Sunday, May 2, 2010
Weekend trip to rememeber
We (Malli, Mahantesh and Myself) were forced bachelor, since our wives had gone to in-laws place, that's when we decided to hit road over weekend. We didnt had any plans where we were going, but we knew we were travelling in certain direction. We started our journey towards Shivamooga on Friday night (9:00 PM) in Malli's Getz. Malli was behind the wheels and our first stop was at Yelahanka for fuel. Our next stop was at fsquare Yelahanka, where we brought couple of undergaments and 3/4th Pant for Malli. This was our first journery towards Shivamooga, we had to seek direction from the people.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Scattering Beans and Eating Sushi to See in Spring
Every year to celebrate the coming of Spring in Japan people scatter beans to ward off evil spirits (豆まき | mamemaki) and eat specially prepared rolled sushi (恵方まき | ehomaki) while facing in the new years lucky direction. The bean scattering is usually done by the toshiotoko (年男 | senior male or the male who was born in the same chinese calendar year) in the direction of a less fortunate member of the family wearing a demon mask.
The chant goes something like this "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外! 福は内! | Out with the Devil! In with good fortune!). Just be thankful you're not a demon in the Fukushima region where family members yell "Oni no medama buttsubuse!" (鬼の目玉ぶっつぶせっ! | Demon's eyes, crush crush!).
The tradition of eating makizushi originated in Kansai, but thanks to the marketing efforts of large department stores and supermarket chains has spread all across the country. This year the direction to face on Feburary the 3rd is a little to the right of West, So'West. (2010年の恵方は「西南西」).
It is customary to eat the whole roll in one go. I want to see your best demon impersonations if you decide to put on a mask and eat ehomaki!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Remembering Shankar Nag
Shankar Nag was born on 9th November 1954 in Mallapur village of Karnataka moved to Mumbai after finishing his education.
Putting together a tribute is not a easy task,because Shankar Nag was visionary in every sense. Shankar will be remembered as a brilliant actor, director and a technician. Shankar Nag along with his brother Ananth Nag moved to Mumbai and joined Marathi theatre,where he met actress Arundhathi in a drama rehearsal and eventually they got married.
Even after establishing himself in the marathi theatre,his heart was in karnataka. Eventually he moved to karnataka and started a amature theatre group "Sanket". He was fluent in Kannada,Marathi,English,Hindi and Konkani languages.
Shankar Nag was instrumental in bringing the R.K.Laxman collection of short stories onto the television. Malgudi Days is still remembered for its directorial acumen. He directed few more serials for DD1-Delhi and DD1-Kannada. I have meet so many people who still love to watch Malgudi Days.
Before shankar nag joined the film industry,most of the technical activities were done with technicians at Chennai. Because of this lot of time and effort was wasted in moving from Bangalore to Chennai. This prompted shankar nag to start dubbing studio(Sanket Electronics) in bangalore. Shankar Nag was a master technican,which we can see in his movies,theater and TV.
Shankar Nag was a brilliant actor and has won national award on debut. His acting career spanned for 12 years(1978-1990). He has acted in more than 90 films. Many of his films have become a big grosser at box office. Auto Raja was still remembered by many people including auto driver's for the portrayal of well educated riding auto rickshaw and showing auto driver's in good image.
Shankar Nag has used music in his films with perfection. He was instrumental in getting Illayaraja compose some of the memorable tunes in the Kannada industry. He even prevailed upon Illayaraja to compose background music in few of the films.In those Illayaraja was regarded was best music director in the south india and was choosy in doing non tamil movies.
Shankar Nag left many unfinished projects like the Country Club at his farm near Bangalore, a ropeway to Nandi Hills and a low cost prefab housing scheme. An admirer of Ramakrishna Hegde, he was not much into active politics. However he had a great vision for Bangalore. Way back in 1990, before his untimely death, he proposed a Metro for Bangalore city, based on what he had seen in London.
There is lot more to write about the man who dreamt for the betterment of film industry and people of Bangalore. He didn't get much credit because of presence of stalwarts like Rajkumar and Vishnuvardhan. But he didn't much more than these people to the film industry.
I feel he is Guru Dutt of Kannada Film. Guru Dutt was also a brilliant actor,director and technician. People didn't understand both Guru Dutt and Shankar Nag because their thinking was way ahead others. People can to know about there importance after their demise. Incidentally both are from Karnataka.
Still lot more to write,a post is just a small tribute to shankar nag.
Putting together a tribute is not a easy task,because Shankar Nag was visionary in every sense. Shankar will be remembered as a brilliant actor, director and a technician. Shankar Nag along with his brother Ananth Nag moved to Mumbai and joined Marathi theatre,where he met actress Arundhathi in a drama rehearsal and eventually they got married.
Even after establishing himself in the marathi theatre,his heart was in karnataka. Eventually he moved to karnataka and started a amature theatre group "Sanket". He was fluent in Kannada,Marathi,English,Hindi and Konkani languages.
Shankar Nag was instrumental in bringing the R.K.Laxman collection of short stories onto the television. Malgudi Days is still remembered for its directorial acumen. He directed few more serials for DD1-Delhi and DD1-Kannada. I have meet so many people who still love to watch Malgudi Days.
Before shankar nag joined the film industry,most of the technical activities were done with technicians at Chennai. Because of this lot of time and effort was wasted in moving from Bangalore to Chennai. This prompted shankar nag to start dubbing studio(Sanket Electronics) in bangalore. Shankar Nag was a master technican,which we can see in his movies,theater and TV.
Shankar Nag was a brilliant actor and has won national award on debut. His acting career spanned for 12 years(1978-1990). He has acted in more than 90 films. Many of his films have become a big grosser at box office. Auto Raja was still remembered by many people including auto driver's for the portrayal of well educated riding auto rickshaw and showing auto driver's in good image.
Shankar Nag has used music in his films with perfection. He was instrumental in getting Illayaraja compose some of the memorable tunes in the Kannada industry. He even prevailed upon Illayaraja to compose background music in few of the films.In those Illayaraja was regarded was best music director in the south india and was choosy in doing non tamil movies.
Shankar Nag left many unfinished projects like the Country Club at his farm near Bangalore, a ropeway to Nandi Hills and a low cost prefab housing scheme. An admirer of Ramakrishna Hegde, he was not much into active politics. However he had a great vision for Bangalore. Way back in 1990, before his untimely death, he proposed a Metro for Bangalore city, based on what he had seen in London.
There is lot more to write about the man who dreamt for the betterment of film industry and people of Bangalore. He didn't get much credit because of presence of stalwarts like Rajkumar and Vishnuvardhan. But he didn't much more than these people to the film industry.
I feel he is Guru Dutt of Kannada Film. Guru Dutt was also a brilliant actor,director and technician. People didn't understand both Guru Dutt and Shankar Nag because their thinking was way ahead others. People can to know about there importance after their demise. Incidentally both are from Karnataka.
Still lot more to write,a post is just a small tribute to shankar nag.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Dying art of letter writing
World postal day is celebrated on 9th October. I was not even aware such a celebration takes place world wide each year. I came across FM radio news about world postal day while driving to office,that's when i decided to post a blog.
People in India and world over used either horse or foot post,before the modern postal service was established by British East India Company in 1764.
30 years back the most common mode of communication was postal services in the India(other than metro's). People mainly used postal services for business purpose and communicating with people leaving in far of place. People used to wait for a mails and rejoice when received mails from the dear ones. I still remember people (including my grand father and father) used to hang the received mails in one corner of the room.There are many places around the world where postal service in the only mode of communication.
Writing a letter is an art,which was practiced by great people(Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda) to name a few. They used to communicate with the followers through mails. Postal service played a important role in the Indian Independence struggle, but sadly never highlighted in any articles. There are many songs dedicated to the postal services in the Indian films.
Letter writing was taught in the school as the integral part of the course. Competition were conducted on regular basis at all levels(National,State,District). School kids used to practice writing mails religiously.
Writing mails started dwindling with the advances in other modes of communication(computer and mobile phones) which are quicker and easier. The advances in computers and mobiles has changed the way we communicate with people. They use voice calls,SMS, emails,social networking etc. for communication,which are faster and efficient. But this have given rise to more informal way of communicating. Writing emails/sms/tweets are not governed by a set of rules,unlike letter writing.
Young generation doesn't know the importance of the letter writing. Whenever i come across people struggling to write mails, i pity them because they were never taught how to write mails. It is the responsibility of schools and parents to teach their kids the importance and art of letter writing. It is the responsibility of people who have learnt the letter writing skills,should practice and encourage others to follow.
In addition to postal services, the post office provide telephone and telegraph services. Before STD came into existence, people used to make long distance call through trunk call. I remember i used to wait for long hours to make a call (trunk call) to my father from post office. Then STD booth(kiosk) came into existence and the telephone services slowly moved out of the post office.
I end this blog with the hope that art of writing would survive and flourish in coming days.
People in India and world over used either horse or foot post,before the modern postal service was established by British East India Company in 1764.
30 years back the most common mode of communication was postal services in the India(other than metro's). People mainly used postal services for business purpose and communicating with people leaving in far of place. People used to wait for a mails and rejoice when received mails from the dear ones. I still remember people (including my grand father and father) used to hang the received mails in one corner of the room.There are many places around the world where postal service in the only mode of communication.
Writing a letter is an art,which was practiced by great people(Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda) to name a few. They used to communicate with the followers through mails. Postal service played a important role in the Indian Independence struggle, but sadly never highlighted in any articles. There are many songs dedicated to the postal services in the Indian films.
Letter writing was taught in the school as the integral part of the course. Competition were conducted on regular basis at all levels(National,State,District). School kids used to practice writing mails religiously.
Writing mails started dwindling with the advances in other modes of communication(computer and mobile phones) which are quicker and easier. The advances in computers and mobiles has changed the way we communicate with people. They use voice calls,SMS, emails,social networking etc. for communication,which are faster and efficient. But this have given rise to more informal way of communicating. Writing emails/sms/tweets are not governed by a set of rules,unlike letter writing.
Young generation doesn't know the importance of the letter writing. Whenever i come across people struggling to write mails, i pity them because they were never taught how to write mails. It is the responsibility of schools and parents to teach their kids the importance and art of letter writing. It is the responsibility of people who have learnt the letter writing skills,should practice and encourage others to follow.
In addition to postal services, the post office provide telephone and telegraph services. Before STD came into existence, people used to make long distance call through trunk call. I remember i used to wait for long hours to make a call (trunk call) to my father from post office. Then STD booth(kiosk) came into existence and the telephone services slowly moved out of the post office.
I end this blog with the hope that art of writing would survive and flourish in coming days.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Weekly update of Indians in International meets
SHOOTING:
INDIANS BAG THREE GOLDS
Indian shooters won three golds in the double trap event in the Asian Clay Shooting championship at Almaty, Kazakhastan. Ronjon Sodhi won the individual gold and India won the team gold. Sangram Dahiya won the third gold in the junior section. Sodhi shot an excellent score of 188 (144 + 44) for the gold. The team comprising Sodhi (144), Vikram Chopra (132) and Vikram Bhatnagar (124) put up a splendid performance for the team gold.
WRESTLING:
RAMESH ENTERS WORLD STAGE
Becomes the first Indian in 42 years to win a freestyle medal at the wrestling world championships.Kumar defeated Alexandr Burca of Moldova on technical points after the repechage round ended with both the wrestlers tied at the score of 7-7.
SUSHIL FAILS IN MEDAL QUEST
Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar lost out on a medal opportunity in the World Wrestling Championship after losing the bronze medal play-off in the 66kg freestyle category in Herning, Denmark. Sushil lost 0-5 to Japanese Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu in the repechage.
GOLF:
RANDHAWA STAYS IN HUNT, BHULLAR FALTERS
Jyoti Randhawa remained in the hunt for a top-five finish, carding one-under 70 to be placed tied eighth after the penultimate round of the Japan Tour’s Panasonic Open in Kyoto on Saturday. Randhawa has a total of three-under 210 after three rounds. The other Indian, Gaganjeet Bhullar, however, had a nightmarish day, going eight-over 79 for a total of seven-over 220.
TENNIS:
INDIA IN DAVIS CUP
Somdev Devvarman was never going to lose this game. It wasn’t an option.
The match in question was the first of the reverse singles between India and South Africa in the Davis Cup World Group play-off in Johannesburg.
After 2 hours and 15 minutes of play, the match was as good as sealed. The India No. 1 was down by two sets and a break in the third. He was broken on a doublefault in the first game of the third set. The break of serve silenced the Indian bench and threw the South Africans into a frenzy of action, with the seasoned Wesley Moodie leaving the arena to possibly prepare for the fifth match. Right then, at the change over, Somdev told his teammates, I’m not losing this one.’’
He didn’t. Miraculously, the Indian, with the heart of a bullfighter and the legs of a marathon runner, beat his friend and practice partner Rik de Voest 3-6, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in 4 hours and 43 minutes. The win gave India a 3-1 lead and a place in the elite World Group after over a decade in tennis wilderness.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
Yuki Bhambri made a memorable Davis Cup debut with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over South African Izak Van der Merwe in the dead fifth rubber of their Davis Cup World Group play-off in Johannesburg. India won 4-1.
SANIA MAKES MAIN DRAW
Sania Mirza qualified for the main draw of the $2 million Toray Pan Pacific Open with a battling win over Ukraine’s world No. 87 Viktoriya Kutuzova on Saturday. After trailing by a set and 1-3 in the second, Sania, the world No. 65, staged a strong fightback to eventually win the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
BADMINITION:
SHUTTLERS ADVANCE
Shuttlers Aditya Prakash, Trupti Murgunde, Gayatri Vartak and Sayali Gokahle entered the pre-quarterfinals of the Czech International in Brno on Friday after winning their respective opening round matches. Aditya spanked Polish Maciej Kowalik 21-8 21-9 in just 21-minutes. Among women, Trupti beat French Elisa Chanteur 21-15, 21-12 while Gayatri stunned eighth seed compatriot Neha Pandit 21-18, 14-21, 21-13. Second seed Sayali Gokhale beat Croatia’s Andrea Zvorc 21-15, 21-12.
LAST INDIAN SHUTTLER OUT
P Kashyap lost in straight sets to Peter Gade 10-21 10-21 in the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals of the Yonex Open Japan Super Series badminton in Tokyo. Kashyap proved to be no match for the world No.3 and went down in 31 minutes.
SQUASH:
SAURAV CRASHES OUT
India’s top ranked player Saurav Ghosal crashed out of the $147,500 Sky Open Squash Championships in Cairo after he was humbled in the first round by Laurens Jan Anjema of Netherlands. World No. 32 Ghosal lost 6-11, 11-5, 3-11, 4-11 to 11th seed Anjema in 54 minutes in the PSA World Tour event.
JOSHNA CRASHES OUT
Joshna Chinappa crashed out of the Forexx Women’s World Open Squash tournament in Amsterdam, bringing down the curtains on the Indian challenge in the premier event.The India No. 1, who made the main draw by beating junior world champion Nour el Sherbini of Egypt in the final qualifying round, lost 4-11, 5-11, 6-11 to 16th seeded Egyptian Raneem el Weleily.Meanwhile, Dipika Pallikal failed to make the main draw, losing 5-11, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10, 10-12 to England’s Sarah Kippax in the final qualifying round.
FOOTBALL:
MITTAL MAY BUY OUT BRIATORE FROM QPR
Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is now considering buying out Falvio Briatore stake at Queens Park Rangers after he was engulfed in controversy as manager of Renault's Formula One team. Briatore, the Italian playboy, ordered a racing driver to crash his car deliberately last year, costing him his job. The Indian billionaire was persuaded by Briatore to become an investor in Queens Park Rangers football club in 2007, but is now reportedly reconsidering his ties with the flamboyant tycoon, The Telegraph, London reported. Mittal is represented at the club by the popular board member and his son-in-law, Amit Bhatia. Lakshmi is extremely concerned about what has happened,said one of his associates.
INDIANS BAG THREE GOLDS
Indian shooters won three golds in the double trap event in the Asian Clay Shooting championship at Almaty, Kazakhastan. Ronjon Sodhi won the individual gold and India won the team gold. Sangram Dahiya won the third gold in the junior section. Sodhi shot an excellent score of 188 (144 + 44) for the gold. The team comprising Sodhi (144), Vikram Chopra (132) and Vikram Bhatnagar (124) put up a splendid performance for the team gold.
WRESTLING:
RAMESH ENTERS WORLD STAGE
Becomes the first Indian in 42 years to win a freestyle medal at the wrestling world championships.Kumar defeated Alexandr Burca of Moldova on technical points after the repechage round ended with both the wrestlers tied at the score of 7-7.
SUSHIL FAILS IN MEDAL QUEST
Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar lost out on a medal opportunity in the World Wrestling Championship after losing the bronze medal play-off in the 66kg freestyle category in Herning, Denmark. Sushil lost 0-5 to Japanese Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu in the repechage.
GOLF:
RANDHAWA STAYS IN HUNT, BHULLAR FALTERS
Jyoti Randhawa remained in the hunt for a top-five finish, carding one-under 70 to be placed tied eighth after the penultimate round of the Japan Tour’s Panasonic Open in Kyoto on Saturday. Randhawa has a total of three-under 210 after three rounds. The other Indian, Gaganjeet Bhullar, however, had a nightmarish day, going eight-over 79 for a total of seven-over 220.
TENNIS:
INDIA IN DAVIS CUP
Somdev Devvarman was never going to lose this game. It wasn’t an option.
The match in question was the first of the reverse singles between India and South Africa in the Davis Cup World Group play-off in Johannesburg.
After 2 hours and 15 minutes of play, the match was as good as sealed. The India No. 1 was down by two sets and a break in the third. He was broken on a doublefault in the first game of the third set. The break of serve silenced the Indian bench and threw the South Africans into a frenzy of action, with the seasoned Wesley Moodie leaving the arena to possibly prepare for the fifth match. Right then, at the change over, Somdev told his teammates, I’m not losing this one.’’
He didn’t. Miraculously, the Indian, with the heart of a bullfighter and the legs of a marathon runner, beat his friend and practice partner Rik de Voest 3-6, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in 4 hours and 43 minutes. The win gave India a 3-1 lead and a place in the elite World Group after over a decade in tennis wilderness.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
Yuki Bhambri made a memorable Davis Cup debut with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over South African Izak Van der Merwe in the dead fifth rubber of their Davis Cup World Group play-off in Johannesburg. India won 4-1.
SANIA MAKES MAIN DRAW
Sania Mirza qualified for the main draw of the $2 million Toray Pan Pacific Open with a battling win over Ukraine’s world No. 87 Viktoriya Kutuzova on Saturday. After trailing by a set and 1-3 in the second, Sania, the world No. 65, staged a strong fightback to eventually win the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
BADMINITION:
SHUTTLERS ADVANCE
Shuttlers Aditya Prakash, Trupti Murgunde, Gayatri Vartak and Sayali Gokahle entered the pre-quarterfinals of the Czech International in Brno on Friday after winning their respective opening round matches. Aditya spanked Polish Maciej Kowalik 21-8 21-9 in just 21-minutes. Among women, Trupti beat French Elisa Chanteur 21-15, 21-12 while Gayatri stunned eighth seed compatriot Neha Pandit 21-18, 14-21, 21-13. Second seed Sayali Gokhale beat Croatia’s Andrea Zvorc 21-15, 21-12.
LAST INDIAN SHUTTLER OUT
P Kashyap lost in straight sets to Peter Gade 10-21 10-21 in the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals of the Yonex Open Japan Super Series badminton in Tokyo. Kashyap proved to be no match for the world No.3 and went down in 31 minutes.
SQUASH:
SAURAV CRASHES OUT
India’s top ranked player Saurav Ghosal crashed out of the $147,500 Sky Open Squash Championships in Cairo after he was humbled in the first round by Laurens Jan Anjema of Netherlands. World No. 32 Ghosal lost 6-11, 11-5, 3-11, 4-11 to 11th seed Anjema in 54 minutes in the PSA World Tour event.
JOSHNA CRASHES OUT
Joshna Chinappa crashed out of the Forexx Women’s World Open Squash tournament in Amsterdam, bringing down the curtains on the Indian challenge in the premier event.The India No. 1, who made the main draw by beating junior world champion Nour el Sherbini of Egypt in the final qualifying round, lost 4-11, 5-11, 6-11 to 16th seeded Egyptian Raneem el Weleily.Meanwhile, Dipika Pallikal failed to make the main draw, losing 5-11, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10, 10-12 to England’s Sarah Kippax in the final qualifying round.
FOOTBALL:
MITTAL MAY BUY OUT BRIATORE FROM QPR
Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is now considering buying out Falvio Briatore stake at Queens Park Rangers after he was engulfed in controversy as manager of Renault's Formula One team. Briatore, the Italian playboy, ordered a racing driver to crash his car deliberately last year, costing him his job. The Indian billionaire was persuaded by Briatore to become an investor in Queens Park Rangers football club in 2007, but is now reportedly reconsidering his ties with the flamboyant tycoon, The Telegraph, London reported. Mittal is represented at the club by the popular board member and his son-in-law, Amit Bhatia. Lakshmi is extremely concerned about what has happened,said one of his associates.
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