The big way to succeed

I always respected people for their innovative ideas which most of them called - Juggad. And I always thought Jugaad was limited to our country and that too particularly to our areas only. But I was wrong because Jugaad is increasingly accepted as a management technique and is recognized all over the world as an acceptable way of making things in your desired favor. Since Jugaad has special value in cultural, religious, economical, political, social and scientific circles in our country, we should give it more importance. People having support of Jugaad can reach to the heights of Everest without the support of Oxygen but people not having Jugaad, will not make a news item even if they fell from Everest.  

Jugaad is wonderful

I accidentally typed Jugaad in Google search and was amazed to see the results, the whole page was full of various links taking to different news praising the different aspects of Jugaad could provide and it has reached to the various parts of the world like the very concept of Zero. There seems to be no progress in any fields if Jugaad technique is not applied especially in our country. If you have a proper Jugaad working for you, you can have whatever you like right from an admission in University of your choice, Gas agency, Petrol pump permit, Passport without greasing the palms, Licenses for heavy industries or Jobs in government sector. You can even get ration from cheap ration shops without having a ration card but if you have no Jugaad perhaps you are not entitled to get ration even if you have a valid ration card. 

You should not expect reservations in rail but a person having Jugaad can sleep in AC coach without having a proper ticket. One should not expect a ticket of any party for election, no awards for your creativity, and no jobs in government department to doctors and engineers and never a posting in a place where one can earn good money. Let me proceed further with story of importance of Jugaad, a person with Jugaad can become a minister without having fought an election ever, can pass any exam without studying ever, is entitled to bribes without any fear but an honest employee faces suspension if he tries to act against dishonest. 

To go a step further MPs and MLAs without proper Jugaad never gets a ministerial birth and a senior officer never reaches to the post of district magistrate despite his seniority. A dishonest person is never caught if he has the right connections and even if he is seldom caught, he does not stay caught for long time. What else if you have proper Jugaad you can sit in front row of any important shows with special invitations from administration otherwise your vehicle will found somewhere in traffic jam with ordinary citizen of this country.

Jugaad is unique art

Jugaad is an art as well science in itself. People who wish to become wealthy they first have to make special arrangements to be rich. These arrangements are better known as Jugaad in proper language. You know, in our country Goddess of money Laxmi rides an owl for her easy traveling to places. To become rich easily people try to make contacts with these owls first and we all know where to find these owls. I do not understand why people call it scam if someone is becoming rich by using his Jugaad that needs lot of common sense and efforts. You should understand that all honorable(S) in this country do not come in the category of frauds because they all belong to a special class, make as many Lokpals as you wish. No democracy will ever succeed if you will try to frame the makers of law the victims of the law that they made themselves. Not fair and practical, your thoughts are weird. Do you think that all these parties will ever come to same platform to amend the laws as they do for increment of pay and allowances, no way- you are absolutely mistaken.      

They are trying their best 

Yes, you should know that to save democracy people are doing their best. You can see it clearly the way they are making Jugaad in religion, casts and reservations in jobs, areas, states or even country. Everyone knows that we have never fallen behind in sports while selecting teams. Do you think they can do extra efforts than leaving the players those having no Jugaad and bringing in with lots of supporters to back. You are not aware of actual situation that this is all for the welfare of this poor country. If we started winning gold-medals by defeating highly rated countries, who will grant us loans then? Whatever is happening is for the sake of this country, if people are hopping parties they are doing it for the benefit of this country. You should not have any doubts on their integrity. They are doing it for the sake of this country, they are best patriots this country would ever have. 

Now the actual Jugaad

Most mechanics, doctors and engineers in our country go to the services of Jugaad when their bookish knowledge does not support them. You should know that there are many spares not available in our country but our mechanics will never let you down, they will arrange a Jugaad and your equipment will keep running. If a doctor will fail, he will come up with a Jugaad to treat his patient but will not let him die. When people were dying with cancer and AIDS in other countries, our doctors were successfully treating patients with Jugaad technology.    

Conclusion of Jugaad 

Although there is no conclusion is possible of Jugaad but I have to stop writing at a point and I would like to stop describing the greatness of Jugaad that everyone worth his name right from top to bottom is busy practicing Jugaad. People with successful application of Juggad are going to top. Your qualification, education or employment status is not an obstacle in this particular art. If you only learn how to apply your skills in this great art, nobody can stop you to reach to the top of your pre-set targets. A real Jugaad is made of different chassis, engine, gearbox and breaking system that consumes very little fuel. You have to use your brain to collect different parts for your Jugaad and make a vehicle that takes you to places.

Photo source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugaad   

I am proud to announce that I am a marketing professional. I have decided to share some of my great market experiences here, I have had in my life for your benefit. These will save you from embarrassment as well your pocket from unwanted attacks coming from different sources common in our country. I am hundred percent sure that no business school will teach you such lessons to you at any cost.  

Going to market with wife 

I have once before shared my pleasure of going to market with wife and please do not take it in a wrong way; this is all about going with my own wife. Because going with others’ wife is an altogether different experience, and there is no way you can deny the pleasure if anyone asks you in front of your wife even if you most dislike the disgusting experience. Going for shopping with your wife or with any woman for that matter is a pain in the a** because it is such a time consuming job and may even prove disappointing for you in the end because either you come back home empty handed or empty wallet.

Avoid such experiments

I would like to share a unique experience with you at this point to save you from emptying your wallet by showing unnecessary smartness, which does not work while your wife is with you and shopkeepers know your helplessness. I generally walk ahead of my wife to give way to other people present in the market who find it too congested if we walk together in crowded Indian markets but the scene changes as soon as we enter into a shop. My wife always grabs her opportunity as soon as we enter into a shopping area to take the lead, leaving me behind to follow her.

Back to my experience, which can save you from lot of embarrassment – when we entered a shop selling general items for ladies’ interest, a display card drew my attention, which read – “Onion Peeling machine- Rs 20 Only” being a mechanical engineer it immediately made me interested, as I wanted to check its mechanism. I approached the shopkeeper and asked him to show me the equipment because for only Rs 20 it could really be a big help for peeling onions. The shopkeeper handed me a rubber tube on my demand, which had no buttons whatsoever to switch it on. The shopkeeper smiled and showed me the process to peel an onion by inserting an onion into the rubber tube and rubbing it rigorously. Out came a half peeled onion at the end of demonstration, now it was my turn to smile, I could have peeled at least 10 onions without that ‘equipment’ but just using my hands and rubbing onions.

However, the situation was saved as my wife called me out from imitation jewelry counter. She wanted my opinion on the set of earrings in her hands. Now it was my turn to go through the test of marketing skills of this particular shopkeeper and handle the situation with utmost care. I asked about rates of those fancy looking but ordinary material casually, pat came the reply – ‘Only 200’. I gave him a helpless look. The shopkeeper smiled and made concession – ‘Okay it will be 150 for you’ I was bit taken aback and confused ‘for me!’ 

The shopkeeper perhaps understood my confusion said reassuringly- ‘I did not charge you extra but gave you a handsome discount last time also’ I was more confused because I never had visited this shop before, maybe she was taking me for someone else but I did not want to make any deal with him. As you know me well that I am a marketing professional, therefore understand psychology of different people including my wife. 

I knew if I said that these earrings were of no use she certainly would not agree with me so I said ‘Looks a nice pair, go for it’ thinking she would certainly refuse my offer. But lo and behold- “pack two sets of these, my sister would love this design” and asked me to pay. Perhaps it is one of the toughest jobs to read a wife’s mentality especially if she happens to be your own. It is also possible she read my mentality better than I read her. There are more such experiences for your ready references.  

Aggressive marketing 

You know aggressive marketing is as much part of marketing strategies as polite marketing. I am good at different marketing skills including negative, positive aggressive, direct, indirect, suggestive and whatever it takes to be a good marketing professional but the experience that I had the other day is most unique of my life. I am writing it here, perhaps it might come in handy one day for you. It was on a day when my car was at service station for wheel balancing and I had decided to go to a nearby town by train in pace of official car because the dealer in nearby town was located just near the railway station and I had not travel by a train for some time.

On reaching the railway station, I found the train was delayed by forty minutes so I came out of station and decided to pass this time in a shopping complex just in front of station. After all window-shopping is good for heath and one of the best pass-time as well. You do not need buy anything but keep looking at lovely things at the same time (No pun intended). I found a raincoat shop open just in front, a safe shop as there was no rain around so least likely to have a temptation for buying one

.

The shopkeeper a friendly looking fellow warmly welcomed me, perhaps I was the first entrant in the shop that morning. I had maybe spent five minutes before the shopkeeper caught me at one of the counters and asked – ‘What would like to have sir” 

I said, “I am looking for a raincoat” and asked the rates of a raincoat nicely hanging on a statue in the side display area. 

‘Rs six hundred as you are the first customer today’ smiled the shopkeeper in expectation

“Six hundred” I exclaimed, “Isn't it too high?”  

The expression of shopkeeper changed immediately “You must see that it is made of best quality of polyester with interchangeable lining and can be used in any weather”. 

“Okay” I said seeing his expressions and having nothing to comment or make any excuses as far quality went. “Do you have any other colors or only this brown one?”

The shopkeeper went in and came back 4-5 different colored coats. I was more worried and wanted to leave the shop, as the matter was getting serious.

“I was looking for a blue one but I don't see a blue one in this lot, don’t you have a blue piece?”

“No we have no blue piece right now” said the shopkeeper to allow me a sigh of relief but it was short lived as he immediately added “But we can arrange that” and shouted “Rocky” calling out for his servant. Rocky, his servant came on the double. The shopkeeper ordered him to go to next shop for to bring blue piece of raincoat of the same brand. 

This gave me a chance to make an excuse to get out of shop telling shopkeeper that I was getting late for my train and I could come later. Besides, it was enough time left for rainy season to commence.

The shopkeeper gave me an ugly look “ It won't take much time, besides you are first customer of the day” and when he was still speaking the sentence and it wasn't yet finished when the servant returned with 4-5 different shades of blue raincoats of the same brand. The servant placed those coats in front of me on the counter. I picked one, the price tag read – 750/ I saw a ray of hope, “it is costly”.

“How much do you want to pay?”

“I don’t want to take” but that was the biggest mistake I committed.

The shopkeeper got truly angry this time “but why”

“It’s too costly”

“How much will you pay?” he repeated the question

“I will pay 200”

Now it infuriated the shopkeeper well and truly and he started to pick all the coats from the counter, I saw my chance at this point and wanted to move out.

The shopkeeper said, “Do not try to make things so cheap, tell me a reasonable price you think should be right for this quality material?”

“Okay if you insist upon its quality, I think 250 will be just the right price for it” I made my final bid

The shopkeeper looked at me as if he was looking at a beggar “Okay I will give it to you for 500 and that is final, take it out”

“No this is too costly” and I made a move toward the gate, as it was almost time for the train.

“Stop man, where are you going, we don’t even let a beggar go empty handed in morning hours, give me 450 and take the hell out of here” 

Now that was limit of everything, I was now worried about my self-respect so told him finally that I shall not be able to pay him more 300/, ‘give it or keep it’.

He looked at me as if he was about to eat me raw and extended his hand toward me. I handed him Rs 300/, lifted the packet the shopkeeper had almost thrown on the counter packing it rudely. I took a final look at the shop, shopkeeper and the servant and made the final exit to catch the train. I wiped sweat from my face that was more of an effort to hide my face from shopkeeper and his servant. And to share a secret with you, I asked the rate of same raincoat from shop next-door on my way to station. It was Rs 150 with no bargaining. That is aggressive marketing for me now, which I had never learned anywhere else. 

Few more marketing strategies

We Indians are perhaps the best in the world when it comes to copy writing for advertisements. Most of us come across different display cards while shopping or wandering in the market, for instance you might have seen cards displaying “buy one get two” have you ever thought its meaning in reference to shoes? Whether they intend to give you two pairs of shoes or two shoes, one right and one left piece.

Or ever seen a display card reading “Now available in better taste” over the rack of pet foods? Now how do they know whether the pets like these foods better than before? Either the man would have taste it to verify or the pats would have to learn to read and write to confirm their claim.

Perhaps beggars are the holders of best marketing degrees. They invent and keep improving the strategies of refining art of taking money out of your pocket on daily basis. Beggars know best about physiology of masses, they can utilize it in their favor. They know if one person begins giving, others follow the suit. Therefore, they always begin their business with lots of coins and notes to start with. They even keep someone to pay to prompt others to pay. It is better known as neighbor’s tendency. If my neighbor has a car, I must have one, even if I have no money to pay installments. If my neighbor marries twice, I must marry twice even if my first wife is still alive. 

Conclusion of my story

If you wish to read my true story as a humorous post, that is absolutely your choice but the fact is that these are true incidents, maybe I have added a few sentences to make it look like a story. You can see such incidents in your daily life. You do not need to go to a roadside astrologer to buy a precious or semi precious stone to change your fate that will save your from such incidents because you know it well that if that astrologer could save anybody's fate, he would not be sitting there selling those stones. Another good marketer perhaps. 

Photos- wikipedia

Malayalam cinema – fondly known as Mollywood is similar to Bollywood and Tollywood in many ways. Many beliefs and superstitions are associated with its film makers and actors as well. Changing name to get luck, wearing a particular dress code or dress for shooting or choosing certain locations are the most common superstitious beliefs associated with Bollywood cinema. For everything ‘Muharat’ and ‘Pooja ceremony’ are also needed. These beliefs may be true or false, but film producers are not at all willing to take risk as a lot of money is involved in a project. Is it the insecurity feeling that prompts them to believe in strange things? It is applicable not only to film field but also to all sectors including business and sports. A few such thoughts look funny, interesting and mysterious too. Let us go to the fourth biggest film industry of India – Mollywood and know what interesting superstitious beliefs are associated with film field of Kerala. In most cases, I have avoided the people’s names of the events.

‘Ordinary’ was not an ordinary movie

This story has happened in the commercial film capital of Kerala – Kochi. Kochi is regarded as ‘Madras/Madirasi’ of Malayalam and whole Mollywood is concentrated here.

A young director along with its script writers were waiting at the reception of a hotel. Their minds were filled with dreams. It took two years for them to complete the script and today, a top star of Mollywood has agreed to come at the hotel to hear the script. It was the director debut of the story writer who wrote this story. The hero came as promised and the team entered hotel room with right foot first. The script writer prayed God and started reading the first scene.

Suddenly villain entered the first scene itself! How it happened? Villain was not a robber, dacoit or heroine’s father; but ‘he’ was KSEB. Let me tell you, KSEB is the abbreviated form of ‘Kerala State Electricity Board’. As an unpredicted strike, power went off for a minute. Looking at the bulb, hero told in mind, ‘Omens are not good’. Neglecting hero’s thoughts script writers continued with the work. Power came back and lights were on. 

Script writer took a deep breath and started reading again. Hero was interested in the first few scenes and suddenly ‘villain’ returned back. Hero stood up and gave shake hand to the director and script writers telling, ‘We shall think about another story’. The team of three persons stood shocked as if villain ‘electricity’ has given them a terrible electricity shock. KSEB has not just given darkness to the room for a while, but gifted ‘night’ to the future of these three new generation filmmakers of Mollywood who have not started yet.

It was just a temporary power cut. The director searched a new hero for the movie and ran ‘that ORDINARY KSRTC Passenger bus’ houseful for many days! The movie was none other than the first blockbuster hit of 2012 ‘Ordinary’. ‘Ordinary’ ran houseful for weeks. Though the movie was about KSRTC bus running through the beautiful lonely mountains of Gavy, people travelled in this ‘hill station’ bus full-packed.

Even in the decade of new generation cinema we can find young heroes who believe that power cuts while hearing the script indirectly implies the movie will break down at box office. Yes, when it comes to the topics of superstitions, astrology and beliefs, new generation cinema and film directors are also not free of it. From the senior director to younger director, we can find artists in search of luck and fortunes by changing the spelling of their names or changing their name as whole also.

Most recently, friends of a super hit director who delivered series of hits teased the director saying, “Let him take of the shirt. We want to pray before him. His body is filled with ‘Taweez’, pictures of deities and mantra threads”. Beliefs have failed in box office several times. Yet film makers are not willing to free themselves from beliefs they are holding with. Majority asks this question, “Why should I take risk? Why should I leave them as if I am taking revenge?”

Now let me tell you a few interesting beliefs related with Mollywood.

If first shot is OK, film is super hit!

The most tension-filled days of producers/directors are the first shooting days and the day which film sees light. If the first shot is not OK, then both producer and director loss their sleep till the movie is released. So, some ‘intelligent’ directors start their first shot with picture of God or sun. Then it’s 100% guarantee that no retakes needed. God or sun never asks to shoot the first shot again. What an idea Sirji! Well began is half done too!

Now let us go to the first day shooting of two great blockbusters of Malayalam cinema. These two movies are regarded as best classic comedies of modern cinema i.e. late 80’s. Let me begin with Priyadarshan movie. Year 1988. Film set – three people are enjoyed themselves in chit chat, Director Priyadarshan and actors Mohan Lal and Nedumudi Venu. Priyadarshan’s mind was cloudy; he didn’t get his favourite heroine Revathy for the movie. Revathy was substituted with Renjini, not a big name as Revathy. For film producer, this movie is like a ‘come back’ after a series of flops and he needs a hit at any cost. Director told ‘Action!’ to the first shot and quite unexpectedly, a bulb got fused and broke to pieces. When it got scattered the whole unit became shocked for a while. But Priyadarshan smiled. The whole industry told that this movie will also scatter at box office like this incandescent bulb. But when it got released, it was something like a festival season and this movie run for a year in many releasing theatres. The movie was ‘Chitram’. Priyadarshan has delivered many successes with Mohan Lal. Revathy was a part of his team along with Mohan Lal in mega blockbuster ‘Kilukkam’. Yet the movie ‘Chitram’ is still everyone’s favourite even after years. 

Now, let us move forward one year and go to Alappuzha. A shooting location, but not a big crowd to watch it as directors and actors are new faces. Both the leading hero and heroine are debuts. When the first shot was taken, an owl suddenly passed in front of the camera. No one even knew from where owl has come! ‘Golmaal hai bhai sab kuch gol maal hai’, its Malayalam translation was yet to release in 1990. So, no one was there to sing that song for the team. Owl is not considered as a good omen to film industry, similar to common Indian people. On a Friday morning 1989, the movie got released in Kerala. This small cinema entertained the crowd for years and decades and even after 2 decades, it has not lost its charm. The movie is none other than ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’ and along with Innocent and Mukesh, Sai Kumar entertained the crowd with crackers of comedy. The debut heroine was Rekha, a south Indian leading actress. The director duo hit makers, Siddhique-Lal who debut with this movie has given numerous success comedy movies to Mollywood too. 

Not only that, the movie has created a Tsunami in Bollywood comedy movies too. It was none other than ‘Hera Pheri’ directed by Priyadarshan with stars Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Paresh Rawal and Tabu in the year 2000. This movie placed director Priyadarshan among the top slot of directors, Paresh Rawal as the most successful comedian and gave popularity to leading heroes too. Let me add one more thing, one among those successful Malayalam directors Siddhique has most recently entered Bollywood with mega blockbuster ‘Body Guard’. They have given a new belief to Mollywood too, ‘If owl flies in front of the camera while the first shot is taken, the movie will definitely become blockbuster!’

Luck of Sonagachi in films

A few years back, a film maker spread a belief that if your girl friend is shown in the first shot, the movie will definitely become a super hit. Perhaps that film maker desired to help his girl friend some way! Thus one by one, filmmakers began to promote their love interests in movies. But very soon, another rumour was spread. Prostitute in the first shot is enough to make the movie a hit. Thus many ladies who didn’t know even the ‘ABCD’ of movies got opportunity to stand before the camera. Similar to ‘Karayogam President’ of Malayalam movie ‘Azhakiya Ravanan’ (played by comedian Innocent), they repeated mistakes in front of camera eating a lot of film rolls and made directors drink a lot of water. As producers believed that prostitutes will definitely bring fortune with them, they spent money lavishly and were patient enough to bear those losses.

Then a strange incident happened in Mollywood. A production team reached Kolkata to shoot a full length movie there. Though Kolatta is a metro city, it is also known for rickshaw-walas, leprosy patients and Sonagachi Red Street. As a movie with a first shot with prostitute runs for 100 days, a movie shot in the Red street should run for at least 365 days continuously – Why shouldn’t Film makers assume so? Though beautiful locations of Hugli River and Kalighat were there in Bengal, they placed their camera in Sonagachi. 

Next day morning whole unit reached the location. The hotel where they stayed was beneath the water. The receptionist says, “Such an incident has never happened before!” Then the camera man fixed camera under direct sun. But rain bathed them fully. Series of similar incidents occurred, thus dragging their project in Kolkata. The film set who landed Kolkata with the oath, ‘we will finish the whole scenes here’, completed the shots in Kerala’s own Kochi. Yet they comforted themselves thinking Sonagachi will definitely bring them fortune. But the movie left theatres with less collections and no news!

If the movie had run successfully in theatres for weeks, no doubt, many directors would have landed in this red street with cameras in hand! Many people might have thought, ‘Taking full movie in Sonagachi is also not good’.

From lucky cameras to unbroken coconuts!

Good script, excellent performances and director as a captain of ship – are these factors enough to make a movie hit? Not at all, believes many. It depends on coconut broken in the first day of pooja of the set and the horoscope of a choreographer who directs 5 minute lengthy item song of the movie – says many.  

A few years back, a camera was imported from Kodambakkam to Kerala giving high rent. It’s for the significance of that particular camera and the ‘raasi’ (luck factor) it carries. This particular camera has witnessed many successful movies of Tamil film industry in the recent times. Obviously the magic is with this camera, not with the director or actors – believed the Malayalam producer. Even the Kerala directors see Mani Ratnam as their inspiration. This camera was used by Mani Sir (as people often call him) for the critically well acclaimed movie ‘Bombay’. Then without looking forward or backward, the producer spend money to buy ‘Mani’s’ camera. But it gave only ‘money loss’ to producer one after the other. Then someone told so, “This camera is lucky only in Tamil Nadu. As it has crossed Valayaar checkpost, its luck has changed!” 

If the story of camera is so pathetic, what more to tell about luck of heroines and other technicians of the movie! During 1980’s a casting director was there in Malayalam film industry. His name was Kora. As soon as producer and director approach him with script, he uses cards to cast all artists for the movie. 

Now let me tell you the interesting story of a Chennai born Australian actress who worked for a few Malayalam movies. As she was not in our country, she was unaware of superstitious beliefs related to Indian film industry. Before her debut movie opposite super star got released, she got a lot of roles in the industry. Many people in the industry predicted that it’s her time in the industry. But all the movies flopped one after the other. But a director and hero advised her to add a letter to her name according to numerology and told her that change of name will surely bring her a lot of fortune. They did so in good means, as they really wanted to see her successful. They tried to advise a new generation heroine and got its quick sharp reply as well, “If your movie is bad, people will shout in the theatres. The heroine who comes in just a few scenes and songs has nothing significant to do in present day movies. So, if I change my name nothing can happen.” She didn’t change her name and entered Tamil and Kannada industry. Surprisingly she became successful. “She doesn’t have luck in Malayalam movies”, someone gave this opinion!

If the coconut broken during the pooja of the movie doesn’t break properly, it may take the sleep of the director, producer and leading actors for weeks.

Myths surrounding Thrissur main town

Thrissur – Now Thrissur language is most commonly used in Malayalam movies. Many success movies were shot from Thrissur too. Malayalam movie ‘Pranchiyettan and the Saint’ in 2010 made Saint Francis of Assisi speak Malayalam in Thrissur accent. The movie Thiruvambady Thamban, fully concentrated on life style of Thrissur and Thrissur accent was also released last year. It was not the case a few years ago. A few years back, Thrissur also had a few fairy tales to tell. Someone rumoured that if shooting location of a movie is Thrissur, the movie will be a disaster at box office. So, in case a production team happened to reach Thrissur town, they take a round of Swaraj round and travels to Guruvayur, Ottappalam or Kozhikode in search of a destination. 

The myth was broken in the year 1997 when the movie ‘Chintavishtayaya Shyamala’ was released. It was done by hero/ producer/ scriptwriter/ director of the movie. Shooting of this movie was done in Thrissur main town. This comedy was a roaring success at box office and earned critical acclamation too. This movie is still considered as the best classic movie made by the genius, Srinivasan. After that, many directors began to think about Thrissur and mega hit movies like ‘Kasthuri maan’ and ‘Pranchiyettan’ were pictured here.

Why less shots taken from Munnar for Malayalam?

Now let us shift our location to Munnar. Everybody knows Munnar is the best hill station of Kerala and a wonderful tourist destination. Its greenery, tea plantations and mist attract nature lovers. Yet why Malayalam directors always choose Ooty as their favourite shooting destination? Though Munnar is the favourite place for script writers and music composers to do their work, directors never prefer this beautiful location. They arrive here only to celebrate. If they want a beautiful hill station for song shooting or as script demands, they take thick blankets in hands to move to Ooty or Kodaikanal. Munnar was shown so beautiful in the academy winner movie, ‘Life of Pi’. But why didn’t directors of Malayalam didn’t make use of it, even a little bit? Some believers may even challenge producers of this movie to take a full length movie from Munnar. Myth associated with Munnar is that, movie will never get released. It will get buried similar to deep valleys in the mist of Munnar. Even if it happened to release, the movie will be a disaster; people will never enter theatres to see the movie.

Now you people may ask, how did Ram Gopal Varma directed critically well acclaimed movie of Amitabh Bachchan and Jiah Khan ‘Nishabd’ in Munnar? In true means, Nishabd was a big flop at box office though the acting skills of Jiah and Big B were noticed. It’s also believed that seeing the mesmerizing beauty of Munnar, when Ram Gopal Varma was dragged to Munnar, the fairy tales reached his ears too – the unsuccessful stories of Munnar. He completed the project by taking a shot at Mumbai. He might have thought a little bit, “Why should I take risk with Munnar?”

When a death scene is shot

If a character is shot dead in a Malayalam movie, one more scene is shot along with it; the scene where the actor stands up and walk for a while in a jolly mood. Otherwise it may happen in his life! Many such unfortunate incidents have quoted before also. It may be true or may not be linked with this shot. But every director extends his ‘death shots’ in such a way.

Once a villain went for a Tamil movie shooting and he was appreciated for its climax scene. But he asked the director to take a shot where he walks with a smile on his face. Then only Tollywood came to know about that strange superstition of Mollywood. Someone commented like this, “If so, if a marriage scene is shot in movies, we should shoot their divorce scene too. Right?” The whole set was filled with laughs and applause.

Lucky star Janardhanan

This belief is many decades old. There is a belief among Malayalam directors. If a movie is started with actor Janardhanan in the first shot, the movie will definitely become success. It has happened in many movies like Mannar Mathai Speaking, Twenty 20 and so on. Among the list of numerous hit movies, a few flop movies are also there. Yet, who loves to remember failures and flops? He is still regarded as the lucky star of Malayalam.

What’s common in Kamal and Spielberg?

Directors of our country worship the cameras with which they shoot movies. But seeing the recent photograph of Steven Spielberg in net, many people remained shocked. The biggest hit maker of world cinema posed for the shot by placing his foot on his camera. According to him, camera is just an instrument to shoot movies.

Now a few words on the versatile film maker of present times. He is none other than actor-director Kamal Hassan. He never conducts pooja for his movies or do break coconut. According to his beliefs, he loves movies more than anything in the world. Karma is God and he does his Karma neat and tidy, so no need of separate worships or rituals. 

Now let me conclude

You may be laughing at a few incidents I have quoted above. But in true sense, people including me hold certain beliefs even if we are not sure of its outcomes. In most cases, such beliefs are associated with bad outcomes and things which we can’t predict. If fear grasps us for a particular situation to occur, it’s definitely sure, we search for some methods to get rid of it. Obviously certain beliefs become our companions. They may be true or not, I can’t say. But they can definitely increase your confidence level. Personally I feel that, beginning something new taking God’s name gives us a lot of positive energy and confidence to move forward. We may depend on certain beliefs in our insecurity feelings, but never allow them to mislead you and your mind to wrong directions. That’s the only thing I want to tell you.

Recently the CEO's of all the airlines operating in India met and decided to levy Supplementary charges as follows:

1) The passengers will have to pay 10% of the basic fare for booking seats of choice.

2) Passengers who do not exercise any seat of choice will be charged 110% of the basic fare.

3) There will be no free supply of food/eatables to passengers irrespective of their class of travel.

4) Passengers who book in advance, their food requirements during the flight, will be charged 10% of the item cost as booking charges.

5) Passengers who demand food items in flight, will be charged 25% of the item cost as supply on demand fees.

6) Free drinking water will be supplied but will be limited to only 50 ml and only once during the entire flight duration.

7) Passengers will be supplied extra drinking water  in 500ml bottles at Rs 100 per bottle.

8) The free use of toilets will no  longer be permitted.

9) Passengers wishing to use the toilets will have to pay at the rate of Rs 100  per visit, the duration of which will be maximum 9 minutes.

10) Use vof toilets beyond 9 minutes will be charged extra, at the rate of Rs 20 per minute and this will have to be paid through an opening to be activated by the cabin crew. Only after payment is confirmed, the crew will open the toilet door to let the passenger come out.

11) Reading material will be provide to passengers at a fees of Rs 50 per Indian newspaper, Rs 100 per international newspaper and  Rs 150 per magazine.

12) Passengers are encouraged to bring their own seat belts into the aircraft. Such passengers will be given a cash credit of Rs 100, to be adjusted in their next flight. All other passengers will be charged at the rate of Rs 250 per flight per belt.

13) Passengers who want to exit from the plane on priority basis will have to pay a priority discharge fees at Rs 300 per passenger.

14) Passengers will be now permitted to a free baggage allowance of 10 kg in the economy class, 12 kg in Business classs and 15 kg in First class.

15) Excess baggage will be charged at the rate of Rs 300 per kg upto 500 kms, Rs 500 upto 1000 kms and Rs 1500 beyond 1000 kms air miles distance in domestic flights.

16) X ray charges at the airports will be at the  rate of Rs 150 per baggage piece.

17) The use of airport lounge chairs will now be on a chargeble basis at the rate of Rs 100 per chair per hour.

18) All the above charges will have to be paid in cash (except at the time of booking) and proper receipts will be issued by the concerend airlines.

19) These charges are strictly non refundable. No complaint will be entertained regarding them.

20) The basic fares are to be revised upwards by 200% with immediate effect.

20) Airlines shall review these charges every quarter and also reserve the right to revise them at any time.

It was noted by them that in spite of the introduction of above very nominal charges the airlines will still take a long time to come out of red.

PS: The Indian Railways are carefully studying the proposed airlines supplementary charges. 

God save the Indian traveller !!!!!!