The one and only CS Manish brings up an interesting point in his blog about the emergence of the inimitable Azharuddin's sons at school-level cricket in Hyderabad as he wonders whether Asad and Ayaz will succeed in emulating their pater's achievements.
My gut says NO.
The tough part for a son is that success is ONLY defined by surpassing the parent's performance.
Thus while Rohan Gavaskar would have been deemed a success by many measures, his achievements captaining Bengal and playing the odd game or two for the national side pale in comparison to his definitely illustrious father - and so he is a failure.
Likewise with several others including Ashok Mankad, Vivek Jaisimha, and so on...Mohinder Amarnath is perhaps the one player in recent times in Indian cricket who did measure up to his father's achievements and actually lived to surpass it.
On the global scale, Shaun Pollock remains the pre-eminent second generation success - without detracting in any way from his father's achievements, he emerges as a strong equal in terms of his opus over his career.
Even a Shoaib Mohammed must be deemed inferior in his body of achievement compared to his father.
Thus the pressure on our man Azhar's pair of sons is high, and it is more than likely they will not measure up to their father's record of 22 test centuries, an average of 45+ in test cricket, 35+ in ODIs and 50+ in First Class cricket.
But it should not detract from anything they do. Hyderabad cricket could use a breath of fresh air after the infamous Shivlal Yadav has all but butchered it by his shameless promotion of his own son (who needless to add has not even risen to the averagely high level of achievement of Shivlal Yadav).
BTW, noticed that a certain AT Rayudu was in the Hyd team along with VVS Laxman for the ongoing Moin-Ud-Dowla Trophy. Has the one time child prodigy returned after the year turning out for Andhra....hopefully Mr Yadav has seen the futility of nepotism and is allowing merit to shine for the team that he himself turned out for with distinction in his own playing career....
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Movie - After Ages...
I think in the normal course, I would have faulted this flick mercilessly.
But as it emerged, as the first movie that my wife and I saw in a cinema hall in over 7 years without any little ones to care for, this one escapes.
Plus it is tough to totally pan a movie featuring a standout performance by Abhishek Bachchan, who is quickly emerging as the gold-standard for the post-Khans generation of Bollywood heart-throbs, a phenomenal cameo by Amitabh (difficult to believe he played this high energy role so soon after recovery from the latest ailments), Preity Zinta really living her role and to perfection, and music for the ages from Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy...
What detracts from the movie are slipshod editing, a weak story line that leaves too many characters inadequately etched, lazy direction from Karan Johar that results in needlessly abrupt dialogues and interventions, shockingly unconvincing performances by Rani Mukherjee who sleepwalks through her (admittedly poorly crafted) role and Shahrukh Khan, who comes through only in patches....
...if nothing else, this movie shall mark the formal passing of the baton from King Khan to the jr Bachchan, in the same way that exactly 30 years back, Sholay saw the baton of the numero uno star in Bollywood transition from the so-called hero of the movie, Dharmendra, to the one who stole the hearts...Bachchan Senior.
...there are enough arresting scenes and sequences in this 3-hours-plus opus to ensure that Karan Johar recovers his investment and more. It is also a much better movie than the disastrous Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam. Karan's continuing love-affair with New York City comes through in his wonderful picture compositions across the East River - he captured all seasons and Fall in particular is spectacular. I had a tough time picking my favorite song - Mitva, the title number, and the two party songs featuring the Bachchans are all superb.
...it has been rumored that King Khan is not very happy with the attention that Karan Johar accorded Abhishek...hopefully Shahrukh realizes that he has had a worthy run as the second (and thankfully improved) coming of Dilip Kumar, and that all good things must end....
But as it emerged, as the first movie that my wife and I saw in a cinema hall in over 7 years without any little ones to care for, this one escapes.
Plus it is tough to totally pan a movie featuring a standout performance by Abhishek Bachchan, who is quickly emerging as the gold-standard for the post-Khans generation of Bollywood heart-throbs, a phenomenal cameo by Amitabh (difficult to believe he played this high energy role so soon after recovery from the latest ailments), Preity Zinta really living her role and to perfection, and music for the ages from Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy...
What detracts from the movie are slipshod editing, a weak story line that leaves too many characters inadequately etched, lazy direction from Karan Johar that results in needlessly abrupt dialogues and interventions, shockingly unconvincing performances by Rani Mukherjee who sleepwalks through her (admittedly poorly crafted) role and Shahrukh Khan, who comes through only in patches....
...if nothing else, this movie shall mark the formal passing of the baton from King Khan to the jr Bachchan, in the same way that exactly 30 years back, Sholay saw the baton of the numero uno star in Bollywood transition from the so-called hero of the movie, Dharmendra, to the one who stole the hearts...Bachchan Senior.
...there are enough arresting scenes and sequences in this 3-hours-plus opus to ensure that Karan Johar recovers his investment and more. It is also a much better movie than the disastrous Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam. Karan's continuing love-affair with New York City comes through in his wonderful picture compositions across the East River - he captured all seasons and Fall in particular is spectacular. I had a tough time picking my favorite song - Mitva, the title number, and the two party songs featuring the Bachchans are all superb.
...it has been rumored that King Khan is not very happy with the attention that Karan Johar accorded Abhishek...hopefully Shahrukh realizes that he has had a worthy run as the second (and thankfully improved) coming of Dilip Kumar, and that all good things must end....
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