Monday, April 30, 2007

Consciously Numb!

Getting out of the city is always a dream during our hectic schedules. Managing a break from the rigour of our mundane routines is just something that most of don't manage to do as often as we'd like. But whenever I get such a chance I make sure I enjoy it. Other than the pleasure of it all there is so much that you learn about some different people, our own country and most importantly about oneself.

Where ever I have gone throughout India there is one thing that I have noticed. The poor or the underprivileged are actually always more honest than the urban junta that I encounter on a daily basis. For example take the cost of a cold drink out here in Gurgaon. It would be really rare to find someone selling it at MRP, cooling charge is what they term the additional charge. I have been lucky to see many smaller villages along the routes to different cities and never at such places have I been asked to pay a dime more than the MRP.

Also take the temples in these smaller villages. The villagers actually get together and put in their savings just to build a decent temple to come and worship their deity. And we've seen this in Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra.. and I am sure it is the case everywhere else. Now compare this to the tens of lacs spent by people like the Bachans to get a glimpse of the deity at Tirupati.

How is it that people tend to loose sight of the simpler things in life? How can we keep forgetting about basic decency, honesty, integrity and if possible a little bit of selflessness at times? Why is it so hard for many of us to reach into our pockets and put in a cheque to a cause that we care about? All of us with our big degrees and fancy gizmos just seem to have forgotten so much about our country even though we are reminded of it at every signal or crossing in all the cities. How do we manage to turn a blind eye towards so many ghastly things that happen around us? Are our consciences that numb of feeling?

Friday, April 13, 2007

Appy Fizz Jingle "Welcome Back" Rocks

After a fundu Nike "Just do it" commercial for the Indian cricket mayhem, that turned dry with an eary exit, for the world cup 2007 there is an even better Appy Fizz "Welcome Back" jingle doing the rounds on radio. Dunno if they have a telly ad for this as well.

(a lil that I could remember go along these lines)

well its not all that bad
atleast now you have time for one more ad
welcome back welcome back home boys in blue
you went as men
but came back with no clue

find another scapegoat who you can blame...
find a reason something to cheer... there's always next to next to next to next year
welcome back welcome back home boys in blue
you went as men
but came back with no clue

Absolutely fab. Am sure they mustve got this done cheap too since the ad companies are sitting empty handed too. Creativity at its best. Thanks Appy Fizz made my day.


The media company now has the ad on YouTube... Alti-Kool :)

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Indian Cricket needs sportsmen

It may sound cliche coming from me but when India was thrashed out of the world cup 2007 the only thing I could say is "I told ya so". So now that the losers are back in the country there is a whole hue and cry as to what is to be made to get Indian cricket back on track. Here are my suggestions

Cricket, if it has to be called a sport, needs sportsmen and not cricketers who kinda grace the field with their presence and fat bellies (read Shewag and Tendulkar). People who can bend their backs and pick up a ball (read Kumble and all of the current team) and guys who can actually run 100m in less than 20 seconds. Ya i dont think anyone in the Indian team can run 100m even in a minute.

So all the crap being laid out by the crappy BCCI is good news for me. For sure other sports are bound to benefit. I hope they do and I can bet they will flourish even if they get 1% of what goes into cricket.