Saturday 27 November 2010

Rs.2 extra for podi, babu

Tonight I went to watch "Orange" - second show. First day. You'd know how things would be on first days. Late night shows. Crowd waiting to catch their idol in video. Hero worship, you know. This is India. Well, Tollywood !
Anyway, I was too late. The line was too big. I already knew by yesterday morning that I won't be able to get direct tickets. It had to be something in 'black'. Black market. I hate to promote it. But I did. Rs.200 for Rs.40 ticket. Not even balcony. For a flop movie. So they say. I had to watch it on the first day. I wanted to do that. Long time, you know. First days, front rows. Never been there. Front rows on the first day, I mean.
Got out to have something to eat. The roadside idly/dosa/etc wallah was not too busy. I touched the Mysore bonda. It wasn't hot. Bad to eat. Had to go with my fav idly again. Atleast it was in a box with a lid. 4 idlys. Little chutney, and some masala powder (we call it podi in telugu). Two idlys later I had to refill the chutney and podi.
"Rs.2 extra for the podi", he said.
I have to agree I thought that the cost per plate of idly may be more, but extra charge for podi ?
"Extra charge for podi ?", I said laughing. I'd like to keep it cool.
"Tell me one thing babu. You don't look like you've got tickets to the movie by standing in the line. You would've got it in black. Very costly. You pay so much for that ticket and you can't give Rs.2 for podi ?"
I thought. No, wait a minute. I didn't. I laughed. "My friends got them for me", I lied. Both of us knew. He was about to start a lecture and spoke the first two words (I guess) when I interrupted him. "I didn't say that I won't pay for podi", was my reply. That stopped him. I gave him Rs.12 more out of an "its alright" funda.
Now that I think about it, that was really crap. The logic, I mean. His logic. The movie tickets were in demand and his idly/vada/etc were not. I wanted to watch the movie, its difficult to get the tickets. I wouldn't mind eating pani-puri (whose price wasn't hiked up. I know - I ate them too.) instead of his idly. Demand-Supply => price, right ? It doesn't matter how the movie was. It was packaged well, it had high demand. Marketing, direction, previous movie performance, etc., you know. His podi had to be worth the Rs.2 that he demanded.
I don't like giving charity when it isn't worth it. Be it Re.1 or whatever. That is why I think I won't pay extra again if it isn't worth it and when I have a choice (supply, remember?).

Sunday 23 May 2010

What i am listening to now



Lately I've been into Blink 182. Its a crazy punk bad. I absolutely love some of their songs. Yes, some have censor content in them, but some of them are really good. Something's different abt their music, can't point out what, but i like it..

1. Another girl, Another planet
Liked the energy and the line "I think i'm on another world with you".

2. I miss you
Liked the two different tones.. just blends in..

3. Always
Great one again.. nice energy and lyrics..

4. Down
Wanted to write my own adaptation to this one.. another one of my favs..

5. I'm lost without you
Awesome song ! Loved the slow build up plus the rock.. Great lyrics.. can't believe it isn't in their "Greatest Hits" album :(

6. What went wrong
Aha.. its a different take on the "hate your ex" songs.. liked the music.. though i don't approve of it, i really liked their idea of putting such a bold song.


I totally loved songs from "Ye Maya Chesave". Rahman never fails to fascinate my music senses. Especially liked the :
1. Ee hridayam
Its like a fresh breeze. Liked the way rap is brought in. Though the dance wasn't good, liked the way the director wanted it to be. Just liked the whole package.

2. Kundanapu bomma
I simply liked the title of this song. And the way its given sort of a western music touch to it. I have always admired Rahman's use of Shehnai and Tabla.. Shehnai's too good in this song.



PS: Happy to know that "Use somebody" won the grammy :) It was the song of the last year.. was in my What I am listening to... of the previous entry.

Friday 2 April 2010

Business

(Just one of my stupid philosophical musing):

Technology is growing to speed up our life, right ? So it is basically to improve our quality of life by saving more time (things are getting faster because of growing technology). All this stuff (whatever we are doing, including our job, other's job, all the companies) is to do things faster so that we'll get more time. Of course, we'll get richer in this process. But whatever products / services that are offered will not be a hit unless they are faster than they used to be. ATM's came for easy access of money so that you get the money faster. Call centers came because you want your issues to be resolved faster. Doing things faster is the mantra of this century ( i guess i can take the liberty to say that). Sure there are other advantages like ease of use for customer, lesser burden on the customer also, but the fundamental quality for almost all the changes is : making things quicker.

Now, doing things faster is saving time. If it is saving time, how come we are not meeting more often ? Remember the generation before two generations were also in the same situation. Still they had time to do so many things and friends and all. Now, in order to go to Tirupati, we hav to make a schedule which meets everyone's availability. In order to meet my buddies, they should be free. I mean, what is happening here. What happenned to the "Time bachao" movement? No output of that ? All the new gadgets etc are supposed to save time right ? How come we are not meeting often then ? Ya i know the ans is more responsibility, new family for married couples, etc. But take ten friends from 1980 outgoing batch and any current batch. They had responsibilities coming out of college too, they married too. But i guess they met often. We do not. As a generation, are we slowly shifting towards busier lives? If so, Why ? Why are faster things not enough ? Does everything have to happen at the click of a button ?

Are we living for business or are we in the business of living ?

(there are always exceptions to the discussed scenarios. but I have my questions. Is this the question that makes ppl go mad and finally become a sadhu ? In that case, I am in for a diffucult time. Or lighter time. Just my musings. You need not be very serious abt wat I am talking )