Bhuvan Shome - Movie

1969. National award-winning movie made on a shoestring budget from the NFDC by Mrinal Sen. Seen as the beginning of New Wave movies. Suhasini Mulay is a revelation and Utpal Dutt is fabulous. The movie is narrated by Amitabh Bachchan. Must watch. YouTube has a decent print.

One of the few films I'd like to watch again.

Samskara - Movie

1970. Based on UR Ananthamurthy's novel of the same name. Girish Karnad, Snehalata Reddy (read her bio, amazing). It was taut and intense, dealing with the subject of final rites. Set in an agrahara in a village that follows the brahminical tradition, it deals with the death of a brahmin, who does not follow any rituals, has a low caste mistress and drinks and eats meat. But he is true to himself and as the story unfolds we realise how the others are not. National award winning movie that actually got banned so its a must watch.

Life in Lockdown - Day 59, May 24, 2020

May 24, 2020

There is a discernible change in the beat. Traffic outside is almost normal, people unsure what the new normal is.

Jyothi Paswan - For the Daughters
I don't know if I put this story up already but I don't mind putting it up again. 15 year od Hyothi Paswan rode 1200 km on the bicycle, from Gurgaon to Darbhanga in Bihar, with her injured father on the pillion, in 10 days. What can you say? Daughters are the best.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Bihar%2C-a-15-year-old-girl%2C-cycles-over-1200-km-to-bring-her-sick-father--50160.html


Topper Sent Me This Link - Nicely done by Anand Madhukar
Lovely little story

https://www.facebook.com/1124209989/posts/10216631744202410/?sfnsn=wiwspwa&extid=M7r2lPFaryoArtfB

This Was Interesting - For the Writing, And Even More for the Responses

Do read the responses

http://avayshukla.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-lock-down-diaries-viii-feel-little.html

My Cricketing Insights - Salil Datar (Have Confidence and Stay Put)

Salil Datar and I met thanks to our IDBI connection. Though he had left the organisation when I joined in 1994, he would come to meet my colleagues, Parag and Jaideep, when he was in the neighbourhood. Salil had played for Bombay (now Mumbai) and West Zone Under 19 schools which was a pretty good platform for taking off into higher levels. He then represented Bombay University (1984-85) which did so well under Sanjay Manjrekar.

Salil Datar (left) with former Indian cricket captain Ajit Wadekar (2017)

Salil was a solid middle-order batsman in his day. He has played competitive cricket alongside Sanjay Manjrekar, Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsakar at club level - Dadar Union (1984-90), Sachin Tendulkar while leading the BCA Colts team (1988). He also played alongside past legends like Ajit Wadekar, Madhav Apte in an exhibition fixture ( Dadar Union v/s Shivaji Park Gymkhana- 2017). He represented Mumbai in Ranji ( 1988-89) and the IDBI Cricket Team (1988-1990).

Salil Datar (third from left, standing) and the victorious West Zone team that won the Under 19 Cooch Behar All India Trophy with Sunil Gavaskar (1983)

Salil, gave up his cricketing ambitions and took up the corporate route, doing extremely well in his chosen field. These days he writes as well on various topics that catch his attention. Salil is a fitness enthusiast and has been participating in Mumbai Half Marathons since 2010.

IES Cricket team  Winners Giles Shield (1980), skipper Sanjay Manjrekar with the bat on the left, Salil with the bat on the right

Here are some of Salil's insights into the game.
...
Salil's Insights

Have confidence and stay put - It's the one good break that matters !!

Having played Inter-varsity, U-22, U- 19 cricket and been selected to the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team, I have played cricket at a fairly competitive level. Looking back at my playing days, if I have to pick one thing that separates the men from the boys - then it will be the mental frame of mind or the belief that you have it in you to make a difference.

Once you play at the national level, you obviously have the skill as well as the ability. What you need to focus on is building the mental frame of mind, confidence and belief in yourself. During my Varsity days I have seen at very close quarters 2 players- Maninder Singh (circa 1984/85) and W V Raman (circa 1985/86). Maninder Singh had begun his Test career with a debut at a young age of 17 yrs, playing against Pakistan at Karachi, way back in December 1982. W V Raman made his Ranji debut for Tamil Nadu in 1982 and had established himself in the state side. While Maninder was already an active member of the Indian team but was dropped subsequently as he lost form, W V Raman was an established first-class player, he was struggling with his form.

Here is how both decided to go back to the basics and fight their way to regain confidence and a positive frame of mind.

Take 1 - The Maninder Singh Story

In 1984/85, I was representing the West Zone in the Vizzy Trophy with Sanjay Manjrekar in the lead. We made it to the finals to be played at Chepauk against North Zone with Maninder Singh leading them. At Chepauk, the wicket turned out to be a rank turner.  Maninder, keen to make a comeback, latched onto the god-sent opportunity to use his left arm spin variations with guile. He tormented the west zone batsmen including Sanjay Manjrekar (he was yet to make his Test debut then) bowling to a 7-2 field, keeping only a square leg and a deep mid on, on the leg and rest on the off-side crowding around the batsman. North Zone managed to take the first innings leads of 29 runs with Maninder nearly taking all except one out of the 10 wickets in our first innings. The only wicket that he failed to take was that of our left-arm spinner who decided it was prudent to get runout instead of giving Maninder ( a test discard then) the honour of taking all 10 wickets, a record of sorts !!! However, the silver lining for us was that Sanjay Manjrekar marshalled us well. We came back from behind and lifted the Vizzy Trophy by getting North Zone bundled out for a paltry 137 runs and then knocking those runs off with 3 wickets to spare with me stemming the rot to hit the winning runs.

Take 2 - The WV Raman Story

In 1985/86, I was representing Bombay University (Bombay was changed to Mumbai in 1995) in the All India Inter- Varsity tournament. The matches were being played at Aligarh University grounds. In the finals we clashed with Madras University (Madras was changed to Chennai in 1996) led by W V Raman. Again another left-hander but who was an all-rounder. Even though I scored a century, Madras University lifted the coveted Rohinton Baria Trophy for supremacy in Inter-Varsity cricket in India on the back of an all-round performance by W V Raman (88 runs and 5/78).

In those times, in spite of Rohinton Baria Trophy and Vizzy Trophy not being classified as first-class matches, they were considered as tournaments of national reckoning. National selectors kept a close eye on outstanding performances by youngsters in these tournaments. In both the above instances, what stood out to me was the fact that in spite of having been discarded from the national team, Maninder and Raman showcased a burning desire to make a comeback. They opted to dig it in and rough it out to grab any opportunity, even if it meant Varsity level matches, to showcase their performance and get into the can-do mental frame of mind.

The net result of their performance was that Maninder got an immediate callback to the national side. He proved to be a match-winning force against England in 1986 and followed it up with some brilliant performances against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home. 1986/87 was probably the best phase of his career as he picked up two 7-wicket hauls, one against Sri Lanka in Nagpur and then delivered his career-best figure of 7/27 against Pakistan in Bangalore. He then went on to play in the now most remembered Madras tie test against Australia in the 1986-87 series. As for W V Raman- he made a comeback into the Tamil Nadu Ranji team and then went on to debut for India in 1987-88 at his home town Chennai against West Indies. In his debut match, India was bowled to victory by Narendra Hirwani, who took 16 wickets (8/61 and 8/75).

Just as I said in the beginning, once you have made a certain cut, your mental frame of mind counts, have confidence, stay put, go back to the basics if need be - It's that one good break that makes it matter. Cheers !!!

 ....

Thanks Salil. That was a very useful sharing into the mental aspect of the game. I am certain that young cricketers, or rather anyone who is aspiring to succeed, realises that one needs to stay, keep working at it, and you will ultimately get there. That is the champion mindset. 

For some more of Salil's cricket anecdotes hosted on his blog - Musings of a 50 something click here:-

1.    http://salil2.home.blog/2020/04/07/24-years-since-i-stopped-playing-cricket/

2.    https://salil2.home.blog/2020/03/22/goat-what-should-count/

Life in Lockdown - Day 58, May 23, 2020

May 23, 2020

The temperature is really shooting up. If yesterday it was 42 degrees C today they say it was s 45.5 according to a WhatsApp forward. The heat was so high that I sat with an ice bag this evening to cool myself off.

Went to Polimera today to do some shopping. Despite the sanitiser and the plastic gloves, the concept of social distancing is long gone. in fact it was worse than it was before with people falling all over another. I can't imagine how it can get worse than before.

The Erragadda fruit market si bustling. I bought some Banganapalle mangoes. They looked nice.

Sanjay paid me a visit today, the first visitor we have had ever since the lockdown has been announced. That too because Sanjay said he was in the neighbourhood and could he drop in. I know people are moving about, meeting and socialising, but am not sure if it is time to do that yet.

From Sathya Saran -Nice Gesture from Aruna Bahuguna to Share Shoes with Migrant Workers

Sathya sent me this forward today.

From Aruna Bahuguna
Friends, I am collecting footwear - old or used, sandals, slippers, shoes, but in "walking" condition, to distribute to the migrant workers. 
I go with the help of police to the railway station and distribute. 
Anyone who would like to donate, please send to 103 Prashasan Nagar. 
I leave around  2 pm. 

My address 
103, Prashasan Nagar Road no 18 
Jubilee Hills Hyderabad 500033 

Google landmarks opposite Prashasan Nagar Water Tank or Le Gorjuss cosmetic clinic.

Thank you.

Those in the neighbourhood, please go ahead and share your footwear.

Nothing to report but the heat. Of course, couple of calls informed me that the numbers are rising like crazy.

Spellbound - Movie

1945. Hitchcock. Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman. A psychological thriller of a mental institution, conspiracies, impostors, guilt complexes, love and murder.

Got nominated for Oscars. Peck is very young.

My Cricketing Insights - Jaideep Pal (Batting and Wicket Keeping)

Jaideep Pal was my skipper when I played for the IDBI in the Times Shield during my stint in Mumbai between 1994 and 1998. Warm and friendly, with an impish smile perpetually on his face, he belies the tough and wily competitor that lies within. He is constantly match-aware, has a high emotional quotient and is always thinking of how to get the best of his resources. No wonder we made the finals one year and did pretty well in the next. I found Jai to be a captain for whom I wanted to give my best - he is vulnerable, open and affectionate and wants the best for you. He is like that as a person too, so it's so easy to trust him, to want to do well for him. He sings beautifully, has a great sense of humour, loves a good time and is easily the most liked by all. He is certainly one of my favourite people and one of the better skippers I have played under.

Jaideep Pal

Jai started playing cricket for Shardashram High School (Sachin's, Kambli's, Amre's school) and was part of the playing XI when the school won the prestigious school tournament viz. Giles shield. He was the youngest at that time to have played a finals - at a mere 11 years and few months.. Then Jai played for Don Bosco School. At the college level he went to Poddar College, played for Mumbai University and was part of a specially selected team of probables of BCA colts which played in the Moin Ud Dowlah Gold Cup tournament at Hyderabad in 1990-91. Jai played regularly for 2 two years for the BCA Colts and A division club cricket for nearly 15 years representing top Mumbai clubs like CCI, Khar Gymkhana and Shivaji Park Gymkhana from 1987 to 2002. He last played for Shivaji Park.

Three centuries - on a roll!

Jai's role model in batting was Sunil Gavaskar, and he idolized Syed Kirmani and Alan Knott in the wicket-keeping department. He did well in both departments, scored heavily and received prizes for best wicket-keeper on several occasions. Jai captained IDBI and was instrumental in the team reaching the B division of the prestigious Times Shield in a short span of time from lower divisions.

Here are a few of Jaideep's insights on batting and wicket keeping.
....
To be frank, I have never had proper coaching by any sir apart from Late Achrekar sir who was very keen that I should play at a good level of cricket and that was way back in 1978-79 when I was 11 years old. At that age, one hardly remembers what is taught. Whatever I have learnt by watching, listening and practising is as under:

Jai with Sunil Gavaskar - Dadar Union vs Shivaji Gymkhana Exhibition match in 2017

Batting :
1. One should be hungry enough to become a good batsman as it is always one person against the 11 players at any point of time.

2. A still head is the most important thing. If the head is still you are sure that you will gauge the length of the delivery. What I mean by a 'still head' is that the focus should be on the ball and it should not sway. When the head is still, it is in line with the delivery of the ball and helps you judge the length and the moment the head droops sideways, one is not able to judge the delivery and also results in difficulty in playing deliveries which are pitched on middle and leg as the vision becomes blind. You can say for batting it is the side on stance. Which helps you keep your head still. One knows it when you can't judge the line and length of a delivery..
Even in wicket keeping, when one takes a stance it should be ensured that the balance is proper and the weight is evenly distributed. This ensures that the sight is set on the delivery only and not affected by the movement of the batsman. As a wicket-keeper we know the head is not still the moment we are not able to follow the ball right from point of release to its landing. If one sees the release but misses the flight and sees it only after it lands, it means you have to search for the ball, the moment that happens indicates that head is not still.

3. Always focus on basics. A good defence will ensure that you can easily play big strokes when required but the reverse is not true..

4. Practice regularly and approach each session as if you were playing a match.

5. Keep your hands close to the body as much as possible this ensures you don't chase outgoing deliveries.

6. Before any game analyse the kind of bowlers expected and practice mentally how one will approach each delivery. This practice is very tough as you need to imagine and it is exhausting. But very helpful.

7. A day before the game tap 100 balls on the bat focusing on the seam and that to be done on Match day too

8. Always play the ball and not the bowler.

9. Remember it's a mental game.

10. For physical training basics are important but one should hit the gym twice a week for muscle building as the game has become more of power.

Avi Karnik, Ajit Wadekar, Salil Datar and Jaideep Pal

As a keeper I suggest the following:
1. Take as many catches as possible not only standing like a wicketkeeper but outfield too. This improves how we receive the ball.

2. Play all kinds of sports especially football and TT/badminton.

3. Keep wickets at least for 3 hours in a day. It could be a combination of tennis ball and season ball cricket.

4. Try and follow the correct techniques and then improvise. I feel one should not stress too much on getting up with the ball but if one watches the ball keenly, then the movement automatically happens.. So focus more on watching the ball.

6. Always remember/expect that each and every ball will come to you, this ensures that edge's are not missed. Try it and you will find out that every time you have dropped a catch you were not watching the ball or head was not still.

7. Exercise sideways movement in standing and crouched manner at a constant speed for improving agility.

8. Skipping 1000 rounds daily atleast.. I used to do at least 1500 daily. Does not take much time on off days and at least 500 on normal days and running a mix of jogs and sprints..

9. In case one cannot play football, hit the gym for leg strengthening.

10. Wicket keeping also improves your batting.

...

Thanks so much, Jai. Those are very sound tips for batsmen and wicket keepers. For those of you who wish to reach out to him over mail for any further tips or clarifications, here it is - paljaideep67@gmail.com.