Family, TV & The Dirty Picture!

A confession first, I am yet to see The Dirty Picture so still don't know how dirty it is. And, this post is not just about that. I am the same Dad who got disturbed over Vodafone TVC showing "under 10" opposite sex kids "liking" each other. I understand the outrage over our Government disallowing the movie to be telecasted at 12noon – How can bunch of people decide what we can see and what not! Other reason for some getting upset was, if there are already ~56 cuts, the picture isn’t dirty any more. Many said, the same people who were caught watching porn in the assembly, are involved in sex-tapes are now being holier than thou. Point !
 

Yet, being a Dad, I was still apprehensive about if I can see it with my 7 & 9 year old! You may disagree but, my idea of TV in a family is still that it’s about family viewing. I still think that TV programs, during day time that too on weekends, should be such that people aged 5 to 50 can watch, together.  

I’m sure all those who were outraging over “the dirty picture” ban would have watched the movie with their 7 year old daughter and 70 year old mother, right?

I’m also sure that you had an answer when your 7 year old asks “Papa, aunty kah rahee ki - "Mujhe jo chahiye, uska mazaa sirf raat ko hi aata hain" – kiska maja raat ko aata hai ” .

Won't you get disturbed when your 8 year old laughs hysterically over “Holi khelne ka shauk hai, par teri pichkari me dum nahi..!" and says, “Papa meri pichkari mein to bahut dum hai”.

Now imagine, if a 6 year old asks his Mom – “Mom, can you also make an omlette on your tummy like Vidya Aunty, please na”.

Well, personally, I wouldn’t have watched the movie with my kids or my mom – old school of thought may be. I buy your point that there is no dearth of such exposure these days, Internet, TV Ads, even cartoon shows show such kind of stuff. Yet, why make it so easy for kids that they switch on a popular channel, on a Sunday, and see Vidya Balan showing cleavage or making omlette on her tummy.

Happy to discuss.

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Following Passion - Plan B!

Enough of this crap about leave your job to "chase your dream", "do what you love" or "follow your passion". Lucky you! if your job is also your passion. Don't read further.


I am talking about being in a full-time day job,not necessarily your dream, yet pursue your passion. Leaving day job is not easy, if not home loan EMI, In-laws won't let you resign. If your Missus is convinced, desire to upgrade to iphone 5 shall bind you to your job.

Well, every one can't be Chetan Bhagat-who claims that he left his plum job to folow his passion. By the way, the kind of books he write, forget passion, I think he's again in the rat race to make money and fame. Any ways, let's not digress.

I believe that jobs are not meant for having fun, if that was the case, they wouldn't pay you. So, if you are not doing a job that's your passion, that doesn't make you a loser. 

All I suggest is: 

• Do your job well, bloody well.
• And, have fun with all the money you make from your job.

Trust me, this is as simple as I say. Let's say you're a management consultant, in-charge of selling some software to customers. That may not be your passion, yet, do it so well that they pay you well.

Now the fun begins, use that money to follow your passion. If painting is what you love, buy the best of painting accessories, hire best of the teachers and enjoy. You love photography, pick up the best SLR and go clicking. If travelling is what you enjoy, just do it.

Those, who say money can't buy happiness, perhaps don't know how to spend it.

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I must be getting old !

I am sure you must have seen this Cadbury Silk TV Commercial. First time I saw this, I kind of liked it, must say I do like most of the Cadbury TVC. Next time when I saw, with my 7 and 9 year old kids around and the song in the back ground - "Kiss me, Close your eyes, Miss Me….. Close Your Eyes, Kiss Me, I can wet your lips and your fingertips and Happiness in your Eyes" I felt little awkward. My kids enjoyed it, even tried humming the jingle and were looking amused-I am sure it was due to the way characters were having chocolate than anything else.

I think, these actors must be in early-teens and these days it may be ok for kids in early teens to develop a liking for chocolate eating opposite sex. Since then, when ever I see this ad, I started focusing on the way they are eating a chocolate instead of the lyrics and the age of the characters. 


Btw, I must acknowledge that when I see those "meethe mein kya hai" ads, I still think that when hubby asks his wife "meethe mein kya hai" , his eyes suggests he is hinting beyond cadbury. Anyways, let's not digress. 

Then came, this Vodafone TVC. Again, I liked the concept and even kids are very cute. But,  early-teens was still ok, but what the hell is this going on here. I'm sure now the characters are not more than 9-10 years old.  Now, a 9 year old having a crush ! What are we portraying here?

I may have liked "Maine Pyaar Kiya" but  I'm certainly not from the generation which thinks "Ek Ladka aur Ladki kabhi dost nahin ho satke", yet, showing 9-10 year olds developing such liking for opposite sex. 


 Isn't it too much, Or, it's just that I am getting old?

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Maid Management Made Easy!

Missus: Hey listen, why are you not going to office today?
Me: Darling, Today is Maha Shivratri.

Missus: So what, Is it a National Holiday today?

Me:  How can you forget Maha Shivratri.  According to a legend, Parvati performed tapasya on this day to ward off any evil that might befall her husband. Since then, Maha Shivratri is believed to be an auspicious occasion for women to pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons.. Didn’t you read Immortals of Meluha? Even Karan Johar is making..*cuts abruptly*

Missus:  *annoyingly* Was this holiday planned or declared recently? You guys got a holiday for BMC elections also.

Me: Isn’t that good. Around 45% of us voted also. Let’s have one more cup of tea and pass the Bombay Times please!

Missus: Listen, forget tea and let me figure out if Sakku Bai is coming or no.

Well, I must say that Maids (or Domestic Help as Chetan calls them ) are the real VVIPs in any Indian household. Their recruitment may not be that big a issue, but retention certainly is. No management consultant, not even big-four are daring enter this area because it never works. This sector is grappling with high attrition which no one claims to have managed, with the only possible exception of Chetan Bhagat.

For those who are not Chetans, here are my 2 cents on how to manage them better. Always remember, your home is her workplace and as an employer you ought to make her workplace better.

·    Free Tea / Coffee : Don’t forget that you too get free coffee at office, and She has all the right for this at her workplace.

·   Unplanned Leaves : Other than the normal holidays, even She has the right to plan long weekends. If she calls to say “Didi, Bacchha beemar hai, aaj main nahin ayegi” , Don’t get upset, just remember the text you sent to your Boss for a leave.

·    Remuneration: If it’s on your mind, it’s on Her mind as well. You need to be extra cautious on this because the neighborhood Mrs. Iyer is ever ready to pay her more and poach her. Please note that problems in Greece and the weak Euro shouldn’t impact her increments and bonus. Also, don't try to link Her performance with Remuneration, it's all about the perceived market value. 

·    Career: WTF is that? I know what your Boss told you when you said that you got an offer from a competing organization, you may have been tricked by "think about your long term career Viveik, you're one of our star performers". But, don’t give this gyan to Her. There’s nothing called career, it’s all about money, honey. And, unlike you, She can't be fooled with just a change in title from Assistant Manager to Associate Manager.

·    Entertainment: Now when you’ve got all those Gyms/ Pools/ Common Areas at your office, How can you stop her from watching Balika Vadhu and Utaran. Shiney’s movies are strict No No though. If Chetan is to be believed, he even sponsored Ra.One tickets for his maids.

·    Be Nice: Irrespective of how your Boss treats you, never ever try to be “Hari Sadu” with her . She may not have access to naukri.com but in Her market there’s no dearth of job. Also, she’s witness to many of your household secrets. She knows that you slept on the sofa last night.  So, just be nice.

As Karan Johar may have said, those who keep their maids happy, live happier.  This is how Chetan manages his Domestic Helps, respect! Chetan's Way

PS: Image downloaded from internet, couldn't find the copyright, if copyrighted, pls tell and i'll remove.

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Just because Mumbai didn't vote!

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