Jul 14, 2011

mumbai blasts 2011 - whom to blame?


We need an answer this time.

No sooner when we were getting used to this at the airports (terminal 3 Delhi) and the five stars Corporate Conferences we have serial blasts in Mumbai once again. also, its been commomwealth, its been 2G, its been Radiagate, its been doping and recently its been Telangana. I was welcomed in Hyderabad, the city which is Internationally popular as Cyberabad by a 48 hour bandh. Serial blasts in Mumbai were seriously not wanted right now to further dampen the spirits of Indians. How long can we joke among our global associates and partners saying with embarrassment "welcome to India ji".

All of us our doing our bit to safeguard the image of india under all circumstances and contribute through accountability to our professions but in this case who shall we put the blame to? The casual police, the sheepish government and its Bodies like RAW? I do want an answer this time!


I have been recently listening to the standup comedians of the fame of russel peters and his army of jokers in canada. well they are really pissed of with the 7/11 status that they have been awarded and specially how the world now looks up at a brown man.

Keeping these aside the objective of the blasts could be destruction, to reclaim power, to cause insecurity, but my dear terrorist and whatever your name is, these incidents, thanks to you only bring our people together. Such is the greatness of India and none of your blasts can kill that.

Jul 6, 2011

Coke Studio India - Great Expectations

When Coke Studio India was launched on 17th June I was on a trek to Uttarkashi and of the many things I missed there, it was one. Of the first few things that I did on returning was watch the Videos on Youtube. Well, I was disappointed.

Yes I had great expectations with Coke Studio India. I had imagined fireworks in my mind when I would have heard the music. Well, it was not even close. However much in my voluntary effort to disbelieve I garnered the courage to hear them again and found the lose patches.

It seems to me that the Project of an Indian avatar of Coke Studio was undertaken in much hurry. While Coke Studio Pakistan resulted from a beautiful intent to the cause of music which took years to popularise and gradually reached everyone's heart, the Indianised version looks like a commercial prospect.

The core that is missing here is "The Magical Blend" where traditional and folk meets modern and contemporary music. The music hits you hard like being beaten off track. You don't seem to enjoy it as you suspect the sanctity of the music, the musicians and the singers. You tend to be skeptical of it being a mere attempt to imitate Coke Studio Pakistan where everyone in the premises looks so indulged in music and getting a kick from the performances.

Well, my perception is very minutely changing and I am optimistic that it would change eventually as more music is made and Coke Studio India learns from its follies and feedback.

I so wish to share my list of worst and best songs as I would want the optimism and the spirit of music alive in me. Cos its said that dukh baantne se kam hota hai and happiness is best when shared!

Tip Top & Me Dolkar Shankar Mahadevan Khagen Gogoi
http://bit.ly/r9snVn
Mr. Gogoi renders beautiful music and as Shankar opens his mouth he's in deep wonder, "abe kahan le ja raha hai". I fail to understand the relevance of bringing together an Assamiya song expressing love with a song sung by Marathi fishermen.

Vethalai Kailash Kher Chinna Ponnu
http://bit.ly/oU0OZk
Well, no collaboration of music and Kailash Kher's exclusive attempt at writing Sufi lyrics as the MTV caption describes it. But a highly entertaining song. CUTE I would say by looking at the expressions of both Kailash and Vethalai. But what are the three bugging slothful girls doing here! The above is their only contribution in the entire series; they clap well at least.

Yaar Basinda Tochi Raina and Mathangi
http://bit.ly/ne5fD5
Well the best example of north not meeting south (Notice the expressions of the two singers). If listened to individually these are beautiful. Aren't we in awe of Mahaganpatim from Morning Raga? Well, Carnatic has been among my favourite form of Hindustani music but then....... Why did they do it?

Bichuaa Sunidhi Chauhan Mousam Gogoi
http://bit.ly/nBlbzm
One among my favourites so far for the amazing percussion and for Sunidhi.

Jiya Laage Na – Shankar Mahadevan, Khagen Gogoi, Megha Dalton, Akriti Kakkar, Leslie Lewis
http://bit.ly/rv2lOh
The best and only track with a great Blend, a great Jugalbandi... the instruments being awesomely played especially the guitar. And it has Akriti Kakkar... who the....... is she?

Maula Maula – Divya, Qadir
http://bit.ly/nbcG9q
WOW!! A great rendition to the Sufi song. Amazingly brought together.

Chitthiye – Sunidhi Chauhan & Wadali Brothers
http://bit.ly/iUZKUa
The song from Henna reminds me of my birthplace Kullu (Just have a look at the video of the original song and see the river Beas flowing behind. The white water is overpowering.) In Sunidhi Chouhan, the singer, I see my beloved soulmate, the mischievousness, the effortlessness, the confident expressions, that smirk of conviction. I pray she does smile. What I love the most of the song is the childlike devotion for music of the Wadali brothers. The Senior had to be discharged from the hospital for the recording on his insistence.

I make it a point to ignore the lethargic 3 girls sitting on their bums and any contribution of theirs particularly in this song otherwise which the song is the most beautiful from Coke Studio India so far.

Jun 28, 2011

My Friends from the Himalayas


I bring back from the Himalyas the memories of being with my friend who trekked over 35 km along with me, over the rocks, over the narrow and slippery paths, across the meadows. When I reached the 'base camp 3' others told me my dog was there. I called for him and he made a dash to hug me. He was there with me till the end and we celebrated success together at the summit. In these mountains where there was none you could share your heart with, the doggus being there for me made up for everything.




At 14,000 ft above the ground. I share my moment of achievement with him.

Dodital, 'Base Camp 3'


My Dogu's much reserved friend
Resting after a hard day


Friends at base camp 1







May 10, 2011

Mobile Marketing: Keeping it Simple!

My head is thronging with questions, queries, doubts, confusions all bundling upto frustration and impatience too. Well the first of these is why is the mobile industry limiting itself to only a few limited scenario in mobile marketing. Why isn’t the industry thinking beyond the Admobs and Inmobi of the day? Its upsetting to know that more players like them are emerging indigenously. I really wish to discuss the future and the trends of this with the evangelists sitting in the various forums out there. With all this I see myself as part of a mobile revolution where I wish to make the below mentioned key players aware of the game of mobile advertising and marketing about how broad, vast and innovative could our horizons be.

Brands
Atleast abroad, the Brands have realised it is no longer enough to ‘push’ marketing campaigns at consumers, they need to involve and engage with them to find new ways to create and retain loyalty. Indian brands need to understand that there is a need to PUSH SMS BLASTS.

Mobile has given brands a unique opportunity to do this and create a two-way relationship, ultimately building product awareness, driving sales and retaining loyalty. By using mobile as part of a marketing campaign brands can reach a specific target audience, via a time-sensitive, measureable medium.

Marketing / Digital Agencies

Mobile has transformed the media landscape majorly in the U.S and to some extent in India, with the big agencies such as Ogilvy launching interactive digital divisions that includes mobile services.

The increasing sophistication of the handsets themselves, with integrated browsers, media players, high resolution imaging and cameras give agencies more scope to work with to create interactive, innovative campaigns that help drive the desired consumer engagement.

Mobile Advertising Networks

Companies such as Admob, Inmobi and Enpocket partner with mobile web sites that enjoy high traffic and offer to run advertising [text-links and graphical banners] on a revenue share basis. They make this space available to advertisers via self-serve web platforms.

More innovative means are evolved for the Advertisers that can target their campaigns according to the characteristics of mobile handset that the ad appears on, such as location, make of handset and phone capability.

Search Engines

Many customers are accessing the mobile internet through established, web-based vendors such as Yahoo, Google and MSN, rather than use the network operator’s searching tools, putting the search engines in a strong position.

Mobile Apps are a better consideration to venture in this direction. This shall minimize typing and browser time spend.

Network Operators

They have traditionally charged consumers to buy digital content from their mobile portals, and are now beginning to share demographics and mobile media consumption insights with brands as they move to advertisers funded models. The operators are moving away from the walled garden approach to portals, opening up their network to third parties, to encourage data usage through the provision of new and innovative content.

My advice to them, don’t kill innovation!

Assi hor vi neevan

A beautiful song from a beautiful blessed voice, that i discovered, makes me remember my soulmate for the dedication she has for music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUcaCYx0kzI&feature=related


Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head even further down (in humility)

Hor vi neevan ho fakira
Fakir, bow your even head further down (in humility)

Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head further down (in humility)

Hor vi neevan ho fakira
Fakir, bow your head further down (in humility)

Uccha saroon gharoor mein
There is great pleasure in holding the head high in arrogance

Kaddi naa phall paiye, fakira
But, that pleasure will never be fulfilling

Hor vi neevan ho fakira
Fakir, bow your head further down (in humility)

Paiye gaa deedar sahib da
One day you will be bestowed with His presence

Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head further down (in humility)

Ho rabba koi meray dil diyan kadraan pachanay
Lord, if only someone could understand the deliberations of my heart

Mein sawali jinna naeen koi sawal
I am a seeker who seeks nothing

Mein jogan ban dar dar phir diye
I am a wanderer, roaming from one land to another

Koi na meriyan, ramzaan pachanay
No one can unravel the secrets within me

Mein jogan ban dar dar phiriyaan way
I am a wanderer, roaming from one land to another

O koi na meriyan, ramzaan pachanay
No one can unravel the secrets within me

Mein jogan…
I am a wanderer

Chal meray naal
Come along, come with me

Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head further down (in humility)

The lyrics are taken from - http://www.themuzicworld.com

Nov 13, 2010

Our own IPL!

Almost daily we get into an Indian Phone League (IPL) battle at office with all us colleagues having different smartphones. Now, this really cool cartoon here very aptly relates to our mindsets for each other.

All regards to my brethren...
Courtesy www.techcrunch.com