ACROSS
9 Enjoyable but sadly real religious function! (7) FUNERAL {FUN}{REAL*}
10 Nile's sketch (7) OUTLINE {LINE}* [RA]
12 Promoter's move to bring President into challenge and win national trust (9) GODPARENT {GO}{D{P}ARE}{NT}
13 Knight joins cabaret dance and sleeps occasionally in tents (11) TABERNACLES {N+CABARET}* and {sLeEpS}
16 What one might do to invite trouble? (4,1,3,2,5) OPEN A CAN OF WORMS [CD]
18 Machine loaded with liquid methane — it provides hard protection to the crown (5,6) TOOTH ENAMEL {TOO{METHANE*}L}
22 Illegal taproom's utter piece of cake (9) SPEAKEASY {SPEAK}{EASY}
24 Greek character distributed heart at last (5) DELTA {DEAL}{h..rT} Distributed would be Dealt (Addendum DE(-a)LT(+a)A - See comments)
25 Authority's right to seize cocaine near college borders (7) LICENCE {LI{C}EN}{Co...gE}
26 Harry pushing armed helicopter (7) GUNSHIP*
DOWN
1 Meal provided on pitch (5) IFTAR {IF}{TAR}
2 Command staff come up on time (5) ENACT {CANE<=}{T}
4 Work hard, there is no place for complacence essentially in climbing targets (4) SLOG GOaLS<=
5 Can director enter into command area? (6,4) POWDER ROOM {POW{D}ER}{ROOM}
6 Grades in combat art shows upheld (6) STRATA [T<=]
7 It gives warning when company absorbs material damages essentially (4,5) FIRE ALARM {FI{REAL}{damAges}RM}
8 Adventists release authorised version of the Bible for patron saint's group (8) DENTISTS aDvENTISTS
14 Light bulb moments when dauntless side initially pockets a stunning win (10) BRAINWAVES {BR{A}{WIN*}AVE}{Side}
16 Lady driver finally jumped out of moving trolleybus in a stupid manner (8) OBTUSELY TrOlLEYBUS*
17 Spooner says "Valley secured, congratulations!" (4,4) WELL DONE (~dell won to well done)
19 Marching greetings from the ruler (6) HIKING {HI}{KING}
20 The letter brings pleasing expression about record (5) ALPHA {A{LP}HA}
21 They are inclined to writing suspicious spam (5) RAMPS {R}{SPAM*}
23 It helps gaining control over body and revives gone youth (4) YOGA {AGO}{Y}<=
Reference List
President = P, Challenge = DARE, National Trust = NT, Knight = N, Right = LIEN, Cocaine = C
Pitch = TAR, Time = T, Targets = GOALS. Director = D, Company = FIRM, Material = REAL, Authorised version of Bible = AV, Dauntless = BRAVE, American = A, Church = CE, Lady = L, Valley = DELL, Record = LP, Writing = R, Youth = Y
Colour/Font Scheme
Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word, Reference list word, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution Indicator, Opposite indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous
SHOLAY 2022
ReplyDeleteJai & Veeru, FULL BLAST hackers, specialised in decoding Computer games. While most people thought of this as a CHILDISH pastime, in their SELF IMAGE, they considered themselves professionals, offering their SERVICES across an entire range of Computer SYSTEMS.
Within minutes of its release, they could break open any PREDEFINED software lock. They would then FREEZE the screen to develop Cheat codes. While most games involved BULLETS, where 2 players BATTLED it out till the end, their speciality was hunting games. They loved 'The Ranch Simulator' where the protagonist was a RABID Hunter, residing in a DYSTOPIAN Society. His girlfriend drove a TONGA & he went about his SLAUGHTERS to the accompaniment of HOOF beats.
These two suddenly shot to fame one LEAP YEAR (1976), when they were called by the State Government, to test the software being used in their JAILS. In the state's maximum security facility, prisoners seemed to be moving TO AND FRO, from inside to outside. Constantly they committed crimes outside & the INNER walls of the prison seemed to literally REABSORB them.
As they alighted from the TAXI, they were subjected to all sorts of security clearances. In a DAZE, they were led into the Chief Minister's cabin. The ELDER man, Thakur Baldev Singh stood up to greet them. As Jai put out his hand for a handshake, he was stunned to see the empty shawl swaying below the ARMPITS. He realised the Thakur was armless (though not harmless, going by his reputation.) Excusing himself, the Thakur fitted his prosthetics. Not wanting to appear a KLUDGE, Jai quickly shook his stiff hands. They were then offered FAJITAS, which tasted like SAW DUST & Lemon tea, highly DEFICIT in sugar.
After a few minutes, the CM picked up his phone & called Asrani, the Chief Jailor at the State's maximum security prison & scheduled an immediate Google meet. After the meeting ended, they were introduced to 2 side kicks of the CM Soorma & Bhopali, who looked alike in their resemblance to Hindi Movie dacoits. However they seemed to RESENT Veeru's smirk.
When they finally understood, what their DESIRER wanted, they realised it was child's play for them. All they had to do was strengthen the Prison Security Software & BEQUEST a hardy system that can not be tampered easily.
The only hitch was, they had to visit the prison as this was an On Site job. The prison itself was on a ridge surrounded by acres of LAWNS, the entire area controlled by GABBAR SINGH, the anti social thug with his cronies Sambha & Kaalia.
Jai & Veeru quickly figured out that Gabbar was remotely hacking the Prison Software, thus providing easy entry & exit passes to the inmates. His coding expert was Kaliya, while his onsite cohort was the WIDOW Nurse Radha. She constantly visited the prison to conduct Corona tests. As she flirted with the Jailor, she ensured that his password was always Radha.
Jai & Veeru quickly recoded the software, putting the necessary fire walls so that Gabbar could never enter the SYSTEM again. For added measure, they inserted an additional TRAP, a new password in URDU - Basanti. After checking the system, thoroughly for its safety, Jai muttered - Ab tera kya hoga Kaliya?
Collecting their remuneration, they were back in their den, when they realised - This Sholay was over & they hadn't even met Gabbar, not even on Zoom. But then as Jai said, "In these Corona times, everybody is masked. Who is to know what anyone looks like?"
24a Dealt's heart at the end:de(-a)lt(+a)
ReplyDeleteYes, Prasad is correct. It's DEALT with the heart [A] moving to the end
DeleteVery tricky parsing!
DeleteMy CoD!!
Well Written Gowri.
DeleteI had written Sholay in 2021 - to Vasanths grid published on a Sunday.
ReplyDeleteModified here with yesterday's words.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteReading your story after a long time Gowri. Loved it
ReplyDeleteNice story, Gowri.
ReplyDeleteGabbar Singh,Carona,mask,software hacking...imagination running riot.
ReplyDeleteBrainwave,Aha,tooth enamel (for some unknown reason I was struggling with teeth) Powder room,Godparent....several enjoyable clues. Thank you KKR.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paddy
DeleteGowri's concoction based on the clues and solutions in the day's crossword as a prologue tn the slot of Comments is always interesting. Thank you madam Gowri.
ReplyDeleteIn the context of the clue for 22-A in today's grid, it was pretty tricky. On accessing this blog site and referring the dictionary, realised that it is a term related to the days of hooch and moonshine in the US. Hats off to you Mr. Koteswar 'Karaoke' Rao...
Thanks Suresh Panje
DeleteThanks Sathia
ReplyDeleteA satisfyingly challenging puzzle today. Thank you, Karaoke. One query: in 8D, how is DENTISTS 'patron saint's group'? I didn't understand.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amita!
DeleteVarious groups of people are associated with a patron saint including Dentists (Apollonia), The link by Col throws more light on this. You may also refer to the below link for more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_patron_saints_by_occupation_and_activity
Thoroughly enjoyed by solving your Grid. many Aha moments.
ReplyDeleteReg. 26A - Harry pushing armed helicopter. I solved as armed-GUN ; P(-u)SHI(-n)(-g) , removal of gun from pushing. hence (GUN)(SHIP)*
5D- I have a small doubt. can we consider area as ROOM?
Esp. spooner (WELL DONE) was ultimate one. spotted directly from hor. puzzles. over all, It was a nice grid. thanks to KKR for challenging and interesting grid.
Thanks Prasannarao, Yes, area=room
DeleteExcellent clues, tough one for me. Solved about 50%.
ReplyDeleteThanks Badri
DeleteEnjoyable grid. Wrote HAVE A WAR OF WORDS for 16ac. But corrected with crossings. Rest easy.
ReplyDeleteMy fav FUNERAL (fun?), TOOTH ENAMEL, OUTLINE.
Thanx KKR!
You are welcome, Gowri!
Delete