Who equals Pete Sampras ??

Absolutely no doubt and even proud to say "Roger Federer", as I'm a big fan. Federer is a Swiss professional World No. 1 ranked tennis player, a position he held for a record of 237 consecutive weeks. Federer is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. Federer holds numerous records in men's singles, including 14 Grand Slam titles- 3 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 5 Wimbledon, 5 US Open-, equalling the all-time record set by Pete Sampras.

Federer was born on August 8, 1981, in Binningen, near Basel, to Swiss national Robert Federer and South Africa-born Lynette Durand. He started playing tennis at the age of six. By the age of fourteen, Federer had learnt to get his serve over the net and he had become Switzerland's top junior (under-18s) player. Then Roger moved on to the main tour. He ended his first year on the tour as the youngest player in the top 100. By 2003, Federer had established a reputation as the most talented player to consistently choke on the big stage - spectacularly so.

Roger Federer's game is based around his big forehand, which is one of the best shots in tennis. His game's pretty one-dimensional, really. Without the forehand, he'd be nothing. You could just hit to his right hand side and you'd win every point. I'd like to see him hit a backhand winner from there. So a forehand less Federer would be useless. Though capable of overwhelming most of his opponents, Roger prefers to pick their games apart—sometimes exposing their weaknesses, sometimes finding ways to use their own strengths against them. These cat-and-mouse games used to be his undoing, but he has perfected his craft, and now it his opponents who look helpless at times, not him.

Federer established the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003 to help disadvantaged people and to promote sports to youth. He was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF in 2006. Since then, he has visited South Africa and Tamil Nadu, one of the worst tsunami-affected areas in India. He has also appeared in UNICEF public messages to raise public awareness of AIDS.

The Success Gandhi !!!!!

Sonia Gandhi is the President of the Indian National Congress and the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. She also serves as the Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance in the Lok Sabha and the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

16 th May of 2009 is an important day in the history of India and the Indian National Congress. This is the day in which the Congress Party won back to the reign of India for a second term under the mystical leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. It is referred as history because only the first prime minister of India Mr Jawaharlal Nehru could win a consecutive election for a second term in the Indian political history. The full credit of this victory goes to the vibrant leadership of Mrs Gandhi. After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi the congress party was actually facing the problem of a charismatic leader to lead the party and it was about to vanish from the Indian political stream. It was in this period Mrs Gandhi came out with a bold decision to take the leadership of Congress party as a mission. In the beginning no one thought that the she can bring back the congress party to the driving seat of Indian politics. But she has done it.

Sonia Gandhi born in Lusiana, Italy on 9 December 1946. While studying English at the University of Cambridge, Sonia met Rajiv Gandhi, a mechanical engineering student and son of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The couple married in 1968. In 1980 his brother, Sanjay, died, and Rajiv subsequently entered the political arena. When Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984, Rajiv was named prime minister. Though Sonia campaigned for Rajiv, she chose to remain in the background, studying art restoration and working to preserve India’s artistic treasures.



When Rajiv was assassinated in 1991, Sonia was seen by many as the natural heir to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and she was offered the leadership of the Congress Party. She rejected the offer and refused to discuss politics publicly. In 1993, however, she visited Rajiv’s former constituency in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, and was greeted by cheering crowds. She subsequently traveled throughout the country on behalf of trusts and committees devoted to Indian public life.



1998 Gandhi agreed to become president of the then-struggling Congress Party. Her initial efforts were overshadowed by the party’s loss to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the following election. Following a nationwide campaign that targeted struggling farmers and the unemployed, the Congress Party won the 2004 election but failed to secure an absolute majority. The party subsequently formed a new coalition called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Gandhi, however, chose not to head the government as prime minister, because her foreign birth had become a politically controversial issue. Instead, she invited the economist Manmohan Singh to serve as prime minister. Her only son, Rahul Gandhi, was also a prominent politician.

IPL a success cricket model !!

IPL- Indial Premier League is a Twenty20 cricket competition created by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. It is now the most watched domestic Twenty20 competition in the world. The first season of the Indian Premier League commenced on 18 April 2008, and ended on 1 June 2008 with the victory of the Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings. As the second season of the IPL coincided with Indian general elections, the Indian Government refused to commit security by Indian paramilitary forces. As a result, the BCCI decided to host the second season of the league in South Africa.



Most teams at IPL are in the names of famous Indian cities. Now there are eight teams for the IPL tounament. They are Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils, Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians.



The victory of present IPL Champion was in an exceptional way. In the begining of the tournament no one imagined a chance for the Rajasthan Royals, but they really became the black horses of IPL.



After 44 days of mind-boggling action and a no-holds-barred feud among eight fierce franchisees, Rajasthan Royals pipped Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the thrilling grand finale to lift the inaugural Indian Premier League.



Chasing Super Kings' modest total of 163 for five, the Royals rode on a brilliant all-round display by Yusuf Pathan, who took three wickets and top-scored with a 39-ball 56 to overhaul the score off the last ball after needing eight from the last over. The winners received the top prize of $1.2 million and a glittering gem-laden trophy while the runners-up won $600,000.

Bollywood Sensation

Do you know Hrithik Roshan? Definitely 'yes' , if you are an Indian. If you are ignorant about Hrithik, please don't miss to enjoy the following films like Krrish, Dhoom II, Jodha Akbar, Kaho Na Pyar Hai etc. He was a sensation in the Indian film industry when his first film Kaho Na Pyar Hai was released. Lakhs and Lakhs of Indian youth irrespective of language became the deep fans of this handsome actor. But unfortunately after this big success he was a total failure and unlucky figure to Bollywood for the coming three years. Then after three years of agony and failure it was the character of a nineteen year old boy with a ten year old boys mind in the film Koi... Mil Gaya which gave a breakthrough to Hrithik. With the success of this film Hrithik was recognized as a talented actor among the bollywood stars.

Hrithik Roshan is an Indian actor working in Bollywood. He was born in January 10, 1974. His father, film director Rakesh Roshan, is the son of music director Roshan, while his mother, Pinky, is the daughter of veteran producer and director J. Om Prakash. The well-known music director Rajesh Roshan is his uncle. In short he is from a legendary family. Though from a such a blessed family, don't think that he was brought up as an actor very easily with the support all these people. His family never thought that he would become an actor because he was physically very weak and had severe disc problems.

In an interview given to an English magazine Hrithik told " my doctor told me that i could never be an actor - i could never dance, I could never jog, never run, never do any of things that a film actor does. He even advised me to change my career plans." From this period of agony it was his effort and self confidence that helped him to be a successful actor later.

Hrithik is married to Sussanne Khan on December 20, 2000, daughter of Sanjay Khan. The couple have two kids,both boys, one by the name of Hrehaan(28 March 2006) and the other named Hridhaan(May 1, 2008). Hrithik was born with two thumbs on his right hand that are partially fused together; this is considered by some to be a lucky sign.

Lets have a glance @ some of Hrithik's blockbusters.

Kaho Na Pyar Hai

Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai is a 2000 Bollywood movie directed by Rakesh Roshan. The movie stars Amisha Patel, Anupam Kher, and Hrithik Roshan in a dual role. This movie was Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel's debut and made Hrithik into an overnight superstar in Bollywood.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is a Bollywood film released in India and countries with large NRI populations on December 14, 2001. It features Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji in a guest appearance.

Koī...Mil Gaya

Koī...Mil Gaya is a 2003 Bollywood science fiction film, directed by Rakesh Roshan , starring Rekha, Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta, and released on August 8, 2003. Koi... Mil Gaya itself is said to have inspired an Indonesian television series Si Yoyo, which also features a miraculous alien visitor.

Krrish

Krrish is a Bollywood science fiction superhero film directed by Rakesh Roshan. Released on June 23, 2006, the film is a sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya and the second part of the Koi... Mil Gaya series. It is considered the first major superhero movie to be produced in Bollywood since Shekhar Kapoor's Mr. India (1987). The movie stars Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah, while Preity Zinta also makes a special appearance.

Dhoom 2

Dhoom 2 is the second installment in the Dhoom series. It stars Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan and Bipasha Basu. The movie is a sequel to the 2004 hit, Dhoom. The film was released on November 24, 2006. This movie has been dubbed into Telugu and Tamil; those versions were released on the same day as the Hindi version.

Jodhaa-Akbar

Jodhaa-Akbar is a sixteenth century love story, and an Indian epic film released on February 15, 2008. It is directed and produced by Ashutosh Gowariker, the director of the Academy Award-nominated Lagaan (2001). It stars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles.

A Successful Actor.....

Mammooty is a very famous film actor from Kerala, India. He has won the National Award for the Best Actor three times and state awards five times. Nation has honored him by giving Padma Shri in 1998 . The first feature that everyone notice about Mammootty is that he is very handsome. Though 56 now, he still looks as a man around 35 to 40 years old. He is working hard to keep his body fit and fine. I remember that once he said in an interview given to a television channel “I’m jealous to the youth because they are youth,” He is so much ambitious to be always young and fit.




Personally I’m a fan of Mammooty. In my village people have their own political view only from an age of adolescence, but from very young stage itself a child is becoming a fan of Mammootty or Mohanlal, one yet another great film artist from kerala. No Malayalee is seen in Kerala as not a fan of either Mammootty or Mohanlal, I think.

The most important films that I remember when I speak about Mammootty are, Oru CBI Diary Kuruppu, Mrugaya, New Delhi, Nirakoottu, Dani, Ambedkar, Ponthan Mada etc etc.




Some people always compare Mammoootty with the famous Bollywood actor Amithabh Bacchan and call Mammootty as Bachan of Malayalam. Once Mr M T Vasudevan, a great writer and Film Critic of India, especially Kerala opposed this view and said “I would never say that Mammootty as keala Bacchan , but I will call him only as Mammootty of Malayalam.” No one can never ever become like Mammootty , because he is such a unique character and blessing to Malyalee.

A R Rahman and Resul Pukutty and Slumdog Millionaire in Oscar

A R Rahman has won Oscars for his music composition in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire.

Allah Rakkha Rahman ((born January 6, 1967 as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India), is an Academy Award winning Indian Muslim film composer, record producer and musician. His work has garnered considerable acclaim and a large global fanbase since his film scoring career began in the early 1990s, and has won four National Film Awards,Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe and Satellite Award for his work.

Resul Pookutty has won an Oscar for sound mixing in the rags-to-riches award winning film "Slumdog Millionaire".

In the village of Vilakupara, about 50 km from the Kerala capital, everyone is elated at Resul`s success. His elder brother Byju Pookutty told reporters: "Ours is a typical rural village and it was only last month that our village council gave a reception after he won the British awards and people here came to know what he was doing."

"Our father wanted Resul to be a doctor but he could not clear the entrance examination for medicine. Our father was very particular that Resul become a doctor because his brother`s son was one. But Resul`s destiny was different," said Byju, who is 38 and a businessman.


Slumdog Millionaire Makes History



Slumdog Millionaire makes history at Kodak by winning eight Oscar awards . Set and filmed in India, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and exceeds people's expectations, arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials.



Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won eight, the most of any film that year, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song. It also won five Critics' Choice Awards, four Golden Globes, and seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Film.

MAHATMA GANDHI

"Gandhi ( held no political office. Yet he could arouse the conscience of an entire subcontinent! A lean, frail, ‘half-naked fakir’ – armed with a wooden staff and simple dignity of a human being, he fought against the greatest empire, the world has known. It was just the moral grandeur of his soul which enabled him to fight against brute power, in any form, even vanquish it. "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this in flesh and blood walked upon this earth", said Professor Einstein of him.

On 30 January 1948 on his way to prayers Gandhi was assassinated, killed by three bullets in his abdomen and chest. The young assassin was a fanatical Hindu who among others had been inflamed by Gandhi’s efforts to bring reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims in riot-torn independent India. With those three bullets came the bitter fruit of the murder of an important political leader. India and the world were saddened. Political leaders and ordinary people alike felt a personal loss.

Significance of Gandhi (Some unusual views....)

Does Gandhi still have any political significance? Now, with the passing of years and the opportunity for a more distant perspective, how is Gandhi to be evaluated?

For a Westerner poses special problems in such an evaluation. Often his eccentricities get in the way so that it is difficult to get beyond them, or to take other aspects of his life seriously. Even for religious people in the West, his constant use of religious terminology and theological language in explanation or justification of a social or political act or policy more often confuses than clarifies.

The homage which most pay to him by calling him “Mahatma” - the great-souled one - usually becomes a kind of vaccination against taking him seriously. As a Mahatma, he can be revered while being placed in that special category of saints, prophets and holy men whose lives and actions are believed to be largely irrelevant to ordinary men.

“I claim”, he once wrote, “to be no more than an average man with less than average ability”. Indeed, in important respects this was probably true.

He was not pleased at the homage given him, although he cherished the affection of people where it was genuine. “My Mahatmaship is worthless”, he once wrote “I have become literally sick of the adoration of the unthinking multitude.” “I lay no claim to superhuman powers. I want none. I wear the same corruptible flesh that the weakest of my fellow-beings wears, and am, therefore, as liable to err as any.”

There are further difficulties in evaluating Gandhi. These include widespread misrepresentations of Gandhi and his political opinions. For example, it is widely claimed that Gandhi approved of Indian military action in Kashmir, that he would have approved of the Indian invasion of Goa, and even that he would have supported the present nuclear weapons program.

Gandhi's thinking, as constantly developing, and early in his career he did give certain qualified support to war. But at the end of his life this had altered. But this did not mean he favoured passivity. Thus, while believing the Allies to be the better side in the Second World War, he did not support the war. Similarly in Kashmir, while believing the Pakistanis to be the aggressors, and while believing that India must act, he did not favour military action.

As we shall note later in more detail, it was Gandhi's primary contribution, not only to argue for, but to develop practically non-violent means of struggle in politics for those situations in which war and other types of political violence were usually used. His work here was pioneering, and sometimes inadequate, but it was sufficient to put him outside the traditional categories. Gandhi was neither a conscientious objector nor a supporter of violence in politics. He was an experimenter in the development of “war without violence”.

A final confusion handicaps our attempt to evaluate Gandhi. His politics are sometimes assumed to be identical with those of the independent Indian Government under Nehru. Although Nehru has long had a very deep regard for Gandhi, and although Gandhi cooperated with the Indian National Congress in the long struggle for independence, the policies which Gandhi favoured are not necessarily those of the Congress government today.

Gandhi had opposed partition into Pakistan and India. Congress leaders had accepted it. His plea for non-violent resistance in Kashmir with non-violent assistance from India was ignored. Gandhi had dreamt that a free India would be able to defend her freedom without military means. Yet in the provisional government before independence, and in the fully independent government, military expenditure and influence increased, while Gandhi warned of the danger of military rule and of India’s possible future threat to world peace. Her freedom could be defended non-violently, Gandhi insisted, just as by non-violent means the great British Empire had been forced to withdraw.