This guy writes me more eloquently than I ever could. I like his analogy to a Derby horse. It feels apt.
I always wonder whether SRK types the messages on his handphone or does he send them over the internet using one of those direct-to-handphone services. I'm not pasting it here as you can read the whole schbang over at SRK the Don (article: Don't drop catches: SRK). I had a strange experience this morning. I woke up and the first line that went round and round in my head like one of those circular neon signs you can see outside some shops somewhere was something like this: Please let KR win the match. It was like a litany or chant. I couldn't get up for some minutes while sentences to that effect repeat themselves in my brain like a desperate prayer.
Their next match is this Sunday. I'm scared to look up the result on Monday *sweat*
I don't understand why people are already looking away, saying that they'll succeed in IPL 3. Of course that's my wish too, but are they forgetting that we still have 5 matches left? Have they totally given up on the team? Is this how weak cricket teams and losing cricketers are looked upon in India? In Malaysia, our football teams are weak (again, I suspect it's due to the management), but the loyal supporters give their unflagging support come every football season.
Maybe this is the main reason why I didn't want to cheer for a team before, until my obsession with Shah Rukh pulled me into the world of IPL cricket. I was more comfortable supporting individual athletes. Team sports are filled with over-emotional supporters and officials. I read how the Norwegian referee (Tom Henning Ovrebo) had to be smuggled out of Britain yesterday by the police who feared for his safety at the hands of the Chelsea/English fans after committing some serious errors that caused Chelsea to exit from the Champions League at the hand of Barcelona. To some thousands of people out there, sports is life itself. They don't appreciate it if they think you were frelling around with their team, and in KR's case, not even when you're one of the team owners yourself.
(I want to hi-5 anyone who knows what 'frell' means in human language!)
I empathize with the fans who spam Shah Rukh's blog with crazy, angry, hate-filled messages. Everyone is frustrated and he is easy target. I find no need to defend him against any of the verbal or literary attack from the fans. He's a very aware guy and he knows what's happening as it's unfolding. He did say he wish he could absorb all the sadness the team is experiencing unto himself. Maybe that's what he's doing by giving the recent interviews and this gigantically long SMS. Direct the attention away from the team towards himself so the boys can play in peace. Or maybe he thinks that he needs to say something to show that he hasn't given up on them. Although, if you ask me, the mood I feel is, everytime he writes something about or talk to the media about KR, there's always gonna be a backlash later. I'd rather read a press statement by RC Ent than an SRK interview on anything KR-related at a time like this.
This thing with Sourav has also divided the fans. Those who support Shah Rukh even went so far as to jeer at Dada's inability to prove to everyone that he was deserving of the captaincy. You know what? He didn't have to prove anything to anyone. All he needs to do is play his own game and help the team, along with the other players, to win the match... and no matter what you say, that's what he's doing/trying to do. In fact, do you think Shah Rukh appreciates you insulting the cricketer he loves so much? One of the reasons why he wanted to acquire the Kolkata team is because he wants Dada to be in his team.
Why do we have to take sides? SRK, Dada, Mr B, McCullum, Ishant... aren't they all KR people? This is not the same case as a referee like Ovrebo turning down four strong penalty appeals by Chelsea. No matter how much I, and thousands of other fans, want Mr B to get off our faces, for the time being we're stuck with him. We're all in the same boat, and we'll get to the shore, or sink, together.
What I did was to try to defend the team in my KR blog post. I don't think I made any impact though, being female and ignorant of the game. I used to be so irritated and angry when I read the derogatory spams given to Shah Rukh, especially in his own blog. But now, it's come to a point where reading the negative messages is boring me to tears. The words are becoming repetitive, the insults are no longer original, and even the angry tantrum is beginning to have a dull edge to it. Some interesting writers still manage to piss me off LOL ...I wish there were more creative people like them. If you wanted to annoy Shah Rukh so much, at least do it amusingly so other readers can be entertained too. Otherwise, what's the point?
One more thing, haven't you ever wondered why Shah Rukh's comment section is so accessible, i.e. he does not publish your comments only after he's reviewed and approved them? He's collecting everything, you idiots. This is a guy who can still remember vividly the headlines and the bylines that tore him apart and fed him to the dogs 10 years ago. You say you're anonymous, so you can say anything you like. And then you accuse him of cowardice? If you want to accuse someone of being a coward, go find a mirror.
I think it's very unfair to attack the cricketers and create so many controversies around them. However professional they are, they're only human. At the start of the tournament, none of the other teams' losses were highlighted as much as KR's were. Maybe it's coz the team was the most glamorous, the most preferred by the sponsors, and the most popular among the fans... that's why when they went down, everyone from the media to the fans caused such an unbearable din that the effect of the noise started to show in the way they play. Everyone wanted to be the first to say, "I TOLD YOU SO!"
I'm not worried that they won't win. I'm worried that they don't think they can. I'll continue to pray for their win (even though reading this article is making me feel depressed again). There are 5 more matches, people. Let's look out for our team and give them our support to the very last.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
uh oh.. Farah Khan won't be too happy with this one~
...if this 'news' were true, that is.
Source
Industry insiders claim, “The King Khan was going to begin Farah’s next to be made under his banner Red Chillies Entertainment later this year now due to his shoulder injury and other commitments, the film which was initially meant to mount the floor later this year has been pushed to April next year.
SRK is currently shooting for Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan which he is jointly producing with KJo. However, instead of Farah Khan’s film, he will start the shoot for a superhero film with loads of special effects which is going to be directed by Anubhav Sinha.
This film Ra.1 too shall be produced under his banner and is set to go on the floors by September or October this year and will be readied for release for next year in the summer coinciding with school vacations.”
Source
Industry insiders claim, “The King Khan was going to begin Farah’s next to be made under his banner Red Chillies Entertainment later this year now due to his shoulder injury and other commitments, the film which was initially meant to mount the floor later this year has been pushed to April next year.
SRK is currently shooting for Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan which he is jointly producing with KJo. However, instead of Farah Khan’s film, he will start the shoot for a superhero film with loads of special effects which is going to be directed by Anubhav Sinha.
This film Ra.1 too shall be produced under his banner and is set to go on the floors by September or October this year and will be readied for release for next year in the summer coinciding with school vacations.”
No sacking of players or support staff: KKR
Like I said, obvious decisions to fans and critics are not necessarily easy for the outfit to take. Shah Rukh is soft-hearted in his dealings anyway, be it business or personal... something his fans have known for quite sometime and his close friends have confirmed in previous interviews. Having said that, I'm also not sure whether sacking staff and players when it's nearing the end of the tournament is the right thing to do, what with the morale of the team at an all-time low.
I got into IPL and cricket to follow Shah Rukh, but a few weeks into this new-found obsession, I'm worrying about the team more than I'm worrying about him, which is amazing ...really. I just want the players to play the next matches in peace without worrying about who's gonna be axed next, so I'm okay with this decision. The rest of you guys (they're always males) who want to be up in arms or cause an uproar over it, be as juvenile as you want. There're only 5 matches left. I'm just gonna follow it through and hope for the best.
Source
Mumbai, May 6 Intending to set at rest media speculation, the beleaguered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise outfit today said neither the playing squad nor its support staff will be sacked.
"Director Cricket Operations, John Buchanan continues to make all decisions in terms of cricket management and KKR does not intend changing squads or support staff," said the media statement from the Shah Rukh Khan-owned team that's all set to create a dubious record for the number of losses in the IPL.
KKR have won just one match out of the nine they have played so far and are hugging the bottom of the eight-team table with only three points to their credit.The statement said the team's management, owners as well as the players still "remain resolute in their commitment to the Kolkata Knight Riders and are working hard as a team to overcome challenges they presently face".
KKR were looking forward to do better in the remainder of the tournament in South Africa, it said."We look forward to improved results in the tournament's remaining matches. The recent slump in form is temporary and is experienced by all professionals at times."The individuals involved are aware of this and are committed to persevering, because Kolkata Knight Riders is a great team and will continue to be that despite recent disappointing results," the statement added.
I got into IPL and cricket to follow Shah Rukh, but a few weeks into this new-found obsession, I'm worrying about the team more than I'm worrying about him, which is amazing ...really. I just want the players to play the next matches in peace without worrying about who's gonna be axed next, so I'm okay with this decision. The rest of you guys (they're always males) who want to be up in arms or cause an uproar over it, be as juvenile as you want. There're only 5 matches left. I'm just gonna follow it through and hope for the best.
Source
Mumbai, May 6 Intending to set at rest media speculation, the beleaguered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise outfit today said neither the playing squad nor its support staff will be sacked.
"Director Cricket Operations, John Buchanan continues to make all decisions in terms of cricket management and KKR does not intend changing squads or support staff," said the media statement from the Shah Rukh Khan-owned team that's all set to create a dubious record for the number of losses in the IPL.
KKR have won just one match out of the nine they have played so far and are hugging the bottom of the eight-team table with only three points to their credit.The statement said the team's management, owners as well as the players still "remain resolute in their commitment to the Kolkata Knight Riders and are working hard as a team to overcome challenges they presently face".
KKR were looking forward to do better in the remainder of the tournament in South Africa, it said."We look forward to improved results in the tournament's remaining matches. The recent slump in form is temporary and is experienced by all professionals at times."The individuals involved are aware of this and are committed to persevering, because Kolkata Knight Riders is a great team and will continue to be that despite recent disappointing results," the statement added.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I'm turning into a credential-less sports commentator
Not being able to follow the game (ESPN, please get that bid for next year! We're all counting on you!), I'm following IPL by reading any material I can get my hands on from fan comments to disreputable tabloid reports to video news to incomprehensible scoreboard clippings. I want to get the feel of what this tournament is about. The only sports I've ever followed was tennis, and after Sampras was not in the running anymore, I've lost my motivation to care about it. That was a long time ago. Shah Rukh got me interested in sports again, and that too cricket! A game that's not even covered in the sports section of our national news.
My posting in this blog won't be complete if I don't write about KR-related stuff while IPL is still cooking in the oven. There're new interviews out (I don't want him to give more interviews but I'm happy to be able to read them nonetheless, what a conundrum XD) ...and I think it should satisfy the curiosity of those who earnestly want to know about the future of KR from the POV of the owners. The rest of you cynical, nihilistic ex-KR fans can stay away from this post coz the sheer wattage from his positive message will blind you forever. Much as I think you deserve that fate, I don't want to be held accountable for depriving the cricket world of much-needed aspiring IPL team owners, would-be coaches/asst. coaches, and budding professional cricket strategists. Please continue to spam SRK's blog with your unsolicited advices on what the team should do to get back on track. What would SRK and KR do without your expert analysis and brilliant counteraction suggestions, o sage ones?
Source
He returned to vote, now he’s shooting for Karan Johar, getting kids Aryan and Suhana ready for school, while watching his IPL team Knight Riders take a beating in South Africa over television like you and me. Tuesday night, it was like that again, with the Bollywood Badshah’s knights losing poorly to Delhi in Durban and thereby becoming the first of the eight teams to bite the dust in the race to the semis.
Shah Rukh, however, was not in mourning. “What can I say,” he laughed, “we’ve had a string of losses, but we haven’t lost motivation, what we’ve got to do is see where we take the team from here. Some of the matches were close and almost broke our hearts. But the others were complete losses. We had nothing to prove. So I told the boys, go out and have fun!”
He’s aware that the Knight Riders, despite being written off as the worst-performing team in the IPL, is the most valued brand of the T20 tournament. The Economic Times pegged its brand value at $42.1 million, followed closely by Mumbai Indians at $41.6 million and Team Rajasthan at $39.5 million. “Personally, that doesn’t make me happy,” Shah Rukh regretted. “What is a brand? I, as an actor, am a brand... and that puts pressure on myself to perform better and make sure my films do well. Brand is all about giving quality content. Our cricket content has to improve if it is to be deserving of the top brand spot. That didn’t happen last year. So we tried harder. It didn’t happen this year. Now we need to build the brand up again from scratch on content... rather than other social aspects. I’m happy, of course, that the business is doing well, we have the maximum sponsors and are making money. But the money needs to be put where the product is.”
The team’s hopes have perished this IPL as well, but he isn’t ready to look at the next season as yet. “I believe when you’re down, you shouldn’t take decisions; and when you’re up, you shouldn’t either. Just step back and relook at the situation. That’s what I’m doing,” said the actor.
Did his absence in South Africa affect the morale of the team? “Not really,” replied Shah Rukh. “I had decided at the start to be with them for 15 days. The boys are depressed, they can’t do more, and my being around only makes it worse for them. My presence in the dressing room makes them break down. I’m fond of all of them and they like me. But my goodness comes in the way of losses. The defeat gets highlighted because I own the team. They feel worse because they think Shah Rukh Khan has been let down and is hurt... though I don’t show it. Whereas when I’m away, they’re able to go out and play cricket normally.”
Does he have a Chak De! message for his disheartened team? “They are all professional players, they play cricket the whole year, and win or lose... they just get on with the next game. I can’t tell them how to play. But I hang around them. Some players are cynical in defeat. Others raring to go. I meet the two up, sit and chat with them, tell them not to be disturbed. We have lost as a team, we don’t have what it takes to win, and we can’t go on depending on hope. I really can’t find fault with anyone. The idea is we go up and come down together. If I jump up and cheer when somebody hits a six then I must also be prepared to go down with them when they fail. The important thing in sports is that it teaches you how to lose, but not to become a loser. Sports always gives you the chance to come back. It’s a great leveller. The whole success in my life is because I think like a sportsman. There’s always another chance. But I wish I didn’t have to learn this lesson so fast!”
Source
MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan's team Kolkata Knight Riders is languishing at the bottom of the pile and critics are wondering as to why SRK is not throwing out John Buchanan, why is Brendon McCullum still playing when he is not in any form, why is SRK not taking stern action like Vijay Mallya did with his management in the first edition of IPL, when they were not performing?
In an interview with Businessofcinema.com prior to the start of the IPL, SRK had said, “The team should not feel that we have to perform for the sake of the owners. They are too young to go through that kind of pressure and Juhi, Jay Mehta or I would not want them to feel like that. They have to believe that they need to play well for themselves.”
And true to his word, SRK never put any pressure on his boys, but he certainly showed his displeasure at their performance by leaving the Rainbow country. The team has been trimmed but certainly no cricketer or staff has been given the pink slip, yet.Decisions will certainly be taken post the tournament.
But whilst the tournament is on, the momentum is not broken, because Khan believes in giving everybody a fair chance and as the saying goes, in cricket, one never knows until the last ball is bowled. And in the IPL with still five more games to go, with international cricketers leaving to play for their country, fortunes are changing ever day. There are still no clear favourites yet, and anything can be expected as the competition progresses.
On Mr B's planet though, things are becoming quite surreal with him asking people to stop blaming McCullum for the losses. Oh, oh... better yet, he's now resorted to putting the blame on... guess who? The whole bleeding team! Mr B, dude... all tens of our fingers are pointing your way and if you still haven't realized that, you don't have a business coaching a professional team in a high-stake game coz you're so bloody clueless. And Waugh, surprisingly or not really surprisingly given that Mr B is a countrymate, is now asking people to stop blaming Mr B. He's also been talking quite a bit about how KR may still be able to make a comeback and pointedly stated that Dada could be the key! How surprising that the team's own coach didn't realise this at the start of this year's IPL! It could have saved us fans a lot of heartache!!! (I want to put more exclamation marks but my fingers got tired of typing)
I don't get these Aussie dudes. Honestly, it's like a brakeless merry-go-round... or, what's that game again? Ring around the rosie? I hope none of them would fall into a heap at the end of the tournament and drag KR down with them, although some of you might say it's too late to hope for that. News are going around that Mr B's gonna get sacked after IPL 2 (I chose this article coz it has a nice sexy lady in the ad, not coz it's the most reliable of the lot) but I guess that may depend on whether SRK can get a better coach to replace our genius motivator. Take note that I've never blamed SRK for supporting Buchanan's decisions. I mean, Mr B and Mr B's family members and friends have been paid big bucks to ensure us a good game. It'll be really iffy then if his employers turn around and support outsiders, like Mr G and the rest of the esteemed legendary cricket experts, instead of backing up his decisions.
My posting in this blog won't be complete if I don't write about KR-related stuff while IPL is still cooking in the oven. There're new interviews out (I don't want him to give more interviews but I'm happy to be able to read them nonetheless, what a conundrum XD) ...and I think it should satisfy the curiosity of those who earnestly want to know about the future of KR from the POV of the owners. The rest of you cynical, nihilistic ex-KR fans can stay away from this post coz the sheer wattage from his positive message will blind you forever. Much as I think you deserve that fate, I don't want to be held accountable for depriving the cricket world of much-needed aspiring IPL team owners, would-be coaches/asst. coaches, and budding professional cricket strategists. Please continue to spam SRK's blog with your unsolicited advices on what the team should do to get back on track. What would SRK and KR do without your expert analysis and brilliant counteraction suggestions, o sage ones?
Source
He returned to vote, now he’s shooting for Karan Johar, getting kids Aryan and Suhana ready for school, while watching his IPL team Knight Riders take a beating in South Africa over television like you and me. Tuesday night, it was like that again, with the Bollywood Badshah’s knights losing poorly to Delhi in Durban and thereby becoming the first of the eight teams to bite the dust in the race to the semis.
Shah Rukh, however, was not in mourning. “What can I say,” he laughed, “we’ve had a string of losses, but we haven’t lost motivation, what we’ve got to do is see where we take the team from here. Some of the matches were close and almost broke our hearts. But the others were complete losses. We had nothing to prove. So I told the boys, go out and have fun!”
He’s aware that the Knight Riders, despite being written off as the worst-performing team in the IPL, is the most valued brand of the T20 tournament. The Economic Times pegged its brand value at $42.1 million, followed closely by Mumbai Indians at $41.6 million and Team Rajasthan at $39.5 million. “Personally, that doesn’t make me happy,” Shah Rukh regretted. “What is a brand? I, as an actor, am a brand... and that puts pressure on myself to perform better and make sure my films do well. Brand is all about giving quality content. Our cricket content has to improve if it is to be deserving of the top brand spot. That didn’t happen last year. So we tried harder. It didn’t happen this year. Now we need to build the brand up again from scratch on content... rather than other social aspects. I’m happy, of course, that the business is doing well, we have the maximum sponsors and are making money. But the money needs to be put where the product is.”
The team’s hopes have perished this IPL as well, but he isn’t ready to look at the next season as yet. “I believe when you’re down, you shouldn’t take decisions; and when you’re up, you shouldn’t either. Just step back and relook at the situation. That’s what I’m doing,” said the actor.
Did his absence in South Africa affect the morale of the team? “Not really,” replied Shah Rukh. “I had decided at the start to be with them for 15 days. The boys are depressed, they can’t do more, and my being around only makes it worse for them. My presence in the dressing room makes them break down. I’m fond of all of them and they like me. But my goodness comes in the way of losses. The defeat gets highlighted because I own the team. They feel worse because they think Shah Rukh Khan has been let down and is hurt... though I don’t show it. Whereas when I’m away, they’re able to go out and play cricket normally.”
Does he have a Chak De! message for his disheartened team? “They are all professional players, they play cricket the whole year, and win or lose... they just get on with the next game. I can’t tell them how to play. But I hang around them. Some players are cynical in defeat. Others raring to go. I meet the two up, sit and chat with them, tell them not to be disturbed. We have lost as a team, we don’t have what it takes to win, and we can’t go on depending on hope. I really can’t find fault with anyone. The idea is we go up and come down together. If I jump up and cheer when somebody hits a six then I must also be prepared to go down with them when they fail. The important thing in sports is that it teaches you how to lose, but not to become a loser. Sports always gives you the chance to come back. It’s a great leveller. The whole success in my life is because I think like a sportsman. There’s always another chance. But I wish I didn’t have to learn this lesson so fast!”
Source
MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan's team Kolkata Knight Riders is languishing at the bottom of the pile and critics are wondering as to why SRK is not throwing out John Buchanan, why is Brendon McCullum still playing when he is not in any form, why is SRK not taking stern action like Vijay Mallya did with his management in the first edition of IPL, when they were not performing?
In an interview with Businessofcinema.com prior to the start of the IPL, SRK had said, “The team should not feel that we have to perform for the sake of the owners. They are too young to go through that kind of pressure and Juhi, Jay Mehta or I would not want them to feel like that. They have to believe that they need to play well for themselves.”
And true to his word, SRK never put any pressure on his boys, but he certainly showed his displeasure at their performance by leaving the Rainbow country. The team has been trimmed but certainly no cricketer or staff has been given the pink slip, yet.Decisions will certainly be taken post the tournament.
But whilst the tournament is on, the momentum is not broken, because Khan believes in giving everybody a fair chance and as the saying goes, in cricket, one never knows until the last ball is bowled. And in the IPL with still five more games to go, with international cricketers leaving to play for their country, fortunes are changing ever day. There are still no clear favourites yet, and anything can be expected as the competition progresses.
On Mr B's planet though, things are becoming quite surreal with him asking people to stop blaming McCullum for the losses. Oh, oh... better yet, he's now resorted to putting the blame on... guess who? The whole bleeding team! Mr B, dude... all tens of our fingers are pointing your way and if you still haven't realized that, you don't have a business coaching a professional team in a high-stake game coz you're so bloody clueless. And Waugh, surprisingly or not really surprisingly given that Mr B is a countrymate, is now asking people to stop blaming Mr B. He's also been talking quite a bit about how KR may still be able to make a comeback and pointedly stated that Dada could be the key! How surprising that the team's own coach didn't realise this at the start of this year's IPL! It could have saved us fans a lot of heartache!!! (I want to put more exclamation marks but my fingers got tired of typing)
I don't get these Aussie dudes. Honestly, it's like a brakeless merry-go-round... or, what's that game again? Ring around the rosie? I hope none of them would fall into a heap at the end of the tournament and drag KR down with them, although some of you might say it's too late to hope for that. News are going around that Mr B's gonna get sacked after IPL 2 (I chose this article coz it has a nice sexy lady in the ad, not coz it's the most reliable of the lot) but I guess that may depend on whether SRK can get a better coach to replace our genius motivator. Take note that I've never blamed SRK for supporting Buchanan's decisions. I mean, Mr B and Mr B's family members and friends have been paid big bucks to ensure us a good game. It'll be really iffy then if his employers turn around and support outsiders, like Mr G and the rest of the esteemed legendary cricket experts, instead of backing up his decisions.
Shah Rukh may watch Bollywood musical in Malaysia
So, you must think... aha! Since she's so crazy about Shah Rukh, she'll be one of the people lining up for his autograph if he gets to come to Malaysia.
Errrr, much as I hate to disappoint you guys (it's always males who think like this. They spearhead the 'stereotype thinking' movement), I'm not a groupie type. I dunno why, but I like my idols in a place where I can't see them, hear them, or touch them in real life. They can be in my neighbourhood and I probably wouldn't open the door and go out to meet them. I might peek out of my window to observe the commotion though.
Also, what's the point of going there to meet him anyway? I can't shake hands with him, I can't hug him, much less kiss him (no, not even on the cheeks). And I don't like this idea of being greeted by his 'public face' when I've always felt as if he's one of my own whenever I read or write about him. Yeah, yeah... I'm weird. Very, very dull and uninteresting, as I wrote in my profile. But I'm happy for all the SRK fans who'll get to go and see him if he were to accept the invitation.
Full article: Source
Kuala Lumpur (IANS): Leading Indian choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant's semi-autobiographical musical "The Merchants of Bollywood" is set to be staged here in July and she hopes to get superstar Shah Rukh Khan to attend the gala.
"I am very excited to see it being staged here in Malaysia. Perhaps I can try pulling Shah Rukh from his busy schedule to come and see the show in Kuala Lumpur," said Vaibhavi, who is here to promote the musical, The Star newspaper said Tuesday.
Highly popular in Malaysia, Khan was made a Datuk, a traditional Malaysian knighthood, earlier this year.
Vaibhavi is one of the most sought after choreographers in Bollywood, working with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh.
The 90-minute musical will feature 48 songs including smash hits from Bollywood movies. The cast of 53 will go through 1,200 costume changes and wear 2,500 pieces of Indian jewellery.
Errrr, much as I hate to disappoint you guys (it's always males who think like this. They spearhead the 'stereotype thinking' movement), I'm not a groupie type. I dunno why, but I like my idols in a place where I can't see them, hear them, or touch them in real life. They can be in my neighbourhood and I probably wouldn't open the door and go out to meet them. I might peek out of my window to observe the commotion though.
Also, what's the point of going there to meet him anyway? I can't shake hands with him, I can't hug him, much less kiss him (no, not even on the cheeks). And I don't like this idea of being greeted by his 'public face' when I've always felt as if he's one of my own whenever I read or write about him. Yeah, yeah... I'm weird. Very, very dull and uninteresting, as I wrote in my profile. But I'm happy for all the SRK fans who'll get to go and see him if he were to accept the invitation.
Full article: Source
Kuala Lumpur (IANS): Leading Indian choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant's semi-autobiographical musical "The Merchants of Bollywood" is set to be staged here in July and she hopes to get superstar Shah Rukh Khan to attend the gala.
"I am very excited to see it being staged here in Malaysia. Perhaps I can try pulling Shah Rukh from his busy schedule to come and see the show in Kuala Lumpur," said Vaibhavi, who is here to promote the musical, The Star newspaper said Tuesday.
Highly popular in Malaysia, Khan was made a Datuk, a traditional Malaysian knighthood, earlier this year.
Vaibhavi is one of the most sought after choreographers in Bollywood, working with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh.
The 90-minute musical will feature 48 songs including smash hits from Bollywood movies. The cast of 53 will go through 1,200 costume changes and wear 2,500 pieces of Indian jewellery.
Everyone's doing it, man!
Yeay for free wifi at hotels. I'm surrounded by hungry Malaysians, typing away at my keyboard looking all serious as if I'm doing important work... ha! XD
But, joke aside... I am doing an important work. Blogging about Datuk Shah Rukh Khan is important to me. Anyway, I found this. For those of you who keep nagging about him dancing at weddings and caring only about money (most of you are males but you nag worse than my grandma, seriously) unlike your other saintly idols who care more about the perfection of their art than how much crore they have in their bank accounts ...I'm trying hard not to gag here... here's the big picture. Please swallow this bitter pill slowly, I don't want you to choke on your own saliva.
Full article: Source
Till a year earlier, the distance between Shah Rukh Khan, the No 1 player in Bollywood, and Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan was big. However, now Akshay is the highest-paid actor, currently getting Rs 17 crore for a film, while Aamir Khan is the highest paid star-endorser, having bagged a yearly fee between Rs 12-15 crore per annum for his three commercials on including Tata Sky, Samsung Mobiles and Parle Monaco biscuits.
Shah Rukh Khan would be paid around Rs 2 cr for a 20-minute performance at the wedding of Mumbai builder Kanti Gowani’s nephew. The actor had reportedly charged Rs 1.5 cr for his number at the wedding of steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s daughter.
Sources in GS Entertainment, the event management company handling the Gowani wedding shows, say Shah Rukh can be available, say for three days, for Rs 12 cr. On the other hand, Akshay Kumar charges Rs 1.25 crore to be present at events, while Salman Khan pitches Rs 1 crore, and Govinda Rs 70 lakh, according to estimates provided by event management companies.
During 2008, Airtel led the list of the top 10 brands endorsed by celebrities on TV, followed by Pepsi, the report said. “It is natural that the endorsement price is heavily skewed in favour of icons like Aamir, SRK, Akshay Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. These five, on average, get roughly three times what the next 10 get," says Porwal.
But, joke aside... I am doing an important work. Blogging about Datuk Shah Rukh Khan is important to me. Anyway, I found this. For those of you who keep nagging about him dancing at weddings and caring only about money (most of you are males but you nag worse than my grandma, seriously) unlike your other saintly idols who care more about the perfection of their art than how much crore they have in their bank accounts ...I'm trying hard not to gag here... here's the big picture. Please swallow this bitter pill slowly, I don't want you to choke on your own saliva.
Full article: Source
Till a year earlier, the distance between Shah Rukh Khan, the No 1 player in Bollywood, and Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan was big. However, now Akshay is the highest-paid actor, currently getting Rs 17 crore for a film, while Aamir Khan is the highest paid star-endorser, having bagged a yearly fee between Rs 12-15 crore per annum for his three commercials on including Tata Sky, Samsung Mobiles and Parle Monaco biscuits.
Shah Rukh Khan would be paid around Rs 2 cr for a 20-minute performance at the wedding of Mumbai builder Kanti Gowani’s nephew. The actor had reportedly charged Rs 1.5 cr for his number at the wedding of steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s daughter.
Sources in GS Entertainment, the event management company handling the Gowani wedding shows, say Shah Rukh can be available, say for three days, for Rs 12 cr. On the other hand, Akshay Kumar charges Rs 1.25 crore to be present at events, while Salman Khan pitches Rs 1 crore, and Govinda Rs 70 lakh, according to estimates provided by event management companies.
During 2008, Airtel led the list of the top 10 brands endorsed by celebrities on TV, followed by Pepsi, the report said. “It is natural that the endorsement price is heavily skewed in favour of icons like Aamir, SRK, Akshay Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. These five, on average, get roughly three times what the next 10 get," says Porwal.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Finally, I read it today!
I've tried to avoid the Fake IPL Player blog but alas, my work is so boring (read: I'm a lazyass) + I felt like surfing + I'm craving to know more about IPL + I want to read up on Shah Rukh and IPL (this despite writing so many posts encouraging him to stay in the background and not give any more KR-related interviews) + my curiosity got the better of me (read: I have no will power).
I found myself laughing out loud at some of the stories (I'm treating the blog as a series of fictional account since that's what it claims to be), he/she really has an engaging way of writing. With all the clues he/she's throwing around and the staff has still not managed to figure out who he/she is, they deserve to have this saala roaming around the camp (and other people's camps too).
But after I've finished reading it (I didn't read every word since I don't really get what he/she's talking about, not being able to watch the game), inexplicably I felt sad. IPL player or not, even the saala wants the team to win and the fact that they're losing every match is a nightmare no one seems to know how to wake up from.
Despite my misgivings at commenting on IPL in someone else's blog, I had to write this coz what he (it's always a male) wrote pissed me the hell off:
I feel as if Mr B is turning KR into a giant laboratory where he can experiment with all his favourite theories that had been rejected by Aussie captains before. How many years more does this guy have on his contract? No matter if KR is owned by SRK or anyone else, as long as he’s at the helm, I doubt there’ll be many changes in terms of strategy (or the lack of it) and performance. I feel like signing a petition for him to get sacked and send it to Red Chillies, or something.
Having said that, for a city who doesn’t stand behind its team in good and bad times, you don’t deserve to have any team representing you in the game. I pray along with you that KR moves to another city that’ll show better support in the next IPL.
Anyway, I'm going on holiday tomorrow to leave behind my worries about KR's performance in IPL 2 (okay, that's me being melodramatic. Someone has got this holiday planned for me sometime ago). This despite my panic state everytime I stare at the calendar and is reminded that my 5th semester is ending soon. I've been writing so much in this blog since its conception only a few months ago that were I to print it out, it's probably going to be as thick as a Malaysian PhD dissertation. I wish my thesis were more interesting than Shah Rukh's life, then I won't have this dilema.
Have fun following IPL, no matter which team you support! Bye~
I found myself laughing out loud at some of the stories (I'm treating the blog as a series of fictional account since that's what it claims to be), he/she really has an engaging way of writing. With all the clues he/she's throwing around and the staff has still not managed to figure out who he/she is, they deserve to have this saala roaming around the camp (and other people's camps too).
But after I've finished reading it (I didn't read every word since I don't really get what he/she's talking about, not being able to watch the game), inexplicably I felt sad. IPL player or not, even the saala wants the team to win and the fact that they're losing every match is a nightmare no one seems to know how to wake up from.
Despite my misgivings at commenting on IPL in someone else's blog, I had to write this coz what he (it's always a male) wrote pissed me the hell off:
I feel as if Mr B is turning KR into a giant laboratory where he can experiment with all his favourite theories that had been rejected by Aussie captains before. How many years more does this guy have on his contract? No matter if KR is owned by SRK or anyone else, as long as he’s at the helm, I doubt there’ll be many changes in terms of strategy (or the lack of it) and performance. I feel like signing a petition for him to get sacked and send it to Red Chillies, or something.
Having said that, for a city who doesn’t stand behind its team in good and bad times, you don’t deserve to have any team representing you in the game. I pray along with you that KR moves to another city that’ll show better support in the next IPL.
Anyway, I'm going on holiday tomorrow to leave behind my worries about KR's performance in IPL 2 (okay, that's me being melodramatic. Someone has got this holiday planned for me sometime ago). This despite my panic state everytime I stare at the calendar and is reminded that my 5th semester is ending soon. I've been writing so much in this blog since its conception only a few months ago that were I to print it out, it's probably going to be as thick as a Malaysian PhD dissertation. I wish my thesis were more interesting than Shah Rukh's life, then I won't have this dilema.
Have fun following IPL, no matter which team you support! Bye~
Monday, May 4, 2009
Shah Rukh Khan and the Knight Riders
For those who keep harping about the love of the game must be more than the love for money and then throw brickbats at Shah Rukh... I know you guys are an ignorant lot when in comes to SRK coz you chose to close your eyes and ears to whatever good stuff he says and does... but in IPL, he's the most passionate owner when it comes to cricket. I mean, I can't believe you guys think that the corporates who own the other teams care more about cricket than money. You must be mad.
Some of the stuff he has to do to turn the tide around is just common sense, but there must be limitations in terms of contractual agreements, goodwill, and promised future deals that have stopped him from executing the needed actions right away. There are several things I would like to suggest to him for next year though:
1. Remain behind the scene and push another face to be the front for KR. The media loves to tear him apart and the controversies created and centered around him is not good for the team
2. Transfer ownership of KR to another company... name on paper is someone else... but with him being the majority shareholder. Isn't this what he did with RC Ent? And look at how successful it's becoming as opposed to Dreamz. I think RC Ent should remain as a company for pure TV/movie entertainment while another (new) company should focus on the sports aspect. KR is big enough now to occupy a company on its own and spawn other peripheral business deals connected to sports.
3. Weed out the strategists. One thing I agree with Kabir Khan in CDI is: there can be only one bully in the team. Too many bullies will lead to chaos. Picking up from the 2nd suggestion, instead of having many strategists organizing all sorts of things, the company can handle the tasks, leaving the sports people to concentrate on what they do best, that is... play a game they're good at.
4. Scout and people KR with Indian players instead of foreign ones. This will increase the Indian fans loyalty as KR has suffered an image loss in IPL 2. So, even if they won't root for the team, they'll root for their favourite players. That said, I wish this 'ban' on Pakistan players will be lifted up come IPL 3. I bet they're being sorely missed by everyone, esp the Pakistani cricket fans.
5. With new faces in the management, good fresh players (more Indian ones!) esp those who won't remind fans of this year's disastrous performance, less of Shah Rukh and his quotes in the front pages of sports/entertainment/all-sorts-of news (I know they're entertaining. I love them too. But they can be reserved at least until AFTER the team has succeeded to get to the semis)... people will forget the IPL 2 result (humans have very selective memory) and start to cheer for KR again in IPL 3 with new hope in their hearts.
Some of the stuff he has to do to turn the tide around is just common sense, but there must be limitations in terms of contractual agreements, goodwill, and promised future deals that have stopped him from executing the needed actions right away. There are several things I would like to suggest to him for next year though:
1. Remain behind the scene and push another face to be the front for KR. The media loves to tear him apart and the controversies created and centered around him is not good for the team
2. Transfer ownership of KR to another company... name on paper is someone else... but with him being the majority shareholder. Isn't this what he did with RC Ent? And look at how successful it's becoming as opposed to Dreamz. I think RC Ent should remain as a company for pure TV/movie entertainment while another (new) company should focus on the sports aspect. KR is big enough now to occupy a company on its own and spawn other peripheral business deals connected to sports.
3. Weed out the strategists. One thing I agree with Kabir Khan in CDI is: there can be only one bully in the team. Too many bullies will lead to chaos. Picking up from the 2nd suggestion, instead of having many strategists organizing all sorts of things, the company can handle the tasks, leaving the sports people to concentrate on what they do best, that is... play a game they're good at.
4. Scout and people KR with Indian players instead of foreign ones. This will increase the Indian fans loyalty as KR has suffered an image loss in IPL 2. So, even if they won't root for the team, they'll root for their favourite players. That said, I wish this 'ban' on Pakistan players will be lifted up come IPL 3. I bet they're being sorely missed by everyone, esp the Pakistani cricket fans.
5. With new faces in the management, good fresh players (more Indian ones!) esp those who won't remind fans of this year's disastrous performance, less of Shah Rukh and his quotes in the front pages of sports/entertainment/all-sorts-of news (I know they're entertaining. I love them too. But they can be reserved at least until AFTER the team has succeeded to get to the semis)... people will forget the IPL 2 result (humans have very selective memory) and start to cheer for KR again in IPL 3 with new hope in their hearts.
Why Shah Rukh Khan should not sell the Knight Riders
I don't understand why so many people including savvy media type think that Shah Rukh is gonna sell the Knight Riders after its dismal performance at IPL 2. Like I said, IPL is not just about cricket.
(I'm dropping Kolkata from my post hereafter because from the comments by Kolkatans in articles and news, the city doesn't seem to want the team anymore)
Suck on this.
Source
New Delhi (May 5th 2009): It's just two years old and it is already worth 2 billion dollars. The Indian Premier League has proved to be one of the fastest growing enterprises according to a report published by UK based brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.
They have lost the most matches this IPL season. But Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders are the team making the maximum moolah. The report says the Kolkata Knight Riders are sitting on a brand value of 42.1 million dollars, the highest among the eight franchises.
Followed closely by the Mumbai Indians at 41.6 million dollars.
Last years' winner, Rajasthan Royals are valued at 39.5 million dollars followed by Chennai Super Kings at 39.4 million dollars and Delhi Dare Devils at 39.2 million dollars.
The teams that are lowest on the valuation scale, despite their above average performances and star quotient are Royal Challengers Bangalore at 37.4 million dollars, Kings IX Punjab at 36.3 million dollars and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers at 34.8 million dollars.
But how did the worst performer manage to get the maximum valuation?
"Performance is not the only variable. There are variables like sponsorship deal, licensing and merchandising deal, presence of star players," said Unni Krishnan from Brand Finance.
Defending champions Rajasthan Royals have grown a whopping 59 percent in brand value, proving that performance does have a large role in valuation. With so much moolah riding on the IPL the teams too can monetise on their brand value.
With a valuation of 2 billion dollars and the teams possible being listed on the stock exchange, sky is the limit for the Indian Premier League.
Here're my predictions for the 3rd season:
1. IPL is going to increase the number of teams. This being good business sense for the organisers, it'll also decrease the share of the pie for the owners. Wait and watch for more campaigns and promotions to increase the inflow of moollah by all teams, a move spearheaded by the Knight Riders before.
(I'm wondering how Shah Rukh will turn his team's spectacular defeat this year into a successful tagline for IPL 3, like he did for IPL 2 with the "We can take a beating" campaign)
2. IPL 2 being held overseas on the excuse of insufficient security is only a precursor for the next plan in line... turning it into an international deal. Even the English is claiming that Twenty20 was conceived by them and it's been said to influence the boxing world, which goes to show how big IPL is.
3. With the increase in team numbers, more corporates will get into the deal... bringing with it foreign capitals. This will no longer be territorial sports, at least where the investors are concerned.
4. IPL 3 will be broadcasted by a channel with a wider reach around the globe. I think Sony got the bid this time, but I'm hoping ESPN will pick it up next year (coz SONY is having a spat with BCCI right now) so I'll be able to watch it on ASTRO.
(I'm dropping Kolkata from my post hereafter because from the comments by Kolkatans in articles and news, the city doesn't seem to want the team anymore)
Suck on this.
Source
New Delhi (May 5th 2009): It's just two years old and it is already worth 2 billion dollars. The Indian Premier League has proved to be one of the fastest growing enterprises according to a report published by UK based brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.
They have lost the most matches this IPL season. But Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders are the team making the maximum moolah. The report says the Kolkata Knight Riders are sitting on a brand value of 42.1 million dollars, the highest among the eight franchises.
Followed closely by the Mumbai Indians at 41.6 million dollars.
Last years' winner, Rajasthan Royals are valued at 39.5 million dollars followed by Chennai Super Kings at 39.4 million dollars and Delhi Dare Devils at 39.2 million dollars.
The teams that are lowest on the valuation scale, despite their above average performances and star quotient are Royal Challengers Bangalore at 37.4 million dollars, Kings IX Punjab at 36.3 million dollars and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers at 34.8 million dollars.
But how did the worst performer manage to get the maximum valuation?
"Performance is not the only variable. There are variables like sponsorship deal, licensing and merchandising deal, presence of star players," said Unni Krishnan from Brand Finance.
Defending champions Rajasthan Royals have grown a whopping 59 percent in brand value, proving that performance does have a large role in valuation. With so much moolah riding on the IPL the teams too can monetise on their brand value.
With a valuation of 2 billion dollars and the teams possible being listed on the stock exchange, sky is the limit for the Indian Premier League.
Here're my predictions for the 3rd season:
1. IPL is going to increase the number of teams. This being good business sense for the organisers, it'll also decrease the share of the pie for the owners. Wait and watch for more campaigns and promotions to increase the inflow of moollah by all teams, a move spearheaded by the Knight Riders before.
(I'm wondering how Shah Rukh will turn his team's spectacular defeat this year into a successful tagline for IPL 3, like he did for IPL 2 with the "We can take a beating" campaign)
2. IPL 2 being held overseas on the excuse of insufficient security is only a precursor for the next plan in line... turning it into an international deal. Even the English is claiming that Twenty20 was conceived by them and it's been said to influence the boxing world, which goes to show how big IPL is.
3. With the increase in team numbers, more corporates will get into the deal... bringing with it foreign capitals. This will no longer be territorial sports, at least where the investors are concerned.
4. IPL 3 will be broadcasted by a channel with a wider reach around the globe. I think Sony got the bid this time, but I'm hoping ESPN will pick it up next year (coz SONY is having a spat with BCCI right now) so I'll be able to watch it on ASTRO.
Hoshit, they lost again!
I've tried to avoid the points table until the tournament is over but I couldn't resist. They're so far behind everyone it's really scary. If it were not for it being Shah Rukh's team, I would have jeered at it and tell it to go home.
You know what, I'm surprised Mr Joy said they're still going to retain the services of Mr B after he's turned Shah Rukh and his team into a joke.
Apparently, he's suggested the multiple-captaincy to Steve Waugh (captain of the Australian Test cricket team from 1999 to 2004) too but was refused point-blank. It was also a no-show in KKR but we know what he did after that to prove that he has the last word.
Shah Rukh is unable to stem the rot from within? I say, it (the rot) is staring him in the face. Huh.
And now, here're some more words of wisdom from the man who doesn't know when to quit:
Source
You know what, I'm surprised Mr Joy said they're still going to retain the services of Mr B after he's turned Shah Rukh and his team into a joke.
Apparently, he's suggested the multiple-captaincy to Steve Waugh (captain of the Australian Test cricket team from 1999 to 2004) too but was refused point-blank. It was also a no-show in KKR but we know what he did after that to prove that he has the last word.
Shah Rukh is unable to stem the rot from within? I say, it (the rot) is staring him in the face. Huh.
And now, here're some more words of wisdom from the man who doesn't know when to quit:
Source
Port Elizabeth (May 4th 2009): Never short of ideas, Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan has now floated the idea of having more than four foreign players in the playing XI of the Indian Premier League sides.
Buchanan said he had raised the issue with the IPL authorities and was hopeful that if not this season, such a thing would be allowed in the third edition of the Twenty20 league.
"It is a question that we have posed to IPL a number of times about the involvement of more players on the field. I have personally mentioned that a number of times," Buchanan said.
"Hopefully IPL will look at that more seriously going forward into next season and beyond," the Australian told reporters after the Knight Riders went down to Kings XI Punjab on Sunday.Buchanan was asked about Mashrafe Mortaza's surprising omission from the playing XI despite the fact that KKR shelled out a whopping USD 600000 to get the Bangladeshi pacer.
"At the moment, we have adopted a batting strategy. So that's where our international effort is. So does that mean that guys that are international bowlers, whether it be (Charl) Langeveldt, Mortaza, (Ajantha) Mendis whoever it might be, their opportunities are limited at this time," Buchanan said in no uncertain terms.
Buchanan was also asked whether there would be a change in captaincy after the side's string of poor shows under Brendon McCullum.
"I don't think we need to answer that one. The answer is no," Buchanan said.
Incidentally, McCullum has decided to quit captaincy if the team fails to reach IPL semifinals.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Just musing about SRK, as always...
I personally think that the franchise is a legacy for Aryan so all this talk among cricket fans and media about him trying to sell it off is really impulsive and baseless.
I don't understand why they're deliberately making his cricketing venture an uphill struggle for him, what with all the controversies due to the cricket officials last year and the Kolkatan KKR/cricket fans this year, but I'm telling ya it will only make him fight it all the way until he wins or until you guys leave him alone (and we know the latter is not gonna happen in a million years).
In a way, losing two seasons in a row takes the pressure of expectancy off his shoulder. Hey, I'm determined to look at it positively here!
Anyway, this reminds me of that "David vs Goliath" interview he did with Anupama Chopra (I think it's included in his Inner and Outer video). I've read a comment by an SRK fan who, being a bigger cricket fan than he is SRK's, said how he (it's always a male) had turned into a member of the SRK hate club because SRK's messed with the legendary Gavaskar, the Kolkatan prince and basically cricket in general. What a tall order. You're just giving yourself an excuse to make him a scapegoat for all your frustrations, huh? Does it make you feel better now?
Frankly I don't understand this emotional blender that fans always exhibit: "Aamir, I was your fan but after you insulted SRK, I hate you and will never watch your movie again!", "SRK, you shouldn't fight with Salman, I hate you and will never watch your movie again!", "Akki is King! SRK's movies are flops compared to his! I've never watched and will never watch SRK's films!" , etc. etc.
What does one have to do with the other? I'm not Aamir's fan and I've blogged on my feelings about him going around town spouting SRK's name to interviewers, but I would like to watch Fanaa (I haven't found it online and I don't have the budget to buy the DVD), a snippet from Taare Zameen Par brought tears to my eyes and I still remember Raja Hindustani and Maan with fond memories. I'm not into Salman's style of acting, but I did like him in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Partner, and I've always thought that Akshay Kumar's gonna be big in Bollywood and when he took such a long time to get recognized, I was sorta frustrated.
Maybe I'm an outsider who wasn't raised to treat these artistes as much more than the humans that they are. Or maybe these people take their reel life heroes so seriously because they lack real heroes in their mundane and dull day-to-day lives.
It's true that sometimes I feel like shouting, "Shah Rukh, don't say that! You're gonna get misunderstood/misinterpreted/misquoted/etc.!" but I bet that's what his wife has been telling him for 20-odd years and it's still not working XD. So I don't know why I should tell him what to say or what to do, just because I'm on the way to collect his entire filmography. Being a fan or anti (as they say it in Korea) does not entitle one the right to control one's idol's every movement.
Besides, if Shah Rukh had just been a good actor like Salman Khan or a good actor/producer like Aamir Khan, I would not have taken such an intense interest in his comings and goings. I think, more than anything, he has an indomitable spighit towards life itself that I wish I had. Unlike others, he talks a lot, and very articulately too, about his struggles, losses and successes. Usually public figures are only vocal on two out of those three things, but Shah Rukh shares everything.
Know what's the most amazing thing is? That he remains an enigma to us all despite it... and here's a measure of that obsession with the enigma that is Shah Rukh Khan, captured so vividly in high colour LOL.
I don't understand why they're deliberately making his cricketing venture an uphill struggle for him, what with all the controversies due to the cricket officials last year and the Kolkatan KKR/cricket fans this year, but I'm telling ya it will only make him fight it all the way until he wins or until you guys leave him alone (and we know the latter is not gonna happen in a million years).
In a way, losing two seasons in a row takes the pressure of expectancy off his shoulder. Hey, I'm determined to look at it positively here!
Anyway, this reminds me of that "David vs Goliath" interview he did with Anupama Chopra (I think it's included in his Inner and Outer video). I've read a comment by an SRK fan who, being a bigger cricket fan than he is SRK's, said how he (it's always a male) had turned into a member of the SRK hate club because SRK's messed with the legendary Gavaskar, the Kolkatan prince and basically cricket in general. What a tall order. You're just giving yourself an excuse to make him a scapegoat for all your frustrations, huh? Does it make you feel better now?
Frankly I don't understand this emotional blender that fans always exhibit: "Aamir, I was your fan but after you insulted SRK, I hate you and will never watch your movie again!", "SRK, you shouldn't fight with Salman, I hate you and will never watch your movie again!", "Akki is King! SRK's movies are flops compared to his! I've never watched and will never watch SRK's films!" , etc. etc.
What does one have to do with the other? I'm not Aamir's fan and I've blogged on my feelings about him going around town spouting SRK's name to interviewers, but I would like to watch Fanaa (I haven't found it online and I don't have the budget to buy the DVD), a snippet from Taare Zameen Par brought tears to my eyes and I still remember Raja Hindustani and Maan with fond memories. I'm not into Salman's style of acting, but I did like him in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Partner, and I've always thought that Akshay Kumar's gonna be big in Bollywood and when he took such a long time to get recognized, I was sorta frustrated.
Maybe I'm an outsider who wasn't raised to treat these artistes as much more than the humans that they are. Or maybe these people take their reel life heroes so seriously because they lack real heroes in their mundane and dull day-to-day lives.
It's true that sometimes I feel like shouting, "Shah Rukh, don't say that! You're gonna get misunderstood/misinterpreted/misquoted/etc.!" but I bet that's what his wife has been telling him for 20-odd years and it's still not working XD. So I don't know why I should tell him what to say or what to do, just because I'm on the way to collect his entire filmography. Being a fan or anti (as they say it in Korea) does not entitle one the right to control one's idol's every movement.
Besides, if Shah Rukh had just been a good actor like Salman Khan or a good actor/producer like Aamir Khan, I would not have taken such an intense interest in his comings and goings. I think, more than anything, he has an indomitable spighit towards life itself that I wish I had. Unlike others, he talks a lot, and very articulately too, about his struggles, losses and successes. Usually public figures are only vocal on two out of those three things, but Shah Rukh shares everything.
Know what's the most amazing thing is? That he remains an enigma to us all despite it... and here's a measure of that obsession with the enigma that is Shah Rukh Khan, captured so vividly in high colour LOL.
Which is why I say I'm not worried about Shah Rukh over this whole fans-turn-haters debacle and that he'll be okay
There's a petiton to "STOP HATRED ON SRK" circulating and quite a lot of people have signed it. I've asked for it to be canceled in my comment to the creator but it seems that it was not approved XD". O wells, my comments and blog posts are not popular with reviewers and approvers all over the world, it seems. I wish I had saved that comment so that I can paste it here.
Anyway, I basically wrote that instead of turning the favour back to SRK, the media's just gonna have a field day over it and turn it into a "SRK fans vs Kolkatan cricket fans" circus. We have to remember, at the end of the day, the team will have to come back to the city (if it's still not changed to Ahmedabad or anywhere else, that is) and far from making SRK's life easier, it's just gonna add more friction between the fanbase and the franchise.
But hey, a fan's gotta do what a fan's gotta do, huh? Although I have to say, having disagreed with its conception, I won't sign it, of course. But I wish them luck in their belief that it can help ease Shah Rukh's public life a little in the weeks or months to come before IPL rears its head for the 3rd time.
Source
Anyway, I basically wrote that instead of turning the favour back to SRK, the media's just gonna have a field day over it and turn it into a "SRK fans vs Kolkatan cricket fans" circus. We have to remember, at the end of the day, the team will have to come back to the city (if it's still not changed to Ahmedabad or anywhere else, that is) and far from making SRK's life easier, it's just gonna add more friction between the fanbase and the franchise.
But hey, a fan's gotta do what a fan's gotta do, huh? Although I have to say, having disagreed with its conception, I won't sign it, of course. But I wish them luck in their belief that it can help ease Shah Rukh's public life a little in the weeks or months to come before IPL rears its head for the 3rd time.
Source
Shah Rukh Khan’s SMS reply to The Telegraph to a query whether he was planning to sell Kolkata Knight Riders
Nonsense… I have invested so much love into our KKR team that even if I want to… nobody else in the world can afford to match that. It’s amazing and a first for me. People believe that defeat means one should leave the arena. It’s such a wonderful feeling to be a struggler again… hoping to succeed… losing again… and again… feel the hatred… the jibes…. Been a long time since I wanted to beat failure again….
I feel younger, more energetic and so damn hungry now. Contrary to what everyone is saying… More than ever now… I want to own the arena… not run away from it. Inshallah, KKR will come out of this stronger than ever… and I am so proud being a part of this turmoil.
SRK philosophy
“My philosophy is to try and live every moment of life to the fullest. I have learnt a lot from my children. I believe children live more in the present moment than adults because they don’t carry the heavy weight of past like grown ups do,” says SRK with a demeanor void of any philosophical affectation. (source)
If this guy still serves as coach for IPL 3, I will abandon my allegiance to KKR
...or at least follow it suspiciously in the beginning and hope for the best without being as enthusiastic as I was this year.
I may be ignorant on all things cricket and I don't subscribe to the seven-point theory, but it doesn't take a cricket genius to figure out that KKR is at the lowest position with only 7 more matches to go. Forget the semis, right now my prayer for them is that they don't end up at the bottom rung by the time IPL 2 is over.
Hey, I'm a SRK fan but like I wrote before... I don't support a losing team. I don't think Buchanan is ever gonna let them take the trophy back home and if Shah Rukh doesn't realise that soon, he has no business keeping a team that's only gonna bleed him dry, emotionally if not financially.
Mr B may have awesome credentials, but I want to throw SRK's words spoken to Gavaskar at him (I've modified it to suit the occasion - source): "I respect Mr B - his knowledge about cricket is a billion times better than me. But this is an era where Mr B has not indulged in."
He even says something to this effect on an interview: "The intensity of it is higher than any one-day or Test series I have been involved in."
And what in the world did Mr B mean by this one?? "“We didn’t finish on the right side, but the game has been the winner... The outcome will help lift the tournament."
I intensely dislike someone who can't admit he's wrong, goes forward with his proven-to-be-a-failure strategy and in the process, drags everyone down with him. On that note, why must McCullum wait until the whole schedule is over to get the idea that they'll never make it to the semis? Why can't he save the team from being 8th by giving up the captaincy now? I'm not a a Dada fan, and the reports I read of his performance in IPL 2 has not succeeded in making me one. I don't care who'll be the new captain but I hope he'll serve the team better than McCullum has so far.
I still want to know more about cricket. I just found out that my univ has a cricket team (this after studying there for years). I'm intrigued with all the numbers being thrown around in comments and articles... sixers and fours, decimals in overs, +ve and -ve in net run rate, etc. Look up this answer and tell me that the numbers are not turning you on. It sounds like a really compelling game. I'm quite pissed that no one has ever tried to sell this game to me when I was at school.
So yeah, I hope I'm gonna be eating, drinking, and talking cricket come next year. But I've never been in favour of supporting a personality when a game is at stake. Especially if the personality is the owner, and not one of the players.
Not being Indian and certainly not a Kolkatan, forgive me for not caring that the team may move to Ahmedabad due to some money-grabbing officials. I just want the team I'm investing my time and mental/emotional state on is worth all my tears and cheers. Ever since my last view of the points table where KKR is at a measly 3, I'm not following the scores anymore, as you might have noticed from the absence of my live feed table in this blog. What's the point? They're never gonna get to the semis.
I'm angry at Mr B for messing up with the strategy from early on. Heck, even though I know it's redundant to be angry at an owner when it's the team management (or lack of it) that's at fault, I'm a tad angry at Shah Rukh for letting the dismal show carries on like this when it was clear from the 6th match that a fundamental change in formation (be it at the directive or player level) is in order. Maybe it's because I'm so used to him being a take-charge and in-charge person in his own professional life, seeing him give full reign to someone else seems so uncharacteristic of him that it jars my sensibilities.
On another front, the media has done it again. They couldn't get enough of dissing SRK when it comes to KKR and IPL but once he's on home ground and in his own element, they're all over him and saying things like KKR has disappointed him and that he's looking to sell it to the highest bidder. Losing two seasons does not make the franchise a dud, you idiots.
Having said that, I'm looking forward to improvements in the line-up, i.e 80% weed-out of current strategists in Mr B's camp (and if that includes Mr B himself, it's even better). After all, they've not given Shah Rukh value for his money and in the corporate world, which T20 is always made out to be by the critics, this kind of non-performance would have resulted in sacking. Is Shah Rukh going to be his regular softie self and retain this failed coterie for the next tournament??
This vent is good for letting out my angst. I feel calmer already. And if any cricket lover were to take this post so seriously as to quote it anywhere else, he (it's always a male) deserves a whack on the head.
I may be ignorant on all things cricket and I don't subscribe to the seven-point theory, but it doesn't take a cricket genius to figure out that KKR is at the lowest position with only 7 more matches to go. Forget the semis, right now my prayer for them is that they don't end up at the bottom rung by the time IPL 2 is over.
Hey, I'm a SRK fan but like I wrote before... I don't support a losing team. I don't think Buchanan is ever gonna let them take the trophy back home and if Shah Rukh doesn't realise that soon, he has no business keeping a team that's only gonna bleed him dry, emotionally if not financially.
Mr B may have awesome credentials, but I want to throw SRK's words spoken to Gavaskar at him (I've modified it to suit the occasion - source): "I respect Mr B - his knowledge about cricket is a billion times better than me. But this is an era where Mr B has not indulged in."
He even says something to this effect on an interview: "The intensity of it is higher than any one-day or Test series I have been involved in."
And what in the world did Mr B mean by this one?? "“We didn’t finish on the right side, but the game has been the winner... The outcome will help lift the tournament."
I intensely dislike someone who can't admit he's wrong, goes forward with his proven-to-be-a-failure strategy and in the process, drags everyone down with him. On that note, why must McCullum wait until the whole schedule is over to get the idea that they'll never make it to the semis? Why can't he save the team from being 8th by giving up the captaincy now? I'm not a a Dada fan, and the reports I read of his performance in IPL 2 has not succeeded in making me one. I don't care who'll be the new captain but I hope he'll serve the team better than McCullum has so far.
I still want to know more about cricket. I just found out that my univ has a cricket team (this after studying there for years). I'm intrigued with all the numbers being thrown around in comments and articles... sixers and fours, decimals in overs, +ve and -ve in net run rate, etc. Look up this answer and tell me that the numbers are not turning you on. It sounds like a really compelling game. I'm quite pissed that no one has ever tried to sell this game to me when I was at school.
So yeah, I hope I'm gonna be eating, drinking, and talking cricket come next year. But I've never been in favour of supporting a personality when a game is at stake. Especially if the personality is the owner, and not one of the players.
Not being Indian and certainly not a Kolkatan, forgive me for not caring that the team may move to Ahmedabad due to some money-grabbing officials. I just want the team I'm investing my time and mental/emotional state on is worth all my tears and cheers. Ever since my last view of the points table where KKR is at a measly 3, I'm not following the scores anymore, as you might have noticed from the absence of my live feed table in this blog. What's the point? They're never gonna get to the semis.
I'm angry at Mr B for messing up with the strategy from early on. Heck, even though I know it's redundant to be angry at an owner when it's the team management (or lack of it) that's at fault, I'm a tad angry at Shah Rukh for letting the dismal show carries on like this when it was clear from the 6th match that a fundamental change in formation (be it at the directive or player level) is in order. Maybe it's because I'm so used to him being a take-charge and in-charge person in his own professional life, seeing him give full reign to someone else seems so uncharacteristic of him that it jars my sensibilities.
On another front, the media has done it again. They couldn't get enough of dissing SRK when it comes to KKR and IPL but once he's on home ground and in his own element, they're all over him and saying things like KKR has disappointed him and that he's looking to sell it to the highest bidder. Losing two seasons does not make the franchise a dud, you idiots.
Having said that, I'm looking forward to improvements in the line-up, i.e 80% weed-out of current strategists in Mr B's camp (and if that includes Mr B himself, it's even better). After all, they've not given Shah Rukh value for his money and in the corporate world, which T20 is always made out to be by the critics, this kind of non-performance would have resulted in sacking. Is Shah Rukh going to be his regular softie self and retain this failed coterie for the next tournament??
This vent is good for letting out my angst. I feel calmer already. And if any cricket lover were to take this post so seriously as to quote it anywhere else, he (it's always a male) deserves a whack on the head.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
T___T
Kolkata Knight Riders lost again tonight. They're so far behind in points, it's not even funny. No, it's never been funny from the start. I'm angry that the team I support is being messed this way.
Shah Rukh, I know you know more about cricket than I do... but seriously. There're only two things to do to get you and the team back in favour at Kolkata and a winning formula at IPL. Send Buchanan with his royal family and escorts back to Australia where they belong, and get Sourav back into captaincy. Although, I wonder if he'd be keen on getting the title again the way he's been hoisted off so unceremoniously by Buchanan in SA.
In fact, if the IPL were to be looked at, the whole enterprise has gone into a sour phase. If critics were to be believed, that is. And you know how heavy-handed those doom-sayers are on any matter unconventional and new.
Oh God. It's true what they say. Real life is stranger than fiction. I bet even the movie industry has never given Shah Rukh Khan this much nightmare and so many sleepless nights. He's even come up with that ingenious 'celebrity guest' concept in addition to dancing at more weddings, probably to fill up the hole in his pocket burnt by his destructive brushes with IPL. The way the media has made a field day of his losses ...their excited buzz is like a nest teeming with gleeful hornets.
I'm depressed. Maybe I should go watch anime for a coupla weeks, or until the tournament is over, to get myself off this IPL funk.
Shah Rukh, I know you know more about cricket than I do... but seriously. There're only two things to do to get you and the team back in favour at Kolkata and a winning formula at IPL. Send Buchanan with his royal family and escorts back to Australia where they belong, and get Sourav back into captaincy. Although, I wonder if he'd be keen on getting the title again the way he's been hoisted off so unceremoniously by Buchanan in SA.
In fact, if the IPL were to be looked at, the whole enterprise has gone into a sour phase. If critics were to be believed, that is. And you know how heavy-handed those doom-sayers are on any matter unconventional and new.
Oh God. It's true what they say. Real life is stranger than fiction. I bet even the movie industry has never given Shah Rukh Khan this much nightmare and so many sleepless nights. He's even come up with that ingenious 'celebrity guest' concept in addition to dancing at more weddings, probably to fill up the hole in his pocket burnt by his destructive brushes with IPL. The way the media has made a field day of his losses ...their excited buzz is like a nest teeming with gleeful hornets.
I'm depressed. Maybe I should go watch anime for a coupla weeks, or until the tournament is over, to get myself off this IPL funk.
FanSpeak: KKR fans seek SRK exit!
Source
Soumya Sengupta: I'm quite happy you are planning to sell your team. Thank god, we will get someone who knows what cricket is all about and not one who is just after the moolah.
Sundaram: You have a stakeholder called fan base, which I think gives you a major part of your profit. And you know what, nobody gives a damm to your waving or puffing during matches.
The Boss C: The Knight Riders team management had come up with "illogical cricket theories" to get media attention. They had also insulted "one of our gods of cricket" Sunil Gavaskar and "played with our emotion and humiliated our local lad Ganguly". "We need to stop this nightmare", it was "high time to hand out the pink slips and take a u-turn". In case that does happen, "we will come back to you" (The fan also sounded more than miffed for dropping Kolkata from the team name, for the fake blogger saga and the "illogical team composition")
Soumya Sengupta: I'm quite happy you are planning to sell your team. Thank god, we will get someone who knows what cricket is all about and not one who is just after the moolah.
Sundaram: You have a stakeholder called fan base, which I think gives you a major part of your profit. And you know what, nobody gives a damm to your waving or puffing during matches.
The Boss C: The Knight Riders team management had come up with "illogical cricket theories" to get media attention. They had also insulted "one of our gods of cricket" Sunil Gavaskar and "played with our emotion and humiliated our local lad Ganguly". "We need to stop this nightmare", it was "high time to hand out the pink slips and take a u-turn". In case that does happen, "we will come back to you" (The fan also sounded more than miffed for dropping Kolkata from the team name, for the fake blogger saga and the "illogical team composition")
Watch the video for the rousing welcome they gave SRK last year. So if Shah Rukh does everything according to their taste, they'll love him and if not, they'll burn his posters and ban his movies?
Maybe one of these real cricket lovers from Kolkata should pool enough money to buy the franchise off his hand since they know the game so much more than he does.
Oh, and one more thing... look up the list of IPL team owners and name me an owner who 'knows what cricket is all about'... which one? Vijay Mallya? India Cements? Reliance Industries Ltd?
IPL is not just about cricket. It's high time everyone accepts that so we all can get on with life.
Quote of the day
"The expenses involved are huge, and I am not doing the figures. I will see what it is like at the end of the year and then, depending on the balance sheet, I will have to dance at a few more marriages." (source)
...and he was true to his words, as he always is.
...and he was true to his words, as he always is.
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