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The recently released “Vada Chennai” movie has stirred a long-standing debate with regards to the lifestyle of North Chennai people. The debate has always been between a section which labels North Chennai as a hub of rowdyism and poverty, and the other that clearly disagrees. Coming to Vada Chennai, many local inhabitants have shown a black flag stating that like many other movies, this too has depicted the region in a bad light. 

 But, to be honest, it didn't. The movie is materialised upon real events that took place centralizing a small community of fishermen, say, like, a few decades back. Which means it has not followed the familiar route of dishing out an illusionary rowdyism story around North Chennai. Perhaps, in retrospect, it's the trend of showcasing only knife-brandishing stories which have irked the people. Why show this face alone is what they are asking. And, the exasperation has a lot to do with the misconception that exists concerning North Madras and its occupants as well. 


 When the torrential rains hit Chennai in 2015, a majority of places in the northern territory of the city stood tall in terms of relatively less or no damage. The exception can be attributed with the drainage system constructed by the British during the colonial era, as the north was where the first foundation stone towards transforming Madarasapattinam into Madras was laid. But now, the city's inception point is licking the wounds of the paradigm shift that has happened towards South Chennai. While the south is growing leaps and bounds, the north is confronting pollution, congestion, and poor infrastructure, yet serving the city happily with its labour force. 

 It's not that the south is completely pristine by any means. Taramani, a locale in South Chennai, which houses a plethora of IT parks, succumbs badly even to a night's rain despite all the money that is parked in. The auto drivers’, who motor around the area and form a vital cog in the wheel of the locale's IT workforce commutation, often grumble the negligence of authorities even in putting into place a proper drainage facility. This situation brings to light the hypocrisy of several people, who don't think twice to walk through the dirt and filth of the pampered Taramani, yet whine about the cleanliness of less polished areas like Vyasarpadi, Tondiarpet, Washermenpet, Ennore, Thiruvotriyur, Royapuram, Kasimedu, and many. 

 Staying with the ambience debate surrounding North Chennai -- it is very pivotal to understand that the region exists devoid of the factors needed to keep up an equilibrium between ambience and growth. Neither the region nor its residents know why heavy industries alone are foraying in here in spite of having a decent connectivity structure. Furthermore, the number of industries licensed or operated at the expense of the environment has furthered its undoing in terms of big-sized commercial investments. Although land starvation is cited as the primary reason for the dearth in commercial developments, no substantial efforts have been made in the direction of topography improvement. 

 The blood stains that hampered the image of North Chennai have now been wiped away by a cleansing agent called self-awareness. Education has attained the pole position in the list of priorities, and the underworld dons who established their bases here are no more active. In point of fact, it's the south which is more crime-infected now as opposed to the north. Realizing the north is no longer a safe hideout place due to the increased police scrutiny, and the strong demand for kangaroo courts after the real estate boom in the south, the rowdies have locomoted there. 

 In hindsight, Chennai city itself should have shaped up better by now. A casualty of political exploitation in many ways, the city has taken far more time to reach the juncture it has. And, it is North Chennai which has been the biggest loot place in the exploitation blueprint of politicians’ for years. So, claiming that North Chennai is a thorn in the flesh of the city only underlines the lack of basic understanding of the dynamics of Chennai. 


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Nothing frustrates a fast bowler more than getting driven straight down the ground. But, from a viewer's perspective, it is one of the most beautiful sights to behold in a cricket field. Sachin Tendulkar played the straight drive so well that when viewed every time on slow motion, our eyes were at a standstill. If there was one sight which possibly had the same effect of Sachin’s straight drive on Indian cricket fans, was, Zaheer Khan's approach to the bowling crease and that ever so famous jump. Coincidentally, he was referred as the Sachin Tendulkar of Indian bowling unit by MS Dhoni.

 The heat of Maharashtra is searing enough to evaporate the spirits of a wannabe fast bowler. And the pitches, well, they quickly make one lament their decision to be a fast bowler. In truth, it’s the same everywhere in India. Anyone, who overcomes the “heat and pitch” challenge, performs, and puts himself in the reckoning for India call-up is a winner in his own right. But not every winner would end up as a champion like Zaheer Khan.

 Although Zaheer’s show was an aberration, to begin with, it was soon reduced to a familiar debacle. Much like the career of other Indian pacemen, the ebb and flow pattern went flat gradually. That Zaheer Khan’s career got plagued by injuries is well-known, but more than that, it is the ill-natured treatment from Greg Chappell which would remain the worst nightmare of his playing days. “You would never play for India till I am in charge of the team,” said Greg Chappell to Zaheer for reasons only he would know. But, eventually, it was an injury and its repercussions that forced him out of the action for nine months.

 Zak, who cut short his county stint in England in 2004 due to national duties, resumed his county services in 2006 in a bid to regain his place in the national side. The time he spent with Worcestershire (one of the county clubs in England) helped him understand the science of fast bowling better. With a shortened run-up and much more balanced bowling action, he found the lost rhythm. These adjustments, coupled with a Dukes ball, catapulted him to the top of County Championship Division Two wickets leaderboard. He had 78 scalps to his name in the 16 matches he played for Worcestershire. It is indeed the county association that acted as a springboard for the heights he scaled starting from the fag end of 2006 to his retirement.

With the county success, he was knocking the doors of Indian selectors hard. The doors did open, and soon he was on the flight to South Africa. Although Sreesanth had the lion’s share of success against the Proteas in whites, Zaheer did decently well across the three formats on the 2006-2007 South Africa tour, to tell the world that he has improved as a bowler. Then came the tour of England in 2007 which saw him increase his fast bowling stocks manifold. The English batsmen, who played most of their cricket against a moving Dukes ball, just couldn't surpass the Zaheer Khan challenge. He was creating brilliant angles with the ball that were new and hard to negotiate. By hiding the shiny side of the ball until the last moment, he showed great astuteness in not letting the batsman predict the ball's direction. Such was the impact Zaheer produced by hiding the ball that even James Anderson took notice and started practising the technique later.

 When Zaheer looks back at his career, without thinking too much about the injuries sustained, of course, he can take heart from the numbers achieved between 2007-2011. He was right up there in the list of world's best bowlers then; only Dale Steyn had a better strike rate during the five-year period (Test matches). Above all, it is the joint highest wicket-taker tag in the ICC 2011 World Cup that would be the pinnacle of his memory lane trip.
Image courtesy: BCCI
                                        
The way he put the horrors of his nervy and iffy first spell of WC 2003 finals to rest by bowling an outstanding first spell in WC 2011 finals, stands as a perfect testament to what experience does to a player. Throughout the tournament, MS Dhoni would promptly turn to Zaheer when the ball gets 32-34 overs old, to exploit the reverse swing: a template which worked wonders for Team India. Not only did Khan reverse the ball, but also the fortunes of India many times. The Andrew Strauss dismissal and the slide that followed, enabling India to salvage a draw from the jaws of defeat in a league match, says it all. Furthermore, the tournament was the point when Zaheer emerged as the first successful exponent of the knuckle-ball. Having picked it up from Charl Langeveldt in Royal Challengers Bangalore camp, Zak was very clear on unleashing it only during the World Cup.

 The term “injury” is monotonous in any talk involving Zaheer Khan, as it is difficult as a fan not to consider how his career might have flourished, had he been bestowed with a strong physique. The fitness stranglehold got tighter after the World Cup, and he tapped out in the end. But Zaheer, nonetheless, can stick his chest out like he did everytime in his follow through beating the edge of the batsman. And hold his head high for the top podium finish in Indian pace bowling history.
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Meme - the pacemaker for many disturbed hearts of this generation, is one of the reasons why social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become indispensable in daily life. From politicians to cricketers, and cinema actors to so-called spiritual leaders, no one escapes the wrath and, sometimes the madness, of netizens. The introduction of Jio, a mobile network run by Reliance Industries, saw countless Indians plunge into the world of internet. Six months of free data, followed by data services at a giveaway price, consequently left other operators to catch up. What all these moves did is it worked collectively in favor of attracting several youngsters to create memes. And dismissing the doubts surrounding the longevity of this internet practice thereby.

 In Tamil Nadu, the meme culture rides on the wave of a remarkable pool of cinema comedians the state has. Of them all, it’s Vadivelu, a Madurai-based comedian who remains the go-to option for meme creators, from the day the trend started to this very day.

Every eminent comedian of Tamil cinema built their identity by following non-identical routes. Vadivelu, too, did the same. The fact that he chose one of the, if not the most difficult style in comedy, i.e), slapstick, and succeeded immensely in it makes him a deserving candidate to enter the history books of Tamil cinema as one of the finest ever. It’s his knack in pulling off comedies that appeal to a three-year-old kid to bedridden old citizens, which made him a class apart.

The directors of Anbu, kannathal, Ennama Kannu, Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu, Eera Nilam, Winner, Kadhal Kirukkan, Gambeeram, Manasthan, Giri, etc., are profoundly indebted to Vaigai Puyal (Vadivelu) for etching their movie names on the minds of people. Over and above, no amount of conscious efforts from them can disprove that Vadivelu is the only thing good about the movie.

A.R. Murugadoss, while directing the Bollywood Superstar Aamir Khan in Gajini a decade back, must have been taken by surprise when Aamir (a non-Tamil speaker) told him that he is a fan of Vadivelu, and watching his comedy scenes is what he does to overcome hectic schedules. Yes, comedy is a universal language alright, but still, the odds are unimaginably high for a comedian to reinforce the philosophy. Take a look at this video, and you would understand why Vadivelu won the favor of people who didn't know Tamil one bit.



While his Madurai-accent, side-splitting facial expressions and body language cut a hilarious figure on-screen, it is his immaculate ability to strike a chord with the audience by conceptualizing a comedy character from the society which boosted his development. Take his “Dubai Return Sudalai” role in “Vetri Kodi Kattu” for instance. Haven't you encountered characters like Sudalai having excessive pride outside but pathetic inside? Haven't you met characters like Kulandaivelu (Middle-Class Madhavan) - transforming into their complete opposite version after some pegs of alcohol? You would have. He has even put on record that characters like Naai Sekar (Thalai Nagaram) and Kaipulla (Winner) are based out of his real-life experiences in Madurai.

The incidents that he saw taking place in his village while growing up has indeed shaped his success. Boy! What an eventful village it must have been (LOL)! And now, you are thinking whether the character Ondi Puli he played in Karka Kasadara was inspired from one of his village men or not, aren't you?


 They say life is all about what if and what if not. His life is no different either. What if Vadivelu had not met actor Raj Kiran - who offered him a role in his then-upcoming movie En Rasavin Manasinile, on the back of a candid conversation on a train en route Chennai? Tamil cinema might have missed a legendary comedian! What if Vadivelu decided not to involve in politics and use it as a medium to stimulate his long-standing rivalry with DMDK leader and actor Vijayakanth? A wonderful career may have well become an illustrious career by now.

The more you use Vadivelu catchphrases and references in daily life, the worse you are going to feel about his political entry. It has not been easy going for him since the return. The fact that Kollywood films are made nowadays with little or no space for individual comedy tracks also doesn't help his revival. That said, he has done more than enough already to reign supreme in our hearts. The chances of a successful second inning outing from him remains a question mark, but the search for Vadivelu meme templates in Google, comedy scenes in YouTube, and the creation of Vadivelu version video memes of a trailer or teaser are here to stay.
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The Australians are stunned. They believed the game was in their pockets, but probably didn’t know the protagonist for India on that night is an ethnic Punjabi, and he wouldn’t put a foot wrong on the land of his ancestors. Mohali, one of the loveliest cities of Punjab, is the battlefield. MS Dhoni launches a full toss between long on and cow corner to complete the formalities, and the spectators go berserk. It was as if someone told them emulating the euphoria of the night of 30 March 2011, when the Indian Cricket team stormed into the finals of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 by defeating the arch-rivals Pakistan, on the same venue, is impossible. While the crowd’s on their feet, the night’s hero picks himself from his knees off the ground, and points to the heaven, in all likelihood to thank his superhero - late father (Prem Kohli) who made him what he is today.


This knock from Virat Kohli is on par with Sachin Tendulkar’s sandstorm in Sharjah, tweets Ravichandran Ashwin the next day after witnessing the masterclass from minuscule proximity. He further hails the knock as hailstorm taking into account the climatic conditions of Mohali then.

Having known Virat Kohli, and his mentality to take both success and defeat in his stride, it is safe to assume he was thinking already how to amass runs in the normally dry and flat Wankhede wicket against a team that had batsmen who could clobber the ball straight into the Arabian Sea, even before the Australians could have packed their bags to the Airport. Facing the West Indies in a T20I is an acid test for any top team in the world and the Indian team led by then captain MS Dhoni would've surely entertained thoughts of scoring 200 plus after being put in to bat first. Toss didn't go India’s way, and maybe it was a prelude of lady luck smiling on the Caribbeans that night. Once again, the onus of shepherding the team to a commanding total falls on the shoulders of Virat Kohli, as he walks into the middle early.

 He runs like a cheetah between the wickets and finds the gap like a wizard to send the ball rollicking over the boundary ropes. No significant risks were taken, yet runs flowed smoothly from his willow. And, running became even faster the moment MS Dhoni joined him in the middle. The heat of Wankhede gets to Virat Kohli, and it was clearly showing with the way he gasped for breath. But he hung in. 89* (47), his final figures read, and India finished with 191-2.

Ask Jasprit Bumrah how difficult it was to grip the ball while bowling second in Wankhede during the IPL 2018 opener against Chennai Super Kings, and he would say: It is one of the most daunting tasks I had ever done. Such was the amount of dewfall. The lethal weapon in India’s armory - spin -was in great danger of impairment, as the dewfall began in the second innings. The grip which Samuel Badree enjoyed in the first half had vanished. And, that turned into a lifeline for West Indian batsmen, especially Lendl Simmons. He (Lendl Simmons) was in for a few more lifelines with him being dismissed twice on a no-ball and Ravindra Jadeja touching his foot over the boundary rope while catching a lofted hit. Who knows? If he had jumped off a cliff that day, he would have found his feet without any damage done. It was his day.

 The ball slipped fast from the hands of bowlers and so was the game for India. Only eight runs were needed off the last over, and surprisingly, it was Virat Kohli at the bowling crease. Perhaps Dhoni thought the match is over already. Perhaps Dhoni thought Virat could manage to squeeze a successful over somehow, as the latter picked up a wicket earlier, in the process of part-timers rolling their arm over when the established bowlers' leak runs. Or maybe, he snatched the ball voluntarily from the skipper's hands thinking he could ride his luck one more time. Like the towels that absorbed the wetness of the ball all through the innings, Virat Kohli absorbs the pressure and gets ready to bowl.

The glimmer of hope that every Indian, including the eleven on the field, had, was shattered when Andre Russell manhandled the low full toss from Virat Kohli into the stands. That was it. The Caribbean Calypso starts, and Virat's shoulders drop. However, he’s no stranger to this. He saw his team crashing to a defeat against Sri Lanka in 2014 T20I World Cup finals with his name at the top of the leading run scorers list of the tournament. Two consecutive T20I World Cup (2014 and 2016) man of the series performance from Virat Kohli with the bat couldn't help his team lift the silverware.

 This is one of the main impediments you face, being the premier most batsman of your country. You have to keep piling on the runs, irrespective of how things beyond your control pan out, and betray your disappointments in press conferences. Even the legendary Tendulkar and Dravid have been there. And Virat Kohli knows it better than anyone else at this moment.

If he does the bulk of the scoring for India in the forthcoming showpiece event - ICC World Cup 2019 in England, and God forbid, India lose, you might see him taking a guard with full of determination and seeing the ball from the bowler's hand with unwavering intensity, in the very next assignment. Paying no heed to yesterday's success and failure, and focusing on conquering tomorrow is the most significant hallmark of a champion, and he, Virat Kohli, undoubtedly is one.

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Have you ever sensed that you're not living but surviving? Do you pray seeking strength and not wealth? If it is so, you're distinguishing yourself from a majority.

Daily, we roll out from the bed, adhere to the routine, and shuteye while battling various adversities. So, definitely, we need strength to endure/survive the tiring period between rise and sleep, don't we? What strength are we talking about here? The strength to kill population? The strength to quadruple your money? The strength to rule a territory? No! No! No! It's the strength to defeat the ever-growing demons within. It’s the strength to live the moment with a King's crown. And it's the strength to take on the preceding moment/hour/day with complete authority.

You need not think too far on what helps you own that strength. It can be anything simple and easy to reach! A cup of coffee, the warmth of morning sunshine, the blissful sight of a mother understanding the signs of her mentally challenged son/daughter, and responding with an ever so glaring face, or listening to a long forgotten song. Wait! Isn't the last example a bit peculiar? Certainly it is, but still, music is The Tool We All Need to beat the odds of survival, isn't it?

So, what really happens when a long forgotten song hits you? It induces you into an engaging Ioop where you can't help yourself from allocating a virtual space for it in the mind.

What time interval defines the word (long forgotten), which is used here to refer the gap until a song is heard again? Well, it comes down to how passionate a listener you are! Even a day or two is good enough to award the tag of “long forgotten” to a song (as far as I'm concerned). Moreover, you can't keep a musical piece away for too long, it crawls its way back somehow, and reaches you in many undefined ways.

I'm sharing a simple yet sweet personal story to testify what’s just been said above

A like-minded friend of mine suggested me to tune in to a show called Music Mojo (Run by a Malayalam channel “Kappa TV" ). It showcases the musical talents of Kerala and other South Indian states to the outside world, by offering an exclusive platform. And believe me, it's such a soothing show where you get to see several songs, re-recorded ( cover version) in a refreshing fashion. I watched it only once in Television, and didn't after, probably because of tight routine. 

And in recent while, I came across several dance videos and performances, compiled on top of a medley of Ilayaraja songs ( Thendral Vanthu Theendum Bodhu & Elangaathu Veesudhey). The music grew on me in a way that I couldn't suppress my curiosity of knowing the real source behind, and hence my pursuit began in YouTube. Since many other were driven by the same impetus, my search became easier ( YouTube's algorithm - More the views, better the video’s ranking). Much to my delight, the piece belonged to “Music Mojo” and I couldn't stop smiling.

Here's the video which I'm talking about


So,when you're so connected with music, it approaches you via different forms to tell, "Hey, listen, your presence is valued and you have a purpose to live. Choose me as the survival tool, and together we can rule!".

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A young Indian team had achieved the “impossible” by winning the inaugural T20 championship under a shrewd captain. The victory severed as an ideal healer for fans whom were gutted by the team’s shocking first-round exit from the ICC WC 2007. There were celebrations all across the country and it was a joy for fans to behold. Before the emotion could sink in, they were treated to another delightful news from an even younger unit. Yes, History was created and our juniors lifted the U-19 WC with supreme pride. A furious young man was screaming and yelling in delight after leading his troop to the title. And, it will always be the first thing that comes to my mind when I revisit my memories of U-19 WC, 2008. That violent anger has mellowed down now. But believe me, that hostility is what fuels him till this day to get down and compete.

Making it into the national team was never a herculean task after making a name for himself at the junior and customary domestic level. The start wasn’t as swift as he would have wanted. He was erratic alright, but not lethargic.

The love affair with Australia:

He found it extremely hard to cement his place in the star studded Indian batting-lineup. He was in and out of team as most of the seniors remained in good nick right throughout 2008-2011. But he did well in the limited opportunities he had been presented with. Facing the bowling of Srilanka and Bangladesh was a mere cakewalk. And, when I look back at those innings now, it’s safe to say that he was having some net sessions before the all-important career launch in 2012.


The real ascendance of Kohli virtually started against his favorite opposition “Australia”. The tour down under (2011-2012) saw Kohli break the shackles of his own natural temperament and transcend towards excellence. It’s no surprise that he prefers competing against Australia; they play tough cricket and he thrives under fierceness. 

Some Mathematics:

Since 2012, Virat Kohli’s career graph has traversed only one way and that’s upward.
Talking about graph, let us discuss some mathematics here: Generally, we try measuring the upwardness of the straight line using “Y=mx+c”. If Y - the height he has attained in the career, then m (slope- something which characterizes a line's direction) has got to be his insatiable appetite and hunger for success. That hunger and dedication is what defines Virat-the cricketer.

Fit as a fiddle: 

Fitness is the key element for any sports professional and in the case of Virat Kohli it has not only helped him stay afloat but raise his game to a whole new level. Starting from running between the wickets and building an Innings to staying away from injuries, fitness has really helped him chase glory. Chase, chasing! It would be a crime if I talk about virat Kohli without mentioning this aspect of his game. His average in ODI and T20I is magical. But wait! He isn’t a magician but a mathematician. A genius mathematician when it comes to calculating and pacing a run chase. He isn’t a hit hard from the first ball type of player, but still keeps pace with the asking rate. He runs extremely hard in the beginning and then finds and clears the fence for fun. To garner so many runs in T20I by adhering to a conventional style of play speaks volumes of his cricketing ability. And, he’s numerouno in both ODI and T20I. 


Final frontier, England:

If you treat this document as a mere adulation for his looks, numbers, and records then I have no other options left but to feel sorry for you. 

I still remember him crying along the boundary ropes for the team’s exit from T20WC 2012. It was that particular moment which urged me to believe that he will scale unprecedented heights in the game. And, he hasn’t let me down. 


He has scored heaps of runs across all countries and formats except for England (Test matches alone). But being the player and character he is, a couple of hundreds (may be more) is under the horizon when India tours England this year.

Happy birthday Virat, Love you loads….!!!!!!!!!

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“All men are created Equal” - A self-evident truth, an assumption rather, often reinforced in impelling an individual to outperform the best.

Remember? Of course, you will! We have all heard, exchanged and absorbed this centuries-old proverbial expression. But, when deciphered against reality, we are all proven invariably wrong.

Different people develop different talent, some excel & some don’t. But then, there are prodigies – who reach the pinnacle driven by inborn abilities. By nurturing an art, they touch our lives immensely. They decongest our troubles. They help to keep our sanity intact. They change us once and for all. And, at least, they equip hope within us to battle a certain tomorrow.

Ilayaraja - A timeless genius who reached millions of souls in becoming a music deity. For him, music is divine and spiritual, which is why we people are able to experience a touch of serenity via his endeavours.

Why Raja? Why this invulnerable connection? It’s never easy answering, and by the time you complete decoding, he would’ve intruded deep inside you already!

Over and above, he renders experiences that can be corresponded even with the slightest of emotional attunement. Put simply, you would’ve never experienced an emotion personally, yet he familiarizes it so well as if the rendition is meant for yourself.

Film: Mouna Ragam

 Song: Panivizhum Iravu

 Singers: S.P.Balasubrahmaniyam, S.Janaki 

Mouna Ragam- released 20 years back; the film’s album is right up there among his best. It still is incumbent and overwhelmingly persuasive. It’s extremely difficult leaving aside every other song and discuss only one, but, eventually, the masterpiece (Panivizhum Iravu) is what supports the core detail of this document and hence hand-picking it.

The story of the film would’ve moved to a point where the female (Revathi) progressively develops love-Drury for her partner (Mohan). And, through the song, it transforms smoothly into a sexual arousal with both tenseness and desire in the air. The music simply fuels the emotion depicted on-screen with utmost ease. As the song reaches its culmination, the climax, you feel an immediate experience being spread out to the head uninvitedly.

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