Nikhil Dev

I got really surprised when I saw the page views of our Google videos. The two songs that we recorded must have got really popular cos people have actually downloaded these. So, the next thing that I am going to do is to records almost all the songs that we can play with all the version and upload all of them.

Logged into my comp at the office and had the ICICI statement in the mail box. Shows that I have 500+ bucks of interest charges that I have been charged. Called the customer care and was told that it was there from a long time and just that I have never been charged previously. I really dont know what to do now. I have about 9000 outstanding and funds of only about 4000 to repay. I think I have to bear with the interest charges for another 2 months or will have to borrow the money to repay. Lets see what I can do. So that is the way today started. Not a very good starting.

This week I have decided to seriously concentrate on my work.

Good thing is that I bought a TV tuner card and now have it setup on my computer at home. Bad thing is that I do not have a cable connection in my room to watch TV. he he.

Sam, Me, Shoheb and Sujith met this weekend and went to Sam’s plot to have a look at it. Pretty far but much better than the polluted city. I guess my new flat is also going to be in such an environment. Need to get back to work now. Will see that to write later.

At last we managed to find a drummer for the band. A drummer who is just too good and can play the way we program it. It sure is going to be a surprise. I am soon going to put up his photo. Sujith ans Shoeb are excited about it too. We will start the recording of our first single “Manzil” when all the four of us find time.

It was shocking that the Indian government spent Rs. 40 crores on the Bollywood stars for an eleven-minute show at the recently concluded Commonwealth games in Melbourne. If the government had spent even a fraction of that amount on the athletes who participated in the event then we would have had some more medals in our Kitty. It is really shameful that the government gives step motherly treatment to the sports and sportsmen and spends crores on Bollywood actors that has no connection with sports world at all.

I have seen our national hockey players bathing in a railway yard and being stashed in a second-class railway compartment when they were traveling for a hockey tournament. The sportspersons participating in Olympics and Common wealth games are paid peanuts and the sport facilities are pathetic. Even the medal winners at the Commonwealth games will not receive even one percent of what Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutt got (one crore each) for simply waving to the crowds. And the so-called face of Indian cinema Aishwarya Rai’s fake patriotism was exposed when she boasted of performing at the ceremony just for patriotic reasons. And what was the cost of this patriotism – a cool Rs.3 Crore. Bollywood actors do not even represent India but the sportspersons do and they are the ones who are more eligible for receiving large amount and not some dumb actresses like Aishwarya Rai, whose only qualification is her good face. Now there is every reason to believe that Aishwarya Rai might also be charging hefty fees for indulging in other social causes.

Can’t our Bollywood stars perform free of charge for India even for eleven minutes? The government would have definitely spent on their stay and travel expenses and it was not even the case where the Bollywood stars had to incur a loss by rejecting a movie offer for performing at the event. The Government should get their priorities right and instead of wasting money on Bollywood stars they should spend money on improving the sports infrastructure, the training facilities for sportspersons and increasing their fees.

The organizer of the event, Mr. Viraf Sarkar of Wizcraft says that Bollywood stars were showcasing our country. He should know that Bollywood is not India. And if he wanted to showcase our country then he should have had people from different fields and not just from Bollywood. And if the government is thinking that they can attract spectators by displaying Bollywood actors in the ceremony then they are seriously undermining the sports lovers in India. A sport lover would always go for Commonwealth games whether Bollywood endorses it or not. There is nothing wrong if Bollywood actors are used for publicity but there could be no justification for spending 40 crores on them when the sportspersons are being poorly paid and leading a pathetic life.

Such poor sports administration has been the bane for our sports culture for decades. I hope that the Indian government and the sports minister look into the matter and ensure that this kind of money wastage does not recur. It is high time that the politicians and officials are thrown out from sports bodies and are replaced by retired, outstanding sportspersons and able administrators who know something about sports. Why have politicians like Suresh Kalmadi at the helm when he has done nothing good for the sports all these years?

Finally, Bollywood stars like Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee, Saif Ali Khan, etc should stop talking about patriotism and their love for India when all they do is sell their soul and patriotism for money. They are nothing but mercenaries and the sports administrators are nothing but idiots.

The week was pretty tiring at work

Saturday was a really good day though. Lazed out at home. Not much work to do. In fact were preparing for Sunday when Sam was throwing the party.

Party was an awesome one. Went to Easy Rider even though I had a bad experience there the last time. They definitely play some good music. Drank a lil extra but the effect showed all on Shoheb. Got out of easy rider at about 9.00 but had to reach home at about 11:45 as Shoheb was tullll. But things were not that bad too. Will be posting the photos from the Sunday party on the photo blog.