Digressing from the mainstream and exploring ostensibly tabooed themes is a momentous risk if you are an Indian filmmaker.

Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri Dean Business School IIPM

Subhash Jha speaks to Kaushik Ganguly, a director who has done just that with his forthcoming “Arekti Premer Galpo” (Just Another Love Story)

“Just Another Love Story” is anything but just another story. What made you go into the dark area of alternate sexuality?

You call it ‘dark’ perhaps because sexuality in any form, other than what we deem normal, is taboo, discussed judgmentally, despite an apparent air of openness in our conversations. Those who do not conform, are marginalised. Which is why the term ‘alternate sexuality’ is commonly used.

This is precisely what haunted me… for years, actually, and “Just Another Love Story” was born. The life of the erstwhile Jatra Queen, Chapal Bhaduri (Chapal Rani), was my inspiration. My film does not see any kind of sexuality as dark, or alternate. It is just another love story.

Gay love stories are still not considered mainstream cinema. How do you think audiences will react to “Arekti Premer Galpo”?

I wasn’t focused on making mainstream cinema when I made “Just Another Love Story”. The subject is a social crisis that had made me think and rethink, and the film is an expression and extension of just that. My film moves according to the needs of Chapal’s instincts, insecurities, questions, his vulnerability and loneliness.

When I made “Ushno-tar Jonyo” (Longing for You) way back in 2002, I must say I was apprehensive about audience reaction. And I must also say, that our audience did not fail to surprise me. The response was overwhelming. Hopefully, this time too, “Arekti Premer Galpo”, which is a take off from the film above, will get my audience thinking and, at the least, re-considering their take on same sex bonding. The response in Berlin, London, New York, Delhi and Goa was positively over-powering.

There is an added responsibility for you as a filmmaker since the film also marks Rituparno Ghosh's debut as an actor. Did that burden your creativity?

What is remarkable about Rituparno Ghosh is that all along, he allowed the subject to rule. And he trusted me. I would say that the pressure of delivering loomed large when I had to write a screenplay that would be good enough for a brilliant scriptwriter like Rituparno to agree to debut in the film made out of it. Later of course, his inputs as Creative Director and Production Designer made me understand and know him more as a person.

How do you rate Ritu as an actor? Was it easier/tougher to direct him as he happened to be a filmmaker himself?

Ritu is tremendously hard-working, involved and particular, as an actor. He went in for a makeover, worked out in the gym, took dance lessons. He opened himself to me like a book, which is not easy for one of Rituparno’s stature. He even had his costumes planned out, bought and packed in huge packing boxes more than a month before we went on floor. What more could I ask for of an actor?

Though he had claimed that he was not technically sound, he turned out to be very sure of the technical details that he required to keep in mind as an actor. It was a pleasure.

What do you think about the recent gay films from Bollywood like “Dunno Y...Na Jaane Kyun” (DYNJK), and earlier “My Brother Nikhil” (MBN) and parts of “Jhootha Hi Sahi” (JHS)?

DYNJK, I feel, does not focus effectively on this sensitive issue. Onir has his personal style and honesty and that has made MBN an appreciable film. However, I have not seen JHS, but I certainly will, and give you my feedback if you’re still interested… I’m surprised you did not mention “Dostana”.

Do you think there's a lot of dormant homosexuality in the entertainment industry? Do we need to get more mature in our attitude to same-sex love?

Sexual preference is a personal matter. I feel that there is dormant homosexuality in almost any field. In most cases it lies dormant because of the fear of unacceptability.

I like it when you call it ‘same-sex love’. Perhaps we need to realise that each same-sex bond is also a bond of love. And that each such journey is just another love story.

What made you choose Ritu? Is it true you wanted to offer the part to Karan Johar and Onir?

Very many reasons, actually. First, I was making a film on Chapal Rani, none other than the Queen of Jatra. So I needed an actor who could more than match up to that stature. Second, I could think of no one else who could move, talk, think and feel with the splendour and dignity of a woman. Rituparno Ghosh has a nimble gait, he talks softly, and has a deep understanding of human psychology. The film would lose its honesty had my actor been inhibited, or insensitive. Ritu was in fact my only choice. I hadn’t for once thought of offering the part to anyone else.

Your mention of Karan Johar and Onir has got me thinking… Onir would have been too young for the part, And Karan would have been more suitable for the part of Uday, the wildlife photographer from Nice.

Is conservative Bengal ready for the sexual revolution? How do you think the audience that grew up and grew old watching Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Gautam Ghose would react to your film?

Believe me, I was brought up in the campus of an extremely conservative institution. If I could work on this subject for years, and feel free to make this film in Bengal, with the support of a Bengali producer, a Bengali cast and crew, without any hassles, qualms or unnecessary curiosity from anyone here, why would I be wary of the Bengali audience? The conservative Bengali is perhaps much more open to change and much more tolerant than they are thought to be. Hasn’t Bengal been the seat of many a revolution – political, social and religious?

What would your next film be? Will you go deeper into exploring human sexuality?

My next film is “Rang Milanti” (The Queen of Hearts), about a modern-day swayamvar.

It explores comparison, choice, tolerance. It’s also just another love story.

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Like a spy thriller should be – tightly packed suspense against a backdrop of stark reality

IIPM Mumbai Campus

The spying game

Can a female spy thrill minus the car chases and rooftop leaps a la Angelina Jolie in “Salt”? One look at Naomi Watts as CIA agent Valerie Plame in the opening sequence in Doug Liman’s “Fair Game” and your answer will be a resounding yes.

Liman tells the true story of Plame, whose covert status as a CIA agent is revealed by officials looking to discredit her husband, former ambassador Joe Wilson after he, in an op-ed piece in The New York Times, accuses the Bush Administration of manipulating intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to invade Iraq. The story unfolds Bourne like across three continents – Asia, North America and Africa as we find Valerie cornering sources in Iraq while Joe travels to Niger to find out the facts behind an alleged Uranium deal. Liman did a terrific job of reinvigorating the good old spy thriller with the Bourne series and he keeps the energy going here, fuelled primarily by the familiar premise and superb performances from Watts and Sean Penn. Penn as Wilson is his usual self assured, pensive and intense self while Watts superbly brings to life the grace under pressure and strength of character a mother (who also happens to be a spy) should possess.

“Fair Game” is both an intelligent and exciting watch. So what if the crash boom action is missing here; it crackles with the energy of the lead pair.

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No One Killed Jessica: Bringing down The Elephant

IIPM Mumbai Campus

A heavy dose of untempered reality

In one of the scenes of the film we see Sabrina (Vidya Balan) walking, and the next moment getting blocked by an elephant. This fleeting moment in the film sums up the film like no amount of dialogue could, for “No One Killed Jessica” is about how Sabrina Lall was pitted against political behemoths in her struggle to see her sister Jessica’s murderer punished. What in the

beginning seemed like an open and shut case was twisted such that the murderer managed to go scot-free, as India watched in wide-eyed astonishment and horror at how the people in power had hoodwinked the Indian judiciary.

The two protagonists suit their roles to a T, while Vidya Balan in her loose tees and massive specks gives a restrained yet powerful performance, Rani Mukherjee, as a hardened media person, shows us after a long time just why she is one of the leading ladies of Bollywood. Myra Karn as Jessica puts up a spirited performance while Rajesh Sharma as the tough cop, who wants the killer behind bars yet doesn’t shy from accepting Rs 70 lakh in return for not hurting the accused, is simply superb.

“No One Killed Jessica” was a difficult film, for while the makers hold that it is a fictional take on the case, the audiences in the theatres do already know the plot and even the climax. Given that, director Raj Kumar Gupta creates a film with great pace, suspense and emotions, however, it does not manage to strike hard enough. Ruminate and reflect, yes, but it does not make one tremble with rage or curse hard enough at the sordid state of affairs in our capital. After “Aamir”, Gupta had set his bar rather high, and while he does succeed in creating a very good film, it stops short of being excellent.

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Farah In The Madding Crowd

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Be it calling the shots or taming the beats, Farah Khan knows how to play it to the gallery like nobody’s business. Spriha Srivastava in an exclusive interview with the alpha female of Bollywood…

You were a student of Sociology. How did movies happen to you?
MJ’s 'Thriller' inspired me to take up dance. But I had never thought dance would take me to Bollywood. I often thought of being a director, but a choreographer, never! In those times, the choreographers had this old-school style and one had to be a dancer first and then after 20 years or so one would get a chance as a choreographer. So that way, I was lucky; one has to be in the right place at the right time.

If you look back, what was a bigger high: your first outing as director or the first song that you choreographed?
First directorial venture, definitely. There’s no high like that. I still remember the feeling I had while doing “Main Hoon Na”. It’s like your first love. I can never forget that excitement and those little details… getting hypersensitive about someone talking about your movie or hearing those praises… nothing can match the feeling of your first film.

You cast Shah Rukh Khan, who was a well-established actor/star, whereas it was your first time as a director. Were there times when there were creative differences?
No, no! I think with Shah Rukh, all was fine. I mean, common, we started our career at the same time. I’ve also been choreographing songs for so many years. So it wasn’t like I was a new person who didn’t know anything about direction. And Shah Rukh, I’d say, has been much more than supportive in every way.

You worked with Deepika who was a first-timer and now Katrina who is also relatively new in the industry. How was it different?
With Deepika, we had to teach her everything because it was her first time in front of the camera. We had to teach her how to look, how to talk, how to turn, how to wave… and other things. I think she’s a quick learner and did a fabulous job. Katrina had been around so I thought it was a different kind of a challenge to make her undo what she’d learnt till now.

Why Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif for “Tees Maar Khan”?
It’s written by my husband Shirish and he had written it keeping Akshay in mind. When one reads the script, one would know that Akshay fits in perfectly for it. When I wrote scripts, I would have Shah Rukh in mind and then I would write my script. This script was written in such a way that I could only see Akshay. Katrina and I have worked together before. I had been planning to take her because I thought she and Akshay have done lots of movies together; besides, she also suited the role perfectly. Also, I thought I’ll take it as a challenge to make her look very different and make her dance like she has never done before. That bit has really worked in our favour. It has surprised people.

How do you respond to criticism?
I think criticism affects everyone. In fact, I think I’m doing better now. I remember with my first film, I was really hyper. I would cry and all, but later I realised that if the movie does well and people want to see it again and again – that’s what counts. “Main Hoon Na” was a big hit and is almost like a cult film among children now, but at that time it got very bad reviews. And only I remember those reviews. Today, I feel that it’s a great movie because even now when it comes on TV, it ends up grabbing great TRPs. During “Om Shanti Om”, I really didn’t bother. But of course, if somebody criticises you, it’s human nature to feel bad.

Whose opinion matters to you the most?
Umm… no one, actually. My opinion matters the most to me!

So when film critics talk or write about your movie, do you not take it seriously?
I do, of course, but you want good things to be said and written about your movie. I like it when everyone watches my movie and everyone likes my movie. But after a point, it’s a personal opinion. Some critics might not like the kind of movie I make; some might like to watch festival cinema etc. I make hard core Bollywood movies. I don’t copy any Polish Cinema or French Cinema. I make true-blooded Indian Bollywood films. So, if that does not match somebody’s taste, that person will give a bad review.

After a release at the start of the year, what are the expectations from the year ahead?
I’ve decided to leave all negative energies behind. I don’t want any negative thoughts to enter my mind. I believe that whatever you want to happen, you can make that happen. I’ve done that, including the fact that I have three babies! (laughs). Also, I think detachment from worldly things in a way is good.

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LPG is set to weigh down on your budget

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With the existing government mechanism having failed to provide substantial relief to the common man from inflationary pressures, the expected hike in LPG prices will hurt household budgets more than ever.

Gone are the days when onions were a regular ingredient in Vinita Sharma's meals. There are fewer eggs for breakfast, pulses are no more a staple diet in this household and the children have to spend their winter vacations at home instead of their planned new year extravaganza in an outstation. “The steep escalation in the prices of daily food items has left us with no choice but to revamp our monthly budget and scale down little luxuries to the bare minimum,” says Vinita, a Noida-based housewife who moved to the national capital after her husband, a bank executive, relocated last year.

Like Vinita, if the recent increase in prices of food items (and of course, the petrol price hike in December) burnt a deep hole in your wallet, then get ready for another body blow as price of the all-essential Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is set to go the same way. Reportedly, the government is planning to increase cooking gas prices by anywhere between Rs 15-40 per cylinder, a move bound to fuel the existing inflationary pressures. With an escalation in the prices of most household products as transportation costs rise further, this move to hike LPG prices will deeply hurt the common man.

The impact, once all these factors are taken into account, is by no means going to leave an average consumer financially comfortable. Monthly household budgets will need to be considerably revamped. Add to that the possibility of EMIs rising further with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) looking to raise interest rates to counter inflation. This leaves the common man with no option but to cut down on luxuries like travelling and spending on a decent meal with family on a weekend. To put it bluntly, the hole in your wallet is set to get deeper!

Curtailing small luxuries is something that might help the so-called upper middle class to deal with the current situation, but it is definitely not a liberty that families in the lower strata of society have. Take the example of a household that lives on less than Rs15,000 per month. For such families, where geysers are not a feasible luxury, partly due to low income and partly due to a poor power scenario in their towns, LPG is the only source of hot water during winters. A hike in LPG prices will hurt this strata the most as a replacement (such as solar power) is absolutely unaffordable. “What do we replace LPG with? How do we cook, what do we eat? Cooking on firewood is also a costly affair these days. What is the other option...” asks a distressed housewife from Darbhanga, Bihar.

But then it's just not about household economy. On a broader front, there is a bigger threat lurching around. Rising interest rates, food prices and of course LPG price willl certainly shrink Indian consumers' purchasing power ultimately making consumer demand fall, which in turn will force companies to defer planned investments leaving growth rates in a limbo.

The Oil Minister Murli Deora maintains that his ministry is not in favour of raising the prices of domestic LPG and diesel prices following the spurt in prices of global crude oil (currently hovering around $90 per barrel) on the ground that the move will add to already high inflation rate. But then considering that Deora wants the government to compensate at least half of the Rs 72,812 crore revenue loss that state-owned oil firms are likely to incur this fiscal on selling diesel, LPG and kerosene below cost, the government looks set otherwise, and by the looks of it, there isn't much choice either.

The price of LPG in the international market has jumped by over 66 per cent over the past two years, which will certainly translate into a proportional increase in the subsidy that the government provides. This, as experts say, is something the government cannot absorb anymore and let state-run oil companies bleed. Considering that India currently imports nearly three million tonnes of LPG a year at prevailing international prices, subsidising it beyond a limit is not a sustainable option. As such, with prices soaring in international markets, the subsidy component per cylinder has already leaped to a whopping Rs367 per refill, higher than the actual price of a cylinder, which costs about Rs 350. As per Petroleum ministry figures, oil firms lose as much as Rs 272.19 per LPG cylinder (14.2 kg). Oil marketing companies, including Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) currently lose over Rs 225 crore per day collectively for selling domestic LPG, diesel and kerosene below their imported costs.

A meeting of an empowered group of ministers (EGoM), which was scheduled for December-end, to consider raising prices of domestic LPG and diesel was deferred indefinitely at the last moment. While the hike seems imminent, the quantum of the increase and the timing of the hike is what the government looks to be deliberating upon. According to Nidhi Dhruv, Associate Analyst, Corporate Finance Group, Moody’s Investors Service, “By deferring to raise domestic fuel prices to market levels, the government has stayed the inevitable and dealt a setback to reformers calling for market deregulation. The government though seems to be committed, however, complete deregulation is unlikely for now given the social and political pressures to maintain subsidies for cooking fuels.”

While unexpected steep price escalations have become a regular feature now, the least that the government could do is to plan things in advance, initiate timely steps to control retail prices, inform masses in advance of the problems in store and try and implement effective administrative measures, both short- and long-term, to be able to manage such a crisis in the future. Agreed that such government attitude would be Utopian, something that few would even term unrealistic, but then the country is also awaiting for a time when the government shows some accountability towards its citizens.

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Tale of a mutilated mermaid: The art piece adorned the University lawns for 20 years

IIPM Mumbai Campus

In another act of moral policing, a few unknown people destroyed a piece of art in the campus of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kerala. The art piece in question was an 18-foot mermaid carved in earth and covered with grass artistically pruned. It added to the beauty of the University's administrative office lawns and was a centre of attraction to the art lovers for 20 years that it was there. Then it dawned on some people, including a highly placed University official, that the grass structure went against the campus ethics. And hence the artistically pruned bust of the mermaid was chopped off brutally.

It is said that this act was done as per the instructions of CUSAT Registrar N. Chandramohanakumar. The Registrar had been receiving complaints from some women organisations and individuals about the grass mermaid stating that it was obscene and should be removed. However, Chandramohankumar said that he was against mutilating the artefact. As an administrator, he was supposed to consider the complaints from Women’s Welfare Association of the CUSAT and a few other employees objecting on the nudity of the mermaid. He also referred to a Supreme Court order discouraging educational institutions exhibiting such kinds of nude artworks.

There was hue and cry from many quarters against the mischief. Art lovers, students, teachers and even state's ministers criticised the action. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said, “The obscenity is not in the art but in the minds of the viewers. There are so many such murals and sculptures in various temples of the country but no one sees immorality and obscenity in those artistic expressions.” There were protest marches. Many people felt the action was derogatory to the establishment. The artwork in grass was the brainchild of Varghese, a former CUSAT employee. Education Minister M.A. Baby, too, condemned the incident and ordered a probe into it.

Earlier, when a huge nude Yakshi was sculpted in Malampuzha Gardens in Palakkad district, there were protests from orthodox groups. On hearing about the vandalism at the University campus, Kanai Kunhiraman, the renowned sculptor of Yakshi was furious. “There are still some people like the ones who tried to beat me up in 1969 when I sculpted Yakshi. Education on a campus that does not inculcate appreciation of art would be purposeless,” he said.

V. Santhakumar, Associate Professor, Centre for Development Studies said the CUSAT incident showed a trend of "re-moralisation" in the state. Nevertheless, better sense prevailed and the University Senate held an emergency meeting and decided to take action against the vandals. It was also decided to reconstruct the mermaid. The role of the Registrar will also be probed. Proper action will be taken against all the people behind this incident, CUSAT Vice-Chancellor Ramachandran Thekkedath said.

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Teachers playing truant: Many teachers double-crossing the education department

IIPM Mumbai Campus

While the state run schools in Punjab are reeling under a shortage of teachers, those working are playing truant by taking long leaves. According to the sources there are about 1100 teachers who have gone on a "foreign trip" and have not returned even after their leaves have been exhausted. The absentee teachers include 250 primary teachers, 190 senior secondary school teachers and four principals.

Some of these teachers had faxed applications for extension of their leave but most of these were rejected. However, they have not resumed their duty as yet. According to the reports, many teachers who go abroad on long leave actually work in foreign countries, while drawing salaries from their existing jobs in India. When they return, they use political pressure to get arrears. This has been going on for years. Surjeet Singh Dhiman, Principal, Government High School, Jalandhar told TSI, “I have repeatedly written to the education department about a teacher in my school who has been in England for about a year on visitor visa. But it has fallen on deaf ears.” The state education department has of late woken up to the problem and is busy collecting data regarding the absent teachers. According to sources, the department is contemplating to sack all the teachers who have not resumed their jobs even after the exhaustion of their leave.

A primary school teacher in Ropar district told TSI on the condition of anonymity, “There are four teachers in our school which has a strength of 200 students. One of the teachers has gone abroad on a long leave and has not returned even after his leaves have expired. One of his friends told me that the said teacher is working there and earning Rs.50,000 a month.” It is learnt that many absentee teachers are in no mood to return to their jobs because they are earning much more than the salary they get here. Some teachers are even planning to take their families abroad.

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Guzaarish: Dying to live!

IIPM Excom Prof. Rajita Chaudhuri's Profile

It is said actions speak louder than words. If one were to look at Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s body of work, “Khamoshi,” his first film, had a deaf and mute couple among the lead players and in his “Black” he went a step further and made the main protagonist blind. All these characters relied on just actions and never had the benefit of words to express themselves. With “Guzaarish” he does a complete U-turn with the character of Ethan Mascarenhas.

Ethan, once a great magician, is confined to bed for the last 14 years due to a tragic accident that cripples him for life. He continues to remain in public memory through his radio show which talks of positivity and hope. Sophia, his dutiful nurse, takes care of his every need. The story takes off when Ethan expresses his wish to end his life legally. The frustrations and the spirit with which he deals with his condition and the way people dear to him and society react to his strange Guzaarish (request) are what the movie deals with primarily.

Talking of performances, if the only means one had to express himself was just the face and nothing else, chances are one would run out of expressions in a matter of seconds. Imagine doing the same thing over the span of more than two hours and you will see why Hrithik Roshan deserves to win each and every award out there for his performance as the paraplegic character Ethan. In the brief flashback portions of the movie we are also witness to sequences where Ethan the magician performs some extremely graceful, fluid and almost magical moves. Interestingly, the entire flashback episode is devoid of any dialogues. This is where the brilliance of the director emerges; he beautifully juxtaposes these two extreme states of the character between the past and the present, in the process narrating a very sensitive story.

In contrast to the extreme limitations that he binds his characters with, Bhansali does the opposite where it concerns the world in which his characters reside. There is opulence and grandiosity even if the subjects are living in penury. The world Ethan inhabits is a curious mixture of art and architecture that is hard to be classified into a certain time frame or region. The way the camera, lighting, costumes and music are used, looks as if poetry meets painting, creating a rare art form that seems to be a brilliant departure from the conventional.

While the filmmaker and the lead get to do all the experimenting, the character of the nurse Sophia, played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, essays her character with the right measure of composure, compassion and confidence, providing solidity and weight to the proceedings.

“Guzaarish” only proves once again that there is absolutely no director in this country who can beat Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the art of film making. He makes a painting out of each of his frames. He did that even in the film that went all wrong – “Saawariya”. And trust him to invariably take out the finest performances out of all his actors. From Rani to SRK to Big B, they’ve all given their best performances under this magician’s wand. Thank God that Aishwarya Rai, who never really got a camp of her own – with Yash Raj and Karan Johar both virtually staying away from her – got Sanjay Leela Bhansali to show the world her immense acting potential and timeless beauty. And what Hrithik does – and Bhansali makes him do – has to be seen to be believed. He is not just the best looking man in Bollywood, not just the best dancer and the man who must be James Bond sooner or later, but also the man who is unparalleled in the acting department. For direction and for Hrithik and Aishwarya’s acting, we give this film eleven stars out of ten. The other departments become insignificant in front of these.

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The superbike segment in India is beginning to open up as incumbents and new entrants fill up gaps in the market

Bussiness & Economy: Rewing it up on the new normal

Outrageous is what defines these mean machines – be it their pricing, their power quotient, their cool factor, or even their target customers. Superbikes have always enjoyed a cult position among those who have them, and have never failed to get noticed by those who don’t. And India has been no exception. Bikes like Yamaha R1, Suzuki Hayabusa and Kawasaki Ninja have been painstakingly beckoning the creed of rich, young and style conscious Indians of late. And they are not getting disappointed, despite being high on the price factor. Otherwise, it is more of a smooth ride for them since Indian home-grown manufacturers like Hero, Bajaj and TVS are still to manufacture a genuine superbike.

The market for superbikes is open with rising share of two wheeler sports segment becoming 17% in FY 10 from earlier 14%. Yamaha initially disappointed bikers as it didn’t give the owners the ‘Yamaha’ brand experience. But bygones became bygones with the launch of the R15, which helped Yamaha rebuild its sporty image. Interestingly, when Yamaha came to India with their global favourites R1 and V-Max, they sold a surprisingly high 50 units in three months. Soon, other global players realised that the Indian market has matured enough to take on these high-end machines. Players like European major Aprilla have already announced big plans to re-enter the market with their product line up. Ducati opened its second showroom last year in Gurgaon with bikes ranging from Rs 1 million to Rs 4.5 million in the portfolio. “We have received a positive response from all bike enthusiasts and it’s good to know they are excited about the Ducati brand. We feel honoured to be a part of the evolving motorcycle industry in India,” said Mirko Bordiga, CEO, Ducati, APAC.

Bajaj has also understood the markets and has tied up with European major KTM Motors. Kawasaki also brought in the famous Ninja and received an enthusiastic response. Suzuki introduced the Hayabusa with proper service and spares parts availability. Never too late Harley-Davidson announced its much awaited cruiser bike entry by launching 12 bikes in the portfolio ranging from Rs 6.75 lakh to Rs 3.5 million. In fact, their recent plans to open up the CKD plant in Haryana showcases the rising demand in the industry. “There were around 1000 super premium bikes sold in 2009 and 2009-10 is going above at the rate of 20%," says Sanjay Tripathi, Director of Marketing, Harley-Davidson India. The latest buzz is that BMW would be announcing their motorrad luxury bikes by the end of the year, which will start with a price tag of whopping Rs 1.8 million. Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director, BMW Motorrad, commented, “We are confident that our motorcycles will swiftly become established in timely preparation for the growing market.” BMW is reentring into the luxury bike market after the failed launch of BMW Fundaro 650. The luxury market currently stands at 1% of the overall market. A spokesperson from Honda 2-wheelers comments, “Last year we sold around 70 units across India with only two operational setups in Delhi and Mumbai. This year, we plan to sell 100 units.”

Most of these superbikes are at such hefty prices that the rational minded would prefer buying quality four wheelers for that kind of money. But superbikes are not expected to sell on the rational appeal in India as much as they would for the thrill and the oomph factor, to those with huge disposable incomes. Globally, the scenario is different as bikes are only used for special occasions or sports. But in India, motorcycles have become a regular mode of commuting. One would doubt that the masses would actually be able to enjoy the experience of these bikes. But fanatics have gone through thick and thin to get them nevertheless – be it by paying heavy import duties of about 113% for unregistered bikes and about 153% for registered vehicles.

On another front, while traditionally, Indian players have offered bikes in the 90cc to 250cc range (with Enfield the exception with a 500cc offering), the next level starts only with an 883cc Harley-Davidson or a 1000cc CBR. Recently, the gap has been filled by Garware Motors, which announced Hyosung’s re-entry in India with a 650 cc superbike, which is currently under Homologation process. “Beyond the 250cc segment, only the Royal Enfield was available with 350cc and 500cc and after that, the only models available are one-litre plus. So, we thought we would fill in the gap,” predictably accepts Diya Garware, MD, Garware Motors.

With Aprilla, MV Augusta and BMW Motorrad currently in talks with local importers and companies like Harley and Hyosung planning their CKD units, it seems that the sector is well on its way to opening up and more such gaps should be filled, taking the superbike exhilaration to a larger audience. Like other sectors, players would ultimately learn to adapt to Indian price sensitivities and penetrate deeper in the market. And then the next big demand from this growing superbike community could well be relaxation of speed limits on Indian roads. That may take quite a while though.

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Kate Middleton's obstacle course

IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri - The New Age Woman

No one has put in harder training to become a royal bride than the glossy-haired Kate Middleton. The eight-year wait has been fraught with tests she had to pass.

First, discretion. Prince William’s smiling hostility toward the press is his non-negotiable core value. I am told he is so protective of his privacy that he has been known to plant false tips with friends he distrusts and watch the media see if they play out. William went ballistic at Christmas last year, when he suspected that Kate might have been aware that the tabloid snapper Niraj Tanna was lurking near a tennis court where she was playing on the Duchy of Cornwall estate – and that she graced the interloper with a camera-ready smile. Even her family has kept mum, with no unruly relatives going rogue. The only telltale sign of possible impending nuptials has been the sudden suspicious determination of Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, to shed poundage on a prawn and cottage cheese diet.

Second, virtue. The delicate issue of premarital experience has been managed by Kate with quiet dexterity. Her one known boyfriend before William at university, 22-year-old gifted cricketer Rupert Finch, never talked. Thirty years ago, Prince Charles had to go as young as 19 to find, in Lady Diana Spencer, something almost extinct in post-feminist times: a girl with a history and no past. But Diana’s shy virginity concealed a time bomb: her wounded, insatiable need for love.

There is nothing wounded about Kate. She’s from wholesome middle-class stock. She’s great ballast for William who, beneath his royal aplomb, is wounded too. She’s mastered the art of being what seems a contradiction in terms – appropriately edgy; the odd flash of midriff or nocturnal thigh in a too-short skirt for a nightclub excursion, sexy but solid; middlebrow, not elitist. The only controversial thing she has ever done is wear sequined hot pants and take a spill with her legs in the air at a Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco charity event in South London, for which she did about two years’ penance. In the couple’s wedding interview, you could see the outline of their successful dynamic. William said that he tried to impress Kate with his cooking, but the food would start burning and “Kate would come to the rescue and take charge.”

Third, patience. It’s taken close to a decade to reel William in. Kate has had to endure the ridicule of being Waity Katie even among the royals themselves.
“They have been practicing long enough,” Prince Charles said heartily at Poundbury, his model village in Devon, where he was when the news broke.
“It’s brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time,” commented Queen Elizabeth, who, in her businesslike way had tried to get this over and done with last June before the impending calendar crush of Prince Philip’s 90th birthday, her Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.

In order not to fuel rumours as the perpetual princess in waiting, Kate rarely emerged with William in public of late, unless it was one of those innumerable country weddings of all the mutual friends. What could she possibly have been doing all those years of trying to look busy? As she put it in the engagement interview, “working really hard” at the family business that sells children’s toys and paraphernalia based in Ashampstead, near their home in Berkshire in southern England.

Now that she’s engaged to be married to the second in line to the throne, her life is about to get more boring still. The palace machine will take over. The portcullis will come down. William is a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue helicopter pilot at RAF Valley on the Isle of Anglesey, off the northwest coast of Wales, and the happy couple will live in a remote farmhouse in North Wales, where there is 33 inches of rain a year. There she can tend to the urgent priority of royal wife, the speedy manufacture of the heir and the spare.

But that’s “appropriate” too. In the dire mood of the upcoming austerity cuts, England needs the joy of a royal wedding as badly as it did 30 years ago, when we watched enthralled as Charles and Diana tied the knot. But she needs it on a budget. The fact that Kate’s a “commoner” is suddenly a public-relations boon for the royals. With an Old Etonian prime minister and a savage round of economic cutbacks, a pedigreed royal bride would be a hard message to sell to a grumpy press and the Parliament. Now all the royals have to do is make the wedding of the year look thrifty – perhaps the Guards’ Chapel, where William and Harry held a service to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother’s death, instead of Westminster Abbey – and preferably green.

Most important, Kate’s perseverance and resilience has persuaded the Queen that her future granddaughter-in-law is nothing at all like Her, like Diana, the golden-haired Rebecca of the Royal House of Windsor. When William chose to bestow on Kate his mother’s 18-carat oval blue sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring, it was not only a token of love but a thrilling gesture of confident daring. After Diana’s death in 1997, the 15-year-old Prince told his father that he wanted the ring for his future engagement. He said on November 16 that the ring represented a time when his parents were happy. Now, after all the years the royal establishment has spent trying to erase that magical disruption known as Diana, England’s future king showed the world in the strongest, most personal way he knew how that he was determined to bring his mother back.

(Tina Brown is the founder and editor in chief of The Daily Beast.)

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Manpreet Singh Badal's rebellion is a severe jolt to the ruling Akali-BJP combine in Punjab

IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board

When a Badal took on the Badals

Calling for a 'Second Freedom Movement', the ousted finance minister of Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal, has announced his Jago Punjab Yatra from November 24 to sensitise people about the problems of the state. Manpreet was really excited to see the large gathering in his support in Amritsar which was beyond his expectation. It has proved to be a serious cause of concern for the ruling Akali-BJP combine. He may announce the launch of his own party after gauging the response of the people during his Punjab tour.

While there was a lot of hue and cry over Manpreet Singh Badal’s bitter comments about Punjab’s sagging economy and especially his relations with deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Akali circles, the media was busy speculating about the fate of Manpreet. A section said that he would be treated the Tohra way. It needs to be mentioned here that Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra remained the president of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for a record 27 years. Tohra’s differences with then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had led to his expulsion from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). And finally, Tohra had to accept Parkash Singh Badal’s pre-eminence in SAD. Though Manpreet Badal might be treated the Tohra way, he seems to be in no mood to bow his head in front of Badal like Gurcharan Singh Tohra had done.

His intentions were clear when he stated, during a press conference a few days ago, that he would not leave his fight midway and would keep on working for the overall improvement of the state. Addressing a large gathering of his supporters in Amritsar last week, he announced his Jago Punjab Yatra from November 24. Though political analysts were expecting that he would announce the launch of his party, Manpreet, instead, chose to tour the state to gauge people's response. Nitin Garg, professor of political science, says, ‘‘Manpreet Badal has made a good decision to tour Punjab. While he would obviously understand the problems of the state better, he would also be able to gauge popular response to his Punjab yatra. If he gets an overwhelming response, he can undoubtedly announce the launch of his party.”

About the possibility of emergence of a third front, he explained, “There is no possibility of emergence of a third front in the near future. Though the six-point agenda of Manpreet Badal can well suit parties like the CPI and CPI(M), there are serious differences too. The communist parties would not like his neo-liberal stance while some Panthak leaders are insisting that he should first appear before The Akal Takht. It may be mentioned here that some senior Akali leaders had urged the Akal Takht to summon him for violating the norms by trimming his hair.'' However, the former finance minister has expressed his readiness to appear before the Akal Takht for trimming his hair or any other religious misconduct in case the Takht Jathedar summoned him.

An Honour’s graduate from St Stephen's College in Delhi and influenced by Marxism, Manpreet Badal's rising popularity, especially among the youngsters, has become a cause of concern for the ruling Akali-BJP combine. Though the government machinery left no stone unturned to fail the Amritsar rally of Manpreet Badal, it turned out to be a hugely successful one. Manpreet himself was excited about the large gathering. His popularity among youths can be gauged from the fact that about 60 per cent of the rallyists were youngsters. A young girl named Manpreet Kaur had come straight from London just to attend the rally.

The ghost of the former finance minister seems to have left the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership in the doldrums. The panic in the SAD ranks is evident from the fact that a special meeting of the core committee on political affairs was convened in Chandigarh on Thursday. This is the second such meeting summoned during the last one month to analyse the impact of Manpreet Badal’s exit and chalk out a strategy to defuse the situation. The core committee, however, seems to be wanting in its attempts to resolve the crisis. Chief minister and chief patron of SAD Parkash Singh Badal is learnt to have conveyed his displeasure to the core committee over the manner in which the party is handling the issue. Badal who remained present in the core committee meeting has asked party leaders to fan out in the field and establish contact with the cadres. The core committee has also discussed the Jago Punjab Yatra.
Badal has recently announced to restart the Sangat Darshan programme from November 19 to narrow down the wedge between the government and the general public. Badal has also started an exercise to bring party dissidents home. This move follows after some senior party leaders started joining hands with Manpreet Badal. Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, district president of Youth Akali Dal, has sided with Manpreet Badal apart from the two MLAs, Manjinder Singh Kang and Jagbir Singh Brar. Some of senior Akali leaders from Mukatsar have also attended Manpreet’s Amritsar show of strength.

Various Akali Dal leaders are busy issuing statements criticising and deriding Manpreet Badal. A senior leader of Akali Dal has also called him a Congress agent. This indicates that Manpreet is proving to be more than a handful for the Akali leadership to deal with. The slandering seems to be more out of frustration than anything else.

In a fresh development, former deputy speaker of the state Birdavinder Singh has joined hands with Manpreet Badal. Birdavinder said during a press conference, “Manpreet intends to stamp out serious problems like unemployment, poverty, illiteracy from the state. I am totally in agreement with his six-point agenda. I would join him in his Punjab yatra. Political analysts are viewing the union of Manpreet and Birdavinder as a fresh jolt to the Akali-BJP combine. A senior journalist, who extensively covers political affairs in the state, commented “The Akali-BJP combine should take the activities of the former finance minister seriously. It would be a mistake to ignore them.”

The government may have decided to ignore the former finance minister’s posturings but the large gatherings in his support in the towns and villages of Punjab indicate that he may be destined for higher things when the state goes to polls soon.

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Land Acquisition: People's land stays with the people

Dhrutikam Mohanty revisits the villages where the Vedanta varsity was going to come up till the High Court stepped in

Nearly 50,000 inhabitants of 22 odd villages near Puri in Orissa are now assured that they will not be evicted from their ancestral homes and agricultural lands anymore. The once tense populace is today joyous. The check gate, which had been restricting outsiders from entering the villages for years, was open and no volunteer of the Vedanta Vishwavidyalaya Sangram Samity (VVSS) was on vigil. The Orissa High Court’s recent verdict has come as a lifeline for these villagers as the court quashed the process of land acquisition for the proposed Vedanta University which was to be come up on 6,298 acres, belonging to the villagers and the Jagannath Temple of Puri. This judgment came at a time when the Anil Agarwal Foundation had already acquired about 4,500 acres of land allotted to it.

“We had faith on the judiciary and it was not misplaced,” said Uma Charan Pradhan of Beladal village. Pradhan and a few other villagers were sitting in a pan shop at Beladal bazaar on the Puri-Konark marine drive, just five km away from Puri. VVSS activists took us to a small hall in the first floor of a cyclone shelter centre where we met a few office bearers.
“The last time when you had been to our village, your magazine had published a bold report in English,” one of the office bearers recognised me and photographer Arabinda. Our sister publication Business & Economy had carried a cover story on this issue in June, 2010. Managing editor Sutanu Guru had travelled to the proposed Vedanta University area and unearthed the reality behind Anil Agarwal’s 'biggest act of philanthropy'. The report had also highlighted how a 95-year-old villager, Benudhar Pradhan, had launched an agitation to save Puri of Lord Jagannath fame from falling into the clutches of the Vedanta empire.

Hearing a writ petition filed by Uma Ballabh Rath, VVSS convener and former MLA from Puri, in 2008, a bench of Orissa High Court, comprising Chief Justice V. Gopal Gowda and Justice B.P. Das said acquisition of government land as well as land of Lord Jagannath for the university was invalid as it violated the Land Acquisition (companies) Rules, 1963. As the Anil Agarwal Foundation was a company under Section 25 of Companies Act and not a public limited company, the bench also ruled that any acquisition of land for it under Land Acquisition Act, 1894, is illegal. Out of the 4,500 acres land acquired for the company, 1,300 acres were of Amrutamanohi category i.e the land belonged to Lord Jagannath and crops grown on these lands were used in the Lord's kitchen. The land managed by the Puri Temple administration could not be traded, said the bench and ordered that the land be returned to the original owners.
Incidentally, in March this year, Justice P. K. Patra, Lok Pal of Orissa, had expressed similar views while acting on a petition questioning the le gality of land acquisition for the Vedanta University. Petitioner Uma Ballava Rath adds, “The HC bench not only quashed the land acquisition process but also expressed concern over environmental issues. The court also said that the university project would be a threat to the wildlife at Balukhand marine sanctuary as it was situated just about 30 meters away. As per law, no construction can be allowed within five km of any wildlife sanctuary.”

Though this verdict came as an embarrassment for the state government, intellectuals, political leaders, activists of the state and the common people of Puri welcomed it. Taluchha Bhagawan Mohapatra, a sebayat of Jagannath and former member of Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, tells TSI, “All the sebayats of Lord Jagannath are extremely happy that the temple’s land will be returned. The decision to sell temple land was totally wrong. It’s now the responsibility of the state government to return the land.” On the other hand, P.K.Mohapatra, RDC of Central Range and chief administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration, says, “I can’t comment on anything at this point. So far, I have not received a copy of the judgment. I can speak only after going through the document.” Parsuram Pradhan of Beladal claims, “It’s not our victory, but a victory for Lord Jagannath. Some hundred years ago, people had donated these lands to Jagannath as a token of their devotion towards the lord. But our government acquired the Lord's land at the instance of a private company like Vedanta. How could you sell the Lord’s land to a private company at a throwaway price? At last, the Lord’s wish prevailed.”

People living in these 22 villages are delirious at their victory over billionaire and metal trade tycoon Anil Agarwal. A jubilant Benudhar Pradhan seemed a lot more energetic and active as compared to six months before when we had met him at his Beladala residence. “We demand the resignation of the chief minister after the high court verdict as he had made false promises. I remember when we met Naveen Patnaik at his secretariat chamber in 2008, he had given us a very patient hearing and assured us that as we have already approached the high court for redressal of our problems, the government will accept the court’s decision, whatever the verdict be. But now, on the contrary, he is saying, ‘the government would study the order before taking any further decision.’ Is it not a breach of promise? As per Naveen Patnaik's promise, the government should accept the verdict as it is,” claims Benudhar.

Benudhar’s mission is accomplished. He and his fellow villagers have been able to thwart the might of Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Group. People seem to have been emboldened by this judicial intervention. The villagers are now readying themselves to push for more. “We will gherao the Legislative Assembly and will demand the resignation of the chief minister (Winter session begins on November 23). The government should accept the high court verdict unconditionally since its own erroneous decision has caused a lot of harassment and misery to us over the last three years,” says an eloquent Damodar Pradhan, working president of VVSS.

However, this instance of exploiting the state’s natural resource for private companies to make money is nothing new in this state or country. The Orissa High Court verdict, experts feel, has surely etched am indelible black spot on Naveen Patnaik’s clean image. It’s high time that political leaders and bureaucrats, who are used to unilateral decision making, understand that the masses today are fully aware of their rights and won't let things go unchallenged.

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Assembly Polls: NDA wins battle for Bihar

Rajan Prakash reports from Patna as the JD(U)-BJP coalition scores a landslide victory, the Congress cuts a sorry figure and the Lalu-Paswan duo is vanquished

Advocate Pramod Ranjan has mixed expressions on his face as he watches the NDA's march towards a decisive victory in the Bihar polls on TV. Pramod hails from the Yadav clan and his two close relatives were
contesting elections from the Tirhut area on RJD-LJP tickets. Although they lost, Pramod does not look dejected. He says, “I am sorry for my relatives but I am also happy that ultimately the right person is going to form the government in the state.” After a pause he adds, “It's a myth that all Yadavs blindly support Lalu Prasad. It should be dispelled.” Perhaps thousands of other voters in Bihar would have similar sentiments.

Outside the state BJP office, two rickshaw pullers dash towards the TSI team. They want to know if Nitish would again become the chief minister. Finding the answer, they start walking towards the BJP office to see Nitish Kumar. The poor fellows are unaware that Nitish Kumar is from Janata Dal(U) and not from the BJP. But why are they so anxious about Nitish? “Sir, we are rickshaw pullers. The bad roads, till a few years ago, made it very difficult for us to pull the rickshaws. We had to toil like animals but now the road has been repaired and we are happy,” says a middle-aged Jeetan Pasi. The state Opposition refuses to accept good roads as a measure of development. But the same roads, which Nitish got repaired and built, have taken him straight to 1, Anne Road. By the same roads, Nitish has succeeded in denting the rock solid vote bank of Lalu Yadav. And the dent is so deep that neither Lalu nor Paswan can repair it, at least for the time being.

Deputy chief minister of Bihar Sushil Modi says, “We were expecting around 160 seats for the NDA. But the voters have surpassed all our expectations. There is a message here for all public representatives: If you take one step for public welfare, the public would come three steps ahead to embrace you.” Perhaps nobody could disagree with this statement. Not even Lalu's supporters.

Nitish Kumar has systematically dented the state Opposition's vote banks during the last five years and has widened his vote base. While Lalu had given a voice to the downtrodden, Nitish gave them government jobs and employment and won them over. Most backwards were given 20 per cent reservation. On one hand, the most backward among the Muslims were provided with the benefit of reservation. On the other, women were showered with perks by the Nitish Kumar government.
Women have got 50 per cent reservation in Panchayat. But it was the “cycle and dress” scheme that proved to be the icing on the cake. About one crore dresses and 27 lakh cycles have been distributed over the last five years. In every nook and corner of the state, one can find hordes of girls going to schools on bicycles. Five years ago, this was unimaginable in Bihar. The improvement in law and order situation has boosted the morale and confidence of the girls that translated into votes for Nitish.

“I always promise much less than what I can deliver,” says Nitish. The kidnappings, that had become an industry of sorts, have stopped. During the last five years, perhaps not even on one occasion Section 144 was imposed anywhere in the state.

Now, one can find doctors in government hospitals, though the present government has not appointed new doctors. Nitish has shown that wise management of resources can go a long way in overcoming hurdles. When conditions at the hospitals improved, doctors came back to work. There have been marked improvements in the field of education too. New school buildings came up and students were encouraged to carry on their studies.

In an interview given to TSI about a year ago, Nitish had said that his first priority was to encourage more and more children, especially girls, to join schools. He said that it could be done only when the atmosphere was conducive and proper infrastructure was in place.

During the Lalu-Rabri regime of 15 years, education infrastructure in the state had totally collapsed. Higher education institutes like colleges and universities had slipped into the throes of the mafia and musclemen. Degrees were cheaper and easier to find than candies. Now people with the same degrees have been appointed teachers and it gave the state Opposition a reason to criticise the government. But Nitish argues that Lalu has no moral right to criticise his government as it was the latter's regime that gave the state such “incompetent” graduates.

Nitish says that in 2005 he had got the mandate, but in 2010 he has got “overwhelming mandate”. The distance between the mandate and the overwhelming mandate has not been easy for him to cover. On one hand, his party MPs were nagging him. On the other, the upper caste voters turned against him on the issue of giving land to landless peasants. Consequently, the NDA faced big defeat during the Assembly bypolls in 2009. The defeat in bypolls gave Nitish a chance to review his strategy.

The upper castes' disillusionment with Nitish gave the Congress a chance to revive itself. The upper caste voters could not go with Lalu or Paswan. So, the only option they had was the Congress. In the beginning, the upper castes even warmed up to the Congress but soon Rahul Gandhi's experiments frightened them away. Besides, there was no popular face in Bihar Congress. To top that, the high command kept changing leaders in the state and coming up with new formulas. The voters realised that the Congress could not offer them an alternative of Lalu. Far from it, the old party was indirectly supporting Lalu.

Nitish kept telling the public that there was a tacit understanding between Lalu and the Congress. This aligned the upper castes in favour of the NDA. As a result, the Congress, that seemed in a good position at the beginning of the polls, has lost big time and managed to win only four seats. Rahul Gandhi's strategy of giving full credit of development in Bihar to the Centre did not help either. Congress's loss is BJP's gain. It contested 102 seats and won 91. It means 90 per cent success. In the last elections, the BJP had 55 seats. The upper castes simply had no other option. The BJP has also succeeded in shedding the image of JD(U)'s sidekick. This mandate for the BJP will have a far-reaching effects on the state's politics in the future.

Lalu and Paswan, who seldom looked beyond their families, have lost big time. The common people have rejected them. Presently, Lalu has another acid test before him in the form of the election of the leader of state Opposition. The results show that people's expectations have gone up. In the last term, Nitish worked for 15 hours a day. This time around, he may have to extend his working hours further to meet people's expectations.

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