George Foreman : the punching preacher

With Jackie Chan(above) while endorsing his cooking-machine and with Ali (below) The Rumble In The Jungle-1974.

Extracted from Muhammad Ali's biography

George Forman : My own conversion was truly religious. A deep pull from God changed my life. I had an experience in Puerto Rico in 1977 where, for a split second in my dressing room after I fought Jimmy Young, I was out of this world. I was dead, and then came back to life. Now you think about it. Everybody asks right before they die, if they could relive their life, how would they change it ? And I had another chance. I was getting ready to die, and I said to myself, 'If I could relive my life, I'd be nicer to people; I'd believe in Jesus'. And that's what I did. I've given my life to Jesus. So the next time I go to meet God, I can tell him I've lived my life right.

book: Muhammad Ali - His Life and Times by Thomas Hauser

Spirituality

Excerpts from Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe :

In the morning I took the Bible; and beginning at the New Testament, I began seriously to read it, and imposed upon myself to read a while every morning and every night; not tying myself to the number of chapters, but long as my thoughts should engage me. It was not long after I set seriously to this work till I found my heart more deeply and sincerely affected with the wickedness of my past life. The impression of my dream revived; and the words, "All these things have not brought thee to repentance," ran seriously through my thoughts. I was earnestly

begging of God to give me repentance, when it happened providentially, the very day, that, reading the Scripture, I came to these words: "He is exalted a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and to give remission." I threw down the book; and with my heart as well as my hands lifted up to heaven, in a kind of ecstasy of joy, I cried out aloud, "Jesus, thou son of David! Jesus, thou exalted Prince and Saviour! give me repentance!"

This was the first time I could say, in the true sense of the words, that I prayed in all my life; for now I prayed with a sense of my condition, and a true Scripture view of hope, founded on the encouragement of the Word of God; and from this time, I may say, I began to hope that God would hear me.

Now I began to construe the words mentioned above, "Call on Me, and I will deliver thee," in a different sense from what I had ever done before; for then I had no notion of anything being called deliverance, but my being delivered from the captivity I was in; for though I was indeed at large in the place, yet the island was certainly a prison to me, and that in the worse sense in the world. But now I learned to take it in another sense: now I looked back upon my past life with such horror, and my sins appeared so dreadful, that my soul sought nothing of God but deliverance from the load of guilt that bore down all my comfort. As for my solitary life, it was nothing. I did not so much as pray to be delivered from it or think of it; it was all of no

consideration in comparison to this. And I add this part here, to hint to whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to a true sense of things, will find deliverance from sin a much greater blessing than deliverance from affliction.

But, leaving this part, I return to my Journal.

My condition began now to be, though not less miserable as to my way of living, yet much easier to my mind: and my thoughts being directed, by a constant reading the Scripture and praying to God, to things of a higher nature, I had a great deal of comfort within, which till now I knew nothing of; also, my health and strength returned, I bestirred myself to furnish myself with everything that I wanted, and make my way of living as regular as I could.

Books

I have read this year

Unlike last year (2009), I did n't have much spare time to read fiction this year. Last year I spent most of my spare time reading favourite authours such as Dostoevsky, H.G Wells, Conan Doyle, Tagore and Satyajit Ray. But that doesn't mean this year I gave up reading altogether. I read anything that spontaneously came to me - such as magazines (esp. old collections of National Geographic) and non-fiction related to history,geography & spirituality. Ofcourse, reading continues to be my favourite hobby nowadays. I was no 'bookish' type to start with. In my first 20-odd years I hardly read anything - not even text-books. So I am making up for it.

The only fiction I read this year is Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. Infact I started reading it in last November(09) and completed by April this year. (It was one of classics I chose to read last year.)The book made a huge impact on me that I kept re-reading it through out the year. Perhaps no other book had such a profound influence on me in recent years as this early 18th century classic.Though Robinson Crusoe is one of the heroes since my school-days, I was then only acquainted with the comics-book version.

The non-stop adventures in the high seas and eventually in the tropical-island makes this book unputdownable. The day-to-day problem solving methods described by Daniel Dofoe is still relevant which makes the book well ahead of its time. (I have wrote a detailed review of this 'mother of all modern-fiction' which I plan to publish here next year.) Inspired by the Robinson Crusoe adventures, I gained a new liking for an out-door life and even went for occasional boating trips in the lake. I also started lifting weights (after a gap of about 10-years) and other manual-labour to go with the self-reliant spirit of Robinson Crusoe.

Another reason for my liking of Robinson Crusoe is the amazing parallel between his life and mine. Like Crusoe, against the wishes of an authoritarian-father (to look after his business) I set out for a life of adventure, freedom and self-reliance and eventually ended up in the 'island of despair' (as Robinson Crusoe calls his island). But in my current state-of-mind, if given a choice between a posh, yuppie life in the big-city (such as Dubai) or laidback life in a remote island with loads & loads of books (to read and write), I may choose the later.

Kung Fu Fighting

Title : Kung-fu fighting (1974)
vocals,lyrics & music by : Carl Douglas
Produced & arranged by : Biddu

[Trivia : Watch out in this video a young, 'hippie' Biddu ( our very own Biddu Appaiah - to be precise) performing back vocals & special 'kung-fu dance'! Anyway, it's truly inspiring to watch him in action - a musician born in a small-town in south Asia and making it big in the world-stage. Big up Biddu!]

Lyrics :

Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting
Those kicks were fast as lightning
In fact, it was a little bit frightening
But they fought with expert timing

There where funky China men from funky Chinatown
They were chopping them up
They were chopping them down
It's an ancient Chinese art
And everybody knew their part

From a faint into a slip
And a kickin' from the hip
Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Those kicks were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they fought with expert timing

There was funky Billie Chin and little Sammy Chong
He said, here comes the big boss, let's get it on
We took the bow and made a stand
Started swaying with the hand
The sudden motion made me skip
Now we're into a brand new trip

(Everybody was) Kung Fu fighting
Those kicks were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they did it with expert timing
(pause)
keep on, keep on, keep on
Sure enough

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Those kicks were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
Make sure you have expert timing

Kung Fu fighting, has to be fast as lightning...

DVD : Wuxia Special

Don Wang Tao

The Yellow Faced Tiger !

Fyodor Dostoevsky

The date Nov.11-th marks the birthday of great Russian authuor,sage and champion of the oppressed - Fyodor Dostoevsky. The above picture of Dostoevsky is depicted in a new sub-way station opened recently in Moscow - named 'Dostoevskaya Metro'.

Excerpts from Dostoevsky's novel The Idiot : [ The scene of first-meeting between the hero of the story Prince 'Idiot' Myshkin and heroine Nastasya Filippovna.]

CHAPTER IX

Nastasya Filippovna looked at Myshkin with astonishment.

"Prince? He is a prince? Only fancy, I took him for the footman just now and sent him in to announce me! Ha,ha,ha !"

"No harm done- no harm done", put in Ferdyshtchenko, going up to her quickly, relieved that all had begun to laugh. "No harm: se non e vero. . ."

"And I was almost swearing at you, prince! Forgive me, please. Ferdyshtchenko, how do you come to be here at such an hour ? I did not expect to meet you here, anyway. Who ? What prince ? Myshkin ?" she questioned Ganya, who , still holding Myshkin by the shoulder, had by now introduced him.

"Our boarder", repeated Ganya.

It was obvious that they presented him and almost thrust him upon Nastasya Filippovna as a curiosity, as a means of escape from a false position. Myshkin distinctly caught the word 'idiot' pronounced behind his back, probably by Ferdyshtchenko, as though in explanation to Nastasya Filippovna.

"Tell me, why didn't you undeceive me just now when I made such a dreadful mistake about you ? Nastasya Filippovna went on , scanning Myshkin from head to foot in a most unceremonious fashion.

She waited with impatience for an answer, as though she were the answer would be so stupid as to make them laugh.

"I was surprised at seeing you so suddenly " Myshkin muttered.

"And how did you know it was I ? Where have you seen me before ? But how is it ? Really, it seems as though I had seen him somewhere. And tell me why were you so astonished just now ? What is there so amazing about me ?"

"Come now, come," Ferdyshtchenko went on, simpering. "Come now! Oh Lord, the things I would say in answer to such a question! Come!... We shall think you are a duffer next, prince!"

"I should say them too in your place", said Myshkin, laughing, to Ferdyshtchenko."I was very much struck to-day by your portrait", he went on, adressing Nastasya Filippovna. " Then I talked to the Epanchins about you; and early this morning in the train, before I reached Petersberg, Parfyon Rogozin told me a great deal about you....And the very minute I opened the door to you, I was thinking about you too, and then suddenly you appeared".

"And how did you recognise that it was I ?"

"From the photograph, and..."

"And what ?"

"And you were just as I had imagined you....I feel as though I had seen you somewhere too".

"Where - where ?"

"I feel as though I had seen your eyes somewhere ...but that's impossible. That's nonsense....

I've never been here before. Perhaps in a dream...."

"Bravo prince!" cried Ferdyshtchenko. "Yes, I take back my 'se non e vero'. But it's all his innocence", he added regretfully.

Myshkin had uttered his few sentences in an uneasy voice, often stopping to take breath. Everything about him suggested strong emotion. Nastasya Filippovna looked at him with interest, but she was not laughing now.

Nazia Hassan

singer : Nazia Hassan
lyrics : Nazia Hassan/Zoheb Hassan
music : Biddu
album : lekin mera dil(1982)

Princess Nazia : An elegy of a fan

It's been 30-years since you came into our lives & mesmerised us with your voice (and looks).

It's been 10-years since you have departed - leaving us in grief & bereavement.

Like a shooting-star, you came - illuminating,enlightening & entertaining.

You have gone but your aura still remain with us.

Your golden voice still ring in our ears.

Your songs still brings us joy, sorrow, agony & ecstacy.

Now you reside in the Taj Mahal build in our hearts, minds & soul.

Your legacy we shall continue to impart to the future generations.

You are not only great singer, a great performer, a great star

You are a great human-being.

by DJ Synth-bach

CWG - 2010

The Common wealth games

The controversial and much maligned Commonwealth Games in Delhi (CWG-2010) has finally came to an end. The great sporting country Australia once again asserted their supremacy by topping the medal tally. Despite heavy odds and adverse conditions (and withdrawal of top-athletes), the Kangaroos dominated the show even with a 2-nd string side. The medals also rained cats & dogs for the host country India, and still they could only finish 2-nd. But the local-media ignored the achievements of the Aussies (and also winners of other nations) in their desperation to make a celebrity out of each & every medal-winner of the host-country. At least for a week - even those who otherwise not interested in sports also joined the band-wagon - blissfully ignoring the fact that standard of the competition was quite low. Thankfully, the hype surrounding CWG-celebrities may not last long. The Asian Games which starts in a few weeks time will give a clear picture about where Indian sports stands. It's also a time for Indian sports to get rid of their tag of being "tigers at home, kittens abroad".

Tail-piece: The games-mascot "Shera" (tiger) was utter flop, esp. considering that "Appu" (elephant) the mascot of 1982-Asian Games is still popular.

CIRCUS

Has Come to the Town !

I celebrated my birthday in a unique way - by going to watch circus which has come to the town.

No, I'm not refering to the Commonwealth-Games 'circus' which has commenced in Delhi a few days ago. After all, it is nothing but an 'extravaganza' put up by the organisers to impress their masters. The common-people were largely excluded from it and the athletes were mere puppets of the show. (But more about it on a later post.) I'm refering here about the real circus - the world of trapezes, acrobatics, contortions, jugglings, clowns etc.- performed by a few unsung heroes and heroines, far away from the glitz & lime-light, untouched by cheap-nationalism or jingoism.


In this internet-age, anyone with a good broadband connection can enjoy the best of world circus - whether it is Russian , Chinese or European. And not to mention the regular fair which appear on various TV-channels nowadays. But to see a circus performance , very much in flesh & blood under an old-fashioned circus-tent, is something no amount of technology can substitute. You watch - without any care of hours passing by - these practitioners of' mother of all performing arts', as they stretch the limits of human-body into new heights , giving an excellent display of arts and sports combined.


I am watching circus after a long gap. In the 90s, I used to watch it almost every year. I well remember, in 1996 I drove a long 80km to watch a circus ( which featurd Russian artists), then drove back the same day, then ran out of petrol & gas-stations, and was forced to put up in a motel till next day. But it was worth all the trouble - that brilliant performance by the Russians are still fresh in my memory.

Compared to those in the 90s, the one I saw on my birthday was no mega-event. But still they could boost few new-items which made it a worthwhile outing. They also featured few foreign artists too. A gruop of African acrobats displayed their wonderfull rhythm and athleticsm. Nepali contortionists showcased the best of Chinese acrobatics. A lone Russian - a stunner a la Anna Kournikova - dazzled to perform beautifull ring-dance - one of the best I've seen. Among the host-country, there was a martial-arts from Manipur with their breath-taking performances.

The use of animals in circuses always make me uneasy - particularly wild animals. Over the years, this pratice have been curtailed for good and this circus is no exception. But there were elephants and camels whose presece is not very comforting for a modern viewer. But still, no circus is complete without birds, dogs and horses.

This is the first circus I'm watching after the theatre-workshop I participated (in 2007) with French artists(which included circus performers too). So I was looking at various technichal aspects of each performances - like the props,body-language,music, lighting, costumes etc. In many ways, it was an eye-opener: despite the onslaught of technology (including 3-D) the significance of a live-performance is still strong as ever. I shall call on all my friends and well-wishers to encourage and promote such live-performances - circus, theatre, music or sports - and shatter the myth that only those who appear on TV or films have got talent.

Last year I celebrated my birthday by throwing a party to friends and cousins.(I had my reasons to celebrate.) This year I wanted it to be low profile, but these artistic, athletic and flexible performers made it a memorable day.

GYPSY KINGS

Makes A Comeback

lyrics of "Bamboleo" :

Ese amor llega así de esta manera
no tiene la culpa,caballo de danza vana
porque es muy despreciado por eso
no te perdona llorar
ese amor llega así esta manera
no tiene la culpa
amor de compra y venta
amor en el pasado.

Bembele bembele
bembelebem bembele bembele
Bamboleo bambolea
porque mi vida yo la quiero vivir así
Bamboleo bambolea
porque mi vida yo la quiero vivir así

No tiene perdón de Dios
tú eres mi vida, la fortuna del destino
en el destino del desamparado
lo mismo ya que ayer,lo mismo soy yo

No te encuentro l'abandon.
Eres imposible no te encuentro de verdad
Por eso un día no cuento si de nada
Lo mismo ya que ayer,
Lo pienso en ti

Bamboleo bambolea
porque mi vida yo la quiero vivir así
Bamboleo bambolea
porque mi vida yo la quiero vivir así

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTrIFMVKQD8 ("Bamboleo" by Gypsy Kings)

movie review : Karate Kid - 2010

by DJ Synth-bach

Martial arts movies, along with American-western are my favourite genres. I have hardly missed the best and worst of them. I grew up on a staple diet of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies and nowadays I'm a fan of Jet Li. Watching martial-art movies brings me the memories of my hyper-active teenage years.

One of my favourite martial-arts movie is No Retreat No Surrender(1986). To make this movie, it's director, the reknowned Corey Yuen took inspiration from an earlier movie called Karate Kid (1984). Corey thought Karate Kid too slowpaced and made a fast and funky version which became a cult-classic. In the 2010 version of Karate Kid, I expected similar pace and sleekness typical of all martial-arts movies. But it was rather missing.

Kidstuff
Karate Kid-2010 turned out to be yet another movie with all hype and no substance. After all, is this a movie ? It could have well been a documentary or a 30-minute TV-episode, or even shorter - a music video. ( Infact, internet-search reveals that the director is an accomplished music-video/short film-maker.) I must warn the hardcore martial-arts movie fans not to be befooled by the trailers and patronising reviews. At best this movie could be watched in the comfort of your living room, and not at the theatres.

Jackie Chan the actor
The only highlight of the movie, apart from a crash-course on Chinese culture, is Jackie Chan's acting skills. He proves that he can act even in a non-martial arts movie. But at times he looks jaded and disinterested. Jackie Chan fans will miss the unbridled energy characteristic of his movies. Being a filmmaker himself, Chan must have caught in two minds about the outcome of this movie. His worries were not misplaced.

Lacking punch
The boyish-hero of the original Karate Kid was a typical 80's kid (like me) who exuded innocence despite his vulnerability. The 'hero' of 2010-version is spoilt-brat with a chip on his shoulder. The audience would n't have minded if he got beaten up - no matter in China, U.S or Africa. Infact, I thought the performance of boy who acted as bully more convincing.

Misfired launch ?
Despite a high profile launch, debutant Will Smith's son (what's his name ?) fails to impress. He obviously lack the natural acting ability of his father. Atleast he can take solace that many martial-arts stars are poor actors. And being a star-kid, he will not be lacking in oppurtunities even if he continues to be mediocre. Let's hope Hollywood will not take cue from Bollywood and set up star-dynasties, and there by blocking the entry of real talents.

Harmony & discord :

in music and in nature

An year long festivities, exhibitions and cultural programmes have been inaugurated in Bengal to mark the 150-th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. Continueing with my posts of Tagore's Selected Letters, the great polymath who invented Bengal's own music idiom - 'Rabindra-sangeet'- compares the distinctive styles of Indian music and European music. The Letters are written while touring to his family-estates as a manager, living in his house-boat off the Padma river.

Shelidah (Bangladesh)
10 August 1894

Last night the river woke me with a violent bubbling that made the boat billow in the swell - probably the inrush of a freshet: a thing that happens almost daily in this season. As I sat listening I suddenly had the impression that the whole river was alive and highly agitated. Through the planks at my feet I could clearly sense the gamut of ceaseless movement below : tremors, quakes, upheave and downturn, as if I were taking the river's palpitating pulse. The disturbance must have been quite something to set the water racing so wildly.

For a long time I sat on a bench beside the window. Outside was a hazy light that made the excited river look even madder. The sky was spotted with clouds. The reflection of a particularly bright star glimmered on the waters like a gash of agony. Both banks were dim and drowsy with slumber but between them surged an insomniac restlessness.

The day-world calls to mind European music with its various concords and discords, orchestrated into a great, purposeful ensemble. And the night-world is like the sphere of Indian music with its unadulterated melody, sombre and poignant. Both move us, though they are in striking contrast. And why should they disturb us ? Pairs of opposites lie at the very root of creation : king and queen, night and day, unity and disunity, the eternal and the evolving.

We Indians are under the rule of night; we are besotted with the eternal, the One. Our melodies are intended for the solitary individual; European music is for the multitude. Our music removes us from the domain of everyday joys and sorrows to a region devoid of company, as aloof as the universe ; the music of Europe revels in the perpetual oscillations of the human condition.

Sufis of Sindh

Whispers of the desert
poem by Fatima Bhutto
Excerpts:

Karachi air
Breathed in through the lungs
Is sickly sweet
Like honeycomb left out to rot
In the warm, unrepentant heat.
Or else,
It is thick, smoky
Like mesquite
The evening scent of garbarge burning
At the first break of dusk’s early light.
Mynah birds and ravens caw
A jealous chord
Singing to the street.
At midnight
I can hear the poor sweeper man
Sweep sweeping
The moonlit littered roads.
I sleep in bed
Covered in a sheet of sweat.
There is no electricity now
In this deadened August night

I trawl
Middle Eastern airlines, terminals and luggage belts
Stuck alongside students,
Honeymooners in black robes and white thobes
And slave labour, working through the night.
Hiding my name on my boarding passes,
A thumb obscuring the sight of letters, destinations and foreign nights
And inventing new fictions,
Identities
And family trees.
My legs are close to clotting
And my bags unnecessarily heavy.
Qatar, Etihad and Emirates
I count them off as lovers
I use in desperate times of need.,
Flying out every month
Pretending that I’m free,
Subsisting on airline meals.
Parting from Karachi
At departure gates
And onwards worldwide.
I wish it well
My love unkind.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

MANGO

Monsoon season is the season of mangoes in the tropics. Mangoes of all sizes and shapes flood into the market. The following is description of mango from the pages of history , extracted from two books I have in my library.

The Voyage of John Huyghen van Linschoten : Containing His Description of The East (from old English translation of 1598)

Mangas (mangoes) groweth upon trees like Chakka(Jack-fruit) trees . They are as big as a great Peach, but some what long, and a little crooked, of colour clear green, some what yellowish, and some times reddish : it hath within it a stone bigger than a Peach stone, but it is not good to be eaten. The Mangoes are inwardly yellowish, but in cutting it is waterish, yet some not so much. They have a very pleasant taste , better than a Peach, and like Annanas(Pineapple?) the most best and the most profitable fruit in all India, for it yeildeth a great quantity for food & sustainance (of the countrie people), as Olives do in Spain and Portingale.

They beare fruit upon trees, from April to November, according to the situation of the place. Those which grow in the West(coast) are smaller but of better taste & flavor; within they have a small Nut, or Kernell. Another sort groweth in Balagatte , and those are the greatest, for there are of them that weigh two pound & a quarter, of a verie pleasant taste. So are those grow in the Kingdome of Nisam Sha (Hyderabad) and like unto them are the Mangas of Bengala, Pegu and Malacca. The shel of them being taken off, is eaten in slices with Wine, and also without Wine, as we eate Peaches, they are also preserved; the better to keep them, either in Sugar, Vinegar, Oyle or Salt, like Olives in Spaine, being a little opened with a knife, they are stuffed with greene Ginger, headed Garlik, Mustard or such like, they are sometimes eaten only with Salt, and sometimes sodden with Rice, as we doe Olives, and being thus conserved and sodden, are bought in the market.

From the autobiography of Zahiruddin Babur (1483-1531) - the founder of Mughal[Mongol] Empire.


Anbah (mango) is one of the fruits peculiar to Hindustan. Hindustanis pronounce the b in its name as though no vowel followed it (anb); this being awkward to utter, some people call the fruit naghzak, as Khwaja Khusrau (Amir Khusru[1253-1325]- poet) does :

Naghzak-i ma naghz-kun-i bustan
Naghztarin mewa-i-Hindustan.

[Our fairling (ie.mango), beauty-maker of the garden
Fairest fruit of Hindustan.]

Mangoes when good(ripe) are very good, but many as are eaten, few are first-rate. They are usually plucked unripe and ripened in the house. Unripe, they make excellent condiments, are good also preserved in syrup. Taking it altogether, the mango is the best fruit of Hindustan. Some so praise it as to give it preference over all fruits except the musk-melon, but such praise outmatches it. It resembles the kardi peach. It ripens in the rains. It is eaten in two ways : one is to squeeze it to a pulp, make a hole in it, and suck out the juice - the other, to peel and eat it like kardi peach. Its tree grows very large and has a leaf somewhat resembles the peach-tree's. The trunk is ill-shaped but in Bengal and Gujrat is heard of as growing handsome.

soccer passion

In her article for Mathrubhumi Sports Brazilian journalist Carina Bini writes about soccer passion in her country which hosts FIFA World Cup - 2014.

Excertps:

And I'm sure the Brazilian team is beloved in many parts of the world. My biggest surprise when I first visited Kerala, was to hear everyone talking about 'Ronaldo', knowing that I was Brazilian. I felt at home with the warmth of Malayalis for Brazil in football. At another time, when I and my husband Malayali, Ananda Jyothi, natural Thevara - Cochin, we were producing our documentary on Kerala, for a moment I thought I was here in Brazil. Suddenly through the car window, I saw some boys playing football and a large outdoor in Malayalam with a picture of Ronaldo, on the highway going to Calicut, full of coconut trees same as some regions of north Brazil! If it was not written in Malayalam, anyone could swear that scene was happening here, and it is recorded in our documentary! And in last February , when we were in Kerala, I had the joy of knowing Bashir, a friend of my husband, who was a soccer player from Ernakulam and a great fan of Brazilian football. Until today we have treasures stored some coconut sweets from Lakshadweep he presented us. I was also delighted to see Rufas de Souza training many kids in Fort Cochin, and came to knew that he discovered some talented known players in Cochin.

Football is the main play of the children here! All houses have a ball and even the girls love to play with their brothers. I played football in my childhood. We were the team of girls against boys. We girls had little disadvantaged, of course. It is very common to see children playing soccer in the streets. And the interesting thing is that this occurs mainly in the poorest regions of the country. Being famous footballer is a dream for many boys here. I see the eyes of so many of our players that childhood dream realized. Many of our most famous players come from very poor family. We been also world champions of Volleyball too, but we love more football.

Too bad that our neighbor Argentineans have no sympathy for our team. We are so close but so far when it comes to football! Here we cheer for Mexico, indeed! Recently even schools in Argentina changed the story of their school books, and declared Maradona as the King of football. But I think they forgot about the man of a thousand goals, our King Pele, respected throughout the world and the eternal king of football. Maradona was a great player, but his story did not leave good memories is not a good role model for children in Argentina.
source : sports.mathrubhumi.com

BAPPI LAHIRI

Presents : 'Football Fever'

Apart from Vuvuzela, one of the highlights of WorldCup-2010, has been the official FIFA theme song Shakira's 'Waka Waka'. The song and the video has been an instant-hit all over the world. Also popular is another theme-song 'Waving Flag' by K'naan. Inspired by the soccer-craze, the King of Indian Disco -Bappi Lahiri - popularly known as 'Bappi-da' (ie. Brother-Bappi) came up with his own take on the beautiful game. The single is titled 'Football Fever' sung by Bappi Lahiri himself.
Being a Bengali, there is no doubting Bappi-da's credentials as a passionate soccer-fan. After all, the pioneer football-clubs like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are in his home-land. So football fever must be always in his vains. Hasn't Salil Chowdhury, the Bengali music-legend once said (in a lighter vain) ' I'm the Pele of music' ? Another great Bengali-composer - S.D Burman too was an ardent soccer fan.

And when it comes to getting inspired, there's no match for Bappi-da either. His 'inspired' works of world-famous disco-hits has earned him the nick-name 'Copy-Lahiri'. Some would also call him the Kitsch-King of Disco. But unlike some of his counterparts, Bappi-da readily admits that he has lifted tunes from others. He adds that even in his lifted-tunes, he gives a unique Bappi-da touch. Nowadays Bappi-da is more prolific as a music reality-show judge than as a musician. But advancing years have not dimished his love for good food or his trademark of flashy clothes, expensive jewellary, and designer sun-glasses that hide his Mongolian eyes.

Bappi-da's 'Football Fever' video is available on YouTube. It hasn't caused any ripple in the market (unlike his hit-numbers of the 80's).The comments that posted below the video speaks for itself. It's not that Bappi-da is unused to such heavy shower of brick-bats. I am giving here a link to the video - (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMR7zl-xuAI) out of deep respect for a musician -whom I'd call - the pioneer figure of Indian pop-music scene. Like him or poke fun of him : one cannot simply ignore this large, flamboyant man. We love you Bappi-da !

For the very best of Bappi Da's video see : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTMu1c2xaLA&feature=related (Chalo Chale : Bappi Lahiri & Runa laila)

Breaking News : A Goal !

Soccer-craze : Real or artificial ?
I reside in a place where football is the No.1 sport - not cricket. In the whole of Indian sub-continent, cricket is the favourite sport. But in certain pockets like Bengal,Kerala, Goa and the North-east, it is football that reigns supreme. Assemble any Indian football XI and players from these region will dominate the team. The soccer-clubs of these region are as old as any other part of the world. The advent of FIFA Worldcup is like a festive season here. Some of the most fanatic fans of Brazil can also be found here. Even the fury of monsoon-rains have not dimished their enthusiasm for the game.

But what about the 'soccer-mania' in the rest of the country ?
If the vast media-coverage of on-going Worldcup-2010 is an indication, it seems like soccer-craze is catching up with the rest of India as well. The TV-channels have devoted their time exclusively for Worldcup with 'breaking-news' every time a goal is scored. Going with the trend, TV-anchors and VJs appear on the screen carrying football as a prop. The sudden shift of media-focus towards soccer even prompted the publicity-obsessed Bollywood stars to turn soccer-fans overnight ! So is soccer the next big thing in the country ?

Let's not be too optimistic. It's naive to reach a conclusion based on the hype or hysteria generated by the media. To 'follow the herd' is after all a characteristic trait in this part of the world. And the latest football-fever can't come at a better time. The national pastime cricket is already in doldrums due to the corruptible influence of Big Business and Bollywood. There was a time when India dominated the world hockey and it was the popular sport for decades. Then India won the cricket worldcup and world-champioships in the 80s, and everyone jumped into the cricket bandwagon.
Similarly if Indian soccer needs to go places, its national-team must achieve great results - atleast at Asian level if not world-level. But then comes the real challenge : that is - to meet the high expectations and high demands of millions.

SOCCER MANIA !

DVD : Shaolin Soccer

movie : Shaolin Soccer(2001)
Directed by : Stephen Chow
Written by :Stephen Chow Tsang Kan-Cheung
Starring : Stephen Chow Zhao Wei Danny Chan Kwok Kwan

World Cup Soccer - preview

World Cup Football - 2010

South Africa

Which are the teams I'm gonna support in this Worldscup ?
Apart from Brazil - of course. I've been long time fan of Brazilian football and my full fledged support naturally goes to the men-in-yellow-and-green. They are the masters of total-football and there's nothing like watching a Brazilian team at its full flow. So I want to see Brazil regain the Worldcup which they won 8-years ago in Japan. I am sure they will have a lot of local support in South Africa. Argentina is also starts as the favourites but they always starts as favourites and ends up in disappointment. There's already a lot of hype surrounding their team and its coach, and let's see how they will do differently this time. This is not the case with Brazil - they have already won the cup many times and there's no shame if they miss a few times.

Apart from Brazil, I'm a big fan of African football. When it comes to sheer footballing skills, none can match them. They move as if the ball is attached to their foot like a magnet. This is the first World Cup to be held in Africa so it's the ripe time for Africa to sieze the moment. There'll be no surprise if an African team or two will feature in the semis. So all the best Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Ivory Coast and hosts South Africa.

Never in recent times did World Cup fixture look so odd. Where are some of the largest and prominent nations - such as Russia ,Sweden, Belguim, Turkey,Romania ,China ,Iran or Saudi Arabia. In their place came some obscure teams such as Newzealand, North Korea, Honduras and Serbia. It seems like the qualifying round didn't do full justice to teams from Asia and Europe. Even France managed to scrape-through over Ireland by a whisker. As it often happens, the top players of the top teams are lured by lucrative contracts with top clubs so that when it comes to playing for the country, they will have little steam left. Either they will be too jaded or injured.

Like previous Worldcups, many new names will emerge out of this Worldcup while some big names may fade into obscurity. The previous Worldcup in Germany is mostly remembered for the infamous 'head-butt' by Zenadine Zidane. Let's hope this time the tournament will be remembered at best for some positive and attractive display of soccer.

Cannes - winners

Palme d’Or:
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand)
Grand Prix (runner-up):
Des Hommes Et Des Dieux (Of God and Men), directed by Xavier Beauvois
Prix de la Mise en Scene (best director):
Mathieu Amalric for “Tournée” (On Tour)
Prix du Scenario (best screenplay):
Poetry by Lee Chang-dong
Camera d’Or (best first feature):
Año Bisiesto directed by Michael Rowe
Prix du Jury (jury prize):
A Screaming Man directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Prix d’interpretation feminine (best actress):
Juliette Binoche for “Certified Copy” (directed by Abbas Kiarostami)
Prix d’interpretation masculine (best actor – a Tie):
Javier Bardem for “Biutiful” (directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu)
and
Elio Germano for “La Nostra Vita” (directed by Daniele Luchetti)
Palme d’Or (short film):
Chienne d’Histoire directed by Serge Avedikian

Special Award for ‘faux pas ‘ on the red-carpet : Bollywood stars ( as usual ! )

movie review : AVATAR

AVATAR ...I see you
by DJ Synth-bach

Finally after a long wait , I saw the super-blockbuster movie 'Avatar'. Eversince its release early this year I 've been trying to watch this movie but did n't succeed. At the time of its release I was in a location where they didn't have the 3-D system. When I got back to the city , my busy schedule deprived me from finding a spare time to watch the movie. Finally when I managed to get a break, the show was confined to the mornings. Thus last month (April) I went to watch 'Avatar' but the film changed and I saw instead 'Clash of the Titans'. By then I was trying to convince myself that I may never see 'Avatar' at the theatres. But the following week 'Avatar' is back again for its post-Oscar release !

James Cameron fetes the audience with a wonderfull new experience and the surprise factor starts even before entering the movie-hall. At the ticket-counter, you gets a 3-D specs along with the ticket. But it's worth all the trouble & gadgets . The film turned out to be a brilliant spectacle. I had the initial apprehension that the movie may not match its hype and publicity. On the contrary its brilliance exceeds than what has been expected. The first-half may be a bit dragging but gets a steady momentum in the second-half. The action-sequences are brilliant and special-effects are breath-taking. The story-line may have some resemblance with The Last of the Mohicans(1992) but the similarity ends there. James Cameron is a seasoned customer and 'Avatar' can be aptly called his magnum-opus. Sam Worthington gives a credible performance as opposed to his 'Clash of the Titans' -the film I saw a week earlier- in which he gave a lack-luster performance.

Unlike the standard Hollywood sci-fi theme where 'aliens' are always agressors and humans the poor victims, 'Avatar' breaks this stereotype. The movie has the message of truimph of love & comraderie over hate & war. It stands by the under-dog and supports a lesser culture against the dominence of another culture. It effectively contrasts the beautifull things in nature against the onslaught and brutality of technology. Though 'Avatar' is made with the aid of latest technology, the movie highlights the danger of misuse of technology - for the purpose of greed , wealth and power. Infact by making 'Avatar' , James Cameron demonstrates that instead of misusing technology for war & agression, it should be used for peacefull purposes such as making a movie.

movie review : Clash of the Titans (2010)

by DJ Synth-bach

This is the latest movie which falls under the category '3-D digital projection'. It is a remake version of the 1981 super-hit movie based on Greek mythology. The 2010 version is a reminder that great technologies alone cannot make a great film. Not everyone can be a James Cameron.

This is the kind of movie where the producer might have said to the director : 'I will provide you all the latest technologies. Go and make a mega hit !' A desperation to make it 'big' is well evident though 'Clash of the Titans' mostly fails in its enterprise. And if you strip the film out of all its technologichal gloss, it may look like a B-grade sword & sorcery flick. Even the occasional presence of Liam Neeson could n't come to its rescue. The younger member of the audience may enjoy the battle-sequences esp. various monsterous creatures that appear in the movie from time to time. But for a seasoned movie-goer there is little new to offer. Rather than seen a movie, I felt like I have walked into a book-shop and gone through the pages of a comic-book on Greek mythology.
Anyway I am greatly excited and optimistic about the new technology 3-D digital which transforms the movie watching experience. I greatly look forward to release of the Tim Burton's latest movie Alice in Wonderland. I have always been great fan of Lewis Carroll and also Tim Burton. I have also enjoyed the animated series on TV. I am sure Tim Burton and 3-D will make a good combination.

The Oscars 2010

BEST PICTURE
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up in the Air
Up
BEST DIRECTOR
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Lee Daniels, Precious
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'nique, Precious
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Quentino Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman, The Messenger
Joel & Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
Peter Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy, Up
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell, District 9
Nick Hornby, An Education
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche, In The Loop
Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious
Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Ajami, Israel
El Secretro de sus Ojo, Argentina
The Milk of Sorrow, Peru
Un Prophete, France
The White Ribbon, Germany
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Princess and the Frog
The Secrets of Kells
Up
ART DIRECTION
Avatar Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
Nine Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
Sherlock Holmes Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
The Young Victoria Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Avatar Mauro Fiore
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Bruno Delbonnel
The Hurt Locker Barry Ackroyd
Inglourious Basterds Robert Richardson
The White Ribbon Christian Berger
COSTUME DESIGN
Bright Star Janet Patterson
Coco before Chanel Catherine Leterrier
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Monique Prudhomme
Nine Colleen Atwood
The Young Victoria Sandy Powell
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Burma VJ Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
The Cove Nominees to be determined
Food, Inc. Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
Which Way Home Rebecca Cammisa
DOCUMENTARY SHORT
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
Music by Prudence Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
Rabbit à la Berlin Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra
FILM EDITING
Avatar Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
District 9 Julian Clarke
The Hurt Locker Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Inglourious Basterds Sally Menke
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire Joe Klotz
MAKEUP
Il Divo Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
Star Trek Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
The Young Victoria Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore
ORIGINAL SCORE
Avatar James Horner
Fantastic Mr. Fox Alexandre Desplat
The Hurt Locker Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
Sherlock Holmes Hans Zimmer
Up Michael Giacchino
ORIGINAL SONG
Almost There from The Princess and the Frog Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
Down in New Orleans from The Princess and the Frog Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
Loin de Paname from Paris 36 Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
Take It All from Nine Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart) from Crazy Heart Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
ANIMATED SHORT
French Roast Fabrice O. Joubert
Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte) Javier Recio Gracia
Logorama Nicolas Schmerkin
A Matter of Loaf and Death Nick Park
LIVE ACTION SHORT
The Door Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
Instead of Abracadabra Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
Kavi Gregg Helvey
Miracle Fish Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
The New Tenants Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson
SOUND EDITING
Avatar Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
The Hurt Locker Paul N.J. Ottosson
Inglourious Basterds Wylie Stateman
Star Trek Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
Up Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
SOUND MIXING
Avatar Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
The Hurt Locker Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
Inglourious Basterds Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
Star Trek Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
District 9 Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
Star Trek Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

DVD : The Magnificient Seven

The Evergreen movie Classic

Yul Brynner and Charles Bronson .... Deadly Combination .

Directed by John Sturges
Produced by J ohn Sturges
Written by William RobertsWalter Newman

(uncredited)Walter Bernstein (uncredited)
Starring Yul Brynner Eli Wallach Steve McQueen Charles Bronson

Robert VaughnJames CoburnHorst BuchholzBrad Dexter
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography Charles Lang
Editing by Ferris Webster
Distributed by United Artists

ABBA

Eagle lyrics
They came flying from far away, now I'm under their spell
I love hearing the stories that they tell
They've seen places beyond my land and they've found new horizons
They speak strangely but I understand
And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please
As all good friends we talk all night, and we fly wing to wing
I have questions and they know everything
There's no limit to what I feel, we climb higher and higher
Am I dreaming or is it all real?
Is it true I'm an eagle?
Is it true I can spread my wings?
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
(I'm an eagle)
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
(What a feeling)
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please
And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
(I'm an eagle)
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
(What a feeling)
Over mountains and forests and seas
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
(I'm an eagle)
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
(What a feeling)
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please..