Watching the recently launched Indian Premiere League, I felt it lacked something, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. Then I realized that, it was that much-needed feeling of patriotism that was missing.
It is not that I have an aversion for this shortest version of the game. I had thoroughly enjoyed the recently-concluded T20 tournament, which India won. But, in the case of IPL, I feel that sense of supporting one nation is really missing. It is like you watching some domestic cricket series though star-participation and money differentiate IPL from any comparison.
But, what is there for the spectator in IPL?
OK, he can watch a big-hit game in two hours and sit mesmerized by those sixes and boundaries. But, what else?
Does, big stars and industrialists splurging on these teams and stars bring the spectator any kind of excitement?
No.
I live in Bangalore, but it never occurred to me that I should be supporting that team while watching the inaugural match of the tournament.
Would I feel like supporting Mumbai, just because Sachin is playing in the team? Would I root for the Chennai team, inspired by the presence of Dhoni in it? I am not sure, probably No.
I would call IPL as Indian Picnic League, it is like a picnic for the players and also the spectators. Just a time pass. It is and will always be handicapped by that true spirit of watching an international cricket game involving your country.
So, all these factors fail to bring in that excitement of supporting our nation in an international game. And, I think, the success of any sports depends on that sheer feeling of OUR COUNTRY.
I don’t know how many of us seriously followed the fortunes of the IPL rebel league Indian Cricket League, sponsored by Zee. Would IPL follow the sad example of ICL? Would the theory of ‘stars drive the game’ really hold its ground? Let’s wait and see.
And one word on our media coverage on IPL. The media is been firing all cylinders to hype up this series. The print space devoted reminds you of the kind of coverage Olympics get!
It is as if giving the same importance to Republic Day and a Shah Rukh Khan movie release!
Sunday 20 April 2008
Monday 14 April 2008
Just getting Crazy
The Ram Sampath version according to Times of India:
‘I’m not going to do any mudslinging!’ Like a lot of people, I don’t watch much TV as my work keeps me busy. It was only on March 18 that someone asked me if I had composed the music for Krazzy 4 . I called up the Sony Ericsson guys, I called up the Roshans, but they all kept avoiding me. Then I filed a case of plagiarism against them. They had enough time to react to that. They were sent a notice and they kept saying, ‘Our lawyer will get in touch with you’. Only when they got the legal notice on April 2, that they woke up and took me seriously. After this, they tried to dangle a lot of carrots in front of me. I got SMSes from Hrithik Roshan saying that they have an NOC and even they have been cheated. But my fight was for the truth. The Roshans wanted me to compromise. From Hrithik’s SMSes, I figured out that he was ignorant of most of the story and was just trying to help his father. But it does not help to be ignorant. There was absolutely no honesty from their side. I got justice and I am happy. As far as Rakesh Roshan calling me a man with no morals is concerned, well I am not going to be a part of any mudslinging. I have now been given the title of composer of the tune by the High Court. But honestly, the song sounds so terrible that I don’t want to be called its composer!
‘I’m not going to do any mudslinging!’ Like a lot of people, I don’t watch much TV as my work keeps me busy. It was only on March 18 that someone asked me if I had composed the music for Krazzy 4 . I called up the Sony Ericsson guys, I called up the Roshans, but they all kept avoiding me. Then I filed a case of plagiarism against them. They had enough time to react to that. They were sent a notice and they kept saying, ‘Our lawyer will get in touch with you’. Only when they got the legal notice on April 2, that they woke up and took me seriously. After this, they tried to dangle a lot of carrots in front of me. I got SMSes from Hrithik Roshan saying that they have an NOC and even they have been cheated. But my fight was for the truth. The Roshans wanted me to compromise. From Hrithik’s SMSes, I figured out that he was ignorant of most of the story and was just trying to help his father. But it does not help to be ignorant. There was absolutely no honesty from their side. I got justice and I am happy. As far as Rakesh Roshan calling me a man with no morals is concerned, well I am not going to be a part of any mudslinging. I have now been given the title of composer of the tune by the High Court. But honestly, the song sounds so terrible that I don’t want to be called its composer!
Saturday 12 April 2008
Krrazy 4 - The Rakesh Roshan version
Since I wrote against the Roshans in my yesterday's piece, I thought I should recreate this DNA story, which explains his version of the incident, for objectivity. Kudos to DNA for this interview.
‘Ram Sampat has no morals!’
Shubha Shetty-Saha - DNA
Friday, April 11, 2008 23:59 IST
Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan are upset with the way they were arm-twisted at the last moment by the musician and say they would have fought back to save their reputation, if they had enough time .
Rakesh Roshan is seething with anger over reports of being a song thief of sorts. For those uninitiated, a till now a little known musician Ram Sampath sued the Roshans for plagiarising his music for an item number in Krrazy 4 and managed to get Rs 2 crore from them in an out of court settlement.
The senior Roshan says, “Our intentions were never dishonorable. We liked the song, took permission from Sony Ericsson (the copy of which is printed alongside), then suddenly we come to know that someone is taking legal action against us for using the music.
At that moment, Ericsson tells us that they are not the legal owners of the tune! I was in a Catch 22 situation. There was no time to take any action because my movie was getting released the next day.
How could we even hire a lawyer and plan within three days? We had too much at stake because we couldn’t possibly let down our distributors and buyers by postponing the release. All these years our dealings have been honest. How can anyone even say that we have done dirty dealings?”
Roshan is also upset that they have been accused of being immoral. He says, “Ram Sampat has no morals! He knew about this in February since we started playing the promos of the SRK version.
He could have come and met me and sorted this out. Contrary to his claims, he never ever even approached us. In fact, when Hrithik came to know about it, he sent a clean message to Sampath and this was just about three days back when we were still under the impression that Sony Ericsson were the owners of the tune.”
When asked if Rajesh Roshan’s claim that it was his original work that did them in, Rakesh says, “ It is a five-minute song which Rajesh has composed, out of which just about 24 seconds is being taken from the ad, for which we had taken the permission. So what is wrong if Rajesh claimed it as his song?”
Finally, he says ruefully, “I would have continued fighting only if I had some time!”
‘Ram Sampat has no morals!’
Shubha Shetty-Saha - DNA
Friday, April 11, 2008 23:59 IST
Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan are upset with the way they were arm-twisted at the last moment by the musician and say they would have fought back to save their reputation, if they had enough time .
Rakesh Roshan is seething with anger over reports of being a song thief of sorts. For those uninitiated, a till now a little known musician Ram Sampath sued the Roshans for plagiarising his music for an item number in Krrazy 4 and managed to get Rs 2 crore from them in an out of court settlement.
The senior Roshan says, “Our intentions were never dishonorable. We liked the song, took permission from Sony Ericsson (the copy of which is printed alongside), then suddenly we come to know that someone is taking legal action against us for using the music.
At that moment, Ericsson tells us that they are not the legal owners of the tune! I was in a Catch 22 situation. There was no time to take any action because my movie was getting released the next day.
How could we even hire a lawyer and plan within three days? We had too much at stake because we couldn’t possibly let down our distributors and buyers by postponing the release. All these years our dealings have been honest. How can anyone even say that we have done dirty dealings?”
Roshan is also upset that they have been accused of being immoral. He says, “Ram Sampat has no morals! He knew about this in February since we started playing the promos of the SRK version.
He could have come and met me and sorted this out. Contrary to his claims, he never ever even approached us. In fact, when Hrithik came to know about it, he sent a clean message to Sampath and this was just about three days back when we were still under the impression that Sony Ericsson were the owners of the tune.”
When asked if Rajesh Roshan’s claim that it was his original work that did them in, Rakesh says, “ It is a five-minute song which Rajesh has composed, out of which just about 24 seconds is being taken from the ad, for which we had taken the permission. So what is wrong if Rajesh claimed it as his song?”
Finally, he says ruefully, “I would have continued fighting only if I had some time!”
Friday 11 April 2008
Why is Bollywood so reckless and insincere?
Bollywood is known for its wayward ways of copying Hollywood themes so recklessly. It has now become kind of a standard to copy the non-desi themes and even our well-informed critics have resigned to this fate. They also need movies to review, it is their daily bread, and unless Bollywood doesn’t produce stuff, what would they do?
But, now the Roshans have made headways in this space by copying a desi music for their upcoming movie Krazzy4! Remember that the Roshans camp has a well-acclaimed music composer in Rajesh Roshan and still they had to stand the shame of the court ruling against them. There is a very nice story on this topic in DNA.
The original composer of the music, Ram Sampath, has won a whopping Rs. 2 crore through an out-of-court-settlement with the Roshans. That is quite a fortune.
But, now the Roshans have made headways in this space by copying a desi music for their upcoming movie Krazzy4! Remember that the Roshans camp has a well-acclaimed music composer in Rajesh Roshan and still they had to stand the shame of the court ruling against them. There is a very nice story on this topic in DNA.
The original composer of the music, Ram Sampath, has won a whopping Rs. 2 crore through an out-of-court-settlement with the Roshans. That is quite a fortune.
Thursday 10 April 2008
Democracy Up for Auction
The tried and tested formula of wooing the voters with television and rice (food for thought and for stomache) is here again. The South Indian states, except Kerala, have been witnessing such gimmicks by politicians since a long time.
The last Tamil Nadu elections saw Chief Minister M Karunanidhi successfully experimenting it by pulling the crowd showing his dangling carrot – a colour TV. Now, the latest is from Karnataka Congress party, and the major attraction here is, yet again, television sets!
Free colour TVs and 25 kg of rice at Rs 2 for families living below the poverty line - that is what the Congress manifesto promises before the assembly elections in Karnataka, reports Rediff.com. (Don’t miss the comments on the message board also!)
(Any hidden marketing pact with our television set manufacturers, cable companies and DTH operators??)
Now let us wait and see how Congress’ main competitor in the state, BJP, betters the offer! I have ideas for BJP to wipe out Congress, but the proposition is bit costly. Tie up with the Tatas and offer a Nano....Congress will sink without a trace! Will that day (of the Nano) ever come?
The bargaining ground is open for players. Voters deserve a pat on their back for tolerating such ridicules on democracy.
The curses of being an entertainment-crazy region!
Will the blind-folded voters ever realise that they should actually be demanding an efficient running of the government machinery, and the well-being of the state and the country would naturally arrest our rising inflation levels?
The last Tamil Nadu elections saw Chief Minister M Karunanidhi successfully experimenting it by pulling the crowd showing his dangling carrot – a colour TV. Now, the latest is from Karnataka Congress party, and the major attraction here is, yet again, television sets!
Free colour TVs and 25 kg of rice at Rs 2 for families living below the poverty line - that is what the Congress manifesto promises before the assembly elections in Karnataka, reports Rediff.com. (Don’t miss the comments on the message board also!)
(Any hidden marketing pact with our television set manufacturers, cable companies and DTH operators??)
Now let us wait and see how Congress’ main competitor in the state, BJP, betters the offer! I have ideas for BJP to wipe out Congress, but the proposition is bit costly. Tie up with the Tatas and offer a Nano....Congress will sink without a trace! Will that day (of the Nano) ever come?
The bargaining ground is open for players. Voters deserve a pat on their back for tolerating such ridicules on democracy.
The curses of being an entertainment-crazy region!
Will the blind-folded voters ever realise that they should actually be demanding an efficient running of the government machinery, and the well-being of the state and the country would naturally arrest our rising inflation levels?
Tuesday 8 April 2008
Plain Truth?
The de-boarding of a Kerala MP from an Air India aircraft and the MP lashing out against the pilot in question, calling him a 'glorified driver' had all the ingredients that could make a superhit Suresh Gopi - Ranji Panikker thriller.
In the above-mentioned rediff report, I happened to go through the readers' comments in the message board as well. The agitated readers have unleashed an onslaught of comments against the MP in these posts, you can see. But, what is the truth....? will it ever come out?
Some of the comments:
Why this Muslim League MP entered cockpit?by Tathagata Mukherjee on Apr 08, 2008 11:39 PM Hide repliesThere is no rule of law in India. Nothing will happen to this person- he will claim being minority, he is being victimised.Same thing happened with Haaj passengers- they are now allowed special 10 KG baggage to bring Zamzam water. Another discrimination by psuedos.
De-boarding of Kerala MP turns into a major rowby Kundil Kumar Chiring on Apr 08, 2008 11:34 PM Hide repliesThe IA Pilot should got honour/Reward who had the guts to order the rogue MP out of the plane , MP and All political party leader alway's think that they are above law/rule's
Good job pilot and crew.by ananth K on Apr 08, 2008 11:31 PM Hide repliesYou should have thrown him in the mid air for this junk's act.
Muslip Parliamentby Imam Bux on Apr 08, 2008 11:19 PM Hide repliesIt is really pathetic to know when a person who has stayed out of INDIA for 32 years is able to enjoy the Rajya Sabha MP status. It clearly indicates how bad our political system has gone.
(read more comments after opening the page link given above.)
In the above-mentioned rediff report, I happened to go through the readers' comments in the message board as well. The agitated readers have unleashed an onslaught of comments against the MP in these posts, you can see. But, what is the truth....? will it ever come out?
Some of the comments:
Why this Muslim League MP entered cockpit?by Tathagata Mukherjee on Apr 08, 2008 11:39 PM Hide repliesThere is no rule of law in India. Nothing will happen to this person- he will claim being minority, he is being victimised.Same thing happened with Haaj passengers- they are now allowed special 10 KG baggage to bring Zamzam water. Another discrimination by psuedos.
De-boarding of Kerala MP turns into a major rowby Kundil Kumar Chiring on Apr 08, 2008 11:34 PM Hide repliesThe IA Pilot should got honour/Reward who had the guts to order the rogue MP out of the plane , MP and All political party leader alway's think that they are above law/rule's
Good job pilot and crew.by ananth K on Apr 08, 2008 11:31 PM Hide repliesYou should have thrown him in the mid air for this junk's act.
Muslip Parliamentby Imam Bux on Apr 08, 2008 11:19 PM Hide repliesIt is really pathetic to know when a person who has stayed out of INDIA for 32 years is able to enjoy the Rajya Sabha MP status. It clearly indicates how bad our political system has gone.
(read more comments after opening the page link given above.)
Sunday 6 April 2008
The Day Sambar Got Hammered
On Saturday, I went to one of the popular restaurants in Madiwala (A Malayalai hub of Bangalore). The restaurant, just a stone's throw away from the famous Ayyappa temple there, is named after the 'masses'; but it attracts both the masses and the classes alike.
It was my first visit and I was alone. The restaurant was full of the Saturday crowd, mostly 'soft' and 'hard' (software and hardware engineers) mallus, splurging on the typical Kerala delicacies they had been missing.
Being a kitchen-friendly person, I can prepare any of those delicacies at home. But, not fish biryani. The dish always beats me. So, I ordered Fish Biryani and, yes, I got what I ordered. No complaints there.
But, what they forgot was to pack a hammer also with the dish to break the fish in question. While eating the fish, I even worndered if it was chicken or beef. That fish had lost its individuality and personality long time back, may be in a refrigerator, I guess.
In the Priyadarshan-directed Mohanlal hit 'Kilukkam', the character played by Thilakan gives a dialogue, when his cook (played by Innocent) serves him chicken.
"Could you get me a stick as well?"
"Why sir?" asks the cook.
"I want to kill it first before eating," retorts the master.
I found myself in a similar situation.
Then the fishy tale continues...
Today, I spotted a boy selling fish on the street. I ordered some and he was doing the cutting and the cleaning for me. I told him, I didn't need the fish-head. He objected.
"Sir, this is very tasty, just eat and see. Ok, what dish are you going to prepare, sambar or fry?"
Sambar!! Why in the world sambar is related to the fish. If a brahmin listens to this, he would kill both of us, I thought.
Then, just out of curiosity, I told him it was fry.
"Ok sir, then don't take the head. It is not good for fry. But, if you are making sambar, then it is good."
Then only I realised that, for him, a fish curry or anything with gravy is a sambar.
See the depth sambar has reached… that too in South India!
It was my first visit and I was alone. The restaurant was full of the Saturday crowd, mostly 'soft' and 'hard' (software and hardware engineers) mallus, splurging on the typical Kerala delicacies they had been missing.
Being a kitchen-friendly person, I can prepare any of those delicacies at home. But, not fish biryani. The dish always beats me. So, I ordered Fish Biryani and, yes, I got what I ordered. No complaints there.
But, what they forgot was to pack a hammer also with the dish to break the fish in question. While eating the fish, I even worndered if it was chicken or beef. That fish had lost its individuality and personality long time back, may be in a refrigerator, I guess.
In the Priyadarshan-directed Mohanlal hit 'Kilukkam', the character played by Thilakan gives a dialogue, when his cook (played by Innocent) serves him chicken.
"Could you get me a stick as well?"
"Why sir?" asks the cook.
"I want to kill it first before eating," retorts the master.
I found myself in a similar situation.
Then the fishy tale continues...
Today, I spotted a boy selling fish on the street. I ordered some and he was doing the cutting and the cleaning for me. I told him, I didn't need the fish-head. He objected.
"Sir, this is very tasty, just eat and see. Ok, what dish are you going to prepare, sambar or fry?"
Sambar!! Why in the world sambar is related to the fish. If a brahmin listens to this, he would kill both of us, I thought.
Then, just out of curiosity, I told him it was fry.
"Ok sir, then don't take the head. It is not good for fry. But, if you are making sambar, then it is good."
Then only I realised that, for him, a fish curry or anything with gravy is a sambar.
See the depth sambar has reached… that too in South India!
Saturday 5 April 2008
Music channel: Youtube.com
goldmine when someone wants to
dig for a sweet song he hasn't enjoyed
for years.
I know, the above statement
I know, the above statement
is an open advertisement that this
writer is a ‘tube light’.
People had been doing it since ages.
I knew people have got hooked to this website for music as much as for videos. But I realised the true potential of this website as a music-mine only when I logged into this site and searched for some of the songs which I had been really missing. Example: the songs of 1990s.
[Our superstars were full of youth then. Our writers and directors were closer to life than formulas and star-packages then.]
It is really amazing that we can turn nostalgic on the web. I am a late entrant on Youtube.
People had been doing it since ages.
I knew people have got hooked to this website for music as much as for videos. But I realised the true potential of this website as a music-mine only when I logged into this site and searched for some of the songs which I had been really missing. Example: the songs of 1990s.
[Our superstars were full of youth then. Our writers and directors were closer to life than formulas and star-packages then.]
It is really amazing that we can turn nostalgic on the web. I am a late entrant on Youtube.
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