My current playlist in repeat mode

1. Koya Koya Chand (Film: Koya Koya Chand )
2. O re piya (Film: Aaja Nachle)
3. Masha Allah (Film: Saawariya)
4. Ajab si (Film: Om Shanti Om)
5. Johnny Gaddar (Film: Johnny Gaddar)

Feeling nostalgic.... (Part -2 )

Working in Rome was a whole new experience. Facing the customer for the first time, language barrier, handling technical issues, staying alone, cooking (me being a pure vegetarian) and staying away from the home for the first time.... for me each of them was a big challenge in itself. I kept myself busy over weekends visiting as many places I could around Rome. I had to return back to India within 4 weeks since my visa could not be extended, thanks to my office travel desk which messed up my medical insurance cutting short my trip. That was really a blessing in disguise. You ask me why? Read on...

Once I arrived in India I was back to my usual routine. Around the same time SPJIMR was out with its short listed candidates and to my surprise I was one of them. Thankfully this is the only institute which provides equal weightage to CAT score, Work experience, extra curricular activities and past academic records. I think it was only because of my academics I was short listed for the interview. I had roughly around 15 days to prepare for my interview and was sent a questionnaire form which I had to complete before appearing for the interview. I thoroughly enjoyed the phase of preparing for the interview and completing the questionnaire form because I had to spend a lot of time introspecting about my past life, recalling the incidents in my life which shaped up my personality and also think of what I wanted out of my MBA degree. Believe me these are very tough questions to answer and even more difficult to defend during the interview.

I attended my first round of interview in Bangalore and panel had 3 members and 2 seniors. Interview went on well, I was lucky not be asked the traditional questions like why do you want to do MBA? Where do you want to see yourself 5 years from now? Etc. Instead discussion was around what shapes up one's personality, what is attitude, what is culture and what is the difference between them. Once the interview was over I had the gut feeling that I would clear my first round. As I had expected I was short listed to appear for 2nd round of interview in Mumbai.

Second round turned out to be a spoiler. I travelled all the way to Mumbai and the duration of my interview turned out to be just 10 mins. I was very disappointed with the numbers of questions that were asked and also the duration of the interview. I was really clueless what the panel was looking for and how they could decide up on a candidate after asking only two simple questions. Somewhere deep down my heart I felt that I had stumbled at this last hurdle. Again result turned out as I had expected and I was not part of final shortlist for the SPJIMR's 2 year program. I felt really really bad, rejected and also it did inspire me to take up CAT 2007 with lot more vengeance. As few days passed by I came out of this little depression that I had entered.

10 days later when I opened my inbox there was another twist to my story. I was offered an admission for SPJIMR's 1 year program. Apparently they thought that I was far more experienced to be put in their 2 year program and instead they had short listed me for their 1 year program. Then started my dilemma whether to join this 1 year program or to write CAT once again and join a 2 year MBA course. As I started to do research about 1 yr program, I felt it was not bad and in fact I realized that 1year program would work out better for me both personally and professionally and hence decided to accept the offer . CAT 2006 was a nice journey with lots of twists and turns which started with my aspiration to do a part time program, then my focus shifted to 2 year program and I finally ended up in a 1 year program.

My course will be starting from Jan-2008 and people please do wish me good luck!!!

Feeling nostalgic.... (Part -1 )

If you observe my blog archive properly, I had taken a long hiatus from blogging for almost 6 months during this time of last year. To be precise from November-2006 to May 2007. Ah!! those were very hectic days of my life and more importantly reason for why I am going to be Jobless starting Jan 2008.

I think it is no brainer for guessing why some people (say with work ex < 4 ) take a 2 week break from work during November time frame and yes you guessed it right ..it is to prepare for CAT . I was one of those aspirants appearing for test in the year 2006 and it was really a memorable one for many reasons.

After working for 3 years, I felt that I was very comfortable with the work I was doing and it didn't motivate/challenge me much. Switching job was an option, but again scope for gaining new knowledge is very limited. Then I started to think of what I wanted to do ..say some 10yrs from now? I didn't have an answer then and I don't have an answer even now. But I was sure that I didn't want to continue in technical line and wanted to do something different than what I would be doing if I did continue in this technical line for some more years.

I decided to take up CAT and joined weekend classes. I actually intended to do a part time course offered by IIMB initially, but once I started attending the classes and interacting with the people over there, my priorities changed and I wanted to do a complete 2 year course instead of a part time course.

Having a liking to do a course is different and the amount of effort one puts in to realize it is different. There was a huge gap between these two in my case and that was my biggest problem. 2 weeks prior to CAT is when I realized that I had not put in much effort and was taking the exam very lightly. I did slog for those 2 weeks and there was considerable improvement in my scores in Mock CATS. But it was too late and when the D-day arrived , I felt that I had just missed the bus. But my performance on the D-Day was my best compared to 20 other mock cats that I had taken during my preparation.

I knew that I was not going to get any interview calls and decided it was time to concentrate on my work at office once again. I was offered to go on an assignment to Rome immediately after my exams and I thought it was welcome break. I decided not to take up XAT and FMS entrance exams and went on ahead with Rome assignment. Results were declared when I was in Rome and my 89 percentile scored ensured that my tiniest of hopes of getting into a B-school was completely sealed off.

PS: Will continue rest of the story in Part 2

Saawariya Movie review

Cut all the crap that is going on in the media 24 x 7 as OSO Vs Saawariya. Clearly one should be sensible enough to identify the target audience for these movies looking at the promos. OSO is full masala bollywood movie made for the masses and Saawariya is for niche audience who love SLB's intensity and madness.

With most critics busy bashing Saawariya, I could not have entered the cinema hall with more negativity . Honestly I thought it was such a trash looking at the reviews. But hold on, yours truly really enjoyed the movie and its was 2 hrs of visual spectacle + soul stirring emotions.

Let me list down some of the good points about the movie.

1. Sonam Kapoor- Ah!! she really looks gorgeous and elegant in the movie and also she can act.. thats a bonus :)
2. Ranbir Kapoor- Superb performance in his debut. He had more meaty role compared to Sonam and he does full justice to his role.
3. Climax - It just shows how one person ...not in a stable state of mind can make certain decisions in that moment and retract from that the very next moment.
4. Rani + Zohra sehgal is a added bonus in the movie.
5. Ranbir and Sonam's sequence when they meet for the first time is excellent.
6. Sets in the movie is a visual spectacle. Ligthing is very apt depending on the mood of the film.

That's it..go without much expectations and you won't be disappointed.

And one more thing...I was thinking that I was the only one who liked the movie, but as soon as the movie ended half the people starting clapping and I think that speaks for itself.

SLB's next...

I have always been a great fan of Sanjay Leela Bansali and I watched his last movie Black thrice at PVR and this should sum up how impressed I was with his last directorial venture. Now he is back with his new baby Saawariya. Expectations are huge this time and lets see how he lives up to it. Promos are out and looks like he is inspired by his own movies. From whatever little we see, I think he is trying to converge the romance of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, grandeur of Devdas and dark, depressing sensitivity of Black into one movie.

Music is out and all I can say is it has lived up to the expectations . For me the standout tracks are 'Saawariya' , 'Daras bina Nahi Chain' , 'Yoon Shabnami' and 'Masha Alla'.

Lets see if the movie stands up to the hype it has created.

8 days a week

Seriously I need 8 days in a week!!!!! You are asking me why an extra day? Recently my office shifted near whitefield and this is how it has affected my life :(

Morning	Leave home 7 AM	Reach office 8.30 AM	Unproductive time 90min
Breakfast	@home 10min	@office 35min	Unproductive time 25min
Lunch	Lunch box from home 25min	@office cafeteria 60min	Unproductive time 35min
Evening	Leave office 5.15PM	Reach home 7.15PM	Unproductive time 120min

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Total unproductive minutes per day : 90 + 25+ 35 + 120 = 270min
Total unproductive minutes per week 270 * 5 = 1350 min
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1350 min = 22.5 hrs per week !!!!!!!!!!!!
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To add to this, I can't read in am moving bus, I can't sleep and I get a severe headache after I travel by bus.

Recurring Dreams

Almost everyone does experience one or more dreams that keep recurring. In my case particularly there are 5 themes that keep recurring.I decided to google about them and tried to find out if they did convey some important message. Now i regret my decision of googling, something I should not have done. You ask me why? Go on and read rest of the story.....

My 5 themes

1. Fear of falling from a height
2. Unprepared for the Exam
3. Naked in public
4. Me trying to catch a snake
5. Me witnessing a Plane crash

Falling from a height: Again there are 3 sub themes in this
a.I am standing on the roof top of a building at one end and I am trying to reach the other end.
b.I am trying to jump between two buildings.
c.I am driving my bike...suddenly there is steep road that appears out of nowhere and I lose my balance.

In all the above scenarios, in the mid way through the dream I cant see what is below me or in front of me and I try to open my eyes but in vain (which I cant bcoz I am supposed to be sleeping)but somehow I finally manage to save my life without hurting myself.

Google says: As with most common dream themes, falling is an indication of insecurities, instabilities, and anxieties. You are feeling overwhelmed and out of control in some situation in your waking life. This may reflect the way you feel in your relationship or in your work environment. You have lost your foothold and can not hang on or keep up with the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Unprepared for the Exam: I arrive at the examination hall unprepared or I have prepared for a wrong subject or I am appearing for a subject for which I have bunked the classes through out the year or I reach very late to the examination hall.

Google says: These dreams suggest that you may feel unprepared for a challenge. Rarely, are these dreams about the content of the test, but rather the process and how you are feeling during the exam taking process. Generally, you feel distressed and frustrated. These feelings may parallel how you are feeling in a particular challenge or situation in your waking like

Naked in public: I am going to work or just walking down the street and I realize that I am neither wearing my pant nor my under garments. After walking for few more minutes I am actually proud of my nakedness and show no embarrassment.
Google says: It symbolizes your unrestricted freedom. You have nothing to hide and are proud of who you are. The dream is about a new sense of honesty, openness, and a carefree nature.

At least there is on dream which I can be proud of !!!! :-)

Me chasing a snake: Ah well, this is something which I would like to forget. Here I am chasing a snake which has entered my house .Searching my house in every hook and corner to see where it is hiding. Usually there is no conclusion to this dream.

Google Says:A snake, being the ages old symbol of evil or Satan, makes it a bad omen to have one show up in a dream. To see a lone snake and feel threatened by it shows that you have a bad enemy that is even then working against you, it also a warning against bodily harm from an enemy.

Me witnessing a plane crash : Well this is really a very weird one. Also this qualifies as the most frequently recurring dream. I am walking down the street or I am standing on my terrace and I see the plane flying nearby which suddenly catches fire and crashes right in front of me. Are you asking me why you are calling it weird??? ya let me explain... instead of being horrified and shocked of what has happened, I am actually enjoying the entire thing. I enjoy scene of plane catching fire,I enjoy the sound it makes when it crashes and I enjoy the smell which it leaves behind after the disaster.

Google says:No answer. The dream they are describing features the dreamer inside the plummeting plane, which is not the case for me. :(

Hmmm..very long post...I guess it's time for me to catch my sleep on a lazy Sunday afternoon and start dreaming.

Hilarious!!!!!!

Came across this hilarious video where a software company welcomes its new joinees.




Gawd!!! now I seriously want to meet this HR who thought of this.

Update: This video is indeed authentic..confirmed from one of my friend who works in that company.

Life without a Purpose

I was listening to songs of Gangster...lyrics of "Tu Hi Mera Shab Hai" song goes like this "Tu bangaya hai mere jeene ke ek waja" . After listening to this I just realized who true that is. A person whose life has no purpose is as good as dead .

purpose driven life

Purpose here is a hope like ...hope of life getting better, hope of being loved and hope that we will lead a fulfilling life . I believe these are the main things which keeps our enthusiasm up all the time and prepares us to face all the challenges thrown at us.It also acts as a catalyst to bounce back when we are down and beaten.

Just imagine what would happen if you don't have any purpose, any desires when you get up in the morning. You would just go back to sleep??...but how long one would sleep..i am sure one would go mad after some days.For instance one would always wish if one had no work at office. There would be some days at work where in fact one gets what he/she wishes for. One may enjoy it for first 3 days and later one starts cribbing about how bored he/she is at work.

There are certain small things in our day to day life for which we look forward.. such as meeting friends, having coffee with your loved ones, doing good job at work, having good food, watching movies,watching your favourite programme on TV.,.....list goes ... ,which makes us happy. These small things helps us to sprint through the day, then months and then months adds up to years.

When life has no purpose..its becomes colorless and it means only one thing....you have lived your life and God wants to meet you.

Life in a Metro.... movie review

Life in a Metro (* * * *)

This is easily one of the better movies to have released this year. I did like Anurag Basu's style of story telling in his previous two movies Murder and Gangster, but in this movie he has improved by leaps and bounds. Story is set in mumbai, but not in its glamorous part of city . Story unfolds in busy streets, local train, bus, middle class apartment with monsoon as backdrop.There are mainly four tracks in the movie and all protagonists are somewhere linked with each other.

Irfan Khan and Konkana sen's track is easily the best part of the movie. Chemistry between them is really awesome. When Irfan khan asks konkana sen to scream out loud from the top of the building one really feels like joining them. Watch out konkana sen especially in this scene, she is just brilliant. Irfan as usual has given a very good performance. Another scene which stands out is the one where he finds out why konkana had rejected him to marry and the way he tries to convince konkana that he did nothing wrong by staring at her body is simply awesome.

Also this was supposed to be the comeback movie of Shilpa shetty after she shot in to fame from Big Brother. She does not disappoint either. This can be easily counted as her one of the best performance in her career(other being Phir milenge). Kay Kay and shilpa have troubled marriage and both of them get involved in extra marital affair. The scene where both of them come out to each other is worth mentioning. Observe the difference in emotions the two characters undergo. Shilpa is guilty whereas Kay Kay tries justifying his actions. You would simply want to hate Kay Kay and yes this proves what a gifted actor he is.

Dharmendra and Nafisa ali's track is also sweet and have a great chemistry between them. Sharman joshi and kangana's is the weakest track in the movie. But sharman joshi has matured as an actor and has given a wonderful performance. Hope I could be in his shoes where my promotion depends on how efficiently I manage available resources ( read apartment keys) :-).Shiney Ahuja does not have much scope in the movie.

Music is another strong point of the movie. Songs gels very well along with movie and infact I liked the new style of direction where band keeps appearing through out the movie. Finally you come out of the movie smiling realizing that life in metro is not all that bad and one should not complain and be happy with what one has got in his/her life.

Generation gap at workplace

I feel IT industry is currently experiencing a generation gap between the recent graduates and their project managers. I read in a recent survey that average age of a project managers is around 40 years. So obviously both of them will have a very different schools of thought on how project management should be done.Older project managers would usually falter in understanding gen-x dreams since they don't match with long established industry realities

Present set of veteran managers are still under old fashioned management perceptions. They believe that by spending long hours at office it shows one's commitment towards work. On the other hand present generation expect a fulfilling life outside of work , higher salary packets and prefer putting shorter hours at workplace. They would prefer being rated based on their quality of work rather than number of hours one spends at his/her workplace.

Most of the project managers fell in to this job by number of years of work experience they have put in and would smarten up their skills by being trained on few project management courses ( 10 days max???) by their company. Their skills of managing people would be very limited since they do not undergo formal training.Where as present generation would be more focused on what they want , they would choose appropriate career specializations during their academics and are usually more serious in taking project management as their career.

I think this generation gap would narrow down with time and I strongly believe younger project managers would make better managers than the present set of veteran project managers.

Workplace and Emotions

We are always advised to keep a check on our emotions at workplace and behave in an professional way. Once we swipe our cards and enter our office ,how far can one succeed in suppressing his/her emotions ?

When we are hired by an organisation we are hired for our competence, skill and capability. But emotions also comes attached with it. Getting emotionally attached with your managers or colleagues can backfire at times. Also conflicts arise at workplace because of different emotions being expressed at wrong place and also in the manner one expresses his emotions. Emotions can be a positive one or a negative one.

Whenever we get a nasty email, most of the people react in two ways. We either mask/ suppress our emotions or we give them back with a equally nasty email. In first case it leads to frustration thinking that other person got away even after writing a nasty email and reacting as in second case also doesn't help much. You might end up getting a lecture on professionalism from your manager. But I always feel it is important to let the other person know that you are hurt by his email and it affects your productivity. *Discussing* your emotions always helps.


I guess no one has achieved the mastery of keeping a check on ones emotions at workplace. I guess with experience and with time one can handle them in a better way.

Aahh...its been a while!!!!

Life has been busy . Six months just zipped past.I was trying to hold on to it and had my shares of Ups and Downs ,but overall it has been a rich learning experience(read non-technical). Well for the first time in my life I did introspect and noticed different things about myself. so I think I do know something about myself. I did find lot of short comings in me to achieve what I want to both professionally & personally. Well I am happy that I have at least listed them down so that I can work on them.

So what else???? ... life @ work sucks..(read colleagues).., India out of cricket world cup( didn't expect much from them either), Federrer lost twice to Canas in consecutive tournaments ( interesting rivalry on its way or is it lady luck on Canas side), was introduced to Landmark forum by my close friend( not sure whether to enroll for this, may be I will give them one chance).

Well post looks very disorganised..well that is how my state of mind is right now. May be it will take some more time to digest series of events that happened from past 6 moths and I promise to come up with a good post next time .