Down To Business: Should Your People Come Before Your Customers?
One school of thought is that if you treat your people right, they'll be far more motivated and equipped to engage with (and maximize returns from) your customers.
By Rob Preston
InformationWeek
September 27, 2008 12:00 AM (From the September 29, 2008 issue)
The customer comes first. It's considered a business management truism. The way to boost profits and market caps is to focus on the people who buy your products. "Delight" them, as former GE chief Jack Welch would say. Create relationships that foster brand loyalty and return business. Management experts C.K. Prahalad and M.S. Krishnan go a step further, exhorting companies to "co-create value" with their customers, one customer at a time.
There's really no arguing with this approach, but there's another school of thought: The way to get customers to beat down your door is to put your employees first. The rationale: If you treat your people right, they'll be far more motivated and equipped to engage with (and maximize returns from) your customers.
More CIO InsightsWhite PapersAvoiding the 10 Most Common Mistakes in Selecting and Implementing e-Procurement Solutions Managing the RFP Process ReportsNext In Line How CIOs Are Dealing With A Tough Economy Vineet Nayar, CEO of HCL Technologies, coined Employee First several years ago as he set out to transform HCL from an Indian hardware supplier to a global provider of high-end technology services. Taken at its face value, HCL's Employee First, Customer Second (EFCS) philosophy is still something of a heresy in business management circles, with its implied emphasis on internal matters.
But you need to understand the ultimate goal of employee-centricity, at least the variety that Vineet and others are preaching. If it were just a return to the dot-com era's pinball-machines-in-the-office-lounge, bring-your-pet-to-work kind of environment, it wouldn't be worth a second thought. At its core, however, there's far more to putting employees first than showering employees with perks.
"From the start, I was clear: Employee First was not about free lunch, free buses, and subsidies," Vineet is quoted as saying in an August 2007 Harvard Business Review article. "It was about setting clear priorities, investing in employees' development, and unleashing their potential to produce bottom-line results."
It also was about changing the internal culture. One feature of an intranet that sits at the center of EFCS is the Smart Services Desk, a sort of trouble ticket system whereby employees log in questions and critiques, posted for all 55,000 worldwide employees to view. Company policy says those employees who open a ticket must get a response within 24 hours, and only the employee initiating the ticket can close it. Vineet himself answers a hundred questions a week under a related program.
All HCL managers receive 360-degree reviews that include 1 to 5 ratings on their effectiveness, communications skills, and other areas, from direct reports and others. Vineet posts his review on the intranet, though one wonders how critical the underlings dare to be. Open communications at HCL also includes lots of videoconferencing, online collaboration, and town hall-style face-to-face talks. The goal, at least, is to create an environment where talking the truth is prized more than making excuses and covering your butt.
An employee-first mentality remains especially important in HCL's industry--India-based IT services--where annual employee attrition rates can exceed 15% but where the players are only as strong as their consultants, project managers, and other experienced front-line employees. But the idea has just as much relevance for any IT organization. CIOs who complain they can't find and retain good people are some of the same ones who treat their employees as expendable. How is an IT organization ever going to delight its external and internal customers if there's little incentive to innovate, take chances, think differently, or otherwise do anything that might get you into trouble?
If employee first is just another touchy-feely HR initiative, then it's time to move on. And if it's a ruse for weeding out dissatisfied or ill-prepared employees, it's far worse. Employees first? Maybe not. But if companies and their IT organizations are truly serious about creating an environment for problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity, their employees must fall somewhere high on the priority list.
Rob Preston,
VP and Editor in Chief
rpreston@techweb.com
To find out more about Rob Preston, please visit his page.
Discuss This
6 message(s). Last at: Sep 30, 2008 10:45:43 AM
Carol
commented on Sep 30, 2008 10:45:43 AM
My observation as an employee, a manager and a customer is that organizations treat their customers and their employees in comparable ways. If the corporate culture is based on squeezing the most from their employees, they attempt to do the same with their customers. If the organization treats their customers with respect and focuses on providing products or services that meet customer needs, the company is much more likely to do the same for their employees. It's not a dicotomy; it is a sane, consistent approach that pays off. It is hard to accomplish and requires a deeper understanding of the business than most leaders are willing or able to achieve.
Guest
commented on Sep 30, 2008 10:36:57 AM
There is a reason one method is "tried and true" and the other not. One is practical, the other assumes all people (employees) are altruistic. In the imaginary world putting employees 1st will work. In the real world it doesn't have a shot.
TayzGpa
commented on Sep 30, 2008 9:49:19 AM
Wheather or not the employee or the customer is first or second really depends on how fast or slow you want to grow.
If you make the job a joy for your people, they in turn will make your company a joy to work with as a customer.
For years I have treated my employees as though they were the most important asset that my company has. These people have families, personal goals, etc. I try and never forget that my company is not the most important thing in thier lives. Employee retention for us is high, turn over is low and the quality of work life for the people who work with me is good. Business is also good. Having said that, I have never been obsessed with being the "best in the world" at what we do or be able to do everything that the customer wants. What I care about is that we do what we promise, and never make promises my people cant keep. If I tell a customer that we can do this or that, then we do it. If the customer wants something that is outside what we offer, then I talk to my people. If my people think we can do it then we give it our best shot. If we dont think we can do it or dont have the knowledge to do then I tell the customer that also. So far that has worked pretty well for us. Folks generally know that if we say we can do something then they can count on it being done.
pink panther
commented on Sep 30, 2008 9:46:25 AM
As someone who has read P and K's book on R=G and N=1, I think it has some good ideas, but ... seems totally unrealistic in the real world because it would require a company to sacrifice the short-term for a long-term restructuring of how they do business. It would also require buy-in from all levels. Their examples of new companies are also very pedestrian, and I don't see these companies doing all that much of N=1 and R=G. I also think there's some contradiction between R=G (outsource everything you can to people who don't care about your company) and N=1 (care about customers). Basically, N=1 and T=G says the only successful companies will be intermediaries who don't do anything but match buyers and sellers. Most examples (amazon, ebay, etc) corroborate that. The others are implausible (customers allowing tire manufacturers to monitor their driving?). So I don't know how big this will be in the long term.
Brian
commented on Sep 29, 2008 3:10:34 PM
A very interesting idea indeed.
I laud the concept, but I also see it breaking down under pressure. It probably won't work under the following conditions:
1). When the organization gets above a certain size. Don't ask the size because I think it varies. However large organizations typically form subcultures and internal disconnects. This is not conducive to wide open communications;
2). When the organization is under major threat from outside. This could be market competitors, shrinking market segments, regulation/legal forces, and so on;
3). Spoiler personnel. Anyone who views themselves as an oppositional (or arrogant, or at least a WIIFM type) force to the rest of the organization. These are proportionately a greater threat to open communications the higher they rank in the organization. And, don't be naive, WIIFM types are commonplace in many senior positions, worldwide.
Mike
commented on Sep 29, 2008 4:07:22 AM
Creating culture of problem solving has always been a challenge in organzations . The reason is that the processes which force employees to think in one direction . Innovation will just not happen by saying employee first , However an organization need to exhibit a culture wherein it is willing to take a risk on employees and employees are empowered to take challenges . There are already discussions on this topic happening on a site which calls itself unstructure .
Check it out at http://www.unstructure.org
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
HEART TOUCHING EVENT - HAIL THE PARENTS OF JITHENTHRAN FOR THIS LAUDABLE THINKING
Only because of people like them, the world is still alive …..a heart touching real life incident…
Jithenthran... met with an accident WOW the Parents did something beyond the box of thinking read on..............
The thing is.... there is a family. Parents are doctors...and they had a son named jithenthran.
On 09/24/2009, he took his father's bike for seeing his friend and while returning he met with an accident.
The people who are there know him and admitted him at chengelpattu hospital. Then they informed his parents and they took him to Teynampet Apollo hospital.
There the doctors examined him and said that his brain has lost all his senses and there is no way to give him life. Without controlling the sadness the parents understood the fact and they decided to donate his organs to the people.
First, his eyes were given to Sankara nethralaya, then his kidney was given to Apollo hospital for transplantation and atlast here comes the final everheard miracle. They decided to give his heart to a 6 year old boy who needs it. So they verified and at last found that the boy is struggling for life at Cherians heart foundation, Chennai.
But within 30mins that heart should be transplanted; They need to go 20kms and in Chennai traffic and doubted whether it will happen. Then the doctors called traffic police and asked their help and they prepared the ambulance with A/C. So fastly they removed the heart from their son and kept in an ice box and ran towards the ambulance.
When they came out the boy's father saw that ice box and cried like anything. The doctor who carried tht box ran like anything that he didn’t even see the ambulance which is waiting outside and he entered the police car which was waiting. He said to the person to just go to Cherian hospital soon. The person who was standing near the car was the Assistant Commissioner and he without seeing his status and jumped to drivers seat and drove the car with full speed.
Every signal traffic got alert and left way for this car and at last within 15mins the heart was given to the doctors in Cherian hospital and it was transplanted to the small boy. Really heart touching....
Do u know the meaning of the name of the boy who died....
His name is Jithenthran - a person who will steal other's heart..............Yes , now he has stole everyone’s heart…..
Only because of people like them, the world is still alive …..a heart touching real life incident…
Jithenthran... met with an accident WOW the Parents did something beyond the box of thinking read on..............
The thing is.... there is a family. Parents are doctors...and they had a son named jithenthran.
On 09/24/2009, he took his father's bike for seeing his friend and while returning he met with an accident.
The people who are there know him and admitted him at chengelpattu hospital. Then they informed his parents and they took him to Teynampet Apollo hospital.
There the doctors examined him and said that his brain has lost all his senses and there is no way to give him life. Without controlling the sadness the parents understood the fact and they decided to donate his organs to the people.
First, his eyes were given to Sankara nethralaya, then his kidney was given to Apollo hospital for transplantation and atlast here comes the final everheard miracle. They decided to give his heart to a 6 year old boy who needs it. So they verified and at last found that the boy is struggling for life at Cherians heart foundation, Chennai.
But within 30mins that heart should be transplanted; They need to go 20kms and in Chennai traffic and doubted whether it will happen. Then the doctors called traffic police and asked their help and they prepared the ambulance with A/C. So fastly they removed the heart from their son and kept in an ice box and ran towards the ambulance.
When they came out the boy's father saw that ice box and cried like anything. The doctor who carried tht box ran like anything that he didn’t even see the ambulance which is waiting outside and he entered the police car which was waiting. He said to the person to just go to Cherian hospital soon. The person who was standing near the car was the Assistant Commissioner and he without seeing his status and jumped to drivers seat and drove the car with full speed.
Every signal traffic got alert and left way for this car and at last within 15mins the heart was given to the doctors in Cherian hospital and it was transplanted to the small boy. Really heart touching....
Do u know the meaning of the name of the boy who died....
His name is Jithenthran - a person who will steal other's heart..............Yes , now he has stole everyone’s heart…..
Thursday, September 25, 2008
PERFORMANCE NOT POSITION THAT COUNTS - HEAVEN OR EARTH
A Priest dies & is awaiting his turn in line at the Heaven's Gates.
Ahead of him is a guy, nattily dressed, in dark sun glasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket & jeans.
God asks him: Please tell me who are you, so that I may know whether to admit you into the kingdom of Heaven or not?
The guy replies: I am Pandi, Auto driver from Chennai !
God consults his ledger, smiles & says to Pandi: Please take this silken robe & gold scarf & enter the Kingdom of Heaven ..
Now it is the priest's turn. He stands erect and speaks out in a booming voice: I am Pope's Assistant so & so, Head Priest of the so & so Church for the last 40 years.
God consults his ledger & says to the Priest: Please take this cotton robe & enter the Kingdom of Heaven ...
'Just a minute,' says the agonized Priest. 'How is it that a foul mouthed, rash driving Auto Driver is given a Silken robe & a Golden scarf and me, a Priest, who's spent his whole life preaching your Name & goodness has to make do with a Cotton robe?'
'Results my friend, results,' shrugs God.
'While you preached, people SLEPT; but when he drove his Auto, people PRAYED'
Moral of the story: It's PERFORMANCE & not POSITION that ultimately counts.
A Priest dies & is awaiting his turn in line at the Heaven's Gates.
Ahead of him is a guy, nattily dressed, in dark sun glasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket & jeans.
God asks him: Please tell me who are you, so that I may know whether to admit you into the kingdom of Heaven or not?
The guy replies: I am Pandi, Auto driver from Chennai !
God consults his ledger, smiles & says to Pandi: Please take this silken robe & gold scarf & enter the Kingdom of Heaven ..
Now it is the priest's turn. He stands erect and speaks out in a booming voice: I am Pope's Assistant so & so, Head Priest of the so & so Church for the last 40 years.
God consults his ledger & says to the Priest: Please take this cotton robe & enter the Kingdom of Heaven ...
'Just a minute,' says the agonized Priest. 'How is it that a foul mouthed, rash driving Auto Driver is given a Silken robe & a Golden scarf and me, a Priest, who's spent his whole life preaching your Name & goodness has to make do with a Cotton robe?'
'Results my friend, results,' shrugs God.
'While you preached, people SLEPT; but when he drove his Auto, people PRAYED'
Moral of the story: It's PERFORMANCE & not POSITION that ultimately counts.
African kid...amazing thought This poem was nominated for the best
poem of 2005, written by an African
kid...amazing thought
#################################
When I born, I Black
When I grow up, I Black
When I go in Sun, I Black
When I scared, I Black
When I sick, I Black
And when I die, I still black
And you White fella
When you born, you Pink
When you grow up, you White
When you go in Sun, you Red
When you cold, you Blue
When you scared, you Yellow
When you sick, you Green
And when you die, you Gray
And you calling me Colored ?
poem of 2005, written by an African
kid...amazing thought
#################################
When I born, I Black
When I grow up, I Black
When I go in Sun, I Black
When I scared, I Black
When I sick, I Black
And when I die, I still black
And you White fella
When you born, you Pink
When you grow up, you White
When you go in Sun, you Red
When you cold, you Blue
When you scared, you Yellow
When you sick, you Green
And when you die, you Gray
And you calling me Colored ?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
THE DANCING CEO - VINEET NAYAR -OF HCL WITH A CLEAR AND LUCID MESSAGE
THE EXPERIENCE WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT
Yes - we had our yearly 'meet' with our 'CEO' at an event called 'Directions-09'
After effects : Vineet Nayar simply rocks!!! and so did HCL
It all started with a recording - a video shot
Then it was business when told about what we have achieved in past year, what should be our strategy for the next year and how an HCLite can make a difference. It was a very inspiring and motivating video. Then.....
Then.... the finale
Loud Music: 'Ellam pughum oruvan oruvanu kay nee nadi pola odikondiru" Vaali's song echoing then ..it was Vineet ..dancing among the HCLities...moving all around the hall, trying to reach every one. People clapping, shouting, whistling...the best moment people realised at HCL - totally impressed with the dance - were we seeing a professional I wondered so nice was his steps to the tune of the song played
Music stops. He starts his talks.
'Did you enjoy???'
'Yeeeeeeeeeesssssss!!!!'
'Did you like my dance?' ;)
'Once more, once more'
'Ok! but you will have to dance with me'
Again, loud Music. Same song played ..people leaving their seats and rushing to him...every HCLite had a broad smile on their face.
Music stops. Everybody back to seat.
Wow!!! it was so wonderfu and facinating!!!!!!!
After getting everybody in a good and energetic mood,he starts talking. He talked about video. Discussed thoughts he had presented.
What we liked, what we didn't like..everybody was free to speak. And then came the most interesting part: QnA session...where anybody and everybody could ask him any question...
It went on for around 1.1/2 hours...our CEO, with us, for us, ready to talk, ready to share, ready to answer, ready to admit and share his mistakes, make others learn from them - a rare trait and practice perhaps the world over a CEO spending time with his employees
Good news were shared, bad news were also not left behind either. Still, those few hours were really the WOW hours for all HCLites.
Who would have ever thought that employees will have the strategy planning told not by their managers ..but directly by the CEO?
Who would have ever thought that the CEO will come in person to talk and share with you?
Who would have ever thought that your CEO would be interested in talking and much less listening to you?
MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR THAT CURRENT CONCERNS FOR THE INDUSTRY ARE
THE BUSINESS TREND
DOLLAR WEAKENING AGAINST RUPEE
CURRENT FRESHERS ATTITUDE
MANAGERS' DEPORTMENT AND EFFICIENCY
SACRIFICES ONE HAS TO UNDERGO IN CURRENT TURBULENT TIME
TO MENTION A FEW
THAT IS THE EVER FASINATING VINEET NAYAR THE CEO OF HCL - HAIL THEE!!!!!
THE EXPERIENCE WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT
Yes - we had our yearly 'meet' with our 'CEO' at an event called 'Directions-09'
After effects : Vineet Nayar simply rocks!!! and so did HCL
It all started with a recording - a video shot
Then it was business when told about what we have achieved in past year, what should be our strategy for the next year and how an HCLite can make a difference. It was a very inspiring and motivating video. Then.....
Then.... the finale
Loud Music: 'Ellam pughum oruvan oruvanu kay nee nadi pola odikondiru" Vaali's song echoing then ..it was Vineet ..dancing among the HCLities...moving all around the hall, trying to reach every one. People clapping, shouting, whistling...the best moment people realised at HCL - totally impressed with the dance - were we seeing a professional I wondered so nice was his steps to the tune of the song played
Music stops. He starts his talks.
'Did you enjoy???'
'Yeeeeeeeeeesssssss!!!!'
'Did you like my dance?' ;)
'Once more, once more'
'Ok! but you will have to dance with me'
Again, loud Music. Same song played ..people leaving their seats and rushing to him...every HCLite had a broad smile on their face.
Music stops. Everybody back to seat.
Wow!!! it was so wonderfu and facinating!!!!!!!
After getting everybody in a good and energetic mood,he starts talking. He talked about video. Discussed thoughts he had presented.
What we liked, what we didn't like..everybody was free to speak. And then came the most interesting part: QnA session...where anybody and everybody could ask him any question...
It went on for around 1.1/2 hours...our CEO, with us, for us, ready to talk, ready to share, ready to answer, ready to admit and share his mistakes, make others learn from them - a rare trait and practice perhaps the world over a CEO spending time with his employees
Good news were shared, bad news were also not left behind either. Still, those few hours were really the WOW hours for all HCLites.
Who would have ever thought that employees will have the strategy planning told not by their managers ..but directly by the CEO?
Who would have ever thought that the CEO will come in person to talk and share with you?
Who would have ever thought that your CEO would be interested in talking and much less listening to you?
MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR THAT CURRENT CONCERNS FOR THE INDUSTRY ARE
THE BUSINESS TREND
DOLLAR WEAKENING AGAINST RUPEE
CURRENT FRESHERS ATTITUDE
MANAGERS' DEPORTMENT AND EFFICIENCY
SACRIFICES ONE HAS TO UNDERGO IN CURRENT TURBULENT TIME
TO MENTION A FEW
THAT IS THE EVER FASINATING VINEET NAYAR THE CEO OF HCL - HAIL THEE!!!!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
தசாவதாரம் - விமர்சனம்
Following is the review in thamiz, of the KAMAL starrer Dasavatharam by my friend BALA who blogs at தமிழ் உலா - என்றென்றும் அன்புடன் பாலா . Pl. read on.
*********************************
ரங்கராஜன் நம்பி - My 2 cents!
எனது முந்தைய பதிவில் அம்முவின் விமர்சனத்தின் தொடர்ச்சியாக, எனது சின்ன மகளிடம் (6 வயது), 'படம் பிடித்ததா?' என்று கேட்டேன். அவள், "படத்தில 2 கமல் தானே ... சயிண்டிஸ்ட் கமல், கோயில்ல சண்டை போடற கமல் .. வராங்க, மீதி கமல் எல்லாம் எங்கே போனாங்க?" என்று ஒரு சூப்பர் கேள்வி கேட்டாள் :) நான் மற்ற 8 வேடங்களில் கமல் வருவது பற்றி விவரித்தபோது, "மத்த கமல் எல்லாம் பார்க்க ஏம்பா கார்ட்டூன் மாதிரி இருக்காங்க?" என்று இன்னொரு கேள்வி கேட்கவே, நான் அப்பீட் :)
My 2 cents: இணையத்தில் பலவகையான விமர்சனங்களை வாசித்து விட்டதால், உலகத்தரமான படத்தை எல்லாம் எதிர்பார்த்துச் செல்லவில்லை என்ற டிஸ்கியோடு தொடங்குகிறேன்! தசா ஒரு நல்ல மசாலா படம் என்று நிச்சயம் கூறமுடியும். Real Good Entertainer ! "சிவாஜி" பெட்டரா, "தசா" பெட்டரா என்று (ரஜினி ரசிகனான) என்னிடம் கேட்டால், என் பதில் ... No comments;) இதே படம், ஹாலிவுட்டில் எடுக்கப்பட்ட ஓர் ஆங்கிலப் படமாக இருந்திருந்தால், அதன் concept மற்றும் 10 வேடங்களுக்கு சிலாகிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும், நமது அடிமை மெண்டாலிட்டி அப்படிப்பட்டது :(
பிரம்மாண்டத்தை பிரம்மாண்டத்துடன் ஒப்பிட வேண்டும்! அந்த வகையில் சங்கரின் பல குப்பைகளை (சிவாஜி, இந்தியன் தவிர!) விட, தசா பரவாயில்லை என்று தான் கூறுவேன். இப்படி ஒப்பிடுவதை விடுத்து, சுப்ரமணியபுரத்துடனும், பருத்தி வீரனுடனும் ஒப்பிடுவது சரியான அணுகுமுறை கிடையாது! கமலின் சிறந்த நடிப்பைப் பார்க்க பலப்பல உத்தமமான படங்கள் (ராஜபார்வை, மூன்றாம் பிறை, நாயகன், ஹேராம், தேவர் மகன், குணா, குருதிப்புனல், மகாநதி, தெனாலி, அன்பே சிவம் ...) நமக்காக காத்திருக்கின்றன. மேலும், இந்தப் படத்திற்கு இவ்வளவு பணத்தைக் கொட்டியிருக்க வேண்டுமா போன்ற கேள்விகளுக்குள் செல்வதில் எந்த அர்த்தமும் இருப்பதாகத் தோன்றவில்லை!
கமலின் நடிப்பு, குறிப்பாக பல்ராம் மற்றும் வின்செண்ட் வேடங்களில் சூப்பர். வின்செண்ட் பாத்திரப் படைப்பில் ஒரு எழவு (நுண்)அரசியலும் இருப்பதாகத் தோன்றவில்லை! பத்து வேடங்களும் வித்தியாசமாகத் தெரிய வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக, மேக்கப் சற்று அத்து மீறியதில், ஒரு வித 'ஒட்ட வைத்த' செயற்கைத்தனம் இருந்தது உண்மை தான் என்றாலும், பாத்திரத்திற்கு ஏற்ற பேச்சு வழக்கை அனுசரிப்பதில் கமலுக்கு இணை யாரும் கிடையாது. ஒன்றுமே இல்லாத புஷ் வேடத்தில் கூட , புஷ்ஷின் சின்னச்சின்ன மேனரிஸங்களை வெளிக் கொணர்ந்ததில், கமலின் நுண்ணிய கவனமும், உழைப்பும் தெரிகிறது.
ஒப்பனையும், தொழில்நுட்பமும் வளராத காலகட்டத்தில், தனது நடிப்பால் மட்டுமே 9 வேடங்களிலும் வித்தியாசம் காட்டிய 'நவராத்திரி' சிவாஜி, ஞாபகத்திற்கு வந்தது என்னவோ உண்மை தான்! அது போலவே, கமல் தானே பத்து வேடங்களிலும் நடிக்காமல், சிலவற்றை தாரை வார்த்துக் கொடுத்திருந்தால், இவ்வளவு கடுமையான விமர்சனங்கள் வந்திருக்காது என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.
தசாவின் 12-ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுக் காட்சிகளின் பிரம்மாண்டம், ஆங்கிலப்படங்களுக்கு இணையானது. கமல் நாத்திகராக இருந்தாலும், தசாவின் பத்து வேடங்களில் ரங்கராஜன் நம்பி என்ற ஆத்திக வைணவர் வேடம் தான் அவருக்கு சிறப்பாகப் பொருந்துகிறது :) சாரு தனது விமர்சனத்தில், கோயிலில் இறைசேவை செய்யும் வைணவர் இப்படித்தான் புஜ பராக்கிரமத்துடன் இருந்திருப்பாரா என்று சந்தேகப்படுவது போல் படாமல் இருந்தால், அக்காட்சிகளை ரசிக்க முடியும்! பக்தி உணர்வு உள்ளவர்களுக்கு சிலிர்ப்பு தரும் காட்சிகள் அவை. கமல் "சாந்தாகாரம், புஜகசயனம் ..." என்று சொல்லும்போது எனக்கு மெய் சிலிர்த்தது!
வைணவத்தில், பரந்தாமனின் அடியாரைப் பணிவது, பரமனைப் பணிவதைக் காட்டிலும் உயர்ந்ததாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது! அந்த சிறிய விஷயத்தைக் கூட கவனத்தில் கொண்டு, ரங்கராஜ நம்பியை மூலவர் சிலையுடன் கட்டி கடலுக்கு இட்டுச் செல்லும்போது, பல்லாண்டு பாடும் வைணவர்கள், ஒருவர் தோள் மேல் ஒருவர் ஏறி, (மூலவரின் திருவடியைப் பற்றி வணங்காமல்!) ரங்கராஜன் நம்பியின் திருவடியைப் பற்றி வணங்குவதை காட்சியில் கொணர்ந்திருக்கும் செயல் வியப்பை வரவழைத்தது!
அதே சமயம், கேயாஸ் தியரி, பட்டர்ஃபிளை எஃபெக்ட் பற்றியெல்லாம சிந்திக்கக் கூட தமிழ் சினிமாவில் ஆள் இருக்கிறாரே என்று சாரு போலவெல்லாம என்னால் சிலாகிக்க முடியவில்லை;-)
தமிழ் கூறும் நல்லுலகில் உலவும் அறிவுஜீவிகள், கமர்ஷியலாக தோல்வி அடையும் படங்களை மட்டுமே "நல்ல" படங்கள் என்று ஒத்துக் கொள்வது, சிலாகித்துப் பேசுவதும் ஏன் என்று புரியவில்லை! கமர்ஷியலாக வெற்றி அடையும் திரைப்படங்களில் எந்த வகையிலும் நடிப்புக்கு scope-ஏ கிடையாது என்று மறுத்துப் பேசுவது சரியாகாது.
தசாவை தமிழ் சினிமாவின் மைல்கல் என்றெல்லாம் கூற மாட்டேன்! அதே நேரத்தில், தசா போன்ற திரைப்படங்களால் தமிழ் சினிமாவுக்கு பின்னடைவு / ஆபத்து என்று நண்பர் சுரேஷ் கண்ணனுக்கு இணையாக கெட்டிக்காரத்தனமாக வாதாட எனக்கு சரக்கு போதாது :)
So much money has been spent for this movie but the END justifies the MEANS.
எ.அ.பாலா
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ரங்கராஜன் நம்பி - My 2 cents!
எனது முந்தைய பதிவில் அம்முவின் விமர்சனத்தின் தொடர்ச்சியாக, எனது சின்ன மகளிடம் (6 வயது), 'படம் பிடித்ததா?' என்று கேட்டேன். அவள், "படத்தில 2 கமல் தானே ... சயிண்டிஸ்ட் கமல், கோயில்ல சண்டை போடற கமல் .. வராங்க, மீதி கமல் எல்லாம் எங்கே போனாங்க?" என்று ஒரு சூப்பர் கேள்வி கேட்டாள் :) நான் மற்ற 8 வேடங்களில் கமல் வருவது பற்றி விவரித்தபோது, "மத்த கமல் எல்லாம் பார்க்க ஏம்பா கார்ட்டூன் மாதிரி இருக்காங்க?" என்று இன்னொரு கேள்வி கேட்கவே, நான் அப்பீட் :)
My 2 cents: இணையத்தில் பலவகையான விமர்சனங்களை வாசித்து விட்டதால், உலகத்தரமான படத்தை எல்லாம் எதிர்பார்த்துச் செல்லவில்லை என்ற டிஸ்கியோடு தொடங்குகிறேன்! தசா ஒரு நல்ல மசாலா படம் என்று நிச்சயம் கூறமுடியும். Real Good Entertainer ! "சிவாஜி" பெட்டரா, "தசா" பெட்டரா என்று (ரஜினி ரசிகனான) என்னிடம் கேட்டால், என் பதில் ... No comments;) இதே படம், ஹாலிவுட்டில் எடுக்கப்பட்ட ஓர் ஆங்கிலப் படமாக இருந்திருந்தால், அதன் concept மற்றும் 10 வேடங்களுக்கு சிலாகிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும், நமது அடிமை மெண்டாலிட்டி அப்படிப்பட்டது :(
பிரம்மாண்டத்தை பிரம்மாண்டத்துடன் ஒப்பிட வேண்டும்! அந்த வகையில் சங்கரின் பல குப்பைகளை (சிவாஜி, இந்தியன் தவிர!) விட, தசா பரவாயில்லை என்று தான் கூறுவேன். இப்படி ஒப்பிடுவதை விடுத்து, சுப்ரமணியபுரத்துடனும், பருத்தி வீரனுடனும் ஒப்பிடுவது சரியான அணுகுமுறை கிடையாது! கமலின் சிறந்த நடிப்பைப் பார்க்க பலப்பல உத்தமமான படங்கள் (ராஜபார்வை, மூன்றாம் பிறை, நாயகன், ஹேராம், தேவர் மகன், குணா, குருதிப்புனல், மகாநதி, தெனாலி, அன்பே சிவம் ...) நமக்காக காத்திருக்கின்றன. மேலும், இந்தப் படத்திற்கு இவ்வளவு பணத்தைக் கொட்டியிருக்க வேண்டுமா போன்ற கேள்விகளுக்குள் செல்வதில் எந்த அர்த்தமும் இருப்பதாகத் தோன்றவில்லை!
கமலின் நடிப்பு, குறிப்பாக பல்ராம் மற்றும் வின்செண்ட் வேடங்களில் சூப்பர். வின்செண்ட் பாத்திரப் படைப்பில் ஒரு எழவு (நுண்)அரசியலும் இருப்பதாகத் தோன்றவில்லை! பத்து வேடங்களும் வித்தியாசமாகத் தெரிய வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக, மேக்கப் சற்று அத்து மீறியதில், ஒரு வித 'ஒட்ட வைத்த' செயற்கைத்தனம் இருந்தது உண்மை தான் என்றாலும், பாத்திரத்திற்கு ஏற்ற பேச்சு வழக்கை அனுசரிப்பதில் கமலுக்கு இணை யாரும் கிடையாது. ஒன்றுமே இல்லாத புஷ் வேடத்தில் கூட , புஷ்ஷின் சின்னச்சின்ன மேனரிஸங்களை வெளிக் கொணர்ந்ததில், கமலின் நுண்ணிய கவனமும், உழைப்பும் தெரிகிறது.
ஒப்பனையும், தொழில்நுட்பமும் வளராத காலகட்டத்தில், தனது நடிப்பால் மட்டுமே 9 வேடங்களிலும் வித்தியாசம் காட்டிய 'நவராத்திரி' சிவாஜி, ஞாபகத்திற்கு வந்தது என்னவோ உண்மை தான்! அது போலவே, கமல் தானே பத்து வேடங்களிலும் நடிக்காமல், சிலவற்றை தாரை வார்த்துக் கொடுத்திருந்தால், இவ்வளவு கடுமையான விமர்சனங்கள் வந்திருக்காது என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.
தசாவின் 12-ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுக் காட்சிகளின் பிரம்மாண்டம், ஆங்கிலப்படங்களுக்கு இணையானது. கமல் நாத்திகராக இருந்தாலும், தசாவின் பத்து வேடங்களில் ரங்கராஜன் நம்பி என்ற ஆத்திக வைணவர் வேடம் தான் அவருக்கு சிறப்பாகப் பொருந்துகிறது :) சாரு தனது விமர்சனத்தில், கோயிலில் இறைசேவை செய்யும் வைணவர் இப்படித்தான் புஜ பராக்கிரமத்துடன் இருந்திருப்பாரா என்று சந்தேகப்படுவது போல் படாமல் இருந்தால், அக்காட்சிகளை ரசிக்க முடியும்! பக்தி உணர்வு உள்ளவர்களுக்கு சிலிர்ப்பு தரும் காட்சிகள் அவை. கமல் "சாந்தாகாரம், புஜகசயனம் ..." என்று சொல்லும்போது எனக்கு மெய் சிலிர்த்தது!
வைணவத்தில், பரந்தாமனின் அடியாரைப் பணிவது, பரமனைப் பணிவதைக் காட்டிலும் உயர்ந்ததாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது! அந்த சிறிய விஷயத்தைக் கூட கவனத்தில் கொண்டு, ரங்கராஜ நம்பியை மூலவர் சிலையுடன் கட்டி கடலுக்கு இட்டுச் செல்லும்போது, பல்லாண்டு பாடும் வைணவர்கள், ஒருவர் தோள் மேல் ஒருவர் ஏறி, (மூலவரின் திருவடியைப் பற்றி வணங்காமல்!) ரங்கராஜன் நம்பியின் திருவடியைப் பற்றி வணங்குவதை காட்சியில் கொணர்ந்திருக்கும் செயல் வியப்பை வரவழைத்தது!
அதே சமயம், கேயாஸ் தியரி, பட்டர்ஃபிளை எஃபெக்ட் பற்றியெல்லாம சிந்திக்கக் கூட தமிழ் சினிமாவில் ஆள் இருக்கிறாரே என்று சாரு போலவெல்லாம என்னால் சிலாகிக்க முடியவில்லை;-)
தமிழ் கூறும் நல்லுலகில் உலவும் அறிவுஜீவிகள், கமர்ஷியலாக தோல்வி அடையும் படங்களை மட்டுமே "நல்ல" படங்கள் என்று ஒத்துக் கொள்வது, சிலாகித்துப் பேசுவதும் ஏன் என்று புரியவில்லை! கமர்ஷியலாக வெற்றி அடையும் திரைப்படங்களில் எந்த வகையிலும் நடிப்புக்கு scope-ஏ கிடையாது என்று மறுத்துப் பேசுவது சரியாகாது.
தசாவை தமிழ் சினிமாவின் மைல்கல் என்றெல்லாம் கூற மாட்டேன்! அதே நேரத்தில், தசா போன்ற திரைப்படங்களால் தமிழ் சினிமாவுக்கு பின்னடைவு / ஆபத்து என்று நண்பர் சுரேஷ் கண்ணனுக்கு இணையாக கெட்டிக்காரத்தனமாக வாதாட எனக்கு சரக்கு போதாது :)
So much money has been spent for this movie but the END justifies the MEANS.
எ.அ.பாலா
LEHMAN EPISODE VS WARREN BUFFET- A LESSON
LATELY, I have been thinking a lot about the Lehman crisis . Spending money that they didn't have and going beyond their means is one of the main reasons for their situation today. In fact that is the cause for the current economic crisis in the US.
When I see all this happening, I can only remember the good old days. Then, karz was bad. People looked down upon those who took loans. Parents would not give their daughter's hand in marriage to a man with loans.
But of course, the times have changed now. Everyone I know has a loan. The buzz word is EMI (equated monthly installment). Today, you can buy everything on EMI - a house, a television, an i-Pod. In fact I know of someone who just bought a fancy BMW 3 series on EMI, instead of buying a cheaper car outright with cash. I mostly prefer to take public transport, but then I am an old man with old thoughts!
Anyway, coming back to what caused the crisis. Imagine having Rs 2 lakh in your bank account, no regular income, yet buying a house worth Rs 65 lakh, in the hope of selling it for a higher price. Even if the price of the house fell by just 5 per cent (that is Rs 3 lakh), you will go bankrupt. This is what Lehman Brothers did; with around USD 20 billion they went and bought assets worth over USD 600 billion. Isn't it suicidal and simply foolish?
I am sure things would have been different, had I been the head of Lehman brothers. But who wants an old conservative man like me to head a complex financial institution.
But there are a few lessons that we can learn:
1. Live a balanced life and avoid overspending.
Tip: As soon as you get your monthly salary, set aside a fixed amount, usually 35 per cent, for insurance, savings and investments. You can then spend the rest.
2. Not all loans are bad. Loans that are 'need based' (home loans, education loans) can always find a place in your finances against those that are largely 'want based' (personal loans, car loans).
3. Borrow only if repayment is financially comfortable.
A thumb rule: Keep EMIs within 30 per cent of your monthly income
In that respect, there is one American who I really respect – Warren Buffet. He has lived in the same ordinary house for over three decades, drives his own medium sized car and leads an extremely regular 'middle class' life. If that's all it takes for the richest person on earth to be happy, why do all of us need to take extra stress just so that we can get things which aren't even essential?
India still has a lot of growth ahead and the future holds immense opportunities for us. Let us make the most of it and save and invest it wisely instead of wasting our precious little on things we don't need.
When I see all this happening, I can only remember the good old days. Then, karz was bad. People looked down upon those who took loans. Parents would not give their daughter's hand in marriage to a man with loans.
But of course, the times have changed now. Everyone I know has a loan. The buzz word is EMI (equated monthly installment). Today, you can buy everything on EMI - a house, a television, an i-Pod. In fact I know of someone who just bought a fancy BMW 3 series on EMI, instead of buying a cheaper car outright with cash. I mostly prefer to take public transport, but then I am an old man with old thoughts!
Anyway, coming back to what caused the crisis. Imagine having Rs 2 lakh in your bank account, no regular income, yet buying a house worth Rs 65 lakh, in the hope of selling it for a higher price. Even if the price of the house fell by just 5 per cent (that is Rs 3 lakh), you will go bankrupt. This is what Lehman Brothers did; with around USD 20 billion they went and bought assets worth over USD 600 billion. Isn't it suicidal and simply foolish?
I am sure things would have been different, had I been the head of Lehman brothers. But who wants an old conservative man like me to head a complex financial institution.
But there are a few lessons that we can learn:
1. Live a balanced life and avoid overspending.
Tip: As soon as you get your monthly salary, set aside a fixed amount, usually 35 per cent, for insurance, savings and investments. You can then spend the rest.
2. Not all loans are bad. Loans that are 'need based' (home loans, education loans) can always find a place in your finances against those that are largely 'want based' (personal loans, car loans).
3. Borrow only if repayment is financially comfortable.
A thumb rule: Keep EMIs within 30 per cent of your monthly income
In that respect, there is one American who I really respect – Warren Buffet. He has lived in the same ordinary house for over three decades, drives his own medium sized car and leads an extremely regular 'middle class' life. If that's all it takes for the richest person on earth to be happy, why do all of us need to take extra stress just so that we can get things which aren't even essential?
India still has a lot of growth ahead and the future holds immense opportunities for us. Let us make the most of it and save and invest it wisely instead of wasting our precious little on things we don't need.
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