Ergo December 23

A BYTE OF LIFE

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

ANUSHKA SHARMA post Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

10

04 MARS VS VENUS Rebelz theatre’s latest had an engaging script but …

FREE CIRCULATION

Vol. 2

No. 244

A memento at J.Fenn & Co. office on Anna Salai. PHOTO: R.RAVINDRAN

» PAGE 03

For 154 years now, J. Fenn & Co has been synonymous with funeral services in the city. Ayon Sengupta finds out its history in our continuing series ‘Made in Chennai’.

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Christmas and New Year fiesta has started and just in case you are too stressed and tired hosting the lunch/dinner at home, these hotels promise you and your friends an unbelievable experience. It’s also time to fill your shopping bags. Read on.

Courtyard by Marriott

United Colors of Benetton Party this season with the new Christmas collection, which is based on the theme ‘A Beautiful Night’. Choose from a wide collection of dresses including trendy balloon dresses and black dresses, tops, over sleeves, ponchos and much more to doll you up for the party season. Women’s collection is available between Rs. 1,499 and Rs 4,999.

Aavaranaa This X-Mas and New Year special at the store is a new-age expression of ethnic traditions, be it crepe embroidery or a silk intrinsically woven with vibrant hues. Check-out floral prints, tussar silks and fancy pallavs. Also, get gift vouchers worth Rs. 500 on every purchase above Rs. 5,000 which could be redeemed at the store with a validity of three months. Aavaranaa is at 15 Asoka Street, Alwarpet. Ph: 44 2498 8292

Amethyst Ballerina silver bowls, creatively designed ladies finger salt and pepper shakers, handbags of different sizes, colourful kurtis with golden prints, jewellery…Amethyst presents an attractive range of gifts reflective of the festive spirit. Shop at 14/30. Padmavathi Road, Jeypore Colony, Gopalpuram.

Enjoy Christmas eve buffet at Paprika, which will host seven live food stations and a buffet with favourites like roast turkey and mulled wine. The buffet price starts from Rs. 995, where you get an accompaniment of mulled wine or unlimited beer. Groups of 10 and above get a 15 per cent discount, while one person from a group of six to 10 people can dine free. Rhapsody is dishing out a fourcourse Italian buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. A night discount of 30 per cent on all available wines are among the many special offers at Rhapsody on December 24. For details call 6676 4290

The Accord Metropolitan Season’s Café, the 24-hr coffee shop, will have a special spread with plum cakes, puddings and tarts, while OPM will party with DJ Walley. On New Year’s eve there will be a Pirates theme party at the Ball Room, which includes stay at the hotel for a couple, entertainment by European Rubies dancer and DJ Ricky and a wide spread of some of the most savoured dishes to tingle your taste buds. For details call 2816 1000

Taj Coromandel Roast turkey, leg of ham, gingerbread, yule log… a grand buffet is

waiting for you and your family at Coromandel. Prego will host a traditional Italian Christmas eve dinner and traditional Italian lunch with unlimited wine, exotic signature desserts, and lots more. The master bakers are offering a selection of goodies: Christmas pudding, Christmas cake with icing, yule logs, minced pie in pouch, special cookies, chocolate pouches, maraschino black forest gateaux, honey bee gateaux, black forest square pastries, velvet mousse pastries, chocolate twin truffle pastries, etc. For reservations call 6600 2827

Fisherman’s Cove A gala dinner on the new beach with live band and DJ dance floor should add zing to your Christmas celebrations here. For reservations 6741 3333

Westside Walk into the store with your family until December 28 and indulge in a number of fun-filled activities. Customers can avail offers on the winter collection. So, shop goods worth Rs. 1000 and get a voucher worth Rs. 200 and on purchase of gifts and soft towels get vouchers worth Rs. 100.

03

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

“D

edicated, professional and personal funeral services in Chennai, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.” That’s J. Fenn & Co. for you. Since its inception three years before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 that rocked British India, this company has been quietly but effectively serving Madras, now Chennai, from their offices on busy Mount Road.

Ayon Sengupta on J. Fenn & Co. and its 154-year-old journey of serving the dead

Early beginnings English settler John Fenn and wife Georgina came up with the idea of providing traditional funeral services to the scores of Europeans who were landing in Madras port. With the number steadily growing from early 1800 and more people settling down in their adopted homeland, John saw opportunity. His services quickly caught on with the thriving European population of Madras. In no time he had a flourishing business with 20-odd people working under him. With help from trusted aide Vembuli Naicker (Fenn’s sculptor contractor), he slowly built a reputation for himself and his services were sought not only in Madras but through the length and breadth of the Madras Presidency. But with the demise of John in 1891 and then his wife a year later, the business looked destined for an early closure with no apparent heir. Vembuli took it upon himself and bought the goodwill of the Company from the Administrator General of Madras. Since then this Hindu family has been running the business generally meant to cater to a huge and rich Christian population in the region. “Pre-Independence and even as late as 1970s we were only catering to Europeans or Anglo-Indians. With urbanisation, more Indian families from varied religious backgrounds started opting for our services due to various reasons,” says L. Deenadayalan, a fifth-generation Naicker and one of the present owners.

Pre-aircraft days Under the Naickers, the business saw many structural changes. From being just undertakers and sculptors at the onset, J. Fenn & Co. now offer services as fullfledged funeral directors. Since early 1900 they have diversified to

REST IN PEACE

Present directors L. Janardhanan (left) and his brother L. Deenadayalan at the company’s premises on Mount Road. PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN preservation of bodies and making arrangements to send bodies abroad, even getting all the necessary clearances required for that. “Earlier, before the arrival of aircrafts, it was a very tedious job. It took months to transport a body to any part of Europe and it called for special embalming. Still, nobody could guarantee that the body would remain in good shape. Even in the 70s and

80s, transporting a body to any of the Eastern European countries or Russia was a major headache. But now things are easier and we can send a body to any part of the world in four days,” says L. Janardhanan, another of the brothers.

Hearse power It was under K. Loganathan, the longest-serving director (1942-2008), that J. Fenn & Co. took its biggest steps. “In 1942 we acquired the first motorised

hearse in south India. Our father (Loganathan) knew that gone were the days of horse-drawn carriages and he made it a point to import the best Hearse Vans from England and the US. We had a Plymouth 1960 model and also a Wellis Jeep. But then the Indian government stopped import and we introduced Ambassadors,” the brothers recall. Continuing with his innovations, Loganathan introduced a glass-granite polishing machine in 1970, the first of its kind in Ta-

mil Nadu. It gave a grander look to the monuments built by the Company and orders poured in from government agencies and private bodies. Staying ahead of competition in 2004, a four-bed mortuary was created at the Company’s premises and now plans are on to set up their own embalmment facilities in the near future. ■ (Made in Chennai is a column that showcases the evolution of home-grown businesses that began when the city was Madras)

04 KALEIDOSCOPE

ERGO Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Mars and Venus, with an occasional spark KALPAGAM SARMA

PHOTO: S. S. KUMAR

I

t was an enjoyable evening out but lacked the thunder to make it work. It was houseful at the Top Storey, Alliance Francaise, where the comedy Battle of the Sexes was staged by the Rebelz theatre group this weekend. The crowd said it all – it was for the youngsters, by the youngsters. Battle of the Sexes is a collection of three short plays centred on the conflicts between men and women. The first play, Maiden Venture, is about Bill (Ashwin V.). Fed up with his conservative fiancée, he decides to take the plunge by visiting the ‘Big Mo’ to show him the way to happiness, which leads him to naughty Natasha (Mahima Sud). The twist happens when the time Bill and Natasha spend together turns out to be more like a visit to the therapist for Bill. The actors could have breathed more energy into their characters. The Big Mo, played by Rangaraj Prasad R., appeared only for a few minutes but managed to steal the show with his

In Battle of the Sexes, an entertaining script was marred by dearth of energy

spontaneity. The second play, Ideal Man, revolves around the eternal debate of Mr. and Miss Right. The couple, Raj and Riya, want to battle it out to get their marriage working. Parthasarathy V. and Divya Kannan, who play Raj and Riya respectively, manage to work out a good chemistry on stage as the ideal couple. The closing play, Bride and Prejudice, is set in the wedding scene of Mark and Clara, where both their exes turn up and set the tone for a hilarious chain of events. Mark and Clara, played by Harish Kannan and Mahima Sud, fail to gel the way Raj and Riya do in the previous play. However, Pradeep Kalmadi (playing the priest) and Vinoth Kannan (as Xavier, Clara’s exhusband) bring life to the characters with their sense of timing, which worked with the audience. The entire script is young at heart and had all the right ingredients. It, however, failed to work as it lacked the energy. What the Rebelz certainly need is an adrenaline rush to win this Battle of the Sexes. ■

05

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Websites of the day Fascinated by plane crashes? Check this out: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/ Read up on the International Center For Research On Women here: http://www.icrw.org/

Big B’s blog to be translated into regional languages

A

mitabh Bachchan fans may now look forward to reading his blogs in regional languages as the Bollywood icon’s postings may soon have translated versions. “I have cynically scoffed at the idea from administrators of the blog. But, it seems there are serious efforts afoot in this direction,” Bachchan wrote on his blog. He said announcements and presentations to this effect will be made once the modalities are in place. Big B turned blogger in April and is the most widely read netizen. He recently started writing in Hindi which drew negative remarks from bloggers. Bachchan said one should learn to respect the mother tongue of other people. ■ PTI

He recently started writing in Hindi which drew negative remarks from bloggers

Most inspirational animal for 2008 A

miracle pig with a never-saydie spirit which helped it survive for over 36 days under quake debris has been voted as China’s most inspirational animal for 2008 by the online forum Red Net. The 7.9-magnitude quake that struck Sichuan Province on May 12 caused massive damage and trapped the pig in rubble. It survived only by eating charcoal and drinking rainwater for 36 days. When it was finally rescued on June 17, the animal had whittled

A miracle pig that survived for over 36 days under quake debris has been voted as China’s most inspirational animal for 2008 by a website

down to 50 kilograms from its earlier weight of 150 kilograms. The pig “vividly illustrated the spirit of never giving up,” the report quoted the website as saying. The other spots in the top 10 went to six dogs, a bird, a turtle and a cat. They include a dog that guarded its elderly owner when he was sick and accompanied him to hospital, and a cat that almost died of grief when its partner was run over by a car. ■ PTI

We salute them 쑸 Taj Mahal hotel authorities put a placard in the lobby of the hotel to salute all those who sacrificed their lives during 26/ 11 terror attack, a day after it was reopened, in Mumbai on Monday. PTI PHOTO

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Death penalty The penalty for conviction of smuggling in Bangladesh is the death penalty.

Nano, it won’t get wet

P

olyester fibres covered by tiny silicone filaments can create clothing that when dunked in water will still remain completely dry, a Swiss scientist discovered. The nanotechnology structure allows the surface to be covered in chemicals which make the clothing hydrophobic to the point that water simply bounces or slides off. Stefan Seeger, a lead researcher

The nanotechnology structure allows the surface to be covered in chemicals which make the clothing hydrophobic to the point that water simply bounces or slides off

Revealed: The recipes that ‘fuelled’ Charles Darwin

on the project at the University of Zurich, said the technology could have many purposes, including producing improved swimsuits, making industrial clothing and even for protecting outdoor furniture. “The same process can be used to protect wood, for example,” Seeger said. The nano-structure, when covered with the chemicals, traps a thin layer of air between the water and the actual textile, which means the item of clothing can be soaked in water and still remain dry. The technology can also repel dirt and sweat, bringing possibly closer the day when clothes no longer need washing. For now, the structure would best be employed by makers of rugged outdoor wear. For swimmers, the nanofibres can be applied to their costumes and let them go faster, with less drag. ■ DPA

Want to know the ‘intellectually stimulating’ dishes which stirred the mind of Charles Darwin? Go and grab a copy of the cookbook containing recipes created by the great naturalist’s wife. The book, which is based on Emma Darwin’s original notebook, contains instructions for cooking rice written by Darwin himself and guides to making Victorian favourites like broiled mushrooms and Penally Pudding. Traditionally festive recipes include baked apple pudding, cranberry sauce and compote of apples and Italian cream, The Daily Telegraph reported. Food authors Dusha Bateson and Weslie Janeway compiled the book recreating and testing all the 55 recipes. PTI

‘Bush shoe’ creates 100 new jobs in Turkey The world’s most notorious pair of black leather shoes, that made history, has even generated 100 jobs in Turkey. The footwear that robbed George W. Bush of his dignity and landed its owner Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi – who hurled them at the US President at a press meet in Baghdad – in prison, has yielded an unexpected bonanza for its maker. Ever since the incident, Ramazan Baydan, the owner of the Istanbul-based Baydan Shoe Company, has been swamped with orders from across the world. In fact, Baydan has recruited an additional 100 staff to meet orders for 3,00,000 pairs of Model 271, following an outpouring of support for Zaidi’s act. PTI

Hong Kong may allow hi-tech smoking rooms in bars Hi-tech smoking rooms may be allowed in Hong Kong bars when a total ban on cigarettes in places where food and drink are being served comes into effect in 2009. Officials are examining a 40,000-US-dollar smoking room partly funded by British American Tobacco at a Hong Kong bar to see if exemptions should be granted to bars with hi-tech facilities. The company claims the room removes and recycles smoke fumes safely. However, the city’s leading anti-smoking campaigner Anthony Hedley told Monday’s South China Morning Post that allowing smoking rooms would be ‘nothing short of a scandal.’ DPA

Tom Cruise loses his phone Some A-list celebrities in Hollywood might get random calls soon as superstar Tom Cruise has lost his BlackBerry, which contains the numbers of his friends like Will Smith and Brad Pitt. The Top Gun actor misplaced his phone following an interview in Canada for ’Entertainment Tonight’ while promoting his new film Valkyrie. Once the actor realised that his phone was missing a thorough search was made of the premises but the lost object was no where to be found, reports Ananova.com. What makes the phone even more precious is the fact that it contains the contact numbers of some of the top most actors and directors like David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Will Smith and many others. PTI

07

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

One look is all it takes NEWS AND NEWSMAKERS IN PICTURES

A South Korean man removes snow from his car in Gangneung, about 230 kilometres (138 miles) east of Seoul on Monday. AFP PHOTO

John Abraham and Rahul Bose during the announcement of sixth edition of Mumbai Marathon 2009, in Mumbai on Sunday. PTI PHOTO

Victoria is seen on Sunday at Milan for attending the Italian Serie A football match AC Milan vs Udinese. GETTY IMAGES

QUOTE OF THE DAY

‘‘

If Aamir has spoken so well about me, I won’t even think of questioning it. I take his words as a big compliment. I’ve been hearing some terrific stories about his dedication from (director) John Matthew Mathan. I must say he’s very inspiring,”

Thai woman Nong Na holds a scorpion during a successful world record attempt at a shopping mall in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, on Monday. AFP PHOTO

Said Himesh Reshammiya about Aamir Khan’s words on marketing strategy and trademark cap

08 SPORT

ERGO Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Wrestlers get their due The Sports Ministry on Monday released the sum of over Rs 1.06 crore as Special Cash Award to 31 wrestlers and 26 coaches who have helped the country win medals in international sporting events held during the year 2007. Prominent among the wrestlers include Beijing Olympics bronze medal winner Sushil Kumar; Palwinder Singh Cheema; Kripa Shankar Patel and Yogeshwar Dutt.

Najafgarh’s

ICC to gauge Pakistan security The International Cricket Council (ICC) will not appoint match officials for Sri Lanka’s proposed tour of Pakistan until a security assessment had been made, a top official said on Monday. “We will do an independent assessment of the situation in Pakistan to ensure the safety of the umpires and match referee,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. “I am convinced the Sri Lankan board will also do everything to ascertain whether it is safe to play in Pakistan and also seek assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board. We will do our own assessment. After all, we will be supplying the match officials.” Sri Lanka agreed to step in after the Indian government denied its cricketers permission to play in Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks in November. Sri Lanka are due to play three Tests and five one-day internationals in Pakistan in January and February, although the dates and venues have yet to be finalised. The ICC postponed the Champions Trophy oneday tournament in Pakistan in September over security concerns – the same reason given by Australia for not playing a Test series there last March. Lorgat said a decision on whether Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy next year will be taken at the ICC’s Executive Board meeting in January. AFP

Ponting: a sore loser A lifeless WACA pitch was on Monday apportioned some of the blame by Australia skipper Ricky Ponting for South Africa’s successful run chase in the first Test. Set 414 for victory, South Africa registered the second highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Test history to win the Test by six wickets. And Ponting, who said WACA had lost its uniqueness of pace and bounce, was purposely preparing batter-friendly pitches to stretch the game to all five days to maximise TV and gate revenues. “I’m disappointed in the result and I’m disappointed because the uniqueness of the WACA that it once had, that we keep hearing about every year, it appears it’s always there for the state games but it’s just not there for Test matches. I think it is disappointing,” Ponting was quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph. In the last four years, Australia have lost two Tests, drawn one and won another in Perth. “The beauty with playing cricket in Australia is that you get a vast array of conditions all around Australia and I’ve just got a bit of a feeling at the moment that this place has just lost whatever it had as far as its uniqueness. This Test match has basically been played on a wicket like Adelaide. It’s not a WACA wicket whatsoever,” the Australia skipper lamented. PTI

NEW NAWAB Sushil Kumar on coming from behind to win the bronze at the Beijing Olympics

F

rom obscurity, Sushil Kumar has risen to a pedestal where few Indian sportsmen can even dream of standing. He has travelled from a cramped dormitory room at a Sports Authority of India hostel to Beijing, and unlike his predecessors he was not overawed by the occasion. Even after some initial hiccups this wrestler from Najafgarh kept his sights straight. Ultimately, he got his reward and India its second medal at the Beijing Olympics. “We had good preparations before the Games but I knew it would be a tough competition. I wanted to give my best and so I didn’t give up after my first loss,” Sushil says. He lost to Ukrainian Andriy Stadnik on points after being pegged down 3-8 on technical points in his first outing in Beijing. But as it goes, luck was on his side and Stadnik made it to the final, giving all those who lost to him a chance to get into one final tussle for the bronze. “Stadnik has a huge reputation in the world circuit and I knew he might reach the final, thereby giving me another shot. And exactly that happened. I just told myself to

give my best,” he says. In the Repechange round, Sushil first downed World No. 5 American Doug Schwab and then got the better of Belarussian Albert Batyrov. For the bronze the wrestler downed Kazakhstan’s Leonid Spiridonov 3-2 in the 65-kg freestyle event. Speaking about the most important bout of his life, Sushil says: “I knew Spiridonov’s style because I had fought him before. In the 2006 Doha Asian Games I had beaten him to win the bronze. So I was confident of doing well against him.” Against Spiridonov, the Indian grabbed the early initiative by scoring two technical points that proved decisive. “I tried to be as aggressive as possible in the first period to get an early lead. It’s always difficult to come from behind and the opponent will be under pressure and prone to mistakes,” he explains. Although the Kazakh came back to pocket a point in the second period, Sushil held on to his nerve and won the third period 1-0 and gave India its second medal in wrestling at the Olympics after Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav had won a bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games. The Indian fraternity at the Beijing Agricultural University erupted in joy and Sushil at last had achieved his dream. ■ Close(d) Encounters is a weekly column on India’s greatest sporting achievements.

09

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

‘‘

The defining moment was the way the guys fought back after Mitchell Johnson’s brilliant spell in our first innings. They showed the character and heart to get back into the match and we can take a lot of confidence into the rest of the series. We will enjoy the moment and then get our feet back on the ground as we head for Melbourne for what promises to be a momentous second match.

Reds on top

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith on Sunday’s “historic win” against Australia

Liverpool hold Arsenal away from home

d by 10-man Arsenal an iverpool was held 1-1 hold on the its en gth en str to wasted a chance er gue, while Manchest top of the Premier Lea defeat at 2-1 a th wi d ue tin City’s slump con ich Albion. last-place West Bromw Livernday equalised for Su Robbie Keane on tage van ad e tak to ds failed pool, although the Re was r ayo eb r Emmanuel Ad tes after Gunners strike ira Em at go to l nutes stil sent off with 27 mi al ahead in sen Ar d fire rsie Pe Stadium. Robin van he colirates Stadium when the 24th minute at Em defeno tw chest, turned past lected the ball on his ane, Ke t Bu t. sho l rfu a powe or ders and scored with po e som er ool’s team aft on who returned to Liverp ran he en wh nd 42 d in the performances, replie r, outgh ball by Daniel Agge to meet a long throu ball the ve dro d an rs fende paced the Arsenal de net. into the roof of the

L

Biased refereeing

low off for his second yel Adebayor was sent al sen Ar set up t tha te and card in the 63rd minu t, staying tha ve lie be “I er. ng manager Arsene We me,” he uld have won the ga with 11 men, we wo . I would ion cis de g on wr the said. “I think it was when off like that at home love to have sendings t, if Adetha ve lie be I rk. pa we get kicked off the off in then Keane has to go bayor has to go off, ).” chy a foul on Gael Cli the first minute (for beSammy Lee in charge d ha o wh l, Liverpoo ers ov rec he s absent while d cause Rafa Benitez wa ate cre s, ne sto y ne ove kid 18 from surgery to rem m fro s und up 39 point few chances and wo m 17, elsea, which has 37 fro Ch s an me at games. Th Everat ing gue lead by winn can take over the lea stant con in be to ing go ton. “We were always with technology being and touch (with Benitez) m,” going to be a proble ver ne s wa it is, what it tincon ez nit ssages from Be said Lee, who had me ff. sta ng chi coa by his ually relayed to him es nu nti co es Wo nner Bednar headed the wi West Brom’s Roman sure Man en to e tim ury inj of in the third minute ore’s egation zone. Luke Mo a City stayed in the rel ies gg Ba Brom earned the first goal for West sub y Cit t Bu . rns ho the Hawt a 69th-minute lead at th wi th replied in the 86 stitute Felipe Caicedo the ich hit the inside of wh el he ckba deflected Carson. The tt Sco r pe ee alk go post and went in off er side ed for a draw neith game appeared head nged lle cha dnar was left un really wanted when Be i Zuinn Gia m fro ss cro wing 10 to head home a rightin y tor Brom’s first vic th verloon. It was West wi t las s ain rem m tea ray’s at games but Tony Mowb be ich wh , than Blackburn e’s 15 points, one fewer gu Lea er mi Pre the City, Stoke 3-0 on Saturday. comyout by an investment richest club after a bu nine in y tor vic e on d ha i, has pany from Abu Dhab s. int po 18 th place with matches to slide to 18 er in Hughes, who took ov rk Ma r ge na ma City be to rite ou bookmakers’ fav June but now is the job, his e los to r ge na ma gue en the next Premier Lea given funds to strength said he expected to be . “I’m ow nd wi ry ua Jan ’s nth the squad in next mo e that the quality into the sid sure that once we get gress pro the d an ces an rform we need then the pe said ,” en pp ha will start to we want to make cause be ho bin Ro ld fie to le Hughes, who was unab en Elahis Brazilian countrym of injury and left out PTI no and Jo. ■

Liverpool’s Robbie Keane celebrates after scoring against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London. PHOTO: AFP

10 FLICK

ERGO Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Navya is back

Rab ne bana di debut

Actress Navya, who was last seen in Raman Thediya Seethai, has a lot of films in her kitty now. She is currently doing Violet with Suresh Gopi, Calender with Prithviraj and has signed a project with Sarath Kumar in Tamil.

Anushka Sharma had an enviable debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Directed by Aditya Chopra, Rab Ne... is the story of a mismatched couple played by Shah Rukh and Anushka and how the two of them find love against the backdrop of a dance competition. The model-turned-actress is now under a three-film contract with the Yash Raj banner. “But I am free to do any other project if I wish,” she clarifies. Excerpts from the interview:

How did Rab Ne… happen? I started modelling from the age of 15. My photographs were with an agency and Yash Raj got them from it. I was called for an audition along with several other girls. I was selected by the assistant director and then introduced to Adi (Aditya Chopra) for the second audition. He asked me to be as natural as I was in my first audition. I followed his instructions and was finally selected.

So Shah Rukh was not there when you were selected? No, I met him for the first time on the sets.

How was the experience? He was in the getup of Suri and I couldn’t recognise him until he came to me and introduced himself. I was really surprised.

Do you consider it a dream come true to be part of such a huge project? Not really, as I never had the intention to be an actress. It happened out of luck and I consider myself very fortunate to be part of such a big banner in my debut film and to be working with a star like Shah Rukh and a director like Aditya Chopra.

Are you an avid watcher of Yash Raj’s films? Yes, I like their movies and the style in which they make them. My favourite films are Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Chak

De India.

Who is your favourite actor and actress? Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee.

What next after Rab Ne…? Are you bound by any contract? Yes, I have signed a three-film contract with Yash Raj. But I’m free to do any other project if I wish.

Can you give any details about your forthcoming films? Right now I’ve no idea about any of the films as nothing has been finalised.

You debuted with the biggest star and one of the biggest production houses of the country. Do you feel you aren’t left with better options in future? No, I think the industry is quite big and there are other big banners and people in the industry with whom I would love to work.

Among the two characters of Suri and Raj played by Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which one did you like the most? I liked Suri more because he had goodness in his character and was very true. I find those qualities enduring in a human being.

How would you like your dream guy to be? I would love to have someone like Suri. He should be a nice man. I believe in having a man who is beautiful and strong from inside... Inner beauty is most important. But I found Suri handsome and good-looking, too. ■ IANS

11

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Sibi’s homework Actor Sibiraj, who is playing a negative role in Nanayam, has started doing his homework by watching his father Sathyaraj’s movies. Hope he follows his father and reaps success.

3

Cine City

new faces in

Jism 2 F

ive years after Bipasha Basu and John Abraham scorched the screen in Jism, Shagufta Rafique, screenwriter for the much-hyped sequel to the film, says part two will be about infidelity and will launch three new faces with great bodies. “Since Jism was all about the human body and keeping up with the tradition of Vishesh Films of launching new talent, we’ll take a completely new and absolutely raw cast for Jism 2. We’ll launch three new faces and three great bodies in three newcomers in the film,” revealed Rafique. Released in 2003, Jism was an unexpected box office success and the launch vehicle of Bollywood heartthrob John. While the first was written by Mahesh Bhatt, Jism 2 is being written by Rafique, who holds to her credit films like Woh Lamhe, Awarapan and box-office dud Dhokha. On the plot of Jism 2, she said: “Like the previous Jism, part two will concentrate on the issue of infidelity and will be a murder mystery. I have already started working on the film and Pooja (Bhatt) will be directing it.” ■ IANS

Bhagavan shot in 17 hours Bhagavan, a commercial film starring Mohanlal, was shot within a span of 17 hours. Directed by Prashanth Mambally, the 64 scenes of the movie were shot recently at Guruvayoor within 17 hours. The shoot of the movie planned with five separate units at five locales near and in the Allied Hospital has Mohanlal playing a gynaecologist, Dr. Balagopal. Sources say the actor acted non-stop the whole day easing through the 58 scenes of the movie. Bipasha Basu in a still from 2003’s Jism

To cap it all M

any people felt that Aamir Khan’s remarks on Himesh Reshammiya’s marketing strategy and his trademark cap were sarcastic, but the musicianactor, who admits to being a fan of the star, chooses to take the seeming compliments on their face value. “If Aamir has spoken so well about me, I won’t even think of questioning it. I take his words as a big compliment. I’ve been hearing some terrific stories about his dedication from (director) John Matthew Mathan. I must say he’s very inspiring,” says Reshammiya. At a press conference on Thursday, Aamir went out of his way to praise Reshammiya, calling him a master of marketing. “So much so that wherever and whenever I see a topi (cap) I think of Himesh,” said Aamir. But many thought Aamir was being sarcastic by praising Reshammiya for his marketing strategy at a time when it (the strategy) seems to have collapsed. His Karzzz, a remake of 1980’s Rishi Kapoor starrer Karz, bombed despite all the publicity gimmicks. “Or did Aamir praise Reshammiya because he is playing a role inspired by Aamir?” asked one of Aamir’s co-stars. Reshammiyya is in Palanpur, Gujarat, busy shooting for Mathan’s new film, A New Love Ishtory, in which he plays a big Aamir fan. ■ IANS

Villu footage leaked According to Internet buzz, some of the introduction footages of Villu were leaked on the Internet. The movie, slated for a Pongal release, features Vijay and Nayanthara in the lead roles. A couple of days ago, a website carried a few portions of the introductory scenes of Vijay. However, the film crew claimed that the portions uploaded on the Net were deleted scenes from the movie. Villu, produced by Ayngaran International, is directed by Prabhu Deva.

12

ERGO Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Monday’s Query: Given a chance to change your profession, which other career would you choose? Why? ■ I would like to join politics and do something good for India. Satya, Wipro

■ I would like to become a journalist. It’s a profession I have been interested in since I was a teen. Ahalya, TCS

■ I would like to become a Saint. No worries about pink slips and no marriage tension. Yacub, Patni Computers

■ Will be a free style dancer, a long awaited thirst in me. Would like to keep dancing till my health permits. Ramya Selvam, TCS

■ Would love to be a bartender in a beach side resort. Samshodh, Inautix

■ NatGeo wildlife photographer. Karthik, HCL

■ I will have to start farming or rendu maadu vaangi meypen. Divya V, Polaris Mak, Infosys

■ I would like to choose the teaching profession so that I can help few people to sleep well. Jubair, Cognizant, Magesh, Polaris

■ HR Manager, so that I can give offer to people who really need job. Manimozhi R, Sify

■ Doctor, as I would love saving people’s lives. Being a doctor is like a temporary replacement of god. Serena D’souza, Allsec Tech, Ramjothi, Cognizant

■ Radio jockey because that is where you can talk more and work less. Nithiyasri Saravanan, Wipro

■ Professional power lifter, because I have participated in one or two events and that gave me a confidence that I can achieve anything in my life. Vinoth Kumar, Allsec

■ IPS officer. The profession says it all. The job combined with power, pride and a position where you can change the system and communicate with people effectively. Senthil Arjunan, Calsoft Ltd

■ Politician and would close the toll which causes traffic in OMR. Sofiya Ambrose, Wipro

■ Politics, to show how to eradicate poverty, terrorism and develop India as a super powered nation. R.Viswanathan, Hexaware, Meenakshi Mohan, TCS, Praveen, CGSL

■ Mayor of Chennai, to bring extreme reformation to control Chennai traffic, in particular

Saravanan from Wipro has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at Kodaikanal.

M.Asath Kani, TCS

■ Cinema, so that I can be popular and everyone will come to know about me. S.Stanly George, Perot Systems, Sindhu ,UST Global, Javid, Cognizant

■ Cashier as I need some ’change’. Balaji, TCS

■ Business, want to spend 30% business profit for orphans’ education. Baskaran Ramasamy, Ramco Systems

■ News photographer, because I can take photos of cricket stars. Karthikeyan R, Infosys

■ Magazine reporter, since I love my legs and pen running faster, breaking the obstacles and to lighten out the roles and things that are being played behind the screen of stages both in positive and negative aspects.

Kanagaraj Vaiyapuri from Infosys has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime.

Rajalakshmi Muthusamy, HCL

Today’s Query: Which is the most embarrassing situation in your life and how did you manage it? By Rajee Anand, Coastal Training Technologies You can nominate Ergo Mobile Query too. Just send us an email to [email protected] with Subject Line: “Mobile Query Suggestion”.

Raghavendran Krishnamurthy from Cybernet-Slashsupport has nominated his gang as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at Wayanad.

13

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Krishnan of FSS has been nominated as Office Angel by Lakshmi Narasimhan. He is known for his sense of humour in and around the office.

■ Dear kadalavandi, Lovely mSg for a Lovely PErson from Lovely Friend 4 a Lovely Reason aT tHisLUvely Time form aLuvely Mind in a Lovely Mood in a Lovely Style Have a Lovely "BirthDay" With luv,Kutti Ponnu.

■ Hi Sathya, A smile is a curve that sets everything straight and wipes wrinkle away.hope u share lots and receive lots 4 days 2 come Kick off ur shoes, take a break, Crank the tunes, Dance & Shake, light the candles, cut the cake. Make it a day, that’s simply Great!!! Happy B’Day.... we know that u’l give us treat in a big hotel.. Best Wishes from R4 Rascals Cognizant Technology Solutions

■ Dear Deepa, You are always thought of in a very special way, And you’re wished the finest things in life Today and every day! Happy Birthday! With Love, Soundari, Sridevi, Sivasangari & SVT Team, HCL Technologies

■ Dear JP, Heartiest congratulation on your bday from Solution Studio family.May GOD shower all HIS blessings on u J.

Jey Spidey doodled this.

Anupama Bindal

■ Hi Seetha Ganesh, Belated wish you many morehappy returns of the day. May all your dreams come true in your life. Your ever loving freind, Manikandan K

■ Hi Dharani raja, Wish u a very very happy birth day... We wish you for all sucess.. With love Saravanan.R

Dr: Sorry....unga kidney fail ayidichu..... Patient: enna koduma Dr ithu?........Nan en kidney’a padikka vaikkavae illai, athu eppadi fail agum...? Dr: !!! Javid, Cognizant

Man Man Man Man

1: 2: 1: 2:

En ponnu first class la pass pannita. Maerkondu enna padikka vaikka poreenga? Second class than.. ? ? ? .. Jubair, Cognizant

Computer Acronyms ISDN – It Still Does Nothing APPLE – Arrogance Produces Profit – Losing Entity MACINTOSH – Most Applications Crash; If Not, The Operating System Hangs

■ Hi Saran, This year we got the chanceTo wish you birthday cheer.It pleases us no end to say,We wish you another great year. So happy birthday to you Saran,From the bottom of our hearts.And may your good times multiply,Till they’re flying off the chart! This is the best time to tell you we love you. Wishing you here is your CASTLE team. Infosys.

Manikandan N, Wipro

14 TRAFFIC JAM

ERGO Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Marriage proposal An Iraqi man has offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to the journalist who recently threw his shoe at U.S. President George Bush.

sudoku

Prasoon S of Financial Software & Systems (FSS) clicked this picture at Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh

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15

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Picasso horse

Word’s worth

A horse whose abstract paintings sell for more than $3,000 (GBP2,000) is having his own exhibition in Venice.

"Woofits" (woo-fits) an unwell feeling, especially a headache; a moody depression; a hangover. In one citation this is called "that dread disease that comes from overeating and underdrinking" and "the ailment that comes with ’the morning after the night before.’"

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Logical thinking is fine, but incessant brooding might not prove to be useful. Ganesha suggests that you should not push yourself for something which is impossible. Try to streamline your thoughts in a proper direction. Love life will be smooth today.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 Achieving targets won’t be difficult at all. You will be able to meet the deadlines very easily today. Pay equal attention to all the pending work or it may pile up into a huge mess. Lovers may spend a wonderful evening in the company of their beloved.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 You may wish to establish proper work routine and schedule in order to perform better at workplace. You may be very judgemental and precise while at work. Lovers may find a positive turning point in their romantic life, by the Grace of Ganesha.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 On the work front, the day is going to be very hectic. You may have to spend a great amount of time solving queries and problems. Seek help if need be. Romance on the whole will be smooth and satisfying provided you watch your temper.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 You really need a break, don’t you? Firstly finish off the pending work, then select a time when there is nothing major happening and take off on an adventure trip or a romantic cruise with your honey or just sit back at home and relax! Try it!

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

Hard work has wonderful rewards and there is no doubt about it. Things may not work according to your plan or schedule. Just relax and let Ganesha take care of everything. The Grace of Ganesha will bestow upon the lovers like there is no tomorrow!

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 Don’t let your mood affect your performance or behaviour towards others. Even on the personal front, avoid stress and take it easy. What is more bothersome for your beloved to see you unhappy? Talk out everything with supportive friends.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 It’s the best day to have a look at past and finish off pending social and official work. At office, you may interact with others in order to find solution to some long-pending issues. Love life may remain almost uneventful today, feels Ganesha.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 “Why worry?” asks Ganesha. It is just a matter of time that things seem to be so difficult and impossible. Just be careful and plan everything in advance. This includes everything from your official tasks to fixing for movie tickets with your beloved.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 You may be very verbal while at work, so you may be giving suggestions to everyone around you. Ensure that you are not hurt if your suggestions are not accepted by others. Make sure your overcriticism doesn’t hurt your beloved or spouse.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 There is no weapon more powerful than words. Take advantage of the same. Since you are capable of impressing others with your speech, you should use that on the professional front as well. This will be helpful, if you wish to woo your beloved.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 You will wait for your lucky charm to show wonders today. Hence during the second half of the day, you might find yourself wasting time. Try not to take up important tasks today.Lovers might feel a pinch when the beloved doubts his/her integrity. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 !

ERGO Tuesday, December 23, 2008