OMG & English Vinglish Two Hindi Movies I recently Watched

Saw two movies recently !!

As mentioned earlier, I take no chances with movies - play very safe. Would make adequate checks, from different, reliable sources, to ensure my time/effort/money/mindset does not go waste. And I don't feel let down by the brand/star/banner.

So, with some strong reco., watched two movies recently. Neither at theatres, as we were still in process of settling down at B'luru, lock-stock-barrel & dog ( dog having settled down, we are still in the process of settling down !) 

Watched both on Tata Sky! Showcase is good - no disturbances thru ad/tvc/banner.. simply non-stop movie... hopefully unedited, unlike aboard flights !!??

OMG was the first movie. Paresh Rawal is one dependable actor, across all genres. Here too, he comes up with a powerful, thought-provoking performance. Different story line. Even Akshay is good. Being a hit movie, hope people have got the message. To pursue true spirituality & not get bogged down with rituals...

English-Vinglish was the second movie. Good story line, direction, flow/editing,  star-cast, nice locations ('the' US of A). Sridevi comes up with a great performance... reminds you of her old classics like 'Sadma'. 
Ability to communicate in English is one of the differentiators in our society. It could be classified as a colonial-hangover. Though our call centers fill their seats with not-so-fluent-in-English staff (seem to hit a new low, every time I try a new service provider/org.!!), spoken-English is still hot !! When the family members ridicule someone, esp a mom, at home... it makes an interesting theme. When "Morality in Society" takes a new dip in our society, "Respect for Elders", one of fundamental Indian ethos, also being forgotten.

Both films reminds us to be empathetic to others ( incl family) & love God (not bribe)

Selecting a CAR

First phase of re-location complete, that is roti-kapda-makaan, phase !

Next phase had to be selection of a car. Public transport is an area of concern across of India. (Kerala is an exception). Mumbai is over-crowded with auto, taxi ( kaali-peelli, blue-cab, fleet taxi, et al). Public transport, in spite of an efficient BEST bus service & the local trains ('life-line'), is grossly adequate.

Bangalore has a good Volvo fleet of buses moving around in some parts of city. But public transport, both buses and a 'namma metro' at its very initial phase, are just not enough :(
But auto rickshaws... they have surely not seen Amir Khan's 'aditi devo bhava' campaign, to put it mildly :) Virtually no taxis, unlike Mumbai or Delhi. Fleet taxis are quite expensive.

I considered a bicycle, inspired by what I had seen at Singapore.
Then I thought of a motorcycle... not confident to ride, after over 20 yrs... traffic does not seem to be safe at all. That is when I was forced to think of acquiring a car... to move on from 'be-car' ( pronounced 'bekaar')  status !

Our cars are surely very expensive, thanks to the tax-regime. Fuel is more expensive!!

 We buy cars based on our aspirations and we buy homes based on what we are...

Owning & maintaining  a car  here is still an expensive option.

Being from the industry, I have been tracking developments in the auto industry. Have posted some tweets on #dieselation of Indian auto !!!
Went on-line & looked at some of the options.. also the planned launches in 2013. Auto Car & other magazine websites, C&B/Overdrive on idiot-box, I follow some auto- cos/guys on twitter, etc. Team-BHP was a new source, I was blissfully unaware of! 2013 looked very promising with planned launches! Future always look bright :) But my need is urgent & immediate :)

• I started off with the recently launched Alto 800. I did not consider Tata Nano at all - not because of their positioning disaster, but safety, riding comfort, et al.
• Then looked at Swift, one of my all time favourites... was driving a red Swift before moving abroad, when the model was at the initial phase of launch. That was when the car was at the Probe & Learn phase for the Prospectors and was not a big hit it became later !!
• Then to i20. All friends had very good words about i20. I was very tempted to go for it. A friend recently bought it, himself from vehicle industry & having done extensive research.
• Did not consider Mahindra range - not confident of a hassle free ownership and noise-free drive ( many warned. . .) I was surprised to see reports on huge discounts available on most brands, incl the recently introduced Quanto !! ( Car Discounts )
• Duster was a hot option. But, several efforts to get a test-drive just failed. Couple of tweets, requests on website & call center  later, I am still waiting. One call center executive was rather blunt to say 'if you are willing to wait for 3 to 4 months for duster....". No effort to up-sell at all !!!
• Experience with Polo was just opposite. Prompt reaction & test drive arranged. Liked the car, but a bit too expensive ?? Peppy and solid. Got 'go ahead' from junior for same !!
• European cars, which have been termed 'premium guzzlers by ToI' looked tempting...
• I had reserved the best for the end. I decided to check out Toyota and Skoda. Toyota is a dominant market leader in some other markets like Middle East, Skoda is not in the contention there at all. But here, both brands are very popular. Former for complete ownership experience, but the latter carries the baggage of poor service-track-record & perception thereof ! 
• I was also moving into the familiar territory (comfort zone?!) of a SUV or at least a crossover !
• Fortuner was never a favourite brand earlier. Perhaps for same reason, did not quite enjoy the drive. And a bit too expensive, I felt ! I still can not understand why Toyota is so expensive in India.
• Innova is their 'bread & butter' ! That is perhaps a wrong marketing strategy for a world leader! Indian auto market & car-owners surely deserve better deal. Or is it the quality of roads ? But the test drive of Innova was a revelation. It is a great car to drive, enjoy solid re-sale value and not expensive to maintain at all. As a car, it truly deserves all the adulation & reco. 
• Then I drove a Skoda Yeti. (http://www.cartrade.com/reviews/Skoda-Yeti-116374.html) When I saw this car with a friend few months back, I fell in love. When I got a drop, I was impressed. Other models of Skoda looked very elegant and more importantly, better value for money. Test drive was a great experience too. I checked out  a 4X2. But liked very much. Felt some minor problem regarding the clutch/gear/transmission. But overall a great vehicle. But, Skoda seem to carry the impression/baggage of bad after sales service. For an expensive asset, that surely is a point of concern.

My heart says, Yeti. Head says 'Innova'. Son says no 'taxi' innova. Wife liked Innova, but now prefers Yeti. I don't want to spend a fortune on a new car !!

I am still evaluating.... a bit confused.... even as auto/automobiles/car-makers-like-maruti-hyundai-honda-volkswagen-and-gm-threaten-price-hikes-to-clear-inventories !!!
The expected price hike is attributed to the cost of production going up and also the diesel-levy expected !! Smart marketing, though very old trick :)

Shall update.. when I decide :)



  

The Saga of Food Processor

Stone grinder used for making dosa/idli batter








Yet another stone grinder used to make  Chutney and all spicy masala that make our curries hot!

Some of you, readers, would not have seen this. But some of us would remember seeing this at our homes, at least ancestral homes in the villages, when we were kids... ( I am feeling old!)

Idli/dosa prepared using these ( instead of electric mixer/grinder/food processor), traditional stove which burnt wood ( instead of faster LPG), utensils made of traditional metals ( vis a vis non-stick), slow cooking (vs fast cooking, fast-food) etc.,  always tasted a lot better.

You may wonder why I am getting a bit nostalgic...

As shared earlier, we bought a food processor on 26th Nov. The promised demo ( 'next day') happened today... after ten days. '10' instead of '1' day... afterall, we gave the world 'zero' :)

Seemingly the problem was the service team from the european multi-national (world leader, in at least some of the products??), were just not able to reach me. I trust them... Seemingly they did not prefix '0' to mobile no !!! IN the process one became 10 !
 I call it #KarmaOfCustomer Service

Glad to update the technician materialised at our place today, and he has 'demonstrated' the latest in food-processor technology.
Delighted to share chutney will re-enter our simple ( frugal?) food spread with immediate effect.

Of course, the wet-grinder is still on my 'To Do' list.

LG and other brands

Based on couple of queries from reader-friends, here is upate:
Regret to inform the demo by food processor company (brand deliberately not specified) still pending !! 'Re location Experiences' just got a bit painful. My chutni, dosa, curry, et al. Prolonged 'frugal living' ?!

LG was very prompt in the installation, demo & follow up service call!
The Food processor company has been sending text messages assuring demo in 8 hours... This world leader needs to define 'time' !! I am tempted to add, 'customer's time is priceless' !

or is it #KarmaOfCustSer?

Have been calling & sending mails to Tata Croma religiously, who originally made promises. Just sent a mail to the food processor company (they definitely have a fancy website!) God Bless...

QN TO TATA CROMA IS : WHY SELL BRANDS YOU CAN NOT #ENCHANT CUSTOMERS ?

2nd Dec '12:
I never considered the korean brands as the preferred choice - esp when it came to cars and consumer durables. Always felt German and Japanese respectively were tougher and more suitable to Indian conditions ( heat/dust/rough-use).
 
A chance exposure to LG's success story in US in the last decade...

• an interesting discussion on their marketing strategy, 
• success thereof, as they hit no. 1 slot, 
• personal experiences of how LG engineer came, promptly, to somewhere in interior UP, etc...

Suddenly I decided to buy LG refrigerator only. As advised by a friend, went straight to Tata Crome and bought a base (frugal living!) model. Though I did not get a bigger and a more colourful piece.

Tata Chrome's sales team was neither 'threatening' nor too passive. Billing process was professional. They sent me an e-mail, with the invoices ( as I bought a food processor too, not a korean brand, but a mega-European brand*) and a text message reg the delivery/installation and a demo thereafter. To check out their services, I opted for demo by both the teams. As promised, both items were delivered by evening.

Within an hour, LG person called to fix up time for demo., landed, explained the features and left. (Wife would have thought I had 'forgotten' how to use a basic, no frills refrigerator). That was followed up with a telephone call to take feedback on all aspects of demo-incl., soft skills. That was quite impressive and in line with the new perception at the class-room ( of veterans at executive edu program!)

Delighted to note, LG has set a new benchmark in customer service... I hope their product is so good, I will have no need for any service call. But, hope their after sales service is as professional & caring even after few years... That alone can help them garner a good chunk of the fiercely competitive, but growing refrigerator market in India.

* After almost a week, I am still waiting for the demo-guy from the food processor company, who has been 'threatening' to come! Though they have been around for decades and enjoys a high recall, they are still living in past! Unaware of Indian consumer's preference on product features & service.

To Do List

Got this small (crisp) gyaan on 'being professional' ! 

Keep Your To-Do List Fresh with the 3-Day Rule

A to-do list is only useful if you cross things off as often as you add tasks on. If something's been on your list for more than three days, do one of the following:

• Do it immediately. It may take you less time than you think.
• Schedule it. Find a time slot on your calendar when you can get the task done. If it's important enough to have on your list, then commit to doing it at a specific time and day.
• Let it die. If you're not willing to do something immediately or schedule it for later, you won't ever do it. Accept that it's not really a priority and take it off your list

You may find this a 'no-brainer'.  But, if you are in my position, re-locating big time, it will be a different story altogether.

I am shuffling with a long 'to-do' list... as part of settling down :)

Tried listing down & then, decided to use iPad's to do list ! At least it appears better on the screen :)

It has not helped to close out the pending stuff sooner, but it saves paper & hassle of writing & re-writing process !

A day at Amchi Mumbai, Professionally

I ventured out this morning, to Mumbai city, for some professional, & personal work.


Some thoughts : Mumbai City ?

• Is Mumbai actually a "city" ? Or more of a "state" or something in between ? Surely no longer a "city'. So huge & so many people ! 
• People move out of jobs or offices get re-located. But Mumbaikar stays put at the same residential unit. Happy to commute, but leave the family in the comfort zone of appartment, society, school, doctor, maid, et al ( may be newspaper boy to kabadi-wala !). 
• While none of these are valid reasons to stay put at the same flat/society/locality, the office-goer & businessman fails to recognise the sheer impact on his personal health, efficiency, quality time, work-life balance, et al

Food for thought, mumbaikar!

A day out in Amchi Mumbai, Professionally!

As I moved from Western suburbs, into the city, there were proof of showers, in the morning. As I returned, it was more than a drizzle, esp around Mahim. It was dry towards western-suburbs! 


There was also unusual traffic congestion in Mahim. I thought it may be the usual rush as school-children were heading home ( full of joy, to get back home!). But the taxi-driver attributed it to the 10-day long function at Mahim-Church. 


I thought no wonder, the prayers were having a good impact. 


With monsoon yet to pick up & the lakes almost going dry, should we all not pray for more rains, esp at the catchment areas ? 

Back Home BOOKS

I have been getting few queries as to how I am spending my vacation... Thought of sharing 'on-line' !!

One of the things I am trying to get away to, from heat, humidity, noice, et al....B O O K S!!

1. The Immortals of Meluha -  by Amish Tripathi

I was in a mood for some light reading. Hence, went by the strong reco by son & also observed the books by this author ( a triology!) were a big hit. The book has some good reviews by contemperory authors.

The book was written well. The script, language, the flow, etc very good. Quite 'un-puttable'! I finished it off very fast

But sadly, it is fiction ! It is not about Lord Shiva from Puranas. That was a dampener. I would rather read Siva Puranas ! Hence, not planning to read the other two books by the author.

PS : Picked up the book thru http://www.flipkart.com/. They continue to delight me with their great service.


2.  Breakout Nations: In Pursuit of The Next Economic Miracles by Ruchir Sharma

Watched a fantastic panel discussion on NDtv on this book - led by Pronnoy, with the author, Montek, Sunil 'Bharti' Mittal & former RBI governor. 

Appropriate Leadership was a key ingredient to ensure the 'miracle' actually happens... Prannoy underlined the importance of the the policy decision. Hope PM, FM & congress leaders listening. 

Placed an order thru  fligpkart.com, yet again !!

PS : I have started reading the book. Great statistics & inference. Few funny comments also, such as Putin's dog, etc. BBC aired a brief interview with the author, Ruchir, this morning (30 May 12).  

3. Apollonius - The Divine Magician by Charles DiFazio

This is the book I am currently reading. Very inspiring spiritual book about the Greek great master. He was revered 'adored as a divine incarnation...'