When   many enjoyed a glass of wine,

     A few shared 'A Cup of Smile'

    

     

    A group of youngster choose to celebrate 31st Dec differently by Serving those who Serve us (Mumbai Police). 'A Cup of Smile' offering a cup of tea' to the onduty policeman so that they could spare a moment in relaxation from their hectic duty and appreciating their efforts in keeping us safe. The group was formed just a few days ago with the help of social media when this idea came to the mind of Dnyaneshwari  Velankar, a college student residing in Girgaon, "Party and Celebrations happen every year but I wanted to do something unique. So how about serving  'The Real Heroes' the Mumbai Police because of whom others get to celebrate safely."said Dnyaneshwari who was the Women behind all this.

   Thirteen volunteers not only came forward to support but also contributed money for the tea and cups that were to be arranged. They  started the tea distribution from Girgaon chowpatty at 10 pm and went all the way upto Nariman point to serve more than 600 policeman.    "Witnessing the smile on the face of policeman was a priceless moment of my life and a it was the first time that I got to know the human being behind the khakki" said Jayesh one of the 13 volunteer.            

     "Many onlooker took notice and appreciated the efforts but some misinterpreted us as 'chaiwalla' and one even asked for cigrates or litters. Which we didnt have", said Akshay kedia a  volunteer who had come all the way from kandivali for being part of this. After a tireing yet satisfying experience at around 3 am  the group wound up at churchgate station with 6 empty tea kettles but a mind full of hope,rejoice and satisfaction thus starting the new year on a really 'HIGH' note.

      

FREEDOM RIDE: Pedal for the Nation

 A ‘Freedom Ride’ (Cycle rally) was organized to celebrate 69^th Independence Day by visiting places which are of historic importance during the freedom struggle.

 The ride started from August Kranti Maidan (a place from where Gandhiji ordered the British to ‘Quit India’ on 9 August 1942) at around 7 am by flag hoisting ceremony and paying respect to the freedom fighters who lost their lives. It was followed by Mani Bhavan (a place which was the epicenter of India’s struggle for freedom during 1917-1934 when Gandhiji stayed here. It is from here Gandhiji  launched Satyagraha and Civil disobedient movement.) A two storey building is now converted into a tourist attraction which has exhibition depicting Gandhiji’s life through miniature figures and library having more than 40,000 books. The next point of the ride was Lokmanya Tilak statue at Girgaon Chowpatty (now renamed as Swarajya Bhumi). In order to unite people Lokmanya Tilak initiated celebration of  ‘Ganeshotsav’ and ‘Shiv Jayanti’ which continue even today. It was at this place where Tilak was cremated which was witnessed by over two lakh people. The cyclist pedal through marine drive upto Nariman point where they had a interactive session. “It was a unique way to celebrate Independence day rather than going out on a holiday” said a 20 year old student who participated in the ride.

     

    This rally is part of the ‘PEDAL FOR JOY’ initiative to popularize Cycling. It had also organized two cycle rallies last year to celebrate ‘Eco friendly Diwali’ and ‘Pedal for Peace (26/11)’ rally. It also plans to organize cycle rallies in different parts of the city in future.

FB PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/PEDALFORJOY

SANKET SUBHEDAR 

Review on Marathi film Mumbai Pune Mumbai 2 

Not worth the wait

The audience were made to wait for five years for the sequel Mumbai Pune Mumbai 2 but it fails to live up to the expectation.The first film ends with keeping the audince intersted and a scope for a sequnce to be made. As a separate film the film is good but when you make a sequel the comparison is bound to happen it lacks in it.

       The first story had only two characters but still there was a no dull moment in it. The love hate relationship between the characters which names were not revealed till the end represented the two cities itself. The sequel has many character played wonderfully by well known actors. Since the audience finally knows that 'marriage is going to happen' it fails to maintain the interest of the audience in the second half. The locations,casting, framework,costumes and technical aspects must be given due credit but for all this you must have a good story to tell. Athough the film is not worth the wait still mpm1 will remain in the hearts.

Sanket Subhedar

           Half Day’s will be missed

                        

           Half Day’s will be missed

    With 2nd and 4th Saturday being off and rest full day, the concept of half day working for banks is finally gone. It may have been time for many bankers to celebrate as it adds to the number of bank holidays and also provide opportunity to enjoy a longer weekend. The banking communities were always envy about other government offices enjoying 2nd and 4th Saturday off. This was one of the major outcomes from the X bipartite settlement which was signed between Employee's Union and IBA (Indian Banks Association). It will come into effects from September thus 29th August will be the last half day for banks.

   

   No Tiffin, casual clothing and excitement of finishing early used to be daily course of most bank employee on Saturday until now. In many branches Saturday was a day to celebrate. “Birthday, sendoff, promotion were all celebrated on a Saturday. We used to look forward to half day working as well as all these celebration. With no more half day it feels a bit odd” said a banker, who has had 30 years of service. Also for many who had posting away from home ,Saturday was the day to catch the earliest bus/train and reach home. "I used to wait for Saturday (weekend) as that was the day I could get to meet my family and spend quality time with them" said a bank employee who works in Mumbai and has his family in Pune.

     

    Many customers who had Saturday holiday used to prefer to do bank work on Saturday thus banks having long queue. "The volume of work on half day remained the same. Most times we could have to stay back and complete work. By the time we could reach home it was as if a full day working so this is a welcome thing for us" said a officer in one of the public sector banks.

   The second and fourth off will help reduce the operational cost for entire banking industry. It will also provide relief for people who had to travel long distance in order to reach office. But the Monday following the off will see a huge rush in banks. Overall it is a welcome move for bankers but there is no doubt half days will be missed by one and all.
 

Sanket Subhedar

                  पाऊस आणि प्रसारमाध्यम 
   

       पाऊस, ज्याची आपण सर्व आतुरतेने वाट पहात होतो त्याचे शेवटी आगमन झाले. आपल्या सर्वांसारखेच  प्रसारमाध्यमं  सुद्धा पावसाची वाट पाहत असतात. 'पाऊस हा प्रसारमाध्यमांचा सर्वात जवळचा मित्र आहे ',असे शाळेच्या इंग्रजी पुस्तकात वाचलेलं आठवतं कारण तो भरपूर प्रकारच्या बातम्या निर्माण करून प्रसारमाध्यमांची भूक भागवतो. 
  
    पाऊस किंवा  मान्सून कधी येणार यापासून त्याची सुरवात होते. प्रत्येक न्यूज चैनल / दैनिक आपापल्या परीने मान्सूनच्या आगमनाच्या तारखेचा अंदाज बांधतात. आपापल्यापरीने अंदाज बांधण्याचे कारण पूर्वानुभवावरून  सामान्यांप्रमाणे   त्यांचा ही हवामान  खात्यावर विश्वास उडाला असावा. अखेर सर्वांच्या तारखा व अंदाज चुकवून मान्सून भारताच्या दक्षिण किनारपट्टीवर येउन आदळतो. (पावसाचे भारतात आगमन ही एक बातमी) याला आता मुंबई गाठायला किती दिवस /तास लागणार, मान्सून मुंबई गाठण्यापूर्वी महानगरपालिका प्रशासन किती तयार आहे? , मिठी नदीतून किती गाळ काढला आहे? (कागदावर तरी) यावर पेपारांतले अंक व चैनलवरचे चर्चासत्र रंगतात. एकदाचा तो मुंबई गाठतो आणि सेटल व्हायला बघतो तोच बातम्यांचा  भडीमार सुरु होतो. 

हिंदमाता,परेळ, मिलनसबवे जलमय, मिठी नदीची पातळी धोकादायक पातळीपेक्षा वर, हायटाईडमुळे नागरिकांना सतर्कतेचा इशारा, मुंबईची लाइफलाईन कोलमाडली (रोज म. रे त्याला कोण रडे), शहरात मलेरिया आणि कवीळची  साथ याच बातम्या जराही बदल न होता मी गेले कित्येक वर्षे वाचत आलो आहे . काही वर्षी त्याला यायला फार उशीर होतो व कधी तो अगदीच लवकर हजेरी लावतो (ही सुद्धा बातमी) कधी पाच-सहा दिवस सलग पडतो तर कधी एक दिवस आड त्याचा क्रम असतो तर कधी आठवडाभराची सुट्टी टाकून पुणे, नाशिक अशी सहल करून येतो. हा मान्सून अडीच-तीन महिने प्रसारमाध्यमांची भूक भागवून पुढच्या वर्षी लवकर येण्याचे आश्वासन देऊन निघून जातो. 
  
संकेत सुभेदार  

                                   स्पर्श अगंबाई चा 

                                               स्पर्श अगंबाई चा 

    मूळ संकल्पना अतिशय हिट ठरली की त्यावर सिक्वेल काढायची परंपरा हिंदीप्रमाणेच मराठीत येऊ लागली आहे. पहिल्या चित्रपटाची लोकप्रियता बघता सिक्वेल काढणे आर्थिक दृष्टया कमी जोखमीचे त्यामुळे त्यात मराठी सिनेमा ही मागे नाही झपाटलेला २, टाईपास २ आणि सध्या आलेला अगंबाई अरेच्या २ ही मराठी चित्रपटाची सिक्वेलस. 

     

    सिक्वेल म्हटलं की त्याची  पहिल्या चित्रपटाशी बरोबरी होणं हे आलंचं त्यामुळे कादाचित आतापर्यंत सिक्वेल इतके हिट ठरले नसतील. अगंबाई      अरेच्या २चा पहिल्या चित्रपटाशी काहीही संबंध नाही हे दिग्दर्शकाने आधीच स्पष्ट केले  असले तरी प्रेक्षकांची  करमणूक करण्यात तो तितकाच यशस्वी ठरतो. भरत जाधव , प्रसाद ओक, सिद्धार्थ जाधव ही आघाडीची पुरुष कलाकार मंडळी असताना पण सोनाली कुलकर्णीला केंद्र स्थानी ठेऊन चित्रपट मांडला आहे. स्त्री प्रधान चित्रपट बरेच वर्षांनी मराठीत आला आहे. 'शुभांगी कुडाळकर' ही चित्रपटाची मुख्य नायिका सोनाली कुलकर्णीने  उत्तमरीत्या उभारली आहे. 

   

    'श्रीयुत गंगाधर टिपरे' या सुप्रसिद्ध मालिकेनंतर पुन्हा एकदा दिलीप प्रभावळकर आणि केदार शिंदे ही लेखक -दिग्दर्शक जोडी या  चित्रपटानिमित्त एकत्र आली आहे. मुळकथा दिलीप प्रभावळकरांची असल्यामुळे अत्यंत  साध्या गोष्टीमधून विनोद निर्मिती आपल्याला पहायला मिळते . कुटुंब -नातेसंबध या मधला गोडवा हा केदारचा  असलेला स्पेशल टच या चित्रपटातही दिसून येतो. आजही लोकांच्या मनात घर करून असणाऱ्या   अगंबाई अरेच्या १ च्या गाण्यांनी  अजय-अतुल या संगीतकार जोडीने मराठी चित्रपटात पदार्पण केले होते तसेच निषाद या संगीतकाराने अगंबाई अरेच्या २ या चित्रपटामधून मराठी चित्रपटात उत्कृष्ट पदार्पण केले आहे. पहिल्या चित्रपटाशी बरोबरी न करता प्रेक्षकाने  जर हा  चित्रपट पहिला तर त्यांची नक्कीच निराशा  होणार नाही.

THANKS MURLI!

Just as the celebration & farewall in galle has dried up,the whole hype concerned with the '800 Wicket's finally been put a full stop by murli himself. Murli had clearly quoted before the match that" 800 is just a number ",but every one except Murli wanted him to achive that 800 wicket. But one thing we all forget is that test cricket will become poorer from tommorow as one of the greatest bowler worn white uniform for the last time .

Sangakara clearly stating that"I have been asked by many to find another murli now, but I am sure i cannot because there can be only one CHAMPION like Murlidaran".The GREATNESS of the game was that the bowler with 799 wicket had to struggle to get the last wicket for quiet some time.There are talks whether anybody can break this record or not but one thing of Murli which is unbeatable is that even while remaining in controversy throughout he was ever charming person on the feild , that's why even many Indian's celebrated his 800 wicket forgetting a disastrous loss.

Murli commends respect not only from his teammates but also from the international players & umpires.After the match he says"I have no hard feeling for the any umpire as they were doing there job".Never has he been seen sledging in order to get the batsmen out; he made the ball do all the talking. As murli has finished his long spell in test, I get the same feeling as after completing reading an excellent novel.

MURLI YOU WILL BE MISSED.