Doing the Desi rounds

If this had to be my 4th Grade English class, I would have been the recipient of a big, fat, bolded, highlighted and underlined 'F'. For absenteeism and irregularity. But then, my 4th Grade English teacher had a soft spot for me. So a 'C' perhaps.

As luck would have it, this isn't 4th Grade. Yet that gnawing feeling of guilt still hits me when I see that my last blog post was....*rechecks*......oh good Lord, 5 months ago. I think the gnaw just rapidly developed into a deep, gashing wound.

In recent news, India just finished off a series in England. (for the non sports fans, I speak cricket) We didn't win a single game. Not test, not 20-20, not one day. No thanks to unfortunate injuries, initial bad playing (of course I noticed, didn't we all?), bad decisions and the annoying rain game doctors - Duckworth & Lewis. In the last few one day games, we had commentators dissing our players like there was no tomorrow. Indian commentators, mind.

Rahul Dravid...was termed as 'Old India.' Lacking daring, youth and confidence. Let's all just take a moment to take that in. Right.

Rahul then went on to hit a few fours. The man has been playing for his country since 1996. We don't call him 'The Wall' for nothing. His USP has always been his smart game and mental approach. We called him Mr. Dependable. He's also human.

The listening public support the boys in blue now, just as they did when you were a part of the team. Perhaps that's something you ex-players need to think about. I don't care what you're paid to do. Do you hear the likes of Nasser Hussain saying something personally negative about the England players half as often? Not criticizing their shots or styles, but their personal attitudes?? Yes?

I actually heard Harsha Bhogle say to Sunil Gavaskar, "I know Rahul isn't one of your favorite players" and then go on to make some point or other.

Really? No, really?? And I just watch the random matches. What must regulars think of you?

Just a thought, but if anyone's going to beat our players up in terms of commentary, could it perhaps not be the India lot up there in the box?

Give it a read. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/532509.html

And appreciate the man. Like we appreciated you when you played your last game.

I also watched Bodyguard. *grins*

I'm aware several critics panned it with horrendous reviews. Yet, it raked in the big bucks.

Yet, Salman's fan following grows. What did I think? To be honest, not much of the story-line or the special effects. Or Kareena being cast as a college student. Or the copious amounts of make up she had on. Or, or, or.

But if I were to stay on the honest boat - Salman was....well, Salman. You can't help but laugh at his ridiculous comic timing, or smile when you see the way he seems to thoroughly enjoy his dance sequences. You somehow can't take your eyes off the screen when he's on it. Raj Babbar and Asrani add to the positives, so does the little Harry Potter lookalike at the end, whose name I unfortunately can't find on Wikipedia. Tsk tsk.

A surprise was Karisma Kapoor's voice over for Chhaya. Nice.

Yes, it may be bordering on the lame and the fight scenes may seem to insult the audience intelligence levels - but it's a no brainer, a 'let's be amused' kinda flick.

Delhi Belly revolved to a great deal. around poop, farting and a nice controversial kiss - remember? Dude? Burkha? Yeah.

So come now, leave us not be so critical.

I'm suddenly aware that my post has turned out to be heavily desi.

Apologies if you don't instantly identify with it.

There's a famous saying in India... "kya karein, hum toh aise hi hain."

Which loosely translates to "What to do, we are like this only."

Till later!