New World Order

Uncertainty is part of life. Ok, So we have this concept
of risk that comes naturally with uncertainty. Then comes risk assessment and then risk mitigation etc. We also have all financial derivative instruments to cover these risks. As events are unfolding, I am sensing need of new order to manage this uncertainty. Lets take example of 2 events that have unfolded in last 6 months:

1. Dollar has strengthened by over 25% against Euro (and also Rupee)
2. Oil is down from $146 to now below $60

These two statistics carry unprecedented change for businesses around the world. My view is, its impossible to do business and emerge as a winner on your business strength, too much luck involved in those numbers. This is hurting. Classical economics of demand and supply is not working. We have not stopped drinking oil in half, nor we are eating more dollars...

For stable long term growth, we need to cap these swings. Yes, I am for regulation. As a society we can never sustain 10-15% growth y-o-y, and we need to cap this growth. As a society we will be more happy in long term steady growth as opposed to
erratic swings we are observing through this economy. More certainty will bring more consistent business opportunities and more capital will flow into pure business models as opposed to trading models.

My guess is post crash of wall street, our leaders will embrace new world order,
where uncertainty and volatility will be discouraged with regulation and innovation will be encouraged by sound policy making....

Sticky Ads of My Life

We come across many ads during our life time, but there are
some ads which are just pure classics, and for some reason or
the other they just stick with you....

Here is the collection of one the most "Stickiest" ads of my life -

Cadbury - Dairy milk

I just can not forget this ad. Beautifully crafted commercial.
Successfully connects joy of life with Cadbury. In the process
wonderfully captures soft romance and pure unbound
'expression of joy'. Enjoy -




Hamara Bajaj

This is not really a 'classic' type but a nostalgic one .
Representative of the era of 'licence raj' when people
lined up for this scooter for months. 'Hamara Bajaj'
tune is just there somewhere deep down my memory...




Mile Sur Mera Tuhara

This is not really an ad but a filler prasar bharti used
to air between programs. Those were single channel
doordarshan days when watching superstars
on a TV was a rarity. I remember watching this 5 minute
filler for 2 second glimpse of Amitabh Bachhan :-)
This was also an effort to install 'understanding' of united
India. Now looking back, I must say it was immensely
successful effort.....



Yeh dil mange more...
I guess Sachin enjoyed this commercial to the core...
Some fantastic music ending with 'aha' by Sachin
which was Pepsi's earlier slogan... a lingering impact
of Pepsi commercials.



Changing gears.... Commercial representative
of India's mobile revolution -

This is the last one in this series - AR Rehman's Airtel Ad!
This tune is now almost synonymous with Airtel -
call it measure of success for this commercial.

Opera Experience

Yesterday, I watched Opera for the first time in my life. Very rich and interesting experience.
Experience went beyond my initial goal - to check out art form called Opera. AIDA Opera performance takes you to ancient Egypt. Its glamorous, its colorful, and its huge.
Check out program website here.
Why is this different?
AIDA Opera is a spectacular performance - More than 200 on stage performers have put together this show. Show succeeds in taking you to ancient exotic Egypt.
Show brings alive various sets from Royal palace at Memphis to moonlit bank of Nile.

I was wondering how am I supposed to understand "Italic" Opera. But they actually display translations on electric display board.
We are quite comfortable with concept of 'sub titles' for foreign language movies. Actually having sub-titles for 'live' performance was interesting!

Honestly, I could not understand much of the music piece. But visuals were good enough to keep me at my seat for more than 3.5 hours. ( yes its a long show, with 2 intermissions)

I could not stop comparing this show with Marathi Mega Show called "Janata Raja" (Knowing/ Almighty King). Janata Raja was also huge colossal of 200+ artists and larger than life sets.

How Janata Raja performance would scale if given all the resources these opera's enjoy?
-I guess that day is not too far. So for the moment, lets wait and watch