Comments on Crossword Unclued: Plug and Play Puzzles

Thank you, Chaturvasi, for explaining supari. I ha...

2010-02-13T16:52:51.474+05:30

Thank you, Chaturvasi, for explaining supari. I had never heard of the word before. It strikes me that it might follow the pattern of the word assassin. Assassin (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) literally means 'hashish-eater' (or, strictly speaking 'eaters' in the plural; -in was originally the Arabic plural ending). Presumably people became intoxicated on hashish before they went off to do their killing. Maybe, there's a similar reference and link here - the hired killer gets (or used to get) high on the areca nut first.

To qualify Chaturvasi's comment - 'supari' is a hi...

2010-02-12T23:01:51.760+05:30

To qualify Chaturvasi's comment - 'supari' is a hired killer, and 'supari nikalna' (literal translation: taking out a supari) is the process of hiring a killer.

Traditionally, the contract with a killer is sealed by handing over money along with a supari. That's my understanding of the origin of this phrase based on gangster films and hearsay, not that I have any experience in these matters :P

For the benefit of non-Indian readers I might say ...

2010-02-12T18:54:46.881+05:30

For the benefit of non-Indian readers I might say that 'supari' mentioned by Shuchi in an earlier post means 'a hired killer'.

The usual meaning of the word is 'chipped, scented and blended arecanut'. How it also acquired the meaning 'assassin' I don't know. Maybe from his habit of constantly chewing pan masala?

Hi Susan, I should have mentioned that the 2nd one...

2010-02-11T19:46:32.008+05:30

Hi Susan, I should have mentioned that the 2nd one needed some specific local knowledge. Kudos to you and your office for managing to solve it!

After involving my entire office for the second on...

2010-02-11T17:27:13.622+05:30

After involving my entire office for the second one, one of my colleagues came up with the answer (but we had to check it was a play). The rest of us were led up the garden path by the letter combination. I thought it might be something to do with French friends (amis), someone else thought it might have had a connection to Martin Amis and eg meant 'for example'. Thanks for brightening up a dull day at work!

Two more clues and I'll run before raging Ximenean...

2010-02-10T23:21:49.869+05:30

Two more clues and I'll run before raging Ximeneans take out a supari on me.

Play Aod? (4,3,5,7)

Play The CUL? (3,3,6)

@Vasana: I went looking for it after reading your ...

2010-02-10T22:32:33.539+05:30

@Vasana: I went looking for it after reading your comment. Thank you :)

@Maddy: The second one is being massively advertised nowadays, on TV too - a Shabana Azmi-Alyque Padamsee version.

LOOK BACK IN ANGER BROKEN IMAGES

2010-02-10T21:54:55.856+05:30

LOOK BACK IN ANGER
BROKEN IMAGES

got both your clues. Your interview in The Col's b...

2010-02-10T20:58:36.700+05:30

got both your clues. Your interview in The Col's blog was a big give away as to what "play" could be. Hadn't heard about the second one but googled to confirm.

Unrelated post - congrats shuchi! Just read about ...

2010-02-10T19:19:07.324+05:30

Unrelated post - congrats shuchi! Just read about you in The Hindu :)

Got the first one easily, didn't know the name of ...

2010-02-10T16:33:07.104+05:30

Got the first one easily, didn't know the name of the second one.
@Vinod
Got yours too :)

Got the answer, Vinod. But the name really is as g...

2010-02-10T16:30:31.295+05:30

Got the answer, Vinod. But the name really is as given by this clue:

Think of a number. Tom, Dick or Harry - play! (4,5,7)

This is fun. Got the 2nd one easily. but the 1st w...

2010-02-10T16:15:35.830+05:30

This is fun. Got the 2nd one easily. but the 1st was a bit of a struggle. Try this :-

Play Ist ODI there (5,6)