World Cup round the corner...

Cricket world's biggest extravaganza is here in about two weeks. And with Australia showing that they are not invincible(losing their last 5 games), the contest is wide open. But Aussies still start as my favorites.

Nike has finally arrived in the world of cricket. They first sponsored the cricket gear for Indian cricket and now have come out with a ad on cricket. And unlike their other ads, which are centred on sportsman, this one is centred on cricket in India. I loved this ad. Also there is a making of the ad on rediff.

Filmfare - rigged

While surfing, found an interesting blog about Filmfare awards being bought....something that I always felt was true. I shall write more on this when I find time.

Too hot to handle!!!

Yes, these tiny little chillis are the hottest chilli in the world - Bhut Jolokia and Bih Jolokia. Bih is poison, Bhut or bhoot is ghost and Jolokia is chilli in Assamese. (Thanks to Surajit for these translations).

The Guinness Book of World Records has awarded these chillis as the world's hottest. Bhut Jolokia comes in at 1,001,304 Scoville heat units, a measure of hotness for a chilli. It is nearly twice as hot as Red Savina, the variety it replaces as the hottest. By comparison, an average jalapeno measures at about 10,000. More on this here.

Since these are from Assam, I asked Surajit for more details. He says that 1 chilli is finely cut and used by a family for 3-4 days!! He has promised to get some of these chillis when he goes home the next time. I shall share my experience when I eat them.

I had posted a few days back about the goverment's proposal for earmarking 6% of loans given by banks to the minority community. The good news is that the banks and RBI have opposed that proposal and said that its not feasible. More on that here.

There is a article in rediff about the truth of Aurangzed. Time to incorporate this in our textbooks. We need to stop glorifying Aurangzeb, stop making him a saint.
Read the article here

I would like to buy a hamburger

This is a excerpt from Steve Martin's Pink Panther. Totally hillarious.


ROFL

India has had two contrasting days in the a week. Last Sunday was disaster as India snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. And when they were 94/4 yesterday, I was pretty sure there will be a collapse. But then there was Dravid, how could I ever discount Mr.Dependable and Dhoni. Dhoni is now also becoming another Mr. Dependable, quickly adapting to the need of the game. He can change gears with ease and runs hard between wickets.

If India has to reach a respectable total in world cup, Dhoni will surely play a big part.

Piyu's musings on our names

This is a mail that Piyu sent me. That lady has really put in a lot of thought...

Dear One,
I was just thinking – you sisters are Pooja and Aarti.. you are with Arvind – obviously lotus is a means for pooja.. so Aarti can get married to someone with name having 'Deep' in it.. any Deep will do..Sudeep, Dipankar, Dipak, Diptarup, Ujjwal etc

Your children can be Prasad, Prasanna, Trupti, Stuti, Stawan, and so on..

So..we can build up on this ;-)

Hehehehe

Piyu

Hmm....when I have kids, I'll surely think on these lines...

Today my sister turned 24. And she is feeling that she is getting old. I was sort of spared of the feeling. I was studying during that period of my life and had little time to ponder on such things. And also in a place like Manipal, you'll always feel young. And now I have accepted the fact that I'm, well not young - body wise, but will always be young at heart. This mainly thanks to the YES+ course I did with Bawa and Dinesh. They are the second most amazing and witty people I've ever met, first of course is my Master. Here is my encounter with Bawa or Bau as he know now-a-days
Myla: This is Pooja, she is a great volunteer, you can use her for YES+ in Bangalore.
I: I'm already volunteering for RDP.
Fhatak...came the reply, delivered with his usual mischievous smile.
Bawa: When will you move up in life

Ha ha ha...guess its time to move up!!!!

Breaking News?????

The exponential increase in the number of news channels, has resulted in an exponential decrease of quality.

Breaking News or News Flash - these are terms that you see splashed across news channels. And 9 out of the 10 times, the so-called 'Breaking News' will not be worth being called 'Breaking News'. Abhishek n Ash going to temple is 'breaking news'?? One cartoon to sum it up all...


This, perfectly describes my feeling...I needn't say more. But...I haven't broken my TV.

TV Soaps

Found this really true article about TV soaps and their abysmal quality. Read it here

Masoom

Most of us have grown up listening to Lakadi ki kathi – the best children's song that Bollywood has produced. Shekar Kapur's directorial debut Masoom (inspired by Eric Segal's Man, Woman and Child) is a sensitive masterpiece. A movie which touches your heart without any melodramatic gimmicks.

DK Malhotra (Naseeruddin Shah) is a successful Delhi architect with a happy family comprising of his lovely wife Indu (Shabana Azmi) and two sweet daughters Pinky (Urmila) and Minni (Ardhana). His picture perfect life is torn apart when he gets a letter from his old school master in Nainital, informing him about his illegitimate son Rahul (Jugal Hansraj) born out of his one night stand with Bhavana (Supriya Pathak). Bhavana, on her death bed had entrusted Rahul to the retired school master. DK confesses to his wife and their lives are shattered.

In the meantime, the schoolmaster sends Rahul to DK as he is unable to look after the boy. All hell breaks loose in DK's family. Rahul bonds well with Pinky and Minni. Indu is understandably hostile towards Rahul. Rahul tries his best to impress Indu. But she is unable to forget her husband's infidelity.

DK decides to send Rahul to the boarding school in Nainital, much against Rahul's wishes. The day before Rahul has to leave for Nainital, he gets to know that DK is his father. He runs away from the house and this brings about a change in Indu. Indu realizes Rahul's trauma and the movie ends in a happy note with Indu accepting Rahul.

The other people in the film include Chanda (Tanuja) as Indu's friend and Suri (Saeed Jaffery) and DK's friend and confidant.

Now with a story like this, the movie could have easily turned into a melodramatic tearjerker if it didn't have Gulzar as the writer and Shekar Kapur as the director. The screenplay is flawless, the emotions handled very delicately. The movie depicts the emotions of a child and an adult with wonderful sensibility and sensitivity. The internal turmoil in every character is handled in a sensitive and subtle manner.

Watch out for these amazing scenes -

• When DK tells Indu about the adultery
• Indu's birthday scenes
• Rahul, after knowing the truth says sorry to Indu
• Mini showing Indu Rahul's sketch book.

With impeccable actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, justice to the script is ensured. They are both mind blowing. The confusion and complex trauma that both their characters undergo are portrayed with perfection. Jugal Hansraj as the insecure, hapless kid is outstanding. He is so cute and innocent that your heart goes for him. Urmila and Ardhana enliven the screen with their chirpy presence.

Another winner in the movie is the music. RD Burman and Gulzar team up for a memorable musical score. Apart from Lakadi Ki kathi, there are three more songs. Tujh Se Naraz Nahin Zindagi has two versions sung Lata and Anup Ghosal – both versions are wonderful and apt. Do Naina is soft and soothing lullaby. Huzoor Is Kadar is a teasing ghazal.

Last word - a superlative movie which excels in all departments.