Happy Birthday Pooj(U/A)

Well. This girl is one of my best friends on Lavale campus. Since Semester 1, she has been there for me. I have taken a lot of inspiration, feedback, criticism from her. She has been my model for photography assignments, my study mate, my listener, my photographer, my designer, my sister, my soul mate and most importantly a good friend and stood by the right always.

Some memorable moments with her have been studying for exams, silver spoon trip back to campus on bike (before my interview on Nov 27th 2011), 22.12.2011 for obvious reasons, our conversations in Room 445 with Alooooo, Section D days, watching movies together, and many more.

As have I told, thank you is an understatement. Just stay the same. Oh no. I wish her sound health, more wonderful opportunities in her arena of work – design, photography, art, advertising and all that she is passionate about and I will assure that miles apart you may stay, I will keep in touch with you.

Lots of love.

Swathi Ravichandran

My blog – 2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 16,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Another 366 days will roll by.

2011 was pretty quick. 365 days went by in a jiffy. Let me recollect what 2011 meant to me.

Some good memories -

1. Was Awarded B Grade for Carnatic Classical Vocal Music from All India Radio
2. Parents turned 50 this year
3. Had a brilliant Summer Internship Experience with Hanmer MSL, Chennai
4. Headed the Student Academic Forum (aka SAF), Council 2011-2012 at Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune
5. Parents 25th Wedding Anniversary also happened this year
6. Bagged a Music Scholarship for a period of 2 years from Ministry of Culture, Government of India
7. I am placed with ‘A’ company. Awaits my offer letter. (Will update soon about the company, profile, etc. as when it becomes official)
8. My friends have been my biggest strength this year. Truly realized who my real friends are and I thank each and everyone who have done a lot for me without even asking and expecting.  Love you guys!

Some not-so-good ones -

1. Passing away of my guru Sri Chingleput Ranganathan
2. Some of my friends family losses deeply moved me and made me realize how life is never what you expect it to be. They really made me strong. Looking at their will power, I learnt not to crib about puerile things
3. Everyone in the family has been going through rough times with respect to health and a few more losses.

Overall, 2011 has been a very challenging one for me personally. It has moulded me to a better person, I hope. This year has really taught me a lot with respect to life, respecting relationships, people, emotions, valuing time, and one’s health.

On this note, I look forward to an eventful and a better 2012. Have certain goals and vision for this year. Hope, I would accomplish the same with my best efforts.

Here’s wishing the entire human kind a very happy and prosperous new year 2012. Cherish every moment of your life, live it to the fullest, and never regret any of your decisions.

Regards and Love,

Swathi Ravichandran

13.12.2011

Definitely one of the best days of my life. I have never felt as elated as I have today. Three good things I experienced.

Started off with good news about placements back at campus. It gave me a kick to see my friends get placed today.

And, later in the evening, I met a person who is well versed with what he is passionate about. Indeed a lesson that I learnt from him was what does passion really mean. He is the director of an esteemed film institute in Chennai. The minute he narrated about how he called most of his students dispassionate about film making, I interrupted and asked him why? He said that he feels his students are merely infatuated with film making. If the period of infatuation existed even after facing several failures for an extended period, he claims it might lead to passion for films. Such a wise person.

Finally, the day ended in the most unexpected way. Strange, Weird, Delighted, Hopeful, Happiness, Content, Brilliance, etc. are just few words to describe what I am going through right now. I had an opportunity to speak to a person who shares similar thoughts to mine in almost every possible way. Like a person who has mirror image of who and what you are. I sensed myself when I spoke to this person. From the kind of vision I share to my ideologies, my principles, my belief, my state of mind, my dream, my reason for existence. I don’t think I could have asked for more than a happier day in my life.

Thank you 13.12.11. You will be cherished forever. On this day, I believe in creating a social movement for the good, I believe in destiny, I believe in hope, I believe in change, I believe in my existence. I believe in music completely.

How to brand oneself using Digital Media?

To brand yourself on digital media is pretty easy and simple. All you need is to tap the following tools and try integrating them according to your budget and strategy.

1. Website – Use blogging platforms to create one.
2. Social Media presence such as – Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, Youtube, Flickr/Picassa, Foursquare etc.
3. Mobile application (This is a recent trend. Especially lot of musicians and artistes are using this to sell their songs and podcast live concerts using such apps)

Others might include like creating good content in the form of photographs, ads/short videos, blogs, etc.

R I P Steve Jobs

It was around 2003 that I got introduced to the company Apple and its products. Thanks to my dad who gifted me an iPod classic then. As a musician, it helped me grow with music. I loved the iPod more than the tape recorders or listening to music in the computer. iPod was portable for me. I could take it anywhere and listen to music. I could easily transfer music using iTunes – Another Apple Service. I guess, it was my experience with iPod, that made me look up to Apple as a company.

Between 2003 and 2008, I had encountered many more versions of iPods – Classic, Shuffle, Nano, etc. In 2008, I decided to buy a laptop. I had seen Apple Computers in many studios – used for audio recording, video editing, graphic captures, spoken about by many achievers, and so on and so forth.. And, I had heard enough about Apple’s Mac Books, Pros. I had no intent to buy an Apple Laptop. But, I did eventually buy Apple Mac Book Pro – 15 inches in Sep 2009. I was an Electronic Media student who loved films, editing, composing music. The user interface in Mac is beyond expression. It transcends into an emotional bond with all Apple products you use. It was an experience yet again. It was with this product, that I started learning a lot more about Apple as a company, its founder Steve Jobs too.

In May 2010, I had enrolled for a MBA course and there has not been a single class till date where Apple has not been discussed in any of our management classes. Be it advertising, public relations, management, marketing, consumer behavior, events, organizational behavior, leadership, digital media, brand management, name-it-anything, there is this one company which has been apt for all the concepts discussed in class. Name it Apple. Faculty to industry people to fellow peers in the class discuss about Apple as a company, its products and many a times, I had initiated conversations, discussions and sometimes debates about this company.

There was always this question in me.. How did Apple manage it? How could they possibly be the best in everything they do? How come they never gave up even if they faced any failure? How is that their employees take so much pride in working for the company? How seamlessly did they initiate little conversations about Apple everyday through their customers? How did they make the entire world look upto them everytime they launched a new product? How did they give birth to a million more start up companies whose founders treat Steve Jobs as their mentor? How could they possibly do all of these? One answer : Steve Jobs.

The connect I have with this company, its vision, its products is extremely high. This is possible only because, Steve Jobs reached to everyone at grass root levels about what Apple is all about. He has narrated a story for everyone with Apple and connected everyone into his huge family called Apple in some way or the other.

Today, there is Apple products everywhere. The letter ‘i’ has revolutionized a lot. The story of ‘i’ – Steve Jobs has come to an end today. A person highly respected in the world from leaders of the nation to companies CEOs to achievers in the world to anybody who aspires to be different, he will be a role model for everyone. I personally had one wish that I could work with Steve Jobs in my life and learn from him. A wish that just remained a wish. Whatever it is. I respect you dude! Apple, Pixars, and everything you initiated with passion will never die. You will be remembered forever in our hearts.
Lots of respect to you. iSalute.

R I P Steve Jobs

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish”

25 years : Ode to their love and marriage life!

Who are they? Well.. Long long ago.. So long ago.. There were two people who fell in love (..obviously a young boy and girl..) when they were around 24 years of age. And you know how the 1980′s era was? Especially when the tam brahm girl loves a non brahmin boy.. Caste apart, they were two individuals who wanted to take their parents consent for their marriage… And, the usual filmy stuff happened and Yes! They fought the world who stood against their love and went ahead to marry each other..

It all happened on August 28th 1986 when these two beautiful people got married.. and yes.. they are my parents.. With a lot of struggle since then, till today, they have managed several things with great courage and ease.. 

I am in awe of them and their life.. Because of their love.. their determination, their unity to be one soul always, their understanding, their willingness to forgive each other, their ability to laugh it out at difficult situation, their mutual support, their respect for their parents, their maturity, and so on and so forth.. 

Today, on your 25th marriage anniversary, I wish I had spent some time with both of you.. Probably, doing my bit of troubling you guys.. But, just that you escaped my gig today! (.. how I wish I smashed a cake on both of you..*drooools*..)

And you know what.. You have stayed together not just for 100 days.. but 9125 days till date.. *Claps Claps* (.. I always knew my dad was a bravo.. and my mum was extremely adjustive.. )
Jokes apart.. Stay the same.. and hope you relived your loved moments..

Yours,
Guddu

Past 6 months..

I was held up with a lot of things and my blogging had literally gone for a toss in the past 6 months. Nevertheless, to keep it short and sweet, I year of MBA had come to a closure by first week of April 2011.

Prior to all of that, there were a lot of interesting things that happened at campus. I used to work for Online Branding and Marketing Cell in academic year 2010-11. And this was very close to me since I enjoyed branding all college initiatives using digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc.

One such flagship event was Fest O Comm which aims at converging all colleges in our 3 days cultural fest. (Happened on February 4th, 5th, 6th 2011). My contribution to this particular event included documentation work and following up with various departments and holding meetings prior to the fest. During the fest, I had to brand all the events on various digital platforms and I am overwhelmed even now that I was part of this event and I could learn a lot. My colleague, also a very good friend of mine, Rashida Kachwala, and our entire OBMC team worked a lot towards this. It definitely was a great achievement for our team. (Will miss this team – lot of passion for digital marketing came from this cell)

Then, came the Student Council selection process (Mid February 2011-March 2011).  I had personal commitment at home during this period (between February and May) and thought I must keep away from Council initiatives. However, my batch-mates and some of my seniors (specially Ashwini Dayal, Subadra, Mansi) urged me to take up ‘Student Academic Forum’. And our Director, Prof Chandan Chatterjee with a lot of faculty recommendations was also instrumental in getting me into this cell. After a lot of thinking, rethinking, and much more thoughts into this, I decided to take it up then.

I still remember how adamant I was about not to take any council posts then. But now, I guess, its a wise decision that I took. Things are better at my personal sphere too. And there are definitely no regrets. And yeah, I am heading this cell for the current academic year 2011-12 for my batch as well as the incoming batch 2013.

I had my internship work between Mid April and Mid June with Hanmer MS&L and thus the past 6 months have been a roller coaster ride with absolutely no time to breathe.

I look forward to the coming year which begins in a week from now (June 20th 2011). Officially, I am already in SIMC mode and this time with a vision that I can constructively contribute to my college with whatever I can.

As of now, my personal ambition is to see SIMC Pune as one of the sought after colleges for Media Education in India and raise the standards of Academia in SIMC, Pune by constantly addressing to both faculty and students about what is expected from both ends.

P.S: Internship Experience and rest coming up soon.

Cheers,
2years, 2months, 2 weeks, 2 days

Missing someone..

Its been quite a long time since I felt this way. I miss my friends, my campus usually.
But this time, its someone special. Someone whom I wish to spend a lot of time with.

Its quite a weird feeling when you miss someone so special to you.
You don’t feel sleepy.
You don’t want to eat.
You are distracted at your best.
You keep thinking of that person.
You have all the time for that person in the world amidst busy schedules.
You eagerly wait to receive an sms or call from that person.
You wanna jump when you actually receive one.
You behave quite crazily.

Through all this, I wanna express that I miss you.

Now.

Right now.

Very much.

Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated ~Lamartine

Things one must do in Chennai

CHENNAI. Doesn’t this buzz a series of images in your mind? Chennai created a trend in our very own twitter recently: [http://twitter.com/#!/search/%23thingstodoinchennai]

From thoughts of Idly, Molaga-bhajjis, Temples, dusky traditional woman, Rajinikant, Cinemas, Black & Yellow Auto Rickshaws, Marina Beach, Pondy Bazaar shopping, and what not?

So, here we take you along with some “must things you should do” in Chennai when you visit this most beautiful city.

1. Take a walk along Marina to Elliot’s Beach
2. Watch Rajini movies in some local theatre with whistles and crowd
3. Visit Murugan idly shop at 10pm and still get hot idlis with 4 variety of chutneys
4. Scourge for a long forgotten book at Moor Market… trust me you’ll get it…
5. Have a quaint cup of coffee at Rathna Cafe
6. Squeeze through the crowd to get vegetables at Koyambedu
7. “Enjoy” the pulling and pushing at Ranganathan Street
8. Pay over Rs.200 for a ten minute Autoride
9. Read some ancient literature at Connemaara Library
10. Party on a hired boat at Muttukaadu Lake
11. Look out for an ancient yet sturdy buildings at Mint Street
12. Climb the Lighthouse at Marina
13. Wait in queue to get a plate of hot Puliyothare at Grand Sweets & Snacks
14. Go to Kapaleeshwar temple early in the morning and have kovil prasadam for morning’s breakfast
15. Spend 1000 bucks in Pondy Bazaar, T Nagar and get atleast 1000 things for the money you spend. Now, this is called Value-for-money!
16. Go for a Carnatic Concert during December and meet the cosmopolitan group flocking together at one place
17. Eat kadalai (Groundnut) and Molaga bhajji by the beach side
18. For fantastic non – vegetarian food go to Sparkies (American Chain) at Egmore! Awesome buffet on Friday nights
19. Go to Dublin, Paasha, Flames and those clubs & discos in the afternoon and party hard
20. Go for a long drive by the side of OMR and ECR
21. Bunk classes and go to Spencers/Citi Centre/ Express Avenue/ Alsa Mall/Mayajaal/Satyam Cinemas
22. Go foot-boarding in buses! It can’t be done anywhere in India…
23. Capture the Sunrise and Sunsets and other “lovable moments” at Broken Bridge
24. Munch on a Vada, fresh off the Vada-mala of the 32 feet tall Anjaneyar Statue at Nanganallur
25. Attend a marriage at any of the chathrams at Vadapalani
26. Attend the Vinayak Visarjan at Sowcarpet…
27. Relish a plate of Biriyani at Samco, TTK road
28. Take the MRTS from Velachery to Beach
29. Get Kuri josiyam done at the beach
30. Pig out on chat at Pupil or Chaat houses across the beach
31. Go shopping for cheap but good fabric at Fashion street, Egmore
32. Enjoy a game of bowling at BLUR as you wait for the movie!
33. Soak in various cultures at Dakshin Chitra
34. Relax and unwind at Casuarina Bay
35. For Fish lovers, freak out at Moonrakers!