• Roleplay

    Jagathy Sreekumar, in my opinion, is one of the finest comedians actors to grace the screen. Probably THE finest. Since he’s acted only in Malayalam movies (over 1000 of them), he’s relatively lesser known to non Keralites. But you don’t have to go away, this is not about him or even Malayalam movies or even movies.

    Contrary to his usual on-screen characters, he’s a very serious person in his media interviews. He was once asked why he accepted all the roles that came to him, and why he wasn’t more choosy, especially since he could afford to. Pat came the reply “I’m a professional. Do you think a doctor should be allowed to choose which patients to accept?”The interviewer predictably moved on to easier pastures.

    This was sometime back, but I was reminded of it during the debate on Tendulkar ‘walking’.  (he walked away despite the umpire signaling ‘not out’) Both Jayawardene and Ponting were clear that they’d walk only after they were declared out. Though I have not always been a Tendulkar fan, I have been an ardent admirer for quite a while now, of the player on the field and the person off it.

    So it was quite a difficult question – the morality of a professional (?) ‘walking’ without considering his responsibilities to the team. (forget the expectations of a nation for now) Was he being selfish – keeping his ‘fair play’ image intact? (though Ganguly claimed Sachin hasn’t always ‘walked’)

    While the moral question lingers, I thought I got an insight into Sachin’s behaviour from this amazing article I read thanks to Roshni. It says that Sachin is a bridge, between two eras of cricket, and he realises the responsibility. As a sport, today’s cricket, both on and off the field, is vastly different from what it used to be, and yes, it is no longer just a sport. As the author quotes “The team’s rabid popularity, is a reflection of rising national ambition, of pride in national achievement.” Maybe Sachin realises a bit beyond this too, and is doing his bit to ensure that in the pursuit of success, a right set of ethos is also kept in mind. Playing the game to win, and playing it fair.

    Jagathy, legendary though he is, perhaps has it easier. There are bigger stars around him who are expected to be role models. He can get away with moral absolutism.  Tendulkar probably has the tougher job – as he charts new territories in terms of matches played, runs scored, centuries made, he also has to navigate new grounds in moral integrity, balancing his own stance with the expectations of a team, a nation and still ensuring that he’s a worthy icon in all respects.

    until next time, Godlike

  • Grassroutes

    Enabling the youth to look at society and their role in it from a different perspective, through a road trip, that’s the unique initiative called Grassroutes. In conversation with one of the founders Keerthi Kiran..
    [scribd id=52218383 key=key-kjxp8bt0hdopg25q7eb mode=list]

  • Tandoori Hippie

    This review was first published in Bangalore Mirror, where some wise desk person also called it soul food. Sigh. This is a less maligned version. Peace, love and Tandoori Chicken. Tandoori Hippie is on the 4th floor of the Mother Earth building on Intermediate Ring Road. (map) They also run a lounge bar called Loveshack on the floor above. There’s valet parking, so you won’t have to wander about like hippies for that.

    The chairs in the reception area immediately grab your attention because each of them is unique – including a barber’s chair! The restaurant is divided into several sections – an alfresco area that offers an excellent view of the Ring Road, a second area which offers an excellent view of the day’s cricket match thanks to a giant LCD screen, and a third, more private area which offers an excellent view of various spices. A saxophone, a trumpet, an old radio, a gramophone, a grandfather clock and many such trinkets vie for your attention as you make your way inside into a bright ambiance that’s at once rustic and hip. All part of what they call  ‘Fun dining’.

    Despite the decor, the hearth is Tandoor, and only the soul is hippie. A couple of shorbas, and some salads make an appearance before we get into the meat of the menu. There are quite a few kebabs to choose from, including seafood. The main course offers some options for the vegetarians as well, in addition to the standard non veg Tandoori dishes. Tandoori Hippie has a lunch buffet and in the evenings, a Chai Bar that serves chaats, samosas, golas etc. They have a decently stocked bar, with a few cocktails too. We tried a Passion Martini and found it to be quite good.

    The special Zafrani Lassi, though priced a tad high, is excellent and quite filling. The flavourful and succulent Kastoori Kebab served on the seekh, as well as the Lahori Seekh Kebab, with just the right texture, are both good starters to try. The Achari Paneer Tikka was quite bland, and completely lacked the flavour it’s supposed to have. Among the main course dishes, the Macchi Hara Masala was quite a disappointment thanks to the spinach invasion and overly salty fish. The Aloo Chutneywala, with its unique gravy makes a good dish for vegetarians. They also did a good job with the Gosht Rogan Josh and the Hyderabadi Murgh Biriyani, the latter as pleasing to the olfactory system as it was to the palate. Desserts are available on paper, but do check their availability before reserving stomach space. The poor guy in charge of the table enthusiastically asked us to ignore the menu and reeled out a few options he insisted we try. But it turned out to be quite a sad affair as we were told that the Rajbhog and Cham-Cham we’d ordered were over, after confirming availability. The Phirni we got was actually sour and the Rasgullas way too rubbery. The Gajar ka Halwa was the saving grace among the desserts.

    But despite some delay in getting the main course dishes, specially the biriyani, and the dessert mix-up, the earnestness of the service has a way of winning you over. On the cost front, for Rs.1000, you could share a lassi, a starter, a couple of non-veg main course dishes, a few rotis and a dessert.

    Though the menu sticks to the tried and tested Tandoor fare, the ambiance and enthusiastic service staff give this place a uniqueness that warrants a visit. It would be great if the mash-up in the name could be translated onto the menu too.

    Tandoori Hippie, #541-543, Mother Earth Building, 4th Floor, Amarjyoti Layout, Intermediate Ring Road, Domlur – 70 Ph: 41500787

  • Weekly Top 5

    This week’s updates include Google + 1, Groupon and Living Social, Jack Dorsey’s return to Twitter, Hotmail’s new interactive mail and Facebook Questions.

    [scribd id=52085687 key=key-gt7rxnc32pvs173mxif mode=list]

  • Monkeys, Rules and Insurgents

    There was this forward that did the rounds about 8 years back, about how businesses are run. It involved 8 monkeys, bananas and a ladder. I’m going to repeat it here for the benefit of those not familiar with it. Those who know it already, skip and read the rest please.

    Put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room is a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tries to climb the ladder, all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Sooner enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up. Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder.

    One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious, but, undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder. All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly. He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder.

    A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the crap out of him. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he’s not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he’s attacking the new monkey.

    One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the room. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempt to climb the ladder. All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why. And that’s how any company’s policies get established.

    What reminded me of this? Tom Fishburne’s recent post on ‘low interest’ categories, in which he talks about how “marketers often limit ourselves by the conventional rules of a particular category”. The induction and experiences thereafter changes us from, to use Seth Godin’s words, insurgents to incumbents.

    In these times of “hit the ground running”, is it too much to ask of companies to allow new hires to just give their perspectives on the brand and organisational processes in the first month? I too believe that for the brand team, these perspectives are a great representation of the end consumer. With all the money spent on data mining and consumer research, this ‘free’ sample is given a pass, perhaps because, just like the industries itself, even businesses internally fear disruption.

    Over a period of time, the brand’s custodians tend to lose their objectivity and processes unfortunately have a way of becoming the ends rather than the means. And that’s where ‘culture’ can make a difference. Know any companies who foster this?

    until next time, this is the way things are undone 🙂