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Movie Review- Dhoom 3

DISAPPOINTING DHOOM

DIRECTOR: Vijay Krishna Acharya

GENRE: ACTION, THRILLER, IRRITATING

STARRING: AAMIR KHAN, ABHISHEK BACHCHAN, KATRINA KAIF, UDAY CHOPRA, JACKIE SHROFF

FINAL VERDICT: **

People often say that commencing the New Year by watching a film is an ideal start for the year. But very rarely do they attach the term SPECIAL before the film. 2014 began for me on a bittersweet note. Bittersweet since, my expectations regarding Dhoom 3 came crashing down, after spending three odd hours in the cinema house.

From the very beginning, comparisons of Dhoom 3 were drawn with its predecessors. Dhoom 1 and 2 both have been loved by the audiences; and till date, movie buffs go gaga over them. But dejectedly, the third installment of the Dhoom series fails to recreate the magic of Dhoom and Dhoom 2. Director Vijay Krishna Acharya, best known for a disaster called Tashan, fails to create the excitement, despite shelling out on exotic locations and songs.

Aamir Khan gives his best shot in looking deceptive and cool together, but falls greatly short, of the impact created by Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2. His tap dance is one such instance, but as compared to the Dhoom Again act by Hrithik, it is nowhere in the frame.

The story isn’t that complicated until the suspense is unveiled. The movie starts off with Iqbal Khan (Jackie Shroff) committing suicide, as he is unable to save his circus from the bankers. The bankers in this case have been literally portrayed as evil monsters, hell bent on creating nuisance. His son Sahir, driven by revenge, robs the banks and has a psychological pact with himself, of shutting down the Western Bank of Chicago. On parallel lines, he inaugurates the “GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS”, as a tribute to his father. There we have Katrina Kaif or Aaliya adding glamour by dancing around “like liquid electricity” as said in the film. Enter Jai and Ali (Abhishek and Uday respectively) and you begin losing your interest. Both, so called “top cops” try their best in stopping Sahir, but fail. How Jai and Ali, with the help of Victoria (Tabrett Bethell), try to arrest Sahir forms the crux of the plot.

The scene introducing the characters of Chopra and Bachchan crosses all limits of insanity and stupidity. The way the scene is executed, it makes you wonder that is Dhoom 3 a masala South Indian film or a Bollywood film meant to zap the audience. I just don’t have words to describe the imprudence of the scene. We have Ali being caught by a so portrayed gangster, and then there is Jai, who gets an auto rickshaw, breaking a couple of walls; without any damage to the rickshaw. Both then perform some annoying and dumb stunts, and with one hit, they push away ten people at a time. Their push is so powerful, that the ten guys pushed, fly and fall at least half a mile away. To make it worse, Ali and Jay then sit in the rickshaw, and then almost fly above the slums!!!!!!!!!  

A lady seated behind me in the theatre went on to dedicate a loud “YUCK” for the scene. I too had a similar reaction, but wasn’t that loud.

Another point worth noting is that Abhishek , on three different occasions, gets down from a moving vehicle,  and then walks in slow motion towards the cornered Aamir Khan to arrest him. And we see ego dripping off his face, while he walks in slow motion. And guess what? He miserably fails on all three occasions.

 One baffling aspect in the movie is that none of the robberies have been shown; but just the escapes have been shown. The first half of the film is pretty annoying thanks to Jai and Ali. Uday Chopra leaves no stone unturned in bugging the viewers off, with his “mumbaiyaa” dialogue baazi. Better than watching Uday Chopra in the film, would have been getting my phone out, and reading my messages. I regret that I didn’t do that.

Katrina Kaif is there in the film for barely seven minutes (Luckily) but her dancing skills are worth the watch. She is great as Kamli, which is similar to Crazy Kiya Re. From her dance moves, it is evident that she has put in a lot of hard work and effort. Aamir Khan is fantastic as always and barring his dancing, everything is excellent. But the trump card for the movie lies in its “suspense” character. This character is the one which wins your heart, and makes the second half worth watching. However, a few of my peers, say that this suspense character is highly inspired by the Hollywood flick The Prestige.

The chase sequences are outstanding and the stunts done are worth the price. The stunts get your adrenaline rushing. Spare a thought for the breath taking locations. The location used in the climax blows your mind away and is just so stunning. The film is a high budget one, and that is evident by all aspects. The track Malang is said to be the most expensive song shot till date.

Another significant factor is that, the film promotes the circus, and this might boost the already dying circus industry. Before I went for the movie, there was a joke around, that the film should have been titled Aamir and the 2 Idiots. Now I realise, that was true indeed.

As a whole, the film is disappointing, but the second half is a face saver for the film. 

Movie Review - BULLET RAJA

THIS RAJA WINS HEARTS

DIRECTOR: TIGMANSHU DHULIA

GENRE: DRAMA, POLITICAL, ACTION

STARRING: SAIF ALI KHAN, JIMMY SHERGEIL, SONAKSHI SINHA, GULSHAN GROVER, RAJ BABBAR, RAVI KISHAN, VIDYUT JAMWAL

FINAL VERDICT: ***

Ever since the trailer of Bullet Raja was out, I had made an “omerta” of sorts with myself, of watching the film on the very first day. And I did exactly that. Fortuitously, my hopes didn’t come down crashing, and the150 minutes that I spent in the cinema house, were fruitful.

The film commences with Saif Ali Khan or Raja Mishra, escaping an assassination attempt, but after a few seconds, was shown once again facing the gun, with cops surrounding him. Post that scene, the film slips into flashback, and the title track portrays Raja being involved in the notorious aspects of the society. Escaping possible foes, Raja gatecrashes into a “baarat” and as expected in a typical Bollywood flick, dances his way through. There he meets one Rudra, and instantly befriends him. The two save Rudra’s relatives from an ambush planned by the traitor Lallan (Chunky Pandey). From that very moment, Raja and Rudra become the modern day Jay-Veeru. The film then goes on exploring the revenge saga that begins, with the buddies finishing off Lallan, and all the people responsible for Rudra’s uncle’s (Sharath Saxena) death.

The two are soon noticed by the cunning Ram Babu Shukla, a minister from the opposition, who soon appoints them as his “bahubali”, or chief henchmen. The duo then carries out numerous political assassinations for Ram Babu. Seeing the growing cordial relations between Shukla and the two pals, Sumer Yadav (Ravi Kishan, who is the former henchman)  gets livid.

Gulshan Grover plays Bajaj, a shrewd businessman, and his “Marwari” jokes tickle the funny bone. The movie then goes on a more serious note, with the two kidnapping Bajaj, for an insult. However, the tables are turned on the duo, as Bajaj gets in Sumer Yadav to finish off the friends. However, one dies, and the other swears revenge and as anticipated, all hell breaks loose. Amidst the tension, enters Mitali (Sonakshi Sinha), an aspiring actress, and quickly ensures that the duo now become the trio.

The film then slows down for quite some time, until Raja returns from an exile, and till Arun Singh (Vidyut Jamwal) makes a grand entry. The movie then goes on, portraying the treachery of politicians and accomplishing the revenge saga.

Overally, the plot wasn’t completely extra ordinary, but the presentation of the setting makes it a treat to watch. The real locations add absolute authenticity to the plot. The locations chosen stand out, and they give the viewer, a true feel of Uttar Pradesh. The dialogues and the typical accent too make viewing enthralling. One instance of the accent coming into the fray is when Saif pronounces “NASHIONAL- JIYOGRAPHIC” in a typical UP accent.

Gulshan Grover plays an entertaining part, and his dialogues, which comically target the “marwaris” are simply amusing. “JALE HUE NOTE KO BHI CHALANA JANTA HAI MARWARI,” is one such instance. Grover makes his presence felt on screen with sharp dialogues. On a couple of occasions, the film goes on making a mockery of the current Indian politics (Mayawati may raise a few objections.. Enough Said), and that is a delight to watch. In one particular scene, Jimmy Sheirgill or Rudra dotingly, but zealously signifies that no one should have the authority of dividing Indians and stopping them from being a part of different states. (The leader of a political outfit based in Maharashtra, may raise issues though).

Saif Ali Khan steals the show throughout and his act of Raja Mishra surely makes viewers go gaga. His wit and spiky dialogues keep the viewers hooked and engulfed. It’s very pleasing to see Saif, do justice to a thorny role, with utmost ease. Jimmy Sheirgill too isn’t far behind, and ably supports Saif. The rest of the cast members more often than not, do justice to the script. Sonakshi Sinha, is an exception however, and she is the same Sonakshi Sinha, whom we saw in Dabbang, Rowdy Rathore and Son of Sardar.

Barring Lootera, Sinha has done very little of note and her dialogue delivery and acting standards remain similar. With every film, her fans and viewers expect her to be a little more innovative; but to their misery, she always fails.

The direction of Tigmanshu Dhulia remains potent and one wonders that what more does Dhulia needs to do in order to be noticed well by critics. In spite of delivering classics like Paan Singh Tomar and the Saheb Biwi aur Ganster series, it is shameful  that talented filmmakers like Dhulia do not get their due credit, while directors making some “mass entertainers” hog the limelight.

The flaws of the film arise with the music. Barring Tamanche Pe Disco and to an extent the title track, none of the songs catch the eye of the audience. An item number by Mahie Gill is profusely needless and is a mere waste of five minutes. Another shortfall of the film is that, Bullet Raja often loses its steam on several occasions, and fails to completely grab the attention of the viewer. One feels that the film could be made more interesting by adding more serious stuff. However, the instances of “black comedy” partially cover this shortfall up.

Overally, the film is worth watching and the Bullet Raja act by Saif Ali Khan is sure to enhance his fan base. This film is a must watch for those, who take a keen interest in the underbelly of the “dirty politics”. It will be fair to say that Bullet Raja will be etched in the memories of the audience for quite sometime.

INDIA's AFRICAN SAFARI

People usually are galvanised as ever, to visit the exquisite nation of South Africa, and become a part of the famous African Safari. Their excitement and curiosity is justified as well; since they get to witness some endangered species, along with the brawny king of the jungle, the lion.

However, the “African Safari” which I write about is a “little” different from the actual safari. In the actual safari one gets to witness the lions, feasting on their prey, from a considerable distance. But in this case, the one’s visiting the safari, more often than not; have been savagely mauled by the famished South African lions, and ripped apart into pieces. The lions in this particular case, to name a few are the KALLIS’s, the AMLA’s, the SMITH’s, the STEYN’s and the PHILANDER’s, along with several others.

The African Safari consists of the teams touring South Africa, who have more often than not, been attacked ferociously by the lions (Pun intended). My previous claim can be seconded by statistics as well. Over the past 24 months, the menacing South African bowling trio of Steyn, Philander and Morkel has feasted upon the fragile batting line ups of New Zealand and Pakistan. Both the mentioned teams were all, but out in the 40’s. Well these were FRAGILE batting line ups. On the other hand, in 2011, the same bowling trio dismissed the reliable Australian batting line up for a mere 47. At one point in time, the Aussies were 21-9!!!!!!!!!! And yes, the batting line up included the likes of Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey.  

The ability to dismantle batting line ups in the 40’s on three occasions within two calendar years is more than enough to justify the threat the South African team possesses. It would just be an understatement to say that South Africa has the most valuable resources of fast bowling.  However, the core competence of the bowling attack is formed and based upon the lethal trio of DALE STEYN, MORNE MORKEL and VERNON PHILANDER. The members of the trio complement each other really well, and all have different weapons, that make them stand out. Dale Steyn relies on his pace and swing, which threatens every right handed batsman. Philander depends upon the seam movement to get wickets. One point worth noting is that Philander has taken 95 test wickets in 18 matches at an average of just 17. However, Philander may not be as nippy as his companions. On the other hand, Morne Morkel’s arsenal includes the bouncy stuff, which at pace, may be too hot to handle.

The South African batting line up doesn’t need any sort of introduction. The likes of Amla, Smith, Kallis and De Villiers possess numbers which speak for themselves. AB De Villiers has been in the form of his life, and is the leading run getter in 2013, after combining the three formats. Graeme Smith too has struck form, after a pleasing double ton against Pakistan in the UAE, not so long ago. Hashim Amla, as always has been on cloud nine, and his appetite for runs is increasing almost exponentially (Pun intended). Doubts lingered over the form and future of Jacque Kallis, who soon put them to rest, after a timely half century against Pakistan.

The middle order looks settled, with the likes of JP Duminy and Faf Du Plessis cementing their positions, and doing well.  The main spinner to be chosen would be Imran Tahir, who made a grand comeback against Pakistan in UAE. In a rare case, Robin Peterson may be chosen, as his batting has been a positive. However, the chances of Peterson’s selection over Tahir seem to be bleak.

However, the South African lions may not be able to feast upon their opponents this time around. The reason being simple.  INDIA.

The Indian team has been on a rampage; and like South Africa, has ruthlessly mauled its opponents. Ask a certain Australian and a West Indian team, and you will have no choice but to sympathize with them. The batting of the current Indian set up has been termed as the “best batting team” by several greats of the game. That claim is pretty much supported by the fact that the top three run getters in ODI’s this year, are the top three in the Indian batting line up. The leading run getter in ODI’s this year has been Virat Kohli with 1237 runs, followed by Rohit Sharma, who has 1159 runs in his kitty. Shikhar Dhawan is not far behind either, with 1150 runs.

There is a renowned saying all crossing India, which states that, “IF Rohit doesn’t get you, then Shikhar will.. If Shikhar doesn’t get you, then Rohit will.. Or if both don’t get you then Virat will get you big time.” The Australian bowlers received a handful from the trio during their recent tour. In the very tour, India scaled down targets in excess of 350 twice, and posted 380 odd once. Those figures will send shivers down the spines of any bowler across the globe.

If the batting was not enough, then “SIR” Ravindra Jadeja, as fondly called, has been the leading wicket taker in ODI’s this year with 51 scalps. Jadeja’s exploits played an instrumental role in India’s victory in the Champions Trophy, earlier this year. Bowling stump to stump at a brisk pace, has been Jadeja’s strength.His miserly economy rate too has bolstered the Indian bowling. Jadeja has found able support in Bhuvaeshwar Kumar and R.Ashwin. Kumar has been a sensation for India with the new ball, and his ability to bowl long spells has been a massive plus.

However, test matches away from the subcontinent are a different ball game altogether. In South Africa, the strategies of the Indian team would have to change considerably, as the conditions would surely not be, to their liking. The pitches will aid pace and bounce and the outfield will be lightening quick, especially in Johannesburg, which is at a high altitude. But the one major factor, which would give the team management headaches, would be the departure of Sachin Tendulkar from the international stage. For Indian fans, cricket from now onwards will never be the same without the great man. The candidate, most likely to take his position would be Virat Kohli. 

The contribution of Cheteshwar Pujara too is noteworthy. To be fair to Pujara, one can say that as of now, he has done justice to the spot vacated by another member of the “fab four” club, Rahul Dravid. Pujara has been hitting test centuries at will, and at a healthy rate. Pujara averages 65.5 in test matches, and has two double tons under his name. More significantly, Pujara captained the India A side successfully this year in South Africa. Under his leadership, India won the tri series and drew the tests against the host, 1-1.

In the first “A” test, India won comprehensively by an innings and 13 runs. In that very game, Pujara, Rohit and Raina blasted tons, and the rest of the damage was done by the talented Shami Ahmad and Ishwar Pandey. In the second test however, South Africa A came back strong, and won the game. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that, the India A turned complacent and made as many as 5 changes to the team.  On that very tour, in a must win tri series game, Shikhar Dhawan smashed a record breaking 248 from just 150 balls.

The squad chosen by the Indian selectors looks reasonably settled, barring a couple of exceptions. The inclusion of Zaheer Khan has sent out vibes of optimism, as Zaheer was the one who made a mark on the previous tour to South Africa. On the last tour, India were butchered in the first test, but came back strongly in the Durban test, due to Zaheer’s sensational comeback, from a groin injury. However, the exclusion of Gautam Gambhir from the squad has been very baffling, since no reserve opener has been named. Gambhir scored a fighting ton in a Ranji Trophy game, less than a week ago, but still couldn’t find a place in the squad.  In the test matches, it will be interesting to see, if India go with five bowlers -six batsmen, or with an all rounder at number 7, and then followed by four bowlers.

If India go with the latter, then Ashwin and Jadeja may both play, and three seamers from Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami may play. If India chooses the former strategy, then Jadeja may have to miss out, meaning Ashwin may bat at number 7, and the benefits of four seamers may be availed.

The ODI series, is most likely to be in India’s favour. The Indian squad looks settled and that hunger for victory is clearly visible. A series win over West Indies would do the team confidence, a world of good. On the other hand, South Africa have lost to the sixth ranked Pakistan, in an ODI series. From the One Day point of view, both teams would go in with different mindsets. Considering, the current form of both the teams, it would be true to say that the ODI series will be won by India 2-1.

Conversely, beating South Africa in their own backyard in tests will require a miracle. No team has done that in the last 4 and half years. On their previous tour, India had come close to doing that, but handed South Africa the initiative back, as Jacque Kallis stole the show with a timely ton.  To make things crystal clear, we conduct India’s SWOT analysis, for the test matches:

STRENGTH: The Indian strength lies in their batting hands down. As said earlier, the Indian batting has been top notch and the exploits of Dhawan, Kohli, Pujara and Sharma are well known. The batting line up has the potential to single handedly win games for India. Dhawan can play the short ball well, and can make batting look graceful. So can Rohit Sharma. If we are to consider the current form, then it wouldn’t be wrong to state that if the Indian batting continues its trend, then the African safari may be overcome.

WEAKNESS: The lack of experience may be a weakness. Barring Pujara and Dhoni no one else has played more than one test in South Africa. The bowling attack too hasn’t played test cricket against the full fledged South African line up in their own back yard, barring Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan. The lack of experience may hurt the Indian team big time. Another threat would be that, the tour will be played amidst a jam-packed schedule. The “F” word may come into the picture. Fatigue may be a factor. The last time the “F” word was raised, India were beaten 4-0 by England.

OPPORTUNITY: There are several opportunities which lie ahead of the Indian team. A major opportunity is that the batsmen may prove their worth outside the subcontinent. It is said that India often wins at home. This theory may be proved wrong by India, if they emerge victorious in the test series. After getting inflicted with 8 back to back test losses overseas, the Indians would be desperate to turn the tables on South Africa. Another opportunity is for the bowlers. After a really long time, the pace attack looks settled, and Mohammad Shami was impressive in his debut series, taking 11 wickets from 2 games. His pace and ability to reverse swing may make the South Africans uncomfortable. Umesh Yadav’s case too is similar, who did moderately well in Australia. Zaheer may not have got a better opportunity to comeback, as the conditions have assisted him.

THREAT: The only possible threat for India is the South African pace attack. Dale Steyn and company would want to see the world’s best batting line up on its knees. The conditions may ably support them to do so. Pace and bounce have always made the Indian batters uneasy. This may well be another occasion of it. The South African pace battery may exploit the hard pitches to full effect and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Indian batsman look to duck frequently against the short stuff.

Knowing Indian weaknesses, South Africa may even field an all pace attack. This would mean that instead of Imran Tahir, Merchant De Lage may be in the reckoning. Merchant performed exceptionally in the CLT20, on dead Indian wickets. His height and his ability to bowl every ball in excess of 150km/hr may be well noted by the South African selectors. After this tour, the Indian team will be touring New Zealand, England and Australia continuously.

The battle featuring the world’s best batting line up, pitted against the world’s best bowling attack is awaited, and is sure to grab eyeballs. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if the test series is drawn 1-1. But only time will tell, how well the Indian team fares the African Safari.

Sachin's Best- Part 1- ODI'S

The other day, I was travelling in a jam-packed Mumbai local, also termed as the “lifeline” of Mumbai. The local was a Borivali fast, which I boarded from the source station, Churchgate. The fast local got utterly occupied within the span of just three stations. I was lucky enough to get a window seat though. Surrounding me, stood all the jealous souls- Jealous of a teenager, who was sitting comfortably at a window seat, rather than offering them his seat. I seriously wanted to offer my seat to one of the jealous soul, but my inner demon made me hesitant.

I was engulfed in my own little world, and was listening to numbers of Billy X; when suddenly the name “SACHIN TENDULKAR” caught my attention. The very name that has brought glory to a nation for 24 long years and made its people proud.  And the very name, that has inspired billions to take cricket more seriously. I can proudly say that I am one among those billions.

The name was mouthed by a few middle aged men, who were discussing the news of Sachin’s retirement from all forms of cricket. From their expressions, it seemed that they never wanted the Master to bid adieu to the game. One of the gentlemen, dressed in a formal outfit, gone- horribly - wrong, said in  a stern voice, “MERE HISAAB SE USKA SHARJAH WALA BATTING SAB SE ACCHA THA”. (The innings played by Sachin in Sharjah was the best). He was countered by another fellow, who was in his twilight years, “NAHI NAHI! WHO SAB TO THEEK HAI! PAR USKA SABSE BADIYA BATTING WOH 2003 MEIN THA PAKISTAN KE SAAMNE.” (The innings played in the 2003 World Cup against Pakistan was the best). These people, who didn’t even know each other a few minutes ago , were arguing as though they were blood brothers. After all, they too were ardent believers of “SACHINSM”, like me.

As I witnessed them arguing, several nostalgic moments hovered around in my mind that had Sachin as the protagonist. Who could forget that moment, when India won the 2011 World Cup, and Sachin, like a galvanised school boy sprinted towards his team? The entity that had carried the burden of a nation for more than two decades tirelessly, had finally got a chance to live his dream.  That image of Sachin sprinting had been etched in my memory forever. After all, that was the first time, when tears of joy and elation had bordered my eyes.

As I thought about his unforgettable knocks, I too somewhere felt that some of his innings outclassed his own innings. That thought motivated me to write down this article, and in this article, I list down Sachin’s top 5 ODI Innings that are my personal favourite.

5.

Vs Pakistan- 141 (135) at Rawalpindi

This innings was a part of the epic 2004 series, which resumed bilateral ties between the two archrivals- India and Pakistan. The ODI was the second of the series, and India went into this ODI with a 1-0 lead. But boy, Pakistan fought fire with fire in the second outing of the series. Batting first, Pakistan posted a mammoth total of 329 (The total is considered to be relatively moderate these days). From Pakistan everyone contributed with the bat, but Shahid Afridi did the bulk of the damage; scoring 80 from 58 balls. The target was always going to be a steep one but the little master had plans of his own. The Indian innings started steadily with 50 being crossed at more than run a ball. In the ninth over, Shoaib Akhtar casted Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman followed soon.

But the little man stood there, with fire in his belly. His orthodox strokes and sweeps of the off-spinners kept the Indian spirits high. The required run rate kept on mounting, but Sachin stood firm, like a rigid mountain. Rahul Dravid was the only batsman that supported the little master well. In the due course, Sachin bought up his first ton in Pakistan and received a round of applause from the entire crowd. Soon after getting to his ton, Sachin changed gears and launched into the Pakistan attack. The man, was extremely brutal towards Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.

In my opinion, this innings features in my personal favourite as chasing a total in excess of 300, against a quality attack was never easy. The scoreboard pressure always keeps on mounting, and in this case, Sachin was the one, who did bulk of the scoring and the damage. But as fate would have it, Sachin was dismissed in the 39^th over of the game , and was caught by Razzaq on the bowling of Shoaib Malik.

Though India lost by a narrow margin, this innings will always hold a special value. Scoring against Pakistan in their own backyard had never been an easy task, but Sachin as always, proved his critics wrong. On  a personal note, I remember watching this innings under high fever of about 3*, and as Sachin dictated terms to the bowlers, my body seemed to be getting liberated from the fever. Eventually, Sachin got out, and India lost the match; and the fever returned to haunt me.

4.

Vs Pakistan- 98 (75) at Centurion

“INTENSE”. “HIGH PRESSURE”. “TENSE”.

The above was a list of the possible adjectives that come to my mind, to describe the game stage. Once again against archrivals Pakistan, but this time in a pressure cooker situation during the 2003 World Cup. The game, as anticipated, was a total sell out and Centurion in South Africa was the lucky venue to host the game. The match was integral to both the sides in terms of advancing further into the tournament. The 22 yard strip was a belter, and Pakistani skipper Waqar Younis had no hesitation in batting first.

Pakistan got off to a decent start, opener Saeed Anwar keeping his brilliant record against India intact. Saeed made a classy ton and took Pakistan to a more than respectable total of 273.

The target was always going to be tricky, and batting second against the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar was far from an easy task. But as people call him, the little master, took India off to a blistering start, along with swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag.

The pressure during this game was at the highest possible level and playing well against Pakistan in a World Cup was a matter of national pride for Indians. The four hit by Sachin off Wasim Akram in the very first over, was an indication of what was to follow. The classy straight drives and punches were evident in this innings and the lethal fast bowling trio were hammered for plenty. The fifty came up in the sixth over.

The most treasured moment during this inning came when Sachin cut a wide delivery outside off, of the nippy Shoaib  Akhtar, and sent it sailing way back over third man. The six hit by Sachin is one of the most trending videos on YouTube till date. The six was followed by an elegant punch off the back foot that raced to the boundary.

Sachin carried on his inning in the same fashion, and no bowler was spared. Shahid Afridi, brought into the attack to slow down things too was hammered. However, while playing effortlessly, Sachin was a victim of cramps, and a runner too was arranged. That didn’t cease the little master from carrying on his graceful knock. As Sachin neared a ton, the racing heartbeats off his fans were brought to an abrupt halt, as a quick bouncer from Shoaib Akhtar caught Sachin off-guard, and took the edge off his bat. The edge was happily accepted by Younis Khan, stationed at Point. 98 off 75 balls was the final score.

However, these 98 runs were a part of a classy inning that was played under tremendous pressure.  Till date, no World Cup inning has been able to match the class and elegance of the knock that Sachin played. The runs scored by Sachin only make one understand of the great man’s calibre and ability to demolish any bowling attack, under any circumstance. The final outcome was the one that was desired, as India won with 26 balls to spare.  It is highly unlikely that an innings of this magnitude and elegance will be ever played again in a World Cup Match, and at the grand stage.

3.

Vs South Africa- 200* (147) at Gwalior

“THE FIRST MAN ON THE PLANET TO REACH 200; AND IT’S THE SUPERMAN FROM INDIA.” These words mouthed by Ravi Shastri to announce the master-blaster’s feat, take cricket lovers into a new eternity all together. There were very few individuals who endorsed the argument that scoring a double century in  ODI’s was a possibility. And once again like all the previous occasions, the little master proved his die-hard fans right.

This inning played was as flawless as ever, which included an array of drives, punches and glances, played all over the ground. Not even a single shot played in this wonderful knock came close to a desperate slog. All the shots were played with ridiculous ease and with the minimum effort. There came a point in the innings when the South African spearhead Dale Steyn (in his prime) could do nothing; but just smile at a boundary scored of him by the great man. Jacques Kallis, the South African skipper in that game, took to sledging to stop the brutal force of the cricketing God, but that was to no avail. In return, it was the bat of the great man that did all the talking.

The lofted shot played by Sachin on the bowling of Charl Langeveldt; stands out as the most cherished memory ,of this masterful inning to me. The batting display put together by the first-double centurion in ODI history was simply phenomenal, with the ball being bludgeoned across all parts of the Capt. Roop Singh Stadium. Surprisingly, this was the second, and the last ODI inning which the great man played in 2010.

As a courtesy of this tremendous feat, the Indian team managed to cross 400 for the third time in ODI’s; and for the second time in 2 months. The South Africans in reply couldn’t even get close to the colossal target, but AB de Villiers was the only one to provide some resistance, as the talented South African too scored a rapid ton.

The very next day after the breathtaking innings, newspapers and media rooms were flooded with just one question. “IS SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR THE GREATEST CRICKETER EVER”? Well, according to me, the answer is always in the affirmative!

2.

Vs Australia- 175 (141) at Hyderabad

Chasing a total that needs you to rush at 7 runs per over from the outset is an excruciatingly difficult task. That night of 5^th November 2009 was no exception. The Aussie batsmen had massacred the Indian bowlers to all areas of the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, with Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson playing the pivotal roles.  Mid way in the match, the Aussie bowlers could have thought that they were under a safe cushion of 350 runs; but little did they know, that the master was about to explode and shake the floor under the Australians. The target was profusely uphill and atleast one Indian batsman had to play the innings of his life. Well, that man was none other than Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Sachin, along with Virender Sehwag, began positively, with Sachin never looking too desperate to smash the ball. The little master took his chances on a few occasions, and utilised the benefits of the Powerplays really well. Several opportunities arrived; and the little man grabbed it with both hands. However, to deteriorate matters, the Indian middle order, comprising of reputed names like the Gambhir’s, Yuvraj’s and the Dhoni’s failed to get going, and that added more pressure on the master.

But being the master, Sachin didn’t feel the pressure a bit, and carried on with sheer destruction. All the Aussie bowlers were brutally thrashed and Ricky Ponting even had to revert to Mike Hussey (Less than even a part-timer) to get a breakthrough. But that too was of no avail. The sixes that the master hit off the spinners were an absolute delight to watch, and the delicate cuts too were a treat.

As the target neared, the heartbeats raced but Sachin was icy cool as ever. Suresh Raina was the only other batsman to provide some sort of support to the centurion. Sachin went on blasting his way past and no obstacle seemed to be gigantic enough to halt him.

On the first ball of the 48^th over, the master tried to play a scoop over short fine leg, but Clint McKay, was cunning enough to disguise the ball as a slower one. As a consequence, the timeless inning had to come to a sudden halt and the great man himself stood there, with grief striking his face. The crowd responded with a standing ovation, but everyone knew that “Chennai 1999” was on the verge of being repeated.

It was a shame that India couldn’t chase down 19 off 17 deliveries post Sachin’s dismissal and were all out with 2 balls to spare. Had India made it home, this would have been no less than a fairy tale. Sachin stood there as the lone warrior, but that too sadly, was not good enough. This inning was eventually termed as the best inning played in a loss, by several greats.

Even though India lost the match, this innings holds a special value in my life and whenever I see a video of this inning, one question always pops up in my mind, “HOW HAPPY WOULD HAVE SACHIN BEEN HAD WE WON?”

1.

Vs Australia- Sharjah Twin Tons

“Those couple of knocks back at Sharjah still give me jitters and nightmares”. These words were said by the Australian spin wizard, Shane Warne. He has spoken about the mentioned knocks on several sports channels, and doesn’t hesitate in signifying the fact that the utter brilliance of Sachin Tendulkar almost put him in a state of sheer dilemma.  The Sharjah Twin tons were scored over 15 years ago, and in a tri series, which included New Zealand as the third team. The first of those masterpieces was scored in a game where a loss by a humiliating margin, meant elimination. But as they say, cometh the hour, cometh the man. The first ton was scored in the last match of the group stage of the tournament. Aussies put themselves in, and scored a soaring total of 284, with notable contributions from Michael Bevan and Mark Waugh. The target was a steep one, and all the Indian hopes rested just on one man. SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR. The year 1998, had been Tendulkar’s best,( till date), with Sachin always hitting the ball, from the sweet part of the willow.

As the Indian chase began, Sachin had made his intentions clear, of batting ruthlessly, and demolishing the Australian attack. The “minimum” target for India was 254, which meant that had the Indians been unable to score 254, New Zealand would have got through to the final, and would have resulted in India’s elimination. But the weather in Sharjah had a tale of its own to narrate. Amidst the Indian chase, a massive sandstorm erupted, which eventually cost the game 25 vital minutes. As a consequence, the revised target was 276, from 46 overs, but the “minimum” target was 237, from the same number of overs.

But the sandstorm was not enough to save the Aussies from the “SACHIN-STORM”. Sachin went after the Aussie  bowling, as though there was no tomorrow. Michael Kasprowicz was given a “third degree” by Sachin. The two back to back maximums hit of Kasprowicz in the sixth over, were only an indication of what was to follow. In that epic innings, Sachin cleared the ropes on five occasions, with the crowd going bizarre on every occasion. Sachin found no real support from his partners, but he was a man on a mission. Steve Waugh, the Aussie captain, was clobbered to all parts of the stadium. The target required to qualify for the finals was achieved in the 43^rd over, with Sachin sighing a breath of relief. Till Sachin was at the wicket, an Indian victory was well within grasp, but Damien Fleming had him caught behind, on the last ball of over number 43.

Though Australia won the game and the battle, the war remained. For Sachin, it was only half a job done, with the Coca Cola Cup, very much in sight.

The final was played on Sachin’s birthday; and there’s no better sentiment than playing the all-time best ODI knock on your very own birthday. Expecting another Sachin masterclass, Mohammad Azharuddin had no hesitation in putting Australia in. The Aussies once again scored a massive total, 272 (The total may seem moderate now, but was more than enough in those days). And as destiny would have it, it was time for another “SACHIN STORM” to erupt. Sachin played this inning with a lot more caution than its predecessor. Sachin looked a little tentative in the beginning , and seeing this Michael Kasprowicz became vocal towards him.

But Sachin being a thorough gentleman let his bat do the talking. The nervousness was soon replaced by elegance and grace. The shot of the inning was the fierce straight drive which Sachin hit, making the non-striker (Sourav Ganguly), duck for cover. The 134 runs scored by Sachin were a display of persona and those 134 runs spoke volumes about Sachin Tendulkar as a batsman. The magnitude of the pressure was at its peak, as India rarely ever made it to the finals those days, and winning even a bilateral series was rare. This was a triangular series being played; at a neutral venue; and in the final, the opposition was the world’s best side. That can make one realise the intense pressure of the game.

Much before the series began, Shane Warne had passed a “childish” comment, stating that Sachin’s weakness was obvious, and it was easy to exploit. But for passing such a remark, Warne had to pay the price and repent. Sachin went simply ballistic as the ball was given to Shane Warne. A six down the ground was just the beginning. Warne’s confident was dented big time as the game progressed, and that was evident, as Shane Warne bowled numerous loose deliveries and short ones, that sent a message to the batsman, “PLEASE HIT ME”! Sachin obliged Shane, who had no clue what-so-ever.

The marathon innings went on, and the great man, raced to his successive hundred. After passing the landmark, Sachin continued his dream run, and hit boundary after boundary. The crowd in Sharjah, yelled and rejoiced as Sachin was tormenting the bowlers. To add to the vocal crowd was Tony Greig’s exhilarating commentary. “They are dancing in the aisles in Sharjah”. No cricketing madman (Me for instance) will ever be done and over with these words. The passion was evident in Tony’s voice; and this passion was evident in every cricketing freek’s voice, who admired a phenomenon called Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.  There came a moment in the innings, when an ecstatic Tony said that Sachin was indeed the best since Bradman.

Sachin’s finest ODI knock came to an end when Sachin’s “umpiring friend” (pun intended) Steve Bucknor gave another horrendous decision. This time it was an LBW, with the ball hitting the fifth stump (Once again pun intended). However, that didn’t stop the Indian team from winning and becoming Champions of the Triangular series.

Those couple of knocks are etched in the memory of every cricket lover, and anyone following the sport says that he/she isn’t aware of the couple of knocks, then believe me- Either that person is a liar, or not a cricket follower. No other ODI inning can ever even come close to the couple of innings played in Sharjah. That was indeed elegance personified; and the reason which makes the word GOD synonyms with a genius called SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR.

Patriotism does more harm than Good

“I can happily lay down my life for my motherland. Doing this would give me tremendous honour and dignity.” “The welfare of my motherland, gives me endless pride, and that’s what my motive is.” Just imagine a person, saying these words in today’s era, where life sprints ahead at the highest possible pace. The reply in today’s era for the above mentioned quotes would have more or less the same meaning, with most of the replies likely to be, “Hello, why don’t you consult a renowned psychiatrist.” Other typical replies are likely to be, “I guess its high time for you to start reading comics, and take things lightly,” The replies to the initial quotes very much provide my answer to the concerned question that Patriotism does more harm than good? I stringently believe that patriotism does more harm than good.

In uncomplicated terms, patriotism basically means being highly attached to your homeland, and its traditions. The uncomplicated definition of patriotism however, seems to be taken for a toss. The factors that cause me to take a drastic stance against patriotism are several. A significant factor is that the so called “acts of patriotism” have often been the reason, behind the disruptions of several lives. This has atleast been the case with the world’s purported “LARGEST DEMOCRACY”. Several political parties, in order to hog the limelight, take irrational decisions, on the basis of patriotism, that severely deter lives of quite a lot of citizens.

Just consider a situation, where a film, a majestic piece of art, is banned, or its sets are vandalised, as it is branded as “UNPATRIOTIC”. Sadly, this has been the case with several Asian nations, where films have faced an ‘EMBARGO’ just on the judgment that they clash with the nation’s patriotic values and the age-old traditions. A film is usually an independent piece of art, where artists toil hard daily, to entertain the audiences. But, patriotic values often cause the film to be banned from being showcased in several cinemas. By committing such a horrendous act, the nation often has to miss out on the revenues that it could have generated and the possible profits for cinema owners. But the one group that suffers the most is that of the audience, who miss out on the fun that they could get.

The films have just been a common issue. There are tons of issues that arise from the so called acts of patriotism. On the basis of patriotism, a political party in the central region of India, vandalised an undergarments shop as they thought that the posters and hoardings in the shop defied Indian Culture, and were “unpatriotic”. The political party workers and unions even termed the shop owner as “ANTI INDIAN” and “LEWD”.

However, it was absolutely “PATRIOTIC” for a leader of the very same political party, to watch PORNOGRAPHY in the Assembly session and give himself some cheap thrills. The so called act of “PATRIOTISM” of the same political party just didn’t end there. The workers, of the same political party, that vandalised the undergarments shop, were also caught by the police for charges of molesting an American woman. That was very “PATRIOTIC”, wasn’t it?

The social issue of patriotism has even cramped up endless lives. In democratic nations, the actions of several individuals have to face the ire of a few political parties, who instantly term them as “UNPATRIOTIC” and try to deter those actions. So my question is: “HOW CAN WE SAY THAT A NATION IS DEMOCRATIC, IF THERE IS NO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?” The answer very much lies in the question. It’s the act of patriotism, which clashes with the actions of the common man, to literally deprive them of DEMOCRACY.

It is more often than not, due to patriotism that numerous developing nations are incompetent across the globe. The acts of patriotism, of a few individuals, time and again disrupt the economic activities within a nation. As a result, the analysts of several reputed MNC’s do not consider that nation to have the optimum business environment, and therefore, the nation loses out on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This further has dire consequences, on the nation’s economic indicators such as the GDP, Balance of Payment, Exchange Rate.

It has been the sole courtesy of patriotism, that several nations have adopted a “REGRESSIVE” stance.  This regressive stance has thereby resulted in the severe downturn of the nation.

Patriotism has become a meaningless ten letter word in this era, as several distinct members of the society have alienated the term from its meaning. The true patriotism lies in ensuring that the nation as a whole prospers and achieves great heights of success. But the most significant objective of politicians these days is to inflate their appetite for black money, and to accomplish this objective, they often indulge in mammoth levels of corruption, such as endless scams. This surely isn’t patriotic by any possible means.

Patriotism has been the antagonist behind spoiling the foreign relations between scores of nations. The patriotism within a nation, is more like the ego within a person. Its often the ego, that destroys the person. Similarly, clashing patriotic values are like those egos, that destroy the harmony attained within a nation.

However, I do feel that the act of patriotism done has its pros as well, but only to a certain extent. The degree to which the theory of Patriotism is practiced, should not be breached beyond a certain limit. However, in this modern era, breaching limits has become an increasingly common issue. Thereby, to conclude, I adamantly believe that PATRIOTISM INDEED DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

EVIDENCE AT LAST

26^th January 2008 (1000 hrs)

The Sydney Opera House had been the centre of attraction on the Australia Day, with spectators waiting fervently, to get a glimpse of the man in charge of the nation Down Under. Bliss and excitement were in the air, and smiles worth millions of dollars had graced the elated faces of a major chunk of the crowd. The cheering escalated to enormous heights, once Kevin Key, the Prime Minister emerged. Banners and placards, heartening the Prime Minster could be seen in abundance; while a section of the crowd even chanted slogans, “HAIL KEY!” Such was the political stout of Kevin Key. However, an isolated section of the spectators had second thoughts, who ridiculed the PM, by passing outrageous comments him. Out of the blue, a vicious sound was heard, that of a .50 BMG Sniper bullet being fired at the PM. The man, being cheered upon some seconds ago, was now reduced to a mere lifeless body, with the bullet piercing through Key’s ribcage, and hitting him in the heart.  

15^th August 2013 (Present Day)

“I wanna see your filthy face in my cabin within the next sixty seconds,” ordered Anthony Tait, the Director In General of the Australian Intelligence Services. I banged the receiver of my intercom down, and uttered a few expletives, meant for none other than my lousy boss, Anthony. I seriously hated Tait to the core, and had he not been my boss, I would have genuinely thrashed him. I seriously wondered that what qualities the higher authorities had seen in this moron, to appoint him as the Head of the AIS? Amidst quietly grumbling to myself, my colleague Jade patted me on my back, making me aware of her presence. Jade always caught me off-guard, and her presence always made me excruciatingly nervous. Jade and I had been “good friends” for a period of more than 3 years, but it was me, who was hesitant, in taking our relationship to the next level.

We knocked at Tait’s chamber door, and entered, with Goosebumps, appearing on my hands. I knew that Tait, was livid at some issue and wouldn’t even take the pain of thinking twice, before humiliating us. To vent out his frustration I guess.   

“Good afternoon sir,” I said, praying that my worst fears wouldn’t emerge victorious. “Whats so good about this messed up afternoon, you little skunk?” countered Tait. My worst fears had indeed come true. Jade wanted to burst out laughing at Tait’s words, but somehow she controlled it. Pitying myself, I took a seat, with Tait, facing me.

 Another likely blunder which I nervously committed.  

Within a few minutes, our colleagues joined us; but they too faced Tait’s ire, the reason being the time wasted by them. “Settle down quickly you lazy mules,” said the 50 year old head of the AIS.  The meeting was an unofficial one and was to be kept “confidential” from our subordinates.

The meeting finally commenced with Tait opening up on the hot topic issue of Kevin Key’s assassination, which took place over 5 years ago. The abrupt change in Tait’s tone profusely bamboozled me. The discussion was likely to get more serious. “Mates, Kevin Key’s assassins have never been found and all attempts have been worthless,” said Tait, in a sombre tone. None of us, dared to interrupt Tait, as the consequences were well known. However, I defied my gut feeling, and dared to wake the tiger up from a sound sleep. Fortunately, the tiger didn’t roar in fury. Rather, a more “human” tone replied to my doubts. On asking Tait about the reason behind the assassin still being  at large, I got a reply which was awfully jolting.

“I knew that someday or the other, the truth had to emerge, from the burden of deceit and lies,” said Tait. “Key was a prominent figure, who ruled the roost among his political peers. But some of his decisions defied sense and to be more frank, they were jeopardizing the harmony of this nation,” continued Tait. Our faces were like the kindergarten students, who were asked to give SAT’s by their teachers. Tait didn’t end there, and continued from where he left.

“ Key was assassinated by the AIS itself!” These words froze me, denting my morale big time.  “I know, it’s shocking for you’ll, but that’s what the fact is. Our sniper shooters were the ones who carried out the task. We were ‘asked’ to do so by the higher authorities,” carried on Anthony Tait. “Sir, may we know the identities of the so called high authorities,” I intervened. “ I’m sorry, but I do not have the consent to say so,” replied Tait.

Over the due course of 2 hours, what I learnt was simply shuddering, and I simply had no idea of what to do with my professional career. The revelations made by Tait demoralised me and put me in a dilemma. Tait said that the enquiry commission set up to crack the assassination case couldn’t yield results, as they could have never imagined AIS being the true horses behind the assassination.

Tait, however had reasons to ‘justify’ the assassination of Kevin Key.

The war situation in Iraq had worsened, with the American Armed Forces and the NATO losing mettle and incurring tremendous losses. To just maintain cordial ties with the States, Kevin decided that it was time for the Australian Armed Forces to combat Al Qaida and Taliban along with the US Armed Forces and the NATO. This policy reform would have had drastic consequences throughout Down Under, as more than ten thousand members of the Australian Armed Forces would have had their lives risked. On the financial front, the costs incurred would be too huge to bear, as a major chunk of the revenue collected by the government would have to be allocated for the Defence Sector.

But the most staggering revelation from Tait was that, if the Aussie Armed Forces were to be deployed to Iraq, then investors would become more bearish towards Australian Insurance Firms, as their profits would be lowered to a massive extent. Apart from Insurance Firms, the trend towards the Australian Securities Exchange would become more bearish, which would eventually lead to lesser revenues for the government. To make matters worse, the business confidence in the Australian economy too would plunge, as Australia would be vulnerable to more terror attacks.

The reasons, which resulted in Key’s botched up assassination made me wonder that how callous the world could probably get?  Was murdering Key the most appropriate option in such a case? Or, was murdering a man, who toiled hard for the welfare of the nation, the most ethical option? These questions shell shocked me and all I wanted to do was just hand down my resignation to Anthony Tait.