The New Roger

Let me start with some facts. Federer has not won a single grandslam this year, he may not even defend his US open title. Heck, Federer has not even won a single masters series this year. He lost on his favourite turf Wimbledon to his arch-nemesis. His lead at the top of the ranking will be cut down to sub-300 by end of this week and definitely subsequently will be given to Nadal. He may not be year-end number 1. So, are we done? Ya I guess that's pretty much it.

Here is my answer : I DON'T CARE!!! Not that the Wimbledon loss did not hurt. Not that after almost 250 weeks Federer will have to give up his #1 ranking wouldn't wrench my heart. This was supposed to be the year where he could potentially have a golden slam (four grandslam and an olympic gold, only achieved by Steffi Graf -- men or women), but it has been totally opposite. But a consensus has been reached inside. Fans have realized that time has come to accept that their hero is a human. Stupid journalists are getting courageous enough to ask questions like "To some extent, do you agree with Justine Henin's decision to retire at the peak of her career?" only to see Federer red-eyed and replying "Do I agree with that? Not today. Ask me another day. Please don't kill me with questions like this."

Inspite of all these, I am still looking forward to the rest of the year. I will not even say how I have savoured being a Federer fan with not just winning but subtletly and perfection that took the tennis to a new level. I will stay in present. As Monx put it, now is the real time to be a Federer fan. I will no longer be a supporter of man-at-the-top but an underdog. An underdog, whose competition now will not only be with Rafael Nadal but also with the rest of the world. An underdog, whose every victory will not be taken for granted and an underdog, whose win will pump up the adrenaline rather than "yeah.. it was just another victory" For long Rafa fans have enjoyed his dark horse status and Federer fans have faced the questions "oh, so he lost? Is that end of Federer?" No more my friends... NO MORE. All Rafa fans around me, beware. As wonderful player as Rafa is, be prepared to face the taunts as he is the number one, while I sitback and see my hero challenging #1. Go Roger...

Au Revoire Justine...

Much to the shock of fans and the tennis world, Justine Henin today announce retirement with IMMEDIATE effect, not even defending her French Open title! I will not claim to be big fan of the lady, but she did provide some good consistent tennis. Au Revoire Justine!

And they said it wouldn't last...

Normally you would celebrate 5-year anniversary, but not so much if it's 5 years of Iraq war, which practically is still same as it was 5 years ago, may be worse!! and Bush administration still justifies it stands, when in fact they thought it would be over in 6 weeks. Who nail it better than Jon Stewart (who else??!!).

Welcome!

Let me welcome yet another friend to the blogosphere. Ta da... Welcome, Praveen! Originally this was supposed to be the introductory AND congratulatory post, for truly deserving top position at PFC Ronin 2008 (or Season one as they call it), till he was deprived of it at the last moment, but never mind that.

After lots of peer pressure, he finally gave shot to a blog or let's say yet another blog. I hope this time around his blog goes beyond few posts, but he definitely starts with a bang!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Trailer

Finally, the trailer of one of the most awaited movies of the year is out. Counting days to May 22!! To watch high-quality trailer, click here.

Stephen Colbert at White House Correspondent's Dinner (2006)

Here is something, which I like to visit again and again and again. Although it's as old as 2006, never ceases to be funny. Stephen Colbert's amazing speech at White House Correspondent's Dinner (2006). Click here for details.

Wall-E is here!!!

Teaser for much awaited movie is out. (Yeah, yeah, I know I am little late) PIXAR. Sirf naam hi kaafi hai....

Welcome 2008

No, I am not going to write anything for welcoming new year but will rather point you to one of the funniest post in recent times around blogosphere. 2008 in preview by Aadisht. A must read. Sidin, Greatbong, you have a competition here, don't tell me, I didn't warn you.

Related links :- 2007 in preview by same author.

Most disgraceful moment in test cricket

1981, when Greg Chappell asked his bowler, his brother, Trevor Chappell to bowl underarm. New Zealand requiring six runs off the last ball to tie the match, which obviously couldn't be hit considering the underarm delivery. Many till date consider that as most disgraceful moment in the history of One-day cricket. Today I am in front of TV watching most disgraceful test I've ever known. Umpiring, sportsman spirit all gone haywire.

Umpires are human and hence prone to mistakes. Please for the sake of the universe, please don't give me this excuse, at least for this test. Umpires have crossed all the limits. Australian first innings : Ricky Ponting clearly nicks with big sound, verdict not out. Plumb in front of stumpts, verdict not out. Let me not even talk about hundred survival Symonds got, courtesy Benson and Bucknor, during his match saving innings of 162*. Indian first innings : Jaffer out on a no-ball and guess what umpire doesn't even know. Series of pathetic decisions continue. Indian second innings, final day of the test. India surely playing for a draw, which will be big boost. Australia going for kill, damn right they want world-record of 16 wins and for that they have decided to put aside sportsman spirit. Dravid's catch is dropped at second/third slip off a no-ball, but no no-ball declared! Dravid defends a ball outside off stump, with his bat behind his pad and far far away from the ball, Gilchrist fervently appeals and verdict? OUT!! Ganguly is playing the superb knock to save the test match and just completed his half century. Suddenly ball takes outside edge and flies to third sleep, where ball not once but TWICE touches the ground before Clarke completes the catch. and what does Brenson do? He asks Ricky Ponting, standing in second sleep. Ricky Ponting even without a blink of eye blatantly says "I think he is out" and the verdict? Umpire immediately raises the finger, without even looking at Saurav Ganguly who is standing there firm!!!

Now coming to vaporized sportsman spirit of Australian team. Symonds blatantly declares that he knew he was out when he was 30 during his epic innings of 162. When ball passed way away from Dravid's bat and Gilchrist is standing close to the stumps, Gilchrist is the only person whom you can think as the one who won't appeal, if he knows it isn't out, but he appeals and Dravid is out. Ricky Ponting fella who is lying blatantly as mentioned above, does it again. Ball bounces (off the pad), Ponting dives and takes the catch, takes a diving catch. His hand is ABOVE the ball when ball TOUCHES the ground, so you can't be in doubt whether you have taken it clean or not, but he still appeals and fervently appeals???!!! Thank God that was off the pads otherwise who knows, umpire might have given that out!!! Let me not once again recount all those illogical appeals from Australian team.

If India didn't deserve to win this match, they surely didn't deserve to lose this one either. This is not loss of India, but LOSS OF CRICKET. However, World champions Australia may be, I don't have slightest of respect for the team for this win. Aussies, you DID NOT DESERVE THIS.

Time ripe for GOTOT?

So India is poised at level where, it's almost impossible to pull even a draw now, but after looking at Tendulkar's innings in first Indian innings, I think time for GOTOT is ripe now.

Times ago, Gaurav asked for a GOTOT, which has not arrived yet. Stage couldn't be better. Two days and 500 runs to achieve. In almost similar situation, Sri Lanka would have pulled a victory right under the nose of Ricky Ponting, thanks to the charge led by Sangakkara, but courtesy a bad decision they lost by 96 runs. The way Tendulkar hammered Australians in first innings, I don't think it's too hard for Tendulkar to achieve such a high target in 4th innings. With Ganguly finding his confidence back, one of the prolific pair of ODIs might be able to pull a miracle against Kangaroos. I know I am being too optimistic, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for sure.

Of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Saawariya

Eagerly awaited and hopefully looked upon time by Bollywood is approaching as Diwali nears. This year, Diwali is going to witness two mega-budget releases Saawariya and Om Shanti Om. As for, whole versus thing, I will reserve it for another post. For now, I am here to talk about Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his latest offering Saawariya.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali silently entered with not-so-successful Khamoshi, but he really hit the marquee with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, which went on to become one of the most successful in the year and put Bhansali at front of successful directors. Bhansali continued his success march with really-mega-budget Devdas, churning out enough money to justify the big budget, even resulting in the selection for India's official entry to best foreign-language film at Academy awards, only to be ousted too early just like most of Indian films. Strengthening Bhansali as one of looked upon figure of Bollywood, but surprising was yet to come. In 2005, Bhansali came up with "breakthrough cinema", "critically-acclaimed", "beautifully crafted" et al BLACK. Now let me try to put Saawariya into my own little perspective about Bhansali and his films in general. I won't dig too much past, just little something from recent past. Devdas and Black.

Now, as everyone knew Devdas was an adaption of a novel, which was already adopted twice before and in fans' words immortalized by K. L. Saigal and Dilip Kumar respectively. Bhansali roped in Shahrukh Khan, baap of all of them, atleast as far as melodrama is concerned. Gargantuan sets, full of colours, two beautiful leading ladies, graceful choreography and dependable Shahrukh Khan made this movie a huge hit. Devdas, as a novel and even as a movie is classic example of all the drama/melodrama that can be incorporated. Bhansali did just that, so although people might have described it as gaudy or anything, one needs to understand that it needed to be gaudy. So far so good.

Then came BLACK. Bhansali set his eyes on critics and junta both this time around and decided to remake Academy-award winner The Miracle Worker. A story of deaf and blind girl and her teacher inspired from Helen Keller. Decided to go for black and white instead of colours. Name of the film is black you see. Whatever came out was darling of critics and not to mention a huge hit. He got all the praise for venturing where no Hindi movie director had gone, lifetime role of Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee etc. etc. Now here is where my problem starts. Black was a good watch alright, but it went little too far. Let me try to put it into words. Raja Sen, one of the prominent hate-figures on rediff message boards and among my favourite movie reviewers, in his article Why Paheli is better choice than Black for Oscars raised a few good points. I may not agree with all good things he said about Paheli, but for black.. sure!! (No wonder people hate him like that. I mean "how can he bash ah-so-great, movie of the century, Black like this..."). Greatbong, in his review rightly described movie as A technically polished weepy is all that I can call it. Baradwaj Rangan properly describes Sanjay Leela Bhansali as unapologetically melodramatic. That works for Devdas, but not quite for Black, mate.

Now coming to Saawariya. As we know, Saawariya is adaptation of Fryodor Dostoevsky's short story White Nights. Russian authors are known for their dark, depressing love stories about unrequited love, with most of the stories ending in agony, nervousness and depression. As a screenplay, story is good alright but why do I have this serious apprehension that all of that is going to get lost between sets, songs and Ranbir's bottom? (Rediff insanity at its peak. What do you mean Should INDIA see Ranbir's bottom????. Oh, let's keep nuclear deal aside for sometime, while INDIA discusses the utmost national security issue such as this). Or is it only me that has this feeling that Bhansali will be as unsuccessful in doing the justice to the subject as he was in Black. Well, only time can tell that but as of now let's just say that I am apprehensive about Saawariya and would rather wait-and-watch.


(cross-posted to DesiCritics)

Too far Ponting, too far...

Now we all know that Australians are good at sledging and I don't say it sarcastically. They really know how to sledge, unlike few of our hot-headeds like Sreesanth. Mr. Ponting I know you are able leader of all of them in all matters, but this time around you stretched it a little too far and stretched it beyond your limits.

Sachin Tendulkar is the best I've ever seen, good on him for playing 400-odd games - still it's a bit easier when you don't have to field in half of them.

You have mouth and you have ability to speak, but when it comes to Sachin Tendulkar, I get little worked up and that too totally irrelevant and false comments. What do you mean when you say you don't have to field in half of them?? Mr. Ponting, don't you challenge Sachin's commitment to the game. May I remind you that Sachin holds world record for most consecutive one-day matches that's 185 at the beginning of his career. 185!! That's almost half of the matches he has played till now and I don't believe he would have ever sat out during when Indian side is fielding. Even after that when he was hit with back problems and tennis elbow, it was rare sight, if any, not to see Sachin on the field. He is and has always been perfect contributor with ball and his commitment in fielding. Who can forget those magical overs that he bowled against Australia and South Africa to snatch thrilling victories for India?? Did you notice Mr. Ponting that when Indian side was playing for a draw to secure the historic series win against England, it was only Sachin who was playing with zest and enthusiasm for win?? So Mr. Ponting, although I know you had been saying these statements to provoke us, but next time make sure you stay within your limits!!!

This is the stuff dreams are made of...

© Ankur Gupta

A view from Brahmagiri peak. Brahmgiri Trek, September 14-16, 2007

Just a question...

How the hell does he serve that atomically precise ultra-fast ace at T's in 2nd serve? Hats-off Master...

Home!

There is no place like Home.
-Dorothy,The Wizard of Oz

There is no place like 127.0.0.1
-Douglas E. Comer, Author of Internetworking with TCP/IP

Marigold

I had no intension of watching Marigold whatsoever and this start of a review on Desicritics just strengthened belief.

Did you know Marigold is the name of a flower? You did? Oh well, tough luck then - this movie is not for you, because that is about the most interesting thing you come out with. Yeah, it’s that drab.

I know it's not *that* funny, but I ROTFLed for atleast 3 minutes after reading it...!!!

Sunday musings....

As we get older (as opposed to grow older), we start to make certain assumptions about ourselves. As time grows, we start to think that we are beyond certain feelings. Certain things can not happen to you ever again. You assume for yourself that set of negative feelings/emotions you were so sure are way behind. All it takes is just a small shock to tell you that Don't be too judgmental about yourself, dude. You still have a long way to go.... Keep note of such incidents and you will have a reality check for yourself.

Internet Radio on your Google Talk

I just love when different technologies come across to make a gadget that makes you say.... WOW!!! Although less popular than its peers Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger, I love Google Talk primarily because it's built upon open protocol jabber. Using this gtalk2voip has made an internet radio application. Just follow following steps and do let me know your feedback :

1. Add service@gtalk2voip.com to your GTalk friends list.
   
2. Add 110@radio.gtalk2voip.com
   
3. Make a call to 110@radio.gtalk2voip.com, you will be directly connected to teen taal FM radio station.
   

How was that?? Just make sure to use MUTE on your side to ensure privacy, just in case :)

Leave your feedback in comments section.

Ek Surati Ghazal

One of the least known things about Gujarati language for non-Gujarati people is how many different accents Gujarati actually has. Whenever any movie/serial tries to capture Gujju people they have a typical Ketaki-Dave-ish Gujarati accent prominently known as Kathiyawadi. One of the other accent, prominent in South Gujarat is mainly attributed to Parsi people. Whenever captured,like Being Cyrus, always highlighted as Parsi language, but it's common to most South Gujarati people. So here is a tribute to it. Obviously it's beyond translation, but even if you know Gujarati, you might not enjoy it unless you actually have been in touch with people.

પન્નીને પહતાય તો કે'ટો ની,
વાહણ જો અથડાય તો કે'ટોની.

અમના તો કે'ટો છે પાંપણ પર ઊંચકી લેમ,
પછી માથે ચડી જાય તો કે'ટો ની.

અમના તો પ્યાર જાણે રેહમની ડોરી,
એના પર લૂંગડા હૂકવાય તો કે'ટો ની.

"એની આંખોના આભમાં પંખીના ટોળાં..."
પછી ડોળા દેખાય તો કે'ટો ની.

હમ, ટુમ, તન્હાઈ બધું ઠીક મારા ભાઈ,
પછી પોયરાં અડ્ડાય તો કે'ટો ની.

Secret behind Himesh Reshammiya

This has got to be one of the funniest forwards in recent times, after the airtel advertisement ofcourse.

Click To Play

This post is made totally with humorous intension and no harm is meant to any community, especially to any wolf community.