ISL Team Logo Shootout

We just finished a very successful first season for the Indian Super League. I skimmed most of the league matches, preferring to catch the highlights rather than commit 2 hrs, but I did manage to catch the fantastic semi-finals where Kerala edged out Chennaiyin, plus the less eventful but still keen finals where Atlético de Kolkata wrote themselves into the history books .

The ISL folks did a nice job with design elements - catchy jingle, a spare, power-packed logo and the lovely trophy1. I also thought some of the teams did an elegant job with their branding, some better than the others.

So I thought it would be fun ranking the  ISL teams based on their logos, counting down from the gaudy to the sublime. Sounds like a blast ? Off we go, hold tight!

Bring up the bottom, ranked number 8, the luckiest possible number for the Chinese to whom it denotes prosperity (** drumroll **), is FC Pune City.

The logo, with its two horses playing Sepak takraw in front of a toy fort, separated by a menacing upturned dagger threatening to puncture the football, is a head scratcher.

It is gaudy with clashing loud colours, cluttered with generic elements of heraldry that seem to have no logical or aesthetic reason to be there, like the fleur-de-lis otherwise associated with French monarchy. 

The whole  effect is reminiscent of the shield of some lower division english club dreaming one day of making the championship. It is no wonder Pune were doomed from the start.

Just avoiding the wooden spoon, glorious in a seventh place finish, Delhi avoids the bottom slot on the strength of being the only team with a cheeky modernist logo.

We went through a period where there was a wholesale move away from the traditional heraldry to modish ugliness.

Thankfully that tide has receded and only one of the 8 have shown this utter disregard for emblemology, with a zooming jet plane that is also a footballer's foot.

A logo for the ages, this one is not. If the team lasts, I hope the logo will not.

Moving up to the echelons of the respectable, we have FC Goa at sixth place.  

Visually, the logo is clean and uncluttered, with nice contrasting colours.On the plus side, it avoids the usual clichés about Goa - beach, feni, the cottage with the balcoa. On the flipside, what the hell is it?

It looks like the skeletal head of a bull, maybe  a reminder of the well done steak the team owner enjoys or a hunting trophy from the time when real men did such stuff.

I can think of some other states which might have a more rightful claim to such a logo, but a Goa connection eludes me.

For the 4th and 5th slots, there is a keen contest between North East United and Kolkata, an Eastern India derby if you will. 

NorthEast United has a pleasant but bland logo, something that an MLS team representing the New England region might sport, rather than one for a team from the 8 sisters.

There is a nod to the Naga tribal shawl in the colour scheme, which saves it from being completely generic. It is well balanced and pleasant, but seems a little lacking in the passion that the club's fan base has demonstrated on every match day.

The Atlético de Kolkata (ATK) logo could well have graced the opening reel in movies of days gone by, with its mythical feline spouting an arc of stars rampant on the screen as the run up to the studio banner being splashed across.

A nice touch would have been for Saurav Dada to do a 'He Man' like transformation, emitting a lightning bolt from his sword to bring forth this creature as they set out to rule the universe - that seems to be the inspiration as far as I can make out.

The logo has the benefit of being different, but the entire composition seems off-balance, like the shield is going to tip sideways as the lion/tiger jumps off.

I am calling this one a tie, giving them both joint fourth.

Now to the excitement of the top three. Making it on to the medals podium, just about, are our Chennai neighbors, with their ferocious logo. 

A clever take on traditional  symbology used to keep away the evil eye, Chennayin's logo is decidedly rooted in place, yet interestingly contemporary in its colour balance and composition.

If it strikes a little fear in to the hear of opponents, so much the better. Maybe performing the Haka before matches, like the All Blacks rugby team, would be just the thing to go with this logo.

At number two, proud silver medalist, as they were in real life, is the little Master's team.

Maybe it is just because I am a sucker for elephants. I love the sea of blue embellished with gold. Chennayin has the same colour combination, but the preponderance of yellow works against them while Kerala gets the balance right.  

The imagery of an Elephant playing ball brings to mind cheery spectacles and the magic scenery of God's own country. But there is just a little bit of menace in the elephant to let the opponents know that if they get corners, they are going to score goals, not set up tea shops. Sorry, this is the only joke in this post, I promise ;)

And now for the proud winners, the gold medalists in the logo race. Without doubt, and by a comfortable margin, the winners are Mumbai City FC.

This is a beautiful, elegant, timeless logo. It looks lovely in its Navy Blue, and Gold, especially in the three dimension view when you can appreciate the gold band on the edge that sets off the composition

Rejecting the standard Mumbai cliché of the Gateway of India, it instead doffs its head to the train network that plays such a central role in the lives of Mumbaikars and whose routes have defined the contours of the metropolis for over a century.  

A little bit of glitter is added by the seven stars for the original seven islands, all of it contained by the battlements of a fort. 

The Bombay Fort, whose walls have long since been demolished but which still lives on in the memory of the city, as many Bomabayites commute to 'Fort' every day to work or to go to college.The clear firing range that surrounded the original Fort walls became the maidans of Bombay - Cross Maidan and Oval Maidan and, ofcourse, the grounds at Cooperage that is the home of Bombay football.

Classic composition, elegant colour balance, rooted in its place and yet timeless. Great job guys.

Don't agree with my list - tell me what you think in the comments.

Footnotes

1. A contrast to the solid, substantial ISL trophy was the embarrassing IPL trophy from 2009, that spurred cricinfo to lament The inevitable ugliness of the IPL trophy.

nodayya kwate lingave - Lyrics Translated

Another song from Duniya that I liked enough to get the great Sammy to translate. This is more of folk music, quite different from 'Kariya I Love You', the other popular song from the same movie.

And now to Sammy's interpretation.

NOTE: the kannada used in this song is largely colloquial, north-karantaka dialect and i have made corrections for the words.

nodaiah kwate lingavae - See there, Oh lord Shiva(the one in the fort)!
belakki Jodi kuntawe - There sits that pair of birds (referring to egrets (belakki)
anguy-ashtagala-goodu - A nest as small as a palm
aadrunuu darbar noodu - Yet, look at their darbar ( referring to them being happy and content in their small home)
preetili loka marthave - They are lost in love and forgotten the world

paaya illa, gwade illa - no foundation, no walls
nodu ivara aramane - look at their palace
raja rani aalu kalu yellanu ivarene - king, queen, servant, gheevant, there are them all
swane maliyo - pouring rain
uriyo bisilo - burning sun
yene bandru jagalla - nothing will deter them
avalige ivana kodae yaagavana - he becomes her umbrella
ivarigay ivaru bitrae yaarilla - they have but each only each other and no one else

peddhu haida manasu suddha - dumb village idiot, but a pure heart
sullu haelo kulavalla - comes from a simple, truthful community
sunnadha neergu - water mixed with sunna (whitewash)
govina halgu - cow`s milk
yatwasa gothilla - he can't differentiate between them
a aah e ee odidolu evana manasu odhovlae - she the learned one has also read his heart
kogale banna aadaru chinna - the colour of a koel, but nonetheless gold
antha evana jothegavalae - thus she is with him

Naguva Nayana - Translated

It was interesting for me to discover that Mani Ratnam's first movie was in Kannada. Called Pallavi Anupallavi, it is also has the distinction of starring Anil Kapoor in a leading role for the very first time.

A gently paced, endearing movie, it is worth a watch for, if nothing else then, glimpses of an unspoilt Bangalore of happy memories.

Here is a translation of the lyrics of the popular 'naguva nayana madhura mouna' song, thanks mostly to Sammy.
------
naguva nayana madhura mouna
miDiva hrudaya kiri maatEke?

Our smiling eyes, Our pleasant silences and
Our beating hearts - do we need the small talk ?


hosa bhAshe idu.. rasa kaavyavidu
ida haaDaLu kavi bEke?

This is a new tongue, a passionate poem,
Do we need a poet to help us sing it?

niMgaagi hELuve kate nooranu
naaniNdu nagisuve ee ninnanu

I'll tell you hundred stories
I'll make you smile from today.

iruLallu kaaNuve kiru nageyanu
kaNNalli huccedda hoMganasanu

I shall seek your shy smile in the dark and
Shall seek those golden dreams raging in your eyes.

joteyaagi naDeve naa maLeyaLu
biDadaMte hiDive ee kayyanu

I shall walk with you in the pouring rain,
Shall hold your hand and never let go.

geLeya jotege haari baruve
baanaa elle daaTi nalive

I shall fly along with you, Friend,
Roaming the sky and heavens.


chorus

ee raatri haaDu pisu maatali
naa kaNde inidaada savi raagava

I found pleasant tunes in the hushes we share this night.

neenalli naanilli ekaaNtave
naa kaNDe nannade hosa lOkava

In our separation, I found this new world of my own.

ee snEha taNdide edeyalli
eNdeNdu aLisada raMgoli

This bond between us has etched on my heart,
an eternal Rangoli that can never be erased.

aase hoova haasi kaade
naDe nee kanasaa hosaki biDade

I wait with this path strewn with flowers of desire
Walk on! Tread slow, careful of crushing this dream

chorus

Kariya - Translated

Movies are a wonderful medium for the spread of a language. I got a first hand experience of this during our vacation in Sri Lanka last year when our guide, a somewhat grouchy Sinhala, showed off his Hindi to me, picked up completely from watching Bollywood masala.

It is natural then that I would consider the same medium to improve my Kannada, but sadly the Kannada movie industry is not my friend in this.
Of the movie industry in the four southern languages, it seems that Malayalam has the art (and apparently some porn), Telegu has the slickness, Tamil has both quality and production value (exhibit A: Mani Ratnam).
Kannada movies have rowdies who indulge in rampant eve-teasing as a means to woo the girl, who for some unknowable reason actually gets won over. They both then indulge in frenetic aerobics in the song sequences, even when the tune is a gentle melody. My sensitive stomach and weak constitution can't take it.

The one bright point is the music which is of a high quality. From time to time I come across a Kannada song that I like so much I want to know what the lyrics mean. While I can, sort of, follow conversational Kannada, poetry is beyond. Unable to find translations on the net, I have turned to my good but jobless friends (Sammy, Ciff, Vy) to help me with them.

In the spirit of paying forward, I thought it would be a good idea to post the lyrics with translations so other unfortunate souls will have access to the meanings of these wonderful songs. So the first of the series is for the song Kariya I Love You from the movie Duniya.

Lyrics / Translation

Kariya I Love You

Blackie/black one, I love you.

Karunaada Mele Aane

I swear on this Karu-nadu (the ancient name of Karnataka meaning: Elevated land or Land of the Black Soil )

Belli I Love You, Bili Modada Aane

Belli (short for belliappa - also a pun on "whitie") I love you, I swear upon the white clouds.

Ningondu Premada Patra, Bariyoodu Nanagaase

I wish to write a love letter to you.

Naane Iruve Hatra, Bidu Aase Oh Koose

I (only) shall be close to you, Leave your aspirations, Oh young one!

|| Chorus ||

Oodu Baraha Baredu, Bari Aadu Bhashe Nandu

I dont know how to read and write, Only singing is my language/ I speak only colloquially

Tabbali Naanu Tayee Neenu, Yelu Janmada Bandhu

I am an orphan - you are the mother, a relationship of seven generations

Ninna Preeti Yeduru Naa Innu Koneya Uguru

In front of your love, I am equivalent to the last nail of my last finger

Saarthakavaitu Nanna Baalu, Naavu Onde Usiru

my life's purpose has been fulfilled, we are one breath

|| Chorus ||

Yaaru Yene Anali, Edi Urige Ure Barali

let anybody say anything, May the entire town confront us

Jeevavu Ninade Jeevana Ninade, Ninna Preeti Sigali

all (my) life is yours, let (me) obtain your affection (love)

Baare Baare Jamuna, Urmyale Yaake Gamana

come come Yamuna, why is your attention fixated on the village

Olave Jeevana Saakshatkara, Jeeva Kodtin Chinna

Life is filled with love, as perceived with all my senses (literally sight, but used in the context for all 5 senses), i shall give (my) life my dear.

--The End--

Cycling on a sunday afternoon

The charm, for me, of cycling around Bangalore is to realize again and again how little I know about my city. It is like being in love with a very complicated and yet fascinating woman. Many, many layers.

One of those Sundays that dragged heavy - didn't get up in time so I skipped my Kannada classes, lounged at home reading Ramachandra Guha's fascinating 'India after Gandhi', had a cup of tea and then called up to find out if the gang was going to LalBagh, a Sunday afternoon ritual. They were not.

Tried to interest my Mom in checking out this huge new park that has come up in Mathikere (that's somewhere behind IISc in case you are wondering). Interestingly, or disturbingly (according to your perspective), the park stands where the kere (lake) in Mathikere once lay. So that's where they got such a huge tract of land. Atleast they didn't build a mini-Vidhan Soudha or some similar PWD designed monstrosity. But her grandson was home and in cranky health so she declined.

I then got on to my cycle with some confused notions of checking out the park (which lay north of my house) and then heading to Commercial Street (which lies south) to pick up some shoes I needed. To a casual observer, I am not lacking in ambition.

The trip to the park was the muse that lead me to cycle on roads I had never traversed in my own back yard. I found the park with not too much effort, but there was nothing there to entice me in. Too many people doing their Sunday recreation! So I headed with some notion of crossing the railway line to come out near Brigade's massive new development straddling the junction of Rajaji Nagar and Malleswaram, Gateway.

While I was meandering, wondering when to turn about and try a more promising road, I spotted the railway crossing. I crossed, but not quite. A path along the tracks seems to be well worn with usage and i decided to take the road well taken. I am fascinated by trains, the sadness of IR notwithstanding. So I dragged my cycle along, saw the Jodhpur express, a goods train and a solitary engine pass. The path petered out, further motion was by hopping from sleeper to sleeper, neatly laid to form a third track, but the steel rails never came.

I was glad to see a way off to the side which joined a largish road and I took it. Full excitement to see the ugly bus shelters from Outdoor News. Which indicated that I was on the ORR - although this seemed like a devilishly peaceful stretch by ORR standards. I can hear you say Ashwin, you know which road you are on by the design of the bus stop !? You are a genius. Or a guy who needs to get a life. (digress to rant on the bus stop).

After a few furtive snaps of the bus stop with my cell phone camera, guaranteed to come out grainy, I headed off down the road to come to yet another railway crossing. I crossed. If you've been paying attention, you realize I have crossed back. Which is what I, being atleast as smart as you, thought also and turned around. Took an interesting looking sidelane to come to the village square of Jalahalli village (I think). With the sun beginning to fade, I decided not to risk it and asked for directions. Which begins the infinite circle of asking for directions to no particular place that often seems to happen with me. Which goes like this

I: where does this road go ?
(Helpful?) stranger: where do you want to go.
I: that depends on where this road goes.
H?S: well, if you tell me where you want to go (precise latlong would help) I can tell you if this road goes there or not. I can't tell you anything else.
I: and this is because this information is a millitary secret and if I don't know where i want to go, I must be a Pakistani spy
H?S: yea, that sounds about right.
I: I give up.

These guys probably supplied the search engine query results in the BG (Before Google) era where unless you asked the question exactly right, you didn't get your answer, and often not even then.
Ofcourse, lot of my side of the conversation happens in my head, given my dexterity with Ms. Lingo Leela's locals language.

The classic incident for me is when I asked a BMTC bus driver if the bus went to Koramangala and he said quite emphatically that it didn't. I got in anyway, jobless loafer that I am, and found that it went to Koramanagala Water Tank. As you may or may not have guessed from the name, Koramangala Water Tank is in Koramangala (for those of you waiting with bated breath for the twist, this is it, the aha it was the butler with a knife in the study moment). However since it didn't go to the bus stop which the dude thought of as Koramangala (with two capital Ks like in Kiran), it didn't matter that it was going close enough for the difference not to matter to me.

Anyway, today I am lucky, the stranger is helpful after he's had his fun, so I get some directions, which involve an about turn (getting familiar with this manouvre aren't we) and back to the out of balance bus stands and the railway crossing. But with a quick stop at a local bakery for an egg puff. This is an item you can't usually go wrong with even at the most humble of bakeries in beantown - when it comes to puffs, they all have it down pat. Like with croissants and bakeries in little french towns, I imagine. This one however was a bit of a disappointment.

So back on the quiet ORR (like the Quiet American, there aren't too many of these either), past some military installations till I hit Tumkur road. (Note to self, the T in Tumkur is the soft T like the 'H?S' pronounced it. My hard T usage gave me away for an outsider. Altogether more remarkable his kindness then.)

A large construction site at the intersection. As i turn and cycle, I see a sign indicating that this is where the Taj Residency will come up. They weren't going for any architectural prizes with this one. The neighbourhood was just not conducive, with those stellar bus stops and all. Pretty much standard issues, ugly large hotel which cities like Hyderabad are blessed with in abundance.

Next door was yet another large construction site, this time for the much advertised Golden Grand Apt complex. Yes, you have seen their execrable ads with Ajay Devgan and Kajol in them. The tried a bit of American style rebranding of the neighbourhood by trying to turn Yeshwantpur into the Golden Square Mile. Hasn't caught on yet, but they may just be ahead of the times. Which segues into another blog post on a Yeshwantpur Planning District I plan to write someday.

It's a sweet location nevertheless, atleast from an access point of view. Just down the road was a "Site for Namma Metro Yeshwantpur station" sign, bang in front of IR's Yesvantpur station. You can't really ask for more .

Went down the underpass that lead to Soap Factory circle - the intersection of Malleswaraam & Rajaji Nagar and the gargantuan construction site for Brigade Gateway. Did a reccee and then crossed the track yet again - this time near Malleswaram station. And I was at St Peter's seminary. Amazing, I had never seen that before.

Cycled on, not knowing where I was and entered charming Malleswaram. This was home stretch and, well satisfied I headed for home and hearth. Truly, the days are just packed.