A New First, At Last

Drumrolls and applause please. This is my maiden blog from my desk at work. They (read my company) were brilliant in blocking blogspot and rediff blogs. And saved wordpress. And I, like an absolute nitwit used to complain (I was a sporadic blogspotter before) that they were infringing on my freedom to write and talk to the world. Instead of actually opening a wordpress blog. And lo, when I actually switched, am leaving my desk once for all. Sniff sniff. :’( 31st is the day when I say ‘tata’ to ‘them’. Ok, let me stop being so obvious.

The ambience out here is so unblogphillic. You search for inspiration to write generally- be it anything, the people, the noises etc.  I was searching.

1) Dim lights that might inspire a poor man’s romantic dinner. On second thoughts, it might not for the fact that its too bright against candle light. Come on, it doesnt even inspire the weasels to buzz around them!

2) I used to work on Mainframe Technology. Legacy systems, they are, using the most archaic of languages. I guess they are older than the Mahabharata. No, seriously. These screens are pitch black (no streaks, I said archaic!) with white/blue/red letters appearing as one codes. At the most, it can inspire a nervous breakdown or in more sinister cases, suicide.

3) The supposed centralised AC. There’s not even its semblance at present. It’s either a blast of AC or just the AC drone feebly groaning announcing that it’s functioning. The walls of the cubicle are like those that come in Dilbert. You know, the high walls giving you a prison-ish ambience?

4) The lack of coffee. Nothing’s as rejuvenating as a cup of strong, less sugared,frothy coffee. The new work place that we had to mandatorily move into has a vending machine (wow, no?) that churns the worst coffee/cappuchino/tea EVER. Watery, despicably sachharine and light. All the coffee must-not-bes!

5) Silence. There are cliches that say ‘Silence speaks a million words’. It’s contextually true. Here, it’s eerie. I mean, the commitment can definitely be lauded but eyes into the black screens that I once mentioned? NO! Actually, it was unbelievably pathetic when I had joined some eleven months back. Then thanks to some synergising activities, team trips, the folks ‘came back to life’ from being ‘burnt and broken’. But still, I’d like some chirpiness around.

Did I just say I was searching for inspiration to write the blog? Desk, AC, and the otehr aforementioned things, I thank you all from the bottomest. Of my heart only.

Fulmarxx – Ek Sapna

Am just slowly getting into the groove of getting away from boredom, monodrones and morbidity. Read: Am getting to know the activities, ventures and the people and all those and that is going to be my world for the next fifteen months. And beyond. In the midst of all the pleasantaries, cheers and the upcoming madness, the Fulmarxx became the most stand out thing. Ofcourse, there might be some more endeavours but there are quite a few things that has got me thoroughly gaga about this. Before I get into the details, for the uninitiated, Fulmarxx is a unique, thought-of-but-never-ventured-into, the first ever Integrated Filmed Entertainment Company that pinches a lot of disciplines. A LOT, I say.

 Do visit their corporate website: http://www.fulmarxx.net/ for the details.

This ‘sapna’ was presented during one of those very many presentations one has to give during the course of the masters. Defying the paranoids, shattering the myths and taking the road less (or never?) travelled, the Fulmarxx Team charioted by an unassuming leader believed in themselves and with total conviction jumped into creating a phenomenon. The unbridled passion took them there. The first ever festival in India of its kind went International spanning 18 odd countries.

About the fest, read its souvenir here: http://www.fulmarxx.net/images/PAGE-84-CTRL-Q.pdf

Relentless dogged spirit and the colorful, astute minds of the team that make Fulmarxx got rave reviews. And the journey is becoming more ambitious and hence all the more challenging and gives us the neo-thinkers plethora of opportunities.

The next launch is the rolling out of a full fledged movie – Zindagi- 24 Frames per Second. Right now, at a nascent but anyway ebullient pre production stage.

For the fellow orkutters- Here’s the community’s link: http://www.orkut.co.in/Community.aspx?cmm=53281718

All this and many more concepts gushing, more than communication/strategy management, I wonder how they’ve managed to ace time management!They’re still students, to top it all. Or are they given assignment concessions. Interesting angle.
Any smart idea, any bright thought, constructive comments- be it anything, pour it here. We appreciate the effort!

 

First Impressions – Amdavad

Save the dead train journey (I despise AC coaches for the kind of dreary atmos it tunes itself and the people to. Once onto the train, the co-passengers invariably get under their rugs and get up just for the nature calls (I hoped) and for food? NO, the experience at Amdavad made for it more than in one way.

There’s more to Amdavad than just IIM-A, MICA and NID. The smell of mustard oil, perfectly round faces (as if God had a set of compasses with Him!) and green autos. Being in Chennai for a better part of my life, I found the color tad weird. Everyone had this Welcome- to- Gujjuland-wide-smile flashing across their faces. How kind, I thought, as I was getting into the auto. Being a die hard SRK fan helps you with meagre but sufficient hindi when most needed. Atleast we can manage with the ‘kitna’ ‘udhar jaana hai’ and all that you see. It seemed to be a happy city with beaming faces all around. My faint heart nearly fell out when I heard I had to pay eighteen bucks for a 6 Km ride! (an infinite more exclamations to follow). Again, coming from chennai where the auto guys demand you to will your lifetime’s fortune to them, THIS was a new high. Or a new low? My dad was deliriously happy. and why not?

After parking the minimal luggage at a cosy lodge, we decided to stroll around before dinner. It was normally busy and there was this light drizzle kissing my cheeks. Driven by the smell of the fried onions draped in oil, we were welcomed by the heavenly aroma and the people. The service was prompt and wonderful, personalised by the warm smiles all around.  We had a fabulous dinner and walked back. The rain was still kissing me.

Early day tomorrow and I had the final selection process for admission into MICA – EDC for my masters. MICA has been a dear dream for a couple of years. My friends out there told me stories about the life, the culture, the fests and the learning ways. I knew they were blessed. I wanted to be, too. The GLS campus is a modest one but it wasnt an issue one bit, atleast to me. The time inside, am sure was going to be uber-grand. There were quite a few road side shops with the typical gujju type of ghagras/cholis. I thought of buying myself one for the dandiya when I get back. Yes, I was praying that I get a chance to make Amdavad my home for the next fifteen months. Being at the heart (or liver is it? ) of the city, there were lots to see around. Branded showrooms, designer botiques and loads of khaana-ke-liye places. Now, the rain was slapping hard. Hence we got back pretty soon than we had thought and stayed indoors thanks to the persistent rains.

We had lots to narrate back home. The people, the autos, the interview, the food, the smell of the city and what not. Oh, am getting back soon. May the city rest in peace.

Reminiscence

 

Vividly sharing the-how-we-grew-up stories and an inch by inch update of what’s happening there and here. Hi-fives for the silliest of reasons and the later-looking-aw-so-cute arguments for nothing. The dairy milk days and the long stroll days. The counting before reluctant bye byes and exploring all possible recurring decimal numbers. The replacement of  ‘s’ with ‘sh’ and the banishing of ‘r’ and putting in ‘w’. Endearments galore and even more swear words. Too much of like-mindedness and rare but deadly differences. Fierce ambition and the occasional carefree being. Mostly bliss and a rarity of intense should I say non-bliss. Not a bit of monotony and a fusion of million ragas. A  now fuzzy future and a beautiful present. The world’s in the oblivion and the reminiscences are fondly weaved.

I listened to my voice

Salty and gloomy

A drop of tear down the cheek

A sea of dismay, despair

This, that – all in chorus

Where’s the acid to nallify ?

Chemistry aint a charm

A bundle of solutions,

Dollops of sunlight

The tear vaporises

I listened to my voice.

MICAstle

 I got through MICA. I’ve wanted to be there. There’s this twinge of elation and a huge sense of anticipation. What am taking up aint the regular two year flagship course but a 15 month masters programme. So till august the 24th (when the course officially starts), I would have conjured very many dreams spun out of the fluid creative threads before things start getting real. And yes, all the mica events, happenings shall henceforth be posted here. MICA’s gonna be my castle for the next 15 months. Yahoo, hopefully. Am such a paranoid. Yahoo, certainly! Yes, I like this better.

Thought I could shout to the world about the course.  *Ignore if uninterested* Ok, I neednt tell that.

The PGPCME is a full time fifteen month programme concentrating on Communication management and enterpreneurship. Delving deeper into the course, it basically looks for self-made and dynamic individuals who aspire to carve a niche in the communication management and yes, start novel communication ventures. The course canvas is painted with a million shades and it’s a different picture for each individual. Am talking about the flexibility of the course here. One has brand management, strategic planning, marketing communication, public relations, event management, corporate venture management, media and communication - all delectably dished out. One can either choose to specialise in what one’s ardently passionate about or can feast on a little bit of everything too. The latter is popularly known as the Pick & Choose Mosaic alternative. 

There are certain unique features that add grand flavors to the course. There’s something called the Continuous Internship Programme- Yes, It’s the regular internship programme. The differentiating factor being the fact that we continue working on our assigned project at MICA EDC aswell along with a tagged mentor. Two months in the site and eight months from MICA. At the end one delivers the project with strategic planning for its implementation and three year projections. This aspect definitely gives immense practical exposure. Then we got the International Immersion (Students of the last batch went to University of Essex, UK) as well as Rural Immersion and students have the freedom to opt for what would suit them.

The first batch is yet to roll out but they have received tremendous feedback from the communication industry and the maiden batch boasts of celebrities already. Shiladitya Bora is the dad of Fulmarxx- that aims to be a very brilliantly crafted film making botique and there are few other ventures like ‘Think Yuva’ churned out already. Yes, placements are a part of the deliverable package.

Charmed? Let’s get into the admission process. Aspirants can submit CAT/GMAT (not just the NRIs, the RIs too)/MAT scores and apply. The average CAT percentiles lingered in the low nineties (to my knowledge) and a tad more as regards MAT. For those who have missed these exams or wish not to submit the mentioned scores (if it aint competitive enough), the doors arent closed yet. MICAT is the exam to register for (an additional 1000 INR for this, 1000 INR for the application form apart). MICAT is MICA’s CAT, as suggestive from the name. So, dont shy away from the math. For the already shortlisted students (those that apped through the scores of CAT/MAT/GMAT), there are two phases of the selection process. The MICAT-E and the PI.

MICAT-E is a test of psychometry and the madness streak in you. Seriously. Fifty odd psychometric questions and eight-ten questions testing how you think. It’s about charming the assessor with the words and ideas. You’ve won the MICAT-E  when you think your answers are early-morn-dewdrop-fresh and non cliched. To give you samples, here are a couple of questions:‘How similar are poets and politicians?’ ‘If the moon vanished for a full fifteen days, what do think are the advantages & disadvantages?’ The answer can be child-like, intelligent, funny or even philosophical. But certainly enchanting.

The PI is very very subjective and to a large extent form based. So dont fill what you want in the form and drop into blissful oblivion. Generally, the panels are chilled out.  Be honest, confident and passionate. 

So, once you’re in to begin the journey of madness and learning in the MICARAVAN, the experience, for sure is going to be absolutely fantastic and yes, one to savor. The memories shall remain.

 

 

Finding Neverland

Okay, this is defintely not a movie review.

I grew up observing. The rain and the sunshine, the pollution and the leafless trees, the symmetry of nature and the yin and yang. I grew up dreaming. I’ve got my neverland- my parallel universe that has the never-ever-stopping chocolate factories, a million board games and my favorite mode of transport- books and enid blyton’s goblins and wishing trees. 

 Will my ‘fancy’ parallel entwine with my ‘real’ real?