All advertisers seem to have an Italian fixation these days. So many advertisements on TV these days with the dialogue including pronounced Italian accents and as time moves on, they seem to be evolving.
Stage 1 - Not much dialogue in the ad but has a distinct Italian flavour. Eg: The Hide and Seek biscuit ad. with Hrithik Roshan aka Mario and the sexy Italian girl. The setting is distinctly Italian and is confirmed by the couple of sentences the girl's father speaks. Hrithik remains quiet through the ad doing what he does best - looking good and getting all the girls.
Stage 2 - Lot of dialogue, but all pseudo-Italian. For Eg: The Sunfeast Pasta Treat ad with Shah Rukh Khan and the cute kids. The mantra of this ad. is just to end all words with an 'o' and there you have it! Authentic Italian speak. So Shah Rukh sells Pasta Italian'o' with tomato and corn'o' and jumps'o' and prances'o' and the kids are very happy'o'
Stage 3 - Lots of dialogues and this time with real Italian words. Eg: The new Bingo ad selling Nimbu Achar chips. Yeah, the one with learning Tamil with 'Vaango' , 'Poongo' is gone (Although even this can qualify as Italian for the uninformed). So this ad, teaches the viewer many Italian words and ends with Bingo - of course!
So, what can we expect next? Ads completely in Italian? Bring them on I say - just make sure that hot Italian guys hog screen space and I'll watch.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Something I never understand..
So, I've been watching Discovery Travel and Living a lot these days. Its one of those channels you can watch all day. They have an interesting mix of programmes and I think its a great way to pass one's time. However, there is something I have always noticed -
The anchor is travelling to some part of the globe and invariably gets hold of a 'native' to stir up their local speciality. So, the anchor stands around with the native, calls out the list of ingredients (for the viewers) and makes small talk with the cook. Cut to when the dish is getting completed and she will open the lid of the pot and go.."WOW! Can you smell that? I just can't wait" and rub her hands excitedly. Cut to when its tasting time - she will put one spoonful/forkful in her mouth and go "ummmmmmm, delicious, awesome!". Always! even if she is fed dung! How come the anchors never ever come across food that they don't particularly like, something that will not send them into paroxysms of delight. I wish my cooking turned out like this.
This is what I can never understand. Why are they so fake about this?
The anchor is travelling to some part of the globe and invariably gets hold of a 'native' to stir up their local speciality. So, the anchor stands around with the native, calls out the list of ingredients (for the viewers) and makes small talk with the cook. Cut to when the dish is getting completed and she will open the lid of the pot and go.."WOW! Can you smell that? I just can't wait" and rub her hands excitedly. Cut to when its tasting time - she will put one spoonful/forkful in her mouth and go "ummmmmmm, delicious, awesome!". Always! even if she is fed dung! How come the anchors never ever come across food that they don't particularly like, something that will not send them into paroxysms of delight. I wish my cooking turned out like this.
This is what I can never understand. Why are they so fake about this?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Bangalore Mirror
"'Bangalore Mirror'. An all-colour morning daily that cuts through the clutter to give news the way readers like it — crisp, pointed, and in a language they speak. Says Bangalore Mirror editor KR Sreenivas "We'll tell stories with a spirit of fun; we'll expose political fraud, highlight civic issues, crusade against denied justice — in short, issues that anger readers. But we'll do it all without 'gyaan' or 'fluff'."
So, when they say they cut through the clutter, they mean exactly that. They cut it all out, make a pretty little collage out of it and call it - The Bangalore Mirror.
So, the editor says, this is not a paper that promotes hypocrisy but one that tells it like it is. Shouldn't he then be calling a spade a spade? What is all this I see on the Times of India about how the group has recently launched a "Compact newspaper" - whatever that means! Call it a tabloid because that's what it is!!!.
When I picked up the papers from my doorstep a couple of days ago, to my surprise, I saw a complimentary copy of the Bangalore Mirror there. So, as curiosity would have it, it read it although I'm not sure if you can call it a read. Maybe I just looked at the pictures and let me tell you the content leaves you so breathless (and I don't mean this is a nice way), I couldn't even finish the entire paper! Just to give you a flavour here are some of the topics covered:
Headlines - How Bangalore is warming up. Shock. Horror! Anyone living here will tell you, for the last few weeks we have seen nothing but pleasant weather. Some days being actually cold!
Some little piece on "Suicide in the name of love"
Another piece on car napping (Maybe the only interesting read in the 40 odd pages)
One on how bragging loudly in a club about your wealth can get your children kidnapped, as a businessman in Koramangala recently discovered to his surprise. Apparently he's never heard about keeping quiet about his wealth.
And yes, a good smattering of pictures of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and the like. But of course.
The only thing I have to say is, if Bangalore Mirror is going to publish all this in the future, are they then going to leave the Times of India alone and do away with Bangalore Times all together. That will be such a great service to community. Then, I won't even mind if they call it a compact newspaper. I no see, I no care.
Hope is dim though. I could tell you about a dozen articles and stories that were common between the Bangalore Mirror and the Times on this particular day that I read both papers. I will keep hope alive though. Can one look forward to anything otherwise!?
So, when they say they cut through the clutter, they mean exactly that. They cut it all out, make a pretty little collage out of it and call it - The Bangalore Mirror.
So, the editor says, this is not a paper that promotes hypocrisy but one that tells it like it is. Shouldn't he then be calling a spade a spade? What is all this I see on the Times of India about how the group has recently launched a "Compact newspaper" - whatever that means! Call it a tabloid because that's what it is!!!.
When I picked up the papers from my doorstep a couple of days ago, to my surprise, I saw a complimentary copy of the Bangalore Mirror there. So, as curiosity would have it, it read it although I'm not sure if you can call it a read. Maybe I just looked at the pictures and let me tell you the content leaves you so breathless (and I don't mean this is a nice way), I couldn't even finish the entire paper! Just to give you a flavour here are some of the topics covered:
Headlines - How Bangalore is warming up. Shock. Horror! Anyone living here will tell you, for the last few weeks we have seen nothing but pleasant weather. Some days being actually cold!
Some little piece on "Suicide in the name of love"
Another piece on car napping (Maybe the only interesting read in the 40 odd pages)
One on how bragging loudly in a club about your wealth can get your children kidnapped, as a businessman in Koramangala recently discovered to his surprise. Apparently he's never heard about keeping quiet about his wealth.
And yes, a good smattering of pictures of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and the like. But of course.
The only thing I have to say is, if Bangalore Mirror is going to publish all this in the future, are they then going to leave the Times of India alone and do away with Bangalore Times all together. That will be such a great service to community. Then, I won't even mind if they call it a compact newspaper. I no see, I no care.
Hope is dim though. I could tell you about a dozen articles and stories that were common between the Bangalore Mirror and the Times on this particular day that I read both papers. I will keep hope alive though. Can one look forward to anything otherwise!?
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Bangalore has arrived!
So, here I was carrying on with life as usual and then there were these moments; moments that seem out of your average movie - you know, where the principal charater experiences this moment of realisation (along with assorted drumbeats and flashbacks). I just realised how things have changed, in namma Bengaluru.
Cut to moment 1, scene 1- Was getting my daily caffeine fix and standing on the portico in front of my house when I witnessed he following scene - an old newsaper guy- the kind that buys your stack of newspapers for 10 bucks so he may sell it to the recycler, has dumped his regular cargo and viola! a computer monitor nicely strapped up to the carrier of his bicycle! Looks like the transaction just took place. Our neighbours have sold a computer monitor to the kabadiwaala. Talk about moving up the value chain!
Moment 2, scene 2- I saw a stretch limo today! Right here, on the road next to the park near my house. A Ford Endevour lovingly cut up, and joined back with a kilometer of metal in between! Please correct me, but I for one have not seen a stretch limo in India ever.
Has Banglore arrived or what?!
Cut to moment 1, scene 1- Was getting my daily caffeine fix and standing on the portico in front of my house when I witnessed he following scene - an old newsaper guy- the kind that buys your stack of newspapers for 10 bucks so he may sell it to the recycler, has dumped his regular cargo and viola! a computer monitor nicely strapped up to the carrier of his bicycle! Looks like the transaction just took place. Our neighbours have sold a computer monitor to the kabadiwaala. Talk about moving up the value chain!
Moment 2, scene 2- I saw a stretch limo today! Right here, on the road next to the park near my house. A Ford Endevour lovingly cut up, and joined back with a kilometer of metal in between! Please correct me, but I for one have not seen a stretch limo in India ever.
Has Banglore arrived or what?!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Exams!
So, how many of you break out in a cold sweat when you hear the dreaded word. How many times do you relive those moments.. ah precious moments!, the dread, the anticipation, the good 'ol shiver in the spine, and why oh why do these host of butterflies make your stomach their home?
I wrote one of these exam things recently. They are such an integral part of your student life that you end up going thro' the motions, just like everyone else. Hell! the whole thing was almost normal. Every summer, with the sweltering heat and the promise of summer holidays and mangoes to cheer you on when you learn to rote that one last topic on the plinth area of the - 'something or the other temple' built in 1056 AD.
Nothing changes.
Now, however, I did pay some attention to the environment - to the people around and what they were up to in that last half an hour when you are forced to enter the examination hall and sit down, but no sirree , the exams don't start. Not yet.
Lets look around. There are about a hundred people in the room. About 50 of them, with tikkas and assorted colourful material on their forehead - those are the ones wearing their prayer on their forehead, quite literally. I'm sure after breaking about 10 coconuts at the temple, hope soars with every extra one offered to god. Its almost time! I should meditate, collect my thoughts if you will. Oh but I can't. One of those eager beaver bunches have just gathered up two desks away. Confidently throwing out formulae at each other. Its a competition, the one who recites the most in number and in the tone most audible wins! Tough call - they were all loud, they were all winners.
What is that rhythmic drumming I hear. Oh the lady next to me who decides to gainfully employ herself by drumming on the desk. Rocking new beat that one, accompanied by at least a dozen people tapping their feet. Rhythm you say? Nervousness I say. Get over your nervousness. Shake your leg baby!
There's of course this guy on the other side of my desk. Lets see, 1,2,3... 10 pencils, 2 pens, 2 calculators, 3 Snickers bars (for when the fainting fit threatens to come I presume), one large hand kerchief, a bottle of water... Who can take risks? Always have plan A,B and C ready. What's this I see though? oh yeah! no space left on the desk to keep the question and answer sheet. I feel sorry for you buddy.
Where was I though? Hmm collecting my thoughts, meditating, but help! My mind , its empty! Horror horror, what about my exams, what about all those days spent with my nose to the books? All to naught? Wait, I see a sliver of a tought entering my mind. I smile. Its a song! beedi jalaile la la la - the last song on the radio on my way to the exam center. It hate it , yet it stays on in my head with dogged determination. I have to hum it. Will it then go away? No it wont. Now, I'm the one getting stared at. Horror!
Oh god! make me invisible. I want to be a million miles away.
HELP!
Trrrrrrrring. It starts.
I wrote one of these exam things recently. They are such an integral part of your student life that you end up going thro' the motions, just like everyone else. Hell! the whole thing was almost normal. Every summer, with the sweltering heat and the promise of summer holidays and mangoes to cheer you on when you learn to rote that one last topic on the plinth area of the - 'something or the other temple' built in 1056 AD.
Nothing changes.
Now, however, I did pay some attention to the environment - to the people around and what they were up to in that last half an hour when you are forced to enter the examination hall and sit down, but no sirree , the exams don't start. Not yet.
Lets look around. There are about a hundred people in the room. About 50 of them, with tikkas and assorted colourful material on their forehead - those are the ones wearing their prayer on their forehead, quite literally. I'm sure after breaking about 10 coconuts at the temple, hope soars with every extra one offered to god. Its almost time! I should meditate, collect my thoughts if you will. Oh but I can't. One of those eager beaver bunches have just gathered up two desks away. Confidently throwing out formulae at each other. Its a competition, the one who recites the most in number and in the tone most audible wins! Tough call - they were all loud, they were all winners.
What is that rhythmic drumming I hear. Oh the lady next to me who decides to gainfully employ herself by drumming on the desk. Rocking new beat that one, accompanied by at least a dozen people tapping their feet. Rhythm you say? Nervousness I say. Get over your nervousness. Shake your leg baby!
There's of course this guy on the other side of my desk. Lets see, 1,2,3... 10 pencils, 2 pens, 2 calculators, 3 Snickers bars (for when the fainting fit threatens to come I presume), one large hand kerchief, a bottle of water... Who can take risks? Always have plan A,B and C ready. What's this I see though? oh yeah! no space left on the desk to keep the question and answer sheet. I feel sorry for you buddy.
Where was I though? Hmm collecting my thoughts, meditating, but help! My mind , its empty! Horror horror, what about my exams, what about all those days spent with my nose to the books? All to naught? Wait, I see a sliver of a tought entering my mind. I smile. Its a song! beedi jalaile la la la - the last song on the radio on my way to the exam center. It hate it , yet it stays on in my head with dogged determination. I have to hum it. Will it then go away? No it wont. Now, I'm the one getting stared at. Horror!
Oh god! make me invisible. I want to be a million miles away.
HELP!
Trrrrrrrring. It starts.
Monday, June 4, 2007
It starts
Well, here I am blogging finally! I wonder why I never did this before, but then again I do know.
Without boring anyone with the details, suffice to say now's as good a time as any!
Of couse the last time I wrote was wayyy back in my school days but I won't disappoint you. I always got stars from my english teacher :-).
Without boring anyone with the details, suffice to say now's as good a time as any!
Of couse the last time I wrote was wayyy back in my school days but I won't disappoint you. I always got stars from my english teacher :-).
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