Monsoon Nostalgia

It's been twenty years since I left Bombay, and reading about the record breaking rain evoked some fond memories of the Monsoon.

The first downpour of the season was a momentous occasion for the children in our apartment building. We would congregate downstairs and frolic around in the muddy waters akin to a tribe thanking the rain-gods with a ritualistic dance.

In our oversize raincoats over our stuffed bags, hats and the obligatory rubber flip-flops, we would trudge to the school bus-stop like ET's being drawn to the mother-ship.

Standing at Worli Seaface, sipping nariyal pani and letting the big waves crash over our heads gave an adrenalin rush that cannot be duplicated.

Rains meant rugby and soccer games at school. Much to the chagrin of our mothers we'd return home, caked in mud from a hard rugby game. It made us feel like heroes, though.

Most of all, I remember how dark it would get during the middle of the day with the cloud cover. And how this would somehow have a strange effect of uplifting the spirit.

They say Bombay has changed a lot. I'd still like to remember it as it was twenty years ago.

Hope

When a friend, a self-confessed sports fanatic, informed me of Sania Mirza's presence in the draw for the WTA Tour Event at Cincinnati, I immediately decided to attend. The hype surrounding 'Sania Mania' in the Indian media definitely justified the $12 dollars for the first round match.

And I was not disappointed.

From the get-go Sania displayed a 'tude worthy of a winner. She attacked with hard-hitting shots and some very clever ball placement. OK, the first-serve needs help but that will come with experience and coaching.

Granted that this was no Grand Slam tournament attracting the top players, but defeating someone 34 positions higher in the WTA rankings (Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany) deserves commendation.

Thanks to her benefactor, GVK Group of Industries, Sania finally has a coach - albeit a traveling one.

Watching her play, I felt a sense of hope for women's tennis in India. I am sure she is serving as an inspiration and role model for girls who wouldn't have otherwise picked up a racket.

Sholay II

While surfing today I found an article that said Ram Gopal Verma is considering a remake of Sholay. For someone like me, who grew up reciting the groundbreaking dialogs in his sleep, the very thought of re-doing it borders on the ridiculous. Can the Taj be rebuilt? Ok, I know I am pushing it but Sholay's one classic that should be left alone.

The cynics will cry that Sholay itself was lifted from Hollywood oaters, so why not create a 'remixed' version for Gen Y'ers.

Naaah.

I can already hear myself pooh-poohing the new version, much like my parents dissed Bhansali's Devdas.