" VAMOS!!!"

- Rafael Nadal's trademark word, everytime he wins a point.

He's just too good! From 2005 to 2009, he's improved by more than just leaps and bounds, and especially that first serve. You would have thought that last year's Wimbledon was the best you could get out of the man. But, today, he proved it again. Proved that a guy other than Roger Federer may challenge him, and he'll take the match as seriously, as he would a match against Federer.

The amount of energy the guy has, is awe-inspiring. Even in the last set of today, after 5 hrs of play, he and Verdasco, brought shots out of nowhere. You'd think they had just started the match! It was rather unfortunate that Verdasco double-faulted to finish the match, but, you just have to watch that match without blinking your eye-lids, to see what they managed to come up with.

I did not give Verdasco a chance. I was hoping to catch the highlights of a three-setter, and found myself watching open-mouthedly, the last and probably most entertaining, fifth set. I have to hand it to the guy ( and I mean, Verdasco). You were good. And to get the score to a 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 required tennis that ,we never thought you'd have! So congrats on a great end to your campaign. You went down fighting, and may I say, in a way 100-fold better than a rejuvenated Andy Roddick ( no disrespect here, but I'd thought he'd give a better challenge).

And to Rafael Nadal, well, what should I say. I'm really not in the position to say anything. Time and again, he's proved how great he is, and today was no exception. Obviuosly, I want him to stop at nothing short of an Australian Open title. Just hoping, it won't be as exciting as Wimbledon 2008. One five-setter per Grand Slam is enough for me! Best of Luck, Rafa! Go ahead! Do it!!!

"D. It is written."

-Slumdog Millionaire

I wasn't even interested in the movie, when it was released in the USA. Everyone talked about the Indian stars in it, and I thought, "There you go! Another mafia -type movie. Why does Hollywood come to the Indian Film Industry only for that?" Of course, after having observed the rage that this movie created, and having seen the movie myself, I am forced to apologise in the humblest way I can.

This entry, is not only a review of the movie, but also, one of the many answers to Mr. Bacchan's blog entry that created an uproar in India. First and foremost, it is only a director of Danny Boyle's expertise that can make such a layered film. There is a strange rhythmn that the movie has, which it maintains throughout, a slightly lyrical quality to the way the story has been handled. A story is always converted into a movie, and surely, it is never as good as the book. This movie differs in that very aspect. This is the best adaptation I have watched in recent times. And that includes movies like Harry Potter, Lord Of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice. The movies look like they had been adaptations of the books. Slumdog simply didn't.

All in all, its a simple story of love, interspersed with a life of the slum of Dharavi, and the stark reality of what they are made of. For all those who feel that showing a child first being taught to sing bhajans extremely well, and then being made blind to beg, is an extreme, I ask, " Isn't this what does happen in our streets?" The movie has not portrayed anything in an exaggerated way. It has shown everything, just the way it is.

We know, India is not only about the slums. But we also know that India is about the slums. These areas form such an integral part of our land, you can't ignore them. This movie is a potrayal of a young lad , and his journey of life. What he does for love, the lenghts that he goes to, unwilling to accept that his love can be taken away from him. What Jamal says to the Inspector sims it all up. " I went on the Show because I thought she'd be watching." That is all that it was to him. To catch the eye of the girl he had loved since they were children ; the girl, to find whom, he came back to the city that held the horrors of his childhood.

It is by luck, that he gets questions he can answer, by luck, that the one question he doesn't know the answer to, he guesses right. But, the story isn't about the Show, or the knowledge that Jamal has. It is a story about love, about a journey that begins in Mumbai, and ends there too.

As beautiful as the movie is, Dev Patel's portrayal of the character of Jamal is explicit. It will be hard to look at him in any other role now. Danny Boyle has found the perfect actors for every part, every character. The best of the lot are the children from the slums. The ease with which they play their parts is very shocking and awe-inspiring.

A R Rahman remains himself when it comes to the music. He has always been a terrific music composer. The music sounds just like a trademark AR Rahman music. It blends perfectly with the story.

Slumdog Millionaire deserves every ounce of admiration it has got. Every 'human' should watch this movie at least once. You'll come out a different person, without even knowing it.

" The work begins."

This is my message to President Obama. I was in the USA when the elections happened, and what really struck me, was the fervour with which he campaigned for the position. While every candidate does that, there was something which was earnest about him and his campaign that appealed to me. Adding on to that, being the first American Black President is not a joke. Agreed that we as people might have moved on from the racial questions, we, as the world, have not. And that is why this is so important.

President Obama has a lot of expectations on his shoulders. Not just from his own people, but also from people from all over the world. To set an example of what a good and real President, or , a better term, the person in power, should be. I am not a fan of politics. The only person I have always admired, who had a small connection with the administration of the country, is former India President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. But, even then it wasn't for his presidentship, as much as it was for his life as a scientist, as a scholar. President Obama definitely looked the part of a good President, and I have a lot of respect for him because of that. And so do hundreds of other people, as was clear from the ceremony held at the Capitol yesterday.

I definitely want to see a great leader in him from now on. I hope he does his very best for the world and his own country. I wish him Best of Luck, ad hope that his Presidentship will lead us to a path of success and a peaceful world.

" And then there were none."
- Agatha Christie

This is the title of my favourite Agatha Christie. Its actually got nothing to do with the entry today. But, I do go through phases when I just don't find lines which can portray the entire feeling. Some people might just understand what I'm trying to say.
Today, as I sat down in front of the television to watch the second 20-20 between Australia and South Africa, I heard the commentators talking about Matthew Hayden retiring. He has been a wonderful player, one of the best openers for Australia, and simply a parameter to compare every new opener with. If he doesn't deserve a farewell entry, I really don't know who does.
This has been talked about for ages. Will he , won't he. A string of poor scores, a patch of awful form and tongues start wagging. Especially when you're Matthew Hayden. But, he has stuck it out once before, to come up with blitzkreig innings everytime he played in the World Cup '07. So I guess, I thought he'd hang in there.
Matthew Hayden has been a phenomenal player. The amount of stability and terror that he got into the opening of the Aussie batting line-up can only be seen in the opening bowler's first delivery. Everytime he came out to bat, you would have people wondering what they'd witness from him. Predictably unpredictable always. I was fortunate to watch all of his innings in WC '07, and, man!, were they awesome!!
For a man of his stature, I guess this sort of a farewell isn't exactly what we would have wished for. But, the Brisbane crowd really hit it off. I haven't witnessed a more wonderful goodbye to such a grand player. You've been an awesome guy, mate! And all we can do is wish for a wonderful and deliciously mouth-watering future for you.
I remember your 66-ball 100 against South Africa in the Group match in WC '07. You've played many innings since then ,and even before that, but that will remain the ultimate favourite always. Followed by the six you hit in Sydney '07 on Day 4, Ashes test 5. It'll always remain etched in our memories for ever.
I took the "And then there were none" line for a reason really. There will be no more 100s n 50s to rave about, from this guy. No more slip catches that will be discussed over the years. All good things end some day, but, with you, I wish they go on forever.
Farewell mate! And Thank You. Our love for you will never fade.

" And they lived happily ever after."

The end of every fairy tale, really. That is all there is. And every year end too, we ask for the same thing -A happily-ever after. We hope that the next year will bring a lot more than the year gone by, did. We hope there will be more success garaunteed for us and celebrate every New Year in style. It is human nature after all, to hope and keep on hoping.

2008 wasn't a bad year. It was a year that started with people coming to terms with the assasination of Begum Benazir Bhutto, and a year that ended with people trying to come to terms with the Mumbai blasts and Israel's attacks. The year has carried with it a word of threat, a word of terror; it really brought terrror closer to our homes than ever. And yet I say it wasn't a bad year. Simply because all through this, it taught us to hope and to live together.

As I look at the new dawn of Jan 1st, all I wish for in this new year is peace and quiet. I wish for a unity of people against the word of terror, I wish for simple acts of caring that are not debarred by the dogmas of religion and faith. I hope and pray for a better world, where the meaning of life is understood, the value of life not belittled. I wish for a simple world that is not divided by physical borders or mental ideoligies. And I definitely hope for a safer year than 2008.

And with the start of every new year, comes a list of resolutions. I have made mine too. I don't really succeed at them, but I do try my level best. So here's to 2009, another attempt at trying to keep my resolutions and gaining the happily-ever-after for this year!