A Writer's Room

5 Reasons why The Kashmir Files was a blockbuster even before its release

2022-03-16T00:27:00.003+05:30

Just four days after its release, The Kashmir File has become a rage. It is moving and uniting Indian youth like never before. The gory and inhumane crime committed against Kashmiri Pandits who were targeted for their faith in the valley is crunching big numbers at the box office, emerging as the most successful movie of the post-pandemic landscape.

However, in this blog, I will not bore you with the reasons why The Kashmir File has become the phenomenon it is today. Instead, I will tell you the reasons why the movie was an enormous success even before its release. Let's dive into it.

1: The untold story and original content

The horrific crime committed against the Kashmiri Pandit community has never been depicted in any movie that has been made on Kashmir so far. Films like Lamha, Haider, and Mission Kashmir briefly talk about the political reality of the valley but don't mention the huge mass-killings of a community after the partition of India. Haider that's set at the same time when Kashmir Pandits were still leaving the valley didn't even mention a word about the lost cultural Hindu heritage. And films like Mission Kashmir even romanticized and justified terrorism. The Kashmir files did enter a territory no filmmaker was daring to get into. Since the subject and the content of the film was different, it was bound to be appreciated by the youth of the country that has been cracking for hard-hitting, realistic cinema that has not been portrayed on

2: Political leaning to the right

Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Goa, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh declared the film tax-free quite early. This means the film has been exempted from taxation in these states and the ticket price of the movie has gone significantly down, making it affordable for lower-middle-class youth. And, this explains the flood of people coming into the theatre. Given the fact that the movie was based on Kashmiri Pandit and often talks about Article 370 - something the BJP government has always been passionate about, the film was supposed to be tax-free in leading BJP-ruled states even before its release.

3: Optimized shotting cost and no stars

Given the movie had no expensive cast, the film managed to be made within a tight budget. Bot only cast, but all technicians on the film were either newcomers or ones rarely given chance. However, at the same time, the film included several national award winners that gave it the credibility of a well-acted film, right after its trailer dropped on YouTube. With a small budget, the film was expected to break even in just a few days anyway.

4: Strategic, NO cost promotions

We all know how big producers pump crores into promoting their films; The Kashmir Files did not strategically do that. The filmmaker, Vivek Agnihotri, gave interviews to influencers that had immense reach rather than appearing in shows to promote the show. In addition to this, Vivek Agnihotri also released several videos of the audience from the trial shows getting emotional after watching the film on social media platforms. This created momentum online and made the film the most anticipated movie of the year on IMDB, way before its release.

5: Released at the best time

Luckily, the film came in right after BJP's big win in four politically important states. Given the youth of the country was already in the election mood, The Kashmir Files only pumped BJP supporters to flood the theatres and helped them express that they stood by the pro-BJP candidates in the recent poll.

Have you watched the movie yet? If yes, what is your memorable The Kashmir Files scene? Let us know in the comments.

Kettlebell vs. Dumbbell: Which one wins the Battle?

2017-07-30T21:30:00.000+05:30

Fitness enthusiasts can’t stop talking about Kettlebells: a new trend in weight lifting. Creating a corner in almost every gym, some even argue that Kettlebells are better for body sculpting than traditional free weights. Does that make Kettlebells better than dumbbells? Let’s find out:

Dumbbells: Ideal for Isometric Exercise

Dumbbells are comparatively inexpensive and can be used to tone up almost every muscle in our body. They are used for basic lifting movements (with exercises such as bicep curls, chest press) and are perfect for isolating one muscle group at once. That’s not it; they are also great for adding weight to basic exercises like squats and lunges.

Kettlebell: Perfect for full body movement

For a weight loss workout, Kettlebell could be precisely what you need. Most of Kettlebell exercises work on many muscle groups simultaneously. For instance Kettlebell Swing includes shoulders, abdominals, hip flexors, quadriceps, gluteus and hamstrings, all at the same time. From repetition to repetition your heart rate goes up and you get that cardiovascular endurance.

A Quick Comparison

Your choice of workout depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Dumbbell helps you bulk up and target specific muscles while Kettlebell brings groups of muscles into the action and adds a cardio component to your workout. Holding the dumbbell lets you focus on a single muscle group. Doing the same exercise with a Kettlebell requires a bit more work. Thus, if building bigger muscles is your goal, dumbbells are a better choice. But, if building strength and muscle power is your preference, go for Kettlebells.

Dumbbell sits nicely in the hand while gripping Kettlebell can be a little more challenging for exercises except Kettlebell swinging. You can do swing exercises with dumbbells, but you can't replicate many dumbbell exercises with Kettlebells safely. Therefore, having someone at your gym to guide you on Kettlebells exercises is recommended to avoid injuries.

The Dumbbell is balanced workout equipment, weighted alike on each side. This offers stability in a workout, giving you more control of the movements than Kettlebell. On the other hand, Kettlebells allow training across body planes. Also, Kettlebell improves Functional Strength- a strength that is applicable in everyday life situations.

The Final Verdict

Kettlebells and Dumbbells can be used interchangeably for some exercises, such as lateral raises or bicep curls. Still, they are quite different. They target your muscles differently, work them differently. Therefore, you don't have to replace one for the other; adding both to your workout regimen can give you a balanced approach to look super-fit.

Is IT layoffs a bad news for residential realty?

2017-06-30T12:16:00.003+05:30

As per an estimate, India’s Information Technology (IT) sector will see around 1.75 lakh to 2 lakh* annual job losses in the next three years. The biggest challenge ahead for the industry will be retaining 50-60 percent of its workforce after a significant shift in technologies. Analysing such figures, about five to six lakh people will become redundant due to artificial intelligence in the next three years.

Real estate and IT economy
For the last twenty years, IT has been one of the largest employment generators in the country. As per an estimate, the sector along with Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) employ close to four million people in over 16,000 companies.

IT professionals, aged between 30 and 40 years, usually earn 20 to 60 lakh each year, forming an average of 17 percent# of the population across leading tech cities of Bangalore, Hyerbadad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Gurgaon and Noida. Many of these professionals are prospective homebuyers who set aside huge savings to make down-payments for a property purchase. Mostly, their choice of homes is mid-premium housing projects.

Possible impact
Dip in residential demand across IT hubs: With job loss predictions across IT hubs, the demand for mid-segment residential properties across Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Noida could be adversely impacted.

As Bangalore and Pune rely the most on IT majors for not only job creation but also to drive office space consumption and residential demand, these markets are expected to feel the heat first. As per a report by JLL India, the IT population in Bangalore alone is around two lakh. The biggest buyer category in the city, IT employees, has contributed close to 45 percent of the total project launches in the last five years.
Decreased commercial absorption: The loss of jobs is expected to have a ripple effect on all real estate segments. With lesser headcounts in IT majors, the need for ‘Grade A’ offices, retail spaces and industrial properties will be reduced by an equal or greater amount. Subleases, reduced rents and increased vacancy levels of commercial office spaces can be expected in major IT hubs of Pune and Bangalore.

Emerging IT cities to suffer as well: Increased automation in leading IT enterprises could have a negative impact, even in emerging markets like Navi Mumbai and Coimbatore. Recently fueled by the final bid for the International Airport (which led to a 16-17 percent increment in total registrations within a fortnight), residential sales in Navi Mumbai may take a back seat for a while as the IT professionals make up at least 30 percent of the buyer base in the satellite city.

Investors to adopt 'wait and watch' approach: Even if fewer job losses get reported, the news of expected workforce cuts could intimidate short-term investors who are expected to adopt ‘wait and watch’ policy in aforesaid markets.

Diluted buyer sentiment in other metros: Kolkata and Ahmedabad’s IT sectors are smaller compared to major tech cities; however, they may feel the heat of the IT meltdown. Even if no major job cuts are expected in these cities, the threat of it could be enough to rattle buyer’s confidence, pushing them to delay big-ticket acquisitions like a home.

What does the future hold?

With a chunk of consumers coming under serious threat of job loss, there is a possibility that mid-premium residential sector, which was already hit badly by the Centre’s demonetisation drive, may take a few more quarters to recover. Industry experts feel that due to job insecurity in the sector, prospective homebuyers who were thinking of investing in holiday homes or commercial space may choose to skip buying property till 2020.

However, many experts believe that the prediction does not warrant such panic. Driven by the union government’s thrust for affordable housing under the Prime Minister Aawas Yojana (PMAY), lower interest rates are expected to push the sales of residential units and nullify the layoff aftermath in the future.

* As per an executive search firm 'Head Hunters India Click'

# As per a report by JLL India

An Easy Guide to Men’s Wardrobe Maintenance

2017-05-14T15:52:00.002+05:30

Properly maintained clothes always look better than neglected expensive clothing. Sadly the idea of ironing, brushing, and repairing clothes is a foreign concept to many Indian men. Well-made garments can last for decades, and trust me protecting your wardrobe costs much less than buying replacement clothing every few years. This blog is all about the care required to maintain your clothing and footwear for decades.

Organize Your Closet
The wardrobe is not a piece of furniture, but a tool to organize your clothes. The key to deal with limited space is rotating clothing. If you are not going to wear something for next few months, fold it, pack it and store it. As a thumb rule, maintain at least half inch space between garments for airflow and ease of selection. You can arrange clothes by colours; organize them by category or hang them according to days too.

Get them cleaned
Notice a stain on your shirt? Spot clean at home against sending it to the dry cleaner (unless something is strictly dry-cleanable). Each garment has a set life span and dry cleaning unnecessarily shortens its life. Let the garment sit in a small tub of water for a few minutes and apply a right amount of detergent to spot clean. Beware of overdoing it though. In spring, when you plan on storing your woolens, wash them first. If you suspect any moth infestation, send them to the dry cleaners to get them cleaned. Clean the area where the clothing has been kept with an anti-bacterial spray.

Know How to Iron Clothes
Although non-iron fabrics are quite popular, they fail to appeal as much as freshly pressed ones. Iron pressed clothes not only look sharp, but they also add to the complete package of a well-dressed man.
Read the clothing labels and symbols before you put your clothes to iron test. Once iron is ready, turn your clothes inside out. Start with the collar and cuffs on a shirt; in case of the trousers, begin with the waistband. Start at a low temperature, and then go higher with cotton. As for wool, never let the iron touch the wool. Use a layer of cotton instead. Don’t forget to ensure that the base of the iron is clean.

Brush your Suits and Trousers
Proper wardrobe maintenance requires discipline. All it takes is 30 seconds. Use a clean double-sided brush to clean your clothes after each wearing. Brushing your trousers or suit jacket after each wear is an excellent practice to remove the dirt and food bits that attract insects. A clothing brush also takes care of dried up stains.

What else you need?
Apart from a double-sided brush, there are a few other must-haves that can be used as an arsenal for men’s wardrobe maintenance.
Wire hangers can permanently damage your clothing, especially woolen. Spend a little extra and purchase Wooden Hangers.
If you want to get more than a couple years out of your leather shoes, Wooden Shoe Tree is a mandatory purchase. They preserve the shape of the shoe and prevent the leather from premature cracking.
A Fabric Shaver sounds like a boring investment, but trust me, it’s definitely worth it. Ignore anyone who tells you to use a razor to remove lint; it can be too aggressive and might accidentally tear your favorite shirt.

Is Science overtaking the Art of Selling?

2017-03-10T17:27:00.001+05:30

There has been a constant debate whether a good salesman is born or made. There are steady discussions whether selling is an art or science. Some would argue that a good salesman is more scientific in his approach while others would say that he is more artistic. What if both arguments are correct? What if he could be artistic one day and scientific on other?

I will introduce two styles here: one - Opportunity Focused and another Relationship Focused. The opportunity-focused interaction is where the salesperson uses the science of selling (process driven) to create competitive advantage. Relational-focused selling leverages the salesperson’s ability to establish a connection with the client to win the sale, mostly driven by the art of selling (the art of conviction). The truth is that a good salesman recognizes and uses both these styles. He may be more comfortable with one over the other, yet he uses both in different degrees to suit the moment.

Just like a painter understands that there are specific strokes of different brushes and paints that produce a desired effect on canvas, an experienced salesperson also needs different tools and methods without which his art won’t go beyond his imaginings.

There are strong evidence behind this claim as major CRM Systems, marketing automation platforms and metric driven coaching have grown significantly over the past few years. This makes some believe that the social aspect of selling may soon be greatly reduced. This is rather supported by a research by Gartner, which found that, by 2020, up to 85% of customers will manage their relationships with a services provider without a human interaction. And, why should you believe this? As per a research, leads are 391% more likely to convert if they are called within one minute of interest expressed.

While metric based performance coaching and automation are vital to optimize sales, it doesn’t lead us to make a point that Selling is a science all alone. The value of the art of selling cannot be underestimated – let’s face it; at the end of the day, people want to buy from real people, not machines. Selling will never lose that human element, yet still, organizations can foster an empowering and engaging culture that also uses a metric driven technological tool such as CRM.

Flash mob - A new age Marketing tool

2017-03-07T18:09:00.000+05:30

One of the greatest challenges for any brand is getting people felt its presence. With big-budget advertising campaign, advertisers spend millions and millions on marketing. Even after such expenditure, expecting 100 % ROI is an imaginary affair. The answer to promote product and services in the limited budget is guerrilla marketing. One cost-effective way to do this is by organizing a flash mob event.

The flash mob began as more of a social experiment than a vehicle for marketing, but it was quickly recognized by large corporations because of popularity. Companies like T-Mobile and Coca-Cola have organized successful flash mob events, but the nature of a flash mob makes it an ideal tool for a small group that needs to promote something on a budget. Planning for a flash mob is fairly easy; however, the surprise element of the flash mob is where it has the greatest impact. Because dancing is all about promoting wellness, having fun and is a great stress reliever, it is a great idea to promote dancing via a flash mob. Dancing or doing aerobics not only help people maintain a healthy weight, but also make people happy.

In order for your flash mob event to go smoothly, participants need to know exactly what is happening, where, when, and what they are supposed to do. In such case the internet is the most valuable tool. An event can be created on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. You just need to make sure that you are active on your website too, responding to questions and provide frequent updates on the event. Posting in forums and chat rooms, sending out mass emails would help in forwarding the information. There are several different ways for you to organize and synchronize the event. A signal like blowing a whistle or just yelling a phrase to tell people when to begin might be a very great idea. By asking for only 15 minutes of people’s time and creating a simple dance routine, it is easy to gain enthusiasm and participation. It’s a good idea to bring collateral to let the bystanders know why this is happening, like a big poster or maybe flyers. Promoters can get creative in this area, do something that will get people interested and that they will remember.

The success of the flash mob that is a simple and low-cost idea, coupled with creativity and partnerships, can have a great impact. Because flash mobs garner a lot of attention, such activity can be covered extensively in the local media. Further, volunteers, including a videographer, camera people and a video editor, can shoot a video of the flash mob. The video can be posted on YouTube, and attention received for the video may get the brand a wider audience.

A Quick Guide to maintaining your Luxury Watch

2017-02-01T10:52:00.000+05:30

When one spends a fortune on a watch, it doesn’t remain just a watch. It becomes a memento, an investment that may break the bank but certainly be worth it in the end. Plunking down a heft load of cash for a timepiece means you want it to pass the test of time. That being said, you won’t like your beautiful watch to lose its sheen or stop functioning within a few years. Proper care and maintenance of your luxury watch can extend its life. Discover how in these 5 points:

Read Watch Manual carefully
All luxury watches come with an instruction manual, which includes instruction on watch care. Refer to your instruction manual to properly set your watch. Pay attention to what your watch can and cannot withstand. Also a take a quick note of do’s and don’ts mentioned in the manual.

Save it from water
Don’t expose your watch to water even if it is labeled as water resistant. Salt in water can cause corrosion, therefore, wipe it dry as soon as possible. Take your watch to an expert to have it looked over whenever it comes in contact with excessive water. A specialist should be able to tell you the extent of the damage.

Avoid extreme heat and cold
Avoid leaving your watch in excessive heat (above 40°C) or extreme cold (below 0°C) for extended periods of time. If a watch is kept at temperatures outside the normal range, the electronic components may cease to function normally. Remember, extreme heat tends to shorten the battery lifespan of a quartz watch while extreme cold can cause your watch to stop keeping time accurate.

Keep it away from chemicals

Avoid contact with any chemicals, solvents or gases. These items may cause deterioration, discoloration or other damage to your watch. Most luxury watches are also not made to survive strong electric fields or static electricity. Common household appliances don’t pose any threat to your watch, however. To avoid such exposure, keep your watch in widely available watch cases.

Get it serviced most often
The watch and its strap should be cleaned now and then. Though watches are small in size, they're exceptionally complicated like tiny machines, which is why they have to be cleaned thoughtfully and carefully. Take your watch to an expert on a regular basis to be serviced. Your manual may give you an idea as to how frequently you should do this.

Rugged Fashion - A New Language of Manliness

2017-01-29T23:44:00.000+05:30

Who is He?

For years, women have fallen for the Rugged Man. And, who can blame them; he is a man who embodies masculinity, a man who knows how to get things done. He is the explorer, the mountain man, the warrior and the cowboy.

From Cowboys to Hollywood Stars

It all started with the basic style worn by the working cowboy. This style evolved and became what we call Rugged Fashion now. Today, not only does 'the working man' wear rugged wear, but also many movie stars and larger than life heroes and just about everyone who wants to be a star but doesn’t want to conform.

A distressed jeans paired with leather boots is a perfect blend to let everyone discover your rough-round–the-edges side. Denim, leather, tweed, and rough weaves, rugged fashion is clearly inspired by hunters’ outfits that can survive nature’s abuse.

Keep it simple! What the rugged gentleman needs is something sturdy yet functional.

Wardrobe Essentials - #TheList

Leather Jacket: The leather jacket gives you a look of stylish ruggedness. The jacket can also be worn over a hand-knitted sweater to help keep the heat in. If you're wearing the jacket open, consider a belt with eye-catching buckle detail. You can also own:

Lined Western Jacket Denim Jacket with Borg Collar
Western Jacket with Borg Waxed Flight Jacket
Shearling Coat Wool-Blend Bomber Jacket

Knitwear: Rugged man needs as many layers of protection as he can get. High-quality and heavy, chunkier knits bump up the masculinity factor.

Shirts: While he is usually expected to stick to shirts with natural earthy tones, the rugged man can also slip into few patterns, particularly checks and plaids. Traditional hunting patterns like buffalo plaids and gun-club checks have a visual link to ruggedness.

Worn Out Jeans: A faded pair of jeans is a one shot jump to get a rugged look. One can even make your own rugged jeans. Get them stone washed and torn at the right places. If that feels like too much effort, buy one of these to give off rugged impression:

Mid wash jeans with rips Jeans with repair and patchwork
Tapered Jeans Slim-fit washed-denim
Hem ripped denim Regular-Fit Washed Denim

Trousers: Keep it simple! What the rugged gentleman needs is something sturdy yet functional that gives his ankle room to breathe. Trousers should be work-wear-inspired, in neutral or earth tones. Traditional fabrics are something you should adhere to.

Cargo pants and Chinos: Cargo pants (no shorts please!) are undoubtedly masculine. Chinos can also look rough and tough if you go for a dark pair.

Boots: Good shoes are for gentlemen, boots are for rugged men. Get some worn out boots out of the closet. Go for brown or other dark colors; the more basic and functional the better.

Accessories: The Rugged Man doesn’t wear excessive accessories. While there is limited use of accessories, leather wristbands can look pretty cool. Thick neck chains or rings of your favorite metal will also enhance machismo.

Scarf: A men's neck scarf with a loose checked shirt is the ultimate rugged look. Get a plain cotton scarf. It is the tying style that will make all the difference. An effortless knot to keep the sweat from trickling down- again functional and back to the basics. But remember never over do it!

Belt: Men have been wearing leather since they started wearing clothes. The leather was toughened by nature until it became man’s second skin. A leather belt with broad buckle is a must-have for the rugged look aspirants!

Watches: Many brands understand that watches can have a sense of rugged individualism. Analog watches with leather straps are definitely masculine and do look better on the arm than they do in the box ;)

Sunglasses: Aviators are for the man who makes no apologies for straight-forward selection in accessories. Dark grey lenses embody the full complexity of masculinity. In fact, wayfarers with wooden frame are both assertive and inviting as well!

Suspenders: Suspenders are one of the manliest things one man can own. Opt for suspenders made of leather over the ones made of elastics.

The Tricks

Go Traditional

Focus on traditional clothing: jeans, tweed or cotton trousers, flannel shirts, wool stocking caps; heavy wool coats or jackets, leather belts, suspenders and boots… all should have little-to-no patterns.

Don't go Dressy

Opt for the untucked look. Whichever statement piece you choose, don’t overdo it. Having a multi-zipped biker jacket is great, but pairing it with accordion panel trousers and buckled boots is even more important. Be careful with the colours. Feminine colours like Pink are absolute No-No. Go for darker tones of grey, black, blue and brown.

Fitting of Clothes

The key is to not look too sophisticated as rugged clothing is all about looking casual. Clothes shouldn’t be too tight nor too baggy; after all, you need clothes that show off your masculine physique too.

No Worries

It never needs to be perfect. Rugged clothing is casual; it’s not appropriate for business meetings but certainly, can be tried in campuses. One’s appearance is more rugged by allowing the wrinkles to take place. Embrace the holes, the wear and tear and even the minor damage.

Carve out a little ME TIME

2017-01-28T22:40:00.000+05:30

In today's fast paced world, everyone is running and chasing a deadline. Some days are so bad that you don’t even get enough time to have a proper meal. Unless you take some time-off to take a step back from the rush, you can feel overwhelmed. In today's constantly connected world, carving out a little ‘Time for YOU’ is an opportunity to recharge and empower yourself to beat stress while enjoying many physical and psychological benefits.

Busy working people often suffer from a guilty conscience when they take time out for themselves. Remember that everyone, including you, deserves breaks to beat stress and enjoy life to the fullest. It's not an indulgence, it's a necessity to take care of you and recharge your battery to get ready for another day, which will certainly be full of energy and enthusiasm.

Time spent relaxing on one’s own is seen as an opportunity to reduce stress or restore energy.

Your 'ME' time won't appear magically out of thin air; you will have to set a daily intention to find the time which is only and only yours, even if it's 10-15 minutes. It's best to chalk out your 'ME' time right in the morning as that would give you entire day to decide when is the right time to take a break. Planning a personal goal like will help you to have your own slice of life in next 24 hours. You should consciously make an effort to choose something that recharges your batteries in a meaningful way.

Intentionally choose an activity that you enjoy doing. Relax while enjoying a cup of your favorite beverage or listening to that favorite song. Take your pick from gardening, taking a walk amidst nature, reading your favorite author's recent novel, indulging in a pampering spa session, or taking a nice bath.

However, it doesn't necessarily mean that 'ME' time has to be a solitary activity. You may even select group activities like going on a walk in the neighborhood with friends, playing a game or volunteering for some activities at children's home if that gives you joy and a sense of fulfillment.

Your everyday life is peppered with career, family, work and relationships. Unless you step back and re-energize your body, mind and soul, you are bound to end up stressed and burned out, not to mention being affected by several diseases like high blood pressure, depression and heart diseases. So, stop being disapproving about yourself, go ahead and enjoy your quality 'ME' time.

All you need to know about Men’s Boots

2017-01-27T15:29:00.000+05:30

Boots are unquestionably the most popular men's footwear today. There was a time when they were supposed to be speciality footwear, worn only for wild outdoor adventures to protect men against harsh terrains. While such utility hasn’t faded away, they are now worn at all kinds of gatherings whether casual and formal. Boots come in many designs to fit every man’s taste. All you have to do is find a reliable online shoe store where a variety of options are available.

What can be worn with them?
There are fine lines of distinction deciding what type of boot can be worn with what kinds of clothes. Your pair of boots should match the material of your pants. The idea is to be attentive towards the slightest things when it comes to clothing and shoes. Jeans is probably one choice that will never let you down. Try to match the color of your shoes with the color of your belt and jacket to look cool.

What is Boot Cut all about?
For anything other than jeans, boot cut is an important factor to consider. There are three major boot cut categories - ankle length, calf length, and knee high boots. Think in terms of theme. You certainly cannot wear your calf length boots with your workplace suit. An ankle-length boot may be an ideal choice in such case. Most ankle-to-calf length boots, when paired with classic denim can give you a masculine, rugged yet relaxed look.

What works best with them?
Corduroy is one fabric that goes well with any type of boots. To get that the casual sporty look, wear a Corduroy pant with boots that have square or round toes, not pointed toes. As mentioned before, Jeans is an ideal choice for any type of boots. Woolens can also be worn with a variety of boots providing the style of the garment matches that of the boot. Tweed jackets and woolen sweaters can also be worn with boots to get a look that is somewhere in between elegant and sporty.

What are they made of?
The material used in boots can redefine how you look. Leather still gives you that classic look and works as a formal wear to the office. Suede boots could just do the trick for casual gatherings. If casual is what you like most of the times, then sports boot or a chukka style boot is what you all need. They look great with jeans as well as on casual trousers. Your other options for jeans are Zipper boots, Lace-up boots and pull-up boots.

How can you experiment with your look?
Tucking your denim into your boots is a stylish move. The trick is finding the right proportions. First, the jeans should be slim, not skintight; also the leg opening of the jeans should be narrow so it won’t come loose. Boots always look great with a pair of khaki trousers, perfect for going out. Try a casual chukka boot for that laid-back look.

Believe me, shoelaces also offer an opportunity to make a fashion statement. When lacing, stop a few lace holes from the top; pull the tongue. Now tie the laces behind the tongue in a standard bow. Tuck the bow down and push it behind the tongue of the boot. If this feels uncomfortable, try a different knot, or simply tuck the loose laces down inside the shoe to hide them. That will create a rakish yet authentic look.

Why India needs Zero Tolerance towards Counterfeits

2017-01-02T11:48:00.000+05:30

In last few years, the diversity of counterfeit goods has expanded drastically. No industry has been spared from its aggression. Right from handbags to health care supplies, counterfeiters have left no product category untouched. Buying fake products at lower prices has grown severely worldwide and can be seen as a serious threat to global economy.

India is not new to counterfeiting either. According to one FICCI report, Indian government incurred loss of INR 392 billion as a result of growing counterfeits in 2014. These illegally imported goods not only cause loss to the national exchequer but also force small and medium industries to suspend their operations thus affecting numerous families’ livelihood.

A report by the United States Trade Representative (USTR), too, names Nehru Place (New Delhi), Palika Bazaar (New Delhi), Lamington Road (Mumbai), Chandni Chowk (Kolkata) and Burma Bazaar (Chennai) as markets that need to be watched out for such high volume counterfeit trade. This throws some light on the present scenario of the counterfeit market and its spread throughout India.

How Brands get affected

This continuing problem poses threats to brand owners, retailers and definitely end users. Unlike counterfeit fashion and jewelry products, use of counterfeit automotive parts, drugs electric cords or pharmaceutical products may lead to physical or psychological damage. These products simply tarnish brand’s intangible assets by erosion of the equity, which leads to the loss of consumer’s trust and confidence in the company.

Why government needs to worry

Counterfeiting can certainly be labeled as an economic problem as it puts a nation’s economy at risk with no investments by multi-nationals due to unfair competition with counterfeited products.

Rapid diffusion of technology has improved the ability to produce duplicate products in an easy, quick, and inexpensive manner. This way, governments lose out on unpaid tax and incur large overheads in enforcing intellectual property rights. This is not it; there is also an increasing concern that counterfeiting may be linked to organized crime and terrorist activities. Take first bombing of World Trade Center (1993) for an example. The prime suspect of this bombing - Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman was among 20 alleged counterfeiters who sold fake t-shirts in New York and New Jersey area.

Due to rapidly growing counterfeiting crimes, companies and government need to seek different ways to deal with this issue, not only to prevent the losses but to also regain brand repute and consumer’s trust.

What makes Anti-Counterfeit Solutions effective

Someone rightly said – “Prevention is better than cure.” By investing in anti-counterfeiting solutions, brands can prevent manufacturing and selling of counterfeit products. Solutions like Security Holograms, Paper Security Labels, Holographic Transparent Laminate, Tax Stamps, and 3D Holographic Stickers empower brands and government to fight with this problem on grass root level.

These solutions help in maintaining the brand goodwill and prevent branded products from being replicated by any unauthorized party. Take 3D Holographic Stickers for an example, which are designed with 3D image of the brand that enforces product copyright, preventing imitation and replication. And, there is good news too. These solutions can be further customized to serve different client requirements.

The 5 Best Hindi Movies of 2016

2016-12-24T23:26:00.000+05:30

2016 was not 'so great', but a satisfying year for Indian Cinema. While there were big disappointments like Mohenjo Daro and Mirzya, a few experimental films like Dear Zindagi, Kahaani 2, Ki & Ka and Kapoor and Sons broke the mold of a conventional Bollywood film. With films like Parched, Sarabjit and Wazir, the industry witnessed different narratives and finally started recovering from that 'Dabangg' kind of cinema. Here are the best ones for you to watch again:

Neerja (February 2016)
Neerja is the 'perfect cut' in terms of editing; it is neither lengthy nor too short to do justice to the story of the youngest recipient of the Ashok Chakra Award. This is, indeed, the movie’s one of the strongest points along with direction and memorable performances by Shabana Azmi and Sonam Kapoor (yes, she finally arrived). Keeping the story revolving around Neerja Bhanot’s first and last flight, the movie never loses its grip. What sets the narrative apart is the presence of humanized characters. Ram Madhvani, the director of the movie, highlighted Neerja’s fear beautifully, which makes it more believable and relatable.

Aligarh (February 2016)

In my opinion, loneliness, vulnerability and emptiness have never been picturised this beautifully in any Indian film, other than Aligarh. Manoj Bajpai, who carried the film on his shoulders, made director Hansal Mehta’s job easy. The way he smiles hesitates or ever feels shy doesn’t let the audience pay attention to the supporting cast.

In spite of having a low production value, the film is shot beautifully. Cinematographer used the camera creatively which makes those 'no dialogue' scenes speak the volume. The writer Apurva Asrani weaves a true life story into a tapestry of terrifying, compelling drama. Dealing with the subject of homosexuality intelligently, Aligarh is certainly an important film for new-age Indian cinema.

(Order by Release Date) 1- Neerja, 2- Aligarh, 3- Udta Punjab, 4- Pink , 5- Dangal

Pink (September 2016)

Many people might disagree with me on this; the reason - a minority of the audience found it preachy. But, that is the beauty of Pink. The fast pace of the first half prepares the audience for the second half. After a long time, I was on edge of my seat to know what is going to happen next. Very crisp editing, non-dramatic dialogues and natural performances by all three leading ladies made Pink convey the fact that the gender inequality still exists in India, even in those progressive metropolitan suburbs. Needless to say, the best thing about Pink was Amitabh Bachchan's power packed performance who justified his bi-polar character in this hard-hitting courtroom drama.

Udta Punjab (June 2016)

The dark and twisted tale of a bunch of people whose lives are affected by drugs, Udta Punjab, addresses a nationwide problem with uncompromising screenplay and performances. The movie makes you so uncomfortable that you barely want to watch it again. And, that’s where director Abhishek Chaubey excelled. He succeeded in bringing those different and difficult characters to life and made the audience empathize with them without wanting to be like them. Thanks to their authentic performances; a little bit of Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Diljit Dosanjh and Satish Kaushik remain with you for few weeks.

Dangal (December 2016)

Dangal borrows its elements from the real-life Haryana wrestler who trained his daughters in the art of wrestling and turned them into winners. Thanks to Amir Khan’s effortless acting, you feel that Mahavir Singh Phogat lives right next to your door and you have seen him putting his daughter through that grueling training, every day.

The casting of Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Girish Kulkarni, Aparshakti Khurrana and Sanya Malhotra in different roles makes Dangal’s every bit believable. Not to forget, the movie slams misogyny in an entertaining manner.

One Month of Demonetization: Hyderabad Realty inches towards Recovery

2016-12-13T16:19:00.000+05:30

Witnessing political and economic crises before 2014, Hyderabad's realty market witnessed another low with the chaos over the demonetisation of currency notes. However, the state government’s plan to delay revising the market value of land and recent approvals of a few infrastructure projects restored the buyer’s trust and the real estate business in Hyderabad started showing the sign of recovery within one month of demonetisation.

Unlike Delhi and Mumbai, Hyderabad is not driven by investors, but endusers. As per the experts, the investor population for the market is not more than 10 percent. The city used to have at least 20 to 40 percent of real estate payments through cash before demonetisation, right from the purchase of land and raw material to the sale of built-up houses and `bribing' officials for obtaining necessary clearances. Hence, premium project developers who pump in a lot of cash into their ventures hit the panic button. Deals for luxury housing projects, especially villas and resale flats reported a major chunk of payments being made through cash. These transactions were badly hit, even if only temporarily.

Although some of the developers were worried about the slump in sales with the option to pay by cheques, Hyderabad was set for better times ahead. Many developers in the city used to lose a lot of business because they refused cash payments. However, with that option off the board, the industry started showing a sign of improvement in last a few days.

Prices of flats witnessed no variation but those of resale flats and open lands came down 10 to 15 percent. Purchase of plots in a few areas that fall under Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority such as Medchal, Gachibowli and Keesara (which witnessed great business before demonetisation) have hit a new low. A broker from the city confirms that. “Before demonetisation, I was receiving at least 100 enquiries per month, but during last month this number went down to 80. The most lost opportunity are from the resale and land market,” However, fearing a further dip in revenue from the property registrations stream, the state government has dropped the idea of revising market value for property registrations this year. The move is expected to revive a land buyer’s positive sentiment towards the city. The rental demand remained unaffected in the areas that enjoy direct connectivity with IT and Pharma hubs.

Future Outlook

According to a Cushman & Wakefield-Global report, Hyderabad is a prominent market that would be on investors’ radar, with the city expected to account for roughly 11 percent of the total under-construction Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)-eligible Indian projects over the next four years. This, along with news of approval of Mega City project and Pharma City (in the outskirts of Hyderabad), is going to have a positive reflection on future housing demand. With the roll out of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA) in 2017, the price of real estate is expected to marginally go up or at least remain unchanged with limited new project launches.

Cities which have multiple employment opportunities are the best options for homebuyers in the affordable segment. Thus, Hyderabad is expected to witness sustained demand for affordable housing projects in 3-4 quarters with no price correction. This is one of the reasons (other reasons being a limited number of project launches due to RERA and comparatively low inventory than other metros in the country) why developers are not expected to offer any special incentives to homebuyers as the city will not be flooded with distressed deals in the future.

Dealing with Creative People

2016-12-06T10:41:00.002+05:30

Managing a workforce of creative professionals requires a certain degree of sensitivity and individual skills. We all know how creative people have unique things that motivate and inspire them. Moody, erratic, eccentric, and arrogant, creative people are protective of their process and ideas. Therefore, suggesting a process or dealing with them must be done delicately. Luckily, there are a number of things that you can do to set creative direct reports up for success.

Identify traits of each individual with observing what can be considered as a creative inventory of each person. Because creative folks respond to healthy competition (as it inspires and motivates them to dominate) put people through competition whichever way organizational flow allows you.

Keeping creative people busy with multiple projects at once has been proved more productive. This way, there is always a lot on everyone’s plate which results in incubating ideas. Idea incubation takes place when you read your brief and do hours of work. Because creative brain works on it over time, you get a lot of work done while being in a healthy confused state. With time, creative workforce learns to cope with healthy confusion, resulting in job satisfaction.


Moody, erratic, eccentric, and arrogant, creative people are protective of their process and ideas.

Creative talent lives to create. When they get lots of free time, they get unhappy and creatively uninspired. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that creative people are continually put across new challenges so they don’t lose their perspective on work. Give your unconditional support and encourage creative employees to do the experiment. Such people are the natural experimenters, so let them try and test. It is also important to involve them in meaningful work only. Needless to say, meaningless work mirrors the bipolar temperament of creative performers, who execute well only when inspired.

Creative resources characteristically switch companies after a couple of years. It is your job to foster an environment that people don’t want to leave. Keeping your culture healthy is important as for creative resources it’s not just about money, but culture. Help them in shaping their careers through encouragement, keen pairing, and sometimes offering interpersonal advice.

Never force creative employees to work with someone like them as they would compete for ideas or simply ignore each other. Similarly, you cannot surround the creative pool with boring people as they would not understand them and fall out. In line with this, teams made up of diverse members are open to taking each others’ perspective and perform most creatively. Support your creative people with colleagues who are too conventional to challenge their ideas, but unconventional enough to collaborate with them.

Choosing the Right External Hard Drive

2016-11-23T10:19:00.002+05:30

I am often asked how one goes about choosing the right external hard drive. Thanks to the technical understanding required as well as the plethora of brands out there, picking the right one can be very confusing and daunting. I would say rather carefully consider the specifications and features of different models and decide on the basis of your priority. Still confused? Don’t worry! Use the following tips to choose a perfect hard drive for you:

Keep your Operating System in mind

OS X and Windows use HFS+ and NTFS file systems respectively, which is why most hard-drive manufacturers offer platform-specific models. In fact, the drives are preformatted accordingly. Make sure that you buy an external drive that is compatible with the operating system you use.

Go for the right capacity drive

It's always tempting to buy large capacity drives. Very large drives cost more per gigabyte and may have slower mechanisms than midsize drives. Decide what performance level you need and what you willing to pay for it. If you need a massive external storage, it makes sense to buy the largest drive available.

Pay attention to rotational speed

The rate at which a hard drive spins its platters is propositional to how fast it can read and write data. A drive spinning at 7200 rpm delivers superior performance than a drive spinning at 5400 rpm. You would even find some high-end desktop drives that spin their platters at 10,000 rpm.

Don’t forget about Drive Interface

Once you have decided on the speed and capacity, move one to consider how the drive will connect to your computer. Today USB is the most common interface for PCS and Macs. USB 3.0 delivers a faster data rate than USB 2.0. The newer standard is backward-compatible, which means your computer will be able to use a USB 3.0 drive even if it has only USB 2.0 ports.

Consider power consumption & noise level

Similar drives may differ considerably in power consumption and noise level. A drive that consumes more power would produce more heat, which indirectly contributes to overall system noise level as the system exhaust fans must work harder in such case. For quiet system operation, it is vital to use low power hard drives.

6 Last Minute, yet Amazing Gifts for this Diwali

2016-10-15T19:01:00.000+05:30

Diwali is the most exciting time of the year for most of us. However, for those working in advertising agencies, customer engagement firms and media houses, it is the time to go through tremendous pressure and work on several immediate deadlines. Amid such chaos, it’s natural to delay Diwali shopping and forget about buying gifts.
But, what if there are only a few days left to Diwali and you are yet to complete your gift shopping! Worry not, coz help is at hand. We will make sure that this Diwali too remain special for your loved ones. Here are some last minute gifting ideas you shouldn’t miss.

Dry fruits: You can’t go wrong with dry fruits in the Diwali season. Yes, it’s the most common gift around, but then, last minute, it’s a great saving grace! Do something different with the packaging like get a fancy box or a fruit basket and pack in the dry fruits.

Induction cook-top: With the abrupt rise on household LPG prices, gifting someone an Induction cook-top makes a great sense. This could be an awesome gift for your wife, mother or any of your family friends. This easy to operate gadget, cooks food much faster than a gas stove. Whoever gets it, will definitely appreciate you.

Roti Maker: The most popular gift this Diwali could be a roti maker. It’s what every Indian household could get used to. A little bit of convenience and little bit of luxury rolled into one!

Air fryer: This Diwali, you can help your loved ones stay fit and healthy by presenting them the Air fryer. It uses hot air to cook food that would usually require deep frying in lots of oil. Festivals in India usually mean lots of sweets, chocolates and fried snacks. With this useful gift they can celebrate each festival in a healthier way.

Gift vouchers: When in doubt about the receiver’s choice the best option to go for is a gift voucher. Choose a gift voucher of just about any brand, and the receiver will be more than happy to redeem the benefits. And of course he will love the freedom of choice, to choose anything that he likes.

Premium playing cards: Playing along is an activity that is often indulged in during Diwali. Get a set of premium playing cards. You don’t have to be a pro to appreciate a set of playing cards. Nearly everyone you know has tried their hand at playing cards at some point or the other. Your gift could also be a hint at initiating a game.

This was a list of quick gift options that are easy to pick and are sure to please your receiver. Is there anything you would like to add to the list? Let everyone know in your comment.

Indo-Western Dressing for this Diwali

2016-10-15T18:42:00.000+05:30

It's celebration time as festivity is divulged in the air all around, also the time for your style quests and dressing dilemmas. Every girl wants to look her prettiest best during festivals but with a comfy twist. No one wants to carry those heavy, uncomfortable traditional outfits which take a lot of time to be draped and take a toll on your mobility. So, here we cater your style quest with five such smart Indo-western attires which are chic, trendy, smart and comfortable, yet having oodles of ethnic appeal about them.

TREND 1: Straight-Cut Tunics with Flared Pants

Though this trend has a bit of casual overtures, yet it looks grand with embellishments. A bejeweled yoke, straight-cut long kurta teamed with satin pallazos and a chiffon duppata would be the perfect ensemble for the upcoming festive season. This outfit has loads of ethnicity along with chic factor which is a perfect Diwali outfit for being hassle-free as well as comfortable.

TREND 2: Maxi Skirt along with Asymmetric Tunic

Another hep-trend this fall season— this ensemble amalgamates ethnic sensibility with global trends. Maxi or gypsy skirts with embroidery or mirror work are normally being worn along with short blouses or crop-tops. But this festive season, team them up with your asymmetrical hemline tunic and add panache to the festive fervor.

TREND 3: Mandarin Collared Jackets

Despite being old classics, mandarin or Chinese collars add loads of aplomb to one’s looks. Though they shout power dressing, yet add grace to the ethnic outfits. Choose one made in silk, satin or velvet and team it up with your long skirts or shararas in flowing chiffon or georgette. A tone-on-tone look would be perfect for a traditional soiree.

TREND 4: Umpire-Cut Kurtas

Anarkalis are passé so if you still love some fit and flare simply opt for an umpire-cut kurta, which endows you superb fit at the bodice and optimum flare downwards. Splurge into the one which has a brocade bodice and sheer fabric skirt, in some jewel hues. To add some more style factor, go for elongated hemlines— even floor length would work wonders for festivals. Adorn it with a pair of metallic leggings, sky-high stilettos and a minaudiere box clutch.

TREND 5: Bejeweled floor-length Kurta

Long straight-cut Kurtas are in and this festive season they are going to overpower the fashion circuit with their no-fuss, neat-cut style overloaded with attitude. You can wear them with your straight-cut cigarette pants or leggings.

Give Conventional Diwali Gifts a Twist

2016-10-15T18:33:00.000+05:30

Diwali is around the corner. It is the time of the year everyone waits for anxiously. Children expect gifts from their parents as employees expect bonus from their bosses!

Sometimes, it becomes difficult to decide what to gift our near and dear ones. I propose to try something new, this Diwali. Other than the usual diyas and mithai, let’s surprise our loved ones with gifts out of the ordinary, something different! Here are a few gifting ideas that can make Diwali special:

A gift hamper with all the goodies: Take a walk to your nearby grocery store and pick a few knick knacks that you need every day in your kitchen. Add to that a few snacks and drinks, a few chocolates and other stuff that you love to pamper yourself with. Put all these together in a basket and cover it with a wrapping paper or clear cling foil and decorate it with a bow. And voila! Your gift hamper is ready.

Choose a cake, not Mithai: Take a different route. If you’ve forgotten, but still want to stand out, take a cake to your relatives. It’s a different option from the usual Mithai Ka Dabbas. Needless to say, the flavour and the toppings should be according to the receiver’s taste. Do something out of the box, by ordering a cake in shape of a fire cracker or decorate with some faux crackers and you have a winner in your hands.

Candle Holders is a great idea too: Diwali is the festival of light. Candles and diyas adorn every house. How about gifting unique candle holders to add an extra dose of edginess?

Let’s say no to wax: If you want to make your gifts last long, think of options other than wax. Add a different twinkle to Diwali decorations by substituting candles with LED lights. Be it in tea lights, diyas, wall hangings or any kind of decoration. A hamper of unique Diwali lights is an ideal gift for the festival of lights. You could experiment with different shapes, sizes, colours and designs. From LED’S to lanterns to ferry lights, the options are immense.

Dress them up differently: If you cannot escape gifting crockery this season, then do it with a twist. Instead of the usual dry fruits filler, surprise them putting in a mixed bag of laddoos, crackers, chocolates, other sweets etc. Wrap them all up in similar looking candy paper and you would’ve managed to create an interesting surprise.

How about a Poker Set? Everybody loves playing cards during Diwali. What better option than to gift them their own unique poker set complete with cards and poker chips. This will be a fun game for the entire family.

Something for the home: Everybody loves to decorate their homes during Diwali. Little exciting curios add to the festive flair. A bright hued carpet helps in adding to the home décor as well as amp up the comfort factor. They can be used to sit down and play cards or simply laze over after a long night of partying. Exclusive table mats can also be gifted as they brighten up the atmosphere for a perfect family meal!

Diwali Makeover in Bright and Colorful Ways

2016-10-15T18:20:00.000+05:30

Our most favorite festival, Deepawali or Diwali is just around the corner. If you have yet not begun with the spring cleaning of the house, you better gear up now. Even though you may be on low budget or may not have enough time, the makeover must happen because this is the time of the year when friends and family come over to our humble homes and we get a chance to flaunt our abodes too.

Renovation is an expensive idea and logically it cannot be done every year. However, it doesn’t cost much to offset the dull, boring look of the house with some creative and quick solutions. I am sure the children will also enjoy sprucing up the house in their little and creative ways. Let us make our home special this Diwali.

Theme it with a bright color schemes

Whitewashing and painting the house is a ritual that has been happening in our houses for years. But if it sounds tedious and scary to you, brush the walls off dust and dirt and then go for lovely wallpapers. Happy colors and lovely themes can be chosen for different sections of the house. Using multi-colored dupattas and colorful sarees to cover the dining tables and other furniture is also a great idea to bring newness in the house.

Light up the house

The festival of lights deserves a perfect lighting in the house. In the garden or outside the house, you may fix up the disco bulbs but significance of Diwali is captured when diyas are lit in every corner of the house. Bowls of water with floating candles make a nice decorative item in the dull corners of the house. Candles are my favorite too. Lavish platters and Pooja thali must be decorated with candles and diyas. They lend a cheer to the space and in no time bring that much needed brightness.

Style it with traditional elements

Give a twist to the decorations with the traditional elements. It is the time of the year when metal must shine through the house. The brass thalis, idols of deities in gold, silver lamps, delicate table wares, wooden trays, champagne flutes and wine glasses must be pulled out of the cupboard and neatly placed at prominent places. An elegant food arrangement is a winning idea for this festive season.

Quirky, funky and vibrant

Children must be engaged in the cleaning of their room, bookshelves, bed study table. Change the collage, the paintings, the drapes and curtains of the living room. The nooks and crannies may be accessorized by hanging marigold garlands and bright little lanterns at varying heights. Throw cushions and upholstery can be changed in hue colors. Big, bold design motifs, prints, embroidery work perfect for the festivals. It’s easy to make the rooms funky and vibrant by presenting the old wine in the new bottle. Bring out more photos of the family and put them in new frames.

Go Green in Vogue!

Non-toxic colors, dried flowers, leaves, rice, flour, turmeric should be used for Rangoli making. Flowers smell awesome and they make the house look gorgeous. Never miss doing the fresh flowers arrangement in colorful vases. Recycled paper can also be used to make artificial flowers or beautiful cut-outs. How about painting some old bottles and earthen lamps and using them as accessories around the corners of the house.

5 Gadgets that are great Diwali Gifts

2016-10-15T16:30:00.000+05:30

Amid the lighting of Diyas and bursting of firecrackers, Diwali brings with it a lot of love, joy and a sense of togetherness. Diwali is indeed the best occasion to send gifts to your dear ones and make them feel special. Exchange of gifts has always been the best way to express your love, respect and gratitude towards each other. Who won’t be happy to receive gifts? And, if the gift is unique and useful, it elevates the happiness. To make your task simpler this Diwali, here I have some gift ideas you can consider. These gifts wrapped in your emotions and sentiments will definitely put a huge smile on the face of your love ones.

Camera

A camera is one such gadget that records all your memorable moments for life time. Therefore, it is the best thing you can gift someone in the family or friends. Even if the receiver is not a photography fan, it will turn him into one. You can choose from a variety of cameras available in the market, depending on how much budget you have.

Bluetooth speakers

This is probably the best gadget to gift someone who lives and breathes music. Everyone has a smartphone, a laptop or a tablet these days. But is their sound quality that impressive? With these Bluetooth speakers, your loved ones will be able to upgrade their device’s sound quality while watching a movie or listening to their favorite song.

Power bank

It’s what most of us need all the time - a charger on the go. As we spend more and more time over the phone, our phone batteries are constantly getting discharged. Get some extra blessings by gifting a power bank to your loved ones. It’s one of those things that makes life easy and is super useful.

E-reader

We all have one such friend or a family member who is more into reading and traveling. Nothing other than an e-reader can be a useful gift for him. With this small gadget, you are indeed gifting your loved ones a veritable library that they can carry anywhere with them.

The iPhone 8

Yes, you can call me biased. But, I will never forget the day I gifted an iPhone to my sister and received super bliss and elation. You, too, can get that reaction from your loved one as they open up a gift-wrapped iPhone. It’s the coolest, zaniest and most sought-after gift this Diwali – the easiest way to make yourself the most popular guy in your social circle.

Fusion Fashion for this Diwali

2016-10-15T15:50:00.000+05:30

Beautiful scented candles have replaced the diyas, and the chocolates have taken over the mithais. How about replacing the typical saris and salwar kamees suits with some rather interesting fusion fashion this Diwali? It’s ethnic, yet modern…contemporary, yet traditional.

Flirt with the skirt: Swirl and twirl. Let the skirt replace that typical Salwar Kameez Suit. We recommend a long, flowing one. Also, embroidered skirts look breathtakingly stunning. You can either team the skirt with a short kurti or a knee-length one — a style that’s really ‘in’ right now. If you dare to go bold, team up the skirt with a strapless or crop top and up the hotness quotient.

Pant pleasures: Palazzo pants have been really ‘in’ since a few years. Pairing them with spaghettis and other Western-styled tops is a little passé now. Today a number of Fashionistas are teaming up palazzo pants with long, knee-length kurtis. This marriage truly personifies ‘comfort meets style’. Long kurtis can also be paired with capris and a number of ankle-length pants.

Jeans’ scene: If you are someone who, literally, lives in her jeans and insists on wearing them even for Diwali (much to your mother’s dismay!), then go ahead! Pair your jeans with a short or long kurti, and then adorn it with a beautiful stole to give it that Indian touch. The stole replaces the Dupatta (and your mother’s frown with a smile!). We’d say, avoid ripped jeans or the ones with crazy patchwork.

Accessories, et al: The smartest and quickest way to give any Western look an Indian touch is simply by wearing some interesting ethnic Jewellery. The pieces could be chunky, in oxidised or gold tones, dangling numbers, beaded ones… the list is endless. A Bindi can also create some magic. Don’t make it all look gaudy or wear so much that you look like a Christmas tree. Do it elegantly and intelligently.

Footwear fetish: Another easy way to render an Indian feel is by wearing Mojdis or Kolhapuri Chappals. As against the plain, typical brown shades, today Mojdis and Kolpapuri Chappals come in a range of bright colours and exciting designs and patterns. An anklet can add to the look.

So, this year, welcome the festival of lights with a little bit of this and a little bit of that!

GST - A Game Changer for Real Estate Business

2016-09-24T17:27:00.002+05:30

The second largest employer after the IT industry, the real estate industry contributes about 5% to the nation’s GDP. With the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) this industry is about to witness the biggest indirect taxation reform in the country.

After getting the approval of both Parliament houses, GST is all set to roll out in April 2017. It will subsume more than 16 indirect taxes like excise duty, customs duty and CST into one, simplifying tax compliance while minimising the scope for double taxation. As per industry experts, this could earn transparency in the real estate and even reduce the cost of ownership of homes.

How it affects Buyer

Presently, a buyer pays Value Added Tax (VAT) and Service Tax on the purchase of an under construction residential unit. While service tax is deposited with the central government, VAT remains with state government (which varies state by state). With GST, Service Tax and VAT will be replaced by Central GST and State GST. The GST rate will most probably be lower than all the current rates put together – a direct benefit for the buyer.

How it affects Builder

On the other hand, developers of such project bear many non-creditable tax costs, which are subsequently passed on to the pricing of the final product. Believe it or not, these taxes add upto 22%-25% of the price of the unit. As GST aims at rolling multiple taxes into one, the construction cost will come down. This way, the developers will be able to pass a fraction of this benefit to buyers too, which means homes would, in fact, become cheaper.

The Bigger Picture

GST will single-handedly solve many challenges faced by the realty sector, saving everyone from the current taxes that involve unthinkable complexities. It is expected to add about 2% to the nation’s GDP as well - a substantial boost to the economy.

Organize your work space with these stationery items

2016-07-31T22:57:00.000+05:30

Though you may have plenty of papers on the desk, it becomes difficult to complete certain office tasks on time if you cannot find your desk full of moving space and free of floating papers. Are you trying to organize your office desk but finding yourself in a mess while? If so, we have some effective stationery items that can make your professional life easy and help you arrange your desk items in a better way.

File and folders

You definitely need Files and folders to keep your papers and other documents organized. That’s not it, casing a floating document will not only make your desk look clean, but also protect it from getting creased or damaged.

Paper Punch Machines

Paper hole punch equipment handles large documents, heavy punching loads and is a convenient tool to prevent jams of paper at your work station. With help of these, you can punch a file and stack it in a folder to facilitate a mess-free desk.

Sticky Notes

If you call Sticky notes the foundation of the modern workplace, it won’t be wrong. Used by millions of office workers every day; from taking down telephone numbers to leaving reminders for you, they can be used as bookmarks in documents or folders. This makes you take just few minutes to read or exclude a file or page that you need. And within no time, your folder will be at its place, making some space for you to work without any hassle.

Stapler

The stapler is another must have for an organized workplace. All your documents, whether internal or for clients, stay together with the help of a stapler. With a range of different staplers, you can always find a stapler that's right for keeping your papers together. With keep a multitude of papers together, you certainly can keep your wok-station free of floating papers.

Tape

The light and easy masking tape comes in a many colors and is great for anything from decoration to labels. Keeping a record of office documents is crucial and labeling items simplify the document organization and selection process.

Choosing the right pair of Jogging Shoes

2016-07-29T18:04:00.000+05:30

Jogging is one of the most economical of sports. After all, it only requires a good pair of jogging shoes for a good run, right? But hey, having the right jogging shoe makes all the difference as it can either make your exercise an enjoyable hobby or a painful experience.
Picking the right pair of jogging shoes can be quite tricky, especially if it's your first time. When there are several options to choose from, it’s okay to be confused. Looking at how intensely you run and how much you run will help you choose the best shoes for you. Here are a few more factors to consider:

Brand and Gender
The first thing is to choose a pair from a brand of repute. Whether you buy shoes online or purchase them from an outlet nearby, you can always find great prices to fit your budget. Choose ones designed only for your gender. Men and women's feet are different in various ways (due to different patterns of movement). Wearing shoes meant for another sex may cause you a lot of ergonomic issues, even if they match your size. So beware!

Shoe Weight and Heel
Always pick up a shoe that feels light. A lightweight running shoe, not only prevents injury but also allows you to start jogging without overtaxing your body. Check the heel, to figure whether it is ‘stiff enough’ to support your ankles.

Shoe Size
Don’t get hung up on shoe size; it is merely a guide. A shoe should fit you snugly without any constriction to the circulation in your feet. While there should not be excessive movement within the shoe, you must ensure that it encases around your foot perfectly, it shouldn’t squeeze your foot. However, at the front of the shoe, where your toe is, it’s okay to have half an inch of extra for comfort.

Jogging Tracks
If you jog on the road or on a concrete track, make sure that the shoe that you pick is designed just for running. Go to brands and recommended stores that sell footwear and other running/ specific sports equipment. Some specialty stores hire experienced joggers who can help you in selecting the most suitable jogging shoes, informing you also on the latest types and styles.

Socks and Aftercare
Socks are Shoe’s partners in crime. The thickness of the socks can change how a shoe fits; therefore it is advised to buy new socks with new shoes. Lastly, if you want your shoes to serve you for a long time, use Shoe Inserts. Shoe Inserts for various foot types are available (flat feet, low arches, high arches or rolling feet) at a very nominal price.

How Olive Oil is about so much more than cooking

2016-07-28T12:14:00.000+05:30

Olive Oil is a blessing for the health-conscious. Studies reveal how its regular use in cooking provides incomparable health benefits. Since Indian cuisine is still heavily-reliant on extensive use of oil, olive oil is the best way to have your cake and eat it too, culinarily! But there are many lesser-known uses that this deliciously-healthy oil can be put to.

From use in health food preparations to beauty treatments and now, to make your work around the house easier – there are as many uses of olive oil as you can think up. A versatile product, the olive oil can be employed in myriad chores. From furniture polish to a substitute for shaving cream and from floor polish to leather conditioner, the olive oil is the solution to all your household woes.

Furniture Polish: Take 2 small measures of olive oil and 1 measure of lemon juice or white vinegar. Pour this into a spray bottle, shake well before use and spray on furniture that needs polishing. Let the mixture stay on for a minute or so. Wipe off with a clean paper towel or soft cotton cloth. This homemade variety is as good as any expensive commercial furniture polish and pocket-friendly, too!

Shaving Cream Substitute: Most people try to make do with just soap and hot water when they run out of shaving cream. But take heart, because olive oil is a glamorous substitute for shaving cream. Here’s how. Use a few drops on the skin while shaving. It will have two effects – made it easier for the blade to glide over skin and moisturize it, as well.

Leather Conditioner: Want to give your often-used pair of shoes a ‘new’ feel? Still, treasure that old leather bag that your sister gifted you? Look no further than that bottle of olive oil. Apply a few drops onto the leather that needs conditioning, with a soft cloth, leave it on for a while and wipe off any extra oil. The leather will take on new life and you will be flooded with compliments!

DIY Skin and Hair Care: Of course, where skin and hair care solutions are concerned, there are a plethora of uses you can put olive oil to. From a natural way to condition hair to moisturize cuticles and remove dry skin around toes and fingernails, olive oil can also be put to good use as an exfoliant and acne-remover. A great bath moisturizer, add a few drops to your bath water and see the marked difference in your skin, as you towel-dry.