Ergo June23

A BYTE OF LIFE

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

02 MAMMA MIA! Now in Chennai FREE CIRCULATION

Vol. 3

No. 116

DECIBEL

DEMONS Wimbledon 2009 will see the grunter’s club in action with Maria Sharapova leading the pack. At 101 decibels, Sharapova’s grunts can at times match even the King of the Jungle. But she is sure to have some stiff competition this year.

» PAGE 08

Two cases of swine flu detected in city Health Department has confirmed two cases of swine flu virus from The Chennai alone. A couple, said to be of 29 and 25 years of age, were flying down from North Carolina to the city with symptoms of (A) H1NI infection. On June 18, they were admitted to the Communicable Disease Hospital, Tondiarpet. Later their test reports were sent to National Institute of Communicable Diseases, New Delhi and National Institute of Virology, Pune. Two days later the National Institute of Virology confirmed the test report positive. The couple have been put on Tamiflu. The health officials seem to have gotten more alert on the swine flu virus. Of the 13 patients referred to the Communicable Disease Hospital, two have been tested positive. Also, 61 passengers have been referred by the aviation authorities on similar grounds. ■ Ergo Correspondent

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Flights of fantasy Artist Anshu Pancholi’s works are on display till June 30 at Tangerine, 5, Murrays Gate Road, Alwarpet. Her compositions emanate a visible dichotomy: form and space, matter and content, technique and idea, reality and dream. Ph: 24355834/ 42110888.

Chennaiyil Mamma Mia! Boy falls while flying kite, dies A 15-year-old boy, who fell from a terrace while flying a kite on Sunday evening, succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Kodungaiyur police identified the deceased as R. Santhosh, a Class X student from Sriperambudur. He was on a visit to his uncle’s place in Eveready Colony, Kodungaiyur when the tragedy struck him. Santhosh was flying a kite from the terrace of the two-storey house when he suddenly slipped. The grievously injured boy was rushed to a nearby hospital by his uncle and neighbours. Since Santhosh suffered severe head injuries he was taken to the Government General Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds in the night, police said. Kodungaiyur police have registered a case and are investigating.

Varalaxmi, actor Sarathkumar’s daughter, makes her stage debut in Mamma Mia!. Jeffery Vardon’s Hot Shoe Entertainment Company will be staging the play in Chennai and other metros

Body found floating in Cooum The body of an unidentified boy, believed to be two years of age, was found floating in the Cooum river in Egmore on Monday morning. According to Egmore police, around 10.30 a.m. eye-witness spotted the corpse floating near Chitra Theatre in Egmore. Police alerted Fire and Rescue Services personnel who later fished out the body. An investigation is underway on whether the child’s death was a case of drowning or murder.

ERGO CORRESPONDENT [email protected]

“D

ancing is my passion. Be it Bharatanatyam, jazz or hip-hop. It’s an art with no limits, wherever and whichever form it is in. And I am very excited that I got the opportunity to take the art in different forms around the world,” says Varalaxmi, daughter of actor R. Sarathkumar. Though her debut movie with actor Silambarasan is still under production, Varalaxmi is all set to make her first stage appearance as a dancer in namma Chennai with Mamma Mia!, the famous Greek fable-based musical, which she is also co-producing with choreographer Jeffery Vardon. On the musical’s 10th anniversary, Jeffery Vardon’s Hot Shoe Entertainment Company will be staging the musical in Chennai and other metros of India for the first time. The dance drama is based on the musical hits of Swedish pop group Abba. In 2008, Mamma Mia! was also made into a feature film that starred Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Amanda Seyfried in lead roles. The storyline of Mamma Mia! revolves around a daughter who goes in search of her father after she stumbles upon her mother’s diary that talks about the three men in her life. Varalaxmi, who started dancing at the age of seven, is working with Hot Shoe Entertainment

Plans are on to include some numbers of A.R. Rahman and maestro Ilaiyaraja at our performances abroad and spread the fame of Indian music Company since the past eight years. “This production is like my baby and I have given it my complete time and attention. The audience can be assured it’s going to be one memorable event,” she said during the production’s launch on Saturday. Timothy Madhukar, who is reworking the music, has maintained the originality of Abba tracks except for a few changes in the tempo. The songs are sung on stage by Poppy Murali, Swapna Abraham and Kavitha, among others. Mithran Devanesan will direct the play. Jeffery, who is quite excited about the show, said, “I am hooked to Mamma Mia! ever since I saw it and I must thank Sarathkumar who told me I should stage the show when he saw our production Jesus Christ Super Star in 2005.” The rehearsals are being held at O2 Health Studio, Nungambakkam. Actor Sarathkumar, who was one among the audience during the launch, said, “As a dad I have given complete moral support to my daughter and as an artiste I

Tears of pride: Sarathkumar hugging daughter Varalaxmi have shared some ideas out of my experience in the industry.” The crew will perform two shows in the city on July 4 and 5 at Music Academy. The team is planning to perform the same show abroad with the same crew. But they are keen on taking Indian music abroad. “While performing in Chennai we plan to include only jazz and western styles in the composition. But while performing abroad we will concentrate on Indian dance styles. Plans are on to include some numbers of A.R. Rahman and maestro Ilaiyaraja at our performances abroad and spread the fame of Indian music,” adds Varalaxmi. ■

03

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Where a million melodies reside

1979 – Saptaswara was started as a 200 sqft. shop 1996 – Grew into 1500 sqft. 2000 – Saptaswara goes online www.saptaswara.in 2006 – The first floor was built

Saptaswara Musicals is the first musical instruments store in Mylapore, the hub of carnatic music in namma Chennai. Natwar Lal, an avid guitarist himself, stocks more than a 100 different kinds of instruments at the store. ANUSHA PARTHASARATHY [email protected]

C

ulture-rich Mylapore with its plethora of kutcheris acquired its first branded musical instruments store Saptaswara Musical in 1979 when guitarist Natwar Lal decided to turn his hobby into profession. The shop, which was just 200 sq. ft. back then, selling both western and Indian instruments, is today a two-storey 3,000 sq. ft. store that’s a one-stop-shop for all musicians, amateurs and professionals alike. Natwar Lal, whose cousin Haricharan Das runs Musee Musicals, took a leaf out of his book and decided to jump into the business. He named his shop Saptaswara to blend in with the carnatic feel that Mylapore is best known for. “In 1979, it was difficult to make a business out of selling instruments. There weren’t too many Indian musicians who would buy from a new store and even fewer western musicians. But we started it in Mylapore because it was thriving with music and we felt it had a lot of potential,” he explains. The store soon began to attract

the crowds. Newbies and amateur musicians frequented the place and for a while, due to space constraints they moved to a slightly bigger store in Sullivan Garden Road. Later in 1996, after renovating the original shop making it bigger, Natwar came back to the original store. They now sell more than a hundred different kinds of instruments. “When the shop was small, we could barely stock a hundred instruments in all. We sold only Indian brands then. But when we renovated and made it a bigger place to about 1,500 sq. ft., the variety of instruments we sold grew. Our western instruments are all imported and we have the all the best bands in the market now. Yamaha, Gibson, Fender ... you name it, we have it,” says Nikhil Murali, Natwar’s son. Saptaswara musicals was a pioneer in marketing electrical music instruments like the shruthi box, tambura and tabla. They also introduced the portable acoustic veena to the city. A few years back, they also began a western classical music school. The Saptaswara Service Centre was then started to help service instruments. Knowing well the growing demand for Indian in-

struments abroad, the store went online in 2000. They courier the equipments to overseas clients via FedEx. Natwar Lal, who was constantly aware of the space constraints again due to the booming business, renovated the showroom once more in 2006. The showroom now displays Indian instruments on the ground floor and western instruments on the first floor. “More youngsters are getting into the music industry now and the business is good. We usually get good sales during the music season though last year it was a little dull due to the bomb threats and terrorist attacks. Because youngsters these days know exactly what they want, we replenish our stocks every month to keep ourselves updated,” Nikhil continues. Nikhil is an MBA graduate who, like his father, is a musician and plays the guitar and the piano. He now helps his father run the business. Their immediate future plans involve opening a second branch sometime this year. ■ Made in Chennai is a column that showcases the evolution of home-grown businesses that began when the city was Madras.

Natwar Lal and his son Nikhil Murali at the Saptaswara Musicals store at Royapettah High Road, Mylapore. PHOTO: S.S.KUMAR

04 KALEIDOSCOPE

ERGO Tuesday, June 23, 2009

‘‘

If we could have one do-over I would probably say I would start sooner on search. Sometimes the error you make is what you don’t do and don’t see. Our mistake wasn’t that we didn’t see the technology change coming; we didn’t see the business change coming Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer

Technology snippets sourced from T3 magazine of Infomedia18 Group The details

THE DETAILS 1.Versatile player DVDs aside, it can play DivX movies directly from an USB flash drive and upscale them to 1080p hi-def for home cinemas 2. Power play The four satellites are not only small and stylish, but at 142W each, they are powerful too!

PERFORMANCE Expect the 18inch woofer with 140W RMS to pack in enough punch and the five dinky satellites can dole out 725W of engrossing surround sound FEATURES This upscaling DVD system comes with HDMI and is capable of 1080p output. Portable Audio Enhancer, Dolby and DTS sound processing modes are built-in, so there’s no need of an external AV receiver

T

he Sony DAV-DZ290 stuns us. Just take a look at the price! And the whole tech load to make it totally Bravia. 850W RMS, Dolby and DTS surround modes, and a Portable Audio Enhancer for that pure, blissful audio nirvana. But the coolest is the USB movie playback, which allows users to insert a USB drive loaded with MP3s, pictures or DivX files to play over the home theater system. It even upscales standard-def to 1080p. Perfect to set the tune of having your very own HBO. Rs 16,990, www.sony.co.in

USB MODE It also has a USB port using which DivX movies, MP3s or JPEGs can be played directly on a Hi-def telly without the need to burn them to a CD or DVD

A View Point Projectors are more fun than they’re cheap. But ViewSonic is set to ease the pain with this one. At 2.3kg, the new PJD5111 is not only an entrepreneur’s dream beamer with all the goods — a native 800x600 SVGA resolution, two RGB inputs and an RGB output. It also features direct power off that shuts it down once unplugged, without the need to wait for the lamp cools down, and an Eco Mode that ensures up to 4000 hrs of extra lamp life and reduce noise output. Neat, we say. Rs 37,000, www.viewsonic.com

A SPECTACLE Think lenses are cooler than glasses, think again. Or rather, look again at Ray Ban’s new collection. Inspired by the club culture of the ‘50s, these trendy pairs, nicknamed Clubmaster with their electric colours and retro-design are all set to redefine fashion that is restrained yet sophisticated.So now choose your own shade and angles to match your mood and taste. So what’s the mood today? Rs 6,160, www.ray-ban.com/India

Compact sound If you’re looking to add decent audio to your lounge without cluttering the place with towering speakers and cables, these are your answer. Despite measuring 10x10cm, Monitor Audio’s R45HD speakers feature the same driver as the company’s much larger efforts, and they come in a snazzy choice of colours. Rs 13,500 per pair, www.monitoraudio.co.uk

05

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Humyo’s new service Humyo is making its online storage capacity available for users of Macs and smartphones. The storage system for computers using the Mac OS X system remains a test version, reported the operator of the website, www.humyo.de The new mobile function allows smartphone users to access stored data and account information from anywhere.

Rivals challenge Apple’s iPhone I n the roughly two years since the launch of the iPhone, Apple has done a good job of shaking up the mobile phone industry. While many have tried to imitate the now iconic device, none have succeeded yet in seriously challenging the iPhone in terms of reputation and lasting popularity. A new spate of serious challengers has recently entered the market, however, meaning that the chase is back on. The new Palm Pre from smartphone specialist Palm is generally viewed in the industry as a strong iPhone competitor. The device received a good deal of positive press prior to its recent release in an exclusive distribution deal with cellular service provider Sprint. The Pre offers several benefits compared with the iPhone, starting with its ability to run multiple programs at once. Another major selling point: a real hardware keyboard to accompany the virtual one. However, the Pre did have to launch without anywhere near the critical mass of applications now available through Apple’s App Store. The G1 from HTC hit the market some time ago as the first phone running Google’s Android operating system. Some saw in it the potential to challenge the iPhone for its crown. Yet it never awakened the wave of enthusiasm that the iPhone did. The Taiwanese manufacturer is now releasing its second Android phone, the HTC Magic, to be followed shortly thereafter by Sam-

sung’s “Galaxy,” that company’s first Android cell. All of the devices are designed for direct access to the internet and feature applications from Google, like Maps and Gmail. Because Android is an open source operating system, developers can program their own applications for download from the “Android Market,” akin to the App Store. Canadian hardware maker BlackBerry boasted a 19.9 per cent market share in a recent report from Gartner, putting it significantly ahead of Apple. The Blackberry started out as a tool for power business users who wanted direct access to their corporate email and demanded a classic keyboard. The BlackBerry Storm was the manufacturer’s first attempt at a device with a virtual keyboard only. The 9500, a successor to the Storm, is expected in the coming months. With 41.2 per cent of the smartphone market, Finnish phone maker Nokia is still listed as the overall leader in Gartner’s rankings. Yet the company has also come under criticism for reacting too slowly to the smartphone trend and for losing its role as a trendsetter. The company hopes to turn it all around with the Nokia N97, featuring a touch screen display and sliding keyboard. Like its competitors, the N97 focuses on mobile Internet use. With updates for Nokia’s NGage gaming platform, the smartphone also works as a gaming console. ■

Apple’s iPhone 3G S promises to be the most powerful iPhone to date, twice as fast as its predecessor and featuring a 3-megapixel camera, video recording, longer battery life and hands-free voice control “S” for speed: Latest iPhone packs 600MHz processor and 256MB memory, as opposed to 412MHz and 128MB of older model Camera: Up from 2 to 3 megapixels. Includes autofocus and capture / edit of VGA video at 30 frames per second Connectivity Supports 7.2Mbps mobile broadband network for faster data speeds Graphics Upgraded chip for faster, betterlooking graphics in games and applications Cost: $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB). Price of old iPhone 3G (8GB) dropped to Source: Apple Inc.

$99

Design: New phone slightly heavier, uses greener materials. Screen has fingerprintresistant coating New apps Digital compass. Voice control for making calls and playing tracks Battery: 5hrs 3G talk time, 9hrs WiFi internet use, 10hrs video, 30hrs audio Software: Over 100 new features such as Cut, Copy and Paste, MMS messaging, Spotlight Search, landscape keyboard and Find My iPhone service if phone is lost Existing iPhone 3G users will pay premium to upgrade © GRAPHIC NEWS

New innovation

DPA

쒀 A Tomy employee displays 6cm long micro robot pets called "MicroPets-i", shaped as dogs, cats, bears and pandas, which are equipped with optical and touch sensors, enabling them to follow an object or move to avoid obstacles, at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo. PHOTO: AFP

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Free drinks to staff abusers A bar is Spain is encouraging its customers to insult its staff - by offering free drinks to the funniest abusers.

Emma Watson turns designer Harry Potter star Emma Watson is trying her hand at designing a clothing range. The actress who was unveiled earlier this month as the new face of British fashion house Burberry, after previously modelling for French couture brand Chanel is now releasing her own designs for teenagers, reports imdb.com. Watson will also donate her proceeds from the collections to the children’s charity UNICEF. “She’s been getting advice from her fashion designer pals like Karl Lagerfeld,” said a source. IANS

Kasab asked to stop laughing or face Dara Singh The lone surviving gunman behind the Mumbai terror attacks, Ajmal Amir Kasab, has been reprimanded by lawyers for laughing during the court proceedings, and recently a lawyer asked him to be serious or else he would call Dara Singh. He has drawn reprimands from the lawyers for laughing, although they have also nicknamed him “the short one” and occasionally joke with him. On Thursday, when he was laughing at their banter, prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam turned to him and said: “Don’t laugh. Be serious. Otherwise I will call Dara Singh,” a reference to the legendary Indian wrestler often invoked by parents to keep their children quiet. Kasab laughed even more. ANI

S Korea plans college course for retirees A prestigious university in rapidly ageing South Korea is preparing to launch courses to help senior citizens get the most out of retirement, officials said on Monday. The plan was unveiled by Seoul National University chief Lee Jang-Moon last week at a meeting with his counterpart from the University of Tokyo, school officials said, adding a pilot programme is due as early as this autumn. It will initially be a short-term course but eventually develop into an academic degree programme, they said. The university currently runs non-degree courses for the general public but not a programme exclusively for retirees. “It is time to research how to spend a fruitful postretirement period,” Lee was quoted as saying last week. After years of promoting family planning in the crowded nation of 48.6 million, South Korea in recent years has become increasingly alarmed at its ageing society. AFP

Wills-Kate wedding on the cards Prince William is reportedly taking girlfriend Kate Middleton to meet Queen Elizabeth II, fuelling reports they might tie the knot soon. Kate has apparently been invited to the Queen’s traditional break in Balmoral and will spend the weekend with her royal beau there. The 27-year-old was said to have first met the Monarch at her grandson Peter Philip’s wedding last May and her invitation to the Highland retreat would be seen as significant. “Kate loves shooting so she will fit in well with the Royal Family. She will take it in her stride,” News of the World quoted a source as saying. ANI

Murray credits girlfriend for his success

Y

oung tennis ace Andy Murray has put his success down to his gorgeous girlfriend of four years Kim Sears. Credited with turning the petulant teenager into a potential Wimbledon champion, 21-year-old Sears is regarded as an essential part of Murray’s life. Sears is about to finish an English literature degree at Sussex University and has ambitions of a career in publishing.

Andy Murray with his girlfriend Kim Sears.

PHOTO: AFP

“When we get together we’ve always got something to talk about, and the relationship always seems a bit fresher,” the News of the World quoted Andy as saying. The couple have just moved into a 5.45 million pounds mansion in Surrey with their border terrier Maggie. “I’m lucky. I know Kim isn’t with me because I’m in the spotlight. When we met I was playing qualifiers,” Andy said. “She also understands the life of a tennis player because

her dad (famed tennis coach Nigel Sears) is so closely involved with the sport.” “I’m not much help with her English course, though - having read only a bit of The Rock’s autobiography and a couple of Harry Potter books but when she did drama I used to help her with her lines. “I had to try and speak a bit of Shakespeare . . . Measure for Measure, she said it was . . . but I had no idea what I was talking about,” he added. ■ ANI

07

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Word’s worth

Ship baby given life travel

Catch up with your favourite TV theme tunes of yesteryear: http://www.tvtunesonline.com/ Get back at your office nemesis: http://jobs.aol.com/article/_a/eight-rules-for-dealing-with-youroffice/20050808 184809990124

A baby that was born on a passenger ferry travelling between Stockholm’s and Tallinn has been granted a lifetime of free travel by Estonian shipping line Tallink.

And the BBC show’s mystery driver is... Michael Schumacher revealed as ‘Stig’

A

fter years of keeping his identity secret, former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has revealed he is “The Stig,” the anonymous professional test car driver from BBC motoring show Top Gear. Each episode of the cult show, which has been sold to television channels around the world, sees “The Stig” whizzing around test tracks in powerful cars wearing a white jumpsuit with his features hidden by a white crash helmet. The original “Stig” was axed from the show after British racing-car driver Perry McCarthy revealed his identity in an autobiography in 2002. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson pretended not to recognise him at first, asking him what he used to do before he became famous as the “Stig,” but then excitedly shouted to the studio audience: “It’s Michael Schumacher!” , Formula One’s most successful driver and seven-times world champion. In January, media reports had claimed “Stig” was Ben Collins, who featured as a stuntman in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. The show is shown in more than 100 countries worldwide. ■ Reuters/AFP PHOTO: AFP

Woman gets messages from above S hari Arison, Israel’s richest woman and the controlling shareholder of the country’s second-largest bank, said in a televised interview she receives messages “from above” and sees things before they happen. “For many years I’ve received messages, you could call them transmissions or messages. I see many things before they happen,” Arison said in an interview with Israel’s Channel Two. “Apparently I got this gift to see ahead of time, not in order to run and buy and sell to make more money but to lead the world elsewhere.” “There are many people who get messages in this world. With me it works either through a picture, a word or in my sleep, all kinds of ways,” she said. “I receive them directly from above,” she added, gesturing with her hands. Arison said that two years ago she got a message that

there would be an economic crisis and people would go crazy. But she said she believes the world is moving toward redemption. “How long it will take isn’t clear. Before the big light the great darkness comes, and I think we are in the period of darkness,” she said. ■ Reuters

Aqua guard

쒀 A man walks his dog along the flooded banks of a port in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian province. PHOTO: AFP

08 SPORT

ERGO Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Armstrong wins in California Lance Armstrong won the Nevada City Classic on Sunday, holding off teammate Levi Leipheimer in the challenging one-day race in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Armstrong finished a repeated 1.1-mile (1.8-kilimeter) circuit through the historic mining town in 1 hour, 28 minutes and 20 seconds, sprinting away with about six laps to go on the hilly course.

Schumacher revealed

Lioness: Sharapova’s grunts just rank nine decibels less than the king of the jungle.

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher was on Sunday unveiled as “the Stig”, the mystery man who test drives cars on British cult motoring show Top Gear. The identity of the white-clad driver is kept a closely guarded secret, but Schumacher, who was Formula One world drivers’ champion seven times, finally revealed himself in the first of a new series of the show on Sunday night. Former Formula One driver Perry McCarthy was Top Gear’s original Stig, who dressed all in black during the first two series. The show is shown in more than 100 countries worldwide. AFP

Afridi may become Pak’s next T20 skipper Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who after guiding Pakistan to the Twenty20 World Cup title in Sunday’s final expressed willingness to lead the national team at least once before calling it quit. And he may soon get the opportunity. The dream of Afridi, who cracked an unbeaten 40-ball 54 to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets at the Lord’s, may come true after Younis Khan stepped down as the T20 skipper. Having regained his sublime touch with the bat and his bowling already being a potent weapon, Afridi is now most likely to succeed Younis as the T20 skipper. “For the time being Shoaib Malik is ruled out of contention for captaincy at any level and the way Afridi has performed and handled new found responsibilities as a senior player, he is certain to become the Pakistan captain for T20 cricket,” one Pakistan Cricket Board official said. If Afridi comes at the helm of country’s T20 squad, his first assignment will be the one-off match against Sri Lanka on August 12 during their tour to the island nation. And indications are that Afridi will also be taking over as Pakistan’s ODI captain if Younis decides to play the Test matches only.

Game, set a

Wimbledon faces noise pollution

PTI

Goodbye T20, welcome WC 2011 Even after becoming the second Pakistani captain to win a World Cup with the Twenty20 format triumph, Younis Khan is not a satisfied man and now wants to emulate Imran Khan by winning the 50-over World title in 2011. Sources close to Younis said that he decided to quit Twenty20 cricket for star all-rounder Shahid Afridi to take the skipper’s mantle in the shortest format but he is not in a mood to stand down from the ODI captaincy. “Younis is a very straightforward character so he has decided to quit Twenty20 cricket and leave it to the youngsters with (Shahid) Afridi in charge. But Younis is dead serious about captaining the team to take a shot at 2011 World Cup title,” the source said. According to sources, Younis was not being able to assert his authority in the beginning of Twenty20 World Cup because of problems among senior team members, similar to what happened in 1992 over late inclusion of star batsman Javed Miandad, which was the reason behind Pakistan losing the early matches. It is no secret that when Younis replaced Shoaib Malik as captain in February after Pakistan lost its home one-day series to Sri Lanka, some of the leading players were not happy with the change. Younis reportedly faced problems in getting cooperation from players including Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt and even wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal. PTI

Heir apparent: Portuguese Michelle Larcher De Brito’ss decibel level is still unconfirmed, but her opponents testify her to be close to the Queen.

09

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

‘‘

I dedicate this victory to Gopi Sir and my parents for their cooperation right through my career. Winning tournaments at this level is not easy. That is why I cannot say that I will repeat my performance in the Malaysian Open. Saina Nehwal

is time for something to be done,” she said at an awards ceremony in Paris earlier this month. Jimmy Connors grunted his way to eight grand slam victories in the 1970s and 80s. Ivan Lendl complained that Andre Agassi’s grunting put him off. Today female players are under the spotlight as “decibel demons”.

Sex appeal A lion’s roar is reckoned to reach 110 decibels. Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, who says she grunted since the age of four and cannot help it, has been measured at 101. At her pre-Wimbledon news conference on Saturday, the first question to Sharapova was about grunting. She was asked to comment on former champion Michael Stich saying that women players should not grunt because it was not sexy and sex appeal was the main attraction of women’s tennis. “No, I don’t have an opinion on that,” she replied crisply. Also

and grunt

probed about her grunting, which has been measured at 88.9 decibels, 10-times grand slam champion Williams said it was “definitely not conscious. Sometimes I am so zoned I don’t grunt, sometimes I’m so zoned that I do grunt”.

School of grunting? Larcher de Brito was trained at the Florida academy of Nick Bollettieri, who nurtured such grand slam champions as Sharapova, Seles and Agassi. He says his academy has never encouraged grunting but argues that it does help players to release energy and stay focused. This is the perfect opportunity for British tabloid newspapers to plug in their courtside “gruntometers” once more and wax lyrical with noise metaphors about police sirens, aircraft taking off and bull elephants bellowing. Wimbledon officials, meanwhile, will be all ears. “We will be monitoring the situation. We work together with the International Tennis Federation and other grand slams on this issue,” a tournament spokesman said.

Rule book The rules of the game state: “If the player is hindered on the point by a deliberate act of the opponent, the player shall win the point”. Wimbledon umpires will need to decide if the player is grunting on purpose. The ball is firmly in their court. ■ Reuters

M

artina Navratilova thinks it is cheating, Serena Williams does not even know she is doing it and now there is a Portuguese teenager who appears to cry out in agony when she hits the ball. Grunting is back on the tennis agenda at the world’s most famous tournament, which starts on Monday, and the big noise at Wimbledon could be 16-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito. At the French Open, her opponent Aravane Rezai complained about the racket across the net, telling the umpire it was distracting her. Unrepentant as she heads into Wimbledon’s first round as a wild card, Larcher de Brito has said grunting is “just something I have done always since I started playing tennis. I am going to keep on doing it because it is really part of my game”.

Call for a ban Nine-times Wimbledon champion Navratilova, who found the grunting of Monica Seles off-putting, feels tennis officials should take a stand. “The grunting has reached an unacceptable level. It is cheating pure and simple and it

Shriek freak: Monica Seles is still a close second to Sharapova in ‘grantometer’.

Yell boy: Andre Agassi was one of the few male proponents of the art.

The Grunters Lion’s roar 110 Maria Sharapova 101 Monica Seles 93.2 Serena Williams 88.9 Lindsay Davenport 88 Venus Williams 85 Victoria Azarenka 83.5 Elena Bovina 81 Anna Kournikova 78.5 Kim Clijsters 75 Elena Dementieva 73

10 FLICK

ERGO Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Wolverine breaks record Hugh Jackman starrer X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which released Friday, has grossed around Rs.75 million ($1.5 million) in its opening weekend in India. Having already topped the US box office by raking in $160 million in its first weekend and with collections of almost $350 million worldwide so far, Wolverine broke the opening record for any Hollywood film in India.

Raveena sees part of herself in Kareena RADHIKA BHIRANI

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he is known to be outspoken. National Award-winning actress Raveena Tandon makes no bones about naming her favourite actress in the new brigade. “Among the new actresses I see not a reflection but a part of me in Kareena. She has a very strong, distinct and vibrant persona. She is electric and has an amazing screen presence unlike most actresses today,” say Raveena, now holidaying in Singapore. “A lot of female actors are short nowadays. I like taller girls. Kareena’s height is good. This is what actresses should be like,” says Raveena, known for films like Mohra and Andaz Apna Apna. Raveena, who debuted with the

1991 movie Patthar Ke Phool, was considered among the most ravishing actresses of her time. But after tying the knot with distributor Anil Thadani in 2004, she bid adieu to movies to concentrate on her family. She came back to limelight last year as a judge on kids’ song and dance TV reality show Chak De Bachche and now she is judging another kids’ comedy show Miyan - Chapter 2 on Colors. Being a mother of two – fouryear-old Rasha and nearly twoyear-old Ranbir – Raveena says she has an instant connect with children and that is why she associates herself with children’s shows. “I do approve of shows which deal with kids simply because they are very uncomplicated. With them, nothing is made up,

there are no controversies and the best part is that only true talent carries the show on its shoulders,” she says. Apart from the show, Raveena will also soon be seen in Revathy Verma’s film Chassni alongside Jaya Bachchan. As of now, Raveena is enjoying her vacation full throttle – not only because she is with her husband and children but also since it has helped her lose weight without making an extra effort. “I love this holiday. My kids have been just moving around and Anil and I are just running after them. We went to Disneyland in Hong Kong recently where they sat in strollers and made me move them around. So I have happily lost almost two pounds,” she says excitedly. ■ IANS

Raveena will also soon be seen in Revathy Verma’s film Chassni alongside Jaya Bachchan. So you think Katie can dance

K

atie Holmes has donned her dancing shoes for a cameo on the small-screen for the finale of hit US talent show So You Think You Can Dance. The Dawson’s Creek star has been dogged with rumours about her involvement with the series after it emerged she was taking secret dance lessons and met with the programme’s producer Nigel Lythgoe, and now sources have confirmed that she is set to appear on the show after filming a cameo segment June 15, reports imdb.com. “It taped last week. It’s going to be on the finale. It’s a Broadway does Hollywood number. It opens on a Broadway stage and then she walks into a Hollywood studio,” said a source. Holmes also dazzled everyone on the set with her skills. “She was amazing. She was such a pro. Her legs are in great shape. She’s got a hat and a cane and she’s wearing a leotard and tights,” the source added. The season finale airs on August 6. ■ IANS

Angry Kate drowns boyfriend’s songs

K

ate Moss reportedly hurled her rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince’s laptop, which contained new songs of his band The Kills, into the swimming pool during a spat. Jamie ended up having to leap into the water in a vain attempt to recover his tunes that had no backup. “Kate and Jamie were having a romantic weekend in her countryside pad when things spiralled out of control,” the Mirror quoted a source as saying. The source continued: “Jamie was absolutely livid and kept yelling, ‘Why would you do such a f*****g stupid thing?! You’re acting like a fishwife!’” But apparently the pair made up after the row. ■ ANI

11

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Lindsay gets her sixth tattoo Singer-actress Lindsay Lohan has a fetish for tattoos and recently got the sixth one – a quote by Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe – inked on her left wrist. It reads “Everyone’s a star and deserves the right to twinkle” according to dailymail.co.uk

Cine City

Achchamundu! Achchamundu! to release on July 10 Finally, the release date of Achchamundu! Achchamundu! is announced. That is July 10. The movie starring Prasanna, Sneha and Emmy-award winner John Shea was under production for the past one year. Directed by debutant Arun Vaidyanathan, the film received great reception at the Shanghai International Film Festival where it was screened. The crew is also planning to release the Telugu version of the movie. Achchamundu ! Achchamundu! also gains importance for it is the first movie in India to be shot on a Red One camera.

I

f sources are to be believed, Scarlett Johansson is being considered for the lead role in The Bride of Frankenstein remake. The project, based on the 1935 horror classic, will be directed by Neil Burger, reports the China Daily. And the 24-year-old actress is tipped to portray a sexier version of the terrifying female monster in the updated version. “The Bride of Frankenstein will be young this time. They’re looking for a person with great power and sex appeal. Someone along the lines of Scarlett Johansson or Anne Hathaway,” a source said. English actress Elsa Lanchester played the role in the older version. ■ ANI

Maestro magic Remixing old hits is the in-thing in Tamil cinema. Recently director Sundarapandi had a plan to remix maestro Ilayaraja’s evergreen song ‘Aayiram Thamarai’, from the movie Alaigal Oyvadhillai, for his upcoming flick Vaigai. But the director had to shelve his plan as none of the musicians were able to match up to the original soundtrack. Finally the crew had to carry on with the same track without any modification. That’s the maestro’s magic!

12

ERGO Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Monday’s Query: Which cine actor would you like to nominate as Indian cricket team’s coach for the next T20 World Cup and why? ■ Aamir Khan he lead Lagaan team to victory Pradeep Sankaran, Nasurudeen Allsec, Subasis Das Sify

■ Captain Vijaykanth. Then only we can eliminate the current champions Pakistan Sugan, Ranjith.R Menon, Sharique IBM, MV.Santhoshkumar, Vandana, Niranjani, Lakshmi Allsec, V.Valarmathi, Guru, Sara, Mani Cognizant, Samsudeen, Sureshkumar TCS, Swathi Infosys, Muthuraman Wipro, Vignesh RRD, Satheesh.S Trimble Navigation Ltd, Senthilkumaran Softeon, Oswin, Thiyagu Firstsource

Prabhu.M, Team Leader from TechnoSoft Global Services has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This picture was clicked at Kodaikanal.

■ Vijay he knows how to take team to final without winning semi-finals. (Ref-Gilli) Santhosh Temenos, Sebastin Perotsystems, N.Shenbagaraja Allsec

■ Bagyaraj he is the one and only drill master of India Raghav, TCS

■ Rajinikanth becoz avarthan summa paranthu paranthu adiparu Senthilganesh TCS, Pinky IBM

■ Maddy by seeing his wonderful performance in ’Priyamana Thozhi’ Indian team will gain energy and beat the opponents G.Sudha Cognizant

■ JK.Rithish because namma team mela kannaum vaiparu gunnaum vaiparu

Dhurai from TCS eServe has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This picture was clicked at Ooty during their team outing.

Ponmudi, Gandhi, Baskar.SP TCS, Anandakrishnan.P Ford, Naveen Wipro

■ Vadivelu for his role in Kovai Brothers Rajeshkumar Allsec, Saranya.M Cognizant, Suganthi RSystems

■ Shahrukh Khan bcoz he will bring unity in the team like in Chak de India Aravindkumar Cognizant, Shanthi TCS, R.Pandian Perot Systems

Today’s Query: Technology now allows parents to keep an eye on their kids’ mobile phones. One compelling reason why you would spy your beloved?

Subramanian A from Calsoft has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This picture is clicked in their office campus at Tidal Park.

13

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Udayakumar S. from TCS-eServe has been nominated as Office Angel by his team members. Uday is a good-looking guy with extremely good at his work; we always wonder how he is maintaining his Romeo status with his tight work schedule. His good morning message will really light up our mornings. Keep it up Uday!

■ Dear Swapnil, Wish You Many More Happy Return of the day. May all your dreams come true and this be another fantastic year for you. With lots of love MIS TEAM (TCS e-Serve)

■ Dear Kuta darling, sweet birthday…..Dont smile,lot of tube light here..Nee sonna mathuri ERGO la wish pannithean,so come soon and give me treat…ha ha ha … welcome to chennai..[try to reduce ur weight da tpi pls] With Tons n Tons of Love, Blade, Loose, Tube

■ Hi Suresh, You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake. :-) We all wish you plenty of joy, but still we have bought you a toy! ha ha ha Ok Ok Suresh, Cool... We don’t want to tense you on your birthday. We all wish you a very Happy and Joyful birthday Hope the days that follow it Make up a year that brings Everything that you deserve A million happy things.

Aneez Fathima of Wipro Technologies doodled this.

Best wishes from, Ramah, Navanee, Ravi, Madhi

■ Hi Evangeline May this special day be filled with sweet memories and happy hours. Wishing you all the fun and excitement that only birthdays can bring! With Cheers, Human Resources, Coastal Training Technologies India (P) Ltd, Chennai

1. Father: Vaathiyar Thirukural Yethaninu keatathukku yennada pathil sonnai? Son: 2000 nnu Sonnean !! Father: 1330 nnu Solla veandiathu thaane? Son: Popaa 2000 nuu sonneathuke thittitaaru.. 1330 nnu solli innum kuraichi iruntha adichi iruppaaru.. Father: ?? Shocked !! 2) Teacher: Adukku thodarukku oru otharanam solluda. Student: Theriyaathu Theriyaathu Theriyaathu. Teacher: Very good !! Very Good !! Very Good !! B. Saravanan Financial Software & Systems (P) Ltd

■ Hi Nirmala Wishing you a very happy birthday. Let this day brings you lots of happiness and success in future. May god keep you in good health and spirit. Have a great year ahead. From Your Team Gayathri, Ezhil, Surajj, Prakash, Jeeva & Dominic

14 TRAFFIC JAM

ERGO Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Taste as ’regional as dialect’ A new study insists that people’s taste buds are just as regionally determined as their accents are across the county’s of the U.K.

sudoku

M. Uma Sankar from ISOFT Technologies shot this picture at Munnar using Canon Power Shot camera. Hobbies: Watching T.V. and reading

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15

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Cycling gran catches thief

Word’s worth

An 80-year-old German nanny managed to catch a thief who stole her handbag while cycling past her - by catching up with him on her own bike and retrieving her property

Chaston (chas-tun) the part of a ring that holds a stone (also called a collet).

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Your mood will fluctuate like a character’s in Shakespeare’s play — sad now and happy the next minute. But you will soon get a hold on your emotions and concentrate on your personal and professional life, says Ganesha.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 A wonderful day is coming your way, says Ganesha. You will welcome this break as your daily life has become rather monotonous. Be more creative while expressing your feelings to your beloved. After all, there are hundreds of ways to say ’I love you’.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 You must add that extra zing to anything you do today. Setting your goals in advance will give you the right direction in life. Ganesha rings wedding bells for those who are in love. Mind your actions in this crucial phase of your life, advises Ganesha.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 Today, you will graciously accept healthy criticism and vow to work on areas that need improving. Though things aren’t really rosy in your love life right now, Ganesha says the coast is clear in the future.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 You will be caught between your personal and professional life all through the day. With important meetings and social activities lined up, you won’t get a minute’s respite, not even to break for tea, says Ganesha.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

Everyone around you may feel today that you are behaving snootily. The only way to prove them wrong is by being humble and friendly. With a rather easy day at work, you will look forward to being with your loved ones.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 With your willingness to share and care, you will make many friends today. But be careful, says Ganesha — helping others is good, but assuming a high-and-mighty stance isn’t. Love life is free of trouble, provided you keep it like that!

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 Today, you are in the right frame of mind to forge new partnerships or ink new deals. Rest assured, these tie-ups will augur well for your future, says Ganesha. Nothing remarkable will happen on the love front.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 Though you’ll adopt a determined stance in everything you do today, Ganesha says anything in excess is bad. Friends and well-wishers will point out your errors and guide you to the right path. It will do you a lot of good if you lend them a ear!

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 You will be more open to expressing your feelings with today’s celestial energy, which will make life a lot easier in terms of your professional and personal life. In the evening, you will relax in the company of your love mate.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 Be careful in office today, as chances are that you may have a tiff with your boss. So take any step only after thinking things through. Share your feelings with your partner tonight. Don’t be churlish, advises Ganesha.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 Your stunning looks are going to attract people like bees to honey, says Ganesha. Also, HR tasks that top priority list will keep you busy. Today, you will entice your beloved with a surprise dinner, followed by coffee at his/her place. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 !

ERGO Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The setting sun shines on Jakarta’s landmark Welcome Monument, locally known as the Tugu Selamat Datang.

People listen to an orchestra at the Paris Trocadero square during the annual music event, "La Fete de la Musique".

PHOTO: AFP

PHOTO: AFP

Sri Lankan children play cricket on a beach in Colombo. PHOTO: AFP

Actor Tom Cruise and son Connor Cruise (L) watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES