• Inherit Wisdom: Gowtham Chopra

    Submitted by ITV Production on Nov 07, 2006

    Spirituality with a shrug and smile comes to very few and believing that India has a wealthy legacy of traditions and wisdom to offer, more than just being the heir to dad Deepak Chopra's legacy, the guru in the making for some candid spiritually. Here's Gowtham Chopra for you?

    Are you deeply spiritual yourself--
    I don't know. I can't say that I am a deeply spiritual person. But yes, having grown up in the atmosphere that I have and in the family that I belong to, I am very comfortable with myself and in tune with my spirituality. I don't make an effort to be spiritual.

    And what is it you do--I am an artist writer. I believe my role is to tap into the creative potential of people and the youth that I meet, and get them to express their inner storehouses of wisdom.

    Your role here in India--
    India has a great storewell of inner wisdom and traditions, stories, myths -- anthologies of knowledge if you will. I want to convince people, especially the youth, that it's their ideas that matter. They are relevant, and they need to be creative and package it to the world.

    Internet blog, online spiritual platform--
    It was an organic evolution. It began with me and dad, Shekhar Kapur, and sister Malvika mailing each other about stuff, questions, thoughts... People like Rahul Bose have been friends for years and he uses the blog to focus on tsunami relief. We are just making use of this hobby of blogging that is catching on to improve whatever we can.

    What are your spiritual challenges--
    There are tremendous challenges in tapping latent wells of wisdom and tradition. It's not just IT and entertainment companies that we need to build but we can find it within ourselves to find ways to improve the world.

    indiantelevision.com Team
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  • Proud Guardians Of The Flying 'B'

    Submitted by ITV Production on Nov 07, 2006

    "If ever a car was built to be driven, it is the Bentley. Passion

    for performance is in our blood. And in our bloodline. Early history was written on the racetracks of Europe by a breed of adventurers who not only had the vision to build the cars, but also the courage to drive them to victory.

    Continue to design and build every precious part of a Bentley with one thing in mind -

    the experience of the driver. That?s as true of the craftsmanship that creates vehicles of inimitable finesse as of the engineering that produces engines of phenomenal power.

    Which is why, as long ago as 1938, Bentley inaugurated the first Instruction Class for owners. That was the beginning of Bentley Driving, which today offers advanced driving courses to those owners wishing to explore the full potential of their cars.

    Not for the faint-hearted, these would typically involve extreme tests of skill in a wide

    variety of driving situations. Experiencing and correcting oversteer and understeer, understanding the ESP system, using ABS to brake at speed, high speed cornering techniques, skid-pan practice or redline acceleration - the thrill of mastering these, and many other driving challenges, makes for a truly unforgettable learning experience.
    Nothing less than the finest materials and the most painstaking attention to detail go into the manufacture of Bentley cars. And nothing less than those very same qualities can satisfy those who commission our Bentley replica models. The closest possible collaboration between our styling team and the die-cast manufacturer ensures that our scale miniatures are true in form and as authentic in detail as the originals.

    This limited series, offered in unique Bentley packaging, matches the unique colours and specifications of the Bentley cars past and present.

    Rare "B" species

    Huge reserves of understated power and the finest tradition of British coachbuilding come together in the Bentley Arnage range of three Grand Touring saloons, each with its own distinctive character and style. Whether it?s the high performance, the beautifully refined, the stately Arnage, no other car can be hand-built to customer requirements with such delicacy and care.
    Glamorous and desirable, the Bentley Azure represents the pinnacle in a revered line of convertibles that stretches back to the very earliest days of the Bentley legend. The inspiration is classic, the execution is cutting-edge.

    Coup? worthy of the GT name. Inspired by the grace and power of Bentley?s thoroughbred bloodline, the Continental

    GT combines phenomenal power, class-leading performance and contemporary design with handcraftsmanship in true Crewe tradition. Power that doesn?t compromise space. Handling that doesn?t compromise comfort. Technology that doesn?t compromise handcraftsmanship. Above all, true Grand Touring performance complemented by the luxury of Bentley legend.
    The Continental Flying Spur, a sumptuous, spacious four-door with the soul of a high performance coup?. With its unmistakable Bentley qualities of exquisite design, peerless craftsmanship and unforgettable driving dynamics, the Continental Flying Spur continues the Bentley bloodline of sporting Grand Tourers with an understated style

    that?s as appropriate for a business commute as it is for an evening at the theatre.
    The Continental GTC. Inspired by the Grand Touring tradition of Bentley legend. Born of Bentley?s breathtaking Continental GT coup?. With the endless power of a 12-cylinder, 6-litre twin-turbocharged engine urging you from 0-60mph in just 4.8 seconds. And a canopy opening up to the endless skies in less than 25 seconds.

    indiantelevision.com Team
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  • Agreeable Friends: Meenakshi Madhvani

    Submitted by ITV Production on Nov 07, 2006

    "The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals," even if they are not real, believes animal collector Meenakshi Madhvani , Founder & Managing Partner Spatial Access Solutions in conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain .

    Love animals --- as a child always had pets. Dogs, cats, chickens, a pig and even a pet snake. Unfortunately a flat is Bombay is not the right environment for animals and I have not had a pet for a long, long time! There was something missing and I decided to fill the gap with a surrogate. It all began by my buying a big bronze pig! He was followed by a papier mache frog, then a pair of marble dogs I found in Chor Bazaar...

    Collecting animals-- for the last 5 years. I am not too concerned about the material they are made off. But they need to appeal to me.

    My husband jokes that I have a meenagerie! My family & friends indulge me by adding to my collection. A stone Hippo was carried back from Africa by a friend. My brother-in-law got back a wonderful Giraffe from South Africa carved out of a single block of wood. Another Brother-in-law gave me a crystal cat & mouse!

    Bit crazy -- when it comes to my animals? I like seeing them every day and move them around the house to new locations (almost like giving them a fresh view of their living quarters every once in a while!

    I know that one of these days I will have a place in the country and will be able to have my animal friends around me once again.

    indiantelevision.com Team
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  • It's Action, Not Position - Ashutosh

    Submitted by ITV Production on Oct 25, 2006

    Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration-of oneself and of others. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine.

    More than anything else today, followers believe they are part of a system, a process that lacks heart. If there is one thing a leader can do to connect with followers at a human, or better still a spiritual level, it is to become engaged with them fully, to share experiences and emotions, and to set aside the processes of leadership we have learned by rote. "Lance Secretan."

    New ventures, new POVs of new leader, Ashutosh, Business Head of Sahara Filmy in conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

    --Lessons you learnt throughout
    All of us bank on our gut feel. There's no copybook way of driving things. When you join as a Management Trainee you feel your Manager has the bigger picture of the business. When you become a Manager, you feel the VP has the bigger picture... and it goes on? I think the man who can collate good ideas from the people he meets, is the man who is called a visionary. There's nothing called original ideas anyways. Mutation leads to concept of originality.
    Those jokers can be found at any level. Of course these jokers don't last. The more I spend time professionally, the more I realize that all of us only experiment; of course some are worse than others.I guess creating a system that lets you to explore and that exposes inefficient corners is the only way forward.

    --People that influenced

    Professionally I have been very lucky to have good bosses, especially my first boss Mr. Vijay Jindal. However, learning nuances of broadcasting has come from so many. Meeting some has been a humbling experience, such as Mr Nandan Nilekani, Kanwal Rekhi, Subhash Chandra, and of course my Chairman Saharasri. Meeting people like these helps you grow in life, a part of which is your profession.

    --Strategic alliance at work place

    It is essential till it is issue based. Else it is a cabal, and typically harmful to the organization. One cannot be in sync with another guy on all topics, unless there is a superior subordinate relationship where one is supposed to merely listen and obey. There is no future in such a relationship.
    Practically of course personal alliances are much stronger in a relatively loose organization.

     

    " The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. ---- Max DePree (The Art of Leadership)"

    --Ensuring that team delivers

    All things are subservient to results. Therefore, fun and irreverence is fine only if it's accompanied with results. And this is clear to everyone in my team. To me the best way to deliver results is never to experiment with people, and getting the best people on board. And give them the atmosphere to deliver by cutting paperwork, and excess regulations that dampen enthusiasm.

     

    --Fun part of your business

    Luckily the TV industry is fun, extremely dynamic, and in parts chaotic. Thus, fun is inherent in our business. Acting serious so that people think you are serious, or because people would think you are the thinking guy is foolish. Even Shakespeare commented on this. Performance fortunately is relatively measurable, especially for the business leaders.
    Filmy believes in looking light hearted, its people behave like that, dress like that, and create like that. Creating somberness for no reason is alien.

     

    --Changing rules of work


    While I would not hazard copying the 'Maverick' model in Toto, I believe that each one should be accounted for his deliverables only. Thus, expecting the best creative from my Creative Head is essential. But I don't expect him to wear a formal dress, speak English, and follow the office routine merely because I do it as a Channel Head. I believe you have to think before you create. Thus I cannot create an MTV if I do not think MTV. Or in today's environment I cannot create a GE channel if I don't like soaps.

    "However, deliveries are supremely important, and if that is not there, people have no place in my team".

    indiantelevision.com Team
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  • Books For Embalmed Minds - Nivedith Alva

    Submitted by ITV Production on Oct 25, 2006

    Nivedith Alva, Supervising Producer (for Indian Idol-1&2/Fame Gurukul/Style on Star world/Milan Fashion Week on Star world/Ad world on BBC world) Director (MTV Hero Honda Roadies Season 1) at Miditech has been in companionship of books from the beginning but it nurtured during his college days at St.Stephens in Delhi where he was doing his BA Hons and onwards? in conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

    --Who introduced you to reading?
    My father. I remember him reading through loads and loads of books when I was a kid.

    --Kind of book collection you have
    Have all sorts of books, from big picture books to current favorites. Have a lot of books from my grandfather's collection. He used to invest a lot in books and was always up to date on his reading. I have a lot of books on history, as I did my BA (Hons) in history; wish we had some of them in college though!! I also have a little book in which I keep a record of the books I have read!!! :-)

    --On favorite authors and well written books
    "RK Narayan" is my all time favorite author, have read all his books.
    Another well written book is "The World is flat" by Thomas L. Friedman.

    --Do you find interesting things in every book, how do you choose books you read
    Always look out for interesting stuff and underline it if I ever want to refer to it. Choose books by browsing in book shops, especially the Oxford Book Store in Mumbai and also airports. Also, read everything recommended by my elder brother, Niret.

    --What do you think of self help books?
    Not much. Somehow they all seem too complicated and take life too seriously and almost always convince you in the first chapter that "You're a loser, now read on".

    --Money and time you spend on books
    No problems on spending money on books, if they need to be read and are worth it. Always have the book I am reading in my bag, wherever I am.

    --Your reading pace
    Depends on how busy work gets. Sometimes I manage to finish very fast but sometimes a book drags on for a couple of months too!!

    --Your first book
    "The Children's Bible".

    --Browsing and e-reading
    Just news websites. An E-reading book somehow does not do it for me.

    --Currently you are reading
    "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle.

    --Books that do not hold you
    Usual American Fiction Stuff.

    indiantelevision.com Team
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  • My Family Now, Then & Forever: Shaju Ignatius

    Submitted by ITV Production on Oct 09, 2006

    Trip over love, you can get up; Fall in love and you fall forever. What's the use of worrying? It never was worthwhile, so pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag. And smile, smile, smile. This poem is dedicated to the love of my life.

    When I was in charge of the Michael Jackson event, not only did it (the MJ concert) redefine the business of event management, but it also got me closer to my then beloved and now wife Neelu, a Sardarni, with whom I kept my vows for five years (anniversary -- 16th September).

    My marriage remains the most cherished event as I was the event manager for my own wedding. With just two weeks in hand I had very little time to do a Punjabi and Church wedding, both on the same day. It was tough yet a lot of fun.And then the reception party, which turned from a formal gathering into a wild discotheque, we partied till 3 in the morning !

    Now there is my new love and an addition to our family in my 8-month old daughter Anysa, meaning Greek Goddess.The best part of our marriage is the mixing and adjusting of two diverse cultures cultures & religions. What impressed me most is that Neelu happened to pick up my mother tongue (Malayalam) inspite of being a hardcore Punjabi, while I just about manage to speak the language myself..

    indiantelevision.com Team
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