If only... perhaps...

The VCD lay unopened for quite a few days.. in fact, months... finally, managed to watch it on a lazy Saturday afternoon...

कदाचित (if only.. perhaps..)
A Marathi movie.. I was watching one after a long time.. quite a different tale.. as opposed to the usual stuff dished out in the Marathi film industry.. and hopefully not lifted from any Hindi or English movie either..

The central character is a well established neuro-surgeon - an extremely intelligent and confident lady - who's aware of how good she is and makes no qualms in acknowledging it as well. Her self-confidence and strong belief in herself is what gives her immense strength.

All is well till the fateful day when her biological father comes back in her life. Years ago, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for his wife's murder - the testimony of the daughter being the evidence that tilted the judgement against him.

And the father comes back to reveal the truth - that the highly intelligent and razor sharp daughter had unusually faulted. And he was actually innocent.

Her life crumbles all around her, as she suspects her own judgement, her own intelligence. Was she wrong? Did her own father suffer because of her own mistake? As she gathers evidence, she realized that probably.. she indeed made a mistake...
The outcome is as expected - from the highs of confidence she falls into the depths of depression...

Ever observed your own shadow?
Your shadow is actually an image of your own personality - your belief system is the light shining behind you that creates that shadow.
As long as your belief is strong, the shadow is clear and full... and it stays with you always to keep you aware of your own presence..
As the light becomes weaker, the shadow fades away into an emptiness... an emptiness that dares to dissolve you into nothingness...

No wonder, the challenge for the lady remains.. can she revive that light of her own belief to keep her shadow alive...
If only.. perhaps.. she were right that fateful day as she had always been...

~ Quite ironically, I decided to write about a Marathi movie in English; while I have written about English movies on my Marathi blog...paradoxical, I say.. but then, c'est la vie..

Rivalry

Remember that last epic marathon match between these two?
The Wimbledon final of 2008, which many say has been the greatest final ever played on Center Court, and few or probably none would choose to disagree.

A lot of water has flown under the bridge since last July. The Emperor has been dethroned by the King. Call it fate or luck - but the two have not met since - neither at the US Open, nor at the season ending Shanghai Masters.

As the new year unfolds, as the first major of the year culminates tomorrow - the two gladiators wait behind the gates of the Colloseum, brandishing their swords, pumping their fists, getting ready for their first duel in seven months.

While Roger possibly faces self-doubts on whether he can beat Rafa who enjoys a 12-6 head-to-head advantage and more importantly, who beat him in that Wimbledon final; Nadal faces the enormous challenge of pulling himself up - physically as well as mentally - after that nerve sapping semi-final against Verdasco.

It is also the first time in the final of a major that Rafa is seeded first while Roger is seeded second. I am not sure but I am guessing that while all the 5 majors won by Rafa have come when he was seeded second, Roger has won all of his 13 majors while being seeded first (need to confirm this). But this would probably be the last thing on the minds of the two of them.

I for one, can hardly wait till tomorrow's final. Just putting together a few links to some interesting articles, posts on one of the greatest rivalries of all time in the world of tennis. Any guesses who I predict to win? - Well, none other than RF in 4 sets. Let's wait till tomorrow. Till then, enjoy reading these...

Peter Bodo, in TennisWorld on the rivalry
http://tennisworld.typepad.com/tennisworld/2009/01/tj.html

Sampras least expecting his record to be threatened
http://www.tennis.com/tournaments/2009/australianopen/australianopen.aspx?id=162342

A Nadal fan predicting his win
http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/2009/01/oz-the-duel-goe.html

Federer's tryst with the Australian Open
http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/tennis/federer-with-all-due-respect/2009/01/30/1232818732483.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Complete head-to-head match summaries between the two rivals on the official ATP website http://www.atpworldtour.com/1/en/news/newsarticle_1967.asp

.

..and...

Can Federer regain the numero uno spot again?
In history, only one man called Ivan Lendl has been able to do that.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/5/en/deuce/january2009/federer.asp