End of World Cup Dream!!!

So much as has been written, spoken about this. So no more to write but just to say that it is the end of a world cup dream, a dream of more than 100 crore people.

This is India’s worst performance in recent times. History repeated itself when India made first round exit this year 2007, fourth time in the world cup history, earlier being in 1975, 1979 and 1992 editions. Interestingly though first tour of team India after this bad performance will be to Bangladesh, the minnows who outclassed the giants. This is one of Indian Cricket’s darkest phases.

By the way what were Greg and Dravid doing in those games. Probably experimenting for the next world cup. Two stalwarts retired from shorter version of the game after the world cup debacle namely Anil Kumble and Inzimam Ul Haq. But these were not in news in a big way, since it was overshadowed by their respective teams performances

Caught In Bermuda Triangle?

First week of 9^th cricket world cup and already we have seen some twists and turns in the fortunes of the big cricketing nations. Is this the sign of things to come in the following weeks? Let’s wait and see.

Already one of the premier cricketing nations, Pakistan is out of this world cup in the first stage itself. West Indies already made their way into the Super-8. There has been lots of hue and cry over the number of minnows playing in this world cup. But some stunning display by them should have left the critics with no explanation. First it was the turn of Ireland to shock the cricketing world with them forcing a tie with a test playing nation, Zimbabwe. And then came the big one, Ireland defeating Pakistan by 3 wickets after bowling them out for paltry 132. And there was more, Bangladesh had a caught a big fish, India, in their net with their accurate bowling and sharp fielding. These big upsets will surely shape the things to come in this tournament. India is in almost similar position as Pakistan. The threat of being eliminated in the first round looms large. But there is hope. India has won against Bermuda with huge margin but still Net Run Rate is still far behind that of Sri Lanka. India’s final game is against Sri Lanka if they lose that they can surely pack their bags. This time 2^nd round called the super eight stage may have the so called minnows, Ireland making it through and Bangladesh earnestly making an effort. But effectively that stage will be super six since they are still minnows at the big stage and this too with the assumption that there are no more upsets in this tournament.

Consistency and complacency are the often used terms to describe a team in cricket. Best teams in the world like Australia, South Africa display the former and teams from the subcontinent perennially display the latter. That is what has happened to both India and Pakistan. Former got an alarm call soon and the latter later. If only India wakes up to the call can they survive and advance to the next stage. There can be no excuse for India’s defeat against Bangladesh and Pakistan’s defeat against Ireland. Media and expert hypes about this India team being most balanced and being best of all the squads sent to world cup are now seem worthless. India had been bad starters in the previous world cups and they have continued their tradition here too.

On the other front New Zealand got the better of England and South Africa’s Herschel Gibbs made the world record by hitting six sixes in an over against the Netherlands. Australia and Sri Lanka recorded huge wins against Scotland and Bermuda respectively. Observing the ‘upset trend’ in the first round, the second round in this tournament is going to be an interesting one.

Final note: initially I was under the impression that format of this world cup is best so far. But now it seems there is a serious flaw. With just one bad game both Asian big guns are out of the tournament. May be it was assumed that seeded cricketing nations, 2 from each group will qualify for the super 8 and now all calculations are in a tizzy. One big upset and you are out of the tournament. What do you say?

Cricket Fever Is Back

Cricket world is all set to welcome the big event. Cricket World Cup 2007 is finally here. With 16 teams participating this is the biggest cricket tournament ever. Eternal favorites Australia have lost a bit of focus having lost their last 5 ODIs as final preparation for this mega event. But Australia can never be sidelined just because of that since in the past they have shown they can beat any team coming from nowhere just as in world cup 1999 as they lost first few games but only to end as victorious.

In the past there have been instances where defending champions loose out in the first round itself. In 1992, Australia (1987 champions) lost out in the first round itself. In 1996, Pakistan (1992 champions lost to India in the quarter finals to bow out of the championship. Similarly in 1999, Sri Lanka (1996 champions) never looked defending champions. But once Aussies were crowned champions in 1999 they have played like world beaters all these eight years including the 2003 world cup victory.

This time world cup is different in many ways. Biggest cricket tournament so far (16 teams). First time it is being played in West Indies which is another cricket crazy nation just like India. And the format allows the best eight teams to play against each other, which makes the luck factor less relevant. Only 1992 tournament held in Australia and New Zealand had a similar format. And most importantly this time all these 8 teams look strong contenders for the big title. For New Zealand and England, their recent victories against the mighty Aussies and the fact that they have never won the title should inspire them a lot. West Indies look to claim their past glory in their home grounds. Back to back series victories against West Indies and Sri Lanka should have done lot of good to India’s confidence to repeat 1983. Sri Lanka will be hoping that slow nature of the Caribbean pitches would help them to repeat 1996. Pakistan as enigmatic as ever is also a formidable opponent. South Africa was denied a fair chance in finals by the controversial Duckworth Lewis method in the semifinal against England in 1992 and then in 2003 they denied themselves a place in the semifinals by getting Duckworth Lewis arithmetic wrong against Sri Lanka. World No.1 in ODIs will be hoping rich harvest this time. And finally no explanations required for the kangaroos.

World cup has always sprung up few surprises with minnows outsmarting giants. This history goes back to 1983 when Zimbabwe defeated Australia. And in 1996, Kenyans got West Indies under the mat. In 1999, Pakistan was outsmarted by the Bangladesh. And finally in 2003, again Kenya defeated Sri Lanka thus gaining valuable points to enter the semifinals. What will be the surprise this time? Indications are already there with Bangladesh defeating New Zealand in a warm up match.

Surely this is going to be an exciting world cup. Inaugurated today but we have to still wait till March 13, 2007 for the first ball to be bowled, the first match being between West Indies and Pakistan. And let us wait for the new world champion to be announced on 28 April 2007.

ಮುಂಗಾರು ಮಳೆ ಚಿತ್ರ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ : ಹಾಡು ಮಧುರ, ಚಿತ್ರ ಸು೦ದರ

ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ವಿಭಿನ್ನ. ಸಿದ್ಧ ಸೂತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಬದಿಗಿರಿಸಿದ್ದು. ಹೌದು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಾಗಿ ಯಶಸ್ವಿ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನಗಳನ್ನು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿರುವ 'ಮು೦ಗಾರು ಮಳೆ' ಚಿತ್ರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ. ಮೊದಲ ದೃಶ್ಯದಿ೦ದಲೇ ಪ್ರೇಮ ಕಥೆ ಪ್ರಾರ೦ಭ. ಸ೦ಭಾಷಣೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಏನೋ ಒ೦ದು ಹೊಸತನ. ಕಥೆ, ನಾಯಕನ ನಾಯಕಿಯ ಹುಡುಕಾಟದೊಡನೆ ಪ್ರಾರ೦ಭವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ನಾಯಕಿಯ ಮದುವೆಯ ಕೆಲ ದಿನಗಳ ಮು೦ಚೆ ನಾಯಕನ ಪ್ರವೇಶವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರೇಮಾ೦ಕುರವಾಗುವ ಕಥೆಗಳು ಹಿ೦ದೆ ಬ೦ದಿವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರೂಪಣೆ ಹೊಸದೆನಿಸುತ್ತಾದರೆ ಅದರ ಗೌರವ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಯೋಗರಾಜ್ ಭಟ್ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸಲ್ಲಬೇಕು.

ಒ೦ದು ಚಿತ್ರ ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಲು ಹಾಡುಗಳು ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾತ್ರವಹಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕನಾಗಿ ಇದರಲ್ಲಿಯ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಎಲ್ಲ ಹಾಡುಗಳು ಇಷ್ಟವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. 'ಕುಣಿದು ಕುಣಿದು ಬಾರೆ', 'ಅನಿಸುತಿದೆ ಯಾಕೋ ಇ೦ದು' ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೇಳಬೇಕೆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಹಾಡುಗಳಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಉತ್ತಮ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಬೇಕು. ಇತ್ತೀಚಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಗೀತೆಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮವೆನ್ನಬಹುದು. ಇನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರಕಥೆಗೆ ಬ೦ದರೆ, ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟಗಳ ಸೌ೦ದರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರದುದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿದಿರುವುದು ಮತ್ತು ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಪೂರಕವಾಗಿ ಮಲೆನಾಡ ಮು೦ಗಾರು ಮಳೆ ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಮೆರಗನ್ನು ನೀಡಿವೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೊ೦ದು ಗಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುವ ಅ೦ಶ ಚಿತ್ರದ ಅ೦ತ್ಯ. ಅದು ಬಹುತೇಕ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಥರ ಸುಖಾ೦ತ್ಯವಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಸುಖಾ೦ತ್ಯವಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಅ೦ತ್ಯವೆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ನಾಯಕನ ತ್ಯಾಗದ ಅರಿವು ನಾಯಕಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿದಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಅ೦ತ್ಯ ಅತ್ಯ೦ತ ಸಹಜವೆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಅದು ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊನೆಗೆ ಬರುವ ಶೀರ್ಷಿಕೆಯ೦ತೆ 'ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಮಧುರ, ತ್ಯಾಗ ಅಮರ'.

'ಚೆಲ್ಲಾಟ' ಚಿತ್ರದಿ೦ದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರ೦ಗ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿದ ಗಣೇಶ್ ಪಾಲಿಗೆ ಇದು ಎರಡನೇ ಹಿಟ್. ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಸದಭಿರುಚಿಯ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹ ನೀಡುತ್ತಾರೆ೦ಬುದು ಈ ಚಿತ್ರದಿ೦ದ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಸಾಬೀತಾಗಿದೆ. ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕರಿ೦ದ ಉತ್ತಮ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳು ಬ೦ದಿವೆ. ಒಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರ೦ಗದಲ್ಲೊ೦ದು ಉತ್ತಮ ಚಿತ್ರ ಇದಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಚಿತ್ರದ ನ೦ತರವಾದರೂ ಪರಭಾಷಾ ರಿಮೇಕ್ ಸ೦ಸ್ಕೃತಿಯಿ೦ದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರ೦ಗ ಹೊರಬರಲಿ. ನೀವೇನ೦ತೀರ?

ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣವೂ, ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಭಾಷೆಯೂ

ಅಂತೂ ಇ೦ತೂ ಈ ವರ್ಷದಿ೦ದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಒ೦ದನೇ ತರಗತಿಯಿಂದಲೇ ಬೋಧಿಸಲು ಸರಕಾರ ಮು೦ದಾಗಿದೆ. ಹೀಗೆ ಮೇಲ್ನೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ಇದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇದ್ದ ವಿವಾದಗಳಿಗೆ ತೆರೆ ಬಿದ್ದಂತಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಹಿಂದಿನ ವಿವಾದಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರತು ಪಡಿಸಿ ಉಳಿದವರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದರು ಎ೦ದರೆ ಅತಿಶಯೋಕ್ತಿಯಾಗಲಾರದು. ಇದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಇತರೆ ಭಾಷಾ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡವನ್ನು ಕಡ್ಡಾಯವಾಗಿ ಬೋಧಿಸಲು ಮುಂದಾಗಿರುವುದು ಉತ್ತಮ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ.

ಇಲ್ಲಿ ವಾದ-ಪ್ರತಿವಾದಗಳ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಬೇಕು. ಭಾಷೆ-ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮುಂದಿನ ಪೀಳಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಿವು ಮೂಡಿಸಲು, ಗೌರವಿಸಲು ಪಾಠಶಾಲಾ ಕಲಿಕೆ ಮೊದಲ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ. ನಾಡು-ನುಡಿವಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅರಿವು, ಆದರ ಹೀಗೆ ಬಾಲ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಆರಂಭವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಬಹುತೇಕ ಪೋಷಕರು ತಮ್ಮ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಆ೦ಗ್ಲಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿಸಲು ಮು೦ದಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇದು ಇ೦ದಿನ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಕೂಡ. ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಭಾಷೆ ಇ೦ದಿನ ಜಾಗತೀಕರಣದ ಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಶಸ್ಸಿನ ಹಲವು ಸೂತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒ೦ದಾಗಿರುವುದು ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣವಿರಬಹುದು. ಇದಕ್ಕೇ ಇರಬೇಕು ಆರ್ಥಿಕವಾಗಿ ದುರ್ಬಲರೂ ಕೂಡ ತಮ್ಮ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲಿಸಲು ಮು೦ದಾಗಿರುವುದು.

ಸಾಮನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಪಡೆದ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಲೇಜು ಸೇರುವಾಗ ಅಥವಾ ನ೦ತರ ಕೆಲಸ ಹುಡುಕುವಾಗ ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿದವರಿಗಿಂತ ತಾವು ಕಡಿಮೆಯೇನೋ ಎ೦ದೆನಿಸಿ ಕೀಳರಿಮೆ, ಆತ್ಮವಿಶ್ವಾಸದ ಕೊರತೆ ಕಂಡುಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಸರಕಾರದ ಈ ಕ್ರಮ ಪರಿಹಾರವಾಗಬಹುದೇನೋ. ಗ್ರಾಮೀಣ ಹಾಗೂ ನಗರ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲಿತ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡುಬರುವ ತಾರತಮ್ಯ ಹೀಗೆ ಕಡಿಮೆಯಾದರೆ ಸಂತೋಷ. ಹಾಗೇಯೇ ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡವೇ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮವಾಗಿರಲಿ. ನಮ್ಮ ಹಲವಾರು ಹೆಸರಾಂತ ವಿಜ್ನಾನಿಗಳು, ಸಾಧಕರು ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿದವರಲ್ಲ. ಸಾಧನೆಗೆ ಜ್ನಾನ ಮುಖ್ಯವೇ ಹೊರತು ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲ. ಭಾಷೆಯು ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸುವ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮವಷ್ಟೆ.

ಕೊನೆಯಲ್ಲೊಂದು ಮಾತು. ಭಾರತದ ಇಂದಿನ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯ ಹರಿಕಾರ, ಮೆಕಾಲೆ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷ್ ಸಂಸತ್ತಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿದ ವಿವರಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾನೆ : "ಭಾರತದಂತಹ ಸಂಪತ್ಭರಿತ, ಉನ್ನತ ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳುಲ್ಲ ಜನರಿರುವ ದೇಶವನ್ನು ನಾವು ಜಯಿಸುವುದು ಅಸಾಧ್ಯವೆನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನಾವಿಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರಭುತ್ವ ಸಾಧಿಸಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಈ ದೇಶದ ಸನಾತನ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಬೇಕು. ಎಂದು ಭಾರತೀಯರು ತಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷೆ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಗಿಂತ ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಭಾಷೆ, ಪಾಶ್ಚ್ಯಾತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಶ್ರ್‍ಏಷ್ಠವೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸುವರೋ ಅಂದು ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ, ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನವನ್ನು ಮರೆತು ನಮ್ಮ ಗುಲಾಮರಾಗುವರು." ಪಾಶ್ಚ್ಯಾತ್ಯದ್ದೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಶ್ರ್‍ಏಷ್ಠವೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸುವವರಿಗೆ ಈ ಸತ್ಯ ಕಣ್ತೆರೆಸಬೇಕು. ಮೆಕಾಲೆಯು ತನ್ನ ಈ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದಲ್ಲಿ ಗುಮಾಸ್ತರ ದೇಶವೊಂದನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ ಎಂಬ ಮಾತಿದೆ. ಈಗಿನ ಹೊರ ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆ ಉದ್ಯಮವೂ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಅಪವಾದವಾಗಲಾರದು. ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರಿಂದ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರರಾಗಿ ೬೦ ವರ್ಷಗಳಾದರೂ ಅವರ ಭಾಷೆಗೆ, ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಗೆ ಜೋತು ಬಿದ್ದಿರುವುದು ಕಂಡುಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಇನ್ನಾದರು ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಡು, ನುಡಿ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅಭಿಮಾನ ಮೂಡಬೇಕು. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕನುಗುಣವಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮ ವೃತ್ತಿ ಕೌಶಲವನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು. ಆದರೆ ಇದೆಲ್ಲವೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷೆ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿಯಲ್ಲ.

In The Time Of Change…

Again the time for comparisions. News of Kaun Banega Karodpathi 3(KBC 3) being up next on STAR’s agenda has been doing rounds for quite some time now. And this time host is different, King Khan of Bollywood. Big B’s success as TV show host from the previous two parts of KBC is evident. With his charisma having a magical effect still on the audience as well as the contestants, Shah Rukh Khan’s task is deemed to be a tough one. Already Radio One 94.3 has started comical series ‘KBC Ki Paathshaala’ on air with SRK getting tips from AB.

When an actor, host establishes a niche for himself in the mind of the audience and it is hard for the other person, if any, to get into the shoes of the originator. You just can’t get away with comparisions between the two which are inevitable. Thus when we think of KBC, Big B is always there in mind. This is even true with characters played by the actors. Sometimes the role played by actors becomes so popular that they become synonymous with their roles. For India, I think Nitish Bharadwaj who played the role of Lord Krishna in TV serial Mahabharath is the invisible god personified. After that, so many mythological TV serials have been there with Lord Krishna being one of the characters but it is hard to accept him in place of Nitish. Ditto the role of Swamy played by Manjunath in the TV serial Malgudi Days directed by Shankar Nag who is the perfect face for those who are looking for the visual picture of Swamy while reading RK Narayan’s Malgudi Days. And in recent times how can one forget the hugely popular role of Circuit played by Arshad Warsi in Munna Bhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munna Bhai. After that you don’t want to see any one else playing the role of Swamy or Circuit. Can we say it for the James Bond as well with new bond Daniel Craig not being well received in place of Pierce Brosnan?

Early advantage is always there. And when the character or role is played by the actor successfully, it becomes the bench mark for the rest to follow. That is what has happened in the KBC case. Audience expects the role to be better enacted than the previous one. Most of the times audience resist even the slightest change in the role and that is why most of the times sequels with role played by a different actor fails. But what I feel in the KBC case is that in SRK’s case, he should be left alone to don the role in his own way with his own charisma and not simply emulate anyone else.

What are your thoughts on it? Put them in your comments.