A BYTE OF LIFE Wednesday, January 28, 2009

03 05
POWER OF GREEN WINDOW SHOPPER
E-learning makes inroads Uniq for accessories

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. 16

New hit on the block

Saranya Mohan of Yaaradi Nee Mohini fame on new releases, Nayanthara and Fazil
» PAGE 10

PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN
02 NAMMA CHENNAI ERGO Wednesday, January 28, 2009

View from Ladakh

Wander Lust – an exhibition of photographs on canvas by
Varun Gupta during his travel to Ladakh – will open today
at Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan. The exhibition is
on view till February 14 at Goethe-Institut, No 4, Rutland
Gate 5th Street. Ph: 2833 2343/ 1314

How about some

quick lunch?
S.R. Foods’ light and tasty meals are a hit with office-goers

Movie mania
DEEPA VENKATRAMAN
deepav18@gmail.com

1takemedia calls all
aspiring filmmakers
Y ou love films? And one day aspire to
become a filmmaker? Here’s your chance.
1takemedia.com, an entertainment jobs and
resource portal, has launched the
1takemedia.com film competition.
The competition is open to all aspiring
filmmakers who wish to make in-roads in
the entertainment industry. The competition
will be judged by filmmakers like Ketan
Mehta, Vikram Bhatt, John Mathew
Matthan, Jabbar Patel and Mike Pandey.
There are three categories to the
I
t’s a blessing to have a restau-
rant around one’s neighbour-
hood or office, especially
more if it serves food that
tastes like home food. S.R. Foods
at Karpagam Avenue in R.A. Pu-
ram is located amidst a residen-
tial area.
The joint was started in 2005 by
Dhayalan Divakar mainly for of-
fice goers, where he started by
serving only South Indian break-
fast, lunch and dinner.
“I chose this area
because I knew there
was a huge potential
for corporates and our
PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN

competition: Segment 1 (under 10 minutes), first client was ICICI

Segment 2(10 to 30 minutes) and Segment 3 Bank (corporate of-
(30 to 60 minutes). So if you have a fice), which is down
handycam and an idea, just go on. the road,” says Diva-
Entries must reach by March 31. For entry kar. “Within a year’s
forms and details log on to time, our business
www.1takemedia.com picked up and we
started getting many
North Indian clients too from
TVS Infotech, Sundaram Towers,
Tripple C Constructions and a
few more. So we introduced
North Indian thali for lunch.”
Food galore
When it comes to breakfast,
you have idlis, dosas, vada, pon-
gal, suji kichdi, puri with potato –
served with coconut chutney.
Plus, chutney made of ginger or
onion urud daal and sambar. The
breakfast is priced from Rs. 12 to
Rs. 25.
Divakar says, “The podi dosai
and onion dosai are the most pre-
ferred.” While the South Indian
thali is priced at Rs. 30, the North
Indian one is Rs. 35.
In the evening, they have
snacks like samosa, kachori and
boiled chundal (lentils). The din-
ner is very light when compared
to the lunch. Divakar adds, “We
change the menu every day to
add variety.”
What I liked about the food is
its preparation – it is not oily or
spicy but very light, served in suf-
ficient quantity. Vinod Kumar, re-
lationship manager at ICICI
Bank, who has been a regular
to the place for the last two
years, says, “The food is tasty and
very homely. I liked the dry pota-
to sabji, raw banana chips and
payasam. The service is very fast
and the price is reasonable.”
They also do catering for the
British Council library, Judicial A-
cademy and Ashok Leyland. Ask
Divakar about his future plans,
and he says, “We plan to start
cafeterias in offices and venture
into outdoor catering soon.” ■
(Too Good for Critics is a weekly
column to celebrate Namma
Chennai’s ‘Kaiyendi Bhavans’ and
small eateries. If you can think of a
similar place, mail us at
feedback@goergo.in)

How to get there: Walk straight from ICICI Corporate office,

located at R.A. Puram. It is on the 3rd street of Karpagam
Avenue
Best time to go: From 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., they serve
breakfast. Although the lunch starts at 12.30 p.m., and you
are busy in a meeting, don’t worry as this is one outlet where
you get lunch till 3.30 p.m.
My favourite: Potato palak and payasam
Phone: 4203 5000/ 4210 0551
 Wednesday, January 28, 2009
03

Green
At a time when companies are finding it
difficult to keep purse strings tight, green
learning only promises to show the way

IS IN
LIFFY THOMAS
liffythomas@goergo.in

P
icture this: Motorola is launching a new mod-
el, before which it wants to train its em-
ployees across the world about the
nitty-gritty of the new handset.
The typical scenario: A team from the company’s
headquarters flies down to each of their major loca-
tions to take the staff through gruelling hours of
Power Point presentations, written notes, discus-
sions and so on. That’s the traditional classroom
training each of us has got accustomed to. The new
scenario: The mobile major decided to cash in on
something more cost-effective. It got an e-learning
tool developed, which it installed in its main server
whereby all the sales staff were asked to take les-
sons and also undergo tests after that. While for the
staff it was flexi and interactive hours of training
that could be taken at one’s pace and convenience,
for the company it was channelising money, energy
and time on a long-term initiative.

Green 2009
Welcome to green IT or green 2009 – a mantra
most companies are chanting these days to combat
recession or as a cost-cutting measure. E-learning
has increasingly been found to be an effective train-
ing tool companies have resorted to in these tough
times.
“Green learning has been part of the Indian psy-
che since years, but what is more interesting is to
see companies convert from the traditional Instruc-
tor Led Training (ILT) to e-learning, thus saving on
the training cost, reducing carbon footprint, among
others benefits,” says Dr. Prabal Mall, content head,
Expertus Infotech. “On an average, a company
spends between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. one lakh on a
trainer. In e-learning, around four hours of ILT
training is converted into an hour of interactive
learning.”
BPOs, IT services, technology and pharmaceu-
tical companies have adopted e-learning in a major
way. The Tatas have embarked on green learning in
a big way.
“Almost all major companies have implemented
green learning initiatives, but it is still at a nascent
stage in India. It has to gather momentum,” says
Shailesh Mehta, CEO, Gurukul Online Learning So-
lutions. “Today, over 15 corporates have adopted
green learning enterprise wise or division wise.”
Go green seems to be the way ahead! ■

Go Green…
■ It reduces use of paper and manual work as
everything is online
■ Reduces cost incurred in classroom training,
which requires companies to invest on travel,
stay, etc.
■ E-learning content is reusable or can be
modified, thus reducing cost of learning
material
■ It is fun and interactive. Also, there is no
compulsion to sit in a classroom – one can
take it according to one’s pace
■ Social networking sites or blogs can also be
used for training purpose
04 KALEIDOSCOPE
World’s only immortal creature
I
Hackers steal details of 4.5 million
from Monster job site
H
ackers gained access to
confidential details pro-
vided by 4.5 million peo-
ple to Monster.co.uk, the
online recruitment site.
It is the most extensive breach
of confidential data since HM
Revenue and Customs lost the
details of 25 million child bene-
fit recipients in 2007.
The victims are mainly pro-
fessional staff seeking work in
the economic downturn.
Registrations at the site,
which allows employers to
browse thousands of CVs on-
line, have soared as redundan-
ERGO Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Cheesecake world record
The world’s largest cheesecake has been made in Mexico
City. 55 cooks spent 60 hours making the massive two
ton cake that contained almost a ton of cream cheese,
the same amount of yogurt, 350 kilograms of pastry, 250
kilograms of sugar and 150 kilograms of butter.
n what is the first case of immortality in a
living organism, scientists have recog-
nised Turritopsis nutriculaas as the only
known animal that is capable of rejuv-
enating itself.
According to a report in the Times, jellyf-
ish usually die after propagating, but Turri-
topsis reverts to a sexually immature stage
after reaching adulthood and is capable of
rejuvenating itself.
The 4-5mm diameter creature, technically
known as a hydrozoan, is the only known
animal that is capable of reverting to its ju-
venile polyp state.
Theoretically, this cycle can repeat indefi-
nitely, rendering it potentially immortal.
Found in warm tropical waters, Turritopsis
is believed to be spreading across the world
as ships’ ballast water is discharged in ports.
Though solitary, they are predatory crea-
tures and evolve asexually from a polyp
stage.
The switching of cell roles is usually seen
only when parts of an organ regenerate.
However, it appears to occur normally in the
life cycle of the Turritopsis. ■
ANI
S2000
cies have risen.
Monster.com refused to com-
ment on how much information
had been taken but The Times
understands that the personal
details of millions of people can
be downloaded in under an
hour once a hacker has gained
access.
Security analysts told that the
plundered data from the site
would be used by organised
gangs to open fake bank ac-
쒀 Customers gaze at Japanese auto giant Honda Motor’s convertible sports car
counts or take out loans in the
S2000 at the Honda headquarters in Tokyo on Tuesday as Honda announced the
names of unsuspecting custom-
company will discontinue production of the S2000. AFP PHOTO
ers. ■
ANI
 Wednesday, January 28, 2009
05

This exclusive accessory store in Teynampet has an eclectic

mix of funky and chic

T
he store’s launch saw a lot
of fanfare, what with Shilpa
Shetty endorsing it on her
recent Chennai visit. Uniq,
the three-week-old exclu-
sive accessory store of actor
Sona Heiden (of Kuselan
fame), resists the temptation of becoming an all-under-one-roof
clothes and accessories provider and keeps the accessories (for
men and women) as centrepiece. Situated bang opposite J.B.A.S.
College (S.I.E.T), it cannot be missed.
From pretty trinkets like earrings, neckpieces, bangles and rings to
wrist watches, glasses, handbags, clutches, shoes, hats, head bands,
scarves and boots, it’s all here. So if it is a fuchsia pair of sandals that you pick
here, finding a giant tote or a mini clutch of the same shade under the same roof
shouldn’t be a problem.
Neckpieces range from the bohemian beaded variety to braided leather ones and
the more classic ones in silver and gold. Bags are a
mix of funky gigantic totes in golden and black to
tiny metallic and sequinned purses.
We love the footwear. From suede strappy num-
bers in parrot green and pink to red satin pumps with drama
heels, neon peep-toes and court shoes, wedges and knee-
high boots, choice is plenty. It’s a case of Cinderella’s glass
slippers though. The size you see is the size that’s available, so
you’re either lucky to fit into the pair you like or move on to
the next.
Also, the tie section, though limited, offers some rather
interesting designs (read guitars and smiling suns).
The accessories have been handpicked by Sona herself
during her travels in India and abroad and the store claims to
have no more than one in the same design or colour. So no
embarrassing mirror-image moments. Uniq! ■

Address:
Uniq
59/28, Kavignar Bharathidasan Road,
Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018
Ph: 044 - 4200 0030
Website: www.uniq.co.in
Store timings: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

PHOTOS: R. RAVINDRAN
06 VILLAGE
Wikipedia may
tighten rules on
online editing
W
ikipedia, an encyclope-
dia with millions of arti-
cles contributed in
dozens of languages,
may soon tighten rules on online
editing after vandals changed en-
tries on two US Senators to
wrongly report they are no more.
Jimmy Wales, the Founder of
the site, proposed the new
‘Flagged Revisions’ policy on who
can edit its pages after the van-
dalism of the entries on US Sen-
ators Ted Kennedy and Robert
Byrd, the media reported.
According to the proposal,
which was approved 60-40 by
participants in an online poll,
first-time or anonymous users
wouldn’t be allowed to make in-
stant editing unless approved by
the trusted users first.
“This nonsense would have
been 100 per cent prevented by
Flagged Revisions,” Wales wrote
on the Wikipedia user forum
page, posted online, sparking a
heated debate. Wales expressed
concern that the new procedure
Jimmy Wales proposed the new
‘Flagged Revisions’ policy on who can
edit its pages after the vandalism of
the entries on US Senators Ted
Kennedy and Robert Byrd
could delay the publication of
some items but said he believed it
was necessary.
However, he gave opponents
two weeks to come up with an-
other proposal. “Those who are
in the minority who are opposed
to this are invited to make an al-
ternative proposal within the
next seven days, to be voted upon
for the next 14 days after that,”
Wales was quoted as saying.
Wikipedia prides itself on al-
lowing anyone with an Internet
connection to contribute or edit
content. It attracts roughly six
million visitors a day. Kennedy,
who is suffering from brain can-
cer, collapsed at a luncheon last
week after the inauguration of
Barack Obama as American Pres-
ident on January 20 and was hos-
pitalised.
But he was discharged within
hours. However, his Wikipedia
entry was changed shortly after-
wards to say that he had died, but
was corrected within minutes. ■
PTI
Jimmy Wales,
founder of Wikipedia.
PHOTO: S. GOPAKUMAR
ERGO Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Father of 11 at 111
A reptile in New Zealand has become the proud
father of eleven at the age of 111, five years after
having a cancerous tumour removed.
Airports testing radar that could
spot birds
Some of the busiest US airports will soon begin testing
experimental radar systems designed to track flocks of birds
and help pilots avoid the type of collision believed to have
crippled a US Airways jet nearly two weeks ago. Proponents
say air traffic controllers could someday use the technology
to delay takeoffs, reroute flights before they leave the
ground, and perhaps even radio warnings to pilots to take
evasive action. The new technology uses a combination of
inexpensive marine radar antennas, much like the kind used
on fishing boats, and powerful computer software to
monitor birds as they gather and soar as far as 10
kilometers away from an airport.
PTI
Apple wins patent for iPhone
touch screen controls
Apple has won a US patent for touch-screen
controls and gained a potential legal weapon
against iPhone competitors. US Patent 7,479,949 is
awarded to ‘(Steve) Jobs et al’ for a method of
“detecting one or more finger contacts with the
touch screen display” to command computing
devices. A multi-page patent available online at
the US Patent and Trade Office on Monday details
iPhone or iPod Touch commands such as finger or
thumb swiping, twisting, or spreading to flip
pages, rotate views, or enlarge images. The patent
was issued last week, a day before Apple on
January 21 announced record-high quarterly
profits.
AFP
The day when White House
emails did not work
In less than a week of entering the White House, the technology-
savvy team of US President Barack Obama was stuck for major part
of the day, with their email was not working. They could neither
receive nor send email, thus making them almost dysfunctional. The
Obama Team has been used to doing most of its work through
emails and blackberries. “There’s only one e-mail system at the White
House at a time, and unfortunately, it’s not working,” White House
spokesperson Robert Gibbs told reporters during the course of his
daily press briefing.
PTI
UK report suggests hospitals
serve less meat
British hospitals will be asked to offer more patients meat-
free meals to save the planet’s health, a health official said.
A report on the environmental impact of Britain’s publicly
funded health service will recommend that hospital menus
offer less milk and meat and more locally sourced
vegetables, Dr David Pencheon, the head of the National
Health Service’s sustainable development unit said on
Monday. Pencheon said that less pork, beef, and cheese
could be good for patients’ health - and good for the
planet, too. “The NHS has a duty to set an example: that it’s
perfectly possible to eat healthily without as much meat,”
he said.
PTI
 Wednesday, January 28, 2009
07
Plumber saves day This day, that year
A plumber was called in to retrieve a It was on January 28, 1986 that seven
distraught woman’s $70,000 astronauts died after the space
(GBP50,000) diamond engagement shuttle Challenger exploded 72
ring after she accidentally flushed it seconds after lift off from Cape
down the toilet. Canaveral.

Booklet advices Brit school kids

about tips on cannabis use
S
chool kids in Britain have been given
access to a 20-page booklet that pro-
vides them with tips on cannabis use.
Titled ’Know Cannabis’, the book-
let, according to The Telegraph, spells out
how the drug can make you feel relaxed
and makes music ’sound better’ as well as
whether to use bongs or buckets and how
to roll a joint. Titled ’Know
The paper further goes on to say that it is Cannabis’, the
not until page 14 that the document points
out that the drug is illegal but is being booklet spells out
handed out to young teenagers preparing how the drug can
for their GCSEs at schools in the North make you feel
East. It comes as the drugs were yesterday
reclassified from Class C to Class B. relaxed and
Aimed at youngsters, it includes advice makes music
on how best to take the drug.
The booklet begins by telling youngsters ’sound better’ as
to ‘Know the effects, how it is used, the well as whether
risks, and how to avoid them’. The booklet to use bongs or
is produced by Merseyside-based HIT,
which provides ’social marketing cam- buckets and how
paigns’ on drugs and alcohol and sexual to roll a joint
health, which said it did not mean to en-
courage drug use and would be happy to
listen to any complaints.
The Department for Children Schools
and Families said it did not dictate what
children were taught about drugs and con-
tent of drug education are taken at local
level. ■
ANI

Woman in California A family matter

gives birth to octuplets
A woman gave birth to eight
babies in Southern Califor-
nia, the world’s second live-
born set of octuplets.
The mother, who was not
identified, yesterday gave birth
to six girls and two boys weigh-
ing between 820 grams and
1.54 kilograms, doctors at Kais-
er Permanante hospital said.
“It’s a surprise,” Dr Karen
Maples said. “Eight newborns blings – girls Ebuka, Gorom,
are in stable condition and Chidi, Chima and Echerem,
they’re doing quite well.” and their brothers Ikem and
Doctors estimated the wom- Jioke – celebrated their 10th
an’s delivery lasted only five birthday in December.
minutes. “They were all Their parents, Nkem Chuk-
screaming and kicking around wu and Iyke Louis Udobi, said
very vigorously,” Harold Henry they are astonished and grate-
told the TV station KCAL9. ful that their children have
The first live-born octuplets grown up to be healthy and ac-
were born in Houston in 1998, tive kids who are now in the 쒀
and one baby died about a fourth grade. ■ A lioness and her two cubs play in deep snow on Monday at the Dyreparken zoo in
week later. The surviving si- PTI Kristiansand, southern Norway. AFP PHOTO
08 SPORT
Bhupathi-Knowles advance
On a sweet-sour day for India, Mahesh Bhupathi
and Mark Knowles cruised into the semi-finals of
men’s doubles but the top-seeded mixed
doubles pair of Leander Paes and Cara Black
were shocked in the second round of the
Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday. The
third-seeded Indo-Bahamian duo of Bhupathi
and Knowles overcame a second set deficit to
beat the Spanish pair of Feliciano Lopez and
Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in one hour and
28 minutes. The quarterfinal clash saw Bhupathi
and Knowles break the Spanish pair thrice while
dropping their own serve twice. The winners
played a controlled game, committing just four
unforced errors to 11 of their opponents. They
next play Lukasz Kubot of Poland and Oliver
Marach of Austria.
However, Paes and Black, the reigning US Open
champions, were outplayed 1-6, 5-7 by the un-
seeded Swiss-South African combine in just 64
minutes.
Among the juniors, top seed Yuki Bhambri
continued his impressive showing as he reached
the pre-quarterfinals of the singles and
quarterfinals of the doubles with Chinese
Taipei’s Liang-Chi Huang.
PTI
A hit
As befits a man playing the lead role in Shane
Warne – The Musical, comedian Eddie Perfect’s
first action upon arriving for his interview is to
light up a cigarette. After all, his warts-and-all
production about the wayward cricketer is
billed as “a new breed of Aussie music theatre
that smokes, drinks, carries a few extra kilos
and still brings home the Ashes”.
The musical has been a smash hit since it
opened in Warne’s hometown of Melbourne
last month, drawing in a blokey audience of
sports lovers who Perfect says would not
normally be seen dead at a musical. Chants of
“Warney, Warney” regularly erupt in the
normally sedate Athenaeum Theatre as the
crowd watch musical
numbers such as “We’re
getting guys dragging their
girlfriends to the theatre,
which is the opposite of
how it usually works,”
Perfect said. “You see young
blokes making their way to
their seats carrying armfuls
of beers for their mates, just
like they do at the cricket. It upset a few of the
traditional musical theatre people but I think
it’s great. It’s like Reformation theatre when
people were buying oranges to throw at the
actors – why shouldn’t they have fun?”
AFP
Arshavin on his way to Arsenal
Zenit St. Petersburg says it has agreed with Arsenal on a transfer price for Russia midfielder
Andrei Arshavin, but his move to the Premier League club is being delayed by the player’s wage
demands. Zenit refused to disclose the price agreed for Arshavin, but club spokesman Alexei
Petrov said Monday the price reflects the player’s “real market value”.
Exhausted
Djokovic out
A
n exhausted Novak Djokov-
ic surrendered his Austra-
lian Open title on Tuesday
when he withdrew from his
quarter-final with Andy Roddick,
but it was full steam ahead for
ice-cool Vera Zvonareva. The Ser-
bian third seed was trailing 7-6
(7/3), 4-6, 2-6, 1-2 in furnace-like
conditions on Rod Laver Arena
when he turned pale and could
not continue, handing Roddick
his fourth Australian semi-final
appearance.
In an Open that has produced
plenty of surprises, Djokovic be-
came the fourth player to pull out
of the quarter-finals either in-
jured or ill, following in the foot-
steps of Zheng Jie, Victoria
Azarenka and Gael Monfils. He
blamed his retirement on cramps
and the heat, with the mercury
reaching 35 C (95 F).
There appears
to be little
respite in
store with
forecast-
ers
warn-
ing
the
Roddick,
Zvonareva
storm
into
semis
PHOTO: AFP
ERGO Wednesday, January 28, 2009
city is this week heading for its
worst heatwave in 100 years, with
40 C temperatures predicted ev-
ery day.
Tough act
“People could see that I was
struggling with movement, the
main reason is cramping and
soreness in the whole body,” said
Djokovic, adding that organisers
needed to look again at their heat
policy. “That’s something we
have to discuss in the future. Of
course, it’s concerning a lot of
players,” he said. “As a tourna-
ment or as a tennis fan, you don’t
want to see a player retiring. You
didn’t pay a ticket to come to see
somebody retiring the match.”
The seventh seeded Roddick,
looking for another Grand Slam
title to go with his US Open
crown in 2003, was playing high
class tennis when Djokovic
withdrew and may well
have progressed re-
gardless. But he
said he still had
a hollow feel-
ing. “I feel for
Novak be-
cause he
worked so
hard to
win the title and for him not to
get a fair chance to defend it, it’s
too bad,” Roddick said, but added
that he was happy to go through.
Roddick’s next opponent will
be either 13-time Grand Slam
champion Roger Federer, who
has often been the American’s
nemesis at major tournaments,
or exciting young Argentine Juan
Martin del Potro. Like many oth-
ers here over the past nine days,
Russian surge
France’s Marion Bartoli also
felt the effects of the searing heat
in her match against Russian sev-
enth seed Zvonareva, bending
double and sucking for breath.
She started strongly but rapidly
wilted, crashing 6-3, 6-0 in a one-
sided drubbing to a player who is
in her first Grand Slam semi-final
in 25 attempts. Zvonareva de-
clared herself ready to win the
tournament. “If I’m coming for
the tournament, I’m pretty confi-
dent in myself,” she said. Bartoli
agreed that Zvonareva could go
all the way here, where she is yet
to drop a set and has held her
opponents to 6-0 in four of the 10
sets she has contested. “She’s al-
most like a ball machine, she just
puts it back at you all the time
with interest,” the Frenchwoman
said. Zvonareva next plays either
third seed Dinara Safina or Aus-
tralian wildcard Jelena Dokic,
who is on the comeback trail
after years of depression fol-
lowing the antics of her in-
famous father Damir.
■
AFP
 Wednesday, January 28, 2009
‘‘
They’re (South Africa) doing a lot of things well. As I’ve said we’ve been in
positions every game to try and capitalise on things and we’ve let them slip.
We’ve shown glimpses of some very good cricket but the distance between our good
cricket and our bad cricket is too vast.
Murali
set for record double
A
ce Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan is poised to com-
plete a record bowling double
during the one-day series
against India starting on Wednesday.
The off-spinner is just three wick-
ets short of surpassing former Pa-
kistani paceman Wasim Akram’s
world record of 502 one-day
scalps, having grabbed 500 in
324 matches so far.
Muralitharan, already the
world’s leading bowler in Tests
with 769 wickets in 125
matches, will become only
the second player after Indian
batsman Sachin Tendulkar to
hold two major cricketing
records. Tendulkar is the top
run-getter in both Tests
(12,429) and One-Day Inter-
nationals (16,422).
Muralitharan will once
again be the focus during the
five-match series against In-
dia as Sri Lanka pin their
hopes on him to avenge their
3-2 defeat against Mahendra
Singh Dhoni’s men at home
last August.
The off-spinner appeared in
good form in a recent series in
Pakistan, taking six wickets in
three matches which Sri Lanka 2-1.
The spinner said he was focused
more on winning matches for his
team than the world record.
“The milestones are not that im-
portant for me. Winning as a team is
far more important. If these miles-
tones come along, I am happy,” Mu-
ralitharan said in a recent interview.
Mendis mania
India will have to deal with a pair of
quality spinners as Ajantha Mendis
has formed a formidable combina-
tion with Muralitharan since making
his one-day debut in the West Indies
last year. Unorthodox spinner Mendis
played a major role in his team’s 2-1
Test series victory over India at home
last year when he claimed 26 wickets
-- the highest by a debutant in a
Mendis and Murali offer a potent threat
three-match series.
India opener Gautam Gambhir,
one of the few batsmen to keep Men-
Ricky Ponting
to the famed Indian batting line-up
09
dis at bay in the Test series, said the
team were better prepared this time
to counter the Sri Lankan. “We did
not know what was coming out of his
hand and how much variations he
had,” said Gambhir. “But when
you play constantly against the
same bowler, tackling him be-
comes easier. This time, we will
start on an even platform
against him.”
Mendis recently became
the fastest to complete 50
wickets in one-dayers,
achieving the feat in only 19
matches. He has also
claimed 19 wickets in six
one-Dayers against India.
Sri Lankan captain Mahela
Jayawardene was happy his
team’s faltering batting
line-up came good in Pakis-
tan where they posted 309
for five in the deciding
match in Lahore on Satur-
day. “The batting has started
to click again and this is a
good sign before we take on
India,” said Jayawardene.
Star studded
India’s batting will be boost-
ed by the return of Virender Seh-
wag and Tendulkar, who both
missed the last one-day series in
Sri Lanka due to injuries.
The tourists also hold an edge in
pace bowling with Ishant Sharma and
Zaheer Khan in impressive form. The
duo were instrumental in India’s re-
cent home Test series wins against
Australia and England.
“India is shaping well in both forms
of the game,” said Jayawardene. “We
beat them in the Tests, but lost the
one-day series.
Hopefully, we will turn things
around this time.”
The Sri Lankan captain is himself
searching for form with 28 being his
top score in the last 12 one-dayers.
The series was finalised to partly fill
the gap created by India’s cancelled
tour of Pakistan in January-February
following the Mumbai attacks in No-
vember. ■
AFP
 10 FLICK ERGO Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Surprise b’day party

On the sets of Mahesh, Saranya
Mattrum Palar, actor Shakthi had
surprised Saranya Mohan by arranging
a small birthday party.

‘Nayan, my
sister’
Saranya Mohan on Yaaradi Nee
Mohini, balancing college and
cinema, and playing leading lady
V. HARIPRIYA one. “After taking part in a
haripriya@goergo.in dance contest during class III,
my family and I were return-
ing home. On the way my

W
ith plenty of offers
in her kitty, Saranya
Mohan is on cloud
nine. The remix of
‘Paalakattu pakkathile’ from
Yaaradi Nee Mohini worked
wonders for her. Climbing
the success ladder slowly yet
carefully, this petite girl
from Alleppey reveals
Nayanthara was a sister fig-
ure for her on the sets of
Yaaradi Nee Mohini.
“After I was selected for
the movie, director Jawahar
asked me to come to the sets
to get acquainted with the
stars. I was so tensed that I
just kept myself away from
the crowd. Also, I didn’t
know a single word of Tamil.
I was praying to all gods to
give me strength,” she says.
“Suddenly, Jawahar sir
brought Dhanush and
Nayanthara to me. I was re-
ally awestruck. To tell the
truth, I was seeing Nayan-
thara for the first time off
screen. I thought being such
a star she would never talk
to me. But, to my surprise,
she was so cool and treated
me like a little sister. From
day one to the end of the
schedule, she was my sup-
port on the sets,” recalls Sa-
ranya, who is also a trained
classical dancer.
Introduced by director Fa-
zil in Vijay-starrer Kadhaluk-
ku Mariyadai to do the role
of Shalini’s little niece, Sara-
nya says her introduction to
Fazil was an unexpected
dad showed us Fazil uncle’s
house and my sister Sukanya
wanted to see the director.
So my dad took us inside the
gate and a discussion for a
movie was going on there.
We met Fazil uncle and he
saw all my certificates and
noted down my address.
Two days later he sent two
of his assistants to book me
for his next movie, Ani-
yaththi Pravu, the Malaya-
lam version of Kadhalukku
Mariyadhai.”
After donning sister roles
in three movies, Saranya has
graduated to being the lead
lady. In Panchamirtham and
A Aa E Ee she played the her-
oine. Her future projects are
Aarumugam, Eeram and
Vennila Kabbadi Kuzhu.
A final-year student of En-
glish Literature, Saranya
thanks all her friends who
help her pass each semester
without any arrears. “With-
out my friends, I can’t juggle
college and cinema. In the
cine field, my friends are
Bhavana and Monica,” says
Saranya, adding that the
first Tamil word she learnt
was “aama (yes)”.
On her future plans, Sara-
nya says she would continue
doing movies sans glamour
till she gets good offers. Af-
ter that she’d be looking af-
ter the YKB Dance Academy
run by her parents, Y.K.B.
Mohan and Kalamandlam
Devi Mohan, in her home-
town. ■

Favourites:
PHOTO: R.RAVINDRAN

Stars: Mohanlal, Shobana

Colour: Pink
Food: Chappathi
Movie: Manichitrathazhu
Place: Hometown Alleppey
 Wednesday, January 28, 2009
11
Lindsay Lohan harming herself?
Actress Lindsay Lohan has lost an astonishing amount of
weight in just a short while after her break-up with girlfriend
Samantha Ronson and her friends are now concerned for her
because she has got mysterious scratch marks on her body.

Cine City
‘Thriller’
to be
turned
into
musical
Golden mark
Vijay has just hit a half century. Immediately after
announcing his 49th film Vettaikaran, sources say
that the ‘Ilaya Thalapathy’ has also decided the
director for his 50th movie. If Internet buzz is true,
the director would be Raja, brother of Jeyam Ravi.

B
roadway impresario
James L. Nederlander has
inked a deal with Michael
Jacskon to turn the pop
star’s classic horror spoof
Thriller into a stage musical.
According to a press state-
ment issued Monday, the Ne-
derlander Organisation will
produce a musical based on the
song’s groundbreaking video,
in which the former King of Pop
turns into a werewolf while on a
date. The production will fea-
ture songs from Jackson’s al-
bums Thriller and Off theWall.
“This musical will be the ex-
clusive Michael Jackson-au-
thorised version of Thriller and
Jackson will participate in every
aspect of the creative process,”
said Nederlander in a state-
ment.
“I love the idea of making
Thriller a musical. Girl meets
boy, they fall in love, boy has
big secret, now what?” said Ne-
derlander, whose company
owns nine Broadway theatres.
DPA
We are yet to hear about the details about the rest
of the cast and crew. Meanwhile, Vijay’s
Vettaikaran, directed by Babu Sivan and produced
by AVM, will go underway in February. Let’s hope
that Lady Luck will knock on Vijay’s door with his
upcoming releases.

Too t o o t h y
V ogue editor Anna Wintour considered
British actress Sienna Miller for the cover
page but felt that the actress is too “toothy”
and staffs were worried that she had “too
many fillings” and “unruly hair”.
Mirror.co.uk reports that these claims
were revealed in a behind-the-scenes docu-
mentary. The documentary also shows how
Miller was airbrushed for the shoot back in
2007 with reputed photographer Mario Tes-
tino. They took one photo of her and super-
imposed it on a separate picture of her body.
Miller’s publicist said: “Sienna Miller is the
first person to admit that her photos are al-
ways retouched - no one is ever that
perfect.” Language switch
Patrick O’Connell, the head of communi- It’s time for Tollywood lovers to rejoice. With
cations, added: “While some retouching is a Abhiyum Naanum being a blockbuster in
fact for any cover, no one is more convinced Kollywood, Prakash Raj’s Duet Movies plans to
of Ms Miller’s beauty than Vogue. The fact remake it in Telugu. Although Trisha will be
she appeared on the magazine’s September retained, Jagapathi Babu will replace Prakash Raj.
cover, our most important issue of the year, As per hearsay, Trisha has been allotted three days
is a testimony to this truth." ■ for the movie and the shoots are said to be
IANS scheduled in Ooty.
12 ERGO Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Tuesday’s Question:
Is the movie Slumdog Millionaire worth the hype
created?
■ Definitely! Because it beautifully portrays the dark side of India in an unseen
way.
Raghavendran, Prosper, Dinesh
Cognizant Technologies

■ It was a very good film but of course not as excellent the hype created.
Vimprash,
Patni Computers

■ No, Not that much our Indians directed as much good films. But that is not
highlighted by the Oscar
Prasanna Chakravarthi,
Wipro Technologies

■ No, because it’s not realistic. Some parts can be appreciated but certainly
not worth the Oscars. Kannan Dharmalinkam from HCL has nominated his team as
Chital, Partners in Crime. The pic was taken during their trip to
Accenture Pondicherry.
■ No, The initial part is pacy and promises a lot, but fades later, what
disappoints me is, the director has projected India as entirely slum bound in
the entire movie, nothing extra ordinary, can watch once.
Thouhid,
Cognizant Technologies

■ People will accept this hype after Gulzar and Rahman win Oscar on Feb 22.
Prasad,
TCS

■ Slumdog Millionaire doesn’t deserve 10 Oscar nominations. It was an

ordinary flick with some good performances by the child artists. SDM had a
measure of all things from rags to riches, lovers from puerility. But one is left
flustered of what exactly the movie wants to convey. Though Jai ho isn’t
Rahman’s personal best, it still makes me happy.
Ramya,
Tata Consultancy Services

■ Taare Zameen Par is far better than Slumdog. It’s shocking to see Slumdog
getting awards. City of God and Children of Heaven are true world cinemas.
A.G. Sivakumar,
Anandan T.G from eNoah has nominated his team as Partners
Athena PA/S1
in Crime. This pic was clicked at Queensland.
■ Ya. It’s more than that, simply superb.
Rajeshkumar,
Tata Consultancy Services

■ Yes of course. Rahman has given his best. If we need to compare the score
of SM with The Departed then we may need to compare Titanic and Benhar
with more films in the past. As well as they’ve just shown the real picture of
slums in Mumbai and the happenings there. So Rahman and Danny are worth
getting Oscar.
Robin M,
Wipro

■ Yes definitely. God ARR bgm for the chasing sequences are terrific.
Prasad,
Thinksoft

Today’s Query:
Give a punch dialogue to congratulate Vivek for
winning the ‘Padma Shri’ award?
Mahesh and Meenakshi from Cognizant have nominated their
project mates as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked in
Yercaud.
 Wednesday, January 28, 2009
13

■ Dear Chandramukhi Charu

Sambhar Suvaikanum’na paruppu venum
Charu sirikanum’na murukku venum
Wish u many more happy returns of the
day....
Keep laughing and make others laugh –
Team Worldsource
Tata Consultancy Services
Vasu of Tata Consultancy Services has been nominated as
Office Angel by his friends. ■ Hi Jana ( Co-Ordi ),
He is a person who can be spotted with his bright smile and
We the Sonatans wish you many more happy
energizing laughter. Excellent people manager and a great friend
birthday. All cheers for you buddy.
who can be approached at any time for any issues.
From, Dear friends,
Gopi, Arun, Guptha,
Srini, Prabhu & Vivek.
Wipro Technologis

■ Dear Dan-Team Leader

If Wishes come in Rainbow colors........ We
would send u the brightest one to say...........
Hope you have a "BIRTHDAY" that’s as
wonederful as you are !!!!!!!!!!!! We Wish U
A Very Happy Birthday.......
Keep Roking!!!
Wishes From,
Gershome, Srini,
Kevin & ATG Rockers
Art featured in this column will receive gift coupons from Fruit Shop on Vinoth, Praveen, Arun,
Greams Road. Send in your addresses so that we can post the coupons. Shushma, Serena, Sai, Rafia
Allsec tech

■ Hi Thala,
We are looking for you birthday treat.enjoy
you life and take care. Regards. Treat
sangam.Hi Thala, We are looking for you
birthday treat.enjoy you life and take care.
Regards.
Treat sangam.
■ Dear Murali
Happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary in
Vinothini Pachaiyappan advance!!
of Infosys has doodled Enjoy and have a great time with ur lovely
this. kid…
Sending you warmest wishes on the
upcoming special day!!
Tons of Luv
Sri
Infosys
■ Dear Sathiya priya,
Many More Returns of This Day!
May The Almighty Give U All The Things
May Your Good Time Multiply!!
Wishing U for the Successful Life!!!
By,
Parthi,
TCS

■ Dear Adithya,
A smile is a curve that sets everything
straight and wipes wrinkle away.
Hope you share lots and receive lots for days
to come. Kick off your shoes;
Take a break;
Dance and shake;
Sardar’s Letter to Bill Gates: Light the candles;
Dear Mr. Bill Gates, We have bought a computer for our home & we have found some problems, which I Cut the cake make;
want to bring to your notice, It is a day that is simply great.
1) There is a button "start" but there is no "Stop" button. We request you to check this.. Happy birthday. I know that u will give me
2) My Child learnt "Microsoft Word", now he wants to learn "Microsoft Sentence" So when u will provide treat in a big hotel.
that? With Love
One Personal Question : How is that ur name is Gates but u r selling "windows". Kashish
Vishum, TCS
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Wednesday, January 28, 2009

First 3-D porno

The world’s first ever pornographic 3-D movie is set to
start shooting later this year. Producer Stephen Shiu Jr
said his company One Dollar Production will begin
work on 3D Sex and Zen in April.

sudoku

Manasa from TCS

clicked this picture
during the Pongal
festivities at her home
town in Nellore.
Hobbies: Painting,
singing and
photography

Photographs of the
harvest festival, rural
India and little-
known rituals will be
given preference this
month. Please send
us fresh photographs,
preferably those
clicked by you on a
recent trip, to
clickpick@goergo.in

All photos selected for clickpick this month KAKURO

will receive a gift voucher worth Rs.1,000, cour-
tesy Kantilal Diamonds (Ph: 2828 1700). Read-
ers are requested to send their addresses with
their entries.

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 Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Church roof crash
Emergency services had to rescue a man from
his car after he crashed it into a church roof in
Limbach-Oberfrohna, Germany on Monday.
15
Word’s worth
“Philostorgy” (fi-luh-stor-jee) natural affection, such
as that between parents and children. From a
Greek word meaning ‘tenderly loving.’

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

It’s likely to be an average day for professional
work. Mundane tasks may consume lot of time and
still your concern for quality of work may remain
high. In second part, you may be worried about
pending work. Handle love with care.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

At the beginning of the day you might have to do a
lot of hard work. As the day progresses, you may
feel worked up. In second half, you will be more
concerned about love life so you may not spend
long hours at office.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

You will be developing good professional skills in
BORN LOSER first half of the day and second part is all about
putting those skills into practice. The day demands
more mental hard work. In second half, you may
need to ensure that your love life is not sidelined.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
Ganesha augurs you enjoying good time at work at
the beginning of the day. In second half you have
scope of proving your professional skills. Time is
good for working on new assignments. Love life
may strike better level of understanding.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
Constant thinking process may keep you busy today.
In later part of the day, you may be highly
concerned about domestic affairs and specifically
about relationships. You will be very serious about
matters related to heart, feels Ganesha.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
In first half of the day, you may talk more and work
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT less, but in the second half you may work more and
talk less. Ganesha finds you exchanging sweet
dialogues with sweetheart. Later, you may enjoy
nice dinner with your beloved or life partner.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
At the beginning of the day, your focus will be on
yourself but as the day progresses, you may start
thinking about job security. Your relations with lover
may strengthen up because of a positive event. It’s
day to count on people you love the most.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
Even if the day doesn’t begin with any good news,
not to worry, as later part of the day favours you.
You may be appreciated by peers and superiors for
your decision and understanding. You will be able
to share precious time with your beloved.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
Ganesha foresees you keeping very busy with
various activities at office. Later part of the day is
unfavourable for important professional decisions
but at the same time it is a good time for love life.
You may spend a good time with life partner.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
You may remain energetic in first part of the day
but later your focus may shift to gains. You may
want to be more organised in work. If you apply
same rules in personal life, they may not work. Your
lover may demand lot of attention.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS You will be sharing your views about your work
with the team members. It might be slightly difficult
ISSUE’S to convince everyone on each point but you may try
hard to prove your points. In love life you will be
SOLUTIONS able to strike perfect balance with your partner.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
Ganesha feels that your mood may change in
second part of the day. First part is totally
uneventful. Ganesha feels that you will share your
sentiments with someone very close and if you are
in love, you will spend great time with beloved.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Wednesday, January 28, 2009

1 Bollywodd actors Nisha Kothari and Punit

Rajkumar enacting a scene during
shooting of film Raj at the Taj Mahal in
Agra on Tuesday. PTI PHOTO

2 Miss India Parvathi Omanakuttan meets

singer KJ Yesudas at a cultural programme
in Kochi on Monday. PTI PHOTO

3 Actress Jessica Alba watches the Los

Angeles Clippers take on the Portland Trail
Blazers at Staples Center on Monday in Los
Angeles, California. AFP PHOTO