Movie Review: Nodidavaru Enanthare

Siddharth. Mallanna. Both have lost their jobs. Parents did mostly nothing. How contrasting their responses to life's challenges, speaks volumes about narrative on the way humans bounce back and/or the search for purpose.

Siddharth. Sarah. Both have run away from reality. How contrasting their responses to temporary and permanent state of life is a beautiful take away. Imagine someone who has no sense of clarity teaching it to someone else, isn't that how irony works?

Siddharth. His Mom. The confrontation. A lot of our childhood traumas, bad parenting, parenting beliefs make us who we are, good / bad or ugly. But imagine the impact of parental actions on a child's psyche is no joke!

Naveen Shankar's performance as Siddharth is just WOW

Watch it in the nearest cinemas now!!!

From Chessboards to Style Icons: How Strategic Marketing Wins Hearts!

This ad is a masterclass in modern marketing, and I couldn’t resist sharing my takeaways (aka marketing fangirl mode ON):

1. Even Chess Guys Can Sell Who would’ve thought? This proves that *any personality with a strong story* can strike a chord with audiences—if the positioning is spot on. Gukesh, a niche chess prodigy, transformed into a mainstream fashion icon? Goals! It’s the ultimate reminder that authenticity > flashy gimmicks any day.

2. Moment Marketing Ninja Moves Myntra pounced on Gukesh’s buzz faster than I hit “Add to Cart” during a sale. The way they tapped into his fame just as it was peaking is a masterstroke. In this digital-first world, being nimble is everything.

3. Gen Z Knows What’s Up Gen Z loves their dose of intellect, authenticity, and creativity, and this ad nails it. Gukesh’s fresh, youthful vibe paired with Myntra’s edgy fashion? Chef’s kiss! It’s a great reminder to stay tuned to what the cool kids are vibing with.

4. Viswanathan Anand Cameo (Kinda) The sly reference to Anand, our OG chess king, bridges the gap between generations. The campaign becomes a cultural nod to the legends of the past while riding the wave of the present. It’s genius! I mean, how do we pitch something this clever to our clients?

5. Post-Cred's Rahul Dravid, Myntra’s Giving Cool Vibes After Cred’s iconic *“Indiranagar ka Gunda”*, I thought nothing could surprise me. But Myntra? They’ve delivered something equally unexpected—and totally legendary. It’s proof that taking risks and breaking out of the template can turn *just another ad* into pop culture gold.

6. That BG Score Though – INSANE! The background score? *Uff!* It’s high-energy, peppy, and adds so much oomph to the visuals. Honestly, it makes Gukesh and Myntra look even cooler (if that’s even possible). Sound design can elevate everything—it’s a reminder to focus on those little things that pack a big punch.

What’s In It For The Big Little? This

Campaign screams inspiration for us. It proves you don’t need a big, glitzy celebrity to make a splash. With the right strategy, even niche personalities can become brand icons. It’s also a wake-up call to always stay agile, creative, and tuned in to the moment.

"What Do You Want From Here?" – The Journey of Thoughtful Gestures

What do you want from here?

Ah, the classic question I get from friends, family, and even that one acquaintance who popped up out of nowhere on WhatsApp! They always make me part of their travel shopping sprees—like a proud honorary member of their souvenir checklist. 

And honestly, I love it. I mean, I’ve barely traveled post-kids (because kids), but guess what? My fridge is a mini international museum of magnets—thanks to someone’s Singapore trip. Nagpur’s Santre sweets? Always find their way to my kitchen. Dubai’s outrageously delicious dates? Yup, got those too. Oh, and let’s not forget the cotton saree from Gulbarga that became my instant favorite.

 

It’s these little gestures, you know? Remembering people—whether you talk to them daily or not—and bringing them back a piece of something thoughtful. It’s like saying, “Hey, you crossed my mind, and this screamed you!” 

So, tell me—when was the last time you did this for someone? Or better yet, when was the last time someone *surprised* you like this? Let’s swap stories, because let’s face it, these moments deserve their own spotlight.

Hometown Wedding Vs Destination Wedding

Ah, how times have changed! Destination weddings have indeed become a huge trend in India. From beach weddings in Goa to royal affairs in Jaipur or Udaipur, couples today are going all out to make their weddings a unique and memorable experience. The idea of stepping away from the traditional hometown ceremonies and opting for exotic locations is a stark contrast to the days when weddings were deeply rooted in family traditions and logistics.  

There’s something irreplaceable about hometown weddings. They carry an innate sense of belonging, where every corner of the ceremony feels personal and steeped in memories. The familiar streets, the local temple or hall, and the extended community showing up—it’s like a collective celebration of not just the couple, but their families and shared history.

Back then, not having the ceremony in the bride's hometown often raised eyebrows. The practicality and expectations around "community presence" made even a small deviation feel like a big statement. The fact that it was a huge ask when boy's side asked 'ಮದುವೆ ನೀವು ನಮ್ಮ ಊರಲ್ಲೇ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಡಬೇಕು', and now, with global influences, social media, and the focus on creating "Instagram-worthy" memories, weddings have evolved into an elaborate production of style, travel, and storytelling.  

Destination weddings may have the flair, but hometown weddings have the soul. It’s lovely to see couples sometimes mix both—hosting a grand event elsewhere but returning home for an intimate gruha pravesha or a small pooja. After all, isn’t a wedding about balance—old and new, tradition and individuality? 

There’s still a charm in the simplicity of those hometown ceremonies—packed with warmth, laughter, and familiarity, don’t you think? 😊 

Small Things Big Impact

This post is dedicated to lovely management and QC team at SPI. From Sid Mookerji sir, Divyashree Sanjay ma’am, Abhi, Sanjay Srinivas Murthy, Mohammed Ali Jinnah and Mallikarjun Patil sir. 

Back those days when I started off as Trainee at SPI, little did I know that working in the organisation, the learnings will impact my life this big in the future. I have obviously shifted careers, I don’t work in the world of testing anymore - but the kind of process, quality checks that I knew SPI was doing, the things that I learnt is helping me fix a lot of issues in my company today. 

I hated processes back then just like how my employees hate it right now; so much that there are jokes that float around me for my excel-mania. But I am ok, I guess I now totally understand how huge it is for organisations as big as SPI, coz as a start-up it is for The Big Little. It has fixed a lot of recurring issues, made a lot of lives easier, and given a sort of space where you can avoid a lot of confusions. Of course it isn’t CMMI yet, but I am slowly getting to that level soon. 

Not getting much into details, just wanted to thank everyone who shaped me and my process game back in SPI, forever indebted to you guys!