He's here, there and everywhere. The box office is chanting Om Shanti Om and every sporting triumph is accompanied by the Chak De India chorus.
Shah Rukh Khan is all over the place like never before. A hockey triumph at the Asia Cup and news channels make a beeline for SRK's comments. The Twenty20 World Cup fnal, SRK is there to celebrate victory along with the cricket team.
It's not enough being a mascot for sporting triumphs, come Om Shanti Om and the 40-something icon's six-pack abs are out to mesmerise. Sureshot material for magazine cover stories on men and the body. And then the publicity blitz for Om Shanti Om - be it soundbytes, interviews, cricket matches and Dard-e-Disco contests.
The film itself did not have much of a storyline to boast of, but successfully evoked nostalgia and retro with mostly enjoyable digs at the past. And ended up being a celebration of SRK megalomania. What else, with over 30 leading stars from the past and present jiving to the beat of Om Shanti Om.
Manoj Kumar's rant at being 'insulted' in the film only served to pump up the publicity. Add a dash of controversy over SRK's thumbs-up for smoking leaving Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss displeased. And the number one headline over BCCI comments that SRK was attending cricket matches to garner attention to his films.
Early this year one thought Amitabh-Abhishek-Aishwarya would be numero uno in Bollywood. But all the Big B's managed are disasters like Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. Worse still, the Samajwadi Party's electoral rout in Uttar Pradesh, with people showing scant regard for his 'UP mein hai dam, kyunki jurm yahan hai kam' ad blitz. And the flak he got for the Barabanki land deal in UP. Busy doing the rounds of temples, a better 2008 is all they can hope for.
Meanwhile, leading British-Asian paper Eastern Eye's list labels SRK the Sexiest Asian man in the world in 2007.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
KIRSTEN & THE COACH QUESTION
Looks like Gary Kirsten will be coaching the Indian cricket team. Who knows, there might still be further twists before the official announcement. But at least this time the BCCI made its moves quietly, shielding their latest interviews from the media gaze.
Kirsten made his name as a gritty, hard-as-nails South African opener over the 1990s and early 2000s, and has battled it out in the field against the Indian seniors like Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman, Dravid and Kumble. But unlike a John Wright, who had made a mark as Kent coach, Kirsten does not have enough coaching acumen to talk of. It's been just about four years after he played his last test. A stint as Cricket South Africa's high performance manager, and a privately-run Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy does not say much. All in all, a battler as player but an unknown quantity as coach.
Is it worth the risk going for an 'unknown' like Kirsten at the expense of desi contenders like Lalchand Rajput, who's given results during his ongoing stint as coach? A Sandeep Patil, who coached Kenya to a surprise semifinal appearance in the 2003 World Cup, was unwelcome. And he's now cast his lot with the ICL.
Getting a John Wright did make a positive difference to the fortunes of the national side, and Greg Chappell did have his share of good ideas (the Rajasthan state board is now using his expertise). But does it justify a blind belief that only a foreign coach can take Indian cricket forward?
Related Posts
Kirsten made his name as a gritty, hard-as-nails South African opener over the 1990s and early 2000s, and has battled it out in the field against the Indian seniors like Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman, Dravid and Kumble. But unlike a John Wright, who had made a mark as Kent coach, Kirsten does not have enough coaching acumen to talk of. It's been just about four years after he played his last test. A stint as Cricket South Africa's high performance manager, and a privately-run Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy does not say much. All in all, a battler as player but an unknown quantity as coach.
Is it worth the risk going for an 'unknown' like Kirsten at the expense of desi contenders like Lalchand Rajput, who's given results during his ongoing stint as coach? A Sandeep Patil, who coached Kenya to a surprise semifinal appearance in the 2003 World Cup, was unwelcome. And he's now cast his lot with the ICL.
Getting a John Wright did make a positive difference to the fortunes of the national side, and Greg Chappell did have his share of good ideas (the Rajasthan state board is now using his expertise). But does it justify a blind belief that only a foreign coach can take Indian cricket forward?
Related Posts
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
DEFINING THE WORD EXCLUSIVE
6 am Wednesday. As the day breaks it's 'General No More' Pervez Musharraf who opens the news channel headline pack. As the stories unravel, Nawaz Sharif appears on one, then the next and then a third. In no time the quote-happy Sharif is holding forth on all three channels.
Two of them do have Sharif at the other end, while the third tries to cover up the fact that they got Sharif only on the phone with snazzy packaging. Besides getting the same man, what's common across the three channels? The word 'exclusive' blaring out on the screen.
Dictionaries say something 'exclusive' is not divided or shared with others. In the context of journalism a piece of news, or the reporting of a piece of news, obtained by a newspaper or other news organization, along with the privilege of using it first.
Did all three speak to Nawaz Sharif exclusively? If so, the English language is an ass. And the few (?) who may have switched on the telly early in the morning (that too to figure out news) easily impressionable.
To us not to reason why. Just fire the exclusive band before the competitor.
Monday, November 19, 2007
KERALA AND CRICKET
Sreekumar Nair scoring a triple hundred in a Ranji Trophy match last Friday. An obscure footnote on sports pages.
But not if you are a Malayalam newspaper. There it's another 'Sree', another 'Shobha'. A milestone for a state not known traditionally for its cricketing prowess. A marathon achievement for a team whose batsmen struggle to get hundreds on a consistent basis.
As it is, Kerala's had too few batsmen to boast of. Balan Pandit in the 1950s and 60s whose record of 262 not out Sreekumar Nair broke. And K Jayaram in the 1980s, who struck a purple patch in the 1986-87 season, with four centuries out of five matches. That season 'minnow' Kerala did not lose a single zonal match, grinding out draws against bigwigs Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for the first time ever. There's also Kerala's all-time top rungetter, Sunil Oasis from the 1990s and 2000s
Kerala's had better luck with its bowlers, especially in the last few years. Tinu Yohannan began his test career in style against England in 2001, with a wicket in his very first over. But two more tests and he found himself out in the cold. Tinu may never get a national call-up again, but he will forever remain the one who opened the floodgates. The first-ever test cricketer straight from Kerala (Abey Kuruvilla from Mumbai does not count)
And Tinu's emergence also had a sense of transition from Kerala's sports strengths like atheletics and football. Tinu being the son of the legendary T C Yohannan, Asian Games long jump gold medallist in 1974, Asian record holder for more than a decade and national record holder for three decades. (For more on T C Yohannan read this article)
Nearly a year after Tinu played his last test match (December 2002) two raw seamers were tired out in a practice match against the touring New Zealanders. Those days, Munaf Patel was billed the fastest bowler in the country and the hype around him overshdowed Sreesanth, who showed promise in that match. It didn't take too long for Sreesanth to make that leap into the big league.
Before them there was the promising seamer V Hariharan in the 1970s and 80s, who's now Kerala coach.
The 1990s was dominated by the unlucky Ananthapadmanabhan, who kept scalping wickets with his legspin season after season, and ended up with a tally of over 300. But he didn't have that big match at the zonal level, and in the era of Anil Kumble fell short of the big leap to the national side.
It was in the 1990s that Kerala broke the glass ceiling for the first time, qualifying for the knockout stage from South Zone. Kerala's never sizzled yet in the later stages, but after topping South Zone the team realised they can hold their own at the highest level.
But not if you are a Malayalam newspaper. There it's another 'Sree', another 'Shobha'. A milestone for a state not known traditionally for its cricketing prowess. A marathon achievement for a team whose batsmen struggle to get hundreds on a consistent basis.
As it is, Kerala's had too few batsmen to boast of. Balan Pandit in the 1950s and 60s whose record of 262 not out Sreekumar Nair broke. And K Jayaram in the 1980s, who struck a purple patch in the 1986-87 season, with four centuries out of five matches. That season 'minnow' Kerala did not lose a single zonal match, grinding out draws against bigwigs Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for the first time ever. There's also Kerala's all-time top rungetter, Sunil Oasis from the 1990s and 2000s
Kerala's had better luck with its bowlers, especially in the last few years. Tinu Yohannan began his test career in style against England in 2001, with a wicket in his very first over. But two more tests and he found himself out in the cold. Tinu may never get a national call-up again, but he will forever remain the one who opened the floodgates. The first-ever test cricketer straight from Kerala (Abey Kuruvilla from Mumbai does not count)
And Tinu's emergence also had a sense of transition from Kerala's sports strengths like atheletics and football. Tinu being the son of the legendary T C Yohannan, Asian Games long jump gold medallist in 1974, Asian record holder for more than a decade and national record holder for three decades. (For more on T C Yohannan read this article)
Nearly a year after Tinu played his last test match (December 2002) two raw seamers were tired out in a practice match against the touring New Zealanders. Those days, Munaf Patel was billed the fastest bowler in the country and the hype around him overshdowed Sreesanth, who showed promise in that match. It didn't take too long for Sreesanth to make that leap into the big league.
Before them there was the promising seamer V Hariharan in the 1970s and 80s, who's now Kerala coach.
The 1990s was dominated by the unlucky Ananthapadmanabhan, who kept scalping wickets with his legspin season after season, and ended up with a tally of over 300. But he didn't have that big match at the zonal level, and in the era of Anil Kumble fell short of the big leap to the national side.
It was in the 1990s that Kerala broke the glass ceiling for the first time, qualifying for the knockout stage from South Zone. Kerala's never sizzled yet in the later stages, but after topping South Zone the team realised they can hold their own at the highest level.
As for now, the bowling attack has bite, but Kerala still awaits the batsman extraordinaire who will go all the way to Team India.
Let's not count Robin Uthappa from Karnataka, who was given three lakh rupees by the Kerala government after the Twenty20 triumph, while Sreesanth got five lakh. Well, Uthappa is half-Malayali, which seems to be why the reward is half of Sreesanth's.
Here's an earlier piece by Ramachandra Guha on Keralites turning the corner in cricket.
NATAKA UNLIMITED
It's been just one week. CM Yeddyurappa has already become past tense.
With a restive Deve Gowda around, the 'Karnataka politics' headline was expected to change in no time, but don't the people of the state deserve a break from this non-stop drama? Even we news channel foot soldiers deserve a break from Gowda's machinations.
A BJP in a desperate hurry for the symbolic value of a Chief Minister down south. But even if you are itching to bat (after bowling and fielding for a while, as Yashwant Sinha said), it's a better idea to ensure an even-paced wicket to bat on rather than an underprepared minefield. Especially if Deve Gowda is turning the ball square with his wrong 'uns. It's impossible to tackle a former Prime Minister (we are talking of India, not Karnataka) whose motto is 'either my son or I am a secular humble farmer.' The party's been forced to realise that a hurried 'Twenty20' approach could also mean 'do and die'.
As for Yeddyurappa, the man in a hurry to be CM, it's difficult to feel any sympathy, though he's been betrayed by the JD(S) or rather the Gowda parivar. He could take some scholarly advice from Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose first government (1996) lasted just 13 days. And it wouldn't be bad idea to get back to his astrologer's drawing board, and chart out a new spelling.
Yeddyurappa (formerly Yediyurappa) may just ride on sympathy. And the Congress would do well to fight an election without help from the humble farmer and son.
Related Aricles
BJP's POWERFUL DEEPAVALI
GOWDA BENDS, BJP RISES
With a restive Deve Gowda around, the 'Karnataka politics' headline was expected to change in no time, but don't the people of the state deserve a break from this non-stop drama? Even we news channel foot soldiers deserve a break from Gowda's machinations.
A BJP in a desperate hurry for the symbolic value of a Chief Minister down south. But even if you are itching to bat (after bowling and fielding for a while, as Yashwant Sinha said), it's a better idea to ensure an even-paced wicket to bat on rather than an underprepared minefield. Especially if Deve Gowda is turning the ball square with his wrong 'uns. It's impossible to tackle a former Prime Minister (we are talking of India, not Karnataka) whose motto is 'either my son or I am a secular humble farmer.' The party's been forced to realise that a hurried 'Twenty20' approach could also mean 'do and die'.
As for Yeddyurappa, the man in a hurry to be CM, it's difficult to feel any sympathy, though he's been betrayed by the JD(S) or rather the Gowda parivar. He could take some scholarly advice from Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose first government (1996) lasted just 13 days. And it wouldn't be bad idea to get back to his astrologer's drawing board, and chart out a new spelling.
Yeddyurappa (formerly Yediyurappa) may just ride on sympathy. And the Congress would do well to fight an election without help from the humble farmer and son.
Related Aricles
BJP's POWERFUL DEEPAVALI
GOWDA BENDS, BJP RISES
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
CHAPPELL'S RACISM TIRADE
Igniting controversy is something Greg Chappell never seems to tire of. Be it making brother Trevor bowl underarm against New Zealand to ensure victory for Australia or leaked emails and revelatory soundbytes/interviews during his tenure as Indian cricket coach.
Now he's joined the Australian racism chorus against India, claiming in a forthcoming TV interview in Australia that an attack on him by a crazed fan in Bhubaneswar in January this year was because he was a foreigner. A white-skinned Chappell discriminated against in India of all places? That's laying it a bit too thick.
Chappell seems to have forgotten that he wasn't very high on the popularity charts in India those days. And news channels were having dig after dig at Guru Greg and his laboratory. Unfortunately for him, his declining stock came in the way of any possible outrage.
He does have a right to feel outraged that the BCCI played down the incident. But comparing his plight to Andrew Symonds is just not on.
Not surprisingly, Chappell on Indian news channels was trying to steer clear of the controversy. After all, he is not yet fnished with Indian cricket, with a coaching assignment in Rajasthan.
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INDIA AND RACISM
Now he's joined the Australian racism chorus against India, claiming in a forthcoming TV interview in Australia that an attack on him by a crazed fan in Bhubaneswar in January this year was because he was a foreigner. A white-skinned Chappell discriminated against in India of all places? That's laying it a bit too thick.
Chappell seems to have forgotten that he wasn't very high on the popularity charts in India those days. And news channels were having dig after dig at Guru Greg and his laboratory. Unfortunately for him, his declining stock came in the way of any possible outrage.
He does have a right to feel outraged that the BCCI played down the incident. But comparing his plight to Andrew Symonds is just not on.
Not surprisingly, Chappell on Indian news channels was trying to steer clear of the controversy. After all, he is not yet fnished with Indian cricket, with a coaching assignment in Rajasthan.
Related Posts
INDIA AND RACISM
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
FRIENDLIER BUSES IN THE CAPITAL
Diwali day - Delhiites zipping by in their swank cars stopped and stared, treated as they were to a spectacle of green on the roads. At long last, here was public (road) transport in the capital city which made you say, 'wow' on the face of it. A dozen sleek green buses had made their debut.
As a veteran of many a hair-raising Blueline ride, I simply had to assure myself it was indeed possible to undertake a bus journey with some degree of comfort. So Saturday afternoon I landed in Sivaji Stadium terminus in Connaught Place, waiting for the dream bus.
It was a bit of a wait, but the Tata-Marcopolo bus lived up to expectations. Here was a low-floored bus which women, children and the physically challenged could board easily. Automatic gear system, GPS - drivers have the latest technology in front of them. And speed governors are firmly in place to halt the drivers' adrenaline rush.
And all those macho males can no longer cling on to the footboard, because the door has to be closed before the bus moves.
But sleekness can also be a double-edged sword. The day I was travelling the bus crew was all at sea grappling with a GPS system which had to be activated for the bus to move. Technology is great, but what if the end-users don't know how to use it? Also with so many poor stretches of roads, are these buses too delicate to survive? Three buses reportedly broke down on day one.
It's a pity that the Delhi government needed to quote the 2010 Commonwealth Games to move forward on basic transport infrastructure. The capital city of the country should have acted long back. That said, here's to a green future without the rampaging bluelines.
As a veteran of many a hair-raising Blueline ride, I simply had to assure myself it was indeed possible to undertake a bus journey with some degree of comfort. So Saturday afternoon I landed in Sivaji Stadium terminus in Connaught Place, waiting for the dream bus.
It was a bit of a wait, but the Tata-Marcopolo bus lived up to expectations. Here was a low-floored bus which women, children and the physically challenged could board easily. Automatic gear system, GPS - drivers have the latest technology in front of them. And speed governors are firmly in place to halt the drivers' adrenaline rush.
And all those macho males can no longer cling on to the footboard, because the door has to be closed before the bus moves.
But sleekness can also be a double-edged sword. The day I was travelling the bus crew was all at sea grappling with a GPS system which had to be activated for the bus to move. Technology is great, but what if the end-users don't know how to use it? Also with so many poor stretches of roads, are these buses too delicate to survive? Three buses reportedly broke down on day one.
It's a pity that the Delhi government needed to quote the 2010 Commonwealth Games to move forward on basic transport infrastructure. The capital city of the country should have acted long back. That said, here's to a green future without the rampaging bluelines.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
WAITING FOR THE DEPUTY
We are familiar with tales of intrigue and breathless suspense when it comes to deciding on a Chief Minister. But how about prolonged suspense over a Deputy Chief Minister, with the CM decided and all set to be sworn in? Even though the choice is almost a foregone conclusion.
Janata Dal(Secular) or Deve Gowda and Sons Ltd has refused to announce its Deputy CM in Karnataka just yet, preferring to wait till the vote of confidence on November 15. Till then, we also won't get to know who their ministers will be. Pragmatic, considering Deve Gowda and Sons Ltd has a restless bunch of legislators who are willing to swing from one perch to the other at the first hint of trouble.
In corporate lingo, by staying in power all of them might have got confirmed in their job. But then if only some get a bonus (ministerial berths) before the vote of confidence, the others might get too restive a bit too soon. The solution - announce the bonus only after weathering the first big hurricane.
In a world of no permanent friends or enemies, it was no surprise that the latest JD(S) headline package was announced by M P Prakash, the very person who was so near to splitting the party and allying with the Congress.
This mixture of caution and farce should come to an end by the end of the week, with H D Kumaraswamy being the odds-on favourite to be Deputy CM. But then Deve Gowda has a problem of plenty - two equally ambitious sons. H D Revanna wouldn't mind the chair himself and the 'humble farmer' has the unenviable task of meeting both aspirations. Neighbouring Tamil Nadu's DMK strongman Karunanidhi can vouch for the fact that it's a tall order keeping both Stalin and Azhagiri happy.
As each day passes and tidbits of information sneak out, the headlines will keep rolling. Fodder for news channels but frustration for the people. The hapless denizens of Karnataka who have ended up seeing as many as three CMs from three different parties in three years. (without any election after 2004).
Related Posts
BJP's POWERFUL DEEPAVALI
Janata Dal(Secular) or Deve Gowda and Sons Ltd has refused to announce its Deputy CM in Karnataka just yet, preferring to wait till the vote of confidence on November 15. Till then, we also won't get to know who their ministers will be. Pragmatic, considering Deve Gowda and Sons Ltd has a restless bunch of legislators who are willing to swing from one perch to the other at the first hint of trouble.
In corporate lingo, by staying in power all of them might have got confirmed in their job. But then if only some get a bonus (ministerial berths) before the vote of confidence, the others might get too restive a bit too soon. The solution - announce the bonus only after weathering the first big hurricane.
In a world of no permanent friends or enemies, it was no surprise that the latest JD(S) headline package was announced by M P Prakash, the very person who was so near to splitting the party and allying with the Congress.
This mixture of caution and farce should come to an end by the end of the week, with H D Kumaraswamy being the odds-on favourite to be Deputy CM. But then Deve Gowda has a problem of plenty - two equally ambitious sons. H D Revanna wouldn't mind the chair himself and the 'humble farmer' has the unenviable task of meeting both aspirations. Neighbouring Tamil Nadu's DMK strongman Karunanidhi can vouch for the fact that it's a tall order keeping both Stalin and Azhagiri happy.
As each day passes and tidbits of information sneak out, the headlines will keep rolling. Fodder for news channels but frustration for the people. The hapless denizens of Karnataka who have ended up seeing as many as three CMs from three different parties in three years. (without any election after 2004).
Related Posts
BJP's POWERFUL DEEPAVALI
Friday, November 09, 2007
KUMBLE'S COMING, BCCI'S GOOGLY
It's good to know that there are occasions when the BCCI acts sensibly. And steals a march over news channels, bamboozling them with the perfect googly - one Anil Kumble would have been proud of.
Yesterday, all the test captaincy speculation was centred around Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Some channels were absolutely sure Dhoni would be made captain, with generous doses of 'information' from reliable 'sources'. And Dhoni profile stories were already on overdrive - small-town boy, long hair, his Bollywood fans, Musharraf's tongue-in-cheek comment on Mahi's long locks and last but not the least his test career statistics.
But as day turned to night and Younis Khan flogged the Indian bowling at Mohali, anchors began to seek refuge in doubt, and wary speculation replaced confident bluster. Dhoni still remained frontrunner but a cloud of doubt hung over the headline.
The Anil Kumble star was clearly on the ascendant and by the time India hurtled to defeat, 'information' trickling in was pointing towards Kumble. And the BCCI chose to break the news in a written statement as the clock wound its way to midnight. India may have been lurching to sleep, but the world of TV news and its denizens were wide awake. Caught napping, with all speculations laid to rest. It was time to wake up to Kumble profiles - gentle giant, India's highest test wicket-taker (and ODI too), 10-wicket haul in an innings against Pakistan and trapping Lara lbw with face heavily bandaged.
Sensible choice by BCCI in the dead of night, catching the media off-guard. For all his skills, Dhoni is still not ready for leadership in the five-day game. And it's good to have an experienced and level-headed mind at the helm, ensuring a smooth transition to the younger Dhoni later. It's also the ultimate reward for a loyal soldier, who's won far more matches for India than ad contracts.
It also helps that Kumble's shadow won't be looming over Dhoni in ODIs , the leg-spinner having already bid adieu from the one-day game.
But the intruding cameras will remain trained on the flashy Dhoni, rather than the scholarly Kumble. Today a news channel ran a story on Dhoni going to watch Om Shanti Om. The cricket correspondent was busy describing Dhoni's Om Shanti Om trip over the phone. Amen to mindless entertainment and celebrity-gazing.
Suits the unassuming Kumble just fine.
Yesterday, all the test captaincy speculation was centred around Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Some channels were absolutely sure Dhoni would be made captain, with generous doses of 'information' from reliable 'sources'. And Dhoni profile stories were already on overdrive - small-town boy, long hair, his Bollywood fans, Musharraf's tongue-in-cheek comment on Mahi's long locks and last but not the least his test career statistics.
But as day turned to night and Younis Khan flogged the Indian bowling at Mohali, anchors began to seek refuge in doubt, and wary speculation replaced confident bluster. Dhoni still remained frontrunner but a cloud of doubt hung over the headline.
The Anil Kumble star was clearly on the ascendant and by the time India hurtled to defeat, 'information' trickling in was pointing towards Kumble. And the BCCI chose to break the news in a written statement as the clock wound its way to midnight. India may have been lurching to sleep, but the world of TV news and its denizens were wide awake. Caught napping, with all speculations laid to rest. It was time to wake up to Kumble profiles - gentle giant, India's highest test wicket-taker (and ODI too), 10-wicket haul in an innings against Pakistan and trapping Lara lbw with face heavily bandaged.
Sensible choice by BCCI in the dead of night, catching the media off-guard. For all his skills, Dhoni is still not ready for leadership in the five-day game. And it's good to have an experienced and level-headed mind at the helm, ensuring a smooth transition to the younger Dhoni later. It's also the ultimate reward for a loyal soldier, who's won far more matches for India than ad contracts.
It also helps that Kumble's shadow won't be looming over Dhoni in ODIs , the leg-spinner having already bid adieu from the one-day game.
But the intruding cameras will remain trained on the flashy Dhoni, rather than the scholarly Kumble. Today a news channel ran a story on Dhoni going to watch Om Shanti Om. The cricket correspondent was busy describing Dhoni's Om Shanti Om trip over the phone. Amen to mindless entertainment and celebrity-gazing.
Suits the unassuming Kumble just fine.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
BJP's POWERFUL DEEPAVALI
No more President's Rule and Yeddyurappa (formerly Yediyurappa) is within touching distance of being Karnataka Chief Minister. The BJP can now strut around chanting Karnataka to all questions about them being a North India/Hindi heartland party. It also helps that the BJP has a Chief Minister in a southern state, soon after its war of words over the Ram Sethu with the self-appointed champion of Dravidian ideology, Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi.
But does the party really understand the South? In the 2004 elections they didn't do their homework well except in Karnataka, ensuring an unexpected defeat at the Centre. And now, this laboured limp to power in the only southern state where they got a foothold three years back, could well chip away at that foothold (for the next state election at least). Poor Yeddyurappa ended up expressing happiness in faraway Delhi in his faltering Hindi, a language he is far from comfortable with.
And BJP President Rajnath Singh had the gall to thank the people of 'South India' for giving them the opportunity. Firstly, Mr Singh, the people of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh had nothing to do with this deepavali 'gift'. And secondly and more importantly, the people had no choice over this alliance, imposed on them by a majority of legislators.
Related Articles
GOWDA BENDS, BJP RISES
HINDI TAMIL BHAI BHAI
TALKING HEADS & RAM SETHU
But does the party really understand the South? In the 2004 elections they didn't do their homework well except in Karnataka, ensuring an unexpected defeat at the Centre. And now, this laboured limp to power in the only southern state where they got a foothold three years back, could well chip away at that foothold (for the next state election at least). Poor Yeddyurappa ended up expressing happiness in faraway Delhi in his faltering Hindi, a language he is far from comfortable with.
And BJP President Rajnath Singh had the gall to thank the people of 'South India' for giving them the opportunity. Firstly, Mr Singh, the people of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh had nothing to do with this deepavali 'gift'. And secondly and more importantly, the people had no choice over this alliance, imposed on them by a majority of legislators.
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GOWDA BENDS, BJP RISES
HINDI TAMIL BHAI BHAI
TALKING HEADS & RAM SETHU
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
THE ADULT HARRY
An adult wizard grappling with the abnormal interrupting a normal world, that's Harry Dresden for you. He thinks and talks like a wisecracking world-weary detective in the Philip Marlowe mould. But he stands out by being the only one of his kind, a wizard private detective sniffing the mean streets of Chicago.
Thanks to HRV's book investigating skills, I got to devour the first book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series. It was a good change to read a fantasy novel populated by adult wizards, after Harry Potter, Narnia and the Dark Materials trilogy. And the murders are as brutal as it can get, starting with two human hearts ripped off their bodies.
Dresden's special powers make him the archetypal misfit. His magical power ensures that modern implements quail at his touch, ranging from telephones to elevators. The flip side, he struggles to use them when most needed. The police take his help, but regard him with a mixture of suspicion and disdain.
Too involved in human concerns, Dresden does not cut much ice with the wizard world too. All in all, it's a tightrope walk throughout.
But in a cruel and cynical world, Dresden keeps humanity alive.
The successful book series was spun into a TV series earlier this year but failed to make a mark. Harry Dresden's role is essayed by a certain Paul Blackthorne (remember the arrogant Captain Russell of Lagaan)
Thanks to HRV's book investigating skills, I got to devour the first book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series. It was a good change to read a fantasy novel populated by adult wizards, after Harry Potter, Narnia and the Dark Materials trilogy. And the murders are as brutal as it can get, starting with two human hearts ripped off their bodies.
Dresden's special powers make him the archetypal misfit. His magical power ensures that modern implements quail at his touch, ranging from telephones to elevators. The flip side, he struggles to use them when most needed. The police take his help, but regard him with a mixture of suspicion and disdain.
Too involved in human concerns, Dresden does not cut much ice with the wizard world too. All in all, it's a tightrope walk throughout.
But in a cruel and cynical world, Dresden keeps humanity alive.
The successful book series was spun into a TV series earlier this year but failed to make a mark. Harry Dresden's role is essayed by a certain Paul Blackthorne (remember the arrogant Captain Russell of Lagaan)
Friday, November 02, 2007
PROSPERING ON NOSTALGIA
He's at a loss when it comes to geeks and gizmos. But when it comes to the crunch, it's John McClane's old-fashioned virtues of wisecracks and punches, along with shooting skills and furious fists which win the day. The latest film in the Die Hard series Live Free or Die Hard has McClane of the old world carving a space for himself in the new.
Bruce Willis' cult character gets a lot of help from a cyber geek, but manages to preserve the charm of the old-world action hero out to save America with his guns and fists. It's a pleasure watching him relish the 1960s vintage Creedence Clearwater Revival music on screen, in front of a young geek fed on hip-hop.
But this could well be among the last such films, as the all-action heroes of the 1980s and 1990s disappear into the sunset. They may not have won top prizes for acting, but the likes of Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger entertained audiences across the world with bone-crunching action.
Arnie, the Governor of California, has moved on but the others are still around, trying to extend their sunset period. But with nothing new to offer, the surefire formula to hold on is nostalgia.
Thus Bruce Willis taps into memories with the fourth Die Hard instalment. Schwarzenegger signs off with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines before taking over as Governor. And Sly Stallone reprises Rocky Balboa for the sixth time, the very character who jumpstarted his career from obscurity more than three decades ago. Following the success of Rocky Balboa (2006), the 61-year old Stallone is now aiming to make box office capital of his 198os relic Rambo for a fourth time. The 2008 release comes a staggering two decades after the third version.
Old heroes may not be a patch now on their former glory. But with nostalgia abounding, they simply refuse to fade away.
Bruce Willis' cult character gets a lot of help from a cyber geek, but manages to preserve the charm of the old-world action hero out to save America with his guns and fists. It's a pleasure watching him relish the 1960s vintage Creedence Clearwater Revival music on screen, in front of a young geek fed on hip-hop.
But this could well be among the last such films, as the all-action heroes of the 1980s and 1990s disappear into the sunset. They may not have won top prizes for acting, but the likes of Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger entertained audiences across the world with bone-crunching action.
Arnie, the Governor of California, has moved on but the others are still around, trying to extend their sunset period. But with nothing new to offer, the surefire formula to hold on is nostalgia.
Thus Bruce Willis taps into memories with the fourth Die Hard instalment. Schwarzenegger signs off with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines before taking over as Governor. And Sly Stallone reprises Rocky Balboa for the sixth time, the very character who jumpstarted his career from obscurity more than three decades ago. Following the success of Rocky Balboa (2006), the 61-year old Stallone is now aiming to make box office capital of his 198os relic Rambo for a fourth time. The 2008 release comes a staggering two decades after the third version.
Old heroes may not be a patch now on their former glory. But with nostalgia abounding, they simply refuse to fade away.
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