The ironic romantic movie Aradhana is the first I saw starring Rajesh Khanna. Skipping school, I watched it at the Lido cinema with two classmates, Rabindra and Neomal. The movie touched many a nerve among the young in tropical Sri Lanka. I was mesmerised by Rajesh Khanna’s acting and his stylish mannerisms. I fell in love with Sharmila Tagore, Rajesh Khanna’s love in the movie. It was a tragic story; Rajesh Khanna died in a plane crash, and Sharmila was devastated. So was I. My newfound hero was dead, so I cried listening to the song, Saphal Hogi Teri Aradhana, sung by S. D. Burman, the ace music director. Even today, more than fifty years later, this song evokes sad feelings when I listen to it. It gives me goosebumps.
Nadia Com??neci, the first gymnast in the world to receive a grade 10.
On July 18, 1976, at the Olympic Games in Montreal, a youthful 14-year-old Romanian tumbler made history. Nadia Com??neci changed into the fundamental gymnastic…