ExpertDabbler

Times change and yet it doesn’t.

Nineteen years, hundreds of crores wealth, and all sorts of records later, the entire world is still waiting for that one big scandal which can fill your face with cow dung, one big dissent on the cricket field which can be broadcasted the world over to embarrass, one wrong statement to the press in anger. You keep them waiting as always. Don’t let them win.

In all these years, your arms has seen more tennis elbows than you might want, you are not the tormentor you were, but your legs and your running between the wickets is still intact. You still score almost just as quickly.

Prime Ministers have come and gone but your batting average and strike rate has been the same. How I wish we had such constant GDP numbers. India has seen many a hard hitters, many a technically correct folks. You were the only one who can consistently hit hard while being technically correct. Two decades and that has not changed an iota.

Pontings may come and go, but if I were to choose between watching a gorgeous woman in nude or your trademark straight drive in full flow, I will choose your straight drive. That won’t change any soon.

During your early twenties they said you are throwing away your wicket, then in your late twenties they said you are not attacking enough, then you were discovered as selfish, now you are seen as that old guy. Indians wanted you and India win every single match. But all along the problem was always with you. You made such expectations look realistic. In the nineties, you made us forget that the game is played by eleven folks, with bat and ball. The entire country switched off the TV and went back to work once you got out.

First it was the Pakistanis, nowadays your own countrymen want you to go. Yet Shane Warne sings your praise as always. He should know since you had given him more sleepless nights than his own wife.

Retire you will one day. Your records will be broken as all records will be. You will die like all humans one day. But the master class you have given us on how a young middle-class guy should handle fame, wealth, adulation, media pressure, world class opposition, and the hopes and anger of one billion people will remain etched in our memories for ever.

My only request to you. All is well that ends well. If push comes to shove, veto them by hanging up your boots. Your greatness is more important than a few thousand runs. Don’t let them win. I know you won’t.

The one and only M R Radha at his best

http://www.tamilvanan.com/content/2008/09/23/mrradha-speech/

Where is Ramarajan now? Not that I am a fan. But I know for sure he made a lot of money when his market was at the peak.

The junta which said Kamal was the 9th wonder and 10th wonder during Dasavadharam’s audio release(albeit a deserved praise), would’ve heaped glorious songs exactly like these for the likes of Mike Mohan, Suresh, Ramarajan too. What happens to them after they are sidelined by the ‘industry’? How do they survive?

Every society worships the rich and famous. As a consequence, a lot of people are determined to become rich and famous soon no matter what. They think, if they get big and rich, they will die a rich man or woman. Of the several thousands who strive, some do eventually succeed. But even those who succeed are not equipped enough to manage and channelize their new found wealth. Thats a different ball game which requires a completely different skill set.

I met a person yesterday. The man should be around 50 years old. He has not had to work for somebody till date. He has about 5 houses in Chennai - usually purchases house by paying cash in full. He has managed to provide education for his two sons, and lives a comfortable life. He says he has been able to do all this with share trading. He does not even own an office. He has one Honda City and Ford Fiesta for personal purposes.

This is not to suggest all those who invest in the stock markets end up this way. The kind of self-discipline needed to make money in the BSEs and NSE is not something to be scoffed at. The point is, this guy will never be declared rich nor famous. He would never give newspaper interviews, much less TV coverage. Nobody would peak their nose in his private life and see who he sleeps with.

Yet, i bet this guy will die a richer man than Ramarajan.

You can earn all the money in the world, but if it’s just going to do down the drain, whats the difference??

Sujatha aka S Rangarajan, the ever reliable creative/information bank to mainstream media and tamil cinema fraternity is no more.
I’ve had my own opinions on his non-fiction writngs. But there’s no denying the fact that he epitomized ‘versatility’ , ‘multi-faceted’ and ‘prolific’ like no other among the writers of Tamil Nadu. He was a giant in his own right. Salutes to Sujatha and condolences to his family.