Ergo December 2

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THE MUMBAI EMBERS Ergo readers react in anger and empathy over the terrorist strikes » PAGE 03

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Vol. 2

No. 229

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Imagining India A panel discussion with Mr. Nandan Nilekani on his new book, ‘Imagining India’ will be held today at Odyssey at Gandhi Nagar, Adyar. Other panellists include Pandiya Rajan of Ma Foi and G.R.K. Reddy of Marg Ltd. The session starts at 7 p.m.

It’s movie time Dial these cinema halls to know which film is running or to make your tele-booking now

The drummer’s first album

Sathyam Cinemas Enquiry: 2851 8444 Tele-booking: 4224 4224 (open 24 hours)

Inox Enquiry: 2847 8880 Tele-booking: 4265 8888 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Mayajaal Enquiry: 2747 2860-65/ 98400 12881 Tele-booking: 4343 6565

Shanti Enquiry: 2854 9086

Sangam Cinemas Enquiry and tele-booking: 4208 2233 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

Prathana Drive-In Enquiry: 2449 1692

Woodlands Theatre Enquiry and tele-booking: 2848 2150 (7 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.)

A.R. Rahman, S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Sivamani at the release of Mahaleela on Monday. PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR

ERGO CORRESPONDENT [email protected]

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f you are a music lover, this could be something you must have been waiting for. Chennai’s own star percussionist Sivamani, well-known as ‘Drums’ Mani, is out with his maiden music album. Titled Mahaleela, the album is his tribute to the stalwarts of music with whom he had shared the stage and also to mark his 35th year in the music industry. Mahaleela was launched on Monday afternoon in a brief event in Chennai in the presence

of music biggies A. R. Rahman, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Mandolin Srinivas, Vikku Vinayakram and Tamil actor-politician Vijay. T. Rajendar. The new album is a compilation of 12 sound tracks, both vocal and instrumental, featuring artistes like Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan and Zakir Hussain. International artistes Alma from Bosnia and Lomajin from Mongolia have also contributed to Sivamani’s Mahaleela. A track titled ‘Abhaji’ is the drummer’s tribute to the late Ustad Allah Rakha Khan, legendary tabla artiste and father of Zakir

Hussain. There is also a track named ‘Mothers India’, which is a dedication to our nation. Mahaleela has been released by Sivamani’s own music label, KKVM, which also witnessed its launch on the occasion. Sivamani said that his new label will play a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing fresh musical talent. “New and budding artistes will receive all the backing as they seek to launch their music albums,” the percussionist asserts. Mahaleela will be available at all leading music stores in the city with a price tag of Rs. 250 only. ■

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Enough is Enough The Mumbai terrorist attack is the worst our country has seen in recent times. The attack was well planned and executed. I keep asking myself, “How do these terror organisations get all the right amount of information and all the right means to get their task done.” I suspect the Indian intelligence agency and its policy are filled with lots of loop holes. The terror organisation are able to manipulate these loop holes to the very best. They were able to bring in large amount of RDX into India. If our security system is so easily manipulative, then I must say we are going to be the training and testing grounds for scores of terrorist organisation(s) from around the world. Being an Indian, I feel the central government is and has been really impotent in stopping such events. The reactions of politicians after an attack is – “We condemn such a deadly attack! CONDEMN !! CONDEMN !!” These comments from the politicians have become a fashion statement. The Politicians must have mooted the formation of a federal organisation to combat terror right after the first attack on India. But even after more than a year, they are still trying to write down its policies. They are still thinking about it. They are trying to convert the event as a political weapon. They are using it to attack each other. They really don’t care of the people of India. They just care for their precious seat. It’s high time the Indian political system started answering and addressing the people of India. They were elected to that post to serve us. I think the politicians will fight among themselves till the elections next year, once that is over revert back to their old ways. I think we need a change, to address this situation. Shorabh Jain S. Tata Consultancy Services

Choose the right persons from now on Indian politicians will not raise above any situation. They are the root cause for all the attacks. But we Indians need to think where we are now and where our nation is moving towards in defending ourselves against terrorism. So at least from now, we Indians must select the right persons for the right positions. Hariprasad T. Wipro Technologies

Complete changeover needed

Mere resignations won’t work

The soft response of the NSGs towards the terror attack is highly condemnable (taking almost 9 hours to reach Mumbai!). The Indian Government immediately requires a complete changeover - in its infrastructure and the functioning. The role of the politicians is not just to be authoritative. Being representatives of the citizens, it is their utmost responsibility to ensure every citizen is secure. It is high time that the Indian politicians wake up to the voices of the innocent people and take precautionary steps against such terror strikes so that India is no longer an easy target.

The resignation of Home Minister neither brings back the law and order to the track nor public’s confidence about security. Politicians should wake up and start implementing their roles and responsibilities as they are backbone of the Government. The Government and the Politicians who run the Government should be responsible and not neglect even a tiny bit of information that they get through Intelligence Bureau. It’s really pathetic that the information about this terror attack in Mumbai was passed through the intelligence bureau two months earlier to the state government.

Mathangi V. Verizon

Vijayshankar Systems Engineer (Tech Lead) Verizon Data Services India Pvt Ltd

Change we need Terrorist attacks at frequent intervals in India didn’t teach our government and politicians about the seriousness to take steps to safeguard our country immediately by strengthening our Intelligence Agencies & Security activities. Finally it is the innocent people who are dying in masses. There is no way for us except holding our breath in fear when going to public places. It is everybody’s doubt now whether India is a safest place to live. It is high time for the government for a rapid action to take charge and make the change. Raghunath.G Sify Technologies

If only … Resignation of ministers with immediate effect for their inability to handle situations during crucial times has been an age old practice. Indian politicians need to shred of their lethargic attitude and change their outlook because the prevailing situation is “now or never”. They have to be on their toes, stop the blaming game and see what can be done to avoid future mishaps rather that pondering too much over something that has already happened. If only the NSGs were stationed in every state, the impact of the terrorist attack in Mumbai wouldn’t have been so drastic. B.Mythili Hexaware Technologies Ltd.

04 KALEIDOSCOPE

From the album

ERGO Tuesday, December 2, 2008

250

Components make up a bicycle. One of the biggest challenges for the manufacturer is to ensure that none of the parts go missing while packing.

Vaaranam Aayiram Is among the latest movies shot in the plant. The scene has Suriya coming out from the production development centre.

Tring! Inside the Shopfloor

TRING! TI Cycles lives on, not only with its brands like BSA and Hercules, but also as an integral part of Chennai’s growth from the times it was Madras LIFFY THOMAS [email protected]

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troll through the around 40acre campus of TI Cycles in Ambattur and memories of your younger days are sure to come back: the first bicycle you got as present, that small accident when you were learning, how you convinced your parents to allow you to go to school on your new ride, how you yelled on getting the second-hand bicycle from your brother … perhaps, at least once, a majority of us have been on that joy ride. Before you go on a nostalgia trip let us point out that TI Cycles, one of the leading manufacturers of bicycles in India (with brands like BSA and Hercules under its belt), is also busy jogging back its memory lane on a journey that started in Madras in 1949. The bicycle brand is a part of Murugappa Group and will be completing 60 years in 2009. As a run-up to its Diamond Jubilee year, TI is sourcing and drawing facts from its dealers and wellwishers, associated with them since decades, for a book they will be releasing.

The first board of directors of TI Cycles

Timeline 1949: TI Cycles opens 1951: Hercules rolls out 1960: Million cycles manufactured 1980: BSA SLR is launched 1983: BSA Champ – first bike for children 1991: Streetcat – first fashion bike 1992: Hercules MTB introduced 1993: Rockshox – first bike with shock absorbers 1994: BSA Ladybird – first bicycle for girls 1998: Hercules Top Gear – first geared bicycle 2001 and 2003: TI opens its Nasik and Noida plants respectively 2005: BSA GO opens in Ahmedabad 2008: E-bike showroom inaugurated

Actor Akshay Kumar endorsing the Hercules bicycle. THE HINDU FILE PHOTO

Chugging on TI Cycles was established in collaboration with Tube Investments, U.K, which was the world’s largest manufacturer of bicycles.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

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lakh cycles are produced annually at the Ambattur plant

Hercules Was TI’s first brand, launched in 1951. Though the first commercial customer is not known, it’s believed that the first cycle was offered to Lord Venkateshwara at Tirupati

Cost of a bicycle Was around Rs. 150 to 160 in the 60s-70s. Saddles and dynamos were not part of this and were sold as accessories.

At the production plant in Ambattur. PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN “The TI campus is the Infosys of 1950s – whether it was working here or entering the huge campus, it was a different experience altogether,” recalls Dr. D. Raghuram, senior vice-president, Bicycles and Fitness. Little wonder that even today they welcome any number of visitors, school children being regular guests at the factory. In fact, TI Cycles, along with the other major manufacturing units of Murugappa Group and the TVS Group, were instrumental in the development of Ambattur and Avadi, and Madras in general, as a major manufacturing hub. They were huge employment generators and also among

the first to incorporate quality control measures from abroad.

At the Assembly line Nothing can be more exciting than watching men and women, numbering between 500 and 900 (depending on the season, with May, June and July being the peak time), working five days a week on various stages of production. Sai Ram, general manager (south-operations), who has been with the company for the last 25 years, recalls how the latest technology has replaced some of the old techniques used in the plant. “To paint various cycle parts dip spray was the predominant method employed from 1949-70s,

before it was assembled. The paints, made of bitamine, were dipped and dried in the oven.” But, rejection was phenomenal in this process. Therefore, it was replaced by hand spray between the ‘70s and ‘80s. “Hand spray was purely an art of the operator. Production was low as the operator could paint only 20 bicycles a day,” he says. Automatic robot spray was introduced in the 80s, where both efficiency and productivity was incredible. Thanks to more state-of-the art features, today painting is one of the simplest processes at the plant – taking around two hours. Advancement has eased many

other processes, too. The 250-odd parts that make up a bicycle were once made here. “Now, it is slowly being outsourced. The fork, frame, mudguard and chain covers are our main focus areas,” Ram says, terming it ‘smart work’. “Around 2,200 employees worked on 2,200 cycles a day then.”

Marketing After the cycles are painted, dried and labelled, they are sent to dealers either in Completely Knocked Down (CKD) condition or Semi Knocked Condition (SKD), ready to reach the market. The different parts are then assembled at the dealer’s outlet. How were cycles marketed dur-

ing the early years? Apparently, getting a dealership was considered prestigious then, as the only prominent dealers that existed were in grocery, textiles and cycles. The dealers had to place a full year’s order in one go and the payment had to be made in advance. Cycles were sent in wooden boxes, each containing 25 units, by train. As there was no network of trucks, the consignments usually reached the dealers in two to three months. ■ (Made in Chennai is a column that showcases the evolution of home-grown businesses that began when the city was Madras)

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Human nails Our nails grow at 0.1 mm per day. It takes about three months to replace one entire fingernail.

Prince Harry’s chopper dream in danger

China scraps price control on foods China’s top economic planning agency on Monday removed price controls on grain and other food products that were imposed early this year when inflation was a bigger concern. Caps on the prices of grain, edible oil, meat, dairy products and eggs were lifted with immediate effect, the National Development and Reform Commission said on its website. Requirements on enterprises to submit priceraising schemes for government approval were also eliminated to “allow business operators to set the prices on their own,” according to the statement. AFP

15 minutes’ silence for World AIDS Day South Africa’s government is asking the nation to halt work for 15 minutes on Monday for a period of silence to observe World AIDS Day and to consider ways of reining in the epidemic. Deputy President Baleka Mbete is leading the campaign, set to begin at noon, meant to encourage South Africans to think and talk about HIV-AIDS, which has infected 5.5 million people in the country. Shortly before the moment of silence begins, Health Minister Barbara Hogan is set to address the nation shortly before, with UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot at an event in the port city of Durban. AFP

Japanese school apologises for student smoking room And the reason is he didn’t score well in theoretical examination

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rince Harry may be flying high, but seems to be heading for a crash landing over his ambition to become a combat chopper pilot. The reason: He did not score well in theoretical examination in the first week of his aptitude training as well as struggled to grasp the classroom theory he’d have to master to earn a place on the next stage, according to sources. “He’s a good flier. Very confident, very calm. Great natural manual skills and co-ordination, and a good sense of what’s around him in the air. But the theory is a real stretch for him,” the Daily Star quoted an unnamed source as saying. Harry began a month-long series of trials to become a helicopter gunship pilot around 15 days ago. The 24-year-old third-in-line

to the British throne has so far won a medium grading for his flying skills at the controls of a Slingsby Firefly trainer plane and has another fortnight to correct his ways or face failing training. More than 50 per cent of applicants fail the first hurdle at the Middle Wallop base in Hants. Those who pass go through to an 18-month training schedule that will earn them their helicopter pilot wings. According to the source, Harry is desperate to make the grade as he feels it is the only way he will see active service again. He had struggled with academic life at school and Sandhurst Military Academy. He also scraped through with two of the lowest A-level grades Eton has seen and often had to pester aides for help at Sandhurst. ■ PTI

The principal of a high school in central Japan apologised on Monday for creating a ‘smoking room’ for students who could not kick the habit. “I deeply apologise for causing trouble to people concerned,” Kazunari Tsujita, principal of Tsugeno High School in Aichi prefecture, told a news conference. The principal admitted to having set up a smoking room for students who could not quit smoking, saying there had been minor fires as a number of students smoked in secret. He said he was aware that it was illegal but the boarding school had no choice because 70 of its 230 students had a smoking habit. AFP

Hot air: UN climate talks to create 13,000 tonnes of carbon Staging a global forum on climate change is a dilemma, for it adds to very problem it is trying to solve. Around 13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) will add to Earth’s greenhouse effect from the December 1-12 meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UNFCCC said. That estimate is based on a turnout of 8,000 people, but as of Sunday 10,657 people had registered for the talks. Poland, which is hosting the meeting, “plans to offset the total emissions resulting from the conference once a final calculation has been made,” the UNFCCC said. AFP

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

ONE LOOK IS ALL IT TAKES NEWS AND NEWSMAKERS IN PICTURES

Jamie Winstone arrives at The British Independent Film Awards 2008-Arrivals at The Old Billingsgate,London on Sunday. GETTY IMAGES

Sienna Miller arrives at the British Independent Film Awards 2008 at Old Billingsgate on Sunday in London, England. GETTY IMAGES

Keira Knightley arrives at the British Independent Film Awards 2008 at Old Billingsgate on Sunday in London, England. GETTY IMAGES

08 SPORT

ERGO Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Villarreal, Valencia win Villarreal beat last-place Recreativo Huelva 2-1, and 10-man Valencia recovered to defeat Real Betis 3-2 as both teams moved ahead of injury-ravaged Real Madrid in the Spanish league. Villarreal have 28 points and trails leader Barcelona by four. Valencia is alone in third place with 27 points.

Warne takes on Dada

Akram urges India not to sever cricket ties with Pakistan Former great Wasim Akram on Monday called on India not to break cricketing ties with Pakistan, suggesting both countries should instead play a Test match in terrorist-hit Mumbai to show solidarity. The former Pakistan cricket captain made his remarks amid reports that the Indian government has denied its cricket team permission to tour Pakistan early next year following last week’s attacks on Mumbai which left more than 170 dead. “Cricket is not on anyone’s mind at the moment, but after three to four days both the countries must take a positive step. I suggest Pakistan and India play a Test in Mumbai so to give a clear message that we will not give in,” Akram said. “India is like a second home for me, so whatever has happened there has hurt everyone in Pakistan including me,” said Akram. “But if this hits our relations and cricket, it would mean that we have given in to terrorists.” He cited his own experiences when captaining Pakistan on a tour of India in 1999 despite threats from Hindu fundamentalists, playing the first cricket series between the two countries after a decade-long deadlock due to political tension. “Cricket means everything in the sub-continent. It has built bridges and has averted wars on several occasions. People love and worship cricket, so it would be a great loss if cricket is halted. I hope it isn’t,” Wasim said. AFP

Modi rules out compensation claim BCCI Vice President Lalit Modi is optimistic that Kevin Pietersen and his men would return for the Test series in India but assured that the Indian cricket board would not seek compensation from its English counterpart in case of a no-show. Recalling how the 2005 Ashes series began despite bombings in London, Modi said: “We can’t allow events around the world to deter us, to go out and be afraid to play. I really do believe it (the tour) will happen. It’s just we need to take it to another city, which we have agreed to do so. I’m sure it’ll be all right. It’s not the BCCI against the ECB and the players, that doesn’t achieve anything. In 2005, the bomb blasts in the UK, two weeks later the Ashes series began,” Modi was quoted as saying by The Times. Insisting money was not the issue for BCCI, Modi said: “Everybody needs to be pragmatic. If the security is possible and it is there then we should continue. It’s not about compensation. I’ve heard numbers, but it’s got nothing to do with monetary issues. We would never pressurise anybody and that’s not the way we operate,” he said. “Compensation is the last thing we are looking at,” Modi added. PTI

PHOTO: SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH

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hane Warne has good things to say for almost all the top-100 cricketers of his choice in his book but could not camouflage his dislike for former India captain Sourav Ganguly in whom he found neither the hallmarks of a great batsman nor an extraordinary leader. “Sourav Ganguly might not be my cup of tea as a bloke, but what he did for Indian cricket has to be respected,” he said justifying the Indian’s inclusion in his book Shane Warne’s Century. “He is a feisty sort of character, not short of self-confidence or unaware of his standing in Indian life. He is regarded over there, especially around his teeming home city of Calcutta, as one of the greatest ever Indian captains. They won more games under him than anybody else, so I guess the statistics back that up. Personally, I am not so sure,” he said. “I think he had some outstanding players and solid characters in the team. Do you need to be a great leader to win games with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble in the ranks. Tactically, he was not among the best leaders I came up against, and his management skills left a bit to be desired.”

Warne doubts Ganguly’s leadership, batting skills

Suspect technique

Toss issue

Warne felt Ganguly was not outstanding as a batsman and said even minnows Bangladesh tried to encash on his vulnerability to short-pitched bowling. “I think that every bowling attack in the world, even Bangladesh, has tried to get him with the short ball or has placed a couple of gullies for those left-handed slashes that he likes. Maybe his strength is in one-day cricket, where there are strict rules on the use of bouncers... He can also play some glorious looking drives with perfect timing, like most of the Indian batmen,” Warne said. “.But he did have the knack of rubbing up opponents (and even teammates when he went to Lancashire) the wrong way without seeming to try very hard. When we arrived in India in 2000, in the middle of our really good run, he said that we had only beaten weak teams in the past. Funny, that; as India were one of them.”

Warne also does not seem to have pardoned Ganguly for making then Australia captain Steve Waugh wait for the toss in the 2000 Kolkata Test. “He would also be late for the toss and then walk off on his own without waiting for Steve Waugh, our captain. To be a minute or so behind because an issue crops up is one thing, but more than that is just taking the mickey. He will say that the results are in the book and, yes, India did beat us in that series – thanks, I would say, to a great stand between Laxman and Dravid at Calcutta and Harbhajan’s bowling rather than any tactical genius on Ganguly’s part.” Warne also took a dig at Ganguly, saying “Supporters know him as the Prince of Calcutta’. The story is that he gave himself the nickname and it stuck.” Ditto were his feelings for former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, whom, Warne has confessed, he did “not like” and found “irritating”. “Through gritted teeth, I have put Arjuna Ranatunga in my 100... because everybody knows I don’t like Ranatunga... if there was any way I could knock him down to number 101 for the purposes of this book, I’d be delighted to do so,” Warne wrote. ■ PTI

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

‘‘Arsenal

09

It (cricket) didn’t feel very important to me personally in the past few days. As I said the scenes we were watching were just harrowing and, you know, the last thing on your mind was playing cricket. Personally, to me, it seems pretty volatile over there at the moment. England spinner Graeme Swann

stuns Blues C

helsea lost ground in the Premier League title race after being upset 2-1 by Arsenal, enabling defending champion Manchester United to close the gap to five points with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City. Liverpool, which is tied with Chelsea atop the standings on 33 points, can take the outright lead when it plays West Ham on Monday. Robin van Persie scored twice in four second-half minutes after Arsenal defender Johan Djourou had scored an earlier owngoal, as Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari lost his second home match of the season on Sunday – which his two predecessors never experienced.

Ronaldo sent packing The Red Devils had Cristiano Ronaldo sent off but Wayne Rooney’s goal clinched victory in the 150th Manchester derby. Portsmouth lost a 2-0 lead for the second time in three days but, unlike the 2-2 UEFA Cup draw with AC Milan on Thursday, recovered to beat Blackburn 3-2. Everton’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham was overshadowed by the loss of Ayegbeni Yakubu for the rest of the season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, with strike partner Louis Saha also facing a

lengthy layoff due to a hamstring strain. Consecutive league losses for the Gunners had left Arsene Wenger defending his managerial reputation, but the London derby victory moved them up to fourth with 26 points, seven behind Chelsea, which has now won just once in its past five games. Arsenal was struggling to compete with bigger, more physical opponents when Van Persie lashed a 59th-minute equaliser into the top corner from what appeared to be a clear offside position. “I want only tomorrow or after tomorrow for the referee to look at the television and say ‘sorry,’” Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said. “I don’t want three points; I only want this ‘sorry’. My team after this lost concentration. The offside killed my team. I lost because one goal is not a goal. One goal changed the game.”

Teamwork If his first goal involved luck, there

was none surrounding his second three minutes later. Emmanuel Adebayor headed Cesc Fabregas’ free kick to Van Persie’s feet, and the Netherlands striker turned to shoot through Frank Lampard’s legs and into the far corner. With Emmanuel Eboue and Abou Diaby on the sidelines, the Gunners were unable for long stretches to compete physically. Emboldened by Chelsea’s defensive lapses, they suddenly looked more like the side that beat Manchester United on November 8 rather than the one which lost has lost to Manchester City, Aston Villa and Stoke this month. “It’s a massive win for us because we had just lost two games,” Wenger said. “To lose would have put us 13 points adrift. It would have been too much.” In Manchester, Rooney ended a six-week goal drought as the European champions took on their neighbours for the first time since Man City was bought by a wealthy group from the United Arab Emirates. The England striker tapped in his 100th club goal in the 42nd after goalkeeper Joe Hart had spilled Michael Carrick’s shot from a tight angle. The Red Devils, who played the last 22 minutes with 10 men, clung on to their slender advantage despite facing a far more assertive City in the second half. Ronaldo was booked for tripping Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 59th. He then sarcastically applauded referee Howard Webb. The Portugal winger was then shown a second yellow card for deliberately handling Rooney’s corner. ■ AFP

United wins Manchester derby

10 FLICK

ERGO Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Chinese Democracy fails to impress Las Vegas rockers The Killers beat the eagerly awaited new Guns’n’Roses album ’Chinese Democracy’ to the top spot in Britain’s album charts Sunday.

‘I had to hard sell

my script for almost three years’

A

fter successfully staging 700 shows of the play Maharathi in Gujarati since 1987, veteran actor Paresh Rawal is all set to win audiences again through the big screen adaptation of the classy comic thriller that is releasing Friday. Paresh plays an unsuccessful actorcum-conman in the film – the same character he had essayed in the play that he had directed. But he avoided directing the movie. “I’ve often been asked why I didn’t direct the film. The truth is the play is still fresh in my mind. But I didn’t want the grammar of the stage to be applied to the film version. Then what is the point doing a film? My mind is filled with the play. I couldn’t have detached myself from the stage. I needed a fresh cinematic vision to improve on the play. After doing plays for 21 years, I can’t remove theatre from my sensibility,” Rawal says. Finding a producer for the film was an uphill task for the actor. “History repeated itself for the film when I had to hard sell my script for almost three years. Finally, I found a producer in Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd,” he says. Originally, Vikram Bhatt was to direct it, but he was replaced by Shivam Nair of Ahista Ahista fame. The film stars a host of theatrical veterans like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and

As Maharathi makes a transition from stage to film, Paresh Rawal revisits his role Boman Irani apart from Neha Dhupia and Tara Sharma. Maharathi revolves around a middle-aged man, Subhash (Paresh Rawal), who has spent 10 years of his life trying to get a break in films but does not succeed. He makes ends meet by committing petty crimes and conning unsuspecting victims. One night, he saves a man’s life at the risk of his own and accompanies him back home. Eventually winning his trust, Subhash is hired by the man, Adenwalla (Naseeruddin Shah), as his driver. However, Adenwalla’s wife Mallika (Neha Dhupia) resents his proximity to her husband. Subhash, once he is firmly ensconced in Adenwalla’s house, discovers that Mallika has evil designs. Seeing this as a lucrative opportunity to rid himself of a lifetime of middleclass mediocrity and poverty, Subhash collaborates with Mallika to acquire Adenwalla’s money and property. However, their best laid plans go awry and Subhash ends up getting trapped in his own lies and manoeuvres. In the race of films being adapted from books and real life stories, one has to wait and watch if Maharathi, a screen adaptation of a successful play, is liked by critics and audiences. ■ IANS

I’ve often been asked why I didn’t direct the film. The truth is the play is still fresh in my mind. But I didn’t want the grammar of the stage to be applied to the film version. Then what is the point doing a film? My mind is filled with the play. I couldn’t have detached myself from the stage. I needed a fresh cinematic vision to improve on the play. After doing plays for 21 years, I can’t remove theatre from my sensibility

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

My teeth German supermodel Heidi Klum has kept every tooth she has ever lost in a little bag and carries them everywhere she goes.

Acting,

Cine City

for now

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irector-turned-actor Farhan Akhtar has postponed his next directorial venture to act in a new film, a psychological thriller that will be made by debutant Vijay Lalvani. “My Voice From The Sky is currently being pushed forward a bit. My partner Riteish Sidhwani and I are producing a film that will star me in it. We start in March. Honestly, I’d have liked nothing better right now than to direct Voice From The Sky. But it’s a period film and requires a huge budget. And this doesn’t seem to be the right time for it,” said Farhan. The actor-director decided on this script after Lalvani came and met him. And he is more than happy about the role he has landed. “It was a really good script. At the same time the economic logistics of Voice From The Sky were not working out. I’ve a great role in the film. And that’s what finally tilted the scale towards taking up an acting assignment again after Rock On instead of directing another film,” Farhan said. Farhan and Riteish Sidhwani would be joining hands with Surge Entertainment to produce the thriller. Meanwhile, Farhan is nervous about his sister Zoya’s directorial debut. “Luck By Chance is ready for release. We’re putting it into theatres either on Jan 23 or Jan 30 next year. Am I nervous? More than I was when my own directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai was about to release,” he said. ■

Pokkiri Raja After Polladhavan and Padikkadhavan, Dhanush’s next film is tentatively titled Pokkiri Raja. The movie, to be produced by Raj TV, marks the entry of cinematographer R.D. Rajasekar as director. Raj TV is producing a couple of movies, including Magane Marumagane and Kadhal Na Summa Illai. After finishing Idhu Malai Nerathu Mayakkam, directed by his brother Selvaraghavan, Dhanush would start work on Pokkiri Raja. It is also believed that Dhanush is doing a cameo in Karthi-starrer Aayirathil Oruvan.

IANS

Oprah’s early guest O

prah Winfrey is grateful to comedian Robin Williams for making her a big star. She had recorded an interview with him early on in her career. Contactmusic.com reports that Winfrey in her new book, O’s Big Book of Happiness, explains how Williams’ exuberance for the cameras convinced her bosses that she could handle bigger jobs even though she was just 24. She describes the interview as “five minutes of the most exhilarating, wild, off-thecharts minutes I’d ever spent in an interview with the most uninhibited, out-of-the-box, free-falling-in-every-second celebrity/human I’d ever met.” The TV executives were so impressed that they stole her from the local TV station she was working in and hired her to co-host the show People are Talking. ■ IANS

Jab We Met becomes Raja Rani in Tamil The Tamil remake Jab We Met, which starred Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor, has been titled Raja Rani. The Tamil version would feature Bharath and Tamannah in lead roles. The shooting would start early next year. Bharath is currently doing Arumugham and is ready to shoot for Thiruttani, to be directed by Perarasu. Tamannah is acting in Suriya-starrer Ayan and Oscar Films’ Anandha Thandavam.

12

ERGO Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Monday’s Question: What would you do if your best friend forgot to wish you on your birthday? ■ Wait until the day ends and call him and will ask "Don’t you forget something".

Kailash U, Optimus

■ Thanks da machan you didn’t wish on my birthday. If you had wished me I would have to spend lot of money to you. Thanks da once again. M.Sethuraman, Zotec, Perot Systems

■ No excuse at all. I will jus not forgive those who forget my birthday, they are definitely on to fire. Meenakshi Mohan, Tata Consultancy Services

■ I’ll call up my friend and sarcastically thank her for wishing me Kitty, Cedilla

■ If it is girl friend, I will ask her to give me treat or take me for cinema (as a punishment for not wishing me) instead of I am treating her. If it is boy friend, I would just feel like "epdiyo treat kudukka veandiyadhula irundhu thappichittean". Dhanabal, Tata Consultancy Services

■ I’ll ask my friend innocently, is any of our friends birthday today and stare at her. Sangeetha Asokan, Wipro Technologies

■ I would quickly buy a big cake and some mega gift, take these to my friend’s place, sing a birthday song for self in front of her. When she is about to apologise put a piece of cake in her mouth and give her the cake and gift bill that I bought in her name. Padma Gopal, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

■ I will make him to forget his birthday. Rana Banu Teja, Tata Consultancy Services

■ I will give a valuable gift to him/

her so they don’t forget my next birthday. Kannan, Sify Technologies Ltd

■ I will ask that friend to pay the bill for one of my birthday treat. Sofiya Ambrose, Wipro Tech

■ I will ask her to give treat to me as a punishment. Manonmani Kesav, HCL Tech

■ I will forgive him of course he is my best friend. Sundar Narayan, Polaris

■ I will not wish him/her on his/her birthday. And I will later call him/her and wish may be at midnight and tell why I didn’t wish till then.

Jayaprakash from Ramco Systems nominates his team members as Partners in Crime. The picture was clicked at Waynad.

Vaiju

■ I will feel a little. Then when I meet her next time I’ll fight with her asking "why you forgot my birthday?" Then all got over na? Shanthi, Tata Consultancy Services

■ I will call her and remind today is my birthday. But I won’t give chocolate to her. Nirmala, Perot Systems

■ You scolded me for not wishing you on your birthday. But now you have done the same thing to me on my birthday. So will make him or her realise the mistake and go for a treat and ask him or her to pay the bill. Shimoj

■ I’ll wait till the end of the day and then I’ll call and remind about my birthday and take wishes.. anyway my best friend na.

Madhushalini from Tata Consultancy Services has nominated her team members as Partners of Crime. This picture was clicked at Bazera Restaurant, ECR.

MLV Krishna Chaitanya, ExcelaCom Technologies Pvt. Ltd

Today’s Query: If an alien suddenly drops by your bedside and wants you to engage in conversation what will be your response? By Sridhar Ramachandran, STG

Kunalan from EDS has nominated his FMS-CC team as Partners in Crime. They clicked this photo at backwaters of Allepey.

13

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Sathish Reddy of CSS Corp has been nominated as Office Angel by Sirjad and his team. He is an enthusiastic person and he is always there to help anyone. He is instrumental in his work and very thorough and methodical in his approach. He puts great efforts and dedication in ensuring that each program delivers on its objectives within planned timelines. With his enthusiasm, knowledge and experience, he is able to consistently perform well throughout his career.

■ Dear Mani Anand Wish you Many More Happy Returns of the day.May this brings you a lot of Happy and Prosperous MomentsIn your life. FromDCMS Team (Financial Software & Systems, Tidel Park)

■ Dear Lavs, May your spirit keep the freedomof a butterfly in spring,and may your heart be filled alwayswith the joys of simple things.May your essence claim the freshnessof the new laid morning dew.All of this... and more...is my Birthday wish for you DEAR LAVU. Love, Karthiga,Banu,Jeya,Deepa,Anu,Anees, Ila,Achu,Ara,A.K,DK,Meena,Kanda,Kanson, Chandru,Baskar,Janon,Vijay,Janon,Kishore

■ Dear Sriram We wish you many many many more happy returns of the day ........ "On your birthday stretch for a sunbeam... Reach for a star... Go for a beautiful dream." With lots of love........ Sindu, Nithya, RaM, Hema, Aravind , Raj , Mythili , Srilakshmi & Kumaran. Wipro Tech ,Chennai.

■ Dear Sri Lakshmi (Smiling Beauty) Wish you a happy Birthday. May all your dreams come true. Good Luck.

Bikhu of HCL Technologies dooled this.

With love, PENSTOCK Team, HCL Technologies

■ Dear Achsah (a) Amuldappi (a) Gundumani, Wish you many more happy returns of the day. Indru po endrum nalamai, valamai, punnagaiyodu Pal aandu vaazha vaazhthum anbu nenjangal. From, Ghouse (a) Soni , Viji (a) KI , Ravi (a) KS, Uma (a) GB, Elam (a) Balli. HCL & Hexaware Technologies

Tow foxes went to the jungle in different direction. So how do you find it???? Simple!!! Bi - Nary(binary) search!!!!!!! :) Sivanath.N PSI Team, Perot Systems

Can u prove that Juice=Soap? Ans: From Newton’s 2nd law F=Ma Multiply ’a’ on both sides. Fa=Maa. “Fa” is a Soap and “Maa” is a juice. Hence proved!... Yeppudi.???????????. Thanks and Regards Parimala.M, Satyam Computers

■ Hi Satish, You became ‘APPA’ for a girl baby. Congratulations!!! May the god bless the baby and your family with good health and prosperity. With sincere wishes, T&Q Team, DPIBPL

■ Dear SriLatha, Happy Birthday My Dear Smiley Srilatha… Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you atbirth is present once again Wishing You a wonderful life and a

year. With lots and lots of luv,SPARKLAS

■ Dear Kaeshiker Jeyasingh, Happy birthday to you. may you have many more. you have been a great friend to me. I have a little wish, may we be friends, till the world ends. A very Happy Birthday to you Hearty wishes fromyour friends, Kumaran Systems.

■ Dear Mukil, Today is an Lovely and Special day,With my heart pray that every dream of urs come true...Wish u a very Special day!!!With Luv $ Best Wishes,Nallathambi, Deepalakshmi

■ Dear Karthik, Birthday wishes to my sweet heart.Wish you all success in your future. Keep smiling always!!!!With love, Revathi

■ Hi Rekhs (Belated Wishes), Tonnes of wishes loads of cheer coming your way to wish you dear! Your long waited wish has came true We ve never so far seen a happier you! (than as u were on and after nov 10th \’08) May you succeed this way in every endeavour Many Happy returns of the day today n forever! Anyway u will find so many sottais habitually. We wont mind it rekh baby :) We know you will expect the wish in ergo on Dec 1st,08 , so thought of giving you an expected surprise on unexpected day. With Luv, DRS3 :) ■ Dear Shikha, Wish you many more happy returns of the day. You chirpy one-liners keep us awake throughout our boring work. Hope your dream of having a date with Shahrukh Khan comes true this year. We will pray for you. (ha ha ha) With lots of love, Gowri

■ Dear Senthil Kumar, Belated Birthday Wishes. May god bless you in all endeavours of life. Yours, Vinoth.G Financial Software Systems

14 TRAFFIC JAM

ERGO Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Britain’s elderly newlyweds A couple with a combined age of 179 have become Britain’s oldest newlyweds. Wartime navy veterans John Dawkins, 89, and his bride Penny Cooper, 90, wed nine months after she proposed to him.

sudoku

M. Vijayakumar of Standard Chartered sent us this picture. It is a birthday party on the shores off Fisherman’s Cove. Can you spot the cake there? Hobbies: Dancing, photography

KAKURO So you think you would make a terrific photographer but never really had the platform? Mail us your best work and we’ll publish it in this space, with credit. E-mail: [email protected]

TEAM Editor: Karthik Subramanian [email protected]

Sr Dy Chief Designer: J.A. Prem Kumar Dy Chief Designer: R. Ravi Kannan Illustrator: R. Venugopal Technical Support: V.R. Vasudevan, K.G. Gurumurthy N. Ravichandran, E. Baskar

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: Contact: 2857 5757 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.goergo.in Head of Circulation: M.G.M. Sharief [email protected]

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Printed and Published by S. Karthik on behalf of KASTURI & SONS LTD., at Plot B-6 & B-7, CMDA Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, Chengleput Taluk, Kancheepuram Dist., Pin: 603209 & at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002. Editor: S. Karthik (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). RNI No. TNENG/2007/24553

15

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Word’s worth

Restaurant serves booze to boys

"Lerky" (ler-kee) a children’s game in which all the players but one hide and a tine can is placed in a ring. The players then try to kick the can out of the ring without being seen.

A Chinese man is threatening legal action after a restaurant got his two young sons drunk - by mistakenly serving them booze instead of mineral water.

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 You will be able to solve problems, in case others ask for help. The day is favourable if you are planning to apply for jobs at other companies. In the evening you might take your beloved out for dinner or spend good times with friends.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 Your work will get done with ease today, more so due to your mixing nature. On the romantic front, you tend to be very possessive today. Ganesha advises you against any conflicts of ‘power’ in your personal or professional life.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 Some matters might require compromises due. This might cause compulsive behaviour at work today. In love life, Ganesha feels, you will be able to clarify matters in case of confusion. You might spend an intimate evening with your partner.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 Today you will encounter demanding people and you might end up spending a lot of time to meet their expectations. Hence, a lot of stress is possible. You should be more forgiving to your partner as it is a fool proof way to avoid complaints.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 The day is fast paced and active. Time might just fly by. Ganesha foresees a busy day at work today. Lovers are suggested to express more love and care than usual to please their partners.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

Mundane activities like arranging your desk, clearing pending documents, etc might consume a lot of time. You might also spend time in important tasks like planning trips or reshuffling work schedules. Ganesha feels you will have a relaxing evening.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 Your concentration at work might get disturbed as you might be pondering over domestic issues. Ganesha advises you to balance work and family in a proper way. Instead of working for long hours today, you might just want to slip away from office.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 At work, your worth will undergo a considerable change. Not only will your sincerity by applauded, but colleagues might also seek guidance over important matters. Domestic life is smooth. Ganesha feels that you will have nice time with your family.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 You might want to complete the targets and meet deadlines. You work will get done by the end of the day, foresees Ganesha. When you are with your beloved in the evening, you might discus matters related to occult or philosophy.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 You might feel vigorous in your thoughts today. However, you might feel drained out if you work for longer hours. Your colleagues might feel under pressure due to hasty attitude. Ganesha feels you might seek more attention in your personal life.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 The morning might seem ‘unlucky’ to you, but as the day progresses stars will start favouring you. Today you might have to put in great efforts to solve petty matters. Even love life will blossom to the fullest in the evening, smiles Ganesha.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 In your personal life, you might take practical decisions. This indeed will take your relationship to another level. At work, superiors will appreciate your work. Ganesha feels you will receive a lot of credit and appreciation for your work. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 !

ERGO Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Barking as scheme A Russian advertising agency is paying dog-owners to dress their pooches in specially designed clothes with ads on them.

A must read for Rajini fans

Hotelier Neena Reddy receives the first copy of ’Rajini Pera Kettalae’, the Tamil version of ’The name is Rajinikanth’ from Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, as Ajay Mago, Publisher, Om Books International looks on. Also seen are (from left) director S.P.Muthuraman, film critic Madhan, and author Dr Gayathri Sreekanth.

‘Rajini Pera Kettalae’, the Tamil version of Gayathri Sreekanth’s biography of Superstar was launched Sunday Actors Narain and Sreekanth at the book launch. V.HARIPRIYA [email protected]

R

ajini Pera Kettalae, the title sounds stylish, isn’t it, asks Dr. Gayathri Sreekanth, ophthalmologist and author of ‘The Name is Rajinikanth’. The Tamil translation of the book was launched on Sunday. A die-hard fan of Rajinikanth, the 34-year-old doctor launched the Tamil version in the presence of MP Kanimozhi, film critic Madhan, hotelier

Neena Reddy and actor Sivakumar. The book was published in English last March. It took a couple of months to be released in Tamil. “I had planned to release in English and Tamil together. Though the Tamil version was ready earlier, the release was delayed due to the Kuselan tension,” she revealed in an interview over the phone. A native of Tirupur, Gayathri is a practising Ophthalmologist in Chennai. “I am a fan of Rajinikanth and have seen all his movies. Inspired by his rag-

PHOTOS: S.S.KUMAR

to-riches story, I felt I should write his biography. I started compiling the details oneand-a half years back. I basically went to Bangalore to collect materials on Rajinikanth. This book has quotes from Rajinikanth’s school mates as well as friends in film industry. I have also provided a couple of Rajinikanth’s rare photos and posters in the book.” “The biggest surprise element in the book is about Latha Rajinikanth. Nothing much has

been written about her and this book will surely delve in detail about her. In fact, it was Latha Rajinikanth who encouraged me to go ahead with the work,” she added. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has written a forward to the book and Kamal Haasan has written a blessing message for the effort in the book. Gayathri is on top of the world for the compliments given by film critic Madan and M.P. Kanimozhi. “When Madan

compared my work with the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi, I was on cloud nine. And Kanimozhi said it’s wonderful. What more does a writer like me need, than being commended by people like them,” Gayathri said. And finally what did our Superstar tell after reading the book? “He was very happy with my work.” The book published by Ajay Mago of Om Books International will be available in all leading book stores. ■