A BYTE OF LIFE Wednesday, June 25, 2008

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 2 No. 123

A lifetime of achievement
“I
feel like my slate is yet to be written on,” said A.R. Rahman while accepting the Lifetime
Achievement Award (2007-2008) conferred upon him by the Rotary Club of Madras on
Tuesday. Such is the humility of the man regarded as one of the greatest Indian music
composers of all time. “If you can start playing the piano at four, you can accept a
Lifetime Achievement Award at 40,” said Indra Subramanyam, President, Rotary Club of
Madras, summing the musical lifespan of the genius, thus far.
Most often when Rahman is asked about his inspirations, God figures on top of
the list. Today, there was further insight into what lends his music soul – “Whe-
never I’m confident about something, I know I am wrong. It is when I’m
insecure that I produce something special.” Speaking further of the greats
who inspire him, Rahman said he listens to music from different genres,
from The Carpenters to M.S. Vishwanathan and compositions of Kannada-
san and Naushad.
Rahman, the perfectionist, is allowed his quirks. When asked of the
extensive research done for period films such as Jodhaa Akbar, he was
candid enough to admit that he didn’t use any of it. “I wasn’t looking to
recreate a Mughal-e-Azam or to better the compositions of Khayyam or
Naushad. I wanted to do something that hadn’t been heard before.”
Rahman also impressed upon the audience that life was beyond a tune, an
album or record sales.
The award ceremony also included a documentary where some of the biggest
names in Kollywood showered praises on Rahman, the composer and more lavishly on
Rahman, the human being. ■

From L to R: Indra Subramanyam presents the Lifetime Achievement

Award to A.R. Rahman as his wife, Saira Banu, looks on PHOTOS: R. SIVAJI RAO

15 companies in, only a few more to go

Hey guys,
Ergo Blitz seems to have captured the imagination of readers of 15 companies and we are wondering maybe a
few more. All of them have promised to send their final list of nominations as soon as possible. (A small tip –
please register early because the number of entries are limited.)
The culturals now potentially promises a face off between our readers from the top IT and IT-enabled companies
of the city. We have had equiries from Sathyam Computers, TCS, Cognizant, Wipro, Steria, System Technology
Group, Birlasoft, Perot Systems, Inautix, Patni Computers, Intuit (Sutherland Global Services), CSS Corp Private
Limited, Scope International, First Source and Alcatel-lucent.
We have published the registration details on page 5. Do send us your list of participants as soon as possible to
blitz@goergo.in.
Cheers
ERGO TEAM
10 DAYS TO GO
02 NAMMA CHENNAI ERGO Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Dear Nafee,
Hi Shri, Hi Sindhuja
Many, many happy
Many, many
Wel com e Bac k!! returns of the day.
happy
We wish you happy returns of
Jothy & Indhu
moments ahead. the day
Ha SiSa An ViLaIn Anu Priya B
Lakshmi Pr, TCS

Security guard
found dead,
murder suspected
A security guard posted at a
residential complex in Vadapalani was
found dead on Tuesday morning with head
injuries. Police suspect it to be a case of
murder.
According to Vadapalani police, the
deceased, Periyasamy (64) of Rani Anna
Nagar in KK Nagar, was employed as a
24-hour guard at an apartment on South
Sivan Koil Street, Vadapalani. Periyasamy Pipping hot
was on duty on Monday night and was vadais at Big
found dead in the apartment complex by a Street,
morning walker in the early hours of Triplicane.
Tuesday, who later informed the police. PHOTO:
A deep cut was found on the back of the R. RAVINDRAN
deceased’s head. A police sniffer dog was
brought to the crime scene and the canine
unearthed a bloodstained brick (believed to
be the murder weapon) from a
neighbouring construction site, police
added.
A case of unnatural death has been

Authentic
registered and police are investigating.

Techie killed in accident

A 45-year-old software engineer died after
he was injured in a motorcycle accident on
Monday afternoon at Indira Nagar in Adyar.

FRY!
Adyar traffic police identified the deceased
as Somasundaram of Bhaktavatchalam
Nagar, 2nd Street, Adyar, who was
employed at a software firm in Taramani.
On Monday afternoon, Somasundaram had
gone out on his motorcycle to buy
groceries. When he reached Indira Nagar,
his motorcycle was knocked down by a car
from behind. The techie suffered head
injuries and was rushed to a hospital
nearby, only to be pronounced ‘brought
dead’, police added.
If you are craving for some hot vadais or bajjis,
then this roadside eatery is worth a stop
LIFFY THOMAS ing hot vadais. the batter ready for kerai vadai,
liffythomas@goergo.in
Two decades, same landmark next. It is difficult for Rekha to get
Everybody knows H. Raj Kumar a break, such is the steady flow of

W
hen was the last time you
gobbled up half-a-dozen
vadais – fried, deep-fried
and served to you fresh
from the tava? Can’t remember!
Neither could I, until I dropped in
to have some from this small
pushcart stationed outside Hindu
Senior Secondary
School in Triplicane.
Watching Sasi Rekha
flatten the batter on the
palm of her hand and
dip it into the boiling oil
was enough to tickle my
taste buds.
More so, it brought
back some of my child-
hood memories – when I came
back after school, ravenous, to
yummy snacks waiting at home!
Today, it is a rare luxury to even
be sitting at home in the evening
to see your mom serve some pip-
and Sasi Rekha on Big Street,
Triplicane.
Their bajjis, samosas, kerai va-
dai, masala vadai and vegetable
bonda have people queuing up
for them from 4 p.m., when they
roll their pushcart outside the
school.
The couple have been in busi-
ness for the last 20 years and each
evening, it’s the same time, same
landmark. At 4.30, the samosas
are already over. Rekha is getting
How to get there: Hindu
Senior Secondary School,
Big Street, Triplicane
Open: 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Price: Any fry is priced at
Rs. 3 each + chutney
Ph: 971055 4443 (provided
you have a sizeable order)
customers either parcelling home
or having them at the bajji kada.
So, what is Rekha’s speciality?
“It is the Mangalore bonda, no-
body makes them in this area,”
she says, dipping over a dozen
balls on the big tava in minutes.
Each of these eats is served with
tomato or coconut chutney.
The couple say they do not re-
use the oil. “Or, I would not have
school children and office goers
returning home stopping by to
have a quick bite,” says Rekha.
I need to leave, so must Rekha
who will continue frying till 8.30
p.m. ■
(Too Good for Critics is a weekly
column to celebrate Namma
Chennai’s ‘Kaiyendi Bhavans’ and
small eateries. If you can think of a
similar place, mail us at
feedback@goergo.in)
 in g
r n
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
m o
A I
od N
Go
EN
CH
Madras
tunes
MITHRA SURESH
mithra@goergo.in
W
hen the family unit of Ma-
dras Tunes performed at our
Ergo office, most of us were
requesting songs. Family
unit, because this is a close-knit 12-
member orchestra, most of whom are
classically trained.
Madras Tunes has recently been in
the limelight for winning Mirinda
Ooh La La, which was adjudged by
A.R. Rahman. That is the feather in
their cap for more than one reason.
“The band was dismissed in the quar-
ter finals, which had a set of different
judges. For some reason, Rahman sir
announced us as winners despite
that. We must have been the only
team that had reached the finals with
just one song (Sankarapandi), when
all other teams had composed six to
seven tunes each!”
The band’s biggest strength is that
they can churn out tunes by the min-
03
Rehane, fashion designer
I like the fact that it’s the most unpretentious city. People here have
many layers, which makes it very exciting in dealing with them in a
positive sense. I owe all my name and fame to Chennai but Chennai
owes their place in the national map to me where fashion is concerned.
As told to Diya Paul
The winners of Mirinda Ooh
La La talk about making music
with A.R. Rahman and more
Madras Tunes jams at
the Ergo office
PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN
One half of a band
Karthikeyamurthy.J - piano/
keyboard/ vocal
S.Srihari – drummer/ rhythm pads
Raaja – composer/ guitarist
Harini Ramakrishnan -
keyboard/ vocal
J Vijay – keyboard / music
programming
Priyanka Raman – vocal
N.Priyadarrshini – vocal
Mrinmoy Choudhury – guitar/
bass/ tabla/ closet rapper
ute. The band’s keyboardist Harini
explains, “Karthik who heads the
group, usually asks Mrinmoy (gui-
tars) to strum some chords, and then
Karthik takes off on that.” And it’s
true, the group composed an im-
promptu tune on Ergo, which has
been recorded and posted on the Er-
go website, for posterity.
The album is not out in the markets
yet, but expect to hear songs such as
PODCAST
Sankarapandi, a folk song and Naatai,
an electro-pop-rock song, all sung in
Tamil.
And of course, winning Mirinda Log on to
Ooh La La has been rewarding in www.goergo.in and
landing more projects. The band check out our podcast
composed R15, a tune they com-
posed and presented to actor Mad- with the band as they
havan for the Yamaha R15 bike speak about what it
launch. took to win Mirinda Ooh
They have also been signed on for
an album for dance master Dhanan-
La La, and what A.R.
jayan, fusion music shows, telefilm Rahman advised them
‘Appusamyum Africa Azahgiyum’ on making it big as
amongst others. ■
musicians.
04 KALEIDOSCOPE
‘‘
Opening
the Gates
of charity
His new future will be people, not bytes
Microsoft at a glance
Microsoft founded: 1975
Microsoft chief executive: Steve
Ballmer
Microsoft chairman: Bill Gates
Market cap: 260.5 billion dollars
Cash reserves: 24 billion dollars
Employees worldwide: 78,565
Employees US: 47,645
Business divisions: Platforms and
Services, Business, Entertainment
and Devices
Subsidiary country offices: 103
Total office space: 2,245,033
square metres
Revenue, income and growth:
2007 revenue 51.12 billion
dollars, growth 15 per cent,
profit 14.07 billion dollars 2006
revenue 44.28 billion dollars,
growth 11 per cent, profit 12.60
billion dollars
Gates will take a hands-on role as co- chairman of the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation, the world’s richest charity
ERGO Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The soul without imagination is what an
observatory would be without a telescope
Henry Ward Beecher
T
he announcement by the
world’s richest man two years
ago that he intended to
switch from the corporate
arena to the world of charity
sounded like a cliché. Now, Bill
Gates faces the challenge of mak-
ing it real. A Harvard University 쒀
dropout who ushered in the home A model presents a creation of
computer age and made billions of designer Lino Villaventura as part of
dollars along the way will have his the 2009 Spring-Summer edition of the
last official day of work at Micro- Sao Paulo Fashion Week, in Sao Paulo,
soft on Friday. Brazil, on Monday. AFP PHOTO
Three people will essentially fill
the void left behind when Bill
Gates retires from the company he
and friend Paul Allen co-founded
in 1975.
“With success, I have been given
great wealth,” Gates said. “And
with great wealth comes great re-
sponsibility to give back to society,
to see that those resources are put
to work in the best possible way to
help those in need.”
That pledge will see Gates, 51,
take a hands-on role as co- chair-
man of the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, the world’s richest
charity, which thanks to the gene-
rosity of Gates and his close friend, 쒀
fellow business tycoon Warren South Korean models pose with
Buffet, currently has a war chest of Japanese automaker Honda Motor’s
37.3 billion dollars dedicated to New Legend during its launch in Seoul
improving health care and fighting on Tuesday. The New Legend
poverty in the developing world. equipped with a V6 3,700 cc engine
The foundation is destined to and a Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive
become even richer with both its system is priced at US $ 65,570 in the
main benefactors pledging to do- South Korean market. AFP PHOTO
nate almost their entire fortunes
and to require the foundation to
spend all its money within 50 years
of their deaths. Currently, the
foundation is required by law to STOCKTRACK
make grants of at least 1.5 billion
dollars annually, but the plan is to 14106.58 4191.10
dramatically increase that figure,
and plans are already in the works
to double the foundation’s staff of -186.74 -75.30
250 employees. ■
DPA
SENSEX NIFTY
 Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Websites of the day
View random snaps taken in and around
London at:
http://londondailyphoto.blogspot.com/
Make your colleagues laugh with these
one liners at: http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk
Her very best friend
쒀 video chats, online clubs, events,
Seema Mehta, head designer, Kirtilals, and Rohit Bal, fashion designer, helping actor Pooja wear diamond
jewellery, after unveiling the ‘Fine Diamond Jewellery Collection’ at Kirtilals Jewellery showroom at
Alwarpet in Chennai on Monday. PHOTO: S. S. KUMAR
Ergo Blitz FAQs
Dance Competition
(Winning Moves)
1. Entries for Dance will be on Team
participation.
2. Each Team should have a
minimum of 4 dancers. There is no
maximum limit on dancers per team.
3. First 30 Team entries for Dance
will be selected to participate
4. Two Team entries per company
will be taken. Team entries above
the limit of 2 will be subject to
availability of slots.
Event Schedule
July 5th, 2006 -
Winning Moves
(Dance competition)
July 6th, 2008 -
Singing Sensations
(Vocal competition)
Venue: IMAGE Auditorium
behind Ayyappan Temple,
M R C Nagar, R A Puram,
Chennai - 600028
On the days of the culturals,
those competing are
requested to report at the
Registration Desk by 9 a.m.
with their company ID cards.
5. Each team will be given a slot of Green rooms will be provided.
7 mins to perform. This includes
set-up, props and performance
time.
6. Each Team should be prepared
for 2 performances.Round 1: set to (Singing Sensations)
Desi MusicRound 2 : set to
International Music* Tracks for
each of these, will have to be
brought by the Team.
7. Out of the 30 Teams, 8 Teams
will be selected for Round 2. The 8 2. First 30 Team entries for Music
teams compete with each other in will be selected to participate
the International Music round,
after which the Final 3 winners
will be chosen.
8. The team leader for each team
should report at 9 am to the
Registration desk on the day of
the event. Each team will be asked 5. Each Team should be prepared for
to pick a number to decide the
order of performance, which will
be the Team’s Slot Number. The
CD tracks for both the
performances should be handed
over at the desk. The CD should
clearly state the Name, Employee
Id, Company and Slot number and should report at 9 am to the
Dance Track for Round 1 and
Round 2.
9. Each Team is requested to carry pick a number to decide the order
a back-up CD, just in case there is
a problem with the other CD.
US $
Pound
Euro
100 Yen
10. Costumes, props and any items
required for the performance should
be brought by the performing team.
11. The Decision of the Judges is
final and binding on the
participants.
Vocal Competition
1. Entries for Music will be on Team
participation.
2. The competition is only for the
Film Music category. Preferably
Tamil/Hindi.
3. 2 Team entries per company will
be taken. Team entries above the
limit of 2 will be subject to
availability of slots.
4. Each team will be given a slot of
5 mins to participate.
2 vocal performances.
Round 1: Melody (Solo/ Duet)
Round 2: Fast Beat (Duet/Group)
* Orchestra will be provided for all
participants. Prior practice with the
Orchestra will not be possible.
6. The team leader for each team
registration desk on the day of the
event. Each team will be asked to
of performance, which will be the
Team’s Slot Number.
05
42.94
SOURCE: RBI
84.52
66.73
39.73
ax.com
technop
Web portal
for techies
A web portal exclusively for IT
professionals to socialise and
share ideas was launched on
Tuesday.
The portal, technopax.com,
will be a common online plat-
form for IT industry related pro-
fessionals networking and
system administrators, graphics
and animation designers, BPO Cll
Center, ITES employees, Ram
Mohan, Executive Director of the
portal, told reporters.
Such a platform will improve
their technical and professional
skills through the sharing of
knowledge base, methodologies
and skill sets, he said. Besides,
building up a vast circle of
friends, this will also help them
to be abreast with the latest de-
velopments that happen in the
IT front world over.
Technopax.com has many fea-
tures, including text, audio and
forum, classified advertisement,
discussion rooms, music and vid-
eo sharing, web profiles. ■
PTI
7. Each Team should nominate 1
person for a Duo for Round 1
(Melody) and a Team/ a Duo for
Round 2 (Fast Beat)
8. Details of the 2 songs to be
performed by the Team should
be mailed to blitz@goergo.in
before 1st July, 2008 to enable
the Orchestra to prepare
for the songs. In case of
songs other than Tamil/
Hindi, the participants are
requested to give us a CD of
those songs, to enable the
orchestra to practice.
9. Vocals to follow the same
format and style as indicated
in the Film Music selected.
Improvisations and change of
styles/ formats will not be
encouraged.
10. The Decision of the
Judges is final and binding on
the participants.
Note to HR/Admin
Departments
We would appreciate it greatly if
you could just send letters
confirming that the participants
are indeed from your
organisation. This would save us
a lot of time in the verification
process. But this is purely
voluntary.
Don’t hesitate to shoot us an
email on any doubts/ queries at
blitz@goergo.in
06 VILLAGE ERGO Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Biggest diamond
South African miners are claiming to have unearthed
the largest diamond in the world. The rock is a
reported 7,000 carats and the size of a coconut,
being almost twice as large as the second largest
diamond ever found, the Cullinan, found in 1905.

Brit soldiers beating the bugs with Fish ’n’ chips beat Queen to top
Venus Flytraps! spot
British troops in Iraq are ordering insect-eating Venus Guess what’s the best
Flytraps online to keep their tanks and armoured of British? Well, it’s a
personnel vehicles free of bugs. Alistair Pearce, who owns gastronomic delight –
South West Carnivorous Plants in Culmstock, Devon, has fish ’n’ chips, according
been given the order. “Our more interesting orders are to Britons. A survey
from Iraq,” The Sun quoted Pearce, as saying. “Soldiers has rated the country’s
want Venus Flytraps for armoured personnel carriers. national dish as the
“One soldier phoned from a combat zone because he was most favourite among
getting pestered by flies in his vehicle,” Pearce added. Britons – in fact, fish
ANI ’n’ chips beat even the
82-year-old Queen
who is in second spot
in a list of Britain’s 50
Stamp-coin to commemorate Beijing best things. Old-
fashioned pubs are in
Olympic Games the third place,
Australian Post said on Tuesday an Australian coin shaped followed by roast
as a postage stamp has been created to commemorate the dinners, red phone
Beijing Olympic Games. One side of the 50 cent ‘stamp- boxes, Big Ben, cream
coin’ features the mythical Chinese dragon and the teas, The Beatles and the British pound, according to the
Australian Olympic Committee logo, and the other side poll of 7,000 people across the country. The Royal Family
reproduces the usual image of Her Majesty Queen complete the Top 10. And despite his boozy antics 23-year-
Elizabeth II. Only 8,000 old Prince Harry is the only royal family member other
of the coins will be than the Queen to make it to the Top 50, the ’Daily Star’
released across the reported.
country in a tribute to PTI
the Chinese belief in the
lucky number eight,
Australia Post said. The
limited edition 50c 61-year-old travels in son’s
stamp-coin would go on
sale priced at 89.95 passport
Australian dollars (85.81 A 61-year-old man checked in, passed Singapore
U.S. dollars starting on immigration control and flew to Vietnam on holiday
Tuesday, Australia Post using his 39-year-old son’s passport, a newspaper
said. Group philatelic reported on Tuesday. Ang Heng Soon grabbed his son’s
manager Noel Leahy passport by mistake when he left home in a hurry on
said the stamp-coin Monday morning, the Straits Times said. He managed to
represented China’s check in, pass an initial inspection by an auxiliary
proud history and policeman at the departure hall entrance and made it
culture. past immigration officers, the newspaper said.
Xinhua AFP

Singaporeans biggest ONLINE SPENDERS

They spent US$ 770.70 over a three-month period, followed by South Koreans who spent US$ 707.50
S ingaporeans and South Ko-
reans are the region’s biggest
online spenders, a survey by Mas-
terCard said on Tuesday.
Singapore online shoppers
spent 770.70 US dollars over a
three-month period, followed by
South Koreans who spent 707.50
dollars, the survey found.
It studied the behaviour of
more than 4,000 people with
bank accounts who used the In-
ternet at least once a week, in
Hong Kong, mainland China,
Australia, Japan, India and Thai-
land as well as Singapore and
South Korea.Online shoppers in
Thailand spent the least, at
406.30 dollars over the three
months, while those in Japan
spent 581.00 dollars.
Shoppers in the region aver-
aged 3.1 purchases during the pe-
India’s online shopping
population is also set
to increase rapidly and
is poised to overtake
Japan and Korea in
terms of the share of
over regional Internet
shoppers
riod, it said. It added that 63 per
cent of survey respondents said
they made purchases online.
That figure was even higher in
Japan and South Korea, where 83
percent said they shopped using
the Internet.
The MasterCard study said that
by 2010 China’s online shopping
population is projected to in-
crease to 480 million.India’s on-
line shopping population is also
set to increase rapidly and is
poised to overtake Japan and Ko-
rea in terms of the share of over
regional Internet shoppers, Mas-
terCard said. ■
AFP
 Wednesday, June 25, 2008
07
This day, that year
It was in June 25 1993 that Canada elected
its first female prime minister. Kim Campbell,
Woodpecker’s flesh
Canada’s 19th prime minister, governed until In ancient Rome, it was considered a
October 25, 1993, when the Progressive- sin to eat the flesh of a woodpecker.
Conservative party was defeated.

Japanese voted
world’s best tourists
Germans and Britons at second place
Survey

G
oing on holiday soon? It would help if you be- ranked
came more like the Japanese, who were voted
by hoteliers as the world’s best tourists in a American
global travel survey released this month. tourists as
The survey, by online travel company Expedia.com, the most
asked more than 4,000 hoteliers from across the globe
to list their best overall travellers. generous,
It also rated the travellers on categories that in- followed by
cluded manners, willingness to learn the local lan-
guage and sample the cuisine, tidiness, generosity Canadians
and stylishness. and Russians
The Japanese won top prize for being overall best
tourists. Germans and Britons tied for second place,
followed by the Canadians and Swiss. American tour-
ists came in at number 11 overall.
“Hoteliers are the experts when it comes to inter-
acting with tourists,” said Expedia.com travel expert
Karyn Thale in a media release.
“So as the busy summer travel season approaches,
T1.OJaPpaneTseEN
we thought it would be fun to present some of their mans
2. British/Ger
common perceptions regarding tourists from all na di an s
3. Ca
around the world.” The survey ranked American tour-
4. Swiss
ists as the most generous, followed by Canadians and
5. Dutch
Russians, while the French, British and Dutch were /Swedes
6. Australians
the most ‘fiscally conservative’. Britons, Italians and
7. Belgians
Americans were considered noisy, while the French ns
8. Norwegia
and Germans were among the messiest hotel guests. anes/
9. Austrians/D
Americans were bottom of the list when it came to h 10 . N ew
Finnis
fashion sense, with Italians and French voted tops. ■
Zealanders
Reuters

St John, fulfil my wish Kiss lipsticks

쑸
A youth
jumps over a
goodbye in this city
bonfire on
Monday,
during the
A Malaysian city has banned Muslim
women from wearing brightly coloured
lipstick and noisy high-heeled shoes to
traditional work, the national news agency Bernama
San Juan reported.
(Saint John) City officials in Kota Bharu, the capital of
night on a conservative northern Kelantan state –
beach in the which is run by the Islamic party PAS –
southern distributed a circular to local firms last
Spanish city month to outline the dress code, Bernama
of Malaga. said on Monday. The report said the circu-
Fires are lit lar stated that the directive, which targetted
throughout Muslim women working in food outlets
Spain and and other business premises, was aimed at
people burn preventing incidents like rape and illicit
objects they sex. It ordered women not to wear thick
no longer make-up including bright lipstick, or high-
want and heeled shoes ‘that gave a tapping sound,’
make wishes although rubber-soled heels were permit-
as they jump
Malaysian city, ted. The directive said that the headscarf
through the Kelantan, bans worn by many Muslim women in Malaysia
flames. heavy make-up should also cover the chest and not be
AFP PHOTO made of transparent material, and that
and noisy high- those who flouted the rules faced a fine of
heels US$ 153. ■
AFP
08 SPORT ERGO Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
09

THE CUP
LIKE NO OTHER
AYON SENGUPTA
ayon@goergo.in

A group of
T
wenty-five years ago, on June 25, 1983, Kapil Dev
and his Devils achieved something unthinkable –
underdogs gave beating two-time world champions West Indies
at the World Cup final in Lords. On Wednesday,
India its biggest the class of ‘83 will reunite for a gala dinner at Lord’s,
hosted by Sunil Gavaskar, one of the key members of
sporting glory. that team.
The Indians, who had lost every single game in the
Kapil Dev and two World Cups before, shocked the world champions
in their first group league encounter and then again
Co. recall World got the better of them in the final.
“We were just putting in our effort and did not real-
Cup 1983 ise the magnitude of what we had achieved. Even if I
was the captain I was relatively young to international
cricket and personally I didn’t realise that we had
achieved the unthinkable,” skipper Kapil Dev says
about the win.
“Nobody thought we could progress even beyond
the round robin league but we just wanted to play
good cricket and enjoy the game, and I think that paid
off,” he adds.
Kris Srikanth, the highest scorer in the final with his
quick fire 38 from 57 balls, that included a huge six off
Andy Roberts, says: “It was a difficult wicket to bat on.
The conditions were typically English and the ball
was swinging both sides. Jimmy (Mohinder
Amarnath) had asked me to go after the bowl-
ing and I just tried to do that. Luckily, it
worked wonders. But 183 was too small a total
to defend against the Windies. I think Kapil’s
catch to dismiss Vivian Richards changed the
whole complexion of the game.”
Lanky Punjab medium pacer Balwinder
Singh Sandhu got India back into the game,
uprooting Gordon Greenidge’s off-stump
with a perfect in-swinger. The ball
pitched outside and came back sharp-
ly to outfox the West Indies opener
who had decided to leave it alone – to
his surprise it rattled the top of the
off-stump, providing India the much-
needed breakthrough. “It became a
special delivery because it got the
wicket of Gordon Greenidge. I think
it was Greenidge who made the de-
livery special by leaving it alone. I
think even in the first game I got him
with an in-swinger but the occasion
made that wicket extra special,” Sandhu
says.
Kapil says: “We were one of the weakest teams in
the competition, yet we won the Cup. I think it gave all
of us a new dream, India got a new dream and every
child wanted to follow our footsteps. That was the
biggest achievement.”
“Now it’s the time to reflect on the past and cheer
our cricketers to achieve something bigger,” he adds.

Semi-final win
ALL PICS: GETTY IMAGES

This piece was published in In the first semi-final, at Old Trafford on 22 June, England won the toss and batted
The Hindu the day after India first. The English could only manage 213 in 60 overs. Graeme Fowler (33 from 59 balls)
won the Prudential Cricket top scored, and Kapil Dev took 3/35. In reply, Yashpal Sharma (61 from 115 balls) and
World Cup. Sandeep Patil (51 from 32 balls) made half-centuries, as India reached their target in
54.4 overs, winning by 6 wickets.
10 FLICK ERGO Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Thanks to NASA
Armageddon was the first movie in which the cast
was allowed to use genuine NASA spacesuits. The
cast are the only civilians to ever wear NASA
spacesuits, which cost over $3 million each.

“I attempted various types of

plastic surgery, minutely but
Fans save
enough to stave off this en-
croaching middle-aged body McConaughey
from paparazzi
M atthew McConaughey was protected from paparazzi by

A
ctress Jamie Lee Curtis has re-
vealed that she was once addicted
to painkillers.
In an interview to More Maga-
zine, the Freaky Friday star admitted
that she developed painkiller addiction
after cosmetic surgery on her eyes when
she was 35. The 49-year-old actress was
hooked to painkillers to such an extent
that she even stole pills from her sister,
who, at that time, was recovering at the ac-
tress’ house from a broken bone.
“No one knew,” Curtis said of hiding her
dependency from her family, including husband
Christopher Guest.
The actress used drugs to get high and to com-
bat “loneliness”. She even drank heavily at times for
years. Curtis blamed the pressure to stay young in
Hollywood that lured her to drugs. “I attempted
various types of plastic surgery, minutely but enough
to stave off this encroaching middle-aged body,”
New York Daily News quoted her as saying.
“And every time I did, something went wrong.
I felt misshapen, just not natural any more. I
think it was a big stimulator of my drug
abuse,” she added. Curtis credits her nine-
year-old daughter, Annie, for helping her
kick the habit. The actress worried that
her addiction would affect her daugh-
ter. In her attempt to get rid of her
habit, Curtis let her hair go grey
and stopped wearing high heels.
She now works as a volunteer on
anti-drug campaigns. ■
GETTY IMAGES
a bunch of surfers on the beaches of Malibu recently.
The incident took place when McConaughey was surfing
with friends near Paradise Cove.
According to what a photographer had told the police,
the surfers asked the paparazzi to stop clicking
McConaughey’s pictures.
However, when the photographers did not stop, things
got physical.
“(The surfers) formed a semicircle in front of his camera
and they said (McConaughey) didn’t want him to film,”
E!online quoted Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
spokesman Steve Whitmore as having told The Los Angeles
Times.
“They got into an argument, and (the photographer)
indicated that he received injuries... (The surfers) took the
video camera and threw it in the water,” the spokesman
added.
There are reports that another paparazzo suffered a
broken nose during the fight, which was caught on tape by
TMZ.com and X17online.com, and which is being
investigated by detectives.
McConaughey’s representatives were unavailable for
comment. ■
ANI

ANI

Jamie Lee Curtis comes clean on past painkiller addiction

Hayden Panettiere
turns brunette
H ayden Panettiere has ditched her blonde tresses and
turned into a bottle brunette.
The 18-year-old flaunted the brand new hair-do as she
shot scenes for the third series of the hit US sci-fi show
Heroes, being shown on BBC2, reports The Mirror.
She plays cheerleader Claire Bennet, who has
regenerative healing powers.
Meanwhile, the actress recently revealed that she doesn’t
mind being considered a lesbian and admitted that she’d
love to have a gay affair with Angelina Jolie.
She insists that she doesn’t care if the press think she’s
gay, because she would happily date a string of
Hollywood’s leading ladies. ■
ANI
 Wednesday, June 25, 2008

For authenticity’s sake Prepared

In The World’s Fastest Indian, many of Burt Munro’s
tools and props from his tool shed are kept for
posterity in a hardware store in Invercargill. These, as
well as small pieces of costume such as one of Munro’s
ties on loan from his son, were used by Anthony
Hopkins to add to his character’s authenticity.
11
When Haley Joel Osment came to audition for The Sixth
Sense, director M. Night Shyamalan asked Osment if he
read his part. Osment replied, “I read it three times last
night.” Shyamalan was impressed, saying, “Wow, you read
your part three times?” To which Osment replied, “No, I
read the SCRIPT three times.”

b r a v o ! Cine City
ny ,
John AAYUDHAM
SEIVOM TO HIT SCREENS THIS FRIDAY

T
he set of Johnny Depp’s new connoisseur,” the source added.
movie is full of booze, The actor also shipped over
thanks to the actor, who is some bottles of his favourite Bor-
shipping in home-grown deaux Petrus, which he’s been
wine for the cast and crew. generously dishing out to eve-
While filming Public Enemies, ryone on set.
the Oscar-winner star has had “It’s fair to say that he’s
shipments of his home-grown made filming a far more
plonk sent over to the set in Illi- enjoyable experience,” Sundar C. starrer
nois. the source said. ■ Aayudham Seivom will hit
“Johnny’s a fine wine buff and ANI the theatres on June 27.
has his own vineyard in the South The film, directed by
of France. He’s had 10 crates of Udhayan, features
his own wine shipped over to Anjali of
keep him going,” The Mirror Kattradhu
quoted a source as saying. Tamizh fame as
“He is very serious about his the female lead,
hobby and does everything him- while Vivek and
self – from selecting the grapes Napolean play
to working the machinery.
He’s done wine-tasting
JOHNNY important roles.
The story is about
courses and has read DEPP a rowdy mechanic
who is sentenced
virtually all there
is to read on SHIPPING IN to spend a month
in the library of
the subject.
Johnny’s HOME-GROWN Mahatma Gandhi.
The storyline seems
a
WINE TO NEW similar to
Bollywood
FILM SET blockbuster Lage Raho
Munna Bhai. Vivek plays
the role of a police
officer in this film.
Srikanth Deva has scored
the music.

INTERVIEWS MAKE GOPIKA

TO ENTER WEDLOCK
ANNE HATHAWAY Actress Gopika is busy shooting for the film Kallukul

SMARTER Eeram. The news is that this will be her final project in
tinseltown, since she is ready to say goodbye to films after
marriage. Gopika, who made her
debut in Pranayamanithooval in
Malayalam, got recognition after
A nne Hathaway has revealed
what is making her smarter day
by day – interviews.
the hit 4 the People, which
was dubbed in Tamil as Four
The 25-year-old actress ad- Students. The pretty actress
mits that she uses the time she has done movies in Tamil,
spends in interviews to keep Telugu, Malayalam and
her grey matter active. Kannada.
“When you’re in a room talking www.cinesnacks.com
to journalists and being asked the
same questions over and over,
what you do is pick a random word
out of the dictionary and you try
and work it into the interview,” The
Daily Telegraph quoted her as say-
ing.
“At the end of it my crossword
skills have gone up a notch,” she
added. ■
ANI
12 SCAN
PICK OF THE DAY
Star Movies
The Sentinel – 11-10 pm
Pete is black mailed for having an
affair with the first lady he is then
framed for treason against the
president, not wanting to reveal the
affair he goes on the run from the
secret service to try to clear his
name but is constantly being
tracked down
CARRY ON, CRAIG
VIPASHA SINHA
C raig has been the face of Southern Spice Mu-
sic for four years now. The energetic and
ever-smiling VJ gets candid with Ergo, talk-
ing about both his personal and profes-
sional life.
Craig’s idea of a change
First on my list is to work on my
looks. Where the older men are on
the run for a six-pack, I aim for a
family pack (laughs). On a serious
note, you will soon see me behind
the camera. Apart from hosting, I
will produce my own show.
Not Kollywood material
Fair men like me don’t do films.
Not only that, I don’t have a mous-
tache. It took me two months to
grow them (pointing to his
stubs). Secondly, I don’t have
a perfect Tamil diction. My
Tamil isn’t perfect. How
would it be if I say something
like “yaapdi irrike”, the tan-
glish accent?
Teenage blues
I got a Scooty when I was
in class IX. I was not al-
lowed to ride it then since I
had no licence. But then, like any
other teenager, I had a time show-
ing off my biking skills during XI
and XII to impress girls. Though I
ERGO Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Nudity off the Contract
In the serial Sex and the City , Sarah Jessica Parker had a
clause in her contract , stipulating that she will not do
any full nudity. This is why the audience never sees Carrie
in anything less than underwear whereas all the other
main female characters have been filmed in much less.
Star Gold Times Now HBO
Main Hoon Na – 8 pm News Now Overnight - 11-30 Forever Young – 9 pm
The governments of India and pm Capt. Daniel , a test pilot falls into
Pakistan have launched, "Project A classic wrap of the day’s severe depression after losing his
Milaap", where both the important and significant big stories sweetheart to an irreversible coma.
governments will release the POVs that are relevant and will impact He asks his scientist friend to freeze
from the previous wars. Raghavan, the lives of the viewers. The format him cytogenetically for a year to
a militant does not want the of the show provides the viewers a alleviate his grief but somehow they
peaceful operation to turn to reality complete news experience that is all forgot about him until 50 years
uniquely packaged later.
The SS Music VJ on
‘family-pack’ abs, lungis
and why he can’t get
into Kollywood
have a car today, I still ride that
Scooty and ride back in time.
Lungi = freedom
I love lungi and the free-
dom it gives. I always wear
them at home. I have had a
tough time handling it during
shows. Once, while shooting
for a Tamil New Year show, I was asked to
wear a silk lungi. I had no idea how to tie
it. My cameraman tied it for me with
much difficulty with his eyes closed and,
to everybody’s entertainment, the lungi
slipped off while shooting. Thank god, it
was pre-recorded (laughs).
Craig and Cary
Four years ago, when Cary and I were
chilling out with a group of friends, we
had guys literally falling off their seats
laughing to our jokes. It was then that
the idea of stand-up comedy struck
us. It finally happened recently
when Taj approached us to perform
at Distil. And it’s going great.
Craig and serious!
I have never said this before… The
Craig that people see is just one part of
me, but once I go home I am a completely FAVOURITES
different person. I speak to no one, I listen to Colours: blue and black
music, read books and enjoy spending time Actors: Rajinikanth, Kamal
with myself. ■ Hassan, Vikram
Actress: Cameron Diaz, Julia
Roberts and Jyothika
PHOTO: S. THANTHONI Book: Mythology
 Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Independent Isle
A man who owns the tiny Isle of Fovik in the
Shetland Islands has declared his independence from
the U.K and the European Union. The man is the
only resident on the 2.5 acre Isle, and plans on
creating his own currency, postage stamps, and flag.
Milkshake
Combo
Special dessert for the
month at Ecstasy ‘Manga-
lou’ consists of Vanilla cus-
tard with chopped walnuts
enrobed in milk chocolate,
covered with a thin layer of
Madeleine biscuit, topped
with fresh Alphonso mango
slices in a short crust cas-
ing. Enjoy the yummy
dishes!
Where: Ecstasy,
Sathyam Cinemas,
Thiru-vi-ka Road,
Royapettah
When: Till June 30th
Contact: 4392 0444
Essence of Seoul
‘The Soul of Seoul’, a Ko-
rean Food Festival is orga-
nized at Hip Asia, where
star chefs NoSik Seo and
Young Ran Baek are com-
ing down from the re-
nowned Shilla Hotel in
Korea to make the experi-
ence more authentic. Enjoy
your lunch and dinner with
Seoul.
Where: Hip Asia,
Taj Connemara
Anna salai.
When: June 25th
13
Tasty terrorism
A Beirut cafe has taken on an unlikely
theme - terrorism. Diners eat to the
sound of gunfire, weapons are
decorations, and the menu serves war-
themed dishes.
Coal Stories
Watches Go Cool
Is just dressing up enough? You
need to be well accessorised with
your cool outfits. And you can find
best collection of watches at Tom-
my Hilfiger, this season.
WhereTommy Hilfiger Flagship
Stores,
Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle.
When:Till June 30th, 11.00 a.m.
- 9.00 p.m.
Contact: 2849 1001
Pages from Mauricio’s Diary
Art lovers can have a wonderful time at Shi-
han Hussaini’s Art school. Visit this exhibit
“Pages from Mauricio’s Diary”, one of Cuba’s flong length feature film by to experience the joy and pride of art.
Manuel Perez Paredes will be screened at Alliance Francaise auditorium. In Where: Shihan Hussaini’s Art School &
the September 2000, as the Olympics are taking place in Sydney and Maur- Gallery,Coastal Road, Kalakshetra
icio at his birthday in Havana, after the death of his wife, What comes next? Colony,Besant Nagar.
Where: Alliance Francaise of Madras Nungambakkam When: Till July 3rd
When: June 25th, 6.30 p.m. Contact: 9841618386
Mountain Summer Vacation
The cooler air and lush surroundings are
fun for the whole family, and you can
often find lots of outdoor family adven-
tures like hiking, boating and cycling.
Farm Summer Vacation International Summer Vacation
A farm stay is fun for the whole family, and
provides a great way for children to experi- TOP Who says you have to stay close to home for
summer vacation? Go international. There
5
ence another lifestyle and learn. There are You’re biggest expense will be airfare, but
many farms that now serve as farm vaca- there are many ways to cut other expenses (by
tions where you can eat breakfast made camping or getting an apartment rental so
you can cook your own family meals) to make
from fresh-from-the-farm produce, and the
kids will love seeing the animals. an international summer vacation affordable.
VACATION
IDEAS
RV Road trip Summer Vacation Go Rural
Rent an RV and hit the road with the kids. You will have Get out of the city for a while and
your accommodations right there with you, and you can try a trek through India’s rural
roam freely anywhere your mood takes you. Drive cross landscape. Look around, take pic-
country, or perhaps drive a stretch of one of the major tures, there’s plenty you will
highways and see what you encounter. learn! Of course, go well
equipped and at the same time,
travel light.
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Sponsored walk
A group of council workers are walking
across Australia in order to promote
healthier lifestyles. The group will walk
more than 3,000 kilometers in the next
eight weeks.

sudoku

Sam Selvakumar P
of Cognizant
Technology
Solutions,
Navalur, clicked
this photo in
Alapuzha. His
hobbies include
reading books
and listening to
music. Email:
SamSelvakumar.
Pauldurai
@cognizant.com

KAKURO
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 Wednesday, June 25, 2008
15
World’s ugliest dog Word’s worth
The 2008 World’s Ugliest Dog champion has been
crowned, and this year’s winner is a one-eyed, three- "Icasm" (eye-kazm) a figurative
legged Chinese Crested dog. Gus, who is also hairless, expression. From a Greek word
traveled all the way from Florida with owner meaning ’to make like.’
Jeanenne Teed to compete in the competition.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

At office you might have to sort out petty issues.
Technical stuff might not interest you but instead
you will be more inclined towards creative jobs.
Love relationships might require adjustments. Learn
to ‘let go’ and things will be perfectly smooth.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

Rare indeed, but you might resort to ‘short cuts’ to
achieve desired goals. Ganesha finds you taking
keen interest in activities other than your prime
responsibilities. You will be in a commanding
position on the love front.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

Ganesha feels today is the best day to deal with
BORN LOSER issues related to data entry. You might feel a bit
confused about how to handle your work. You will
be brimming with emotions today. As a result, you
might want to meet your beloved.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
Follow your instincts today. It is the best day for
creative tasks. Just like an artist, you will be more
creative than practical today. You may chill out in
the evening but since you are in a creative mood,
your expression of love may be dramatic.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
You might not be able to meet the deadlines. To
add it up, superiors might pressurise you to
complete some tasks. However, the end of the day
will wipe off all your worries. You will have a gala
time with your beloved in the evening.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
You might feel completely opposite to your usually
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT intellectual and logical self. Even for small things at
office, you might have to put in extra efforts.
Ganesha advises you to maintain your friendly
nature. Try to meet your lover’s demands, selflessly.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
You dedication towards your work will be at peak
today. Your colleagues will appreciate your work.
However, the day might wear you out and you
might want to spend a quiet evening with your
lover. You will be pampered by your beloved.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
Ganesha feels you will be innovative today. New
projects begun today may achieve rapid progress.
On the relationship front you may be very intense
and may express possessiveness. Ganesha advises
you against over-emoting in case of love matters.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
Ganesha feels you are a sincere professional who
requires a personal space. Today while you are at
work, some domestic responsibilities might keep
demanding attention. You might spend more time in
the evening trying to please your beloved.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
You might feel like jumping to the next level of
work schedule now. However, do not jump to the
next level until you are sure that all the tasks at the
present level are completed. With your beloved you
will have a discussion about feelings and dedication.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS You are an intelligent planner who likes to work in
a planned position. Today might be a different day.
ISSUE’S You might have to work in a given environment
with some constraints. It might seem like a
SOLUTIONS challenging day. Love life will sweeter than honey.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
The Grace of Ganesha will bring a positive change
in your personality. You will feel emotionally
attached to your organisation. Hence, you might
prove helpful in sorting out problems of others. You
will get splendid favours from your beloved.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ERGO Wednesday, June 25, 2008