Posts Tagged ‘postaday2011’

Squash or Swim – what kind are you?

Posted: May 1, 2011 in Uncategorized
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So this is a lot about exercise / fitness preferences, but I wonder if this extends to general character too? Read on..

Over the years, I have tried to stick to a host of different types of fitness routines. From joining Gyms, Yoga classes, special fitness programs, walking, swimming, playing different games like squash, tennis and badminton etc.

And I have lasted at these various different activities for different lengths of time, from 1 day, to a few years.

I have also seen others, including some close friends and relatives, doing similar experiments, and lasting for different lengths of time, at different activities.

So what worked for me, and what didn’t? What worked for others I know of, and what didn’t work for them?

And most importantly.. why did certain things work or not work??

Speaking for myself, I know of two activities that I kept at, for the longest periods of time, viz. playing tennis, and then playing squash. In both of these cases, I was consistent in pursuing these, for multiple years at a stretch.

Whereas others like being at the gym, or swimming, have had shortest stints for me!

Currently I am walking – quite regularly too.

So why?

Well, when I was playing tennis, I would play with few other regulars who were present there daily. We had good, competitive games going, and I would look forward to go and join the action with them, each day. There was a sufficiently large number of players which would ensure anywhere between 4-6 minimum to be present each day.

In the case of squash, we were 2-3 of us regulars, and we were all very keen to play. We’d manage to push each other and kept it going for a long time. Again, we had hard fought games and the challenge was a big driver.

And now I am into walking. Not competitive, nor a “team sport”, but I am still at it. One, on account of a personal motivation that I need to be regular at “something”. But secondly again, because of a few friends, who are equally charged up this time, and we keep prodding each other on.

What did not work for me were the individual tasks like swimming or even going to the gym or a yoga class. Not competitive, nor a personal group involved, where mutual prodding may be there.

So clearly, I prefer such sporting / fitness activities to happen with few others and preferably, also having a competitive angle to it.

Others have found their comfort zone in yoga or swimming, for example. These are individual efforts with not much group involvement. And I have seen few people who have been consistently pursuing these activities, every single day (almost) for many many years.

So I guess, to each his own, especially where sports and fitness are concerned.

But I am wondering if this behavior towards sports or fitness can be extended as a character profile too? Are those who desire company or competitive sports, naturally group players and competitive? And those who stay consistent with swimming or yoga or such individual efforts, are they able to set their own goals, measure their progress in context of their own personal benchmarks?

I am not so sure. My own guess is that this is a pattern restricted to certain activities like sports or fitness matters. And that in other aspects of life, one could be quite different..

What do you think? Also are you the Squash and Tennis kind or you are the Swimming kind??

Post Bail: Scene at a Mumbai Police Station

Posted: April 28, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. However, any similarity to persons living or dead is purely intentional 🙂

——-

The police station at Walkeshwar was otherwise a quiet place.

The occasional pickpocket, and the one-off theft, or a few drunk drivers that were caught. A posting here was a peaceful posting for most of the cops there.

So when at 10 am in the morning, there was the massive hoard of people that barged into the small police station, and the utter commotion that it caused, the station in charge, Inspector Shinde was a worried man.

“Kay chalala aahe ikde? Yeh sab kya hai? Itne log idhar ikkatha kyu hue ho? Lafda kya hai re?

“Ae Pandu, kay chalala aahe? Don char la aat madhe gheun ye, bakkina baaher thambayla saang.”

“OOOO… ITNA GHONGHAT KIYA NA TO SABKO ANDAR KAR DOONGA.. IDHAR JAGAH NAHI HAI TO SAALE SABKO ARTHUR ROAD YA TIHAR BHEJ DOONGA.. SHANTI SE RUKNE KA, KYA?? SAMJHA NA.. “

Pandu picks a few of the mature looking, educated folks – 3 men and 1 woman – inside, to meet Inspector Shinde.

Shinde: “Ha bola, kay zala.. itna subah subah ye shor kayka hai? Koi badi chori hui hai kya?”

The men look at each other, and through eye contact and nudging, they prod one of them to be the impromptu spokesperson on behalf of them.

Lightblue shirt: “Sir, you have to help us. This is a real crisis. These people, you know… “

Shinde: “Kiski baat kar rahe ho? Koi gang wale taklif de rahe hai kya, aapko?”

Lightblue shirt: “No, no.. there is no gang. We live in a very peaceful area that way. We have no such problem. This is very different issue.. “

Shinde: “Phir kya hai? Gang nahi to kaun hai? Are koi political honga to mere paas mat aana. Upar ka bahut pressure hota hai. Abhi tak Hazare ki impact nahi hui hai idhar.. ha ha.. ” 

And Shinde laughs out loudly at his own joke. The four of them also smile weak smiles, to appear to have enjoyed the humour.

Lightblue shirt: “Sir, the problem is of a household kind. Not a political one.. “

Impatient Shinde: “Dekho, ghar me jhagda hota hai na, to aapas me nipat lene ka. Miya-bibi me to takrar hoti hi rehti hai. Abhi meri hi baat karo.. pehle jab dance bar pe raid maarke me late pahuchta tha, to meri bibi roz mere saath ladti thi. Lekin thodi gifts-bifts de ke mai use mana leta tha.. to ghar ka mamla aapas me nipat lo na.. itna shor macha ke police station me aane ka kya matlab?”

Realizing that lightblue shirt is not getting the point across, greenshirt decides to take matters in his own hand, and interjects.

Greenshirt: “No Sir, it is not about domestic problem like that. You see, we are all working people, and need to go to work. And we are dependent on maid servants who come for domestic help. Now, we have a problem on our hands as the entire area’s maid servants are refusing to come to work. You know, one of them goes, some other one helps out for the day. But if the ENTIRE lot do not come to work, how can we survive? They HAVE to work.. “

Shinde: “Par hua kya? Aap lok unko theek se pagar nahi dete ho kya? Kyo nahi aana chahate?”

Greenshirt: “Oh, these are Walkeshwar maids. They get paid handsomely. Some of them can own their own flats in Nalasopara, with the money they earn as domestic servants.. “

Wanting to show his knowledge and regain some of his lost importance in the conversation, lightblue shirt butts in..

Lightblue shirt: “Aren’t they covered under ESMA? You know, Essential Services Maintenance Act.. ?”

Shinde giving lightblue shirt the LOOK: “Mujhe ESMA maalum hai. Mujhe law mat sikhao. I know legal well. OK?”

Shinde: “PANDU.. te koni bai loga pan aahe ka baaher? Don-char la bolav ki aat madhe? Baghu, problem kai aahe?”

Pandu goes and brings in 2-3 well dressed women, who hardly look like maid servants. But who are. Of course, well paid Walkeshwar maid servants.

Shinde: “Aaho.. tumhi kam ka nahi karat re? Kay zala ki?”

Bai 1: “Saab… hum nahi kaam kar sakte ab. Apni bhi kuch izzat hai na..?”

Shinde: “Kyu, kya hogaya aisa? Ye log koi problem kar rahe hai kya?” (and looks sharply at lightblue shirt.. who immediately looks down, embarrassed, and avoiding the eye contact)

Bai 2: “Nahin saab, abhi tak inse koi problem nahi hai, lekin aaga jake.. ?”

Bai 1: “Saab, ye log paisa to accha dete hai. Ghar jaise bhi rakhte hai humko. Lekin hamari izzat ka sawaal hai.. “

Shinde: “Are, theek se batao na, hua kya hai? Yeh izzat-izzat kya kar rahe ho?”

Bai 3, who looks like the leader of the pack, and who has been quiet so far, takes a deep and audible breath. Bais 1 and 2 know now, that it’s their turn to stay quiet and they look at Bai 3, who is getting ready to make her speech.. 

Bai 3: “Dekho saab.. ye sab acche ghar vale log, philm aur tv dekhke uske hisab se kaam karte hai. Abhi unhone dekha ke koi izzatdaar admi, apni maid ka rape karneke baad, do-char din jail me chakkar lagake, phir bail pe nikal jayega, to woh bhi aisa karne to tayyar ho jayenge na? Phir hamara kya hoyenga?”

Shinde: “Are, tv aur film me to kuch bhi kahani dikhate hai. Aise sab serial ko dekhge thodi koi waisa kaam karne lag jayega. Aur koi aisa gunah karke nikal nahi jaa sakta. Hum log chhode ge nahi usko..”

Bai 3: “Saab.. lagta hai aap tv nahi dekhte aur paper bhi nahi padhte. Are.. hum log serial ki baat nahi kar rahe. Jo news me aaya hai uski baat kar rahe hai..”

Bai 3: “JAB SHINEY NIKAL GAYA BAIL PE, TO BAI LOG KO KAUN SECURITY DEGA??? IS LIYE JAB TAK SHINEY AHUJA JAIL KE BAHAR HAI, HUM LOG KAAM PE NAHI JAYENGE…!” 

——-

Epilogue:

What does an old maid tell to a younger one, who is not getting sleep at night: “So jaa.. nahi to Shiney Ahuja aa jayega..” 

A Scene from the Grand Tihar Reunion

Posted: April 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
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DISCLAIMER
This is a work of fiction. However, any similarity to persons living or dead is purely intentional 🙂
——-
There was a lot of commotion in the women’s barracks in Tihar Jail. The first class rooms were being cleaned and cleared. There was a special guest arriving.
Not that it is unusual for Tihar. Except that this was in the women’s section. There are not as many such special guests in the women’s quarters. Most of the other special guests were men.
Well, there WAS that one lady, who had been there for a while. Ah, finally she will have some company.
In fact, the lady also seemed excited. She was making unusual chatter with the women guards. There was a wide smile on her face. Almost childlike.
And then they heard the noises outside. The cavalcade of cars stopping one after the other. A rush of personnel heading towards the gate. To catch a glimpse of the Rajya Sabha MP making her way into Tihar. Some went to welcome her, some to escort her inside.
After her concierge completed the paperwork and formalities, she was finally escorted to the first class barracks.
Where the other lady was eagerly waiting for her. Constantly looking out in the direction of the door. Almost chewing her nails out. “When will she arrive? Why is she taking so much time?”
And finally, the door opened.
And NR saw Koi waiting at the door. And she almost jumped in joy. The grin on the face was from ear to ear.
And she ran towards Koi, and Koi ran towards NR. There was screaming and shouting, like teenage girls.
And they hugged and gave their air kisses to each other. Muah.. muah..
And they looked at each other, like long lost friends having been reunited.
Oh, what a scene. The female guards who had come to escort Koi into the barracks could scarcely believe the scene they had just witnessed.
And then, after the initial brouhaha had simmered down, NR escorted Koi inside, and they sat down and started chatting.
So many things to talk about, so many things to catch up on.
Koi: “Soooo, how have you been? How’s jail treating you? You seem to have lost weight?”
NR: “Oh, it’s okay. The first few days were tough. Missed my bed, my car, my team, my phone, my office. But slowly, I have got used to it.”
Koi: “But what’s with this weight loss? Don’t they have good food here?”
NR: “No, re. They have a great gym here. And since there are fewer calls to handle, I get all the extra time. So finally managed to do regular work outs that I was never able to do outside. Does not hurt to get into shape, while I am here, no?”
NR: “Don’t worry about the food. There is good choice, and you can order what you want. Some privileges of being in the first class barracks!”
Koi: “Ah, thank God. I need my rasam and idlis. I will die without those.”
NR: “But I am soooo glad to have you here. I was getting thoroughly bored.”
Koi: “You are saying you wanted to see me in jail?”
NR: “No, no.. not like that. I am just glad to have your company. I don’t wish you, nor me, nor any of my loved ones to be here. But now that we are here, we are here. May as well be here with a friend, than with a foe. What say?”
Koi: “Yes, that is right.”
NR: “And we can talk to our heart’s content. After all, there is not much else that we can do here, anyway!”
Koi: “And we don’t even have to worry about tapped phones.. ha ha.. “
NR: “Don’t remind me about that. In fact, pleasssssee don’t mention tapped phones. I have just about come out from regular nightmares about phones and tapping.”

After some more idle chatter, the talk moves on to more serious stuff. Like work!
Koi: “So tell me N, how’s work? While you are here, has work stopped or what?”
NR: “It’s pretty bad. RT and MA want to keep safe distance now. I don’t blame them, you know.”
Koi: “Too bad. Your big two.. wow. That must be tough.”
NR: “I know. Nobody wants to touch my agency with all this baggage.”
Koi: “So.. have you laid off your team or something?”
NR (with a smile): “NO! I manage to stay busy…”
Koi: “But you just said that no one wants to touch your agency..?”
NR: “Well let me answer this the filmi way.  I know you watch only Tamil films, and that too, mostly the ones starring someone from your family. But I am sure you remember the Yash Chopra classic, Dil To Pagal Hai…”
Koi: “Yes, I do remember. But in response to my question on work, you are giving me an example of a romantic film of Yash Chopra?? Hey N, did you find love in the jail or what??”
NR (laughing heartily): “Nooooo… no such thing. But I like the thought!”
NR: “As they say in that film, there is someone out there meant just for you. And you will find that person/s… “
Koi: “Oh.. that way? Ok.. so whom did you find?”
NR: “Well, you know, due to my tough times, the MAs and the RTs of the world want to keep a distance. Those are the kind who do not want to touch our agency at this time.”
NR: “But then there are others, who need our kind of help, and NO agency is willing to touch them, at this time.. “
NR: “Makes for a perfect match, doesn’t it?!”
Koi: “Ah.. I am sort of getting the idea. So tell me what kind of new work you have picked up?”
NR: “Well, there is SC who wants my help to mediate with his Norwegian partners.. to let him hang on!”
NR: “And there is SB who wants my help to reach Dubai, for some rescue act for him and his partner. After all, his Godfather, SP is also in trouble right now, and not much help to him..”
NR: “And then there is the toughest assignment of all.. “
Koi: “Oh, which one is that?”
NR: “The one who is not even in yet, SK. He needs me to tap my journalist friends, to persuade the GOP to stop now. They have already expelled him, and he wants them to stop there, and not get him here! Although he had “played” sports all his life, he is not really that fit to handle a jail stint.”
Koi: “So why is it that tough?”
NR: “For one, I do not have any journalists friends anymore. No one wants to talk to me, on phone or otherwise! And with so many state elections coming up, the GOP wants nothing to do with SK, and wants to make him the big sacrificial lamb.”
Koi: “So what will you do?”
NR: “Well, they don’t call me the best for nothing, you know. I will figure something out!”
Koi: “Hey, you seem to have your hands full with work, then? Hope you have time for me!”

NR reaches out and gives Koi a nice hug.
NR: “I will ALWAYS have time for you. You are my most loyal client. You were there with me when I was outside, and you have followed me in here, and continue to be with me. Can I EVER abandon you??”

And then, its time for lunch.
The buffet beckoned..

The Entrepreneur vs The Employee

Posted: April 24, 2011 in Uncategorized
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The “versus” in the title might make it seem like it’s a battle or a game or a competition at least.

No, I do not intend to do any of that.

I am just comparing the two.. !

The starting point to this thought process is from viewing the absenteeism numbers at office, many a day. I stagger to see the number of folks who have taken leave!

Well, part of that reaction is about getting used to the fact that we are a large team now, and a small percentage of a large number, will still appear to be a decent absolute number.

But that apart, there is the second aspect. About how differently an entrepreneur thinks, from a typical employee.

I mean, I get requests for leave, because a “brother-in-law is not well”.

As an entrepreneur, I have brothers and other in laws, and few out laws also not keeping well, and I have still trudged in to work.

Or when I get a request from someone who wants to leave early because he / she has a “bad headache”!

Again, as an entrepreneur, one might be in a similar situation. And one may take a Crocin or a Saridon, or whatever, but just hang in, at the office anyway!

So I am not saying which is better or worse.

As an entrepreneur, I may think that why can’t the employee be more like me? Or should I sanction this leave at all??

Then, there is the other thought. An an entrepreneur, giving work precedence over other priorities, I might have erred, in missing out on the PTA meetings and being beside a close relative and giving them comfort when they were unwell.

Does an entrepreneur need to think a bit like an employee, about his own priorities, and does an employee need to think more like the entrepreneur in giving higher priority to the work??

Obviously the above are generalized scenarios, and there are exceptions, both sides.

Just wondering about the stereotypes here..

RIP Satya Sai Baba – My Memories

Posted: April 24, 2011 in Uncategorized
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I would not claim myself to be an ardent devotee of Satya Sai Baba. Perhaps I am not an ardent devotee of any one God, but am definitely a believer of a larger force (GOD) that makes things happen.

There were questions asked about him, his miracles and what not. I am not here to give defense on anything of that kind. With all kinds of stories on either side of the balance, in the case of Satya Sai Baba, my own feelings were of belief. That he was indeed a great Soul who did good for his devotees, and has influenced and done amazing work. And I would like to stay with that conviction.

I have few memories of Satya Sai Baba, mostly from childhood times:

1. Inspired by an aunt who used to have Satya Sai Baba bhajans at her place every week, we decided to have similar bhajans at our place too. We got this really long photo frame of his, about 4-5 feet in height. The living room was cleared (furniture moved out) and that is where we had the bhajans in the evening.

Next day morning, my mother was clearing up things. She went to the kitchen (next room) and then came back to the hall, where the photo frame was still there. And the frame had vibhuti on it, in the shape of Aum! Yes, in our own house. I was a kid, but the memory lingers.

2. Memories of Puttaparthi have been good. A very peaceful place. We have gone few times, including once or twice during some event, when very large number of people gather. The system worked. Orderly queues. Volunteers who served with a smile. If you get up early and go, you get a good front seat. Which is how it should be. The food there, simple and served by volunteers, with a smile.

3. On one such occasion, we were waiting with many others and getting his blessings as he walked past. And he was pointing to folks randomly, to pick them for a personal interview, as it used to be called. And WE GOT PICKED. I can still remember the excitement that me and my parents felt. I was very young then too, so it is hazy memory, but cannot forget that we felt like we were going to have a personal chat with GOD. We were in a room with him, and he asked me something about what I was doing. And I remember, I mumbled something out, in my excitement. It was a great feeling then.

4. Going to Dharmakshetra in Mumbai has also been a pleasure. A very peaceful temple, quiet, very serene. You can truly forget the worries of day to day life, here. To visit here when Baba is visiting, especially for the early morning bhajans, to get a glimpse of him, was a privilege. The youth brigade and the other volunteers who did selfless work, always impressed. The bhajans were also great to be part of.

5. I remember the last visit to Puttaparthi, in 1995, just before my brother was to head out to the US. We went to seek his blessings. It was a quick visit. But I was again impressed by the town itself, and how it was an epitome of peace. The amazing hospital there, that charges nothing at all.

All in all, have fundamentally good memories and a good feel about Satya Sai Baba, and what he has created.

I guess the true test will be now. After him. Whether the guiding principles are sustainable amongst the trustees and the various folks involved, and we see a smooth transition to maintain the high standards that he lived by.

Whatever happens, I will still carry only me pleasant memories of HIM.

Om Sai Ram..

Volkswagen India: German Engineering a little Jet-lagged??

Posted: April 24, 2011 in Uncategorized
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It’s been fascinating to own a Volkwagen Vento.

It’s NOT been fascinating to deal with Volkswagen personnel, including the dealer and the service garage.

I’ve had my problems with the VW dealer (VW Mumbai East, located in Chembur). In fact, I would easily call them the worst car dealer I have ever experienced, and particularly the most apathetic. Especially the manager who really couldn’t care less.

But I want to put that behind me, so I will not go into those gory details.

Here’s the fun part.

This is the sweet little handwritten letter that we got, from the VW representative, last week:

In fact, this letter came in a cute box, which also had a gift – an electronic clock:

Really sweet and nice of VW, wasn’t it?

In fact, sometime back, I had also received a similar handwritten letter from the same VW rep, asking me to hang on, as the car was on the way!

Maybe it was being sent by the VW engineers who did not want to let the vehicles leave the factories, as they loved it so much:

SO HERE’S THE MOST INTERESTING PART:

I GOT DELIVERY OF THE CAR ON 14TH JAN, 2011. 

The first handwritten letter that came to me, informing me about the delay, and asking me to be patient, came about ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD ALREADY received the car! 

I laughed it away a a slip on their end! 

But now, when I get this new letter, of course, along with a nice box and a gift, THREE MONTHS AFTER I HAVE RECEIVED THE CAR, I am flummoxed. You can see the date that he has mentioned on the letter (above). 

I should be happy about the gift. And hey, maybe another 2-3 months later, there may be more – perhaps a bigger gift – to follow. So I wonder if by writing this piece, I am losing the opportunity of getting few more free gifts?! 🙂 

But then I realize that I don’t need to worry. 

If their right hand (this CRM piece on writing to customers on account of late deliveries) does not know what their left hand (deliveries) is doing, I cannot expect them to read a blog post like this, connect it to my record, and NOT send me more gifts..! 

So is that perfect German Engineering jet-lagged in India??

Are we really using the advantages that we have?

Posted: April 23, 2011 in Uncategorized
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This is an interesting question that one of my good friend keeps asking? Not just me, but himself too, of course..

Are we really making the most of the advantages that we have in life? Or having taken them for granted, we have ended up abusing those advantages, in fact?!

Let’s understand with some examples.

There is this regular debate with the NRI kinds. Which life is better? In India, or in the US (typically)?

And the things that form a part of the benefits of being in India include the great support system that we have. A retinue of domestic help, chauffeur, not to speak of the friends and family support.

Our NRI cousins do not have all of these. Which means, they need to drive themselves everywhere, they have to do groceries and cooking and cleaning, etc.

Should take up such a lot of their time, right?

And we should have all that time available to us, on account of our system, right?

Then, what ARE we doing with that extra time? Have we pursued hobbies, do we travel more, have we got into interesting social work.. etc.? The honest answer for most of us is “Probably NOT..!”.

If you really look at the typical lifestyles, you would actually find the NRI cousin, in spite of having the lack of support, perhaps having a richer lifestyle in terms of the variety of different activities that he finds time for. In spite of having to cook and clean and buy groceries and the works.

Clearly then, we are NOT really using the advantage that we have, of the support system!

Alok Kejriwal referred to this in the context of Sundays, and the way Indian entrepreneurs do not use these too well.

Let’s look at another example.

Most of the world works 5 days a week.

A lot of India works 6 days a week. Some are luckier and work 5 days a week.

We have 2nd and 4th Saturdays off!

So what DO we do with that additional Saturday that we get? As an entrepreneur, for many years, unless I really had something specific planned at home or with family, I would actually end up working on that holiday Saturday also.

So again I was NOT making much use of that additional day that I had got for myself.

Well, doing more work on that holiday can always be justified for an entrepreneur, because there is always more work than time, and there is always a to-do list to work on. But there are other things in life. If the most creative thing that I can do on that holiday Saturday, is some-more-work, I am clearly NOT using the advantage that I have, in terms of that extra Saturday off!

There are many other advantages that we take for granted.

Not having to drive down to run small errands, because the kirana store will deliver home.

Having help at office, who will deposit your cheques for you, or deposit some utility bills on your behalf, so you do not need to go and stand in queues.

Having carpenters and plumbers and clothes ironing and such help, coming home and serving you, so you do not need to do it yourself.

What HAVE we done to use these advantages? The time we save, on these.. ?

We really need to use these advantages that we have in life, to make more out of life. To do things that we want to do. To do different things.

I am trying to be conscious of this fact. At least try to count these blessings.

And then being conscious of making the most of these advantages.

For example, I have taken the decision that on the additional Saturdays that we have a holiday, viz. the 2nd and the 4th, I should try and do different things. Perhaps travel out, or pursue other hobbies.

Has been going on for a couple of these breaks so far. And I have managed to do fun new things, both times.

Have to keep this up. And to use other great advantages that we have, also.. !

What about you? Do you sense that you need to enhance the usage of the medium at your end too?

Dum Maro Dum: good, racy thriller

Posted: April 23, 2011 in Uncategorized
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 With the World Cup holding back Bollywood releases, and nothing decent coming out thereafter too (I safely passed the ThankYous and the Faltus!), the storyline of Dum Maro Dum was tempting enough to go back to the cinema house after a long time. And I was glad that it turned out to be decent fare, after all.

Rohan Sippy, the new gen Sippy, has been making reasonably good cinema, although nothing close to iconic status just yet. So I guess, he’d be among the good young directors of today, but not quite in the class of a Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra or a Raju Hirani or Farhan Akhtar.

And Dum Maro Dum again fits into that slot. A good movie. You’d feel like money well spent. But not something that would get into any all-time top 100 lists or anything of that sort 🙂

The story is set in Goa, in the backdrop of the drug mafia, international drug cartels operating there, and about how innocents have been getting trapped into becoming unwilling carriers!

Abhishek playing the Inspector on special duty, with full powers to clean up Goa, off the drug menace, does a credible job. The film have a good pace. There are things happening all the time. Few characters are introduced, and their stories are told well.

Assuming the story comes with good research, it tells a worrying tale of how Goa has been made into drug heaven, along with its sun and the sea, especially by foreigners.

The music is very typically Pritam, and suits the story well.

Bipasha Basu and Prateik have small roles, and they do good justice to those. Aditya Pancholi makes a come back as the bad man! And looks like the part!

Abhishek finally has a good performance, and for his sake, I also hope the film does well. He needs that little bit of luck now!

Rana Daggubati got more pre-release publicity for his Bipasha connection, and not as much for his acting. Just as well. He is okay. In a role where we could have seen him do a lot better, he does an okay job. Not perfectly convincing.

And which brings me to Dum Maro Dum. The song. The item number performed by Deepika Padukone.

Well, the late R D Burman does not need to feel threatened about his legacy (not that THAT could EVER happen!). For that matter, Asha Bhosale or Zeenat Aman also have little to worry.

Dum Maro Dum will always till be about the original Hare Rama Hare Krishna!

The song depicted here, does not measure up.

Let’s consider Deepika first.

When in a dance number of this kind, the camera has to shake a lot to give the desired effect, it is obvious that the actor is not able to do her part, and the camera has to come to the rescue.

When shots are short, and there are more close ups, again, it is again only because she is NOT able to deliver long shots, and the camera finds it easier to show her face and body, rather than her dance moves.

They used to do this for Sunny Deol too.

Deepika Padukone seems to be belong to that same league. I guess, it was only for her glamour value, and in spite of not being such a good dancer, that they got her to do this dance, I suppose. And to that end, she might be just fine. But seriously, otherwise, the dance is nothing great.

Kareena, Mallika, Katrina, Priyanka.. can all do a far better job of shaking their hips and moving their legs, and looking good doing so, than Deepika!

All in all, Rohan Sippy has created a good film, and I would recommend that you see it.

Should Tiger Woods also stop playing? Guess not..

Posted: April 17, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Earlier I wrote about my one sporting hero, Roger Federer, and figured that he’d be better off retiring from the game now.

Would I feel the same way about one of my other sporting heroes of all time, Tiger Woods??

We all know in recent years, Tiger Woods has gone through a lot!

Most of it, away from the golf course..

Most of it all being his own fault as well..

But he is coming back to the game. And gradually doing better. Slowly but surely, he is not becoming an embarrassment on the course. And I am really happy for him.

Because whatever else got him into the news in the last couple of years, I would like to remember him always, as the best golf player to walk a golf course!

I am not a golf player. Well, not so far.

But I love to see the game. At the highest level. And I have spent many hours watching some or the other Masters, and most times, Tiger used to be a part of the game. And I have loved some of the mind-boggling shots that I have seen him play. Some of them were unbelievable. Like God came down, took the ball and parked it to where Tiger wanted it to go, as otherwise there was no human way to get the ball there!!

Yeah, that’s the Tiger I want to remember. Not the one with an overactive libido.

So he may not win as many of the biggies now, but then golf was never about dominating and winning all the different championships. The number one status in golf is about being more consistent than others. No one can seriously expect to win them all, in a year, or anything even close to that.

So as long as Tiger is getting into the groove again, and since golf is so much more about the mind and the temperament, and if he manages to get those back, then I do believe that Tiger will be back in the reckoning, as one of the top golf players in the world.

Just as he mismanaged his personal life and had no one else to blame, now, to get back to peak levels also, it is entirely upto him. As unlike most other sports, golf is all about the individual. You are not fighting anyone else on the field, you are fighting your own self. Which is what fascinates me about this sport, than anything else.

I am keen to see Tiger Woods at his golfing best. I want him to keep playing.. !!

Is the average becoming the adequate? And better than nothing, after all..?

Posted: April 17, 2011 in Uncategorized
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3

Clearly the Indian economy is doing good.

More jobs, more money flowing, more business for everyone.

Growth. For the country, which translates to growth for individual businesses.

And not everyone is able to scale up in terms of quantity and quality. And yet, the products and services that the company produces, continue to be in demand!

So what happens next?

Quality drops!

And yet, the company continues to get business. Because there is nowhere else to go, for their customers.. !

Is this becoming the norm? I am seeing more and more of this. Average quality.

And we are all accepting this.

India topped a $ 1 trillion level economy just last year. And they are talking of reaching a level SIX TIMES that number within the next 10 years!

And EVERYONE’s going to be busy! As hell.. producing, servicing, marketing, etc. etc.

Are we going to see more mediocre stuff, as businesses try to cope with growth? And if a customer is not happy, the customer can go and take a walk. And make way for the next one waiting in queue to be served..??

What do you think? Have you experienced deteriorating service levels, or you think, we are okay??

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