“The ocean in Mauritius is just wonderful, blue-green and pristine. Truly is a paradise island”, said my South Indian friend, Swami who had just been back from his vacation. One of the few times I had seen him happy, without much to complain about. Just when I thought he was in a good mood, he … Read more
Both Jigneshbhai and the wife are big SRK fans and despite the not-so-rave reviews, watching Ra.One was always a given. So we did contribute to its collections today. But honestly as I left the cinema hall after it finished, I said to myself – the special effects and action were quite awesome, definitely by Indian … Read more
My simple-hearted friend Swami was in a restless mood the other day when we met over coffee. ““कृपया प्रतीक्षा करें, आप कतार में हैं” – isn’t that what they said, when you called customer service numbers in those days?” he asked us. “Some of them said ‘Please wait. You are in queue’,” my wise friend … Read more
“Have you seen that play called ‘Waiting for Godot’?” asked the wealthy man living in the sprawling bungalow next to my house. He was known to speak sparingly and in a cryptic manner when he did. We had just met him at a common friend’s wedding reception. “Have heard and read about it, but never … Read more
“Thukrao Ab Ke Pyar Karo, Main Sattar Ka Hoon!” Jagjit Singh started his concert with these lines earlier this year, which I was fortunate enough to have attended. At the end of that concert around 10.30 pm or so, people started a chorus for ‘once more’ for some more time and ghazals, when again he … Read more
Standard Operating Procedures used in service industries like technology and healthcare bring in standardization, process orientation and overall efficiency, and are increasingly bringing the same benefits to politics. Politician comes to position of power and sets in place a proper system to implement corrupt practices. Initially he makes sure everyone in the chain is satisfied … Read more
“One thing that is different in our players of today and our players of yesterday is that earlier our players used to play mostly not to lose, and today they very often play to win”, said my broker friend Jigneshbhai over our Sunday evening coffee. Continuing, he remarked, “The difference may seem minor but is … Read more
The wealthy man living in the sprawling bungalow near my house with his BMW and Mercedes speaks very sparingly. And whenever he speaks, it is quite cryptic. So one has to really concentrate when he is speaking, and think hard after he is done. So the other day when my South Indian friend Swami and … Read more
“भैया ये दीवार टूटती क्यों नही?” said one brother to the other in the Indian joint family from the famous Ambuja Cement ad. And then the voiceover replies, “टूटेगी कैसे? ये अम्बुजा सीमेंट से बनी है.” I had heard that this ad was popular with the English players whenever Dravid used to come out to … Read more