Top 10 of 2010

One of my new year resolution is to write more blogs than what I have done in the past. Hindi Movies are lifeless without its music. Over the years, if the music of the film does well, its bound to do well at Box-Office as well. For almost 40 years, Hindi Music's success barrier was Radio Show called, "Binaca (and later, Cibaca) Top 10 Songs" hosted by none other than Amit Sayani.

Later on, during my jawani (and not Sheila ki jawani), it was SuperHit Muqabala on doordarshan which gave the pleasure of top 10 songs. Later on we had MTV and VTV and many other tv channels such as Zoom TV, B4U etc, as full time music channels. So, Let me present what I think are the Top 10 songs of year 2010.

10) Sheila ki Jawani from the movie TEES MAAR KHAN.

Although, I particularly does not like the song, but nevertheless its quiet famous, and it has catchy tune for sure. It would be unfair to leave out this song from Top 10 considering it has quiet a big fan following.

9) Tere Naina Re --My Name is Khan

Although, Noor -e Khuda and Sajda (which also sung by my fav. singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan) were much more famous than Tere Naina Re, but as far as melody is concern, this one makes it to my Top 10.

8) Anjaana Anjaani -- Title Song

Typical Vishal-Shekhar music. They are the modern day, Shankar-Jaikishan/Laxmikanth Pyarelal. They give the music which works for that 3 month period (1 month before the movie release, and 2 month after the movie releases), Their Music has enough catchiness to work. Problem is they give very similar music, be it I hate Love Stories or Break ke Baad or Anjaana Anjaani. Out of those 3, title song of Anjaana Anjaani was much better and ofcourse it was sung by Monali Thakur (who came from Indian Idol, my fav.show).

7) "Gal Mitthi Mitthi" - AISHA

Actually its the choreography of the song which gives this song the feeling of nice to see. It has catchy lyrics (most punjabi lyrics are nice to listen to), and rhythmic tune as well.

There was another song, "Tere Bin" from I hate Love Stories, but I so hate Karan Johar, Dont I? Just Kidding. Tere Bin has better cinematography but choreography wins against cinematography, isnt it?

6) Surili Ankhiyon Wale -- VEER

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has so many hit songs this year, isnt it? Again the movie wasnt that good, neither the other songs but this one is so pleasant-sounding track.

5) Bheegi Si Bhaagi Si -- Raajneeti

Mohit Chauhan and Antara Mitra (again, Indian Idol fame), sung this song very beautyfully. Not that lyrics and tune is not that good, its good, its catchy but its the singing which is making this song to listen again and again. Entire movie is so intense drama that this song comes in between like a sweet river in a desert.

4) Zor Ka Zhatka -- Action Replayy
I agree the movie is super flop. But the song is the most catchy and one of the best dance number of 2010. The dance step was the most unique and most successful dance step of the year. Besides, Aishwarya Rai rocks and Daler Paaji can still deliver.

3) Munni Badnaam Hui

For many, This would be number 1 song of the year. I dont blame them, for me as well, it was quiet a difficult task not to put this song as number 1. However, I guess I am so much into Rahat Fateh Ali Khan singing and the other two songs which are at respective number 2 and 1 number are more sweet numbers that this one takes 2 steps back. Nevertheless, this one is definately the most played song in the entire year in entire India for sure. Munni fetch audience to the theater and Salman made sure they go happy, thats the story of DABANGG.

2) Dil To Bachha Hai Ji -- ISHQIYA

Music Director Vishal Bhardwaj's forte is actually film making. So, when he gives music, he tries to make it so simple and within the script of the movie that it actually works like a charm. Such is the effect of the song is that, there is a movie coming up with the title "Dil To Bachha Hai Ji" in less than a year after the song is released. Lyrics are just so awesome and my strong recommendation to win the award for Lyrics would be this song. "hum jaisa haaji hi hoga" is simply wow.

1) TERE MAST MAST DO NAIN -- DABANGG

Its a classic. It starts with classical note, and then it catches up and becomes as a typical hindi movie song of 90's and performance of Salman Khan makes this song as not only the best song of the year but perhaps may also qualify in top 10 songs of the decade. Its just to good a song. Simple Lyrics, Nice Tune, Awesome singing and mind-blowing performance by Salman. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan also deserves an Award for the song.

NARIMAN POINT

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Mumbai’s heart lives at this southern most part. It actually describes Mumbai and Mumbai spirit at its best. For the years, this place has a special place in my heart.

I have tried multiple occasions to describe the feeling of being at Nariman Point/Marine Drive but unable to do so. I have never been so successful in finding words to describe the feeling of being at Nariman Point/Marine Drive.

Perhaps, It is the waves and the sound of sea which makes me calm down. Perhaps it is the bright lights of Mumbai Street which enlightens me. Perhaps it is the life surrounding the place, million people that you see at this place with all kind of different talks. Perhaps it is the skyline of Mumbai which inspires me and motivates me. I still don’t know whats the magic that this place has but whatever it is, it is simply awesome.

Be it the old people from Gujarat who would describe this as “Mumbai Ni Ronak Ajab Che , Ho Bhai” OR It is the people from UP/Bihar describing, “bumbai ki to baat hi nirali hai”. There are young students who would come there with bag packs and tons of tension of school/college/groups to have a group conversation.

Also, there will be plenty of romance at this place. Be it young married couple from outside Mumbai, OR you would find young college couple. You will also find 60 year old Parsi Couple Romance. You will also find young middle age couples (some times people with extra marital affair, trying to hide themselves). You would find, young friends with opposite sex trying to give each other advice, stuff like, “You know my mother still loves you, before this vikrant thing happened, she used to tell me, why don’t you go out with Girish, he is so cool” (Poor girish would be all blushing).

I think, what works for this place, is the curve that it has with bright lights and the steps build around it, so all kind of people can come and have a seat. It is like “Life” sitting their surrounding the “Curve of Life”. Waves of water help you relax also if it is day time, you can see long way out and it gives the feeling that, “Life is long, if you use it wisely”. You turn your head and see big buildings which inspire you to go long way ahead in your career. It motivates you to earn big sum of money. It encourages you to be successful in your life. To Me (and many of my friends), it is one of the 1000 things to do in life, is to have a Office at Nariman Point.

If you are walking across marine drive, you can hear million of conversation from different people. I wish and pray that our bollywood film makers and story writers should visit this place; they will find 1000 good stories, especially film makers such as Karan Johar who are stuck with Raj/Rahul stories.

I have always found that this place whenever I visit, brings amazing amount of revive me energy in me. It breathes new life into me. It makes me go numb. It amazes me. It inspires me. This place makes me blush. This place rejuvenates me.

London Dreams

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It is not the story about friendship, It is not a Love Story, It is not about bands, It is not about money, It is not about Dream. Story of London Dreams is clash of titans, a trip to egoland, about the most dangerous species known as Humans.

It is a battle between Talent Vs Passion. Movie making is an art, Its not about Story but it is about Story Telling. You can tell a simple story in million ways, and in fact, bollywood is a great example of that. Bollywood has told so many Love Stories to the world in their own unique way. What makes a movie special, is the treatment that is given to it. A Movie is a journey of characters and their circumstances which needs to grow in that two and half hour time frame.

Within 5 or 10 minutes the movie starts, you can get the sense that, you are in for a special ride. It is a ride of human emotions. Human emotions which can make you smile with those cute dialogues at school. Human emotions which can see the happiness of achievement. Human Emotions which lies in the happy life of carefree Mannu. Human Emotions which stays with anger and jealousy of Arjun.

There are many things which stands out in this movie. Cinematography is A+, Story is awesome, Performances are top notch(specially Salman), Music is soothing, Basically, it has almost all ingredient to make a good hit blockbuster movie.

Cricket Fantasy

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To join the league,
Step 1: Go to Cricinfo Fantasy Cricket
Step 2: Login with your Cricinfo ID (you will need to register if you do not have one)Step 3: Create a team for yourself (this step is optional if you already have one)Step 4: Click on 'Join a League' on the Left Hand NavigationStep 5: On the page which appears, select your team, copy and paste the unique invitation code(LPIN) generated for you as shown belowStep 6: You are now a member of the league - all set to play Cricinfo Fantasy CricketYour
Unique Invitation Code:--------------------------------
93695-0741c6be0d164c87--------------------------------
Looking forward to have you as part of the leagueWarm Regards,Cricinfo Fantasy Team

Tendulkar

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Tendulkar:

Many things have been said about Tendulkar’s 20 odd years in Cricket. I always felt, Tendulkar is a better One-Day batsman than a Test Match Player.

Let’s see his One Day Statistics.

He never scored a single run in 80’s in One Dayers. Only inning that he played in 80’s , he registered a duck.

In fact first 2 one day innings that he played, he got out without scoring a run.

But Mumbai Media and Marathi people were ruling BCCI during 90’s and hence he kept on getting his chances. Finally he proved few knocks with 30 odds and 50 here and there but never a match winning knock till 1994.

It was 1994 in Colombo against Australia in Singer Cup when he registered his first century and match winning knock. Australia was a strong team at that time with the attack consists of McGrath, Warne and McDermott. However, Key thing was his 100 came when India was batting first. In the Final, though, when India was chasing only 98 runs against Sri Lanka he got out for a duck and Azhar played a match winning knock of 45 runs.

Same Year, 1994, Wills World Series actually established Tendulkar as the Star Cricketer. This was the first series where he got Man of the Series award. He scored a century against New Zealand (again batting first) and couple of fifties.

At Sub-continent pitches, Tendulkar was a run machine and kept scoring almost every game when India was batting first while failing when India was chasing. He scored one more hundred against West Indies, @ Jaipur (again batting first).

In his best of form, India went to New-zealand for a one day tournament but again Tendulkar failed to register even half century there.

Coming back to dry sub continent pitch of Sharjah, and to his best opponent (Sri Lanka), Tendulkar scored his first match winning hundred while chasing a target. (Target was very low 202 for a batting pitch where Prabhakar also scored half century).

In the same Pepsi Asia Cup, chasing only 230 runs against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar scored an average 43, chasing while Azhar again played match winning knock alongside Sidhu. (Sidhu and Azhar both scored 90 odd runs).

1996 World Cup was life changing incident for Tendulkar. Before World cup, he was being compared with likes of Lara, Jayasurya, Mark Waugh, Azhar, Inzamam for world’s best batsman. But his consistency in 1996 world cup and dominance awarded him best ever player.

Tendulkar scored 2 magnificent hundred but one was against Kenya and other one was against Sri Lanka (his favorite Opponent). But his best inning was in Mumbai against Australia scoring 90 runs. However, India lost in Tendulkar’s best inning with 2 overs to spare and only 16 odd runs. India was chasing under lights and Tendulkar crumble in a pressure getting out @ 90’s Stumped by Healy. Mark Waugh scored a century in that game, also, he took prize wicket of Tendulkar and Whats more, Mark Waugh was top scorer in Tendulkar’s best ever World cup performance.

India after knocked out in Semi-Final of World cup went to Singapore, and even though Tendulkar scored a hundred against Pakistan (again batting first), India lost and couldn’t even qualified for Finals.

Early April, 1996, India, Pakistan and South Africa went to Sharjah. After failing for first two games scoring 1 and 2 runs, Tendulkar scores 100 against Pakistan (of course batting first). But again as usual in Finals against South Africa, chasing 250+ total, Tendulkar ran himself out after scoring 50 odd runs.

India went to England in summer of 1996, Tendulkar registered mediocre performance of scoring 30, 6 and 1 run in 3 one dayers.

Football Week 3

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Titans @ Jets Titans
Titans @ Jets Over 37
Chiefs @ Eagles Eagles -7.5
Chiefs @ Eagles Over 39
Browns @ Ravens Ravens -13.5
Browns @ Ravens Over 38.5
Giants @ Buccs Giants -6.5
Giants @ Buccs Under 45.5
Jaguars @ Texans Texans -3.5
Jaguars @ Texans Under 47
49ers @ Vikings Vikings -7
49ers @ Vikings Over 39.5
Falcons @ Patriots Patriots -4.5
Falcons @ Patriots Under 46.5
Redskins @ Lions Lions +6.5
Redskins @ Lions Over 38.5
Packers @ Rams Packers -6.5
Packers @ Rams Over 41.5
Bears @ Seahawks Bears -2.5
Bears @ Seahawks Over 37
Saints @ Bills Bills +6
Saints @ Bills Over 51.5
Dolphins @ Chargers Chargers -5.5
Dolphins @ Chargers Under 44
Steelers @ Bengals Steelers -3.5
Steelers @ Bengals Over 37.5
Broncos @ Raiders Broncos -1.5
Broncos @ Raiders Over 37
Colts @ Cardinals Colts +2.5
Colts @ Cardinals Over 48.5
Panthers @ Cowboys Panthers +8.5
Panthers @ Cowboys Over 47.5

Champions Trophy

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From 1987, till today, it’s almost 22 years of experience of me watching Cricket. Today’s World, experience is what it counts when you need any job. 1987 Reliance World Cup when started every one said by looking into crystal ball that its going to be India Vs Pakistan in the Finals.

Say it expert’s curse or what, but every ICC tournament whenever started and had HOST as the favorite team to win it, it bounces back just like Newton’s Third Law. Every Action has equal and opposite Reaction. (Something like that, who in the world remembers Physics)

1987, India and Pakistan, Tournament favorite both lost in Semi-Finals and gave a birth to champion Australian. 1992, Best World Cup ever organized @ Australia and Australia was by far the most strong and favorite team and they didn’t even qualified for Semi Finals.

1996, World Cup came back to sub continent and again Pakistan and India were favorite but alas came Lankans.

2007, World Cup went to South Africa and again bookies gave them clean cheat and said, the jinx is finally going to be broken, but never underestimate the force (& Foster’s Beer).

Again, this time, 2009, Champions Trophy is being held. So, what do you look for in a champion team. Left and Right hand combination to open the inning, world class all rounder, couple of exciting young middle order batsman and best fielders, one hard hitting all rounder, world record holding wicket-keeper batsman, left arm spinner, off break spinner, left arm young fast bowler, right arm best fast bowler in the world.

These mighty south-Africans got all of above, except perhaps a leg spinner but look around entire world is out of leg spin bowling. Ever Since Warne retired there is something missing in the world cricket and that is the grace which is gone.

When Tournament kicks off tomorrow, South Africans are not only going to be crowd’s favorite and ICC number 1 team in ODI’s but even bookies and everyone who is betting would put their money on them. But just like Life, there are always sharp unexpected turns and thrills that Cricket has to offer and that’s why we will be glued to television for next two weeks to see this thrilling adventure.

As long as Dhoni is the captain of India, and exciting Yuvraj in the middle order with GOD Tendulkar and terminator Bhajji, India is always going to be exciting team to watch & win and billion people’s hope and pray could take them all the way.

Australian Pride is at the stake, winning 4 world cups and they are the defending champions, Watch out they will be up for it.

Everyone wrote off Pakistan but what happened earlier this year in 20/20 world cup? They will be there to prove that it was not a fluke.

New Zealand is always a threatening side in these short tournaments as they proved in Millennium year.

Tournament underdog will be Sri Lankans. Can they start the upset tomorrow when they take on South Africans?