South Mumbai gaming lounge is currently running an 8-over cricket tourney for fathers and sons, a wonderful grand prize awaits.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
In a city starved of space for children and adults to play in, and with our hectic lives making even daily conversation possible, this is a great opportunity for some familial bonding.
The Lower Parel-based Smaaash gaming lounge is currently running ‘The Father and Son Cricket Tournament’ till January 31, 2015. Already, the tournament has drawn in huge numbers, with even celebrities trooping in to play cricket with their sons.
What’s more, the perfect father-son duo will get to meet cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
All you have to do is form a father-son team, play in the relevant age categories and get a chance to meet Sachin. Over the course of the month, top teams will be identified and will be selected for the grand prize. These will include the top 3 scoring father-son pairs from each age category. The tournament involves a 6-over match at Smaaash Cricket.
Age categories include Under 10, Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16
Head toSmaaash, Kamala Mills Compound, Gate No 4, Lower Parel. There is a registration fee of Rs. 800 for 8 overs (2 overs are for practice and 6 overs are counted as tournament). Call 022 4914 3143 for details.
Mumbai’s Mid Day photojournalist Atul Kamble continues to win laurels for his iconic image capturing Sachin Tendulkar’s last Test match.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
Mumbai-based news photographer Atul Kamble’s world-famous image of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar’s last Test appearance in Mumbai has won the prestigious MFI-Yes Bank ‘Picture of the Year 2013’ award at the National Press Photo Contest 2014.
Mid-Day photojournalist Atul Kamble’s iconic photograph captures Sachin Tendulkar step out of the dressing room at Wankhede stadium to bat in his final Test innings as spellbound fans jostle to capture the historic moment, last November. The photograph was chosen among over 8,000 images submitted by over 240 photojournalists from across India for the MFI-YES BANK National Press Photo Contest 2014.
The photograph was selected unanimously as the ‘Picture of the Year 2013’ by the three-member jury of the contest which included award-winning photojournalists Pablo Bartholomew, Arko Datta and Rafeeq Ellias.
41-year-old Kamble, whose image also won the first prize in Sport category, will be awarded the grand prize of Rs 75,000 at an awards ceremony scheduled in Mumbai on December 19, 2014. 22 other photojournalists who won prizes in six categories will be also awarded cash prizes worth Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 at the ceremony.
“I am very happy. I have been participating in MFI-YES BANK National Press Photo Contest since its inception and it is wonderful to win this prestigious award,” said Kamble after learning of his win.
Jury member Pablo Bartholomew, multiple award-winning photojournalist known for his iconic image of a child victim of Bhopal Gas Tragedy, said “The photograph captures Sachin Tendukar’s retirement from sporting life. The picture sort of epitomises an icon within that frame and that’s why it is important. For once, we are not leaning towards issue-based or conflict-based image, but it is a historic moment.”
“A cricketing legend bidding goodbye, bathed in a warm light, ‘alone’ –– despite the adulation of his cellphone waving fans. There were indeed events of more far-reaching impact during the year but no picture seemed to capture them as decisively and as poignantly,” said Rafeeq Ellias, who straddles many worlds that include photojournalism, advertising, cinema and design.
“Sports images are rarely given the highest honour in any photography competition but this was a compelling image that stood out… It is an image that beautifully combines form and narrative,” said jury member Arko Datta, whose iconic images of 2002 Gujarat riots, and the Indonesian Tsunami, are well-known.
The MFI YES BANK National Press Photo Contest is currently in its fourth year. The ‘Picture of the Year’ award has been won by independent Kashmiri photojournalist Showkat Nanda in 2011, India Today’s Mandar Deodhar in 2012, and Delhi-based photojournalist Chinky Shukla in 2013.
Atul Kamble, noted photojournalist with Mid Day, was adjudged the winner for his stunning picture of Sachin Tendulkar’s last match at Wankhede.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
Mumbai-based photographer Atul Kamble, a noted name in news journalism, was declared the winner of the Wisden MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year 2013 Award yesterday. Atul’s picture of legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar emerging from the dressing room to take the pitch for his last match, beat out stiff competition in 500 overall entries from around the world to be declared the winner.
With the win, Atul also pocketed a cool £1,000 cash prize. Other winners included Shaun Roy, professional photographer from South Africa, and Khalid Rayhan Shawon, an amateur photographer from Bangladesh. The judging panel comprised Chris Smith, Patrick Eagar, Nigel Davies, Eileen Langsley and Hugh Routledge.
Atul’s picture was shortlisted with 10 others, and ultimately chosen for its “sheer sense of occasion”, as Chris Smith put it.
We spoke to Atul after his big win. Excerpts from the interview:
How did you choose this spot for the picture?
I was positioned at the boundary line on the opposite side of the players dressing room. Thanks to my tele-photo lens (zoom lens), I managed to shoot this picture from the opposite side of the ground.
When you took the shot, what was running through your mind?
I was excited. I knew I had a good off-beat (off-action) picture. But I was a little emotional myself too, because I knew that this would be Sachin Tendulkar’s last innings and as a Mumbai player, I had followed his career throughout.
Would you say this is your best picture? What are some of the other great shots you have taken?
I think I’d say that this is one of my best pictures till date. I have a few favourites, both in sport as well as in general photography, and this will surely be among the best I have shot.
How long have you been a photojournalist? Can you describe a memorable incident in your photography career?
I’ve been a photograhper for almost two decades now, 18 years to be precise. One of the biggest and most emotionally stirring moments for me as a photographer was during the Azad Maidan riots in Mumbai on August 11, 2012. Some miscreants took down the Amar Jawan Memorial outside CST Station and I shot that image. The images incensed many and created a furore, both on the virtual and social media, as well as in the real world. Some political parties even termed these miscreants to be traitors.
So what does this recognition from Wisden mean to you?
Being a sports photographer primarily, there can be no bigger award than one that comes from the Mecca of Cricket — Lord’s. MCC’s recognition has to be my biggest award as a sports photographer.
Let the BCCI milk Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement, but fans will not easily forgive the empty seats during his last match.
by Jatin Sharma
The world cried when Sachin Tendulkar gave his farewell speech at the Wankhede. The speech was not made of words; it comprised emotions that were residing in his heart for long. Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar became a bigger legend with his parting words. The atmosphere was electrifying and all the fans shed a tear written in Sachin’s name. For the first time, everyone wanted this test match to never end. It looked like the fans really wanted Sachin to do everything on the ground, from bowling to fielding to batting. They wished that Sachin would never retire.
But despite the tears and smiles and euphoria at having witnessed cricket’s legend one last time, I have a complaint with the BCCI.
Sachin, the God of Cricket, gave us pure joy for 24 years, and received accolades not just in his country but from all over the world. There is hardly any need to go into his greatness – indeed, in the last few days there have been many articles written about different experts who know more than I do about the man and his legendary moments in the game.
Naturally, that every person who has experienced the joy associated with Sachin Tendulkar would flock to Wankhede Stadium to see him in action one last time. But once the ticketing process started last Monday, all hell promptly broke loose. The official online ticketing partner Kyazoonga’s site crashed. Meanwhile, there were rumours that the ‘general public quote’ number of tickets – 5,000 only – were, in reality, only 3,500 in number. Most of the tickets were given away in quotas and to individuals associated with the game and MCA. With such a carnival atmosphere pervading the city as the day of Sachin’s retirement drew close, it was logical to assume that Wankhede would run to a packed house during the match.
WRONG.
I was at Wankhede and I saw empty seats. With so many genuine cricket lovers clamouring for tickets, every single empty seat made me realise that Sachin deserved far better. It’s obvious, what happened here – the BCCI goofed up again. Failing to understand the people’s sentiments, the BCCI only tried to please its associates and make money off people’s fervour for Sachin. If the ticket distribution had been opened to the aam junta, we would have seen a very different scenario at Wankhede. But so many tickets were sent to corporates who only believe in balance sheets, not emotions. If the ticket windows had been opened at the stadium, if the ticket distribution process had been fair, there would have been no black marketing of tickets and no need for people to pay astronomical sums of money for tickets.
Those empty seats were meant for fans, who had no option but to get tickets in black. No wonder they booed the Board authorities during the match presentation. The only people who were cheered on by the public were city Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh and the cricketers themselves.
As a fan, I was quite angry when I saw those empty seats, that were like a sign of BCCI’s greed and how they just wanted to make even this, Sachin’s swansong, a money making event.
There could have been many more Sachin lovers in the stands than at home in front of their TV sets. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who has time and again credited his fans for his stupendous career, might one day be felicitated by the same BCCI on the same grounds for being the youngest recipient of the Bharat Ratna. But more than anything else, those empty seats will continue to rankle in my memory and dishearten me for years to come.
Jatin Sharma is a media professional who doesn’t want to grow up, because if he grows up, he will be like everybody else. ‘Overdose’ is his weekly take on Mumbai’s quirks and quibbles.
As the God of cricket pads up for retirement, a fan congratulates the legend despite a personal sense of loss.
by Jatin Sharma
India’s Bharat ratna is going to retire soon. No, don’t even start on whether Dada is the greatest, or The Wall the strongest, or Kapil Dev the biggest achiever. Till my last breath, like a million others, I will say Sachin is our true Bharat ratna.
The Man from Mumbai, the boy who became a man at the age of 16 when he played against Pakistan, the man who scored a 100 centuries, the man who broke every possible record and the man who created the only religion in the world that united people rather than dividing them – wouldn’t you say he is truly the greatest?
I was born in 1986 and he started playing cricket a year later in 1987. Since the time I remember, I have not seen an international Indian Playing XI that did not have Sachin Tendulkar in it. My growing up years were defined by Sachin’s theatrics on the field, and it was truly a blessing to watch him play. So it’s a little unsettling to imagine a playing side without Sachin in it.
This Mumbai boy definitely deserves to get a Bharat Ratna for the joy he has given us for so long. And he deserves the Bharat Ratna not just for his cricketing skills but for the sportsmanship and dedication he has displayed all through his career.
I was once interviewing actor Abhishek bachchan, when he spoke of Sachin Tendulkar with great pride and fondness. He had said, “Sachin and my father are similar to each other in lot of ways. And that’s why both have achieved greatness in their lives. They are highly disciplined and still feel that they can learn something new every day.” He described an incident where there was a celebratory function with a bevy of cricketers and Bollywood stars in attendance. “All the cricketers were enjoying the show and having fun, and so was Sachin. But after half an hour he looked at his watch. It was 10 pm, so he quietly moved out of the venue, saying he has to be on the field the next day. The next day he had a practice match!”
As a child too, he would practice his game for eight hours a day. He owned only two pairs of pants, so he got used to playing cricket with his pockets still wet from the previous wash.
I can’t think of another cricketer who gave us all such unbridled joy, who made us all so proud, who upheld the standards of his beloved game so well. Sachin is probably the only batsman who comes to mind when we think of pure, classy cricket – can you think of any other player who walks off the field despite knowing that the umpire’s Out decision was wrong, or who still walked off it when the umpire gave him a Not Out?
Sachin keeps getting criticised for chasing records, for playing only for himself and not for the whole team. To all those who truly believe this, I say: you are idiots. While those records were being made or broken, he was doing his job of making runs and even taking wickets when needed. And why grudge him his records? It’s not like he stopped playing the moment he set a new record, though the team needed more runs. Only a cricketer truly in love with the game can create a record, and to create so many…Sachin tells his own story through his career. For everyone who has played cricket in his life, even at the galli level, knows how satisfying it is to hold a record. A record is not a bad word in any sport. It doesn’t mean you are going to throw your wicket the moment your record is created.
And he seems much above these petty discussions of records and personal glory, with his achievements going far beyond simply winning matches. This man won our hearts. He won hearts the world over. I have an Australian friend who says that he used to pray about Australia winning and Sachin Tendulkar not getting out in a match against Australia. I’m sure there are others like him all over the world, rooting for their home teams but actually rooting for the little man from Mumbai.
Our city bid adieu to its favourite God last month, not knowing at the time that another goodbye to another God was imminent so soon. This God’s name is Sachin Tendulkar and he will play his last test match in Mumbai against the West Indies. And even before he takes to the field, he will make another record there too: of being the first God to ever retire in this world.
Jatin Sharma is a media professional who doesn’t want to grow up, because if he grows up, he will be like everybody else. ‘Overdose’ is Jatin’s weekly take on Mumbai’s quirks and quibbles.
What makes all of us fall in love with this city? And is there a simple answer to this question?
by Purva Desai
I’ve often wondered what’s kept me stuck to a city like Mumbai, to the point where I’m hostile about the idea of moving any place else. Wherever I go, I invariably begin to compare it to Mumbai.
Maybe I got Bombay-genised long ago, in the days when we partied till 5:00 am and going to J49 toh boss banta hi banta tha. I can’t pinpoint and explain to perplexed lovers of open spaces and believers of a quality life that for me, this is the best place to be. They keep asking ‘Why?’
Why? Because of everything. Terminology, food, places, people…I can go on and on.
I’ve observed on my travels that I’m a hopeless homesick who finds something missing in most places and which I feel Bom-Mumbai has – a vibrating, pulsating, encompassing heart!
I find it in the midst of a flood when the whole city is swimming and strangers parade in complete darkness, holding your hand and singing songs to cheer you and ensure you reach home safely.
I find it in the midst of a terrorist attack where the whole city marches courageously to Colaba to show that we love one religion: humanity.
I find it at a cricket match at Wankhede Stadium where everybody is cheering Sachin Tendulkar – then there’s no Gujarati, Maharashtrian, Punjabi, Sindhi, Parsi. We all belong to one caste. And when the whole city is out on the streets, celebrating and cheering till the wee hours of morning.
I find it in the food – in the vada pavs, dabelis, pav bhaji, sev puri, ussal, missal and bhajjiyas. Here aloo pyaaj becomes kanda batata.
I find it in people even though you live alone – no one can be a stranger here. Your tai, bai, dhobi and bhajiwallah become the friends you talk to daily.
I find it in the chaos- the fast pace, lack of living space, the hurry to catch that train or run after that BEST bus. But in the end, you’ll always make it.
I find it in an autorickshaw where you are safe and secure in the hands of a rickshawwallah even at 2:00 am. Never mind his spitting (mostly paan) or the race he’s having with the BEST bus. Ignore that and you’ll survive.
I find it in Colaba where you realise that Shantaram makes you see the place in a whole new light and you wonder if foreigners know Mumbai more than you do. Maybe they do…
I find it on the streets where Zara, Forever New, Mango, Ann Taylor and FCUK all come under one roof for cheap – it’s surplus but still ORIGINAL.
I find it in the bars, clubs and restaurants where you’re as valued as a Bollywood star or celebrity.
In the end, maybe I’ve said too much or maybe I have not said enough. I can make endless comparisons, use metaphors, similes and give ‘hajjaar’ explanations, but the realisation is always one and always the same – I’ll have an eternal love affair with this city.
More things to love about Mumbai:
Autorickshaws
Scrumptious street food all over the city
Sachin Tendulkar, the god of us small things
Policemen guard important buildings
Rush hour crowds
Deer watching at Borivli National Park
The Bandra Worli Sea Link
The Khans live here
Shopping at Colaba
Several chill-out options
Purva Desai is an entertainment journalist with The Times of India (online). The Santacruz resident says she is up for anything spontaneous but that apart, she loves traveling, exploring different cultures and cuisines and meeting new people, apart from having a passion for yoga, dancing, reading, cooking and films.
