Farewell to the Talisman

Long awaited Talisman, the aggression for which whole India awaited. Steadfast son retires from the battle of cricket. He banged into the scene 17 years ago rather faltered in the first step, but came back mighty strongly in 1996 at lords where he scripted a grand return with two back to back splendid centuries.

From that time he never had to look back, although had to face many obstacles. But the fighter was never bogged down and lived to play many battles. With another maestro Sachin tendulkar, Ganguly were the two players who single handled won many matches for India.

Time came; nation’s passion got indulged into grubby controversy of betting. Seniors like Azharuddin, Jadeja were forced to leave the game.Sachin was not up to the mark as a captain. Indian cricket was in shambles. It needed a leader who put the much needed aggression and passion into the game. There came Ganguly and boy, did not he change the face of the game.

Ganguly known as an aggressive captain much debated character who knew how to throw the ball back to opponents. His nexus with Aussie captain Steven Waugh is well known.Ganguly nurtured a young brigade like Harbhajan,Sehwag,Yuvraj,Zahir and all who have now become the backbone of the Indian cricket team.

Let’s give a standing ovation to the man who played royally till last day and surely was a talisman who was long awaited for.

A staggering raft in Turbulent waters

Coupled with leftist sentiments the modern prodigy,Mrinal Sen has given us one of the most soul searching and thought provoking movies.In the league of Ray and Ghatak,Mrinal Sen is always considered one of the best directors ever.

Mrinal Sen is regarded as one of the pioneers of Parallel cinema in Indian Film Industry.Started with Bhuvan Some, the simplicity of his movie making style reflected. Starring Enigmatic Utpal Dutt and charismatic Suhasini Mulay in the lead role, the movie was a critically acclaimed hit.

With the advent of Naxalite turbulence in Bengal,Sen directed movies like Padatik and Calcutta-76.Those movies wedged the exact plight and mindset of people that time.He made movies with on versatile subjects with each movie used to carry a message,From the famine struck wife of the poor farmer in ‘Akaler Sandhaney’ to ‘Lonely mysterious girl’ of Antareen, sen had portrayed each of his characters in subtle shades.

My favourite of his films would be Mahaprithibi,the movie again based on the Naxalite Movement.It tells the story of a Person who left his family in dire straits during the movement and went to Germany, and what happens after he comes back, aptly played by dynamic Victor Banerjee.

Always tagged with the ideas of Marxism,Surrealism ,Italian Neorealism etc,Sen’s movies seldom have a happy ending or precisely it did not have a definitive finale .

On His 85^th Birthday i pay my tributes and salutations to this great man.

A girl leans over Seine River with tears in her eyes

When I say love stories or romantic movies I have seen a many. From my childhood to now moved by lots starting from Notting Hill to Intermezzo. Starting from Julia Roberts to Ingrid Bergman. Do I really mean it? Do they really define the meaning of love and the passion of longing for each other.

Much not into this genre I kind of stumbled onto a French movie called ‘Girl on the Bridge’ in English by master director Patrice Leconte.The film is made in black and white to magnify the effects and emotions. It’s a story about a knife thrower and his target. How their luck change when they meet each other and how their love cultivates.

About the girl (masterful performance by Vanessa Paradis) who thinks perfect love has always eluded her. Who thinks she is bad at luck of finding a faultless and ideal love.

About a man who is a knife thrower who doesn’t want to get intimate with his target as so could make him weak, who himself is not successful just saves the girl when she tries to jump of the bridge and suicide. The film revolves around these two characters that emote, like, love each other. Their journey towards finding the true love, the true meaning that makes this feeling an oasis in the desert, the accurate connotation that makes long voyages a rather small stroll.

A true film on love, which asks us what is this feeling, what is meant by being together.

As Rogert Ebert said ‘There is nothing like being partners in a knife-throwing act to encourage a man and a woman to focus on their relationship.’

Ek Aur Dalega?

Stick to the decision,believe in your abilities and the things will go well.The Old Cliche was again proved correct by the men in blue.When Viru knew Ishant Sharma is capable of bowling long spell they stuck by him and gave him the chance and boy did he get the wicket of Aussie captain.

India’s win at Perth reflects the team game,grit and determination of the Indian players.Kudos to Jumbo for lifting up the team and giving the memorable present to the fans.As sherry paaji said killing the lion by entering into their own den.Perth has been always the steadfast citadel of Aussies,beating them there is a esplendent effort.

Influx of two fighting attitude laden cricketers also in my view had added to the cause.Sehwag chipping in with some useful runs at the top,taking on the attack on the pace attacks unleashed by aussies and plucking up crucial two wickets of Gilly and Lee.Pathan deservedly got the man of the match bowled well and made useful contribution with bat.

Off the topic As Sunny bhai just said its a good omen as Gary entering into the arena.Lets hope for the best.Lets go for the Champagne and raise our eyes to the Southen Australian city of Adelaide(Remember 2003?) and let me switch the channel to Star sports and put my eyes on the Rod Laver Arena