A Repetitive History

After the Sanjay Baru book “The Accidental Prime Minister” hit the stands and revealed(!?) the dual-power structure in the UPA government, i immediately thought of the only other such political arrangement in my memory – the Shiv Sena-BJP combine of 1995-99 in Maharashtra.

I thought to myself, “Why not think of more similarities between these two governments?”, and came up with the following list. It’s not very elaborate and i am not equating one with the other. The similarity ends with these comparisons, as the ethos and brand DNA of both parties ( and coalitions) are drastically different.

SS-BJP COMBINE (1995-1999)	UPA (2004-2014)
Maharashtra was the most prosperous state when this combine got to power. Didn’t leave it that way...	UPA got reins to power when India was poised to be a global superpower. A decade later, the sentiment is missing.
Their victory can partly be credited to the feud and infighting among the Congress (Late Sudhakar Naik vs Sharad Pawar).	The India Shining campaign by NDA boomeranged. That played a vital role in propelling UPA to power, as the shine was limited to select citizens.
The previous Congress government couldn’t control the 1992-93 riots. The votes were polarised on religious / communal basis.	Latent anger against the NDA for not taking action against the unapologetic CM of Gujarat for the 2002 riots. That translated for Congress in votes.
Remote controlled, as famously confessed by Late Bal Thackrey.	Authority with zero accountability for Ms Sonia Gandhi, as published in the book.
Zunka bhakar centres to create livelihood for its volunteers. And unemployed youth.	Populist measures – rural employment guarantee scheme, rural health bill, FSB.
Went on to rename everything after Shiv Sena icons. And, Bombay became Mumbai.	The government schemes and initiatives were named after icons of the ruling dynasty.
Most critical contribution are the 56 flyovers in Mumbai.	Will be known for the revamp and rebirth of Delhi.
Were in too much of a hurry.	Criticised for “policy paralysis”.
Known for threats and aggressive attacks on media for any unfavourable coverage. Used theory of intimidation instead of dialog most times.	Treats the main stream media like their own fiefdom, throwing them crumbs to divert attention of the masses from one topic to the next.
ENRON	CAG
In the years leading up to the coalition coming to power, political careers of leaders like Sudhir Joshi, were over.	Top leaders like Madhav Scindia and Rajesh Pilot died in unfortunate accidents before UPA came to power.
The memorable event was the Michael Jackson concert.	The biggest party everyone had a good time were the CWG.

Clearly i am no political expert, and this is not an exhaustive list. These are top of mind things, and political keedas can think of more similarities or completely trash my little adventure.  

The point is, history repeats itself. And those who don’t learn from past mistakes have to go through the same mistakes again and again... And again...

Someone once told me, or i read somewhere... “The more things change, the more they stay same”... And right now, we are at the cusp of something special. We have an opportunity to show that we are more than data points and demographics. The educated, urban, employed, tax-paying population needs to be less cynical and be part of the change! Let’s make it count. We need to be part of the change, instead of venting it out on FB updates for the next 5 years. You need to show if you are an armchair activist or really are the harbinger of change.

Please go out and vote. Make yours count.

PS: I must acknowledge the help and inputs from my friends Satish and Hyder for their common man insights to Bombay / Mumbai politics.

How Taxing!!

If there is a minority that never gets represented in the election scheme of things, it is the tax paying population. As per various reports, the tax payers in our country range from 2.35% to 2.99% of population - which is roughly 3 to 5cr tax payers for 115 to 120cr total population!! That makes us tax payers a minority that literally runs the machinery.

Well, to begin with, TDS is cut even before we get money in hand. Then we are taxed several times over when we shop for groceries, clothes, essentials, electronic items and almost everything else. We shop at malls, eat in A/C restaurants, watch movies at a multiplex and get taxed some more. When we fly, we are choked with insane opportunity pricing, and lesser said about the road toll, the better it is. 

So basically, despite paying the direct and indirect taxes, this 3% population has zero say in any policy related matters. These are the people who are parting with 10% to 30% of their salaries. These are the people who are spending money and living a good life. They are also "victims of a good life" and cannot scale down their standard of living.

Yes, i believe in what goes around, comes around. All the employees in these restaurants and malls and spa's and other service industries have a cause-effect relationship on our incomes and so-on and so-forth... 

There has to be a limit to this insane taxation. Yes, we are a country of poor people. A lot of subsidies have been given to make education affordable, and petrol cheaper, and creating opportunities for us. For once, i would like this money being put to good use. Why are our government offices is such poor shape? Isn't that an asset bought / rented / acquired from our tax money? Why are there no pubic loos? Why dont we have footpaths every where? Why dont our city planners develop separate highways and service roads? Why is there little or no communication between government agencies, when new roads are dug up multiple times for cabling and plumbing and god only knows what else. Why can't we have affordable and reliable public transport?  

I really would like to see the tax money put to good use - considering we are paying it twice!! We need these funds to be used for prosperity of this nation. For betterment of everyone. 

Let us not be invisible in our own country. Let us make sure that the money we pay as tax goes in for development - and not in some mattress or Swiss account. This time, keep the thieves out!! Vote for the non-corrupt candidate - no matter how inexperienced he / she is.

LS '14 Elections: One Of Its Kind

The upcoming elections in May 14 are nothing short of epic. The battle lines are drawn, daggers are out. And for the very first time in our lives, there is so much excitement over elections. 

No, seriously! I don't remember the last time when people had become so passionate about the general elections. Everyone has a point of view. Its lovely!! Social gatherings are turning in to debates, meeting over drinks presents an opportunity to discover a new theory, friends reveal a totally different side of their personality... 

And each one of us is presented with a new moral dilemma on a daily basis. 

• Do we vote for the candidate at the local constituency? Or do we vote for a party, so there is a stable government at the Centre?
• Is it too romantic to expect a government that isn't handicapped with coalition pressures? 
• Should we punish UPA2 for not being able to build forth on foundation of UPA1? Has the anger towards the various corruption charges simmered down with police action? 
• Is it time to give the reins in hands of someone new? Has the anger for the 2002 riots simmered down after the Supreme court verdict?
• Are the issues of the masses (roti, kapda, makaan, electricity) still relevant as they were 15-20 years back? Or bringing forth newer issues (women's safety, sexual assault, gay rights) the way ahead?
• Will we vote the stained candidates back in power?
• Do we trust everything the mainstream media presents? Or have we become totally cynical and distrust them completely?
• Are the opinions of the arm-chair warriors and twitterati relevant? Have they managed to generate discourse among man on the street?
• Has the country truly come off age? Will the mandate be beyond the safety of "vote bank" politics? 

A lot of young people are asking relevant questions, looking through propaganda, mining data and being active citizens of this great country. That's an impressive thing. What will be even more impressive is them showing up in April at the polling stations and exercising their right to vote.

If these elections don't see over 75% voting, then i don't know what will. I just hope more people come out to vote than they did to watch Dhoom 3, Chennai Express, Krrish 3, Ek Tha Tiger, and 3 Idiots. After all, you don't have to pay exorbitant ticket price to vote. Its free!!

We don't know the "swing" vote % in this country. No one does. But if is swing comes to shove, we might really be surprised. No one knows what people vote for. IMO, the true test of a Secular country is where the minorities - all minorities - feel safe. I am reading a insightful essay by Sudhir Kakar titled "Colours of Violence" and hopefully will be able to understand the communal nature of the beast. What i have gathered till now by my own experiences, is that the first fight is with hunger. To put it plainly, "insaan ki pehli jung, uske pet ke saath hoti hai." 

Whoever comes to power: Create an opportunities where everyone can honestly 'earn' 3 square meals a day; Create an atmosphere where people can plan ahead; Create a future where people can achieve their dreams...

These LS elections are a fight for the very soul of this country. Reminds me of the wonderful narration from Oliver Stone's "Platoon" where the battle weary Chris Taylor (essayed by Charlie Sheen) summarises his experiences of war: I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy, we fought ourselves, and the enemy was in us. The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days. As I'm sure Elias will be, fighting with Barnes for what Rhah calls "possession of my soul." There are times since, I've felt like a child, born of those two fathers.

(If you haven't seen the movie, rent it this weekend.)

Having said all that, the one question each one of us has to answer before we press the button is: WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR - THE CLEVER MARKETING OR ANTI-INCUMBENCY FACTOR.

You saw that song!!?

The networked digital space offers multiple access points and sharing opportunities. The proliferation of media, affordable mobile technology, and interlinking of internet and mobile, has changed the way we consume news, entertainment, views, literature, music... Almost all media are replaceable, or at least interchangeable and the good thing is most content creators have risen to the opportunity and have made their products available. 

No doubt this has changed and shaped the way we think, the way we live. One might find this experience extremely overwhelming. Imagine the utter confusion of a person who went in a coma in the early 90s and woke up in this day and age!!

We read news on mobile over newspaper, sample opinions on Twitter over editorials, watch the latest soap online. This consumer shift has happened in the first decade of this century... Any guesses whats to come!? 

The most noticeable change that i see on a daily basis (by the virtue of being in the music playing industry), is the way we consume music. Radio is a audio visual medium. We play popular music. Listeners sing along. We play familiar music. People Hum... whistle. Whatever music we play - listeners visualise.

Yes, you got that right. We WATCH music. 

Be it the serene vales of Europe or dames in sarees - music in the last decade has moved from an aural medium to a more audio-VISUAL media. The purists might argue otherwise, but i am convinced that when music is packaged visually, it has a wider recall. The powers-be of Hindi movies have understood this really well - and now the visuals are packaged so properly and bombarded so much, that one cannot escape the perfect world created to put that song in your mind...

You listen to any song for the first time - and you make an image of it in your head. You visualise what the singer so soulfully is trying to put across. You see the video of that song, and then listen to the song on radio - and all you will remember is the visuals 'they' want you to see.

Next time, when you are tuned to the radio, block the images and focus only on the song - the singers voice, the words, the composition, the instrumentation. Let me know if you feel the difference.

Why can't Datta Snacks have a queue?

It's that time of the year, just like the remaining 365 days, when i travel to Mumbai very often. One of the things i like to do during these journeys is to eat at Datta Snacks, which is right after the ghat section. Its a must-stop for most Marathi speaking people. They have excellent Maharashtrian snacks and i recommend sabudana khichadi, kothimbir wadi, and their thaalipeeth. The taste is almost home-cooked - with lot of ghee! As you enter, there is a cash counter where you pay and get food / tea coupons. Further inside is the service counter where 4-5 boys plate and serve food as quickly as possible. The kitchen is right behind through a door. 

Its getting the food that always puts me off. Since they dont have table service, one has to wait agonisingly at the over-the-counter set up, with a crowd of hungry, tired travelers - arm outstretched, the food coupon in your fingertips trying to get attention of one of the boys behind the counter; the other arm holding on to something or someone, hoping you dont get shoved around, lose your balance; and praying desperately that you get your entire order in one go, so that you dont have to go through this nightmare again...

The picture alongside is 20% of the rush crowd. And trust me when i say that the crowd is unruly. The same people who stand in a queue at the cash counter, suddenly mob the service counter like the food is going to get over in the next 10 seconds!!

This blog is not about Datta. Its about globalisation and how businesses - local and international - are "supposed" to be learning and adapting in an ever increasing market, where along with the product and service, a lot of emphasis is given to consumer experience. 

Due to monopolistic situation and location advantage, a certain complacency is seen / expected. But in the long run, some new practices need to be brought in to please the more demanding customer, and pull the business out from the comfort zone. There is no option but to bring best practices to the table. One just has to go to the food court in a popular mall to know how much Indians love to eat. It will be truly unfortunate (for local businesses) if international chains employ the best talent, pick the fast moving products, and bring international touch to the overall experience. 

How long will the Indian businesses operate in isolation? I have gone to food joints that have token system like they had in banks! I have been to thali place where the owner was screaming at patrons to maintain silence!! There is a burger joint in Pune where they proudly have written, "If you want your burger in 2 mins, you have come to the wrong place."

And on the other hand, I have eaten at ice-cream stalls where they have insisted that i sample each one of their flavours. There are local / desi thali chains that have mastered the art of hospitality so well, that you eat two more chappatis just because they are nice to you! There is wada-pao handcart who is a pro at delivering in the car, and keeps the place spic n span after his closing time. There are restaurants that have seasonal menus with their standard one. The list is endless...

Few weeks back i interacted with a process firm (audit agency) that has brought some international learning to their projects in India. Just a fortnight back, i went to Starbucks and discovered Kothimbir wadi with Wasabi sauce!! Right next door to Datta is McDonalds which has adapted its product line with consumer insight and is serving aloo tikki burger (the ubiquitous wada-pao), which is already one of their highest grossing item, and is opening its first all-veg outlet at Katra.

Restaurant business have started practices, set trends, and enjoy huge loyalty. I had no concept that 2 idlis make one plate till i ate at a restaurant! The food joints from my college days, still occupy value-for-money positioning in my mind... But thats not enough. 

The challenge for local businesses is to add value with their popular offering. With growing customer expectations, along with core-competency they need to provide pleasant atmosphere and overall experience. And i am not talking only about food here...

The food at Datta is excellent. All i am asking is, Why cant someone from Datta walk over to McDonalds and see how the zigzag queue avoids mad rush at the service counter, and install one? 

Or start a drive through!??

How will we see glocalisation if we dont adopt global practices?

Resolution - 2014

I decided last week in the last week of December that i will try to blog as frequently as possible. Tonight is the first time i have got little mind space!!

Despite living in multitudes, my romance with emptiness continues. I am going to face my fears and discover more, learn more, share more.
More importantly, i am going to "make" time. I don't remember my last blog and that's just terrible. 

So many things are happening. These indeed are interesting times. There is going to be a lot of things to write about - elections, movies, project at work, health, music, experiences, anecdotes, learning, interactions with wise people, trends, people, culture, philosophy, parents guilt tripping, neighbours, boring housing society meetings, travel, performance of my car, media, food, criminal cases, Supreme court interventions, cab drivers, vocabulary of my niece, the PhD program, meet ups, my point of view on facial hair, conspiracy theories, intolerance, and of course, insipid boring blogs.

Couple of weeks back i had an interesting chat with some close friends about change. I was missing who i was 10 years back. The intensity and the suddenness of the longing took me by surprise. What did i start out as? Who have i become? Am i scared to accept who i have become? Well, that's what i am going to figure out! 

Have a wonderful 2014 everyone... And i hope your journey is as interesting as what you set out to discover!!

Marathi Movies - an overview

April 19, 2013 is not just another Friday. For most of us the weekend will begin, party plans will be made, throw in a movie, dinner, and finally, brace for the new week. However, for those associated with the Marathi movie business - directly or indirectly, tomorrow is a monumental day!! In a first of sorts, SIX Marathi movies are releasing tomorrow! Yes, you read it right - SIX Marathi movies are releasing together.

I do not say it with pride. Not at all. In fact, i want to draw your attention to the sorry state of our movies.

Before i do that, I just want to list down names of some of the people associated with these six movies, so you know these movies are not just some random efforts: Mohan Agashe, Smita Talwalkar, Suhas Joshi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Pallavi Joshi, Satish Alekar, Yashwant Dev, Sachin Khedekar, Mrunal Kulkarni, Reema Lagoo, Pratiksha Lonkar, Mohan Joshi, Milind Gunaji, Vijay Kuvalekar, Sharad Ponkshe, Shirirang Godbole, Guru Thakur, Gajendra Ahire, Subodh Bhave, Trupti Bhoir, Kishore Kadam, Subodh Bhave, Suhas Palshikar, Satish Pulekar, Kishori Shahane, Sunil Barve, Milind Lele, Vibhawari Deshpande, Shubhankar Atre, Harshad Rajpathak, Neha Joshi, Siddharth Chandekar, Kishore Belekar, Umesh Kamat, Priyanka Yadav, Swapnil Rajshekhar, Supriya Karnik, Ashalata Vabagavkar, Suhasini Deshpande and also marks the Marathi debut of Ashutosh Rana.

As you can imagine, for the last couple of weeks there is a fierce competition among these films for viewer attention, availability of screens to project their work, and of course, to get actual patrons who will come and pay to watch the movie. I like competition; i have nothing against it. I have a problem with unfair competition.

Maharashtra has the unique problem where regional movies have been marginalised due to Hindi movies. They share the same production studios, editing set up, mixing studios, censor certification queues, marketing space, screen availability and then fight to get people to watch the movies. It is safe to assume the economies of the Hindi movies are far larger than those of regional one. A Marathi movie cannot compete with the Hindi movie for outdoor costs, or marketing plans, or media plugs. In my estimate, a Marathi movie with good cast and top notch crew can be made, with just the marketing budget of a Hindi movie!

All this talk of "return of golden era" and "revival" of Marathi movies is nonsense. Just because few films win National awards and are screened in international film festivals, doesn't mean all our films are wonderful. We have gone on too long saying that "content" is hero in our films. Seriously, we have some really really bad movies. Bad enough to question why it was made and what did the producer achieve by putting in all that money. Barring couple of movies with a good content, and few with bearable content, we have to accept that largely, our content is poor. If the content is good, there is a lot of mouth-to-mouth publicity. Do you remember the last Marathi movie that created that kind of buzz??

From what i know, about 120 movies got censor certification in 2012, and approx 90 got commercial release. I am very sure that 90% movies lost money. Less than 5% would have been profitable. And i could be wrong, so lets do a simple experiment. Out of the approximately 90 movies that released from Jan-Dec 2012, i want you to name 15 of them. I doubt you can do that, even if your mother tongue is Marathi. And there is a reason for that - "lack of visibility". 

Our film business is unorganised. We have not been able to plan our schedules effectively. We have not learned from the Hindi movies which happen and release alongside ours. The simple model is to keep a tight production budget, follow marketing time line and have specially allocated funds for that, let the music play out happen for at least a couple of months, fix the release date and then do the final run. But how often does this happen?

Why don't we see posters of Marathi movies in cinema halls a week after the mahurat shot is taken? Let it release after one year, but every time i go to the cinema hall, i will see that poster. It will generate some curiosity in my mind. Or i will at least be aware that there is such a movie thats coming!!

I want offer my point of view to 3 concern areas: State, Stars, and Screens. 


State:
There is something intrinsically wrong with the Maharashtra State government Subsidy program to promote Marathi movies. I suggest you read http://www.filmfed.org/e-tax2.html and tell me how will it benefit the industry. The subsidy ranges from 5L to 30L, depending on various factors. Allegations keep flying on what producers have to do, to get their subsidy. I am not okay with this subsidy model as it is only making sure the producer doesn't lose money. It is a superficial bandage. The problem runs deep down. Marathi industry needs to deliver good movies, consistently, for at least 10-15 years, and create a brand of themselves. That way, not only Marathi speaking, but everyone who wants to watch quality movies will come to the cinema hall. This subsidy model is not addressing that, and hence is not meaningful.

First, our industry survives on first-time producers, who are ignorant about content and costs. And once they burn their fingers, they say good-bye for good. How does this subsidy help? Well, it only helps the people who are in the business of making money off the subsidy. These guys don't care about quality content. They just want to keep making movies in 15-20L budget and continue getting 30L subsidy. 

Secondly, The government has a million other things to do. Why will a cultural dept be bothered about Marathi movies? I am sure that is not the only cultural activity on their desk! Ok, may be i am being a little harsh, so let me get to my original question: How does this subsidy help to get viewers? 

Hence, in my opinion, the pressure is on the government to offer this subsidy in a more sensible manner. We all agree that if the content is good, audiences will come in. Every year, some of our movies are truly original, choose progressive topics and have an unique approach. All the government has to do, is give the push in the right direction. 

For example, let the subsidy come in form of advt space. Allow Marathi movie advertisements in the Marathi newspapers at DAVP rates. That way, people will at least know there is such a movie, and there is a chance that some more people will do watch it. Offer discounted rates for shooting; give subsidy on the cans; waive off costs at the editing and mixing studio. Do everything that will help the team to focus on making good content, instead of worrying about costs. Someone had even suggested that the govt should give movie passes to govt employees and their families, so there is assured viewership! 

Frankly, they should incentivise the subsidy. Give the subsidy money only to those movies that are running to packed houses!! Reward movies that are recognised at State and National levels.




Stars:
Do we really have them? Yes, we do. Refer to the list of people associated with the six movies releasing tomorrow. (Stars is an open term for those on-screen and those behind the camera.) We have stars in two extremes - those who are extremely inaccessible, and those who are seen shopping for vegetables in the bazaar! Most of our Marathi stars have scaled their way to where they are - from college plays, to amateur theatre, and their work can be sampled in theatre, TV and films, and they effortlessly rule all these mediums! Because they do a variety of work, it is difficult to "brand" them.

Let me give an example. Think of Akshay Kumar. Or Vidya Balan. Or Ranbir Kapoor. Even Marathi manoos, Ritiesh Deshmukh. They evoke certain imagery. They have a brand. I associate certain qualities with them. What do any 3 Marathi stars of your choice, make you think of? Again, we have two ends of the spectrum - either we have sultans of slapstick or we have actors who do serious stuff. 

Yes, as i write i am feeling that this is a difficult subject to tread, but it must be done.

Perhaps comparing to Hindi stars is a mistake. Let us take examples of regional cinema of north, south or east. Do we have a Marathi equivalent of Ravi Kishen and Manoj Tiwari? Can any of our stars outshine Mohan Lal, Mammoty, and Prithviraj or Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna, or Dev and Jeet? Do people throng to watch anyones movies, like they do for Rajnikant, Kamal Hasann, Vikram and Suriya?

Trust me, i would love to be proven wrong. I am not even asking for the OTT love for matinee idols and temples. I simply seek fans who wait for weeks to watch the first-day-first-show of their favourite Marathi star - be it actor, director, music composer, singer.

I think its a two pronged issue with "projection" of an image and aversion to limelight. Some of our stars are so selective, and so media shy, that at times you doubt if they really are in the media business! Interacting with the media (even to make "just" an appearance), is part of their job description. Public figures cannot be reclusive hermits, who talk to media only when their movies are coming out. A continuous dialog with the audience is necessary for the viewer to "want" to go and watch the movie of their favourite star. Along with the entertainment value, an audience goes for an experience to see their matinee idol do silly stuff, romance, suffer, fight, come out victorious. They identify with the character, they aspire to be like the person on screen.  If as a viewer, i don't know the star, and i don't identify with that person, why will i spend money to go watch the movie?

Bottom line is, a person go to watch much more than a movie. Do our stars offer them that?

Screens:
It is unfortunate that six movies have to release together (in the middle of IPL) and every weekend from then, we will have Marathi movies jostling for space till end of monsoon. It is even more unfortunate that from Eid till New Year weekend the big banner Hindi movies release, and they block all the screens. Well, the State govt earns much more entertainment tax from the Hindi movie business. Why should it care if Marathi films don't get screens?

The Hindi movie business has shown us that "quality" is easily replaced with a "marketing blitzkrieg" and multiple screens. I don't think we should go down that way. There might be no room for us to make a come back from!

What we need to figure out is, how can we get more screens for our films. Our cities are early morning rising cities. Why don't we start 8 am show on Saturday and Sunday for Marathi films? There are so many drama theatres that go empty on weekdays. Perhaps, they can set up some satellite transmission system and project movies. Well, that may be an expensive enterprise...

The problem i think is not that much of screens, as it is of viewers. We miserly people will wait one or two months for the movie to come on TV, instead of going to watch it in a cinema hall. Especially Marathi films.

So, best case scenario, don't wait to get screens. Release the movie on television!! A television premiere will get far more audiences than the number of people in cinema halls. Imagine how many cinema halls you have to fill, when you can reach 30L viewers on TV in one go!! That requires certain amount of guts and huge risks from content acquisition teams, which seems little difficult as of now.

The whole thing just boils down to one thing. The Marathi movies are sandwiched between a cash rich Hindi industry and a disloyal audience. How the Marathi film industry evolves from here, will define the fate of regional cinema across the country. The fight is not with extraordinary content. It is with a carefully marketed product... And that's what we all need to remember.

Epilogue: In the past few months, i have had the privilege of interacting with some interesting people from the Marathi movie business, who have greatly helped in shaping my thoughts for this post. To all of them, i am very grateful.

PS: By the time i posted this blog, the 6th movie dropped out due to "technical problem" and is now postponed to 26 April, where another Marathi movie made by a well respected banner is releasing.