Listener Crossword 4128 Ringtone by Trev

[Zabadak]

Evening all. Once again I find myself staring at a completed grid and a completed instruction, the former quite straightforward, the latter requiring a leap of imagination that so far eludes me. All the words in the instruction individually make sense, collectively they don't - yet. Currently I'm hazarding "anything at all" or possibly "annoying" as reasonable entries in the box at the bottom. Regards and best wishes to everyone.

[contendo]

Yes, Trux, I too had a different but equally valid letter for 20A which completely threw me. Now light has dawned with a blinding flash and I look forward to the final workout. That was a bit naughty Speravi.

[perseverer]

Given the identity of the setter, a puzzle requiring very careful checking was only to be expected.

If you don't know who the setter is, then an anagram of his pseudoynm is a big clue.

[Rogue-Elfe]

I agree with you Contendo; Speravi very nearly gives the game away.
I found this one very easy indeed, but more satisfying than last weeks...thing. Zabadak, have you got it yet? Please tell me you have. By the way, I'm sure I have found all of them, but the appended answer is rather random. Should it be? (PS: It's in the post already so if it's wrong then que sera sera).

[piano_maths]

Having found the answer to write below the grid, I am wondering whether there is anything special about it? I cannot instantly see anything - and so I am wondering if I have actually found the correct answer!

[Rogue-Elfe]

Yeah, that's my grumble too, piano_maths. I don't think it's anything more than a way for them at the other end to sort the potentially correct ones from the chaff without having to verify every letter in the first stage. A bit like Merlin Mystery (the book) where if your envelope didn't have the 'peace' symbol it, it wasn't even opened.

[Rogue-Elfe]

Please insert this word into my previous reply.

on

Thanks.

[tilbee]

For once end game came immediately today once grid completed. Did anyone discover the theme before completion (or near) of grid and instructions to solver ?

Think it would be easy to get final entry in box wrong, without careful checking of all potential thematic answers.

An enjoyable solve this afternoon,

[dr b]

tilbee, I certainly did not get the theme early. Once the 4th word of the instruction had been discovered, that word plus the title had me thinking in an entirely different direction. The 3rd word of the instruction was my last to fall, however.

Rogue-Elfe: "Yeah, that's on my grumble too"... I don't get it.

Speravi, more than a bit naughty, the equivalent of shouting "Sudoku" for this puzzle.

OK, I think that covers it.

[AndrewG-S]

If you type the answer and the title into google it will take you to an entertaining Bollywood ringtone. I tried the relevant bit of Chambers which has a dance tune as the first entry, so maybe there is some connection between the Bollywood tune and this dance tune - or is this just coincidence?

[perseverer]

Perhaps the answer has some connection with Trev's birthday!

[tilbee]

Thanks AndrewG-S, at least this confirms that I have the same answer as you. I think this is an example of a reasonable hint / confirmation as opposed to some we see (including on this thread).

Dr B - think the key word of the instruction must deliberately be the most difficult to resolve. I had to work this out from the letters I had and then justify the wordplay to the answers (e.g. 20 ac).

[silversolver]

I enjoyed this one, completed whilst watching the famous Italian victory this afternoon. Some very tricky clues and took a while to understand all the wordplays and extra/missing letters. The PDM was fun. Thanks, Trev.

[bellabee]

i am pretty sure i've got this but the product means nothing to me (i was hoping it would equate to a similar product in the header but it's nowhere near this). also, should the 'treatment' be carried through into the grid itself? in other words, should the answers be treated thematically?

[tenflags]

Reargunner making an early appearance .. managed to fit this in between rugger today. I found this easier than last weeks. It would have been nice to have had a 'confirmatory' cross check on the answer - maybe there is one and I am missing it.
Given comments made here I too will double check everything especially as I have a couple of word-plays to finally nail.
Hi Bellabee - I wouldn't of thought so - first line of preamble is pretty clear ?

[bellabee]

thanks tenflags - it would've worked out but i will play it straight

[Zabadak]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the comments - I left this one alone today and have just returned to it to find an answer which satisfies a reading of the instruction. I'm not convinced 20ac has more than one possible solution: I have three letters that fit but only one which satisfies the cryptic.
Still, I'm afraid, deeply underwhelmed: I would not be particularly surprised if Green Lanes received a variety of "answers" as there's nothing particular to check your answer against. It is, in effect, a kind of cryptic clue,with nothing to indicate length of solution or format, or to cross check the accuracy which seems to be needed.
If considered as a the run up to a phrase or word (ie if you put .... at the end) the instruction could lead to, well, anything, as I suggested earlier, and "anything" and lots of other entries could be argued for.
Unless I'm still missing something, there's no real connection between the puzzle per se and the "answer" - there's no development of a theme, it's just tacked on as a rather separate tailpiece. Sorry guy and gals - and Trev - I just didn't like the lack of cohesion. Tell me I'm wrong!

[Speravi]

To my critics: I don't think so. I supplied an adage that is indisputable. I think that you have read into that generic, indisputable statement more than is sustainable, and, in doing so, have actually done rather more 'damage' - if that's how you see it - than my bland statement of fact, applicable to all crossword titles, did. The fact that this particular title has one or more anagrams, by itself, reveals nothing. The fact that you draw attention to this has informational content. As a matter of course, I always examine titles carefully before I start solving, and I was merely sharing that recommended strategy. I don't accept the implied charge(s), and submit that, as has happened on a previous occasion, over-sensitive reactions reveal more than the original post.

[dr b]

Oh, please. The title has exactly one anagram. Did you make your comment expecting people to read it and think, "Yes, Speravi is correct in general, but in this instance I'll ignore his advice and not anagram the title"?

Z: I think there's only one thing that can go in the box. However, I cannot deny that you didn't like the lack of cohesion.

[midazolam]

Sorry Speravi, but that excuse does not wash with me either. Take another example: there have been a few crosswords that use the first or last letters of clues to provide a statement. I scan these letters even before starting to solve the clues. To come on here and say that I always do this when that particular puzzle uses this gimmick is not on. It is the same for your comment

[contendo]

Speravi che no ci preoccuparemmo da tu cattiveria ma speravi invano