DADA and the SAGA of Rotating Captain

Yesterday was a sad day for all DADA fans , when the horrific and bizarre news of KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS not having a permanent captain for the IPL season 2 was telecast on all channels. What the hell was JOHN BUCHANAN thinking when this idea struck him ,has he gone insane???????

I know experimentation is good for any sports not only cricket, but it has to be in the right direction .I still cant fathom the concept, wherein you will have four captains rotating .One Captain will go for the toss , the other one will set field …this is totally crap.Never in the history of any sport it has been recorded or seen that for a particular game four Captains will analyse and strategise .It will be a hotch potch as every individual has varied insights on a particular sitruation.The team needs a leader whom they can follow blindly ,but in this case team will not be sure what to do and what not …I find this whole idea so so absurd.

I understand that there are times when you need to try out new things , but it should be after consultation with all your peers and colleagues.Ganguly was not at all aware about John’s stupid idea and he only came to know about it through the press.Performance can not be an issue for DADA being removed as the Captain, as he was one of the best perforemers for KKR last year.The captaining skills of DADA can also not be questioned ,as the whole world knows and accepts that he was the architect of modern cricket in India.He opened the gates for youngsters like Sehwag,Yuvaraj,Harbhajan and brought in the aggression and killing instinct needed to win matches.

Where the hell is Shahrukh Khan ,is he sleeping with KJ .He should have immediately squashed this idea of John and as far as I know he has all the rights to do so being the owner of the franchisee.SRK has cashed in on DADA’s popularity in Kolkata and minted money for the franchisee last year in leaps and bounds.Its a clear case of “Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility” wherein Ganguly was the pawn and UTILITY for the SRK .

For God sake you cannot force upon new concepts in cricket during major tournament like IPL wherein the stakes are very high .John should have use this rotating captain formula in some sidey,small Australian Cricket Club in TASMANIA first and than applied it in the Internatiaonal arena.

Today no one knows whether this ROTATING CAPTAIN formula will work or not? For a Cricket fanatic like me, ) I am confident and 100% sure that this will not work and KKR will be in the bottom of the TEAM table thiS SEASON.

I feel very sad for DADA as he has gone through a lot of hard times in the past too and this being another dark episode in his life.I don’t feel he deserves this and I will be really happy if he resignd from captaincy of KKR. Nobody can question the integrity of DADA who has given a lot to Indian Cricket and the game in general .I feel DADA is the DESTINY’S CHILD of Indian Cricket who has seen both the sides of the coin ,immense success and extreme failures.The tragedy or should I say coincidence is both the times when he was in doldrums , it was due to ARROGANT AUSSIES aka Greg Chapel(The Mindfreak) and now John Buchanan(The A.........).

I have been seeing and closely following DADA for so many years and I am confident that he will bounce back.He is like a PHOENIX and an example to each and everyone one of us that SUCCESS AND FAILURES walk hand in hand , what matter's is how you take and handle it.

DADA I LOVE YOU AND AM WAITING FOR THE DAY WHEN YOU WILL HIT THE FASTEST CENTURY IN DLF SEASON 2.I CAN ALREADY VISUALISE IT ,THOSE MAJESTIC COVER DRIVES,SQUARE CUTS AND THE SUBLIME STRAIGHT DRIVES.

By the way while going through the whiole press conference yesterday I remembered that the legendory Shane Warn had called JOHN BUCHANAN a GOOSE ,and he had actually hit the Bulls Eye long back in 2007.

I searched the net and got the article foe everyones reference:

But Warne yesterday claimed Buchanan was a "goose" and his "verbal diarrhoea" epitomised a worrying big-headed culture.
"The only issue that I have got with cricket at the moment is that Australian people and administrators and ex-players and ex-coaches, a la John Buchanan, have got to stop the arrogant mindset that Australia is so much better than anybody else," Warne said.
"Yes, Australia is the No. 1 country in the world but all this bullshit about our players going to other countries and playing, what a lot of crap.
"There is going to be a time in the next two or three years when Australia is tested. Other countries will catch up and they will unearth someone, that's just the cycle, as long as their foundations in those countries are strong."
Buchanan, who has endured a frosty relationship with the former leg-spinner, would not comment when contacted last night.
Warne, whose retirement left a vacant spinning berth, backed Brad Hogg to do well against India in his old role.

Freida Pinto - From Rag's to Ramp

Luck by Chance the title of Zoya Akhtars latest film is fully apt for the biggest export of India this year to the West , Ms.Freida Pinto. The average looking simple girl from Malad (Aamchi Mumbai) is the talk of social and entertainment circuits across Hollywood,London,Milan,Paris.Freida is jetsetting across countries to attend award shows,walking the ramp,giving lectures on woman empowerment etc etc.

Freida who did her Bachelor of Arts from St.Xaviers college Mumbai has regularly featured in several television and print ads.She was first seen on the ramp during the Lakme Fashion week 2007, her 5 feet 5 inch stature made her "not tall enough" for ramp, but Wendell Rodericks took a chance on her. In fact, Freida walked the ramp for Wendell and was so intimidated by the crowd that she scurried back half way. Reports suggest it was during the Lakme fashion week, the casting crew of Danny Boyle finalized Freida as she had a very elegant but simple look .After bagging a role in Slumdog she did a fast track acting course from Barry Johns Acting School (the same person who trained SRK).

What accomplished actors like Aishwarya Rai,Shilpa Shetty and Mallika Sherawat could not do through their top class agents in West , Freida has been able to do it with just 15 minutes of screen time & average performance in the Oscar Winning movie of the year SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.She has poved time and again in the recent past that “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”

I was quite intrigued with her meteoric rise in HOLLYWOOD and did a little bit of research on how is life treating our very own Freida Pinto after the Oscar run.Mind you guys the list and accomplishment are growing everyday :

a) Woody Allen is casting Freida in his next film which will resume shoot from July this year.Allen has given a miss to his favourite muse Scarlett Johnson who has featured in all his recent movies. The yet untitled film will also star Naomi Watts, who's cast opposite Josh Brolin while Freida will star along with Sir Anthony Hopkins.

b) Freida has been on the covers of virtually every established magazine across the globe right from Vogue ,Cosmopoliton ,Maxim .The fashion magazine Vogue has lauded her as a 'style icon' for her fashion choices at the coveted red carpet events attended by her.

c) Freida created ripples when she made an appearance on the ramp at the Dolce and Gabana show in Milan along with Scarlette Johnson who is the spokesperson of D&G.If reports are to be believed Scarlette has developed a complex against Freida as she has not only replaced Johnson in the Woody Allen film but also garnered more appreciation for her walk in the Milan Fasion week.

d) Freida has reportedly landed herself a deal with cosmetics giant Estee Lauder.Freida will be the brand's first Asian spokeswoman,. Previous Estee Lauder ambassadors have included Liz Hurley and Gwyneth Paltrow.As per reports the deal is worth 200000 pounts(that is steep).

e) Last month Manisha Koirala along with her phirangi boyfriend Chris Dorris (Sports consultant) visited the Palm Springs International Film festival.Nobody achknoledged her presence but in the same event Freida Pinto was the special guest .Freida was seen talking to Hollywood legends like Clint Eastwood and Dustin Hoffman.

f) On the personal front Freida has broken ties with her boyfriend of last four years Rohan .Rohan was a constant support to Freida during her struggling days (which lasted just 1 year).Rohan did publicity and marketing for her and even fixed her dresses before the fashion shoots.Poor Boy, he was dumped and as per the latest rumour's Freida and her 18 year old co start Dev Patel are more than friends.

So friends that’s a total account of Freida after the Oscars.She is an example on how your career can grow rapidly if you are at the right place at the right time.Most importantly her recent run can be attributed to only one thing and that is LUCK …Pure Luck !!!!

Whatever the reasons, one thing is for sure Freida Pinto is here to stay and am confident that she will win an Oscar for the Best Actress in the Woody Allen Film next year.

There is a maxim which statesthat "Your achievements in life are directly proportional to TIME and DESTINY ".I can only say that Freida Pinto's Time has come and she is living her life to the fullest.

Best wishes to you Freida ..May you bring one more OSCAR ……Jai Ho!!!!

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS : As per yesterdays reports rumours are Freida is going under knife to enhance her body features…Freida please dont do this ,do not forget that only because of this Body and Face you have reached such great heights…(Remember Koena Mitra and her failed NOSE JOB)

Marketing Mix in times of LAYOFF

Friends, I had taken Marketing as a specialization in my B School. The first book I purchased based on our professors insistence was that of Marketing Management by Philip Kotler. I never read the whole book as I found it to be very Americanized (that’s an excuse).

But whatever limited I read, the one concept which interested me was that of Marketing Mix. I was fascinated by the premise that the 4 P’s (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) are the foundation of any Business model whether big or small. It was because of this Marketing Mix concept I started liking the subject and thought to myself that I had done the right thing by choosing it as my specialization.

I completed my MBA got placed in Tata Infomedia in Mumbai and by that time 3 more P’S got added to the Mix which were Packaging, Process and People (you can get details about this on the net).These new additions in the conventional marketing mix was due to the nations becoming boundary less ,businesses growing across geographies, educated and aware consumers. Many companies started mushrooming which lead to more competition as well as a spur in RECRUITMENTS. As youngsters started getting hefty pay packets the spending power increased and accordingly there was a tremendous growth in the service sector.

All was rosy till the SUBPRIME crisis hit the US market and invariably after that a gloom set in and most of the countries were in the claws of RECESSION .All organizations started cutting cost and most of them utilized the illogical option of LAYOFF.(Its totally ABSURD)

The layoff tales which we are seeing across the net, on television channel not just in India but all over the world really shook me. I was pondering upon what needs to be done in such trying times for myself (tomorrow I could be laid off) and my friends? What are the points we need to focus, whether times are good or bad, companies recruiting or not? What should a individual do to survive competition/layoff?

Suddenly an idea struck my mind, why dont we apply the Marketing Mix to ourselves though with subtle changes. So my friends here is the Marketing Mix which I have devised and which we all should constantly look to follow for attaining our objectives .

ABCDE MARKETING MIX

1) A stands for Anytime Anywhere – We should be ready to relocate and work Anytime, Anywhere. Location now should not be an hindrance. What is more important is your profile. It also implies that sticking to one FUNCTION, INDUSTRY is not needed. Today every organization needs people who are multitasking and have cross functional and cross vertical experience.

2) B stands for Business Web – We should build such a network that we are constantly in touch with our former colleagues, superiors, profesors, I say everyone. Only to remain in contact is not sufficient but sharing your experience is of paramount importance. In the times of layoff you never know whose contact will help you getting a job.

3) C stands for Communication – Communicating on what are your new skill sets ,your profile, your projects and every aspect of your personality is a must do. Nowadays, it is very much possible due to the advent of Social Networking Sites like Face book, Linked in etc. Writing Blogs on varied topics and posting them also communicates to the audience your clarity in thinking and command over a particular topic or ideas.

4) Discovery of Potential – One thing which we all forget to do is analyze ourselves. It should be our topmost priority to see where do we stand in the Company, Industry. What is our worth to the organization? Do I have the soft skills required for the job? What should be my salary, am I overpaid or underpaid? These are questions we need to be answered and improve upon. You can guage your potential by talking to recruitment consultants , giving interviews on regular intervals etc.

5) Education – In whatever stage of Career we are ,prime importance should be given to educate ourselves on anything which will be a value addition to our Work and especially the Resume. Education should be a continuous process, it does not necessarily means a certificate course but also keeping abreast with latest updates . Attending Symposiums, Conferences, certificate courses etc fall under this category.

So my friends this is the Marketing Mix I wish we all follow whether in good times or bad times, inflation or deflation, recruitment or layoffs. After all we too are like products facing the rigours of competition and constantly innovating and upgrading ourselves.

If we cannot sell OURSELVES, how the hell will we sell a PRODUCT?????????

Cheers!!!!!!!

PS – I am continuously praying this LAYOFF SAGA comes to an end

The Power Broker - Amar Singh

Amar Singh the quintessential politician and founding leader of Samajwadi party has set an precedent to the term “NETWORKING” in coalition politics. From a small-time politician to a career in making deals, and now as a super-strategist, and kingmaker, Singh's progress has been spectacular.

What is the background of Amar Singh? Why he is the one of the wealthiest politician in India? How did he develop connections with Bollywood(Especially the Bachchan family)? These are some questions which were bothering me, and I decided to go into details and share it with you guys…………..

Amar Singh started his political life in Calcutta by becoming the secretary of Burabazaar District Congress Committee. He was one of the members with whose help the late Madhavroa Scindhia won against Jagmohan Dalmiya in the BCCI Election in Calcutta. Sometime during his stint as secretary, Amar Singh got a chance to Mr.Vir Bahadur Singh who was smitten by his communication skills and one liner. Later when Mr.Vir Bahadur became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh he played an important role is providing loan through financial institution at 1% to first generation entrepreneurs like Mr.Amar Singh. With this money and his connections with political bigwigs Amar started a factory that makes ETHYL Acetate (Ab Pata Chala Itna Paisa ,Rolex Watch Kaha se aataa hai).

He was nominated in All India Congress Committee by Madhavrao Scindia. With his rise in power and success in chemical business, Amar became the talk of the political and social circuit of Delhi.He was inducted as Director of the Sahara group and many other companies. He got a chance to meet Jaya Bachchan when he was a co member of Central Board of Film Certification and from there on started the great Amar – Amitabh Jugalbandi.

This was a little bit about his background .What makes me sad is that now Amar Singh has become a Opportunistic Leader whose loyalties change in accordance to his desire to remain in power.The Samajwadi Party which is GHOST DIRECTED by him and not Mulayam is playing dirty politics to acquire minority votes and stay in limelight.

It may be recalled Amar Singh was the first person to oppose Sonia Gandhi’s Candidature for Prime Minister Office as she was then “NOT A LEADER BUT A READER” for him in 2004.Now the same Amar Singh has joined hands with the Congress when the Left disassociated itself from UPA due to the Nuclear Pact disagreement.

What really disturbs me is the way in which people are aligning to the Samajwadi Party and wanting to fight for this LS elections without having a particular ideology or vision in mind. Can you believe it people like Sanjay Dutt(Mumbai Bomb Blast Accused), Raju Srivastav (Comedian),Manoj Tiwari(Bhojpuri Superstar) taking a plunge into politics just because AMAR BHAIYA told them to do so.

Sach main Amar Singh has the uncanny knack of becoming the Brother of all Bollywood Stars in no time. Though he is revered by many for his leadership qualities and is politically shrewdness, he has also been accused time and again of many corruption charges. He was barbaric enough to comment that the late Mohan Chand Sharma had done a fake encounter in Delhi. He was recently accused of doing changes in his official residence in Delhi ,which is a heritage bunglow.He has undervalued his assets and has not paid taxes. The list is countless , but still Amar Singh “THE NETWORKING MAN HE IS “comes out with a clean chit on all fronts.

While his state Uttar Pradesh is going from Bad to worse he is busy attending the Stardust and Filmfare awards. I won’t be surprised if in a year, 200 days he can be found in the Pratiksha/Jalsa Bungalow of the Bachchans.Now he has a new address in Pali hill that of Sanjay Dutt who has joined Samajwadi Party after suddenly realizing that something needs to be done for the people of the country (Bloody Joke).

I just hope that Amar Singh uses his intelligence, political shrewdness, eloquence and hands-on, if somewhat aggressive management style to uplift the poor of UTTAR Pradesh by visiting the villages and town there and not the Yash Raj Studios and Ambani residence in Mumbai.

Strange are the ways Indian politics work. One thing is for sure Amar Singh is a POWER BROKER and a KING MAKER.

Cheers …

PS – ONE MORE REQUEST, PLEASE VOTE……………….JAGO RE