India land of reservations & quotas

The L.S. has cleared the OBC quota bill providing for 27% reservation for them.

As it is there is reservation for SCs and STs and now even OBCs.

With educational institutions fast becoming a playground of the ‘quota regime’, the students that they will churn out may not be of the highest quality. It has been known for long that students with less marks get admitted only because they fit into some ‘class’ and deserving students have to fend for themselves since seats become unavailable.

Instead of pumping in money to build new institutes and more state or national level universities, the govt. finds the ‘quota regime’ option more helpful. Since it keeps the govt. coffers under strings and helps the various political parties play hopscotch with the electorate by propping one section against another.

After the Sachar committee report about the dismal state of Muslim education and their general backwardness, the govt. is contemplating even more reservations and quotas now for Muslims at all levels including education, jobs and polity.

The UPA govt. at the centre led by Congress has always been known to be pro-Muslim since the post independence partition of the on communal lines. The policy to appease the different religious/ethnic/racial classes has ever since been the mantra. It has always well executed the ‘divide & rule’ policy inherited courtesy of British India with unfailing accuracy.

So we had Prime Minister Manmohan Singh advocating quotas for Muslims too on the recommendation of the report panel. Rightly debunked by the Left and BJP (Although it must be noted that if they were in power, they might choose a similar approach!)

With the Sachar panel proposing a totally farcical idea like placing Madrassa ‘degrees’ on par with our school systems! And also making them eligible for higher educational qualifications like engineering etc.

Refer TOI Sunday Special report dated December 10, 2006 “Hunger is in the syllabus” by Mohammed Wajihuddin. I quote “under the observant eyes of a maulvi, in a claustrophobic, overcrowded class, they must cover eight subjects that include outdated logic (if a=b=c=d, then a=d) and philosophy of the medieval period.”

How will these students cope with engineering level math?

If they know not what sine, cosine or tangent mean or basic identities; or for that matter higher level algebra, they will have a high drop out rate inspite of getting admissions under quota.

Instead of instituting workable grassroots level education reforms in them, thus rescuing students from regressive and feudal religious mullahs who make them unworthy of landing a decent job, the govt. is planning to make bigger mistakes.

As the Sachar panel report states, the Muslims do need reforms but putting forth the same solution (quota regime) is not going to work in the long run. There will infact be more antagonism and resentment towards one more quota addition.


SCs, STs, OBCs, defense personal, sportsmen all have quotas in minority, majority, govt. aided, and non-aided institutions. Now MPs and politicians even want to extend it to the private sector and illustrious institutions. All in the name of equality off course.

Clearly ‘quotas’ are themselves a form of inequality where the law views one class of people higher than others, granting them special rights. If discrimination & inequality of on basis of religion/class/ethnicity/race has to be truly removed it’s the mindset that must be changed. After all inspite of facing innumerable odds and ostracism by the even more regressive society of British India, people like Jyotiba Phule, Ram Mohan Roy were able to successfully introduce reforms and alter people’s perceptions.

The difference between these people and today’s political class is courage. Hardly anyone in the govt. today has the heart & fire in them to unleash reforms and pursue them relentlessly till they succeed. Rather the whole plot revolves around lameduck & semi-effective policies.

A simple approach would be workable if implemented rightly.


* Increase govt. spending on education.
* Initiate grassroots level programs in villages.
* Appoint better quality teachers who themselves must be tested periodically to maintain quality of teaching.
* Build new state/national level colleges and universities.
* Advocate more open universities.
* Allow foreign investment in the educational sector if possible.
* Upgrade Madrassas by keeping mullahs/maulvis only in charge of teaching religious and/or Arabic/Urdu language. Put qualified math/science teachers who can raise standards and awareness.
* Delink education from religious bodies completely in the long run.
* Make S.S.C. level education compulsory.
* Govt. must also check on the high incidence of drop-out rates.

Technorati tags: India , education , Sachar , Muslim , Madrassa , bills , UPA , Congress , Manmohan , politics , quota

Lindsay Davenportly & Sharapova snubbed

Ex world number 1, Lindsay Davenport is reported to be pregnant. Her agent Tony Godsick broke the news. This will be Davenport’s first child with husband Jonathan Leach a former ATP doubles player and the younger brother of Rick Leach.

Davenport will now miss the coming tennis season. It is not clear if she will make a comeback or retire from the sport.

Meanwhile Maria Sharapova is set to adorn the pages of Vogue. The January issue of Vogue will feature the sexy tennis star.

But the catch is she won’t get the cover. That honour will instead go to Brangelina’s better half, Angelina Jolie.

That’s a mighty snub to Masha. The suggestion from some quarters though is if she wants the cover, she should hook up with an equally famous/talented/good looking celebrity. Just like Jolie has with Pitt.

SharaDick anyone? Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (he doesn’t fit the bill!)

Technorati tags: maria , sharapova , lindsay , davenport , tennis , vogue

Chat with Santa Claus

Now Santa will not arrive in his reindeer cart but via the net. If you are wondering what I am talking about then read further.

Santa Claus can now be spoken to on Windows Live Messenger! You just need to add his id. Northpole@live.com

And you can chat with ‘Santa Nick or Santa chat bot’.

Additional info can be found on http://santaonmessenger.com/messenger/santa/default.aspx

And since I am an ‘evil genius as someone would agree (no I won’t say who, erhmm and the ‘one’ knows), I actually asked our ‘Santa’ some unsettling questions!

Ahaaaaaa how evil is that!?

Sample This:



vicky says: hi
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas, vicky! I'm Santa Claus!
Tell me, are you a boy or a girl?

vicky says: g
Santa Claus says: And what do you want for Christmas, vicky?
vicky says: kiss
Santa Claus says: XXX
vicky says: from you
vicky says: lol
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
vicky says: tell me
Santa Claus says: I will not.
vicky says: no
Santa Claus says: No problem.
vicky says: how bad
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho! What?
vicky says: lol
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
vicky says: why is the world round?
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
vicky says: you dont know the answer
Santa Claus says: Sorry, I'm having a little trouble understanding you, vicky!
vicky says: zero marks for you in geography
Santa Claus says: Hmm...
vicky says: really
Santa Claus says: Really?
vicky says: lol
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
vicky says: hmm
Santa Claus says: Hmm? What?
vicky says: whats ur age?
Santa Claus says: I'm as old as snow!
vicky says: whats the age of snow?
Santa Claus says: I'm about as old as they come, I think.
vicky says: who come?
Santa Claus says: Sorry, I'm having a little trouble understanding you, vicky!
vicky says: heh
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
vicky says: :P

Santa Claus says: I'm happy we understand each other.
vicky says: ho ho ho
Santa Claus says: Merry Christmas!
vicky says: bye
Santa Claus says: Bye bye.
vicky says: and want a cool boyfriend
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho?
vicky says: no ho ho ho
Santa Claus says: And a Merry Christmas to you, vicky!
vicky says: thanx but...
Santa Claus says: You're welcome!
vicky says: wow
Santa Claus says: I'll say.
vicky says: yeah
Santa Claus says: Indeed.
vicky says: what an avoider
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho! What?
vicky says: you are
Santa Claus says: I am?
vicky says: yes
Santa Claus says: I am? Whatever you say.
vicky says: tell me about robots
Santa Claus says: What would you like me to tell you?
vicky says: you like them
Santa Claus says: Sorry, little girl, I didn't quite understand you.
vicky says: you like robots
Santa Claus says: What was that?
vicky says: robots
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho?
vicky says: yes
Santa Claus says: Uh huh.
vicky says: thats why you are one
Santa Claus says: Hmm...
vicky says: gotcha
Santa Claus says: Well alright!
vicky says: i win santa all the time
Santa Claus says: Sorry, I'm having a little trouble understanding you, vicky!

vicky says: sure you are
Santa Claus says: I'm what?
vicky says: i am tricky
Santa Claus says: Would you like me to call you Tricky?
vicky says: yeah vicky tricky
Santa Claus says: OK, I'll remember that your name is Tricky.
vicky says: hehehhhh
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
vicky says: ok i will post this o my blog
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
vicky says: you are too funny
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho?
vicky says: :D
Santa Claus says: You're silly.
Well. Anyway...
Why don't you just ask me something?

vicky says: like what?
Santa Claus says: Oh, I dunno.
Try asking me something.

vicky says: why is your cap red?
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
vicky says: and beard white?
Santa Claus says: Who's Beard White?
vicky says: yours
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho! What?
vicky says: its black is it, your beard santa?
Santa Claus says: Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, call me what you like!
vicky says: who is st. nicholas
Santa Claus says: Santa Claus! Merry Christmas!
vicky says: when is your birthday?

(santa searched his database, no answer)

vicky says: santa has no answer
Santa Claus says: Hmm...
vicky says: *sigh*
Santa Claus says: What's wrong?
vicky says: you dont know your birthday santa
vicky says: gotcha
Santa Claus says: Good.
vicky says: bye
Santa Claus says: Later, Tricky.
vicky says: vicky
Santa Claus says: Yes? What about Vicky?
vicky says: call me tricky vicky
Santa Claus says: You said your name was Tricky but now I'll call you Tricky Vicky.
vicky says: good
Santa Claus says: Excellent!
So anyway...
Why don't you just ask me something?

vicky says: i won again
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho?
vicky says: yeah
Santa Claus says: Yes.
So that was fascinating. Let's talk about something else.

vicky says: silly santa bot
Santa Claus says: What about Silly Santa?
vicky says: you know about santa banta
Santa Claus says: Sorry, I'm having a little trouble understanding you, Tricky Vicky!
vicky says: you sure will
Santa Claus says: Sorry, little girl, I didn't quite understand you.
vicky says: i am aged 24
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho? (flirty santa)
vicky says: ho ho ho
Santa Claus says: Merry Christmas!
vicky says: same to you
Santa Claus says: Sorry, little girl, I didn't quite understand you.
vicky says: ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Santa Claus says: Indeed.
vicky says: :P

Technorati tags: Santa , Claus , messenger , Windows , chat

Cong-NCP Alliance now

After squabbling and exiting the Congress and forming his own party, Sharad Pawar has now turned volte-face. And is now calling on Sonia Gandhi’s Congress for an alliance in the state for the upcoming civic polls.

Both parties are in talks to seal the deal and devise a seat sharing formula. They hope to defeat the BJP-S.S. combine.
With S.S.’s breakup and BJP’s loss due to the death of Pramod Mahajan, the Congress-NCP power combo could well be the next alliance in power.


Technorati tags: Congress , NCP , Mumbai , BMC , polls , Sharad , Pawar , Gandhi

Guinness record for studying...

Now Guinness record teacher & students who ran a class for 73 hours and 37 minutes!

Teacher S.K. Sinha taught a set of 72 students for the record number of hours all the while video taping the entire lecture.

13 of the students dropped out after non-stop lecture over 3 days!

While I have to hail their capacity & sheer stamina, I suppose a quick test on the subject being lectured on will prove the point, just how hard the students were concentrating.

Sleep deprivation is no way for memory retention. Some of these ‘genius’ students will fail the test miserably.

Better stick to the daily chalk and board grind however tedious it may seem.

Technorati tags: Guinness , records , students , teac

Central & Western railways meet at this point!

In a week that saw two railway accidents, one on the Central Railway (C.R.) and the other on Western Railway (W.R.), the big question that must be raised is safety of passengers.

The back to back accidents on successive days, Wednesday for C.R. and Thursday for W.R. sharply brings into focus safety issues.

On Wednesday night a Titwala bound C.R. local rammed into an empty rake. The motorman Anil Chinchkar could not explain his sudden lapse in concentration leading to his getting lynched by the irate commuters. 20 people were injured in the accident which occurred at 11.50 p.m.

Although Chinchkar had to go through a blood test to establish if he had consumed alcohol, the authorities havnt made the results public. Instead an inquiry has been initiated into the incident.

If this wasn’t enough, a Churchgate bound fast left the Borivli station without its guard on the W.R.!

It seems rd Mr. P.K. Chaudhary left the train in charge of an RPF constable Mr. Singh while he entertained nature’s call.

The instruction for the constable was to call out to the guard as soon as he heard the motorman’s bell. Instead the constable panicked when the bell rang and Chaudhary didn’t answer his call. He literally ‘pushed the panic button’ which rang another bell signaling the motorman to go ahead.

And so Chaudhary was left to watch his own train leave without him!

A relay message to Kandivli station meant the station manager himself had to take up the guard’s task, while officials scrambled to find a free guard!

So after the comedy of error, the train finally was given a guard till its end journey to Churchgate.

What really comes to light are some grim facts about the state of our rail system. While Chinchkar may or may not have been drunk, our motormen are high strung for sure. If he possibly jumped a red signal and didn’t see the empty rake till the last moment, his concentration was clearly wavering. It could also be attributed to fatigue. Such an ‘accident’ could very well prove to be dangerous if it reoccurs.

As to Chaudhary, it can only be attributed to gaps in procedure and improper handling of the job at hand. That the RPF constable is being made the fall guy and given 10 days sentry work shows the lack of transparency on the part of W.R.

Clearly it is the guard Chaudhary’s fault. How was a mere constable untrained as he is in ‘motormanship’ being held responsible?

It is Chaudhary who must be held accountable also for dereliction of duty. Also the motorman failed to seek a second clearance.

If all the correct laws had been followed none of these fiascos would have taken place.

Merely instituting high level inquiries to sate public opinion is not going to be the solution. W.R. & C.R. have a lot to answer for.

Technorati tags: railways , India , accidents , Western , Central

My Feedburner feed

http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/nFjk

Now Kournikova cousin!

Ah as if one was not enough! It happens that Evgeny Korolev is a tennis player and also happens to be Kournikova's cousin with Alla being his maternal aunt! Nice to see that he is up and coming.

And then we also have Daria Sharapova to contend with.

His offcial site: http://www.evgenykorolev.net/

Technorati tags: Kournikova, , Anna, , Evgeny , Korolev

funny cat video

Funny and cool cat video my friend send me. ;)

http://www.hi5.com/friend/video/displayViewVideo.do?videoId=492201&ownerId=102116574

enjoy.

Technorati tags: funny_videos, , cat, , video

Mumbai civic polls

The Mumbai municipal election dates were announced by state election commissioner Nandlal yesterday. The Jan-Feb polls are scheduled for 10 cities viz. Mumbai, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Pune, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, AKOLA, Amravati & Nagpur with election day being Feb 1st for Mumbai.

With the announcement of the civic polls the model code of conduct has come into force. As a result many of the BMC's projects will now be stalled and prior permission will have to be obtained from the election commissioner himself for new projects to be sanctioned.

More crucially these polls will decide the fate of the Congress party in Mumbai. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has been reeling this year under the strain of the July rain deluge followed by the 7/11 Mumbai suburnban train blasts, the Khairlanji double rape & murders followed by statewide riots by Dalits. The deputy C.M. R. R. Patil's handling of the riots when the C.M. was in Singapore also dealth a blow to the ruling circles.



pictured: C.M. Deshmukh

Congress' Narayan Rane who is revenue minister in the govt. has also kept his hopes alive of becoming the next C.M.

The Shiv Sena-BJP combine inspite lagging in many by-elections is looking to renew its fortunes. The biggest threat to them though comes from their own split faction and the latest political party (formed this year), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Led by the maverick Raj Thackeray, nephew of S.S. supremo & spiritual head Bal Thackeray and cousin of Uddhav Thackeray. M.N.S. hopes to win over the public with its projected people friendly visage.

S.S.'s loss could very well be M.N.S.'s gain. With Marathi speaking people having lost considerable faith in S.S. for their anti-Valentine, anti-Pak cricket matches, hardline stances with cultural policeing including the riots indulged by party workers after Minatai's statue desecration. Also S.S.'s lack of innovative strategy & clear direction could mean they might loose face again.

The significant North Indian population and Muslim voters will surely swing the tide in Congress's favour since they traditionally tend to vote for the party.

The NCP has faced tough times since its split from the Congress. Led by Sharad Pawar the party might go for a combine with others. S.P. led by Abu Azmi is the only party opposing the election date on grounds of Moharram. Incidently Moharram ends on Jan 30! And Mumbai polls are on 1st Feb.

Additionally city N.G.O.s have also jumped into the fray by pitching in their 'own' independant candidate. Nearly 48 NGOs as reported by the Mumbai Mirror have come together and chosen Mr. Adolf D'Souza as their candidate.

What effect this might have on the political fortunes of the various parties can only be found out on results day. The election process will begin on Jan 8th and wind up on Feb 9th. E.V.M.s are to be used for the first time for mid-term elections and 83 lakh (approx 83,80,000) people will be eligible to vote. The election results will be announced on Feb 3rd with the counting taking place the day before. There are 227 wards in Mumbai for which polling will take place of which 76 reserved from women.

BMC -> http://www.mcgm.gov.in/
Maharshtra Government -> http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/
State Election Commission -> http://stateelection.maharashtra.gov.in/

Technorati tags: Mumbai_polls, , civic , polls, , Mumbai, , BMC, , Maharashtra

Hingis at James Bond Premier photos

Hingis with Radek Stepanek at the Zurich premier of James Bond movie 'Casino Royale' at the Abaton cinema in Zurich November 16, 2006.

Hmmm Radek has really 'bonded' with the best.

And just to spice it up some comments from members at hingis.org

*So Martina and Radek are still in Zurich and not on a sunny beach as I thought.
*Is it me or does Martina look a bit shy when her posing for pics with her boyfriend? Kinda cute actually!
*Radek is beginning to look more human
*Whoaw! 007 MARTINA Looks like to me that Martina kinda controlling her bf, lol. Anyways, she looks stunning!
*When it comes to shyness and boyfriends Martina is usually the "leader"..note she is ahead of Radek and he is following behind...
*She is perfect.....even Rader looks good by her side!
*Some one help him with the tie!!!
*Right jorge, seems Radek doesn't know how to knot a "tie" and let's hope he doesn't ask Martina to tie the knot!

:D

ahhaa tennisreporters went far with this...

"RADEK STEPANEK: Gained first-time fame for his relationship with Martina Hingis, but the jury is still out as to whether the level of the Czech's game will continue to rise with the attention-loving Swiss at his side."

http://www.tennisreporters.net/top_men_112906_c.html


Technorati Tags hingis hingis boyfriend radek stepanek hingis radek pictures

Hingis in Zurich with boyfriend Radek

picture dated: 3rd Dec 2006, Sunday

So Hingis was at the musical "We Will Rock You" which happens to be her 'favourite' as she had told us on her Zurich blog.

Btw this is the 2nd time (i think) she has seen it this year.

And both 'lovers' are colour co-ordinating with black...

source:

http://www.blick.ch/showbiz/artikel50652?ooid=2213&sname=tfslide_pics&ioid=183999


Thanx to Irinska

Technorati Tags : martina hingis hingis hingisboyfriend radek stepanek hingis pictures

Not being able to keep promises

Aghh!!!

So i havnt been able to be consistent in posting about Sania M. plus i promised Luis i will chat with him on msn but couldnt quite make it!

uoph! i feel so bugged. even when i was down with viral fever i was thinking about how to inform Manfred & co. about it. so the whole time i was brodding abt it.

and since my internet connection is down (yeah yeah for the umpteeeeenth time!) i am not able to move ahead. how sickening...

:(

A Midnight Poem

I was just writing some stuff, and this came out. Hope you like it...


A Midnight Poem

Deep, dark nights shine with bright lights.
No cloud in the sky to blight my sight.
Still the night is black and lonely.
Tugging at the heart with pain and sympathy.
For the moon pulls me with all its beauty
The fullness of its shine brims me over
feels like he is privileged indeed
To shine the brightest among a million stars.
But all the stars so small indeed
They make the moon look fonder to my eyes
Indeed the destiny of him is to rule the sky alone at night
To cast a shadow on his significant siblings.
And ever be longing for his earth
To cast his solitude till the morrow
If only the sun would relent and
Give him his share of the day
Proud the sun is to be the brightest star
To lend his warmth to one and all
Glow glow as brightly as he may
He cannot match the beauty of the moon to his dismay
For the sun blinds with his fire
But the moon enchants with his aura
Lightly lays the moon the night to rest
While the sun burns and scorches in earnest
Both cannot be friends of each other
For one rules after dawn and the other after dusk
But here on this little island in the universe
We wait for the cycle to run each passing day
For we need the heat of the day to sweat our brow
And the cold of the moon to sheath our nights
The tempest in the skies continue each season
While a corner in this world looks out to the frontier

Technorati TagsPoem

Apusbass also blogs

So Cana not only plays but also blogs!

Fancy discovering his blog. go visit it. ;)

http://canaplays.blogspot.com/

And if you dont follow use google translation tool. great to see buddy you have been blogging online for long... ;)

Mirza to star in Asian Hopman Cup

Although this was meant to be posted on the lawntennis site, Paddy beat me to it. So i will post the article here.


Mirza to star in inaugural Asian Hopman Cup
23 November 2006, Mumbai

Sania Mirza will be playing in the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup starting today in her hometown of Hyderabad. She will be partnering Rohan Bopanna after Leander Paes’ pull out.

Leander Paes pulled out to regain fitness keeping in mind his participation in the Doha Asian Games. Paes had injured his index finger in the semifinals of the recently concluded Masters Cup in Shanghai.

There was much speculation and confusion regarding who Paes’ replacement would be in the six nation event starting on Thursday.

Various names like those of Rohan Bopanna, Karan Rastogi, Prakash Amritraj and Harsh Mankad were doing the rounds. Eventually AITA (All India Tennis Association) made the announcement on Tuesday that it would be Bopanna who will partner Sania.

Regarding Paes’ pullout Mirza said, “Paes has his own thoughts on it. (withdrawal). He has to take a lot of things into consideration. And I am sure he has taken a decision which is better for him.”

Mirza father Imran Mirza though chimed in with “Atleast she(Mirza) should have been informed about her playing partner.” He also added that India wouldn’t miss Paes as India would find winning two matches easy against the other Asian teams. He was equally forthright about Mahesh Bhupathi not being drafted in Leander’s place by saying, “Mahesh doesn’t play singles anymore and doesn’t fit into the Hopman Cup format.”

About the opposition he said, “China and Chinese Taipei would be tough opponents. The rest wouldn’t be of much trouble.”

Lara gaining on Sachin

Lara gaining on Sachin!

Brian Lara proved yet again his class by emphatically scoring an unbeaten 196 of 230 balls in Multan in Pakistan. He has now equaled Gavaskar’s 34 test tons and is just one off Tendulkar’s 35 centuries. This was Lara’s 4th successive test century vs Pakistan.

Sachin has been seen to struggle over the last few years with injuries as well as indifferent form. Although both players are contemporaries of each other, Lara is far ahead in the record books.

With his latest feat he has now become the first player to score a 100 before lunch twice. He has broken Sir Bradman’s record with his 19th 150+ score.

He has become also the 1st batsman to score 26 or more runs twice in his career when he hit Danish Kaneria for 26 runs in an over. In addition he also holds the record for most runs in an over at 28 runs again RJ Peterson of S.A. at Johannesburg in 2003-2004.

This 77-ball hundred was also the 9th fastest test ton overall and he 4th fastest for the Windies. This was also the fastest test hundred scored in terms of balls faced by a visiting batsman in Pakistan.

Lara also equaled the Windies record of hitting 7 sixes in an innings. He is also now Viv Richards record for most runs scored by a West Indies player versus Pakistan having completed his 1000 runs against them!

In terms of partnerships, his 200 runs with Bravo for the 5th wicket is a record for Windies vs Pakistan.

Heh whats the correct spelling of my name

Ahh so "yahoo answers" has this questions posted!

http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061118000426AAHiyoQ

Tell you what its still an undecided question so you can still swing it in my favour. ;)

Review of Janneman

I had seen the movie long back but i couldnt post this review before so here goes...

Janneman review:

Today I saw the latest release by director Shirish Kunder ‘Janneman’. That his films are different was evident to me from the very first time I saw his movie ‘Kya Kehna’. After all who in their right mind would have choosen a subject of a young college going unmarried pregnant girl then!?

That his unusual subject was well received then is a credit both to the write, director and actors. This time though Kunder has gone past his earlier creation in terms of the style of content presentation. Both unheard of and unseen in the past, this ‘new’ style has enhanced the look of the film.

The movie beginning in a space shuttle with the character Agastya’s (played by Akshay Khanna) current love & his flashback about his ex-love was a nice innovative introduction. Suhan Kapoor’s (Salman Khan) dream ‘Filmfare’ appearance was another nice idea.

Anupam Kher playing the role of Suhan’s uncle in the form of a dwarf was reminiscent of Kamal Hasan in the movie ‘Appu Raja’. What didn’t cut ice was his reappearance in New York as a restaurateur and this time in normal size just to re-emphasize that ‘every person has 7 people looking just like them’! Which is a nice theme otherwise Agastya’s fledging second romance would fall flat. The director didn’t need to cast Kher in this role needlessly.

Coming back to the story. Suhan is shown as a struggling actor and his life’s story is his failed attempts at being a superstar and his failed marriage. Suhan and his uncle/lawyer are looking to bail him out since his ex-wife Piya (Preity Zinta) has asked for a one time settlement of Rs.50 lakhs for his failure to pay her monthly alimony. Out of work Suhan is looking for an ‘angel’ to help him out.

Enter ‘angel’ Akshay (Agastya), a U.S.A. returned N.A.S.A. scientist who happens to be Piya’s college mate. Madly in love with her since the beginning but unable to confess his love to her, the nerd has lost her to Suhan only to return back 7 years later to find out she is divorced. Not knowing he is in her ex-husband’s house our nerd confesses his heart out to Suhan plus uncle. Lawyer uncle’s mind fast at work finds a way to spare his nephew his alimony settlement by the simple expedient of remarrying her off.

So Suhan volunteers to help Agastya get his ex-wife Piya all this while conveniently hiding his status. Enter New York, the current favourite location of all big name & big banner Indian directors and production houses. These guys make New York look more beautiful then any Hollywood guy would. Brooklyn Bridge is as ever always present.

Thanks to Suhan, Agastya is transformed into Suhan part 2. But he is only a pretender since he cannot do one thing without his guidance. Renting an apartment opposite to her home these two manage to take their mission forward. Meeting, chatting and catching up with Piya, Agastya who has engrained Suhan’s mannerisms impresses her. Soon she and Agastya get close all this while her ex-husband is gleefully drawing up further plans to get them closer. Finally when he does succeed in his mission, he finds out courtesy of Agastya’s telescope and the communication aid between himself & Agastya that his ex-wife has a little baby girl aptly name Suhani. Shocked to know about the existence of his own child, he now wants to get them both back. Only the problem now his own creation Agastya. So the rest of the movie falls into his efforts to make himself capable and eventually a sacrifice.

Akshay has acted remarkably well the role of a nerd complete with his weird laughter. Salman has done usual juggle act with a little bit of comedy, laughter, and tears all thrown in. Preity is her ownself thankfully atleast as the college going kid with the beaded hair et all. Although I thing she must now stop doing the young mother roles as was also the case in her previous movie KANK (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna). This is one actress who must never allow herself to be typecast, doesn’t quite fit her personality.

If this is anybody’s film more it’s the writer and the director who have collectively given a new take to the term ‘flashback’ presentation. One thing that is quite disheartening to see in the current crop of Bollywood movies that runs common even through this film is the ‘sacrifice’ bit. And this has been a trend for some years now. One love, enter two people, then one makes a sacrifice. It’s done too many times now. We want to see some people who don’t make sacrifices and are still happy for a change.

The tortoise is back

Heh heh so i am back to beat the crap out of your wits again!!! :P

Hmm i wonder where the silly lion is these days. I havnt been able to speak to him.

and Paddy has done great updates on the mirza site. I envy some of them. Hats of to the gal. :)

Ok so i just did an addy report to http://mirza.lawntennisnews.com/

Heck yeah and i got a new bicycle but i havnt been able to ride it with gusto since my sickness just came on after i landed with the bike at home...

So i am putting my Janneman review in here, which i saw long time back. Plus some other updates soon guys n gals. Enjoy!!! :D

Reasons for absense from blogger

Damn these viral illnesses. So after mom it was my turn to fall prey to the flu virus.

Down and out completely for 3 weeks i feel exhausted and like a sucked out lemon!!!

To top it all Manny made light fun of my loss of 3 Kgs in 1 week. Arghhh... :(

I also had an allergic cough for a 2 weeks which is just showing some signs of subsiding.

A combination of both illnesses really hampered my 'online' tasks with the blog not being updated plus everyone wondering where this Vicky gal is?!!!

Rest assured i am back. But not at the same level for sure atleast for the next few weeks while i recuperate. ;)