Random Thoughts

Recently I had an occasion to visit the Wild Life Sanctuary at Muthanga, in Wynad district of Kerala. It is about 30 kms. from Sultan's Battery and we reached there by about 10:45 A.M. However, we were not allowed to enter as entry was not allowed after 10:30 A.M. till 3 P.M.So we had to go back and return at 2 P.M.

The formalities like buying tickets for entry, arranging transportation to the interior of the forest where only Jeeps can travel on the rough forest roads etc. took a lot more time than one would normally/reasonably expect. There was no official transportation but rows of private jeeps were parked outside and they took their turns on payment at the counter like prepaid taxi service.A lot of ad hocism was seen but none felt like complaining as there was no option. No facilities were availabe for the hundreds of waiting tourists; not even a few standard concrete benches to sit!!! Can't we manage all this better?

After all the hassles, we set our journey into the forest. It took about 45 minutes on the rough forest roads. We could not see any wild animals except a herd of four elephants including two baby elephants and one or two deers! Where were all the others?Well, after all, which wild beast will come out when jeep after jeep carrying 'yahoos' slowly roared along the forest road endlessly? I realised that I should not have been one of those 'Yahoos'!

We also noticed a curious board at the entrance of the sanctuary ,showing the entrance fee for various categories of people and vehicles etc. The rates of fee was Rs. .20/- for adults, Rs. 10/-for children, Rs.10/- for students etc. But for foreigners the fee was shown as Rs. 100/-!!! For light vehicles it was Rs.50/- and for heavy vehicles Rs.150/-.For camera it was Rs.25/- and for video camera Rs.150/- Probably the authorities thought it fit to categorise foreigners along with objects like camera, vehicles etc or vice versa!! Of course, objects like vehicles will not complain and foreigners do not appear to have any option. We too have no option in similar situations abroad.

Please click on the photo to zoom it.

Dubai Tennis Again

It was with great expectation that I made a brief visit to Dubai this year as I wanted to see Roger Federer and other top players in action Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships once more. But as ill luck would have it, Federer withdrew at the last moment with a lung infection and Nadal did not even enter the draw. Other top players like Andy Roddick, Llewton Hewitt, Soderling, Verdasco etc. did not participate. Nicholai Davydenko, Andy Murray, Tsonga etc., did not survive early rounds. To cap it, the final between Djokovic and Youshney on the 27th February was washed away by rain when Djokovic was leading by a set. The Championship was finally won by Djokovic in three sets the next afternoon. What an uninspiring end to a usually outstanding Tour event!!

JAYSWORLDOFMUSIC GOES TO DUBAI CRICKET STADIUM

Jaysworldofmusic , while in Dubai, also took the opportunity to go to the grand Dubai Cricket Stadium to see the ODI between England and Pakistan on the 19th February. Last year, around this period, Jays..... had visited the stadium for the inaugural match staged there between Australia and Pakistan. At that time the stadium was just ready for the match and the surroundings were not as developed as it is now.

The inside of the stadium is a great sight to see with efficient seating arrangements, wonderful shadow free lighting, and velvety lush green out field. The lighting for the ground is unique.Unlike the usual towers, floodlights are fixed around the entire ground on top of the stadium and the entire stadium looked like a huge indoor stadium. A great sight indeed!!

The match between England and Pakistan did not rise up to the expectations.England won despite the large number of vociferous Pakistani supporters who thronged the stadium. Seeing an international match at a great international stadium is always a memorable experience.

JAYSWORLDOFMUSIC GOES TO BARCLAYS DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

JAYSWORLDOFMUSIC had the good fortune of wearing the wrist band of Dubai Tennis Championships to enter the Grand Stand of Dubai Tennis Stadium for the

4th year in succession to see a few matches including the Ladies' Singles Final of the 20th February 2010.

The final between Venus Williams and Victoria Azaranka was played in the electrifying atmosphere of the stadium in front of a truly international audiance.Venus was in tremendous form right from the beginning and ,as expected, won the match in straight sets (6-3, 7-5).

This year's Women's' draw, missed some of the big names in women's tennis, like Serena Williams, Justin Henin, Kim Clijsters, Maria Sherapova etc. Svetlana Kuznetsova did not last long. So too Elena Dimentieva and Daniela Huntukova. But still the tournamant was a big success.

The Men's' tournament begins on the 22nd February. As in the past ,this year also most of the top ten players of the circuit including the first four are slated to participate. But Rafael Nadal, nursing an injury, will not be there. But, for us ,the greatest attraction will be Somdev Devburman. Jaysworldofmusic has already secured a few tickets for the matches including the final and are waiting to be a part of the excitement. The organizers of the tournaments have brought out a beutiful "Official Programme"containing all the details of the Championship and players with plenty of pictures. A precious posssession for tennis lovers.

ROGER FEDERER-THE BEST EVER IN TENNIS.

For tennis fans in general and for admirers of Roger Federer in particular, it was great to see him win his 16th Grand Slam Tennis singles crown at the Australian Open on the31 st January 2010. Roger Federer was in great form throughout the two weeks of the Open, as he always was in Grand slam events. Watching him play from the early rounds there was not even iota of doubt as to who the eventual winner would be. His victory over Andy Murray in straight sets(6-3,6-4, 7-6) was a fitting answer to the doubters and experts (expert doubters) who had sighted signs of decline in Federer's play. True, several young players have come up in recent years who could bridge the gap between them and Federer but he remains the master and the new records being created by him speak for him.The way he defeated Llewton Hewitt and Nicholoi Davydenko(who was in tremendous form till then) without sweating much was an indication of the awesome form he was in. Against Tsonga in the semifinal he was in sublime form and before Tsonga knew what was happening the match was over. The effortless ease with which he played , the way he dictated the rallies, and the lightning speed and grace with which he reached the net from behind the base line were all a treat to the eyes. It was, in fact, tennis poetry in motion.

In the final against Murray, he again struck wonderful form from the beginning and quickly took an impregnable lead of two sets( 6-3, 6-4) before Murray, with the ample support of the vociferous spectators, started attacking and he seemed like making a match of it. But Federer, raising his game a notch, took the set and match in a long tie -breaker at 7-6 (12-10). It was wonderful to see the calm and collected Federer weathering the late storm like a true veteran he is. Murray in the end looked mentally and physically drained and was visibly uncomfortable climbing the podium at the prize distribution ceremony. But he was graceful in defeat and the sense of humour did not desert him. Unable to hold back tears he remarked "I can cry like Roger[alluding to Roger's tears at the cerimony in 2009], it is just a shame that I can't play like him......He was a lot better than me tonight".

I had the opportunity of seeing Federer and other top ten tennis stars, men and women, in action at the Dubai Open Tennis Tournament in Dubai in 2007, 2008 and 2009.Federer won in 2007 and in 2008 he lost to Andy Murray.In 2009 Federer did not participate}. The hall marks of Federer's game are his lethal (disguised) service, punishing forehand , the magical sliced back hand and the uncanny anticipation and court coverage. Unlike Nadal, whose game is more physical and based on speed and hard work, Federer did everything smoothly without fuss and show. He is now showing a much improved volleying power and penchant for drop shots and over head smashes.

What makes Federer so adorable to even tennis greats like Pete Sampras , Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg and Borris Becker and the likes ? What made all of them and the likes of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar to be present at the last Wimbledon final to watch Frederer create history by winning his 15th Grand Slam final surpassing Pete Sampras's record? It was not his pr0vess as a tennis player alone. It was also Federer's person, a gentleman on and off the court, the humble lovable family man now a father, and his other qualities as a good ordinary human being. He was unable to hold his tears while receiving the Winner's trophy, in the Australian Open 0f 2008 , from the tennis legend, Rod Laver. Nor was he able to hold his tears when he lost to Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open Final in 2009.

It was again his adorable qualities which made him start the Roger Federer Foundation for the uplift of deprived children of African countries for funding their educational needs." I am tomorrow's future" is the confident slogan of Roger Federer Foundation. No wonder Pete Sampras remarked after last year's Wimblwdon final,"he is a good guy on and off the court. He is humble which I like" and marked Federer as the greatest tennis player of all time. Of course it is this quality of having one's feet firmly on the ground at the height of success that made champions like Pete Sampras, Sachin Tendulkar and Viswanathan Anand role models for aspiring achievers. To add, he is the ambassador for UNICEF and he had visited Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu in connection with Tsunami relief work

I am waiting in anticipation to see Federer and others in action at the Dubai Open again this year during the 3rd and 4th week of February when I intent to visit U.A.E.

Tail piece:- What is unique about this year's Australian Open? The winners are all veterans!
Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Bob and Mike Bryan (Doubles), Serena and Venus(Doubles), Leander Paes and Cara Black (Mixed Doubles). The winners included two pairs of siblings.Venus, Serena and Bob and Mike Bryan.

REPUBLIC DAY OF INDIA - 26TH JANUARY

The nation celebrated yet another Republic Day on the 26th instant with the usual pomp and pageantry at the national capital and state capitals .On this year's Republic Day I was on a long drive in a car and nowhere I could see any sign of celebration or active involvement of common people in the celebrations. I could not even see many national flags flying on buildings, shops,etc. No loudspeaker was heard blaring out patriotic songs. It looked as if it was just another day.A holiday!

While travelling nostalgic memories about the Independent Days and Republic Days started filling my mind.As students in our school and college days we used to look forward to these important days of the nation and preparations for the celebrations used to start well in advance. The buildings used to get a face lift, often, with a new coat of paint and white wash and decorated with locally available tender coconut palm leaves and coconut bunches. Banana plants with big raw banana bunches used to adorn the entrances. Shops and establishments and houses also actively participated with decorations and hoisted national flags. Streets and surroundings were swept and cleaned.In the schools and colleges there used to be parades by ACC and NCC cadets, flag hoisting ceremonies, march pasts, singing of the National Anthem, patriotic speeches by eminent personalities, distribution of sweets, sports competitions and variety entertainments. We all wore our best clothes, mostly white, with the national flag smartly pinned on them!! Well, it was celebration in letter and spirit.

On reaching back home I wanted to hear some of the old records containing patriotic songs of those days.The famous marching song of Indian National Army(now the quick march song of the Indian Army),viz., "Kadam badaye ja"(a song composed by Ram Singh Thakur and released in 1942), which used to be heard everywhere in those days, was the one I wanted to hear first. But alas!The 78 rpm record, which was with me all these years,was found missing from my shelf ! But the record of film 'Saheed' containing the equally famous song,viz., Watan ke raah mein watan ki naujawan" sung by Muhammed Rafi, Khan Mastan and chorus and composed by Ghulam Hyder, was there. So also the record of film 'Jagriti" (Music by Hemant Kumar)containing the song ' Hum Laye hai Toofan se' sung by Rafi was there. The record has also the haunting song "Sabarmati ke sant toone kar diya kamal"sung by Asha Bhosle . I listened to these songs to my heart's content.I also took out the record of the National Anthem released by the All India Radio with the AIR orchestra and choral group playing the song. I also listened to the mother of all patriotic songs,viz. 'Aye Mere Watan ke logo'(1963)penned by poet Pradeep, composed by C. Ramachandra and sung by none other than Lata Mangeshkar accompanied by Cine Musicians' Orchestra.The royalties from the sale of this record was for the benefit of the soldiers who lost their lives on the Northern borders.It is part of history that Jawaharlal Nehru admitted that the song brought tears in his eyes!

Yet another record I heard that day was the 78 rpm record brought out by Columbia titled " Gandhi-His Spiritual Message" in Gandhi's own voice and with his signature printed on it, a proud possession in my collection.
Tail piece:-(Overheard the other day) Oh! Republic day! What is the special blockbuster film in .....channel?


P.S. Please click on the photos to see them clearly.

RUNA LAILA - THE SUPER SINGER

For the lovers of ghazal, pop,fusion and disco music there is good news. The famous Bangaladesi singer, Runa Laila, after about two decades, is making a comeback in the Indian music scene with an album being released by Music Today. The album 'The Great Big Punjabi Wedding"contains 8 tracks of Punjabi songs sung by Runa Laila.
Music lovers will remember the successful and very popular presence of Runa Laila in the 60s and 70s in Indian music as a wonderful singer, stage performer and playback artist.She burst into the scene with her super hit song,'Dama dum Mast Qalandhar'[lyrics- Purnam Allahabadi. Music: Nisar Basmi) followed by the song 'Mere Babu Chhail Chhabila' from film Har jeet. She sang for several great music directors like Jaidev, Kalyanji Anandji, Laxmikant Pyarelal and Bappi Lahiri for films like Ek se badkar ek, Gharonda, Agnipath, Sapnom ka soudagar etc.,The songs 'Do Deewane shahar mein [Gharonda ] and 'Main kali anaarki' [Sapnom ka soudaaghar ]were super hits. In those days of her success and fame she got big press coverage and rave reviews in film publications.What made her stage programs a great hit was her sexy voice, personal charm,glamorous presence on stage and her capacity to shape the mood of the audience and to gel with it. Her stage shows were visual treats. She did several stage programs with Muhammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Kalyanji Anandji and Laxmikant Pyarelal.
But from the early 80s she started fading away and by the end of the 80s she disappeared from the Indian music scene inspite of her huge talent and success.The 'polytricks' of the industry was then cited as the reason for her return to Bangladesh eventhough she had denied this in one of her recent interviews.
Among my collection of gramophone records I have two of her successful discs. One is the ,'Superuna, Bappilahari Presents RunaLaila'. It contains ten disco songs tuned by Bappi Lahari and recorded in 24 track stereo at the EMI's London studio. The album has in it 'Disco Premi,' 'Suno Suno', and the most popular 'De De Pyar De'. Another disc with me is 'Great Ghazals'- RunaLaila- Style' containing ten ghazals which bring out the subtle nuances of her voice. Yet another disc is 'Sincerely Yours- RunaLaila' containig ten ghazals penned by Surayya Tabassum, Ghulam Quadir and Sheba Akhtar. Perhaps the best ever album of RunaLaila is 'O P Nayyar Presents- The Loves of RunaLaila' containing ten semiclassical songs composd by the great O.P. Nayyar. The album also contains the song Dama Dum Mast Khalandar and Mera Babu Chhail Chhabile. The fact that Runa Laila could successfully cope with Nayyar's musical magic spoke volumes about her talent. No wonder Nayyar had to admit that after Asha Bhosle it was RunaLaila who understood his compositions best. Runa Laila also has the distinction of earning an entry in Guinnes Book recording 30 semiclassical songs in 3days.

Hoping that her second coming to Indian music world will be a greater success than her first.