Movie Review: Luck by Chance

Last updated on: March 7, 2009 at 7:51 am By Desh Kapoor

I had been waiting to watch this movie. Finally, this evening I got to do that. I find Farhan Akhtar a very "thinking" guy. Although this movie was made by his sister, but it seemed clear that the "wisdom" of Javed Akhtar and his son were written all over the movie. It was a very intelligent script and very engaging story. Indian movies are incredible to the outside world in the way they rely on songs. Delhi 6, the movie I reviewed last week, was the exact opposite of this movie. In that film, all that I remembered at the end of the movie were its songs. The story and performances were really forgettable. Here it was the opposite. In this movie, I remembered the performances - and every character had its own strength and finish. Rishi Kapoor, abandoning his Amitabh Bachchan-style goatie/sophisticated look that he had started playing, went for the emotional yet very earthy Punju character and dressed for it. Juhi Chawla also fit her own character really well. Saw Sanjay Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia after a long time and it was interesting to see how they fit the new roles. Sanjay Kapoor's role was a spoof on his real life - an actor who didn't make it big and later turned director. Read more

Drishtikone wordle

Last updated on: March 7, 2009 at 2:57 am By Desh Kapoor

I had seen wordle before, but today I saw it reviewed again on Chilligavva.... so I finally tried it myself. Here are the results of the wordle of my blog. Read more

Today's Business Brew from Indian Papers

Last updated on: March 7, 2009 at 12:44 am By Desh Kapoor

Here is today's top and interesting Economic news headlines from the various papers in India Growth in the core infrastructure sectors down by 50% to 1.4% from 3.6% last year to a 4 year low. The core sector six-cement, coal output, electricity, finished steel petroleum refinery products and crude oil-contribute 27% to overall industrial production.(FE) Satyam gets the go ahead for for selling 51%, but not many suitors coming. They need more clarity on company's financials. (FE) IMF pushes for global fnancial oversight norms. International Monetary Fund urged a new system of government oversight of big hedge funds, private-equity firms and other financial firms whose failure poses a major risk to the global economy, and other moves to widen the scope of international financial regulation.(Mint) FII Holdings in Indian markets fall to 2003 levels of 15.5%.(Mint) Read more

Will Selectivity in Recession help or hurt the Indian IT majors?

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 8:59 pm By Desh Kapoor

It is one thing to be the flavor of the day and quite another to last a lifetime. Somehow there is an element of risk involved in living a lifetime and not just scrape through. These are those times. Many American and European companies are finalizing plans for offshoring their work. They are looking for the Indian compaines to come forward. But they are shocked! Why? Because the Indian IT companies do not seem interested! 🙂 "I had one client telling me 'I am at a point now where I need to get more offshore plans together, but why aren't the Indian companies coming and talking to me?'" says Partha Iyengar, VP and Regional Research Director at Gartner India. Read more

Desiderata: Go placidly amid the noise and the haste

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 7:26 pm By Desh Kapoor

Desiderata is a beautiful poem. The author is Max Ehrmann. Here it is read against music and beautiful pictures. Worth a listen. I have also posted the full poem at the bottom of this post. Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. Read more

US needs "Tough Love" from the World: Schiff

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 5:32 pm By Desh Kapoor

Saw this video by Peter Schiff - the guy who has been ruthless in his assessment of the US economy.. and been dead on! Here he is predicting the future. Surely worth a listen: Read more

Ishwar ki Khoj by Desh

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 8:29 am By Desh Kapoor

From now on, I will start including the transcript as well. What do you think? Hope you like it. Read more

What's Brewing in the Indian Markets

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 7:09 am By Desh Kapoor

Here are today's headlines from the major financial newspapers in India. Look at the activity brewing up in the Oil & Gas sector in India and the Alternative Energy sector. Interestingly, for a consultant who has worked with Big 4 firms, Accenture has increased daily hours to 10 from the usual 8 to take care of the dip in the hourly rates for Indian operations. Will the Indian tech firms do the same? They will first need to reduce the bench strength and those who really don't do much work. The government appointed board of Satyam Computer Services has asked SEBI to allow the successful bidder to take control of the company before completion of the open offer (ET) ONGC is close to winning US$7-8bn tender floated by Kuwait Oil Company to clean up the oil spill (ET) HCL Tech has won Rs3.9bn seven year contract from National Insurance Company (BS) IVRCL is looking to acquire an engineering company in Europe that specializes in water technologies for a consideration of c. UC$100m (ET) Suzlon Energy has won an order to supply turbines to generate 100 MW of power in China (BL) Eight companies including Reliance, GAIL, Cairn and Indian Oil have bid for six towns put on offer for supply of CNG and piped natural gas (FE) BPCL has deferred plans initial public offering of its subsidiary that is building a grassroots refinery in Bina, Madhya Pradesh (ET) Accenture has increased working hours from eight to ten in order to cope with lower billing rates for software projects (ET) ONGC would delist Imperial Energy at the London Stock Exchange on 9th March (FE) Read more

The Stunning Lake

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 5:32 am By Desh Kapoor

I took this picture on another walk around the lake. I thought the sky looked exquisite.. and the water and the trees really made it great! (Click on the picture for the larger view.) Read more

Important Points About COBRA Subsidy Plan under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Last updated on: March 5, 2009 at 9:10 pm By Desh Kapoor

Wanted to share some important and salient points about COBRA Subsidy plan. Valid for people who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 To be eligible annual income cannot exceed $125,000 for a single person and $250,000 for a couples 65% of existing COBRA premiums will be subsidized by the U.S. Treasury Department Subsidies will be available for up to 9 months If you declined COBRA coverage after September 1, 2008 you will have the option to re-enroll into COBRA with the above subsides Notices of the COBRA subsidies and re-enrollment information will be sent from the COBRA administrator (usually your previous employer) Subsidies will be paid, via a refundable tax credit, directly to the COBRA administrators Subsidies will terminate if the enrollee acquires a new health insurance plan through another employer or is eligible for Medicare Read more