Thank You Sachin
"It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will."
- Time Magazine
- Time Magazine
I was listening to the lecturer talk about cloud based software when a customary glance at my phone gave me the goosebumps. India were about to start batting, because well, West Indies had folded yet again. More importantly, there was time, ample time, for Sachin Tendulkar to come out to bat. One last time, in all probability. And just like that, out of nowhere, the very nice Finn that my lecturer is, he told us he was done for the day, and we could go our ways and meet again next week. Actually, he said a lot more. But I probably wasn't listening that well. The universe had conspired to let me watch him bat - one last time?I grabbed my jacket and a zillion other winter accessories that you probably need to don before venturing into the cold and set home on my bicycle. Thinking about it on the way, took me back in time.
I used to be this chubby school kid who loved rushing home from school, on his bicycle to watch Tendulkar bat in one of those numerous day-night one dayers in Sharjah. Stopping on the way back to ask a shopkeeper the score and sighing with relief after hearing him say, "Tendulkar maar reha hai!". I still am a student. I still ride a bicycle. And if the Finns had arbitrarily planned shops around roads, I'd still have stopped by to ask if Tendulkar had come out to bat (I did that on my phone anyway). Sixteen years on, nothing seems to have changed. Time indeed stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar.
I don't really remember when I started liking cricket. In fact, now that I think about it, I never quite did. It was Sachin that I began following and cricket was just a part of the parcel. There are various theories to why we Indians are so fond of cricket. We lack the stamina for real sport probably? And for a billion people believed to be good with numbers and mathematics, cricket offers all the statistics that let you take your mental mathematics to a different level altogether. My mother would absolutely vouch for that fact. But yeah, Tendulkar had me hooked on. So much so, that I valued watching him play more than India winning. A victory was just an icing on the cake called a Tendulkar century. Every season of my life that I can reflect back on, has a corresponding Tendulkar memory attached to it. Like the summers spent half-camping in Palampur, where a radio did it's best to explain to me how an emotional Tendulkar reacted after scoring a century, when he had just returned from his father's funeral. Or watching him flatten the egos out off Pakistan's famous pace trio during the '03 World Cup, a moment that gave me a much required inspiration to get out of the rut and finally pass my exams. And those hilariously predictable days when he'd get into the 90s and you'd know he's going to walk any moment now, teaching you how important it is to keep trying, every damn time, no matter what.
My Tendulkar memories are about his success and failures and not India's because for me he was the superhero that I looked up to. In a team sport, he came out as the self-assured figure full of calm and a quite will. There was this short period of time when Saurav Ganguly almost managed to discover the cricket lover in me, but he couldn't quite succeed. I sometimes question myself, why I couldn't come to like another cricketer if not cricket. It's probably because none of them have been such phenomenal show men, and the ones that probably are, are just too inhuman. The idea of a Virat Kohli pumping fists, after scoring a century before opening up with choicest of expletives just doesn't appeal to me. When did I last see Sachin pump his fists, if at all? Probably when he foxed a batsmen with his leg-spin. Bowling was something that he wasn't supposed to be good at, batting was a routine - not to be celebrated.
There is a lot I'd like to remember Tendulkar for. The drives, the upper-cuts, the smile, the weird short paced sprint, the awkward stance... and the list goes on. The slight raise of the bat with eyes saying thank you to the heavens, before coming back to mortal life and acknowledging the crowd. That, is the moment I'd like to take with me to sleep when looking for inspiration. They call him God, master, genius and a few other things. I don't know which of these I can actually relate to - he was fallible, gullible and pretty much human. Somebody who tried hard and harder than each last try. He was Sachin.
I got back to my apartment and managed to find a live stream, just in time to watch the on-drive unleashed. The stumps were drawn soon, and I set my alarm for the next day's start of play, Indian Standard Time. The alarm never rang, I never woke up to see him score a few more and walk back, and I'll not try to search for the highlights. As somebody who lives a life that relies heavily on Sachin Tendulkar moments for inspiration, I'd like to live the rest of my life thinking about the on drive - give it back to life as hard as it comes at you.
I used to be this chubby school kid who loved rushing home from school, on his bicycle to watch Tendulkar bat in one of those numerous day-night one dayers in Sharjah. Stopping on the way back to ask a shopkeeper the score and sighing with relief after hearing him say, "Tendulkar maar reha hai!". I still am a student. I still ride a bicycle. And if the Finns had arbitrarily planned shops around roads, I'd still have stopped by to ask if Tendulkar had come out to bat (I did that on my phone anyway). Sixteen years on, nothing seems to have changed. Time indeed stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar.
I don't really remember when I started liking cricket. In fact, now that I think about it, I never quite did. It was Sachin that I began following and cricket was just a part of the parcel. There are various theories to why we Indians are so fond of cricket. We lack the stamina for real sport probably? And for a billion people believed to be good with numbers and mathematics, cricket offers all the statistics that let you take your mental mathematics to a different level altogether. My mother would absolutely vouch for that fact. But yeah, Tendulkar had me hooked on. So much so, that I valued watching him play more than India winning. A victory was just an icing on the cake called a Tendulkar century. Every season of my life that I can reflect back on, has a corresponding Tendulkar memory attached to it. Like the summers spent half-camping in Palampur, where a radio did it's best to explain to me how an emotional Tendulkar reacted after scoring a century, when he had just returned from his father's funeral. Or watching him flatten the egos out off Pakistan's famous pace trio during the '03 World Cup, a moment that gave me a much required inspiration to get out of the rut and finally pass my exams. And those hilariously predictable days when he'd get into the 90s and you'd know he's going to walk any moment now, teaching you how important it is to keep trying, every damn time, no matter what.
My Tendulkar memories are about his success and failures and not India's because for me he was the superhero that I looked up to. In a team sport, he came out as the self-assured figure full of calm and a quite will. There was this short period of time when Saurav Ganguly almost managed to discover the cricket lover in me, but he couldn't quite succeed. I sometimes question myself, why I couldn't come to like another cricketer if not cricket. It's probably because none of them have been such phenomenal show men, and the ones that probably are, are just too inhuman. The idea of a Virat Kohli pumping fists, after scoring a century before opening up with choicest of expletives just doesn't appeal to me. When did I last see Sachin pump his fists, if at all? Probably when he foxed a batsmen with his leg-spin. Bowling was something that he wasn't supposed to be good at, batting was a routine - not to be celebrated.
There is a lot I'd like to remember Tendulkar for. The drives, the upper-cuts, the smile, the weird short paced sprint, the awkward stance... and the list goes on. The slight raise of the bat with eyes saying thank you to the heavens, before coming back to mortal life and acknowledging the crowd. That, is the moment I'd like to take with me to sleep when looking for inspiration. They call him God, master, genius and a few other things. I don't know which of these I can actually relate to - he was fallible, gullible and pretty much human. Somebody who tried hard and harder than each last try. He was Sachin.
I got back to my apartment and managed to find a live stream, just in time to watch the on-drive unleashed. The stumps were drawn soon, and I set my alarm for the next day's start of play, Indian Standard Time. The alarm never rang, I never woke up to see him score a few more and walk back, and I'll not try to search for the highlights. As somebody who lives a life that relies heavily on Sachin Tendulkar moments for inspiration, I'd like to live the rest of my life thinking about the on drive - give it back to life as hard as it comes at you.
Listening to: Bonfire Heart, James Blunt
Dedicated to: Doesn't need mentioning
Images Courtesy: Google Image Search
PS: I finally got my act together to write a tribute. Just in time I believe.
To the Mozart of Asia - A.R. Rahman
Before coming here, I was excited and terrified. The last time I felt like that was during my marriage.
- A. R. Rahman during his Oscars acceptance speech.
A. R. Rahman got an Oscar for what surely isn't the best work of his life. But, I'm not complaining. He desrved an Oscar or something even better than the silly curvaceous charcoal statuette for many of his previous works. And since the world has it's queer ways of going about acknowledging things, it'd be only now, that Rahman, and some of new school Bollywood, is officially brought under the limelight...
I don't write much about music on THE iNFINITY - being the music freak that I am, I had thought I'd dedicate a whole blog to music, but time constraints never quite let it materialise. And so, when I do need to write about something Music that is great as well... I come back here.
A. R. Rahman surely may have got the Oscar now, but we always knew back home, that he was big and unique and for most part of it, in a league of his own. They call him the man who really brought in fusion - in music and cultures too - the North and the South of India first, and the East and the West now, and for me the fusion between generations - me and my dad could agree on a few things to play in our newly installed car Kenwood, back in the 90s, when Rahman had arrived.
I have tried my hand at composing music, and for the short while that the fad stayed, it was an experience in itself. I don't really know how Rahman does it actually (recent interviews say it's more of a spiritual journey for him - each song that he does), but it's like playing rapid chess with infinite opponents, while in a trance. The catch? You need to play the opponent(s) too. For those who fear chess though, it's not that taxing a job, you enjoy it more... err.. just a bit.
And since Rahman does his job the best (this time the Hollywood agreed too), it says volumes about the man's talent, dedication and well luck (if you are one of those who think (Himesh)Reshmiya could have done a better job, given the chance). At this time, when the nation, is going gaga over his contribution to Indian music - I decided to come out with 25 of his all time best compositions. Actually, each and every song of his, from any movie that he does is listenable, hummable and more... but it's about the ones that I thought are the best, according to me.
And, it's a countdown, like they do it on radio on the weekends! I'd love to host countdowns... for now I don't mind writing one! So, A.R. Rahman's 25 best compositions for Bollywood, according to me are...
25. Mujhe Rang De - Thakshak, 1999
24. Chaiyyan Chaiyyan - Dil Se, 1998
23. Rutt Aa Gayee Re - 1947 Earth, 1998
22. Tu Hi Re - Bombay, 1994
21. Khwaja Mere Khwaja - Jodha Akbar, 2008
20. Saathiya - Saathiyaa, 2000
19. Khuda Hafiz - Yuva, 2004
18. Aye Hairathe - Guru, 2007
17. Aye Bachchu - Ghajini, 2008
16. Paathshala - Rang De Basanti, 2006
15. Dil Gira Dafatan - Delhi 6
14. Khoon Chala - Rang De Basanti, 2006
13. Yeh Jo Des Hai - Swades, 2004
12. Yun Hi Chala Chal - Swades, 2004
11. Jiya Jale - Dil Se, 1998
10. Rishta - Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities, 2003
9. Roobaroo - Rang De Basanti, 2006
8. Maa Tujhe Salaam - Vande Mataram, 1997
7. O Paalanhare - Lagaan, 2000
6. Masakali - Delhi 6, 2009
5. Dil Se - Dil Se, 1998
4. Nahin Saamne - Taal, 1999
3. Luka Chuppi - Rang De Basanti, 2006
2. Kehna Hi Kya - Bombay, 1994
1. Dil hai Chhota Sa - Roja, 1992
Some other favourites that I had to skip because it's a Top 25 or because it's all about Bollywood or any other reason(s) are -
Kahin To... - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane NaI don't write much about music on THE iNFINITY - being the music freak that I am, I had thought I'd dedicate a whole blog to music, but time constraints never quite let it materialise. And so, when I do need to write about something Music that is great as well... I come back here.
A. R. Rahman surely may have got the Oscar now, but we always knew back home, that he was big and unique and for most part of it, in a league of his own. They call him the man who really brought in fusion - in music and cultures too - the North and the South of India first, and the East and the West now, and for me the fusion between generations - me and my dad could agree on a few things to play in our newly installed car Kenwood, back in the 90s, when Rahman had arrived.
I have tried my hand at composing music, and for the short while that the fad stayed, it was an experience in itself. I don't really know how Rahman does it actually (recent interviews say it's more of a spiritual journey for him - each song that he does), but it's like playing rapid chess with infinite opponents, while in a trance. The catch? You need to play the opponent(s) too. For those who fear chess though, it's not that taxing a job, you enjoy it more... err.. just a bit.
And since Rahman does his job the best (this time the Hollywood agreed too), it says volumes about the man's talent, dedication and well luck (if you are one of those who think (Himesh)Reshmiya could have done a better job, given the chance). At this time, when the nation, is going gaga over his contribution to Indian music - I decided to come out with 25 of his all time best compositions. Actually, each and every song of his, from any movie that he does is listenable, hummable and more... but it's about the ones that I thought are the best, according to me.
And, it's a countdown, like they do it on radio on the weekends! I'd love to host countdowns... for now I don't mind writing one! So, A.R. Rahman's 25 best compositions for Bollywood, according to me are...
25. Mujhe Rang De - Thakshak, 1999
24. Chaiyyan Chaiyyan - Dil Se, 1998
23. Rutt Aa Gayee Re - 1947 Earth, 1998
22. Tu Hi Re - Bombay, 1994
21. Khwaja Mere Khwaja - Jodha Akbar, 2008
20. Saathiya - Saathiyaa, 2000
19. Khuda Hafiz - Yuva, 2004
18. Aye Hairathe - Guru, 2007
17. Aye Bachchu - Ghajini, 2008
16. Paathshala - Rang De Basanti, 2006
15. Dil Gira Dafatan - Delhi 6
14. Khoon Chala - Rang De Basanti, 2006
13. Yeh Jo Des Hai - Swades, 2004
12. Yun Hi Chala Chal - Swades, 2004
11. Jiya Jale - Dil Se, 1998
10. Rishta - Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities, 2003
9. Roobaroo - Rang De Basanti, 2006
8. Maa Tujhe Salaam - Vande Mataram, 1997
7. O Paalanhare - Lagaan, 2000
6. Masakali - Delhi 6, 2009
5. Dil Se - Dil Se, 1998
4. Nahin Saamne - Taal, 1999
3. Luka Chuppi - Rang De Basanti, 2006
2. Kehna Hi Kya - Bombay, 1994
1. Dil hai Chhota Sa - Roja, 1992
Some other favourites that I had to skip because it's a Top 25 or because it's all about Bollywood or any other reason(s) are -
Latika's Theme - Slumdog Millionaire
The Airtel Jingle - I just love it!
O Rey Chhori - Lagaan (actually all the songs that I couldn't mention)
Delhi 6 - the Title Track
Yeh Tara Woh Tara - Swades
...and many more.
OK. I know, you don't quite agree with me... some change to the rankings and some additions and subtractions here and there. but, it's a moment to be celebrated, and we could do that later. For now, let Rahman, his music and my mp3 stick [?] bask in the glory of his twin strike at The Oscars. Jai Ho!!!
Listening to: Latika's Theme - Slumdog Millionaire
Dedicated to: A.R. Rahman - the Mozart of Asia.
Dedicated to: A.R. Rahman - the Mozart of Asia.
P.S.: Do reflect back with your favourite Rahman number... or better still a whole Top 25? :)
An Award!
I don't really know much about it, but I received this award called The Butterfly Award for the Coolest Blog I Ever Know from Simply Elegant Girl.
And as part of my accepting this award, I am giving it away to ten more of my blogging friends -
Here are the rules for people who go on to accept their awards:
1.Put the logo on your blog.
2.Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3.Link 10 other bloggers whom you wanted to share this award to.
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