Typical Neyartha fare this with the usual intricate wordplays and a smattering of themed clues.
ACROSS
1 Party Milton formed is significantly... (11) IMPORTANTLY [PARTY MILTON]*
9 ... opposed to profits getting invested in Austria (7) AGAINST [profits=GAINS inside Austria=AT]
10 Lean monarch kicks horse out in American scramble (6) SKINNY [monarch=K replaces horse=H in American scramble(v)=SHINNY]
11 Added // a minor role (5) EXTRA [DD]
12 In order to claim pie, tycoon may show some irreverence (7) IMPIETY [T]
15 Bicker with the former bridge player moving to the front (4) SPAT [former=PAST with bridge player=S at front]
16 Native of Iran with nine lives? (7,3) PERSIAN CAT [CD]
18 Mackintosh holder found in the auditor's animal shelter by the aircraft shed reportedly (4,6) COAT HANGER [~animal shelter=COTE + ~aircraft shed=HANGAR]
20 Play solo in the European city (4) OSLO [SOLO]*
23 Mark returns to embrace the French without a shirt... (7) TOPLESS [Mark=SPOT<- outside the French=LES]
24 ... bringing half of the French brandy found outside Oregon hill station (5) COORG [French brandy=COGnac outside Oregon=OR]
26 Henry admitted to sorting mails in a hill station (6) SHIMLA [Henry inside MAILS*]
27 Enthusiast modifying armature to remove resistance (7) AMATEUR [ARMATURE - Resistance]*
28 Bewildered Chandler sad when downed in a rough manner (5-6) CRASH-LANDED [CHANDLER SAD]*
DOWN
2 Greek character and Pole campaigned around a hill station (6) MUNNAR [Greek character=MU + Pole=N + campaigned=RAN<-]
3 Uproot yellow birch trees partially in the hill station (4) OOTY [T]
4 Employer's request is part of the sorted out matters (10) TASKMASTER [request(v)=ASK inside MATTERS*]
5 Brazilian port accommodates one with nickel from a hill station (8) NAINITAL [Brazilian port=NATAL outside one=1 + nickel=Ni]
6 Mad Mark, we hear, is after a Roman goddess (7) LUNATIC [~mark=TICK after Roman goddess=LUNA]
7 Kitbag of the journalist covering wild raves (9) HAVERSACK [journalist=HACK outside RAVES*]
8 Brings up issue surrounding worker's religious chant (6) MANTRA [issue(v)=ARM<- outside worker=ANT]
13 A racket might send it over the net (6,4) TENNIS BALL [E]
14 Bully with potent weapon (6-3) STRONG-ARM [potent=STRONG + weapon=ARM]
17 As an example, protects Mala upset by a part of the brain (8) THALAMUS [as an example=THUS outside MALA<-]
19 Second one to desert antihero by mistake (7) ANOTHER [ANTiHERO]*
21 Maratha chief removes model of Dracula author for a tobacco user (6) SMOKER [maratha chief=M replaces model=T in Dracula author=STOKER]
22 Clean // shave (6) SCRAPE [DD]
25 Patch to fade after vitamin E is leached out (4) DARN[fade=DEARN? - E] Not sure [fade=DARkeN] See comments below
ACROSS
1 Party Milton formed is significantly... (11) IMPORTANTLY [PARTY MILTON]*
9 ... opposed to profits getting invested in Austria (7) AGAINST [profits=GAINS inside Austria=AT]
10 Lean monarch kicks horse out in American scramble (6) SKINNY [monarch=K replaces horse=H in American scramble(v)=SHINNY]
11 Added // a minor role (5) EXTRA [DD]
12 In order to claim pie, tycoon may show some irreverence (7) IMPIETY [T]
15 Bicker with the former bridge player moving to the front (4) SPAT [former=PAST with bridge player=S at front]
16 Native of Iran with nine lives? (7,3) PERSIAN CAT [CD]
20 Play solo in the European city (4) OSLO [SOLO]*
23 Mark returns to embrace the French without a shirt... (7) TOPLESS [Mark=SPOT<- outside the French=LES]
24 ... bringing half of the French brandy found outside Oregon hill station (5) COORG [French brandy=COGnac outside Oregon=OR]
26 Henry admitted to sorting mails in a hill station (6) SHIMLA [Henry inside MAILS*]
27 Enthusiast modifying armature to remove resistance (7) AMATEUR [ARMATURE - Resistance]*
28 Bewildered Chandler sad when downed in a rough manner (5-6) CRASH-LANDED [CHANDLER SAD]*
DOWN
2 Greek character and Pole campaigned around a hill station (6) MUNNAR [Greek character=MU + Pole=N + campaigned=RAN<-]
3 Uproot yellow birch trees partially in the hill station (4) OOTY [T]
4 Employer's request is part of the sorted out matters (10) TASKMASTER [request(v)=ASK inside MATTERS*]
5 Brazilian port accommodates one with nickel from a hill station (8) NAINITAL [Brazilian port=NATAL outside one=1 + nickel=Ni]
6 Mad Mark, we hear, is after a Roman goddess (7) LUNATIC [~mark=TICK after Roman goddess=LUNA]
7 Kitbag of the journalist covering wild raves (9) HAVERSACK [journalist=HACK outside RAVES*]
8 Brings up issue surrounding worker's religious chant (6) MANTRA [issue(v)=ARM<- outside worker=ANT]
13 A racket might send it over the net (6,4) TENNIS BALL [E]
14 Bully with potent weapon (6-3) STRONG-ARM [potent=STRONG + weapon=ARM]
17 As an example, protects Mala upset by a part of the brain (8) THALAMUS [as an example=THUS outside MALA<-]
19 Second one to desert antihero by mistake (7) ANOTHER [ANTiHERO]*
21 Maratha chief removes model of Dracula author for a tobacco user (6) SMOKER [maratha chief=M replaces model=T in Dracula author=STOKER]
22 Clean // shave (6) SCRAPE [DD]
25 Patch to fade after vitamin E is leached out (4) DARN
Re 23a: Who was without a shirt? Mark or the French?
ReplyDeleteB - Don't place any illustration or cartoon for this solution. please.
Was the French a woman?
ReplyDeleteCould be, that's why he found half a bottle of Cognac outside
Delete25d Fade= darken (as in fading of light) - vitamin E, ie - K E = DARN
ReplyDeleteDarn it! Now why didn't I think of that
DeleteThat makes more sense. Thanks
DeleteMaybe it reminds the Col. of a comment about communication between two other Colonels - Wyatt-Turner and Kramer:
Delete'I wonder what little bird has been whispering in Kramer's shell-like ear. One with a very long-range voice, methinks.'.
Strangely, all the themed words share the same defn. - hill station
ReplyDeleteThey are hill stations aren't they :-)
DeleteBangalore also feels like one of those hill stations nowadays, especially early in the mornings
DeleteNothing wrong with that (all thematic clues having the same def), I suppose.
DeleteBetter than the clues going without a def but with a star or a clue having the solution and reference in all other clues having a mere clue number.
Eaxactly my thoughts. If it was starred and native place names, it would have become tougher
DeleteIt looks like Neyartha converted this from a Starred CW that's why all the definitions are the same
DeleteCut and paste job due to lack of time, maybe.
DeleteHaven't we seen some UK crosswords where the definition in these thematic clues is indicated by a single letter - that single letter looking back at the solution of another clue.
DeleteWrt Raghunath's Comment -
DeleteWhat variants can you use for 'hill station'?
Mountain resort, summer resort, hill resort, tourist/ vacation centre for e.g, up in the hills, high altitude destination. It's difficult to find many variants for places, countries etc.
Deletemound rest
DeleteAt last. One Neyartha successfully solved in time :)
ReplyDelete*neyartha puzzle*
DeleteNeyartha at his generous best, for having lowered the bar! Could complete the puzzle without much trouble. Had problem parsing SKINNY, MUNNAR, NAINITAL, DARN etc. On the whole a nice puzzle. Thanks, Neyartha/ :-)))
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteHow are others faring with Varg Paheli No 2. After some struggle I am left with one and that too the one that was changed!
ReplyDeleteI am still struggling
DeleteHow can that be !!
DeleteFinally finished it. Now starts the struggle to prepare the submission in Hindi
DeleteI also finished it but still have a doubt on one clue. It was an exhillarating time solving this one.
DeleteThanks, Vasant
DeleteNow starts the struggle to prepare the submission in Hindi
DeleteThere might be other easier/better ways, but I used this for entering the answers into the excel sheet without using Quillpad or any such:
https://translate.google.com/#hi/en/crossword
If you type in English, it shows the word in Hindi, so it becomes a question of copying each letter and pasting it into each cell in excel.
6D - off-track, though.
ReplyDeleteIt appears Luna Mopeds and Kinetic had a plan to tie-up and collaborate. The idea was dropped as they did not want to name the product LUNATIC...
Just kidding. ;-)
Wonder why you don't think of setting CWs, having a way with words?
DeleteRaghu, Richard is a deep one. For all you know, he probably is ...
DeleteRuchard, if I remember right the Luna was a moped from Kinetic ..., though I do appreciate the wickedness of your wordplay
Now, with that info, I am in deep trouble. Now read that one again, leaving aside the collaboration part.
DeleteThanks, Raghu. If I start setting, my friends' brain may go for a toss...
read as friends' brains.
DeleteThen you will informally be a fiend'r of your friends.
DeleteThat is called moving the r's...
Delete..as part of crossword exercise.
DeleteThen they (I mean your friends) will soar.
DeleteExcept the COAT part, got all. To solve Neyartha and to get about 99% is really a wonder for my standard. Thanks Neyartha.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was an atypical Neyartha fare: comparatively concise clues and straightforward wordplay (barring one or two instance of excess padding, e.g. 3D). Of course, the Theme has almost always been a theme with his puzzles, so that's a constant.
ReplyDelete