A BYTE OF LIFE Friday, June 19, 2009

06
COMEBACK MAN
Nehra rewarded for IPL show

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. 114

Neighbours in @twittercamp: r u
READY?
the time of Orkut You can still make it to
Buzz140, the twittercamp
organised by Knowledge
Foundation this Sunday, to
get a hang of the micro-
An online community is working to improve blogging network that has
set the online world abuzz.
people-to-people interaction between Indians Buzz140 will take place at
Photon Infotech office in
and Pakistanis, in a bid to change notions Karapakkam on Rajiv Gandhi Salai. It is an all-day event starting at
9.00 AM. The best part about this event is that it is completely free
(Except for the US$1 lunch). Prior registration however is required
» PAGE 04 to guage the number of participants and to organize the whole
event. Register through: http://twtvite.com/mg32i6.
02 ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

For adoption

Namma Chennai
Playful Whiskers and her siblings are
identical and adorable. They’re healthy
and tend to be a handful when they’re
playing. For adoptions, contact Ananya
Ashok at 9952040339.

Pop’s the word

Pamper your dad this Father’s Day with exciting
gifts, a dinner treat or a spa massage

P lay a game together, watch movies, download music

or just share some old memories with photos. Xbox
360 promises to be the ultimate stress buster for your
dad (Rs. 16,990). If that’s too expensive a gift, check-
out some of the latest range of Microsoft’s computer
peripherals such as the portable and sleek Arc mouse,
priced at Rs. 3612 or the Explorer Mini Mouse that
works on 40 different surfaces, available at Rs. 2823.

W hy not treat your family to a laugh riot in celebration of Father’s Day? Evam’s
An Idiot for Dinner is an English play based on the French film, A dinner of
idiots. Get entertained together at Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium on June 20 at 3.30
p.m. and 7.30 p.m.
For bookings call 98402 22363/ 98406 12333

B ook a special
table at
Amethyst Cafe
and treat to a
M ake you dad
feel extra
special with a
homely meal
Father’s Day lunch
comprising
buffet at Asiana
chicken roast,
Hotel. Or, make
soup and goodies,
your dad chill out
priced at Rs. 490.
in the Prana Spa
Or, gift him a
or take him for
range of
skin fitness facial
innovative wine
to rejuvenate and
bottles racks,
revive your
ice-buckets,
stressed out dad.
flower
arrangement with
pines and lilies.
Call 67411000 to
make your
If your father likes formal wear, choose from the
range of belts, coloured cufflinks and ties at Marks &
Spencer. And, if casual is his style, go for shorts,
reservations
Book your table handkerchief or polo t-shirts. Gifts are priced from Rs.
at 2835 1143 345 to Rs. 1395
 Friday, June 19, 2009
Just Disc It
Cool it this summer with a game of Ultimate Frisbee
and join in the Agni Nakshatra newbie tournament
DEEPA VENKATRAMAN
■ 37- year- old P Gopi wakes up
by 5 am and starts his day by
learning to play Ultimate Fris-
bee for fitness and the love of
the game
■ Janani, a professor at
KRMMC, has been playing the
sport for three months and si-
multaneously training her team.
The college has formed two
teams.
W
hat fun would it be to
learn a new sport, im-
mediately form your
team and play a tourna-
ment in a month’s time? That’s
the spirit of Ultimate Frisbee—a
worldwide sought after sport
that has caught the craze of
Namma Chennai youngsters for
the last two years. The Chennai
Ultimate Club will be organising
a tournament—Agni Nakshatra
for newbie on June 27 and 28 at
Besant Nagar beach.
Tournament coordinator and
experienced player Lekhamith-
For the second consecutive
year, Chennai Ultimate
Frisbee club is going to hold
an International Frisbee
tournament in October
2009. “We have invited
teams fromSingapore, Dubai
and Sri Lanka to participate
in the tournament. We
appeal to the corporate
companies for sponsorship,”
says Manu Karan, president
of the club and veteran
player.
Those interested to join the
tournament contact
9940079016.
03
PHOTO: R.RAVINDRAN
Celebrate France
A festival of music, cuisine and
cinema, French Style, will be
inaugurated in the city today.
Rhapsody at Hotel Marriott and the
Alliance Francaise will play host to
these events on June 19, 20 and 21.
ra Shanmugam says, “We want-
ed to popularise the sport and
increase the number of people
playing it and hence this tour-
nament was organised. Our ex-
perienced players brought in at
least fifty newbies for the train-
ing camps."
There are also teams from
colleges—KRMMC and Cres-
cent College of Engineering and
Hindustan Engineering College.
But the common aspect is that
all of them are genuinely inter-
ested. In a week’s time Lekha-
mitra and her teams have
managed to form ten teams for
the tournament. Ajay John who
is training a team from Valmiki
Nagar says, “Unlike other com-
plicated sports, this is simple
and only needs coordination
between players. New players
have picked up the skills very
fast and all the players are genu-
inely interested in the game.
They do stand a chance of win-
ning the game.”
The scorching heat has not
deterred these youngsters from
learning this sport. One can see
40 enthusiastic energetic
players being trained on the
forehand throw, backhand
throw and cuts at the Valmiki
Nagar beach every morning and
at the Elliots beach, Besant Na-
gar on Saturday evenings.
Megha Radhakrishnan (23) who
has been playing the game for
two months says, “Initially it
took few days to get the tech-
nicalities, but in a month’s time
we got the feel of the game and
it generates a lot of positive
energy. We formed our team
two weeks back and we hope to
have a perfect chemistry by the
tournament.” ■
04 BIG STORY ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

MONISHA MOHANDAS analysed things and realised how quite sceptically but now serves this, the less is the misunder-
monishamohandas@yahoo.com similar our thoughts were to- people. “We as IPFCians, with the standing.”
wards our respective countries.” help of Pakistan-India Peoples’ Overcoming threats from peo-
Twenty-nine-year-old Rahul Forum for Peace and Democracy, ple of both countries, their mis-

“I
was doing my higher
studies at Webster Uni-
versity at the Thailand
campus. It was during an
international relations class titled
‘Politics of Peace’ that I saw a guy
across the table bashing India left
and right on the Kashmir issue.
Upon enquiry, I found he was
from Pakistan,” says Rahul Muk-
herji, founder of the India-Pakis-
tan Friendship Club. “As days
passed by, we heard each other,
came out of our pre-set minds,
Mukherji, a software engineer, al-
ways thought beyond software
and computers. Inspired by the
last song of famous Hindi movie
Border, ‘Mere dushman, mere
bhai, mere humsaye’, in 2004, he
started an online community on
Orkut called ‘Indo-Pakistan
Friendship Club’ (IPFC). The
community now has more than
one lakh members, more than 40
percent of which is composed of
Pakistanis. “I had no idea that
IPFC would grow so big. Now I
have many moderators as I
couldn’t manage it alone. I
thought IPFC is the best way to
reach out to people across the
border,” says Rahul.
IPFC has been successful in at-
tracting attention of people the
world over.
“Orkut was my first online fo-
rum and IPFC my first online
community. I grew up hearing all
kinds of stories about India and
then when I was in my early teens
I started exploring this unwanted
animosity between the two coun-
tries,” says Haider, an IPFC mem-
ber from Lahore. “Until a few
years ago even I was against Indi-
ans, but now I realise it’s the poli-
tics and not public who created
this acrimony between the two
countries.”
Not stopping with online fo-
rums and chats, IPFC has put its
efforts on on-ground activities
like serving the needy as IPF-
Cians. Aminur Rashid, a software
professional, also a moderator of
IPFC, joined this community
an NGO working for peace be- sion is peace. “Sometimes we
tween both nations, donate funds hesitate to give our real identity
collected from our community because people threaten us for
members during natural calami- encouraging friendship between
ties and terrorist attacks and by both nations,” says Abhinav
joining charity organisations,” Khare, an IPFCian. “We want
says Aminur proudly. these mindsets changed and, in
Collecting funds and distribut- fact, many of us are eager to meet
ing them to the intended persons our Pakistani friends. Though
was the toughest part as each most Indian members have not
member was from a different city. met their Pakistani friends,
There started their unofficial SMSes, online chats and courier-
meetings. ing gifts cements their virtual re-
Anurag Chaturvedi (29) from lationship.” ■
Bangalore takes parts in most of
these unofficial meetings in his
city. “With meetings conducted
in a few cities across the world
where like-minded people get to-
gether, our motive is people-to-
people interaction. And we real-
ised that not all Pakistanis are
hardliners, they too hate mili-
tants and they too like Sachin
Tendulkar. The more we realise

Neighbours in the time of Orkut

An online community is working to
improve people-to-people interaction
between Indians and Pakistanis and
change set notions
 Friday, June 19, 2009
05

Puducherry – then and now

rations the Gallic race had for
building a French empire in In-
dia.
From the second decade of the
19th century the French estab-
lished themselves in an uninter-
rupted manner till 1954 when
they granted de facto freedom to
the people of Puducherry. Some
count these 150 years of rule
without hiatus as the period of
actual French rule in India but
this would lead to a sterile version
of this union territory’s history. In
1962 when the French finally
granted independence de jure
that Pondicherry (as it was then
known) could be sure of its politi-
Courtesy: Alan Sutton cal destiny.
Endowed with a history differ-

I
f one were to assess the two sea, the catamarans with their tronomer Guillaume le Gentil, a badly at the political and the mil- ent from the rest of India, Pon-
factors – actual tourism pro- slender boatmen and the Fort member of the Académie Royale itary level. dicherry has been an irresistible
motion policies and the word- right on the seafront fascinated des Sciences. The latter came to The British in Madras defeated point of attraction for outsiders
of-mouth form of advertise- this man fresh from Paris. Pondicherry first in 1761 at the the French in Pondicherry three for centuries. ■
ment – regarding tourism in In the following century, when behest of the King of France to times and crushed whatever aspi- Rita Nath Keshari
Puducherry, one would probably more Frenchmen followed suit make a detailed study of the pas-
have to balance one’s verdict be- they marvelled at this coastal sage of Venus across the sun. He
tween the two. This is because town that was trying to replicate recorded his impressions and ob-
the expectations created by ad- the gentle charm of a Mediterra- servations of Indian astronomy,
vertisements are amply fulfilled nean town. religion and customs of the peo-
by the actual experience of so- Complaints they had several ple on the Coromandel Coast in
journing in Puducherry. Visitors, but somehow the place grew on his book Voyages dans les Mers
as they saunter through the broad them and they ended up spend- de l’Inde (Voyages in the Indian
avenues of this coastal town, are ing more time here than they had Ocean) published in Paris in
pleasantly surprised by the free actually planned. Remarkable 1774.
flow of traffic and by the trees among the 18th century visitors Though 18th century Pudu-
with leafy branches spreading to Puducherry were the French cherry proved to be a great in-
upwards. Indologist Abraham Hyacinthe spiration for professionals from
This impression about Pudu- Anquetil Duperron and the as- different walks of life it fared very
cherry keeps growing with most
of the people who pass through
or spend a long time here. What is
surprising is that it is not the 21st
century visitors alone who have
paid ample homage to this coas-
tal town.
Right from the 17th century, a
regular stream of visitors, con-
sisting of plebeians and dignitar-
ies, have found something very
endearing about the place. Apart
from the French, the Portuguese,
the Danes and the Dutch came
here to set up their trade oper-
ations. Though they had wanted
to make this place their home un-
expected circumstances led them
to leave after some years. Howev-
er, it would be the French who
would link their ambition and
their destiny with the life of the
local people.
Robert de Challes, a French
writer who visited Puducherry in
1690-91, provides us with inter-
esting details about this town in
his book Journal D’un Voyage
Fait Aux Indes Orientales 1690-91
(Journal of a Voyage in the Indies
of the Orient 1690-91). The open
06 ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

Juninho joins Qatari champions

Sport
Former Brazilian international midfielder Juninho has joined Qatar League champions
Al Gharafa after eight successful season with French club Lyon. The 34-year-old signed
a two-year contract worth 2.5 million euros ($3.5 million) with the Qatari club on
Wednesday, making Al Gharafa his fourth club after stints with Recife and Vasco da
Gama in his native Brazil before he moved to France in 2001.

‘IF YOU ARE OUT FOR SO LONG,

PEOPLE FORGET’
AYON SENGUPTA India picking their first Test se- of my career,” he says. Fragile
Thankfully,
Nehra wasn’t forgotten

jury, but played nevertheless. five to six months, but I was still
ayon@goergo.in ries win away from the sub-con- and with a slightly doggy run- Midway into the 2005 series in not playing, while everybody
tinent in 15 years. up, he was always susceptible to Zimbabwe the same injury else was. And in today’s world if

R
egular visits to the doc-
tor’s table cut short a
once highly-rated inter-
national career for Ashish
Nehra. After making his inter-
national debut in 1999 during a
Test series against Sri Lanka,
Nehra came into the reckoning
during the tour to Zimbabwe is
2001 and was instrumental in
He enhanced his reputation
as one of the most promising
new-ball bowlers – as his toe-
crushing late in-swingers, cou-
pled with pace and deadly accu-
racy harassed the best in the
world.
“That was like bowling in a
dream. But I was unlucky to get
injured during the wrong time
injuries and hence his first stint
at the top level was fruitful but
brief.
A match-winning six for 23
against England at the World
Cup in South Africa in 2003 –
the high point of this reign –was
followed by his first ankle sur-
gery. Before he recovered fully,
Nehra was down with a back in-
forced him to take the flight
back home. And another sur-
gery followed in 2006 for a torn
ligament followed by an ankle
surgery the next year.
“The two-year period be-
tween 2006 and 2007 was scary.
I was recovering from one injury
before being pulled into anoth-
er,” Nehra recalls. “It would be
PHOTO: V.V. KRISHNAN
you are out for so long, people
forget. You are just out.”
But words of wisdom from
fellow speedster Zaheer Khan
kept up his spirits. “He (Zaheer)
constantly kept in touch and
would encourage me to stay
positive. He himself had a layoff
outside the national side but
came back strongly and would
always bring that instance up in
every conversation,” Nehra
says. “Zaheer always said:
‘Don’t be greedy to play for In-
dia without getting out of the in-
jury completely’. I am happy I
listened to him in the end.”
And surely the advice paid off.
After a decent IPL I with
Mumbai Indians, Nehra
switched sides and along with
Dirk Nannes formed a danger-
ous opening pairing for Delhi
Daredevils, picking up 19 wick-
ets in 13 outings. He shouldered
the workload, bowling 51 overs
out of a maximum 52 in his 13
games in the month-long tour-
nament. And, for a change,
showed no fatigue and was re-
warded with a rare India call-up
for the four-match One Day In-
ternational tour to the West
Indies.
“Earlier I would play even if
the injury was bad. But now I
don’t play if something is both-
ering me. I would fix it before
coming back,” the more experi-
enced fast bowler says.
The left-armer, still young at
30, has the potential to be the
strike bowler for the country
again and in the absence of Za-
heer Khan and an erratic state-
mate Ishant Sharma for compa-
ny, one won’t be surprised if
skipper M.S. Dhoni falls back on
Nehra’s experience to lead the
Indian charge in the Caribbean
isles. “I have the experience to
shoulder any responsibility and
would like to contribute in every
way the team management
wants me,” he adds with an air
of new-found confidence. ■
 Friday, June 19, 2009
‘‘
I don’t agree with this (fatigue) because they are young boys. They are just 22, 23 years old and
have just started their career. I know they have played a lot of cricket but not all of them. Probably
people like Dhoni, Yuvraj (Singh), Harbhajan (Singh) and Zaheer (Khan) have because they are part of
consistent Test team and has done a lot of travelling on the road. This is the age to play, they are 25, 26.
Even if you are fatigued, you have to find ways out to get yourself up and going.
AKSHAY RAMASESHAN
T
he Indian cricket team and Ra-
fael Nadal have something in
common. Both are world cham-
pions, one in the T20 format, the
other in the ATP race. Their perfor-
mances in the recently concluded
contests too, were similar.
India, the defending champion,
entered the tournament as clear fa-
vourites. From the day they took to
the game’s latest truncated version,
they have looked the team to beat,
clearly. A sense of exclusive owner-
ship as the format’s big boss pre-
vailed. The rest of the world too
bowed in submission in front of the
enthusiastic and hard-hitting young
Indian team. Similarly, Rafael Nadal,
tennis world’s best thing to have
stepped on red clay, walked into Ro-
land Garros 2009 as if winning were a
mere formality. The muscular Nadal
made the surface his own from the
very first match he played in 2005.
Others, including the great Roger Fe-
derer, did not have an answer to this
super-human-machine who ran and
covered the battlefield like a rabbit
would do. There was never a battle.
India and Nadal would eventually
run out of steam when they were
least expected to. India lost the plot
in the Super 8 knock-out stage of the
World T20 Championships, losing all
their games, and Nadal surrendered
his empire in the most unconvincing
fashion, to a suddenly-someone
called Robin Soderling.
Both champions lost, as if they
wanted to lose. No effort or authority
was in display in their screen tests.
And both had one thing to blame, fa-
tigue. But in sport, especially interna-
AP
From
dust will
they rise
again?
tional, that’s never really a reason the
legion of fans would agree to.
May be it was written they should
end their domination. May be it was
necessary they lost to give more bal-
ance to the sport. One thing is for
sure, the juggernaut had to come to
an end, sooner or later.
The road ahead will have to be re-
laid. The work towards reconstruc-
tion will be an interesting period. As
generally champions do, both shall
re-invent. ■
07
Sourav Ganguly
Buchannan gets the boot
After two years of expensive but unsuccessful bid for IPL
supremacy, the Kolkata Knight Riders has at last on
Thursday sacked controversial Australian coach John
Buchanan.
Buoyed by the former record breaking Aussie coach, the
Kolkata team tried many a “revolutionary” ideas like
multiple captaincy but could only drop a few notches to
finish last in the recently concluded IPL II after an equally
hyped but poor sixth spot in the first edition in India.
“Buchanan has informed Knight Riders that despite his hard
work over the past two seasons, he has not achieved everything that
he set out to,” KKR co-owner and diamond merchant Jay Mehta said in
a statement. “We have amicably agreed that Knight Riders will release
him from his contract with immediate effect.”
Trying to keep a brave face, the team management who have been
criticised throughout for their fetish with the underperforming
Australian, the statement read: “We would like to state that John is a
great coach. He had a vision for Knight Riders and did not waver from
this vision. Unfortunately, it has not brought the results that are so
necessary to this franchise.”
Buchanan, who had a successful eight-year stint as Australia’s national
coach, sparked a controversy ahead of this year’s IPL when he floated
the multiple captains idea in Twenty20 and effigies of him were burnt
in Kolkata by fans of former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who
believed the concept was meant to dilute the powers of their popular
Prince.
Ergo Correspondent
Women’s hockey team stranded in airport
Mismanagement continues to haunt India hockey with the Russia-
bound senior women’s team made to return from the airport for not
having necessary travel documents. The women’s team was scheduled
to fly for Kazan, Russia from Delhi in a Lufthansa flight last night to
take part in the Champions Challenge tournament, the first
qualifying event for Champions Trophy, starting Sunday but they
were denied permission to board the plane for not having transit visa
to stop over at Frankfurt, Germany.
Apparently, the situation arose due to misunderstanding between
the central government’s travel agency Balmer Lawrie Ltd and
Lufthansa Airlines. “The situation could have been avoided if both
the travel agent and the airlines acted in a more professional
manner. Since all government-financed foreign tours are handled by
the travel agency, the Indian team’s tickets too were booked by
them,” Hockey India secretary general Mohammad Aslam said. “We
had also sought all-travel related information in advance from them
and the agency informed us that Lufthansa officials had told them
that transit visas were not required for the Delhi-Kazan flight via
Frankfurt. But they later retracted,” he said.
PTI
Somdev gets Wimbledon access
He missed the bus in singles but entering the main
draw of men’s doubles event at Wimbledon has
partially healed Somdev Dev Varman’s wound and the
youngster is ecstatic with his Grand Slam debut.
Somdev and his South African partner Kevin Anderson
tamed Italian Alessandro Motti and Joseph Sirianni of
Australia 7-6 (7-0) 6-7 (1-7) 8-6 to make the main
draw on Wednesday night and the Indian said it
partially alleviated the pain of not making to the
singles. “It’s an important win for me. Qualifying for Wimbledon feels
pretty good. I would have loved to have qualified in the singles event
also, but I guess this makes up a bit for that disappointment. I was
disappointed with the singles loss, doubles qualification does add a
healing touch,” Somdev said. Somdev failed for the third time in the
year to make the main draw of the singles event of a Grand Slam
when he lost the first round of the qualifying event of Wimbledon.
PTI
08 ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

Fringe
benefits
The fringe dress is now occupying centrestage

Sharon Stone Nicole Kidman with Hugh

Jackman

S
o far, the fringe cam
and leather trimming
from bags, boots and
might also recall the
tax. Now, though, the m
the lot is the fringe dress.
The fringe dress is the sp
of the traditional shift dre
encasing than its forme
fringe dress’s biggest adv
the fringes automatically
to the garment, irrespecti
cut otherwise. While Sien
did a floor-length version
with trousers, bowler hat,
fringe dress is distinctly s
knee-length or above.
Designers like Karen Mil
patronised by Eva Longor
Jasmine di Milo (mom-to-b
favourite due to the dres
ing ability) are particular
for their fringe dresses. Al
spring 2009 collection com
neat collection of fringe dr
ised further by model Lily
lie’s Angels star
Bohemia-influenced design
pore’s ‘Nefertiti’ fringe dre
popular too.
Among Indian designers
High School mar does pretty fringe dres
Musical star Mughda Godse at the L
Vanessa Week finale last October.
Hudgens. Other celebs spotted in
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES are Nicole Kidman, Van
Sharon Stone, Cannes jury
Argento and Terminator
Moon Bloodgood. In mo
seemed a favourite, be
floor-length Reem Acra dre
Prada, with Argento’s red
mani Privé being an exce
easily remain so. ■
Mughda Godse in a Narendra
Kumar creation at LFW
 Friday, June 19, 2009
09
Portfolio
BULLETIN
Hats always take centrestage at the
Royal Ascot in England. Here’s
presenting the ridiculous, smart and
pretty, in whichever order:

me on haircuts
gs that dangled
d sandals. Some
e fringe benefit
most popular of
.
punkier version
ess. Less shape-
er version, the
vantage is that
lend a fluidity
ve of how it is
nna Miller once
n a year ago –
et al – the new
shorter, ideally

llen (frequently
ria Parker) and
be Heidi Klum’s
ss’ bump-cover-
rly well-known
lberta Ferretti’s
mprised a rather
resses, popular-
Cole and Char-
Lucy Liu.
ner Nanette Le-
ess is extremely

s, Narendra Ku-
sses, as seen on
Lakme Fashion

fringe dresses
essa Hudgens,
y member Asia
Salvation star
st cases, black
it Bloodgood’s
ess or Kidman’s
d-and-black Ar-
eption that can

An Iris van Herpen creation Terminator Salvation star Moon Bloodgood in

Reem Acra. PHOTO: AFP PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
10
Flick
Why John Abraham learnt Quran
Not knowing a single word of the Quran, the Bollywood actor, a Parsi, studied the holy book in
a translation to prepare himself to play an NRI Muslim in the upcoming flick New York
“I
t’s part of my larger de-
termination to prepare
myself completely for a
part. Whether it was
New York or now Abbas Tyre-
wala’s film, I’m taking time off
to prepare for the film and the
character. The audience today
understands an honest film.
That’s what I want to give,”
actor John Abraham said.
Earlier John learnt to play the
flute, the Sanskrit language and
how to wear a dhoti to give his
character, Narayan, conviction
in Oscar-nominated Water, a
film about the plight of widows
in pre-Independence India.
“I only want to do roles that
take me out of my comfort
zone. Through my characters
and performances, I want to
make people comfortable with
what makes me uncomfortable
as a human being and an Indi-
an,” said Abraham, who be-
lieves that an actor has to break
through his own stereotypes.
He tried to break his image
by doing films like Water, No
Smoking and Kabul Express.
Says one of Abraham’s close
friends of New York: “He went
very deep into the film’s theme
of Islamic isolation. When he
shot Kabul Express with Kabir
Khan in Afghanistan, John
spoke to people....and began to
understand the concept of je-
had. He understood how
dangerous it is to fight for a
cause without knowing the his-
tory of that cause.
“He went on the net, found
legitimate and proper transla-
tions of the Quran. He learnt
the proper pronunciations of
Earlier John learnt to play the flute,
the Sanskrit language and how to wear
a dhoti to give his character, Narayan,
conviction in Oscar-nominated ’Water’
AFP PHOTO
ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009
words in the Quran”, the friend
said.
In New York, Abraham plays
a character who is wrongly de-
tained in the US for terrorism.
“John researched rigorously
on Islam and its various aspects.
His character in New York is
wrongly detained for terrorism.
John based his character on
three such real-life Muslims tak-
en into custody in the US for
wrongs they hadn’t committed.
“John and director Kabir
Khan amalgamated the cases of
three such unfortunate people
to create John’s character. He
actually lived, breathed, slept
and wept like someone who
had been wrongly ostracised,”
said the friend.
So traumatised was the actor
by the experience that he went
into a complete shell in Phila-
delphia, where New York was
shot.
“He wouldn’t talk to people.
He was completely in his own
shell. It was a life-changing ex-
perience. Today, John knows
what it feels to be a Muslim
and a target of ceaseless suspi-
cion and hostility in the US.
“He also empathises closely
with the issue of Indian stu-
dents being racially abused in
Australia after playing an Indi-
an abused in New York. He un-
derstands the isolation of the
minority. To a large extent,
John has been a part of a mi-
nority from his birth,” said the
friend.
Releasing June 26, the film
also stars Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin
Mukesh and Irrfan Khan.
IANS
 Friday, June 19, 2009
11
Jacko on ‘disabled child hunt’
Michael Jackson is reportedly on the lookout for a child who
is missing limbs or in a wheelchair to share the stage with
him during his comeback concerts in London. The King of
Pop is due to kick off his much-awaited 50-show run at the

Salman 20,000-capacity O2 Arena next month.

is not my
Cine City
boyfriend

German Model
Claudia Ciesla
rubbishes
reports that she
was the reason Shriya’s no to soft drinks ad
behind Salman- Thoranai, Shriya’s latest movie, is a dud at the box
office but for ad makers she is hot property. The
Katrina split actor recently came out with a statement that she
will not endorse any soft drink brand. Reason: A
mother told Shriya that her child started
consuming more of a soft drink which Shriya

G
erman supermodel- endorsed long time back. Sources say that a soft
turned-actress Claudia drink ad fetches actors Rs. 5-6 million for four to
Ciesla, who was ru- five days of shoot.
moured to be dating
Bollywood star Salman Khan,
recently visited the Hanuman
temple in New Delhi to pray
for the success of her film Kar-
ma: Crime, Passion, Reincar-
nation.
The film about reincarna-
tion that released all over In-
dia June 12 is a dramatic
thriller about an Austrian girl
(Claudia) who is raped and
murdered during her visit to
India in the 1970s and how
she is reborn and comes back
to the same place after 30
years. The 22-year-old was in
the capital to promote the
film, which is directed by M.R.
Shahjahan. Apart from pray-
ing and promoting her movie,
Claudia also spoke of the ru-
mours linking her to Salman.
She rubbished reports in a
leading daily that had report- Roma’s second innings
ed that she was Salman’s new Actor Roma Asrani, who rocked the Malayalm
muse and the reason behind film industry with movies like Notebook and
the Salman-Katrina split say- Chocolate, is all set for her second innings in
ing: “Salman and I are just Kollywood. Vanchikottai Vaaliban, her second
good friends. He is not my movie in Tamil, will see her paired opposite
boyfriend, as has been report- director P.Vasu’s son Sakthi. Touted to be a
ed here. Everyone knows that romantic entertainer with a message, the movie
it’s Katrina Kaif who is his will be directed by S.K. Jeeva and the music is by
girlfriend and not me. I newcomer Sadaga Paravaigal Shankar.
haven’t even been that long in Vanchikottai Valiban is being produced by Krithika
PTI PHOTO

India to start controversies.” and Bhagavath Singh under the banner

IANS Gandharva Celluloid Creators.
12 ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

Thursday’s Query:
Your favourite vehicle on which you like to
take your partner on a long ride?
■ Cycle without the carrier ■ Parachute
Thirumal 3i Infotech, Guru, Midhun.C, Jinu.C Allsec,
Nasurudeen, Suresh Allsec, Muthukannan TCS
Vasanth Softeon, Ravi, Kavitha TCS,
Pinky, Sugan IBM, Yuva CSS, ■ Horse riding
Anto Wipro, Lavanya Steria, Santhoshkumar Perotsystems,
Senthil Arjunan Calsoft Ltd, Deena Wipro,
Bala Spryance, Dhandapani HCL, Saranya.M Cognizant
Saravana STI Software Solutions,
Suri Infosys, Vignesh RRD ■ Thunderbird
Kannan.NS FSS,
■ Bullock cart Karthik.VK TCS-eserve
Sharique IBM, Kuppusamy Nattudurai, P. Bala from Perotsystems has nominated his friends as
Maithily, Rajadurai CSS, ■ Titanic ship Partners in Crime. This picture was clicked at Black
Prabu RRD, Karthikeyan Allsec, Lavanya, IBM Thunder during their outing.
G.Sudha Cognizant,
Venkatesan, Sampathkumar, ■ Space ship
Sindhujaa, Adiseshu.K Livingson
Wipro, Vignesh.S Sutherland Allsec Technologies

■ Karizma ■ Honda Unicorn

Karthik Deenadayalu Selva Infosys,
Tata Consultancy Services Don Rajiv Allsec
Muralikumar Verizon
■ Pulsar
Hariharan.R Infoview Technologies, ■ Honda Civic
Sivakumar, R.Pandian Perotsystems, Soumya HCL,
Dhivya, Anbu Wipro, Karthikeyan Wipro
Sukhanya.P Cognizant,
Suresh TCS, Karthik Infosys, ■ Black Scorpio
Chital Accenture, Ramyaa.H HCL Vidya, Arun, Karthik CSS
Nikhil Joy Allsec
■ Lamborghini
■ TVS 50 Raghav TCS,
K.Sivaramakrishnan Allsec, Karthik.SS CSS
Anbu, Venkat Wipro,
Shahjahan IBM ■ Cadillac Hemalatha from TCS has nominated her friends as
Sripradha Chakravarthy, Infosys Partners in Crime. This picture was taken at Chennai
■ The famous, romantic and the One office.
unbeatable "Karakattaran car"(of ■ Fentom
course with its music) Aakash CSS
Vinitha
HCL Technologies ■ Ducati
Madhu, Allsec Technologies
■ Royal Enfield
Mohan Sridhran ■ BMW 7 series
Tata Consultancy Services Jacob Lesly, HCL Technologies

■ Road roller ■ MTC bus

Rajesh Allsec, Thangamariappan Wipro Anandakrishnan, Ford

Today’s Query:
Remember the pocket money which your dad
used to give during your college days. Share
with us the excuses you gave your dad to Vinoth Kumar V. from Wipro Technologies has
nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. The photo
get more money from him. was clicked during Onam celebrations in their campus.
 Friday, June 19, 2009
June 19
■ Dinesh,
We’re not going to make you roam
about the whole office like we did
last time. After all, you’re getting
older & we’re minimizing the strain
on you:-D
16/6 Issue --> what’s common about
the four organizations mentioned in
page 5?
16/6 Issue --> Title conferred to
Vijayakanth
17/6 Issue --> Page 4 - 17th word
from bottom right
17/6 Issue --> what does this doodle
signify?
’Cmon you didn’t think it was that
easy, did you? Break this jumble &
claim your gift.
Happy B’day!!
Eppadikku, Your Friends, Wipro
■ Hi Appa (Selvam),
A peck on the cheek, a warm hug,
a pat on the shoulder and an
assurance of love, and care in your
eyes are the most treasured gifts
that remain closest to the heart.
I Love you, Appa. Happy Birthday
Appa.
With lots of love, hugs and Kisses Your
lovable daughter (Very pride to say
S.Abirami, Cognizant
■ Dear Swetha,
Wish you a very happy birthday.
“May god showers his blessings and
give his hand during ur upside
downs and keeps u blessed forever “
By Ur ever loving hearts, Vasudevan,
Reavathy Vasudevan Keerthana, Joe
■ Hi Aishu,
On your birthday, we would like to
wish you great days ahead! May all
your hours be filled with joyful
moments! Whatever you wish,
may be granted!!! Many many more
happy returns of the day Aish! Keep
smiling forever…
With love, Cbeyonders.
Cognizant Technology Solutions, Siruseri
■ Dear Sheeba JhansiRani
Hope this birthday is the best one
for you in every delightful way.
So happy birthday to you Sheeba.
Have lots of birthday fun! May your
birthday wishes all come true, even
if you have a tons of wishes to do:-)
With Friendship and Prayers,
Gandhimadhi, Archana, Prem Kumar,
Rajesh,Vignesh, Perot Systems
■ Dear Rosh,
You are the Code, You are
theTalker, You are the Business,
You are the Object, You are the
Information, You are the developer,
You are the light(Roshni) of the
project, Iniya Piranda Naal Nal
Vazhthukal Many Many More Bright
Happy Returns Of The Day!!
Regards, ITAMO
Tata Consultancy Services, Tidel Park
■ Hi Boopathi,
Look outside its so pleasant
moments sun is smiling with you
trees dancing for you birds singing
for you because last night i asked
them all to wish you happy birth
day! Iwish you happy birthday i wish
you many more, i wish you peace
and happiness....
Best Wishes from Thivya
■ Dear Suganya,
Wishing you a very happy birthday.
Let this day brings you lots of
happiness and success in future. May
God keep you in good health and
spirit. Have a great year ahead. Best
Wishes, Vinod
■ Hi Arun
"Every year, on your birthday, We
think about how glad we are that
you were born, how thankful we are
to have you in our lives. Every year is
another year filled with the special
joys you bring just by being yourself.
Every year, when you open your
birthday gifts, realize what a gift
you are to everyone who knows you,
especially us. Happy Birthday!
Have a blast...
Forever Friends Devi, Suja and the rest of
us...." Many Thanks, Steria
■ Dear Bagyaraj,
"Youth is happy because it has the
ability to see beauty. Anyone who
keeps the ability to see beauty never
grows old." - Franz Kafka . No doubt
the verse is especially written about
you.. Your cool attitude and happy
nature makes us feel jealousy...
On your birthday, we send our
wishes as blessings to keep you as
yourself forever.. Enjoy your day
with happy and smile.. Hope you will
have a different birthday this year
with your fiancée.. Advance Birthday
Wishes dear friend..
With love, S20 Terrors, CTS, Siruseri
■ Dear Abi,
May this special day be filled with
sweet memories and happy hours.
Wishing you all the fun and
excitement that only birthdays can
bring.
With cheers, FT team & Gone Aways team
■ Dear Uma,
I’m so blessed 2 have a friend like u
this comes with many loving
thoughts & warm wishes to u may ur
day be filled with laughter &
may the finest things in life always
come ur way happy birthday!
Many More Happy Returns of the
day!
Wth Lots of Luv, Sumalatha, Polaris
■ Dear Karthik VK,
My Hearties B’day Wishes To You.
May your each second and minute
filled with delight.
With lots of love
Priyachitra S S, Tata Consultancy Services
■ Dear Chirala Chinakuyil
Many more happy returns of the day
and have a KEWL life ahead. Dont
worry abt this year and next election
def. TDP is goin to RULE... so nzoy
the day with blasty friends @
appdev...
From Huge fans of Applied Development
Software India Pvt. Ltd., Elnet, Chennai
■ Dear Venu,
A friend is someone who shares
unconditionally..Someone to laugh
and to cry with.. Someone to lean
on, through both the good and the
bad times.. A friend.... is what you
are to us.. U mean a lot to us...
We wish ur life to be filled with lots
of fun and joy.. Janmadhina
Subhakankshalu...
Happy Birthday Venu :-)
With Love, Ramya, Kokila, Claudi, Vijay,
Seelam, Padma, Hemanth, TCS
■ Dear Nandini,
Happy birthday to you. may you
have many more. you have been a
great friend to me. i have a little
wish, may we be friends, till the
world ends.
by Zoho Creator Team, Chandru, Alex,
Fathima, Dinesh, Zoho CORP
■ Hi Lakshman,
Anbu Nanba!! Innia piranthnaal
vaalthukkal. Vaazhkai sirappudan
amaya en ullam kanintha
vaalthukkal
Saxena, Steria (Barclay’s Team)
■ Dear Senthil,
Your Hard Work and Dedication has
resulted in your success! Heartiest
Congratulations as you complete 3
Successful years at Wipro!!
The winds and waves are always on
the side of the ablest navigators!! It
is clearly not the journey for
everyone. People succeed in as many
ways as there are people. Some can
be completely fulfilled with
destinations that are much closer to
home and more comfortable. To
within, a whisper of your own
personal perfection, to places that
are sweeter because you worked so
hard to arrive here. May the
almighty shower his choicest
blessings upon you. And may you
achieve whatever you
dream..Congratulation and Best
Wishes in the years to come!!!
Warm Regards, Bindu
■ Hi Harshu
Wish U Happy Birth DayBe happy
13
always and learn new and exciting
things this year also (as u learnt
editing the photographs last year).
With lots of Love
Ravi Rachannavar TCS Chennai
■ Dear Venu (DBG),
"On your birthday we wish you
much pleasure and joy; We hope all
of your wishes come true. May each
hour and minute be filled with
delight, And your birthday be
perfect for you! " Our heartfelt
wishes on ur birthday.
Suganya, Rathna, Yogesh, Abhishek
June 20
■ Dear ammuni (Mundakanni),
HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO U Devika.
Let the GOD decorate each GOLDEN
RAY OF THE SUN reaching u with
wishes of Success, Happiness and
prosperity 4 U, Wish you a super
duper Happy Birthday!!!
With lots of love, Bhavani Ananthan.
Team-Beacon. HCL Technologies Ltd.
■ Dear Jena,
Many More Happy returns of the
day. Have great Day.
Best Wishes, Karthik Raju & Team, Enzen
Technologies Pvt Ltd, Elnet Software city.
June 21
■ Dear V.GUNASEKAR,
We wish many more happy returns
of the day. May your acquire all that
you desire and each passing year be
filled with joy. A special day thats
sunshine bright A happy heart thats
warm & light may every birthday
wish come true. These things r
wished just 4 U.. Happy Birthday
cheers, S.Durgalakshmi, K.Senthil,
R.Gopinath, R.Kalaivani, N.Vanarani,
J.Sudha, S.Gayathri, Professional
Management Consultants Pvt Ltd.
Belated Wishes
■ Hi Agila ,
Wish u a many and money more
happy returns of the day.
May this year brings you more
happiness and success for ur carries
and life.
Regards, LogisAir and BA Team.
■ Dear Shradhardik,
We, the customer world lab wish you
hearty congrats for the new
beginning of your life with Shradha.
TREAT ????
Wishes, Customer World Lab
■ Hi Ramya,
May good times and great memories
be the special gifts that fill your
Birthday with happiness.
By, Rubesh, Ramya square
and Kottee
14 ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

Traffic Jam
Navy sprout ban
A captain in Britain’s Royal Navy has brought his hatred
of Brussels sprouts into the work place - banning them
from his warship because he dislikes them so much.

sudoku

U. Vasanth Kumar from

Allsec Technologies clicked
this photo at Kodaikanal
near Guna caves with his
Sony DSC H10 cyber shot
camera.
Hobbies: Electronics,
drawing, painting and
photography

So you think you would make a

terrific photographer but never
really had the platform? Mail us
your best work and we’ll publish
it in this space, with credit.
E-mail: clickpick@goergo.in

KAKURO

TEAM
Editor: Karthik Subramanian
karthik@goergo.in

Sr Dy Chief Designer: J.A. Prem Kumar

Dy Chief Designer: R. Ravi Kannan
Illustrator: R. Venugopal

Technical Support:
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Anna Salai, Chennai-600002. Editor: S. Karthik
(Editor responsible for selection of news under
the PRB Act). RNI No. TNENG/2007/24553
 Friday, June 19, 2009
Silly shepherd
An accident prone shepherd in Croatia
had to be rescued after he followed his
flock into a live minefield.
15
Word’s worth
Agamous (ag-uh-mus) an adjective meaning ‘unmarried.’ Useful for single people
with nagging relatives. “I’m happy being agamous, really, Aunt Mabel” will have them
convinced of your alternative lifestyle (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and
with any luck head off further inquiry.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

Avoid speaking out of turn as you may hurt a few
egos. Concentrate, and try to finish work as soon as
possible as a technical difficulty is likely to play
spoilsports at work. Ganesha says, you will
experience great conjugal bliss.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

Your mind may be very stable and focussed, notes
Ganesha. You can be working very hard. As soon as
the day is over, you may wish to spend time with
your family. In relationship matters, you need to
beware of ego issues.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

You may share good intellectual rapport with people
BORN LOSER working with you. You may be able to get the work
done through people working under you. In other
words, your team will support you, feels Ganesha.
In short, the day ensures smoother sailing today.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
Today you can expect to be given charge of a
greater responsibility. Ganesha says that being the
principal marksman at your office, you may have to
do a lot of troubleshooting today. Things at
personal front will take a turn for the better.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
Today you will launch yourself at work full throttle.
Ganesha says that all the work that will dare to
come in your way will be finished. And your skills
won’t remain confined to just work. In case you
want to express your love to someone, do it today.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
Not a very good day to fix electronic circuits or play
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT around with things which are technically beyond
you. Keep your bright ideas to yourself or they may
blow on your face. Ganesha advises you to avoid
arguments at home.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
Ganesha notes that the scales of your priorities will
tilt in favour of work as personal life will take a
backseat. This may not go down well with your
loved ones. Try to strike a balance between work
and family to be on the safer side.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
You will have a lot of work to day and things will
get particularly rough while dealing with those
working under you. You, however, will be able to
address these challenges and will be able to impress
your superiors.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
A good day to make a business trip. Your travels
will lead to a positive outcome. Your travel plans
will not affect your love life, which will be
satisfactory as you’ll try very hard to make up for
the lost time.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
Ganesha says that you will have to slog a bit at
work. A difficult day at work may also affect your
personally life. An extra effort will be needed on
your part to ensure that the relationship stays on
course.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS You may need to beware of those jealous of your
progress, especially those at a position higher than
ISSUE’S yours. Things can turn against you rather
dramatically and you need to watch your back. Also,
SOLUTIONS you will try to prevail upon your lover.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
You will be eager to quickly finish your work so
that you can rush home and spend as much time as
possible with your beloved. Ganesha says that there
might be some misunderstanding between you and
your colleagues but you need to stay calm.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009