My Life

Water Rock Park, Dallas, TX

Took these pictures while checking out Dallas.
Just 2 weeks left before I head back to Richmond.

Special Thanx to Chirag for taking me out to see Dallas.
Since I am staying with a family here, I normally use public transport (bus and train in one commute). On weekend these don't function in my neighborhood. And I don't want to trouble my family on their holiday.
So practically I would have seen nothing in the city after living here for 2 months if Chirag would have not helped me. (God Sent friend in the city at the right time) He spent 3 hours just to pick me and drop me back. Now thats a friend!

So you think you can dance

Saw this episode yesterday night.
For the first time some performance done in the west using Indian techniques did not offend me.The dancers Katee and Joshua nailed it. They had no clue what Bollywood dance style is yet they pulled it gracefully. The song is from recent movie Om Shanti Om but originally from a Sunil Dutt starer.

Bollywood dance stems out of Indian Classical and folk dance forms. And hence has similar expressions and hand gestures.
Here in the video you can see the choreographers instructing them how a change in the angle of a hand gesture (Mudra) can be offending.
Being trained in Bharat Natyam (Indian Classical Dance) for over 7 years makes it difficult for me to let go and forgive attempts made to use Indian dance style in westernized form. Cause more often then not instead of respecting and blending the style performers end up offending the core.
Nigel Lythgoe quickly points out glimpses of hip-hop and russian steps in it which reflects the cultural influences and similarities that dance forms bring to the floor. The zest to get everything right in the choreography and showing respect towards the traditional dance form reflects that the West is ready to allow itself get influenced by the developing world (which was developed long ago and destroyed by waves of rulers) for good.

Seeing Joshua and Katee dance to bollywood tunes and the crowd rooting for them was fantabulous! As judge Nigel Lythgoe says "I wish the world would come together with dance rather than what we are doing at the moment."

Meeting Stan Richards

After much thinking I fixed an appointment to meet Stan.
I thought it as one of my only chances to meet the legend during my internship here in Summer. Went up to his assistants desk a week ago and took an appointment to meet on 2nd July, 2008.
Fast Forward>>

Considering that I sit a floor lower than his desk but in exact same place and that the stairs are right opposite my desk made it an easy excess. Also Stan doesn't have doors to his space.
I was bang on 5 minutes earlier than the meeting time to start. His assistant asked me to go ahead. Hesitating I said "But Mam it's still 5 minutes to 9". Pat came reply "catch him whenever you can." I agreed. First step towards his desk and I realized he was on call. Turned back and I realized he was off the call. Anyways so the meeting starts at 9.

We settle down after greeting each other.
Then comes the moment of truth, book review.
Sitting on the other end, my eyes were playing ping pong off my book back to his face. Capturing his reactions.
Stan: Let me go through this and I will comment at end.
Jini: Sure

He scans through the whole book and makes an overall comment
Stan: I like it. I can tell from what I see that you have an edge over your classmates cause you are strong at design and artistic sense. (Filps couple of pages then...) I like this concept (Aeron Chair) but it doesn't make business sense. (Filps page) (Macco) I can relate to the third ad (Steve Mcqueen) but the first one is confusing, what do you think? (trying to see if I have my own opinion or just agree with him)
Jini: Well it is the other way round for me. Since I don't belong to that era of Steve Mcqueen movies nor did I grow up seeing it, I relate less to it then the others which are more global.

Smiles.

The interview continues with constructive criticism and generous words of optimism.
Encourages the broad media usage. Spending so much time with an intern just to go over their book says how much he respects young talent. I take a deep breath as I move ahead for the day but feel so encouraged and inspired. Finally someone who asked me to believe in my design abilities and not lose it in advertising but influence the way Art Directors work.

Overall just sitting across the table with a legend is a memory in itself. Even at 75 he is as young as a teenage boy. From what I hear he can surprise you with his knowledge on latest music bands and their songs. Or the various games that he makes the visiting clients play with the staff reflect how he rides with the world today. I have immense respect for him since I have seen very few Art Directors become such successful entrepreneurs.

I love the culture of being organized that has been instilled in the agency, The Richards Group which makes it function so efficiently, even the creatives.

Hi

Finally I start blogging!

My parents 29th Wedding Anniversary,
2 months for school to start again,
I month to enjoy before school starts,
6 months away from hopefully going back to India,
A year away from graduating,
A year away from starting to work again.

Hope this is a fun experience.