Cryptic Crossword #01

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 06 Aug 2009, 03:32

Ok, Here's my second Crossword puzzle:
As usual, I 'll give one week for solving (although this shouldn't take that long).
Pl DO NOT post answers here until then. I'll collect spam mails if you wish to send me. And I'll reveal the winner.
I think this one is simple. If I goofed up let me know.
Have fun !!

ACROSS

4. Tyagaraja missed making a gamaka-laden trail mix (10)
8. Bam! WhatÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s all the hoopla in hearing it? That commotion sounds good (8)
9. I locked in vakra phrase of this raga and took help from 1 down in singing (8)
10. A raga mudra in His name? That speaks volumes about him (11)
11. Get the land ready and sow an annual crop almost all over the place. The yield will be an enjoyable one (7)
14. A fashion designer won accolades in the carnatic music industry in a mere twist of fate (6)
15. Nuclear weapon had to be destroyed- for this evil to rise up musically (7)

DOWN

1. Align key properly, and, we both(you & I) can unlock 9 across singing this in Telugu (11)
2. A priestÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s rant in front of a fiery sacrificial fire turned musical in a second (8)
3. A doctor surrounds the sick suffering from hearing disorder with a Tantric Indian music and heals (9)
5. O Ranga Sayi with varying madhyama would be sung in this raga (7)
6. ItÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s Lara again, this time playing this song with her hands. A cute performance by her (8)
7. ItÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s akin to a French tambour. Jar against it to produce a sonorous music (7)
12. Self-beating by some during this observance should have reduced it, say, to this set feature (5)
13. Former president had a good sense of timing-not early, not late (5)

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 06 Aug 2009, 10:37

Suji
Make it one or max 2 weeks(though I will try my best to solve this on sat/sun ). I agree with you that there should be no one should post answers. Usually the first week you get everything except the last two, the last two I hope I get it without your help.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 06 Aug 2009, 10:45

No problem Rajesh. The last crossword, I posted my answers after 2 months...

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 06 Aug 2009, 21:45

Suji
In first cut that I worked today I have only solved 4. Overall only one that is towards the bottom side (will not reveal which one to others

)was easy. One in the center i got it. I got 2 Down and 8 Across , but unfortunately both appears right to me and it does not intersect , can you cross check if you have given 2 down and 8 Across correctly. May be there was a slight goof up.
I hope there is no narayanan type of clues where we have to write the answers from right to left.

This is certainly not easy as you have indicated in your first post, that is a clear lie. For one reason , you have not given a filter to many of the answers so one has to break more our heads. But who knows if I always get few more than others may turn out to be easy.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 06 Aug 2009, 22:54

Rajesh, 2 and 8 are ok. You can send me the answers.I'll only let you know if you are right.
And no no narayan type clues.
Hmm.. each crossword puzzle seems to have a personality of their own- a reflection of its creator.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 06 Aug 2009, 23:15

Havent started yet. Looks like this is going to be a good challenge

Arun

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 08 Aug 2009, 04:09

Suji, this one is quite challenging! I noticed your clues are a bit more free-format, compared to Arun's. Or perhaps I had gotten used to the Arun style...!

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 08 Aug 2009, 04:19

RT ,
only slightly different... . Challenging, yes..
Let me see how many of you can get how many of them right.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 08 Aug 2009, 15:56

Suji
Usually I have watery eyes when I look at the computer monitor after looking at all posts of rasikas.org after a long day before the work monitor. Now with a 1 page print out of this cword ,my eyes are as watery as looking at the monitor.Since the last time that I wrote I think I got one more down clue for sure.Also one more answer I am kind of there 50-50.

Also the 4 clues that I have got is all standing deserted in the 4 sides of the crossword. Not able to go with adjacent clues and solve the clusters . I hope I need not talk any violin classes or mridangam class with your kid to solve this clue.

.Anyway tomorrow being Sunday, one more day of intense try.

What about the other crossword trinities arun and narayanan , there is no post from them.

naarayanan · Post by **naarayanan** » 08 Aug 2009, 18:16

hi rajesh,

abdul kalam only helped me. all others are blinking at me. i did not give a sincere try as i was busy. will try now and post the outcome.

and what is this 'narayanan' type of clues?

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 08 Aug 2009, 20:58

rajesh,
your kutcheri reviews may indeed contain all the words. It's all within the syllabus

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 08 Aug 2009, 21:00

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 09 Aug 2009, 21:49

There are a few crossword puzzle makers for free. The first few by googling are good ones. I usually create using one of those but modify them manual (cut and Paste)

srinivasrgvn wrote:{Don't worry. I won't copy your style. }

I'm afraid we will have more crossword puzzle creators than solvers

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 09 Aug 2009, 22:25

Suji, that is definitely true as far as I am concerned. I can create one, but I can solve zilch. I am working on your clues on and off. You got me going on that Oh Ranga Sayee but I did not find a word that fits the letter count yet.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 09 Aug 2009, 23:13

Suji
Some good news from my side. I am able to solve more clues in the right side of the crossword.
RHS of Crossword:
----------------------
I think I got 2 down,5 down and 7 down(priest rant, oranga say with madhyama and akin to a french tambour). With 8 across solved too(Bam whats the hoopla commotion sounds good) , taking a calculated guess with 9 across(locked in vakra phrase of this raga) .
Unlocking 9 across and then going to 1 Down clue (align key properly) is little risky for me because I am not too sure if I have got 9 across. 11 Across is something I have to bang my head not got that

LHS of Crossword:
---------------------
Just one almost all of the clues I have to start

DOwn side of crossword
--------------------------------
Just like LHS solved only one which is the easiest one in the crossword which narayanan has almost spilled the beans.

Anyway we will have the deadline till next sunday please , no answers from any one.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 10 Aug 2009, 21:57

Pl note I have changed 1 down- read "we both" as "you and I".
Just making it a little easy..

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 11 Aug 2009, 03:01

I have solved 7 out of the 15. Stuck on the rest

Arun

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 11 Aug 2009, 06:29

Suji Ram wrote:There are a few crossword puzzle makers for free. The first few by googling are good ones. I usually create using one of those but modify them manual (cut and Paste)

srinivasrgvn wrote:{Don't worry. I won't copy your style. }
I'm afraid we will have more crossword puzzle creators than solvers

The motto is 'if you can not solve a problem, create a biggr one'-

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 11 Aug 2009, 08:52

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 11 Aug 2009, 10:51

vasanthakokilam wrote: I am working on your clues on and off. You got me going on that Oh Ranga Sayee but I did not find a word that fits the letter count yet.

Try 12 and 14

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 11 Aug 2009, 16:05

Suji Ram wrote:Pl note I have changed 1 down- read "we both" as "you and I".
Just making it a little easy..

suji,
hmm, this extra clue is not helping me. I have solved totally 8, 6 I am kind of sure.2 I am taking a calculated guess that is 1 down and 9 across.Rest are staring at me, I dont have any more energy to stare at that

Arun
You said you solved 8 what are those (I am asking only the numbers )

arun , suji and narayanan
For sure I am not going to break my head with crosswords , my head is spinning and never settling for the last few months since arun came up with first. :rolleyes:

Dont create another one .

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 11 Aug 2009, 19:38

I got 4A, 9A, 10A, 1D, 2D, 6D (i think), 7D, 13D.

For many I am not sure how the clue itself precisely leads to the answer (i.e. rules seem different from mine and I have not figured them out yet) - I sort of haphazardly solved them.

Arun

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 11 Aug 2009, 20:33

Arun
You have got 4A, 9A, 10A, 1D, 2D, 6D (i think), 7D, 13D.
rajesh has got , 8A, 9A, 10A, 1D, 2D, 6D, 7D, 13D (I am making calculative guess of 9A and 1D)

Our downs are both the same , I have got 8A and you have got 4A. There is a pattern we both are struggling with the same unsolved list of 7 .The insight for both of us is arun can try 8A , I will try 4A , :rolleyes: If I get something else I will write later.

What about RT and narayanan?

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 11 Aug 2009, 23:20

rajeshnat wrote: For sure I am not going to break my head with crosswords , my head is spinning and never settling for the last few months since arun came up with first. :rolleyes: Dont create another one .

I can understand that. For years I had given up solving Crossword puzzles for the same reasons...

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 13 Aug 2009, 19:59

What about RT and narayanan?

RT has given up...almost.

Will wait for next one from Arun - somehow I find those a bit more doable.

naarayanan · Post by **naarayanan** » 13 Aug 2009, 21:39

rt, count one more!!

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:25

Ok,
I'll start giving some prompts:

Fashion designer- his name includes not only all the letters but also rhymes and just has a mere twist in the name to the one we all know.
(Hmm.. me a CM loving, curd rice loving one care little about fashions and fashion designers- maybe I'm asking too much from you folks)

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:45

>(Hmm.. me a CM loving, curd rice loving one care little about fashions and fashion designers- maybe I'm asking too much from you folks)

Not that I know a lot about such things but we hear names.
Unless you picked some obscure personal favorites of yours from the back lanes of Milan or Paris, we should be able to crack that one now.

That is a good elaboration on the clue. I was taking it a bit too literally.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:56

I got 10 Across and 1 Down , that 10 across is very very deceptive for many many days it forced me to bang my head with a wrong answer (possibly a right answer but not matching with 1 down), only now I got it.

I will attack 3 down , 6 down and 4 Across.

Then possibly 14 Across ,15 across and 12 down in the bottom cluster.

Then go with 11 Across which is floating in the right cluster

Suji,
Dont give the answer at all even if you want to declare it give atleast 1 full day notice . I might ask for an extension post this week to maximum week. We will find some creative ways where we can discuss all the unsolved answers where we would do the loud thinking , that way each ones loud thinking may help the other person more than the person himself .

naarayanan · Post by **naarayanan** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:57

ya suji, that one i got first itself. give some clues for the tough ones. in fact, the first name that struck me was 'sarmani', a hotel in chennai

naarayanan · Post by **naarayanan** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:58

rajesh, i go with you.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 13 Aug 2009, 23:04

Narayanan,
Pl hide your answer

that will spoil Rajesh!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 14 Aug 2009, 22:35

6 down I think I got it (Lara again clue),
Kind of going to make a calculated guess for 4 across

Still the lone 11 Across (get the land ready clue) is something I am not getting yet

In the bottom cluster despite suji giving the easiest 13 down, finding it very difficult to solve the 12D ,and 15A.

14 A I got it after suji's clue (fashion designer, it was definitely a sitter)

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 14 Aug 2009, 22:44

rajeshnat wrote:
Still the lone 11 Across (get the land ready clue) is something I am not getting yet

I

Second Prompt:
There's a single word for "get the land ready". If you can figure that out then you will get the rest of the word-even without solving the remaining clue.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 14 Aug 2009, 22:47

Suji Ram wrote:
rajeshnat wrote:
Still the lone 11 Across (get the land ready clue) is something I am not getting yet

I
Second Prompt:
There's a single word for "get the land ready". If you can figure that out then you will get the rest of the word-even without solving the remaining clue.

Got that I guess the first word of getting the land ready is very clean , but still not sure of the second half . ANyway no more clues from you please.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 14 Aug 2009, 23:15

Suji
Sent you a mail with a last load of answers. Still dumbstruck with the below 4 .Dont give any more second set of clues.

All
Just doing some loud thinking (arun rt and naarayanan any clues there).Perhaps all of us can collaborate and solve this.

15A. Nuclear weapon had to be destroyed- for this evil to rise up musically (7)
Nuke is the keyword I thought from there did some banging still did not get it .There is a surface to air missile called SAM with that I tried got a name but not sure if it is right

3D. A doctor surrounds the sick suffering from hearing disorder with a Tantric Indian music and heals (9)
I tried with ENT and DR combination still did not get it

12D. Self-beating by some during this observance should have reduced it, say, to this set feature (5)
Looks like mannarkoil balaji -erode nagarajan stuff I think, tomorrow may be I will get it

4A. tyagaraja missed making a gamaka-laden trail mix
I have some kind of guess for that more centering on mix , not sure of this . Arun you told me you get this any clues

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 15 Aug 2009, 00:00

Rajesh - I too sent my partial answers to Suji to check if I am ok so far.

In addition to the ones you have listed, I'm still struggling with 10A and 6D.
I think I have got 12D - you are on the right track.

Arun, I hope you are ready with your next one! I want to restore some of my pride at least!

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 15 Aug 2009, 04:09

rt - Not ready

suji - tough ones indeed

- I got a couple more from your clues.

rajesh - 4A - tyagaraja is T - remove T from combination of a couple of words and scramble.

Arun

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 15 Aug 2009, 18:14

rajeshnat wrote:Suji
12D. Self-beating by some during this observance should have reduced it, say, to this set feature (5)
Looks like mannarkoil balaji -erode nagarajan stuff I think, tomorrow may be I will get it

4A. tyagaraja missed making a gamaka-laden trail mix
I have some kind of guess for that more centering on mix , not sure of this . Arun you told me you get this any clues

4A I got it arun, your clue is helping me to assert with the already got answer
12D. Think I got it , not sure I am going to guess

rajeshnat wrote:Suji
15A. Nuclear weapon had to be destroyed- for this evil to rise up musically (7)
Nuke is the keyword I thought from there did some banging still did not get it .There is a surface to air missile called SAM with that I tried got a name but not sure if it is right

3D. A doctor surrounds the sick suffering from hearing disorder with a Tantric Indian music and heals (9)
I tried with ENT and DR combination still did not get it

THe above 2 I am still in a blindspot.How about Arun, RT and others.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 15 Aug 2009, 18:18

I am assuming inclusive of Arun that you have not got the 6 DOWN.

IT's Lara again, this time playing this song with her hands. A cute performance by her (8)

This one is very tough more to do with perhaps suji giving an intentional detour with few phrases in the centre.

I am just making the same clue precise so that you focus only on this phrase(with her hands is a distraction from suji, may be she can comment later if it is indeed that way.)

IT's Lara again, this time playing this song .A cute performance by her (8)

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 15 Aug 2009, 22:20

rajeshnat wrote: I am just making the same clue precise so that you focus only on this phrase(with her hands is a distraction from suji, may be she can comment later if it is indeed that way.)

IT's Lara again, this time playing this song .A cute performance by her (8)

I pay lot of attention to the meaning of the lyrics Rajesh

And BTW she is not singing this song but....

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 15 Aug 2009, 22:48

Arun/narayanan/rt and others,
One more day to go only 15A. Nuclear weapon had to be destroyed- for this evil to rise up musically (7) and 3D. A doctor surrounds the sick suffering from hearing disorder with a Tantric Indian music and heals (9) is unsolved .

Suji
In the event of others not getting closer with 15A and 3D, you may have not give a second set of clues. Usually I take twice the time for solving the last 2 ,then all the remaining clues.

. So no point waiting for me for two more weeks.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 16 Aug 2009, 20:53

I'll post answers tommorrow

12 D observance= religious

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 16 Aug 2009, 21:09

Suji Ram wrote:
12 D observance= religious

Got this , as I guessed it was indeed mannArkoil-nagarajan stuff. Anyway with your clue possibly AR Rehman will get it faster

So that leaves only two :

15A. Nuclear weapon had to be destroyed- for this evil to rise up musically (7) and 3D. A doctor surrounds the sick suffering from hearing disorder with a Tantric Indian music and heals (9) is unsolved .

Looks like since arun and others are silent with the above two that means all of us have not got those two. I am keeping with my usual score of 13/15 :rolleyes: . I want to get atleast once all of them.

naarayanan · Post by **naarayanan** » 17 Aug 2009, 09:12

suji, you can come up with the answers as the nominations are over.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 17 Aug 2009, 21:59

Will put up answers shortly

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 17 Aug 2009, 22:51

Hope you had "fun" with this CW. Here are the answers

ACROSS

4. Tyagaraja missed making a gamaka-laden trail mix (10) ragamalika

gamaka + (t)rail mixed after removing T(tyagaraja missed) = Ragamalika
A trail - a path; mix- referring to different ragas
AFAIK Tyagaraja did not compose a ragamalika

8. Bam! WhatÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s all the hoopla in hearing it? That commotion sounds good (8) Bhupalam
bam + (all the) hoopla= hupla (hearing) commotion leads to bhUpAlam

9. I locked in vakra phrase of this raga and took help from 1 down in singing (8)kIravANi
I + in vakra = kIravANi. I used vakra here in the sense of being crooked and not in order

10. A raga mudra in His name? That speaks volumes about him (11) Sarangadeva
raga mudra= Saranga His= god= deva

11. Get the land ready and sow an annual crop almost all over the place. The yield will be an enjoyable one (7) Tillana
Get the land ready = Till + Sow (place) an annual crop (cut) almost all

14. A fashion designer won accolades in the carnatic music industry in a mere twist of fate (6) Ramani
Armani with a mere twist =Ramani

15. Nuclear weapon had to be destroyed- for this evil to rise up musically (7) dhEnukA
Nuclear weapon = nuke + had destroyed = dhEnuka

DOWN

1. Align key properly, and, you & I can unlock 9 across singing this in Telugu (11) Kaligiyunte
Align Key U, I, T scramble = kaligiyunte

2. A priestÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s rant in front of a fiery sacrificial fire turned musical in a second (8)ratnAngi

rant + agni turned = ratnangi; second = 2nd mela

3. A doctor surrounds the sick suffering from hearing disorder with a Tantric Indian music and heals (9) Dikshitar
DRsurrounds means you start the word with D and end with R
Sick (suffering from hearing) = sikh + a + (T)antric (I)ndian disorder and heal gives dikshitar
( Dikshitar compositions describes tantric rituals)

5. O Ranga Sayi with varying madhyama would be sung in this raga (7)sArangA

O Ran ga sayi take the madhyama(middle 3 syllables) scrambling gives sArangA.
Off course sAranga raga has two varying madhyamas M1 and M2

6. ItÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s Lara again, this time playing this song with her hands. A cute performance by her (8)cEtulAra
cute performance= cEtu by Lara = cEtulAra (Means by oneÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s own hand)

7. ItÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s akin to a French tambour. Jar against it to produce a sonorous music (7)kAnjira
Akin + jar= kAnjira = a French tambourine- look alike
Jar against means to hit hard

12. Self-beating by some during this observance should have reduced it, say, to this set feature (5) Mohra
Self-beating during moharram- reduced to mohra. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“SayÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ refers to similar sounding

13. Former president had a good sense of timing-not early, not late (5) Kalam
Abdul Kalam; Kalam= time

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 18 Aug 2009, 09:26

15. Nuclear weapon had to be destroyed- for this evil to rise up musically (7) dhEnukA
Nuclear weapon = nuke + had destroyed = dhEnuka

Having got nuke I should have got dhenuka, that name popped up some time before in my head and then my head nuked. I was focussing on unsrambling nuke and the evil side of the clue

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 18 Aug 2009, 09:30

3. A doctor surrounds the sick suffering from hearing disorder with a Tantric Indian music and heals (9) Dikshitar
DRsurrounds means you start the word with D and end with R
Sick (suffering from hearing) = sikh + a + (T)antric (I)ndian disorder and heal gives dikshitar
( Dikshitar compositions describes tantric rituals)

Suji,
With me assuming DR will be embedded in the answer, could not go far from there. As you said tantric itself should have given dikshitar. BTW Sick (suffering from hearing) = sikh , is a lovely clue.

Looking at all the answers the toughest was cetulara , may be I should have got dhenuka and dikshitar too.

naarayanan · Post by **naarayanan** » 18 Aug 2009, 09:32