My tryst with Kannada movies probably started after I got married to a Kannada fan. He takes the self-shouldered onus of reviving the Kannada movies on par with Tamil and Telugu movies by watching Kannada movies however bad they are. As a child, I have watched a few classic movies in Kannada, thanks to Doordarshan’s Indian Panorama during Sunday afternoons. These include movies such as Gejje Pooje, Beladingala Bale, Mutthina Haara, etc., which are true classics crossing all language barriers.
I started closely following the trend in Kannada movies after moving to Bangalore in 2006. In this year, Kannada film industry witnessed a major setback. Dr. Raj Kumar, the icon of Sandalwood (the name given to Kannada film industry) passed away.
When I started analyzing the Kannada movies, the first thing I observed that Kannada industry lacked original story lines. Most of the movies released during the 2006 and 2007 are remakes. Examples include Manmatha (Perazhagan in Tamil), Aishwarya (Manmathudu in Telugu), No. 73 Shanti Nivas (Baawarchi in Hindi), Cheluvina Chittara (Kaadhal in Tamil), Hudugata (Dil Hain Ki Manata Nahin in Hindi), Sajani (Jodi in Tamil), Ajay (Okkadu in Telugu), etc. There were superhits but hardly that made a major mark at the box office. Though there were exceptions to the rule, these were very few.
Probably after 2006, many small budget movies made it to the big league. And also Sandalwood witnessed a rush of fresh stories, mega successes, and innovation… ushering in a new trend in Sandalwood. Movies like Mungaaru Male, Duniya, Amruthadhaare, Maathaadu Maathaadu Mallige, Kallarali Hoovagi, Naayi Neralu, etc. created records at the box office. Small time actors like Comedy Time Ganesh, Vijay, Dhyaan, etc. got great exposure. The music of these movies created new records in the history of Sandalwood.
Now, after being averse to Kannada movies all these years, I am surprised that I am actually looking forward to the release of a Kannada movie and have actually loaded a few Kannada songs on my system. I find many non-Kannadigas humming “Anisuthide” and “Ninnindale”. Now, I feel as though the Kannada film industry is in for a drastic revival and we can look forward for many good films that reminds us of the classical era.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure
I was very impressed by this mail, which I received a few days back. It’s about an experience shared by our former President Shri APJ Abdul Kalam, a role model for everyone. Here it goes:
India Knowledge@Wharton: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?
Mr. Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India ’s satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India ’s “Rohini” satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources — but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.
By 1979 — I think the month was August — we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts — I had four or five of them with me — told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal . It was a big failure.
That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference — where journalists from around the world were present — was at 7:45 am at ISRO’s satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India ]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure — he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.
The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite — and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, “You conduct the press conference today.”
I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.
India Knowledge@Wharton: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?
Mr. Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India ’s satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India ’s “Rohini” satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources — but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.
By 1979 — I think the month was August — we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts — I had four or five of them with me — told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal . It was a big failure.
That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference — where journalists from around the world were present — was at 7:45 am at ISRO’s satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India ]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure — he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.
The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite — and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, “You conduct the press conference today.”
I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.
Intelligent Proverbs
Intelligent Proverbs from 6-year old geniuses
Again, an email that sent me into splits and yet again made me ponder over the astonishing ability and cleverness of the little geniuses around us.
These are the results of a first grade class test: 26 students, each of whom is only six years old, were given half of a well-known proverb and were asked to complete it. Here are some of the results:
1.) Strike while the bug is close
2.) Never underestimate the power of termites
3.) No news is impossible
4.) Don’t bite the hand that looks dirty
5.) A miss is as good as a Mr
6.) Better late than pregnant
7.) An idle mind is the best way to relax
8.) Where there’s smoke there’s pollution
9.) A penny saved is not much
10.) Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you have to blow your nose
11.) When the blind lead the blind get out of the way
12.) If at first you don’t succeed, get new batteries
12.) Two’s company, three’s the Musketeers
And, the winner is:
The pen is mightier than the pigs!
Again, an email that sent me into splits and yet again made me ponder over the astonishing ability and cleverness of the little geniuses around us.
These are the results of a first grade class test: 26 students, each of whom is only six years old, were given half of a well-known proverb and were asked to complete it. Here are some of the results:
1.) Strike while the bug is close
2.) Never underestimate the power of termites
3.) No news is impossible
4.) Don’t bite the hand that looks dirty
5.) A miss is as good as a Mr
6.) Better late than pregnant
7.) An idle mind is the best way to relax
8.) Where there’s smoke there’s pollution
9.) A penny saved is not much
10.) Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you have to blow your nose
11.) When the blind lead the blind get out of the way
12.) If at first you don’t succeed, get new batteries
12.) Two’s company, three’s the Musketeers
And, the winner is:
The pen is mightier than the pigs!
My Love...
This is for the one who I love the most...........
My Love…
Life’s become more charming ever since you stepped in,
You taught me the art of sharing and caring,
You doubled my joys and lightened my troubles,
You gave me a sense of belonging, so beautiful n profound,
That I fail to imagine a life without you.
Year in and year out,
Your beautiful presence in my life,
Speeds me on my way,
Encourages me to make my life,
A success story in every way.
With someone so special like you,
Neither the thoughts are to be weighed,
Nor the words are to be measured,
Only the joys are to be shared,
And memories to be treasured.
Savoring the souvenirs you’ve given me,
In being there for me even when I’ve not asked for,
In reaching out to me when I’ve lost all hope,
In continuing to care the way you’ve
From the moment we met and declared our love.
And as we come to yet another year,
Of knowing each other,
Of loving each other,
I hope that in some way, however,
I too have made a little difference to your life in each n every year.
My Love…
Life’s become more charming ever since you stepped in,
You taught me the art of sharing and caring,
You doubled my joys and lightened my troubles,
You gave me a sense of belonging, so beautiful n profound,
That I fail to imagine a life without you.
Year in and year out,
Your beautiful presence in my life,
Speeds me on my way,
Encourages me to make my life,
A success story in every way.
With someone so special like you,
Neither the thoughts are to be weighed,
Nor the words are to be measured,
Only the joys are to be shared,
And memories to be treasured.
Savoring the souvenirs you’ve given me,
In being there for me even when I’ve not asked for,
In reaching out to me when I’ve lost all hope,
In continuing to care the way you’ve
From the moment we met and declared our love.
And as we come to yet another year,
Of knowing each other,
Of loving each other,
I hope that in some way, however,
I too have made a little difference to your life in each n every year.
Women in My Life
These two women one older and the other younger to me, have a great influence on my life. Both these women are from different age groups and have a wide generation gap. However, the common thing between them is their selflessness, which makes me wonder that there are people who give up their dreams in this selfish world.
I knew her right from the time I could remember. I always used to disagree with her even on the smallest of the small things, but, somewhere deep in my heart, I admired her a lot. She has an incredible influence in my life. Today, I am quite far away from her but miss her a lot in certain situations - she was a great support system when I had to face similar situations in the past.
Throughout her life, she shouldered responsibilities. She was the third child in a family with eight children. She played the role of a mother to her younger siblings and niece, when she was in her early teens because her mother was not in good health. Even after her marriage, she inadvertently took up all the responsibilities that were expected to be taken up by the eldest daughter-in-law though she was the youngest. Again not even a bit of selfishness ever crossed her mind. She donned the role of a mid-wife to her co-sisters during their pregnancy. She single handedly cooked for 100 people, when the cook failed to turn up for a family function. She did not visit her mother’s place for a span of 10 years for she has to nurse her ailing mother-in-law. She did all this when she herself was going through the worst phase of her life in terms of health. She was most often than not envied by every other person for her capabilities and her willingness to do selfless service.
She taught me how to shoulder responsibilities gracefully. She is just a phone call away for me when I go through any crisis. She is the source of inspiration to me when I handle the most difficult situations at work. She is the strength when I am upset about having to move away from my parents after marriage. She is the living almanac when I have to start any new venture. She is the http://www.bawarchi.com/ for me, when I have to cook varieties at home. She is Bharathi, my mother. I admire her not only as a daughter but also as a woman.
I have known this girl right from the time I was three years old. She was the scapegoat of all the pranks I used to plan with my siblings. I started developing a strong bond of liking for her, as I started experiencing her affection. I was selfish enough not to have realized it earlier. She did selfless service to everyone in the family. When someone in the family was ill, she kept her books aside without a second thought even while preparing for her toughest exam. She nursed them back to health by taking care of them right from the diet to the medication.
When I was struggling with the busiest period of my life, trying to balance my studies as well as career, she stood by me. She ensured that I had good food at all the times. She always checked on my health and made sure that I have a healthy diet. She did my quota of household work when I had to rush to work, without complaining even for once. She did this without any expectations. She is the right hand to her mother and shares her mother’s work even if she herself is ill. Today, though she has a successful career in finance, she is still the Florence Nightingale and Mother Teresa in the family. She continues to be the Annapoorna in the household, packing lunch boxes for everyone every single day. She was a like a mother to me - caring, feeding, nursing, and again being at the receiving end of my anger. She is Poornima, my younger sister. I owe her a lot and I can’t help wishing I was like her.
As mother and daughter, Bharathi and Poornima, reflect each other. They both have striking similarities when it comes to selflessness. This is in no way an exaggeration in any form. The selflessness in these women - Is it because they are women? Is it because they are human beings? Is it because God made them like that? I don’t know. All I know is that I admire and always strive to inculcate this quality in me.
I knew her right from the time I could remember. I always used to disagree with her even on the smallest of the small things, but, somewhere deep in my heart, I admired her a lot. She has an incredible influence in my life. Today, I am quite far away from her but miss her a lot in certain situations - she was a great support system when I had to face similar situations in the past.
Throughout her life, she shouldered responsibilities. She was the third child in a family with eight children. She played the role of a mother to her younger siblings and niece, when she was in her early teens because her mother was not in good health. Even after her marriage, she inadvertently took up all the responsibilities that were expected to be taken up by the eldest daughter-in-law though she was the youngest. Again not even a bit of selfishness ever crossed her mind. She donned the role of a mid-wife to her co-sisters during their pregnancy. She single handedly cooked for 100 people, when the cook failed to turn up for a family function. She did not visit her mother’s place for a span of 10 years for she has to nurse her ailing mother-in-law. She did all this when she herself was going through the worst phase of her life in terms of health. She was most often than not envied by every other person for her capabilities and her willingness to do selfless service.
She taught me how to shoulder responsibilities gracefully. She is just a phone call away for me when I go through any crisis. She is the source of inspiration to me when I handle the most difficult situations at work. She is the strength when I am upset about having to move away from my parents after marriage. She is the living almanac when I have to start any new venture. She is the http://www.bawarchi.com/ for me, when I have to cook varieties at home. She is Bharathi, my mother. I admire her not only as a daughter but also as a woman.
I have known this girl right from the time I was three years old. She was the scapegoat of all the pranks I used to plan with my siblings. I started developing a strong bond of liking for her, as I started experiencing her affection. I was selfish enough not to have realized it earlier. She did selfless service to everyone in the family. When someone in the family was ill, she kept her books aside without a second thought even while preparing for her toughest exam. She nursed them back to health by taking care of them right from the diet to the medication.
When I was struggling with the busiest period of my life, trying to balance my studies as well as career, she stood by me. She ensured that I had good food at all the times. She always checked on my health and made sure that I have a healthy diet. She did my quota of household work when I had to rush to work, without complaining even for once. She did this without any expectations. She is the right hand to her mother and shares her mother’s work even if she herself is ill. Today, though she has a successful career in finance, she is still the Florence Nightingale and Mother Teresa in the family. She continues to be the Annapoorna in the household, packing lunch boxes for everyone every single day. She was a like a mother to me - caring, feeding, nursing, and again being at the receiving end of my anger. She is Poornima, my younger sister. I owe her a lot and I can’t help wishing I was like her.
As mother and daughter, Bharathi and Poornima, reflect each other. They both have striking similarities when it comes to selflessness. This is in no way an exaggeration in any form. The selflessness in these women - Is it because they are women? Is it because they are human beings? Is it because God made them like that? I don’t know. All I know is that I admire and always strive to inculcate this quality in me.
