Mumbai...

I was at Leopold's earlier on Wednesday, infact me and my friends spent our entire Saturday between Metro Cinema, VT and the Oberoi where we stopped to get something to eat in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Am I lucky that everything happened a few days or hours later? Or was someone else unlucky? I think this has nothing to do with luck or fate but the sheer lapse in security and information on behalf of the Indian government.

Its been a horrific 36 hours and there are still people stuck inside the hotels and Nariman house...Mumbai wears an desolate look..everyone is scared. In a city which prides itself for its MUMBAI SPIRIT, I see fear in the eyes of every passerby probably thinking "am I next?!"

40 terrorists stormed the city with guns and granades, killed over 150 innocent people and injured over 300. The responsibility of this entire episode rests only on the shoulders and conscience of a nation's goverment that is too busy bickering inernally and pointing fingers, rather than protecting the lives of its billion people. We trust these men and women to protect us, we believe that when we step out to go watch a movie or grab a coffee, we won't end up in the city morgue, and what we get in return in a fate worse than war.

The day 26/11 will be etched in the minds of every Mumbaikar. It will take a very long time for this city to heal. I pray for the couls of those lost in this massacre, I pray for those struggling to survive, I pray for those still trapped within and I salute those who have jumped in to save us. I also pray for a better goverment, a secure nation and a country where I dont have to think twice before stepping out my door...

I am angry...angry at the media who established contact with these terrorists and interviewed them via phones, you should be ashamed of your selves!! I am angry at the CM for not having any clue as to what was going on and not even trying to make an effort. I am angry at the PM for not slapping down tougher rules on every state and city. I am angry at human beings for terrorizing innocent people in their so called "holy war"...

I am angry and so are many million citizens like me...its time someone answered our questions...its time the goverment took responsibility...its time this blood bath ended....

Light at the end of the tunnel??

The bailout doesnt seem to be helping...looks like the domino effect which began with 9/11 and the beginning of the worst decade in history since the Great Depression has more downfalls to see before it can revive itself again.

EU has announced a GDP growth of maybe a few point percent for next year, Australia is a mess, US..well! I dont have to say anything and now India is heading into the red...jobs are being cut, CEOs are being attacked by disgruntled employees and inflation is high...so in such a scenario how does one keep their hopes high? Today they say if you have a job you are lucky...so when will the next axe drop? What more?

Its a sad time...and a challenging time...

R Vs D...The D day is here...AHOY OBAMA!

While delivering a campaign speech one day Theodore Roosevelt was interrupted by a heckler: "I'm a Democrat!" the man shouted.
" May I ask the gentleman," Roosevelt replied, quieting the crowd, "why he is a Democrat?"
" My grandfather was a Democrat, my father was a Democrat and I am a Democrat."
" My friend," Roosevelt interjected, moving in for the kill, "suppose your grandfather had been a jackass and your father was a jackass. What would you then be?"
Alas, Roosevelt was thwarted by the quick-witted heckler, who promptly replied: "A Republican!"

HAHAA....ok that was an awesome joke...Not NOT the REPUBLICANS but the joke itself! So I hear many of you out there are busy accessing a wonderful site which allows you to 'vote' for your candidate. It's amazing isnt it, the world has collapsed...literaloly, its now at your fingertips and if you take the econoly crash then yeah, we just got smaller. I have my cousin who lives in Goa 'voting' for Barack Obama, never mind that the vote doesnt count!

The Obama Vs. McCain race has now reach its heated best. The two men are leaving no stones unturned. I hear McCain spent a majority of his time in Pensylvania, a state that hasnt voted REPUBLICAN in many many years...and Obama spent his time in Virgina a state that hasnt gone DEMOCRAT in years. Awesome isnt it??

Now running mates...yeah there one who is running in heels and quiet frankly SHE embarasses me...me woman not me Sophia. Palin as a running mate?! You have GOTTO be kiddin' me! I hear the women are divided on voting for her...please if you are thinking of going REPUBLICAN you are crazy as is...but PALIN too?? GOD SAVE THE WORLD.

So who would I vote for? I am not certain IF Obama will accomplish all that is expected off him and its a scary proposition to be him right now...he is not only under the pressure of winning but also a bigger pressure of what he will do once he is in the White House. His stand on strengthening relations with India gets a star but I worry about his take on outsourcing. Well! As they say, we will know only when he rolls in. I am in favor of a Democrat victory...and Obama is the man who seems to be the one who will CHANGE the world!

Gear Up folks...THIS RIDE WILL BE ROUGH!

Voice - Over: More than just a voice?

This morning while waiting in line for my cappuccino at my neighborhood Barista, I watched 3 commercials back to back with the same female voice-over. The same voice that told me how to turn into someone beautiful and irresistible to men like Priyanka Chopra (by bathing in strawberry's and cream thanks to the new LUX soap), also asked me to use a particular brand of sanitary product and choose a new brand of cooking oil. Isn't advertising amazing?

Voice-over in advertising has been around for as long as radio has been around. The first medium to advertsie your product where you could add some personal touch to it. In the begining, radio stations had live recordings done at-once in the studio, the entire crew would perform live. Voice over artists also performed "live" radio shows or series.

Today there is huge money to be made if you have that sexy husky voice, the chirpy fun tone or the serious scary grunt that can make you want to lock your doors. Many VO artists make good money from lending their voices and some are even preferred and therefore end up doing more than one TV commercial or Radio Spot.

My favorite kind of VO has always been the narrator/character/omniscient character (sutradhar) in movies or TV shows. I like the voice that takes you through the storyline. It always gives me the feeling of seriousness and adds depth and yeah at times intrigue to the movie. If you have ever watched Desperate Housewives (actually the narrative is the only thing I pay attention to when my sister watches the show), you will know what I mean.

But more than the voice, the script, the requirement of a VO, the placement of the same, all play a big role in making the VO play the role of a successful storyteller- be it in ad or movies or spots.

VO's help to sell a story esp in ads...I hope ad film makers and movie makers ensure they keep selling them well...

Of Rave Reviews...

If you want to spend your weekend watching movies, then may I suggest three recent movies that have really surprised and entertained me with not only great acting but also excellent scripts and direction...Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Mama Mia and A Wednesday.

The three movies are all from different genre of filmaking, while the first is an out and out comedy (but not the Chris Tucker, Adam Sandler kind), the second is a fun filled musical extravaganza full of ABBA songs and a sweet storyline, while the last a hard hitting, gripping movie based on real life incidents which is currently enjoying a great stint at the Indian box office. All three movies have one thing in common - great acting. While the male protagonist in Sarah Marshall leaves you feeling a vague sense of familiarity of break ups, Merill Streep wants you to get up and dance (you are ONLY SEVENTEEN) and Mr Shah and Mr Kher have you biting your nails wondering what next...

I enjoyed watching them all last week...as you can tell it was one of the dullest weeks I have had in a long time...but these three movies really made up for any boredom...so if you are planning on staying in this weekend...watch these movies...I highly recommend them...

Hello Madam...BHELCOME TO INDIA!

Picture this, a 20 something girl who has recently graduated from a prestigious university in the US decides to move back to her home country and seek a job in advertising. So she sets up an interview with the country's leading media house and with her briefcase in hand and dressed to the nines in a black business suit, lands at her prospective employer's office. Exciting isnt it? Well after a 2 hour wait in a hot waiting area with no fans (this is Mumbai in May) and no one to offer her a glass of water, her hopes are already on the verge of shattering. Yet, she sticks around, as her father told her, "things are different in India". Finally the call comes!

A security gaurd (read chowkidaar) asks her to squeeze her way through the small gap he has left between himself and the door into the office of one of the senior partner's office. She is now ready to show how professional she is, share her dreams and ideas and what she wants to do with her life. She has spent the last two days practicing all the right things to be said. So in she walks and is greeted with a smirk by Mr. P. The great man doesnt think it necessary to get up from his revolving chair and has his feet perched up on a side table (finally he lets them drop). He asks her to take a seat. The ambitious girl hands him her resume and pulls out her portfolio that she worked so hard on during her years in college studying advertising and business.

Well..what does he do? Throws it back on the table and mouths, "ye sab India mein nahin chalta hai...yahan hindi bolna aana chahiye...tum to hindi bol hi nahin sakti" (Translated: All this doesnt work in India, here you need to speak in Hindi and you dont seem to know the language). the girl is shocked yet composes herself and answers, "Sir, main bahut achchi hindi bol sakti hoon, lekin usse Media Planning ka kya connection hai?" (Sir, I can converse in very good Hindi but what does it have to do with the profile of a Media Planner?). To this he replies (finally in English), " You may have what it takes but I cant see you being able to adjust considering you have lived in the US for 5 years now. India wont be your cup of tea. Why dont you move back? I am sure you dad can finance that too!

Ladies and gentleman...my first interview in 21st Century India!!

Its been almost 6 years since that crazy afternoon and yet I cant forget it. I remember walking out of that office in anger, sadness and despair. If people were going to hold my education against me, what chance did I have on making it in my own country? But make it I did! I owe that one bad interview alot. It taught me that not only should I expect to meet all kinds of people but also be prepared to be judged against (at times) because of my gender.

In these 6 years, I have gone through some interesting situations where my gender, age, ethnicity, education, family background have been used against me...to my dissappointment and suprise (isnt this where INDIA SHINING was a mantra?). There have been times where very educated and senior professionals have come up with the lamest of excuses as to why I am not 'ready' to take on more responsibilities or why I wouldnt 'fit' a role. All these instances have, instead of breaking my spirit, made me more confident and resilient!

I write this entry to thank my detractors! I can imagine what women in the work force must feel...here I am with only 6 years of work experience...I cant imagine what the rest of you have been through...HATS OFF TO ALL YOU INDEPENDENT LADIES...You have my best wishes always!