Desi Kids @ ECCstravanza '09

Desi Kids won this for their phenomenal performance at the Annual awards. Thats (From Left) Ajay Nair, Sadiq Basha and Prabhat.
Have a look at their video. If you want them to perform in your events, contact by giving your details in the comments.

Desi Kids @ ECCstravanza '09 Disk 1

Desi Kids @ ECCstravanza '09 Disk 2

3 Idiots First Look Trailer

The first look of 3 Idiots is out, and it does look like its fun ride for Xmas this year.

Get PNR status on your mobile sms. Powered by Google

Google has a host of mobile products for the Indian market, the full list can be seen here. Among them, the pick of the lot is the SMS product, using which one can get instant PNR status for your Indian railway ticket reservation.

Excerpts from the page here.

Get cricket scores, Indian Railways train schedules & ticket status, horoscopes, movie showtimes, restaurant information and more ...all through SMS on your phone.

Best of all, you don't pay a premium charge for any of this, just the price of a standard SMS.

Try it out! Simply send your search query by SMS to 9-77-33-00000 and we'll send you results back by SMS immediately.

Of course, don't forget to save 9-77-33-00000 to your phonebook for quick and easy access to Google SMS in the future!

There are no premium charges for this service, only the cost of sending a standard SMS. Incoming messages from Google are not charged.

Also there are host of other services we can use too. Found them useful. Like movies, news, train fare, local business etc.

Bangalore route guide on SMS

I will be updating various Bangalore route map links and guides in this post.

To start with, you can get route directions via sms. Handy when you are lost and have only mobile access.

type in GO source_location TO dest_location and send it to 9008890088.

eg:- GO MARATHAHALLI TO MAJESTIC.

you would get a response stating number of kilometers and the route with landmarks for the same.

Web link http://www.latlong.in/LatLong/

Manmohan's New cabinate! Mix of Young and experienced.

Well, Dr. Manmohan Singh has expanded his cabinet. Here's the list of council of ministers . As you can see the key ministries have been retained by Congress, which apparently got the larger mandate to rule the nation. However, from the post expansion interviews it did appear, the trio of Sonia, Dr. Singh, and Rahul, had worked out a decent solution to keep the allies happy as well as ensure good governance.

The only sore point (may be) is the Railway going to Mamta Bannerjee of Trinamul Congress. There is no denying that her party had a major role in keeping the Left out of national politics and also helping UPA securing good number of seats. My apprehension of her being part of the govt, is only the fear related to her anti-economic policies. Remember her stand in the Nano fiasco?? No doubt the way the land was grabbed by the state govt. of WB was not right. The only pain point was her hijacking this issue by going anti-Nano and progress, instead of finding a peaceful solution. Hoping the famous Trio, keeps her's and nation's interest at best.

Anyways, it was good to see Sashi Taroor, given an Mos of External Affairs. Though, many could argue, how can a First time MP be part of a ministry.? We should see the silver lining here, because he is well versed with world politics, especially of those in US, and also his influence and lobby there. His inclusion can only help us in these times where India has plans to make larger impact in global affairs. Good luck to Tarur.

Another good thing about this cabinet is S.M Krishna (from Bangalore. Hurray!!!) given an all important External Affairs ministry. Wishing he does as good as his tenure in Bangalore. (Read Not Karnataka! Pun intended :) )

The distribution of the ministries irrespective of party lines, also suggests Dr. Singh's larger need for deliverence. He's got a deep regard to respect the verdict of the nation. His insistence of closely watching key portfolios is an indication of that.

May the days of vote bank based and caste or religion based politics be gone, and an onus of performance and merit based work be back!

Good luck to UPA2 MMS team.

Cheers and Jai Hind!

UCL Final reads Barca 2 : 0 Man United!!

Last night was end of another grand end to the yet another exciting finale. Messi and co. mercilessly kept Manchester united at bay, both on the attack front as well as in defending. It was a glorious end to the season, but the better glory rested with Barca. United had to contend with Carling Cup/World Cup/English league. Not a poor line up of silver wares though!

Right from word go, United pressed the attack button to the fullest, with Ronaldo getting quite few shots on goal. To some, it appeared Ronnie was trying to brush of his nervousness of a big game and sending offward shots towards the goal. During the first 10 minutes, barca were literally struggling for possession as the Red Devils kept the ball all over the field and away from them.

Barca's true class was proven when they struck a golden goal in the 11th minute. Unbelievably it was with their first ever proper touch and first attempt at goal. This was a stunner and as unbelievable it was to players as well as for fans. Because till then, Van Der Sar, was just a mute spectator. As the commentators mentioned, shockingly VDS's first touch of the ball on the night was to pick the ball from back of the net. Eto's penetration of the penalty area was a display of magical wriggling and it produced a cheeky goal. Sigh!!

Following the goal, United literally became nervous and produced some unforced errors. Their body language suggested that. Similar mistakes were visible in Emirates, when United went one up, in the initial minutes of the match in the semifinal against Arsenal. Just like it was then, United could not really come back into the game, barring few threats from Ronnie and Rooney, there was hardly any direct attempt on goal which can be mentioned.

As many believe the battle is won on the midfield, the supply chain of Barca, proved to be superior to United's. This was just not our day I felt. Since me ain't an expert not sure what could have gone wrong at the United end, whether it was team composition or tactics, one can never know. I am 100% convinced this team is a World beater. The lineup is of the envy of most clubs around the world, one just needs to look at United's bench strength to assess the same.

Anyways all said and done. Had to believe what Messi's been saying all the while before the match. They did deserve to win, considering it was their come back year, after a 3 year slump. With Spain being the Euro champs, it was only appropriate Barca had to claim both Spanish and European club glory. Kudos to their effort. I really wished being a neutral to have enjoyed the class game that was on.

But United it is for me. Feel bad for the lads, but they didnot appear like a cakewalk anytime of the game, barca still had to work they way around the wall of Vidic and Rio.

Ok Treble is good and now FA Cup and CL are the towers to be conquered next season.

Cheers Man United!

India Votes '09

Yes the results are stunning. Anti-Incumbency is so consistent and regular in Indian polity, that even the most optimistic political analyst would not have predicted this result. Anyways, Its clear the mandate is for a stable government. Now whether its for a secular govt or not, the point is highly debatable.

From a development perspective, the team Dr. Manmohan Singh heads is highly credible. In their previous tenure for more than half their run, the Left's anti-development policies, kept them from going ahead and presenting many bills. This again brings joy to me, knowing they are far from poking their nose in the present govt.

Before the elections, I had the following predictions/expectations.

1. Left had to be taught a lesson
2. BJP, realising Karnataka is no Gujarat.
3. NDA forming a fringe alliance govt, with Advani a PM atlast!!

Was glad to see the way my predictions number 1 and 3 went, but the way urban Bangalore chose to ignore the misdoings the present govt were doing since they were in power, disheartened me a bit. But anyways hoping the 3 MPs do good justice to city that sent them to the parliament.

Congress is infamous for the license and babu raj they brought to the bureaucracy system. Now since they have been voted back to power, they have a huge responsibility in serving the nation better. Quite few assembly election dates are nearing in the coming years . Only if Rahul Gandhi delivers on his words, will the electorate feel that they made the right choice.

I would definitely like to see the young brigade of Scindiya Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora and ofcourse Rahul Gandhi to enter into governance too. Rahul has proved his grassroot strength by shifting the tide in congress's favour in UP. By entering the system, he can sure bring in about some reforms as well.

Boman Irani @ IIMB campus, Bangalore, for Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots shoot

Yes Aamir Khan is back in Bangalore. This time for shooting Raju Hirani's 3 Idiots. The movie is based on Chetan Bhagath's best selling novel "Five Point Someone". Aamir along with Sharman Joshi and Madhavan play the 3 protagonists. When we visited the campus, (my office is just opposite to it), shooting was not in progress, but Boman Irani was having a candid chat with folks there. That is when we got this picture taken.



I asked him, if he's playing Professor Cherian, for this he replied, they have changed the name and did not confirm if he is actually playing it. He said jokingly the press is here, so he cant give much details now :)

The tea shop boy told us that the shooting schedule starts at about 8:30 PM in the night, and they will have a schedule for about a month in the campus taking the hostel shots.

Watch this space for more :)

UPDATE : got a spot on rediff.com too for this pic. :)