My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 1 - Arvind Kejriwal

Hailing from an educated family, being an alumni of Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, leaving the reputed and a well settled job in Indian Revenue Services, what Arvind Kejriwal has been doing for India  all these years has seen the light of the day in the form of the recent Assembly Elections held in Delhi. Although he had been doing his best for the country and its people, the whole attention was all at once grabbed by Mr. Kejriwal through Aam Aadmi Party's inspiring victory in the national capital.

At least I did not expect AAP to win the elections.  I was sure that there would be something different happening this time but never could imagine this big. Had they got those last required seats as well, they would have formed the government straight away by not allowing all the criticism that was bestowed on them otherwise. He has a good team, as it seems at the moment. His cabinet has been announced and they are all educated as expected and anticipated. Amidst the burning issues in the country at the moment, everyone wanted the CHANGE. In the national capital if the AAP succeeds, it would be a great hope for the rest of the country. If not AAP, there will be local alliances to support them. As I write this, Kejriwal has announced the fifty percent tariff cut in the electricity, to keep up their promise to some extent. He has already announced the free water supply, of course with conditions apply. He has also announced one crore compensation for the cop murdered on duty; which is the only second time at least I heard after Mrs. Hemant Karkare was offered lump-some amount after the infamous Mumbai attacks back in 2008. Appreciable, all in all.

Well, it's been just three days the AAP has come to rule. A long way to go! I along with crores of Indians are expecting it to succeed. I wish Mr. Kejriwal, and his team a challenging yet successful years. I also hope that his family will support him the same way they have been doing all these years. All the best to him and Delhiites. 

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 2 - Comedy Nights with Kapil (Kapil Sharma)

Comedy interests me, but not comedy shows. I always prefer, be it in movies or serials, the comedy to be part of the story and to be played by the main characters themselves. Comedy Nights with Kapil is an exception in this regard, as far as I'm concerned. I can watch any number of episodes of this latest sensational comedy show back to back! May be this is the beginning of the show and hence I'm able to do so. But, to be honest to this point of time, I'm very much impressed with the entertainment I'm being bestowed on while watching this show.

The major strength to the show, according to me, and I believe I have support from many other fans, is Mr. Kapil Sharma. It feels very different to address him as Mr. After watching the comedy he explodes in this show, I prefer calling him just as Kapil, like we call a person next door. He is gifted with the spontaneity which required for any comedian to keep the audience mesmerized with the unexpectedness. His team as well does extremely well. We must also give credit to the creative directors and writers of the show for all the efforts, thoughts and creativity they put in to bring out the weekly show as a perfect resource for the audience to rejoice.  The celebrity guests add their own bit. People get to interact with their favorite stars as well as their favorite comedy characters. There have been many comedy shows. In some of them, Kapil himself participated and won. But according to me, Comedy Nights with Kapil is the best so far and only one of it's kind. 

There can be revelations about copying from a different shows from other countries. Even in that case, I'm with this show. What matters is not the copying but the presentation for the Indian audience. But I hope this is a complete Indian born and run show by the Indian technical team! Looking forward for the rest of the episodes. How can I close this post without mentioning this? "Baba Ji Ka Thullu!!". A brand it    has almost become!

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 3 - Sachin's Retirement

This is the only post out of the twelve to write which I've neither opened the Wikipedia page nor had to do some study. For me, it's like playing my favorite sport straight in the field without practicing! Sachin Tendulkar, the man who needs no introduction, has been one of my favorites of all the time. 2013 being his last year into the cricket field as a player, he is hence there on my year's favorites list, probably for the one last time to happen so! 

From the beginning of his career to the end, he has been a passionate and determined contender. No controversies could reach him except one or two which were also very weak. No bowler in the world could sledge him to go out of his shoes. If someone sledged, he and his team mates had to go on search for the ball. Sachin has been an inspiration to the present generation of cricketers to catch the bat at early age. Sachin has been the brand ambassador for Indian sports across the globe. A family man representing the culture of India. Although all these are nothing to do only with 2013, they are the basis behind the loudest ever chanting of his name at the Wankhede Stadium in his farewell test match. Not just in his ears, the Sachinnnn...Sachin will reverberate in the ears of all his fans across the globe. And that too every time with a feeling of missing him!

There is another uniqueness to this post. I've kept the heading as 'Sachin's Retirement' which obviously is not my favorite going by the literal meaning. But, I chose that as the whole episode has efficiently impacted a lot things across the country. I'm not asking Sachin for a comeback here; rather I'd convey that he must continue to do the job he is passionate about. Along with cricket, I'm sure he must have been brought up some interests within. He must go for them. We all love you Sachin! All the best for the next innings. 

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 4 - Balika Vadhu

'Child marriage' was a burning social issue in India. It continued to impact the innocent childhood days and hence the adulthood crazy wishes of many until the mid of the very first decade of the twenty first century. Although  the instances have come down in the recent years as far as the complete country's statistics are concerned, i is still an issue in the rural India. Taking this particular issue as the basis to the plot, the way 'Balika Vadhu', the TV serial, has been made up till date is the best among all the TV dramas, according to me. 

Every character's characterization has been done incredibly well. You take any character and analyze, you will feel as if the writer and the director have actually lived those characters and moments! The screen play is the best. What I especially like in this is the situations that  have been created around to transform some of the characters from negative to positive, I mean through the realizations of life! The closing lines have been the trend setter types. A single line that is said at the end of every episode does have an inbuilt meaning in it that leaves you in thoughts for a while. Although couple of characters have been changed over a period of time, most of the characters have been played by the same artists, which I feel is the biggest binding factor between audience and the drama. Why Balika Vadhu is special for 2013 is that the transformations mentioned above have been telecasted during this period. It must be very effort-full for the Team Balika Vadhu. 

It's not just the child marriage that has been targeted in this serial. The illiteracy, widow marriages, closing down the liquor shops, answering back the attacks on women etc social issues have also been fought against in the serial. After watching it for this long period, I feel very close to the characters. Sometimes I feel 'it would be wonderful if such characters really exist and if such incidents really happen'. My time between 8 and 8:30 pm on a week day is spent to watch this. That will remain booked in the coming year too!

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 5 - National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

Out of all favorites about which I've been writing here, writing about this particular one, i.e. about National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is going to be tough. It's always from within that I write here. Honestly, I had to check a lot about NDRF before start writing about it. In this world of so called globalization and multimedia, what comes to your mind first is what you are in touch with regularly. It's obvious that no one wants the disaster to be present every day such that we read/hear about NDRF. Along with the disaster, their support gets faded away as well, after few days of the nature's or man made infidelity. Hence one cannot be in touch with this team every now and then.

For those victims, who have been part of their rescuers list at least once in life time, they appear there around almost every day, if I'm not exaggerating. From their eyes if I have to write this post, it will end no where in terms of thanks-giving. As far as I'm concerned, envisaging of this team is a great step  in the history of India. I've learnt more about it from my all time first choice, Wikipedia. I do not want to create a duplicate here. Hence not entering into all such details. But I take full pride in appreciating the idea of establishing NDRF across the nation. I've also learnt that there is one under construction near my home town! It feels good and safe for the family and friends over there. The motive of NDRF, that they are ready to leave their lives and hopes back home while on the way to the victims' place, is the divinity in itself. On saying that I'd like to send my sincere condolences to the families of the NDRF personal who lost their lives in a chopper accident while on duty at Uttarakhand.

I'm not sure how to tell them to keep up their good work. If I say that I'm saying welcome to the fatalities. Well, it's understandable that the natural disasters cannot be stopped; they can only be anticipated against! I hope it will also be understood if I say ' Keep up the great work, NDRF'. Proud of you!

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 6 - Deepika Padukone

If I did not watch Ram-Leela, Deepika Padukone would not have been on my list of favorites for this year. This is true. At the same time, I've not decided on her with one film. It is only after watching Ram-Leela I gave her work a check. As I mentioned in one of my just previous posts, for Deepika as well, it's before cocktail and after it. A slight change is, in her case the stardom striking movies have not stopped with cocktail. They have come out as commercial block busters at the box office. All three of them. That's simply superb.

I do not deny the fact that the serious star-heroine crunch in Bollywood, following the big marriages happened in 2013, has ensured a straight road for Deepika Padukone. Nonetheless, it's not the number of movies or the remuneration but the script that brings audience to the theaters and success to your hands. She has done fantastic job in choosing her projects. I, at the same time, give credit to Mr. Bhansali for his pick in Ram-Leela. He is someone who do not go by the call-sheets of the actresses! She has proved herself at the end of the day. Not all can do that; and could not do that in 2013 at least. In the recent times' serious competition and credibility-taking acts, the way she has handled her successes is admirable. The tears in her eyes during one of the recent award functions, while receiving trophy from her dad, has brought out the typical Indian girl inside her. Awesomely spoken by her that day.

It seems 2014 will also be an exciting year for Ms. Padukone. As her next film is going to be along side the South India's famous ever actor, Rajinikant, she can conveniently expect another round of box office collections! Happy New Year as well is under the scanner and hence for her the successful run will not be gone with the passing year, it seems. All the very best, Deepika. Never leave your dimple full of smile! 

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 7 - Mars Orbiter Mission

The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), aka Mangalyaan, is the proud addition to the Indian Space research Organization's (ISRO) list of achievements. Also, it was every Indian's proud moment when the MOM was launched from Sriharikota on November 5th. It will remain to be. It will be even more celebrating on the day when this mission gets successful by reaching the Mars. 

MOM is first of it's kind, the interplanetary mission, from ISRO. The earlier Chandrayaan mission was as well a prestigious step towards occupying our own space in the space. Although it is said that the launch of Mangalyaan is just to showcase the capabilities of India and it's rocket launching systems, there is more to that, in the form of the objectives of the launch stated . As the world is going crazy about the Mars-One, especially the Indians, it makes sense to put a step forward in a scientific way to explore the life-options around the space. It has always been the team effort at ISRO be it for all the earlier launcher or for their latest pie. Congratulations Team Mangalyaan!

Let us be hopeful of Mangalyaan reaching the Mars on the scheduled date. It will be great to be listed along with the three other space centers, the only three to perform the job so far. May all the experiments of ISO scientists get succeeded. May all their efforts get resulted into the deserving findings. This is not just important for ISRO or India, it is important for the mankind. All the best Team ISRO.

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 8 - Farhan Akhtar

Sports have always been nearer to my heart. When Bhag Milka Bhag was announced as the Biopic of Milka Singh, the successful Indian sprinter of mid twentieth century, I decided to watch it keeping aside any type of reviews. As the movie opened it's box office collections, it proved that this cricket crazy nation has something to offer for the athletic stories too, but on the screen. After watching the film, and till date, I'm unable to imagine anyone else in the character than Farhan Akhtar. So aptly he had done the job that even critics did not have any other option than praising. 

All the efforts Farhan has put into the work out to get the body that he has got have resulted into numerous appreciation. I've as well liked his dedication! Well, it's not just about the body building; as far as I'm concerned, its like this for Farhan Akhtar, before Bhag Milka Bhag and after that. For a man who is just an year short of forty years, taking up the job of doing a film like this is firstly challenging and most importantly very braving. The success he has got after the release of this film has added one more talent of him to his  multi-talented kitty which is already almost full. Anyway, there is no limit to such kitty as there is always space for one, it's all up to a person's

determination to add one.

Farhan Akhtar is one of a tough contender for the award getting race for 2013. My vote is for him. I hope many Indian film makers and actors/actresses get inspired from this movie and Farhan, and make few more such inspiring biopics in the years to come. It's important not just for the persons on whom the movies would be made but also for the Indian cinema. This is undoubtedly a marvelous way to bestow respect on the Indian who have ensured the hoisting of India flag on the world stages. 

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 9 - P.V. Sindhu

P.V. Sindhu, the youngest Arjuna awardee from the country, is undoubtedly the Indian badminton face of the year, and so as one of my favorites for this year. The bronze medal she bagged at the Badminton world championships in women's singles category has created the history. The two Grand-Prix titles came into her kitty are as well important for the country too, to keep the enthusiasm up to watch the badminton competitions and also to send kids for practice. 

Having the sports background at home is the best thing that can happen to any aspiring player. Family members know how a defeat tastes and win feels. Hence they know when to encourage, when to suggest, when to just leave it out for the person etc. From that perspective, Sindhu is a gifted kid. Her parents' support mattered the most not just for her, but also for the Indian badminton. Gopi Chand has once again succeeded in proving the fact that there can be home made heroes in sports; it need not always be the foreign training that makes us witness the heroics! Sindhu has recently bagged the endorsement from the famous Chinese brand, Li-Ning, with which multi-million dollars are associated with. Congratulations to her for that as well. 

Sindhu is still eligible to play the world junior badminton tournament. And she is into the top ten women singles' rankings. That's a good sign for a very bright future of Indian Badminton. I just hope and wish Sindhu to win many more trophies. Even after witnessing Nehwal's thundering successes on the world stage, choosing badminton as profession was not making that sense. But as and when this lady has won the bronze in the world championships, it's has become oblivious that young are holding the rackets, especially the female players. All the best Sindhu for a successful run in the year to come. Aim at the Rio Olympics, 2016!

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 10 - Raghuram Rajan

I'm a strong believer of this: It's a person's interest, efforts and ownership-taking attitude that brings him up the best in his career. One need not be an IITian or an alumni of IIM or MIT! But yes, having good educational back ground gives you the wild card entry for good start in career of course with a bag-full of reputation and expectations, to safeguard the former one need to put every effort and to fulfill the later one shall first understand them. It takes whopping self confidence and workout to come out the best in your career. Mr. Raghuram Rajan, the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, is a live example of all that has been said above in the last few lines.

Indian economic situation was in an undesirable crunch before he took charge. Although it was said that Mr. Rajan would be adding every bit of his mind to bring it back to normal, it was known that it would not be that straight forward. Amidst all this, he was into the office, to handle probably the toughest job of the year. As expected, he could not be so impressive immediately, but he did definitely impacted the growth rate of the Indian Rupee. His less-interest and tax-cancellation schemes have attracted the foreign investments, some days ago. Now, the rupee has recovered a little. And we are all hoping that it would recover pretty well in the coming year.

As the talk is going on, may be a common currency for whole Asia may shut the curtain, to some extent, on the problems being faced by the Indian currency. I'm not sure about this as I'm not that fluent in economy, but I just hope Mr. Rajan would take any such moves forward, due to which the country's economic situation can be bettered. All the best Mr. Rajan and team. Looking forward for Rupee's comeback! 

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 11 - Durga Shakti Nagpal

Bureaucrats are one of those to whom my respect goes unconditionally. For the efforts they put in, to enter into the system. For the tremendous handling they do in and out. They run the nation by being the back bones of the whole cabinet. After watching the recent episode of Durga Shakthi Nagpal, my respect towards them has increased further. 

The gutsy job done by Mrs. Nagpal against the Sand Mafia is very inspiring. Keeping all the threats aside, the way she and her team have handled the whole show until her suspension was very adorable. Not all can do that. Not all members of the team could have done that if their lead was someone else than Mrs. Nagpal. It has set the benchmark. Again from Wikipedia I've learnt that her father was a government official and her grand father was a police officer and was murdered while on duty. Knowing and seeing the situations around her, I'm not surprised if their girl has achieved so much at just an age of 25. 

The suspension put on her has been revoked by the Uttar Pradesh government. Which is good, irrespective of the fact that she had to approach the Chief Minister. Well, that's all part of the game, which she has won ultimately. I wish her many years of sincere service by being the part of the Indian Administration. She must keep all her guts up. Because, such honest work is going to help the Indian generations to come. All support of the whole nation is with every such officer. Way to go!

My Indian Favorites @ 2013 # 12 - Deepika Kumari

Deepika Kumari, the 19 year Archer from Ranchi, has made me go for an awe at number of occasions in the past three years.  In 2013, she along with her team has won the gold medal at the Archery world cup in the women recurve event. Indian team won the medal by defeating the Olympic Champions, the Korean team. She has also set three national records in the recently held senior Archery championship. She being hailed from a small town in Jharkhand, the achievements of her and the contributions she made to the Indian and world archery are inspiring. 

At an early age she could get the required guidance and facilities in the form of The Tata Archery Academy. I've just learnt from her page in Wikipedia that she never used to miss her target while aiming at the mangoes in her childhood. Even important thing than this is that her parents observed this and did every possible thing to support her in pursuing her talent and interest as her career. That's appreciable. Admirable as well. Had they not done that we would have missed a talent which could become the smiling face of the Indian Archery. 

My best wishes to her to go for every possible victory in her career. May she get all that she deserve including the prestigious and precious Olympic gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. All the best Deepika. 

Post:950... Six Years Back, On Dec 28th...

December 28th, 2007, IIT Delhi, Campus placements time...

Day starts with the alarm sounding with every intention to wake me up. From the sleep I was not in. I get ready for yet another encounter with the written test. This time an online one! I see myself in the mirror while making up  my hair, which I've always tried to maintain but never can succeed till date, and I see the reddened eyes, not because I'm short of sleep but because I feel absolutely option-less if today's chance cannot be grabbed. It was totally incorrect fear, or may be making sense to that's days situation and to that day's maturity! Tears roll out in an unstoppable way. The final year in IIT gives you a single room, your friends can neither see the tears nor can shed one for you. 

Only one wish! To get through. But no belief after all the failures faced until then. It appeared as if I was definitely not going to get through, but just deeply wanted to! 

Exam happens. Group discussion gets cancelled. Interview is done. Result time. What happens in between is only academic. Which is obviously not that interesting to read here!  

And, I get through! It was the most awaited moment. It mattered the most back then, on that day. 

To keep it short here, the above is how I remember the day I got placed. But if I go back in the memory lane, I get too many other memories popping up, some very important, some very much pleasing, some very much cherishable, some very much memorable and some other very much personal. December 28th will keep coming, so as my posts in blog. I'll express some of those some other time. This is it for this time.

Thanks to my friends and colleagues at work for making me remember this date with pleasure by making my so far journey interesting. 

Movie: Ram-Leela - The typical Bhansali type!

If Ram-Leela was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's first film, no doubt he would have been known as Ram Leela Bhansali! 

It's been more than three weeks since I saw Ram-Leela. Sonorous it is, till date. For the first fifteen minutes of the movie, for the that matter for another fifteen minutes later to that, I felt it really boring. The Gujarati-Hindi made it even difficult to get involved into the action being shown on the screen. But thanks to the serials I watch in TV, I could get the meaning of the dialogues except that of some words!

Every time I saw Ranveer Singh in his long beard and thick mustache before the release of the movie, I thought what Bhansali must be doing with this naughty wizard. After watching the movie, I realized what Bhansali's magic wand could do. Very much appreciable. I'm not sure how he had chosen Ranveer for that character, but he was very apt. The dialogue delivery of Ranveer suited so accurately to the character and the plot.

Deepika Padukone was as well a brilliant choice. The dimple beauty has done stunningly beautiful job in justifying her role and selection. I think she never got any better chance than Ram-Leela to actually perform. I'm very much impressed with this lady, with her smile and with her admirable capability to show up the romantic emotions on screen. For sure, she is my favorite for 2013. And now it's over to the award functions to get this girl on to the stage!

The costumes were superb. And the sets were spellbinding. What else one can say about SLB's picturization. As colorful and attractive as ever it has been! Undoubtedly, the costumes and the sets have supported Bhansali in bringing the Romeo-Juliet's adaption into the hearts of Indian fans. Well, needless to say that he will be the award getter for 2013, for his amusing work done in Ram-Leela. Hats off!

This post will not be felt completed if I do not mention the awesome item song done by Priyanka Chopra. These item numbers are one of my favorites out of all acts by the Bollywood actresses. Impressive! I've recently come to know that the song is sung by Bhoomi Trivedi, one of the Indian Idol finalists. It feels very good to know that your once favorite participants of a  mega show come out impressive with songs in movies. Way to go. All the best to her for a bright future. 

If you have not yet watched Ram-Leela, go for it. You will experience the romance in it's most beautiful colors. And yes, you will also experience the love although it happens amidst the bullets and blood. Watch it and feel it.

In the times of setbacks...!

I recently heard someone saying in an award function organized by NDTV in Rashtrapathi Bhavan that in the times of setbacks, take safe approach and be open for all opportunities rather than playing it blind and stubborn. I too believe so.

There comes this time in everyone’s life when you do not find anything coming your way. It becomes hard going all the time. Opportunities appear as if they are all around but they just seem like not coming to you or rather you are not going for them enough. At the same time, one cannot conclude it saying that this is it. But yes, one can say that this is how it happens at times. When it happens one must take as many safe approaches as possible rather than staying still, hanging around and playing it blind. One must be open for as many opportunities as possible and must not keep doors shut at any unless otherwise it’s too much to do so. Sixth sense as well can stop supporting you in such times but that’s not the end, one must believe so.

Being open and going for all possible options can definitely get you close to the one you need, you may or may not like it, that’s the other part of it. But doing so can clear a large portion of your way towards getting what you like. In the same awards function, the same gentlemen said that he tried for at least fifty interviews before he got selected for one job. Unfortunately he had to wait for fifteen months in the same job before he could get one he liked and longed for. Similar experiences might be there with many more people, especially with those who hail from middle class or lower middle class families. Well, setbacks do not know the class that we hail from. They can come in our way anytime. All we can do is to play it safe until we get the opportunity we like or may deserve. 

24 hours based analog clock!

Few days back it suddenly came to my mind why no one has ever made a 24 hour based analog clock. All we get to see is a 12 hour based clocks. On the other hand we do have digital clocks that show the time based on the settings, if you wish to see a 12 hour based one it does how and so as the 24 hour based one. When it comes to analog clocks, all most all of the clocks show only 12 hour scale.

It seems some kind of watches in fast track show the 24 hour scale but just as a small widget at the center of the round 12 hour clock. This is good.

Since in most of the countries we do have sun light in the morning and have no natural light during the night. With this we can easily figure out if the time shown in the 12 hour clock is the morning’s or of night’s. But when it comes to some countries like Norway, they have I believe half a year sun light and another half goes as night. For them, I think using the 12 hour based clock is a nightmare. Especially if a person wake up from deep sleep, it must be easier for his friends to tease him about his long sleep and the day proceeded into the other half, which we do try on many occasions in India but fail due to the natural reasons.

I’m not sure if such kind of clock already does exist in the world. Having said that t I suddenly realize that I can actually Google it.

Yes, I’ve done so and such clocks do exist. Wikipedia page says that such clocks are usually used by pilots, scientists and military. It seems during medieval times they were in use. Well, good that they are already there. I will try to buy one for myself if they come in my target price. I will like to use it.

Admitting to the mistake... Take Home #278

There is a certain satisfaction, although not very much pleasing, in admitting and apologizing for the mistakes. It gives the required positive boost to start with the remedy action. 

To gain experience... Take Home #277

Work hard to gain experience, to contribute. Anybody can work for money. 

Just short of a wonder at The Wanderers...

I do not remember when last time I wrote a post immediately after watching a cricket match but I will remember this post for a long time.

What a match it was today between India and South Africa! Firstly, well done both the teams. 

Having been criticized for it's last two wash out outings in England and Australia, Indian team entered South Africa knowing that there was a great task ahead. The one day series did not come in India's way in any manner. First day of the first test  gave a lot hope of watching a better Indian side than a conventional one away from the sub-continent. Day two, three and four gave a way towards thinking or rather believing about India's win. Here is Day five, today, and the tables are turned by the two South African batsmen. The composed knocks by AB and Duplessiss has taken the match away from India. And not just that, they have actually made Indian team and fans think that they would be losing it out. 

At the end, it was all the effort of the Indian bowlers that came in rescue. All the hard work put in since this morning has pitched in all at once. Good and bad. I wanted to watch SA winning the match and hence giving ICC the reason to think about organizing the ICC test championship. But sadly, not too much although, it turned out to be a draw! Any way, that's slightly convincing as well considering the pleasingly surprising show put up by the Indian players in first four days. 

All in all, a great start to the test series. With only one more match to go in this series, now both the teams can believe that they can win it from here. All the best to them. Hoping to see yet another nail biting test match between these two teams. 

Well played ! And it was just short of a wonder at The Wanderers today!

Book: The test of my life

Author: Yuvraj Singh

When Yuvraj Singh launched the book, for me it was like yet another story of a cancer survivor. I was not in any awe to read it. Needless to clarify how offers make women do buy the things. Same happened with me. An attractive offer came up in flipkart and I could not stop myself from choosing the Yuvi's pie. That's how I bought it. But once I bought it, I immediately took off. The read ended on a sunny morning of a Sunday under the morning sun light. 

Until I read the book, Yuvraj Singh as per me was a carefree player, expressive person, and a match winner. I never had a chance to learn more about him. Well, as I read through his story, what caught me in awe was his emotional side. In fact I had tears in my eyes in the very second page of the book. I thought it would be an emotional roller coaster ahead. Proving me right, although not completely, he put his survival story in a touching manner. 

He revealed much of his take on world cup 2011 which India won on the home soil. He mentioned that he was coughing and vomiting throughout his stay in Indian dressing room during the tournament, and he rather mentioned it too many times! I felt so. May be that's all about it. May be that's how he remembers it. But as a reader, I felt a little bored and used to it while turning the pages. What made me still turn the pages was the fact that it was about India's winning streak and of course the yet another fact that I bought the book. 

I said that he was a carefree player as per me. But while getting to know about his carelessness about his health during the world cup time, I as well felt him as a careless person! Well, that might not be entirely correct. You are playing world cup on your home soil. You are part of one of the best sides. You have every chance to lift the cup. Amidst of all that one may be or can be careless. Even I would have done the same too, I think. 

During the world cup Yuvi said that he was playing the tournament for a special person and the person's name would be announced later to the win as Sachin Tendulkar. Why Yuvi chose him was mentioned in the book and in a convincing manner as well. Thank you Sachin. Had you not said that to Yuvi that night, we would never have saw you lift the glittering trophy. 

It was only after watching the 'Bhag Milka Bhag' that I came to know who Yograj Singh, Youraj Singh's father was. And only in the book that I came to know about the split between Yuvi's parents. We know nothing about the personal lives of players and we keep expecting them play good every day. After all they too are humans! Well, Yuvi  has proved enough that he can manage all this. Thanks to his father too, because of whom Yuvi is who he is for Indian cricket. 

Mom plays the best role in every one's life so as Yuvi's mom. Not just in his earlier life but also during his Cancer days she was the one around him every second. He never mentioned about his father while writing about his days in US as a cancer patient. Anyway, that's not at all the point here. Yuvi was lucky to have such friends around him during the tough times and during his post-cancer workout sessions too. 

I read Lance Armstrong's book earlier. After reading about a person who came out healthy out of a stage four testicular cancer, Yuvi's story with almost stage one Cancer was not that catching but well, Cancer is Cancer and you have to fight for the survival. He did it. The major difference between the two books, although they are not comparable, is the emotional touch up Yuvi did considering the Indian audience/readers. He has been respectful to media all throughout the book. He need to, as he has whole life to go hand in hand with them. Yuvi has not mentioned anything about his personal life, I mean about his life with girls. May be, that was not the subject. Or may be, nothing of that sort existed. All you get to know, or rather what I got to know from the book is that he is a good friend and he has good friends in the Indian dressing room. In it and away from it. 

It's good that he chose to write his story. He says it is to bring the belief that one can survive Cancer. His foundation, 'YouWeCan' is doing well as of now. He as a player is doing fine. But needs a lot of efforts to stay on. He being in his early thirties, career may be in it's almost finishing stages. I just hope that he puts his best and pushes it as longer as he can. Wishing him a very good life and career. Ending this post in the hope to see him in the next world cup to be played down under. All the best Yuvi.

Do brave and be satisfied... Take Home #276

It's important that you share your views and put forward your requests to the appropriate people if you want to see any positive change about something that you believe in. Never fear to share your points. After all, that's a gutsy job and not all can perform. Do brave and be satisfied. 

Movie: Dhoom:3 - Yet another uncharacteristic sequel

One of the most appreciated artists of Bollywood of these days is Aamir Khan. One of the most charismatic movie franchise of the recent Indian Cinema is Dhoom. One must agree to the fact that these two are undoubtedly the best match, when put together. Unfortunately, it ends there. Only until the thoughts. Not more. 

One of the most awaited releases of the year, Dhoom:3, has reached the theaters on 20th of Christmas month. It has got mixed reviews. I will put it my way.

According me, Dhoom:3 is comparatively the toughest one to make out of all Dhoom series. The major chunk that one has to keep in mind while writing the script is the expectations of the audience. Considering the earlier block blustering successes of the same series, and with Aamir Khan starring, one cannot risk the screenplay, story, and mainly clarity in characterization. All these three are a lot lacking in Dhoom:3. Fortunately and unfortunately, the whole movie has been picturized abroad. Fortunate, because, had the whole movie been picturized in India, I fear if we would have got to see similar 'Auto Riksha' stunts, which was shown for almost five minutes at the introductory scene of Uday Chopra and Abhishek Bachchan, the carry over characters since the series' first outing. Unfortunate, because, apart from the few Indian faces, rest all are foreigners! That never appeals! 

For Aamir Khan fans, like me, watching the double dhamaka is a feast. But at the same time, I've never seen such a low level of expressions, low rated dialogue delivery from this man. One more, I never knew or rather realized that Aamir Khan is so short! The two earlier thief-police matches were perfect. I mean, John Abraham - Abhishek Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan - Abhishek Bachchan were even matches in height especially. The scenes between Aamir Khan and Abhishek Bachchan were very Tom and Jerry type. I think the director did not take the auditions keeping them together, side by side. Also, the director minded the least about showing the robberies whereas, like never before, he had put all efforts in showing the intention behind the robberies. May be he is right according to him but a director is right only when the audience can connect themselves to the story line. For me, Dhoom:3 director cannot be given the distinction. 

Now coming to the other side of the review, Katrina Kaif looked stunning. She danced superbly. On the way to the movie I thought I would miss Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. But Katrina has done a good job and justice to her role as the heroine of the third venture of Dhoom. The Bike stunts were amazingly good as well. And the all American roads have been the major plus point. I'm not sure of such bikes exist in the world, irrespective of that I loved the ideas. Pritam has once again done fantastic job by giving life to the movie in the form of music. The selection of locations is very admiring. I especially liked the last scene, for the location. 

Well, there is nothing much to appreciate. And I do not want to just put the lines. So it ends here.

All in all, the movie is a one time watcher and for Katrina Kaif one may choose to go to the theaters one more time, or any number of times for that matter. To be frank, Dhoom:3 is yet another uncharacteristic sequel. Hoping for a good one next time!