Category Archives: 1-By Laksh

All these articles are from Laksh’s desk

1-By Laksh, ET, Movies

“Deewar: A Cinematic Masterpiece Reflecting Values, Entrepreneurship, and Love”

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“Deewar” is a classic Bollywood film released in 1975, directed by Yash Chopra and written by the renowned screenwriting duo Salim-Javed. The movie revolves around the story of two brothers, Vijay (played by Amitabh Bachchan) and Ravi (played by Shashi Kapoor), who find themselves on opposite sides of the law, with their mother (played by Nirupa Roy) in between.

One of the notable aspects of “Deewar” is the powerful portrayal of the angry young man persona projected by Salim-Javed and Amitabh Bachchan. Amitabh Bachchan’s performance as Vijay is captivating and intense, showcasing his ability to bring out the complex emotions and conflicts of the character. The film explores the turbulent milieu of the time it was made, capturing the societal issues and conflicts prevalent in Indian society.

The film’s narrative is driven by the terrific blending of love for one’s mother sentiment, which serves as a strong emotional anchor throughout the story. This sentiment is highlighted through the character of Vijay, who has a deep affection and respect for his mother. The dialogues in “Deewar” are iconic and have become part of Indian cinematic folklore, with lines such as “Mere paas maa hai” (I have my mother) becoming highly memorable.

From a management perspective, the character of Vijay offers several interesting pointers to entrepreneurism and leadership. In the iconic scenes where a younger Vijay refuses to take money thrown at him and demands control over planning and execution in his first assignment, the film portrays a sense of assertiveness and self-confidence that are often important traits in entrepreneurship. Vijay’s character represents the determination and drive of an entrepreneur who aims for success on his own terms.

However, the film also presents a cautionary tale for entrepreneurs who grow too fast and lose sight of their moral compass. Vijay is forced to reassess his progress and methods, and it is his mother’s values that guide him in his decision-making. This emphasizes the importance of core values in guiding entrepreneurs and their businesses when faced with difficult choices or crossroads. While in the case of Vijay, the outcome is fatal due to the nature of his criminal activities, in real life, entrepreneurs can use their core values as a compass to navigate challenging situations and make ethically sound decisions.

“Deewar” is a masterpiece of Indian cinema, combining powerful performances, a compelling narrative, and memorable dialogues. It successfully explores themes of family, love, and morality while also offering valuable insights into entrepreneurship and leadership.

1-By Laksh, ET, Movies

Vikram- A must watch for ageing superstars

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‘Vikram’ is Kamal Haasan’s film all the way, even though he shares his screen time with other stars–Fahadh Faasil and Vijay Sethupathi.

The story follows Amar (Fahadh Faasil), the head of a black-ops team, as he investigates the murders of several high-ranking officials in the NCB. His investigation leads him to Karnan (Kamal Haasan), who appears to be an alcoholic and drug addict, but Amar discovers that Karnan is not what he appears to be and so is the police chief, Jose (Chemban Vinod Jose). As Amar wades deep into the maze of drug syndicate and police, he gets to know Vikram and soon realizes he holds the key in the scheme of things.

The plot of “Vikram” is complex and has many twists and turns that keep the audience engaged. The story is well-written, and the characters are well-developed, especially Vikram, who has a tragic backstory that motivates his actions. The action scenes are well-choreographed and thrilling, and the film also has a good balance of drama and suspense. The film’s soundtrack is also noteworthy, with catchy songs and a great score that heightens the tension in the film.

Overall, “Vikram” is an entertaining and engaging film that is worth watching.  Fans of action-thriller films will definitely enjoy “Vikram”.

The film provides several pointers as to how an ageing superstar can still reign supreme by removing the paraphernalia of duets and romance tracks.

  • Kamal Haasan’s humility and willingness to take a backseat in his own films is truly remarkable. Despite being a legendary actor and director, he understands the value of sharing the spotlight and letting other talented artists shine as well. This is a rare quality to find in the entertainment industry, where egos can often get in the way of collaboration.
  • In fact, one could say that Kamal Haasan’s approach is almost like building a cinematic universe, where each character has their own story to tell and their own role to play in a larger narrative. It’s a refreshing change from the typical hero-centric films that dominate Indian cinema, and it opens up so many possibilities for exploring new ideas and perspectives.
  • As a fan of cinema, it’s exciting to see Kamal Haasan pushing the boundaries and experimenting with different styles and formats. He’s not afraid to take risks and challenge the status quo, and that’s what makes him such a visionary artist. Here’s to more great films from Kamal Haasan, and to the bright future of Indian cinema.

1-By Laksh

The Five-letter word

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The Five-letter word. Focus.

Two decades ago, I interviewed with AGK, short for Sri.AG Krishnamurthy, an advertising doyen. He was the founder of Mudra advertising that heralded many firsts in the media & entertainment and MICA (Mudra Institute of Creative Arts). The role I was pitching for was that of a digital brand consultant for Byrraju Foundation, the brainchild of Ramalingam Raju. Within minutes of our conversation, he asked me, “Who are you, basically?” I tried to answer that I am a mechanical engineer, software guy, entrepreneur…He cut me off and said “What do you like to do”. I said, ‘many things ‘and tried to support it with some examples from my experience, as if it were meant to be a great thing. That is when he uttered the most important word we should hear during our careers—‘Focus’. He said that everyone has multiple talents, and it is no big deal to have some success around them…one has to pick one and work around it to do something meaningful.

It took me almost a decade to absorb what he said and realize the importance of the word ‘Focus’. Adding my two cents worth here.

  1. Focus helps us look at the details that are involved in the job and most importantly, the effort that is needed and the sacrifices one has to make. This is impossible when you attempt multiple things, as you lose objectivity. (“Always remember, your focus determines your reality— George Lucas”)
  2. Focus helps us to realize the importance of practice. (“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times— Bruce lee.)
  3. Focus helps in time management.(The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities—Stephen Covey)
  4. Focus helps in simplifying your personal brand statement, which is the first thing you want people to think of you. Examples, Amitabh Bachchan-Actor, Warren Buffet-Wealth Management, Chiranjeevi-Megastar, Stephen King- Writer etc

Tailpiece. 

  • Subsequently I met AGK a few times as an entrepreneur developing the website for the foundation. He was at his courteous best at his home and offered some invaluable feedback on the designs, mostly around ‘keeping it simple’. I suffered another rejection at his hand, when I offered my writing services 🙂
  • It is not that one should not aspire to be many in the course of their career or personal life. One at a time, is a good way to approach it. Here is a good book to help you work around your many talents/dreams/wishes—‘What do I do when I want to do everything?’ by Barbara Sher.