tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5322035763015247712012-02-11T09:02:54.712+05:30I Blog because I love to write. I blog because I love to voice my opinions. I blog because I love to talk on important issues. I blog because I love to serve humanity. And most importantly, I blog because I dont have much else to do.Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.comBlogger1651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-8719240064906323522011-08-28T09:34:00.001+05:302011-08-28T09:40:26.369+05:30

I have not been an ardent supporter of Anna Hazare's campaign. This, obviously, implies that I am an armchair intellectual, a cynic, an elitist and a Congress agent. Most importantly, the George Bush classification system of "if you're not with us, you're against us" makes me pro-corruption. My first reaction to India Against Corruption was not "how" but "why". Why do we need to root out

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-78998856535629676202011-08-25T02:58:00.001+05:302011-08-25T08:04:04.032+05:30

Warning: This post contains offensive cuss-words which may not agree with your cultivated tastes. Don't read further if Delhi Belly hit you below the belly. Ranging from A.K. Hangal to garam Dharam, Bollywood has rendered many portrayals of the Indian male. We are indeed a colorful breed. The way we change colors, you'd even call us chameleons. There is only one place that brings out our true

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-55543383792971962162011-06-07T23:29:00.001+05:302011-06-07T23:34:27.539+05:30

Celebrities, debates, fasts, yoga, police, dance - Indian politics is at its colorful best. While it is obvious that the UPA is not exactly topping the popularity charts, government bashing has become fashionable again. But then, it never went out of fashion, did it? It's like black tees and faded denim. Ravi Shastri must be getting a feeling that there is wide-spread anger among people. Some of

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-8667889530352991022011-05-24T18:21:00.000+05:302011-05-24T18:21:44.111+05:30

Jairam Ramesh's daring to think beyond the IIT/IIMs comment has raised quite a storm. I didn't have the privilege to study in an IIT. I hear the stories of impossibly high demonstration of intelligence, resourcefulness and enthusiasm the top-tier students at IITs have. However, I did experience IIM Calcutta. I shall refrain from commenting about institutes that I have no association with. But

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-30259544189197728712011-05-14T00:11:00.000+05:302011-05-14T00:11:59.223+05:30

Remember your class room in high school? What did it look like? How many students do you see? Can you put names to all the faces? Apart from your friends, who are the students you remember? Which students do you remember from the class senior to yours? Remember any guys from the juniors? Let me take a wild guess at the students you remember from your (or your senior) class. You obviously remember

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-60683139790397871942011-05-04T13:07:00.001+05:302011-05-04T13:07:54.974+05:30

TCS is India's largest software exporter. It is safe to assume that a large share of its customers are American and European companies. They don't follow cricket. When I see the TCS name on the caps of Rajasthan Royals players, I wonder who is the target audience. Considering the sponsorship amount spent, I hope it is well spent. May be someone can enlighten me. Why?

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-14721641808206709042011-04-30T20:22:00.000+05:302011-04-30T20:28:43.128+05:30

The sell side hang up and say "Fuck you!" The buy side say "Fuck you" and then hang up.In two years of management education, we are taught how to sell. Ever wondered why we aren't taught how to buy?

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-85832690926425791552011-04-29T10:58:00.003+05:302011-04-29T11:07:52.312+05:30

A tennis game starts with LOVE ALL. The way it should be. Then it gets to ONE LOVE. But man being naturally polygamous, can not remain in this state for ever. He craves to make it TWO LOVE. She gets back at him. It's a one-on-one fight. In tennis parlance, it's ONE ALL. This struggle goes on forever.Like in any other game, there are some great "players" here as well. Even if they starts with ONE

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-6828269610059744472011-04-27T08:51:00.002+05:302011-04-27T09:22:02.152+05:30

I find it disturbing that some news channels are airing programmes on the lines of "Sathya Sai Baba's Tricks Exposed". Similar videos on YouTube have received a surge in traffic, particularly directed from social networking sites like Facebook. This is not the best time for this sansanikhej khulasa. Call it magic or trickery or divine power, the man gave a semblance of hope to millions of people.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-21253112329003125822011-04-21T23:49:00.003+05:302011-04-22T00:08:46.459+05:30

This is the third time in a month that I have almost placed an order for Kindle at Amazon and them backed out. The $139 thing comes at $205 for Indian customers.That's $66 (about 3000 rupees) of shipping charges. Roughly one-third of what I pay for the device will be stupid shipping charges. Trade tariffs and economics aside, if I was Amazon, I'd be seriously worried that my biggest product is so

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-90537724530689672602011-04-19T09:50:00.001+05:302011-04-19T09:52:47.836+05:30

The two month vacation between IIMC and Cognizant isn't turning out to be as great as it should have been. Mamma dearest tripped over in Ispat Market and broke both her hands at the elbows. That she is a 60 year old diabetic with mild osteoporosis doesn't help matters. I was so excited to take her to Joka for the convocation. IIMC has been the greatest two years of my life, something I am very

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-57532789993897590192011-04-14T22:37:00.000+05:302011-04-14T22:38:06.674+05:30

Keep trollin' trollin' trollin' (what)Keep trollin' trollin' trollin' (come on)Keep trollin' trollin' trollin' (yeah)Keep trollin' trollin' trollin'.....

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-70521840889932682712011-03-27T09:45:00.006+05:302011-03-27T10:13:57.226+05:30

"If the most interesting things that you did in college make it to your CV, then you haven't being doing interesting things."These words of infinite wit and wisdom fell upon my ears in my second year at NITR. Still puts a smile on my face.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-91271923243863523132011-03-22T00:53:00.003+05:302011-03-22T00:57:45.226+05:30

"In Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace – and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."Orson Welles (playing Harry Lime) in The Third Man (1949)

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-25164350561214790562011-03-17T00:32:00.002+05:302011-03-17T00:37:29.563+05:30

"All the shit that they feed us in the movies and greeting cards is just propaganda to get us to marry, have kids and keep the economy going. Marriage is just a keystone to economics."Noted down in the second viewing of Clerks II.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-69577057293877842142011-03-02T10:17:00.003+05:302011-03-02T10:23:41.555+05:30

"Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve."Read the whole post here. This comes very close to explaining why many of the amazing guys you see around you are single while some of the

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-44538010462923248612011-01-30T15:07:00.002+05:302011-01-30T15:45:21.824+05:30

So an "unlimited reserve" of shale gas has been found near Durgapur, West Bengal. Read the story here.Exciting, isn't it? Now read the last line of the report."We have imported machineries from Schlumberger Solutions of USA and entrusted them to do the first rig."An ONGC scientist believes that "the socio-economic scenario of the area will change." The way I see it, its an opportunity for Didi. I

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-60692745800625949112011-01-28T20:14:00.004+05:302011-01-28T20:50:47.267+05:30

I have subscribed to Ray William Johnson on Youtube for my dosage of fun videos. Today he has uploaded a scene from the Rajnikanth movie Endhiran. Ray's ignorance shows in the jokes he makes about Rajni, Bollywood and Indians in general. Some people will find it offensive. I see flame wars in the offing. I hope they cut the guy some slack. He's just trying to be funny. He shared a video which he

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-23091488888133941412010-12-25T18:15:00.002+05:302010-12-25T18:36:58.629+05:30

Wouldn't it be amazing if we could selectively erase movies from our memory? Yes, just like Eternal Sunshine of A Spotless Mind. The moment I thought of this, I started making a list of things I would want to experience again. Nothing came to my mind but for names of movies.Why movies? Why not something else? Everybody has a different experience that he/she will like to relive again. Some would

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-88521278702462076962010-11-10T09:53:00.001+05:302010-11-10T09:57:00.529+05:30

Get together with friends from school-days. They will all be there. The guy with whom you followed Jyoti's scooty after Chemistry tuition. The guy who confided to you the latest rumour he had heard. The guy who argued with you that Stone Cold is better than The Rock. Brings back warm memories, and a smile. This will be fun!The conversation veers towards "job profiles".Someone says "federal tax

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-77388075097326298722010-09-07T09:10:00.005+05:302010-09-07T09:47:49.927+05:30

A relatively old one, ignored by many, hated by many more, and perhaps we were not ready to appreciate.Aks (2001)*ing Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Bajpai, Nandita Das & Raveena TandonDirected by Rakeysh Omprakash MehraMusic by Anu MalikLyrics by GulzarOne of the few standout thrillers of this decade along with A Wednesday, Samay, Koun and to some extent Bhoot. I remember how I went nuts when the

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-64576081251510973732010-09-03T15:54:00.004+05:302010-09-03T16:01:48.052+05:30

Ladies,I do not complain when you are angry on someone and you take it out on me. I understand. I also understand when you feel love for someone and can not express it because you are too shy, he is far away, or you do not want to come across as easy. The next time you feel this way, do not hesitate. Take it out on me. I'll understand.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-17497993312859936792010-08-17T03:47:00.006+05:302010-09-03T15:43:29.221+05:30

Elvis will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger, those who would attempt to poison and destroy Jailhouse Rock. And you will know his name is The KING when he lays his vengeance upon thee.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-5960498184161663742010-05-24T16:13:00.002+05:302010-05-24T16:23:03.950+05:30

Looking for the perfect job?Make a list of the reputed brands that you would never buy from and the services that make you cringe by the way they treat you. You just HATE to be there, waiting in queues, signing forms, paying through your nose for shitty products. You get the picture.These are the places where customer is not the king. The staff is. So which side would you rather be in?The staff

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-28967044738359639652010-05-23T22:42:00.004+05:302010-05-24T10:15:47.661+05:30

What would you rather do if you're not working?Think.Will you enjoy doing it everyday for the next 30 years? Even when you are 50?Think harder.If you have a precise answer for the first question (rather than the mundane "spend time with family") and if you can confidently answer the second question in affirmative, then you better hope that it's related to the work you do. If it's not, then you

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-84039625250055172802010-05-17T19:10:00.004+05:302010-09-03T15:43:02.552+05:30

With this trailer, Christopher Nolan once again tells every other film-maker to get a job as a software engineer, investment banker, sarkari babu, marketer etc.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-37157823872670015002010-05-04T06:15:00.001+05:302010-05-04T06:30:58.881+05:30

Where does Steve Jobs keep his money?An I-Bank.What is the Tamil Nadu branch of Morgan Stanly called?Murugan Stanley.What is the music band at RBS called?RBS BaroC.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-58512701997450467012010-05-03T01:00:00.002+05:302010-05-02T22:17:36.640+05:30

The internship has been a welcome break from b-school. I have got back to my bookworm ways. Here are some books I devoured in April, 2010:Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus (John Gray)This has been on my to-do list for more than 5 years now. Now I'm not too sure why it was there at all. I was 19 then. Looking for 'wisdom' I guess! It's a good read for teens. You won't learn much if you're on

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-16676518700891969022010-05-02T09:33:00.004+05:302010-05-02T10:36:03.000+05:30

In a sparsely filled hall, a young man stood alone on the stage. His fake beard and spectacles failed him as he tried to look old and weathered. Bathed in the spotlight, he looked at the audience with contempt."How dare you call me mad? YOU, of all people! Come. Laugh at the mad man. Mock me. Hate me. If only I could show you how you look when you laugh at me! Pointing your fingers at me, holding

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-68625207282740571702010-04-24T10:28:00.002+05:302010-04-26T18:05:31.514+05:30

Deactivated my Facebook account. The feeling is same as killing your adorable pet dog when it has grown senile and sick. Relief!I've saved a number of my friends from the abuses I'd hurl at them when they'd tell me how "CSK Rocks \m/" or how "Sachin is God". I get it buddy. I know you are one of the target demographic markets Lalit Modi aimed at when he turned Cricket into his pet whore called

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-39557032976439477952010-04-16T11:01:00.002+05:302010-04-16T11:06:14.120+05:30

"It is the nature and strength of art to transform experience, including historical experience, into representations that bring out the essence of that experience. War, for example, is constantly being treated by artists, oftentimes with scant regard for the reality of war. Why is this not only permissible but good? Because in doing so we come to a full understanding of what war means to us. I

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-79237174725342114482010-04-11T15:02:00.000+05:302010-04-11T15:06:56.703+05:30

The guys in the PG had ordered chicken and stuff for lunch. Being the only veggie sucks. At about 1:30 PM, feeling ravenous enough to eat a cow, I called up Dominos. By the way, I'm in Chennai.Dominos Girl : Dominos Tamil gibberish gibberish Cheese Burst gibberish....Me : Uh, do you make deliveries to Thiruvanmiyur?She: Can have number Saar?Me : First tell me if you deliver to Kotivakkam,

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-17729003656900893362010-03-21T15:02:00.003+05:302010-03-21T15:18:47.819+05:30

"IIM Calcutta! 15-20 lakh easily.""Arre I read that your senior got a 1.6 crore job. Aunty ji your beta is going to be a crorepati."Having given up my attempts to make this conversation rational, I smile sheepishly. Usual scenes at a friends n' family type get-together. We're invited for lunch by the Mishra family, our family friends for over 20 years. Uncle has two sons. The younger one got

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-16552926789550025202010-03-19T09:59:00.003+05:302010-03-19T10:21:37.943+05:30

My daily trail. That's Rourkela's Ring Road. Named so owing to the ring-like encircling of the town. It's about 23 kilometers, with two steep climbs. Decent ride for cyclists looking for a 40 minute routine. The road is wide, smooth and mostly traffic-free. The evenings are a delight thanks to the stretch of trees along the road.Khoob jamta hai rang jab mil baithte hain teen yaar: hum, hamari

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-78256415089565328062010-03-18T01:00:00.000+05:302010-03-18T01:00:00.428+05:30

Time to write about my 20 all time favorite songs.I have reached the point where no matter what new songs I hear, they will not break in to my favorite 20. In fact this list has remained unchanged for last four years. I'm sure no angrezi gana from future can beat these lovelies.John Lennon - ImagineThe Divine Comedy - Gin Soaked BoyLed Zeppelin - Stairway To HeavenJefferson Airplane - White

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-20335017090975132242010-03-17T21:10:00.005+05:302010-03-17T21:24:27.577+05:30

Bored. Tried out random blogs. Found an interesting one here. This guy is actually funny. This doodle takes the cake.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-87163982545426163262010-03-17T15:04:00.002+05:302010-03-17T15:44:20.781+05:30

"When I'm through with you, you'd wish your daddy had pulled out."Preacher is Badass. Badass is Preacher. I had been looking for comic books for grown ups. The ones now marketed as graphic novels. A friend had been pestering me that Batman is the best comic ever and I should devote my time to a hero that hides behind a mask and won't utter "mothafuckaaa!!!" even if you grind his nuts. Like I

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-32802530700944321292010-02-18T13:11:00.002+05:302010-02-18T13:31:34.741+05:30

Aamir Khan has quit the Copyright Amendment Committee which was constituted to look into the Copyright Act. Read the story here.Bigger story inside the story:Mukesh Bhatt is a member of this committee.(canned laughter)He was included to ensure that all parties are equally represented. For those who have lived under a rock for the last two decades, Mukesh Bhatt is the brother of Mahesh Bhatt. The

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-82177422992630596802010-02-12T16:22:00.005+05:302010-02-12T16:53:11.942+05:30

We watch an SRK-KJo flick to show goons that we're not afraid of their territorial pissings. We refute politics of hatred by watching the messiah of mohabbat tilt his head, flash his dimples and, wait for it, spread his arms and proclaim his love for men. By men I mean humanity. Enough gay jokes on SRK-KJo.We smear the face of a 45 year old man because his views stand contrary to ours. Isn't this

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-28314552332334295982010-02-02T23:11:00.003+05:302010-02-02T23:15:44.035+05:30

Student: Sir, instead of uploading the readings, please give us hard-copies. It will be easier to read.Prof. Pal: How can you even say that in a post-Copenhagen world?

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-80064324128589418712010-01-16T08:28:00.007+05:302010-01-16T09:12:50.303+05:30

Kya dada yeh kya chapati jaisa dosa diye ho! Naya bana ke do. Achche se kurkura kar ke.He knows I like my dosa crisp. Maybe he likes messing with me. Maybe he likes the way I say kurkura. Whatever it is, today's morning was not the best time to mess with me. I gave him a discourse on the portrait of a dosa as a dosa ought to be. With my kurkura dosa served, I sat before the TV to watch some

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-76163441594194478512010-01-04T06:20:00.005+05:302010-01-04T10:03:53.715+05:30

"Ratta maar ke tu college ke char saal to apni izzat bacha lega, lekin life ke agle chalis saal tera balatakar hota rahega balatkar!"- Baba Ranchoddas ChanchadThe least that we would expect from an Investment Banker, who studied in the coveted Well-known Institute of Management in West India, is to read and understand contracts and agreements. Every b-school worth mentioning has a course on the

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-23591173613647700662010-01-03T06:00:00.005+05:302010-01-16T09:11:30.340+05:30

If a good fuck could fuck Woods, how much 'wood' would a good fuck fuck?The champ got tired of hole in one. So he started looking for holes in many.More to follow.....

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-40729851306937934212010-01-02T06:00:00.000+05:302010-01-02T06:00:00.249+05:30

Thoughts at the ragging scene in 3 Idiots:I hope the climax will have Kareena doing the "Tohfa qubool karo!" zig.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-48250378263702088942010-01-01T01:00:00.002+05:302010-01-01T19:34:01.554+05:30

Thoughts on 1st January, 2010.....I will be First. At what? That's a secret ;-)I will make my first sincere attempt. At? Another secret ;-)I will be wearing size 32 denims on 31st December 2010.I will be able to chit-chat in Bangla.By the way, we're going to change the way the following word is defined. This one is too mild: Fight (v. intr.) - To strive vigorously and resolutely. I began the year

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-39767240354212565962009-12-31T19:54:00.006+05:302009-12-31T23:57:50.583+05:30

2009 Resolution Check-list:http://swamyatul.blogspot.com/2009/01/pep-talk.htmlThis will be the watershed year of my life - CheckI will surprise myself. I will do things which aren't 'me' - CheckI'll put myself in trying alien conditions, and will savor the scars - CheckI will fail again and again. I will try again and again. Not to succeed, but to see if I can succeed at failing regularly -

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-67264557705325173432009-12-07T09:12:00.003+05:302009-12-07T09:17:02.288+05:30

Even his political opponents started covering up for him. Howlarious!

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-32789882424011670442009-12-02T20:44:00.003+05:302009-12-02T20:58:36.636+05:30

Is it just me, or do these songs really sound similar?Dakku DaddyGasolinaCheck out the opening sound of Gasolina. It carries through the whole song. The one in Dakku Daddy sounds similar. Add to it the tempo.Anyway, lovely songs both of these. I adored Gasolina from the day a friend recommended to listen to it as a mood-lifter. Dakku Daddy is in a different league altogether. Really ROTFL. Enjoy!

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-87722158060117134212009-10-27T12:44:00.000+05:302009-10-25T03:46:50.998+05:30

7 days before mid-term - Padhna shuru karte hain yaar!6 days before mid-term - Aaj Cost Accounting shuru karna hai.5 days before mid-term - Aaj 4 hours mein pehle 4 chapters.4 days before mid-term - Aaj Introduction to Cost Accounting.3 days before mid-term - Aaj toh Cost Accounting khattam!2 days before mid-term - Friend corrects me that the 3rd chapter is Cost-Volume-Profit and not

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-22264975036066569702009-10-20T12:56:00.000+05:302009-10-25T03:48:16.801+05:30

Jargon Buster:DP - Desperate Participation. n., v., tr. v., etc.A desperate attempt by a b-schooler to grab the attention of the professor or company representative by asking inane questions. Opp. CP (Class Participation)Overheard from a conversation:Yaar I don't DP. I was always inquisitive. When I was three, I kept pestering my parents asking how I was born until they gave up and told me, "Look

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-82264676760004244712009-10-18T13:40:00.003+05:302009-12-01T19:41:49.059+05:30

Ready-made answers to crack any interview you want! Within three years, we have helped 10473 job-seekers get their names in Microsoft, Barclays, Mckinsey and P&G rolls. One of our satisfied customers says"I did my MBA from the best b-school in India (according to a number of magazine surveys). Two years of ghissing had made me a nerd. I could not answer simple questions in behavioral interviews.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-34789764344168780262009-10-08T17:59:00.004+05:302009-10-08T18:08:03.322+05:30

This is war.I'm going in.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-20512920950439467112009-09-22T09:27:00.004+05:302009-09-22T09:53:21.535+05:30

I'm reading Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. He writes about the merits of a divergence test vis-a-vis a convergence test. A convergence test is one in which we have 5-6 options and we zero in on the best among them. This is what most IQ tests are. A divergence test asks you to use your imagination and take your mind in as many directions as possible. There is no right answer. It's the number and

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-56218812227037220182009-09-21T17:06:00.004+05:302009-09-21T17:10:03.669+05:30

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-21036025464501384312009-09-20T17:18:00.002+05:302009-09-20T17:36:26.709+05:30

Everything you ever knew, did, or thought about, can be expressed as a two-by-two matrix. Call it a BCG Matrix, a product-Market Growth Matrix, McFarlan's Strategic Grid or E-business Value matrix etc. The rule to making a good matrix is....let's first define a good matrix. A good 2X2 matrix is a square divided into four equal quadrants by two mutually perpendicular lines, each quadrant

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-31266215210489340682009-09-08T07:22:00.003+05:302009-09-08T07:33:57.942+05:30

My langotiya yaar's Google Talk status message:Anubhav Jain: is a saucerful of secrets, Is the Piper at the gates of dawn, Is Obscured by Clouds, Breathes in the air, Has High Hopes, Is A shining crazy diamond, Is Learning To Fly, Has a Momentary Lapse of Reason, Never at a Loss for Words, always Keeps Talking, Always makes The Final Cut, Is A pig, Runs like hell, Walks on The Thin Ice, Is

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-41594966501039987532009-09-04T06:38:00.004+05:302009-09-04T21:01:30.380+05:30

We had the wrap-up class for Financial Accounting yesterday. I could not understand anything taught in the last half-hour of the class. I wasn't listening.I could see him doing what he does best - mesmerize the students. I could see him waltz from one topic to the next. Every student concentrating hard to internalize every sentence he said. As always, there were no absentees. Joka-ites don't miss

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-61178117062461344752009-08-05T05:42:00.003+05:302009-08-05T06:09:50.730+05:30

I used to think that Bangladesh is Asia's version of bhookha-nanga Africa. A country stuffed with Bangla-speaking Muslims, impoverished millions and cricket wannabes. Stereotypes.There was a mention of Grameen Phone in the Marketing class today. I had heard of the Grameen Bank before. But rural women using cell-phones as a source of income sounded much more interesting. I spent the night googling

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-86845701726666682492009-07-15T14:22:00.005+05:302009-07-15T15:39:52.293+05:30

A randomly assorted list of learnings during the 1st month of my stay at IIM Calcutta.I'm Swamy. If you call for Atul, chances are, I wouldn't turn my head.There's one rock-addict in my wing. There are 20 guys in my wing. I thought things would improve in the IIMs. I cringe at the jugni and munda-kudi and ishq-mohabbat songs.People who think highly of SRK, Jatin-Lalit and Backstreet Boys do make

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-47852389500122106282009-07-04T07:46:00.002+05:302009-07-04T08:01:28.838+05:30

"The judgment is unfortunate... this is a Congress conspiracy... it seems some top Congress leaders are gay."- Prakash Sharma, National Convener, Bajrang Dal.Exactly. Why else do you think the Prime Minister doesn't have a strong Bachchan-ish voice? Why else do you think Rahul Gandhi is unmarried at the age of 39? Elementary Watson. They are all gay.It doesn't matter which side of the Article 377

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-61662780105651421562009-06-28T06:27:00.003+05:302009-06-28T06:48:20.228+05:30

This is my first post from Joka. As one our t-shirts suggests, these are the best DAZE of my life. Sadly, I'm beginning on a more sombre note. I was in a class when a classmate received the news on SMS. He announced, "Michael Jackson mar gaya." Heads turned around. Many of them smiling in disbelief. Someone suggested, "Must have died of AIDS." I couldn't see the humor in this. Lips pursed.Many of

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-64709238822045229812009-06-11T23:48:00.005+05:302009-06-12T00:09:16.977+05:30

A month ago, I had booked a ticket on the Koraput-Howrah Express to travel from Rourkela to Kolkata on the night of 10th June. I've heard people call it the Sammaleshwari Express. I intended to report to IIM-C on the morning of 11th June. Most of 10th June was spent sorting out the papers, packing the bags and convincing Mamma that everything's in order. I ended with four bags, two of them pretty

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-90402888040209908822009-06-08T20:49:00.003+05:302009-06-11T21:54:02.327+05:30

This is not a review. It's too late for a review anyway. Two years late. Microsoft Office 2007 is cool. I thought brushing up my Excel skills would be a good idea before leaving for b-school. Working in an R&D firm, it's easy to be infected with disdain for any Excel or Word work. Time to flush it out of my system. I always thought Excel 2003 had a lousy interface. The cluttered toolbar at the

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-50228940161305999142009-06-05T20:48:00.000+05:302009-06-09T20:49:29.727+05:30

Let me take out my DLF Maximum and let's enjoy our Citi Moment of success ;-)Sounds like a porno-flick? This is IPL Lexicon baby. The words that made me cringe every time the commentators were forced to utter them. Thank God the IPL is over. Entertaining as it was, I could not stand the stink of money it reeked of. Maybe I need to meditate under the Bodhi Tree to attain enlightenment, but pray

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-33936482785590695952009-06-04T20:33:00.000+05:302009-06-09T20:47:51.930+05:30

I've been watching a lot of TV these days. Not having a broadband connection at home helps. Especially when you have to catch a bus to get to the nearest internet-cafe. The serials have changed, yet they remain the same. There's a wave of child-centric soaps now. At the forefront of this wave is Balika Vadhu, a sob-saga about child marriage. Never mind, everyone is still tense and crying, as they

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-26269913910295626592009-06-02T12:11:00.003+05:302009-06-03T18:51:03.789+05:30

The athletes and sports-persons of a country also act as the unofficial ambassadors of the country they represent. This has once again been corroborated by the supposedly racist attacks on Indian students in Australia. Is there any connection between these events and the role of sportspersons? Allow me to explain my take on this grim situation.I need not explain that we Indians are a hypocritical

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-57257350253955560682009-05-23T20:16:00.000+05:302009-05-24T20:18:03.004+05:30

Adam Gilchrist.Aadam Gilchrist.Aadamkhor Gilchrist.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-5027990681703811692009-05-19T20:14:00.001+05:302009-05-24T20:19:03.969+05:30

2nd October, 1951Campaigning for re-election in the 1952 General Elections, Jawaharlal Nehru addresses his audience in Delhi:"If any person raises his hand to strike down another on the ground of religion,I shall fight him till the last breath of my life, both at the head of theGovernment and from outside."6th March, 2009Campaigning for election from Pilibhit constituency in 2009 General

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-72797709368658411552009-05-17T20:11:00.001+05:302009-05-24T20:21:39.000+05:30

I'm on the Howrah-Rajdhani. The morning newspaper grabbed, read and digested with enthusiasm that's rare on my part. I wonder what's on the news channels. Oh how I miss the post-poll analysis! Everyone's an expert. Everyone knows where BJP went wrong. Everyone saw it coming. Some news broadcaster will gloat over the accuracy of his/her exit-poll analysis and predictions. Some will give a

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-58043610821846897052009-05-16T19:55:00.001+05:302009-09-11T21:45:31.705+05:30

I had roughly planned what I'd say in my farewell speech at Samsung. I'd say a sentence about each of my team-mates. I'd ask the department to clap for the Trojan-Horse team. I'd thank the manager for letting me work in this high-profile project. Emotions got the better of me. I was going to cry. Wonder how my voice sounded. I mumbled through the words and finished up my speech hurriedly.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-79882664806346474602009-05-13T05:47:00.003+05:302009-05-13T06:29:07.029+05:30

A pdf has on an average 300 pages. It takes roughly 2 minutes to scan through a page. That's 600 minutes, i.e., 10 hours. Finishing a book in two days should not be a problem. If it's high on technical content, make it three days. Taking other interests in account, that's atleast 5 books in a month. Or 50 in an year.Imagine reading 50 books in one year. If we alternate between fiction and

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-21887859583352977402009-05-11T07:45:00.003+05:302009-05-11T08:53:26.084+05:30

Joka meet time! I hitched a ride with Nitin, a wud-be Joka-ite, because it's easier to go by car, and because I'm cheap. Snort snort! The meet with Joka seniors was at India International Center, Max Mueller Marg. No one in that locality has heard of the Max Mueller Marg. We had a swell good time figuring out the directions.The meet was immaculately organized by the 2010 batch. I guess there were

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-42213297691981102922009-05-11T07:08:00.005+05:302009-05-11T08:49:52.815+05:30

Imagine waking up on a lazy Sunday morning, checking the mail, and receiving this link in an offline-chat message.Thanks Ranju, you made my day!Ah! There's a meet organized by Joka seniors in the evening. Should be fun. I start watching The Great Dictator from where I had left it the day before. I found it difficult to finish it in one sitting. It's not the Charlie Chaplin movie I had expected.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-66922314226611617592009-05-05T22:49:00.002+05:302009-05-06T00:03:58.542+05:30

For 12 years, Mom has been the single most important force/support/friend/responsibility/idol in my life. My life-support system. My raison d'être. It's hardly surprising that I adore strong, smart women. More often than not, you'll find me completely besotted by a women/girl with oodles confidence and a parade of achievements to boot.So when I read about The Letters To Our Daughters Project on

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-5785089960750397512009-04-29T22:39:00.005+05:302009-05-05T22:16:04.714+05:30

There's something about SRK. Something about him that pisses me off. I used to adore his razor-sharp wit. I still think that he has the best PR skills in all of Bollywood. It's just that the "I'm the best!" rhetoric doesn't work for me anymore. When you've been in an industry for two decades, a modicum of maturity need not hurt. But then you come out with lame repartees like this.My flatmate Jai

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-53014970541197101172009-04-22T10:38:00.002+05:302009-04-22T10:47:02.738+05:30

Maketing gimmick? Real KKR player? SRK?I don't know. But Fake IPL Player is plain awesome. Read it choronologically, starting from Let The Games Begin.Great idea! I'll be one of the first to buy his book if it comes out. Hats off!!!

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-83200297662556206982009-04-10T18:08:00.002+05:302009-04-10T20:45:19.884+05:30

Time - 2:00 PM, 10th March, 2009.Venue - International Management Institute, New Delhi.The Interview Form asks one to write about career goal in about 60 words, hobbies, achievements and lots of other stuff. Heck, one even has to get the form attested by a gazetted officer. It's a story in itself.Filling Up The FormThe night before the interview. I take out the Interview Form. There are two

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-69820852250573892602009-04-06T22:39:00.004+05:302009-04-07T01:08:20.952+05:30

Time - 2:00 P.M., 7th March, 2009.Venue - IIM Lucknow, Noida Campus, Noida.The candidates are to fill-up and bring the wretched piece of paper they called the Interview Form. It doesn't ask any questions. All you have to do is fill-up blanks with your personal details and marks.With a smooth IIM-A experience on the previous day, I was brimming with confidence.Who am I kidding! I was shattered. I

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-9019648504985923682009-04-04T10:48:00.009+05:302010-09-04T08:32:56.185+05:30

It’s about 11 in the morning. My SPJIMR Group Interview is about to begin. Here I am, writing about my IIM-A experience. Why am I not attending the SPJIMR process? One possible answer may be that I’ve done so well in my IIM interviews, that I just don’t care about the tier-2 institutes anymore. May be I’ve aced my IIM-A interview.Time - 8:45 A.M., 6th March, 2009.Venue - IIFT, Delhi.Candidates

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-84643659821599862822009-04-04T07:10:00.003+05:302009-04-04T08:03:47.552+05:30

20th December, 2006.Winter vacations at NIT Rourkela. I and Mom visited my cousin Pramod bhaiya in Ahmedabad. After spending a day playing with the cutest nephews one can dream of, I set off on my pilgrimage to Sabarmati Ashram. My Mecca! Oh wait, I didn't go straight to Sabarmati Ashram. How can one resist the artistry of Louis Kahn! Some place! As I wandered aimlessly in the IIM-A campus, as I

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-16477230771587983522009-03-29T20:15:00.001+05:302009-03-29T23:41:17.957+05:30

The Funny OneTime - 2:00PM, 25th February, 2009.Venue - International Management Institute, Delhi.Candidates are supposed to fill-up a form with the usual academic data, career goal, achievements etc. One interesting questions here is "What alternative career options are you considering?"Having enlightened the IIM-B faculty with my wise opinions in the morning, I rushed to IMI Delhi. The venue is

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-23344416266695136122009-03-26T22:25:00.000+05:302009-03-29T22:56:06.091+05:30

The Opinion Driven OneTime : 9:00 AMVenue : India Habitat Center, Delhi.Candidates are supposed to have already mailed three letters of recommendation and a filled up form containing the dreaded one page Statement of Purpose.After being quizzed on the mineral wealth of Orissa, I spent the 24th of February combing the web for information on it's mineral and agricultural details. Exhilarating stuff

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-898884950222315632009-03-25T23:16:00.000+05:302009-03-29T22:57:31.484+05:30

First-person Account of a Rape VictimTime : 8:30 AM, 23rd February 2009.Venue : Indian Social Institute, DelhiWe had to fill up a Yellow Form with our academic data. It also contained some questions regarding career goals, biggest achievement, learning from job etc.Punctuality is my middle name. I was at the venue at 7:45 AM. My cabbie knows the geography of Delhi like he knows that of his wife.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-37672181737538000972009-03-25T22:41:00.000+05:302009-03-25T23:15:14.167+05:30

Washing Dirty Linen In PublicI tried resisting it. There's no running away. My IIM interviews are over. Every now and then someone asks me "How did it go?" And I have to smile and lie "Fine. Fingers crossed." Reminds me of the mundane "How are you?" Can you imagine if people really stopped and started telling you how they really were! Who wants to listen about what trauma you're going through or

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-11590982570382963642009-03-23T22:39:00.000+05:302009-03-26T01:40:29.552+05:30

"Well, look, we are going through a difficult time. I welcome the challenge. You know, I ran for President because I thought we needed big changes. I do think in Washington it's a little bit like "American Idol," except everybody is Simon Cowell."- Barak ObamaWatch the interview here1 and here2.I thought that I would miss Dubya. Where else can we find a President worth laughing at? Zardari comes

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-44094398460763976882009-03-22T19:59:00.000+05:302009-03-22T20:36:14.445+05:30

I'm done with my tryst with B-school entrance. It wasn't a particularly enjoyable experience. I cringe at the times I had to cut someone in a Group Discussion, when I had to sell myself as a responsible, knowledgeable leader-in-making. Duh. What the heck! I tried my best. Save for the discomfort of answering the uncomfortable questions of "Arre! Kisi mein select nahi hua? Kaise yaar! Tch tch tch!

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-53785927892746803352009-03-22T07:45:00.000+05:302009-03-22T09:01:35.961+05:30

I was wondering why cow-slaughter isn't banned in India. In a country where about 80% of the population is Hindu, doesn't it make sense to protect the symbols that they worship or revere the most? Gandhi was against consumption of alcohol and beef. He wanted it to be stopped. Then why didn't the Congress make it a law? Much before the Congress made minority appeasement it's policy, it was an

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-38534704353649293732009-03-20T23:02:00.000+05:302009-03-20T23:22:30.302+05:30

Light's out. It's stormy outside. The inverter isn't working. I'm all alone in the 3-BHK. Horror movie time!!!I don't remember who recommended it to me, but this is one of the best non-English/Hindi movies I've seen since Banlieue 13. Easily one of the better love stories in my recent memory.As for the Academy Awards folk who cock a snook at anything belonging to the horror/romance/sci-fi genre,

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-50219168627584419702009-02-28T21:41:00.000+05:302009-02-28T22:11:56.672+05:30

Is Mahi Gill delicious or what!Anyway, here's hoping for another cracker of a movie.Speaking of crackers, noticed a hottie today in the local market. She was wearing a black tee, saying the much cliched "99% of the girls are beautiful, rest are in my college." Attitude MAAAN!! :D

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-1367878049961379742009-02-21T11:52:00.000+05:302009-02-21T12:08:52.915+05:30

The Nagraj animation-movie has been in the making for centuries. Some episodes of a Nagraj series were shot for TV, but the project was shelved as Raj Comics wasn't too excited about the special effects. My personal favorite, Super Commando Dhruva, is nowhere near the TV/Cinema screens. I had accepted that Indian super hero translates to Krrish. Now, there's nothing wrong with Krrish, he's cool

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-79399502878421058682009-02-21T02:55:00.000+05:302009-02-21T03:27:18.438+05:30

My IIM interviews start from 23rd February. I have never been this unprepared for anything that I take seriously. When I look back at the month gone by, it doesn't look like I did not try. Still, this is not my best effort. Poor planning. Poor time management.In the meanwhile here are some memorable feedback suggestions from coaching institutes :Your best chance of getting selected is to be

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-85516159824807894692009-02-21T02:34:00.001+05:302009-02-21T02:54:56.309+05:30

It's not the greatest movie ever. I will not watch it for the 3rd time. I like movies/music/books/drawings which have something new to show on every repeat visit. Topping these oft frequented addictions are :2001 : A Space OdysseyRadioheadThe FountainheadThe ScreamYet, if I were a film-maker, and were allowed to make only one movie in my life, I would make Dev D. Eagerly waiting for Gulal.

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-47956359155270766382009-02-12T08:54:00.000+05:302009-02-12T09:17:15.842+05:30

The Indian textile industry is going through tough times. Fall in demand led to the textile industries laying-off 1.29% of their workforce last year. Like the many-headed Hydra, the economic slowdown poses a number of ghastly problems for the textile sector. Of immediate concern is to get-rid of the stockpiles of saris that have been rotting in stores due to fall in demand.Enter Mr. Pramod

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-59677249592049043952009-02-09T00:00:00.000+05:302009-02-09T00:13:04.630+05:30

Anurag Kashyap should kill Abhay Deol.Abhay Deol should kill Mahi Gill.Mahi Gill should kill Kalki Koechlin.Bollywood should kill the entire crew of Dev D.And we, the self-respecting intelligent movie viewers of the world, must kill Anurag Kashyap.Shah Jahan cut off the hands of his craftsmen after they built the Taj Mahal. He didn't want want them to recreate it somewhere else. May be he didn't

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-50942668374886059382009-02-08T09:45:00.000+05:302009-02-08T10:01:47.646+05:30

Jankari has bagged the National e-Governance Award for year 2008-09.There's a little bit of Bihar in every Bihari. It's public initiatives like these that make me feel that the state will not be relegated to the bottom forever. A step in the right direction has been taken. There are miles to go before we kick ass, but I really want Bihar to be India's rags-to-riches story. Insha-allah!

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-25235766763075835602009-02-04T22:23:00.000+05:302009-02-04T22:51:52.492+05:30

The guy whom I rarely called by name and mostly addressed as "Oye" left for Kolkata today. I guess my almost six year long hands-on course on Dude-ism ended today. I may not have learnt much, but watching Mr. A perform the art of living was a treat nonetheless. As I saw him walk away from the Samsung building, charecteristic white shirt, cell-phone in hand, walking like he owns the place, I

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-81911035028523472342009-01-26T23:13:00.000+05:302009-01-26T23:48:55.724+05:30

It's not poverty-porn.It's not masala.And it's not entertaining enough.The movie is partly delightful and partly bland. I adored the first half when Jamal and company are kids. Some scenes that made a killing :1) A.R. Rahman's score - WOW!2) Kids playing on the airstrip and running around in the slums.3) Jamal's shit-dive. Reminds me of the toilet-dive in Boyle's Trainspotting4) Jamal and Salim

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-62008653045875867302009-01-26T13:14:00.000+05:302009-01-26T13:27:38.694+05:30

Bravo!I don't really blame these dimwits for their actions. They aren't educated enough to think for themselves. They may be gullible enough to believe that they are actually doing Hindu dharma good by bashing uncultured girls. As long as there's humanity, there will be stupidity. We have to live with this.What disturbs me is the use of revered names by such goons to justify their acts. Islamic

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-17260952402942275432009-01-23T19:26:00.000+05:302009-01-23T21:00:20.271+05:30

Spent the day writing the story of my life. Put to words my learnings and experiences, connecting them to my career goals. Felt like copying a code from Code Project and pasting it on my module. I wish I could distance myself from all this, stand, look, and laugh at all the stupid things I'm doing these days. Infact, I'm finding it hard to contain my smirk as I type this.I wonder why Nirvana's

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-532203576301524771.post-2967748487900871122009-01-22T19:33:00.000+05:302009-01-22T19:58:49.036+05:30

That Dev D. is one of the most 'complete' OST of recent times is apparent on the first listening itself. 18 tracks. Each different from the other. Folk, Bhangra, Mush, Rock, Peppy, you name it. Enough said.Now I chanced upon the 19th one. Anurag Kashyap writes on his blog Passion For Cinema"Got this via email. Please be warned, a fanboy has created an X-rated version of Emosonal Atyachar from

Swamy Saran Atulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08918156229999918373noreply@blogger.com0