M.S.Dhoni - The Untold Story: The Helicopter soarrsssssssssssssssss.. :)

 As soon as the World Cup was handed over to Dhoni, my friend and I started to shout at the top of our voices with tears streaming down our eyes like the Angel Waterfalls which is acclaimed as the highest uninterrupted waterfalls in the world. Flashes of the wonderful memories hit me like Roman Reign's Spear! And when Sushanth walked down the stairs, it was as if Dhoni had somehow magically materialized on the big screen to relive the 2011 WC finals once again. Such was the extent of attention to detail he had given to his role that it seemed like the complete consciousness of Dhoni was transferred to Sushanth through advanced medical technology and surgery!

Be it in his attitude, smile, deportment and mien, Sushanth has literally lived as Mahi. It really showed his meticulous commitment and dedication to shoulder the heavy burden as the Captain of Indian Team who is not only an excellent finisher but also an inspiring figure to many people. Born and brought up in Ranchi, the man rose to the highest level of the politics infested Indian Team in a very short period of time courtesy his admirable confidence, astute cricket acumen and his exceptional performances with his willow. And the movie exactly covered his arduous journey from being an aspiring goal-key to be one of the world's respected and renowned cricketer thanks to his school coach.

The first half sped away like a F1 car. Before you know, it was pitstops! And the time was ahead by an hour and half! Not even a single dull moment which captured his early life from his humble origins. Anupam Kher and Bhumika played their respective parts as a caring father who wants a safe and secure career for his son and a loving sis who supports his ambition and gives wings to his dreams. But, it was Disha Patani who stole the thunder from them as Mahi's girlfriend. Despite the fact that she had very limited screen time, her effervescent persona really made an impact not only on the audience but also on our Captain Cool's life.

Unfortunately, it was the romance sequences which also pulled down the accelerating speed of the movie in the second half. MSD - The Untold Story could have also shown the other real facts like his controversies with Lakshmi Rai, spat with Yuvi and Gauti and the IPL spot fixing scandal though his name was cleared. All these would have shown that MSD is as normal and a vulnerable person as anyone else. People may have connected with him better despite the fact the he is one of the highly successful people who had come from an ordinary middle class family whose normal mentality is to have a decent job, government means better!, thus stifling their children's passion and yearning to follow their instinctive desire for their earning.  It happens with most of the kids in India.Why even our MSD was not spared by the system!

MSD - The Untold Story did not consecrate Mahi as a Saint! Other than that the director has given the most positive side of Dhoni which will definitely fire the enthusiasm of the younger generation to take bold and daring risks in their lives to create their lives as colorful as the rainbow. 

Likewise, the director should have recommended the theatres to hand out the tissues prior to the movie's commencement. As there were loud cheers when MSD wore the yellow jersey, my lachrymose was very evident and unrestrained due to happiness when the ball was once again thwacked into the crowds with the typical MSD signature shot.

Annalakshmi - A Sumptuous Querencia that leaves you to come again and again

Annalakshmi had always been on my radar ever since one of my colleague in TCS told me that it is a great place for vegetarians. I was always on the lookout for an ideal opportunity to check out the restaurant given the rave reviews that I had read in Zomato and from what my friends had said. As luck would have turned out, the felicitous moment presented itself sooner than expected. 

My friend and I met here on a pleasant Sunday afternoon to satiate our wolfish hunger. Little did we know what was in store, sorry restaurant!, for us despite the buffet being cancelled for the day.

The restaurant was jam-packed like the peak hour traffic through the arterial roads. It was a good thing that we reserved our seats prior to our arrival. A small suggestion is that everyone get their chairs booked if you plan to visit Annalakshmi during the weekends. Having confirmed our names at the reception, we were ushered into the 130 pm slot for which our engagement with their tasty food was destined.

The moment you walk through the gates, you are welcomed and awe-struck by the majestic Annapoorneshwari idol. The opulence of the ambience is such that you reel under the magnificence of Annalakshmi's decor.  The serene carnatic music gives the precise nonpareil backdrop that complements the echt and palatial setting of their interiors. It was then high time for us to take our seats.

Like the ambit of our discussions which ranged from politics to movies to serials to history to business ideas, Annalakshmi served us with a perfect blend of authentic and a stellar victual that is sure to linger in your minds and be made unforgettable for a while. The menu started with the vegetable clear soup served with the right amount of salt and pepper that you don't even have to search for the salt and pepper shakers.

It was then followed by the crispy cutlets as appetizer along with the crunchy vathals kept in the basket. Once when the finger foods were cleared away by the extremely polite, pleasant and cordial order-takers, the main meal began with a moreish dosai, one of a kind paruppu usili sevai and buttery paratha with nourishing salad, spicy potato fry, paneer butter masala, ladies finger chips and chutneys as sides.

Treading closely on its heels were the delicious pulao, standard white rice with rasam and vetha kuzhambu. We were already full by then when our attendant informed us that curd rice was also there on the menu. After taking a small, quick break, the ambrosia of Iyers was spooned out with 4 types of piquant pickles.

If you think it was over, it was not. The delectable desserts were then brought in - carrot halwa, a single scoop vanilla and Paal Payasam. A special mention to the Paal Payasam as people would normally prepare it as either too saccharine or less sugary. It was divine with the optimum level of sweetness just like how it used to be prepared in my home.

Now, you will wonder whether the cost would be on a higher side considering the rich surroundings and more-than-filling menu. Actually, even I felt that Rs. 700 was a tad too expensive when I saw the price before ordering the thali. But, at the end of the meal, the wholesome experience provided by Annalakshmi is worth every rupee spent on this terrific lunch. 

One Indian Girl - Let her be the ONLY one..!

The 3 Mistakes of my Life:

1. Having read 'Five Point Someone' and thinking that his subsequent works would be as good as FPS.

2. Anyone can have a rough day. The next novel will be better.

3. Will it ever be? Only time, money and effort waste.

Prior to the launch of One Indian Girl, CB had said that this novel was going to be a take on feminism and that he had done extensive interviews to get the character's perspective right. He had also said that he has gone one step further by saying that he has got himself waxed to feel the pain of women. It gave me a sliver of hope that OIG might be different from his previous works and that impelled me to pre-order the book through Amazon. I am not sure whether he felt the pain or not but after reading this piece of futility, he certainly waxed my heart to the extent that my lub-dub was screaming 'Can it get any worser than this'?

CB has always been a bad writer. He has himself acknowledged it publicly and defended that his style of writing is for the 'mass market'. And it is true. It was his simple, easy and relatable kind of portrayal in FPS that made me to expect and await eagerly for the new arrivals as his demotic way of putting things was completely refreshing from his contemporaries. In other words, his enchorial and non-literary way of sketching out the details in his books is, sorry was, his USP. It's been more than a decade since his first novel hit the shelf and people would have expected that he might have honed up his writing skills. Unfortunately, his standard has been deteriorating gradually to the point that it's utterly pointless to even bring up the topic. 

Being an IIT-IIM graduate and having worked in the reputed Goldman Sachs as an Investment Banker, it is a natural corollary that CB would have his own views on feminism. Sadly, that was not the case to be. Other than Amazon's razor prompt delivery, OIG is a trashy take on feminism solely intended only to be made into a tacky Bollywood movie by selling his rights to the highest bidder. CB has shamelessly flipped the definition of Feminism from Wikipedia instead of giving his own touch to the heavy term. The most regrettable and unforgivable part was that he did not even acknowledge that he had lifted it. As I was reading the book, I had an inkling that the definition may have been copied from some web site because of the usage of the words which was completely at odds with CB's style. Never in my wildest of the wildest imaginations I knew that it would be an exact copy (Nice oxymoron, na?) from Wiki.

The synopsis of the book can be summarised as Radhika slept with many people during her career and is full of insecurities about her own identity which she wanted to play it down by being independent and successful in her vocation. On the day of her wedding, is she going to marry one of those men or the one to whom she is betrothed?

CB has written the sex scenes more elaborately than focussing on the feminism aspect which is reduced to a mere two line dialogue at the fag end of the book. No one is saying that OIG should have been edifying or uplifting. But, it shouldn't have been so demoralizing to the already self-conscious girls in our country who may take a bad example in Radhika. If CB hadn't said OIG is centered around feminism, then it would have been just another of his previous work - Open. Read. Close. Forget. But, it is that he had given so much trumpet calls before the launch of the book that it seems now that everything is a marketing gimmick. 

It is extremely difficult to forge an impactful story with such a reality as Feminism. But, it is definitely not impossible. If CB says that it cannot be done, then he should really watch movies like 'English Vinglish' or '36 Vayathinile' where the protagonist defies all odds, becomes successful and gains the respect of everyone with liberal doses of pristine comedy. In this case, OIG is nothing but a raunchy, decadent and provides a facade of entertainment on the veneer of feminism.

Demystifying Rajini's Mojo through the Branding Microscope - Part 2

What is a need? According to Philip Kotler who is widely touted as the Father of Modern Marketing, a need is a state of felt deprivation. I shall lighten this heavy and conundrum definition in very simple and lucid terms - Hunger, thirst, breathing, food, shelter etc without which our survival comes into question are examples for need. Why did I bring in this random topic when we are discussing about Rajinikanth here? There should be a method to my madness, right? You guessed it correct. There is. As Rajini will say:

For the Superstar that he is, Rajinikanth hardly gives his appearances in public - be it the innumerable awards' function that is hosted by different channels in various parts of the globe or any other social event - You can see almost every hero and heroine in the industry flaunting their dresses and sashaying into the arena other than Thalaivar. Likewise, when even his contemporary Kamal Hassan is seen on TV endorsing Pothys, Rajinikanth is no where in the picture when it comes to advertisements ever since he entered the cinema industry sans an one and only cola ad.

                                                         Rajini - the Unseen!

What it really means in marketing terms is that the only recognizable window of opportunity for every die hard fan to savor his majestic presence is only through his movies which gets released either annually or biennially depending upon the film's director and Rajini's health condition. People might think that I am exaggerating a bit but having devoured his films and seeing the humongous frenetic activity that always takes place whenever his movies get released, Rajinikanth is not simply a person. Rather a very strong and powerful emotion that automatically triggers a smile on your face when you see him even if it is an animation.

                                                 The Swashbuckling Castrol Ad

That's what every great brands does. Brands do not sell products. They sell stories. Emotions. Something everyone can deeply relate to, unfathomably connect with and proudly share it to their relatives and friends. With Rajnikanth, the brand and the product are one and the same. In fact, the excitement and euphoric levels are such that any Rajini film is a festival like Diwali or Navratri than merely just another movie hitting the screens.  

Most of the marketers are of the opinion that needs cannot be created. 100 % true but they forgot one essential fact that Rajinikanth exists! Thalaivar CREATES the much-needed NEED to his most devoted and fanatic devotees for whom he is like the Oxygen sustaining their lives! To put it in more relatable terms, Rajinikanth is like what the brand APPLE means to Macmaniacs - the only difference is that with Superstar, the emotional quotient associated with this brand is magnified 1000 times more. I am neither overstating nor hyperbolizing here. There are plenty of people who will actually give their lives for Rajinikanth if such a situation demands and necessitates them to do so. However, the magnanimous nature of the man is such that he does not use, misuse or abuse his ardent fans to fulfill his self-interests.

The ultimate victory of a Brand is the way it can encompass and all embrace its barrage of patronages who flows like the gigantic Ganges into the Bay of Bengal! With enough blood,sweat and tears over his 4 decade long illustrious career, the Brand Rajini has cultivated a thumping great and extremely loyal customer base that has resulted in an unshakeable and long-standing Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) that spans over generations - From grandfather/grandmother to dad/mom and their children and their children who are willing to burn holes in their pockets to watch the FDFS at staggering prices. That is the rousing Brand Equity of Rajinikanth which sends everyone to go out of their minds and be in a frenzied state of delight till they update their FB and Whatsapp statuses!  

Take for instance - The movie Kabali. The permitted price in Tamil Nadu is capped @ Rs. 120 by the government. But, even the not-so sought after theatres were making a hefty profit by selling the tickets at 400 % their base cost. Elsewhere, tickets for Kabali were sold at Rs 500 and Rs 1000 for a normal Rs 50 and Rs 100 ticket. This is Price Skimming strategy at its zenith which will make even Apple to rethink their pricing strategy whose production costs hover around $250 yet charge $750 for their current version of iPhone range of products, thus having a profit of 200% or 3 times.

APPLE's supposed reaction 

Likewise, every marketer will unanimously say that Segmentation-Targeting-Positioning (STP) forms the cornerstone when you launch a product and without a proper evaluation of your target audience, the product will meet its death even before its introduction in the market. In Kollywood, Kamal Hassan caters to class A audience, Vijay to B & C and the list can go on. What is important to understand is that every actor has a particular target audience in mind when they make films to suit and satisfy the expectations of their fans. Thalaivar, in his very own style, breaks down all the class barriers by appealing to masses and classes alike. To just give a sample example, when Lingaa was released and despite the movie did not do well, my big mouth casually asked how the Lingaa ticket sales was to one of the employees @ the then Luxe Cinemas, Chennai. The response I got made my head spin like a Shane Warne's delivery on a 5th day wicket! He coolly replied that one single family booked a complete screen for their entire family members to see Thalaivar in Action! Rajinikanth need not break rules. All the rules break by themselves in front of this man!

If there is something that eludes and might haunt Rajinikanth is a National Award. It's not that he cannot act. But, the way he has positioned himself is such that it is difficult for him to showcase his repertoire of acting skills concealed in his arsenal. In fact, when I was watching "Jigarthanda" in theatre, my mind voice was literally screaming "Aiyoo Aiyoo Aiyoo. Assault Sethu's role should have been given to Thalaivar instead of Bobby Simha".  Bobby Simha got National Award for the role. So, he couldn't have been bad. But, had Rajinikanth portrayed this particular role, he would have taken villainism to all new heights that it would have been next to impossible for any Pole Vault Jock to surpass the bar! Assault Sethu's role was right up Rajini's alley for which he could have easily won 2 National Awards!  Still the slippery National Award is out of his reach and as a fan, I would love to see him don a character role without missing out any of the indispensable Rajini-esque characteristics and walk away nonchalantly with the Best Actor - National Award.

To sum it up, Rajinikanth has carved a niche for himself in the film industry. He is the undisputed Emperor of Entertainment. Everest of Simplicity. Antarctica of Coolness and Godzilla of Marana Mass. There will definitely come a time in future when this star runs out of his Helium and meets his final end. But, he will always be the one and only SUPERSTAR who shines brightly and warms our hearts till eternity.

                                                                    

                                                            X---Concluded---X

PS 1:
There are so much to his dimensions that I couldn't curtail any part. Thank you all for patiently reading the lonnnggggggggggggggggggg blog on our Thalaivar.... :) :)

PS 2:
Any error is the result of my negligence for not doing the due diligence properly on my opinions and facts.

Acknowledgements:
Would like to thank the meme creators and the images that were publicly available on the net that might have provided a welcome relief to you while reading such a lengthy blog. 

Demystifying Rajini's Mojo through the Branding Microscope - Part 1

A condescending and poisonously smiling Neelambari gives her air of superiority to Padayappa when she descends the stairs. The frame shows her high heels in slow motion as she walks down the steps one by one after seeing the greyed Rajinikanth in an akimbo gesture. The haunting BGM by ARR builds up the tension and makes you to think that something extraordinary is on the horizon. Neelambari gives Rajinikanth a quick derisive look when she swiftly scans him from head to foot and humiliates him further by having a chair exclusively for her with the loud snap of a finger. 

The vibrant 'o' chorus antes up the climax of the scene additionally when Ramyakrishnan returns Padayappa the taste of his own medicine after a gap of 18 years. What follows next is not just any scene but something which is truly remarkable and indescribable that only our Thalaivar can do it dovetailed effortlessly with an electrifying, pulsating and goosebumps producing back score by the musical maven:

                          Kindly Fast forward to 1:42 and enjoy yourself till the end.. :) 

I am sure you would have watched not only this breath-taking and legendary scene but also the entire movie umpteen number of times. Still, when you see it even now, you wouldn't be tired of it. Rather, you would think that it's time want to watch it one more time than to read this stupid blog! Yeah. I can see a small smile on your face that extends from your sides. Getting back to business, we will try to deconstruct this man's mystique (What is it with my alliterations these days!) using hi-fi Branding and Marketing jargons. Just kidding!

So, why did I bring in this swashbuckling scene as an introduction to this blog? Simple. Every Rajini movie has a dashing introduction na. 

What is a Brand? A name,term,sign, symbol etc. which uniquely identifies a product or service that sets it apart from their competitors. 

This is a perfect text book definition and the person (Read: Me!!) should be awarded an A++ (Sorry, no reference to C++ here!). Please bury my pathetic joke in the grave with a wreath! 

Just like how James Cameron reached the abyss of Mariana Trench, when we dive deep into a brand's knows and hows, a brand is simply ,in my IMHO, a simple idea. I am sure many would not agree with my view. Each to his own, right? So, let's us work together in harmony now and plunge further.

I am not going to touch upon the history of Rajinikanth where he lost his mother as a kid, worked as a coolie, bus conductor blah blah. You know it already. We will cover the other essential aspects as to what makes him such a tremendous universal phenomenon in this time and age as well. 

Everyone knows that it was K.Balachander who identified Shivaji Rao Gaekwad's raw talent at the Madras Film Institute and pushed him onto the silver screen. So, Rajinikanth is the brainchild, literally and figuratively, of the late ace director. 

What does it mean in real branding terms? Rajinikanth is AN IDEA from the brain factory who had single-handedly transformed the virtually unknown Shivaji Rao Gaekwad as the formidable and famed Rajinikanth. Little did KB Sir knew when he rechristened him as Rajinikanth then that he would unleash a powerful brand who will change the complete ecosystem of Kollywood and propel Rajinikanth to an invincible, indomitable and impassioned stardom beyond the realms of reason, reality and sanity.

In fact, his shades in Baasha was copied in The Matrix. Do not believe me? Check out Morpheus's coolers.

Rajinikanth broke the conventional stereotype that a hero must be light-skinned. It may not be of great consequence today. But, in those days, though it was not a FAIR deal, being fair was a big deal  ..! He looked like our typical next door neighbour - tall and dark - and his appearance had an immediate connect with the masses.

Even a newborn child will say that the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) of Superstar is his style - be it in his gait, speech, actions, emotions and his uncanny ability to flick his hair with so much oomph.

Rajinikanth would be the object of envy of every Olympic Gymnast for the way his cigarette somersaults and lands in his mouth with such artistic grace and poise - the man simply oozes with such unheard panache even now that he still gives his young peers a run for their money.

Not to mention his lusty staccato laughter. He should really patent it! There is no one in the industry who could do it better than him even though the likes of Vijay has tried it in movies like Kaththi, Thuppaki etc, it still doesn't come close to the quick and sharp laughter which Thalaivar reserves when absolutely required like the Brahmastra! It's like the style factor is deeply entrenched in his DNA that his mannerisms appear naturally (Good Oxymoron, na!) on the screen. 

Going together with his humble origins and his extraordinary flair, Rajinikanth sparkles with enough pizzazz that he ensured that we were not only able to relate to him but also resonate well with him to the extent that he salubriously attracts even the current generation into his fold through his colossal magnetic appeal. His Brand Identity was expansively enlarged further when he was given the tag "Superstar" after his film 'Bairavi' in the late 1970s - a tagline which has become mononymous with the man himself and repeatedly confuse reputed astrophysicists when they hear 'SUPERSTAR'!

Turning a blind eye to my wicked poke of a joke, it's no mean task for any actor to be in an industry for close to 4 decades and deliver hit after hit with a once-in-a blue moon slip. Rajini has been able to do it continuously and consistently thus sustaining himself when it comes to his movie openings and box office records. Ticking all the right boxes of brand attributes - uniqueness, relevance, appeal, consistency, sustainability and positioning - Rajinikanth has created a redoutable Brand identity for himself with his uncommon  elan, supreme superstar tag, memorable and catchy punch dialogues like:

The image says it all..! :)

But, identity is just not enough. He has an indelible and adamantine Brand Image in the minds of audiences (Read: Us) thanks to his supreme Brand Personality. Everyone knows who Rajinikanth is when he stylishly enacts his given role to perfection. 

I have not personally met or spoken with the great man. But, from whatever I have heard, written and seen for the past 29 years, Rajinikanth is an extremely humble, down-to-earth, simple, warm, easy-going and friendly person who treats even the light boy on the sets with equal respect. A person of such stature and success - Rajinikanth is truly the epitome of humility courtesy his strong spiritual compass. 

En route to The Himalayas

Also, he doesn't hide his true self in those out-of-the blue opportunities when he is before camera in reality unlike other actors. He is assertive enough to flaunt his baldness, wrinkled skin, white beard and veshti thus giving a bold statement that he is also a human to all the classes and the masses alike  Being one of the highest paid actors in Asia, he could have easily gone under the knife and given himself a new identity. But, Thalaivar is thalaivar. That's why he is Thalaivar.

Our country always loves the dark horses, pun intended. The recurring trope of every Rajini movie is that he either fights his masters and becomes a master through hard work, dedication and commitment (In a 5 minute song!) or the evergreen good vs evil battle. As a natural consequence coupled with his own hardships in real life, Rajini's films are quite inspirational to the ordinary people who aspire to be like their God - at least physically - whenever Rajini brings in a new trend like the 'Motta Boss' which created a frenzied mania amongst many people:

Though his on-screen and off-screen personality are identically opposite (It's Oxymoron time again!) to each other, his mighty Brand Personality is such that it has resulted in an endearing and enduring relationship with his fans all over the world. 

Ultimately, the Brand Experience that Rajinikanth generates is such that you can feel a massive surge of positive emotion in your body like a bolt of lightning that it literally sends you in delirious raptures and makes you want for more of such hyper energy power from the Superstar. You feel as if you are on cloud nine and ecstatically escalate towards cloud ten, cloud eleven till cloud infinity! 

What more does a brand need when it already has and constantly creates (Alliterations again!) a solid and substantial loyal fan base crowding all over you like ants to sugar.

Rajini's energetic aura, his distinct mannerisms, effervescent charisma and larger than life persona has ensured that his Brand Image is utterly infrangible, untouchable and perdurable for all generations to love, cherish and admire his innocent smiles, timing comedies, THAT mesmerizing WALK and the improbable stunts that would make even Newton to scratch his head and come up with a special equation explaining the gravity-defying phenomenon from heavens!

                                       

It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. Yeah, You can try it if you wish to. 

However, there is nothing Rajnikanth can't can't.

No. It is definitely not a cant.

                                                              X--to be concluded--X

Acknowledgements:

I would like to thank my Brand Management Professor, Satheesh Krishnamurthy. He is a Brand Consultant and worked in corporates like Cavinkare, McCann Erickson, Cricinfo, Reliance etc.

Apart from possessing a scintillating and rapier wit, he has also penned down his extensive experience, immense knowledge, profound and penetrating insights into numerous books in Tamil for the benefit of SMBs to build their own brands and flourish in the cut-throat marketplace.

He is also a regular contributor in The Hindu (Tamil Edition) and all his articles are fun, funny yet deeply thought-provoking.

For further details. you can check out for yourself his Linkedin profile at your own leisure:

The One and only

Disclaimer:

All the above opinions are solely mine with the exceptions of the facts and application of the various branding concepts. Any error or discrepancy is due to my mistake and lack of proper understanding on the subject at hand. I request you to point out any such fallacies in the event of such blunders. TIA! 

   

India's MODIsh and Positive MODIfier - Concluding Part

Ever since I had written Part 2 in this Modi trilogy, I have been searching for information regarding the Congress's achievements in the last decade. What I came across was a slew of shocking facts about their scams and scandals since their occupancy to power, not just in the past 10 years, right from our Independence days that would have really shaken the core to the core! I am sure that the sizes of the scams are such that if they are kept one above the other, it would easily eclipse Mt. Everest as the highest peak in the world!!

Nevertheless, the UPA Government had implemented welfare measures like the MGNREGA, RTI, RTE to name a few. I might hear certain people sniggering that those are the only few good things that they had done during their regime. I leave that up to you. However, things started to fall apart drastically with the UPA Government's return to power from 2009 to 2014 which was completely marred by their leadership to take effective actions against those who swindled our economy in broad daylight.

Likewise, Manmohan Singh also had his own share of foreign trips during his staying in power:

2004 - 2009: 35 countries visited

2009 - 2014: 38 countries visited

Note:

"Countries visited" means that he has visited a single country on more than one occasion.

  

The total expenditure for 10 years is Rs 699 crores for Manmohan Singh alone.

The blow by blow account of the money spent is as follows:

2004 - 2009: 301.95 crores

2009 - 2014: 397.35 crores 

Unless, there is a relatively strong, stable, steady, corrupt-free, non-volatile and a smooth-sailing business environment, the investors will think twice before pooling their resources into another country's economy. Unfortunately, our country was plagued by all these factors which lead us to have our Current Account Deficit to totter perilously at - $88 Billion at one point of time in the UPA term. To put some more facts into picture, it was + $8 Billion when the Congress took over the reins from BJP in 2004. Certain individuals really took 'India Shining' to 'India Stinking' in their lust to hold on to power by turning a blind eye to everything just like Dhritarashtra!

Instead of calling the shots, our ex-PM was dancing to the tunes as played by the leadership. My best guess is that it should be Bhangra! But, one thing is certain. He wouldn't have called RaGa to groove on the floor because:

Casting aside my poor dance jokes to one side, all I can say is that the right person of impeccable stature as MMS was exactly at the wrong place at the wrong time. If he had shown a little bit of spine, he could have ensured our nation to be on the right side of the tracks. Sadly, it is not just the Congress but the whole nation which got deeply affected by their indifferent attitude.

Fortunately, the sun is shining brightly upon our country once more in the form of our PM Narendra Modi. Though NaMo is 5 feet 7 inches, he has shown exemplary courage and character when he had to face the tall orders left behind by the previous government. NaMo is running a taut ship that is sparkling high on efficiency and transparency which will give the investors the much-needed confidence and conviction to make India shine again.

Can NaMo break Jawaharlal Nehru's record?

If one person who can shatter Nehru's record of being the longest serving PM of India for 17 years, it has got to be none other Narendra Modi. Charismatic. Inspirational. Transformational. Leading from the front. Full of limitless and abundant energy. Extremely Dynamic nature. Most importantly, he has age to his advantage.  Don't Don't. I know what you are thinking. How can these personal traits alone enable him to beat Nehru's long standing record? You will get your answers soon. 

Will NaMo have a 3rd term?

Yeah. You read it right as Narendra Modi is sure-fire on his way to win the elections in 2019 and occupy the coveted position till 2024. The reasons are pretty simple, straightforward and attributable from two fronts namely:

a) From NaMo and his party's perspective

b) From opposition's perspective

a) From NaMo and his party's perspective:

I would like to know which PM, read Indian PM!, calls up an IAS officer in Tripura and asks him to improve the condition of the NH @ 10 pm. Some people could say that he is trying to pull off a charade by creating a positive image. Is it? How many times has he relentlessly and tirelessly flown from one country to country just for the betterment of our country? Infact, he has transferred certain people of questionable integrity as soon as he had come to power in 2014.

A chain is as strong as its weakest link. He has ensured that every person in his cabinet is accountable for their roles and actions by giving them controlled freedom to perform and accomplish their designated duty to the nation. When you don't have control, command, speed and direction, the ship is like without a rudder. NaMo has ensured that he has covered his bases with dependable and go-to people around him who match his thinking process and execution. It is only when the ministers act responsibly and quickly can we have sound decisions like the plethora of welfare schemes that are benefitting millions of our brothers and sisters across our nation. Infact, Onno Ruhl, World Bank's Country Director in India has acknowledged that India is an economic power. Vast contrast from the position we were in in 2014. All thanks to the resolute, persistent, dedicated and committed efforts of Modi and Co.

b) From Opposition's perspective:
At one end of the spectrum, NaMo is inking deals left,right and centre with the world and fast turning our country into a solid copper-bottomed economy. But, RaGa disappeared from the face of the Earth for two whole months on his personal escapades.

I am not saying RaGa is a bad choice to lead the Congress party. But, instead of adopting a struthious attitude that everything is all sunshines within their party, it is high time that they pull up their socks to solve their fundamental problem that needs to be addressed like what's going to be the vision, their short-term goals, how is it going to be achieved, timeline for it, the right people for the jobs and the most important of all, Can RaGa go heads on with NaMo?

I will bet my bottom dollar, sorry rupee!, that if Modi takes charge of the Congress party even now, he will bring a massive and radical turnaround that they can win the elections in 2019. Everyone knows that's not going to happen. So, I will let my flights of fancy to fly by in la-la land peacefully!

I am neither a political analyst nor a person with active political experience. However, I am dead cert that no one hasn't forgotten the interview RaGa had given The Times Now with Arnab Goswami. He made a mockery out of himself and his party in the interview. He still continues to do so in the UP rallies by targeting Modi, his suits and selfies instead of focussing on what really matters to those people - a better life for them and their children.

Now, moving on to another relevant topic. The one question which hit me like a boomerang last week was: One crore spent for teas and samosas?  This is one tea party which even the Americans would not endorse in their lives!

Likewise, many people are wondering how a single day has not gone where our PM hasn't been dragged into finger-pointing. It's like before going to bed every night, honest embodiment Kejriwal and his wonderful team brainstorm vigorously all the things that they would blamestorm Modi the next day in interviews. The day is not that far when Modi might be blamed for global warming because of people's farting!

Instead of concentrating his time and efforts on attacking Modi, if he had spent his time on worthwhile projects that actually results for the good of the Delhi people would have surely saved him from tweets such as:

Sadly, that's not the case. If I were Modi, I would sit in my room, switch on the TV, sip on my cup of tea, no pun intended!, and laugh to my heart's content on the comedies that a certain empowered person and an extremely fine gentleman wearing Anna Hazare cap does on a daily basis to give me my much needed relaxation after a long day's fruitful work. Unfortunately, I am not Modi and I am 100% positive that our PM has better and more constructive things to do rather than watch some jokers and waste his valuable time.

Because of the deep penetration of mobile phones and smart phones, the people in our country are becoming increasingly aware day by day especially the youth who occupy an important chunk of the Indian population. It would be only prudent that some politicians battle out their elections on developmental issues that can mark and make a significant change in a person's life rather than employing cheap and below-the-belt old techniques like slandering, belittling etc. that is bound to get them nowhere.The era of mudslinging may not be over completely but is almost likely to disappear soon enough when people are slowly understanding that the progress is the only way forward in the long-run.

Considering all these factors - what NaMo and his sedulous squad are doing, how the oppositions are playing their cards, it's very evident that NaMo has bright chances of becoming the first ever PM in Indian history to outdo Nehru's achievement.

Conclusion:
Despite this is the age of Instant Gratification, a person is really a fool if they think that a flower will bloom from the very next day onwards when they have planted the sapling only today. Certain things have their own time to materialize productive results, when nurtured with great care and created a conducive environment, and no human being has the power to make it happen instantly. The phrase 'Nothing is Impossible' must come with a BIG * on its top!

NaMo is exerting tremendous effort on his part, day in and day out, by pulling out all the stops to make 'India Shining' and 'India Smiling' at the same time. All people need is a little patience as the results of his hard labors are manifesting itself with rich dividends that I have stated in my previous and the current blog as well.

I am not sure what the vision of Congress was when they were in power since 1947. But, if they are continuing in the same fashion as now, the Congress dynasty would die nasty! unless they take appropriate measures to clear their clutter. So, all that's left for the Congress is to sit and watch the majestic National Flower of India to blossom our nation to her original glory and splendour courtesy of NaMo's single-minded involvement - A Robust and Rounded Indian Economy that positively intends for the well-being of all the people.

Disclaimer:
The memes have been pulled in to give you the much needed relief from reading a very lengthy blog. So, anyone who has any issues with the memes, please contact its creators as I merely did a CTRL C + CTRL V.

Acknowledgements 1:
I would like to thank Google for giving me the most relevant information like who has served India for a long time as PM which I needed for writing, okay typing!, not only this blog but other blogs in this series as well. I was able to access my desired information - be it images, facts , tweets, memes, photographs - in the shortest possible time without having to sift through the voluminous data held together in the several succeeding search (Gosh! I love my alliterations again!) pages.

Acknowledgements 2:
Last but not the least, I would like to thank you personally for patiently reading and enduring my Hanuman-tailed write-up all this while. THANKS A TON! :) :)


                                                           X------CONCLUDED------X

Iru Mugan - It's LOVEly but.......

When you have a hero as 'Chiyaan' who would pour his complete heart and soul for the character and when you have the ravishing and Kollywood's top heroine as Nayanthara, you will definitely have your hopes soar high like an eagle flying above the skies. What if, just what if, the two heavy weights perform splendidly but with a botched up screenplay? The result for everyone to see and digest is Iru Mugan..!

The movie starts off on the right note with an Asian elderly person who turns himself into a superhuman with enormous strengths and abilities beating the hell out of the police in the Indian Embassy situated in Malaysia. You start to think that a brilliant sci-fi is in the offing especially the trailers visually stating the existence of another Vikram in a very different avatar as the villain. I will come to THAT part later. First thing's first.

The first half really sprints like a deer. Before you can even notice the time on your watch, a substantial interval block runs you over thus engaging you with a couple of thoughts when you stand in the line to get your cold coffee:

a) Is Nayan really an agent for Love and backstabbed Vikram by posing as his lover?

b) Has Nayan somehow survived the fall and forgot her memory?

The answer was revealed very early in the second half. Yes. One of the option is right. But, after watching the complete movie, you tend to think whether the other option could have made things even more spicier in this otherwise lukewarm affair.

Thambi Ramaiah tries to bring in the comic element but it evoked only few laughters till it lasted. Nayan has a solid role in the film and not simply hear the three magic words from the hero, dance, romance and THE END!  She has something to offer on the table and pulls it off with ease. But, it is Vikram who really hogs the limelight from everyone as the rugged and razor-sharp RAW agent as Akhilan and the twisted effeminate Love. Though Love's voice is gravelly and grating to the senses, the mannerisms and expressions are worth every rupee spent particularly the hospital scene which was very close to Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker as a nurse in The Dark Knight. Cold-blooded, remorseless, unforgiving and sadistic - Vikram projects Love to be a character who is to be hated but unfortunately, as an audience, I just did not feel the emotional connect with Love. Instead of playing around in the beaches or imagining a sad song by the hero, time and screen space could have been utilized to develop the Love character so that the missing void was filled and the audience would have appreciated better the smart, able, ruthless Love as there was a definite method to her madness. It was really a witty director's touch to add "OK Kanmani?" when Love speaks to Nithya Menon. Nevertheless, Vikram was ruddy brilliant in his mien and attitude as Love. 

Sadly, the second half was unrestrainedly meandering in its course to stop Love from distributing the dangerous inhalers to other parts of the world. All hell broke loose in the screenplay and I was constantly looking at my watch and groaning when will this omnishambles come to its end. If you want a sci-fi thriller, the screenplay has got to be taut and crisp. Instead, it was dragging till eternity. Also, why should I know the molecular formula of a compound or its workings? Am I going to examine it under a powerful electron microscope and get 'Good' in the record book from my teacher? Similarly, the lovey-dovey scenes between Nayanthara and Vikram were so unnecessary that it disturbed the complete balance of the movie. Not to mention the songs. I KNOW IT'S A TAMIL FILM. But, we certainly need movies like 'Unnai Pol Oruvan' more often so that the story and screenplay drives the film forward and not the masala elements. Likewise, Nithya Menon and Karunakaran were literally wasted away by excessively focussing on the drugs and its nervy effects. 

Speaking of drugs, the director tries to give credibility to the SPEED drug by bringing in historical references to Hitler's atrocities when he was at the helm. The facts could have been reserved for the end credits so that people are made aware of the abominable acts done by Hitler to his own people and not in the middle of the film when it was stemming its speedy, no pun intended, flow. After one point of time, the SPEED drug is used so many times that only the director and producer wouldn't have had the opportunity to use it since the export plan was failed..! Such was its consumption that it produced yawns much faster than the men or women who ingested it into their systems and be endowed with superhuman strength. The SPEED drug SLOWS down the movie especially in the second half..!

Unlike other movies where the action sequences are stretched to unimaginable limits, the only good thing about the SPEED drug is that, for once, I knew exactly for how long the fight was going to last..!