This Day...That Year

25th June 1983, the day when Indian cricket team rocked the cricketing world by beating the formidable West Indian Team and winning the Prudential World Cup. Since that day, cricket has not been just a game in India, it became a Religion.

Nobody gave India a chance to qualify for the Semi-Finals, let alone win the Cup. The event that probably inspired the team was Kapil's surreal knock of 175 not out (then the highest score in one-dayers) against Zimbabwe. India was staring down the barrel at 17 for 5, when this man walked in and played out of his skin to take India to 266 for 8 and won the game single-handedly (well with a little support from Syed Kirmani). Unfortunately, that match wasn't recorded on tape as BBC was on strike that day. This knock was even more significant in re-grouping the team as it came after 2 straight losses and rest, as they say, is history (i always wonder who THEY are).

Before the Final, the West Indians were so confident of taking home the trophy, that Malcom Marshall went ahead and booked a BMW car, thinking to buy it with the Tournament Prize Money. But destiny had different plans.

Today, 25th June 2008, marks the 25th anniversary of India winning the World Cup. To re-live the memories, the entire team of 1983 has gone to Lords Stadium in London.

By the way, I forgot to mention., In 1983 one more important thing happened........... I WAS BORN. :D

PS: Do you think Australians would celebrate the same way in 2012, 2024, 2028, 2032??

Get Smart

Get Smart.... I watched it last saturday @ Spice, Noida and simply loved it.

I don't remember the last time i saw an intelligent comedy. This one came as a breath of fresh air amidst all the crappy, mindless comedies(i dont mind watching them though). I liked this movie more coz i went in with zero expectations.

Steve Carell is awesome. This guy enacts his part so effortlessly that you cannot imagine anyone else playing Maxwell Smart. I read somewhere that initially Jim Carrey was being considered for this role, but in my opinion, casting Steve as Maxwell Smart was the best thing that the makers of Get Smart could do. His comic timing is Impeccable. Get Smart marks Steve's arrival on to the big stage.

I never used to like Anne Hathaway much. But i was impressed by her potrayal of Agent 99 (we dont get to know her name in the movie). She matches Steve Carell in every scene and she has a decent comic timing too. It was nice to see, unlike other spy flicks, a female character that is not there just as an "Eye Candy". I say this coz she does kick some serious ass in this movie.

It was good to see Dwayne Johnson coming out of "The Rock" mould and a playing a character (Agent 23) as it should be played. In other movies(The Mummy Returns, Walking Tall, Rundown, The Scorpion King etc) , it always seemed that "The Rock" was trying to act, and whenever he came on screen i anticipated that he would do a "if you smell, what The Rock is cooking" routine. For the uninitiated, he used to do the "If u smell thing" when he was at WWE.

All the other cast gives a decent support. I particularly liked the "Shtarker" character, the villian's side-kick, and also the Dumb President Cameo.

Coming to jokes in the movie, there is an ample doze of humour. One has to be smart to understand all the jokes in the movie (and i did understand most of them ;) ). The one that i liked the most was "the man from the easter island". That was slam dunk. I dont want to give away too much as it'll spoil the fun for those who want to watch.

Here's another one they show in the trailer:

Siegfried: How do I know you're not from CONTROL?
Maxwell Smart: If I were from CONTROL, you'd already be dead.
Siegfried: If you were from CONTROL, YOU'D already be dead.
Maxwell Smart: Neither of us is dead, so I'm obviously not from CONTROL.
[long pause]
Shtarker: That actually makes sense.

I hope this is a beginning of a new franchise and if it is, i am sure Maxwell Smart is gonna give Austin Powers a run for his money.

Random Bollywood Actor

After pondering on what to write for my 2nd post for long(read 3 days), thought about this while taking a shower this morning.

These days every other person seems to be taking a dig at this random bollywood actor whom i happen to share my initials with. Spare a thought for this guy.

Firstly, Mr AB mentions on his blog that Mr SRK's show "Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hai (KAPPSTH)" is not doing well and then goes on to compare his KBC to that of SRK's

-- Do u think that with the whole country swaying in the IPL phenomenon, "Paanchvi Paas" could've garnered enough viewership?? And in the case of KBC, i dont think even Mr AB's KBC - 2 or Junior KBC achieved the same amount of viewership as did the first one.

Secondly, Mr Aamir Khan, on his infamous blog(made famous by all the news channels), tells the world that his Dog's name is Shahrukh. I was left aghast after reading it. I mean, having a sense of humour is one thing but using it to insult someone is another. A person whom i had admired for his ethics, profesionalism and conduct had done something which was not expected of him.

And now one can see the hoardings, advertising the latest Sony Television game-show "Dus Ka Dum". It will be hosted by Salman Khan and the ads contain gimmicks like "Kitaabi Keeda nahi chalega" or something like that. Isn't that one directed at SRK's "Paanchvi Paas"??

Lastly, Sahara Channel is coming out with a spoof on Paanchvi Paas called "Kya Aap Paanchvi Fail Champu Hai". Earlier they were airing a sad show called Kaun Banega Champu. I can't really comment on these as i didn't have the courage to watch them despite having an appetite for poorest of poor jokes. (I happen to be a Suresh Menon fan)

There have been many other cases before, like the one where SRK was banned from attending cricket matches as the board thought that his sole aim was to promote his films (and he ended up buying a cricket team) and then the whole "smoking-in-public" stories, and the subsequent tussle between SRK and the Union Health minister about freedom of expression and all that crap.

Why is all this happening to person who has seldom commented on anyone publicly? Is it because of the jealousy among his peers or because it is the easiest way to cash in, as SRK is really popular?

SRK isnt my favourite actor or something. I just like the way he handles himself and presents himself . I chose to write this blog coz of the following reasons:

1. I wanted to find some topic to write on and wanted to do that fast, as I am new on the blogosphere and was craving to write more and Man am i enjoying it....!!!
2. Thought of presenting my views on this oft-written/talked about topic of-late. (thanx to all the news channels - barring a few)
3. Lastly, this gentleman found a mention in my 1st post. So i thought why not write something concerning him.

If you are reading this line then i assume you have read the whole thing and i wish to thank you for that.

Without an H - whats in the name

Sigh!!!!

"and there goes one more drop in the vast ocean ."

"Without an H"

Why name my blog like that???

the thing is, being a South-Indian and having a name without H in it - don't go hand-in-hand. Invariably people end-up writing my name as KartHik and more often than not send e-mails to kartHik@xyz.com.

I switched jobs last year and joined this company called think3 and this HR female in the company sent me the offer letter and guess what my name was in the letter.... no not Kartik or KartHik, it was "karthink".. what the @$%&!!!!!

this isn't the only "issue" i have with my name. I write my full name as Sri Ranga Kartik (yes i share my initials with some random bollywood actor). Kartik being my first name, which unfortunately for me, is the 3rd after S and R. Imagine my plight when i have to fill forms which say "First name - Second name - last name" and more so when all the documents/certificates of proof i have, show my name as S R Kartik.

All that aside, this blog is abt me and my views on all things bloggable (if such a word exists).

so folks.. happy reading!!!!

cheers for the new beginning.....