All he ever wanted to do was race - Senna

I am always skeptic about documentaries. I mean they are piece of great research and devotion. And its difficult to take them lightly. Or ignore them like some movies. They have hard hitting, in your face facts or at least try to show them in a different light. Anywho point being I avoid them, because its not easy to not get affected by them.


So after much procrastination, dilly dallying, I finally found time to watch Asif Kapadia's documentary about the legendary and prodigious Formula one driver Ayrton Senna. It was a thoughtful and touching tribute to Senna (as he is popularly known). What struck out was Senna's introspective personality, his deep eyes, his disarming smile. Of course the F1 politics, rivalry with Prost, family relations, his celebrity status in Brazil were highlighted too. Despite all the rigors and aggression of the sport, Senna came across as a guy who liked pushing his limits of fear, of discovering himself. It was evident in his driving, in his passion and eyes.

courtesy - google

In a way the documentary is a gem because the way it built up to the final moments, was amazing. Despite knowing the finale one clung on to it, hoping nothing happens on that dreaded day.


Also as said by one of the journalists, in some poetic and unjust way Senna's end in a racing car seemed to be what senna really wished for, and given another chance in life knowing the end of this path he would have not chosen the alternative.


And the last frame of the film is the most moving and touching. 
I have an eternal crush on those haunting, deep Senna eyes!


Highly recommend.


~nightflier

Growing up with Andre and Steffi

So last week I had two options for books - In the plex (A book about google) and Open (an autobiography).
But I wanted to read some fiction, Secret of the Nagas, which had not yet released. Lately I have been having an overdose of non fiction, so thought would wait for it. But then that meant boring bus rides. So this came in handy and thought I might as well go the Agassi way :)


So after that brief pseudo bragging of how much and what all I have been reading/planning, I might as well write about the book :P


At home, I and baba (dad) are the only Tennis fans. I got it from him. That's the one thing we share *exclusively*. Our love for Steffi Graf, trying to find her perfect replacement, getting disappointed with every Martina, Venus, Maria (injury quotient wise), then Agassi-Sampras rivalry, hoping for something like that and more between Roger-Rafa, loving Federer's perfect shots and countless other stuff. He idolizes Steffi Graf. He can go gaga about her game, lack of injuries (until well after her peak years), grace, calm, composure. So one can wonder what role model I had while growing up. (He also has some older (era-wise) favorites, but since I havent grown up with them, I don't understand them much :D)


Agassi on the other hand was solely supported by me at home. Well his long locks, outrageous fashion made him stand out, did not it ? And growing up years need someone exactly like him to rebel up to! Baba always used to say Agassi never plays upto his potential. How will he ever make history. The book resonated with those words. Nevertheless Andre did create history. I personally did trust him less after his countless injuries, back outs, that *drug* thing, but his charm never faded. Until he and Sampras played, our home saw to it that I supported Andre and baba Pete. He even asked me once, if I like rooting for the underdogs. I did not know then. But baba was gracious enough to fairly let me take sides of whomever I liked/loved. Another contradiction in Agassi's story. He did not get to choose much for himself at least.


Another thing I loved the book for was for making me remember all the childhood tennis players. Courier, Corretja, Krajicek, Rafter, Chang, Becker Wilander.. Gosh! It seems like eons ago! I have literally youtube-d whatever videos I could find of matches described in the book and tried to re-live the times :) Nostalgia!!!

Spotted on a sunny morning at the LV store at the Taj (Mumbai)
circa 2007 November
(I was a little sad when none of my friends could
identify with my excitement after seeing it)
courtesy - google

Oh, and Andre also married Steffi Graf. I was so happy then that I told baba that now you should not doubt him, he has the best girl out there :) That's a perfect love story for me!! (but its pretty normal and mundane if you read the book) 


Anywho, great read if you watch/like tennis. Also inspirational when you see the struggle Agassi put himself through, with all the ups and downs of life. Pretty rewarding actually.


~nightflier


P.S. I still have not connected with anyone over Tennis (except for a friend or 2). Its still that special thing I share with baba. To think of it we don't have many common interests :)

one of those days..

When you wake up all groggy eyed at 10 am despite wanting to wake up at 7 for an hour long yoga session. You wonder about your self control when it comes to sleep and all that blah. But you also remind yourself of the late party hours of earlier night when you pseudo partied with a bunch of really funny people and vicariously got drunk with the kids around (amusing story - a bunch of college goers (around 20 max) were having the time of their life, in their drunken revelry. sad story - I have not felt so ohhhld in the longest time, the way I felt looking at them. Such situations and instances seem to belong to a different era of my life. Altogether. Anywho..)

google image

So we planned for a quick brunch at home itself and made a grocery list with fellow roomies (here and here). But as we excel at planning, destroying, re-planning our own plans, we decided to go for a session of badminton.  Like the old days!!! It also gave me a chance to flaunt my new buy --> 


I was waiting to buy them for so long now!! Finally got them on sale with flat 40% off. So no wishful shopping this! 
I feel so paisa-wise ;)


So, amazing session of badminton happened. Then as such activities normally take me in the super woman mode, asked everyone to join us for lunch and gate crash the brunch. Cooked masala eggs. Had a very happy and hearty meal. Strewn with jokes involving how to spot friends' family who were watching the test match live at Lords. We literally jumped at every Indian shown on camera during that one hour. Sheesh.


and on the reading front have almost finished Hero with a thousand faces and Pregnant king. So can finally start the newest book in R R Martin's series!!!


Unplanned wonders did happen thus giving me a very satisfying day in terms of activity and fun!!
I don't suffer any weekend blues now. (of course I lie.)


~nightflier

the ski tale

1. Whoever, who has gone skiing once, tells you that its fun, they are LIE-ing! Yeah! a flat lie, which sounds real on the phone or chat. It isnt fun. It makes you fall and tumble and crawl and sour (with pain).

2. Also whoever invented skiing did not think of people like me for sure. Walking with your feet tied down to the ground is no fun. Again! The boots are so damned heavy that forget walking, even standing seems impossible.

3. Falling down is so easy. Getting up is harder. Doing so on your own is even tougher.Yours truly fell down 7 times and got up on her own each time. Thankfully! Once she also made 2 people behind her on the rope fall, she smiled sweetly at them and decided to focus on herself.

4. Try to keep your focus on not falling. Someone kept on telling it to herself and managed to stay on her feet for a surprisingly longer slope.

5. Also try to take a very heavy breakfast in the morning. Helps in maintaining energy levels. Believe me its one hell of a energy sapping sport. And weird part is you dont realize it.

Believe me, but I was not scared. All had looked so good in theory. Alas..

To all the skiing enthusiasts, I really admire you.

To all the aspirants/first timers, all the best. You will really need it. And in case you do manage to break my record of falls, do let me know. I might just gloat in that momentary glory before empathizing with you!

Now I am back to recovering from the muscle crunching, ego shattering (3 year olds were better than me..hmmmppffff) experience.

Till then, 

cheers,

~nightlfier