ROGER "GOD" FEDERER
“His greatness can exceed only his greatness”

I don’t know how to start with…… How do you describe god. “An imaginary mythological version of a human being having extraordinary powers and can perform virtually any miracle possible in the mortal and the immortal world”. But Federer is the only god who is real and performs all his miracles and tricks in front of the total world.

My nocturnal errands (with my friends to different hostel as cable connection wasn’t there in our hostel) to watch US Open-2007 grand finale left me aghast and spellbound. Even if I had an exam the same day, the match was worth watching, not for the quality of the game (that Federer normally displays) & sportsmanship that both players executed but for the greatness that god has bestowed Roger Federer with. As in science ideal conditions never exists but Federer is an ideal man who not only survives but also dominates the non-ideal conditions.

Being a Federer fan I watch him regularly. In early part of his career, his aggressive attitude used to show a bit on the court, but now with success at every grand slam Federer has become more humble & modest. He is naturally a very simple man whose mental toughness is unfathomable. Adding to that, his repertoire of shot making provides him the real cutting edge. His game is altogether at a different level where very few players have succeeded in sustaining it (may be Nadal).

In the US open final it was never like Federer was dominating or thrashing his opponent black and blue in typical Sampras style, but was like a dagger which cuts through the skin neatly without a single drop of blood oozing out. You know that you are done, but alas!! Nothing can be done. Federer defeated Djokovic 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-2), 6-4. From the score it is evident, that Federer didn’t dominate the match totally but he has the knack of shifting gears at the crunch situation. It is as if he gets up from the slumber only when it is needed. Djokovic made early inroads in both the sets and laid a wonderful trap for Federer, but Federer with his typical cool, calm and composed nature clinically disentangled the trap and threw Djokovic to such a position where the only thing he could do was break rackets and to see the match slipping away from his hands.

There is no doubt about the talent of Djokovic (he has already proved it in Montreal where he defeated Federer), but he lost points when it was most needed. At the crunch situations Federer would shift gears and steal the crucial points, whereas Djokovic at the same time became more nervous, shaky and vulnerable leading to his final nemesis.

I have little doubt that Federer would surpass Pete Sampras (14 grand slams) one day(possibly next year) given that, he is free from any injury and is at his best. Barring French open, Roger has ruled the roost in all the three grand slams. I hope he wins French open one day. As many would say I am hoping against hope but being a true fan of FEDEx I want him to be the heralded emperor of tennis.

Alas!! Like all legends he will fall one day but I hope those days are not in the near vicinity. Touchwood!!

“UMRAO JAAN”

As the director says “Making a film like this is like delivering a baby”, surely the movie deserves plaudits for the effort made by the director. “Umrao Jaan” has taken her fourth birth on celluloid, while it is a futile exercise to compare it with the yesteryear’s movies like “Umrao Jaan(old), Mehendi, Zindagi Aur Toofan” based on the same story line, an adaptation of Mirza Ruswa’s novel, this story really stands on its own legs. This movie was really a classic piece beside the original script, while this movie may not appeal to the mass but surely this movie will be appreciated by esoteric people. Albeit the movie seems to stagnate a bit in between due to rapid fire of songs one after the other but once again Javed bhai has shown his true genre and class depicting his eclectic taste as a lyricist through Alka’s sensible voice. Choreography can be extolled as it plays a major role in a movie which revolves round a courtesan as protagonist.
Now comes the main part “acting”. Aishwarya (as Ameeran and Umrao Jaan) playing the role of a courtesan in the movie was really captivating. Aishwarya looking glamorous in the glitters, proves herself as a versatile actress. Really as Javed Akhtar told only Aish with her sharp and enigmatic features can get into the shoes of Umrao Jaan. She succeeds in most part of the movie in doing justice to the strong character that she portrays. Then comes Umrao’s beloved sultan(Abhishek Bachhan) who always does his role quite elegantly. He once again showed that he has all the capabilities to become a great actor like his legendary father Amitabh. At last not to forget Khanum Jaan(Shabana Azmi) who did her part with utmost panache. She has a touch which sets her apart from her cotemporaries as far as acting is concerned. The movie has got some great touching moments(when Ameeran was being kidnapped in a sack, her eyes only being visible, which looks helplessly at her father crying for help), some great dialogues and some great picturesque of quaint Lucknow and Jaipur palaces. One who has got a taste for art and wants to revive his nostalgic memories of old Umrao should at least go once to watch the movie at least for the sake of class that this great script possess.
-amaresh