Cricket: Indians black capped

1. All the hype proved to be just a wee bit longer the ephemeral.
2. Sehwag is a packed dynamite, fully capable of self destruction.
3. Yuvraj shalt remain susceptible to quality spin bowler.
4. Vettori is Indias nemesis in T20, one of the better slow bowlers in T20 format.
5. Raina proving to be a fast maturing brain, he put up a proud show.
6. India were three bowlers short if not two.
7. Rohit Sharma , need to find a reason to score soon or people have enough reasons with them to ask him sit out.
8. Dhoni will fight back, and ask his batting order to try a Plan B.
9. The batting order just never fired, I think it back fired.
10. Bredon McCullum shouldn’t open, he is as much in the mould of Sehwag, he is awesome down the order.
11. I had high hopes on Taylor, Southee, Guptill, most of them proved good.
12. Even a half good Jacob Oram is good enough for us, he and Albie morkel are one to watch out for.
13. Kiwis had a plan, did well to pass on the favourite tag to the Indians.
14. Harbhajan tried to check, Zaheer impressed, other were dumb founded.
15. This match is a story of partnerships, India hardly had any, Kiwis had enough.
16. Kiwi made a competitive score look very ordinary, Indian bowlers helped in the matters.
17. Irfan Pathan may be confused with his batting and bowling averages, they looked the same for this match.
18. Indians need some solid plans and executions abilities against Vettori the bowler and Vettori the captain.
19. Although two teams looked even man for man, the bowlers found it tough to put breaks and stifle the run scoring capabilities, this match see maximum sixes.
20. The stage is set for next T20 and the rest of the tour.*

*More on this point in the following cricket post.

About: Rahman is the man.

There is a saying in Hindi which would roughly translate to, “People salute the rising sun.” well, Rahmans at his gleaming best. I are really happy coz he won couple of Oscars. He talent is abundant and his genius (i.e ability + performances) is truly a bench mark. I am more proud of the acceptance speech even then the actually winning the nominations and subsequent Oscars statuettes. The nominations describe the work of a man while his speech has an authority of a true master. One thing that could have escaped anyone would have been his humility, which as of course the only way to show respect to your profession and fellow professionals. He wont the best original score and best sound. He won it with Gulzar. Well what do I say of respected Gulzar Sahab, even Clossusses and Goliaths would like dwarfs to him. He write and writes pretty much everything, poetry, lyrics, stories. He has done it all and and has been doing so sinces ages. But the way writing is not his only acumen. I think there would be couple of bloggers lining up to explain you more of Gulzar and then can surely tell you more than I can just think of him.

I am also proud of the fact that he got one for an Original score. You see original is something rare in context of Hindi movies. As much as we al Indians love Hindi movie, but a fact remains that Hindi movies continue to be a bundle of clichés, and one thinks of the word “Experiment” only when the film is promoted. But Hindi movies are a big have a big appeal to the society. You can love it, or hate it but surely you cannot ignore it.

So much so the movies have blossomed in India and have attracted attention since the first time it was introduced. This is no introduction to the Hindi film. Also congratulations going out Resul Pookutty, the sound engineer of Slumdog Millionaire. His previous works include Sawariya and Black another big movie, hugely popular, neatly done. He is alumnus to Film and Television Institute, Pune which have given India’s finest actors and technicians, take a bow to Resul Pookutty. Both the winners are themselves of examples of fighting against the odds and adersaries and rising right to the top.

There are two aspects of Slumdog Millionaire. The move has fast paced and since it is based on a book, the narration of the film keeps u glued to the chair. But I have to say that Slumdog Millionaire and Dark Knight were the only two movies I have of all the movies that were nominated. Congratulations also to all the other winners of various categories, includning people who won it for Slumdog. I really liked the pace of the movie. It is sum of parts, or a group of more then ten or more stories that covers the protagonist’s life and destiny. I haven’t read the book Q&A on which the movie is based.

Since morning three has been only one thing of the news channels. It’s been non-stop so much so that even the weatherman is beam a smile. I can just imagine queues of people and celebrities queuing up in front of studios and waiting patiently to offer there experts views and interviews. Success is relative more the success more the relatives. There has been a raging debate over ifs and hows and the whys of the film again naive experts views that all. But if the perception of India, may not changed and some may perceive India to be a poor country without realizing the Indian stock markets average volumes exchanges more than a few billion dollars on daily bases. The movie is set in poverty. The value of the production team was beautifully translated on to the celluloid, but I wonder if it were a purely Indian movie would we be hailing Slumdog Millionaire the film today? I don’t think I can be affirmative to that. Rahman off course is an exception, he deserves it. But the question is would Slumdog be nominated is it was directed and produced by an India production house and Indian director? I asked couple of friend this question their responses were a quick No, I just heard what I felt. Did it in some way helped to have a British Director and an American producer? If any Hindi music director is reading this, let me tell you Rahman won an Oscar for “original” soundtrack. Original is another word which has lost it is meaning, off course in the aspect of Hindi movies.

This is not particular to Slumdog alone, but I wonder if the movies are increasingly becoming a function of the market. So much so that if not marketed through proper marketing channels and marketing process that movie is unlikely to do well based on quality of performances, strength of the story and popularity of music. After watching few ordinary movies I am convinced that people will go out and check anything provided you create a demand. Delhi 6 another example in which an honest message and honest intentions of the director and the entire team couldn’t be put across. The script was weak and feeble and could support the wait of some of the finest actors that you can assemble for a movie. Since everyone in the movie distribution system recover the money even before the movie released the movie goers take on unfavorable odds.

Blog: Just before sunset

I loathe and enjoy sunset, the time between 5:30 and 7:30 in the evening is weird one for me. I really go mellow and look to unwind before gearing up for evening again. I just imagine myself, go to the seas shore, where the chaos of times are washed away by the waves. I wonder if I talk to the rocks, the sand, the setting sun, the fresh sea breeze, the birds flying by, and the hue in the sky. We all talk about how the day went by, what we did and what we didn’t, what we overlooked and what we missed. We talk about things that we thought we fathom but didn’t, a few things which we though we couldn’t do, but later realized we just had to initiate what we think is right and believing the good in ourselves and finding reasons in our own abilities and keep assuring ourselves that we have to push forward against all odds. There is simply no reason that true failure is not to have tried, ever.

Success is relative, a comparative scale of the human kind. There is one more, more the success more the relatives.There are some, who seek all and get all and stay unhappy, some seek nothing, get nothing and find nothing but their soul. There are so many things in my mind as off now, a book, a blog, a test match, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. It no complex kind nerdy thing, It is just says that, something about the position of electrons and their momentum.

Uncertainty principle states that the values of certain pairs of conjugate variables (position and momentum, for instance) cannot both be known with arbitrary precision. That is, the more precisely one property is known, the less precisely the other can be known.

It is for sure reading this blog won’t make you jump into research into Uncertainty Principle. I wish I could, but there are something about the subject which covers Uncertainty Principle that I detest, that to the point of disdain, Matrices’ and Mechanics. If there was single think in life I could change, it would be understanding of Mechanics and Matrices. It is a nightmare for me. My closet is to small to keep the skeletons of even one of those two, leave alone both together. It is regret for sure. The reason of regret that I believe is whatever we study, enforces beliefs in you, hence knowledge defies both beauty and youth.

By using my few milli-grams worth of experience, worldly sense and knowledge. I was trying to think about how Uncertainty Principle rules or governs our life, if at all it does. The more we want to know (read posses) the more nebulous life really gets. Devil is in the detail for sure. We try to control the situation instead of reign in ourselves. It is not a cruise, life isn’t a cruise is it? One has to be indefatigable in there efforts.

So much so for a sneak peek on life in a very small window of time.

Much of last week was spent waiting for flu to go away, inhaling steam, coughing and cursing cold. On Friday I manage to get my bearing right and Saturday, Valentine’s Day took a flight to Jaipur. Well like many things, one can just hope that flights start on time. The task to find of possible reason was inconclusively, I manage to reach Jaipur to attend a wedding around lunchtime. I met more relatives then the time I spend there. There were grand parents, cousins, nieces and nephews. Then there was the Baraat, the chaos, the drinks, the goof ups, the heavy four course meals. It was more than an age since I last went to Jaipur. The weather was weird though, it use to get bitter cold after sunset. I spent the wedding night running around only to find my knees swollen. The next afternoon was spent sleeping, lunch was taken really late. Then an early evening drive to one of the malls, burgers at the Mac D’s a few ice creams. Then there was birthday of one of the elders members, the cake was yummy …

It was followed by a few pecks in windy winter night. The drive back home, a paan in between and a good night after that. Met some more cousins the next day, exchanged a few gifts. Did had lunch, took a flight back home. And the next day started as usual in a familiar chaos.

Cricket: Indians squeeze past.

From now on own T20 matches wont be a sojourn it will be just 20 sentences will would cover maximum detail of the match.

1. Sri Lanka win toss.
2. Dilshan tires to do a Dhoni, dons the captains shirt and keepers gloves.
3. Jayasuriya goes for Ishant, 22 runs in an over.
4. Ishant pull one out of thin air to send Jayasuriya back Lankans 60 in 5overs.
5. Yusuf Pathan stifles the scoring rate, Lankans drag thoughtlessly.
6. Lankans aspire of inspiration, tail enders fire.
7. Dhoni look in command even under the hammer.
8. Lankans build momentum and flay Indian pacer bowlers.
9. Zaheer out of touch seems ages when he bowled last.
10. Ishaant out of line, comes back good with last over, Lankans restricts to 171.
11. Disaster strikes when Sehwag runs out, only way that Lankans can get him, one down in first over.
12. Gambhir for once fail to play long innings.
13. Yuvraj and Raina flex their muscles tonk sixes, get Indians going.
14. Sharma flatters to deceive; Dhoni for once, fails, wickets tumbling both end.
15. Bandara and the old fox Jayasuriya give nothing away, take wickets a plenty, 15/4 in 5 overs.
16. A master stroke in hindsight, Dhoni promotes Jadeja over Pathan brothers, India 117 for 7.
17. Bandara thinks he is the greatest leggie in last 20 years, Pathan Yusuf greets him 4, 6, 6 in an over.
18. Jadeja is castled, Sri Lanka have foot on the door, Pathans have sight on the score.
19. Dilshan out smarts himself, gets Fernando the wild an over, Lankans crumble under Dilshan’s folly.
20. Irfan smacks a sixer of Malinga to get Indian a truly unprobale victory, last 26 balls accounted for 59 runs.

Blog: brb.

I wrote a post last evening can’t find. One of the many things that’s not happening for me right now. I think it was Friday when I caught the throat infection again. It has been a downward slide since then, off course for the worst. Time and tide waits for no man. But I am waiting for this tide to get over. It feels the worst hangover ever. I feel so lackadaisical as I write this post. I rue both the lost post and loss of health at present. Not only I feel sick physically, I am sick mentally too, perhaps worn out with a mild pain in the throat, neck, thorax, spewy eyes, and tired arms and legs.

The source of the following "elements of journalism"

1.Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.

2.Its first loyalty is to citizens.

3.Its essence is a discipline of verification.

4.Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.

5.It must serve as an independent monitor of power.

6.It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.

7.It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.

8.It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.

9.Its practitioners have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience.

10.Citizens, too, have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news.

If I assume that the reader reads it in all honesty and tries to understand all the fore mention points, how many of these points are actually practice, preached and propagated by Self labeled Editors, Senior Journalist, Subject Matter Experts. I know assume is spelt as ass-u-me i.e. when you assume u make an ass out of yourself and the person around you. It is not the best thing to do, just another way to prove my judgement aint at its best.

I always have felt that it is always good to pause for a while and retrospect and then revise the plan. Media and people affiliated to breaking news have a long way to go. I hope change is for good.

On a subtle brighter note. I shall be right back. :D

About: Rehna tu

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The class of A.R. Rahman.

I knew someone would only watch films because it had music composed by the A.R. Rahman. He would have surely celebrated Rahman winning a Gloden Globe. I am happy for both Rahman and one of the perhaps billion honest Rahman fans. His speciality seems to be fusing different music together and off course not being truly type casted i.e. churning music of only one limited kind. But then Rahman has this great ability to use fusion type of music albeit in his "uninspired" (read not copied aka original) signature style. The music of Slumdog was brilliant. I think the next venture releasing would be Delhi 6 starring Abhishekh and Sonam Kapoor. I look forward to this movie. An honest confession would be that after Chandni Chowk to China any movie should be worth the watch.
The lyrics are I believe by Prasoon Joshi is the lyricist. The "freaky" ad man came Prasoon Joshi penning down lyrics for this track, while Rahman get company of Benny Dayal to croon this song. If you like Hindi Music do check one out, just incase you dont follow it , I think the music deserves the attention of your ear drums. I know Masakalli is doing fabulously one reason perhaps thats the only video of Delhi 6 which is out.
This post isnt a muric review of Delhi 6, I havent heard all songs. But just heard Rehna Tu and loved it. I have already heard it like half a dozen times.

Cricket: India hold on.

A good tough cricket match. It tested both sides but India held on. Indians would have certainly taken the result before the toss. The toss is crucial. It would have been interesting had India chasing leather in the second innings with a kind of total in excess of two hundre4d and fifty. India will have to do it at some point in time. The question in my mind isn’t about India’s inability to chase scores under light, but the ability of Murali and Mendis to cause havoc with their guile, fizz and tweak. It wasn’t to be. Dhoni had made the right calls from the moment he stepped out for a toss to the point he dislodged the bails and ran out Mendis and booked the second Indian win for the series. It was a good game to win. But Indians will look back and find they screwed up the third power play a bit too much. That too, twice in the same match. More on that in rest of the blog.

Sehwag crash landed,Yuvraj forced to land.

How often has Sehwag ran himself out or did something to just throw away the wicket? He has engineered many a victories. He and Dravid along with Yuvraj have ensured that India can win even if Tendulkar doesn’t fired or show the way to pavilion by some more than ridiculous umpiring decisions. Two in a row for Tendulkar, I hope he plunk Sri Lankan attack for a century in the next match. Sehwag perhaps misjudged his own timing along with Jayasuriya’s return from the outfield. There was no second run in there, He won the battle and lost the war. He has already missed couple of centuries in ODI and tests late last year. It isn’t about make centuries but about confidence of getting big runs in big matches and making the good times count. He has to look to stay put and run outs are a hopeless way to get out. He was playing so good, I mean he should have looked forward to playing Murali and Mendis but wasn’t to be. The Jat thought he could sneak in an extra run, only to be proving himself wrong as he ran himself out. I know he tried to dive but then that was desperation examplified.
Yuvraj I thought would be struggling against Mendis and Murali. He has all though his career, especially against Murali. He has not been alone, Murali is a magician. He edged one off Mendis but the ball flew past Jayawardene for a boundary and then it was no looking back till the point he got a shocker of decision he was given leg before but the ball had ricocheted to his pads of a huge inside edge. Indians went down hill after that and managed to post something just above 250. A good competitive total considering the surroundings Indian were playing. Dhoni the magnanimous walked out when he gloved Mahroof. I wonder if Umpire would have given him out, but then Dhoni seems to go from strength to strength. He would have loved to see a few more wickets in hand when the batting power play could have been opted for perhaps a score in the region of 275 and above would have been more daunting.

Too low, too slow.

I think just like Sehwag is hell bent in running himself out, Jayawardene is running himself ou by making mockery of himself. The magnitude of mockery is incremental in nature and of progressively bigger than the previous one. I think he needs to have a reality check. He is still thinking he is in Bangladesh facing Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. He need to be proactive. Sanga should be off with gloves. Vas and couple of new openers should be in. Vaas need to be googled and bough back. He need to come face the chin music if required not wait for ideal conditions when sun would be bright and spring would sing in choir for him. He needs to take tough calls and plan for climbing up the ladder. It seems that when Jayasuriya or Sanga score and Murali and Mendis or Vaas take wickets the Sri Lankan team does well. The others are surely not there just to make up the numbers for the team. If they are then Sri Lanka should play only at home and call up teams like Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and England. It is bringing only stagnation for Sri Lanka as a team and they don’t seem to move forward. Indians are looking to get better of Sri Lankans as they did in series last time. Dhoni led India to victory. Indian seamers namely Zaheer and Ishant took some stick but Ishant got a few wickets. Zaheer was unlucky. Jayassuriya would have smacked Ishant but Ishant gnerates some net bounce and movement, Jayasuriya slashed hard only to be caught at third man. Jayasuriya out and Lankans in doom. Dilshan, the flash in the pan, fooled by Zaheer’s bouncer was caught, down at square leg. Sanga flattered to deceive edged to Dhoni. Jaywardene couldn’t got hold of India spinners. Raina, Pathan Sehwag didn’t gave much away. I wonder if Sehwag should have been called for couple of overs in the third Lankan power play or for the last over.
Kandamby reminds me of Arjuna Ranatunga and Asanka Gurusinha. He had atleast the built like them bats left handed all though Arjuna and Asanka are role models to emulate. Kandamby looks good and hope he comes good for Sri Lanka. He and Jayawardene steadied the ship but could power it far ahead. As a result the Sri Lankans didn’t have the momentum to knock the total off within stipulated 50 overs. The task was too daunting. The Indian bowling was lacking teeth and a good partnership ensured that the contest was alive till, the very end. But Ishant came back and took crucial wickets. Indian bowling looked puzzled at the death. The fact acknowledged by both Dhoni and Ishant. Dhoni minces no words and spares no one in accolades or criticism. He knows what he is doing and he is damn sure of what he is thinking. I hope Dhoni eyes a clean sweep of this seers which will catapult India to the numero status in ODI. It is far fetched but worth the sweat in the field.

Jayawardene should look hard how the game went and what went wrong and apply it to do the right things in the next game. His team is reflective of his form. He looks to be trying too many things and too hard. These are first sysmptoms of the fact that the captain isnt in form and team is looking towards the captain to pull out the hat out of the rabbits mouth. Jayawardene need to stand up and take charge of his batting prowess, his lovely touch play and his team. The challenge off course lies in doing well abroad especially away, far away from the sub-continent