Sunday, October 19, 2008

Why it's more difficult for an Indian to start a startup?

I was talking to somebody yesterday, who recently returned from US, and he said that he expects to see more startups in India than in US, because it is so damn easier to survive here without earning.
That comment brought back to me something that happened on the last day of my job... I was retuning back in office sumo, and I saw people lined up for buses. I saw the typical long shirts wore on saggy pants, faces tanned by having to roam around in intense sunlight, and the sweat... I had the feeling I had when I talked to my parents about my decision to leave my cozy job. The feeling of being "ungrateful".
Our parents never saw jobs that paid you so well, appreciated your work, and also gave you a raise every year! They are the jobs that separates you from all those people standing in the queue. People in the US never have to see those queues, so they do not realize what they are being protected from.
In Indian minds, the fear of falling back into that line is greater than the desire of being above it.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Chanakya series

We are watching the "Chanakya" series these days, borrowed from a friend. I used to like the serial when I was young, and it used to play on DD. But after some episodes it grew too complicated for me, that time. (I still watched it though).

Now that I am watching it again (almost half way through), I am amazed at how thoughtfully it has been made! I do not remember any other Indian serial made with so genuine thought and research. Chanakya is one of the very few Indian serials made on "history", and is one of the better ones (One other that I can remember which might be worth watching again is "Tipu Sultan"). Surprising, that none came up in last decade or so! The "soaps" ate them all!

The writer of "Chanakya" has done an incredible job. I am always fearful of speeches, but even a long speech by "Chandragupta" in Chanakya could keep both of us engaged. There is just enough drama. Though, you might find the cinematography, direction, and acting a little weak, and sometimes the speeches about "Rashtriya Gaurav" get way too repetitive, but the overall story and dialogues almost make up for it. The sets are absolutely wonderful. They are not jazzy like that of Mahabharat and Ramayana, which actually make them look much more realistic.

Overall, completely worth watching, may be worth buying, or gifting to somebody you feel will appreciate it (please do not forget your worthy friend ;) )