Professional Documents
Culture Documents
08 10
ROOKIE JADEJA CHANDNI CHOWK
drafted in for Sri Lanka series TO CHINA
A review
YOUR
SECRET
FRIEND Ragasiya Snegidhi
of Big FM in
conversation with
V. Haripriya
» PAGE 03
02 NAMMA CHENNAI ERGO Monday, January 19, 2009
Mongolian
Film Festival
The South Indian Film Chambers,
from Monday, January 19, will play
host to the Mongolian film festival.
Organised by the Embassy of
Mongolia in New Delhi, Consulate
of Mongolia in Tamil Nadu and the
Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation,
the three-day fest will witness the
screening of three movies starting at
6.30 p.m. everyday.
The film festival will be inaugurated
Helping hands
by Voroshilov Enkhbold,
Ambassador of Mongolia in India.
C.V. Karthik Narayanan, Consul of
Serbia and Montenegro, Chennai,
will be the chief guest. Actor Lekha
Washington will also be present.
Venue: South Indian Film Chamber
R
ecently, some of us from Trimble employees went to the We were told that the money
Theatre, 606, Anna Salai, Chennai Trimble Navigation, an IT orphanage and gathered details we contributed would be used to
600 006. company in Tidel Park, vol- on what was required for the chil- provide care to children suffering
Screening schedule: unteered to visit Hands of dren. from certain deficiencies. Also,
Date Title Time Compassion, a home-cum- We pooled in cash and essen- for eye and dental check ups as
Jan 19: The Love Such a Love, 6.45 school. The place shelters about tials like sleeping mats, bed well as to purchase medicines.
p.m. 110 children, between the age of sheets, towels, dresses, shoes, If you think you would like to
Jan 20: The story of the weeping two and 16 years, from Tamil Na- soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, make a difference in their lives,
camel, 6.30 p.m. du, Gujarat, Manipur, Assam and pillows, toys, notebooks, crayons, please contact Sumathy (orphan-
Jan 21: Tsogt Taij / Choghtu Tayiji, Andaman. etc., along with cash. age representative) at 92831
6.30 p.m. All these children are victims of It was an occasion to remem- 22472. Or, visit Hands of Com-
the earthquakes, the tsunami and ber. We spent quality time with passion, Vaanian Chathiram,
terrorist attacks. children, conducted games and Redhills, Alamathi Road, Chennai
Preparation for the visit started distributed eatables. It was fun to – 600054. ■
a couple of weeks ago. One of see them participate so actively. (Contributed by Tanvi Rupa)
S
he is the agony aunt for many pre-marital sex and puppy love also
bruised souls in Chennai. No mat- pop up. I try my level best to give so-
ter how serious the problem is, a lutions as the decisions lie in their
listener can pour out his heart to hands.”
her. With no identity other than her Even without disclosing her
voice, Ragasiya Snegidhi (meaning ‘se- name, she remains the favourite of
cret friend’) is as popular as any other RJ many. “You might be surprised if I
in town. But now, to the surprise of her say I have a lot of fans. There are
many fans, this week the RJ is finally people who are trying to track
revealing her name on the show, airing my details through various so-
between 9 p.m. to midnight. cial networking sites. And
Hosting the show Ragasiyamai on Big some have even come up with
FM for the past two years, this bubbly RJ proposals to marry me. For
says the USP of the programme was instance, one person
concealing her name. “But now I feel it’s called me and said that I
time to reveal my name.” have a very sweet voice
“The idea behind concealing my and I talk so caringly that
name was that no one would like to re- he wants to marry me.
veal their sorrows or feelings of guilt to And another even kissed
anyone, including their friends. So we me over the phone!”
thought that instead of making them The RJ says that
talk to a popular RJ it would be better if even she is amazed by
they talk to someone whose identity her own popularity.
they don’t know. That really worked “Once I was quite ill
well and we started receiving around and after my show
100 calls per day. Now we have com- went to a medical shop
pleted two years successfully. So it’s to buy pills. Usually, I
time for the listeners to know my identi- leave office 15 minutes
ty and there are other surprises, too.” before the show ends, as
“While starting the show, it was really we only play songs in the last
difficult for me to handle the callers. But segment. When I went to the medical
now I am used to it and know how to shop, the salesman was listening to my
tackle them and their problems,” she programme. He didn’t bother to ask
says. “Most of the callers have problems what I wanted and when I asked him to
in their love lives. Misunderstandings, rush he was annoyed! Finally, when he
silly fights and even possessiveness saw our office cab, he inquired about all
might be the reasons for the feud. I al- the RJs, especially Ragasiya Snegidhi,
ways sound positive and try to make and conveyed his wishes to her. I was
them understand the situations. Ex- very happy but still couldn’t tell him it
treme cases like extra-marital affairs, was me.”
A graduate in English Literature, the
Hosting the show RJ loves what she does. “I involve my-
self in this show. Once I enter the stu-
Ragasiyamai on Big FM for dio I switch off all the lights to get
the past two years, this into the mood. I believe this has
helped me a lot.”
bubbly RJ says the USP of “I have three favourites in life;
the programme was Rajinikanth, Silk Smitha and, of
concealing her name. course, namma Chennai,” she adds.
■
04 KALEIDOSCOPE ERGO Monday, January 19, 2009
At a glance
HDFC reduces home loan rate
HDFC, one of the biggest players in the home loans
market, has cut housing loan rates. The new rates are
as below: 9.75 % for all loans up to Rs. 30 lakh rupees
Dictating rules,
policies, standards…
and 10.75% for all loans above Rs. 30 lakh rupees. This
is a steep drop from the earlier rates of 10.25% and
11.25 % respectively.
EUREKA
Inspiration to start a new
venture – small or big – can
be found in many places,
but you need to be looking
S
uccessful inventors, entre- my little circle here to understand
preneurs and writers say what’s going on,” Kimel said.
they are often asked where “You can’t make the mistake of
their big ideas came from. thinking the only place you’ll
They will acknowledge that ser- learn is from colleagues who are
endipity often plays a role. But doing exactly what you’re doing.”
equally as important, they say, is But what if you are not cre-
having an open mind – especially ative? “Hang out with creative
in tumultuous times like these. people who are interested in the
Big and small ideas are out there, kinds of things you hope to con-
they say, if you are looking for tribute to,” advised Sandy Goldb-
them. erg, an author and philosopher.
Goldberg suggested, “Don’t ne-
Magic or science glect thinking when you’re not
Consider the experience of Lo- thinking,” for example, on a run.
pa Mehrotra, who was studying When people ask her about
to be a political scientist. One hot how she comes up with an idea,
summer day she was watching Jane McGonigal, a top game de-
her six-year-old daughter playing signer and future forecaster, tells
outside. “Look,” her daughter them, “You have to systematically
said, as she scraped two gray expose yourself to things outside
rocks on stone and watched them your domain because the break-
turn white. “It’s magic.” through ideas will come from ar-
“I said, “Actually, it’s science,”” eas where you are not
Mehrotra said, explaining how constrained by doing the daily
that moment inspired her to cre- job.”
ate TestToob.com, a social net- “Otherwise, you are doing what
working site that allows students others in the field have done and
to showcase scientific it won’ be a breakthrough.”
experiments. As a researcher of alternate re-
ality games, McGonigal focuses
Sound of music on how games can help the real
Jacques Heim, who founded world.
Diavolo Dance Theater, was in In her research, she has also
Aspen, Colorado, with his dance found a connection between
company, using an elementary gamers and the science of happi-
classroom as a dressing room. ness, which led her to a moment
Naturally, it was full of toys, he of inspiration. “Games give you
recalled. He saw a box of blocks, jects, like doors, stairs and chairs idea when she was changing the from its design to its race to the new models for looking at the
including three in particular that for dramatic movement, as well channels one day and happened finish line. world,” she said. They are the “ul-
caught his interest: Identical five- as the three mobile pyramids for upon a car race. Without warn- Whether it is a festival, a con- timate happiness engine,” be-
sided pyramids that created a “Foreign Bodies.” ing, she recalled, one of the cars cert, a speech, a convention or a cause they work better than
cube. “I was inspired by the ge- His choreography, Heim said, hit an outside wall. None of the book, creative thinkers say, you reality -- there are better instruc-
ometry behind it,” he said, “and is influenced by what he can see, cars had bumped, she said, and have to actively look for inspira- tions, better feedback and better
played with it for months.” feel, touch and hear. “I believe if there were no engine failures or tion, and that takes time. community.
Ultimately those cubes led to a you have the child inside you and flat tires. So what happened? Carving out time to find inspi- In the end, McGonigal said her
performance piece called “For- you walk down the streets, things It was not idle curiosity. To ration may seem unrealistic to a experience and research taught
eign Bodies,” set to music by Esa- happen to you,” he said. “Intui- solve the problem, she immersed small-business owner working 90 her this: “We don’t have to be fa-
Pekka Salonen, music director of tion. That’s how I operate.” herself in racing by spending hours a week. But Kimel said it mous or rich. But we have to be
the Los Angeles Philharmonic. time with pit crews, crew chiefs, must be done to find and keep a good at something. We are hap-
Members of Diavolo, based in The Physics of Nascar mechanics and drivers, and even- competitive edge. piest when we are applying our
Los Angeles – gymnasts, actors Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, a phys- tually wrote, “The Physics of Nas- “You cannot afford to say, ’I signature strength.” ■
and dancers – use everyday ob- ics professor, said she got her car.” The book traces a race car don’t have the time to get out of NYT News Service
WHAT’S ON
Non-stop laughing
A Chinese couple is seeking a cure for
their young daughter who has been
laughing non-stop for 12 years. The
problem began when the girl was just
eight months old.
A
petition has been moved in The court, however, declined to dian.
a lower court in Kochi seek- forward the matter to police. The petitioner stated that he
ing action against former However, Tharoor refuted the did not lodge a complaint with
UN Under Secretary Gen- allegation that he had shown dis- the police since he apprehended
eral Shashi Tharoor for allegedly respect to the national anthem that they will not register a case
interrupting the national anthem and dubbed as “motivated lies” against “an influential person”.
at a function in Kochi last month, reports appearing in a section of “The allegation is totally false.
a charge denied by him. the media. There was no interruption of the
Additional Chief Judicial Ma- The petitioner alleged that national anthem. At no point in
gistrate Cherian Kuriakose post- Tharoor had “intentionally pre- my life have I ever interrupted the
ed the case to Jan 31 for recording vented” the singing of the Na- singing of National Anthem or
the statement of the petitioner tional Anthem and caused shown disrespect to any national
Joy Kaitharath, General Secretary disturbance to the assembly en- symbol,” Tharoor said in a state-
of the State Human Rights Pro- gaged in singing the anthem on ment in Thiruvananthapuram.
tection Centre, and the witness. Dec 16 at a function at Le Meri- PTI
Monday, January 19, 2009
07
Websites of the day This day that year
Hilarious real-life newspaper headlines: It was on January 19, 1966, Indira Gandhi
http://funnies.paco.to/Headlines.html was elected prime minister of India in
Everything you need to know about the history succession to Lal Bahadur Shastri who had
of body art: http://www.designboom.com/ died on January 11. Shastri had succeeded
history/tattoo_history.html Gandhi’s father, Jawaharlal Nehru.
I
ndian author Aravind Adiga’s forced at the end of the novel
debut novel, The White Tiger, when Halwai visits another
which went on to win the brothel in New Delhi and is told
prestigious Booker prize in by the pimp that he looks as if he
2008, has raised hackles in Nepal can afford a Nepali beauty.
over what is being regarded as the Halwai finds the Nepali in-
belittling stereotyping of Nepalis. mates “really good-looking: very
“Many English-educated urban light-skinned and with those Chi-
Indians have a distorted view of nese eyes that just drives us Indi-
Nepalis,” said an article in the an men mad”.
Kathmandu Post daily on Sun- Adhikari says many urban Indi-
day, calling the novel “shocking” ans think “Nepalis are modern-
and “blatantly representing Ne- day slaves – women languishing
palis”. in brothels and youths keeping
The author of the article, Dee- vigil...” While conceding that Ne-
pak Adhikari, objects to the fact pali women are trafficked to India
that though the novel has several and unemployed men cross the
Nepali characters, all of them re- border in search of jobs, Adhikari
main nameless and marginalised. says it is an attack on the Nepali
They are also stereotyped neg- identity to present them as
atively, portrayed either as “slant- nameless generic specimens.
eyed” Nepali security guards of “Granted, a novel is a work of
no consequence or “Chinese”- imagination,” he says. “But when
eyed prostitutes. a novel gets a prestigious award,
As the novel begins to unfold, it climbs further up on the be-
the protagonist Balram Halwai is stseller list. And readers may
taken to a brothel that houses come to identify Nepali men with
four “light-skinned Nepali wom- wily security guards and Nepali
en in gorgeous red petticoats”. women with those who sell sex
The same imagery of Nepali for livelihood.” ■
women as prostitutes is rein- IANS
Hungry squirt
Raju ban gaya popular
Ramalinga Raju rivals Obama in terms
of Internet search popularity
S atyam’s disgraced
founder Ramalin-
ga Raju has beaten
after which it has
been declining con-
sistently but Raju is
US President-elect still holding an edge
Barack Obama on In- over the US Presi-
ternet popularity dent-elect. In terms
charts in India, and is of cities, the maxi-
closing the gap mum search volume
abroad, too. has been from Hyd-
Google’s search erabad, where both
volume index shows Raju and Satyam are
Raju and Obama based. As regards
were generating almost equal searches for Obama, Tamil Nadu
searches from India during the has been on the top. For cities,
first six days of the year, with the maximum search volume for
Obama leading by a small mar- Obama has come from Chennai.
gin. However, Raju jumped up Outside India too, Raju has gen- 쒀 An undated hand out photo released on Sunday shows one of Australia’s
the charts on January 7, when he erated significant search volumes deepest residents, a bizarre carnivorous sea squirt, or ascidian, standing half a
admitted to a massive fraud of from UAE, Singapore, Finland, metre tall on the seafloor on the Tasman Fracture Zone at a depth of 4006
about Rs. 7,800 crore. The search US, Poland, Australia, UK, Cana- metres. The animal feeds opportunistically, triggered when a fish or any other
volumes for Raju are estimated to da and Germany, but has lagged swimming organism touches it. The animal is then trapped by the funnel-like
have been over 10 times more behind Obama. ■ front section, which collapses around the prey item. AFP PHOTO
than that of Obama on January 7, PTI
08 SPORT ERGO Monday, January 19, 2009
Man U go on top
Dimitar Berbatov’s last-minute winner for Manchester United put the Red Devils top
of the Premier League after a 1-0 victory at Bolton while Chelsea netted twice in
the last three minutes to salvage a 2-1 win at home to Stoke. With Liverpool not in
action until Monday, when it hosts neighbour Everton, Alex Ferguson’s defending
champions had the chance to go top for at least 48 hours.
Bhajji
ERGO CORRESPONDENT
feedback@goergo.in
I
ndia brought in uncapped Sau-
rashtra all-rounder and un-
der-19 World Cup winner
out,
Ravindra Jadeja for the away
series against Sri Lanka, where the
visitors will play five ODIs and one
T20 International. Jadeja, who was
instrumental in Saurashtra’s suc-
cess in the recently-concluded Ran-
ji Trophy (Saurashtra reached the
Jadeja in
semi-finals before going down to
KKR looking for alternative eventual champions Mumbai),
shined both with the bat and ball
home venues during the tournament, scoring
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and 739 runs at 67.18 to finish sixth on
Kolkata IPL franchisee owners Red Chillies are at the run-scorers’ list. The slow left-
loggerheads over the fundamentals related to the arm orthodox picked up 42 wick-
hosting of the Kolkata Knight Riders home games ets. An integral part of India’s un-
at the Eden Gardens. A difference of opinion over der-19 World Cup winning team,
the financial settlements between the two parties Jadeja also showed his mettle Ravindra Jadeja
may see the Kolkata team playing a few of their playing for the winners, Rajasthan
home matches at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack Royals, in the inaugural IPL and rewarded for good Ranji
and also possibly far away from home in Gujarat. drew praise from team captain
After inspecting facilities in Cuttack, Knight Riders Shane Warne for his all-round abil- Trophy showing
officials are also in talks with Gujarat Cricket ities.
Association president N. Amin for a possible shift of The Krish Srikanth led selection
venues. “Personally, I am in good terms with a few committee dropped opener and Ja-
of the top Knight Riders officials and we want to deja’s World Cup winning skipper
host at least two of their games. There is a lot of Virat Kohli, while off-spinner
enthusiasm here about cricket and our stadiums are Harbhajan Singh was rested as he
also of international standards,” Amin said. “We was recovering from a hamstring
have already approached the Rajasthan Royals to injury. The other notable change in
play a few of their home matches here and their the side is the comeback of Uttar
officials came and inspected the venue and facilities Pradesh pacer Praveen Kumar who
offered.” was unexpectedly dropped form
Meanwhile, the CAB seemed not to be perturbed the ODI side for the home series
by the current development and president against England. However, Kumar
Jagmohan Dalmiya feigned ignorance and said: “I had a listless Ranji Trophy final,
have no knowledge about it.” The former BCCI and going wicket-less against Mumbai
ICC president had a marathon meeting with KKR in Hyderabad. Pathan brothers –
top official Jay Mehta last week to sort out the Yusuf and Irfan – retained their
differences. place in the 15-man squad along
But according to CAB sources the association has with left-arm spinner Pragyan Oj-
resigned to the fact that some matches will be ha, who will lead the spin depart-
shifted out of Eden Gardens and Barabati is the ment in Bhajji’s absence. Dambulla
likely replacement. is scheduled to host the first two
Ergo Correspondent ODIs on January 28 and 30, fol-
lowed by the next three in Colom-
bo on February 2, 5 and 8. The only
T20 match will take place in Col-
ombo on February 10. The Indian
Kenyan Mugara wins Mumbai team will meet in Chennai on
January 25 before leaving for
marathon Sri Lanka.
Kenneth Mugara led a Kenyan sweep in the men’s “The Indian team will as-
event of the Mumbai marathon on Sunday in the semble in Chennai on Ja-
city’s first international sports event since the nuary 25 and practise
militant attacks last November. under lights at the M.A.
Almost 35,000 people Chidambaram Stadi-
participated in five separate um. They would then
events in the annual run through depart for Sri Lanka the
the streets of south and central next day,” BCCI joint secre-
Mumbai, taking them past two tary Sanjay Jagdale said.
of the three landmarks where Squad: Mahendra Singh
Islamic gunmen laid siege, killing Dhoni (capt), Virender Seh-
179 people. Mugara clocked a wag, Gautam Gambhir, Sa-
course record time of 2:11.51 chin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh,
ahead of David Tarus in second and John Kelai, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina,
winner of the previous two editions, third. Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Path-
Ethiopia’s Haile Kebebush won the women’s race an, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Shar-
in a time of 2:34.08 with compatriot Marta Marcos ma, Munaf Patel, Pragyan
second and Kenya’s Irene Mogaka third. Ojha, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Ku-
Reuters mar. ■
‘‘
There is no possibility of a shift in venue for the Commonwealth Games and
there is no reason to do it. I don’t know why this issue comes up. There
should not be one percent of doubt about Delhi staging the Games.
Lalit Bhanot, general secretary of the Delhi Commonwealth Games organising committee about speculations of the Games being moved
from Delhi to Melbourne because of slow construction work in Games sites
No clear favourites
PHOTOS: AFP
M
en’s tennis has moved swiftly teresting year ahead of us. That’s why eventual runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. has made an unedifying start to the sea-
from one dominant player to I’m excited.” “I feel good going into the Australian son. The Serb blamed a change of rac-
two, then the Big Three and Open but after what happened last year quet after losing to Ernests Gulbis in
now the Big Four, making this Young Brit I don’t want to get too carried away,” he Doha, and was then ousted in the Syd-
year’s Australian Open the least pre- However, Federer has already lost said. ney International semis by Finland’s
dictable in recent history. World num- twice this year to Murray, whose red- Jarkko Nieminen. “(My game’s) not 100
ber one Rafael Nadal is seeded top, hot form is raising genuine hopes that Matador percent, but it’s getting there,” Djokov-
Novak Djokovic is defending champion he may be about to end Britain’s 73- Meanwhile, Nadal has made a slow ic said. Sixth-ranked Tsonga dazzled
but Britain’s Andy Murray is some boo- year wait for a Grand Slam title. Murray start to the only season he has begun as Melbourne with his run to the final last
kies’ favourite, rankling three-time win- has also smashed past Nadal and de- world number one, going down to the year, but his build-up has been hit by a
ner Roger Federer. fended his Qatar Open title in a rip- in-form Gael Monfils in Doha after his back injury which forced him out of the
“Murray’s the favourite? Good for roaring start to the year after dominat- loss to Murray at an exhibition event. Sydney International. Czech player Ra-
him, but it doesn’t help him a lot,” said ing the latter part of last season. “I’m The Spaniard, who took an extended dek Stepanek is buoyed by his Brisbane
the Swiss. Federer heads into the sea- going into each match confident, not as break at the end of last year with chron- International win over Spaniard Fer-
son’s opening Grand Slam without the many nerves,” Murray said. “In the past ic knee tendinitis, admits he is lacking nando Verdasco, while Marin Cilic was
top seeding for the first time since 2004 I’ve been a little bit erratic with my per- match practice as he looks to improve victorious in Chennai and ex-number
but encouraged by his US Open win in formances. I feel like now I’ve sort of on last year’s semi-final appearance. one Lleyton Hewitt may be a dangerous
September. The Swiss also lifted the become more consistent. That’s made a “You never know, no? Hopefully yes,” floater on home soil. Federer opens his
Kooyong Classic trophy on Saturday as big difference.” he said, when asked if he was ready for campaign on Monday against Andreas
he goes in search of Grand Slam title Murray’s physical fragility may be a the Open. “But I was two months out of Seppi while Djokovic is playing Andrea
number 14, which would equal the rec- worry in the 128-man draw, often competition, so maybe I need a few Stoppini. On Tuesday, Nadal faces
ord set by Pete Sampras. “I’m playing played in brutal heat, after a back prob- more matches to get my rhythm.” Christophe Rochus and Murray plays
well, I’m feeling well,” he said. “It’s go- lem flared during the Doha semis. He Djokovic is breathing down Federer’s Andrei Pavel. ■
ing to be interesting. I think it’s an in- was also a first-round loser last year to neck for the second ranking but also AFP
10 FLICK ERGO Monday, January 19, 2009
Indian
Chop
Suey with the song-and-dance.
The action is larger-than-life
and completely unimaginable,
Lots of ridiculously but thoroughly entertaining. How
else would you explain Sidhu
entertaining stunts, visuals of whipping up a semi-tsunami with
the power of his ‘cosmic’ sutra or
the Great Wall of China, and even churning a tornado by spin-
ning two hapless goons like a
some much-loved Bollywood merry-go-round! It’s the kind of
funny action that you wouldn’t
clichés are ingredients in even see in a Jackie Chan movie.
Sidhu’s cooking skills prove his
Chandni Chowk to China ultimate weapon, too.
The setting of the Chinese vil-
lage, beside the film’s lead’s char-
acterisation, gives you a strong
sense of déjà vu, as if you’re
watching the non-animated ver-
roadside restaurant in Delhi’s sion of Kung Fu Panda. There’s
Chandni Chowk who takes his also a Master Shifu-like taskmas-
chance with every astrologer and ter in the form of Chiang (Roger
lottery ticket. Mithun Chakrabor- Yuan).
ty (as Dada, who else) is his men- Some scenes are so ridiculous
tor who’s brought him up and that they end up being funny.
who repeatedly keeps stressing to There’s this one particular scene
him the power of fist over palm. A in a gadget-manufacturing unit
greedy astrologer who calls him- of Tele Shoppers Media in China
self Chopstick (Ranvir Shorey) where the factory workers are
makes Sidhu believe that riches dancing and explaining the prod-
await him if he accompanies two ucts like the way they do in low-
visiting Chinese men to their budget TV commercials, with
country, conveniently ignoring Hindi translation! We loved the
the need to warn him that the ‘Churake dil mera’ dance se-
Chinese villagers see Sidhu as a quence involving Sidhu and
reincarnation of an ancient hero Chopstick.
and expect him to rid them of The assassin called Meow
diamond smuggler Hojo (Gordon (Deepika Padukone’s evil avatar),
Liu), who’s been exploiting them. in one scene, tries to kill Sidhu by
Sidhu goes to China and dis- seducing him after watching a
covers Chopstick’s trickery, but dozen Bollywood masala oldies.
SHALINI SHAH only after Hojo learns the truth She’s not supposed to know Hin-
shalinishah@goergo.in and then leaves Sidhu for dead. di and she needn’t have taken the
The action man in Sidhu, expect- pains, but it’s the makers’ way of
W
hy won’t the tale of a edly, soon awakens – with a little paying tribute to Bollywood, do-
potbellied chef who help from the right sources. To ing in a small way what an Om
takes on the evil kung fu put it another way, Sidhu be- Shanti Om or Main Hoon Na did
exploiter, and wins, not comes Akshay Kumar. on a much bigger scale. ■
appeal! No, we’re not talking Akshay Kumar is brilliant, es-
Kung Fu Panda. After that hea- pecially as the simpleton during
dache-inducing Salaam Na- the first half of the film, before
Film: Chandni Chowk to
maste, Nikhil Advani returns to the transformation happens. The China
direct some mindless, action- children, especially, will love him. Director: Nikhil Advani
packed fun and comes up with a The revelation, however, is Cast: Akshay Kumar,
winner in Chandni Chowk to Chi- Deepika Padukone in a double Deepika Padukone, Gordon
na, Warner Bros’ Bollywood fo- role as Sakhi and Meow. She per- Liu, Roger Yuan, Mithun
ray. forms her stunts with the ease Chakraborty
Sidhu (Akshay Kumar) is a dis- and confidence of a Lara Croft
satisfied ‘vegetable-cutter’ in a and, at the same time, is good
Monday, January 19, 2009
11
Winehouse to launch record company
Singer Amy Winehouse is spending a whopping 1 million pounds to
launch her own record company, according to reports. Named the
business Lioness, she has already made her first signing - her uber-
talented 12-year-old goddaughter Dionne Bromfield.
T
o o
talk sh get Hollywo on her
r e s t o o n e y
ne Clo ctor
George . The a ce
throb ll y p a id o ff
e a r a n
as fin a e app
show h long overdu ry 16.
a a
made how on Janu very trick to
s e
o n t h e
s has
t r ie d he co-
G e n e r e h e r s how. T Dolly
o n n ,
oney udso
get Clo sent Kate H s, sexy male
n n d
me d ia hing b a over to
, marc hot models to get
Parton e
rs and n offic
strippe ’s productio e, the Con-
n e y m m
Cloo ogra
her pr
him on ic reported. , who fi
-
s n’ star
tactmu ceans Eleve ance on her
The ‘O e an appear as getting
ad he w
nally m mitted that ees and
h o w , a d h is e mploy .
s o m up
time fr owing
a hard s for not sh hat I would
n
Ellen fa ming is not s been doing
“ I n fo r
offi c e h
w
a
g. They
Ayan audio launch today
at my plainin After the success of Vaaranam Aayiram, Suriya’s
call wh hey’re) com d when the
(T ne next flick Ayan is gearing up for release. The film
to me. little concer . “People do
a m e y, starring Suriya and Tamanna is directed by K.V.
were nd ca and sa
a r c h ing ba all the time d o n ’t Anand, who earlier gave a decent family
m e y
p to m ou, wh entertainer Kana Kandein. Music director Harris
come u wrong with y ...?’ I’ve been
w Jayaraj, who gave hit numbers for Suriya in Kakka
‘What’s o Ellen’s sho
g o d PTI Kakka, Ghajini and Vaaranam Aayiram has
you
b u s y .” composed the music for the film. The audio launch
of the movie will be held on Monday. It is also
heard that Sun Pictures has bagged the rights to
distribute the film.
Joaquin Phoenix
makes singing debut
A fter shocking onlookers with
his bloated and dishevelled
appearance at a Miami nightclub,
ance has dramatically
transformed since he announced
his retirement from acting as he
Joaquin Phoenix looked happy went from well kept to
but unkempt as he gave his first dishevelled.
stage performance at a Las Vegas The 34-year-old Phoenix sport-
club. ing long unkempt hair, a beard
“This is me saying this is who I and a ripped gray hat rapped to
am. This is my story,” the actor-
turned-aspiring rapper told Peo-
the sounds of a drum beat and
encouraged the crowd to dance. Trisha in Dhanush’s next?
ple magazine before taking the Concerns are mounting about The Dhanush-Vettrimaran team, which churned out
stage at the nightclub club Lavo the 34-year-old’s health, sanity the hit movie Polladhavan, is planning a comeback.
and performing three songs from and well-being because the actor The yet-to-be-titled movie, to be shot in Madurai,
his upcoming yet-to-be-titled al- had a troubled 2008 and was in revolves around the life a local youth and an
bum. rehab for alcohol abuse. His well Anglo-Indian girl. If Internet buzz is to be believed,
The Academy Award winning wishers are now worried that he Trisha might play the role of the Anglo-Indian girl.
actor announced his retirement might meet the same fate as elder This the first time Dhanush and Trisha are pairing
from acting in October last year brother River Phoenix who died onscreen. The shooting of the movie will start in
so that he could dedicate his time of an overdose of heroin and co- the second week of February and it will be
to a career in music. Since his an- caine at the age of 23. ■ released later this year.
nouncement Pheonix’s appear- PTI
12 ERGO Monday, January 19, 2009
Friday’s Question:
‘Taare Zameen Par’ missed out on an Oscar
nomination, which Indian movie would you
nominate for Oscar 2009?
■ It goes without doubt, Oscar for this year goes to Kuruvi for great action
packed jump and winning the introduction race by holding clutch cable in
mouth by Vijay
Dibakar, Wipro
■ Slumdog Millionaire for its outstanding subject and the way movie was
taken in different dimensions
Raju, Perot Systems
■ Villu. It is best comedy movie of the year. Villu powerfullu, no one else can
beat this
Chinnaraj - Cognizant, Sundarapandian - Wipro, Ram - Perot Systems
■ Phoonk
Prem Anand, Satish Kumar, Ranganathan, Rajesh Alaguvel, Thiru, Mohan - Wipro
■ Shivaji. The movie had made an impact and revolution in the field of
education. It has blown a good moral that education should not be business RK Hota from Polaris Software Labs Ltd. has nominated his
and it should be a service GETEAM as Partners in Crime. This photo was clicked at Queen’s
Land.
Aparna, Manoj, Ramesh, Ameer - HCL
■ Dasavatharam. Not only for his ten roles. Various subjects like religions,
science, culture, natural disaster, political ethics, various language, protest
against untouchability, from Chennai to USA, from carnatic to western, from
Manmohan to George Bush, and for his appearance in all frames
■ Gajini
Seenivasan, Technip
Senthil Kumar of Wipro has been nominated as Office Angel by his Today’s Wishes
friends.
Senthil is a nice, cool and a jovial guy who makes our workplace lively. He ■ Dear Bannu,
is a good mimicry artist too. Belated birthday wishes (Jan 18), Senthil Happy Pongal
4ever Urz...
Bujji
■ Dear Hema,
Happy Birthday and may the coming
year Brings you lot of Happiness and
Prosperity.
May this Birthday be a wonderful
Art featured in this column will receive gift coupons one.
from Fruit Shop on Greams Road. Phone: 23450870. May your fondest wish come true.
Send in your addresses so that we can post the coupons. Best Regards,
Panasonic Team.
Belated Wishes
■ Dear Karthikeyan Rajan(RIDER),
How much you mean
Although you surely must know
That without a doubt
There’s no-one nicer than you
Or anyone dearer
To wish Happy Birthday to
Suguna Jayapalan from Cognizant Many More Happy Return Of the
Technology Solutions dodled this. DAY.
Hearty wishes from,
All Nokia COACH Team,
Tata Consultancy Services.
■ Dear Mamtha,
We all wish you a very Happy
Birthday!
May God bless you & all your dreams
come true!!!
With love,
Raju,
Bhuvana,
Sakthi,
Viji,
Kavitha,
Tapas.
TCS
■ Hi Gokila,
You think you’re special because its
your birthday today. That’s complete
nonsense... you’re special every day....
Mokkai 1: Enna thaan un thalai suthinaalum, In this world, where everything
Un mudhukai nee paakka mudiyumaa? seems uncertain, only one thing is
Mokkai 2: Yennathan ahimsaivaadhiya irundhaalum definite. You’ll always be our friend,
Chappathiya suttu dhaan saappidanum! beyond words, beyond time and
Jayaganesh, beyond distance. ....
Tata Consultancy Services May today be filled with sunshine
“Friends-kooda tea kadai poi tea kudichittu varalaam…. and smiles, laughter and love......
Many Many More Happy Returns of
Aaana friends-kooda marundhu kadai(medical shop) poi marundhu kudichittu vara mudiyumaa?”
the Day......
Mohammed J, With Love & Regards
HCL FTP GT 2007, Hexaware Technologies
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Monday, January 19, 2009
TEAM
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B.C
An elderly woman
participates in the
Standard Chartered
International Marathon
in Mumbai on Sunday.
PTI PHOTO
‘‘
I know a lot
of people
are always saying
like this seems like a
tough generation
right now with
Murray, Djokovic,
Rafa and everything.
I don’t think it’s that
much stronger than
when I came about. We had Agassi,
Roddick, Hewitt, Safin, Ferrero,
Nalbandian, all these other guys… It’s
not just now that we have really four
great players again. I think they were
there before, but there were just
different names.
Roger Federer on how tennis pundits have short
memories and need to get things in perspective
Action during the men’s snowboard cross final at the FIS Snowboard World Championships in
Hoengseong, east of Seoul, on Sunday. AFP PHOTO/KIM JAE-HWAN