The Vedanta Resources story..

Though he has done nothing for the states of Bihar and Jharkhand, Anil Agarwal the founder of Vedanta Resources (LSE Listed company which recently acquired SeSa Goa) claims himself to be a proud Bihari and expresses his subconscious desire to do something for his home state. Link to the rediff.com's story of Vedanta Resources.

Ambush Marketing..

Ambushing - Difficult to explain so see it for yourself..

The new

And the old one..

The Lost Mughal.. or (The Last Mughal)

I was about 8 years old, one fine evening my nephew (who is older than me and more like an elder brother) took me with him for a cricket match. I did got a chance to play as they were short by a couple of players. The ground was the backyard of some haweli and a proud Banyan tree standing in the center have almost its root touching the other corner of the ground. It looked like it's guarding the place since ages. The cricketing gear belongs to the guy named Sanjar Ali and all his friends were calling him Sanjeri. Well, he was tall (at that time it looked like) aged 17-18 I guess and was a close friend of my nephew. The ground was nothing but the backyard of his old haweli. I use to wonder that if the Haweli belongs to them then why didn't he live there. He was modest, use to speak very little and I don't think that I will recognize him in a crowd because it was long long back when I saw him. His sister was considered to be incredibly beautiful and guyz use to discuss her behind his back. Well, I was too young to understand all that.

My cousin brother is a lawyer and he has a decent practice in Gaya Bar Council (if the town sounds new to you then it's the old city and more popular as Bodh Gaya which is like 6 kilometers from the original city of Gaya) and I have spent a few days of my childhood at his house with his kids (2 of them are almost of my age). One uncle always use to come to him and they will sit and talk for like hours on many things. Most of them will be related to law but then my family members had deep respect for that person. It was only after his death (sometime in early 1990s, I guess) that I realized that his name was Mohd. Taz Ali (that's all I know about his name) and had something to do with the colony which was also named as Taz Colony. He was father of Sanjer Ali.

Four or five years after his death, I read a story about him in Hindustan Times and later confirmed it from my Brother that he claimed to be a descendant of the last Mughal Ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar. His fore fathers lent some money to East India Company and he had the documents to support that. That was before independence. Later his land holdings in Gaya (fruit orchards) and Nagpur were also seized by government. During the long period of litigation, he sold almost all his land holdings to cover the expenses and thats why Taz colony came up. The irony was that he sold all his land cheap and as he had better relations with the hindus he became unpopular with the local muslims. So almost nobody supported him through entire his life. Sanjay Gandhi instilled some hope in him by telling that he will get his land back but then he had no resources to fight the case in the supreme court and had almost lost the will to fight it out. Had two wives to support. After his death, one of his wives took up some teaching post and till the last time I heard about his family, she married her daughter and Sanjer was preparing for some clerical exams.

They have lost the hope from government, they have lost the hope of getting anything back and I still remember Sanjer's magical words - "Amiri Ki Kabra pe panpi Garibi badi Zaalim hoti hai". It really hurts to be poor after being rich for a while. Well, I don't know where they are or how they are or whether Sanjer has taken up the fight to himself or not. But the recent article in IBN about descendants of Mughals is making me think that how many of them are there in the open waiting for the justice to be done? Or was this the justice planned for that empire which was built on masaacre, brutalities, forced religious conversions and other inhuman practices? Well, I don't know much but I have seen Sanjer Ali, I have seen the pain and sufferings of his family. God bless them.

Segmentation -> Targeting -> Positioning.. Marketing lessons from movie screen

We need to identify the existing segments among the consumers so that we can concentrate on one segment and the idea is to meet the needs of this targeted segment profitably. Won't bore you with marketing jargons and keeping it pretty simple.

Segmentation -> Identify that what people wants? Identify their needs and group them according to the common needs like all butterscotch lovers will be one segment and chocolate lovers will be one segment.

Targeting -> This is inward looking measure as you have to ask the question to yourself that what should you do now? produce butterscotch or chocolate or both? Which segment is profitable? Can you produce all the butterscotch and garner more profits then selling chocolate or vice versa?

Positioning -> Now, you know that what people wants (not a simple task and you have to keep refining your observations) you can position yourself like that. You have to show them whatever they want to see. That's it. S - T- P of marketing. Simple isnt it? But no, it's not. These three words almost consume a marketer's life. Well read on the next post to understand it better..

Ta- Ra- Rum - Pam , Marketing lessons from Movie Screen

Anyways in light of this knowledge about marketing let's do a post-postmortem on the movie Ta- Ra - Rum - Pum. All the years of experience in production reflects in this movie because the movie is for everyone. Happy family - targets the family audience, Car Racing - targets the young people that you can take your girl friend to this movie and impress her with your knowledge about the F1 (but before going just get a few things clear about F1). Nothing sort of that happens in movie (no racer drive all the race on the same track). Cute Kids and cartoon characters will be using the pester power of the kids and songs and dance makes it a complete audience masala.

There is a huge market for Hindi Movies in US and other countries so that is taken care of by shooting the movie in US backdrop. Gujrati community is targeted by using Javed Jaafri (his dialogue delivery in a poor accent). Bengalis are targeted too (Majority of US based NRIs are bongs).

So, we see here that the director-producer are trying to cater to almost all the segments at the same time and true to the marketing philosophy, when you try to do much in so little time, you end up with a confused positioning. And that is what the movie is. A two and half hour masala which has all the ingredients of the typical hindi movies. The wrapper is beautiful and the YashRaj banner is mastering the art of wrapping things up beautifully. The core is the same old story of Riches to rags and then rags to riches thing. Some of the scenes were not even needed but still they try to play with your tear ducts by making them do stupid things.

Anyways, have loved the way they have presented the movie. Rani is as good as always, Saif looks good in these kind of rules but the wrinkles on his face are clearly visible despite of all the makeover. (too old for being a car racer, Sahid Kapoor would have done better). Well, my guess is that it will be a hit because whatever segment of audience it may be, we all need a break from Cricket and let it be car racing this time.

Future of Bazaar..

Big Bazaar (Pantaloon's retail venture) has partnered with Future Bazaar to launch the initiative http://www.futurebazaar.com. I am watching the banner ads flashing on almost every news website so finally went on to check a few of the offers. Here are a couple of deals that I checked -

1) Transcend 2 GB pen drive (product id 60054064) for Rs. 1099 for the list price of Rs. 2490 and thus offering a discount of 1391 Rs. (a whooping 55%). Cool and eye catching but the actual product probably packed sometime in March 2007 is available in the market for Rs. 930 without a proper bill but with the same warranty. I am saying that because I bought one for my friend just a month back and computer peripherals being a decreasing cost industry, the prices go down after every couple of month. To add to it, even the actual marked price is not 2490 and its something like 1700. May be they are disposing up the old stock but still its highly overpriced (Rs 170, 18%) than what is available in local market (Richie street in Chennai for me).

All the computer goodies were over priced and which are available in the local market at much cheaper rate. But the argument in favour is that they are charging the cost of convenience but then, if this is the future of bazaar then perhpas future looks glim. Unorganized trade is much more efficient than this so called organized retail. God save the poors. I guess that its not long when people have to buy Himachal apples branded as American Apples from some fruit shoppe located in posh locality at a price 4 times higher than the price charged by fruit vendors. The cost difference is due to organized retail. Cool, so let's wait for the Wal Mart, K Mart, Sears and other big brothers.

86 Rules of BOOzing..

You will forget all these rules after 5th drink but still, till 5th drink they might help..

86 rULEs of BOOzing..

Ian Chappel - A notch above the rest commentators.

I was listening to extra innings at the lunch time when South Africa folded for 149. Africans were tamed and Smith was taught a lesson that if the opposition is strong you better keep your mouth shot. You are not at the top of your career and your team was just beaten by Bangladesh. Was listening to Ian Chapel and Boycot about Australian team. Ian is simply superb when he speaks. He sounds a great expert of the game as well as intelligent.

Responding to one question about does Australians have a batting plan in mind he replied that being an International batsmen you should be knowing what to do at this stage. If a coach needs to tell you that go play like this then perhpas that is too late for a coaching lesson.

Should Mcgrath retire at this point of time? Well, Chapel's reply was that one should retire when people ask that why he is retiring and not when people start saying that why not? Mcgrath and Warn did that and same about Brian Lara.

About Tendulkar he said that he is playing for the wrong reasons. He needs to look into the mirror and ask himself that when should he retire or what should be doing for the team. If he is putting his natural game aside and playing defensively just to carry on and not to win a game he should better be asking that question to himself that why not?

Well, Chapel's remark might spark another controversy but nobody can deny that millions of fans have already started asking this question that why not? And not even testimonials from Gavaskar, Richards or others will make them change their opinion. The only thing which can is Tendulkar's bat.

New Planet found. Search on for Humans.

IBN reports scientiest finding a new planet which is earth like in size and temperature. The difference is that it takes 13 days to make one rotation and people will weigh more there. Have got the news that some business groups like VLCC, Kaya Skin Care and some other beauty cleanics who gives weight gain/loss treatment are following the developments clearly because is the findings are true then this will lead to immense business opportunities. Like those who want to gain weight will be shipped on to this planet and those who want to loose will be brought on earth from there. Some event management companies are also keeping an eye on their TV sets because their popular clientele like of people like Malya and other celebrities who believes in never ending parties can have their wedding day/birthday/ Wedding parties on this new planet where every single day last for 13 days.

Well, Indian Lok Sabha MPs are also glued to their TV sets as they are eyeing an income opportunities and they are going to put forward a proposal which will presses for travelling only on diplomatic passport. So ultimately they can mint money by impersonation. Anyways, let's see how the mystery unfolds. Till then good bye.

Seeking Blessings - Ash Abhi couple's images from Tirupati

Taken in Tirupati these images are making rounds over the internet from morning. IBN also has published these picutres on their website. Well, as a couple they look damn cute. Aishwarya in a red bridal dress was looking like she was straight out from some Cinema's set on the contrary Abhishek personified elegance in a white Kurta. Also can be seen in the picture is Anil Ambani. Amitabh has grown old for sure and wrinkles are clearly visible. Well, my purpose is not to give them a bit more of coverage but just to celebrate the wedding of both of my favorite actors.