WEEKEND TUBEAWATCH 10-03-2008

K for Kishore
I make it a point to watch this show for couple of reasons. One, for a change, I get to listen to old melodies (watching performances is actually just an after thought). Two, the judges (with due respect to each of them) at times, act funny!
This time, the two episodes were good. Definitely better than the previous ones (Filmfare special which according to me was a disaster as the organizers messed up the show by choosing wrong singers for right songs!!).
So, this time they got Javed Akhtar as a special judge. I thought a knowledgeable person like him was missing from this show. I just hope he’ll be back in next episodes as well. Nagesh’s remarks were just and to the point. I sometimes fear if his presence, his mannerisms and his immaculate pronunciations would put some extra, unwanted pressure on the contestants. Bappi plugging in his song and singing it himself (!) was something I’d like to forget asap. The highlight of the show of course was Rex deciding to quit and ending his miseries once and for all. But I guess I’ll miss him in coming episodes. Let’s hope this show will bring the best out of the remaining contestants and we get to listen to some of the finest songs of the legendary Kishore.

Khoobsoorat.
For a change, better sense has prevailed and SAB tv guys have been showing some of the finest retro Hindi Movies during weekend. I got to watch none other than Golmaal last week and this week Khoobsoorat. I don’t think I’ll ever be bored of watching these movies in spite of having watched several times. About khoobsoorat, well, words fall short if I start to praise. Its one of very few real gemstones found in sands of boolywood. The spontaneity Rekha has exhibited in this movie is just unmatched. Actually we Indians should be thankful to the man called Hrishikesh Mukharjee who made such nice and ‘honest’ movies. I’d in fact say these movies are like halwa or gulab jamun movies. Can’t imagine how life would have been without these 

Women’s tennis Bangalore open.
I feel I missed a couple of opportunities of witnessing live performances this weekend. First is the live concert involving BalMurliKrishna, L Subramaniam and Pandit HariPrasad Chaurasia. In actuality I hardly understand classical music but from what I read in the newspapers, it was a jugalbandi and I don’t think one needs to be a connoisseur of classical music to understand (read enjoy) that
The other live performances I missed out on are the semi finals and final of women’s tennis tournament that took place at KSLTA. But I happened to watch all the action live on tv.
So, star sports guys have done a great job. I must say I am impressed with them. The experience of watching tennis on tv was nothing short of any grand slam or any other overseas WTA tour’s live action. For the organizers, there are many things that they can (I mean they must) improve. First is about the ball boys. They are slow on the court. Movement of people on the court must be restricted. I saw some strange fellow appearing from no where on court and clicking pictures of the winner immediately after the final. I mean that is ridiculous. Then the organization of felicitation program was a complete disaster. I think Vijay Amritraj forgot that he is the master of ceremony at the end of a tennis tournament and not cricket. He started interviewing the winner and the runner-up just as in cricket! As I understand, in all the grand slams, the mike is handed over to the runner-up as well as winner to say whatever they want to say to the spectators, fans and to people watching on tv. And to top it all, he missed out announcement of the prize! Anyways, I’m sure as years go by and Bangalore open grows in popularity, even Vijay will improve.

ICL.
Looks like this time these guys have decided to put up a good show. The first correct step they have taken is to broadcast it live on ten sports which is a much established sports channel than ‘in-house’ Zee sports. The first match was as much entertaining as much ICL guys had promised in the newspaper on Sunday. One thing that should improve is the presence of crowd in the stadium. I mean players (in their prime or otherwise) do not want to play for empty chairs. They deserve some applauses and encouragement. Besides, they are assured of spicy live entertainment by bollywood’s leading actresses. All said and done, a t-20 match everyday seems like, a bit too much. Can’t imagine what’s going to happen when IPL hits us in April. I wonder how stadia get full house crowd in Europe to watch soccer matches almost every other day. I guess its time for us to increase our cricket appetite.