Scribbles

Urgently Needed - New type of Governance

2011-11-01T06:39:00.001-07:00

Is the world going to wait for a repeat of what happened with USSR, to believe capitalism or pseudo democracy is not working. Well, if yes, it’s going to be far more disastrous. As the world’s so called “Oldest and Largest Democracy” will create a ripple, sorry a tsunami which might entirely change the way, things look now. Obviously I am not talking about the seismic plates; it’s the economy and society.

Greed has always been the biggest Human Problem, right from the mythical Eve’s days. I cannot believe that just because a governance type was lenient and flexible, it can be taken for a ride and people with power and money, can make everything work for them and crush the have-nots. Look at the have and have-not divide in both the countries. Little do they realize that, this gap when it reaches it’s pinnacle, there will be a social unrest, leading t plethora of problem for everyone. But if chaos is the only option for equilibrium, then let there be chaos.

I am definitely not a propagator of socialism, communism or dictatorship or any other form of failed governance type. It’s high time, we start thinking about a new form of governance which will create a more efficient and happy society and eliminate the loop-holes and parity with the current system. It’s also good to devise a new governance type by taking the salient features of failed ones and also thinking about new innovation solutions to better the current system and solve the problems of today’s problem.

I completely understand that, the above is not easily possible, but its also not impossible. I had some stupid, immature and improbable points. To start with, why should one own a land in ones name. This is the root cause of all problems in current world. The real estate prices are so damn high here, it has reached a stage that only royal bloodline, extremely lucky businessman or crooked politician can buy houses here. The majority of the corruption and illegal money gets into real estate market. If government owns the land and people are asked to pay rents as prescribed by the government, then a part of the problem can be solved.

Some might argue that if capitalism is abolished, the society will become lazy and unaccountable. I am sure we can tackle this too. We should create an environment where we work and we reap benefits according to our work. I am sure that the incentives are not going to be greatly significant, but that’s the whole point. We are trying to bridge the gap between haves and have-nots. People with passion to excel and prove their talent, will continue to do so in this environment even if the incentive is not great. Again with small amount of money with you and not able to spend anywhere, what will you do with it anyways.

I am sure that I am sounding very irrational. Well, lets accept it, many innovations came from irrational people who thought irrationally and sometimes even by accidents. I a amazed with the response received for social movements. Its definitely good and needed but Polishing the decayed tooth is not going to help, it has to be rooted out.

A true D(L)ove Story

2011-10-20T22:49:00.001-07:00

"I did not know you initially, yet you were so kind to me
I knew about you later, but I didn't bother to care for you
You patiently waited for years, you even warned me of negligence
I still didn't care, you were disappointed
I took time to realise , you were so irritated
I started to patch up, you were not interested
I finally started loving you , and thanks, you are loving me back
Oh My Beloved Hair, you are so similar to us!!!"

Like Many, little did I realize the importance of a good hair grooming when I was young, and naturally, I did not quite bother to take care of my hair, and the result was that my hair got completely malnourished. I started developing dandruff and my hair fall rate started increasing exponentially. That was the wake up call and I began to take my hair very seriously and started exploring options.

I started gathering lot of information from various sources such as talking to people, reading magazines, blogs and even consulted hair specialists. There were many useful tips I received and would like to share them here.

From a diet perspective, add sprouts, coconut, leafy vegetables, curry leaves and pumpkin to your food, try and maintain healthy diet and drink lot of water. Oil and massage your hair whenever possible, at least thrice a week. These definitely improved my hair and there was rapid hair growth which was noticed by many. This I consider to be my first wow moment.

I still felt something was missing and realized that I required something that would give the life back to my hair and make it look healthy and easy to manage. The rescue plan was to use a shampoo that would work as a one solution to all hair – ills.

My wife used to have soft silky hair but thanks to pollution and stress she often complained about dull hair that falls like leaves from trees in autumn. We frantically flocked to stores that specialized in hair care products and tried out many brands that promised great hair .The enthusiasm always died down after the first couple of washes. And we wondered if there was ever a magic solution to this common everyday problem.

“Choose a shampoo that suits you and STICK TO IT.”

My Mom came to our rescue this time, she advised us to try the Dove Intense repair shampoo. She tried it and found it to be good and we started using it. After 2-3 weeks our hair texture completely changed for the better and now it does look lustrous and silky. This was our second Wow moment. We felt as though our prayers were answered from heaven above!! What a relief it was. We cannot stop blushing at the compliments we receive for how great our hair looks these days!!

Apt diet + Oil + Dove Shampoo = Shiny,Silky, Strong,Easy to manage long hair

This is definitely a Good formula for a great hair maintenance and a path to lustrous hair. After all, Beautiful Hair is Your Crown of Glory and Beautiful hair creates a Beautiful You.We loved our hair and it loved us back. So Folks, love your hair and its rest assured it will love you back intensely.

Dove definitely helped us Do it!!! Thanks Dove!!

Belief

2011-04-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

After yet another long hiatus, this one incident made to write again. Sathya Sai Baba’s End. I am neither one of his million believers nor a beneficiary of his billion dollar service orgs. But what truly is fascinating is trying to rationalize the ideology of a man from a modest background rising to build an empire of million followers and billions of dollars. I am definitely not getting into details, as I have no knowledge. I am truly in awe from what I hear, his great service to people.

What I actually wanted to write was on a broader spectrum - faith. I second Tom hanks dialogue in Angels & Demons, Faith is a gift I have yet to receive. Faith rather belief has had astounding influence on mankind from time eternal, starting from worshiping heavenly bodies to nature to idol worship to messengers to god men to self. There have been various instruments employed to enhance the faith of men.

Belief is imperative for success in this world. One has the option of believing in anything or anyone for the same. The success of what you desire is directly proportional to amount of belief you have. Gods and God men perform miracles to make you believe because fundamentally most human are rational beings. The catch however is, to experience a miracle you would first need to believe and you believe only if you witness one.

Many quotes, phrases and spiritual texts has always preached faith or belief, though misinterpreted many times, the crux is always belief. Rhonda Bryne has given a best seller The Secret and Power based on this. Atheists believe in Self belief, followers believe in God or god men. Rationalists believe in science and nihilists believe in nothing.

I guess it is easier and more efficient to believe someone, yourself or something. Most of the people who wanted to be or do anything actually believed in something, but your belief to come true has to be unconditional, steadfast and doubtless, in other words complete surrender. But this is not as easy as it sounds, personally I have never so far had such a high belief. How can you, when there is so much negativity around. But the test is truly there, to find your belief and believing it with all your heart is the only option you have. Sooner you get there, the better for you.

Finally going back to where I started, I envy people who believe good god men blindly, their sound belief itself would do miracles for them, its not necessarily the god men who has to do it. Like always caught in between, being a rationalist and believer. Hope to get belief somewhere soon.

Happy New Year

2011-01-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Wish you a very Happy New Year!!!

New Year means different things to different people, for most it is partying, for some it is about resolutions, for some it is retrospection, for some it is introspection, for some it is planning ahead, for some it means solitude and for some it is another day…

For me it was a bit of all…the only one new year resolution I have been keeping up, is to not get drunk on a new year.. Happy about it thus far..

I began to take life little serious only after a year I joined work, since then let me try and consolidate a years experience in one “A” word. This might not be completely justifiable, as there would mix of good, bad, happy, sad, achievements, disappointments interchangeably for everyone in every year… this is what it was largely…

2005 – Aimless: Happy go Lucky
2006 – Attainment: Think I have, waiting to see the results
2007 – Ambitious: Too much is not too good
2008 – Audacious: Never have been so brave in my life
2009 – Ambivalent: Man proposes, God Disposes
2010 – Align: Make things straight
2011 – Anticipation: That’s what makes the clock tick
2012 - Apocalypse?: Hope Mayans are wrong

Pyre the past, fire the future, just live the present….

The Convenient Truth

2010-12-15T00:35:00.000-08:00

This is no coincidence that I am writing on Truth, as I am reading MK Gandhi’s “My Experiments with Truth”. If one were to ask me what is the most difficult rather impossible in this world, I would blindly say “Being truthful in thought, deed and word at all times”. One can discover Higgs Bosom, Attain Nirvana or even be immortal, but in a day to day life, it is so difficult to be honest at every given instance.

I am sure most of us are habitual liars, we prefer a convenient lie to factual truth. It comes so easy, as it has jelled with our thinking system. It is imperative that we should think twice before we speak, not to cover up any loop holes, but to think if we need to lie this time. Otherwise it is very difficult to get out of this lie maze. Lie like most vices is very tempting, easy and pleasurable. But one must often remember that vices are never meant to last and generally have serious side effects.

Like Gandhi, I often wondered about the mythological character King Harishchandra. Can a man like him truly exist? I can believe the likes of Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi and Einstein have walked this earth. But I don’t believe that man like him indeed did. Perhaps that’s why they have made him a mythological person. Else others would have felt infinitely insignificant before this great man.

Call it retrospection, remorse or rejuvenation, some day I would definitely like to be as truthful as possible. It will be impossible at that time, that I lead a normal social life. This society will make sure that you will be a outcast. Imagine if centuries back Harishchandra lost everything, having been a King. What will happen to poor and meek souls like us? But that is the true challenge, behest which we should thrive for.

Having said that, name at least one thing in this world that gives you immense joy without a miniscule effort. There isn’t any! The greater the pain , the greater the gain. The ecstasy of liberation that you enjoy in being honest is incomparable to the fallacy of joy a lie can give. The truth truly torments the sinner and gratifies the saint.

The most scientific way towards self realization and perfection is the practice of truth. Unfortunately, we can only accept and not comprehend it like most of the science and faith beliefs. The essence of truth is like nectar in a bowl held sky high, unreachable by ignorant beings. If there is any sanity left in this insane place it is the Truth. It is the last respite for the ones who wish to evolve, for others May the Gods bless you!

P

2010-11-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

Call it coincidence or deliberation; I am thinking that some very strong words starting with P is causing a lot of issues around.

To start with the word Problem itself is a P letter word followed by
Power – Can anything be more dangerous than this
Pollution - The temperatures and sea levels are rising, and health falling
Population – The Supply is more than the demand
Price – Inflation makes me poorer day by day, because price rises, and salary doesn’t
Prejudice – Imprisonment for wallet theft but crores level scam go scott free
Pain – Economic, social, physical, mental, et all
Poverty – Rich gets richer, poor gets OMG
Politics – Do I need to justify
People – The reason for all the above
Past – There were Problems then
Present – There are Problems now

So, The best awaits us in F. Future, Fortune, Freedom, Fulfillment, Fun, F***.

Was I sounding too Psychotic?
I was just Frivolous…....

The Big Q

2010-11-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

Millions come and millions go, but the lust for life stays on. Its the same thing that happens in most people life, but everyone sees everything as an extraordinary affair.Thats the magic of self. Thats the fuel that keeps the lamp burning. The wick is limited size but the fuel though limited can make the wick think that it is eternal. There are millions of lamps burning and millions of lamp going out. New lamps are lit as some dies out, to ensure the aura of light remains. The lamp which goes out will only be missed untill it is replaced with another.

The aura of light is so bright that it makes us believe that we are illuminating the entire world, why not , millions of lamp can definitely create a wonderful illumination. But only some truly illuminated souls can tell the true story. Illumination veils the subtle existence of emptiness or infinity, whichever sounds better.

Some of us have heard about maya, illusion, dream, consciousness,nirvana, darwin, matrix or even ahambramhasmi. These words have an explanation but truly are inexplicable. the closest comparison would be Love. But the latter can be experienced more certainly than the former.It is very surprising to see why the most rational being are not questioning the fundamental reason of existence. It often bewilders me that the most vital knowlegde is trivialised.

Man has made amazing evolution, he has explored and invented(sorry discovered) many things in very many areas. I somehow feel he is after unending series of quests which might eventually lead him to answer one final question. As they popularly say , a wandering traveller never finds his way. Science is trying to explain Higgs Bosom, which might answer some questions. But if atleast a few try to focus and discover the true self, it will be the most rewarding discovery for mankind than any trivial machines or theories.

Many claim that they have solved the riddle, they know the answer, they have seen it for themselves, but no one has actually told anything that is concrete or devised a path that ensures success. Its painful to hear people say that they are contempt with this earthly existence. They no longer have the desire to get out of the birth cycle. The world badly needs philosophers, messiahs and why not a God Incarnations!!! Liberation should be the ulterior motive of mankind, thats precisely why we are the only living / non living material that have the power of reasoning..and we are the so called Rational beings!

Thoughts

2010-10-28T03:52:00.000-07:00

The most difficult task to do is to Do Nothing

Experience comes with Age, not Wisdom

Power Corrupts..Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely...Insane Power Corrupts Insanely

Business - A process where you procastinate decision till it takes care of itself. If it goes right, you take the credit, if it does not, blame it on others.

Ignorance is the prerequiste for Wisdom, why feel ashamed?

What is common between Monday,Marriage and Hangover? They all have a Beautiful PAST

Most people want the best for themselves and the worst for others

Step out of the circle for a minute, look inside...you will get a different perspective....Centrifugal is good...

If chaos results in discipline, let there be chaos....

Withdrawal is as difficult as initiation

If synergy means 1+1 > 2..Can we create one wise with x fools ?

‎1+ 1 >2 is synergy ....1 + 1 < 1 is team work !!!

Anxiety & Fear intoxicates better than anything else

Corporate ethics simply means Massaging Egos...

Perceptions - Even Beethoven's Symphony is a noise when one prefers Silence !!!!

Manage your Manager before your Manager Manages you

Everything feels right before it goes wrong

Some Q's are better left unaswered, Some Problems are better left unattended, Some thoughts are better being ignored, Some people are better when you let go....

What matters most is not your mistakes, but how fast you recover and how efficiently you handle the aftermath

Cold weather, Calm enviorment,Cozy bedroom, Comfy bed,Ceased thoughts...

I agree !!!! you need to work hard to get good things in life...Wisdom, Knowledge, Love, Humility, Patience, Tolerance, Trust and above all Acceptance...

Experience is the best teacher....it teaches you things in a way u ll remember it for a life time

Everybody expects Consistent performance everywhere

Achievers are Envied, Mediocres are Loved, Rest are Ignored

Similar and Same are miles Apart

2010-10-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

I remember using the words Similar and Same interchageably for quite some time, till the day I was taken for task and asked specifically "Similar or Same". I did not understand the gravity of that statement. I was like..whats the big deal..but I was wrong..(Like most of the time)..They are very different

Dosa in Chennai is Similar to Dosa in Pune..but they are not the same...taste the latter, i bet u ll agree...

People assume living in any part of India would be similar, may be yes but definitely not the same. There are so many intricacies. Certain things are different, some very different , some similiar and nothing the same.

It is definitely very challenging to relocate..It may sound absurd but yes..people are okay with moving to europe/US rather than relocating here..I am not talking about Monetary gains here. Unity amidst diversity is similar to India Shining:-)

I have heard about companies that help expats adapt to India while relocating ..prob there is a market for helping people move to other states as well!!!!

What Next?

2010-10-21T01:28:00.000-07:00

This is an incredible question that we ought to answer ourselves all the time. Some great philosopher in the past thought about the saying - " Happiness lies only in pursuit and not in attainment", it can be simply replaced in the contemporary era by "What Next".

No matter whatever you do or dont do , you always end up in this question.What Next.. Probably thats why they say life is a cricle.

Probably this is the simple question which makes the life ticking. You always do something you think you want to do and after doing that, you start thinking about the next thing. What Next..Our mind never ceases to think.

So I have blogged about what I thought..What Next!

Endhira..Yen Endhiraaa

2010-10-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

1. Rajni delivers and delivers big time...happy to see the versatile actor finally act..(Yen antha ratham yenuthunu Sollaen)
2. Shankar proves the saying that , anything is possible.. This movie is easily the best CGI seen in any of the Asian Films. Extravangance at its best....Simply Brilliant thought process, execution and packagining.(Kadavul Irukaru..)
3. ARR was at his usual best, Songs are chart toppers and BGM was apt.(Kilimanjaro)
4. I was disappointed with the dialogues, there were very few and not great too, it would have been awesome if there were more dialogues for one of the best dialogue delivering actor in Indian Cinema..(Enna Sana Thalai suthutha..Meh ..Meh...)
5. Resul Pookutty - I have seriously no idea to comment on this area..(Oh Oh robo)
6. Sun Pictures - Man with a Midas touch, great strategy, marketing and vision. Overall daring to go gaga over India's most expensive film. Hats off..(Evan oruthan 100 peruku samam)
7. Comedy - a big letdown..it should have definitely been Vivek...(thagara dappa thalaya)
8. Aish - Rajni chemistry was a dud....Shreya was much better..(Kaathal Anukal)
9. Awesome screenplay- Amidst some logical flaws, the movie is super dooper entertainer..(Puhtiya manitha Bhoomiku Vaa)
10. Tamil Cinema has finally arrived on the global platform..(Get Ready Folks)!!!

Some Truths I witnessed recently!!!

2010-10-06T23:42:00.000-07:00

1. Everything happens for a reason, it unfolds only after a while and needs retrospection to realize
2. A thoughtless moment is eptiome of joy
3. Your loneliness is directly proportional to the problems you have...more problems you have..more lonely you become
4. Most of us are penny wise and pound foolish in all matters
5. Every person, thing, problem and joy in this world is unique
6. Little efforts we plan to take for others looks enormously big
7. Individual recognition is very vital for any action
8. We have very little influence in what cometh for us
9. The joy of small things, often ignored, is the key to a happy life
10. You can cry, you can swear, you can empthasize but you have to live

Raavanan!!!

2010-07-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

Blogging after a long hiatus...lot of things to think...many a things to ponder...in mid of this how can my thoughts wonder..well it can...when u break free from monotony and fuel it with a catalyst....

Still, my mind is not quite equipped to write anything on my own...and so chossing the easiest way...again a movie review.....this one is pretty intersting ....this movie probably had the highest expectations with lot of biggies involved but failed to impress the massess...the jinx follows yet again...expectations are always followed by disappointment...

Well actually..its not a very bad movie...a novel attempt..but nothing more nothing less....The names associated with the film have alreay set very high standards..and beleive me it is not all easy to meet even baseline criteria these days...how can they beat their own records...prob that was the biggest drawback of the film...

When you expect miracles and see magic rather great tricks..you are dissatisifed....There is definitely a loss of Mani's magical touch in the first half...it even leaves you bewildered when you associate the movie with ratnam...The second half he tried to come back of sorts with powerful narration and performances...and eventaully did when the curtains rolled down...

It is true that if the movie is better towards the end, leaves a lasting impression..but i think the first impression also mattters...especially if the bets are high...The storyline is weak..but I have to agree that even the original script of Ramayan too had a weak storyline sans glorified god worship....

You have to give it to Mani..for he has challenged the very roots of our belief in a 2 hr movie...atleast for one sec in this movie , everyone would have thought Raavan is better than Ram...it takes lots of guts and commendable sense of direction and story telling to achieve this remarkable feat..hats off..I personally feel BGM, songs, editing and screenplay was a little let down...

As for as the performances...full marks to Vikram,,though protrayed as a difficult role..this should have been a cake walk for him...Karthik was a bonaza..very well used and great talent...but all others were mediocre..probably underplayed to lift the Raavan character....Good effort overall...but it is not all about effort as always...

Mani ..we did have some good movies from u...but u owe us one more great film..its due for sometime now....

Aaromale......

2010-03-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

Oorla evvalavo padam odumpothu, naa en VTVya choose pannen. Nalla padatha thedi namma poga mudiyathu, yaaravuthu paathutu vanthu sollanum…director nalla irukanum, casting nalla irukanum, music supera irukanum…nammla potu thakanum..so actaula na VTV paakalamnu nenaichean…..

This is how the movie starts in a different tone, Its almost 1 month since it released, I did not get a chance to see it then. The media was heavily praising rather promoting this flick. Like any other movie, this too had mixed reviews, but average to very good this time…The crowd were all praise for Simbu’s toned down acting.. Trisha’s good looks , Gautam’s narration and ARR’s soul stirring melodies… I would rate the movies in the reverse order of the above.

Yes it is a neat film. It greatly achieved what it set out for, but did it deliver all the goods. Nope, it fell short of it. Its plainly because there is no depth in anything about the movie, be it the core theme LOVE, narration, story, performances, editing or direction. It is a simple movie with modest effort. An easily made good supper. Its definitely worth eating, at times even enjoyable, but its neither stomach full nor delicious.

Simbu has done a fabulous job of what he has asked to so, but I felt, he was a misfit. He is too aggressive for the role, though he cautiously tried to play it down, his nature saw his better half. Trisha is definitely pretty, cool and played her neatly sketched role with ease. The only entertainer in the movie was Ganesh, he and his dialogues and the way he delivered them were awesome, he breathed some life into otherwise very slow paced scenes.

The movie was also little short of a musical, man how many songs and how long, It was definitely great to hear, fantastic to see, but we are not here to watch a musical, at least you did not brand it that way. Gautam I can never ever forgive you for shooting Aaromale in an unimaginative way. This song is straight from heaven, but on screen it looked like you got it as a free gift from ARR. But it happens, we are all mortals and all are susceptible to error. It is an important song for you, that’s why you chose the near climax part to be the song, but we had other thoughts about it.

Cinematography, this field is definitely witnessing genius, most of the last few movies I had scene had great cinematography, VTV is no exception. Well lets come to the most important part of the film, Music. ARR. Did you see that right. This man is at his best. Incredible BGM, out of the world compositions and for Aaromale alone he deserves whatever. Absolutely making no mistakes, he was brilliant. Gautam has obtained one of the best ARR compositions of recent times.

Like most films, when the expectation meter is soaring high, it virtually becomes impossible to meet them. Without any expectations, I would have liked the film greatly. And last but not the least, there are definitely some X factors that differentiates Mortals from immortals…

Naa en VTVya choose pannen…..Aaromale......

Different Words dont mean Different Things Please

2010-03-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

When......

World becomes Market
Organizations becomes Market Cap
Growth becomes Gains
Decline becomes Loss
Multi Locations becomes Global
Customer becomes Client
Improvement becomes Innovation
Mistake becomes Learning
Corrections becomes Reengineering
Satisfaction becomes Delight
Competition becomes Threat
Differentiation becomes USP
Revenues becomes Top Line
Profits becomes Bottom Line
Perks become Value Addition
Tips becomes Incentives
Error free becomes Six Sigma
Work becomes Productivity
Life becomes Business

Then...

You can smell the presence of a Global Business Magnate - who can transform your business by providing invaluable insights that will delight your client

or in simple words - An moron out of a business school.

Some more nonsense

2010-03-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I end up all alone in Pune, my world now is just my office, one room, a mattress, a television set, a laptop and forget not two cell phones! Frankly I see no difference, quoting from a famous Hollywood flick, you don’t get up as another person, just because you get up one fine day in some other place. I was told that there are two things in pune that you dare not miss, first vada pav and second good looking damsels. Its close to three weeks now I am still waiting for either to happen.

Trying to beat my loneliness and boredom, I decided to watch Asal and Goa. I actually liked Asal to a certain degree. It was sleek and short. Ajith did not have a big role to play, now that’s interesting, is n't it? As usual, both heroines used for just spicing up the dish. The movie could have been nominated to this year’s Oscar for best original story and screenplay, WOW...I have never seen such a different story in my life;-) I actually did like the BGM, but many would want to differ. Characterization and cinematography was ok. Looks like all Thala fans are satisfied with this one. Is Ajith's winning formula - the contrast effect?

Goa is definitely a one time watch. Premji’s spoofs were a treat to watch. Sampath was unbelievable in his gay role. Kudos to the director for that. The trio's tryst with English will definitely have you in splits. Songs are decent and so was BGM. The maker got everything right except the storyline, actually he did not need one, the last half hour of the movie with Sneha is really boring. But definitely the first 2 hours has something to watch out for.

Its March in India and what does that mean to all cricket lovers in this cricket mad country – IPL. The season 3 started off in an unbelievable fashion with KKR winning two on two. They have won against both finalists of last season. But was it a KKR win or the other team loss is something we seriously have to ponder. I always believed that a good IPL team is the one which has rich Indian talent, you do not have to be a soothsayer or expert to read this. Its sheer number 7:4. in KKR unfortunately the Indian talent is so bad expect Murali karthik and Ishant Sharma to some extent. Ganguly seriously forgot how to bat. When you see dada on the crease you wonder if this is the man who turned around Indian Cricket and who smashed bowlers out of the stadium with lofty sixes and classy fours. Bye Bye dada, its all over now.

My favorites were DDD for both seasons, they have Viru and Gauti, what more do you need. They had Mc Grath too. I hope its their turn this time. Deccan chargers are also a good side. Mumbai Indians will definitely cash on Sachin, who is at his best phase of his career. Two teams you can right off for this season are Punjab and Royals. RCB and CSK can be the underdogs this year. And lets see how the cookie crumbles this year.

Movie Updates

2010-02-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

Well our project is gearing for a release and you know what it means, work, work and more work. It is not humanely possible to think and write some stupid stuff when you are preoccupied, so let me blog about my recent tryst with movies with some brief reviews too. I do not know which one to start with, as I have been going to good number of films these days, thanks to guys coming back from the US.

Inglorious Basterds : OMG, QT is back again and with all guns blazing. An extremely entertaining movie packed with powerful performance and excellent cinematography and BGM. Waltz is all set for his Oscar winning performance. Brad was in his mettle. Mr. QT, we are eagerly waitingfor Kill Bill 3.

Hangover: This one is one hell of an entertainer. If you have not seen it, just grab the cd and watch it, it is sure to have you in splits.

UPO: What do you expect when Kamal and Mohanlal share the screen space, you are in for a brilliant showcase of acting and if the movie has a great adapted story and screenplay, well you cannot ask for anything more.

Twilight: Girls are head over heels for Robert and guys the heroine is good too. But I guess internet is enough to grab their pictures or even you tube, please don’t waste time trying to watch the movie for their sake.

Vettaikaran: Run of the mill, Vijay entertainer. Anushka does look pretty

Sherlock Holmes: This is one of those movies where you cannot really say it was good / bad, you liked it or not. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. To be honest, I quite did not get the plot, the benefit of doubt obviously goes to the director, because I am dumb.

Ayarathil Oruvan: Amidst great expectations, this one is a real let down. But you have to give to the director for an extraordinary attempt in Tamil Cinema. But less often than not, you once feel, a good story is indeed important to make a good movie. Karthi was good but no respite. Reema was just awesome in all aspects of the film.

Avatar: Well no wonder why it is doing great at the BO, Mind blowing visuals, fantastic CGI, neat story and screenplay and great BGM, what more do you need for a blockbuster. But, LOTR was loads better in all aspects. A must watch movie.

2012: I actually quite liked the film, but it did not live upto the expectations of many worldwide. Probably, the trailer set off a very high octane expectation. My boss’s words rings in my ears, under-commit and Over-deliver.

Tamil Padam: Well this has been the best entertainer thus far, the first valiant attempt to make a full length spoof, Kudos to the team. I have a feeling that Santhanam would have done a better job, but you got to give it to Siva too. It falls a little short of Lollu Sabha, for the simple reason, too much is not too good, but it is one movie, you have been waiting to see for a long time. Go for it.

The ones I missed unfortunately – Three Idiots, Goa,Paa, FD4, Up in the air... let me try and grab a CD somewhere
The ones I missed fortunately – Kutty, Asal, Aadhavan and many more...

Waiting for MNIK, Payya, VTV, Shutter Island,Inception and Kites

Not Just Another Day

2010-01-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

It was yet another long day at office. I dragged myself to the station and waited anxiously for half an hour to entrain. At about 9:30 p.m. I got the train to my home. The road was deserted by the time I reached my lane; a lone dog was staring at me with brutally cold eyes. I slowly walked up my three storied building. Much to my despair, I do not have my house keys . My parents have left the city on a trip, obviously locking the house!

I was curing myself being so glued to work. Suddenly a thought struck, what if they had given the keys to my neighbour. Good Thought, but how can I disturb them at 10:00. Never mind, I do not have a choice now. I rang the bell. A man in mid fifties opened the door and gave me a cold stare. I could read his mind, what the f**k do you want. I camouflaged myself to an innocent, overworked gullible child and asked at my subservient best, if my parents have given him our house keys.

He slammed the door on my face. I did not know what to do. I stood there like a stupid, totally lost. After 3 minutes his door opened. Is this your keys, he said arrogantly. I did not mind his tone or his unkind gesture, but was overjoyed looking at my keys. Alas I have a place to sleep tonight. I thanked him and quickly opened the door and threw my laptop on my couch. My house was like never before absolutely placid, I could even hear the echoes of my thoughts. OMG it was a deadly silence.
Then I switched on my television and made the house reverberate with noise. I am now happy, I have a companion, and the one that exactly does what I ask it do. My remote control. I then decided to have a shower, I switch on the instant heater and slipped inside my bathroom. Had a refreshing bath listening to the songs played in the television. I then switched 100 channels back and forth for the next one hour and finally concluded that people were right, television is an idiot box.
I then decided to turn few pages of a long pending novel that i wanted to read. It has been sleeping on my bed for ages now. After all these months, I could still get to the page where I last left. No wonder it was the second page of the book and the last time I read the first page, I told myself I am not going to read this book again and this was the tenth time so far. I suddenly hear a strange noise in my room. I chose to ignore it the first time. After a minute I hear it again. It was anything but good to hear when one wants to sleep. I chose to ignore it again.

I finally succeed this time, I turned the page and now the page number reads three. I finally accomplished today something that I could not do for some months now. I kept reading and I hear the same disturbing sound again. I am now getting a little curious and more irritated. After a day long work, you at least want to sleep undisturbed. Illusion. Thats what I thought and closed the book with immense satisfaction as I read 10 pages of the incorrigible book. I switched off the lights and sneaked into my bedsheet tucked bed. And I know hear the gruelling noise louder than ever.
What on earth was that...I was bitten in my leg, in total darkness I lay totally confused and extremely feared. How could she have got into my bedroom. Worser she did not make any noise. Or did I not hear any? Whatever, this is not the time for thinking. Its time to act before its too late.. She bit me again in my neck this time. I cannot see her, I cannot smell her, I cannot touch her. Holy Shit..Whats happening around me. I got out of my bed and slowly edged up to switch on the lights.

I switched on the lights and as I expected, there was no one in the room. How is this even possible, i did not hear my bedroom door opening, it always does a highly irritating screechy sound. Am I hallucinated, no I see droplets of blood on my legs. I know what to do, I quickly went to the kitchen and grabbed a spray that keep any night time enemies at bay. For once I see the courageous me. I want to face it all alone..without making much hue and cry. Come on Devil..lets fight it out.

I now slowly tread towards my bedroom. I open the door and again there is nothing there. I switch of the lights and pretend to sleep. As expected, another bite in my forehead. God damn it i shouted in pain, why cant you reveal yourself, you cowardly bitch. How do u expect me to fight you if you don’t show up. Well I know how to tackle this. I take the spray near me and started violently spraying all over my bedroom. After 2 minutes I started to suffocate because of the deadly emission from the spray. Things we use to kill others, kills us. What a revelation in the stroke of the midnight.
I ran out of my bedroom and waited patiently for sometime to go back in. I now switch on the lights. I see droplets of blood in the snow white bedsheet. Among the blood stained bedsheet, she laid dead. Tiny little Anopheles bitch. I got you. Thanks to HLL, their product did work. But it could have overworked if I had not been a little careful to get out of the room. I opened my bedroom to ventilate the poisonous gas from my place and finally lied down to sleep.

I wake up at eight. Yesterday was a bizarre night and I am a murderer, I killed one living being. No wait..Did I see it right. I squeezed my eyes to doubly check, I don’t believe my eyes. I jumped out of my bed. Oh My god. What have I done. I killed a dozen of them last night. I have never felt so proud before. Its indeed difficult to fight an invisible enemy.

Job Openings

2009-12-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

Folks,
We have a lot of open positions in our company and we are looking for smart IT professionals who are game, to join one of the successful start ups of the year 2009.

If you are interested or know someone who might be please write to me at ajay@kubos.biz.

For more information about our organization..please visit www.kubos.biz...

Life is fun(ny)

2009-12-08T04:34:00.000-08:00

Call it incredible or weird or even stupid, but more you try to understand the nuances of life, the more you get lost in its sphere of vastness. The things that brought sorrow brings you joy, the things you loved, you now dislike, and you feel the presence of certain things that you thought that never existed.

I am neither being optimistic nor pessimistic, neither paranoid nor normal. Life by itself, when you turn and look back at the zillion things that has changed and that is going to change, is so damn funny. We think life is a controlled experiment, we have a constant value for all the variables. May be some of us think , things can go in a different way only by the event of adding a catalyst.. That thought itself is very amazing to begin with.

I am still wondering what makes the clock tick, what makes us move, what does the sum total of all existent and non existing things in the world, do. What is the single reason for existence. Is there truly a difference between good and bad, like and dislike, imagination and real.

What happened to me suddenly, I am not this kind of a weird socially unacceptable person with self conceived notions of the universe such as a moron/psycho/philosopher/yogi. I am sure some of us would have come across this phase where we feel completely lost one fine morning and trying to identify ourselves with things/people around us and not just us to reason the logic behind our very own existence.

Is it what people call the "Calling"..May be yes..I hear a distant voice "Ajay, Come here.I was looking for you for long time now"....I turn around and I see......................... My Manager.

A Crazy Idea

2009-11-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

Like any other day, my thoughts were wandering aimlessly across the cosmos....Then out of no where ,an idea struck me....My mind immediately shrugged it off saying..forget it dude...after all you tought it..it has all the more reasons to be useless and cranky..

How do I care,what my mind says...I have the liberty to write, whatever I like here....So the idea is...to create a web portal that helps in Ideation....'Ideation"...you heard it right....I know for sure that I am not the lone soul in this world who has an wandering mind, thinking about a lot of issues/problems / concerns/suggestions/improvement ..etc....

So this portal intends to tap on this ever unstable erratic mind process of ideation..I am sure that you did not understand anything that has been written thus far....Please dont skip reading..Lemme explain..

When I was riding my Activa on a busy saturday evening, I found numerous cars on the road, everything but 800 and Alto looked different and appealing to me. I had a thought ,why not Maruthi scrap both 800 and Alto and come up with a newly and innovatively designed sub compact car priced between 800 and alto...Well it might be a bad idea....but Idea is still an idea...and can be proven wrong only after market test..

Imagine the scene at the Cheif Strategist office in many large organizations, they need to constantly think on improving their products and where will they get the ideas from. They do a lof of these market research to find out customers requirements....and then R&D to develop a prototype and then market testing followed by launch...the leadership of the organization has to focus on all these activities...Ideas that evolve from this environment cannot be Greatly different..So instead of a pull strategy , why not use a push strategy...Let your customers tell you what you should be doing...

I am sure all of us, would have been happier with our products being a little different than the way it is now. How will an organization effectively know this, or how sure can they bank on their think tanks to come up with mind blowing Ideas every quarter...Well not impossible but not very effective though..

So one solution can be ..a place where commoners can discuss about making products better...be it commercial items like car, soap, apparel,drinks or, governmental like infrastructure/ bribe/crime...or civic such as global warming, pollution control and disease awareness program...Hear the people..they might have some real good ideas.....

Okies....Why this post...there can be an idea like this later and I am going to demand royalty or sue the company for copyrights infringement.....ha ha....just kidding...its just another instance of my frenzied thought process....

Embracing my own Idea...I welcome thoughts and suggestions....

Bitten by Socializing Bug

2009-10-12T22:51:00.000-07:00

I do not know the reason why , when many asked me if I am in facebook, I replied a BOLD no casually, I did not get the thought to register. People even said grow up, orkut is no more fun, only then I realised that I was not frequenting Orkut as well. Last week, a friend of mine , was talking to me about twitter.

OMG, why dont people be happy with themselves or simply be quiet..Why is everybody highly addicted to chat and talk....We have become extremely dependent on people/machines... Anyways I decided to "follow the crowd", using same mantra which was preached right from childhood. So After a long long time, I register with facebook and twitter. If not for socializing, atleast I can take part in a discussion on them and be happy that I added two cents . However, I should accept that Linkedin was purely my choice, I thought it is good to be seen on a professional networking site.

Having said that, I have added everyone as my friend, technology has greatly improved, mass invitations are now possible, so One click , and I am connected to all my friends, even if I happen to miss someone, I am sure they will find me. This is the advantage you have, when reach first or last...You will never be forgotten......

So Happy Facebooking, Twitting, Linkedining...or Whatever ;-)

UPO – Must Watch

2009-09-28T03:27:00.000-07:00

I wanted to see A Wednesday but missed it. I guess it was a blessing in disguise. I got to watch UPO in my own language and ethnicity. The film has my favourite star Kamal as a protagonist and another actor I greatly admire Mohan Lal complementing him. I still cant beleive that I had actually seen these two guys on the same screen. But the beauty is that the story and screenplay eclipses their glitzy performances. Hats off to the script writer.
I can boldly say that this film is flawless. I also agree that Kamal used the film to vent out his social anger in some scenes which could have been avoided, like Voter id, religious bias and other democratic issues. Well its his film and he can do that.
The star cast was immaculate; Mohan Lal fits and delivers to a T. Lakshmi does her job very candidly. The two police officers were brilliant and of course handsome (I did not like that though..but its ok). Anuja Iyer, though I don’t greatly like her, did her job very well. The surprise element was Sreeman as a popular actor portraying Vijay effortlessly was a treat to watch.
Dialogues in the film were awesome, I am not surprised as it is Kamal’s film, many dialogues were too sensational. Be it the face off between Mohan lal and lakshmi, Karunanidhi’s situation handling dialogue or Mohan lal’s dialogue to Anuja Iyer (“ I like that order”) and many more were truly outstanding.
Background score was impressive. Thank God there are no songs, however Kamal can stop lending his voice – you are grown old sir, at least your voice. Cinematography was extraordinary, beautiful angles, normal and yet appealing color treatment, picturesque wide angle shots. After a long time it is surprising to see Kamal taking a back seat as an actor, he has comparatively less screen time. But as they say, it’s not the quantity but quality that matters.

Watch UPO, its worth your every single pie.

Advanced Maths – Making Life dizzy

2009-09-14T01:58:00.000-07:00

I am happy with simple addition -> this month salary + Next Month salary = Two month salary
Progression is raising my expectations, be it arithmetic or geometric or biometric whatever
I am happy with simple subtraction -> salary – expenses = savings
Again Progression is giving me creeps, be it AP, GP... UP, HP, it only shoots my BP
I am happy with simple multiplication -> after marriage = income and expenses double
Rate of change of variables and algebraic equation makes my head spin
I am happy with simple division -> My wife earns = expenses halved
Squares, cubes, square roots, cube roots, nth root, power of n, OMG please
I am happy with simple averages -> (investment 1 + investment 2) / 2 = average Investment
CAGR, NPV, IRR makes you believe you can be a millionaire in next ten years
Then you have permutations and combinations, from the day I learnt it, my decision making elapsed time has gone from bad to worse
Probability – makes it worse saying be it whatever you decide, the chances have the final say.
Differential and Integral calculus, tends to zero, tends to infinity, laws, rules...Ay ! its meant only for Einsteins and Newtons
Finally Trigonometry, Its a SIN to have learnt it COS for every SEC I have wasted on it, I could happily slept in my COT instead have become TAN going to tuitions.

Ninaithale Kasakum

2009-09-07T06:34:00.000-07:00

My friend after a long hiatus came back to blog with Kandasamy review. After hearing its mass review, I now realize what made him write that one. It was very kind of him to give us a heads up to stay away from the theatre vicinity where it was aired. There is a popular saying ; Tell me about your friend and I will tell about you. Now it’s my turn to stop you from watching another such hyped stupid movie.
Well time and again I am being proved on the existence of Murphy’s Law. It was a beautiful Sunday evening, I happily had a nap for 2 hours in the afternoon after a heavy sumptuous Saravana Bhavan lunch. Struggling to gather myself up for an annoying cell phone call from one of my friends (I always wonder how friends can call exactly the time you don’t want them to....), he wanted me to accompany him for his Ramzan shopping ( No points for guessing this one). Had a quick face wash and zoomed to City centre and I was pretending to help him choose some clothes.
If a guy says he went to city centre to help his friend buy clothes, I am sure even the dumbest idiot wont believe it. I don’t wanna lie here..After he shopping and me bird watching, we decided to go for dinner and then a movie. I then call up one of my most intelligent friend, asking him his choice, I always believe in democracy, always ask for people’s opinion and do what you like at the end. He told me book for anything but Kandasamy, I think he got hold of my friend’s blog. So we go to the counter and as usual, Complex full was the reply.
That was the last chance of escape. But persistent problem mongers go behind problems or it somehow comes to them. There was one guy, who wanted to return exactly the no. Of tickets I wanted. Gosh God we bought the tickets and got ourselves parked in the theatre hall. My Intelligent friend praised me for getting this movie ticket, as the movie has got 3.5 star rating somewhere, If I only get hold of that *******..
The movie starts with a cliché narration, cliché song and a cliché fight....I am not going to go into details, because they are n’t any. It will also make this already boring blog more boring...I will stop with some comments to justify the blog title. Prthiviraj..for heaven’s sake ..please speak Tamil, else ask someone to dub for you.. Priya mani , this role is not something cut out for you, you added no value..sorry...second heroine of the movie..my god,..of all people why her? Sakthi was the only saving grace of the film.
Screenplay was so slow and boring and clichéd, it happens only in cinema when your friend’s dad after a game’s half time can give you a one line advice, and you emerge victorious, having flopped all these years..likewise many more such stupid instances....Music was way too ordinary, two songs were kind of ok, sexy lady and mulla song..rest were crap. I wonder how this film was a super hit in Malayalam..I am not going to decipher that..I have better work to do...

Is it or is it not

2009-07-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

If it’s you; it’s no one else
If it’s not you; it’s someone else

If it’s now, it’s not anytime else
If it’s not now; it’s sometime else

If it’s here; It’s nowhere else
If it’s not here; it’s somewhere else

If it’s this way; it’s no way else
If it’s not this way; it’s some way else

If it is; it’s nothing else
If it’s not; it’s something else

Courtesy: interrogative questions - Wren and Martin ;-)

Small Request

2009-06-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Dear fellow bloggers,

I happen to see that my blog name is different in different blogs. I am the culprit , as I have changed the name thrice and so causing this chaos. Aftr much deliberation,I have come up with this stupid name, please bear with it and think this one is gonna stay. Please update your blog to have the same. Thank you ppl.....

What am I Talking about?

2009-06-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

1. Things would definitely be better from September 2009
2. However great turnaround is expected to happen from 2010 Q1
3. Recovery will make you stronger, competitive and robust
4. Crisis happened because of unscrupulous incidents in the past
5. It is an opportune moment to make amendments and learn from mistakes
6. Whatever good is happening now, is because of external stimulus
7. Keep your fingers crossed, as things might just not be over
8. It’s all set for irreversible downward journey
9. Things can get only better from hereon
10. Confidence is the mantra needed to battle crisis and emerge victorious
11. This is not the first time this is happening, and it happens for everybody
12. It’s too soon to talk about recovery, as things are not evident yet
13. Continue to do what you are doing and hope things will change
14. We need to be united at time of crisis to show solidarity and gain confidence
15. If you don’t believe you can win, you already have lost twice

I am sure you are quite free, as you are reading this one till here. Why not take a guess, on what I am talking about. Its very simple and evident......

Power

2009-05-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

Power, one magical possession, everyone loves to Hold

From bedtime stories to early morning news, I was Told

Manifesting as governments, business, money and Gold

Behold! It comes to those who are gifted and not Mold

An addiction when possessed looks to multiply many Fold

Degrading many feeble ignorant souls,by making them Cold

Lustrously mesmerising men to conquer countries and Wold

Losing with every win, still unperturbed thinking Big & Bold

One vice that demands all virtues and innocence be Sold

Self evolving mass hysteria leaves us with none to Scold

Never ending unnecessary quest, as reminisced by the Old

The one who writes this is absolutely powerless, now LOLd

IPL - Indian Pathetic League

2009-04-30T03:02:00.000-07:00

Well it all started, when Lalit Modi decided to shift the venue from India to SA. Give me a break! You have 7/11 Indian players, you call it Indian whatsoever league, your target audience is mainly Indians and you decide to change the geography. Sometimes things go wrong if unplanned, rest of the times it goes haywire.

The battle on the ground seems less interesting for the KKR, their battle off the ground is taking them places. SRK, man, well I don’t know what to say. How can one, even think of making McCullum captain of a non performing, demotivated and infamous side. I saw him, last play a decent knock a good one year before. Even if DADA cannot win a match for you, he will atleast display the need for a win on field. So SRK think again.

The top auctioned players for the season 2 are well giving their bosses a run for their money. KP, Flintoff and Smith are enjoying their holiday in SA. Rahul Dravid is a happy man, he has a kid and so there is something for him to rejoice after his team’s pathetic display of play this year too.
VM please get your calendar girls and air hostess to cheer, I bet they would encourage your team better.

Some surprises here and there seem to be the only attraction of an otherwise lacklustre IPl so far. Deccan chargers seem to have regrouped and are going great guns. The Royals however are a side you can never judge. They lost their earlier matches, but are looking to regain supremacy. Yusuf Pathan, my god his hands are made of iron for sure.

The teams, the stars or even the weather gods can ruin your spirits but the girls in the IPL never let you down. You have the cheer leaders, Preity and the latest additions Shilpa and Samira Shetty. Mandira is back, she is stylish this time, not revolutionizing saree. Probably if Anil Ambani gets a franchisee next year we might see the Bacchans.

Ok lets get back to business, Oops ! should I say sport, when it comes to IPL, they both mean the same. What a marketing strategy was the strategy break concept. Modi you will make definitely a very good CFO/CMO or may be even a CEO. I don’t know what strategy can be formulated in less than ten minutes, that cannot be done for months together. Only the great brains behind it can answer that. I am yet another lame cricket lover on the road, who cannot understand team dynamics, strategy, management, marketing, ROI and all business-related, sports-unrelated terms, that are often reported when it comes to IPL.

All said and done, there is a great match (at least on paper) today and I am going to grab a coke and Lays and enjoy watching it, not knowing who to support. I will be happy for every sixer and every wicket. One thing I like about IPL, if you are not loyal, you cant lose. Win is a win nevertheless ( Sorry for copying that famous statement)

Words better than sentences...Lets C

2009-04-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

Anxious, joy, disappointment, lucky, not quite, eating,

belief, lies, betrayal, roaming, spiritual,friends, movies,

healthcare, temples, repent, fun, drinks, ambition, sorrow,

love, Mom, business, misery, patience, fuck all, contempt,

loss, strength, mystery, desperation, attitude, peer pressure,

saints, hotels, mantralayam, sickness,reunion,marriages,

cribbing,self realization,relief,scoldings, caring,mosquitoes,

pondicherry,crying, yogi, begging, happy, brain dead, help,

success, fate, weight gain, pilgrimage,anger,improvement,

bored,back biting,torture,restless, sympathy,laughter,

astrology,irritating,rational,cooking,work, sleep, funny...

F(x) dx

2009-02-23T07:50:00.000-08:00

I am reminiscing some of the yester year math lately. what’s happening to me? I was never a great Math lover, neither great at it. Forget it, I can at least pretend to be a genius.

In plain English, we use a term called “matter of”, off late some are using “function of”. Thanks to business grads like me, who are so hung up on using jargons. What to do, it has become the rule of the day to impress novices and pretend to be well read. So what is this function of. Well it is another usage for matter of, as I already said. I will try and use some of these functions and let’s see how far the rabbit hole goes.

Today is a F (Yesterday)
Tomorrow is a F(Today)

Life is a F (hope)
Money is a F (Life)

Joy is a F (sleep)
Freedom is a F (Joy)

Help is a F (friends)
Strength is a F (Help)

Change is a F (time)
Constancy is a F(Change)

God is a F (belief)
Man is a F (God)

Happiness is a F (wife)
Sorrow is a F (Happiness)

Capitalism is a F (greed)
Socialism is a F (Capitalism)

Renunciation is a F (bliss)
Attachment is a F(Renunciation)

I am a F (ignorance)
You are a F (Me)

There are many more functions in this world, but my mind has right now stopped functioning, so I will stop with these. Identify the functions and function accordingly, I guess, then everything will function properly.

Turn back time

2009-02-12T02:43:00.000-08:00

Yeah... it is a good song by Aqua. Its also a famous line in one of my favorite back street boy’s song Quit Playin Games… “Turn back time. Impossible as it may seem. But I wish I could” ... what a beautiful song…still ringing in my ears, though it’s a decade old. Ok I am not here to reminisce old English pop tracks. The rock lovers will mock me saying, grow up kid or may say something even worse..leave that aside.

Einstein, the genius said that time machine is a possibility sometime in the future. I am no great Stephan Hawking to contradict or second that. But this thought arose in my mind, when my thoughts were wandering aimlessly in its universe of unstoppable imagination. What would I want to do if I could turn back time? Ideally this is a famous HR question(only in the books and sites though ;-). What would you want to change in the past? The ideal answer, even a school kid would know, is to say, Nothing. But I bet every one of us would definitely want to change something in the past. Well ...here goes my list, as I am more open minded, brave and honest than most. Just Kiddin . lol.

26 years back, I would have seen to that I was never born
23 years back, I would want to be a very naughty unmanageable kid
19 years back, I would have protested not going to hostel
17 year back, I would have taken a resolution of not being lazy
14 years back, I would have taken one sport or subject to specialize
11 years back, I would have not taken science as my major

10 years back, I would have developed my physique
9 years back, I would have not gone to a technology school

8 years back, I would have wanted to be big flirt
7 years back, I would have taken my MBA coaching more seriously
5 years back, I would have not gone to work
3 years back, I would have gone to onsite ditching my MBA
6 months back, I would have not craved to go to onsite
Ten minutes back, I would have thought not to write this….

But there is a problem here, if you had seen the movie butterfly effect, you can comprehend it better. Any one change in above would have had a cascading effect on all situations below and could have let to unforeseen situations. Well I am going mad. So I will better stick only to the last thing I want to change.

But I am indeed very happy that I did all these, that’s why I am here, that’s what I am and that’s what I was supposed to do. Acceptance by convenience(refer last blog). Now I know what u r thinking, if u had this machine, you would go back to the time u met me and would have walked the opposite side, if you had a choice. Got you…sorry..no luck this time.. You got to bear with me the rest of your lives and worser read all the crap I write….

Acceptance by convenience

2009-02-03T23:50:00.000-08:00

When someone trivial says something, it is an advice
If that someone is important, then it becomes a plan of action
If that someone is your boss, it becomes an order

If that someone is God, you better listen
If that someone is evil, you better don’t
If that someone is your conscience, you have a choice

If that someone is a book, refer more of ‘em, imp contrary ones
If that someone is your Guru, get on to a discussion
If that someone is your intelligent Well Wisher, go for it

If that someone is your friend, think once
If that someone is your enemy, think twice
If that someone is your competitor, do the opposite

If that someone is your parents, you always confront it at first
If that someone is you, it is a thought to ponder on
If that someone is your wife, it needs a fitting reply, if rejected

If that has to happen no matter what, it is Acceptance by convenience

We wont Change!!

2009-01-29T03:59:00.000-08:00

We live in today’s India, where there has been a significant upliftment of the middle class and poor ones both in terms of money and knowledge. A great deal of exposure has swayed many parts of the country. South India especially is brimming bright with its IT advancements. Tamilnadu was all set to become the automobile hub of Asia. There has been a good inflow of FII’s and FDI’s into various sectors. Common people are abrest with information like dot com, wireless, auto transmission, fuel efficiency, fraud, investments, growth and exports.

And there are people who think the skulls of above cine going crowd are filled with soil from their backyard. With great difficulty I was pushed to watch two movies released for Pongal this year. Your guess was right, Villu and Padikathavan. The directors of the movie have a very poor judgment of common people. Gone are the days when we people used to whistle if the hero jumps from 50 storey building and thrashed hundreds of bad men. Logic is order of the day. These two movie had anything sans logic.

Cinema is in deep doldrums. People are repeating good and famous scenes of the yester year movies even though they are irrelevant to their own story. Heroines, OMG. They are mere glam dolls who are told to display their potential, but they seem to have realized their potential wrong and end up displaying something else. Music directors definitely need a pat on the back. They keep using the same tune again and again but somehow give us the feeling its new.

Heroes, the very respect for the word has gone for a toss. Illiterate, thief, road side romeo, gangster, loafers are the mainstream hero subjects these days. But what a perfect flawless acting. How will not they act well, it is their natural self after all. Caught in the mental block of doing stupidity time and again has become their way of life. Directors , well what do I say , extremely hard working lot. I guess they keep watching hundreds of movies, day in and day out, picking good scenes from here and there and then come up with a story that fits all these scene. This is what we call re-engineering.

Dialogue writers, editors, cinematographers, well enough of cribbing. I am not saying the entire cine industry is bad. We have witnessed some real good movies in the near past. But the so called big movies with big crew and great hype really sucks. Its time they sit and think this gimmick is no longer going to work. Above all this is the marketing people. However bad a product is, their job is to sell the product. Promos, advertisements and sales they do these for this crap, Man, the management gurus from the west have lot to learn from them. Kotler and Prahalad you might want to have a discussion with these folks.

Anyways nothing is gonna change, we wont allow it to change, because as we all know, Change is bad. I still love my torn t-shirt, its so damn comfortable.

What a Game

2009-01-25T19:20:00.000-08:00

Nurtured in a cave of darkness for months
Out I was one fine day in this chaos
I knoweth no joy, pain or sorrow
Complacent with my own self, purity galore

Cradled all along till I was on my own
Obeyed many orders, vigilantly I was grown
Undisturbed by the tremors of the world
Rested happily peacefully in thy lap; Oh mother sanity

As days passeth by, my innocence disappeared
The more I came to know, the more I got concerned
From the good old days of ignorance and bliss
Then on, I swim deep in this whirl wind called life

I met my ego alas, what an artful dodger he was
He cleverly watered my ambition, will and character
Henceforth I became he and he became I, forever
Decades we journeyed hand in hand, untill the truth unfolded

Saints, sages and philosophers disliked my dear friend
Named him satan, devil and maya, an illusion unparalleled
Poor guy has the same creator as I, but has contradictory goal
To keep one from knowing his own true self and purpose

That clever jobless man above plays all these games
This huge maze he crafted in his dream for us to play
One who dissociates himself from him and self is the winner
I is different from the ego and self is a big eye opener

As always, the more you know, more troubled are you
The game gets really difficult when it comes to an end
In between the creator has many routes to nowhere
Dedicated and watchful are the ones those who go on to win

Millions here amidst abundant knowledge love the game
They play and play and finally playing is more fun than winning
They choose to play the game forgetting its obvious purpose
Without knowing that they don’t play but they are being played

Credits to that is for our very own friend, philosopher and guide
No wonder why the greats and the realized have named him devil
For only someone as great as the creator can help play this game
And to you the creator, oh my god what a wonderful game.

Upper Limit should never tend to Infinity!!!!

2009-01-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

It shows midnight in my laptop’s clock and I don’t believe it, as I am half asleep. Never mind, my sub conscious woke me up saying its time to blog, it has never said in all these days at six, its time to jog though. Lot of revelations comes only when your mind is not working at its full capacity. That’s why we hear great confessions, when people get drunk. In that case, many of us should reveal lot of things through out the day, as our brain has never worked to its max. Lets leave that logic aside.

Why did I name this blog like a great mathematician, am I great at calculus, or at physics, or at philosophy? Ha Ha what a joke, You know it better. I greatly like to choose good titles though it might be totally irrelevant to the subject I write, inspired from many of our movie titles. But this time for a change I thought for a while. This sounded pretty close.

I always liked sums in calculus which had a boundary well defined, why, because I found it difficult to apply infinity limit to many problems. Its tough, confusing and can lead to wrong answers. What to do I aint a great man or perhaps god who was well versed with infinite conditions. Now why am I blabbering about infinity, calculus, brain, confession and sleep here. Read on, if you are one who cannot stop midway however bad a book/movie is.

I guess I am sounding as if I am in the tenth round or after a few doses of grass. Well you can say that. I wish I had known the limit conditions of many a things I did, I wanted and I thought. I always left the upper limit to infinity, at times infinity means unknown as well. The consequence of such a open ended upper limit, has led to some unforeseen, unfathomable and undesirable answers. If only I had known the upper limit, I could have got the answers I wanted for many a things. Well that’s what you call the way of life.

Perhaps I really did not know what goal setting means. There was a course in my MBA, it was re-engineering human potential. Sounds scary and dizzy right, yeah I felt the same. The instructor took a 20 hour course talking about values, goal setting and many other things, I hardly paid attention to. I thought what a crap, she is wasting my time, I very well know what to do, its she who needs to be taught and leave us as it was time for lunch. No wonder why I got my only C- minus. It was totally 180 degree opposite of my concept. I should have realized then and there that I am wrong. Like many a time, my super ego invaded my sub conscious.

Now I realize the importance of an upper limit. Be it anything from love, hate, lust, like, food, dreams, ambition, money, worship, spending, saving, giving, taking, want, talking, listening and living. There needs to be an upper limit if you need an answer. You can increase the upper limit after achieving the first limit, as we do in calculus with a plus sign and having the earlier upper limit as the lower and a new upper limit. Now that’s too much maths, too much confession, too much gyan and too much kill I guess. The upper limit for this blog as been reached, as it has touched the last line of the page and the last word in my brain. However don’t feel a sigh of relief, please re-read my last before sentence.

Last 1 Month

2008-10-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

MY LIFE = Finagle's Law

Sarkar –Yes! Raj-May Be…

2008-09-23T01:31:00.000-07:00

The Indian adaptations of the classic legendary Godfather, then Nayagan and now Sarkar were simply as phenomenal as its master. The same subtlety, display of power, plots, challenges and difficult situations were well made. This clearly depicts that, if a movie has a great script, it can be adapted or remade at any point of time. The new product can still retain its sheen and charm, provided the makers of the film are as great as their predecessors. And thus Nayagan is listed in Time Magazine’s all time best 100 movies of the world. Sarkar was equally accepted and appreciated by many in this land. I personally loved them all. The very word Power itself is so powerful. Who does not want Power? What is the single most important factor that differentiates ordinary and great men? Though Power has many manifestations, this one deals with its raw form, Force.

I was very disappointed with the reviews Sarkar Raj received and was quite skeptical to watch the movie. Nevertheless, finally got to see it yesterday. I would not rate the movie as an average one. But something obstructs me from rating it Good as well. The plot was well thought of and very well crafted. I don’t need to sing in praise of the Bachans. The cast was fantastic. The crew was even better. The cinematography was awesome; the brown and black tinge applied to the film was alluring. The music was apt; however I felt they could have done away with the songs.

The highlight of the movie is its dialogues, and better are its delivery. The movie however lacked pace and it was sluggish at parts. Probable this was the let down. Too much silence is also bad. It allows the audience to think and also get distracted. Parts of the movie reminded me of Nayagan. That’s ok, great men think alike. Making Amitabh the hero of this film, is a great thought of Varma. The twists in the tale were totally unpredictable. The only aspect I could not digest was the melodrama, powerful movies cannot be melodramatic, Varma probably for the first time was overtly cautious. Last but not the least Aiswarya to be the next Sarkar. Please…… Anyways I liked the movie and would recommend it to all for its power quotient is well preserved. Go and feel the power.

Hot Hotter Hottest

2008-09-18T23:36:00.000-07:00

Reminds you of a SS Music programme, is it? No No.... I am not here to write any obscene stuff, there are many who are far better than me in that. I will better stick to what I know.
Its Sep 19th today, and you would not believe me if I say, summer is not yet over in Chennai. I take a 100 meter walk from a station to my office. And before I land in the office portico, I am soaked in sweat and have sun burns. Mr Aditya (alias) Surya is demonstrating his power big time and his light and heat reach us in full throttle. I beg him to show its might at places like the Artic, Scandinavian and Antarctic, where people die for some heat. Please spare us, we have had more than enough.

Is it a climatic change, for I have been here for the past 4 years and unfortunately for all summers during my childhood, and I have never witnessed such a long summer. I am still surprised that no one has actually written anything about this summer. Mr Varun has gone for a long vacation, I guess. Please stop holidaying, we need you here! This god forsaken place is also very humid, so I get dehydrated, and cola barons and water suppliers are making good money leaving a hole in my wallet.

I am not Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, so I better not gas or give great gyan about Global warming. But I feel there is something that has to be done, else this place will witness only one season forever. Wait! Or probably I got used to AC all the time, that my stupid body cannot take as much heat as it used to take, I frankly don’t know. But I hear the same from my colleagues as well. We could be collectively right or wrong, as one can easily cloud the rationality of others. No I don’t think so, its hot and very bright, I can see it, and worse I can feel it.

Whatever, Mr Indra please use your resources properly, some are overloaded and some are under utilized. More importantly, they are giving us what we don’t want. BTW are you new to this post? Were you working in a software firm before? Never mind call P&C group, they will tell you are wrong, which you yourself know. Or try speaking to the Big three, ask them for some training, they will either ask you to get a KT from your predecessor or have on a on the job training. Please deliver results fast, else every escalation from us, will pile up and you could get fired for non performance, or you can get promoted for efficient resource management. As always we don’t know what the big people think. Please Start Doing and Stop Talking, you can hire IBM as your consultants, that’s what they claim they are doing now.

Back to Sq 1

2008-09-16T04:05:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to chnage the look of my blog, this experiment was the result of me being excessively active and at the same time overtly jobless. So I google for blogger templates and tried and applied many templates, and was not satisfied with any. OMG no soul on earth can think like I do. Thats ok.

I tried templates like Matrix Neo, Sunset, camel Ride, Lonely Boat, Butterflies, ice creams. I then decided to customise my page and started searching for some good images. I wanted galaxy, then I moved to 300. I was not satisifed ,I thought Bat man could help .But my friend said it looked very depressive. I thought for some time and came back to my old template and guess what, this looks cool to me. HMmm after long hours scouting for a template, I am finally back to sq 1,satisified with the very first template.

Somethings does not change, Somethings do. (Courtesy: Matrix)

I changed the name of my blog, I think I am not tormenting the timid, there are no Timids in this world. The thought process that pushes me to blog is highly ergodic, so I thought, Why not name my blog Ergodic. Eureka!!! atleast i did something fruitful today.

And that’s how it began

2008-09-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

Flabbergasted by the Dark Knight, I wanted to watch Batman Begins. I was initially very skeptical to watch this movie, firstly because I am watching a prequel and secondly I had a serious suspicion on how can it be better than its masterpiece sequel? I was postponing this one for long and finally got to watch it yesterday night after supper. What a good time to watch a movie, crouching on my bed with the AC on and lights off.

The movie begins very subtly and gracefully. The screen freezes with a palatial house with green meadows and a family in an aristocratic way of life. For once you think, someone shares you dream and shows to you, how realistic and fantastic that could be! That’s the undisputed power of the mind and the lens. The next scene swiftly shifts to a prison where a hero arises in the wretch of a prison. We witness a man who cannot stand evil and has the will to stand against it. Magnificent display of an ideal man this world needs. The batman series calls it the Gotham City.

Another like minded soul Ra's Al Ghul wants to help Wayne to pursue his dreams. Wayne after rigorous training of the mind and body becomes fearless and omnipotent to take on the god forsaken Gotham city, single handedly. In the mean time, a flashback describes the unwarranted death of Wayne’s parents in a freaky way. This invigorates anger in Wayne’s mind to seek vendetta against the man responsible for the death of his parents. That leads to the beautiful dialogue where he says at times revenge and justice are the same, and he is countered by Holmes saying it is not, revenge is personal and justice is universal. How true!

Wayne after fleeing from his home in the teens comes back to his empire of Wayne Corporation, a multi billion dollar enterprise that is on a verge of going public. He also meets Fox who heads the forlorn deserted military supplier wing of Wayne’s corporation. Wayne gets his gadgets from Fox. Wayne now wants a symbol that infiltrates fear to all evil men and faith to the good. He fears bats and he thinks he should pass on his fear to others. He chooses Bat as his symbol and thus becomes Batman, the savior in the dark.

He is forced to live two lives, one beneath the mask and other without it. No one can be ambidextrous when it comes to life, you cannot be successful at both. He decides to project his normal life as a billionaire play boy. At night he transforms to Batman and tries to help Gotham city from an irreversible catastrophic damage. The movie finally ends with a grand finale with Nolan’s Midas touch. The sequel starts with the flash of a Joker card.

Action sequences were mind boggling. The graphics is just unbelievable. Hats off to the cinematography and the CGI team. Nolan, Oh my god, I want to kiss thy brain. Out of the world effort to give an old wine, in not only a new bottle but a meticulously crafted beautiful bottle. The film is under rated with 8.4, it can easily be 8.8 or 8.9. That time one would have definitely thought, how someone can come up with a better sequel, Dark knight explains the rest, thanks to Heath Ledger. Nolan if you are planning for another Sequel. I would definitely want few scientists to examine your brain, for it thinks much beyond any normal human capacity. Anyways thanks a ton for giving the world two exquisite Batman movies. Prestige too was extraordinary and thus I love your movies big time.

Dhaam Dhoom - Not even when idlest worst

2008-09-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

What happens when a movie with great expectations hit the cinema halls? Most of the time, it bites the dust. We have witnessed this many a time now, Recently Kuruvi,Satyam and Kuselan. One more to the list, is the much hyped Dhaam Dhoom. Jeeva’s last film is a major let down when it comes to story and screen play. I would rate it as his worst movie.

The film had everything right to begin with. Harris music topped the charts and the cinematography is awesome. The movie lacked logic big time. The story is as weak as a 90 year old dying man. This old man only lives with the help of two tablets music and photography. But how far can two tablets save your life. The biggest mistake is lifting scenes from Bourne Identity, any sane film goer can sense that. Also Harris please leave Hollywood movies theme music alone, Departed theme music is too good for this stupid movie.

Editing was awfully bad and I can’t believe this because 12 B editing was fabulous. Casting was good, but what will the actors do if there is n’t any scope for acting. Jeyam Ravi has done a good job, if the time he invested in this movie was used else where, would have won him accolades. The Bollywood bomb sucks big time, irritating voice, awful acting and costumes that don’t match the scene. Any dumb fella on earth can figure out that she neither looks one bit like a Tamil villager nor her dress. There is no sync b/w her lip movement and dialogues, and she cannot emote. She would be great for Ads. Laxmi rai is far better.

Just when you thought 3 hours of the movie has finished, the clock actually shows an hour and a half. When you think the movie is about to finish, it actually starts. When you realized that atleast now you are to witness some good scenes, the screen comes down. What more can I say? Frankly, I did not have any great expectations from the movie; I went with an open mind and with a basic idea to have fun and entertainment. The movie was unable to give me even that, so if you expectation are high; I pity thee!!

100 th Post - Guys Ramesh's Married!

2008-09-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

I dont believe this, I could scribble a 100 posts. I still have more. What a good feel. This post is dedicated to my friend Ramesh, who got married yesterday in Coimbatore.

He is the first guy to tie the nuptial knot from the gang of inscrutable individuals. The last we all expected. Guess what, it is a love marriage and we are still waiting to hear the full true story from him. God save him, when he tells us his story and we need to make sure, we are n’t drunk then. That day is not far off though.

So we have a testimony ready for us to divulge the nuances of married life. I am sure he will be bombarded with plethora of questions from us. After all we have to be well prepared before we adventure into unknown waters. Not sure if he will be of great help to us, because it has always been my way or the high way case with him. Nevertheless we can get some tips of Don’t’s if not Do’s from him. Just Kiddin!

Kudos my friend, compatriot. Wish you a happy married life. We rocked as bachelors, we will continue to rock as married men too. Have a blast.

Tomorrow

2008-08-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

All that we are concerned of.

Here is my little exaggeration of some well known facts about tomorrow. Having a marketing background, I guess even the simplest of things that are well known and trivial, if packaged in a logical and attractive design can ring a bell in the person who looks at it.

Optimistic Tomorrow

I will get that tomorrow
I will do that tomorrow
It will happen tomorrow
It will be a better tomorrow

Anxious Tomorrow

Will I get that tomorrow?
Will I do that tomorrow?
Will I want that tomorrow?
Will it happen tomorrow?
Will it be a better tomorrow?

Pessimistic Tomorrow

What if tomorrow is bad?
What if I don’t get it tomorrow?
What if I don’t want it tomorrow?
What if it does not happen tomorrow?
What if today is better?
What if tomorrow never comes?

Joyous Tomorrow

Tomorrow will be great
Tomorrow will be exciting
Tomorrow will be fun
Tomorrow will be better
Tomorrow will be rewarding
Tomorrow will be happy may even be ecstatic

So which is better?

Tag Time

2008-08-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Tagged from
Gayathri - http://dg-insecure-me.blogspot.com/2008/08/tag-time.html
Ramak - http://odyssey-intoxicated.blogspot.com/2008/08/tag-time.html
Arun - http://aroonprabu.blogspot.com/2008/08/i-me-myself_15.html
Jagan - http://jaganrules.blogspot.com/2008/08/tagged.html

So here it goes......................

I am : a Moron ( I found this after many years of struggle for self realization)
I think : about things that many don’t (Only an idiot like me can think certain things)
I know : I am Good (the only trouble is to make others believe the same)
I want : Wine, Wealth and Women and off course Wisdom (Poetic use of W’s)
I have : to go to the Loo now ( Its Finally Cold in Chennai)
I wish : somebody can do that for me, I am busy thinking about how to finish this
I HATE : that nobody can help me do that
I miss : my Nike sandals, a beggar flicked it (Imagine a Beggar wearing Nike. India developed)
I fear : myself (I don’t know why I do what I do)
I feel : like GOD (courtesy : Bajaj Avenger)
I hear : quite faintly these days ( I read that Over usage of Cell causes hearing impairment)
I smell : shit every morning, while walking to my office. Goodness God Save India
I crave : for a better tomorrow ( joining Al Gores campaign shortly ;-))
I search : for divinity ( Please help me find thee)
I wonder : how I can be so jobless ( Doing this tag )
I regret : for not stopping this here (its interesting though)
I ache : after kicking my friend yesterday (have to learn kick boxing)
I cry : when my manager is happy
I’m not : God (sorry typo for Good)
I believe : in insanity
I dance : to the tunes of lots of people ( Poor me)
I sing : thinking like I am Yesudas or MJ or Karthik
I don’t always : Sleep ( I would love to)
I fight : with myself often ( Cant afford to fight with others for the fear of getting hammered)
I write : to torment others (That’s my Blog’s Title too)
I win : Friends easily( Brainless Idiots)
I lose : my mind often ( I black out thinking of nothing)
I never : speak lies ( I am very intelligent ,wise and sensible)
I always : think why are there so many dumb asses in this world
I confuse : people to get away with my wrongs
I listen : very well when I am asleep
I can usually be found : on my bed
I’m scared : of sane people
I need : a few billion dollars
I imagine : holidaying in Maldives with Angelina Jolie and Keira Knightley..

Finally one more addition
I dont believe: that I finished this tag....

Sanitize Indian Sports

2008-08-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

Today I was overwhelmingly happy and exceptionally proud to see India one up on the gold tally at the Beijing Olympics. What a great and special feel. How long have we waited to score a gold? How frustrating it was to see China and US sharing gold with each other for all these years. I am not saying we are ready to compete, I am saying atleast we have arrived. Thanks a hundred Billion, Abhinav Bindra, you have made us proud. You have created History. You will inspire thousands of young sportsmen. Yet you stand as if you have done nothing. This quality of yours was evident even earlier, when you had your last shot, which called for humility, cool headedness and patience. You did it. You deserve anything for this mighty fete.

But at this time, we also need to think why we can’t create more and more winners. Sports is an integral part of any school or college activity. We were all asked to play and compete in different sports all through our childhood. We were all given a chance to achieve something provided we are capable of winning. The government also has done its bit to promote sports by providing sports quota and incentives. What is it, that’s going wrong? Being born in the land of a hundred billions souls, we don’t lack the killer instinct or competitiveness. Being a part of the society that celebrates celebrities and promotes achievers to demigod status, there is no lack of motivation.

With the corporates ready to sign contracts worth millions and funds pouring in from governments, there is no lack of money. Plenty of awards are also given away each year, and there is no dearth in recognition. What is that we lack. I guess the infrastructure is also in place, we have good sports complexes and good trainers too. The world is now more local then ever; you can get yourself coached in any part of the globe or by any foreigners.

I think there are predominantly two problems, one rightly pointed out by Abhinav Bindra, is Negativism. I cannot do it because others could not do. Second is lack of “Need to win Attitude”. Most of us think we are only capable of participating. Some idiot in the past has said participation is more important than winning. That is only for the lazy ones to get their butts moving and not meant for achievers. The winning spirit needs to be instigated. The need to be global super power in all aspects has to be drilled down in the minds of the future generation.

Our Indian cricket and hockey team are the best examples. In the on going tour, I do not see an attitude to win, in any of the MF, I do not know why. Hockey is even worse; we have not got selected for Olympics, where we used to rule the roost few decades back. I think we need to add, Excellence in sports as one of our point programs or start a revolution lets say "Red Revolution" for the same. Sports is one of the areas where we can create Brand India. It is also an avenue of growth for the youth. Someone should sanitize Indian Sports and help create a better tomorrow for the next generation and show them they are alternate ways to living. Lalu Ji you have turned around Indian Railways, can you do something like that for Indian Sports?

P.S: I am one lazy ass on this part of the globe, these are my honest intentions for a better tomorrow. Sports was never my cup of tea.

An Honest Quest

2008-08-07T23:24:00.000-07:00

I am not back to my cribbing ways. I chose to get away with it, once and for all. My near and dear ones would be happy hearing this. I am neither dissatisfied with my present life nor anxious about the future. I have been relentlessly trying to figure out, for years now, what would give me happiness. To tell the truth, I have never been greatly happy all these years. I have no reason to complain though. I am doing well now. I had great education, great people around, greater quality of life, and a sound body and mind. What more do I need to be happy?

I honestly do not know, what is that I want. One problem I have is that I have an inquisitive and thought provoking mind, which always wants to reason things beyond the comprehension of many souls on the planet. I cannot attribute this nature of mine to my past actions or incidents. It has been there right from the day I started to think of my own. I started questioning a lot of things, I cannot see the same happiness, goodness, sorrow, love and all other abstract feelings that others see. Even if I do, the proportion is very meager compared to others multitude.

It’s high time I start realizing what I am searching for. I know I aint any saint, philosopher, scientist or freak; I am just one lost soul which needs direction, but direction towards what? I do the same things zillions around me do. I eat, sleep, enjoy, laugh, fight, crib and think. Why am I not able to fit myself in this worldly horizon, where others are effortlessly able to? The joker likes Chaos, I aint a freak. The batman likes rules, I aint geek.

The complications of a complex mind are truly unfathomable by the rational ones. So, I do not expect any consolations, advices or consultations. The world is meant to be complicated, a maze with n number of routes, and the ones that has passed through the right doors, never return. That’s leaves the rest in the maze, with a dilemma to continue the pursuit of reaching a mysterious destination. One might want to continue towards the door and others might as well stay back in the maze with the cheese to swallow. The cause of serious worry is that more often than not the situation turns out to be a catch 22 case; you might end up in an asylum for trying to be smart and intelligent. The world is crazy. The craziness intensifies as days passes, as there are more routes created and tougher the game becomes. The sense of urgency coupled with ambiguity creeps in. What would you do?

Is it wise to head towards uncertainty or is it clever to remain passive. This is the question that goes through most of the timid souls who looks out for a change. The change here is unwelcoming, dangerous and above all frivolous. So why on earth did I get this thought into my head? Why on earth am I not doing anything to suppress it or why am I not pursuing the directions of this thought. When all these runs in your mind, how can you be normal and sane after all? This quest is an honest quest above all.

The Power of Zero

2008-08-04T05:45:00.001-07:00

Zero is United; Zero when divided by anything is still Zero
Zero is Selfless; Zero Added to any number is still the same number
Zero is Secular; Zero subtracted from any number is still the same number
Zero is Invincible; Any number subtracted form Zero is negative of the same number.
Zero is Absolute; Zero multiplied by anything is still Zero.
Zero is Humble; anything to the power of Zero is one. Zero to the power of anything is Zero.
Zero is Fundamental; as it is the binary composite

When Zero is so good and powerful why do we always aim for One?

Wanted

2008-08-04T02:19:00.000-07:00

Well this movie was recommended to me by my friends, the early adapters, only when it comes to movies. So I decided one fine night to go for the movie. All but one of my friends saw the movie, so neither of us had a choice, and thus went with each other. Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman were the two people for whom I wanted to watch the movie for, coupled with decent responses from surrounding souls.

The movie starts in the office, at least from where I got a chance to see it. This lazy friend of mine was as punctual as ever, came ten minutes after the movie started. So this guy at office is being ridiculed by his manager, colleague, onlookers, by goers and worst of all an ATM machine. He feels so unimportant, humiliated and vulnerable. So he gets this stroke kinda feel and things become very slow and hazy before his eyes. He quickly chews his tablets which brings him to normal state. He does not understand what this feeling is. Later finds it to be a special gift from god to entertain fans like us.

He goes to a store to buy his groceries and bang the action starts. Wait don’t imagine guns, bombs, car chases and martial arts. Angelina Jolie appears! Even if you have guessed the former, the director not me, does not want to disappoint you, Yes the scene kicks starts the unrealistic yet unfathomable level of action. From then on, you will witness the omniscience of CGI. If Keanu Reeves can dodge bullets our hero can block a bullet with his. The scene reminded me of our age old mythological films, where the god and demon will fire arrows at each other and the arrows meet each other in its trajectory, fall in love and decided to stay together there after.

I seriously felt a great pity for the hero, when he gets bashed up by guys to become tough. What a hammering. Poor Guy! The director does not want your pity. So he invents a wax bath that can heal wounds in a jiffy. What a frenzied logic, but wait, I quite like the logic, see the movie and you will know why ;-) Finally Freeman and his daring team transform a timid guy to a ruthless brave meticulous assassin. So our hero from then can shoot a man in a bullet proof car, a man inside a conference room from a fast moving train and so on. Keep your brain in your pocket and you will enjoy all the action.

Finally our man comes to know that he has been tricked, the director has advised him too to keep his brain in his pocket, and our smart hero did not. He now seeks revenge on the people who killed his father. What follows is the climax, and what does that mean, time for more grueling unrealistic action. With a well planned clever idea of his father’s, our hero executes a great plan to break into Morgan’s chamber. He does that in inexplicable style. After a great display of valor, our hero is again tricked and stands a like a fool in front of five men and Jolie. Jolie then spells her bit of magic, shoots six people including her, all with a single revolving bullet. Finally our hero takes his vendetta at Morgan, by shooting him with a bullet that travels half the globe. So from then on our hero realizes his self, the movie is over, and you can put your brain back into your skull.

Poor choice of words !!

2008-07-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

Well that’s my favorite dialogue and scene in the greatest super hero movie ever. Believe me! It was really hard for me to single out a dialogue or scene in the movie to be my best. But this dialogue wins hands down. What a breathtaking scintillating performance by Heath ledger. Kudos to him first, before anyone else. I am sure he deserves the posthumous Oscar, which he will surely get. What would be interesting is to see if he gets it for the best actor or the best supporting actor. Enough has been said about the joker in print, web and the mouth media. He’s brilliant, great and above the horizons. Anyways how can I blog about this film without mentioning few things about the Joker. All the scenes he appeared, he ruled. I loved the pencil disappearing, poor choice of words, bank robbery, blowing the hospital as a nurse scenes and finally his lengthy intellectual dialogue with batman, hanging upside down. Ledger we will remember you forever, for this enthralling performance.

But that’s only one ingredient of the movie and not the movie itself, unlike our superstars’ movie. Nolan has got everything right this time, especially the script, it could have not been any better, be it the prisoners dilemma, money laundering, investment decisions, moral decisions, faith, cruelty, wittiness, belief, action, style and finally free will. There was everything in the movie. Ok in short, what happens if there is a mix of Spielberg’s conceptualization, Michael Bays stylized action, James Cameroon extravaganza, Quentin Tarantino’s cruelty? It would be chaos. Well it could have been, if some serious thought have not gone into the making, but if someone has thought through it carefully, then we would have the best cocktail of a stylized meaningful action flick.

Morgan freeman and Michael caine need no praise; they are indigenous great actors and delivered stellar performances this time too. Christine Bale needs a special mention, he has understood what exactly his role in the movie is, and he knows that he does not have to carry the film on his shoulders, but only has to be the face of it. He has done it diligently. He has shown brilliance in novelty and graciously executed his meaty role. Last but not the least, this man impressed me big time in his earlier film, which is one of my favorite movies,”Thank you for Smoking”. Aaron Eckhart has got a great tongue, my god, his dialogue deliveries, rule the roost. Nolan has made no mistake in casting this smart guy and here is the time to reap the benefit, the guy delivers big time.

The dark knight has reportedly broken several box office records and scaling new peaks everyday. It is rated as the best movie in IMDB. This is quite debatable. I would gladly accept it to be the best super hero movie or even the best action flick ever but certainly not the best movie ever. Also I would rate it 8.7 to 8.9 for its all round brilliance. Having said that, I would call this movie, the best remake ever, for it is extremely difficult to make a film, of which the people have great knowledge and expectations. The dark knight has greatly exceeded the expectation of a sane film goer.

On a leaving note, I am sorry for not spicing this blog, as I usually do. I did not want to reveal any bit of the movie, so deliberately and with great difficulty avoided the spoilers. Its truly a master piece to be enjoyed by everyone. Any important activity/work can wait, but the dark knight cannot. Go grab it and treat your senses, especially your mind.

Sound Check

2008-07-25T01:43:00.000-07:00

There were many a day where I would be dying to hear new songs. But there were not many songs that used to be good. So I had to listen to my favourite old songs and be satisified. Off late its quite surprising that, it has become increasingly difficult for me to choose the new songs that I want to listen. The competitveness in the indusry is going great guns, No wonder there are new singers and composers and shows like Airtel Super Singer is attracting great viewership and paritcipitation.

Enough of beating around the bush and trying to explain a simpe thing in a complicated manner. OMG..why did I do an MBA?!@#$

The songs that I am currently listening to are

1. Kangal irundal - Subramaniyapuram - My god its a lovely melody that grows on you. The picturization is also brilliant.

2. Dhaam Dhoom - Anbe en Anbe, Azhiyilae, Yaaro Manathile - Harris is at this best, though all the songs remind you of some old songs still they are great to hear and singalong

3. Jaane Tu - Kabhi Aditi, paapu cant dance - My God Rahman is proving time and again, that he is a genius, the master reinvents himslef with changing times.

4. Ada - Gulfisha and Gum Sum - Great numbers from the Master Again

5. Sakaraktti- Chinnamma, Taxi, Elay, Miss u- Rahman back with a bang in Tamil and proves he can score great music for debutants as well.

6. Anjathey - Kannadasan, Kathala - I did not know about it earlier, but its turning out to be one of my favourites now.

7. Dasa - Kalai Mattum, Mukunda - Great numbers, I do not believe Himesh scored the music for this.

8. Kuselan - Good but not great, yet keeps you entertained

9. Satyam - Seems to be good, just started hearing

10 Yaara di nee Mohini - Yuvan's come back..great melody and the remix is outta world.

Listen to these songs and reverberate guys.....

The Happening

2008-07-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

We Sensed it right the first time
But we should have acknowledged the change in Signs
Finally it is not Happening...

The movie starts in the central park with people mysteriously committing suicide, the director gave us the signs that we could also be a victim soon. Never mind said my indomitable mind and compelled to go on. Then there are redundant scenes of similar suicides and as sense of paranoia sets in (for us. U guessed it right). The movie then takes a direction, even a kid who underperforms in kinder garden would know. The movie talks about Americans from different walks of life react to an abnormal creepy situation. How would any American (except the Hero ofcourse) react, get paranoid and wander aimlessly. Full marks to the director for showcasing that.

So the movie runs in the same pace for hour and half and ends like the suspense in a damp squib. What a waste of time. I thank the almighty for not having spent a penny on the movie. But I spent close to 2 hours for the movie. Wait! I said 2 hours, but the movie runs only for hour and a half, am I drunk, NO. There were many minutes in between I paused the movie and seriously though of ditching the movie and having a nice nap.

What I consider to be the worst of all repercussions of the movie is blogging about it. Never mind, if I can save 2 hours of another person’s life, I would be immensely satisfied. Shymalan please come back with a better movie, next time at least. The problem with us, is we like you. The problem with u is you neither like movies nor us. Wahlberg sorry kid ;-( Will Smith Great escape!!!!!

When things changes

2008-07-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

I look back 2 years from date
Since then there is only knowledge abate
I was amidst great learning and fun
Now all is changed, I am on a run.

We bragged about many companies top and bottom line
The only thing I can talk about now, is my waist line
Strategy, consulting, investing and market researches
Oh! I used to love those endless speeches and preaches…

I miss the economic times and business today talks
It is been ages since I saw three a.m. in the clocks
Presentations, readings and assignments galore
Everything in vain, my heart, soul and brain sore!

We could find blunders in decisions of many great think tanks
Who were the colossal brains of many retail, manufacturing and banks
I find it extremely difficult now to find a bug in my flawed application
Can you hear the cry about remuneration and job satisfaction?

Many books we have read and many numbers we crunch
Skipped many breakfast and lunch, survived only on brunch
At last my mind rests idle with nothing to worry or ponder
How can this even be possible, many a time I wonder?

Things finally are looking to take a better shape
Luck seems to be on my side and no wonder I gape
I hope this time there are n’t any celestial intervention
Thanks for reading this, something I must n’t forget to mention ;-)

Sunny Days

2008-07-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

Chennai is back to its sunny ways. In the last week of June, we had some showers and weather looked kinda settled. I was relieved; I thought no more red sun, burning heat or bright light. Looks like the Sun god is not yet satisfied with tormenting the poor souls out here, he is back with more force. My God it’s so hot and sultry here. Why can’t there be a change in Chennai’s climate. Let Global warming have a positive impact on Chennai like in Alaska. Let it turn Chennai’s climate like Switzerland or Czech. Or at least like Bangalore, Sikkim or Coorg.

One day, I would love to sleep in Chennai without a fan or AC. I would want to wander in Pondy Bazaar at noon. I want to play in the beach when the sun is high up in the sky. I want the cool breeze at dusk to kiss my face when I drive in the city. I want to sip a cup of hot coffee, out of my verandah, and feel myself getting heated up, after a snowy night. I want to collect hailstorms from my terrace. I want to get drenched by the droplets from the mango tree. I want a lot more, but cannot say a few in public forum and few more to curb redundancy.

I want all of these happening interchangeably through out the year. Last but not the least I want to run for shade at 6:00 in the evening, when the sun comes out with all guns firing. After all Chennai is not itself without the mighty Sun ;-)

Part 2

2008-07-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

So the Friday ends on a high booze note and Saturday begins with a high degree of enthusiasm. We are all set to explore Coorg. Suddenly we get this adrenalin rush from nowhere and a desire to get naughty and adventurous. So we decided to do white water rafting. But there is a problem as always. That god forsaken place is 100 Km away, which means we need to park our butts again for yet another long journey. God! why is the earth so expansive.

Never mind as long as there is fun and frolic, we can even scale the Himalayas. After innumerable debates and confusions, we find a single lane mud road leading to a river bed. What a picturesque location! Coffee plantations, planted like pathways, along the clean red road sloping down to the stream. The placid river flows amidst the dense bunch of trees. I could hear the cry of the river when it runs over rocks and boulders. Even the wretched cricket sound felt so good. The weather was also very kind to give us the perfect slender drizzle; to create a scene, even the gods would envy.

But I just realized, I was not there to enjoy the beauty of the nature or to glorify it, but to be a man and race down the river. We get our rafts and other accessories to have a safe ride through the naughty strait. We quickly padded up; we were dressed with life jackets, head gear, expensive oar and above all high grit. The time finally arrives; we drag the raft into the river and quickly jumped on it. There was this indo-chinki guy who is supposed to be our raft leader. He had lots of wisdom when it comes to rafting and obviously he had a lot to say. He explained on how to go about rafting. He though us how to row a raft. Some interesting terms he used were forward, backward, left front right backward and vice versa, Hold and Hold and get down. He wanted us to learn rafting in no time but he did not realize that we are a bunch of late adapters. We pretended as if we can raft, even if there was a glacier melt from the high mountains, only we knew that we could even capsize the raft in still waters.

So we begin to row. This guy had a devious plan in his mind, he warned us of Crocs and snakes in the water and worst of all he wanted us to have a dip in the freezing stream. Just then I realized how foolish I was (not that I did not know the fact earlier), to believe this guy. The raft began to stroll further, and then came the first rapid; they named it the morning coffee, what a sweet name. It was exciting to bump onto the rocks, to get dislocated and the splash of fresh water from the stream was as refreshing as a cool beer on a sunny afternoon. Then came the bigger rapids and better were their names, they were the grasshopper, wicked witch and finally the big bang. Rafting through them was truly exuberance unleashed, we had great fun, howling and growling like an uncivilized lot in the solitude jungle. Finally we were allowed to swim in a lake like place for some time. OMG it was truly an exotic locale to be in. For once I thought the nature was far better than the most beautiful girls I ever saw.

Exuberance Unleashed – Part 1

2008-07-08T00:19:00.000-07:00

God has given an ear to my cry for a change (you can put a comma after cry, that also makes a valid statement). The chains of monotony were broken for a brief stint. An almost implausible tour took off. We boarded the Cauvery express, last Thursday night. There were six of us and we could not believe that this moment is finally happening, we were bamboozled and excited. Out came a shrill voice from behind, “we have finally made it”. It shook us up and pulled us to reality and from then the fun took off and we knew there’s no looking back.

Right from the start, the equation for fun was very apparent; catch hold of the guy who either cracks a PJ or utters MBA jargons or makes irrational statements or tries desperate class participation, and rag him to death. As we were a fun loving lot, we took turns to be in both receiving and giving ends right through the journey.

So we land in Mysore the next day morning and boarded a car to Coorg. The first decision we had to make was the most vital, the availability of liquor in Coorg. For once there was a unanimous decision, which is to buy liquor in Mysore. Like all unanimous decision, this was also fallible. Liquor was available more than groceries in Coorg. Nevertheless we were happy, coz we can get to matters straight once landing there.

So after few rounds of Amruth, we decided to hog. What a way to unwind; refreshing booze, sumptuous food, enthralling place and lustrous climate. So what’s next? What can one do after this, you guessed it right, headed straight to the cottage and dropped dead on the bed.

Suddenly I felt a strong hit on my back; I was fighting Jetli on a 100 foot building roof. I gave him three blows and got one in return. I then get another tighter blow and Jetli is right in front of me. Now how is that possible? I was confused, and I get the third one, this was really hard, I jumped up on my bed and found it was my skinny friend waiting with a cup of coffee. What a dream, what better aroma of Coorg coffee. I take the coffee and move out of my cottage and it is raining outside. The lush green garden is being softly bathed by showers from heaven. I have a steaming coffee in my hand and gazing at the nature. This is what I call bliss.

So we decided to get really busy, had a walk around the cottage from one room to another. Tiresome exercise! Thanks to the guy who got hold of this lovely place. Well furnished rooms and rest rooms, endearing dining room and happening living room. What more do you need for a vacation. The cottage was encompassed by a lush green garden and was quite spacious to accommodate 6 men with gritty attitude. So we decided to spend the night resting at the cottage after a tiring day of sitting and sleeping. TBC….

Obsession

2008-07-03T02:03:00.000-07:00

Feels like I found a lost love. I look at my blog once a hour a day. I read through most of my earlier posts. Read a few posts more than once. I was smiling at some of the comments. I just could not resist writing something today but I do not have anything new, as always. So I am writing this. This is what we do when we want to do something but do not know what to do. This is something similar to the new Airtel Ad with Maddy and Vidya.

Hope I get something to write tomorrow, I am so obsessed and desperate that will key in just a “hi” after all. Lets something great happen today or at least I should remember from my faint memories on something happened earlier or my creativity should ooze out like water gushing out a dam or I should be frustrated or extremely bored.

God please put some thoughts into my head. Its high time for me to start boring people again.

Resurrection

2008-07-02T02:16:00.000-07:00

Jeez! I do not believe this. I have not been writing or blogging or blabbering or scribbling, or whatever, for the past one year. Suddenly a flash of thought hit my head like the Newton’s apple, so I decided to start again. I remember once many good souls were following my scribbles. Where am I to scout for them? I will have to cloud the rationality of few new acquaintances and deceive them to read all I scribble and make them accept that it is good and interesting. Herculean task ahead!

Gear up man for the second innings. Now that, it’s been some time, probably I would have lost my writing ways, should have had one to begin with. What do I script, life has been the same for some time now, probably I got a bit more intelligent, you guessed it right, that’s an outright lie, surely a little more dumb, after all what can you except to become post MBA. I think I have kinda become more sensible, its just now I realized what the world wanted me to know for a long time, that you cannot assume to be someone who you are n’t. That’s good in its way, for I am very happy and unassuming these days, after finding out the truth that there were n’t anything to assume in the first place. It’s such a good feel to know you are ignorant. I accept Ignorance is BLISS!

On the contrary I feel ignorance is wisdom. The more you feel you do not know, the more you would want to know. Lifting from the age old saying, you cannot fill a cup that’s full. OMG I speak of philosophy, the topic that has been quite debated over the centuries by the fools and the wise. I know I am not wise but that does not stop me from debating as well.

Wisdom is a function of knowledge and knowledge is a function of self analysis. So Bingo, I analyze the self and I find that I am made up of the same substance that are others are made up with but with a variance in proportion. Someone please nominate me for a Nobel Prize. But after long fruitless hours of self analysis, I found something I did not quite know for long. I am emotional. Being emotional is inversely proportional to being overtly sane. But that does not matter as long as you love and you are being loved. What a great feel. At the end of this long undirected run of thoughts, I recommend wisdom for the abnormal, knowledge for the paranormal and love for the normal to be live happy.

1994 - Hollywood's Glorious Year

2007-08-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

I cannot imagine how the year 1994 would have been for hollywood and movie buffs all over the world, With all these 5 classics relasing the same year.

The Shawshank Redemption
Pulp Fiction
Leon
Forrest Gump
The Lion King

I hope one day history could repeat itself, for it is only in the near past I have become a movie buff rather a movie freak.

Look who's Talkin

2007-08-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

I saw a television programme about India 60 in NDTV. People were discussing in the message board, that the TV provides and discussion was about racial discrimination. The major comment was how Indians are racially discriminated in other parts of the world. Fair comment, it has to be accepted and taken, as a sour pill.

But before we comment on others, lets look back at our dirty past, dirtier present , could be worser future.

1. India could be the country which started "Untouchability" ages back ( Source: from anyone)
2. Slaves were very prevalent from ages here( Source: Any history book)
3. Quota system in college and employment ( people want more quota in future, ware wah)
4. Wealthier people disrespecting poor people( Your servant maid will tell 100 instances)
5. One state people ill treated or mocked at by another state people( You should know)
6. Religious intolerance right from PM(some) to beggar (India is secular, come on)
7. Indians discriminated at other places ( why do you go there)
8. Color discrimination ( ppl dislike black even here, adore the white) ..check out fair n
lovely sales and beauty parlour queues.
9. Making fun on trans gendered people ( cant get any worser, also rightly numbered)
10. Caste, sub caste, sub sub caste...fights on who is better( United India)

I am not saying that this happens only in India, I am not saying that we do not have the right to complain. All I am saying is that, you can be easily countered with arguments from alost anyone. There are zillions of discrimination happenning in our midst, we have learnt to live with them, but if some foreigner does the same in their country, we cant take that. I do not understand; you go to their country, work for a cheap rate, hit their employability, make money with what they give, above all complain that they misbehave. You are here, you witness all these autrocities right in front of your own eyes and stay quiet.

Indians have learnt to be like that, if we do a mistake it is ok, if others do, we dont like it. Even in day to day life this is happenning, just think about it.

Snake Charmers to Strategy consultants

2007-07-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

Remember!!! since the good old days of Hollywood until recent past, if one wants to portray India, he would show Taj Mahal, Kasi/Gaya, a busy market place, some Gujarathi or Rajasthani men and women, then finally a scene with a snake charmer. Yes even in many citations and dialogues, Indians were referred to as Snake charmers, those who believed in mythology, black magic and cheap sort of idol worship.

I do not know from where these Whites get these frenzied outlook about Indians. If only Aryabhatta did not find zero where would there be binary and how would the computer driven world be of reality today. A good percentage of Indians are the brains behind NASA and other major research organizations. Indians are the saving grace for the software industry, the Indians have more or less become indispensable in the industry.

The whole world looks up to the intellectual and technically sound engineering graduates from the IIT. They are behind all successful endeavors that the world has witnessed till date. They have been into new product conception, development and launches. They are the brainchild of various engineering marvels and have helped business grow bigger and better.

Taking IIT's and now IIM's as a benchmark, several other world-class institutions in India has delivered great professors and architects of modern world. Indians have become strategy consultants, investment bankers and CEO’s in many global organizations. They grew MNC's businesses and helped them reap sky-high profits.

Looking back India has come a long way. It changed the world’s perception, which once thought the world comprises only of countries like USA,UK and some European countries.It has arrived in the global arena and proudly says "here’s your competitor". Leading journalists, economists and market researchers have accepted the fact that, if the same momentum is said to last, India is all set to become economically developed in the next decade and why not a super power in some years from now.

India’s greatest bane, problem of over population is turning out to be a boon, it now boasts of the worlds highest employable youth population. When the rest of the world ages rapidly, India will age gradually. Opportunities are open galore for Indian youth to take the world by stroll. But whatever is said and done, we are still dependent on the west for opportunities, its time to stand up and say we are really independent, we should start manufacturing, from diodes to rockets, and develop products from toys to satellites. We should cultivate and groom the entrepreneurial mindset and we should become the competitor not only to the service industry but also to product makers.

If this achieved we will move from strategy consultants to scientific connoisseurs.

Time for multi starer movies in Kollywood

2007-07-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

Accepted that Rajnikant’s magnum opus Sivaji is doing brisk business at the box office, but I do not think that every actor can take his movie single handedly anymore without a good and strong story script. Moreover, from times eternal, we have witnessed tons of movies that barely have a script; this includes movies that ran for years together. I think with the rise of modern India people are getting a bit more intelligent and choosy than they ever were. It is difficult for any director to give good scripts every time. It is impossible coz people also want entertainment in form of so called Masala movies.

So what can be done, they have two options in front of them, try and burn the midnight oil for days together and come with a mind-blowing script which provides ample room for creativity and strong story line or cast multi star and let fans take the burden. The latter is the trend amongst the Bollywood fraternity. I think that its time to try the magic and see if it works here too. After all, it was prevalent in the yester years of Tamil cinema and later some hero’s started to create a ubiquitous fan following for gaining political mileage that would help converting their superstardom to kingdom.

That was the case for years now, as people had no freedom of choice in movies, they had to see only what the Tamil cinema gave. But it is no longer the same story, it is quite difficult in this age were people open to all kind of cinemas from Hollywood, Tollywood and even Bollywood dubs here. In addition, there are also different forms of entertainment. So probably, they can try to recreate the magic by multi starrers.

Nevertheless, it is both challenging and gamble job for any scriptwriter to come up with a script that provides equal role for two great actors. Unlike Bollywood or Hollywood, Kollywood actors have different and more importantly indifferent fan following. They ride on the rivalry wave more than their own talent. To begin with their can try and recreate the yesteryear movie that had multi star cast, so that people will know the story upfront and accept the reality presented on screen.

My top five picks would be

1. Vijay and Ajith in Agni Nakshatitram
2. Vikram and Surya in Kurudi punal
3. Ajith and Surya in Vetri Vizha
4. Vijay and Simbu in Guru Shisiyan
5. Kamal and Vikram in Thevar Magan

Comment on the above if you have any; please add anything new, better and interesting.
Let us give people some tips to make or lose money.

Movies - The Elixir of MY Life!

2007-07-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

Movies shared a greater part of my life last year. I did not know that there is a world of a difference between a well made film and a good film. In Tamil or Hindi, you get to see a few masterpieces from the factories of mani rathnam , RGV, Aushtosh Gopikar and others. But in Hollywood they are in plenty. Well out of the many great movies I saw last year .

The following are my Top 10 which impressed me the most.

1. The Shawshank Redemption : - IMDB 2 . Best Ever
2. The Godfather Series :- I bet U agree
3. Fight club :- Man it is outta world
4. The Usual Suspects :- No wonder it is Mother of all turns
5. The Prestige and The Illusionist :- Truly spellbounding
6. Anything from Tom hanks :- The list is big , every movie is worth your time
7. Thank you for Smoking :- Articulation redefined.
8. Departed : - Scorcese well deserved but late Oscar
9. Pursuit of Happyness :- Truly in pursuit
10. Revolver :- Philosphically Sound

Guys you can add some movie which you think could be in this esteemed list.
I have not included war, horror,commercial, fantasy or animation movies in this list.

It’s a different ball game

2007-07-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

It always feels good to blog about something that you are interested and something you know or pretend to know about. Yes I am going to pen about the topic which instantly drew my attention when I first knew about it. From that day, it grew on me and I wanted to know more and more about it. There are different styles and ways people do it. Not everyone is successful with it, the ones successful love it, and ones unsuccessful love it more, because you have to be successful in it. Everybody talks about it and everybody is anxious and interested in knowing others experience with it. Ok I am gonna talk about Politics, what did you think dirty mind?

Everybody talks, management preaches and gurus accept that if the market is highly competitive, the market will push prices to rock bottom only allowing all the players a small accepted amount of profit. This concept is called the Market equilibrium. This happens when the demand and supply becomes equal. If the demand and supply are equal, the market place does not allow either side of the business to be more profitable compared to the other.

This occurs when the market is highly competitive, where the only advantage that a company has is the cost advantage, so they fight with each other and find ways and means to reduce the price. Ideally the prices is driven down to a point where is equal to cost plus small profit. This is the rule for business and great example to this, is our day to day household goods called commodities.

Now let’s come to the topic, we all know that politics is highly competitive; I would even go to the extent saying that it is literally cut throat competition. My question is that “Is it really competitive”. If it were to be competitive, the ideal situation that was to happen to a common market place should have happened here too. We all know the raw fact that it has not happened.

Even in pure or free market, we need some rules and regulations. Regulations like Sherman anti trust act condemning and not allowing any company to monopolize the market, remember the Microsoft case. But monopoly does not occur in politics, you try to do something against the public you are immediately dethroned.

Next is the entry barrier, yes this is valid, to enter into politics; it does require lot of investment, assets, popularity and credibility. This is difficult to achieve because it takes humungous amount of time and effort. Also if the current politicians suspect a potential threat, they either buy you or bury you.

Threat of substitution, it has happened many times in history but not in India. We have seen Hitler, Musharaf, Stalin and Lenin and so many people who have taken the political reigns in their hands and ruled the country to their whims and fancies. This is one kind of monopoly, in ancient times called as aristocracy. This might take the nation in any direction and greatly depends on motive of the ruler. I do not know if this can happen in our democratic nation.

But what I am concerned is the possibility of under the table contacts or negotiations between existing parties. How else can a multi party, so called democratic system by books could allow anyone to come to power is able to sustain the winning tradition amidst all the corruption and mishap. It is just case of “It happens only in India”. I would be happy if some investigation firm or special report company do a secret investigation and drill out the details, only then the world ill come to know things that are happening out of the television box, they are victim to. That would be the most dramatic and fascinating revelation of all times.

I Wonder Why

2007-07-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

Note: Read the sentences below with the above words in front of it .
If first letter is not capitalized read with the subject also

Love

People fall in love
Those in love do not recommend it to others
Same Likes and Dislikes change after marriage
Love is most talked about social issue even now

Life

can not be enjoyable all the time
is very cruel to some and very generous to others
is highly uncertain and we do not care about that
gets more complicated each and every day

Food

People eat with spoons when hand are provided for that purpose
Italian and Chinese foods are so tasty
People who can eat pigs don’t eat dogs or cats
People going to eat end up paying higher for lights and sofas

Traffic

People overtake in a traffic jam
People move their vehicles when signal is glowing red
People park right in front of no parking board
Bicyclers and pedestrians think there are no traffic rules for them

Work

is always boring and complaining
always gives most people what they don’t want
others do looks better than what we do
under someone when you can give work to others

Finally

Am I writing all this crap when I have other things to do
Anyone would be reading this far knowing it is crap.

I am Back!

2007-06-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

After a brief one year study , I am back to Cognizant.

Different vertical, different project, different location,different team,different people and Different food.

Same email id, Same teething problems, same joblessness, same anxiety, same feeling.

Somethings in life doesnt change...and some do.

But I am back to my regular blogging ways again after 1 hectic year....

U can expect some management gyans, bakwas u might call it from me..

but the true nature of being nonsensical does not change even if you become enlightenend.

koodave puranthathu(Born with it)..

Plugged!!!

2007-04-14T22:12:00.001-07:00

Once what I heard in Matrix, seems quite real now. We need machines rather electricity for our survival. Yesterday was a long day for me, lot of assignments and classes. Rode home at great pace and went to bed straight, got up and came back to college today morning. I shoved my hands into my jeans pocket to pull out my cell phone, only to find that it was choking without power. I suddenly felt uncomfortable at first and anguish later. How would I SMS, how would I call and how would I play the game snake. Life suddenly seems to be so boring and dull.

Another thought struck me, I have another source of communication and entertainment, pulled out my laptop bag and took the masterpiece, my laptop. I was all the more excited about my laptop today because it has to substitute my other companion my Nokia. I softly opened my laptop for the first time with great care and tenderness. Push the power button and waited patiently for windows to start without cursing MS and bill gates. I could don’t believe my eyes, guess what happened, the orange light in my laptop was blinking, it means if I don’t shut my laptop in 1 minute, it will shut itself.

What am I to do? No laptop, no cell phone, how on earth will I be able to pass a long day in college attending classes. Off course I can charge my stuff, but you need to understand the fact, that I am not the only irresponsible brat in this world. I was searching for a power outlet in my college like a thirsty traveler in the Sahara. There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, I could finally see an unoccupied plug point. What a relief, I quickly went to the point and plugged in my laptop charger, things turned out to be worse, the damn thing was free only because it does not work, off course why would people leave anything unattended in this world if it’s worth something.

I somehow managed to survive the day in college, partly sharing laptop with my near and dear ones and partly getting able to charge from some kind souls still present in this cruel and greedy world. I rushed home in the evening to charge my beloved companions to give them a new leash of life. I ran up the stairs and opened the door in great hurry and stood bewildered in front of the door! You guessed it right, TNEB has not been kind to me, the electricity was off for 2 hours.

Dream come true

2007-02-13T04:12:00.000-08:00

It feels good when some of your dreams come true. I witnessed one such dream come true on Feb 5, 2007. When I was working for Cognizant a year back, I have always envied the SBA from IIM sitting next to me. The kinda importance he gets , the kinda work he does and kinda respect he commands. I am one who is very particular to get things I envy.There I am ..got an offer from Cognizant as a SBA. But the process wasn't easy.

Had to take a tough decision of quitting my job which promised onsite in couple of months and take up a one year MBA degree from a 2 year old school. I somehow had the gut feel,that the school will go places. Thank God ! and I am not wrong. This year Great Lakes witnessed a great placement season with its avearge salary rocketing to 9.3 lakhs p.a.(on par with most premier institutions in the country).It has done it with a significant growth rate of 25% from last year. Great lakes witnesses some big names from the industry offering competitive pay and profile.

But one thing that fascinates me , is one name. Dr,Prof, padamashri,great Bala.V.Balachandran. None except him, atleast till this date could have acheived this fete in such a little time. The man has a gift , a great gift of getting close to people and making them do what he wants. Of hundreds of instances the last but the best one. He met the CEO of SAB Miller(alcohol beverage giant) in a hotel, Talked to him for few minutes and got him to recruit 2 people from our college. 2 big offers over a cup of coffee. Thats Incredible..Thats Bala..Hats off to u Sir.

I am extremely happy for both my college and me.For both us it is truly a dream come true!!!

Lattitude Calling..Can you hear it?

2006-11-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

I am truly flabbergasted to think , how in a MBA program, packed with unmeetable deadlines , colleges can come up with shows, symposiums, events and other college related activities like placements, admissions and so on.

I got the answer from my own institute, if we can do it with ONE year program, surely people can do it in two years.YES it is time to show the world what a GREAT LAKER is!!!!

Lattitude team is royally marching for making the event a blazing success. People are spending day in and day out for various activities that need to go on the day.
Website is truly amazing with kinda schedules we have. Sponsporship is the key thing for any event and we have many working really hard for the noble deed.

We thank TCS for giving 5 lakhs for the show. And pining for more ......
There are many events, many great people and BIG prizes..

Watch out for Lattitude..its sure to rock
AND we are GAME....

Great Lakes Institute of Management Announces setting up of own Campus

2006-11-30T19:36:00.000-08:00

~ Great Lakes Setting up own campus on ECR road ~
~Announces New Chair professorships~

Chennai, November 30, 2006: Great Lakes Institute of Management, a leading B-School, with an objective of offering world class education, has announced setting up of its own campus on the East Coast Road of Chennai. The three year old B-School is currently being run in leased premises. The B-school invested huge money in acquiring the 14 Acres land in the serene East Coast Road which is the new knowledge corridor of Chennai.

The new campus will be a sophisticated, full fledged one with all modern amenities. The institute plans for a total built up area of 1,80,000 sft and out of it 1,25,000 sft will done in the first phase. The campus would be a complete residential one with facilities like hostels, amphitheatres, electronic classrooms, auditorium, staff quarters and spacious playgrounds. The design of the building is ready and The Institute plans to start the construction activity in couple of months and wishes to start complete operations by 2008 academic year.

New Chair Professorships
Great Lakes Institute of management, which was started by illustrious academicians of US along with the support of Indian Industry bigwigs, aims to become an Institute of excellence in Management education in India with in 2 years. While the new campus infrastructure catapults the learning ambience, the institute is also focusing on the enhancement of its knowledge capital by taking new faculty on board. In addition to the existing chair professorships, Great Lakes announced few more Chair professorships. Mr Gopal Srinivasan, MD of TVS Electronics and Mr KB Chandrasekhar, Chairman of Jamcracker Inc donated Rs 1 Crore each for setting up the prestigious chair professor ships in two domains. Three more chairs in the areas of Finance& Banking, Infrastructure, and technology are also on the cards.

Marketing Focused school
The Institute, during the visit of the marketing legend, Dr Phil Kotler, announced that it has identified its core competence in the area of marketing and that it aims to become a marketing focused school. With this, Great Lakes is following the footsteps of premier US B-Schools which are known have focus in one area. Its no wonder that Great Lakes, which is closely associated with Kellogg chose to become a marketing focused school.

Giving the rationale for focus on Marketing, Prof Sriram, executive director, said that Great lakes has an unparalleled intellectual support from the illustrious marketing professors of the world. The legendary Dr Philip Kotler visited Great Lakes and will be associated with research for the next 5 years to support the center in all forms. Dr Seenu V Srinivasan, the Adams distringuished professor of Marketing Research of Stanford University, regularly teaches here. In addition to them, Dr Paul Prabhaker, the Dean of the School of Business and Economics. Fayetteville State University, North Carolina, has keen involvement in the operations of the institute.

To take marketing focus much further, Great Lakes, along with DrPhilip Kotler, announced setting up of “Kotler-Srinivasan Center for Marketing Research” for enhancing marketing based research in India. This center receives financial as well as Knowledge support from both the stalwarts on which the center is named. A member of the Academic Advisory Council of Great Lakes, Dr. Kotler is involved with their key research projects at this B-School. This center is the second research center for the school which already houses Yale-Great Lakes Center for Management Research, promoted jointly by Yale University.

About Great Lakes Institute of Management
Great Lakes Institute of Management, a premier Management school started in partnership with US based schools, aims to seek, mould, polish and develop leaders with changing times. The institute has adapted the best features of the American management education adapted to the Asian values and ethos. With the commitment and focus as enunciated here, their objective is to offer world-class program, designed to help each student realize their full potential. Great Lakes Institute of Management, recognizes that India tomorrow will be shaped by entrepreneurs who can creatively leverage knowledge, skill sets, business processes, technology and intellectual capital.

For Media Queries please contact:
Mr Vikranth V
Great Lakes Institute of Management
Tel: 044 42168228, 0 98847 20840

mmmm back

2006-11-09T01:52:00.000-08:00

I do not know how...I dont wanna introspect tooo..on how i stopped blogging for a month or two...without having anything else to do...was it a sudden loss of interest, was i preocuppied, for once in my life did i start doing anything important and useful, prehaps no, I am as usual, same old lazy bum.
Suddenly i thought today that I should be back to my blogging ways, but why? my second half of MBA is just about begin...
I am currently doing a project(name sake as it always is) for a consulting firm, and will be back to my specilaization phase shortly, there would be lotta things to pen...so vrommmmmmmm I am back.............

Diwali Releases not only flopped at box office , but had a run of my money

Vattaarm: Yet another pathetic film from Saran, he is proving that his success is mere luck or happened for no reason of his.. Arya is acceptable, heroine and music i dont wanna use bad language in public forum...

Vallavan: This guy has loads of talent , but you cant cook and shit at the same time . Also too much is too bad, first half was manageable but certainly not the second.Nayanthara was great , so was Yuvan...reema and sandhya, I empathise for them..

Varalaru: I Like Ajith , and at last there is light at the end of the tunnel, its turning out to be a super hit. But I do not like anything in the film but for Ajith's stunning performance. K.S.ravikumar again proves that he is not good in climax, the movies slumps in the second part of the second half.First half was even more pathetic, And I cannot beleive my eyes or hears when the legendary ARR( i am die hard fan of his) songs are boring, BGM sucks...But for Ajith and KSR this should suffice...

E: A good must watch movie..somthing atlast different in kollywood, stupid remakes, filthy masala type films, irritating love stories have bored us to death..This one is different.Hats off for that, could have been better in some parts still Kudos...

Thalaimagan & Perarausu: I am sorry , I am not that much jobless. heard the opening scene and one fight sequence in dharmapuri are the greatest comedy strength of the film, and some comedy scenes are very sentimental....

Give me a break

2006-08-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Right from the day I found myself to be the laziest person on this planet; I am in search for a worthy competitor. Fortunately or unfortunately I did not have chance to meet one, this undoubtedly puts me in the Numero Uno position in the mighty podium. But much to my surprise, I have quite a lot to do these days. No wonder studying in a b-school, I should be doing at least something, if not all.

MBA is quite different from the stuff we have learned all these years. It is not a gradual course of study, you will have two to three days to learn,and not brush up your basics in a subject you hardly heard of. Then the professors will show all their might and make things mind boggling for you. Then after three weeks you will be assessed with the knowledge, you have or gained. But the worst part is before you actually find yourself kind of OK in a subject, a worser subject replaces it.

But having said all these, we are able to manage it quite comfortably. How is this possible? It’s because MBA is nothing but “OLD wine in New Bottle”, it is all about common sense and things you heard of in a different context and fashion. The books, materials and lectures are so well structured and designed, you get taken aback by its grandeur and forget that it is that basic stuff I knew.

But having said that also, it is more common than not, that the majority have similar common sense and exposure. How on earth can you make a difference and score higher? There is only one answer to it. Unlike our school or engineering, there were people who just pushed themselves at the last minutes and were able to score good grades. But that will not work here, unless and until you work hard and serious, you will not stand out.

Why am I writing this crap, because I am one such person who managed away all my life with little effort and that f*** is not working here. Habits die hard , it is absolutely difficult to change. Studies, assignments, projects and exams all ways round the corner…..please give me a break….I am not a guy of that mettle….

U Turn

2006-07-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

Life is taking a U turn....I found life @ b school great..there is no time to spare and assignments and quizzes all time round the corner....Finnaly it was indeed great to see my self stretch and do some good work.But this thing does not seem to last...its glamour is fast fading.Now adays like UG finding ways to escape out of trouble..no more pestering work given...

All these years taught in the Indian way of cane and pain....is a good learning ...once we r let free ,we easily get back to our negligence mode and start our merrying ways...copying assignments...tests.....bunking classes.....escaping guest lectures.....

I hope this state is interim...and i better get back to the studying mode..afterall this could be my last chance to study.......Ok folks....lets see.....

Anyways Life is interesting...happy about it...

Plethora of incidents this week.....

2006-07-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Suddenly the world seems to revolve and rotate faster....time deludes space and matter...events occur more frequently than ever.....mind and brain are caught entangled in this chaos...unable to untie itself.......However it is interesting to note that I am niether busy nor free....illusion prevades the universe.....

Starting sunday this week....What an awfuk World cup Finale......The omnipotent Zidane acting the impotent way....so cheap for the gret master and legend...degraded himself..his team....France and FIFA world cup finals.....

Monday Managerial Accounting....what a subject.....cost accounting...ABC......Bala's jokes....Night outs......luck......

Mixed Tuesaday....poor OB grades......brilliant and thought provoking guest lecture on Self Selling by TT durai(NKF Singapre).....midnight booze in the beach...far from the city...along the beautiful moonlit shores....slashing waves....cool and silent breeze.....chilled beer....rainy car drive.....

Lousy Wednesday.....8 hours of non-stop lectures....bored to death.....too m uch of anything is worth nothing proved again....over the head talks....hard to sit.....drowsy day....

And guess what it is only the mid of this week......a lot more to go....With a lifetime opportunity..a meet with the Marketing Guru..Genius...Phillip Kotler.....

Life is just on the run...............

I'm Crazy About Honda cars

2006-07-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Honda Civic - My Brother owns one

Sexy Hond CR-V....Just too seducing.....

Godly Accord - Waiting to Own one....

Last But not The Least -- My own..

Mmm Back

2006-07-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Exams assignments projects these are the buzzwords in the b-school , offcourse it is the same for any other school..but it is a bit different here..for these are the only words spoken at crunchy situations....Alas it is over for now 1 and half term is over and I am happy abt it....
Uncle Bala is finally here taking managerial Accounting for us.In his usual zest and enthusiasm takes us back by surprise everytime.We had our philosophy course getting over ..everybody seighed a relief for it was on course we had to work we hard coz it talked of most things we could not see..neither know..nor comprehend....
Last but the least we had three full holidays ..guess what three movies ...beach...shopping ....it was a great break...much awaited one...Ok let me stop this and talk about th movies I saw for sometime

X-Men The last stand....wow it was an other mind blowing graphics..great story knit and wonderful finih for the different triology

PudhuPettai - Selvaragahavan is at his best....inspired from a lot of good english foilms has given us a good movie though of the similar sorts..Dhanush performance is laudable....

Still to see MI3 and Da Vinci Code.......

Miles to go B4 I Sleep

2006-06-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it myself that I am trying to study hard these days. Obviously having put up in a B-School I am required to. Peer pressure is one of the main reasons to perform or else , i would have taken advantage of gettings things done the easy way..Unfortunately or fortunately that did not happen. Good for me, one last time, I am pushed to the extent of doing something ..hope atleats thsi time,I get out of comfort zone of doing nothing and do something productive...

I do not know if these pressures and studies will help me,as it has not in the preceeding years...The cost of procuring education is a bit too high..let me try and utilise some of it though not most..Why am I scribbling all these coz i have so much to do ,and I am perplexed... I do not know where to start off with..

One week, seven days, 24 hrs....5 lofty assignments ...3 unheard subjects exams...preparation for next term courses...I am on the edge of getting enlightened..
Coz my soul is going to be liberated from the cluthces of laziness. Mind you circumstances can change behaviour/habit but not character/instinct..I will be back to my merrying ways very soon...

SomeBody Stop me....................

Bitten by Buck Bug

2006-05-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

My memories are still fresh, the days in college where we would collect 10 rs and goto near by bakery to share a cup of tea. Then we would pool in all the changes to make a good meal in the night kadai. If we have enough dough we would probably have a good meal in small resturant.We used to always watch movie with the last strata.
Even after landing in a good job we used to stay away from filthy spending habits.Then we eventually got a bit better, we began to watch movies in Sathyam and have food in good restutrants..Things changed dramatically when our friends went to US , we saw the 5 stars hotels waiting for us.
Then all of us got bitten by buck bug.....
Offlate we ran into habit of visiting the coffee pub for our regular vetti weekend meetings.Things are on the move...watch out of folks pubs and disco are not far...

Truly a Miracle

2006-05-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

After an usual long day at college,googling all the way to finish an important assignment in macro economics, I travelled back home in my nova carrying my laptop. After a good supper,I had to reach to my laptop to give the finishing touches to the assignment. I was awe-struck when i opened my laptop, there was a crack on the screen, few minutes I went blank. I really did not have the wildest guess on how this could have ever happened, it was the same way I carried it and used it all these days.

I had the problem reported to the company, they said that they need to inspect the same.Then I consulted my network of friends and some servicing agency about what next approach. I initially thought it would cost around 5 K, but when i got the quotation it was 5 times my assumption, Mathematics did not work in my case: The mental tortue i had, did not get mulitiplied by 5 times but by the square of 5 instead.

After pondering on various options I had(strictly too few), I waited for the engineer to check my system.Much to my delight he said it is not physical damage, I took the lead I and got it replaced.And till now I believe it is a miracle, and glad that things turned in my favor.

My assumption of cost of breakage :5K
Company quotation:25 K
Service providers Offers :18-20K
Cheap substitues :10-15K
Mental agony I went thru: PRICELESS

Top 10 Punch Dialogues of Tamil Cinema

2006-05-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Guys Check out this...
really cool collection of the best and admired dialogues from the famous kollywood.
http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-01/06-05-06-punch-dialogues.html

TN Polls – As Expected….

2006-05-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

The Grand old man of TamilNadu does the magic again. Karunanidhi majestically proves that he is one of the best politicians in the sub continent. None can play election arithmetic better than him. He knows and can read the minds of TN people and does the spell.
Knowing fully well that there is no or little anti-incumbency in the state , the flood and tsunami relief were brilliantly co-ordinated and executed, and anti-people policies were withdrawn by Jayalalitha, the chance for the lady was shining bright. He had one weapon that is the election arithmetic, which he deployed with great precision.
But again new problems arose, MDMK supreme Vaiko opted out of DPA alliance and took a dramatic decision to join hands with Amma, things were again problematic for DPA, then we had the vijaykanth factor to split the votes. Nobody would have ever expected Sharath kumar and Radhika to ditch them and join the opposition. Now really it was a bumpy ride for them,
Here again he proves he is much smarter then his contemporaries by coming out with a politically brilliant manifesto , which was heavily banked and supported by finance minister Chidambaram and the congress. Jayalalitha however till then focused her much of the campaigning in her achievement, and people on the other hand got carried away by the freebies.
She then as unusual had to adopt the same technique which backfired in her case unfortunately. The promises made by DMK were more pro poor and more glamorous. For the first time the exit polls have been positive in the state, where usually it goes for a heavy toss.
What I cannot understand is the logic/mentality/reason call it whatever, behind the alliance of DMK and congress and MDMK and ADMK. Now that all is over we will have a new government in place. Next question in the minds of TN people is who will be the successor to the throne, which will be vacant sooner or later. Our man will make no mistakes in this one.lets wait,and watch the fun. Sir TN is all yours now, one last time.

Life @ Great Lakes

2006-05-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hi folks really had a long hiatus from blogging. I was just waiting to blog again..Afterall it is the one thing I have a liking or call it passion may be off late. I wanted to blog a few days ago but believe me I was really held up in the run of events, course of things , so had to postpone it.but now I really don’t know where to start off.it would be too boring if I were to give a descriptive analysis over the bygone period.

However knowing the fact that blogs are meant for that sake ,here I go…My first week at great lakes was good we had induction done by our seniors giving us the vivid picture of our college, then we had a chance to meet some great CEO’s of the industries including Lakshmi CEO Cognizant, his speech was awesome.

Then we had an out bound arranged by an events team called Mantra, they took us through a management development program thru fun. This was the time we had to mingle with ourselves. That weekend ended with a bash by our seniors at green coconut resort. We then reciprocated with a disco at royal meridian to them.

The next week was galore of stardom; first and foremost we met Uncle Bala, the man behind ISB, MDI and Father of great lakes. He took us away with his very famous deliveries. Our senior’s convocation at Taj was presided by Adi godrej. Our inauguration was presided by Microsoft chairman Ravi venkatesan and jam cracker chnadrasekar.k.b. Then there was an informal meet with the one and only Ratan Tata. I am not going into details of what they said.

Then came my first academic week in a b school. We are asked to philosophy by vivekananada. Follwed by statistics and then by macro economics. The ball is on the run, we are asked to submit an assignment on national income of India from 1991-2006,preparing for the same,and have to study for two other tests..so I am stopping here..dont know where I will continue next….
But will surely do...

A Break From Blogging

2006-04-12T06:25:00.000-07:00

Folks I am off to my home town Karur taking a break for a week, to open a brand new innings next week. I was feeling little nostalgic on seeing my cognizant campus for the last time before I left. It happens from somewhere some how the feeling , the bond creeps in with matter of time.
Anyway lets see who knows I may be back there. So I will not be blogging for this week, but will soon return to my passion and blog henceforth...Have a great time...

Adieu

2006-04-07T02:35:00.000-07:00

Today is my last day @ Cognizant. I am going to pursue my MBA from a Chennai based management school called Great Lakes (GLIM).These two years have been a period of mixed fortune for me, in terms of monetary, knowledge and experience fronts. All for good, its time to pull up the socks and study for yet another year and branch out to another stream of the software industry, the big buzz Management.

I do agree it is very tough decision to make, leaving behind glamorous onsite opportunities, which many crave for, and take up a course in a newly and less renowned institution. But at one point of time some risks needs to be taken and hope that it will turn good for you. After all I believe Bala.V.Balachandran, like thousands, who rightly and credibly takes the pride in being instrumental in setting up great institutions like the ISB and MDI.

As far as things visible now, I will be most probably returning back to square one, our college fancies predominantly the IT companies. I am open to any field so far have not chosen my majors too. Keeping my fingers crossed and let time decide my destiny. But this time I am determined to take the outcome positively and move forward.

So guys from the day I join GLIM, I will update you folks with happening in my B school whenever I get time. Finally I am into some action after two sober years. I am thrilled and also excited about my new venture , For the first time in my life I am doing something without any EXPECTATIONS, so that itself sends a good word.

Praising Prodigies?

2006-04-03T01:25:00.000-07:00

Millions around the globe adore Prodigies but I do not know why I am the odd man out in this aspect. Some like me feel that hardworking and efficient people are far better than the so called Prodigies. A gifted person is surely bound to excel, he is destined for that purpose. There is nothing special about him except for that he is special. They are only a result of our creator’s chauvinism.

It is better to admire someone who can stand up to a prodigy, though he may not out show him, for he has grown by himself and not gifted like his counterpart. I came across this, when there was a hot argument about who is the better player in Indian cricket.
Answer quite simple it is Sachin. But I feel he is a prodigy and none can be compared to a prodigy. Rahul and Sourav are no prodigies, yet were able to stand up to Sachin’s caliber; this drive in them ought to be appreciated more than the prodigy himself.

Not alone in the world of cricket, be it anywhere, prodigies can be relished but must not admired. Only true spirited and hardworking should be commended. On the other hand for one who thinks that everyone is of made of the same mettle, this argument will sound silly. What do we do, when there are countless unanswered (unanswerable) questions prevailing in this horizon? This is one such in the list “Are there any Prodigies”? If so how & more importantly WHY?

News News News!!!

2006-03-27T20:16:00.000-08:00

It’s been really long since I enjoyed a good television programme; nowadays cricket is also a lackluster. Some programmes in vijay TV seems to be fine but again fades after a few episodes.
A channel called Sun music will keep repeating songs again and again till you feel the blood oozing out of your ears. Sun TV is only for women who want to sit and brood. Other Tamil channels are not even worth the channel change. SS music will play the Gajini songs in Telugu when you would love to hear it in Tamil.

What will a poor boredom struck man like me do, Alas election came to my rescue from world-weariness. It is simply amazing to watch sun news and Jaya news these days, when both parties try to pull each others leg and mock other in every given opportunity. It is extremely hilarious to see them blowing petty things out of proportion. While the wise have their laugh it is disheartening to perceive the fact that the illiterate being taken my by these illogical and politically motivated spoofs.

NDTV is a special word of mention, the have brought a world of change in the television news sector. They are the ones who can sell news, market news, make profit out of news and what lot and what not. There is a special coverage on every crap and expert opinions on every incident. Anyways it is good to see the marketing strategies adopted by these management folks to sell anything and everything on earth. What am I doing? I lay happily in my cozy couch laughing at all these stupendous displays. Good fun isn’t it ?

One More

2006-03-13T22:31:00.000-08:00

Finally rumors witnessed light; we received a mail from our CEO stating that we would receive a video IPOD as a token of celebration for achieving the billion dollar milestone, on the eve of our annual day. Yesterday I was given the beautiful gadget, no words to explain the clarity of the pictures and music, simply superb. Have not fiddled with it yet, waiting for the weekend to play with it.

I leave the organization a satisfied man with a video ipod and incentive, both which I am entitled to receive anyways. So what if I have a laptop on my lap, ipod in one pocket, cell phone in another, but not a penny in my purse. Oh irony I salute thee…

Annual day @ Cognizant

2006-03-13T22:24:00.000-08:00

Our annual day was yet another surprise for all of us. Awards and recognition, Celebrities galore, splendid stage decoration, impressive laser show and scintillating performances stole the show. It all started with our CEO’s welcome address, followed by awards to best associates, projects, trainers and leaders.

Actress Shobana’s captivating dance was mind boggling, followed by kadri goplanath musical treat. A dance by our senior managers was well coordinated and high spirited. An acrobatic performance was unbelievable. Then stage was taken by John Brittos dance troop who danced away to the hit numbers of Srinivas, harish ragavendra, Anuradha Sriram and Sunitha sarathy.

Nothing beats the beer spot wherein bartenders were all busy filling thousands of glasses for the associates. The only disappointment was the food by the brilliant Taj, it was not upto their standards in vegetarian but was decent in non vegetarian surprisingly. Then hundreds danced away for an hour to the DJ’s tunes. Curtain fell leaving everyone with joy and contentment.

Anything can happen in their world

2006-03-08T22:10:00.000-08:00

I heard many wise men say that anything is fair in politics. There are no friends and no foes in their world. All are subjected to opportunistic circumstances to join or part. To oppose or to ally is their folly. I cannot perceive the minds of these people, who can be bent so easily. Don’t they have any room for emotions, personal grievances or liking? When they are together they praise and boast of each other and when they part their same tongue twists and twirls to speak awfully against.

Many stories have been said and seen of this peculiar politician instinct but still a layman like me cannot understand the substance beneath the deal. After a long hiatus of 500 days in prison and accused of several crimes, if one can seal a deal with the person who assaulted him; and in return the same man himself had spoken awfully ill about the character and reputation of the other and vowed to take his revenge, now club hands and vow to fight together for victory. What is happening?

It also raises a serious question about the spectators who sit and enjoy all the fun unknowing that they are the ones who will be victimized in the end. But what will the poor man do if all parts of the earth around him are black dry; he has only one option i.e. to look for a piece of dull green pasture, if at all found anywhere….

Meet the FM

2006-03-03T05:11:00.000-08:00

Ndtv as usual came with up with yet another episode of interviewing famous personalities. This time it was the man of the hour, our finance minister P.C. He was in his usual attire white dhothi and shirt. Pranoy roy and another finance eminent were in their suits. I watched it only from the midway. Roy had a good set questions infront of him (poor guy should have been difficult for him to collect them) and the finance guy had his own. P.C. looked far relieved (now that the budget is out).

I could relate this interview to our one on one session, we used to have with our managers, We being Roy and the finance guy and P.C. our manager. We always have our issues to put forward and they had better answers to counter. They were many direct and few harsh questions, some difficult to answer, and some difficult to explain (reveal). But this man with his elegant smile had something or other relevant to say. He was too cool headed for that position, took the questions with ease and answered them polishedly. He had an amazing amount of statistical information with him. He used them well to avert questions heading right towards his head. After all this Harvard guy is far better than his IIM counterpart.

There were questions on FBT fringes benefit tax, budget not being very complacent, sops for middle class, no changes in budget towards stock markets, business giants and foreign investors. No stands on oil and petroleum. FM had good and fitting replies.

I could find both a finance eminent as well as a clever politician in him. Both of the traits being diametrically opposite, trying to pull him to their ends. While we would want the finance eminent of him to win, powerful people and he himself wants the politician to win. And that’s the reason we see P.C. as a better politician than an efficient finance administrator. Hope this situation changes.

Divinity Rules INDIA

2006-02-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

Its not AIADMK / DMK that rules TN or BJP / Congress that rules India, it is soul or sole divinity that rules India. Yesterday I happened to go to Mylapore Kabali Temple for Shiva Rathiri, I was taken aback witnessing the mass that crowded the temple premises. If you believe me, the queue waiting for darshan longed twice the perimeter of the temple layout. Fortunately my mother and myself could catch the glimpse of the deity inbetween the queue for some time.

This is not one particular example that we see. Be it Madurai kalazahagar , Tirpathi Balaji,Srirangam swarga vaasal, Arunachala girivalam, sabarimala, THRISSUR POORAM. All these festivals or occasions invariably draw huge number of people. It is a clear statement that divinity rules this place. I do agree it happens in other parts of the globe as well for e.g. Mecca, rome , china but how often and how massive for each occasion is the question. For each and every festival here, we witness huge turn around of people.

If Indians are found still clinging on their cultural heritage it is because of these believes and temples. Thanks to all the promotions made by our preachers and all beautiful and massive architectures by our kings. There is no doubt that our faith and culture will continue for centuries to come if these monuments stands tall infront of us

Rewritten

2006-02-21T18:21:00.000-08:00

Long there was this place where gods loved to live
Enriched with wealth and abundance to give
Those who dwelled here, were first and best of the breed
A paradise on earth with happiness and joy unleashed

Fate the mighty ruler, envied this land and its men
Devised a plot with all its vigor and acumen
Sowed in their minds a ruthless and grave thought
Power and fame were the one that everyone sought

As wise men say, United we stand Divided we fall
Intruders from all parts of the world had their call
Sultans of Arabia ravaged the tempted like vultures
Ruled this land, merged themselves and their cultures

Fate discontented with the mere fall of this mighty empire
Roped in the westerners to mutually fulfill their desire
This time we had to bow to our invaders supremacy
No sooner they transformed, both us and our cultural legacy

Now we stand as a homogenous mixture of cultures and races
That’s why we find many distinct religion, language and faces
Blame it all on the mighty fate and mightier destiny
Our history has been constantly rewritten and that’s the irony

What is in Store

2006-02-17T05:01:00.000-08:00

The goal has been conquered . Cognizant is all set to become the fastest billion dollar company in its sector. The whole organization is thrilled to acheive this titanic milestone. No sooner the third quarter results are to be announced , we have a screensaver mentioning "THANKS A BILLION". The mail from our COO and CEO with Abundant pride and joy thanking all the associates for making this happen.
But we at the bottom of the ocean are eagerly waiting for our share of the celebartions.Rumors see no end when it comes to annual gift at CTS. Right from no gifts this time to high vallues products we receive hoax mails. Now that we are on a run to become a billion dollar company rumors are at all time high.
Sources say that we might get a Video IPOD to celebarate our great success. Some say as our strength have increased dramatically to 25000 we might not even get what we got last time. Whatever it is hope we get something from the company and we are all very eager to see what is in store for us.

Finally a Laptop in my lap

2006-02-17T04:48:00.000-08:00

Guys This is the laptop I bought for my studies( donno if I am going to study with it) . It is Dell Inspiron 6000 . It is really amazing and awesomely cute. I am enthralled with it like a kid enjoying with his new toy.

Expect / Accept

2006-02-13T05:21:00.000-08:00

This topic or subject could be very big and big bloglets are often boring. So I will try to make it short, perhaps in a nutshell. Well there is well known saying that expectations are always followed by disappointments. True indeed if we expect things that are beyond our capacity (mental/physical/economical/social).

I learnt from my yoga guru today that if we able to accept and appreciate the present then happiness will flow out of us. He said the past is dead and future is not yet born and present is a PRESENT. Then I realized that all the time we often brood about the past or worry about the future and knowingly or unknowingly kill the precious present. We often tend to forget that root cause for all our worries is because we kill the present by not accepting it.

We wasted time in the present so future seems gloomy and we having wasted time at present past has been a misery. So whenever we encounter with a problem my guru asked me to ask this question to my self SO WHAT; WHAT NEXT. Something that is done cannot be undone or redone by even the almighty all potent God himself. So only thing we have to do is think what next. And this attitude will surely keeps us moving rather than be stagnated in a place cribbing.

This is a simple lesson which many of us can easily understand or even some of us who already know it. But let’s not forget that we are all masters in pretending so we easily tend to forget it and move on. If we are able to accept the present and stop perturbing about the past or expecting from the future, then we are sure to find peace and happiness.

Water Water Everywhere.......

2006-02-10T06:01:00.000-08:00

Bulls are roaring fiercely, the10, 000 mark is breached, 8.1% GDP growth achieved, FDI’s and FII’s see India as the hotspot for investments. Talk is around the globe that India and China are set to become super powers. Software Industry is at its peak with companies doubling their profit margins quarter to quarter and thereby their market stocks increasing exponentially. But why are we still exploited in terms of money and labor is a serious matter of concern.

I feel that now we are well matured in the software arena and awareness about the world of computers is well spread. We can’t still be regarded as cheap labor and be exploited by giving very low figures. I am aware of the fact that this growth and all hype around it, is because of the cheap labor we provide. But there is a threshold limit for everything. We have proved the world that we are flexible, adaptable, intelligent and fast learners, then why aren’t we recognized as good labors instead of cheap labors.

I would say more than the clients exploiting us, it is our ONLY profitability motive company that exploits us. They bill us for a reasonable amount (though far less than our American peers) but what we receive in our hand in a month is not even the pay they bill us for a day. It is very disheartening to accept this injustice meted out to us.

But we have to go with it because we are all very unfortunate on having born in this land now, packed with people to its brim. I am not complaining of this Great country or its majestic heritage, but nature’s flaw in making it the most suitable condition for human reproduction. Why because if you stand up against this issue you will immediately be wiped out of the rolls and there will be a thousands to fight for your place for even a lesser pay.

I am not in a position to provide a solution to this issue, only time will have to give its final say.

......not a cup full to drink(we ofcourse have a drop)

Irony ....

2006-02-08T01:53:00.000-08:00

It was not one of the usual mornings in office there were hustles and bustles all round. My anxiety could not wait much longer, I caught one guy and asked what the hell is happening around, and he said man Tom is coming on Feb1st. I said sarcastically said SO. He replied back you don’t know Tom; he is the head of our client. Now I knew why there were all these speculations around.

We have a team called the events team; they take care of all the fun related activities out here. They do a decent job. They were called and asked to do something called the face lift. It was like trying to woo a mighty giant with a piece of dog bone. No one is to the blame. They were asked to think about various ideas to please the big Tom. These guys amidst their busy work schedule found time to discuss and planned various activities.

The got the artificial flower bouquets for each bay, a cheap but good piece of wood to showcase the rewards, had all the toilets taps working. The also utilized this opportunity to get us a t-shirt with our logos on. Unfortunately everyone had to adjust with an extra size than what ordered.We had a name plate for all of us and the only most unreasonable item called flag of the busy bee(a flag for showing we are busy).How can one be busy if we dont have work, sorry it might be presonal too;-)

And the day came and Tom was here. He was here the year before too.Much to my surprise he uttered the same words he addressed last year only changing the years from 2004, 2005 to 2005, 2006. We were all dressed with our big t-shirts and went to a party fun evening at fisherman’s cove. How else can we get there ;-). There was one girl conducting the events of fun for us. She was too exotic and at times erotic too. Worst part started then, she bored us to death with stupid events and surprises did not spare me that evening, the food of the Taj was pathetic. But party animals like us can party even when the titanic sinks. We boozed and danced away our night.

After all the fun and gala, there was a rumor that our project is going to our competitor. We will be doing only maintenance job from now. Irony, life at time gives you the most unexpected and most of the time what you don’t like to receive. But we are not worried because we neither did spend a penny from our pocket or a minute for all these fuss.

What is easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-02-07T01:39:00.000-08:00

All that is good in this world is not easy to attain. Some of the things I presently feel that is not easy to attain.

1. Working out in the gym
2. Meditating in the yoga class
3. Landing in a high profile job
4. Graduating from a very reputed B school
5. Maintaining good relationship with near and dear ones
6. Partying with friends often
7. Watching a good Tamil movie
8. Being Present in the Present
9. Eating low fat/cal diet to maintain physique
10. Pretending to work in office.

Great Philosophers say that the color of the world we see depends on the color of the glasses through which we see, you wear a green glass everything seems green, red glass everything seems red. Optimist will agree to it, pessimist will not. But a pragmatic person like me will say if there is darkness nothing will be seen no matter what glasses you wear and if there is light everything will be seen.

What else can be easier than sleeping on a cozy couch late on a Sunday morning or blurping a big burger spilling cheese all over? Why all the good in this world aren’t easy to attain. Why are all the tasty foods bad to health and all the hard grown habits bad to living? The walk of life that is easy is not good and that is not fair.

GodFather!!!

2006-02-02T04:22:00.000-08:00

Finally I saw the much hyped movie - GODFATHER. Movies were so different in the yester years, action movies like the godfather, guns of Navarone and some of the bond films actually had a slow story narration. I do not know if they actually had a slow narration or do I feel so after viewing very racy fast action filled movies recently . Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and the hero enacting Sonny are awesome. After watching its variant forms and remakes, I could still experience and appreciate the class of the movie.

Not only the movie paved way for remakes but it has also deeply influenced many directors, I could witness many scenes in different films inspired from the Legendary Godfather, though their story nature has nothing to do with the latter. Sarkar and Nayakan have only tried to use the image of the don but not the story behind it, the stories in these films are far beyond the original and Godfather film story is also a bit different from the original book version.

There is absolutely no doubt why many adore the Don because he is got the captivating charm and unmatchable style. The dialogues the Don utters , his stern body language, italian accent, calm and composed gestures will speak for the film success , grandeur and popularity.