"Solace is an achievement sometimes"

Yesterday, I achieved my CGPA for yet another exam (which was surprisingly high). I say achievement because it knocked off my balls while studying for it. Everytime I scored low, the only thing I reminded myself was “dude! 12 lakhs investment, 20 lakhs opportunity cost, still casual…”. But the point is not that to struggle at something which you just don’t like. Why is it there? If it is there, why are we doing it? If we are doing it, why are we expecting a justified result?

I have no answer (still). Compulsion is the only word. At the end of the day, you have to tell your rank/score/cgpa to your fees-bearer. The struggle to dissociate you from that compulsion and be merry in what you like, is pata-nahi to me (I don’t know). How do I strike a balance? Amazing problem statement!

So, where was I, ya…balance. I took a chance this time (MBA is generally the last stage of a long educational career in India) and devoted quite a hell of my time in something else (club activities). Consequently it did me no good in studies/college but at that time, it was giving me a very fascinating gyaan (intangible learning). Friends are assets (no finance lecture will tell you this), but I discovered this asset in just the right time. I recovered my bad scores quite tremendously thanks to garg-kalani-bansal classes (:P). However, my struggle made me take a fallacy conclusion, that to be inactive in my club activities. Later, due to low score, I missed a collaborative Kellogg internship. Now, here am I, nowhere and idle but definitely happy and more contented.

So, what’s the idea to enjoy and chill amidst the state of what I call, directionless wandering. First reason – Sleep, really happy to have rediscovered it. 14/16 hours sleep during MBA inside a garam razai is a natural source of happiness. Movies, seeing them before they actually release is another great source of entertainment. Basically, the failure (the appropriate term considering tangible benefits fetched from my workings) has given me the opportunity to be calm and free. What was not available to you is now in abundance – time. You have bought time by failing yourself; so what it is a loser statement, but it damn works. So you start to score tremendously well without putting much real effort (touchwood) and are more dedicated towards what you like the most. That’s why the conclusion, “Solace is an achievement sometimes”.

ps: liteee…

Love You To Death - isme Ladki bhi hai Kutta bhi hai Supari bhi hai, PHIR BHI BEKAAR

Love You To Death is not that lovely like its title. It is promoted as an outrageous comedy in ‘Hinglish’. I am a simple writer but wanted to make sure before penning my thoughts why they used ‘outrageous’. My local dictionary gives me two meanings of ‘outrageous’. First one: Grossly offensive to decency or morality (causing horror). Second: Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation.

I will go with the first option. Rating – 2/5

Story –
Sonia, a rich zero-size married woman loves her Baby, her doggie and can spend any loads of money for her chronic depression (logic: dogs are no less than men – a pure female perception). Sonia is married to Atul, a clumsy fellow trying to make it a big through collaboration with a Russian arms dealer. He fantasizes war but suffers from lack of male shakti. Moving ahead to finalize the collaboration, Atul needs money of Sonia. But she is intimated by muscular eco-friendly stud, John. John lives in self-made biosystem doing R&D for generating green energy (but still can’t term him as scientist). Sonia falls for her and wants to invest in his ambitious energy project. Conflict arises between Atul and Sonia and the love moved in their life towards death.
There are other plots also (cinema gang, doctor’s song, etc) but the story lacks conviction in coupling the different modules.

Simple Cast –
Chandan Roy Sanyal – plays Atul. He played the role of Mikhail in Kaminey. He has shades of good set pieces (one can even find a bit of Vijay Raaz in his performance). However, the role here did not match upto his potential.
Yuki Ellias – plays Sonia. Movie belongs to her. She enjoys the maximum screen possession. She also contributed in directing and script. She looks a bit too thin on screen (and thus, sometimes you don’t take her seriously even when it is needed). Acting is satisfactory, sometimes over.
Suhasini Mulay – regular. Nice to see a bit of vamp in her here. Refreshing.
Sheeba Chadha & Sohrab Ardeshir – talent appreciated.
Dogs – They too have a considerable presence. Some were cute (Baby, owned by Sonia) and some were huge (Tiny, owned by John).

As a marketer, I can clearly define the problem for LYUD. A confused positioning. The movie is not hilarious, forget outrageous. The movie though does highlight some environment issues and if you are a science guy who used to see NASA videos ‘how they use algae to produce energy’, then you might just appreciate the story. Otherwise, the script is not excitedly. The script should have paced itself faster and brought in it some thrill (something like the movie Shor In The City!).

What works – a different ‘Hinglish’ feel, environment & energy awareness
What not – script, pace, entertainment awareness

SPEAKing PICtures verdict – in the Oscar month, you will surely get better options. Stay alert and keeping watching this section for more.

Smart Trivia – Who do you think is Svetlana in the movie? Guess!