“Eh dil hai mushkil…Jeena yaha..Zara bachke…Zara hatke… yeh hai Mumbai Meri Jaan”…(song in the background)…
KK Menon asks his friend, “u know who sang this song”, friend replies, “Mohd. Rafi”, to which KK replies, “Kishore Kumar ko to koi suntaa nahi hai na”.
The movie, “Mumbai Meri Jaan”, “MMJ”, is a depiction of such complex emotions that come out at the time of atrocities and at times lead to other such future, counter atrocities.
First of all I give it very high marks on casting- every character has played just the character they were asked to and very beautifully; if there are two leading stars in a movie, that does not mean that they have to play a couple- Madhvan is a husband of never seen before actress and Soha Ali Khan is about to marry a character mostly seen in ads. It was refreshing to see this mix of characters. When you see this movie, you can’t really say that it belonged to Paresh Rawal or Madhvan or Soha or Irfan or “Kadam”. It belonged to them and to every other character.
But, Paresh Rawal surely wins here as the most skillful humorist in the Indian cinema and not just a comedian. And then, there is Irfaan looking just like your gali ka Chaiwala.
Secondly, MMJ very subtly captures, how Indians from all the sections of the society got affected by this bomb blast in Mumbai on 11th Sept 2006- an India loving professional who does not want to settle abroad in lieu of a better living, asks a fruit vendor not to offer polybags and commutes by local train to keep Mumbai green and less congested; a policeman on the verge of retirement, who suddenly realizes that he did nothing in his life to be worthy of and always been a spectator of the movie rather than an actor and wants his juniors to do something different in their careers; a junior policeman who questions the working of the system, the way it does and wants to make a difference; a TV news channel reporter, covering and making sensational stories, just as stories, suddenly being part of such a TRP hiking story herself, when she loses her fiancée; a struggling, young businessman who just goes the hardliner way, to safeguard his nation from “them”; a cycle-tea seller who is just amused by the money-praying, irreverent rich around him and finds a sadist way to take revenge on being thrown out by a mall retailer for trying Rs.10,000 ka perfume.
What this classic left me with, was a sick pain inside me even though it ends on a positive note- life moves on and should move on positively and don’t suspect them just because they are “them”.
Sick pain because I have been watching such movies, feeling bad every time and applauding the movie maker and the actors. But, is it all, such movies are made for?
And, will I do something only when something like that happens with me or to me?
Its just another TV story until YOU become a story, right?
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
GAME ON, INDIA!!!
India’s first individual gold at the Olympics ever since they have been in existence, has captured everyone’s eyes, ears and all other senses. News channels, news papers, websites, blogs, chats, teas, dinners, coffees, leaders, sportsmen, governments, authorities, celebrities, etc. all are discussing and applauding this single Indian, Abhinav Bindra.
Every time there is an event or incidence in which an Indian (and Indian by any remote connection) does something extraordinary in the world or as per the Indian standards, there is this hysteria, about Indian bashing, India rising, India dominating, etc.
I am not an anti national but let me confess that this habit of ours does not go well with me, this sudden realization of the greatness of the Indians by the fellow Indians, is most of the times uncalled.
Let me first congratulate, Abhinav Bindra for his golden achievement, and let me again say, Abhinav Bindra, and not the Indians or the Indian sports fraternity. Yes, he does belong to India by birth and many other such associations, but how much has been India’s contribution in his success, zero. Today, it was impossible to ignore his presence anywhere and I came to know that he has his own shooting range which is the best, even by the best of the standards.
So, he didn’t need any of India’s so called sporting facilities, one of his interests is located at Tughlakabad, though. He has a foreign coach, so even the Indian “Acharya Drona” link can’t be forged with him here. Sorry fellow countrymen, sorry.
And, now with this just one gold, we Indians are fathoming a golden start in the sports arena. I disagree. Sports are something in the culture and to excel at the Olympics level, something more inherent is needed. There are many things that we need to be a sports nation. But one thing that we can’t ignore is our monetary condition. And it’s the root cause. In a country, where a child is burdened by life-earning expectations, as soon as he/she takes birth, you can’t think of such Olympian stories and heroics. Where a child has to think of how he’s going to earn his bread; where he has to think, with how much efforts his parents are feeding him and sending him to the school (even this is a luxury), “khelna koodna bachchon ka khel nahi hai”.
And a country which has reduced a great hockey playing nation to just another hockey playing nation plagued with egos, incompetence and failures does not deserve to bask in such successes.
Another important spoke in the wheel is cricket. Talking sport in India mostly means cricket and even then we are far from being the best in it. But, what I want to mention here is the undue criticism of cricket by each and everyone in any other sport. People have problems with the kind of attention and hype cricket gets. But think logically and you will see that it’s pretty natural- all it requires to play is a ball and any thing that can send it to the boundary. So, it does not depend upon any real infrastructural needs which require heavy investments- you can play it in your room, in your balcony, garage, class, any type of ground, roads, gullies, etc etc.
This is how cricket provides a poor nation’s children, a way to break free and enjoy. Then cricket’s popularity can also be attributed to the India’s English connection.
Cricket is a perfect example of a market driven economy. Cricket has created its own market and its customer base is so large and so loyal, that for any other sport to challenge it, will require huge, huge efforts. And let me tell you it will take a generation shift for that to happen, because habits are very hard to change. And cricket is not just a habit, it is part if the Indian culture, just like Bollywood or samosas or saarees.
But, does all this mean that we that we will continue to get such golden touches once in a decade or two- no I am not saying this. And I am damn confident of India doing well in other sports, slowly but surely. It may take us a decade or two to reach there and have a significant presence on those medal tally’s, but it will happen.
Not because of the governments or any sports authorities, but because of the rise in the purchasing power of the Indian families, rising size of the Indian sports market which will drive the corporate interest and hence the essential money.
But more than this all, because of a new India that wants to win, that believes that it can win and be the best in the world.
GAME ON, INDIA!!!
Every time there is an event or incidence in which an Indian (and Indian by any remote connection) does something extraordinary in the world or as per the Indian standards, there is this hysteria, about Indian bashing, India rising, India dominating, etc.
I am not an anti national but let me confess that this habit of ours does not go well with me, this sudden realization of the greatness of the Indians by the fellow Indians, is most of the times uncalled.
Let me first congratulate, Abhinav Bindra for his golden achievement, and let me again say, Abhinav Bindra, and not the Indians or the Indian sports fraternity. Yes, he does belong to India by birth and many other such associations, but how much has been India’s contribution in his success, zero. Today, it was impossible to ignore his presence anywhere and I came to know that he has his own shooting range which is the best, even by the best of the standards.
So, he didn’t need any of India’s so called sporting facilities, one of his interests is located at Tughlakabad, though. He has a foreign coach, so even the Indian “Acharya Drona” link can’t be forged with him here. Sorry fellow countrymen, sorry.
And, now with this just one gold, we Indians are fathoming a golden start in the sports arena. I disagree. Sports are something in the culture and to excel at the Olympics level, something more inherent is needed. There are many things that we need to be a sports nation. But one thing that we can’t ignore is our monetary condition. And it’s the root cause. In a country, where a child is burdened by life-earning expectations, as soon as he/she takes birth, you can’t think of such Olympian stories and heroics. Where a child has to think of how he’s going to earn his bread; where he has to think, with how much efforts his parents are feeding him and sending him to the school (even this is a luxury), “khelna koodna bachchon ka khel nahi hai”.
And a country which has reduced a great hockey playing nation to just another hockey playing nation plagued with egos, incompetence and failures does not deserve to bask in such successes.
Another important spoke in the wheel is cricket. Talking sport in India mostly means cricket and even then we are far from being the best in it. But, what I want to mention here is the undue criticism of cricket by each and everyone in any other sport. People have problems with the kind of attention and hype cricket gets. But think logically and you will see that it’s pretty natural- all it requires to play is a ball and any thing that can send it to the boundary. So, it does not depend upon any real infrastructural needs which require heavy investments- you can play it in your room, in your balcony, garage, class, any type of ground, roads, gullies, etc etc.
This is how cricket provides a poor nation’s children, a way to break free and enjoy. Then cricket’s popularity can also be attributed to the India’s English connection.
Cricket is a perfect example of a market driven economy. Cricket has created its own market and its customer base is so large and so loyal, that for any other sport to challenge it, will require huge, huge efforts. And let me tell you it will take a generation shift for that to happen, because habits are very hard to change. And cricket is not just a habit, it is part if the Indian culture, just like Bollywood or samosas or saarees.
But, does all this mean that we that we will continue to get such golden touches once in a decade or two- no I am not saying this. And I am damn confident of India doing well in other sports, slowly but surely. It may take us a decade or two to reach there and have a significant presence on those medal tally’s, but it will happen.
Not because of the governments or any sports authorities, but because of the rise in the purchasing power of the Indian families, rising size of the Indian sports market which will drive the corporate interest and hence the essential money.
But more than this all, because of a new India that wants to win, that believes that it can win and be the best in the world.
GAME ON, INDIA!!!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
As THEY like it....
i live for Them...i live the way, They say....
i drink when They are thirsty and i eat when They are hungry.
i breathe for myself, but live for Them.
my eyes only see what's visible to Them and what seems good to me...
i say what reaches Their ears and i hear what suits Their tongue.
i wear clothes for myself, but hide truths for Them.
i think They are not humble and I try to take pride even in my failures…
i consider myself a nonconformist yet i want Them to accede.
i found myself in Their world and i lost myself in Their world........
i drink when They are thirsty and i eat when They are hungry.
i breathe for myself, but live for Them.
my eyes only see what's visible to Them and what seems good to me...
i say what reaches Their ears and i hear what suits Their tongue.
i wear clothes for myself, but hide truths for Them.
i think They are not humble and I try to take pride even in my failures…
i consider myself a nonconformist yet i want Them to accede.
i found myself in Their world and i lost myself in Their world........
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Indian Starbucks
Want to meet your friends or celebrate a birthday or date a date or just do time pass or meet up your client or your customer or waiting to catch up with someone or meet a matrimonial mate or bla bla- one place, different uses.
India is being applauded to have finally arrived in the Coffee mug, the retail chain way.
Yes, I am talking about the mushrooming of the coffee chains (you may also call it, CCD or Café Coffee Day) in almost every part of your city- colleges, residential colonies, airport lounges, highways, shopping streets, shopping malls, official complexes, multiplexes, petrol stations, hospitals and I am sure to have missed something in this list.
CCD opened its first store at the up market, Brigade Road, Bangalore in 1996. Today, it boasts of 639 cafes across 98 cities, with a flagship and ambitious store opened in Vienna. The second player of significant presence is Barista, with 100 stores and has been suffering with ownership and management switches since its inception.
Barista is clearly premium priced and positioned, when compared with CCD, but CCD brews over Barista with its shear accessibility, low pricing and single minded focus and attention from the parent organization, “Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd.”, which has the second largest coffee farms in Asia.
I have been a regular visitor of the coffee shops ever since they started their espresso. And, though these cafes have been constantly praised for their service and giving that “cuppa” experience to the Tea addicts of India, I seriously have few problems with their basic services.
Some of the commonly noticed ones are as follows:
1. Slow response times, as soon as you enter their café, even serving of water and
wiping off the tables take up a considerable time.
2. Generally, the wiping cleans the tangible remains on your table but leaves you
some sick smell, similar to that of a stale wiping cloth. And it sucks.
3. Humble and polite customers are sure to get a punch in the quality of service if
they reach their at peak times. The more dominating and bossy the customer is,
the better is the expected service.
4. Stewards or the coffee boys are not well verse with the mannerisms, language
and customer handling, though some exceptions are always there.
5. In services, one of the key delivery issues is the consistency of the quality and
experience. This is a real issue with all the cafes and depends a lot on the time
of your visit, sipper’s population, staff availability and café location. Some
cafes are always serving good and some are always serving shit.
Right now, it seems that CCD is entirely focusing on scoring big in the numbers game and as it’s the only dominant player (Barista can not be considered a competition), it scores big on other parameters as well.
Country of the size of India and demographics even more diverse can clearly support at least 2-3 players, each catering to a sizeable, sustainable, profitable and scalable niche.
I am waiting for a few challenger brands in the café space, which can deliver some unique experience, creamed up with better quality of service and most importantly CONSISTENCY.
Why to wait for Starbucks to do all that for us, lets have our own Indian Starbucks.
A lot is stil to happen over a cuppa in India....
India is being applauded to have finally arrived in the Coffee mug, the retail chain way.
Yes, I am talking about the mushrooming of the coffee chains (you may also call it, CCD or Café Coffee Day) in almost every part of your city- colleges, residential colonies, airport lounges, highways, shopping streets, shopping malls, official complexes, multiplexes, petrol stations, hospitals and I am sure to have missed something in this list.
CCD opened its first store at the up market, Brigade Road, Bangalore in 1996. Today, it boasts of 639 cafes across 98 cities, with a flagship and ambitious store opened in Vienna. The second player of significant presence is Barista, with 100 stores and has been suffering with ownership and management switches since its inception.
Barista is clearly premium priced and positioned, when compared with CCD, but CCD brews over Barista with its shear accessibility, low pricing and single minded focus and attention from the parent organization, “Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd.”, which has the second largest coffee farms in Asia.
I have been a regular visitor of the coffee shops ever since they started their espresso. And, though these cafes have been constantly praised for their service and giving that “cuppa” experience to the Tea addicts of India, I seriously have few problems with their basic services.
Some of the commonly noticed ones are as follows:
1. Slow response times, as soon as you enter their café, even serving of water and
wiping off the tables take up a considerable time.
2. Generally, the wiping cleans the tangible remains on your table but leaves you
some sick smell, similar to that of a stale wiping cloth. And it sucks.
3. Humble and polite customers are sure to get a punch in the quality of service if
they reach their at peak times. The more dominating and bossy the customer is,
the better is the expected service.
4. Stewards or the coffee boys are not well verse with the mannerisms, language
and customer handling, though some exceptions are always there.
5. In services, one of the key delivery issues is the consistency of the quality and
experience. This is a real issue with all the cafes and depends a lot on the time
of your visit, sipper’s population, staff availability and café location. Some
cafes are always serving good and some are always serving shit.
Right now, it seems that CCD is entirely focusing on scoring big in the numbers game and as it’s the only dominant player (Barista can not be considered a competition), it scores big on other parameters as well.
Country of the size of India and demographics even more diverse can clearly support at least 2-3 players, each catering to a sizeable, sustainable, profitable and scalable niche.
I am waiting for a few challenger brands in the café space, which can deliver some unique experience, creamed up with better quality of service and most importantly CONSISTENCY.
Why to wait for Starbucks to do all that for us, lets have our own Indian Starbucks.
A lot is stil to happen over a cuppa in India....
Friday, August 1, 2008
Volkswagen Jetta, India
Volkswagen. Das Auto.
It’s not very long since I have known Volkswagen well. As most of us, I came to know about the Volkswagen through the iconic Beetle- The nice little car that has been a rage all around the world ever since its launch. Though I never knew that the first Beetle was launched in the year 1953 because I thought if it’s a small car and so good, then it must have been in India. But even small has different connotations.
Well leave all this behind. Finally, the real Volkswagen has arrived in India. Yes, “Volkswagen, Now in India”. Not its Czech cousin, Skoda, its real Volkswagen.
And just before a week or so, VW launched their 3rd offering in India, the Jetta. VW is shear beauty and bliss, to just even watch, forget driving and sitting inside. And I realized this for the first time when I saw a fleet of VW beauties, lined up at India Auto Expo 2008.
So, what’s the deal bro?
The TVC, being aired on our TV channels these days about the VW Jetta, is a deliciously crafted one, I must admit, and very much in sync with the kind of positioning Volkswagen is trying to achieve here- European, Perfection, Elegance, Artistic, etc.
But, the big guys at Volkswagen or their high profile ad agency, just made a very, very small mistake. Everything in this TVC is purely European or Western at least, and from no where Indian, right.
But just give a look at the newly launched Jetta’s number plate. It shows some number like, MH-01 AS 1564, something like this.
I don’t know what difference it would have made if they had used the real number plate in this TVC, or even had left it blank for that matter. But, no, marketing companies keep on throwing such cheap shit on us, the poor Indians.
Dude grow up fully, if you think that India can buy such classics from you, then at least make honest communications if not Indian flavored communications, to these poor country’s rich guys.
Honest communications is one thing that is really missing from the still evolving Indian market. Some companies are surely exceptions, but they are out numbered by the dishonest ones like anything.
It’s not very long since I have known Volkswagen well. As most of us, I came to know about the Volkswagen through the iconic Beetle- The nice little car that has been a rage all around the world ever since its launch. Though I never knew that the first Beetle was launched in the year 1953 because I thought if it’s a small car and so good, then it must have been in India. But even small has different connotations.
Well leave all this behind. Finally, the real Volkswagen has arrived in India. Yes, “Volkswagen, Now in India”. Not its Czech cousin, Skoda, its real Volkswagen.
And just before a week or so, VW launched their 3rd offering in India, the Jetta. VW is shear beauty and bliss, to just even watch, forget driving and sitting inside. And I realized this for the first time when I saw a fleet of VW beauties, lined up at India Auto Expo 2008.
So, what’s the deal bro?
The TVC, being aired on our TV channels these days about the VW Jetta, is a deliciously crafted one, I must admit, and very much in sync with the kind of positioning Volkswagen is trying to achieve here- European, Perfection, Elegance, Artistic, etc.
But, the big guys at Volkswagen or their high profile ad agency, just made a very, very small mistake. Everything in this TVC is purely European or Western at least, and from no where Indian, right.
But just give a look at the newly launched Jetta’s number plate. It shows some number like, MH-01 AS 1564, something like this.
I don’t know what difference it would have made if they had used the real number plate in this TVC, or even had left it blank for that matter. But, no, marketing companies keep on throwing such cheap shit on us, the poor Indians.
Dude grow up fully, if you think that India can buy such classics from you, then at least make honest communications if not Indian flavored communications, to these poor country’s rich guys.
Honest communications is one thing that is really missing from the still evolving Indian market. Some companies are surely exceptions, but they are out numbered by the dishonest ones like anything.
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