Photo Nostalgia

 KIAMS, Harihar- First Batch of PGDM. In my youth.

 IMT Nagpur, a few years ago.

 IIM Indore jailbird-present.

 Cool New Yorker, with cousin and family. 1987.

 At Clemson with wife, parents, brother and sister-in-law.

 Chala Murari Hero Banne- play (Waiting For Lefty) at IIMB. That's me on the right. 1983.

 Gautam Biswas and Venky, roommates in Delhi, Vasant Vihar 1985.

Mount Rushmore, with my dad. 1990.

Some Favourite Films

I have favourite films of almost all actors- will try and list some of these.

Rajesh Khanna- Kati Patang, Anand, Amar Prem and Aradhana.

Dev Anand- Jewel Thief, Des Pardes, Shareef Badmash

Amitabh- Chupke Chupke, Amar Akbar Anthony, Don, Namak Halaal

Shah Rukh Khan- Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge, Baazigar

Aamir Khan- Dangal, 3 Idiots, Taare Zamin Par

Biswajeet- Kismat, Bees Saal Baad

Kishore Kumar- Jhumroo, Chalti ka Naam Gaadi, Padosan

Navin Nischal- Dhund, Sawan Bhadon, Victoria No. 203

Dharmendra- Jugnu, Sholay, Satyakaam

Anil Kapoor- Woh Saat Din, Mr. India,1942- A Love Story

Jeetendra- Parichay, Humjoli, Farz, Geet Gaaya Pathharon Ne

Sanjeev Kumar- Aandhi, Manoranjan, Koshish

Sanjay Dutt- Munnabhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munnabhai

Shashi Kapoor- Namak Halaal, Kabhi Kabhi, Sharmeelee

Shammi Kapoor- Prince, Bramhachari, An Evening in Paris

Amol Palekar- Gol Maal, Rajnigandha, Chitchor, Chhoti si Baat

Rishi Kapoor- Khel Khel Mein, Rafoo Chakker, Hum Kisise Kam Nahin

And now, the actresses-

Hema Malini- Abhinetri, Johny Mera Naam, Kinara

Tina Munim- Des Pardes, Baaton Baaton Mein, Karz

Mumtaz- Roti, Tere Mere Sapne, Aap ki Kasam

Saira Banu- Padosan, Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan, Victoria no. 203

Smita Patil- Arth, Baazaar, Aakrosh

Vidya Balan- Kahani, Parineeta, Paa

Neetu Singh- Khel Khel Mein, Rafoo Chakker

Dimple Kapadia- Bobby, Sagar, Dil Chahta Hai

Nimrat Kaur- The Lunchbox

Deepika Padukone- Finding Fanny, Bajirao Mastani 

Stating the Obvious

..and getting away with it, is the full title of this post. You see it happening all around you. Corporate honchos, economists, teachers, and many celebrities, commentators (yes, cricket commentators) keep giving us their wisdom by stating something that is obvious. And make the headlines.

India will keep growing..now, any dumb idiot can see that. At least in population, if nothing else.

The party with the largest number of seats will form the government.

If we have headwinds from US policy, blah, blah, blah,...growth will slow.

If you study regularly, you will score well..that's a big IF, isn't it?

That ball was hit for a six by XYZ..really? Are TV viewers generally blind?

That new Bollywood film is short on Story..Tell me something new.

The TV serial actors can't act (and directors can't direct. Only producers continue producing).

Interest rates should go down/go up. There are only two ways it can go. I can toss a coin.

Don't Frown on the Boring

Boring has a role to play. And so do the boring people. Here's why.

If there was no boredom, you wouldn't know how interesting interesting was..a contrast makes it easy to find out.

The boring people make it easier for you to become interesting. Example- when everybody in a group discussion is silent, you can steal the show just by opening your mouth. Similarly,..

If everyone was interesting, you might find it boring after a while. Too much of anything, you know.

Variety is the spice of life, a wise person has said. Therefore, it takes all kinds...

Hope this was (interesting and) convincing.

Marketing and Tourism

I don't remember the statistics, but I think Sri Lanka gets a lot fewer tourists than other destinations around the world. It has a lot to offer, but I believe prices are on the higher side, though their visa process is very easy and online. Dollars are in use most tourist places, or can be exchanged easily at banks. One hundred and forty nine (SL) rupees to a dollar last week.

Marketed well, it has the potential to substantially increase the number of tourists, particularly from India. Package tours could be one answer, where bulk discounts given to organisers might bring prices down. The weather permits all-year-round tourism, like in many topical destinations.

Many drivers speak English, which is a big plus. They are also professional, and drive well, following rules most of the time (unlike some places we know). Kandy, Galle, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya are some places you can set up a base in and go around. We did it from Negombo beach.

One concept I liked was the Spice gardens which show you a lot of spice trees/creepers, give you  a free head massage for a few minutes, and sell a few Ayurvedic preparations for various ailments. We saw one such. Tea factory tours are also an attraction. A 9 km trail at Horton Plains National Park is good for those interested in such things.

Sri Lanka- Photo essay

 Way down from Nuwara Eliya.

 Long trek in Horton Plains

 The beauty spot on way from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.

 Rocking in Sigiriya.

 Painted earth.

 The long trek made easy with posed pics (above and below).

Book Review- Ghachar Ghochar

This is a book translated from Kannada, written by Vivek Shanbhag. This is worth reading for a brilliant translation alone, the likes of which are hard to find, I am sure.

Its narrator is a businessman whose family gets lucky in a business, and gets rich overnight. Mainly, the story concentrates on the narrator's uncle (Chikkappa in Kannada), his father, mother and wife. Each character is developed from scratch, and their peculiarities and singularities come through nicely.

The impact that the sudden entry of money has on the formerly close-knit family is the theme, and the author effortlessly brings out the breaking of the ties, embellished by the break-up of his sister's marriage earlier (she comes back to live with her family). His own marriage also seems on a tightrope, given his wife's idealistic views and his family's pragmatic ones.

Indian literature must certainly have more gems hidden in different languages. Hope we unearth them. This one is beautifully produced in hard cover.