Zandu Baam hui, Darling tere liye

These days it's common to see as 'something' gets popularity, it is dragged into some or other controversy. It's not so difficult to guess what I want to say. The producer of this year's so called biggest block buster movie of Bollywood - Dabangg received a legal notice from Emami Ltd.


Zandu Balm now owned by Emami is a /has been a flagship product for Emami. As Emami claimed, the producer of this movie has used their brand name in an Item Song without company's consent. It's true that it takes years for a company to build a brand which has high 'brand recognition & Brand Recollect' values. Zandu Balm definitely has such higher brand recollect characteristic. Moreover Zandu Balm & Tiger Balm enjoyed the position of brand synonymous to Balm category. (Apart from Vicks Vaporub - which was considered as a part of subcategory) .

Cutting the whole story short, Emami claimed that the brand equity for Zandu Balm has been devastated(?)/ impacted because of the way Zendu Baam word has been used in the Item Song starring Malaika Aurora. Arbaaz Khan - the producer of the movie was in fix because of the issue.

Mr. Pralhad Kakkad, a well known media personality; brilliantly mediated between Arbaaz Khan & the company by suggesting that Malaika Aurora to promote Zandu Balm product for the company and company will take back the legal proceedings against the movie producer.

Now I am wondering how the advt. would look like, Malaika Aurora Khan wearing a typical saari costume (a simple dimple, gharwali style) and coming out of kitchen in-all-tired-mood and complaining Arbaaz khan about the Peeth-Kamar Dard (Back pain) :p Then Arbaaz Khan jumps off the sofa (keeping his cap intact, which he has used in the Videocon DTH Advt) and grab the bottle of Zandu Balm (as quickly as he has been delivering stuffs each time Abhishek orders for) and starts applying balm (only a portion of back is seen) and immediately after this shot, Malaika jumps off the bed & start dancing to the tune of 'Munni Badnaam Hui,.... ,... Zendu Baam Hui, Darling tere liye".

But what will happen to Bipasha Basu who has been signed up by Emami to endorse its products. (Zandu Baam hui, Darling tere liye - Part 2 ??)

-Dhan

Corporate Microfinance in India

In last six months, the micro-finance sector in India has been seen in news headlines. It is primarily attributed to SKS Microfinance. SKS Microfinance, the firm which went public successfully in Aug 2010.

In October 2010, The board of director , SKS Microfinance sacked its CEO Mr. Gurnani and appointed Mr. Vikram Akula in his place. The public news claimed that has been a result of power struggle. Many new articles speculated that Mr. Vikram Akula, a founder of SKS Microfinance used Mr. Gurnani until the company got listed successfully. To add this list of speculation, it was Ms. Malini Byanna (ex-wife, co-founder of SKS M) has accused Mr. Vikram Akula in many ways. (Ref: ET news). The bad part of this interview for SKS Microfinance was that she allegedly claimed lack of governance & malpractices followed at SKS Mifcrofinance.

Now there is one more blower for SKS Microfinance. The agents of SKS Microfinance were found illegally pressurizing borrowers. If proved, police can arrest the CEO Mr. Vikram Akula.
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They say, now putting money in micro-lending is the way to earn higher return. So the high networth individuals are also seen pouring money into this business. To my knowledge micro-lending existed in earlier days also. This business (on its bad part) has taken lives of many poor people in villages-the rural India. It's just the 'corporatization' of such business is seen in the form of SKS Mircofinance.

But on the good side of it, it does help the self help group/small group of women- small businesses by making easy finance availability. It's a good step taken by Mr. Manmohan Singh govt. by bringing in the regulator in the business of micro-financing in the form of NABARD.

Monetory Policy Dilemma

Out of prominent securities market in the world, the Indian stock market is definitely unique market, as India is an developing country and growth of Indian economy has been significantly characterized by to domestically consumption (rather than export as in case of China). And if you look at the capital market indicators (Indices) across globe; Indian Sensex & Nifty are certainly has shown significant growth.

Now !!

Coal India Limited (CIL) set to rock Indian Stock Market with its big ticket IPO worth Rs. $3.9 billion or close to Rs. 13,000+ crore.

• Qualified Institutional Buyer (QIB) are eligible for more than 50% of the subscription available

• It means Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have an attractive proposition to buy
• It means in this quarter significant amount of Forex inflow is likely to infuse liquidity in Indian economy
• It means, already alarming inflation is likely to see newer heights
• It also means that our own currency the Rupee will appreciate ($1= Rs.39; Rupee appreciate means its equivalent value against US dollar increases i.e. the Rupee movement from $1=Rs. 40 is an appreciation of Rupee & depreciation of dollar against each other)
  
• The appreciation of Rupee means import (Oil in particular) will be relatively cheaper and exports (software/services) will be costlier
  
• It means Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to either curtail Forex Inflow or Raise key monetory policy indicators (most likely interest rates)
• If interest rates are to increase, it will in turn again attract more Forex money inflow
• So it will be interesting to see what would happen to Forex money inflow

* Short term prediction
** Implication of curtailing Forex Inflow has not been predicted here.

"Low rates are not a free lunch, but people are acting as though they are"

IMF's Ex-Chief Economist Raghuram Rajan & Chair person on OERC of OECD Mr. White have expressed concerns about the Fed's decision to extend near zero Interest regime. Mr. Rajan feels that such lowered interest rate for prolonged period offers bad incentives for financial firms. It's nothing but prolonging pain by propping up housing market & keeping home prices from falling. So both these economists have suggested 2 % increase in benchmark rates of Fed.


Source- here

Roller Coaster Ride !!

Well, it wasn't a roller coaster ride in literal sense. Just that I was running out of words for blog-post title :P

So....

I have been moving from place to place for last four months. And it started in March with Bangalore (I am missing namma Bengaluru days), spent lazyApril month in Pune; Delhi in May (Would have gone mad in Delhi heat... at it peaks) and now it's Mumbai's turn (still experiencing .. so far so good, waiting for rains and to rush to Dakkhan-Western Ghats).

After coming to Mumbai and staying not-(leisurely)-internet connected for almost last 15-20 days, I really need a internet connection and feel like I am missing many things. To my surprise, (unlike to - for what I had to struggle in Pune) I have got the internet wired connection at home within 24 hrs. Probably, it's a locality wherein I am staying has 'mattered'.

Hopefully I should be able to post next blog-entry with my own connection.

-Dhan

Priceless (2006)

सद्ध्या ऑड्रे टोटूचा Priceless हा फ्रेंच पिच्चर पहायला घेतलाय. अतिश्रीमंत धनाढ्य लोकांची (म्हातारे का असेनात) संगत करून, त्यांच्याकडे उचलेगिरी करून उंची रहाणीमान जगणारी आयरिन एका हॉटेल वेटरला तिचा गिऱ्हाईक समजते आणि मग कालांतराने तिला त्याचा खऱ्या परिस्थितीबद्दल जाणीव होते. मात्र तिच्यावर प्रेम करता करता, मग तोही अशाच प्रकारच्या चक्रामध्ये अडकतो अशी काहीसी कथा, पुढे काय होणार या साठी movie पहायला लागेल....... इ.इ.

बघू मला इंग्लिश डब version मिळाली नसल्याने, मी subtitles ची वाट बघतोय. ऑड्रे टोटू चे काही पिच्चर मी आधी पाहिलेत. मस्त दिसते आणि भुमिका छान निभावते. तिच्या  अमेली या चित्रपटाला ऑस्कर नामांकन मिळालं होतं. ’देवा’ने recommend केल्यामुळे मी तिचा He loves me, loves me not हा movie पाहिला.  He loves me, loves me not या रोमॅंटिक, सायको, थ्रिलर मध्ये तिचं काम झक्कास. तशी  या चित्रपटाची कथा, सादरीकरणला नक्कीच दाद द्यावी लागेल. Overlapping, alternate scenes, One sided interpretations followed by actual incidents -  give story different twists and turns. Well represented !!.

तसाच तिचा "A very long engagement" हा चित्रपट पहाण्याची संधी मला HBO TV Channel मुळे मिळाली.  A very long engagement मध्ये ऑड्रे टोटू ने युद्ध्यामध्ये गायब झालेल्या सैनिकाच्या Financee ची भुमिका केलीये. वेगळ्या वेगळ्या व्यक्तींकडून मिळणारी असंबद्ध माहितीतून मागोवा काढत, आपल्या होणाऱ्या नवऱ्याच्या भेटीची दूर्दम्य इच्छा ठेवून, सरपटत चालणाऱ्या, अथक प्रयत्न करणाऱ्या व्यक्तीची तिने भुमिका छानपणे निभावली होती.

-धनंजय

Ethics and Transparency....

Damn !!

Life isn't so easy if one is all ethical and transparent.It makes things questionable whether I have chosen "reasonable" way or not ... especially for utmost vital decisions of life? Probably these are the times when personality as an aspect comes out.

:Dhan

Aamir Khan - Striving for perfection

Aamir Khan for his upcoming movie was shooting in my hostel campus, we were fortunate enough to see him performing live. So I was watching his schedule at 3:45 am. He was inside the hostel room (this room was designed specifically for shooting, and it is almost like any other of hostel room around and ensured not to disturb hostelites as far as possible) and there he was, completely involved into his character. Once The take was okay'ed he would rush outside the room and sit just in front of the room, he joined the chess game which he left unfinished before going for the next take. And he started playing it with the same concentration and zeal. When director called up for the next take, he was pretty much there with his whole energy and engrossment into it. This quick transformation from one role for reel to another in reality was amazing. His game continued for whole night and the guys in front of him kept changing, obviously there were first year students who were having some breathing time.

 
Aamir has been playing every possible game in campus. He was seen playing Baddy with us, then cricket, Long tennis, football, TT, volley ball, and of course chess. and almost, after each game, he is smiling with his posture upon the request of fellow IIMB'ians to have a snap with him.

I guess his body is now toned down. It's no longer like what we have seen in Gajini. It's obvious since he hasn't got access to well equipped gym and probably his character in this movie doesn't need that. Even Sherman Joshi and R madhavan are simple & down to earth, they are easy to access and ready to talk general things.

In front of our canteen, Boman Irani was asking whether he can smoke there or not. And with little apprehension, he lit his sigar (it wasn't some simple sigarrette but something like that).
Raju hirani, I felt is good human being. Very considerate.

iStanford

iStanford is new service offering by two of Stanford student: Kayvon and Aaron. They have developed iPhone application which allows Stanford university students to add-drop course, access map, campus bus timings, etc using Apple iPhone.

It's the first time Stanford University administration has allowed student to access university servers-data without secure protocol/applications.

Do we have such people in India, both in terms of student and the administration? Or atleast can we facilitate/foster it?

A quote from Mahabharat (Bhagvat geeta)

"हे धनंजय, सत्पुरूष कभी अपनी अधिकारोंकी सिमाओंका उल्लंघन नही करते" - श्रीकृष्ण

सध्या महाभारताचे ठराविक भाग पहातोय .. त्यात ऐकलेलं हे वाक्य; श्रीकृष्णाने अर्जुनाला म्हटलेले एक वाक्य .... अर्थातच संजयच्या ’दैवी’ दृष्टीमुळे आपल्याल समजलेले. मी विचार करत होतो की युद्धभुमीवर युद्ध चालू असताना सारथ्य करताना श्रीकृष्णाला एवढा वेळ कसा मिळाला की त्याने अर्जुनाला जीवनाचं सार समजवलं ?
थोडं शोधलं, त्यावर एक युक्तीवाद असा केला जातो की श्रीकृष्णाने सुक्ष्म वेळ नियंत्रीत केली आणि अर्जुनाला साक्षात्कार घडवला ..... पण मग मला संजयचं विशेष वाटतंय यासाठी की त्याला ही सुक्ष्म वेळेही अनुभवता आली.... म्हणजे तोही gifted होता का ?

अजून एक मालिका NBC TVवर चालू आहे ... Heroes काही काळापूर्वी मी त्याचे काही भाग पळवत पळवत पहायचो ... त्यात Hiro
कडे अशीच काहीसी क्षमता असल्याचं दाखवलय .. अर्थात महाभारत आणि ह्या Science Fiction मध्ये compare करण्याचा काही प्रश्नच नाही .. असंच आठवलं म्हणून खरडलं.

Title to the post

Some times, when I really don't have specific to scribble in the blog and want to write at least 'something', I find it very difficult to give a name to the post. And that's where the story gets delayed.

Couple of things I have been watching:-
- Recently whenever I look at news papers, online reports, and news channels; all of them are reporting losses that corporates are facing or dip in their profits, sales, etc.

- Probable, colleges like mine are few of the first in India to feel the heat of the global turmoil.

- Sometime in next week, I want to write marathi post about this article I read online. I am finding some relevance to what is happening around and what worse in business scenario can be expected with it. Basically the author, in this article talks about how the financial collapse are unavoidable and government actions in supporting the banks can lead to worsening the situation.

- Google has been finding it difficult to see promising competitor in its online streaming business i.e. the famous youtube.com. The name is HULU. It's a formed with a joint venture of NBC and Fox and it is becoming popular with TV shows and movies. More importantly, it's gaining commercial support unlike youtube because corporates (like MGM, etc) are skeptical about youtube's position in respecting copyright informations. Just because HULU is more focused on TV shows and movies, it's likely to be successful in the targetted video streaming business

- Crude oil prices have plummeted below $60 to $59.39 - 20 weeks low price despite cut in production by OPEC. It's interesting to know that OPEC countries haven't cut the production by the declared number of barrels i.e. 1.5 million barrel cut was expected. But it is heard that they have cut the production byt 800,000 barrels a day. Why haven't they cut it by more 700,000 barrels? Probably, it will greatly impact their economies of scale operation (shall I call it as reverse of economies of scale ?)

- Mr. Prime Minister, Doesn't want to reduce prices of oil products in India? Indian o companies are making profit of more than Rs. 4 on sale of one liter of petrol and bearing loss of less than Rs. 1 on sale of diesel. The argument proposed for the same is, sale of diesel is far more than that of petrol.

Relations

Some relations don't grow naturally. You, deliberately need to make them work, foster in good way!!

I don't know why sometimes I get philosophical! It is good to think so at the same time, at the end if it, I feel, it does not help much. Since I already peeked into philosophical territory, let me scribble one more sentence here - as told by one of my prof.

"The last shirt has no pocket !!"

:D

Back with new machine !

This time I am writing using my brand new Dell laptop. My earlier laptop crashed all of sudden. That too while I was working for final submission of one of the courses I have taken here. I still had to complete .... really 'complete' 3 credit course submission day after that and few others submissions 'following that' too.

I was really in trouble. Anyway this wasn't my first time to be in trouble :-) I was even had better trouble times ;-) They call it - साला नसीब हो झेंडू तो क्या करेगा पांडू !

Anyway!! So with this new machine, I have regained my powers.

Mean time I was enjoying at home for more than a week. Let me tell you that one week is the maximum term break duration I could have grabbed in my life at this college so far. These 10 days, (okay, 9 days to be precise) gave me very much needed breathing space. And there is no other comfort like being at home. How could I have chose to loose an opportunity to trek any fort being at home. So I managed to trek Rajgad for one more time. Awesome is the only word to describe Rajgad.

Hopefully I will be able to post few snaps of my recent Rajgad trek in next post.

Till then Njoy Madi !!

Tuned with time

There wasn't really any such reason to prevent me from posting new entry but just happened .... got engrossed with my exams, submissions, rat race of grades (Is it really ?)....

So here I am ... back to square one or should I say .. the thing I love to do at any given time, especially when I have moved out of Bangalore and traveled to some of the places which I have always been longing for visiting. There are some really nice -butter, some bitter too, experiences on my travel-way till here ... so Dj stay tuned... to pour them here !!!

Till then ... Njoy Madi :-)

Khosla ka Ghosla

Disclaimer : The title of the post has entirely meant to what is in the post. It may be the case virtually, but different case otherwise ___ aBsTrAcT ___ :D

Vinod Khosla, as I mentioned about him in my last post is Pune born Technologist, Venture Capitalists, Commercial Environmentalist (?)

- Studied in IITD then in Carnegie Mellon University and then MBA from Stanford School of Business.

- Founder of Sun Microsystems

- Was partner in Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, one of founders of The Indus Entrepreneurs

- Owns firm - Khosla Ventures funding indian households through MicroFinance

- Founded ck12.org as it quotes :: "CK12 aims to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the US and worldwide. Using an open-source, collaborative, and web-based compilation model that can be manifested as an adaptive textbook - termed the "FlexBook", CK12 intends to pioneer the generation and distribution of high quality educational web texts". I am curious to see how they will be doing it so now waiting for their actual launch.

- Significantly investing in Ethenol Industry in US. What I mentioned in my last post is also part of it.

- Has invested in Praj Industries listed in India - not sure if he is also on BODs of Praj.

- Writes blog. and I am yet to figure out what is Prop 87 as he has mentioned many times in his blog.

- Is associated with Zaplet.com which is now MetricStream.com - it is Governance, Risk, Compliance, Quality Management Solution provider company. It's ComplianceOnline.com give online training for these mentioned things. By the way Tata Consultancy Services is also one of the metricstream's partners.- Serves as Directors for renowned companies like Juniper Networks, Siara Systems, Qwest communications, Centrata, Corvis Cooperation, Corio, SEEC, Infinera, etc.

What all this man has been doing. Can you sense 'Sense of Vision' in his attempts so far ?

Coskata

Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

'Coskata-Coatue' pronounced as "co-skate-uh co-too". This Wildlife Refuge is famous for its white-sand beaches, salt/sweet water, excellent fishing environment, oak woods and also historic light house. This is a natural and partially developed ecosystem that accommodates rare and diminishing habitats, plants, and birds.

This is the place that influenced the founders of Coskata Inc who were there for visit to Nantucket island. They were amazed by the beauty and natural wonder of this place. And this visit to the land refuge concluded as booster to their effort and inclination of preserving Mother Earth in though commercial but efficient way, so is the establishment of Coskata Inc to generate bio-fuels/ Ethanol under $1.00 per gallon (whoop) that too can be ported to any part of world and it can process any material as input which include waste materials, tyres too using their proprietary bio-reactor designs.

Coskata Inc. has made available the 3 step process of converting input material into Ethanol through first converting input material into synthesis gas, then deriving energy from oxidation of the converted gas (fermentation) and finally separation and recovery of Ethanol.

You see, there is a roaring concerns to the traditional auto car manufacturers. The concerns will mostly turn out as threats to their survival of business in next 20-30 years if they don't take necessary measures to tackle the major causes of concerns -
1. Depleting oil reserves : The OPEC still rules. Recently they have decided not to expand their capacity.
2. Increasing environmental awareness : World is becoming really worried about this. As one can see the thoughtful actions being taken by different country groups G7, EU, etc. WTO is working and establishing norms for countries involved in it.
3. Country specific economic preferences: Developed countries are encouraging the R&D efforts of Private players, entrepreneurs for finding alternatives to oils/gases and reduce dependence of third countries for oil import and ultimately reduce the trade deficit.

No wonder GM motors , Ford motors and now TATA motors, M&M in India have started emphasizing on environment friendly ways to drive/sustain their business in future. So it's clear that GM has extended strategic partnership with Coskata Inc. So are Khosla Ventures, Advance Technology Ventures and Great POoint Ventures.

Coskata claims to have their processes and bio-reactor design being validated by world class research labs, universities and companies. It has sought help of academicians from various universities.

Founded in 2006 by Todd Kimmel and Dr. Rathin Datta, the company has compiled a strong IP portfolio of patents, trade secrets, know-how and assembled a first-class management team ... Wow !! So in all this company, as experts are saying, will be bringing revolutionary changes in Ethanol industry.

Remember Vinod Khosla ? The same techie and businessman who was founder of Sun Microsystems is involved in Coskata through his ventureship.

Also we have Praj Industries which is one of the leaders in Indian Ethanol Processing industry and to an extent can be called successful one. So long way to go for Praj looking at the pace with which the companies in US are moving in Ethanol processing.

Yoga with Shipa Shetty

The follower of Yoga and Baba Ramdev - Shilpa has completed her video on Yoga. I think she has signed the contract of shooting this video immediately after winning Big Brother in 2006-07.

Shilpa Shetty featuring in Yoga video would definitely give commercial and glamour value to it.

Surely, I am not the guy who can have 'say' about whether she has done Yoga Steps properly or not :D but it has a reason for me to be able to induce a thought of practising Yoga one more time ;-)

Old pick

I normally access rediff 5-6 times a day, more than I do with bbc and maharashtratimes.

While surfing came across old stuff on rediff..... hmmm ... not really too old but in case of rediff, which people normally access mainly for recent news, happening and money, career related information and buying activities, (email - I left it). That's why I don't think people dig much in older stuff available with rediff.

This business quiz is about Infosys. Revisited interesting facts :)

Mia Rose

Just around that time I was addicted/fascinated towards/about youtube. And happened to watch MiaaRose video. I liked it in first go. Time was somewhere in Feb 07. And after couple of week, I again tempted to see if there is any related video of her being published or not. I was surprised to see that her Heaven video was being most favourite and wached on youtube.

Almost a year passed, I didn't follow much about her. Not that I forgot about her but apperantly didn't happened. Just recently I came across her video again. Now her video is being posted my many of her followers-fans.

But now it really shows the kind of platform youtube has given her and many such aspirants. Just with couple of music instruments, a camera given this nice voice and beatiful face a chance to release her own album, 3-4 sites of her won, huge fan following.

Great going !!
Kudos to youtube for this proposition given to new-bees and even more for following the ethics of the game to possible extent. It has restricted sensitive contents across board. It i s good to see that hentai followers are not flooding it.

Really it has brought a transformation phase in internet era and still a lot to be exploded. It is very easy for any common user to have his video on web and sharing it with others, see how easy - friends go for bowling, shoot their excitments, upload it to youtube and they can watch whenever they want share with anybody. And it have become possible just because of Youtube and Adobe.

Unmaad is On

Unmaad is here. I consider, it was at its peak today.

Santy came down to IIMB campus to enjoy Satarday evening. Arguable he has missed the ecstasy of Yamini happened in earlier month and Zero, Mother Jane show happened yesterday.

Erlier, I have never been able to apprecited Rock songs much. But magic of live programs is something different. I actually loved the show by Mother Jane band. Their lead vocalist ' Suraj' is good. First thing I noticed about him was his generosity and his humane nature. Their guitarist 'Deepu' was also very good. It's great enjoyment to listen and appreciate the skills of the guitarist in live program.

Strings were also here. But despite of being an international band, I didn't find it so fascinating. Mainly because, I have not heard many of their songs and only partially been able to recollect their popular numbers.