Ergo February 24

A BYTE OF LIFE

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

FREE CIRCULATION

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SCHOOL BOY DILEEP The music wizard’s teachers from PSBB Senior Secondary School recall their memories about the shy boy.

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BACKPACKERS Two readers on their trips to Manali and Kotagiri

Vol. 3

No. 35

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Masala Dosa on Feb 28 Alliance Française of Madras in association with The Taj Coromandel presents a jazz concert on February 28 at 7.30 p.m. Masala Dosa will perform their latest album ‘Electronic World Curry’ at The Poolside of Taj Coromandel.

Leave a message for ’Jai Ho’

Electronic dance music at Park

Dial 4289 0025 and wish Rahman

ERGO CORRESPONDENT

A

re you also on the top of the world seeing India perform so well at the Oscars? Do you want to wish the ‘Mozart of Chennai’ on his double Oscars? Here’s you chance. We can’t share with you his personal email id or mobile number, but you can call on him at 044-4289 0025 and leave your congratulatory message. Voice Snap, a core research and development organisation working towards creating software solutions, has dedicated a landline number for all ARR fans. Now this works just like your landline phone. Just dial the number and leave a brief and sweet message (60 seconds) for him. Once Voice Snap gets a few thousand messages, it will record it in their receiver and send to Rahman and his family. “This works like a synchronous mode and the end user can listen to it at his/her leisure. We have facilitated this only for Rahman fans with the approval of his fan association,” said Ganesh Padmanabhan, director, Voice Snap, Chennai. Hurry! The lines are open till February 28.

[email protected]

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arthSync and The Park hotel are presenting international DJ Ma Faiza in Chennai this Friday. A press note issued on behalf of the record label Earth Sync described her music as fun, uplifting and positive that makes her listeners smile and feel good. Ma Faiza will play at Aqua, The Park, 601, Mount Road, on Friday, starting 8.30 p.m. Of Indian origin, Ma Faiza was born in Africa and grew up in London. Having evolved as a DJ over the years in India, she is currently based in Pune. Ma Faiza has spent close to a decade in developing the Electronic Dance Music in India. A truly multi-faceted personality, she is also an artist, a producer and the head of music of an independent young record label, Mocha Musica. Ma Faiza also DJs internationally and is one of the few artistes from India playing at some of biggest parties and festivals in the world

like the Clastonbury festival UK, Boom festival UK, and Ibiza Contemporary arts festival Ibiza to name a few. Ma Faiza draws inspiration from different musicians and loves fusing electronic music with real instruments. Her music is a potpourri of varied genres of

electronica, including full-on melodic psy-trance, progressive daytime grooves, cool minimal and happy sounds, thereby reflecting her passion for ethnic, organic and harmonic global inspired beats. For reservations, call 42676000. ■

Ergo Correspondent

Sister’s joy

쒀 A.R.Rahman’s sister Fatima Talat and other family members celebrate the music director’s Oscar triumph at their residence in Kodambakkam. PHOTO: R.RAVINDRAN

03

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A school boy called

DILEEP

Three cheers: Raji Babu, Valli Arunachalam, Chandra Ramani. (Below) Dileep (circled) in class VII C.

MONISHA MOHANDAS [email protected]

Time: Around 9.45 a.m. ood morning, students. Your kind attention, please! He has done it. A.R. Rahman has won the Oscar. I am proud to say I was A.R. Rahman’s teacher once… ,” Valli Arunachalam, principal of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School (PSBB), Nungambakkam, announced through the intercom. Hey! Hurray! Wow!… A big round of applause boomed from every classroom and I join them in their celebration that continued for the next few minutes. While all Indians were glued on to their television sets watching the Oscars, students of this school in Nungambakkam were greeted with this joyous news from their principal. It was here that Rahman spent most of his school days, L.K.G. to Class IX to be precise. Three teachers, who are still in service, are a happy lot as they recall his student days and their direct association as his teachers.

“G

The front-bencher “Very quiet, very shy, his friends hardly knew that there

was a boy called Dileep (Rahman’s original name). He used to sit in the front row, with his legs crossed, hands on his cheeks and head down. I could hardly see his face as his hair covered his entire face,” his science teacher Raji Babu remembers. “I have seen him suffer in his childhood. But despite all the difficulties (he discontinued studies after Class IX here) he has achieved a feat that no other Indian has attained. I am proud of him,” adds the teacher who taught him in Class VII, with tears of joy in her eyes. Other teachers also recall the difficulties he went through. “He was in Class VI when his father passed away. But he wasn’t depressed. He wanted to fulfil his father’s dream. I remember him doing latenight recordings and sometimes I use to carry the keyboard to his house,” says his Hindi and moral instruction teacher, Chandra Ramani.

Band master Talking of Rahman’s academics, the teachers almost have a squabble on how he performed. “He was just an average student. He somehow managed to pass all subjects,” remarks Valli

Arunachalam. Chandra Ramani cuts the conversation saying, “Of all the subjects, he did really well in Hindi.” Apparently, Rahman was very attached to his cycle rickshaw in which he commuted to and fro school. Y.G. Parthasarathy, director and dean of PSBB Schools, was

Three teachers – Valli Arunachalam, Raji Babu and Chandra Ramani – recall Rahman’s school days at P.S.B.B., where he studied till Class IX

PHOTO : R. RAVINDRAN/ SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

the then principal of the school. “He was the music director of the school. It was a one-man orchestra with one music director for all our special events and anniversaries. And Rahman played both the roles,” the dean proudly says. “You would always associate ARR with a white handkerchief,”

Valli, who was also his class teacher in VII, recalls. “He was not outspoken. He used to be all by himself. The ambitious little boy had a habit of spilling ink marks all over the pages.” It might be this habit which made him spill a permanent mark of achievement on the minds of Indians. ■

04 TECHNORAMA

ERGO Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Palmystery The long-awaited Palm Pre finally makes its debut at CES 2009. This droolworthy slider phone is a cutie, no doubt. It’s 3.1inch, 320x480 pixel screen is crystal clear and supports touch and gestures. It runs Palm’s new WebOS platform and has an innovative user interface to fl aunt. Features galore, it offers WiFi, Bluetooth with A2DP, GPS, a 3-megapixel snapper, 8GB of memory, USB 2.0 mass storage support, a 3.5mm headphone socket and a new charging dock. Worth the wait, you ask? Absolutely sir!

Snippets sourced from T3 magazine of Infomedia18 Group

TBC, www.palm.com

Foot loose Audioholic Have you been saving up for a hi-fi headphone? It’s the right time then, break your piggy bank and get these uber premium cans, the Sennheiser HD 800. A large transducer and new ear cup design results in an orgasmic listening experience, they say!

Panasonic’s DMP B15 is the first Blu-ray disc player you can carry around. It also morphs into a standalone player and connects to an HD telly via HDMI. Hook it up to an AV receiver and it delivers full-bodied surround sound. A headrest mounting bracket allows it to be used in cars when travelling. You can also view images and HD video recorded on an SD card. TBC, www.panasonic.com

Rs 70,000*, www.sennheiser.com

Emulates you Just say “skip ads” and whoosh, it’s gone. We wonder why the new Amulet remote needs so many buttons then. TBC, www.amuletdevices.com

In Sync A 3.5-inch touch screen and emulation for 15 remotes - Logitech Harmony 1100, that’s the name. TBC, www.logitech.com

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Backpackers

And gushing through the snow Imagine flying in a parachute with snow all around! Magical! That’s what Senthil Jayachandran and his friends experienced on their trip to Manali

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e packed our last set of baggage and were all set for an adventurous trip. The journey to Manali was scary as the roads were steep and narrow. The thought of getting frozen in the cold vanished

as soon as we saw the snow-laden peaks beautifully lit with the golden rays. All of us were excited to get there and had fun throwing snow balls on others. I can’t forget the roadside dhabas, where we had

rotis with lime pickle. There was heavy snowfall a week before, so the roads were blocked. We could not reach the Rohtang Pass. There was a stretch of snow to satisfy our desire to ski in a place called Mandi near the Rohtang

Two days of bliss A

fter a cumbersome week, I decided to take a break to escape the day-to-day stress. I came to know about BelAir cottages, which is located in Kotagiri through a friend. The chain of Old Britishstyled cottages offered every comfort to convert one’s holiday to an enjoyable one. In the early hours of the day, BelAir arranged for forest trekking and hill trekking, where I spotted a few bisons, and by the end of the day I had all the adventure my adrenaline could handle. I must say that the visit made me fall in love with nature. Being a foodie I hate to compromise on quality and thankfully BelAir didn’t disappoint me. I happily feasted on all types of food.

In the evening we had a walk through the never-ending tea plantations, which appeared to kiss the horizon at one point. The next day we visited a few

cold springs in the middle of the woods. They even offered package tours to Coonor and Ooty, which is just an hour away, and

Pass. Our shoes were quite large for us and they were almost covering our knees. A special mention of our guide who helped us to ski. We got a glimpse of the famous Hadimba Temple and then proceeded to Vasishta bath

– the sulphur hot water spring. Solang Valley was a treat to watch as we got a hang of paragliding. Imagine flying in a parachute in the midst of snow! Words cannot express the experience. A visit would definitely make it more valuable. Kudos to my friends Arun Sivaraman, Arun Kumar, Pandiyan, Mathan and Vasanth who added to the fun. ■ (The writer works with Wipro)

Uma Maheshwari is in love with nature after her visit to Kotagiri many exciting places which I hope to explore in some months. I have completed my trip but the pleasant memories of those two days of bliss still

linger in my mind and I intend to have another cottage holidays sometime in the future. ■ (The writer works with HCL Technologies)

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Hair-raising A woman from Kansas City survived a bullet fired at her head by a jealous ex - after it got tangled up in her hair weave.

LTTE ready for ceasefire Tamil Tigers today said they were ready for a ceasefire with the Sri Lankan government, but refused to lay down their arms. With the LTTE cornered in a fast shrinking small landmass in the north eastern coast of the country, the rebels appeal for a truce came in a letter to the United Nations and other foreign powers. LTTE Political chief B Nadesan, in a letter to the United Nations, said that international calls for rebels to lay down their arms could not resolved the armed conflict as “weapons were the only protective shield of the Tamil people.” But the Sri Lankan government immediately rejected the cease fire offer by the Tigers. PTI

Hi-tech court rooms and a special security cell are expected to be built at the Adiala Jail in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi where at least four suspects linked to the Mumbai terror attacks are being held. The court rooms will be equipped with cameras that will allow judges and investigators to interact with and question prisoners without moving them out of the jail, the Daily Times reported today. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies had prepared a report asking the federal interior ministry to build the court rooms and special security cell in Adiala Jail, the daily quoted its sources as saying. This will help overcome security risks associated with transporting dangerous prisoners to court and help monitor their movements day and night.

Convicts escape jail by chopper Greece’s most notorious criminal escaped on Sunday by helicopter from one of the country’s top-security jails for the second time in less than three years, prompting a string of top officials to resign. In a scene not out of place in a Hollywood movie, Vassilis Paleocostas and his Albanian accomplice Alket Rizai escaped on a rope ladder which had been lowered by a helicopter to a prison in Korydallos, near Athens, where both men had been moved after their earlier break-out, according to police. Bewildered Greeks scratched their heads and wondered how the pair not only pulled off the brazen and noisy escape under the noses of prison guards once, but twice. Paleocostas -- who had been serving time for bank robbery and kidnap -- and convicted murderer Rizai both caused red faces among prison bosses back in June 2006 when they were also airlifted to freedom by helicopter.

Pak jail to get Hi-tech court

PTI

Female rattlesnakes ’indulge in cannibalism’ Researchers have for the first time found evidence that cannibalism is widespread among female rattlesnakes as it helps the species to recover as well as regain strength after giving birth. A new study has shown that female rattlesnakes ingest on average 11 per cent of their postpartum mass (in particular eggs and dead offspring) in an attempt to recover energy for subsequent reproduction. According to the researchers, cannibalism is “not an aberrant behaviour, and is not an attack on the progeny”, it simply recovers some of what the female snake invested in the reproduction process, and prepares it to reproduce once again.

AFP

PTI

Hitler’s Blackpool dreams The tyrant had intended to use Blackpool as his personal playground, if he had conquered Britain

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ad Hitler succeeded in conquering Britain he was going to turn Blackpool into his personal playground. Newly released documents reveal that Hitler wanted to see his storm troopers goose-stepping down the seaside resort’s Golden Mile and the Swastika fluttering on Blackpool Tower. Experts say it explains why the town escaped most of the Luftwaffe’s attacks, despite it building hundreds of Wellington bombers and thousands of troops on leave being stationed there. Hitler had even earmarked the

safety of Blackpool Tower and the three piers, according to the Nazi intelligence maps recovered from a military base. According to The Telegraph, Hitler saw the marked maps and aerial photos in the early 1940’s when his plans to take over Britain were at their height. His planned invasion included marching soldiers along the coastline after a drop by paratroopers in the resort’s Stanley Park. The ornate Italian Gardens in the park was to be used as a paratroops guide because the pathways formed a perfect compass. Elaine Smith chairman of Blackpool’s

Civic Trust said: “These maps will be the source of much interest particularly to those who lived here through the Second World War. It had been known that Hitler intended to use Blackpool as his personal playground after what he hoped to be a successful invasion and the war ended.” “We did escape a lot of the bombing despite the fact so many troops were in the town and there were major aircraft manufacturing factories here.” “He probably wanted to keep the resort as it was so he could enjoy it as Chancellor of Britain,” she added. ■ ANI

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Websites of the day

Bottle Buddhists

Songs, styles and history of the pop music girl groups of the early 1960s: www.girl-groups.com Find something for dinner: www.allrecipes.com

A Buddhist temple in Thailand is made out of 1.5million discarded bottles.

Saint Laurent’s art treasures go on the block H Coined the ‘sale of the century’ the three-day auction is expected to fetch up to 300 million euros

undreds of art treasures amassed over half a century by Yves Saint Laurent and his lifelong companion Pierre Berge, go under the hammer Monday in a spectacular farewell to the couture giant. After Saint Laurent’s death last June aged 71, Berge chose to part with the 732 pieces, collected across the world to grace the couple’s apartments and country retreats, from Paris’ Left Bank to sun-kissed Marrakech. One of the world’s great private collections, it takes in masterpieces by Picasso, Mondrian and Matisse, old masters, Art Deco gems, bronzes, enamels and antiques, including two Chinese relics whose planned sale has angered Beijing. Coined the “sale of the century”, the three-day auction is expected to fetch up to 300 million euros (392 million dollars), setting a new record for a private collection and giving a welcome

boost to a depressed global art market. Museum buyers, dealers, collectors, and wealthy art lovers from around the world have snapped up all 1,200 seats at Paris’ Grand Palais, where the works went on show Saturday in a stage-set recreating the couple’s ornate interiors. Sign of Saint Laurent’s iconic status in France, more than 20,000 people queued up to five hours in wintry weather for an once-in-a-lifetime chance to view the eclectic collection, and catch a glimpse into the designer’s life. Berge, a 79-year-old business tycoon and patron of the arts, said in an interview ahead of the sale that the collected artworks “reflect exactly who Yves was, and who I am.” “But the day Yves Saint Laurent died, I decided this collection had run its course,” he said. “It was something we created together. Selling it was the only possible solution.”

Washington gets insight into Arab art

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he largest ever Arab arts festival to be hosted in the US lifts the veil this week on war, traditions and the role of women, just as President Barack Obama has vowed to reach out to the Muslim world. From North Africa to the Levant and the Arabian Gulf, more than 800 musicians, actors, dancers, poets and other artists from the 22-member Arab League will descend on Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts for the three-week Arabesque festival, many making their US debut. Artists old and young, tradi-

tional and modern, span the region’s cultural, religious and political divides, as they seek to challenge prevailing stereotypes of Arab and Muslim people. “The arts are the best tool we have to change how people feel and think about countries and people and the world,” said Arabesque curator Alicia Adams, who spent the past three years visiting 15 Arab countries to seek out the artists. “I wanted to do a festival focusing on this region for quite some time. We presented many international festivals throughout the years, and from this region, I wanted to showcase its beauty and humanity.” The 10-million-dollar festival celebrates tradition with performances like those of the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble or the Sufi trances of the Whirling Dervishes of Aleppo, Syria. ■ AFP

Berge added in the auction catalogue that he hopes “everything that we have loved with so much passion finds a home with other collectors.” Christie’s, which is organising the sale with Berge’s own auction house, sees the event as “a milestone in the history of great auctions”, comparable to a 1987 sale of the Duchess of Windsor’s jewels. Leaving no stone unturned, Christie’s toured star pieces to New York, London and Brussels, while some 600 high-end buyers were offered private viewings inside Saint Laurent’s apartment. Eight auctioneers will be working in shifts at the Grand Palais, with 100 telephone lines installed for buyers. Proceeds will be split between a fund for medical research and the fight against AIDS, and a Berge/Saint Laurent Foundation honouring the designer’s work. ■ AFP

Bison power

쒀 Two bison lock horns in the Bialowieza National Park. Some 800 bison roam freely in the Bialowieza mountains that sit between Poland and Belarus. The animals, distant cousins of the American bison, are considered living miracles after the whole population of 700 beasts was massacred by local poachers and the German divisions present during the First World War. AFP PHOTO / GRZEGORZ JAKUBOWSKI

08 SPORT

ERGO Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Honda says sees no serious buyer Honda Motor Co said on Monday it currently sees no serious buyer for its Formula One team, a sign that Japan’s second-largest automaker may have trouble selling off the team. “There are various offers for the team but we have not seen any serious buyer yet,” Honda chief executive Takeo Fukui told a news conference.

Scope for

improvement Sahara for boxing After its success at the Beijing Olympic Games last year, Indian boxing received a major boost on Monday as Sahara India decided to sponsor 13 boxers. The 13 boxers include five Olympians Vijender, Akhil Kumar, Jitender Kumar, Dinesh Kumar and Antharesh Lakra. While Vijender won a bronze medal, India’s maiden in boxing, Akhil and Jitender came close to sniffing distance of winning Olympic medals at Beijing. “We sincerely hope that there would be more sponsors coming forward to support boxing, boxers as well as the activities of the federation also in the future,” said Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) secretary P K Muralidharan Raja. Sahara India is also the sponsor of the national cricket and hockey teams. IANS

Bucknor to retire Steve Bucknor, who has officiated in more Test and One- Day Ineternational anyone ever, would retire from umpiring at international level next month. The Jamaican will retire from Test cricket after officiating in the third Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town from March 19 to 23. The two upcoming ODIs between the West Indies and England in Barbados will be Bucknor’s last assignments. So far, the Jamaican has officiated in a record 126 Tests and 179 ODIs. “I have notified the ICC that the South Africa versus Australia series will be my last Test series,” Bucknor told Jamaican Gleaner before leaving for South Africa. “The third Test match in Cape Town will be my last Test match,” he said. “The body is feeling quite good and I know I could go on for another two or three years. However, something inside me is telling me that it is time to go,” said Bucknor, who stood in a record five World Cup finals. Bucknor, who was a FIFA referee and is still a respected football coach, said he was looking forward to grooming umpires.

Money a handicap for Team India: Karthikeyan

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ore than the three points he won in Sprint Race, it’s returning empty-handed in Feature Race that rankles Narain Karthikeyan who reckons things would have been different for the A1 GP side with more finance. Karthikeyan ran a spirited race in Sprint, finishing sixth which earned the side three precious points at the Kyalami Circuit. In the subsequent Feature Race, Karthikeyan started 18th on the grid and moved up to the 11th place before eventually finishing 12th.

Problems galore “I’m quite disappointed that we were not able to score points in both races despite being on the pace,” rued the Indian. “The

PTI

PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

disadvantage of starting in 18th place for the Feature Race was very difficult to overcome. Coupled with the fuel pressure problem in the last few laps, it made for a disappointing finish,” he said.

Plus points On the positive side, Karthikeyan said, “However, we showed that we have the pace to run at the front of the field with our sixth place finish in the Sprint race.” The driving ace said

working on a shoe-string budget was a major handicap for the team which has been hit hard after Spice Energy, the previous seat holder, backed out. “We are at a disadvantage to some of the other teams as our financial position is not as strong as theirs and therefore we are not able to have a selection of things like gear-ratios, spring, etc. which could help us to get an optimum setup for the car/circuit combination,” Karthikeyan said. “We are very fortunate to have some backing from the Tata Group but we are hoping that some more corporates in India get behind us and support the national racing team as we go to the next race in six weeks time in Portugal,” he said. ■ PTI

09

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

‘‘Liverpool falters I think a lot of people have made a lot of the wickets the last time they were out here. I think the wickets have improved a lot since then. I don’t think the Indians need to worry about green, seaming wickets.

New Zealand middle order batsman Ross Taylor

United handed a title boost as City draw at Liverpool

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anchester City handed arch rivals Manchester United a significant advantage in the Premier League title race after earning a 1-1 draw at Liverpool. Liverpool could have closed the gap on league leaders United to five points with a victory over City at Anfield on Sunday, but instead they needed Dirk Kuyt’s late equaliser to rescue a draw that left them seven points adrift of Sir Alex Ferguson’s champions. A day that started with the news that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is still refusing to sign a new contract got even worse in the 51st minute when Alvaro Arbeloa deflected Craig Bellamy’s shot into his own net. Kuyt at least stopped Liverpool suffering their first home defeat when he poked home in the 78th minute.

Rocky road ahead Benitez insisted Liverpool can still catch United but even he was forced to concede the task is a lot harder now. “I have confidence that we can still win it, but we must win our next two league games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and then win against Manchester United at Old Trafford,” Benitez said. “Then we may have a different situation. But I just accept that this has been a bad result and it clearly makes it more difficult for us to win the title. We clearly have to win our games and see where that takes us. And clearly Manchester United are playing well and winning games.”

Relegation battle Elsewhere, Newcastle held on for a 0-0 draw at home to Everton despite playing the second half with 10 men. The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 44th minute when Kevin Nolan launched into an ugly studs-up lunge on Everton striker Victor Anichebe, leaving referee Lee Mason with no option but to show a red card to the midfielder. But Everton, who had Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta stretchered off in the first half, lacked the cutting edge required to prise open Newcastle’s defence. A point was a good result for both sides though as it moved Newcastle five points clear of the relegation zone and cemented Everton’s position in sixth place. Fulham striker Bobby Zamora scored for the first time in 21 league matches as the Cottagers defeated struggling West Bromwich Albion 2-0. Zamora, who cost five million pounds from West Ham last year, last hit the net in the Premier League in September and he was finally back on the scoresheet with a close-range finish in the 61st minute. Andy Johnson added the second 11 minutes later after Zamora’s shot was blocked by Scott Carson. Rock bottom Albion’s misery was complete when Roman Bednar’s stoppage time penalty was saved by Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. ■ AFP

Liverpool’s Fernando Torres (front) vies with Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha during their Premier League match at Anfield in Liverpool. PHOTO: AFP

10 FLICK

ERGO Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Top Oscar winners Besides Slumdog Millionaire, 15 other films have won eight or more Oscars: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (11), Titanic (11), Ben-Hur (11), West Side Story (10), The English Patient (9), Gigi (9), Slumdog Millionaire (8), The Last Emperor (9), Amadeus (8), Gandhi (8), Cabaret (8), My Fair Lady (8), On The Waterfront (8) and From Here to Eternity (8) and Gone With The Wind (8).

Slumdog’s day at the Oscars Film picks up 8 Oscars; the top acting honours, however, went to more high-profile A-list actors

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ags-to-riches romance Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars on Sunday, winning eight awards including the prize for best picture in a Hollywood triumph for a movie that almost failed to get released. Among the Slumdog honours, Briton Danny Boyle was named best director for the often dark but ultimately hopeful tale about a poor Indian boy who competes for love and money on a TV game show, and writer Simon Beaufoy won adapted screenplay. Slumdog also earned Oscars for best cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, original score for composer A.R. Rahman and best song, ‘Jai Ho’. Only seven other films in Oscar history have won eight or more awards. “It is a love story, but is heavily disguised,” Boyle told reporters backstage about Slumdog Millionaire. “The spine appears to be the game show but what happens... is as you peel back the spine, there’s another story underneath, which is the love story.” The victory for the underdog movie, as well as upbeat hosting by song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman, injected a more optimistic atmosphere to the Oscars amid the world recession after recent years when dark crime

dramas No Country for Old Men and The Departed won the world’s top film honour. The only arena in which the film seemed bereft of awards was in the acting categories where A-list stars earned the nominations over the relatively unknown cast of Slumdog Millionaire. Kate Winslet was named best actress for her dramatic turn as a former Nazi prison guard who involves herself in a love affair with a teenage boy in The Reader. She fought back tears when accepting her trophy and remembered a time as a child when she dreamed of winning it. “I would be lying if I said I haven’t made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably 8-years-old and staring into the bathroom mirror,” she said. Sean Penn, best known for tough guy roles in movies such as Mystic River, earned his second Oscar for best actor, portraying slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk in Milk. “I did not expect this, and I want to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it for you to appreciate me, often,” he said. “I am touched by the appreciation.” Only last year, Penn appeared to disparage

Winner for Best Movie of the Year producer Christian Colson, for Slumdog Millionaire, gives an acceptance speech at the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California on February 22, 2009. AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS

the Oscars in an interview with French daily Le Monde, describing the awards seasons highlight as a place “where manipulation and very good marketing are rewarded.” Other top honors went to Penelope Cruz who became the first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award for her supporting role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Heath Ledger was posthumously named best supporting actor for his villainous role as The Joker in Batman movie The Dark Knight, becoming only the second performer after Peter Finch to win an Oscar following his death. Ledger’s family took to the stage to collect the tragic star’s best supporting actor honour. “Heath, we both knew what you had created in the Joker was extraordinarily special, and had even talked about being here on this very day,” Ledger’s sister Kate said. “We really wish you were, but we proudly accept this award on behalf of your beautiful daughter Matilda. Thank you,” she added. ■ Agencies

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire. Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire Foreign Film: Departures, Japan Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk Animated Feature Film: WALL-E Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire Sound Editing: The Dark Knight Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman Original Song: Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman and Gulzar Costume: The Duchess Documentary Feature: Man on Wire Documentary (short subject): Smile Pinki Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Animated Short Film: La Maison en Petits Cubes Live Action Short Film: Spielzeugland (Toyland) Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

11

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

‘‘

She made it to six days ago. She left me at a time when, after 18 years, she thought I would be all right. She went to a good place.

‘‘ ‘‘ My kids are too young to remember this, but I swore that if this miracle ever

Best actor nominee Mickey Rourke, who lost out to Sean Penn, about the death of his dog, Loki

Jackman of all trades

I would be lying if I said I haven’t made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror. This (holding her Oscar) would have been a shampoo bottle. Well it’s not a shampoo bottle now. Kate Winslet, accepting her best actress Oscar for ’The Reader’

happened, I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, so that’s what that was about. Danny Boyle, explaining why he jumped at the podium when he accepted the best director award for ’Slumdog Millionaire’

Singer Byonce performs with actor Hugh Jackman at the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California. AFP PHOTO

A

ustralian actor Hugh Jackman, the first non-comedian to host the Oscars in more than two decades, brought some Broadway glitz to the Academy Awards telecast on Sunday, presiding over a show leavened with song and dance. The Tony Award-winning stage performer, best known as comic book action hero Wolverine from the X-Men movies, put his talents as a Broadway veteran to the test as he opened the show with a campy musical salute to all five films vying for best picture. He was joined by best actress nominee Anne Hathaway – Jackman literally carried her to the stage – for a gender-bending duet poking fun at Frost/Nixon.

Oscar organisers turned to Jackman (40) in a bid to breathe new life into a live telecast that has slumped in the ratings in recent years. He is the first noncomedian to serve as solo Oscar host since Jack Lemmon in 1985. In another break with tradition, the four acting awards were presented by ensembles of previous winners, each paying a personal tribute to one of this year’s nominees. While Oscar producers promised a departure from the usual format, Jackman’s turn as emcee was not without the usual banter of his comic predecessors. Poking fun at Meryl Streep, who earned a record 15th career nomination for her work in

Doubt, he said: “I hate to say it but when someone puts up numbers like that, it’s just hard not to think: steroids.” Jackman’s first joke of the night came at his own expense, saying he is an Australian playing an Australian character in his latest film, Australia. “Because of the recession, everything is being downsized,” he said, deadpanning that, “Next year, I’ll be starring in a movie called New Zealand.” Jackman later took the stage in top hat and tails for a medley saluting Hollywood musicals, joined by singer-actress Beyonce, and several cast members from High School Musical and Mamma Mia! ■ Reuters

‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘ You’re an amazing example for every young actress in this business, because you are not afraid to show both your dark and your bright side. This is your first nomination. I have a feeling there will be many more after this. And by the way, I think you have an extraordinay voice. So keep singing, too.

Shirley MacLaine on Anne Hathaway. During the show, Hathaway accompanied host Hugh Jackman in a duet parodying Frost/Nixon

When I started, Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn were my idols. Brad Pitt, speaking about his fellow nominees for best actor as he arrived with partner and actress Angelina Jolie

You commie, homo-loving sons of guns. I didn’t expect this. Sean Penn, after winning the best actor Oscar for ’Milk’

12

ERGO Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Monday’s Query: Your favourite lecturer’ quotes from college days. ■ Nalla padicha than naama mela povam.

Senthil, Wipro

■ Internal mark is in our hand, mind it. Hashim, Allsec

■ I don’t need 100% perfection, I need 200% perfection. T.A.Krishnakumar, HCL

■ Attendance taken, back bench boys can go now. Vinoj, Allsec, Sankar S, RSystems

■ International Who who.. How how .. I know says our metal finishing dept. staff of GCT. Gopu, HCL

■ Urupadave maateengada. Ram, HCL

■ Unless or otherwise you work hard its difficult to pass the subject. S.Ramesh, FDC

rathirilaya yeruma maadu theriyapogudu. Suchi, Wipro

■ Mutually we can teach, learn & share everything in this world. But understanding, involving & realizing these things is upto individual. R.Nagarajan, InfoView Technologies

■ Money is not a big thing in life, but earn enough money before speaking such nonsense. Asath Kani M, TCS

■ Last bench guys get out from the class. Mohan Kumar, TCS

■ College mudicha appuram, unnayellaam, nai kooda seendadhu’

Deepthi, Sudha, and Dede from Wipro Technologies have nominated their team as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at Munnar.

Dilipkumar, Infosys

■ I talk. He talk. Why you middle talk? My IT HOD for interfering while he was talking to another student in the class. Ashok, Wipro

■ Don’t say yes when you want to say no. Balaji N, DPIBPL

■ Neer adichu neer vilaguma ? Naan adicha unaku valikuma? Devan, CSS

■ ’C’ we are ’Cing’ ’C’. Isn’t it? All listening? Vijay, TCS

■ This is "the worst" batch we have ever had and they used to tell the same to our seniors and juniors. Arjun Gaonkar, Suree, TCS

■ The naais (Dogs) are making noise, not the boys [my maths sir used to tell this when the students make noise].

■ Olunga padicha nalla mark kidaikum. Nalla mark erundha nalla vela kidaikum. Illati enna madhiri dhan kastapadanum. Rajasekar, TCS

■ All go to your class our vice principal is rotating. Usha, Ford

■ Still you are in surface level.

Swaminathan, Reflexis

■ Nee yellam veliya poi picha than yedupa Mohanapriya M, TCS

■ Nee yellam panni meika than laki. Unga appakita soli naalu panni vangi meikalam. Karthi VR, CSS

■ Unaku pagallaye pasu maadu theriyala

Velmurugan N from Ramco Systems has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at Kodaikanal.

Yuvaraj, Technip

■ Ippa theriyathu da. Pinadi feel pannuveenga. S.Jegannath, Technip

Today’s Query: Your congratulatory messages for Indians who have won the Oscars’

Kannan from Allsec Technologies has nominated his friends in Partners of Crime. This pic was clicked at MGM.

13

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Gurunathan a.k.a. Guru of American Megatrends India Pvt. Ltd., Chennai has been nominated as Office Angel by Sivaraman and Salim. He is a dedicated network specialist. He is well known for his humorous problem solving skills. Guru always seeks new things to quench his technical appetite

■ Dear Saurabh Gupta.K "On your birthday we wish you much pleasure and joy; We hope all of your wishes come true. May each hour and minute be filled with delight, And your birthday be perfect for you!" Best Wishes from Actuary Team Tata Consultanvy Services

■ Dear Adam Sending you belated birthday wishes. May your joy last through the year!! God bless you!!! Friends, New Age Software and Solutions.

■ Bonjour PrasaDevi, Peeping out to check whether anyone has sent message! Once again MVSN team wishes you a very “Happy First Wedding Anniversary Day”. May your bonds of matrimony strengthen, Holding strong amidst any fears. And may our friendship stay untarnished, Through the wearing of the years.

Art featured in this column will receive gift coupons from Fruit Shop on Greams Road. Send in your addresses so that we can post the coupons.

Regards CTS MVSN Team

Deepan Nalachandrasekaran of TCS doodled this.

■ Hi Anusha, Wish you many more happy returns of the day! May the coming years bring lots of happiness and cherish in your life.Let the god decorate each golden ray of the sun reaching u with wishes of sucess, happiness and prosperity 4 u. Regards, Sankar, TCS, Chennai.

■ Dear On your birthday we wish you much pleasure and joy; we hope all of your wishes come true. May each hour and minute be filled with delight, and your birthday be as perfect as you are!!!

1.One day mid-night, A person walking in the forest with soap. Do u know y? HAMAM irukka bayam yen???? 2. Amma: Ethukku da appa pera paper_la Ezuthi fridge_la Vecha..?? Son: Nee thana ma appa pera kedama Pathukkanum nu sonne, athaan… Shiva kumar . A, Accenture Services Pvt. Ltd.,

With Regards Bhavna, Deepa, Sweety, Abirami, Deepika, Sandhya, Lavanya, Deepan Tata Consultancy Services

14 TRAFFIC JAM

ERGO Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Barking mad A Chinese man was shocked to discover that the pet dog he had raised from a pup was actually a wolf.

sudoku

Harita P. of TCS clicked this picture in North Sikkim. Hobbies: Playing flute, designing, music

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15

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Pig rescue

Word’s worth

A pet pig saved its own bacon by jumping in the bath after it burned its owner’s house down in Sweden.

“Omophagy” (oh-mah-fuh-jee) the eating of raw food, especially raw meat. The word was originally used in reference to feasts for the Greek god Bacchus, at which raw flesh was eaten. It comes from the Greek for ‘raw.’

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 You will be more concerned about work and related matters. In order to finish off your work in time, you may put in lot of effort. In case of love relationships, you might have to put in lots of efforts.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 It may be an easygoing day for you. You may be taking everything very easy. For important work, you may expect other people’s assistance. In love relationships, you may remain possessive or overdemanding.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 You will not be in a mood to put in extra efforts at workplace as you may be feeling low, physically or mentally. If you are willing to take a decision related to career, Ganesha shows you red-signal. You may expect your life partner to love you more.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 The day is not much in your favour hence you are suggested to remain as cool and calm as possible. If you will take up more than activities at once, you may fail to handle so go step by step. Your spouse may display lot of love and care.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 Things that you are generally able to finish in ’no time’ will take little more time to finish. You may be dealing with lots of tasks which need to be done ’as soon as possible’. In personal life, you may sound very cold to your life partner or beloved.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

It is relatively a hassle free day for you. Ganesha foresees you handling your work very easily. This is perfect day to develop new professional skills. It’s best day to propose someone, as you will be able to express your emotions very nicely.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 You will not be able to handle your work very efficiently today. Be extra careful while drafting emails for, there are chances of some misgivings in written communications. You may be very much concerned about those whom you love the most.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 It is the day to deal with lot of mental and intellectual hard work. Today you will either be attending important meetings or exchanging emails with important people. Your spouse or beloved may surprise you by doing something unusual.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 Despite your effort to finish off routine work faster at office, you may not be able to finish desired work. If you are patient and prudent, you will be able to finish off considerable amount of work. Love life may be very smooth.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 It is day to decide deadlines and delegate work to others. You may expect everyone else to put in more and more effort for you yourself are very charged up today. Your complete concentration is on work. Love life may remain charming.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 You should not expect anything great out of this day as you may be dealing with lot of pending work and error rectification today. Your subordinates would not be very supporting. In short, it’s a day to handle difficulties.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 At office, superiors will appreciate your efforts. You will be handling high responsibility job or you may be assigned some new work. You may be very practical in your approach towards everything in general. In love life, you may remain touchy. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 !

One look is all takes Snapshots from the 81st Academy Awards at Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California

ERGO Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Best Actress Nominee Meryl Streep (L) and Italian actress Sophia Loren (R) arrive at the 81st Academy Awards. AFP PHOTO/ ROBYN BECK

Slumdog Millionaire lead actors Dev Patel (R) and Freida Pinto arrive at the 81st Academy Awards. AFP PHOTO / JEWEL SAMAD

Best Actor winner Sean Penn (C), Best Actress winner Kate Winslet (L) and Best Supporting Actress winner Penelope Cruz (R) pose with their trophies. AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON