There are two important rituals associated with kiddie birthday parties
a) handing over the gift at the start of the party
b) demanding the return gift at the end of the party
Teaching a six year old to say 'thank you' instead of grabbing the gift from outstretched hands is quite a task. Selecting an appropriate return gift is equally bothersome.
More so if you're in south Bombay, of course, where the gifts are designed more to impress the moms than the birthday child's friends. So you not only have to have jugglers/ magicians/ clowns-on-hire but also 'unique' return presents. Such as handmade caps with the names of all 40 kids invited to the party embroidered on them.
Why 40? Because every child in the birthday boy/ girl's class - along with respective maids/ mothers - must be on the guest list. Never mind the chaos!
Cake n chips
Things were a lot more 'normal' in my part of town. Good old middle class. We believed in the ekdum regular return gifts such as pencil boxes and lunch boxes.
Magar as years passed by the friendly shopkeeper, whipped out something new: 'Beyblades'.
So who or what is a Beyblade? Well, it's just a fancy name for one of the most ancient toys known to mankind: the spinning top. The Beyblade comes with a 'rip cord' which allows you to launch it at a phenomenal speed as well.
I remember playing with something similar when we were kids. Of course, it's a lot more 'exciting' in this new avatar - and backed by a TV series as well. Cartoon Network India has authorised Funskool to retail 'beyblades' based on the show's characters. Priced between Rs 149-349, 100,000 units have already flown off the shelves...
But generally the stuff you get in the market is not the 'real' beyblade - they are all Chinese rip-offs costing 30 bucks. But they work pretty well.
There are actually a large number of variations - even in the 'official' beyblade series - with names like 'Wolborg', 'Dranzer' and 'Dragoon Fighter'. Successful kid fads are always collectibles. That keeps interest alive - and the cash registers ringing.
Collect All
The most recent such craze was, of course, Pokemon cards. But I remember children including myself collecting similar cards for racing cars, and cricketers. And when I was really tiny I had an impressive collection of little animals which came free with Cibaca/ Binaca toothpaste...
The right collectible can hugely drive kiddie product sales. At my mausiji's wedding I recall we were the baraatis who ordered Gold Spot after Gold Spot. The drink lay untouched while we kids fought over the Jungle Book 'crown caps'!
Aside: Some of us even fantasised how nice it would be to work as a waiter ... Uske paas kitne crown caps hote honge!
Coming back to beyblades - one of the potato chip companies is already on the bandwagon. They have a little top you can assemble out of 4 cardboard pieces with excellent spinning capability.
If they're smart, the cornflakes, soft drinks and chocolate companies will soon follow!
Yeah those things are the craze everywhere. Dumb things kids use to irritate old grannies with. On the other hand, old grannies are irritated with almost anything dumb kids play with.
I remember, during my schooldays. I kept getting GK books as my birthday presents. The parents of all my friends thought they would mould my dysfunctional intelligence. Dumb people. The closest thing I ever got to a good present was a chess set, which was both here and there.
In return it served me right if i gave them cheap stationary (a scale with a load of useless holes, two pencils and a rubber) as their return gifts.
Bottomline: Kids aren't inherently couch potatos or mouse potatos. They do enjoy physical sport/ activity. The challenge is to re-package all the classic children's games and sports in a manner that appears modern and cool.
It's all about capturing their imagination. Both Harry Potter - which revived interest in books, and Beyblades - which have made a rage out of the simple spinning top - prove that!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tere mere beach mein
It seemed like a surefire way to catapult this beach into the ranks of Bali and Waikiki: a 10% discount for anyone in a bikini.
The scheme was cooked up in 2003 when South Korean officials were looking for a way to attract tourists to a stretch of sand on the western coast of the country. So they renamed it Byeonsan "Bikini" Beach.
Alas! A name change + discount offer was not enough to change attitudes. Barely 10% of beach goers are estimated to have opted for bikinis - and even that number was probably on the inflated side.
So why don't Korean women patronise bikinis? Broadly I would think the same set of reasons that Indian women don't -
a) They feel self-conscious esp. if their bodies are less than perfect
b) They have no interest in getting tanned - fair skin, after all rules in Asia.
c) Add to that possibly the lech factor - don't know about Korea but in India even wearing a one piece swimsuit attracts gawkers. Goa mein bhi!
Itsy bitsy teeny weenie - no thanks
I think it's all about 'safety in numbers'. The standard 'beachwear' for women in India is a hiked up nylon sari or salwar kameez. The more Westernised junta will roll up their jeans or perhaps wade into the water in shorts.
So the tiny minority which does don Speedo automatically attracts eyeballs.
Now as far as feeling awkward in a swimsuit goes - that is a very real problem. But again, it's more about cultural context and not just a body image issue.
Even perfectly endowed Indian women would feel uncomfortable wearing a bikni in public. In our culture it's akin to being 'nanga'.
Are all bikini wearers in phoren countries perfect 10s? Looking at the
the Baywatch beach you might think so but hey - those washboard abs are on hire.
On real beaches in Florida or even Goa you will see plenty of old, freckled and less-than-shapely ladies soaking in the sun in their one or two piece swimmies.
They don't care what anyone thinks! Sun and sand is meant to be enjoyed in this clothing - so why be inhibited and spoil one's fun?
Which is exactly the attitude of Indian men at the beach. Paunchy, extra-hairy, stick-thin - the Indian guy has no qualms about stripping down to his Rupa underwear.
Yes, sadly you see plenty of those on public beaches - along with guys in proper swimming trunks. Doesn't make for a pretty sight but hey - one must admit this is an area where the bhaarat putras are not lacking in confidence!
They don't even bother to suck in their stomachs while sauntering by...
Hope floats
There is however an interesting new development - Indian women are finally embracing a uniquely desi version of the swimming costume: Nylon tights with oversize nylon tees.
Visit Esselworld's Water Kingdom - where 'swimming costume' is compulsory to enter the water - and you'll see women short, fat, young and old all togged out in this somewhat strange but socially acceptable adaptation of the swimsuit.
The tights come in ankle and knee length versions; the most popular colour is navy blue.
The suits are available on hire but I'm wondering why doesn't some smart company market the concept? Nike or Adidas could actually sell such costumes - and make a success of it.
This in turn might encourage more Indian women to actually take up swimming instead of the standard sight you see at all but the most upscale holiday resorts: women watching their husbands and kids splashing around in the pool from a safe distance.
The west never got to where it is now in a jiffy. There was a time, if you need reminding, when nothing short of ankle length skirts were permitted at Wimbledon. The reason there has been relatively less clamour in the west about women's clothing becoming skimpier is that the process has taken place over the course of decades. For over a century now, women have been wearing successively fewer clothes - the current "norm" being the lower than low neck.
Contrast that to Bharat where in less than 15 years, western wear has become ubiquitous (atleast in the Metros).
A decade ago, a jean-wearing lass would have been "ogled" at (your term, not mine). Today the jean is so commonplace that it takes more than a jean (or rather, less than a jean) to attract attention.
The human mind has a problem accepting changes even if the change were positive. The pace at which our society is transforming right now is certain to cause pressures and tensions that only the next generation will be rid of.
Even that would be a big enough revolution... Bikinis? Now that will take another hundred years! Unless some secret ingredient is added to our morning milk which mutates the ogle-ogle gene in mankind.
Ashton Kutcher being voted American President sounds rather more plausible...
The scheme was cooked up in 2003 when South Korean officials were looking for a way to attract tourists to a stretch of sand on the western coast of the country. So they renamed it Byeonsan "Bikini" Beach.
Alas! A name change + discount offer was not enough to change attitudes. Barely 10% of beach goers are estimated to have opted for bikinis - and even that number was probably on the inflated side.
So why don't Korean women patronise bikinis? Broadly I would think the same set of reasons that Indian women don't -
a) They feel self-conscious esp. if their bodies are less than perfect
b) They have no interest in getting tanned - fair skin, after all rules in Asia.
c) Add to that possibly the lech factor - don't know about Korea but in India even wearing a one piece swimsuit attracts gawkers. Goa mein bhi!
Itsy bitsy teeny weenie - no thanks
I think it's all about 'safety in numbers'. The standard 'beachwear' for women in India is a hiked up nylon sari or salwar kameez. The more Westernised junta will roll up their jeans or perhaps wade into the water in shorts.
So the tiny minority which does don Speedo automatically attracts eyeballs.
Now as far as feeling awkward in a swimsuit goes - that is a very real problem. But again, it's more about cultural context and not just a body image issue.
Even perfectly endowed Indian women would feel uncomfortable wearing a bikni in public. In our culture it's akin to being 'nanga'.
Are all bikini wearers in phoren countries perfect 10s? Looking at the
the Baywatch beach you might think so but hey - those washboard abs are on hire.
On real beaches in Florida or even Goa you will see plenty of old, freckled and less-than-shapely ladies soaking in the sun in their one or two piece swimmies.
They don't care what anyone thinks! Sun and sand is meant to be enjoyed in this clothing - so why be inhibited and spoil one's fun?
Which is exactly the attitude of Indian men at the beach. Paunchy, extra-hairy, stick-thin - the Indian guy has no qualms about stripping down to his Rupa underwear.
Yes, sadly you see plenty of those on public beaches - along with guys in proper swimming trunks. Doesn't make for a pretty sight but hey - one must admit this is an area where the bhaarat putras are not lacking in confidence!
They don't even bother to suck in their stomachs while sauntering by...
Hope floats
There is however an interesting new development - Indian women are finally embracing a uniquely desi version of the swimming costume: Nylon tights with oversize nylon tees.
Visit Esselworld's Water Kingdom - where 'swimming costume' is compulsory to enter the water - and you'll see women short, fat, young and old all togged out in this somewhat strange but socially acceptable adaptation of the swimsuit.
The tights come in ankle and knee length versions; the most popular colour is navy blue.
The suits are available on hire but I'm wondering why doesn't some smart company market the concept? Nike or Adidas could actually sell such costumes - and make a success of it.
This in turn might encourage more Indian women to actually take up swimming instead of the standard sight you see at all but the most upscale holiday resorts: women watching their husbands and kids splashing around in the pool from a safe distance.
The west never got to where it is now in a jiffy. There was a time, if you need reminding, when nothing short of ankle length skirts were permitted at Wimbledon. The reason there has been relatively less clamour in the west about women's clothing becoming skimpier is that the process has taken place over the course of decades. For over a century now, women have been wearing successively fewer clothes - the current "norm" being the lower than low neck.
Contrast that to Bharat where in less than 15 years, western wear has become ubiquitous (atleast in the Metros).
A decade ago, a jean-wearing lass would have been "ogled" at (your term, not mine). Today the jean is so commonplace that it takes more than a jean (or rather, less than a jean) to attract attention.
The human mind has a problem accepting changes even if the change were positive. The pace at which our society is transforming right now is certain to cause pressures and tensions that only the next generation will be rid of.
Even that would be a big enough revolution... Bikinis? Now that will take another hundred years! Unless some secret ingredient is added to our morning milk which mutates the ogle-ogle gene in mankind.
Ashton Kutcher being voted American President sounds rather more plausible...
The God of All Things
Long before early morning walks in salwar kameez and Reeboks became socially acceptable, the only excuse bahus had to get some fresh air and 'darshan' of the outside world was to say,"Maaji, main zara mandir ho kar aa rahi hoon".
You could even dress up a bit for the occassion - and get away with it.
What's more, given the number of festivals and fasting days on the Hindu calendar, there was always some God or Godess who would need to be paid a personal visit.
I am here depicting the image of the world famous Akshardham. The grand Swaminarayan temple in Gandhinagar - now better known as the temple once held hostage by terrorists.
You can't really forget that - given the elaborate, airport-style security at the gate. If yor mobile phone has a camera, even that will have to be surrendered outside.
Kotler would be proud
However the trouble is worth it. It's truly an impressive complex. The gardens are immaculate and lush green. Not a piece of kachra to be seen anywhere. And the temple building itself is grand - by any standard.
Of course, once you are inside the temple you're slightly disoriented. There are no Ram-Sita/ Krishna/ Durga statues. Or the standard shiv-lingam. It is after all a 'Swaminarayan' temple, so you have a giant golden (or is it pure gold?) statue of Swaminarayan maharaj.
No explanation of any kind is given about him. To learn about his claim to sainthood there is of course the 'exhibition hall'. Here, there are giant tableaus of key scenes from the Ramayan, Mahabharat, Upanishads et al. Some of the exhibits are mechanised in "It's a Small World" style.
Welcome to Spiritual Disneyland.
The ultimate objective, of course, is to build the Swaminarayan brand. To associate this relatively growing spiritual name with the old and established names in the religious supermarket.
An education is given about the life and times of Swaminarayan. Now whether or not you leave the hall accepting the fact that Swaminarayan is an avatar of God is debatable. But the idea of planting the seed of that thought in this manner is quite brilliant.
Peth + Pooja
What's more, the Akdhardham complex is now a full-fledged 'entertainment' centre. There are amusement park style rides - including a water slide. And a very clean, cheap and cheerful food court offering everything from paranthas to "nuddles". (their spelling, not mine).
In an era of multiplexes and malls, Akshardham is also working hard to retain its place as destination families choose to go to on a Saturday evening. And I think in that objective it has certainly succeeded!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sky game
If our feathered friends had a news network of their own, this is what one of the top headlines would have read like last night: "Innocent bird killed in hit-and-land accident".
"Aaj shaam chhe baje Amdavaad airport ke nikat ek pakshi ki Spicejet ke hawaai jahaaz se takra kar achaanak maut ho gayi... "
But was it a mere accident or was it a jehadi parinda which decided to propel itself - suicide bomber style - into the engine? The idea being to ground these man-made flying machines marauding the once-peaceful blue skies?
Either way, Spicejet was grounded at Ahmedabad airport. And with no certainty of when the plane would take off - if at all - passengers ended up playing 'musical flights'. Most chose to take the full refund offered and get on to alternate airlines.
Eventually both tempers and temperatures cooled. And Spicejet did manage to take off.
But it got me thinking - flying the friendly skies was never so easy - or so complicated! And not just for us humans...
It's a bird! It's a plane!!! Thank God there is no Superman.
"Aaj shaam chhe baje Amdavaad airport ke nikat ek pakshi ki Spicejet ke hawaai jahaaz se takra kar achaanak maut ho gayi... "
But was it a mere accident or was it a jehadi parinda which decided to propel itself - suicide bomber style - into the engine? The idea being to ground these man-made flying machines marauding the once-peaceful blue skies?
Either way, Spicejet was grounded at Ahmedabad airport. And with no certainty of when the plane would take off - if at all - passengers ended up playing 'musical flights'. Most chose to take the full refund offered and get on to alternate airlines.
Eventually both tempers and temperatures cooled. And Spicejet did manage to take off.
But it got me thinking - flying the friendly skies was never so easy - or so complicated! And not just for us humans...
It's a bird! It's a plane!!! Thank God there is no Superman.
Pride of Pakistan
Recently while watching the 80's superhit Qurbaani, i was reminded of Nazia Hassan. Personally speaking, i was a great fan of her as well as her voice during my college days. Here's a detailed trivia about her which will infotain all of you. Felt like visiting her on the net and this is what i came across.
She was a breath of fresh air on the music scene of Pakistan. She set a new trend which revolutionized the music industry of Indo Pak. She shot to fame with her very first song “Aap Jaisa Koi” for an Indian movie. The song literally took over the entire sub continent and earned her the first real pop singer title. Though a teenager, she had a certain grace and sang that provocative song without sounding vulgar. Her first album “Disco Deewane” featuring her brother Zoheb Hassan sold like hot cakes. The music of the album was composed by Biddu a UK based Indian composer. The same team produced “Boom Boom” the second album which made her the undisputed queen of the pop scene. Young Tarang and Hotline were two more record breaking albums produced by the same team. Nazia’s last album Camera Camera did not do well on the charts. Nazia also did some playback singing for Indian movies. In Pakistan Nazia hosted music shows; Music 89 hosted by the brother sister duo provided a platform for bands such as Jupiters and Vital Signs who later became a big name both locally and internationally. Music was just a hobby for Nazia, she spent the money earned from singing in helping the under privileged. She acquired a law degree from a University in UK and took a job in the United Nation’s Security Council.
Nazia worked for a number of charities; in India she was associated with the “Inner Wheel Club”. “BAN” a charitable organization fighting against drugs was established by the siblings. She also worked alongside her mother and other social workers. She not only established charities but also lectured in schools emphasizing the need for social awareness.
Nazia got married in 1995 to Mirza Ishtiaq Baig. Unfortunately the marriage did not work out well and the couple divorced in August 2004. Nazia was earlier diagnosed with lung cancer which eventually took her life in 2004.
Nazia had class, beauty and a heart of gold; things which etch a person’s name in the minds and hearts of many. Nazia was posthumously awarded Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan.
Nazia Hassan (April 3, 1965 – August 13, 2000). Her song "Aap Jaisa Koi" from the film Qurbani made her a legend and pop icon in Pakistan and all of South Asia in the 1980s where she is admired and loved even today, several years after her death. She was best known with the titles of The Queen of Pop Singing and Sweetheart of Pakistan. She was the most influential and popular female singer and probably the only real pop singer of the 1980s and the 1990s in both India and Pakistan.
Nazia Hassan was born in Karachi, Pakistan and from an early age showed interest in music. Nazia's professional career started at the age of fifteen when she provided the lead vocals for the song Aap Jaisa Koi from a Bollywood film titled Qurbani (1980), by Indian producer-director Feroz Khan. Nazia was introduced to Feroz by his friend in the United Kingdom. The song was a huge success in India and despite Nazia being a Pakistani, she gained overnight fame there.
She then collaborated with Biddu, a UK-based Indian music producer who was also the composer of Aap Jaisa Koi, on numerous other projects. Biddu had previously made several hit-songs for various singers like Tina Charles and Carl Douglas. In 1981, Biddu released Nazia's first mega-hit, Disco Deewane. The album broke record sales in Pakistan and India and even topped the charts in the West Indies, Latin America and Russia. Her later albums also had vocals of her brother, Zoheb Hassan. These included Star/Boom Boom (1982), Young Tarang (1984), Hotline (1987), and Camera Camera (1992). Nazia and Zoheb appeared with music maestro Sohail Rana's Pakistani television program for children, "Sung Sung". In 1988, Nazia and Zoheb also hosted the groundbreaking show Music '89 produced by Shoaib Mansoor.
After the huge success of their music, selling millions of albums worldwide, EMI Music International also Nazia and Zoheb, making them as the first South Asian artists to be signed by an international music label.
Nazia and Zoheb's television interviews were shown on TV in India, Pakistan, Dubai, UK (big names like David Soul, David Essex, Zia Mohiuddin conducted the interviews on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 etc) and many other countries.
Nazia Hassan died in August 13, 2000 in London after a prolonged battle with lung cancer at the young age of 35. She was admitted to North Finchley Hospice three days earlier when her condition suddenly deteriorated. She showed signs of mild recovery on Saturday and it was thought that doctors would allow her to go home. But early Sunday morning, her mother, Muneeza Hasan, was called to the hospital where her daughter had started coughing heavily and she died within minutes.
Nazia Hassan's son Arez, who was born on April 7 1997 and was only three when his mother succumbed to cancer, was taken into the care of Nazia's parents. He like his late mother is a talented performer. He is continuing the charitable work that his mother initiated via the Nazia Hassan Charitable Foundation.
The Government of Pakistan has conferred upon Nazia Hassan the highest civilian award Pride of Performance. The award was presented to Mrs. Muniza Basir, mother of Nazia Hassan, by the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf in an official ceremony held at Islamabad on 23 March 2002.
Friday, October 15, 2010
The Ya-Ya Sister-Brotherhood
The peculiar 'paavan parv' of Rakshabandhan is upon us. I use the word peculiar because it is one the few Indian festivals which seems to have no strong 'storyline'. Unlike a Diwali or Holi or Janamashtami, where the myth or legend behind the celebration is widely known.
Google search of course reveals there are several possible origins. But honestly, while the Hindu pantheon of Gods has several heavyweight couples (Ram-Sita, Shiv-Parvati), there is no such brother-sister example.
Whatever the origin, there was something sweet about this sister-tying- thread-to-brother concept due to which it has not only survived but thrived. Even as other, more 'religious' festivals fall by the wayside.
Raksha, my foot!
When I was really young I thought it was very cool for sisters to get to tie the rakhi and get 'maal' from brothers.
The situation was quite ridiculous, of course. A hundred rupee note would be slipped into the fingers of brothers as the brother & sister both smiled into the camera whipped out on such ceremonial occassions. As time went by I was bemused and then somewhat angered by this concept of brothers 'protecting' sisters. Coz there were a number of brothers younger to sisters who needed more protection than the sisters themselves.
But you know what, rakhi is too sweet a festival to get worked up about for feminist reasons. So sisters now gloss over the protection bit and treat it like an extortion ritual.
Speaking of which the commercial possibilities of the festival are being exploited to the fullest. I especially like the creativity behind the 'kid rakhis' - Pokemon rakhis, Tweety rakhis, even Harry Potter rakhis!
And of course, there's the new and promising business of 'send a rakhi through our website'. More and more bhais and behens are living in different cities - even continents. And more and more sisters wake up 3 days before the festival and realise "post karna bhool gaye". Business can only grow, I tell you!
Another happy trend is Cadbury's launching its special mooh meetha karne ke liye 'gift boxes'. This spares junta from exchanging boxes of ghee laden mithais which lie uneaten in the fridge and are eventually given away to the kaamwaali bai!
Avoid this
Rakhi can however be extremely trying - for those who have no siblings of the opposite sex. And they are inevitably tempted into creating 'rakhi brothers' and 'rakhi sisters'.
This is thoroughly and completely avoidable. Simply because there are too many examples of girls tying rakhis to the boy next door for 15 years before realising "Arrey! I'm in love with this guy".
And needless and endless complications follow. No one plots for this to happen but nature has its mysterious ways. You can't ensure you will feel brotherly or sisterly except to a real, blood-related brother or sister.
So what do you do? I say we also promote same-sex rakshabandhan. Sisters tie to sisters, brothers to brothers. Only kids to their (same sex) best friends.
I know this sounds strange, and slightly kinky. But it's way less kinky than eventually marrying your rakhi brother or sister!
Bhaiyya mere...
Another important function rakhi serves in India: it's a polite way to refuse unwanted attention from a guy.
You don't even have to actually tie the rakhi, just casually mention what day it is and dangle one in front of the guy in question :)
In a manner of speaking - and strictly tongue in cheek - you could call this manouevre: 'Raakshas bandhan'.
Afterthought
Going by that pheku school pledge, "all Indians are my brothers and sisters". Guess sisters will be needing to buy more rakhis.... approximately... half a billion?
Google search of course reveals there are several possible origins. But honestly, while the Hindu pantheon of Gods has several heavyweight couples (Ram-Sita, Shiv-Parvati), there is no such brother-sister example.
Whatever the origin, there was something sweet about this sister-tying- thread-to-brother concept due to which it has not only survived but thrived. Even as other, more 'religious' festivals fall by the wayside.
Raksha, my foot!
When I was really young I thought it was very cool for sisters to get to tie the rakhi and get 'maal' from brothers.
The situation was quite ridiculous, of course. A hundred rupee note would be slipped into the fingers of brothers as the brother & sister both smiled into the camera whipped out on such ceremonial occassions. As time went by I was bemused and then somewhat angered by this concept of brothers 'protecting' sisters. Coz there were a number of brothers younger to sisters who needed more protection than the sisters themselves.
But you know what, rakhi is too sweet a festival to get worked up about for feminist reasons. So sisters now gloss over the protection bit and treat it like an extortion ritual.
Speaking of which the commercial possibilities of the festival are being exploited to the fullest. I especially like the creativity behind the 'kid rakhis' - Pokemon rakhis, Tweety rakhis, even Harry Potter rakhis!
And of course, there's the new and promising business of 'send a rakhi through our website'. More and more bhais and behens are living in different cities - even continents. And more and more sisters wake up 3 days before the festival and realise "post karna bhool gaye". Business can only grow, I tell you!
Another happy trend is Cadbury's launching its special mooh meetha karne ke liye 'gift boxes'. This spares junta from exchanging boxes of ghee laden mithais which lie uneaten in the fridge and are eventually given away to the kaamwaali bai!
Avoid this
Rakhi can however be extremely trying - for those who have no siblings of the opposite sex. And they are inevitably tempted into creating 'rakhi brothers' and 'rakhi sisters'.
This is thoroughly and completely avoidable. Simply because there are too many examples of girls tying rakhis to the boy next door for 15 years before realising "Arrey! I'm in love with this guy".
And needless and endless complications follow. No one plots for this to happen but nature has its mysterious ways. You can't ensure you will feel brotherly or sisterly except to a real, blood-related brother or sister.
So what do you do? I say we also promote same-sex rakshabandhan. Sisters tie to sisters, brothers to brothers. Only kids to their (same sex) best friends.
I know this sounds strange, and slightly kinky. But it's way less kinky than eventually marrying your rakhi brother or sister!
Bhaiyya mere...
Another important function rakhi serves in India: it's a polite way to refuse unwanted attention from a guy.
You don't even have to actually tie the rakhi, just casually mention what day it is and dangle one in front of the guy in question :)
In a manner of speaking - and strictly tongue in cheek - you could call this manouevre: 'Raakshas bandhan'.
Afterthought
Going by that pheku school pledge, "all Indians are my brothers and sisters". Guess sisters will be needing to buy more rakhis.... approximately... half a billion?
Dilwale Dulhania le gaye, aur ab...
What I don't understand however is the sudden rash of endorsements she's taken up. And that too in a 'hum saath saath hain' style with hubby Ajay Devgan.
First, there was the Whirlpool deal. Then came Kotak Mahindra and Tata Indicom followed suit.
To be fair, the Indicom ad was actually very entertaining. Ajay plays a country bumpkin accompanied by his ghunghat mein dhaki hui bride.
The salesman at the cellphone shop tries to take them for a ride before Kajol lifts her pallu and in crystal-clear English demands the phone with 'maximum talktime'. Because that's what phones are for - talking. Humein bewakoof na samajhna!
It was a good ad because it was built around a consumer insight. Yet, it was interesting - and the celebrity couple had been used well.
Ek ya do bas!
However, if I were Kajol I would stop accepting any more ads... And believe me there will be many more offers. Because the laws of me-too inevitably operate when it comes to celeb endorsements.
The brand manager for some brand of biscuit or chai-patti is gonna see the Indicom ad and go "eureka"! That's what I need to add zing to my boring old brand... Kajol and Ajay Devgan.
And of course this ad will just show the celebs eating or drinking the product and saying "acchha hai". No insight, no effort, no story, no glory.
There's a reason why Hollywood stars act in any old Japanese commercial, but not for American dog-food. At least not in their prime... Listen up, Bollywood!
After a dozen such ads the viewer no longer remembers WHICH brand the celeb is endorsing anymore. I lost track of Amitabh somewhere after Dabur Chywanprash.
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