A BYTE OF LIFE Friday, January 30, 2009

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. 18

» Pages 4 & 5

As Rider Mania 2009

unfolded in Ooty,
Ergo rode along with
motorcycle club Madras
Bulls from Chennai

TO HILLS WITH BULLS

02 ERGO Friday, January 30, 2009

Be the change

Namma Chennai
Have you always wanted to do something for your city? Join other
interested volunteers to talk about how you can play a role in the
city’s infrastructural growth. A volunteering workshop will be held
tomorrow at Janaagraha office, 13, Chittaranjan Road, from 4 p.m.
to 6 p.m. For details call 98414 87984.

Exhibition

Picture perfect
A constant search for decisive
Theatre moments takes this photographer
places. Varun Gupta’s latest
We are 15 exhibition of photographs were
taken at Ladakh.
When: Till February 14
In celebration of 15 years of Thespian en,
When: Goethe-Institut, No 4
a number of mono-acts are lined up on
Rutland Gate, 5th Street
January 31 and February 1. Catch various
Ph: 2833 2343
theatre groups stage them. The plays to
be staged include Albert Camus’ Caligula
by Michael Muthu of Boardwalkers;
Pradeep Dalvi’s This is Nathuram Godse
Speaking by Vinay Varma of Sutradhar,
Hyderabad; William Shakespeare’s Workshop
Macbeth by Ajit Chitturi of Thespian En;
Alfred Tennyson’s Ulysses by Arka Mukhopadhyay Logos Theatre,
Bangalore and Vijay Tendulkar’s Silence, the Court is in Session by All the world a
Archita Chandra of Thespian En.
The mono acts will be staged at Backyard, Alliance Francaise at 7.30
p.m. Tickets are priced at Rs. 200 and Rs. 100, available at
stage
‘The Method and the Madness’ –
Amethyst, Anokhi and Landmark stores.
a two-day workshop on acting for
For details call 98401 27103
the English stage will be
conducted soon.
It is being organised by British
Council in association with
Holycowtheatre, UK. The
Music workshop will deal with the

Singing with theoretical and practical issues in

dealing with performance (voice
and movement), text (approach
Shreya and interpretation) and ensemble
work (working with cast,
Devdas, Munnabhai MBBS, Lage Raho designers and directors).
Munnabhai, Om Shanti Om... Shreya For registration walk in to BC, 737,
Ghosal’s popularity only seems to Anna Salai, or call 4205 0600, email
be growing. The Sri Kutchi Milan chennai.enquiry@in.britishcouncil.org
Madras Charitable Trust is
organising a performance by the
playback singer in the city. The
proceeds from the show will go
towards various social projects. Music
When: January 31; 7 p.m.
Where: Music Academy
For details call 97162 41411

Music

Musically yours
The Alliance Francaise of
Madras along with Musee
Musicals is organising an
evening of Western classical
Metal act
music by All you metal band fans, do stop over at K.R.M.M Hall this Saturday.
Mira T. Sundara Rajan on the Unwind Centre is presenting ‘Metalise’ – a metal music fest. Blood
piano. and Iron, Blind Image, Blood Covenant, among others, promise to
When: February 1; 6.30 p.m. rock the crowd.
Where: Sivagami Pethachi When: January 31; 6 p.m.
Auditorium Where: K.R.M.M. Hall, 4th Crescent Road, Gandhinagar, Adyar
 Friday, January 30, 2009
03
Man

Love
Valentine’s Day is round the corner
and while you are getting ready to
make that first proposal or woo your
loved one, here’s why you must have
is in the air a quick peek at some of these
interesting findings.
Love aspirations
Around 70 per cent of
women around the
world believe that men
base their fantasies
primarily on the stea-
my love scenes enacted
by their favourite TV and
movie stars, with provoc-
ative adult magazines
placing a close second.
For better or for worse
Expectations are inevitable
when it comes to engagement
rings. French women must be
easy to please — 84 per cent
thought their engagement ring
was perfect. By contrast, almost
half the women in the UK (44 per
cent) said they were less than
thrilled about their fiancé’s selec-
tion. It’s an even split in India,
Preparing for the dream date where half the women adored
~ Don’t jump to conclusions: No matter how tempting it is. their engagement rings when
The whole reason you’re on a set-up is to be surprised, so they were first presented with
be open to the experience and avoid immediate judgments. them, and the other half were left
Even if your date is not your usual type – a little tall, a bit feeling devastated and distraught.
short, wears glasses or has a funny voice – just roll with it.
~ Do your research: Use your friend’s insight to your Wish upon a star
advantage. Ask your mutual friend about your date’s If you had just one wish what
interests, hobbies, pets, family or other quirky facts. would you change about your
~ Don’t get lost in a crowd : If you’re meeting your set-up in partner? American women (44
a public place, make sure it’s somewhere you can easily find.
Not knowing what your date looks like should be exciting,
not a reason to miss dinner. Also, make sure you choose a
place where you can actually have a decent conversation.
per cent) and Dutch women (62
per cent) want a thoughtful mate
who understands that “chore-
play” is sexier than foreplay. Men,
get those vacuums revving!
Breaking a sweat does more than
just raise your heart rate. Austra-
lian men, Italian women and
American men wish their part-
ners were more physically fit,
while the French look for the finer
things in life. French women wish
for a better-looking mate while
half the men wish for a more cul-
tured partner.
Love security
Twenty-seven per cent of North
American men find perfect love in
their friends’ relationships and 21
per cent of women see it in their
parents.
What women and men want
North American men (44 per
cent) are turned off by excessive
makeup – simplicity and natural
beauty is what they want.
(This survey was brought out by
Harlequin publishers – who have
entertained millions of people
worldwide with their sensational
romantic Mills and Boons series for
the last 60 years)
immolates
for Tamil
cause
A 27-year-old man who set him-
self ablaze on Thursday citing
the Sri Lankan Tamil cause died
in a hospital later.
The shocking incident unfold-
ed in full view of the public inside
Shastri Bhavan complex in Nun-
gambakkam.
The man, identified as Muthu
Kumar, a native of Tuticorin, was
known to be staying with his sis-
ter and her husband in Kolathur.
He was employed as a DTP oper-
ator in a small Tamil magazine
office in Royapettah. He allegedly
took the extreme step after being
disappointed over the plight of
the Tamils in Sri Lanka due to the
war.
According to police sources,
Muthu Kumar had reached Shas-
tri Bhavan at around 10.30 a.m.
with a can of kerosene and
doused himself with it. After rais-
ing anti-Sri Lankan government
slogans he set himself on fire and
then ran around engulfed by
flames shouting pro-LTTE slo-
gans. He soon collapsed on the
premises. Police soon reached
the spot and rushed Muthu Ku-
mar to Government Kilpauk
Medical College Hospital. He suf-
fered over 70 per cent burns and
succumbed to his injuries later in
the day. Before his death he gave
a death declaration to the police
in which he mentioned that the
Central Government should take
up the Tamil cause seriously at
least after his death, added po-
lice. ■
Ergo Correspondent

Because mummy knows best

This virtual hangout for moms in Chennai is
driven by fellow moms. Why not join them?

‘I
need a nanny for my bour (but I don’t speak Ta- return from the U.S. motiv- lution to every question
18-month-old son. mil!) or in the least call up ated this mother of two and their folk go through. They
The nanny should your parents/in-laws for a former software engineer need not necessarily be in
engage my son is ac- whatever little advice they to come up with such a Chennai, but have some
tivities like reading, play- can offer? Thanks to the In- platform with her friend link with the city.
ing, etc. in addition to ternet, today even the most Rajaa Murugan. “The infor- “Forty to 50 per cent of
taking care of him from 10 technology-challenged of mation is all about Chen- our members are women
a.m. to 7.30 p.m.’, ‘Can I us rely on the virtual world nai. Queries related to who have taken a break
find a good gynaecologist for every piece of informa- schools and gynaecology from work,” Bhavani says
in Tambaram?’, ‘Can DPT tion. Cashing on this trend top the list,” says Bhavani. about how net-savvy wom-
vaccine be administered to is Bhavani K. Raman, foun- So, who is answering the en have become. Besides
a child when he has cold?’ der of www.chennaimoms.com umpteen questions they asking, advising and asso-
… . Questions like these – a platform that allows are bombarded with day-in ciating with other mothers,
abound when you are a mothers to address, rant, and day-out? The website chennaimoms.com also
new mom or someone un- fret or laugh about any- so far has over 400 regis- conducts contest for moth-
familiar to the city. What thing that concerns moth- tered moms who answer ers, has a blog and many
do you do then? ers. the questions – they are more upcoming features.
Confide in a colleague, Quest for local informa- moms who either know the Happy networking! ■
look for help in your neigh- tion about the city after her city very well or have a so- Liffy Thomas
Bhavani Raman (founder) and Rajaa Murugan (co-founder) of Chennaimoms
04
Big Story
Biker Brotherhood
Ergo joins the Madras Bulls, Chennai’s Royal Enfield
motorcycle club, on its road trip to Ooty, where Rider
Mania 2009 was underway
5
.00 a.m., Friday, January 23,
2009, outside Chennai Trade
Centre, Nandambakkam.
Sleepyheads heading to buy
the morning’s milk and newspaper
woke up to the recurring roar of puff-
ing engines. Not one, not two but an
army of over 80 Royal Enfield motor-
cycles throttling and all set to hit the
road ahead, like Steppenwolf’s ‘Born
to be Wild’.
The dawn invaders here were mem-
bers of Madras Bulls, Chennai’s Royal
Enfield motorcycle club, who were
ready to ride to the Nilgiris for the
seventh edition of Rider Mania, the
annual Royal Enfield enthusiasts’
event.
Ergo rode along with the Bulls those
570 kms to the Queen of Hills to wit-
ness the biker camaraderie first-hand.
On India’s biggest motorcycle ever
produced, we cruised ahead with over
80 riding Bulls to the Rider Mania des-
tination. A sense of pride in riding in
rows of Royal Enfields, to the accom-
paniment of other roadies’ envy and
baffled bystanders, made the morn-
ing ride an unforgettable experience
for us.
Passing Vellore, Ambur, Vaniyama-
badi, Krishnagiri, Mettur, Satyaman-
galam, Mettupalayam and Conoor,
our biker contingent reached the Oo-
ty hilltop at around nine in the ex-
tremely nippy night. We did make
mini halts to cool our engines, fill our
stomachs and at times answer some
puzzled onlooker about our mission.
Interestingly, some thought it was a
motorcycle race, while some even
quizzed us whether we were soldiers
heading for the Republic Day parade.
The event
The chilly dawn of January 24, 2009,
in Ooty was invaded by Royal Enfields
as riders from different parts of the
country rolled into Ooty to be part of
the two-day biker event. Hosted this
year by Rolling Thunder Motorcycle
The Madras Bulls badge
ERGO Friday, January 30, 2009
The Madras Bulls assemble in Ooty
before heading to the Rider Mania ’09
venue on January 24
A custom-made Royal Enfield
Club (RTMC), Bangalore, Rider Mania
2009 witnessed 600 motorcycles and
over 1,000 Royal Enfield enthusiasts,
including a few women riders.
Biker clubs from all corners of the
country, including Meghalaya, Delhi,
Haryana, West Bengal, Gujarat, Mah-
arashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala,
added zing to the biker event in the
hills. Rider Mania 2009 had a number
of events for which various clubs
fought for the top spots. Titled ‘Bike
Wars’, the bike dismantling and re-
building competition was entertain-
ing, apart from the arm-wrestling
events for both men and women.
The best modified bike exhibition A classic Royal Enfield from a
on Day Two at the venue was a show- Karnataka club
stopper, where some innovative club
members displayed their custom-
made bikes, much to the awe of others
at the venue.
Prizes were given away for Best Bik-
er Club Entry into the Venue (Madras
Bulls clinched the honour) and also
for the best pair and female rider.
An entertainment night and rock
show breathed extra life into the rid-
ers on Day One.
Overall, RM09 was a grand event,
the climax being all the club represen-
tatives convening to decide the venue
and host of Rider Mania 2010. Madras
Bulls’ big shots reveal that next year it An innovative army design from a
might be Chennai or Mumbai. Maharashtra club. PHOTOS: PETLEE PETER
Friday, January 30, 2009
05

Ergo’s picks from Rider Mania 2009

Mania’s tiny head-banger

The youngest participant at Rider Mania 2009 was R. Neel. A 15-
month-old roadie, Neel rode along with his father Rajesh, who is
a member of the host club, Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club,
Bangalore. Neel, who is the youngest member of RTMC, had
come to the Nilgiris all the way from Bangalore along with fellow
RTMC riders.
Sporting a Rider Mania 09 t-shirt, Neel, according to his father, is
part of the head-banging community of the RTMC as he shakes
his head to the sound of any music.

The elderly biker couple

English couple John Smith (61) and his wife Trudy (62) were
the senior-most biker couple at Rider Mania 09, who rode
on their modified Royal Enfield Standard Bullet. The duo,
who had also been to Rider Mania 2008 in Hyderabad, had
flown from England to Goa exclusively to be part of the
biker event in Ooty. An ardent Royal Enfield rider, John,
along with Trudy, plans to ride his Bullet from England to
India soon. He said he has already applied for a visa to ride
through Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan enroute to India.

RERAM
Royal Enfield Riders Association of Meghalaya (RERAM) was
the only Royal Enfield Club from the North-East at Rider
Mania 2009. Formed in 2006, RERAM has 78 fulltime
members back in Shillong. However, five members from the
Club had come along with Madras Bulls. Honorary invitees P.
S. Warjri (49) and his Lucy (48) of RERAM termed the ride to
Ooty an “interesting new experience”. Interestingly, riding
on the plains proved a little difficult and new for the
RERAMs as opposed to the hills which they are used to
cruising on back home.
Petlee Peter
06
Sport
Power packed
Serena Williams kept the American
flag flying at the Australian Open,
gritting herself out from some tight
positions to reach the women’s singles
final. While the women’s draw was
Younger Williams aiming for her 10th Grand Slam
completely dominated by the Russian
brigade with three of them making
the last-four stage, Serena was the
only person to challenge their
dominance downing two Russians on
her way to the final. With vocally
endorsing the 44th US President
Barrack Obama and also by surprising
her opponents with not only her
power-game but determination and
opportunism, she has definitely won a
few admirers.
(Each week we feature a player who has
defied odds and come out as a winner
during the past week. If you have a choice
of your own for next week send it to us at
feedback@goergo.in)
PLAYER OF
THE WEEK
Bhupathi-Knowles win
Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles thrashed Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach
6-3, 6-1 to reach the final of the men’s doubles event of the Australian
Open.The third seed Indo-Bahamian pair proved too good for their unseeded
Polish-Austrian opponents as it took them just 58 minutes to win the semi-final
encounter.
Safina sets up
Serena showdown
PHOTO: AFP
D
inara Safina overpowered her fel-
low Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3,
7-6 on Thursday to join Serena
Williams in the final of the Austra-
lian Open. The combination of Safina’s
heavier shot-making and aggression
proved too much for Zvonareva as the
third seed closed out victory in one hour
and 46 minutes under a closed roof at the
Rod Laver Arena.
Safina won four games in a row to take
the opening set after trailing 2-3 then
broke Zvonareva’s brittle serve to force
the tiebreak after the seventh seed blew
her chance to force a deciding third set.
Safina, 22, reached the French Open final
last year but is now on the verge of a first
Grand Slam title after rebounding from a
shaky start to the tournament to produce
her best performance when it mattered
most.
Added incentive
The winner of Saturday’s final will re-
ceive an added bonus of taking over the
world number one ranking from Serbia’s
Jelena Jankovic, who was knocked out in
the fourth round at Melbourne Park this
year. “Since I was growing up it has been
my dream one day to be number one,”
Safina said in a courtside interview. “To
play against Serena and to fight for the
number one is just going to be unbeliev-
ERGO Friday, January 30, 2009
able. I just hope it will be a good match
that we can all enjoy and whoever wins,
we’ll shake hands at the end of the match
and say ‘well you deserve to be number
one’.”
Safina is also vying to complete a
unique family double in Australia by em-
ulating her older brother Marat Safin,
who won the men’s singles title in 2005. “I
watched my brother on TV winning this
tournament and even when I watch it
now I have tears in my eyes,” Safina said.
“It is great that I can follow his footsteps
because he was my idol and he is still my
idol. That I’m doing as well as him is just
amazing. It was his birthday two days
ago, maybe I have earned some money to
buy him a gift.”
Great going
Meanwhile, Serena shook off form wor-
ries to storm into the Australian Open fi-
nal and immediately declared herself
ready to join the elite club of players with
10 Grand Slam titles. Second seed Wil-
liams rediscovered her lethal serve as she
overpowered Russia’s Elena Dementieva
6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals to bring the
fourth seed’s 15-match winning streak to
a juddering halt. The win means Williams
will contest the 13th Grand Slam decider
of her career. ■
Agencies
 Friday, January 30, 2009
07

‘‘
He’s (Usain Bolt) mind-blowing. I don’t know what to think about him. He’s do-
ing things that no one in history has ever done. He’s a great talent. Maturity
and experience will make Bolt even faster.
Former 100 metres world record holder and Olympic champion Maurice Greene

Chelsea move up
Blues into second after 2-0 victory over Boro
S
alomon Kalou’s goals sent appearance with the second
Chelsea up to second goal.
place in the English Pre- “I think today was more
mier League in a 2-0 victo- about focusing on the football,”
ry over Middlesbrough as City manager Mark Hughes said
Liverpool was held to 1-1 at Wi- after a hectic week. “We’re de-
gan. Kalou scored in the 58th lighted with the three points
and 81st minutes at Stamford and we have a game in hand.
Bridge on Wednesday as Chel- We’re unbeaten in four games
sea revived from a poor first and won three of them and
half. we’re not in bad shape at the
Liverpool squandered the moment.”
lead at Wigan after Yossi Be-
nayoun scored just before half- Arsenal scrape through
time, Ahmed Mido marked his Robin van Persie’s last-min-
debut for Wigan with an 83rd- ute 1-1 equaliser for Arsenal at
minute penalty. Liverpool man- Everton came after Tim Cahill
ager Rafa Benitez surprisingly gave the home side the lead.
took off Spanish striker Fernan- Despite the point, Arsene Wen-
do Torres and captain Steven ger’s fifth-place Gunners
Gerrard. He sent on Robbie slipped even further behind the
Keane for the team’s best leaders and now have eight
player, Gerrard, even though he points to make up on Manches-
had dropped the Irish striker for ter United which has a game in
Sunday’s FA Cup game against hand. “With one minute to go
Everton. and you’re 1-0 down then
you’re relieved (to get the
Strange justification draw),” Wenger said. “We had a
“Torres was tired. The same difficult game tonight and
for Gerrard,” said Benitez, played with a lot of intensity, fo-
whose team hosts Chelsea on cus, desire and our character al-
Sunday. “We have to think lowed us to get a point. It was
about the performance in the more down to fighting than cre-
first half, the team was playing ative passing.”
well and with a lot of confidence Blackburn hit back from two
with the ball. If against Chelsea goals down to draw 2-2 with
we can do the same, I am sure Bolton, one of manager Sam Al-
we can keep the rhythm.” lardyce’s former clubs, and
The draw dropped Liverpool West Ham beat Hull 2-0, the Ti-
to third, level on points with gers losing for the sixth Premier
Chelsea but behind on goal dif- League game in a row. Bolton’s
ference. Both are two points be- Matthew Taylor and Kevin Da-
hind Manchester United which vies stunned Allardyce by put-
opened up a lead by winning ting Bolton 2-0 up inside 35
5-0 at last-place West Bromwich minutes at Ewood Park. But
Albion on Tuesday. Steve Warnock replied in the
A day after being arrested 66th and, after goalkeeper Jussi
over allegations of sexually as- Jaaskelainen saved Benni
saulting an 18-year-old woman, McCarthy’s penalty, the South
Robinho helped Manchester African striker netted the equal-
City beat Newcastle 2-1 to lift iser in the 87th. ■
the team to ninth in the stand- PTI
ings. It was also the Brazilian’s
first game since he walked out Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou
of training last week without (right) vies for the ball
permission, a move for which against Middlesbrough’s
he will be fined by the club. Anthony McMahon (left)
Robinho set up the first goal for during the Premiership
Shaun Wright-Phillips and match at Stamford Bridge in
Craig Bellamy marked his first London. PHOTO: AFP
08 ERGO Friday, January 30, 2009

Dior

Portfolio

Jean Paul Gaultier Givenchy

Valentino

A
fter the men’s fashion week in Milan, the action shifted to
Paris, where the spring/summer 2009 haute couture collec-
tions have presented a study in contrast and similarities. The
event has given fashion mags and fashionistas enough to look
forward to.
Ricardo Tisci for Givenchy mixed sharp tailoring with chiffon,
almost lending the clothes an inter-draped effect.
The spray-painted look seems to be catching up, testimony
being Stephane Rolland and Australian designer Cathy Pill.
At Jean Paul Gaultier, super high-waisted skirts and trousers
and sharp, edgy shoulders ruled. So did the season’s new flavour
– lace. Shoulders remained a focus at Armani Prive, too – almost
concave, just like the hems of the jackets and skirts.
Christian Lacroix, on the other hand, had fun with colour and
prints, mixing polka dots, stripes and what not. Also, watch out
for the over-sized ceramic bangles.
Felipe Oliveira Baptista combined warrior chic (helmets,
leather gloves, et al) with some extremely sexy tights.
Alessandra Facchinetti’s exit from Valentino put Maria
Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli at the helm. The duo
didn’t disappoint. Beside Valentino’s trademark red
dresses, emeralds and blues made an appearance with
classic ivory.
Elie Saab’s line looked like an extension of Halle
Berry’s wine-hued lace Oscar gown (that of the stra-
tegically-placed flowers). On the other hand, John
Galliano for Dior played on the exaggerated hour-
glass form, with drama shoulders (again), narrow
waists and billowing skirts. Plus, dramatic umbrel-
la-sized headgear.
Happy 2009? ■
Shalini Shah

Highlights from the spring/summer 2009 haute

couture lines showing in Paris

Christian Lacroix Stephane Rolland Elie Saab. PHOTOS: AFP

 Friday, January 30, 2009
09

Empire Armani
In recent seasons, you’ve pushed the envelope in women’s wear with more experimental
skirt and pant silhouettes. Do you have the impulse to do the same with menswear?
Menswear comes with many more conventions than women’s wear, so pushing the envelope results in
more subtle developments. I do my best to innovate in a way that is masculine and wearable – usually
through variations in cut and fabric, rather than anything more ostentatious. ... Provocation makes people
say, ‘Oh, but who’s going to wear that?’ and it’s game over.

Do sober times call for sober menswear, escapist menswear – or something else?
For me, design is about timeless style and eternal values rather than transient trends. Today calls for Armani Fall/Winter 2009-2010.
elegance and comfort in dress – just as yesterday did and tomorrow will. PHOTO: AFP

In recent years, designers such as Hedi Slimane and Thom Browne have pushed
menswear forward with extreme silhouettes and ideas that have proved
influential. What do you think of their approaches?
Every designer of note has a personal approach, and I respect any designer who sticks
to that approach with conviction, passion and clarity of vision. Personally I believe that Amid a subdued
great menswear will present the wearer in the best possible light, without overshad-
owing his character. ... Men don’t want to be a hanger for designer brands, in the way Milan Men’s
that women want to be able to say, ‘I wear Armani, I wear Gucci, I wear Yves Saint
Laurent.’ No, men are much less interested in that. Fashion Week
Any idea what the next big idea or trend in menswear might be, and where overshadowed by
it could come from?
There has already been a swing back to more formal clothing, and I think this will economic jitters,
continue, but the garments will be interpreted using modern fabrics and manufacturing
techniques, and so will be a hybrid between traditional and contemporary. Giorgio Armani was
What feeds you and drives you in terms of menswear inspiration? alert yet serene in the
I am inspired by all manner of things – art, books, people I meet, travel, and especially
film, which has been a passion of mine since I was a boy. I am open to the world around me, face of the downturn.
and that is what inspires me.
An interview:
You’ve long been a fashion reference for the corporate world.
But now that Wall Street has imploded, will your fashion
focus change? Who is your customer now?
Armani has many facets, from formal clothing to jeans and
T-shirts, so I do not feel I appeal particularly to a corporate
customer. Instead, I aim to dress any man who shares my
preference for elegance and style over transient fashion
trends, and this could be a professional, or a teenager at
college.

You’ve now put your name on almost everything, Men don’t want to be
including the kitchen sink. Is there anything else
you would like to design – or a category of a hanger for designer
product you would never touch?
I am only limited by my imagination, and as I have
brands, in the way that
a powerful imagination I am sure I will continue to women want to be able
find new areas of product I can develop. At present
I am particularly occupied by my hotels and re- to say, ‘I wear Armani,
sorts project – the first Armani hotel will open this
year in Dubai, and this will be followed next year I wear Gucci, I wear
by the opening of my hotel in Milan. Many of
my recent new products have been in the Yves Saint Laurent.’ No,
area of technology – mobile phones and
televisions – and this is a field I am partic-
men are much less
ularly interested in. It might be fun to interested in that.
imagine an Armani computer, for exam-
ple. As for a product category I would not
touch – I never rule out any possibilities.

During the last few boom years, we

saw extremes in luxury and also of
discounting. How do you think it will
all shake out?
The past few years have seen a number of
extremes in the fashion market, and it is prob-
ably a good thing that these will now be mod-
erated. In particular, the recent notion that
anything expensive can qualify as a luxury of-
fer needs to be readdressed. If we are lucky,
when the dust settles we will be left with good
brands at every level of the market. ■
NYT News Service

GETTY IMAGES
10 ERGO Friday, January 30, 2009

Flick
Dev Patel
desperate to
work with
Will Smith
S
lumdog Millionaire star Dev
Patel is a huge fan of Will
Smith and is so eager to
work with him that he is us-
ing interviews to urge the star to
get in touch with him.
Patel once waited at a premiere
for three hours just to get a photo
with the actor, reports imdb.com.
In a recent chat with US news
show Extra, Patel said: “Hello,
Mr. Smith… Please let me do a
film with you. I stumbled upon
your premiere of Hancock in Lon-
don and I waited three hours. It’d
be great even if it’s a small role
like shaking your hand or so-
mething... Thank you.”
Patel also has big plans to work
with Jim Carrey and Leonardo Di-
Caprio. Frieda Pinto, who played
Patel’s love interest in Slumdog
Millionaire, is a big fan of DiCa-
prio and has said that she would
love to work with the star.
She said: “I’ve fantasised
about him. I had a crush on him
ever since Titanic... This is really
embarrassing, but I had a scrap-
book with everything Leonardo
in it... He’s a really nice person.
The crush is gone but the ad-
miration is still there.” ■
IANS

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Friday, January 30, 2009
11
Perfect escort
Adding fuel to rumours of an affair
with Amrita Rao, actor Harman
Baweja played the perfect escort to
his Victory co-star at a promotional
event at a jewellery shop.

Cine City

Mamta fares well

Actress Mamta Mohandass is on cloud nine.

When Rishi
Though she did not earn reviews as a good
actress, she fares well as a singer. Mamta’s recent
number, ‘Daddy Mummy veetil illa’ from Vijay-
starrer Villu is a chartbuster. She is one of the
favourites of music director Devi Sri Prasad, who

romanced son
scored music for Villu. The western number has
given adequate space to Mamta to express herself
as a talented singer. Her sensitive modulations
also add charm to the song.

Ranbir’s first
crush
H
ow would you feel if you see your father
romance your first crush? Well, Ranbir
Kapoor reveals he had a similar experi-
ence as a teenager.
On the upcoming episode of Farhan Akhtar’s
TV show Oye! It’s Friday! Ranbir pours his heart
out and admits that he felt cheated when he
saw his dad, Rishi Kapoor, romancing his child-
hood crush Madhuri Dixit, a source from the
channel said.
“Ranbir confesses that as a teenager, he had a Ritheesh to produce soap
huge crush on Madhuri and that he even had After two films, Kaanal Neer and Nayagan, J.K.
posters of her in his cupboard. He talks about Ritheesh is trying his hands in television serials. The
the time when he finally got to meet her on the actor is planning to produce a mega serial with
sets of Prem Granth only to find his father ro- actress Meena in the lead. The serial titled Aandal
mancing Madhuri in the film,” the source said. ■ would be broadcast on Kalaignar TV. Meanwhile, we
IANS also heard that Ritheesh is getting ready for his next
film, tentatively titled Vettai Puli.
12 ERGO Friday, January 30, 2009

■ Vijay: ’ambu’ aka ’Arrow’

Thursday’s Question:
and Ajith’s: ’nan vanthutten’
Suggest titles for aka ’ I’m back’
Goutham
Vijay and Ajith’s Infoview Technologies

50th movie. ■ Vijay: Thupakki,

■ Ajith: ’Thalai’ku mela pona Ajith: Basha 2010
ambthu enna nooru enna. Prem
Vijay: Super star’aga parkkum HCL
sumaar star.
Karthik, ■ Vijay: Indian James Bond
Ramco Systems nadikum Chennai is not
enough,
■ Ajith - thala thala than, Ajith: Vatti for each ticket.
Vijay - intha padamavathu Dhilip RR
oduma. Cognizant
Rajeshkumar
TCS ■ Vijay: Mokka,
Ajith: Aaravaaram Narayan from IBM Daksh, Chennai has nominated his team as
■ Ajith - ulagam sutrum ’vaali’, Dinesh Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked in Valparai.
Vijay - ninathadhai nadippavan. Cognizant
Sivakumar Ganesan
Perot Systems ■ Vijay: Kaka,
Ajith: Geography
■ Ajith - ’Thala’, Bavitiraa.G
Vijay - na poster hero. Wipro
LM.Kaushik
Infosys ■ Vijay s 50th film title –
Pooran, pambu (snake),
■ Ajith ’Uyir Mei’, Kabada
Vijay ’Kadal Mattum’ Ajith s 50th film title –
Sivaa.G Ariviyal Part 2 (science) Like
Birlasoft varalaru (history)or Poriyiyal
(engg).
■ Vijay "Muruga Kappathu", Stephen Issac Raj S
Ajith "50 50"
Senthil ■ Vijay – Ambu
TCS Ajit - Thala ( Heads & No
Tails)
■ Vijay: Evlavo pandrom idha Saravana Kumar Y.V
panna maatoma, HCL Technologies Ltd
Ajith: Kulla 2009 .- BPO Service
Sangu, R Karpagam from HCL Technologies has nominated her friends as
Anandhi, ■ For Vijay Thotakaran Partners in Crime. This photo was taken in a park in Coorg.
Pavi, For Ajith : Sogan
Mahi T.Sundaresh
Wipro HCL

■ Vijay: Vairam,
Ajith: ’Thala’ Ivan
Saravanakumar
Wipro
Today’s Query:
■ Vijay: ’Xerox’ because most of
If you get a
his hits are Xerox copy of other
language movies.
chance to become
Ajith: ’Super Hit’.
At least super hit in the name.
‘Hollow Man’ for a
Safeer day, what would
TCS

■ Vijay: Remake Raja,

you like to do?
Ajith: Thala Send in your mobile query
Senthil Arjunan suggestions to feedback@goergo.in
Calsoft Ltd with the subject line: Mobile Query

Sharmila of Satyam Computer Services Ltd has nominated her freinds

as Partners in Crime. The picture was taken in Munnar, Kerala.
 Friday, January 30, 2009
Phani Gandi of HCL Tech-
nologies has been nominat-
ed as Office Angel by
Sivakumar R.
His presence, attitude and
smile will always increase
team’s zeal. A friendly person
who bears the responsibility of
team’s pleasure and
enjoyment.
Art featured in this co-
lumn will receive gift
coupons from Fruit Shop
on Greams Road. Send in
your addresses so that we
can post the coupons.
Vidya of HCL Technologies
doodled this.
Teacher : "Aana, aavannaa theriyuma?"
Boy : "Theriyaadhu, Sir".
Teacher : "Kaanaa, kaavannaa theriyuma?"
Boy : "Theriyaadhu, Sir".
Teacher : "Unakku enna thaan theriyum?"
Boy : "Thammannaa, Iliyanaa theriyum, Sir"
S Dheepa
Infosys BPO
13
Have a lovely Birthday
January 30 I could̀nt let your special Birthday start
■ Paru Puipa (Poo poolavalae)... Without sending wishes straight from
Malargal malarvathu my heart
narumanathukaga.. Wishes for happiness and for
Athukaga nee kulikama poo tomorrow to be
vaikakuudathu.. Very special ,like you are to me.
Paru ithu unn piranthanal please Advance B’day Wishes!!!
innaikaachum Love,
perfume aadikama poo vaikama Rama
kulichitu va ok va Wipro Technologies
Happy Birthday buddy!!!
By ■ Ram,
Unn perfumal mayankinoor sangam We are enthralled by your dance and
Tata Consultancy Services dazzled by your speech (hope we will
be befuddled by your treat!!!!!) , May
■ Dear Pushpa god bless you and fulfill all your
Flowers blossom to give fragrance dreams. To a very special guy, we are
But u have blossomed to give fragrance wishing you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to flowers.. and many more to come!!!!!
Happy Birthday buddy!!!! Waiting for the treat
With Love & Affection and best wishes from
Kamal, Ranjith, Dinesh, Senthil Ranjani, Rajeev, Brindha,
Sharanya, Deepa, Balaji, Shilpa Ramya, Vinodh, Vaishnavi,
Tata Consultancy Services Santhosh and other members
of BP4 team
■ Dear Subha, HCL Technologies
Pirranal ashamsakal fone moley!!!
Wish you many more happy returns of ■ Hi Ponmudi,
the day!!! We wish for you that Wish you Advance Happy Marriage
whatever you want most in life, it life. God bless you my friend.
comes to you, just the way you Regards,
imagined it. THD, Chennai
Regards,
Alcatel 5620 Team
Wipro Technologies.
January 31
■ Dearest Varuni,
■ Dear Prashanth, May you have all the joy your heart
Every moment in a day has its own can hold, All the smiles a day can
value, bring, All the blessings a life can
Morning brings Hope... unfold, May you have Gods best in
Afternoon brings Faith... everything.
Evening brings Joy... Wishing u a Happy Birthday
Night brings rest... With Luv,
Wish you find them all day throughout TestAutomation Team
the year... Wipro Technologies
With best wishes,
Deepika ■ Dear Rajesh,
Financial Software Solutions Wish you many more happy returns of
the day!!!
■ Dear Uday / Rani (Shobha), We wish for you that whatever you
Many More Happy Returns of the day. want most in life,it comes to you,just
May all your wishes come true from the way you imagined it.
now on. We hope that you have the Regards,
best birthday that you could wish for Alcatel 5620 Team
And We hope that the candles on your Wipro Technologies.
cake go out with your first puff for then
your wish will come sparkling true! ■ Dear Amir Khan Gajini Giri,
Thanks and Regards, Your birthday is a special time to
Accenture Services Privated Ltd., celebrate the gift of "YOU" to the
BCBSM Team Members. world. Wish u a very "Happy
Birthday". We hope this year brings
■ Dear Sis, you all the happiness, peace, joy,
Side by side contentment and love that you so
Or miles apart, deserve!!! Wish you an awesome
A sister like you , birthday as you are. God bless you
Is always close to the heart. dear. Happy Birthday !!
I’m blessed with an angel, Best Regards
Like heaven might send, dotOPaL
And I call her "Meera", Software Solutions
My sister and friend, Scope International.
14 ERGO Friday, January 30, 2009

Traffic Jam
Burning down the house
A lit cigarette burned a home to the ground
while its occupants were attending a
meeting to help them quit smoking.

sudoku

Rashmi Kumari of
CGSL captured
devotees performing
the amavasya pooja
in Rameswaram.
Hobby: Music

All photos selected for clickpick this month KAKURO

will receive a gift voucher worth Rs.1,000, cour-
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ers are requested to send their addresses with
their entries.

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(Editor responsible for selection of news under
the PRB Act). RNI No. TNENG/2007/24553
 Friday, January 30, 2009
Tyrant toddlers
Romanian police were shocked when
they found out the burglars who broke
into a kindergarten were pupils.
15
Word’s worth
"Verdugoship" (ver-doo-go-ship) an obsolete word meaning ’the
personality of an executioner.’ A verdugo is a hangman or executioner.
The word comes from Italian verduco, meaning ’a narrow-bladed sword.’

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

At the beginning of the day you may need to be
more attentive in routine activities. As the day
progresses, you may be able to regain focus. You
may be looking very presentable today. Your life
partner or beloved one may shower love on you.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

Today, you may need to be careful of ’scattered
thinking’. If you try to handle many things at once,
you may end up nowhere. You can be over-
expressive while communicating with your love one
or partner. Ganesha finds the day to be average.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

You should avoid heavy thinking and too much of
BORN LOSER mental exercises. If you just go with the flow,
everything will be fine. Your thoughts need to be
streamlined while you are working. In personal life,
everything seems to go smooth and easy.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
Luck factor is supporting you in the second half of
the day but at the beginning you may remain
impractical. Ganesha suggests you not to react
impulsively in meetings. On the personal front, you
are advised to take care of your partner’s emotions.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
The day may start with a dull mood but as the day
progresses; you may find everything in top gear.
Whether you are married or unmarried Ganesha
assures one thing, you will express your love
dramatically. Day is good in the second half.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
Ganesha finds you busy with various activities in
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT first half of the day. You may need to remain
careful while communicating with superiors. On the
personal front, Ganesha doesn’t find any major
problem. On the whole, it is an average day.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
Ganesha finds you getting busy the moment you
enter office. As the day progresses, you may find
the stress level increasing. Later you may have a
good time with your beloved. Sweet conversations
with sweetheart may reduce your stress.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
You could be interested in developing a skill no one
might have mastered before. However, you may not
be able to spare time from busy office schedule at
least till afternoon. In short, it’s a positive and
constructive day by the Grace of Ganesha.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
You may be at peace today hence you will be able
to handle office work in due course of time. Your
creative projects may reach closer to culmination
point. You would be able to spare time for family.
In short, it is an easygoing day for you.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
You may be ready to take risks today. Your plus
points will be counted and superiors will appreciate
you. You may share delightful moments with the
partner but if your beloved one is away, you may
exchange sweet dialogues. The day is favourable.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS It is a progressive day for you. At the beginning,
you may have some important communication
ISSUE’S regarding work. In the second half you may be
dealing with some important work. You may have
SOLUTIONS good dinner time with your beloved or life partner.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
If you were confused about something related to
work, today you may attain more clarity on the
subject. Your decisions may be firm. You may share
very nice time with beloved and may express your
heart fully, without worrying about anything.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Friday, January 30, 2009

A newborn very rare pelican in Zoo Blijdorp Rotterdam leaves its egg. This
rare pelican is the first one of his kind in the Netherlands. AFP PHOTO

Two puppies cloned through fat stem cells from a Beagle donor. A South Dolphins swim along Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
Korean bio-engineering company claimed a world first, saying it has on Wednesday. AFP PHOTO
successfully cloned dogs using stem cells derived from fat tissue. AFP PHOTO