Hrithik all the way as Krrish Rocks

I somewhere read - A Hero is someone we can admire without apology.

There is something absolutely mesmerizing with a Hrithik Roshan Closeup, that irrespective of your sex you actually adore the guy. Before i get those eyebrows raised, i would like to say it in the very nicest of ways and not the sleaziest ones.

Krrish is an out and out Hrithik Roshan movie. He plays the good man to a nicety, without getting pulverized by the world around.

As we all know, Krrish is sequel to Koi Mil Gaya and from the starting scene, Rekha starts off from where she stopped in KMG - Hamming her way.

The movie is all about a young Krishna - son of Rohit, name of Hrithik in KMG, who grows up and being his father's son, he also has the mystical powers which JADOO bestowed on Rohit. Krishna grows up in the wild, since Rekha -his dadi feels he is best protected from the eyes of the bad by keeping her grand-son in the lovely terrains of *land i would like to know*.
However Krishna soon falls in love with Priyanka ( who looks really bad ) and heads off behind her to Singapore. However since he has promised his granny before leaving that he would not let the world know who he is, he gets to a couple of tough situations and does a couple of good samaritan act under a mask and becomes the superhero - KRRISH. In doing so he also happens to rescue his dad who is caught in the clutches of a villian ( some software behemoth played by Naseeruddin Shah ).

In between there is the small matter of falling in love with Priyanka, re-uniting with father and regular hindi melodrama - Kutte tune itne din ek baap ko apne bete, ek ma ko apne bete se door rakha.

Now reading the story u must be wondering, it must be a lacklustre movie, which would hardly be able to take off.
But somehow Hrithik puts so much life into Krishna first and Rahul later, that u can hardly not enjoy the movie. The Stunts are the best i have seen so far for an indian movie (i would say it is better than Spiderman also ) and is in moderated dosages. The Super-Hero act is also limited and does not act as overkill. Add to that, Hrithik's Dancing skills and emoting ( which after Lakshya has improved in leaps and bounds) and we really have a great movie.

Couple of things during the movie, which i could not stop myself from sharing -

I had stepped into the theatre with a good friend - Mridul Gupta - and
in the first shot when young Hrithik races with a horse, he said - if Hrithik grows up while running, i will tear my hair apart ( psst... he has grown quite longish hair ) and grow did Hrithik along the course of the sprint and tear my friend didnt.
( He did treat me a Coffee to make me forget his promise of tearing his hair apart ).

- Secondly Priyanka was there in the movie only to add the glamour angle to it but she looked so awful throughout the movie , both of us kept wondering why Rakesh Roshan did not cast Rakhi Sawant ( for what reasons ?? - Are you kidding me - the obvious one ) in her place.

- Thirdly i think Hrithik would be the favourite hero of kids. His natural ease with kids on screen is so much fun.

Finally, None of the multi-starrer movies for Hrithik, he has got the charisma, talent, skill - dancing, acting to pull off a film on his own.

There is an element of honesty about him which you can hardly miss and if not for his other abilities, he is one of my fav heros.

Love him or hate him, he truly is a star in the making.

War Cry for Peace

It is with great sadness that i sit to write this blog.

Couple of days back, series of timed bombs exploded in Mumbai trains causing largescale damage to human lives. The pictures that i managed to catch on the Television were gory to be mild.
My heart really goes out to those affected and hope god helps them in overcoming the pain.
At such times we should definately speak about the spirit of the people of the country who are willing to do all they can to help tide over this misfortune. Undoubtedly we, Indians are adept at turning around a misfortune and coming over it successfully.

Terrorism is not a new concept to India - We has been mute witness to all forms of Ethnic Cleansing, Terrorism. The people from Kashmir have lost so much life and freedom that we have stopped reacting to the daily acts of terrorism. Ignoring them for so many years has given the terrorists so much confidence that they have taken their heinous acts to the Cities - Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai - Name it.
Somehow the Hindu dharma of forgive your enemies and move on hasnt quite borne the necessary effect and it is time we take the attitude of a "A Eye for a Eye".

Despite all the jingoistic stance that Uncle Sam takes, the country's concept of valuing its Citizen's lives is worth applauding. Our Country and its Politicians somehow dont mind the acts of terror as long as one of their brethen is not troubled. When will our Politicians rise above petty politics - Stop misusing power for their selfish gains and start misusing power for the better good of the society.
The politicians forever exhort the public to move on - Move on from Price Hike, Move on from Reservation, Move on from Infrastructure woes, Move on from Terrorist Attack. Yes we will move on, but you people better get your act together and do something so that we never encounter these problems again.
Go on the offensive againsts the Terrorists - Kill their base - LET EACH ONE OF THOSE INVOLVED FEEL THE PAIN FOR ATTACKING INDIA - teach them a lesson like never before.

It hurts to read in the papers the day after the blasts when a
Foreign Minister - kasauri - from Pakistan says that the blasts were a cause of failed Indo-Pak talks on Kashmir. And the Foreign secretary of our country says just - Please watch your words.

First to Mr. kasauri are you justifying the bomb blasts - coz if you are then you are indirectly claiming responsibility for these attacks on India. And if you are not implying that and are taking a random swipe at the people's misfortune at such an moment - i hope that god bestows the same misfortune on you and your country so that you realize what it is to go through such pain and think twice before uttering such ungiven statements.
Second to Navtej Sarna, Manmohan Singh and others responsible - Dont u think when Pakistan says this they mean - U deserve this ? If you keep quiet, surely u are also agreeeing that we deserve this and if you dont agree with them - better make them understand that india will never tolerate unwanted statements coming at these moments. Dont deprive the country of ACTION at its moment of need.
Take a posture towards Terrorism - Fight back -
Not just in every day life - that is the role of common man to take the same train, walk the same bazaars, go to the same temple - but also in Diplomatic circles - which is your role. Make it felt to the neighbouring nation that such loose talk can be detrimental to their interests. Step up the pressure on them to close down the terrorists camps.

Finally rise to this hour of need and get counted.

The War Cry for Peace is on -
We the Common people have heard it and responding but are the politicians listening ??

To Berlin.....

After numerous sleep-deprived nights and days, we finally are on the road to Berlin.
My assesment of the teams that would make it to the finals was so badly off, that not one of the four teams i thought would make it to the semis actually made it. That need not necessarily mean my assesment was poor, but it just goes to indicate the beauty of the glorious uncertain game.

Uncertainity is what i think got Portugal to the Semis,Ukraine to the Quarter and their fans lots to cheer about.
Ghana and Ivory Coast promised so much - attacking futbal from the africans is such a refreshing change. The African teams have always been known for their physical strength and tougher defenses/midfield as compared to their skills in the D., But this time they provided so much entertainment - attacking at will and promising much more for the next time around.
But as one commentator said - "They were naive" - Maybe they could do well by hiring one Luis Felipe Scolari, master Tactitian who could bring about that balance, shrewedness to their game.
Spain, Czech ran into some tough draws and rejuvenated competition which saw them getting knocked out at the Round of 16 and First Round respectively.

Germany was a team which surprised me the most. The played the best attacking free flowing football that any team played in the Tournament so far. And just one bad day at the office saw them lose to the Italians. The Germans can definately hold their head high and be proud of what they achieved at this tournament. Lahm and Frings played deliciously in the middle and klose and Podolski upfront scored enough and didnt let the team feel the effect of Ballack playing below par.

Now to the two teams most of the world followed so closely:

Brazil always looked and played like an 150cc TVS Bike on an typical bangalore Road ( Looking Gud and always seeming as it would break off from the pack but never actually doing it ) - Partly due to the environment and partly due to their own failing. The Team did really well to nurse Ronaldo back into form, but sadly couldnt make it count against France. I think the team got a bit obssessed with giving their top players - likes of Cafu, R Carlos, Ronaldo a fitting gift instead of focussing on winning the tournament ( Agreed Cafu is a great right-back, but first the Ghanians and then more decisively Ribery and co exposed him. Carlos with his penchant to leave his mark on the great stage played a bit selfishly i would say. I think all through the tournament they should have got more minutes for the youngsters - Cicinho, Gilberto and Robinho ). Being the champion he is, Ronaldo did justify his inclusion in the team towards the quarters but sadly he couldnt carry his team forward ( no Pun Intended )

Now to the other team, England

I would say England shot themselves in the foot if they intended to carry a Forward right from the beginning ( If Sven did actually plan to take Theo Walcott only as a tourist, i can only say - Chu**** banaya poora England ko aur Jermain DeFoe ko ). I think England did not give themselves a chance to win at all, by not playing their best combination upfront - Rooney and Crouch ever. It is common knowledge by now, that Rooney as the lone striker is ineffective, whereas Rooney behind the likes of Crouch, Saha etc is as deadly and dangerous as they can get. But somehow Sven thought otherwise and his penchant for going with Owen hargreaves was befounding - save his experience in the Bundesliga i couldnt think of any other reason of him being picked over Carrick ( who has had a wonderful season at Tottenham ).
Wish the Semis and the Finals were more different.

Anyways as a Sardar more famously said - If Ifs and Buts were Pots and Pans then my Uncle would be my Aunt -.

To the two teams who made it finally -

Italy has been all grit, determination to win at all costs ( even shameful the way they sneaked into the quarters over Australia fooling the refs ). However they have been great professionals to put aside all the speculation of their future at their respective clubs aside and concentrate so well and come so far in the tournament.
France has been a heady mix of Youth and Experience - likes of Malouda, Ribery tearing down the flanks/centre and Henry and Zidane giving the experience, magic and trickery to break down defences. They picked up the pieces of their missing puzzle post the first round stages and have progressed well on the back of sound tactics and their famed Diamond formation of Makelele, Viera, Zidane and Henry.

So book your tickets to Berlin or at the nearest Football Party in town.

I expect the final to be a dour one and it might be only upto the French to provide the bit of fun, magic and entertainment coz the Italians will definately try to grind out a result.