Customised Che

My phone flashed an unfamiliar New Delhi number on its screen, forcing me to rather loudly curse credit card and insurance companies. But the sound of my long-standing friend Cherian John Thottathil instantly wiped away my anger.
After exchanging a few plesantries (mostly the four-letter words), John asked me whether I would like to own a t-shirt spotting Che Guevara's face on it. Here let me confess my fascination for the revolutionist, his desire to see slavery, class differences and autocratic rule getting eradicated once and for all.
John also offered if I mail him Che's picture of my choice he would get it embossed on the t-shirt, sort of customised Che apparel. I guess many Che fans would have been happy to hear such an offer, but, so strangely, it made me a lot unhappy. The thought of the light of a generation becoming a marketing commodity saddened me to no end, leading to my polite refusal of that offer.
To think that, Che was totally against commercilisation only added to the irony of the whole episode, but I heard Che t-shirts are one of the most hot-selling items in garment industry these days.
While it might be taken as a symbol of new generation's awareness about Che and his ideas, is it absolutely necessary to tell the world through your clothes about your hero (not just Che)? Or follow your hero's words and walk your own path is more worthy?
Like the great German composer Beethoven told one of his disciples "the best tribute for your teacher is not copying him blindly, while that may be taken for respect, but shape your own path without sacrificing your teacher's visions."
The method can invite criticisms at times, but I believe it's the way forward.

KJ Yesudas

It's been a while I blogged courtesy my hectic tours related to work and some personal health problems. That I could not touch upon a suitable topic too contributed to my inactivity in the blog-sphere.

Then recently I stumbled on this piece of news in a film website on January 10 -- KJ Yesudas turns 70. It was really a moment of realization because till then how many of us thought about KJY's age?

It is tough to think about his age since I listen to his songs from various eras (60s, 70s, 80s and 90s) almost every day, like a ritual. It's an experience to be experienced; words can hardly convey the beauty of his music, the calmness that seeps into your soul after listening to a KJY rendition.

It hardly matters whether he sings light music or Carnatic music, for he is proficient in both forms and he was able to entertain both laymen and pundits. There have been some criticisms about the way he sings Carnatic forms that he resorts to gimmicks with voice. I just want to tell them 'please avoid the vyavahara-laden mindset and absorb his music and you will only be richer by it.' As the great Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, KJY's guru, said once, "I don't understand this rigidity over Vyavahara as I know only one vyavahara and that is related to court. Music is divine and it should come from heart and soul."

Yes, KJY's music pours from his soul, if not so, it could not have touched the souls of million others transcending linguistic barriers. The days when KJY sang 16 songs might have gone behind him, but that does not reduce the magic of his craft.

It may be also because the lack of some good quality lyrics and music in modern days. The trio of Vayalar Rama Varma - G Devarajan-KJ Yesudas is still the best in Malayalam film industry, and I don't need to retell the poetical and musical quality of those songs. Pure bliss those songs are.

It is not for nothing he's been called Gana Gandharvan, and he does not need any more titles

to reveal his status as a musician, once rated by AR Rahman as the owner of the sweetest voice in

the world.

I just wish the mastero long and successful years ahead.

HOT HYDERABAD

I am right now in Hyderabad, sizzling as usual, for the Champions League and it has been a good experience so far. I have met a few players for interviews and will have to stay here till October 24th.

As it happens on any tour, the last few days in the Pearl City have thrown up some very interesting moments. Here goes a few.

Brand conscious

I wanted to buy a packet of Marlboro, but the shop guy right in front of my hotel looked very apprehensive and told only Wills brands are available. Within a few minutes a gentleman standing next to the shop left in his bike, the scene changed immediately.

"Sir, which brand you want...Marlboro, 555, Dunhill or B&H," he asked me enthusiastically. Stunned by the sudden attitude change, I asked reasons for it. "Sir, that man standing next to you was from Wills company and I was not supposed to sell any other brand than it. Now that he is not there I can give you the brand of your choice," he said.

So much for brand loyalty!

Not so Sundara Telegu!!!

Krishna Residency is a nice hotel to stay. Wifi enabled, good food and comfortable rooms. Just one problem, the staff, except the front room guys, do not know any other language than Telegu.

While Telegu is a beautiful language, especially those Karnatic compositions by Saint Thyagaraja, here it has presented me with a lot of hazards. Once I ordered a neembu soda (fresh lime soda), and got neembu and soda separately.

On other occasion I ordered dinner from my room (509) and told the room service guys to deliver it to 202 (my friend's Amol's room), but bill it to my room. I never got the dinner even after an hour and when checked with the room service people, they told me the boy was waiting in front of 509 for 15 minutes for me to open the door!!! Hows that for customer service!

KPL, REPORTING

For the last fortnight I have been busy with covering Karnataka Premier League, and it was quite experience.

I had this apprehension of the event being a no-seller, especially in Bangalore. But, to my greatest surprise, public has turned out in good numbers to watch the local lads sweating it out and Mysoreans have received the tournament with open hands.

Covering the tournament also led my mind to the need for a change in attitude to cover cricket. It is mandatory for an event like KPL, a strictly local affair, and even for domestic tournaments to file a conventional match reports with the reporter focusing just on the happening on the field. He may also dedicate time to compile scoreboards because cards may not be available in websites.

That people may not be able to watch these matches on TV makes it the duty of a reporter to give a detailed account of the on-field happenings.

Do we need to approach international matches the same way? I guess not. This is the age when things move forward in nanoseconds, and then why should reporters go back to the age of steam?

Now every international match has been flashed live on TV with millions watching along with detailed analysis by experts like Ravi Shastri, Ian Chappell etc. So what else a reporter can give new to his reader in his match report apart from the already watched and heard? Is a reporter's time is not precious enough that he can waste it compiling a board, a clerical job. Nowadays, boards of any international match are readily available in web pages like Cricinfo that guys working in desk can compile it, easing the burden on the guy on the field.

A reporter can also use that extra time in searching for some interesting stories. Why can't be we challenge our ability to think beyond the obvious?

To bring that change our respective offices should change their attitude, approaching the game with open mindedness while accepting the inevitable flow of time. Hope it happens.

WATCHING MASTERS AT WORK

There were no hurried movements or panic-stricken escape moves but calculated motions only experts in the job can hope for. The second day of the preparatory camp for Indian cricketers offered reasons why Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are considered masters of their trade, and the alarming gulf between them and the younger generation.

Dravid, first to enter the nets, faced short-pitched balls from bowlers, mainly coach Gary Kirsten, and bowling machine. Never for once the Bangalorean looked ill at ease save one mis-timed pull. Dropping his hands and moving away from the line of danger or tapping the ball to leg-side from back-foot or taking that handsome pull out of the draw, Dravid was in his elements during his 30 minutes stint at the nets.

Tendulkar offered an equally breathtaking sight even in a subdued mood. The Mumbaikar resembled a boxer -- no exaggerated movements, but just enough motions to avoid the oncoming blobs. It was a superb exhibition of technique, composure and willingness to work on to attain perfection.

Even Kirsten could not suppress his delight seeing the two modern day greats dishing out a masterclass in facing short-balls, coming up with occasional shouts of 'yeaahs' and 'good one'.

The nets showed why Tendulkar and Dravid survived so long at the highest level of cricket, conquering many a milestones on the way. Having talent is one thing, but converting God-given abilities into memorable performances needs much more than mere talent. The senior pros' longish outing on a nippy Thursday at the KSCA 'B' grounds proved you need loads of concentration and a mindset to tame the unpleasant to consistently succeed in sports.

Hopefully Suresh Raina, younger to the stalwarts by a good 14 years, will pick up some cues from his senior colleagues display. The Uttar Pradesh batsman's effort against rising balls on the day was a blow to the eye.

The left-hander, once described by former coach Greg Chappell as a progeny of West Indian great Brian Lara, showed his discomfort against balls that whistle past his chest. More than once he was caught in no-man's land while trying to pull, reducing his attempted-stroke into a tame fend. Uncertain footwork and an even more uncertain mind made Raina look like a deer caught in front of headlight against short stuff.

That the Champions Trophy will be held at the pacy, bouncy pitches of South Africa makes it mandatory for Raina to work his way out against short-pitched balls. It is not just a matter of saving his own reputation, but also vindicating the faith the team management has placed on him. Can Raina deliver? Lets hope so!!

THOUGHTS AT 35

So I have turned 35 three days ago. It's a really funny age, if not a little perplexing. You still have one foot on the shores of youthfullness while the need to check the speed of life gradually tickles your brain.

This is not to paint myself as a mature, grey-haired, slightly balding middle-aged man, struggling to cope with the new needs of life. But an effort from my part to look back at my personal and professional life wearing the glass of impartiality.

First let's take a peep at my personal life. All the while it has been a mix of good and bad, though I would like to put more weight on the former. I have been hugely privileged to acquire some wonderful friends along the way -- from my school and college days, during my stay in the hostel in New Delhi, yes they have come from all walks of life.

But my biggest gain has been finding a suitable life partner. I met her in the New Indian Express office in Bangalore, but it was not love at first sight. It blossomed between us some two years after our initial meeting, and I am really happy that I made the right choice. I believe having the right Ms Right has a huge role in the success of your personal and professional life.

I also have been remarkably lucky to have two of the most loving parents and really affectionate siblings, who have contributed immensly to my succes in all my ventures.

Now to my professional life. It has been a rather topsy-turvy trip as journalist over the last 12 years. The years have presented me the fortune of interacting with some nice guys, some wonderful colleagues and, of course, some cheapos as well.

As I said in one of my earlier blogs, I may not be clinging onto the broadsheet for long now as I can feel the need to do something different, face a different sort of challenge, surge in me. Hopefully, things should go as I hope in the next few months.

I have always felt my style of writing is more suited to interviews, features, news features and human element in sports. At times a broadsheet may not be the best place to do it, and may be it is a little too late for me to become straight-jacket writer. Here I should remember a name, without forgetting others who helped me along the way, for telling the importance of approaching my craft in a different way to keep myself fresh as a writer.

Ajay Shankar, my former colleague in NIE, Bangalore and now with a reputed website, has been a positive influence, pointing out the need to view sports, particularly cricket, through an unconventional eye and treating it like a new episode of a drama every day. Well, it is a hard to sell theory on a place, torned by the irresistable clash between new and old, like mine. Admittedly, I could not practice it all the time, keeping in mind the 'style' of my workplace, but the view has definitely broaden my horizons.

It is impossible to dwell upon all aspects in such a short article, but I have tried to give a peripheral and honest view of my professional and personal life. Catch up with you guys soon!