school competitions which happen once in a blue moon in our towns. And a short shy boy like me never had a chance to talk to a girl. I never complained about it and girls ( whoever i see) never fascinated me. May be my brain was waiting to release the love hormones only when i see her. Cometh the 10th standard, cometh the special tuitions. Although I was going to the same tuition master for 9th standard math tuitions, that was the first day, myself and my friends were gearing up for 10th tuitions, just because we will have girls in the class.

The tuition master had a small room in his terrace where the tuition classes happen and I always hop the stairs. It just gives me a good feeling to always run the stairs. I had no idea the hop that day is going to be as memorable that I have ended up writing a blog post about it. As I hopped on to reach the last stair, I heard a sound “sssss” which forced a break on my fast running legs. I raised my eyes to see one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen, she was standing with her eyes closed and hands on her head fearing a collision with me. She slowly opened her eyes and we looked at each other for few moments. That unforgettable moment is still precious, she passed me and her white churidhar touched me without touching – Cinematic ? But that’s how I met her. Life is stranger than fiction.

I didn’t realize that she is going to rule my life for the next two years. She ruled my studies, my dressing, my music, my poems, my time, my dreams – everything in my life, without even speaking a single word to me. Her name was ‘S’ ( for obvious reasons) and her father was a doctor. My dad was a doctor too ( +1). She practiced Hindusim and me, a Christian (-2 or -100?). She was taller than me (-2), fairer than me (-2) and her brother was a senior in my school (-2). All the stars were in downward spiral just like a recession economy. But there was one primary thing that has to happen, she has to like me , which is extremely difficult to achieve.

My shady flower shirts became stripes and checks, my pants became darker and simple. I started spending half an hour in front of the mirror shaping and reshaping my hair style but i ended up with the same hair style every other day. I started writing love themed poems in Tamil. Ilayaraja’s love songs became my national anthem.. I even wrote a novel with me as the hero and she as the heroine. My dreams started from Star wars and ended up in pre historic Chola era but consistently the end will be “me kissing her and we living happily ever after”. I even had a Titanic Dream ( Don’t ask me which scene, though). One year had passed admiring her smiles, scared eyes, cajoling her friends, solving maths but i never had the guts to walk up to her and talk. The tenth board exam holidays were painful. I never had the chance to see her. A few times i roamed around her house to just get a glimpse of her but it was not destined to happen. I scored 87% in 10th but i think she scored a little better than me. Maths tuitions are always lucky for me, I ended up in the same maths tuition batch as hers in 11th too. I still didn’t get the courage to talk to her.

Photo Credit: D Sharon Pruitt through Creative Commons

If there was a Hero and Heroine, there should be villain too. There came the villain from my own class, R. He was dark, average built but not handsome (even if he was, would i have accepted?). This guy wily and wise, he had two things which i didn’t have. Guts and people to support. Girls do like guys who come up to them and speak out. He did and she started talking back. Then started a slew of rumors, hear-says and news “He gave card for her birthday”, “She accepted it, ” they went to the ice cream parlor”, “they are talking daily after the tuition in ****** street”. Rumors are like a cut but when you see with your eyes it’s a stab. I once saw them smiling at each other and waving hands. A tear drop forced itself from my eyes. My friend asked “Were you serious?” I sadly replied “Do you think my poems are just farce?”. That day i decided I don’t need this girl. Why should i yearn for some one who doesn’t even know that i like her. Why should i cry for some one and lose my happiness just for a school time crush. I went back home and wrote a farewell letter in my diary for one last time.

Photo Credit: iDreamer through Pringoo

May be it was because of anger, may be it was because of in-competitiveness, may be because it was just a crush but I just decided not to pursue but the thoughts never died. I heard that they fought with each other. They even had a fight in the tuition and he damaged her TVS champ. I just walked off the scene as I could not see her crying (may be I wasn’t strong enough to fight him ). The tuition master asked him not to come for the tuition. Nobody talked about the fights. Nobody knew whether it was love. But still I didn’t get the guts to talk to her.

My friend’s family built a new house opposite to our house and she was also invited for the house warming ceremony. We friends were there for sometime and left to our usual meeting place. But my mom stayed back longer. My mom was very sick at that time. So she was sitting on a chair and S came to her, introduced herself and started speaking to her. Nobody knew what they spoke. My mom asked me later “who is that girl?” I said “meeee” ( that’s the short form of mummy).

My life changed after my mom’s demise.I just left that my first love was a distant dream. I still didn’t get the courage to talk to her. I moved on. Did my engineering and met my best friend in college. S got in to a girl’s college in the same town. We never got a chance to meet. Final year, after I got admission in to my MBA, I accompanied my friend for Honeywell Campus in a near by college. My friend is from Mech Engg and a girl in Mech dept is a rarity. We were sitting in the tree shade fighting at each other as we always do, when I heard a sweet voice calling “Patrick”. I just turned back to see S in white churidhar (man she knew how to dress). I sprung up with a big smile on my face (my friend said I was drooling) and started chatting with S. We were just chatting about college, work, MBA etc but my heart was not beating faster, nor my mouth was dry. I could see her eyes and speak. My eyes never moved to her beautiful lips nor it noticed the curl in her hair. I realized I have moved on. I shook my hands with her and turned back to see my friend with the most fieriest eyes in the world. She just said “hop in the bike. We are going home”. Whatever she spoke or did is censored here but I understood that girls are very possessive (painful guys).

The end ??- not yet people. Roll on to 2006, a bunch of friends including me met in a friend brother’s marriage. One guy said “Machi, S got married”. I exclaimed “What?”. I was neither happy nor sad but a slight tinge of disappointment sat in my face. Another friend2 came and sat next to me, “Hey did you know this news. Just now I heard, S got married”. He exclaimed with a same expression “What? Who is that lucky guy?” friend 1 with a sad tone ” I think a doctor from UK” friend 3, who was taking photographs of the wedding “What are you guys gossiping?”.

Friend 2 “Did you know S got married?”

Friend 3 with the same old disappointing expression “Semma figure machi” ( a local slang meaning a beautiful girl)

“You too Brutus” was my expression. I dunno whether to laugh or cry. I just understood it’s natural for any guy to have a crush on a beautiful girl but real love is more than just a crush. Because I was in love when we were discussing this. Nobody knows whether she loved anyone in her life but I wished she should have wonderful happy family. I still don’t know whether she knew about my crush or did I really love her? I dunno. But somethings are better unsaid.

A unspoken love is more precious because it can never be broken

Me in introspection

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I remember receiving this mail during the last World Cup. A letter which every Football loving husband would love to give his wife but couldn’t. I suddenly thought about this at this time when Italy fighting Paraguay, don’t ask me why . Thanks to Gmail which stores all your non-sensical mails forever, i mined my old mails to get this one. Enjoy it and if you want to send to it to your Wife / Girl Friend, copy it and send it. But don’t forget to credit the original writer, whoever it is

1. From 11 June to 11 July 2010, you should read the sports section of the newspaper so that you are aware of what is going on regarding the World Cup, and that way you will be able to join in the conversations. If you fail to do this, then you will be looked at in a bad way, or you will be totally ignored. DO NOT complain about not receiving any attention.

2. During the World Cup, the television is mine, at all times, without any exceptions. If you even take a glimpse of the remote control, you will lose it (your eye).

3. If you have to pass by in front of the TV during a game, I don’t mind, as long as you do it crawling on the floor and without distracting me.

4. During the games I will be blind, deaf and mute, unless I require a refill of my drink or something to eat. You are out of your mind if you expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the telephone.

5. It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV in the afternoon, unless they replay a good game that I missed.

6. Please, please, please!! If you see me upset because one of my teams is losing, DO NOT say “get over it, its only a game”, or “don’t worry, they’ll win next time”. If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never ever know more about football than me and your so called “words of encouragement” will only lead to a  divorce.

photo credit: CLF
7. You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the halftime score is pleasing me. In addition, please note I am saying “one” game; hence do not use the World Cup as a nice cheesy excuse to “spend time together”.

8. The replays of the goals are very important. I don’t care if I have seen them or I haven’t seen them, I want to see them again. Many times.

9. Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any other child related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance because:
a) I will not go,
b) I will not go, and
c) I will not go.

10. But, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Sunday to watch a game, we will be there in a flash.

11. The daily World Cup highlights show on TV every night is just as important as the games themselves. Do not even think about saying “but you have already seen this…why don’t you change the channel to something we can all watch?” because, the reply will be, “Refer to Rule #2 of this list”.

12. And finally, please save your expressions such as “Thank God the World Cup is only every 4 years”. I am immune to these words, because after this comes the Champions League, Italian League, Spanish League, Premier League, FA Cup, etc.

Thank you for your cooperation.
Your Loving Hus,

May be this will not be given to a lady who loves football like the Husband does, otherwise don’t mistake me ladies if your boy friends and husbands give this letter to you ..Jus kidding

PS: Credit to the original creator whoever it is

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In simple words if I have to describe my relationship with Maestro Ilayaraja’s Music, I would say “I grew up with my mom and maestro’s music”. I was cursing myself when I could not attend the “andrum indrum endrum” – the first live show of Raaja a few years back but when this “Nothing But Wind” live orchestral concert was announced I was determined to go at any cost. Although he was not performing, it was organised by his daughter Bavatharini and I know she would not make a mockery of it.

At around 7.05 when I entered the auditorium, Maestro, Vaali and Uttam Singh were on stage to light the lamp and inaugurate the show. Bavatharini rendered the ever favourite Janani Janani to invoke the blessings of God. Originally, Nothing But Wind is an Indian – Western fusion album composed and orchestrated by Ilayaraja, the flute exclusively performed by Hari Prasad Chaurasia with an 100 piece orchestra. The album was released in 1988. There are 5 musical pieces in the album – Singing Self, Song of Soul, Composer’s Breath, Mozart I love you, and Nothing But Wind. Reproducing the genius of a music with a 30 piece orchestra and accompaniments is not a joke. I would say they gave a fitting tribute to the original.

Navin Iyer played what Hari Prasad Chaurasia took 7 days to record and reproducing the musical genius’ with with a few changes of flutes in a live performance – absolutely scintillating. He was overwhelmed when Raaja applauded and blessed him. Prabakar, who is conducting for Raaja for the past 30 years played the solo violin and managed the orchestra to perfection. It was amazing to hear that he wrote the whole set of notes by listening to the CD of the original as Bavatharini couldn’t find the original notes of Raaja. The 30 Piece orchestra played the perfect foil for Navin and Prabakar. After the completion of every piece there was a standing ovation from the crowd and when Nothing but wind ended, tears were waiting to break down from my eyes. I joined the 1000 odd fans in unison to applaud for the genius and the re-creators.

It was followed by a felicitation ceremony and the fans were treated with interesting anecdotes from Uttam Singh and Raaja. It seems initially Hari Prasad Chaurasia saw the musical notes and said it was simple. But when he met, Raaja explained the notes to him, he was reluctant to do it. Once he started playing for the recording, he fell in love with the notes and even said that he can’t play with a single flute. It took 7 days to record the 5 musical pieces for which Raaja took only half an hour per piece to write them. There was a sixth piece which didn’t make it to the original record and guess who got the opportunity to take it to his movie – Kamal Hassan and the song – wait till the end of the post.

Raaja felicitated each and every person who was responsible for the concert to happen. It was very heartening to see even sound engineers getting felicitated for the wonderful job. Then followed a few songs of Raaja rendered by young singers – Thenpandi Seemaiyile, Ennama Kannu, Gumm Summ Gumm, Oru Poongavanam but the lateral part of show was blown away by the rendering of Anjali Anjali by Yethishwar (Karthik Raja’s Son) and the mind blowing performance of Pop Shalini and Haricharan of Ithu oru Nila Kaalam from Tik Tik Tik.

The concert was soulful, perfect and magical in relative to innumerable crappy shows running all around. I just felt good sitting with a wonderful audience who were in pin-drop silence when the orchestra was performing except for a couple mobile ring-tones. As Baski said “Chennai proved that they intelligent audience of Cricket and Music alike”. And Baski along with Rohini played the perfect hosts. Baski with his own play of words and Rohini with her command in language looked perfect. It was Baski’s statement which drew the longest applause for him – ” if all the technologies and machines dies out today, there will be only Ilayaraja who can make music with only Harmonium” – Aye Baski ( if MSV can’t because of his health).

When everyone left the auditorium awed and vibrantly discussing about the concert, there was a voice “when is How to name it?” – ” Soon ” was the reply from Bavatharini – I said to myself – “the world is waiting”

P.S: The song that was taken by Kamal Hassan for his movie. Listen to it..Brilliance Personifed

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Group F

Group F features the last time World Champions, the team which gave nightmares to Argentina in the qualifying and two minnows. I think i can definitely predict the two teams which will make it to the second round from this group, it’s just that who makes it to the top as they will have to play the Group E teams in the second round

Italy

Nobody even gave a chance to Italy till the Semi-Finals in the 2006 world cup but they eventually became world champions through charismatic captaincy from Cannavaro and unmatched defence tactics. But this time around they don’t look like the side they were 4 years ago. The gifted players have become old war horses and Lippi doesn’t have any fresh legs to play with or he chose to leave them back in Italy. The last time they defended the World cup in 1986, they had a second round exit. Will they regain the world cup crown 30-70 for me.

Coach: Marcello Lippi

Star Players: Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo and Zambrotta

Prediction: A Second round exit if they finish second in the group because they have to fight the Dutch

Paraguay

Take any South American team, you will find brilliance written all over. Although they had a first round exit last time, the qualification campaign this time around is impressive. They won 10 games and a stunning 1-0 win over Argentina which almost ousted them. Led by an Argentinian coach, they are the potential spoiler of the tournament. The first game against Italy will decide who is going to lead the group

Coach: Gerardo Martino

Star Players: Roque Santa Cruz, Oscar Cardozo, Justo Villar and Nelson Haedo Valdez

New Zealand and Slovakia

Two of the most inexperienced teams in the competition. Slovakia is playing in their first world cup and New Zealand playing after 28 years. There are no major stars and the team is full of inexperienced players. In-fact only the captain and a young striker of New Zealand plays in an international league. I don’t think Paraguay or Italy will be foolish to let them win the matches. It’s all about gaining experience in this world cup

Coaches: Ricki Herbert (New Zealand) and Vladimir Weiss (Slovakia)

Star Players: Ryan Nelson, Chris Wood and Shane Smeltz (New Zealand). Stanislav Sestak, Robert Vittek and Marek Hamsik (Slovakia)

Group G

Here comes the real group of death. Every time it would be the Argentinians who will be put in to the gruesome Group of Death, this time it’s their bitter South American Counterparts who are in to it. Group G consists of Brazil, Ivory Cost, North Korea and Portugal

Brazil

The samba boys have the toughest draw in the competition but we are talking about 5 time  champions who are one of the best in the world. They have one of the best coaches, celebrated midfield and fearful defense. But the biggest problem would be their forwards because they are quite in experienced – will they able to make it against the tough oppositions?

Coach: Dunga

Star Players: Julio Caesar, Malcon, Ferreira Lucia, Kaka and Luis Fabiano

Predictions: No predictions for this group

Ivory Coast

The Elephants of Africa are put in to the grueling group of death for the second time in as many appearances. They did play well and gave a fight to the Argentinians and the Dutch but could not make finishing touches. A meticulous coach and a fabulous striker but the only weak link will be their defence and goalkeeper. But in the last warm up game, Drogba hurt himself in the hand, will he play the tournament is the million dollar questions

Coach: Sven Goran Eriksson

Star Players: Didier Drogba, Kola Toure and Didier Zokora

North Korea

When the first time North Korea qualified for the tournament in 1966, they stunned the world beating Italy and making it to the QF in which they lost to Portugal (5-3) after leading them 3-0. They never participated in the qualifying stages of major competition and they are back in the reckoning in 2010 world cup. They are the mystery boys of the world cup as nobody knows about the players from this military state. Let’s find about them together

Coach: Kim Jong Hun

Star Players: Based on some website info – Hong Yong-Jo, Ri Myong-Guk and Ri Jun-Il

Portugal

Well well will the cry baby control his tears and play for his country once?? Cristiano Ronaldo as his young counterpart Messi, has not played up to his potential for his country. But Portugal is not about Ronaldo like Argentina is not about Messi alone. Talented lot of players but had a big loss last week with Nani of Man U ruled out because of an injury. It’s going to be Ronaldo’s tactics against the defence of other teams

Coach: Carlos Queiroz

Star Players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul Meireles, Simao Sabrosa

Group H

The group which has the potential winner of the world cup – the spaniards. The others in the group are Chile, Honduras and Switzerland

Spain

The Euro 2008 champions  and one of the complete teams in the tournament with a world class goal keeper, solid defense, superb midfielders and two strikers who have 50 goals between them in the league season. A perfect masala for winning the world cup. I would reckon a semfinal berth for sure. And after that it’s anybody’s game

Coach: Del Bosque

Star Players: Xavi Hernandez, David Villa, Fernando Torress, Andre Ineista, Carlos Puyol and Iker Casillas

Prediction: A semi final berth

Chile

There were two players in 1998 world cup who sizzled for Chile – Salas and Zamarano. Now the stars have retired and the mantle has been taken over by the young team. The average age of the team is the lowest in the tournament as the whole team is youthful. They finished second in CONMEBOL and earning their rightful place in the tournament. I reckon they will finish second in the group but making to the QFs will be a tough ask

Coach: Marcela Bielsa

Star Players: Matias Fernandez, Alexis Sanchez and Humberto Suazo

Prediction: A second round chance

Honduras and Switzerland

Although this is the second time Honduras making it to the World Cup, there are a few players from the European League can make a difference. Switzerland on the other hand is the team which surprised a lot of teams last time around with their impeccable defence. I think the Swiss men didn’t give away a single goal in the 4 matches they played last time. Ukraine eliminated them by penalty shootout in the round of 16. Both the teams will look to spoil the party of Spain and Chile

Coaches: Reinaldo Rueda ( Honduras ) and Ottmar Hitzfield ( Switzerland )

Star Players: Wilson Palacios, Carlos Pavon and David Suazo (Honduras). Tranquillo Barnetta, Alexander Frei and Blaise Nkufo (Switzerland)

Prediction : The games against Chile and each other will be crucial

When you read the post, the first game has ended with 1-1 draw between South Africa and Mexico. the Beautiful Game has began beautifully. Let’s enjoy. My review will be up by tomorrow.

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Why have one group of Death when you can have 2? No, FIFA doesn’t do that but the quality of teams have improved so much in the teams that they can beat any team in the world on a given day.

The first group of death – Group D – Germany, Serbia, Australia and Ghana

Group D

Germany

3 time world champions. Finalists in the last major tournaments (Euro 2008). Semi – Finalists in the last world cup at home – Germany seems to be a real contender for the title. But there is one major blow which they need to encounter, they lost the skipper Michael Ballack to injury and he will miss the entire World Cup. One man can make so much difference?? yes for sure, he is the most prolific midfielder in world football currently. He can control the game so very well that he can pace up or slow down the game as per his whims.Will Schweinsteiger make up for his loss and the aging Miroslav Klose come up to the challenge one more time? The tough group will make it for Germany.

Coach: Joachim Low

Star Players: Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podoloski, Miroslav Klose, Mezut Ozil

Prediction: A second round and possible contenders for the title once again

Serbia

When they were Serbia and Montenegro 4 years back, they were decimated by the Argentenian brillance. I think that 33 pass goal will haunt them forever. But four years later, they qualified top of the group almost crashing the dreams of France in qualification. So what’s their biggest strength? Defence. When you have the most feared defence man in league football, you can say that with pride. Nemanja Vidic of Man U and the inspired team of defenders is will be the real strength of Serbia this time around. Can they curb the on slaught of Germany, Ghana and Australia. Lets wait and see

Coach: Radomer Antic

Star Players: Nemanja Vidic, Dejan Stankovic and Brainslav Ivanovic

Prediction: A second round chance

Australia

Soccerros as they are called. They play soccer the same way they play their cricket (vice versa??). Last time around, they would ousted the eventual champions Italy, but Italy held their nerves to get past the Australians. The team revolves around the two mid fielders from EPL, Tim Cahill of Everton and Brett Emerton of Blackburn but if you ask they have world class striker who can support them, the answer is NO. In fact, i would rate them as the weak link of this group but their first game with Germany will help us to know better.

Coach: Pim Verbeek

Star Players: Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, Mark Schwarzer and Lucas Neill

Prediction: The only team which has the least chance to go to second round from this group

Ghana

Four years back, the opening game saw them shocking the whole world by beating France. The African lions are one of the real contenders who can shake the predictions of this world cup. But the loss Michael Essien ( yes the same essien of Chelsea) is a big blow for Ghana. So from real contenders, they can become damp squib without Essien. Can they make it to second round? a big question mark

Coach: Milan Rajavec

Star Players: Sulley Muntari, Stephen Appaiah, Mario Balotelli and Matthew Amoah

Prediction: I hope for a second round for the African Lions

Group E

I would not call this tough group or easy group. This one is tricky group. Netherlands will have cake walk but the second place will be a tug of war. The group consists of Netherlands, Denmark, Cameroon and Japan

Netherlands

Have you ever seen a more unlucky team than the Orange brigade? Johan Cruff and Marco Van Basten could not bring them the glory which evaded them twice before in the last hurdle. Can the celebrated midfield of  Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and forward Robin Van Persie break the jinx of Netherlands? Every World Cup I expect them to do better than before, but they flatter to deceive. The biggest weakness they have is the inexperienced goalkeeper after the retirement of legendary Edwin Van Der Sar. This time around they have an easy group to qualify but will they be able to move beyond Quarters is a big question to be answered.

Coach: Bert van Marwijk

Star Players: Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Robin Van Persie, Dirk Kuyt and Mark van Bommel

Prediction: QF berth – beyond that – let’s wait and see

Denmark

Denmark is one of the complete teams in the current world cup. They have a composite defence and flaring attack which actually helped them qualify for world cup as group toppers. But this group they have two tough challenges from Netherlands and Cameroon . The most important game of the group will be when they meet Cameroon on June 19th which i believe eventually seal the second place of the group – a draw will make it even more interesting . The have impermeable defence but the biggest weakness will be their age.

Coach: Morten Olsen

Star Players: Thomas Sorenson, Daniel Agger, Dennis Rommedahl and Nicklas Bendtner

Prediction : Denmark Vs Cameroon

Cameroon

Can you forget Roger Milla’s dancing in front of the corner post in 1990 world cup? They stunned the whole world by making it to the QFs of their first world cup. It can happen all over again with the leadership of Samuel Eto. 36 Goals for Barcelona, he will be man marked to be curbed by the fiercest Netherlands and Denmark defenders. The biggest weakness would be whether the midfield will be able to support Eto’s surge.

Coach: Paul Le Guen

Star Players: Samuel Eto’o,  Carlos Kameni, Achille Emana and Rigobert Song

Prediction: Denmark Vs Cameroon??

Japan

The strength: defence – I think they gave up only very few goals last time around. The weakness : Attack. They don’t have the world class attack nor they can withstand the physical play of other teams. Japan will be the weakest team in the group but they can sprung up some surprises if they withstand the onslaught of other teams.

Coach: Takeshi Okada

Star Players: Yasuhito Endo, Keisuke Honda and Shinji Okazaki

Prediction: A first Round exit

– Post From My iPhone

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