Oscars "Underdog" love

B school experience is instrumental in developing new hobbies and interest.My experience unfortunately got me hooked as a avid movie buff, an side effect of academic rigor which sometimes results in people to loose the track.It is interesting to note that the acclaimed Oscar award history follows a significant pattern,I observed that the past 20 years of Oscars shows that the underdog story has been celebrated big in the Oscar.

Out of the last 20 movies who clinched the much coveted Oscar, 14 stories had a underdog narrative/ plot( i:e 70% which is a astonishing statistics).The ,Forest gumps,Rockys,Slumdogs  have had a dream run in the Oscar and made big moolah.Is there a scientific rational or is it that   the underdog drama makes up to a exciting celluloid experience.

The theory to it lies in social & sports psychology experiments Kim et al. (2008) speculated that emotional identification with the underdog may be universal as it hearkens back to childhood memories of being smaller, weaker, and, thus,vulnerable.A new study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin by (Joseph A. Vandello, Nadav P. Goldschmied, and David A. R. Richards) of the University of South Florida is of profound significance.The researchers propose that those who are viewed as disadvantaged arouse people’s sense of fairness and justice — important principles to most people.The researchers also found that people tend to believe that underdogs put forth more effort than top-dog which creates more appeal. Involvement with such underdog story help to stimulate receptors releasing hormones, people experience when they accomplish victory personally.

Simpler theory,underdog story have a catch they script the character who has nothing going for him but never the less is endearing in his own way.Most part of movie,protagonist fails but in this process a connect/ bond is established with the audience,and in this sympathy we unconsciously start rooting for the underdog.The story ends with our underdog defining all odds and coming out in flying colours,making it perfect happy ending for all.In bollywood Aamir khan masters this trick,be it Jo jeeta wohi sikandar,Ghulam,Rang de,TZP,3idiots or the Oscar nominated "Laagan" which lost to "No mans land" another underdog saga.,even the big bollywood blockbusters somehow follow this sure shot formula.

                                    Oscar love their underdogs,what about you?

The Great" Indian puppet show"

Media is having a field day covering IPL fiasco.The media has in fact projected(Marketing wiz kid)Lalit Modi as the most corrupt official ever on the planet.The allegation against him are out and he is severely charged on accounts of financial irregularities and behavioural conduct,but are we neglecting the other actors of this dismal show.

The IPL operation was conducted like a corporation with formation of governing council and a commissioner(Modi).If it was functioning like an corporate entity,then the rights and role clarity of each job title must have been laid down.Managing corporate governance is the primal responsibility of the entire body and not just a individual,which is the very reason of having a governing council.The governing council comprises of elite dignitaries(Arun Jaitley,Farooqh Abdullah,Gavaskar,Shastri,Manohar,Pataudi many more),who surprisingly claim full innocence and are clueless of the entire scam which has its roots from season 1.

The governing council in the bid to save their image have made big fool of themselves, do they want the public to believe that they have no spine,no say in the entire IPL process.The claim of innocence,if true speaks very low of the governing body,is it that people of such high stature are mere puppets in the hands of Modi.Before taking action on Modi the entire council should be reprimanded who clearly lack conscious,and moral sense of duty.The governing council should have acted in good faith,prevented such flaws in system and controlled the damage if any.Such ignorance can only be brought in by big dollars.Once the problem gets fixed,it would be a shame if such inefficient bunch of puppets,who lack moral sense of duty and voice are reinstated in the IPL board.It is hard to imagine that Modi has pulled of the entire episode without the knowledge of the governing council.

Hang the puppets(Governing council) and not just the master(Modi)

Charlie Chaplin the" Leftist"

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin epitomises the phrase ”Legends die but his craft is eternal”,he was true celluloid genius, but his off-screen saga is still hounded in mystery. Chaplin had troubelled childhood, it was poverty prone and he shared a complex relation with his parents. Hannah( mother) had mental history ,was in and out of asylum ,Chaplin.Sr(father)had abandoned his family when Charlie was just two years ,but both were talented vuadellic art performers ,so the inspiration for Chaplin in the gene pool.

The early 1900 marked the emergence of Chaplin ,he scripted on screen character’s par excellence .Brilliance in his craft and eye for details produced magic on screen(The famous ‘tramp’ character was born).Till the 1930’s he was respected figure and was literally the financial powerhouse of motion picture, that was when his leftist philosophy surfaced.

The 1930 era was clouded with cold war (aftermath of World war 2) the anti communist hysteria was on rage and Chaplin’s work started reflecting his leftist inclination. Chaplins movies “Modern times” was satirical on the dismal condition of the poor which created unpleasant waves in the political circle. Chaplin’s next attempt “the Great dictator” questioned the blind following of motherlands nationalism ,this was enough to put Chaplin on the wrong side and his public speech of formation of second European front worsened his cause and image in the political circle. Now it was a chief concern of Congressmen to curb his communist ideology depicted by his work.
In this era of McCarthyism, Chaplin was accused of "un-American activities" and as a suspected communist . J. Edgar Hoover, instructed the FBI to keep close eye on Chaplin’s movement. The FBI pressure grew on Chaplin ,Hoover ,revoked Chaplin's re-entry permit, exiling Chaplin,he later settled in Vevey ,Switzerland where he died in 1977.Chaplin returned only twice to U.S.A after his exile and in one such return was awarded the honorary Oscar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Pl-qvA1X8

The leftist Chaplin was reduced to mere tramp in the American drama of political intolerance

The"RACE" for Leadership

U.S history like many democratic economies has its fair share of heroic triumph and mass hysteria.Its interesting to note that when we brush down the American history, we find many pioneer African american(Black)leaders who have had subliminal impact not just in U.S but across boundaries.

Leadership style practiced by the Black american also has a common thread i:e they have been populous (mass)leaders.The Black leaders like W.Eb.DU.Bois of Niagara movement caught attention in early 1905 and was followed by a staunch support base.Black leadership style has been unique the zeal,passion,hands on approach,networking has been its integral elements.Moreover they have always mastered causes which impacts the bottom of pyramid segment of the society,they have been voices for the suppressed ,neglected section.

Black Americans have been supreme orators their speeches are part of history(Youtube hits Martin kings"I have a dream' -9295710, Obama"Yes we Can "-3577794)which has helped their cause of populous leader they speak the language of the masses and the over riding passion makes it come to life,it seems a very personnel address.Malcolm X man behind black nationalism and Muslim american movement was known for his pep talks,speeches and was celebrated for his mass following.We have been fortunate to be treated to such leadership style in our era by man who today literally symbolizes Black Americans MR.President.Obama mania was selling hot in 2009 and his leadership qualities,speeches have had such an impact that its been researched in premium institutes.

Is it their torrid history ,circumstances or mere coincidence that U.S has witnessed some of the most prominent Mass leaders from the black race(they have also been Nobel laureates).Think about it

Invading the Blue Ocean

India is basking in the glory of its Numero uno test ranking.
India's romance with Eden garden Calcutta continues as it clinched
a thriller of test against South Africa (test ranking no.2)on the
5th day final few minutes.Coming to Blue ocean strategy penned by
(Chan Kim,Renne Mauborgne), it is rated the 600 Most Influential
Books in the History of the People's Republic of China 1949-2009.
According to the blue ocean strategy the two most significant statement :

#Create an uncontested market space
#Make the competitor irrelevant

Australia cricket team of the early 2000's were fiercely dominant unit
and with its precision,ruthless attitude,envious talent pool reduced
the opponent to mere medicore.Moreover the subcontinent team were just
no competion.Aussies more or less modelled the blue ocean players and
at the heart of blue ocean strategy lies the concept of four action
framework which enables to beat the industry standards.



In the early 2005 the winds of change began and the fresh Indian
blood with like dhoni,bhajjis,gambhirs rose to the occassion.The
veterans started breathing in fresh air(new approach).To break
the blue ocean jinx of Aussies the game plan adopted was:

#Scan your competitor thoroughly
#Master your strenghts
#Tipping leadership(Dhoni's approach)
#Fresh ideas,people,process

Indian team changed the parameters of the framework itself and
managed it with elan.Industry wallah can take a cue from this
and develop out off box moves to catch the competitor off guard.

Coco Cola keep watching -Pepsi@challenge.com