Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - The Shield is Simply Impenetrable..!

It's official. The long list of superhero movies that are to be screened in this season has begun with the release of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (GoTG 2). No. Please don't say that The Lego Batman movie had hit the theatres earlier. For starters, I haven't seen it yet. No good fmovies print..! Second - Though the movie utilizes characters like Batman, Joker etc., it is still technically not a superhero film.

With this brief introduction, let's nosedive without much ado into the rollicking world of the Galaxians. 

GoTG 2 has loads of funny moments as its predecessor even in the gravest of the plot points. But, that's the problem as well. It's like a double-edged sword. As we had seen elaborately the fresh, original and fit as a fiddle content in GoTG 1, the fights sequences with music playing in the background or Rocket's hatred for calling him a pet or raccoon seemed to be a bit repetitive. To give an example of it, home-truths are like a Bitter gourd. But, when it is packaged as tasty chips, it becomes acceptable and satisfactory to the person who hears the hard truths about themselves. What I wanted to say is that although the jokes revolving about Rocket were old as a dinosaur, the way in which they were presented was absolutely cracking. Take for example - calling Rocket as "Triangular-faced Monkey" or "Fox" or Drax's wicked humor in urging Mantis to pet Rocket was atrociously funny when being in the moment of the scenes.

Likewise, the second half was dragging like a Monday Morning meeting especially when the Star-Lord battles his biological father 'Ego'. It was so never-ending that you could have completely watched GoTG 1 during that time...! However, the entire movie is spectacularly colorful as the brightest butterfly - be it the Ego's planet when we are showed for the first time or the royal tribute that the Ravager's give Yondu at his funeral - GoTG 2 was dazzlingly saturated with loads of vibrant hues that were visually pleasing and appealing without being jutting out like a steel rod in a construction place.

GoTG 2 was as wacky as GoG 1 in its script and execution particularly the mind-blowing moments when Yondu's telekinetic red arrow whistled through space on his whistle to ensure that his crews meet their makers. No, not the director and producer of GoTG 2..! Forgiving my poor joke, that scene where his red arrow moved in and out through solid screens and about the place was simply too good to be true.

Also, Baby Groot was as adorable as Dory in 'Finding Dory'. So, many awwwwwwwwwww-inducing sequences that Baby Groot was extraordinarily cute and enchantingly endearing whenever he featured in the movie. During the post-credits, it was side-splitting when Quill says how Yondu must have felt when he was an adamant brat as an adolescent on seeing Groot grown to be a teenager.

The only major issue which I saw in GoTG 2 was not the repetitive recurrence of old humor in new package. But, the fact that most of the good scenes were already out in the open during the teasers and trailers. It creates a sense of heightened expectation for the audiences that the movie will offer us even more wonderfully and beautifully choreographed visual settings in the screenplay. But, when the movie fails to deliver the expectation that it has deliberately created during the teasers and trailers to attract the masses, it is then things go awry.

To put it in simple Marketing terms, Over Promise and Under Deliver. DO NOT EVER DO IT. It will widen the credibility gap between the fans and the filmmakers. There will not be any repeat takers for the film or a positive word-of-mouth from the viewers. If it had been like the Tamil film "Kabali" or DC's "Batman Vs Superman" where the creators insanely hyped the desires and anticipations of many fans across the world through their thumping trailers and punch dialogues but did not live up to that great expectation set by them during the actual screening that really left many of them in complete disappointment. GoTG 2 might have ended up following in their footsteps.

For instance, the scene where Mantis empaths on Quill and reveals his secret when they meet for the first time. That shouldn't have been shown when they were making the teasers or trailers. We should have seen it for the first time in the theatres. It would have been an astronomically laughter moment then and would have definitely left us wanting for more such hilarious settings in the course of the film. Instead, it was like "Yeah..I have seen it in the trailers. Nothing new. So, what?". Luckily, for GoTG 2, they had lots of other good and solid moments to compensate this best-of-the-best scenes in the movie. 

The trailer should be in such a way that it should project the best sequences without explicitly and fully divulging out the complete details of the plot to anyone. It should be like...You have to show but not show it. It's like you get super-excited on seeing a pair of sharp cleavages of a woman's invaluable assets when she deliberately bends down. But, when you explore it to find out that it was utter waste of time, how do you feel? 

On the contrary, how fantastic you feel when you discover to your satisfaction that the deliberate exposure was your hard-earned money's worth. That's exactly what I am talking about. Nowadays, the trailers shell out a lot of details than is necessary like Thor: Ragnarok. I am having my reservations, no! not in the theatre!, that the finished product might not exceed the trailer's set thirsting for this movie. I hope to be proved wrong by Thor's team. For that, we have to wait till November.

In the mean while, GoTG 2 has stolen the march, though it is still May, from the other superhero films like Wonder Woman, Justice League etc. by timing their release to impeccable perfection and execution to almost flawless best.

Baahubali: The Conclusion - Long Live the Kinggggggg! Part 2

Just like how Baahubali has dual parts, I felt it would be apt and fitting if my review was also split into two as well.

B2 has a storyline of a similar ilk of the yesteryear dual roles MGR flicks. If you have watched Avatar, then you will know that the movie is total crap when the VFX layers are skimmed, removed and deleted from the film. Similarly, even Gods couldn't have saved B2 had it been not for the special effects that really lit up the screens like a blazing sun. To put it in a nutshell, it is like an old wine in a new bottle. In B2's case, it's like transferring the old wine into the most expensive Scotch Bottle on a grandeur scale.

Though Prabhas has done an mind-blowing job by wholeheartedly committing to the entire duration of this ginormous project by undergoing and enduring physical pains to his physique, the sheer strength of his raw muscles just couldn't strike a chord. I will just give a simple example. When Hulk or The Iron Man was unable to lift the Mjolnir, you can vicariously have the feel of the tremendous effort that they have exerted on Thor's Hammer. But, you don't get to have any such experience whenever Shivu or Amarendra Baahubali performed their daring and daredevilry acts of valor and heroism. Also, the duration of the film was a tad too long. Had it been crisper and tauter, B2 would have been an edge of seat engager.

Everything was CGI including the elephants, cows, bulky chariots etc. that you see Prabhas's immense workout has resulted in a supreme toned bod but you don't get to feel his superior power behind those ripped muscles. Maybe, if the elephants and cows had been a live-action CGI as in The Jungle Book, the connection would have been better. I don't know.

Also, I was able to see only Arjuna as Brihannala helping Prince Uttara when Prabhas was behind the I-forgot-his-name person during the wild boar hunt which did not become a bore! Only Rajamouli will know whether he ripped off the scene from The Mahabharata. Likewise, it was like a straight lift off from The Batman Vs Superman when Prabhas was being embraced by his people.

As we are on the topic of Superman, just like how Prabhas was soaring like a Flying Man here and there in the movie, my thoughts were giving equally challenge to him by wondering what would have happened had Ajith or Vijay performed such action sequences. One thing was positive - The Social Media would have been flooded with rains of memes to the extent that the Internet might have been declared a holiday on account of the incessant downpour..!

Condoning my bad pun of a meaningful example, we were shown in the first installment that Bhalla's son is killed by Shivu. There was this nagging question as to how Bhalla would have handled his wife with Devasena in the pits. Sadly, Bhalla's wife is nowhere to be seen in the picture, pun intended. At least, Rajamouli could have given a glimpse of her drawing..!

But, most importantly, NO ONE CAN STEAL DARTH VADER'S THEME for ANYTHINGGGGGGGGG. There were certain places when Bhalla was striding all alone in the frame, you could hear the world-famous 'Imperial March' from Star Wars being played in the background. Technically, it's not Rajamouli's blunder as it is the Music Director who held the reins to the backscore. Maybe, he got inspired by John Williams's theme. Once again, I don't know.

Being the costliest and grandest movie to have ever been made in Indian History, Rajamouli could have cutback his marketing expenses by extending a special invite to Modi Ji. What better way to have a sweeping and lasting impact and reach than the leader of a nation saying in the Social Media that the film is good.

I sincerely hope that atleast Director Shankar has the horse sense to have an exclusive screening for the PM prior to Robot 2.0's release as the movie is in tune with the 'Make in India' strategy.

In fact, with the PM elections less than 2 years from now, if I were in Modi Ji's Marketing Cell, I would have wisely and prudently hard sold the PM's welfare rollouts to all the leading directors and script writers who collaborates with the Khans and Kumars to discreetly and subtly incorporate them into their films. Some might aver that it is unethical but it's Embedded Marketing. In this case, instead of Patek Philippe watches or Aston Martins, you have Modi Ji's beneficial schemes infused into the screenplay.

With the PM or without the PM, Rajamouli has achieved something extraordinary for Indian films through his magnum opus venture. Flaws and mistakes are a part of life. When we overlook them, Baahubali will be the touchstone that every aspiring director would love to emulate and at least come close to the visual magnificence if not excel its splendidness. It is indeed a capstone of Indian Cinema.

The true king in the movie is not Prabhas. As is the meaning of his name, Rajamouli is the 'King of Kings' of the Baahubali epic which has generated and garnered such an immense and intense attention, attraction, admiration and appreciation from all quarters of the world for the cinematic flair, management finesse and technical brilliance that he has not only brought in but also mesmerized all of us. Thank you Sir for wowing everyone with mind-blasting visuals and stunning sets which could be broken only by you.

                                                                     
                                                                  X---Concluded---X

PS:
Instead of being an audience, I just imagined how Rajamouli may have handled such a gargantuan people management which involved numerous stakeholders fraught with innumerable risks and uncertainties. It would have been literally a nightmare for him to coordinate every single one of them on such a massive scale for a period close to half a decade. To pull off this kind of a King Kong sized project with flying colors is nothing short of spectacular and truly remarkable. The entire team of Baahubali - not just the lead actors and actresses - but the technicians, extras, art directors etc. has got to be given a loud round of applause. This kind of man power is of the scale utilized in the Titanic film. That's why I addressed Rajamouli as the James Cameron of India. In short, he has epitomized "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained".

Baahubali: The Conclusion - Long Live the Kinggggggg! Part 1

What to say. Where to start. Somewhere, the line must be drawn. Maybe, like this ----------------------?

Sometimes, my pathetic jokes are such that even I bang my head against the nearest wall just like how I am doing now as this word is being keyed in.

Rajamouli has incredibly and insanely antes up the yardstick for film-making to such a stupendous level that it will require another yardstick to measure the already using yardstick to apprise his directorial competence. Sounds dizzying, dazing and a bit crazying, right? That was exactly how I felt as I was witnessing this visual spectacle from the visionary eyes of the James Cameron from our country. You will understand as to the reference of James Cameron soon.

Right from the introduction where B1 was narrated very succinctly using precise sketches to refresh our memories instead of a background narration saying "Previously this is what happened in B1", you know you are in for the visual treat of your life by the ace director. Take for instance. There was this sublime top-angle shot of a lush, verdant field in Devasena's kingdom and the camera was locked in that position for a brief time to indicate and reveal the prosperity of the place. It may not have seemed like a big scene in the grander scheme of the movie but Rajamouli really wanted everything to be in apple-pie order and that was crystal-clearly evident in that particular freeze. One might say that they have seen such things in a Hollywood film. Agreed. No Denials. But, this is the first for an Indian film. We should be proud of the fact that an Indian director is pushing the frontiers of our National Pride across the length and breadth of the world.

Likewise, the chariot with huge, razor-sharp and rotating blades with arrows spewing from under the hood was ingenuity at its consummate best. Similarly, the lightning forming Mahendra Baahubali's image when his son was out there to avenge his dad's death and reclaim his rightful throne was an electrifying, pun intended, moment and a sight to behold. So was the interval block which was one of the solid power-packed punches in recent times that will be engraved in our minds like your name on your home doors.

Prabhas was fantastic in his portrayal as Amarendra Baahubali especially in the scene where he walks, like an angry lion in a cage, behind the person who apprehended and cuffed Devasena when she chopped his fingers for his unscrupulous and reprehensible act. And the setting where he was in the forefront leading Bhalla during the latter's coronation ceremony evoked a deep sense of sympathy to Prabhas for the way he projected his emotions then. However, B2 belonged to the 2 fine ladies who simply scorched the film with their arsenal of artistic capabilities. No, I am not talking about Tamannah here. She was more like a mango pickle in a sumptuous buffet instead of being a delicious dessert to sate your taste buds.

I was talking about Ramya Krishnan and Anushka when I referred to the 2 fine ladies. In B1, Anushka had an extremely limited role to play just like how Tamannah has in B2. However, Anushka as the fiery, ferocious, confident and afraid-of-none Devasena added the extra spice and hotness to the marvel created by the director. It was a touch sad that from an able warrior who could bravely safeguard and defend herself, Devasena was reduced like any other normal heroine for her to be protected by someone else.

Continuing her splendid performance from B1, Ramya Krishnan had the role to play as a strategic Raja Mata which was on par with her performance as Neelambari in 'Padayappa' particularly the scenes where her ego and inner moral conflict were in constant tussle to be seen an authoritative figure in the kingdom. Excepting for his exaggerated and effusively fulsome praise to the I-forgot-his-name-coward-turned-courage person, Sathyaraj as Kattappa was outstanding in his portrayal of the loyal soldier who wants to do the right thing but is completely caught in a quandary due to his ancestor's allegiance with the royal family and the political intrigues that was happening within the palace walls.

It wasn't just the VFX or the rendition of the actors which has set a benchmark that only Rajamouli can eclipse. Madhan Karky's dialogues were like a key to a car called Baahubali 2. Take for example. Nasser abuses and disrespects Kattappa by calling him a 'Dog' in the very first scene where he hatches up a plot to assassinate Sivagami. To which, Kattappa replies that he smelled the conspiracy as he is a dog when he was questioned whether he was eavesdropping. Also, it was a fabulous piece of writing when Prabhas goes into a poetic and romantic mode when he describes the moon and love parrots. It was equally good and humorous when Sathyaraj sees the scenario from his perspective.

The number of mammoth man-hours that has been put forth in this saga ensured that the bottom hadn't fallen out at any point in time but instead ensured that the herculean efforts has brought the house down courtesy the director's extreme involvement and deep single-minded resolute to eat, sleep and breathe Baahubali until the last VFX was done and dusted.

Rajamouli has proved that even sky's not the limit for him as he has made sure that B2 is memorable beyond the famous cliff-hanger of a question "Why Katappa killed Baahubali" that was on the mental lips of almost everyone for close to 2 years.

So, only positives. No negatives? Of course, it has. 

                                                          X---To be CONCLUDED---X

PS:

                                        The negatives are here... :) :)

My AT11

Uniqueness, warmth, rarity and competence are the four fundamental and intrinsic aspects which ensures that a person, product or service to truly stand out in the crowded, boisterous and intensely cut-throat market place. How effectively a brand differentiates and distinguishes themselves from the competing entities either by providing superior value or that singular and exceptional jaw-dropping factor that will definitely result in the brand to burn, etch and occupy a lion's share in the minds and hearts of the consumers. 

From whatever my professors had taught me during my MBA with their lectures and case studies, I have inferred and understood this much in real life. In fact, I believe that 'Mind Share' must be replaced with 'Heart Share'. I am not undermining the importance of Mindshare here. But, Heart Share is what that drives people to go bonkers and shell out a heavy premium for brands like Apple. So, why the heck am I giving a mini-enlightening session on how great brands should function?

It is as simple as scratching your adorable doggy's fluffy fur when they affectionately butt their heads onto your shoulder. There are many All Time Eleven's by cricket legends that are being constantly bombarded on a daily and weekly basis through videos and blogs. I wondered why not to give my own Best Playing XI after having religiously and devotedly followed and played the Gentleman's Game for close to three decades. I have gone one step further by not just giving the Best Test 11 but also in ODIs and T20s as well.

The lists below are not randomly based on my personal preferences or inclinations or prejudices but it is curated solely on the basis of their performances on:

a)  Merit

b) Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards

c) Value &Impact that the players have added over the years

d) The ability to soak in pressure at crucial and dire moments of the game and deliver successful results

e) Capacity to assess, adapt and adopt to the situations accordingly
f)  Produce positive outcomes at home as well as on foreign soils

g) Consistency

Nine day wonders and flash in the pans will not be definitely there in the list as IMHO reliability, dependability, duration and frequency of consistency is as much important to a player to be THE GO-TO person in the team as the player's skill, talent and innate potential.

Just like how we go to a restaurant and order an entree at first, the first in line is the T20 list.

Best T20 11:

1. David Warner

2. Brendon McCullum

3. Virat Kohli

4. AB De Villiers

5. Kevin Pietersen

6. MS Dhoni (c&wk)

7. Dwayne Bravo

8. Chris Morris

9. Sunil Narine

10. Samuel Badree

11. Lasith Malinga

I have considered these players based on my observable fact that it is better to have a player to score minimum 30 runs off 20 balls in, say for example, 5 out of 8 matches than a person scoring a knock-your-socks-off innings of 100 runs off 40 balls in an once in a blue moon manner.

So, One down. Two to go.

Best ODI 11:

1. Sanath Jayasuriya

2. Sachin Tendulkar

3. Ricky Ponting

4. Kevin Pietersen

5. AB De Villiers

6. MS Dhoni (c&wk)

7. Michael Bevan

8. Wasim Akram

9. Shane Bond

10. Muttiah Muralitharan

11. Glenn McGrath

It was extremely tough to not to accommodate Sehwag or Hayden as an opener. But, Jayasuriya is a relatively better bowler and fielder than the dashing openers. Likewise, between Waqar Younis and Akram was like choosing a Chocolate Truffle and Haagen Dazs Icecream. Akram is a relatively better bat than Younis which helped me to tip the scale in his favor. Also, Kallis, Dravid or Ponting in number 3 slot?  Ponting's phenom strike rate amongst the three made him to be a cut above them. Similarly, the swashbuckling keeper Gilchrist had to be given the boot as Dhoni is in the picture with his astute cricketing brains, icy coolness and beautiful brawn.

The best in the big daddy of a purist's delight:

Best Test 11: 

1. Rahul Dravid

2. Alastair Cook

3. Ricky Ponting (c) 

4. Brian Lara

5. Sachin Tendulkar

6. Adam Gilchrist (wk)

7. Wasim Akram

8. Shane Warne

9. Curtly Ambrose

10. Glenn McGrath

11. Muttiah Muralitharan

As no one could be as flexible and tenacious as Rahul Dravid, I moved him to the top slot ahead of Hayden or Amla or Graeme Smith for the openers contention. And of course, in the extreme worst case scenario that others fail, everyone will have the pollyannic feel and hope that The Wall is out there to defend and shield them from any adverse situation even if eternity crumbles down likes a cookie..!

PS:

This Best list is post the 1990s as anything before then would mean that there were absolute legends, geniuses, magicians, mavens, greats as Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Thomson, Lillee, Border, Botham, Martin Crowe, Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, the intimidating express WI Quartet etc. 

I did not include these players in the Best category as the playing conditions in those days were completely alien from today's better, healthier, fitter, quicker, faster, safer, superior and smarter ways of playing the game due to sophisticated technologies, savvy physios, introduction and enforcement of newer laws and rules for batsmen and bowlers.

Travel Diaries - Gorgeous Goa...! Part 2

So, with all the necessities at my behest, it was time to vroom the highways and byways of the spectacular beach roads in the erstwhile Portuguese inhabited and dominated region. 

To ensure that my Angelina was in top riding condition, I drove her to the nearest Colva Beach which was relatively nearer to my not fit-for-a-king or queen lodging that was nearby to the Madgaon Railway Station. Taking directions from the sign boards that were placed across the way, it was a fantastic experience to see the golden sun silently gliding into the horizon. Though the Kanyakumari sunset still tops my list for the sunsets, as of now, the Colva sunset with the pleasant winds blowing into my tousled hair was a good one to remember and blog. It was then I realized that my over-grown hair like a mini-jungle needed to be shortened to adapt to the local sunny conditions.        

After a renewed makeover that felt like freedom from a dictator, I was able to feel the chill sweeping gusts of air hitting the almost bald head that was a serious relief to the otherwise humid day. It was then the alarming bells started to ring, not on my mobile!, in the form of fuel deficiency. That was the moment I had the sudden light bulb moment and took a call, Again, not from the mobile!, that I shouldn't travel after dusk in a completely new environment considering my language barrier would be a thorn in the flesh in the event I had to encounter a breakdown or puncture or lack of operating drink for my Angelina.  

I knew it was the Arabian Sea that was stretching all throughout the Goa Beaches much like the Bay of Bengal for Chennai Beaches. The waters are the same to similar depending on the elevation of terrain, type of terrain and level of crowd catchment of the place. Nevertheless, it was an one-of-a-kind moments to freely and independently roam the roads of Goa like a sprinting cheetah especially when you move out from the crowded inner sections of the city to the beautiful coastlines where you have the ultra-luxury to simply plug into your headphones and listen to your fav numbers on the move. It was akin to the famous ECR Road, Chennai in which the songs and long drives are inseparable like Laurel & Hardy. But, when you step within the city limits, it becomes extremely difficult to even concentrate on the road barring your treasured song lists.

After sometime, I lost track of the number of beaches that I had visited. There was a famous beach at every turn like Colva, Dona Paula, Miramar, Calangute, Anjuna, Baga, Bogmalo etc. But, the one beach which I loved to the hilt is the sun-kissed waters of Palolem. The two things which made me to be head over heels with the glistening sands is the sheer long drive from Madgaon to Palolem. The serpentine roads along with the picturesque setting en route to the beach added the extra dash and panache to the to and fro travel. Not to mention the pristine pulchritude because of the relatively lesser tourists ensured that Palolem was at the top of my order in the Goan adventure. But, one thing. Unless you have a filled tank and a spare tyre in your reserve, all you have to do is pray to God that nothing out of the ordinary happened to you on the way. I had the former but not the latter at my command and had to chant Krishna's name throughout the course of this standout journey so that my Angelina did not have a flat tyre anywhere on those deserted and splendid scenic route punctuated with villages and houses here and there like the stars on a cloudy night.

Much as I had the perception that Goa was completely occupied and sated with churches due to the Portuguese influence, it was indeed a welcoming and pleasant surprise when I saw the sign boards that read of a Durga temple and Iyyapan temple in my accommodation vicinity though they were not a stone throw's away. Getting up early in the morning and having a quick crow's shower, I paid my obeisance to the two temples on two different days and proceeded to drop by other places of attractions like The Big Foot, Agoda Fort and Central Jail, Mormugao Port and Museum. It was indeed a bit scary and creepy on the way to the Central Jail in Agoda due to the stillness of the surroundings and minimal visitors to the spot. A big NO-NO to this place in the dark or even after sunset. Luckily, the horse sense that I should keep to the main roads before the sun hits the other half of  the world really helped me to pace my ride accordingly.

Goa is renowned for beaches, parties, boozes, flea markets and churches. As I was not much of a party person and a complete teetotaler, the middle two choices were ruled out of the picture, pun intended. I had single-handedly covered almost all the major beaches in the North and South Goa during my stay here. Since no GF or wife, flea markets were of inconsequential interest to me. SO, the only thing left were the churches. Right next to the Museum was one well-known Portuguese church. Likewise, there was yet another architectural worship of the Christians right across the Museum. Having come such a long way, I just dropped in and took some snaps and headed towards Madgaon. The only problem which I faced was the fact that I had to Dio out to all the points of tourist interests from Madgaon.

When I landed in Goa, I had the uncomfortable uneasiness that it was going to be a drab expedition as the common perception was that Goa is buzz of activity with friends. But, what I learnt from my trip is that it is possible to enjoy this spectacular and wondrous place solo-singing as well if you have the right mindset and attitude to discover the wonderful and untainted places instead of merely sleeping in the rooms and having extreme hangovers in the morning. I am not saying that's not right. IMHO, whatever rocks your boat! as long as you don't cause harm or hurt others. To me, it was about finding and indulging in the raw nature of Goan environment. However, I might have created a mini-Guinness record to not having touched a single drop of hot drink during my brief stay in this fabulous place that has loads to offer other than just parties and cheap alcohols.  


                                                                     X---Concluded---X              

Travel Diaries - Gorgeous Goa...! Part 1

When you ask any Engineering or any Graduate student, for the matter, as to where they would like to head for the vacations, their unanimous choice would scream "Goaaaaaaaaaa". I am still not sure as what has captivated them without even an infinitesimal dissenting voice. My best bet is the superb perception and the glowing aura that has been created by their friends and seniors who would have definitely said that Goa is a heaven for rave parties and sublime relaxation from the mundane humdrum of the normal lives. I had the opportunity to visit Goa when I was in Engineering as a part of our In-Plant Training and Industrial Visit. As my sister's engagement was just around the corner then, I prioritized Goa to some other time. Never in my darkest nightmares that I could have dreamt that I would be visiting Goa all alone by carrying a heavy baggage of emotional turmoil and mental anguish.

After arriving straight from the Dubai airport to Chennai, one of my friend, who happens to be lawyer, recommended that Goa is the ideal place for relaxation and peace of mind. The flight tickets were extremely precipitous. So, I decided to take a train to Goa from Bangalore after meeting up with one of my friends from my MBA. Bading goodbye to her after a nice lunch, that was actually High Tea!, at Domino's, I headed towards Mangalore by bus to catch the Madgaon Express which was due in the next morning. As none of my travels were planned and were completely off-the-cuff, I had the vague feeling of discomfort that the world and time was controlling me instead of me being in command over the plans. Still, I enjoyed the feel to be truly in flow with nature just like a river meanders slowly and lazily across the plains.

Due to restless sleep in the bus caused by the vague feeling, the train journey was marked with me sleeping most of the time. By the time I woke up, the train was near Madgaon. This was the second time ever I was without a roof over my head in an alien place. The first time was when I made a quick trip to Kancheepuram to visit all the temples there before I caught a bus to Bangalore from Koyembedu Bus terminus. I was well in my comfort zone when I went to Kancheepuram as I was within the boundaries of Tamil Nadu and everyone spoke Tamil. So, finding an inexpensive hotel wasn't that difficult. In this scenario at Madgaon, I was completely all at sea, pun intended, with no idea whatsoever as to what the other people were talking since their conversations were in Hindi. A good soul at the Railway Station guided me to the Auto stand. But, to make him understand that I wanted to hire an auto was a herculean task by itself like carrying a big wheel on the shoulder.

A super nice person at the Auto Stand told me that he would drive me to a decent hotel as I had clearly stated my requirements that I would be visiting the beaches and other tourist attractions and that I just needed a good  yet cheap place to sleep and bathe. He was polite enough to acknowledge it and used his sales skills to make me hire one of his vehicles for the extensive sightseeing. He also suggested some other places like The Big Foot.

After checking into the hotel, I went along with him to rent one of his two-wheelers. I can read your mind now. "How on Earth, Okay, Goa! did you trust a man who was nothing but a stranger?". Of course, I didn't. In fact, I was chanting 'Krishna Krishna' silently in my mind when we made our way to his residence. I perfectly knew and understood that I was in his territory and completely out of my comfort zone and that he was the person who was calling the shots there. If he had kidnapped or killed me then, no one would have ever known and I wouldn't be here alive now and typing out this blog. So, yes. I put the burden on Lord Krishna and left everything to Him. Fortunately, the person lived with his brother or at least that's what he told me and gave me multiple choices to select from his arsenal of vehicles .

As I wasn't aware of the road conditions or traffic, I preferred a Blue Dio after making sure that I got all the necessary documents pertaining to my Angelina, Okay! That's the name I kept for the Blue Dio!, and the most imperative of all - Helmet.


                                                            X---To be Concluded---X

The Gaffe of Gaffes..Or Is It?? - Part 3

First up, what Trump is doing is right in the best interests of the American people. As a leader of the land, it is one's duty to discharge their obligations to their own country men first and then proceed to the rest of the world. To put things into clearer perspective, supposing you are married and have kids. Will you take care of your family first or your neighbours? No. I am not talking about you having an illicit relationship with your neighbour and then feeding him/her. It's a genuine question.

Is it Unagi by any chance?? I don't know..!

Likewise, when you take the country as a huge family, wouldn't you provide opportunities and livelihood to your family members first?? Some might aver that it is a regressive move or step in the wrong direction. It will be a backward-looking decision had at least the majority of the Americans have enough to support them and their own family. Is that the case? The unemployment levels are falling now yet it stands at a mammoth 7.2 million people being out of work. The reasons may be attributed to several factors but it all boils down to one essential fact that their own citizens should be given the top priority and when there is a skill gap, the government can ensure then to plug it up by whatever legal means that is necessary.

Also, illegal immigrants are like bunnies. In the blink of an eye, they multiply so fast and quick that Sonic the Hedgehog would seem slow..! Unless the weeds, No! Not THAT!, of illegal immigrants are detected and pruned away as early as possible, they will be detrimental to the economy and health of a country.

Taking a cue from Trump's far-sighted vision to make America great again, countries like Singapore, Australia and New Zealand have also adopted stringent visa rules to curtail the flow of immigrants looking for jobs. This is actually the best way to move forward when your own country faces a shortage of skill set in their poolset. It will result in better utilization of their resources - be it Financial or Manpower - to improve their existing infrastructure by catering to their local needs and enhancing their competencies so that their own nationals have the requisite knowledge and expertise to be given the appropriate roles and responsibilities in an organization.

'Nation first. Others next' should be the mantra that will ensure a well-rounded and all-round development of a country's actual potential. When it is satisfied to a satisfactory level, then the rules can be relaxed and made liberalised to accommodate foreign workers. Until then, we, Indians might face the heat and pressure of their squeezing and choking rules but the really skilled will get the deal anyhow on grounds of merit and value that they bring to the table.

In Trump's case, his intention was right but his execution was a little off the mark. The problem is that when you try to force something against the people's will, it will result in massive backlash. Time is till there for him to create and have that initial groundswell, which wasn't there earlier, to back his executive orders that will ensure the stars in their flags to coruscate and scintillate in the world again.

Until then, people will be mocking the idiosyncrasies of Trump's logic to make America a better country in the world as to what happened in the prestigious Oscars were many celebrities sported blue ribbons to support the immigrant population in their country.

                                                                   X---Concluded---X


PS 1:
I am neither Anti-Trump nor Pro-Hillary. Just felt what Trump is doing is in the bigger context of the American welfare. No offence to anyone or anybody here. Apologize deeply incase this blog has hurt the sentiments of any and many.

PS 2:
I have nothing against the Oscars. Have been a big fan of Hollywood movies for a very long time. I had the feel that La La Land was the most deserving contender for the Best Movie Category. That's all.