Unique Times May 2023

Gold & Net Zero Goal

Shri V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd.

Zola: Empowering Women's Fashion in India's Ethnic Wear Market

Kirti Shah, Founder & Managing director

Pragati Fashions Pvt Ltd

Chief Mentor Mr. V.P. Nandakumar

Director & CEO Jebitha Ajit

Editor Ajit Ravi

Legal Advisor

Latha Anand

B.S.Krishnan Associates

bskrishnanassociates@gmail.com

Sub-Editor Anusha Varghese

Associate Editor

Correspondents

Creative Design

Cover Photographer

Ravi Saini

Athulya Pradip

Dr. Thomas Nechupadam

Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile

Amrutha V Kumar

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Editorial

The ladies’ wear segment in India has a huge potential for growth, but it was largely ignored by the branded apparel industry until the 1990s. Most of the brands focused on men or the elite women customers, leaving a gap in the market for affordable and fashionable ladies’ wear. Zola has bridged this gap by offering a wide range of products for women of all economic classes and tastes. Zola has established itself as a leading brand of ladies’ wear in India, with its trendy and quality products. Here, our featured cover story of this month highlights the remarkable achievements of the Founder and Managing Director of Pragati Fashions Pvt Ltd. Mr. Kirti Shah who came up with Zola.

The current edition features an article by V P Nandakumar, the MD and CEO of Manappuram Finance Limited, sharing his perspective on "Gold & Net Zero Goal".

Besides that, you can also find our regular features on topics such as beauty, travel, auto review, movie reviews, book reviews, motivation, and business.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” - Dr. Seuss.

Happy reading!

Vice President

Shiny Justine

Ambalika Saikia, Ambalika_saikia@yahoo.com

“Elegance is not about being noticed, it's about being remembered.”

- Giorgio Armani.

Cover Photograph Kirti Shah, Founder & Managing director Pragati Fashions Pvt Ltd

India’s IT Sector Likely to Face Macro Headwinds Until End 2023, Say Analysts

According to analysts, India's information technology (IT) services companies are facing challenges due to concerns of an economic recession in developed markets and the effects of a banking crisis in the US and Europe. The situation is not expected to improve until the end of the year. As a result, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have sold their stakes in IT companies, contributing to the sector's weakness. In March, FPIs became pessimistic about the IT and oil and gas sectors and sold equities worth ~13,734 crore between the two sectors. Due to macroeconomic challenges such as high inflation, interest rates, and a banking crisis in the US and Europe, analysts predict that the IT sector will face a few cautious quarters ahead. The primary concern for the IT sector is the slowdown in growth and the potential for a recession. As long as the global growth remains uncertain and the slowdown persists, IT companies may experience lower order flow, slower execution, and pricing challenges.

Regulating Crypto Without Global Consensus Will Not Be Effective: Finance Minister

The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasized the importance of achieving global consensus before regulating cryptocurrencies. She suggested that all stakeholders need to collaborate on creating a universal framework for regulating cryptocurrencies, otherwise, any regulation imposed would not be effective. She also clarified that her statement was not intended to imply control over the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies, known as distributed ledger technology, which has many benefits and potential uses. "The G20 of which the India is currently holding the Presidency, it was India's proposal and it has been taken on board, I'm glad that the G20 has kept it in its agenda for this year, the IMF has given a paper on crypto currency and the way it can affect the macroeconomic stability. The Financial Stability Board (FSB), which was set up by G20, has agreed to give a report that will also focus on financial stability," Sitharaman said.

"If you want to be successful in business, you have to constantly innovate and disrupt. The minute you stop doing that is the minute you start dying."

Gary Vaynerchuk

Joe Biden to Visit India in September, 2023 Will Be Big Year: US on India Ties

The US President Joe Biden plans to visit India in September, according to the administration's representative for South and Central Asia. The official noted that the relationship between India and the US will be significant in 2023. Additionally, the official praised India's leadership in the G-20, stating that it expands its ability to serve as a positive influence on the world stage. "This is gonna be a big year. Of course, India is hosting the G-20. This year, the United States is hosting APEC. Japan is hosting the G7. We have lots of our QUAD members who are taking on leadership roles. And it provides opportunities for all of us to bring our countries closer together," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, told news agency PTI in an interview on 20th April. "I know our President is looking forward to travelling to India in September. That will be his first trip to India as part of the G-20 Leaders Summit. We're really excited about what's to come in the next few months," he said.

Tim Cook, Sunil Mittal Meet; Commit to Work Closely in India, Africa

Bharti Group announced that Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, has met with Sunil Mittal, the founder and chairman of the group, and they have both expressed their dedication to collaborate more closely in the markets of India and Africa. This announcement comes shortly after Apple's inauguration of its first two authorized retail stores in India earlier this week. "Tim Cook and Sunil Bharti Mittal had an hour-long meeting this morning. While expressing their satisfaction on the ongoing long relationship that Apple and Airtel have had, (they) reaffirmed their commitment to work more closely in the Indian and African market," Bharti Group said in a statement Apple has completed 25 years of operation in India. Tim Cook on April 18 inaugurated the first Apple Store in Mumbai and second in Delhi on April 20.

"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten."

Tony Robbins

India-Israel Trade Pact Should Be as Wide as Possible: Israeli Minister

Israel's

Minister of Economy and Industry, M K Nir Barkat, has suggested that the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Israel should be broadened as much as possible to facilitate trade and bring people closer. He stated that he intends to hold talks with Indian officials regarding the FTA, which has been under negotiation for more than a decade. Barkat plans to propose expanding the FTA and focusing on intelligent business development, sharing knowledge and experience as much as possible between the two countries. To ensure a successful free trade deal, he emphasized the importance of identifying complementary areas where India and Israel have a competitive advantage. "It (FTA) should be as wide as possible to enable more and more trade as free trade brings the people together," Barkat said. He added that Isreal has a lot to offer in sectors like agrotech, healthtech and foodtech and it translates into a lot of trade from both directions. "So from my perspective, we are coming as open as possible," the minister said.

SBI Reintroduces Amrit Kalash Fixed Deposit Scheme With Up To 7.6% Interest

The State Bank of India has extended its Amrit Kalash fixed deposit scheme, which will now be valid until June 30. This scheme offers a 7.1% interest rate to the general public and a 7.6% interest rate to senior citizens for a tenor of 400 days. Previously, the scheme was only valid from February 15 to March 31. The offer is available for domestic retail term deposits of up to Rs 2 crore, including Non-Resident Indian Rupee Term Deposits, and covers both new and renewal deposits as well as special term deposits. Interest on the Amrit Kalash scheme will be paid to customers at monthly, quarterly or semi-annual intervals. For special term deposits, interest will be paid on maturity.

"If you don't drive your business, you will be driven out of business."

B. C. Forbes

Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Becomes Fixture in N. Korea Weapons Tests

Kim Jong Un's daughter has accompanied her father for the third time during an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, while most North Korean children were in school. The girl's age and name remain unknown, and it is uncertain if she has any siblings.

However, she has become a regular feature of North Korea's propaganda efforts since November, appearing alongside her father during military demonstrations, dinners with generals, and military parades. North Korea has not disclosed any details about her family or background.

North Korean state media has released new photos of Kim Jong Un's daughter, whom it refers to as the "precious child" and "respected daughter." The South Korean spy agency believes her name is Ju Ae, and she is around 10 years old. In the photos, she is dressed in black and has long curls, sitting next to her father, who is smoking a cigarette while observing an intercontinental ballistic missile test.

Newcastle’s Farrell Centre Explores if We Can Grow Houses From Fungus

The Farrell Centre, a new architecture centre in Newcastle that was partly funded by architect Sir Terry Farrell, is set to open with an exhibition showcasing innovative ways to reduce cities' environmental impact. One of the exhibits features a structure made from mycelium, the root network of fungus, which has been grown on a knitted canopy made from sawdust and paper waste.

This approach creates walls that are strong, light, self-repairing, and fully compostable. The exhibition also includes visions from four architecture studios on how to make buildings more sustainable. The center costs £4.6 million to set up.

According to the director of the Farrell Centre, Owen Hopkins, the use of mycelium in building construction is quite different from the traditional approach that relies on concrete, steel, and glass. Buildings and construction contribute to around 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions, making it a significant contributor to climate change.

Michael Schumacher: Magazine Editor Sacked Over AI-Generated ‘Interview’ With Seven-Time F1 Champion

The editor of a German magazine called "Die Aktuelle" was fired for publishing an interview with former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher that was generated by an artificial intelligence program. Schumacher suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013 and has not been seen in public since.

The magazine's cover featured a smiling picture of Schumacher with the headline "Michael Schumacher, the first interview" and a strapline that read "it sounded deceptively real." The quotes attributed to Schumacher in the article were created by an AI program called character. ai. The magazine's publisher has apologized to Schumacher's family for the article.

Macron Tries to Escape French Pension Row with Street Song

French President Emmanuel Macron faced a risky situation while attempting to persuade the country to accept an unpopular pension age increase. During a walk with his wife Brigitte, Macron joined a group of young Parisians who were singing a traditional song his grandmother used to sing.

The singers were part of a Parisian choir performing on a street in the sixth district of Paris, and one of them asked Macron to join in singing an old Pyrenees song called "Le Refuge." However, the sing-song was reportedly shared by a far-right Facebook group.

The men were using a mobile phone app to read the lyrics of the song created by the Canto project. Macron had given a TV address expressing regret that no consensus could be found on the pension reform earlier that day.

For more info: europetimes.co

Zola: Empowering Women's Fashion in India's Ethnic Wear Market

The appealing power of Zola is firm in the potential markets of ethnic and fashion wears. That has enabled the brand to consolidate its position in a thriving market, where competition is still strong. It has found strong footprint across all geographies in the country with more significant presence in the highly qualityconscious market like Kerala. The ethnic wear segment of the market is largely dominated by unbranded and local players. It is in this market Zola has made its presence strongly felt by Zola Ethnic.

Zola…, almost every woman in the country knows what it is, how it delights them and how proud they feel of their attire. Women are usually more conscious about their looks than their counterpart is.

Building a brand for ladies’ wear with acceptance among all economic classes is not very easy, though there is a vast business opportunity in the segment. Until the early 1990s ladies’ apparel market in India was virtually an uncharted territory, despite having enough space for a huge treasure hunt therein, perhaps like other apparel

segment. Yet for men, at least in metros, there were brands and some of course for creamy ladies’ class too. But, by and large, the ladies’ wear segment that can offer huge fortune stood with no privilege of branded apparel. Zola has filled it, covering the entire range of ladies' wear.

India was at the dawn of a socio-economic change. A vast middle-class market was on the verge of a boom. India was getting integrated with the global market not only in terms of the economy but also in terms of consciousness and attitude that were forcing each individual to look at

changes in lifestyle and personality care. Women, including housewives, are no exception. Lifestyle in the metro wasn't confined to metros anymore. Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities began to change rapidly. More and more women begin to join the workforce. India’s demographic advantage was begun to be talked about. The time was right to find a position in the branded apparel market with a brand exclusively for women, Kirti Shah, the founder of Pragati Fashions Pvt Ltd understood the market rightly on time, which enabled his company to take home what may be called the early bird advantage.

Pragati Fashions Pvt Ltd had a sharp ear to listen to the resonance of change in lifestyle and shopping culture in the country. Women also deserve to be served with quality products and variants they are passionate about. Something great for the middle-class was missing in the vast yet un-quantified ladies’ wear market. At the same time, it could gauge the immeasurable potential the fashion garment market holds and see in other worlds where fashion brands not only made entrepreneurs billionaires but also changed the way people wear. Making Zola firm in a potential market, it never looked back since its launch in 1991. Gradually, it could find a footprint

across all geographies in the country, with a more significant presence in the highly quality-conscious, but the middle-class, market of Kerala.

In the female apparel market, still there aren’t many top-line brands to cater to the needs of the middle-class, though the potential is too big enough to give large space for many brands. Almost until two decades ago, there hadn't been any brand consciousness also among middle-class women. Even among women belonging to the high-income strata an apparel brand wasn't a fashion. Naturally, there wasn't any premium brand in the market that could steal anyone’s mind. “But we knew that was going to change. We understood, even the middleclass was going to have a different approach in terms of their choice consideration of buying apparels. The well-educated new generation might look for some big brands to talk about. We had comprehended this change in mindset and needs of women in advance,” says Mr Shah, Managing Director of Pragati Fashions.

Of course, Pragati had rightly foreseen, say much in advance, the changing behavior of the generation and demographic advantage. It had foreseen the changing style of shopping, changing apparel fashion,

upcoming generation’s dressing consciousness, what they would look for and exactly what they would want, etc. Zola has been set accordingly, he adds.

Once, it was believed, in the ethnic wear vertical of the fashion apparel market brand did not seem to have any relevance as people were sticking to the tailor-made tradition. Today, that has changed, says Mr Shah, pointing out Zola has more ethnic wear variants in its showcase for retailers. "We haven't stuck to any special variant but made it for all variants," he says. In fact, Zola is a brand for tops, kurties, salwar, chudidars, jeans, gown, ethnic wear, girls’ wear, palazzo, leggings, tunics, midis, Indo western outfits, etc. By building a uniform brand for all these variants, Zola could create a greater and deeper impression in the minds of women. The larger variety under a single brand gives a greater recall value.

The ethnic wear segment of the market is still largely dominated by unbranded and local players. In fact, it is largely driven by unorganized players. It is in this market Zola has made its presence strongly felt by Zola Ethnic. By virtue of its presence in all segments of women's apparel, Zola suffices the needs of all women, both urban and semi-urban

Zola has enough in its basket to fulfill the wardrobe options of women. The acceptability of Zola is intact because of its attention to quality fabrics, minute focus on fitting, and zero defect.

for their clothing.

Zola aims to provide a different look to its customers whether they are in ethnic kurtis, western wear; both casual and formal, denims, jeggings, leggings and shirts. For kids also the brand assures something to be proud of with a variety of ethnic and western wears. The brand also delivers both women and kids a night of comfortable sleep with stylish nightwear, says the top management of the company. It also has a fabulous marriage collection. In fact, Zola is a perfect blend of fast fashion with traditional sensibilities.

Today, Zola is a leading female apparel brand all over the country, across all income classes. “It is found to be one of the best brands that middle-class buyers prefer. They seem to have immense faith in the brand and feel proud of picking it up from among the collections of unbranded and local brand products,” says a retailer in Kerala. Even in large format

multi-brand stores like Big Bazaar it is seen, that middle-class buyers first prefer to pick up Zola. When enquired why; a buyer said: “Its quality is good. It is an affordable brand. We don’t feel disappointed with it.”

The brand is seen in the two ends of the market – the metro and small-town markets where branded products are sold. That bears testimony to the fact that Zola is a brand equally preferred by women of metro and rural India. “We keep the latest trends in mind so that we can deliver according to the sensibilities and changing mindset of people in big and small towns, says Mr Shah. Zola has enough in its basket to fulfill the wardrobe options of women. The acceptability of Zola is intact because of its attention to quality fabrics and minute focus on fitting. The twin focus on fashion and quality keeps the brand at the top of the gallery.

Twenty-eight years now it is more than a pan-India brand.

On an average, each day, 30,000 dresses are rolled in packs out of 800 factories across the country carrying the legendary Zola label. Eighteen fashion designers use their brains to make Zola variants outstanding and acceptable by women of all regions. As many as 15,000 workers spend their time behind making Zola a perfect brand. More than 6200 retailers proudly sell Zola, witnessing the cheers of buyers. The defect rate is almost zero. The delivery network expansion will continue, says Mr Shah. In Kerala more than 300 top retailers sell this favourite brand of women; among the leading stores are Kalyan, Seemati, Jayalakshmi, etc. In large format multi-brand showrooms Zola variants catch more eyes of women. The brand received many prestigious awards in the past. It received CMAI Apex Awards 2016 and also in 2017. Along with this it also received the prestigious Fashion Konnect India Apparel Award 2021

The brand is present in the two ends of the market – the metro and small town markets where branded products are sold. Small towns see shopping tours of people from the rural country side. Zola’s acceptance in small towns hence indicates the brand is well-accepted by rural women too. That bears testimony to the fact that Zola is a brand equally preferred by women of metro and rural India.

The investment world has gone through a sea change in the past couple of years with climate concerns becoming the guiding principle for investors who manage several trillion dollars-worth of assets every year.

Shri V.P.Nandakumar MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

Gold & Net Zero Goal

Holding gold in a diversified portfolio can help reduce carbon footprint without sacrificing returns, writes V.P.

Gold is slowly but steadily assuming a more important role in the myriad world of investment as the recent volatility in the financial markets across the globe has rendered many an investment style of the past redundant. A case in point is the fast-losing relevance of the 60:40 portfolio strategy – 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds – after the turbulence in the stock markets and ructions in the debt segment hit the investment world last year. Conventional investments strategy is under fresh tests after the major central banks across the world made a pivot to hawkish policy stance followed by aggressively hiking policy rates and flipping to monetary tightening in a bid to control inflation and ease price pressures. For instance, the Reserve Bank of India has so far delivered a cumulative 250 basis points (2.50%) increase in benchmark repo rate in the current policy cycle in this

Nandakumar, MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd

financial year to get the inflation back to its upper tolerance limit of 4%.

The net effect of higher prices crimping aggregate demand accompanied by supply shocks transmitted through spiraling cost of energy and other key inputs have landed equity markets in unchartered waters. At the same time, it has exacerbated the ruction in the bond market with the yield curve inverting following persistent high inflation. An inverted yield curve occurs when short-term debt instruments have higher yields than long-tenure papers of the same credit or risk profile. Investors have found themselves caught between a rock and a hard space as the volatile stock markets and bond market are on a boil with yield inversion prompting many experts and commentators to tow a rather cynical line saying investors have no place to hide till both the equity and debt markets find their

feet again. However, I would beg to differ with this negative view by saying that investors still have a very safe haven to park their money if only they care to see. In fact, such an opportunity is in their plain view but many investors are hoodwinked by the orthodox investment ideas like the 60:40 norm that excludes gold in the portfolio mixes of investors. Financial advisors and investment gurus often keep the yellow metal out from their portfolio recommendations citing the nonyielding nature of the gold.

As legendary British economist, the late Joan Robinson once famously said, “Whatever you can say about India, the opposite is also true.” And this holds good for the yellow metal as well. It is true that gold held in its physical form does not bring any return measured in terms of interest or yield. But when the financial markets are in uncharted territory, having gold in one’s portfolio brings both tangible and intangible benefits

for investors. It is true that for the past one year or so, gold prices were on the retreat since financial conditions were favouring the US currency which appreciated by nearly 10% year-to-date against all other major currencies and hence assets. However, since March 20, the yellow metal prices staged a smart comeback with spot gold prices hitting Rs 60,000 per 10 grams across major Indian markets.

The sudden course correction in the value of gold is not unexpected since gold as a hedge against inflation is a time-tested truism. Despite aggressive tightening to drain excess liquidity from the system for more than a year, central banks realised much to their discomfort that price pressures still remain stubborn and tighter liquidity conditions are

creating fresh systemic risks with small and big banks alike in the West -- from the Silicon Valley Bank to Credit Suisse -- collapsing like nine pins. The point I want to make here is straight and simple; compared to equity or debt, gold prices remained rather stable, a factor that may be appealing for risk-off investors. Also, an inflation-beating appreciation in the value of the underlying asset -gold – is what this class of investors could best desire in these uncertain times.

Also, to say that holding nonyielding gold in a portfolio is tantamount to financial vice is wrong since gold has always given an aboveaverage return – surely not marketbeating returns or generating alpha as some equity enthusiasts claim about some stocks. To put it simply,

the long-term average returns that gold delivered to the investors over the past 20 years is close to 8%, something that no competing asset class can lay claim on. Growth in the real value – adjusted for inflation -of the yellow metal has never turned negative through any economic cycles though temporary flips are part and parcel of the market dynamics.

And finally, there is another compelling reason to invest in gold – its increasing value as a netzero asset. The investment world has gone through a sea change in the past couple of years with climate concerns becoming the guiding principle for investors who manage several trillion dollars-worth of assets every year. Though, a consensus on a broader

and widely accepted framework for these green finances under the management of institutions still remains elusive, I strongly believe that including gold in the investment portfolio of individual investors could contribute to the climate cause by directing finance from polluters to industries that are eco-friendly. Here, I am not going to reiterate the age-old argument that gold mining contributes less to carbon emission compared to other metals since such arguments seek to score brownie points not based on its merits but based on others’ defects. What I am trying to pitch hard is if only a fraction of assets under management of the wealth managers across the world can move to gold, then the impact it can make will be tremendous.

For instance, the AUM managed by the Mutual Fund industry in India as of February this year was a staggering Rs 39,46,257 crore or Rs 39 trillion. And if a fraction of this could be moved to investment in gold by adding them to the individual portfolios, then that will be tantamount to investing a considerable amount of money in energy transition. This is because resetting portfolios can bring immediate climate benefits by directing the money to green industries as well as bring decent returns to investors while investing in transitional technologies will yield tangible results with considerable lag. Also, there are millions of investors out there who invest to make an impact – social, climate or governance – though the

returns from investments may be a few basis points lower compared to returns from investments from conventional strategies.

The case for such a shift in investment style was amplified with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its latest report changing its climate warning from 'Code Blue' to 'Code Red'. To echo the warning made by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “Humanity is on thin ice and that ice is melting fast. Our world needs climate action on all fronts everything, everywhere, all at once.” Therefore, let us open a new front in climate action by striking a balance between financial goals with the wider interest of the planet by including the net zero asset gold in everyone’s investment portfolio

Prison to Pride

India is going through a real transition & transformation phase and with G-20 Presidency with India, we have a greater opportunity & responsibility to provide a leadership role to the world.

The first thought that came to mind that I wish to pen down here is as follows:

While the country is facing a jobs crisis and many businesses hurting from the economic cost of the capital to bring sustainability to the businesses, there is an urgency to provide full protection for all the wealth creators i.e. businessmen of the country and their global partners/stakeholders. While pursuing business and career goals, at times, there would be crisis cropping up and while dealing with them all, knowingly or under ignorance, some mistakes or violations are

bound to happen which needs careful scrutiny as per the accounting practices, standards, and as per the law of the land and in my opinion, pre-trial arrests must be avoided as much as possible but in an unlikely situation where the arrest is an absolute must and is warranted for ascertaining the economic violations as well as irregularities, prisons should not be first available choice to keep these businessmen with other criminals because the dignity & pride once lost, destroyed/tarnished beyond repairs that is bound to happen if subjected to imprisonment during trials. Instead, I propose that there should be a special correctional centre or dignified detention centres to house all such accused so that their dignity and pride are secured when they are acquitted from all charges and allegations,

or else, they be given a choice of picking up the hotels, etc. at their own costs including that the cost of safety & security of that place. Businessmen/women are the real wealth & livelihood creators for the Nation and their pride must never be compromised and must be given full protection by the Government.

Here it's not just the question of the pride of the businessmen/ women but that of the Nation. Private jobs can only be created with the involvement of the private sector investors and to achieve that with ease, Government must realise the fact that lowering the taxes will easily ensure the thriving private sector. This article is being put out as an appeal through this platform with the intent of igniting the needed spark amongst the influencers that assist policy and lawmakers of the country

One Businessmen/women are the real wealth & livelihood creators for the Nation and their pride must never be compromised and must be given full protection by the Government.

Ravi Saini

Rajesh Nair Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

A dynamic calendar helps you to constantly look at how you are spending time and builds traction for what you actually want to accomplish.

Dissecting Productivity for Today's Knowledge Labour

In every walk of life, we try to constantly strive to do better and become more efficient. The quest for increased experience is to fine-tune our ability to use resources better, understand situations comprehensively and take decisions. While that sounds very 'white collar', it is just the logical flow of the mind for anyone – even for the no so-educated. The more we do things, the better we become at it and to add the lens of monotony to it, is wrong. We don't necessarily become blind to change or less productive with increased years. While age is not a proxy for experience, youth is also no guarantee for innovation. Productivity and how to do things

better is a constant peeve and the threads presented here are some of the practical aspects of getting things done better and more efficiently. The Magic of Calendaring We all use To Do lists. Typically, it is an immediate laundry list of things to be accomplished. When it is a time schedule and the list, it is OK. The problem comes when the list is longer and the time horizon is wider. The lists then become indications of intent rather than a plan to completion. Freud calls it the pleasure principle. We are constantly pursuing activities that give us gratification. This avocation mentally makes up prioritise easier activities and delays the more difficult and tedious tasks.

This also makes us do the easy tasks and not necessarily the important tasks. Calendaring tasks makes it more practical and more visual. Your calendar prop gives you a slot to do something and the likelihood of doing the same increases by quantum.

When it is a list, it is easy for another activity to usurp time from doing what is important in your 'To Do' list. Calendaring the activities makes it real and gives you the leeway to actually do it. At the root of all this is 'distraction'. We are easily distracted by internal triggers and by external tools. Internal triggers could be boredom, anxiety, fear, and pleasure which change instantly and external tools could

be the myriad tools of technology – phone, computer, tv, etc. Even if we resort to the extreme measure of digital minimalism, or shutting off devices, our internal triggers will still prevent us from accomplishing tasks. Timeboxing activities you want to do is the easiest and the more practical way of accomplishing

things. A dynamic calendar helps you to constantly look at how you are spending time and builds traction for what you actually want to accomplish.

Transcribing and Managing Notes

“Take notes, as if your life depends on it” – my colleagues would

often hear me rant incessantly about this. Our memory is cluttered by a zillion 'To Dos' related to work and our personal life. Every interaction with a business stakeholder becomes a failed opportunity if one cannot take a set of actions and benefit from the interaction if we just forget what we heard and talked about. You

would also be surprised when we take notes and capture important points verbatim. On reminiscing on reading the notes later, we tend to get better and different insights too. It is also useful to understand and learn from presenters who lack showmanship on a podium and the art of modulated and forceful speeches.

It is also an important part of the new medium of knowledge disbursement – podcasts. Most of us read faster than we listen and perhaps see it as a more intense activity and we are better in tune to assimilate if we read. A useful practice is to work with tran-

scripts of podcasts and catalogue the information in word. One is likely to retain better and recall at will. I have heard several people avidly mention that they pay to get the transcripts or even to get things transcribed because it helps to manage time and to become more effective.

Templatize Repeat Communication

We often underestimate the importance of templates. Templates give us a structure to manage more than 60 % of our communication as a bulk of our communication are repetitive messages – be it in our personal

life or professional life. Examples of these are printed communication that you perhaps send to a vast majority of stakeholders. But the regular 'cut and paste' or 'drag and drop' is not the solution. Templates also need to provide that element of customisation that does not prod the mail watchdogs to diver the mail to spam as it has features of a mail that has been sent to hundreds of people.

In the world of AI today, we have multiple simple tools and apps which help you enable this. But even without using any of these apps if you sit and think of the responses, the sentences we

conjure, and the words we use, you will be able to see patterns and unconscious algorithms. Use it to your benefit and to find the time.

Listen Well

It is a silent truth that one of the key aspects of persuasion is the ability to listen and understand. This is often neglected when we rate articulation much higher than listening and as they say – We refuse to put listening on the same pedestal as 'speaking well'. One of the most undervalued of skills, it is also still in a nascent state as a business competency. As an entrepreneur,

our minds perceive that the biggest challenge is to explain our idea, product, or service to others. It needs to be mentally reinforced that our pitches become much more refined when we listen to the stakeholders around us and their questions. It could be the insightful suggestion of a junior team member, an acerbic comment of a customer, or the pointed query of an investor –all of them help you build your repertoire of responses. We are also driven by the need to feel that what we hear confirms to our beliefs and ideas what Dan Kanhemann calls the 'confirma-

tion bias'.

We are all inclined to listen and learn selectively. Listening and taking notes helps us neutralise our biases and get insights to take course corrections and make intuitive resolutions. But the best part of both these skills is the ease with which you can cultivate them. You can see the positive changes in an instant with a conscious first step. So, all young and old, existing and potential entrepreneurs start listening with weapons of 'Mass Distraction' around you, the critical skill of this century is to build focus and not be distracted

Unique Times Hosts Business Summit

Exploring the Path to Kerala's Empowerment and Financial Services Hub

Unique Times recently hosted a business summit on the topic “Empowering Kerala”. The summit which was moderated by Shri MP Joseph IAS (Retired) also comprised of an eminent panel comprising of Mr VP Nandakumar, Managing Director and CEO, Manappuram Finance, Dr (Ms) M Beena

IAS, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, Mr Loknath Behera IPS, Managing Director, Kochi Metro Rail Limited, Mr S Suhas IAS, Managing Director, CIAL and Adv (CA) Sherry Oommen, a finance professional turned jurist. The summit had participants/ intelligentsia across diverse walks of life and of different ages.

Mr MP Joseph introduced “Ker-

ala” as an “Enigma” or a “Contradiction”. He mentioned that while Kerala boasts of achieving pinnacles on certain health and social parameters, such as literacy, and increased longevity of its people, there are a number of areas where the state has been found wanting, for instance, on the decline of manufacturing coupled with the increase in gawking

wages. Mr Joseph noted that Kerala was slowly turning into a state infamous for drug, women, child and sexual abuse, which should be addressed immediately.

Dr (Ms) M Beena IAS mentioned that in the terms of road network in the country, Kerala is the best in the country. Dr Beena also stated that there was a lot to be done in the state in ensuring worldclass infrastructure especially considering its multiplier effect. She also mentioned that the time taken to travel between cities in Kerala, for instance between Kochi and Trivandrum could be substantially reduced if the better infrastructure is in place, which requires “hard decisions”. Such world-class infrastructure would also help the tourism industry in Kerala.

Mr VP Nandakumar mentioned that Keralites in general are far more employable. He however cited that it is a disturbing trend that youngsters are leaving Kerala for the purpose of pursuing their higher studies, which should be trans-

formed. He mentioned that there is an immediate need to revamp the education sector in Kerala, making it contemporaneous to the present need of the hour. He also stated that Kerala should transform itself into a fintech hub and a destination for unicorns.

Mr Loknath Behera touched on the fact that Kerala is an empowered state, which was evident from the Biennale. He mentioned that the officials at the World Bank spoke highly of the development in the state, which deserves kudos. He also added that mass transportation has to be popularized in the State, failing which there would be a severe strain on the roads. Mr Behera also mentioned that there was a need for digital empowerment in the State, as this would go a long way in improving the lives especially of the senior citizens.

Mr S Suhas IAS mentioned that the state was considering to introduce chopper service with a view to boost the tourism industry. He mentioned that was certain “good

news” on the way, which would augur well for the state.

Adv Sherry Oommen mentioned that while India was young, Kerala is clearly turning old. Adv Oommen mentioned that Kerala’s share to the overall FDI was a meagre 0.42 percent, which definitely requires a serious relook as multinational enterprises of the likes of Foxconn moved to Tamil Nadu resulting in close to 30,000 jobs moving from Kerala to Tamil Nadu. He mentioned that the unemployment rate in the state was a whopping 35.4 percent based on the economic survey of 2020-21, while cautioned that the financial position of the State is clearly in the doldrum which necessitates a thorough revamp. Adv Oommen mentioned that the reason given by the Government of Kerala for the revenue deficit being on account of issues concerning GST Compensation is absolutely vacuous. Adv Oommen mentioned that in line with the views of Mr Nandakumar, Kerala should remodel itself as a financial services hub

Dr Arun Oommen MBBS, MS (Gen Surg), MCh (Neurosurgery), MRCSEd,MBA Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon VPS Lakeshore Hospital

The Flynn effect is defined as the sustained increase in the raw intelligence of humans over time.

Can We Upgrade Our IQ?

The IQ of an individual is multifactorial and is determined by a multitude of factors. Nature and nuture work together in determining human intelligence. Human IQ is characterised by a high level of heritability. However, various modifiable environmental factors like education, premature birth, nutrition, pollution, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illnesses, and diseases can have an influence on an individual's IQ by reinforcing or weakening genetic susceptibility.

Although IQ attempts to measure some notion of intelligence, it may fail to act as an accurate measure of "intelligence". IQ tests only examine particular areas of "intelligence",

failing to account for certain areas which are also associated with "intelligence" such as creativity or emotional intelligence.

Genetics account for around 50% as per many studies and increasing with age. Shared and non-shared environments account for 25% and 20%, respectively, the latter 5% being represented by errors in the evaluation of cognitive abilities. However, the role played by genetics and environment does not remain the same during the entire lifetime. People with high IQ genotypes pick stimulating environments and end up with high IQs. When we’re kids the brain is still growing and developing so there's the chance for the environment

(mental stimulation, nutrition) to affect its development, but by the time we're adults the brain has peaked, so the environment can no longer affect it very much. Ronald Wilson presented the first clear and compelling evidence that the heritability of IQ increases with age (Wilson effect). During brain aging, several environmental insults can produce a neuronal damage by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Neurons protection and repair play a crucial role in order to prevent neuronal damage. These defense and repair processes are genetically determined. However, there are still so many limitations to our current knowledge about the particular genes involved in

NH-47, Bypass, Maradu, Nettoor PO, Kochi 682040, India.

determining IQ. Factors that Affect IQ

1. Genetic Different studies have placed the genetic component at different levels ranging from 30-80%, but it is noted that the level of genetic influence increases with age, at least from childhood through to early adulthood. Twin studies show that identical twins IQ's are more similar than those of fraternal twins. Our brain structure and functionality -contribute to our level of intelligence. Specific features that may affect IQ include the size and shape of the frontal lobes, the amount of blood and chemical activity in the frontal lobes, the total amount of gray matter in the brain, the overall thickness of the cortex and the glucose metabolic

rate. Well-functioning pathways correlate to better brain functioning, brain efficiency and information processing, which all point to better IQ scores. It should be noted that the correlation with brain size is not simple. Autism is also correlated with brain size in ways that are likely controlled by genes, although there are of course disturbed neuronal pathways in autism.

2. Environmental factors

We may be genetically predisposed to a certain brain volume, structure and pathways -- a certain level of intelligence set by our biology -- but how much we achieve isn't based on biology alone. The type of life we lead also affects intelligence. Researchers theorize that if intelligence is purely biological, identical twins separated at birth should

still have equal IQs. But that's not always the case, they find. Genetic effects cause bright children to seek out more stimulating environments that further increase IQ. Programs aiming to increase IQ would be most likely to produce long-term IQ gains if they caused children to persist in seeking out cognitively demanding experiences. Recent studies have shown that training in using one's working memory may increase IQ. But it is not clear how long improvements persist after training stops.

Improvements in nutritional policy, have been implicated in the worldwide increase in IQ. Prenatal and early nutrition are linked to brain structure, behavior, and, intelligence. There is evidence that providing a high-nutrient diet to very premature babies, particularly

males, can help to reduce the loss of brain size and IQ often experienced by these babies. Zinc, iron, folate, iodine, B12, and protein deficiency can also result in low IQ.

Breastfeeding may have some small effect on IQ but the effect may be explained by confounding factors including maternal intelligence. The association is conflicted by studies reporting positive and null effects. More research would be needed to confirm this.

Supplementation with creatine significantly increased intelligence in the elderly rather than

young adults. However, it should be noted that there is a question mark over the safety of long-term creatinine supplementation.

In adults, there is a positive correlation between musical training and IQ, but it is not evident that musical training has a positive effect on emotional intelligence and has been shown to positively influence linguistic abilities. Musically-trained kids showed greater improvement in finger motor skills and auditory discrimination skills, spatial-navigational reasoning, visual form analysis, numerical

discrimination, and receptive vocabulary. They showed structural brain differences in regions linked with motor and auditory processing, and various frontal areas, the left posterior peri-cingulate and a left middle occipital region, but this may relate to the brain's need to integrate information from various modalities (visual, motor, auditory). It can be concluded that the effects of music on IQ may be small or negligible, transient, and probably confined to spatial intelligence.

Several factors can lead to sig-

nificant cognitive impairment, particularly if they occur during pregnancy and childhood when the brain is growing and the blood–brain barrier is less effective. It includes pollutants (e.g. lead, mercury, and organochlorides), alcohol, smoking and drugs (marijuana, cannabis, cocaine). Head injuries and mental illnesses can also cause cognitive impairment.

Mozart effect

Frances Rauscher and Gorden Shaw reported that college students who listened to 10 min-

utes of Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos, showed an increase in IQ of 8 to 9 points on the spatial subtest on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. The phenomenon was coined the Mozart Effect. However, the phenomenon is temporary and is due to shortterm improvement in the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as "spatial-temporal reasoning".

Flynn effect

The Flynn effect is defined as the sustained increase in the raw intelligence of humans

over time. IQ test scores have been rising at an average rate of around three IQ points per decade. Attempted explanations have included improved nutrition, a trend toward smaller families, better education, greater environmental complexity, and heterosis (the occurrence of genetically superior offspring from mixing the genes of its parents). Another proposition is the gradual spread of test-taking skills. The Flynn effect has been too rapid for genetic selection to be the cause

Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen: This article is authored by Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen. Adv Oommen, who specializes in constitution, tax and corporate laws has also cleared the final exams of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He has also completed his Masters Degree in Commerce, apart from obtaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Business and Corporate Laws from Symbiosis Pune. The views expressly are personal and should not be construed as a legal opinion.sherryoommen@nashcp.com.

Right To BailIts Emerging Contours

John EED in “Essays on Freedom and Power” portrays a pertinent aspect on freedom/ liberty, which is extracted below:

“Liberty is one of the most essential requirements of the modern man. It is said to be the delicate fruit of a mature civilization. It is the very quintessence of civilized existence and essential requirement of a modern man.”

In this article, I intend to pen some of my views on the right to bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as “CrPC”). Being a complex subject, in the present article, I will be solely confining my thoughts to offences under the Indi-

an Penal Code, 1860 and its purport considering the provisions of Section 439 of CrPC.

As a caveat, one must remember, that the right to bail could also be subject to restrictions if such conditions/ stipulations are laid down in a statute or where the offences are an “economic offence”. To illustrate, it would be relevant to note that Section 37 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 provides that a person shall not be released on bail unless amongst others the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the Accused is NOT guilty of such offence AND that he is not likely to commit any such offence while on bail. The Hon’ble Supreme

Court in the case of State of Kerala Vs Rajesh and Others (2020) 12 SCC 122 has held that in the event an accused fails to satisfy the conditions stipulated under Section 37 of the NDPS Act, the ban on bail operates.

1. Jurisprudential postulate of bail

The fundamental jurisprudential postulate in criminal jurisprudence to the grant of bail is based on the doctrine of presumption of innocence. The doctrine states that a person is presumed to be innocent until found guilty. Another facet of criminal jurisprudence is that grant of bail is the general rule, whilst putting a person in jail or prison is an exception, as it would be opposed

“Deprivation of liberty must be considered a punishment, unless it is required to ensure that an accused person will stand his trial when called upon.

to Article 21 of the Constitution of India. This has been repeatedly reiterated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in various cases including in the celebrated judgment of Nikesh Tarachand Shah Vs Union of India (2018) 11 SCC 1.

In India, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in various judgments including as observed in Dataram Singh Vs State of UP and Others (2018) 3 SCC 22 has held a humane attitude is required to be adopted by a judge, while dealing

with an application for remanding a suspect or an accused person to police custody or judicial custody. The reasons include maintaining the dignity of the accused person however the poor the person may be, the requirements of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. It would also be pertinent to note that the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of In Re Inhuman in 1382 Prisons (2017) 10 SCC 658 also took cognisance of certain serious problems regarding prisons in India which

included overcrowding in prisons, unnatural death of prisoners, gross inadequacy of staff and the fact that available staff were untrained or inadequately trained.

1.1 Is the object of bail punitive or preventative?

The answer to this question has been answered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Sanjay Chandra Vs Central Bureau of Investigation (2012) 1 SCC 20. In this case, the Court held that the object of bail is to secure the appearance

Section 439 confers power on the High Court or the Court of Sessions to grant an accused who is in custody to be released on bail. Typically, bail is granted on such conditions as deemed appropriate by the concerned Court taking into account the factors in each case.

of the accused person at his trial by reasonable amount of bail. The Court held that object of bail is neither punitive nor preventative. It would be profitable to extract a few passages from the said judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court which would highlight certain important propositions of law regarding the grant of bail:

“Deprivation of liberty must be considered a punishment, unless it is required to ensure that an accused person will stand his trial when called upon. The courts owe more than verbal respect to the principle that punishment begins after conviction, and that every man is deemed to be innocent until duly tried and duly found guilty.

Apart from the question of prevention being the object of refusal of bail, one must not lose sight of the fact that any imprisonment before conviction has a substantial punitive content and it would be improper for any court to refuse bail

as a mark of disapproval of former conduct whether the accused has been convicted for it or not or to refuse bail to an unconvicted person for the purpose of giving him a taste of imprisonment as a lesson.

The provisions of CrPC confer discretionary jurisdiction on criminal courts to grant bail to the accused pending trial or in appeal against convictions; since the jurisdiction is discretionary, it has to be exercised with great care and caution by balancing the valuable right of liberty of an individual and the interest of the society in general. In our view, the reasoning adopted by the learned District Judge, which is affirmed by the High Court, in our opinion, is a denial of the whole basis of our system of law and the normal rule of the bail system. It transcends respect for the requirement that a man shall be considered innocent until he is found guilty. If such power is recognised, then it may lead to a chaotic situation and

would jeopardise the personal liberty of an individual.

This Court, time and again, has stated that bail is the rule and committal to jail an exception. It has also been observed that refusal of bail is a restriction on the personal liberty of the individual guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.”

2. Section 439 – What it contemplates?

Section 439 confers power on the High Court or the Court of Sessions to grant an accused who is in custody to be released on bail. Typically, bail is granted on such conditions as deemed appropriate by the concerned Court taking into account the factors in each case. The conditions that typically form part of the order granting bail includes the following:

 That the concerned applicant/ Petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation and appear before the concerned Investigating Officer.

 That such person shall not

commit a similar offence whilst being released on bail.

 That such person shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence.

In the context of the conditions imposed whilst granting bail, the Supreme Court in Munish Bhasin (2009) 4 SCC 45 has held that the Court should be extremely chary in imposing conditions and should not transgress its jurisdiction or power by imposing conditions which are not called for at all. Further, the conditions imposed should not be harsh, onerous, or excessive so as to frustrate the very objective of granting bail or virtually in essence tantamount to a refusal of bail.

As evident, the provisions of Section 439 would apply only where a person is in “custody”. In a scenario, where a person apprehends arrest, such person would need to file an application seeking anticipa-

tory bail under Section 437 of the CrPC. The application seeking anticipatory bail would need to be filed either before the High Court or the Court of Sessions.

3. Satender Kumar Antil Vs Central Bureau of Investigation (2022)

10 SCC 51

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Satender Kumar Antil (2022) 10 SCC 51 has laid down key guidelines/ principles and directions in the context of arrest and bail. Interestingly, the failure to follow the directions/ principles as laid down in the judgment has recently costed a learned Judge of the Sessions Court in Lucknow, the need to undergo training for the upgradation of his skills. The said judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court is a treatise in itself. In the said case, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has requested the Union of India to consider the introduction of a separate enactment like in the United Kingdom to streamline the grant of bail. For instance, The Bail Act, 1976 of the United Kingdom takes into consideration various

factors.

The said law in the United Kingdom is an attempt to have a comprehensive law dealing with bails by following a simple procedure. The Act takes into consideration the clogging of the prisons with the undertrial prisoners, cases involving the issuance of warrants, granting of bail both before and after conviction, the exercise of the power by the investigating agency and the court, violation of the bail conditions, execution of bond and sureties on the unassailable principle of presumption and right to get bail. Certain exceptions have been carved out as mentioned in Schedule I of the said Act dealing with different contingencies and factors including the nature and continuity of offence.

In summary, I would believe that judgment in the case of Satender Kumar Antil is a beacon that should ideally reduce the scope of litigation when it comes to matters concerning arrest and bail. I would hope that the directions in the said judgment are followed in its true spirit

Dolly Maria is founder of THE IGNIST, a training company born out of a noble cause and spirit. She holds a decade long experience being a passionate mentor and entrepreneur.

How the team leader exhibits his leadership skills also matters which helps the employee to be mentally steady while communicating over the phone or in person.

THE KEY OF DELIGHT!

So, in a successful business world, we are so familiar with the phrase “Customer is the King”, “the customer is always right” and that you should do everything that the customer demands, etc. It is a cliché to place the customer always on the upper pedestal when it comes to business. And it has been the same for decades, even though nowadays we do hear about balancing the scales between customers and vendors when it comes to human behavioural treatment. It is indeed a tough nut to crack, to find the right ingredients to the formulae of efficacious customer support. And as the world keeps changing frantically now, the behavioural patterns of customers are becoming more unpredictable and wobbly.

A successful business cannot

afford a dissatisfied customer. As we know, retaining the regular customer is always more worthy than trying to add on new customers. It takes more effort to market and sell to new customers than to retain the regular loyal lot. And regulars tend to do the word of mouth which will gather immense trust in the brand and in turn adds to the number of customer base again. Hence companies and brands do their circus on a daily to 'date' their customers and keep them happy. A variety of new offers, discounts, promotions, bonuses, privileged experiences and gifts are being sent out to the customers' lot to keep them glued to the brand. However, today's world competition is high and 'survival of the fittest' in marketing has become more evident. Even if you are high in quality, other advertising gimmicks mostly can

lure your customers at least for some time out into the rival’s tents.

It says that your employees are your first customers. And to prove it true, employees jump ships faster nowadays than a customer do. It is imperative to give an apt training to a newly inducted employee to understand the company, policy and ethics, so that the faith is adhered and shall be passed on. The employee usually cascade down what's been fed to him/her. Hence it is important to filter down what's been said and done from the higher levels to the lower ones in the hierarchy. Because mostly it is the first-level employees who interact with the majority of customers than the higher-ups. So the employee should have the utmost trust in the brand in order to sell it to a potential customer. How the team

Dolly Maria

leader exhibits his leadership skills also matters which helps the employee to be mentally steady while communicating over the phone or in person. For all of these, adequate training is a must and the stakeholders should make sure that the learning imparted is accurately executed in the field; which inturn is a dire component in the longer-term success of the organization. As social media is strong today, it just takes a ‘tweet’ for your brand to come down in seconds, or your share to fall in hours. So the stake has gone up as the tentacles of technology has all of us in its tight grips, more than ever before.

Many of us entrepreneurs are not really enjoying a really healthiest of the economy after the 2008 recession and the worldwide pandemic. Eventhough recessions are somewhat foreseeable, the pandemic took the sands under a lot of our feet. Lot many business decided to change shapes, structures, many went online, many went off business, many are still struggling to regain balance. The entrepreneurs were thrown into

deep waters, deliberate and abrupt decisions were taken. To make the problem even complicated, today there is a larger volatile nature to consumer behaviour and most of them are less loyal. Even though we rely a lot on decades of study on consumer behaviours and research, the current trend and pattern shows that many a techniques do not really convince the buyers. The truly natives of digital generation Gen Z already represents 40% of the global consumers online. Things once were products are now evolving into services too. The emerging markets like entertainment, artificial intelligence, video streaming is all depended on the consumption statistics. Gen Z are largely educated base who are not ready to consume what’s been fed to them by a particular brand if that doesn’t align with the cause they believe in, or if it conflicts with the individuality of identity they choose to reflect on, or if there is any concern on the ethicality of it. For millennial, the trend is essentially is still ambiguous. They do all the researches and reviews online. There is a variety

of channels available for them to do a buy; however some studies shows that they still mostly opt for a retail buy-in stores, may be a cohesive omni-channel experience matters more to them. Gen Y are still offline customers in the majority, who choose to keep their loyalty to a regular brand before they are convinced to be dragged onto a new one.

A successful customer service is how the business decided to engage with its customer inorder to give them benefit, satisfaction and value for the investment they put in. The intriguing world of CRM is not that simple as yesteryears. It’s more intricate and problem-solving now. There ought to be a customer satisfaction structure in place which will jump in to rescue whenever there is a need or a problem arise between your service/employee/ product and the customer. The goal indeed is to make the customer feel very important and unique. It will help when you make your interface more friendly with the customer – whether it be offline or online. The customer should feel the ease

of manoeuvring around, choosing the product and with the aftersales too. The customer should feel easy to get back to one of your account managers or representatives who can then smoothly guide them to an amicable resolution. Promptness and pleasing approach is a mandatory there. Some unique startegies some companies have devised overtime to enhance customer satisfaction experience has indeed done miracles in adding delight and number to their customer base, as the

customers will then align with your company’s purpose as if it is theirs. They unknowingly become your brand ambassadors for free. That is why even when technology has a larger play in today’s world and it helps, but a humane touch remains extremely relevant. With the right potion of supreme efforts on making a superlative customer experience and an impeccably quality service/ product, you can indeed make a remarkable leap of success in the times to come. The future is yours!

The Elixir

By Sreekumar Ezhuththaani

He hadn’t travelled to this part of the country. He didn’t even care such places existed. He had to book a taxi, board two buses and catch a train, all in a day. He found the taxi driver disagreeable, and the co-passengers in the bus loud and dirty. The train was fine. An old man going returning from one pilgrimage and going on another was a great solace. He used to know all about how to be on a train.

Maheshwar heaved a sigh. What if he was not lucky enough to have had such a companion? How could he foresee where to get water and where to get water to drink and where to buy food?

Maheshwar would not have gone on such a long and hazardous journey had it not been for his wife. His love for her was not much but her headache had become too severe for her to give him any peace of mind. They had consulted several specialists and surprisingly it was one of them who told Maheshwar to try a tribal cure. The tribals living in the Western Ghats had strange elixirs for a few chronic illnesses and this kind of headache was one of them. And here he was. He got off the bus at a desolate place that he thought was at the foot of the hill at the top of which the Adivasi Mooppan, the tribal chief lived. He was believed to be more than a century and a half old. When many people half his age could no longer see or hear, this medicine man had no such issues. If all had he heard were true, his wife's headache, which was his headache too, could be cured forever.

Maheshwar was shocked to find that he was nowhere near the foot of the hill where the medicine man lived. There was no way he could

reach there and return that day. He had to find a place to stay and continue his journey the next day. Find a place to stay in a village like this. Nobody seemed to have a place of their own there. What people called their homesteads were not even eligible to be called huts. He was not surprised or notably thankful when almost everyone in that village offered their place for him to stay. There was nothing much in the offering anyway. But that was not the case with the food they brought to him when he finally told them he would sleep in the open, under a banyan tree outside their tiny temple. He had never had anything so tasty. When one is hungry, anything tastes great, he remembered.

He was unceremoniously woken up the next day by a dog whose place he had usurped the previous night. However, he was ceremoniously greeted by two people each of whom had brought him a cup of tea. The super strong tea was mostly thick milk. They said the tea was homemade. He thought of buying some on his way back. He told them he was sorry he could not accept their invitation to breakfast. He wanted to start before sunrise. They showed him a mud road that disappeared into the morning mist.

He said bye to them and took the muddy path. He took a stick with him just in case something wild stood in his way. He was still tired and using the stick to support him made him look pretty old. As he hurried down the path, he could hear the villagers laughing out loud. Why were they laughing while saying bye to him? How mean! Was that the right path? Was it possible that they would play such a prank on him? For all these reasons, he felt when they left him alone. He enjoyed his

solitude. He was one with nature now. He sensed the blood of some wild animal streaming in his veins. He felt so relieved. He could be what he really was. He thought he was the wild animal that might impede the path of another animal now. He threw the stick away and flailed the mist with his arms. He dropped all his inhibitions and engaged in fist fights with the low branches of trees and kicked with his boots every stone as big as his foot, like a coach passing the ball to his players.

He met five people at different spots along his way. They all assured him he was on the right path. Could he trust them? What if this was a trick the villages play to anyone who intruded into their life, just for fun? four to validate the information given by the first was sheer stupidity. If one could cheat, all of them could cheat him. Still, he hoped for more people to get their assurance too.

By noon he reached the top of the hill. He looked down the steep cliff on the other side. Trying as much as he did, he could not recall the name of the madman who rolled a stone up a hill to let it go down the other side. The face of one of his old colleagues who used to carry a heavy load of files from the office shelf in the morning only to carry them back to the shelf in the evening without checking even a sheet in them came to his mind. His name was Narayanan. Where could be that drunkard now?

He felt a jolt as a frail hand fell on his shoulder. He suddenly turned around and saw a weak old man, in tattered clothes facing him. He looked exactly like the picture of the madman rolling the stone uphill in the comic book he had read as a child. Could this be the real Madman of Naraanathth? He was

amused to see how the name came to him when he was in the least trying to recall it.

"Are you mad to stand here carelessly on this cliff?" asked the old man with an air of authority that one could least expect from such a figure.

“I am sure I am insane. Not because I stood here carelessly on this cliff. But because I climbed this hill in search of a medicine man. No one seems to be living here. Are you from around here? Do you know such a medicine man?”

“I know who you are talking about. But I don’t know him personally. If you are here looking for a herb, maybe I can help you.”

“Forget it, I am going back. It was a waste of my time. I don’t want to waste your time too.”

“Remember, you can’t go back without the herb you have come here to collect. Your patient will be mad at you. And else is time for, unless it is to waste. Come on tell me. Is it backache or tummy ache or cramps?”

“None of them. It is my wife. She has a really bad chronic headache. I heard that there is an elixir here, some herb known only to the Moop-

pan here.”

“So, sorry to hear that. I am the only Adivasi Mooppan here. There was such a herb.

Very hard to find nowadays. I used to collect and distribute it. Now I don’t do it anymore. I don’t even mention it now. You will have to go back empty-handed.”

Instead of feeling sad, Maheshwar felt that he was much relieved now. He had kept his word to his wife. He had travelled for a day and a half. It is her bad luck. What else?

“Sorry. But you look very tired. Come to my hut, it is a few steps down the hill. Have some food and drink and then you can roll down the hill.” The old man laughed out loud. Hut? Maheshwar was sure he had seen no hut on his way up. But as they walked down the hill by another path, he spied a small hut. This was not the way he went up. Even if this was the way, the hut was so much in sync with the wilderness, one could easily miss it.

The food and drink the old man offered was nothing less than a feast. He wanted to give something to the old man but there was no way the

old man was going to take something from him. Proudly the old man told him, “The rich should not take from the poor.” Maheshwas chose to ignore that comment.

In every other way, the old man was very nice to him. He told Maheshwar that he had made arrangements for his stay down in the village. “Let sleeping dogs lie,” said the old man.

“And even though I didn’t accept your money, thank you for offering it. From the way you offered it, I think you are not used to such things. It is a start. Try not to take that money home. I don’t take any money home since it gives me a headache if I do.” Again the old man laughed for no reason.

Maheshwar didn't want to stay on that hill any longer. He feared the old man might push him down the hill to see him roll all the way down. Exactly then as if he had read Maheshwar's mind the old man said to Maheshwar, "Have no fear."

Maheshwar walked down the hill down the mud road rather slowly. He had decided to throw the money into any waterbody he saw on the way. He

didn’t want to take it home. What if it is evil like the old man said? He didn’t want to take the risk. He wandered into the forest at several places looking for a pond or a rivulet. He could find none. He saw all the people he had met on his way up. They all smiled at him knowingly. There was no need to hurry. No matter when he reached the village, he would have to spend the night there. When he finally reached the village, he found that the old man was as good as his word. Everything was taken care of. The village people had decorated a hut with palm leaves and oil lamps to make it look like a temple. All of them looked so happy and peaceful like the old man on top of the hill. He purposely avoided mentioning the fool’s errand he had. He was sure it would make them sad. Why should it make them sad? He was a total stranger to them, just a wayfarer. He remembered the stories he had heard as a child, stories about how people used to be kind and nice to lost travellers and wayfarers. In his mother’s home, there was a huge earthen pot which was used to be filled with water and placed outside the gate for pedestrians to drink from. Later it was replaced by a street pipe. It broke and was never fixed. He made it a point to get it fixed on his next visit.

The next morning he woke up late and rushed through his morn-

ing routine. He was buttoning his shirt when he heard the bus honking. He rushed out without buttoning his shirt properly. The villagers had stopped the bus for him. Seeing how he was wearing his shirt, they all laughed. They laugh at anything he noticed. He boarded the bus and said a hurried goodbye to the villagers. They laughed again. As the bus moved he realized that he had not left his address with them. He had written it down but was still holding the paper. He rolled it and threw it at the villagers. Some boys ran after it as it flew up and down in the draught made by the moving bus. Then the conductor lugged a bundle toward his seat. A gift of fruits from the villagers. He picked a few halfripe ones and gave over the rest of it to all the passengers. Travel light, he told himself. But he doubted whether that was why he gave away the fruits. He suddenly remembered the money he was supposed to part with before he went home.

Like Kuchela back in his home, he found that his house looked different. Like the hut he had slept in the previous night, all the lamps were lit and his wife was right in the courtyard, with no trace of a headache. Seeing him, she laughed like the villagers laughed when he said bye to them. She had not laughed like this for ages. It was not his birthday, he was sure. It was not their wedding anniversary, he was

damn sure.

“Happy Birthday!” greeted his wife.

“Whose?”

“Why! Yours! Where is the sweet?”

“I had no money.”

“Sure you had enough when you left home.”

“Yes, but I gave it away. I had to. I was supposed to.” He could not express it properly.

“How is your migraine now?” he managed to ask.

“I gave it away, I had to, I was supposed to,” she mimicked him and laughed at her own performance. ****************************

Two years later, one morning, three young men from that remote village came looking for Maheshwar. They had brought a bundle of herbs. He thanked them and told them he didn’t need them anymore. He and his wife had breakfast with them. His wife offered them some money but they did not take it.

“The rich should not take from the poor” Maheshwar told them.

His wife was puzzled, but the young men smiled.

Maheshwar told them they could sell the bundle of herbs at a shop.

“No, we were told to throw it in the waste bin if you don’t need it.”

For no obvious reason, Maheshwar started laughing

GADGETS

OPPO Find X6 Pro

Rs 72,190 Approximately

 Android v13

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 50 MP + 50 MP + 50 MP Triple Primary Cameras

 32 MP Front Camera

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 5000 mAh Battery Capacity

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 Android v13

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LeEco S1 Pro

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Moto G71s

Rs 19,790 Approximately

 Android v12

 6.6 inches (16.76 cm) Display

 50 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP Triple Primary Cameras

 16 MP Front Camera

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 128 GB Internal Memory

 5000 mAh Battery Capacity

Step into Comfort: Ayurvedic Remedies for Cracked Heels

Cracked heels are a common problem that affects many people. It can cause severe pain and bleeding if left untreated. This condition occurs due to the loss of moisture in the skin and excessive pressure on the feet. While there are many medicines available in the market to solve this problem, there are also some remedies mentioned in Ayurveda that can be very effective.

One Ayurvedic remedy for cracked heels is coconut water and rice. Soaking rice in coconut water and grinding it into a paste can be very beneficial. Applying this paste on the feet for a few days can help to soothe and heal cracked heels.

Another Ayurvedic remedy involves grinding dried gooseberry in porridge water and applying it to the head.

Turmeric is another popular remedy for cracked heels in Ayurveda. Mixing Jimsonweed leaves and raw turmeric and applying it to the feet can be very effective. Similarly, you can mix neem leaves and turmeric and apply it to the affected area.

Mob: 9388618112

Grinding raw turmeric and mixing it with neem oil can also be very beneficial. These needs to be done regularly for better results. Grinding curry leaves and raw turmeric and kneading it in curd is another popular Ayurvedic remedy for cracked heels. Another treat-

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International

ment for cracked heels involves combining turmeric powder, castor oil, cow milk, and ghee and applying it to the feet.

Henna leaves are also a good remedy for cracked heels. Using soaked fenugreek in this and grinding it is also good.

Ayurveda also recommends applying the milk of the fig tree to this area.

Grating Crossandra leaf

and applying sesame oil can be very helpful. Similarly, mixing rock salt with golden wax and applying it to the affected area can also be very effective. Aloe vera gel is another great remedy for cracked heels as it is a good remedy for dry skin. It can be applied directly to the affected area or mixed with coconut oil and aloe vera gel. Also Vaseline ghee can also

be used for added benefits.

Above all, it is important to keep your feet clean and dry at all times. Wearing socks with aloe vera or coconut oil before going to bed can help to keep your feet moisturized and prevent cracking. With these Ayurvedic remedies, you can soothe and heal your cracked heels and enjoy healthy, happy feet

Known as "The Gathering Place," Oahu is the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands, and its rich history and diverse landscape make it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

Discovering the Wonders of Oahu: A Comprehensive Guide to Hawaii's Most Diverse Island

Oahu is the third largest island in Hawaii and is home to over 950,000 people. Known as "The Gathering Place," Oahu is the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands, and its rich history and diverse landscape make it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. From its breath-taking beaches and lush forests to its bustling city and fascinating culture, Oahu has something

for everyone. In this guide, we'll explore the wonders of Oahu and help you plan the perfect vacation.

Getting There

The most convenient way to get to Oahu is by plane. Honolulu International Airport is the main airport on the island, and it receives direct flights from many major cities in the US, Canada, Asia, and Oceania. Once you arrive, you can rent a car, take a taxi, or use public transportation to get

around the island.

Top Attractions

Waikiki Beach - Located in the heart of Honolulu, Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world. With its crystal-clear waters, white sand, and stunning views of Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach is a must-visit for any traveler to Oahu.

Pearl Harbor - The site of the infamous attack that brought the US into World War II, Pearl Harbor is a

TRAVELOGUE

historic landmark that should not be missed. Visitors can tour the USS Arizona Memorial and learn about the events that led up to the attack.

North Shore - The North Shore of Oahu is a surfer's paradise, with world-famous surf breaks like Pipeline and Sunset Beach. Even if you're not a surfer, the laid-back vibe and beautiful scenery of the North Shore make it a great place to visit.

Diamond Head - A volcanic cone that overlooks Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head is a popular hiking destination that offers stunning views of the island. The hike is moderately challenging, but the views are well worth the effort.

Hanauma Bay - A protected marine sanctuary on the east side of Oahu, Hanauma Bay is a great place

to snorkel and see a wide variety of tropical fish and coral. Be sure to arrive early, as the bay can get crowded later in the day.

Food and Drink

Oahu is home to a diverse range of cuisines, thanks to its multicultural population. Some must-try dishes include:

Poke - A Hawaiian dish made with cubed raw fish, soy sauce, sesame oil, and other seasonings, poke is a popular dish that can be found at many restaurants and food trucks around the island.

Plate Lunch - A local favorite, plate lunch consists of a meat (usually chicken, pork, or beef), two scoops of rice, and a side dish (such as macaroni salad). It's a filling and affordable meal that can be found at

many local eateries.

Shave Ice - A refreshing treat that's perfect for a hot day, shave ice is similar to a snow cone but with finer ice and a wider range of flavors. Try it with condensed milk and azuki beans for a truly Hawaiian experience.

Mai Tai - A tropical cocktail made with rum, orange curacao, lime juice, and orgeat syrup, the Mai Tai is a classic drink that's perfect for sipping on a beachfront patio.

Culture and History

Oahu is home to a rich and fascinating history, with influences from Hawaiian, American, Japanese, and other cultures. Some must-visit cultural sites include:

Iolani Palace - The only royal palace in the United States, Iolani

Oahu is a truly special place, with a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and outdoor adventure.

Palace was built in 1882 and served as the residence of the last two monarchs of Hawaii. Visitors can take a guided tour of the palace and learn about Hawaii's royal history.

Bishop Museum - The Bishop Museum is a great place to learn about Hawaiian culture and history, with exhibits on everything from ancient Hawaiian artifacts to modern Hawaiian art.

Polynesian Cultural CenterThe Polynesian Cultural Center is a theme park that showcases the cultures of Polynesia, including Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Tahiti. Visitors can enjoy cultural performances, learn about traditional crafts and activities, and even participate in a traditional luau.

Kualoa Ranch - A 4,000-acre working cattle ranch on the east side of Oahu, Kualoa Ranch has been used as a filming location for many movies and TV shows, including Jurassic Park and Lost. Visitors can take a tour of the ranch and learn about its history and culture.

Outdoor Activities

Oahu's natural beauty and warm climate make it the perfect place for

outdoor activities. Some popular options include:

Surfing - Oahu is one of the best places in the world to surf, with waves that range from beginnerfriendly to expert-level. Lessons and board rentals are available at many beaches around the island.

Hiking-Oahu has many great hiking trails, from easy walks to challenging climbs. Some popular hikes include the Diamond Head Summit Trail and the Manoa Falls Trail.

Snorkeling-In addition to Hanauma Bay, there are many other great snorkeling spots around the island. Some popular options include Shark's Cove on the North Shore and Kahe Point Beach Park on the west side.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding-Sta nd-up paddleboarding (SUP) is a fun and easy way to explore Oahu's beaches and waterways. Rentals and lessons are available at many beaches around the island.

Accommodations

Oahu has a wide range of accommodations to suit every budget and preference. Some popular options include:

Hotels - Oahu has many hotels, ranging from luxury resorts to budget-friendly options. Some popular choices include the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and the Sheraton Waikiki.

Vacation Rentals - Vacation rentals, such as condos and houses, are a great option for families and groups. Websites like Airbnb and VRBO have many options to choose from.

Hostels - For budget-conscious travelers, hostels are a great option. The Waikiki Beachside Hostel and the Polynesian Hostel Beach Club are both popular choices.

Embrace the Beauty of Oahu

Oahu is a truly special place, with a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and outdoor adventure. Whether you're looking to surf, hike, or simply relax on the beach, Oahu has something for everyone. With so much to see and do, it's no wonder that Oahu is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. So, pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and get ready to discover the wonders of Oahu!

Vivek Venugopal is one of India’s top automotive writers with over a decade’s experience in road-testing and reviewing cars. He is currently the Editor of Quarter Mile magazine and a columnist in several leading magazines and newspapers. He is also a highly sought after consulting engineer and market analyst for many automobile manufacturers.

MG Comet

MG Comet is the little thing that’s big right now. Everyone is curious as to knowing what it is and nearly everyone we know is interested in buying or at least test-driving one. So, what’s the big deal?

We drove it last month in Delhi where MG had organized their media drive. It was quite a sight as a swarm of nearly forty tiny little cars rolled onto the Gurgaon highway towards Delhi. We felt like a bunch of kids with new toys and soon were racing against one another. The Comet was unlike anything else we have driven in a long time, being very narrow and chuckable. We were darting between startled drivers in other cars and sprinting from one traffic signal to the next.

The initial excitement of being in something so different soon wore off, as we hit the faster, more open sections of the highway. It could do a respectable top speed of 105kmph

but, with its ultralight steering, tiny wheels and diminutive footprint, it wasn’t quite at home, next to big trucks and buses. But as soon as we entered the crowded city of Delhi, it began to make so much sense.

For one thing, I was so happy that I am in something so compact. At 2.9m long and 1.5m wide, the Comet is considerably smaller than a Tata Nano and you know how easy those are to drive around and park. There is no bonnet stretching in front, there are virtually no overhangs and the small turning circle coupled with the short 2010mm wheelbase meant, it was more maneuverable than anything else on the road. Forward visibility is great with big glass windows all around, it’s like being a gold fish in a glass bowl.

While it’s small, the MG Comet doesn’t look cheap. Throughout the exteriors, there are suitable chrome elements, long LED strips front and

Forward visibility is great with big glass windows all around, it’s like being a gold fish in a glass bowl.

rear, gloss black chrome, etc. that look classy. The paint quality is great and the wheel caps look smart. It is quite a tall car at 1.6 metres and that makes it easy to get in and out of. You also sit high in those nice grey fabric seats which aren’t the most padded, but are still comfortable for the urban grind. The narrowness of the cabin is obvious when you sit

next to a fellow passenger but the overall cabin feels quite roomy. The doors are huge, the dashboard is set far away and takes up only minimal space, and there is no center console near the footwell. Rear seats are accessed by flipping the front seats, and there is a surprising amount of space at the back for two. The ungainly, porthole windows on the

sides which drop a level down below the shoulder line of the car, provide much relief here, making the rear passengers feel less claustrophobic.

The overall cabin ambience is that of an upmarket lifestyle product than a cheap city car. The key is very cool and shaped like a diamond but if you don’t want to use it, you can also use your smartphone to lock

It is quite a tall car at 1.6 metres and that makes it easy to get in and out of.

or unlock the car. To start the car, you press the brake pedal for two seconds and to shut it down normally, you get out and lock the doors. There are two Mercedes-style 10.25inch screens. The center screen has a clean UI, customizable widgets and the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto The steering wheel is well-made with perforated leather and has buttons that look inspired by the ones on the original Apple iPod. The centre console has a rotary gear selector and there are plenty of

storage spaces in the cabin. The boot isn't very usable, you might use it for an office bag or storing the charging cable, but the seats fold down 50:50 adding to the practicality.

Powering the MG Comet is a 17.3kWh battery pack that can realistically do around 200kms on a full charge. There is no provision for DC fast charging, so you will need about 5 hours to charge it from 10-80 percent and almost 7 hours to do a full charge on a 3.3kw wall-box charger. The 41bhp motor is mounted at the

rear and powers the rear wheels. That may not sound like much and sure there is no urgency like you'd expect in an EV, but with 110Nm and only 800kilos to move, the Comet gets off the line smartly. There is ample power to keep up with everyday traffic and you'd never feel out of pace in the city. There are driving modes, but the ones in our test car weren't properly calibrated so we'll reserve comments till we drive another example at a later date.

This Comet is an easy car to

drive around. The 8.4m turning circle and the compact dimensions make it perfect for the city. The light steering, the lack of noise, and good visibility will be appreciated by everyone. However, highspeed handling isn't great and you have to be careful with your steering inputs as it picks up speed. The ride is also quite bad because of the small wheels and the rigid axle suspension at the rear. You can feel the bumps much more than you’d in most small cars, it crashes into pot-

holes and the lightly padded seats don’t really help either. On good city roads, and over short distances, the Comet is in a class of its own.

It all comes down to the price too. We were stunned when MG announced the Comet’s price at Rs.7.98 lakhs. Later they disclosed the price of the entire range and we realized that this figure was for a base model and the higher trims are Rs.9.30 lakhs and the one we tested was Rs. 9.98 lakhs, ex. showroom. The Comet EV will,

at best, be a second or third car in the household and will be confined to limited use in the city, such as commuting to work, or shopping, or dropping the kids off to school. And that makes it expensive especially when you consider that you can get a proper four-door, four-seater family hatch like a Tiago EV for similar money. But if you want the style, tech, and most importantly the compact size, upmarket feel and the cool factor, there is nothing like it

Viduthalai Part 1

Viduthalai Part 1 is an Indian Tamil-language period crime thriller film that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Written and directed by Vetrimaaran and produced by Elred Kumar under the banners of RS Infotainment, this movie is a cinematic masterpiece that is adapted from the short story Thunaivan written by B. Jeyamohan. Starring the talented Soori and Vijay Sethupathi, the film tells the story of a police officer's relentless pursuit of a separatist group's leader. The tension and suspense build up throughout the movie, and the well-crafted plot keeps the audience engaged and invested in the story. The movie's outstanding performances, powerful dialogue, and stunning visuals make it a must-watch for Tamil movie lovers. Vijay Sethupathi delivers a commanding performance, perfectly capturing the character's complexity and depth. Soori's portrayal of the police officer is equally impressive, bringing a sense of urgency and determination to the role. Overall, "Viduthalai Part 1" is an intense and thoughtprovoking movie that explores important themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice.

Gumraah

Gumraah is an intense and captivating crime thriller film that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Directed by Vardhan Ketkar and produced by T-Series Films and Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios, the movie features Aditya Roy Kapur in a dual role along with Mrunal Thakur and Ronit Roy. The film is a remake of the 2019 Tamil film Thadam. The plot revolves around a murder investigation that takes a complicated turn after the police discover two lookalike suspects. As the investigation progresses, the plot thickens and the lines between right and wrong blur, leading to unexpected twists and turns that keep the audience engaged. Aditya Roy Kapur delivers a brilliant performance in his dual role, portraying two characters with distinct personalities and mannerisms. Mrunal Thakur and Ronit Roy also shine in their respective roles and add depth to the storyline. The film's direction, cinematography, and background score are top-notch, creating a tense and gripping atmosphere that adds to the overall experience of watching the movie. The pacing is just right, keeping the audience invested throughout the runtime.

Evil Dead Rise

Evil Dead Rise is a spine-chilling horror film that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Written and directed by Lee Cronin, this movie is the fifth installment of the Evil Dead series and stars Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland as two sisters who are forced to confront demonic creatures to save their family. The film's storyline follows the reunion of two estranged sisters who are suddenly thrust into a fight for their survival when flesh-possessing demons rise and begin to wreak havoc. The tension builds as the sisters are faced with the most horrific version of family imaginable, and they must fight to protect themselves and those they love. The performances of the lead actresses are outstanding, and their chemistry is believable and captivating. The supporting cast also delivers solid performances, with Nell Fisher making a memorable debut. The film's visual effects are impressive and add to the eerie atmosphere, and the sound design enhances the sense of terror.

The Pope's Exorcist

The Pope's Exorcist is a bone-chilling supernatural horror film that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. Directed by Julius Avery and written by Michael Petroni and Evan Spiliotopoulos, the film is based on the real-life experiences of Father Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist for the Vatican who battled Satan and innocent-possessing demons during his lifetime. Russell Crowe delivers a powerful performance as Father Amorth, bringing to life the gritty and terrifying reality of exorcism. The supporting cast, including Daniel Zovatto, Alex Essoe, and Franco Nero, also deliver strong performances that enhance the film's atmosphere of dread and suspense. The film's plot draws inspiration from the books "An Exorcist Tells His Story" and "An Exorcist: More Stories" by Father Amorth, providing a detailed and haunting portrait of a man who performed over 100,000 exorcisms during his career. To sum up, "The Pope's Exorcist" is a gripping and intense horror film that will satisfy fans of the genre.

Author : Kate Morton Price : `1,821 (Hardcover)

Homecoming Happy Place

“Homecoming” by Kate Morton is a captivating novel that takes readers on a journey of family secrets and a decades-old murder mystery. The story follows Jess, a journalist living in London, who rushes back to Sydney when her grandmother is hospitalized after a fall. While going through her grandmother’s belongings, Jess discovers a true crime journal chronicling a murder that occurred on Christmas Eve in 1959 at a mysterious mansion. As Jess delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers surprising connections to her own family’s history. Morton skillfully weaves together the past and present, creating a complex and intriguing plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The characters in “Homecoming” are well-developed and relatable, particularly Jess, who is determined to uncover the truth about the murder and her family’s involvement. The descriptions of the Australian landscape and the mansion where the murder took place are vivid and transport readers to another time and place. “Homecoming” is a beautifully written novel that combines family drama, mystery, and historical fiction into a compelling story. Morton’s writing style is engaging and evocative, and readers will find themselves fully immersed in the world she has created. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and mystery novels.

Author : Emily Henry Price : `2,070 (Paperback)

“Happy Place” by Emily Henry is a captivating and heartwarming novel that explores the complexities of love and relationships. The story follows the journey of Harriet and Wyn, a former couple who are forced to fake their relationship during their group’s annual Maine vacation. They have been together for ten years but broke up six months ago without telling anyone. The couple’s reason for pretending to still be together is to avoid ruining everyone’s last time at the cottage, which is up for sale. However, as they spend more time together, they begin to question if their relationship is truly over. The novel explores the struggles of navigating a relationship that has gone sour, while still holding on to the good memories and moments shared. Emily Henry has done an excellent job of creating authentic and relatable characters. Harriet and Wyn’s story is told through alternating perspectives, giving the reader insight into their thoughts and feelings. The setting of the story, a picturesque cottage in Maine, adds to the charm of the novel and complements the narrative’s overall tone. On the whole, “Happy Place” is a delightful read that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with the characters. It is a story about second chances, forgiveness, and the power of love to overcome even the most challenging obstacles. If you are a fan of contemporary romance, then this book is a must-read.

Author : Sally Hepworth

Price : `1,401 (Paperback)

The Soulmate With My Little Eye

In“The Soulmate” by Sally Hepworth, we follow the story of a married couple, Gabe and Pippa, who live in a beautiful cottage near a quiet coastal town. However, the cliffs next to their home seem to attract people looking to jump off them. Gabe usually manages to talk them out of it, but when a woman falls to her death, Pippa becomes suspicious about whether it was a suicide or a murder. The victim turns out to be Amanda, the wife of Gabe’s former boss, and Pippa begins to question everything about her marriage. This sets off a chain of events that forces Pippa and Gabe to confront their own relationship issues and the secrets they’ve been keeping from each other. As a master of domestic thrillers, Sally Hepworth expertly weaves a tale that is both thrilling and emotional. While the mystery of Amanda’s death is the driving force of the plot, the heart of the story lies in the exploration of the complexities of marriage. Hepworth tackles sensitive topics such as mental illness and infidelity with grace and nuance, never shying away from the messy reality of relationships. “The Soulmate” is a page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end. But it's also a poignant portrayal of the ups and downs of love and marriage. If you’re a fan of suspenseful stories with a strong emotional core, this book is definitely worth a read.

Author : Joshilyn Jackson

Price : `2,214 (Paperback)

“With My Little Eye” by Joshilyn Jackson is a gripping suspense novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows Meribel Mills, a well-known actress who begins receiving disturbing letters written in fruit-scented markers. With no name or information about the sender, Meribel turns to the police for help, but they are unable to assist her without more information. As the situation escalates, Meribel realizes that the stalker has been in her home and fears for the safety of herself and her autistic teenage daughter. Desperately trying to protect them, Meribel moves to Atlanta, but fear and paranoia follow her. She becomes increasingly suspicious of every man she meets, including her ex-husband, ex-boyfriend, and even her new neighbor. Joshilyn Jackson skillfully weaves together a story that is both suspenseful and emotional. The reader is drawn into Meribel’s world, experiencing her fear and anxiety as she struggles to keep her daughter safe while trying to uncover the identity of her stalker. Joshilyn Jackson has once again proven her skill as a masterful storyteller, crafting a tale of suspense, betrayal, and survival that is sure to leave readers wanting more.