For travelers, it was more bad news: According to tracking service FlightStats.com, 2008 marked the fourth consecutive year that flight delays increased, with the average wait climbing to 57 minutes. If anything, the announcement gives beleaguered voyagers yet another reason to have a drink.
Typically, weary air travelers toss back beers in sports saloons, an experience about as relaxing as napping on a highway median. Recently, though, there’s been a groundswell of upscale airport bars offering wines with charcuterie, microbrews and even exquisite bourbon.
New Belgium Hub Bar & Grill, Denver International Airport
“We’re moving away from uncomfortable institutional lounges with very mundane offerings,” says Paul McGinn, president of MarketPlace Development, a Boston-based airport retail developer. “Since people are arriving at airports earlier and experiencing more delays, they’re looking for distractions and entertainment.”
One of McGinn’s favorite havens is Vino Volo - Italian for “wine flight” - a chain of sleek, modern lounges located in cities including San Antonio and Seattle. “They’re detached from the hustle and bustle of the airport,” McGinn says. “In contrast to many wine bars, the service is not intimidating and caters to people who understand wine.”
Another favored wine way station is Cibo Bistro and Wine Bar, situated in the Philadelphia International airport. The Concourse B branch is stunning, outfitted with a 45-foot-long onyx bar, 32 wines by the glass and the convivial atmosphere of the finest Italian trattoria.
Should you prefer beer, Denver’s New Belgium Hub Bar & Grill is a microbrew sanctuary. In the eclectic bar decorated with bicycle paintings, travelers sip superb brews from Colorado-based New Belgium, including the easy-drinking Fat Tire amber ale.
At the PDX airport in Portland, Oregon, local brewery Laurelwood has several laid-back branches dispensing their delectable organic brews, such as the caramel-nuanced Free Range Red. For bourbon with the beer, detour through Louisville, Kentucky. There, the Woodford Reserve Bar & Grill serves excellent, oak-aged spirits to customers reclining in leather chairs.
But the boldest experiment in upscale bars is underway at NYC’s JFK airport. Jet Blue’s gleaming Terminal 5 is a return to jet-set glamour, packed with steakhouses, wine-sipping bistros and luxe lounges better suited to Broadway, not the runway.
“We want our restaurants and bars to rival the bars and restaurants you see on the street,” says Rick Blatstein, CEO of airport food and beverage operator OTG Management. “We want to deliver a want, not a need, to go to the airport early.”
To attract early arrivers, the soon-to-open stylish Loft Kitchen & Bar will re-create Manhattan’s SoHo cool, serving killer cocktails and comfort food. New York Sports Grill gives the tired sports bar a contemporary tweak, serving 48 beers on tap including local brews from Brooklyn outfit Kelso. And then there’s the re:vive bars, located near the gates.
“You can have a nice cocktail and snack and wait for the plane,” Blatstein says. “We thought it would take some time to take off - no pun intended - but customers took to it like fish to water.”
Furthermore, Blatstein says, the new breed of airport bars and lounges remind passengers that travel should be about pleasure, not hair-pulling anxiety. “People going on vacation should enjoy themselves,” Blatstein says. “If you’re going to Cancun or the Dominican Republic, why not start the trip with a mimosa or a bloody Mary? It’s a great way to start your travels.”
Let’s face it - with times as tough as they have been of late, financial worries are taking a toll on other aspects of our lives, especially relationships.
It’s not easy keeping romance alive when a couple has a home loan to repay, bills to shell out on and a household to run; pay-cuts, pink slips and a lack of job security are playing havoc with most people’s minds at the moment.
So what’s the alternative? Hope for the best and wait it out?
Or begin to wonder what your life would have been like if you had married for money?
There are many people out there who wouldn’t settle for less and are honest enough to admit it - when you crave for or are used to a certain lifestyle, getting hitched to a wealthy partner is one way of ensuring your future security.
Even when it comes to arranged marriages, money matters usually weigh in heavily on the proceedings - parents want to see their children well-settled and comfortable. A well-educated guy with a large salary, or a rich young lady who will inherit her father’s business are deemed highly eligible.
What are your views on marrying for money?
Do you think that it’s despicable or excusable, given how tough some people have it?
Would you consider it if you were not in a relationship?
Do you know of someone who married for financial reasons? How did it work out?
In this scenario if we run campaigns like think before vote, choose the right one, they are of no use. Unless everyone in this scenario pick few morals and ethics so that the common man knows exactly what is happening and who is the right one.
The Lead India Campaign by The Times of India, supported by ZoOm, directed by Karan Johar.
Check out the exclusive video of Lead India’s Kuch Nahi Hosakta campaign starring Abhishek Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, Shahid Kapoor, Imran Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Retiesh Deshmukh, Asin, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Karan Johar himself.
The country’s financial hub, Mumbai, and the National Capital New Delhi are among the world’s 10 most expensive cities for expatriates to live in, says a survey by global HR consultancy Mercer.
According to the survey on housing costs and practices for employees sent on overseas assignments, Mumbai has emerged even more expensive than New York City in the United States China’s capital Beijing.
Mumbai has been ranked as the world’s fourth most expensive city in terms of rental property for expatriates, while New Delhi is eighth, the survey for February 2009 said.
Mumbai has moved up by one notch from its fifth position in the September 2008 survey, while New Delhi has fallen two places from its sixth place in the previous ranking.
Russia’s Moscow has topped the list of world’s most expensive cities and is followed by Tokyo (second), Hong Kong (3rd), Mumbai (4th) and New York City (5th) as the five most expensive cities across the globe for expats to live in.
The survey highlighted that Asian cities have dominated the list of the world’s costliest locations for expats living there, with as many as six locations from the region being among the world’s top 10.
Moscow is the world’s most expensive city to live in.
In second place - in terms of most expensive city to live in - is Tokyo.
Hong Kong is in the third place.
Mumbai, as stated earlier, is the world’s 4th most expensive city to live in.
New York City is fifth most expensive.
In sixth place is Beijing.
Geneva is the world’s seventh most expensive city to live in.
New Delhi is the 8th most expensive city to live in.
London is the ninth most expensive city to live in.
Singapore is the 10th most expensive city to live in.
Shanghai is the 11th most expensive city to live in.
“The world’s housing markets have been sliding since 2008, and major currency fluctuations in the past few months have also had a strong impact on the comparative cost of expatriate housing,” Mercer information product solutions India business leader Gangapriya Chakraverti said.
Interestingly, the survey stated that current slowdown has led companies towards a fundamental shift in the types of housing being offered in India. However, today, an increasing number are opting for luxury condominiums which provide the same kind of facilities but at a lower price.
As a result, expats are increasingly located in Gurgaon, Whitefield and Powai as opposed to more traditional locations such as Chanakyapuri, Indiranagar and Colaba. This has also resulted in more cultural integration between expats and the local population, the survey added.
Data is based on typical rents for 1-4 bedroom apartments and 3-4 bedroom houses, furnished and unfurnished.
New York is used as the base city, with a score of 100 points. Moscow at the top of the ranking scores 168.30, while Mumbai at position 4 (105.10), New Delhi at 8 (96.60) and Bangalore at 29 (51.80) continue to receive interest and demand for expatriate rental property.
As the index is based on cost comparisons using the US dollar, currency exchange rates have an influence on the rankings.
The 10th Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) kick started with a bang with the Bollywood celebs rocking the ramp. The ever cute and sensuous actress Katrina Kaif wooed everyone with her cute Barbie doll act on the day one of the gala event.
It was a perfect combination of style and glamour as 50 years of Barbie was celebrated along with Lakme Fashion Week, the pioneers of the fashion weeks in India having completed a decade.
Apart from Katrina, top ramp models also walked the ramp as they showcased brilliant creations.
Dress the Barbie contest attracted 75 entries from top designers in the country from which the 20 short listed creations were showcased on the ramp at the dazzling show.
It was the winning dress by Nishka Lulla that Bollywood’s glamorous star Katrina Kaif modeled as the show stopper of the day. Katrina Kaif will be the Indian celebrity on whose likeness a Barbie doll will be created by Mattel Toys India Pvt. Ltd.
IPL 2009 will kick off at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on April 18 while the final will be held at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on May 24 according to the new schedule.
The semi-finals meanwhile are to be held on May 22 and 23 in Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively.
In a double header on the first day, last year’s winners Rajasthan Royals will take on the Bangalore Royal Challengers, Bangalore, while the Mumbai Indians would clash with the first edition’s runners-up Chennai Super Kings at Cape Town.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi revealed that official broadcaster Sony will telecast the matches in three languages - English, Hindi and Bengali. Matches will be held at 4 pm (12.30 pm local time) and 8 pm (4.30pm local time) IST.
Schedule: All times IST (GMT + 0530)
April 18: Rajasthan Royals (RR) v Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) (4 pm) at Cape Town; Mumbai Indians (MI) v Chennai Super Kings (CSK) (8 pm) at Cape Town
April 19: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) v Deccan Chargers (DC) (4 pm) at Cape Town; Delhi Daredevils (DD) v Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) (8 pm) at Cape Town
April 20: RCB V CSK (4 pm) at Port Elizabeth
April 21: RR v MI (4 pm) at Durban; KKR v KXIP (8 pm) at Durban
April 22: DD v CSK (4 pm) at Durban; RCB v DC (8 pm) at Cape Town
April 23: KKR v RR (4 pm) at Port Elizabeth
April 24: KXIP v RCB (4 pm) at Johannesburg
April 25: KKR v CSK (4 pm) at Cape Town; DC v MI (8 pm) at Durban
April 26: RR v KXIP (4 pm) at Cape Town; RCB v DD (8 pm) Port Elizabeth
April 27: KKR v MI (4 pm) at Cape Town; CSK v DC (8 pm) at Durban
April 28: DD v RR (4 pm) at Pretoria
April 29: MI v KXIP (4 pm) at Durban; KKR v RCB (8 pm) at Durban
April 30: DD v DC (4 pm) at Pretoria; RR v CSK (8 pm) at Pretoria
May 1: RCB v KXIP (4 pm) at East London; MI v KKR (8 pm) at Durban
May 2: RR v DC (4 pm) at Johannesburg; CSK v DD (8 pm) at Port Elizabeth
May 3: MI v RCB (4 pm) at Durban; KXIP v KKR (8 pm) at East London
May 4: DC v CSK (4 pm) at Port Elizabeth
May 5: DD v KKR (4 pm) at Durban; KXIP v RR (8 pm) at Durban
May 6: MI v DC (4 pm) at Pretoria
May 7: KXIP v CSK (4 pm) at Pretoria; RCB v RR (8 pm) at Pretoria
May 8: DD v MI (4 pm) at East London
May 9: DC v KXIP (4 pm) at Bloemfontein; CSK v RR (8 pm) at Port Elizabeth
May 10: KKR v DD (4 pm) at East London; RCB v MI (8 pm) at Johannesburg
May 11: DC v RR (4 pm) at Bloemfontein
May 12: RCB v KKR (4 pm) at Pretoria; KXIP v MI (8 pm) at Pretoria
May 13: DC v DD (4 pm) at Durban
May 14: MI v RR (4 pm) at Durban; CSK v RCB (8 pm) at Durban
May 15: KXIP v DD (4 pm) at Kimberley
May 16: CSK v MI (4 pm) at Johannesburg; DC v KKR (8 pm) at Port Elizabeth
May 17: RR v DD (4 pm) at Kimberley; KXIP v DC (8 pm) at Johannesburg
May 18: CSK v KKR (4 pm) at Pretoria
May 19: DD v RCB (4 pm) at Johannesburg
May 20: CSK v KXIP (4 pm) at Durban; RR v KKR (8 pm) at Durban
May 21: DC v RCB (4 pm) at Pretoria; MI v DD (8 pm) at Pretoria
Ruchi Chopra is a graduate in fashion design (NIFT), but two years ago, a small incident and the resulting brainstorm got her to drop these stylish aspirations in order to pursue a truly unique venture. She now runs ASAP, short for Any Surprise Any Place - a one-stop shop for any surprise you want to pop for a loved one. From decustomised soap bars to coffee table books, travel packages to hot air balloons, this enterprising young lady will organize it for you.
In an interview with rediff.com, Ruchi discusses where she got the idea to start up, her career success and how a small business, started with just Rs 50,000 now has a turnover of Rs 20 lakh - in less than two years.
What made you think of ASAP?
The idea came to me in October of 2006, when I was at work - I was assistant merchandiser with clothing company GAP - and a hostel friend messaged me saying “I want pizza”. I really felt like surprising her by getting it delivered. However, I was at the office and couldn’t leave, so I tried calling a number of pizza services, asking them to send one out to her and charge me for it. However, all my efforts failed - not one was willing to do so. Apparently, you can only place a pizza order for yourself! So I got thinking - all I wanted to do was surprise a friend with something as simple as a pizza and there was nobody to organize if for me. There should be some service that can help a zillion people who want to do something nice for someone, right?
People either don’t have an idea of what to do to make someone feel special, or they do and they don’t have the means or the time to organize it. This is what made me start a company that helps people organize surprises for others. It was an idea born out of a need of the hour. I started working on the concept and ASAP - short for ‘as soon as possible’ and ‘any surprise any place’ - was born.
What was your family’s reaction when you decided to start your own business?
There was initial hesitation on my mom’s part. We all have mothers who think with the heart and she was worried that I had decided to venture out and do something crazy. Dad was supportive, though - I had given him the confidence that I’d seriously thought this out and seen a future.
You studied fashion designing. It’s a big jump - fashion to business. What inspired you?
If I hadn’t started this company, I would be a baby clothing designer. This idea was the need of the hour - it was something I saw had demand and no supply. Starting a business venture of your own is the combined result of having way too much energy, way too many thoughts and a lot of passion to make people happy. I have started something good as a result of all my ideas and passion. I love what I do. I started this the day I wanted to surprise someone and no one could help me with it.
How do you work out the logistics of arranging surprises that are so varied and elaborate?
It’s a lot of creative work to start with, trying to understand from each client what works for their brother, sister, grandmother etc. Then comes the implementation, which is actually the easier part, because it’s more difficult to put a finger on what will surprise a person, rather than arrange it.
I have a great time doing what I do and I have a great team helping me out. Mansukh Mann handles the creative end - she’s young and has some great ideas. Akram Saifi, who has been with the company almost since inception, helps me implement our plans and Subhash Sorout works to ensure the timing of the surprises is perfect.
I mainly generate ideas, too - I read a lot and keep tabs on what people do for each other in various other parts of the world, but Mansukh and Akram help me out equally.
Was it a struggle to start off ? Did people take your idea seriously at first?
It was clearly a struggle. It’s easier to create just another brand of high heels, for instance, than a product that doesn’t exist and then make people love it and get used to using it. After hearing about ASAP, people would say to me, “That’s interesting - so what exactly do you do?
Tell us a bit about the early days of the company.
It was a lot of work, there were many days with no surprises. We could just look at sourcing new products, creating new things. These were times when a lack of orders did dishearten us. I was sure, though, that it just needed more people to know about it and they would come to love the idea. I completely believed in my plan, never did I doubt it!
What kind of challenges have you faced in the course of your career, and how have you learned to deal with them?
Basically I am a pioneer in my line. I had a dreamy idea, I selected a dreamy name for my company. I sell surprises which are very close to the fulfillment of dreams. I ventured into it with an open mind. Having creative fun more than making money was my raison’ de entre. I built teams of creative people to support my ventures. Everything is based on ‘just-in-time’ actions and activities
A big problem we face in our kind of business is sampling. There are so many vendors supplying a lot of quality products, but because we want only personalized ones, they find it difficult to work with us. We customize every surprise and only have one piece created per customer. And so, we have issues with some vendors who make great products but are not happy doing just the one product. We’ve convinced some of them to stay on board, after promising a great continued working relationship, others are yet to be convinced.
How does it feel to have succeeded in your venture?
It really feels great. It’s a passion that has proved its belief. I love giving surprises personally and to do that for a living - it’s my favourite thing to do. Working is rarely like ‘working’, if you know what I mean. It feels good, there is a sense of confidence which has come in quite early for me; I don’t think anything is impossible after bringing ASAP to where it is.
Has your success impacted your personal life at all?
Not at all. I have always been a person of balance and I maintain that. Yes, it has affected how often I can take holidays - I could take a lot more leave working in a company other than my own - but I have no complaints about that at all.
Do you have any success mantras?
Absolutely: Start small. Don’t rush to get a big office, great-looking laptops, a personal secretary and then start work. Start from your room.
Also, have clear focus, strong willpower and the desire to succeed. The sky is the limit. I wake up every morning with a passion to make people happy and that’s what makes mine a success story.
What do you think is the most common mistake newcomers make?
They want to start big. Most newcomers think the only way to start a business is to start with an office. Also, it’s not good to try and re-invent the wheel. Taking advice is very important from people who are into any kind of business.
What tips do you have for today’s youngsters looking for a break as young entrepreneurs?
Like I said, start small and don’t give up - there will be some points when things wont be as rosy as you planned, but that’s the testing time. Don’t give up then and sunshine will soon be on its way!
Women have to balance family and a career - how tough is that for you?
I am single and successful and I’m happy to say it’s not a problem for me just yet. I have a hectic social life and balancing for me means not tripping on the dance floor and choosing the right pair of heels!
But I think balancing work and life is something everyone needs to start doing anyway, hectic worklife or not - and it is a good thing as well. Just because I love my work doesn’t mean I don’t love my life outside of it. I hope I will strike a balance when I need to because we have only one life and you gotta do everything - work hard, earn enough wealth, live it up, party hard and then get married and build a family.
What are the main issues you have to deal with as a working woman?
I’m happy that career women are seen as a normal part of the working world. Issues, therefore, are hardly any - women-worrying issues only crop up when you think you are any different from any other working individual. In fact, when it comes to running your own business, women may actually be in an advantageous position.
What tips do you have for other young women balancing their work and personal lives?
Stay focused and do what you want, but stick to just one thing. There’s life beyond business and every second counts, so it’s not worth spending your life away only working, working…phew!
Remember it is impossible to please the whole world. Just try and please yourself and be at peace.
What challenges do women entrepreneurs/ career women face in India?
In some parts of the country, men have not prepared themselves sufficiently to deal with women as equals. Most metros and cosmopolitan cities are totally reconciled. Man or woman, you have to prove yourself to earn the respect of your colleagues. There are always some narrow-minded men, though, who are best ignored.
I worked in an MNC for a short while after I passed out of NIFT. The company was woman-dominated and even the men were extremely professional and understanding. Even in other fields, I find the mindset of men has come a long way and they treat women as teammates and assets. Indeed, we are outperforming them in many key areas.
Your inspiration…
Wanting to lead and not be led. Wanting to be my own master, desiring to explore my creative inner self, setting my own pace and taking a flight of fancy was my inspiration to get going.
Any advice on pink slips?
I love the color pink but for very many other reasons and have always wondered how it got associated with this beastly idea of showing employees the door. I am basically a team builder and not a family breaker. I don’t believe in pink slips.
What are your future plans?
To take ASAP much further that it is now - really make it any suprise any place. I want this company to bring smiles to faces everywhere in the world. As long as you want to make someone feel special, we will do what it takes. Careerwise, I have only just set sail - I will soon be hitting the ocean and the horizon, where the earth and sky meet. I already deliver surprises in Europe, North America and Australia. Africa and the Amazon are my next targets!
Much before A R Rahman won his Oscars for his music in the multiple Oscar winning movie Slumdog Millionaire, Ron Fair, chairman of Universal Music Group’s Interscope Geffen Records, decided to release an English-language pop version of Jai Ho!
“I watched the movie a year ago for the first time and watched it two more times since then and immediately I realized the potential of Rahman’s music and its universal appeal,” Fair told Financial Chronicle. The remix version, titled Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny), with a rough English translation of the Hindi lyrics, is sung by Nicole Scherzinger.
According to Fair, the producer of the remix, he was ready to have the release immediately after the Oscars whether or not the original won at the ceremony. True to his promise, the day after the Oscars, the remix version was released by the Santa Monica-based record label and Fair is hoping Rahman can conquer the US pop-music charts.
Pussycat Dolls in Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)
“In fact, the remix number is already among the Top 20 pop songs in iTunes,” said Fair. The remix was created with artists working in three different continents. “When recording began, Rahman was in Los Angeles twice with my team of song writers and he gave significant direction to the project.
After that he helped us directly from his studio in Chennai,” said Fair. Meanwhile, Scherzinger, who was then touring England, recorded her vocal parts in various studios in England.
With the song’s original electronic dance beats and uplifting percussion in place, the remix English version’s chorus goes like this :
You are the reason that I breathe/ You are the reason that I still believe/ You are my destiny/ Jai ho!
According to Fair, the challenge in creating a remix version was to make something that would appeal to contemporary music fans but at the same time be true to the story of the film.
“He is incredibly talented. He has great imagination, new vocabulary and an absolutely wonderful sense of sound. In fact, he has everything as a musician,” said Fair about Rahman and his music. “I hope my version of Jai Ho touches and connects people all around the world,” said Scherzinger in a statement.
With multiple wins by Slumdog Millionaire at the Oscars and with an English remix version already doing well on US pop charts, there is a buzz about how the little movie that did wonders at all international awards might build a bridge between Hollywood and Bollywood. “Indian music has the potential to be a major force in the world. And there is a whole new world opening up there. “What Slumdog has done is exposing the Indian music talent to the world. And the world has seen what India has in terms of dance and music,” said Fair, who considers Rahman as one of the world’s greatest living composers in any medium.
Fair will travel to India soon to meet Rahman and discuss with him the possibility of working together in some international music albums. “I will be visiting India for the first time and I am sure, I will have to visit the country several times to understand and learn. But I am eager to go through that learning process,” said Fair. During his India visit, he is also scheduled to meet several other producers and representatives of music labels. He has already initiated discussions with Rajeeta Hemwani, vice president, A&R (artists and repertoire), Universal Music India for possible future projects.
Hope you enjoy it, enjoy the day with us,” Nicole Scherzinger says as behind-the-scenes footage from the set of The Pussycat Dolls’ “Jai Ho” music video starts off. The singer then says that the video, shot at a Vienna trainyard, will capture scenes “from every point of people around the world and represent from every place.”
Giving a sneak peek into the music video, the footage reveals Thomas Kloss as the man behind the lens and A.R. Rahman making a cameo. Highlighting a crowded market scene, it shows all the members of The Pussycat Dolls sporting Bollywood-themed costumes and performing a dance sequence, which is similar to the one seen in movie “Slumdog Millionaire”.
“It’s an honor to be able to collaborate with A.R. Rahman and be a part of the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ project in any way,” Nicole says in a statement. “The movie, the story and the music [were] a gift and very spiritually uplifting for me. I can only hope and pray ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ and my version of ‘Jai Ho’ (’You Are My Destiny’) touches and connects people all around the world.”
The latest generation of consoles has three main contenders: Sony’s PlayStation 3, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii. The last is the least well known in India but in some ways has the system best suited for the average gamer.
Let’s take a look at the Nintendo Wii and a few of the best games that you can play on it.
The essential idea of the Wii is that fun games don’t necessarily require cutting-edge graphics. While its competitors the PS3 and the Xbox 360 chose to build much more powerful and expensive machines the Wii focuses on innovative controls and games which are accessible to anyone. This is done through the motion-sensitive remote which allows you to play the game by moving your arms rather than pressing a button.
The motion controls are best demonstrated through Wii Sports which comes free with each machine and features five sports: tennis, golf, boxing, bowling and baseball. You should be able to find a demo version in big electronics stores across India. It’s a lot of fun playing by moving your arms like you would in a real game instead of just pressing buttons. The tennis and bowling games are especially enjoyable and are great for playing with a group of friends or with your family.
Top Nintendo Wii games
The Wii does not have quite as many games as its competitors but still it has seen a number of great games several of which are exclusive to the system which means that they can only be played on the Wii. The best of these are created by Nintendo itself and feature its famous characters created over the decades.
Probably the most famous of those is Mario the plumber who has been entertaining gamers for more than 25 years with a variety of platforms, puzzles and racing games. The latest Mario game, Super Mario Galaxy, is reckoned by some to be the best ever and is perhaps the best Wii game to date. As the name suggests it is set in outer space where Mario has to travel from planet to planet solving puzzles and defeating enemies.
After Mario the best-known Nintendo series is Zelda and here too the Wii features a stellar new game called the Twilight Princess, an action-adventure story where you play as Link and fight monsters from an alternate universe called the Twilight Realm.
Other games with Nintendo characters are Metroid Prime 3, an adventure game set in outer space and Super Smash Bros Brawl: a fighting game. Among the non-Nintendo games perhaps the most interesting is Boom Blox, designed with the help of Steven Spielberg and featuring hundreds of physics-based puzzles where you break up elaborate structures made of blocks using various projectiles.
The bottom line when it comes to games is that the Wii may not have as many games as the PS3 and Xbox but it has some unique games with a wide appeal that goes beyond traditional gamers. Since the Wii has sold maximum number of machines by far you can expect more great games in the next couple of years as developers find ways to exploit its unique controls.
This video gives you a feel for the Nintendo Wii, and some of the top wii games that are available for it.
Drawbacks of the Nintendo Wii
The Wii isn’t perfect and is behind its competitors in some areas.
For example its graphics are not quite as advanced and its processor isn’t as powerful. However, this isn’t quite as important as it seems, particularly, if you have a regular non-HD television; in that case the full power of cutting-edge graphics is largely wasted anyway.
Unlike the PS3, the Wii lacks the ability to play blu-ray discs; again for most buyers this probably doesn’t matter much since the format is only in its infancy in India and will take a few years to mature.
One area where the Indian edition of the Wii does miss out, however, is on pricing.
The US version is priced aggressively at $250 (about Rs 12,500) which is well below the PS3 priced at $400-500. In India at Rs 22,000 the Wii is quite expensive and only a bit lesser than the Xbox360 Pro and the PS3 which are more versatile machines.
If Nintendo could lower its price to around Rs 18,000 it would make the Wii a truly formidable competitor.
I invited an American friend to see Slumdog Millionaire with me during its limited release in New York in November with some trepidation. Not knowing anything about the movie other than that it was set in India and received positive early reviews, I was expecting the usual Bollywood fare - beautiful but long dance numbers, over-dubbed action sequences, and unrealistically happy endings.
Previous attempts to acclimatise my Western friends to Bollywood cinema had been less than successful - we couldn’t stop cracking jokes during Aishwarya Rai’s Bride and Prejudice . Even my more dedicated friends couldn’t make it through the hour-and-a-half cricket match in Lagaan .
To my surprise, however, the audience of that sold-out show consisted not only of Indians, but people of every background and every age. By the film’s end, I understood why - Slumdog Millionaire is one of those rare movies that - in its handling of profound issues and questions - naturally brings people together. It may have been set in India, but Jamal’s story of determination, devotion, and trust in the good in life, despite evidence to the contrary, are themes that resonate with all of us, regardless of where we were brought up and where we are today.
Child stars of Slumdog Millionaire: (from left) Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Rubiana Ali and Azharuddin Ismail
Since November, Slumdog Millionaire has been released across the country, with more success than I - and perhaps even any of those involved - could have anticipated. My excitement is tempered, however, by the recent backlash from Indian icons like director Priyadarshan and actress Preity Zinta . Priyadarshan called the film a ‘cheap, trashy, mediocre version’ of earlier, more worthwhile films by Salim-Javed, and expressed anger that Indians would celebrate a film created by ‘a white man’ that depicts Mumbai as ‘a wasteland’.
Preity Zinta, on the other hand, believes Slumdog Millionaire viewers will assume India is a dirty, poverty-stricken place Incidentally this comes from the lead actress of Kya Kehna, a successful movie about a pregnant single teenager, and Kal Ho Naa Ho - but, er, no intelligent viewer would assume all women in India are pregnant by 18 and love to disco.
Of course it’s not easy to accept that one of the first widely critically-acclaimed films focused on India is precisely about some of its faults. Poverty, child abuse, gangs, and corruption exist in India; just as they exist in any country. It simply appears that most successful films in India shy away from these themes. If an Indian is willing to pay hard-earned money to see a movie, he wants escape and entry to a world that exists only in the movie theater - hence the beautiful actors and actresses in beautiful clothes, in well-choreographed dance numbers and difficulties that only extend to unpleasant mothers-in-law.
Perhaps it takes a movie as powerful as Slumdog Millionaire for Indians both residing in India and abroad to recognize the evils that plague it still, and take action to stop it. Like 2004’s Supersize Me opened America’s eyes to the harmful health effects of fast food and Crash helped redress issues of race and intolerance, Slumdog Millionaire may bring about positive social changes in India. While it is difficult to watch what the children in Slumdog Millionaire had to endure, we may take solace in the fact that there are real children across the world that we have the power to help.
Still, to dwell on the horrors Jamal, Salim, and Latika underwent is to miss the movie’s message. Every moment in Jamal’s life, even the most heartbreaking ones, had a purpose and reason - in a literal sense, because they served as answers to the game show’s answers, but metaphorically, because they shaped who he became, and tested his love so that it endured, all the stronger.
When faced with a difficulty in our own lives - whether it be loss or injustice or betrayal - it’s inspiring to believe that even our pain can lead to our happiness. More than a story of squalor or sorrow, it’s a story of perseverance and faith - and indeed, what better city to serve as a backdrop than Mumbai, a city that has seen so much in recent months only to emerge resiliently.
It is for that reason that when people ask me, after watching the movie, whether Mumbai is “really like that”, I give a qualified “yes.” The particulars of a movie are never as important as the message that stays with you long after you leave the theater.
Can I remember the name of the character who ran the children’s orphanage, or the leader of the gang that cut Latika across the face? No. But what I do remember, and will remember, is what the Indian spirit is all about.
Thanks to Aarti, 18, studies at Columbia University and Rediff.com
Tata Motors on Monday (23.03.2009) commercially launched its people’s car, Nano, promising to stick to the Rs 100,000 price tag for the base model.
“From today onwards, the product will be available in the showrooms. There will be three versions - the base version, which is the one we promised to the people of India and two upper tier versions,” Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata told a news conference.
The bookings will commence on April 9 and will go on till April 25. Booking amount for the Nano, the world’s cheapest acr, can be done by just paying Rs 2,999 upfront while the rest can be secured by way of loan.
Just ahead of the Nano launch on Monday, Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata told editors that the car, which would have the smallest footprint on the road, will be sold to the first 100,000 buyers at a price to be announced later.
The promise that has been made to sell the car at around Rs 1-lakh would be kept despite the fact that commodity prices had shot up, Tata said, adding that the fall in commodity prices now may provide some cushion.
The delivery of the first lot of Nano cars will begin in early-July, he said, adding that applications for booking of the car would be available in 30,000 locations in 1,000 cities across India.
In an interview with 
