From Kolaveri country – David Ogilvy’s ‘Confessions’ now in Tamil

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Uncategorized

Piyush Pandey says the book should inspire a lot of creative people and also clients who stand to benefit from it. It will be produced in other Indian languages too

What’s uncool in Tamil Nadu? Eating with fork and spoon? English caller tunes? Being Tamil and not speaking Tamil? Or speaking only English? In fact, any Chennai-ite who speaks English – especially proper English – runs the risk of being labled ‘Peter’ – disparaging Tamlish for an English-speaking alien.

Wait a minute. Isn’t TN the most urbanised state in India with over 80 per cent literacy? It has the highest number of business enterprises and is home to automobile giants like Ashok Leyland, Ford, BMW, Hyundai. Chennai is the retail industry’s showcase city and an IT hub. And the locals don’t speak English?

No they don’t, says the Tamilian, in his careless Kolaveri accent, so what?

His legendary acumen in Maths/Engineering/Medicine now comes with a feisty pride in his identity. After all, the Chinese speak Chinese and the Germans speak German and the French speak French, so where is it written that Tamils – or for that matter all Indians – need to speak English to be successful?

That is why increasingly the Tamilian, lightyears away from the old derided Madrasi, is turning to the local language as the language of choice, and more significantly, the language of business.

And that is why Dakshin, Ogilvy and Mather’s specialist division to address southern consumers in their own idiom, decided to produce aTamil translation of David Ogilvy’s ‘Confessions of an Advertising Man’. This timeless classic, as much a textbook on advertising as a riveting read, has been published in 14 languages worldwide. Tamil is a first for India. And it’s been released in David Ogilvy’s centenary year.

The book has been produced by the well-known southern publishing house, New Horizon Media, much admired for its “Kizhakku” imprint (get your tongue around the ‘zh’, should be easy after hearing every TV anchor talk about Kanimozhi 24×7/365).

 

Said Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman and Creative Director, South Asia, Ogilvy & Mather India, in his foreword: “Confessions of an Advertising Man has been my advertising Bible, Ramayan and Koran for the last 30 years. I am delighted that it’s now been adapted into Tamil. Apart from being a great guide on timeless advertising principles, the book has a lot of lessons for life in general.”

About Ogilvy, Pandey has written: “David Ogilvy was not just a creative genius, but an astute businessman who understood his clients’ products and the minds and hearts of consumers. He was a great friend of Ogilvy India which has embraced and practised his principles through the decades and continues to do so. I am sure this book will inspire a lot of creative people and advertising people from other disciplines, along with numerous clients who stand to benefit from it.”

And after Tamil, O&M plans to produce translations in other Indian languages.

So, Ogilvyikku O-podu! (Go figure). Info@BestMediaInfo.com

source: http://www.BestMediaInfo.com /  Home> MediaInfo> Advertising/ BestMediaInfo Bureau / Delhi / December 23rd, 2011

Rahman composes for Spielberg’s next

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

A couple of days after launching the music of Ek Deewana Tha at the Taj Mahal, music maestro AR Rahman confirms his next big collaboration. He has teamed up with top screenwriter Alex Kurtzman and acclaimed Hollywood producer-director Steven Spielberg for the former’s directorial debut, Welcome To People (WTP)

Kurtzman has earlier been involved with big projects like Mission: Impossible III (2006), Transformers, Star Trek and Cowboys & Aliens among others. He has written the screenplay of this new film with regular collaborators Roberto Orci and Jody Lambert.

“Yes, I have just finished the soundtrack for WTP,” confirms Rahman. “It was great to work with Kurtzman, who is a top screenwriter in Hollywood, and have Spielberg backing it. I really had a great experience working on the film.”

Three years ago, Rahman had created history by winning multiple Oscar awards – among other illustrious trophies – for his super-successful soundtrack in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.

After the film’s success, Rahman has worked on Hollywood projects like Couples Retreat (CR, 2009) and Boyle’s 127 Hours without much success, but he’s excited about the new “soundtrack-oriented” film.

 

 

Spielberg“WTP’s music is a bit different from CR and 127 Hours. It’s much more emotional and dramatised. I have really enjoyed the process. I think it’s going to release early next year,” explains Rahman, adding that he is trying very hard to divide his time between family, Hindi films, Hollywood, Tamil cinema and other things.

“People must understand that now, due to time constraints, things can’t be like they were earlier. And since I am doing very few films, I want to do them satisfactorily with no deadline pressure,” says the maestro.

Interestingly, some time ago, Spielberg had stated that he wanted to work with Rahman. “I have heard interesting compositions of Rahman and would love to work with him in the near future,” the iconic filmmaker had said.

WTP stars Olivia Wilde, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chris Pine and Mark Duplass. The story is about a man who is tasked with delivering $1,50,000 of his deceased father’s fortune to a sister he has never met.

source: http://www.HindustanTimes.com / Entertainment / by Prashant Singh / Mumbai, December 24th, 2011

Japanese Government released a postal stamp on Muthuji from Salem – Why?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All

Bharadwaj, a youth from Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu went to Japan in the 10th century (736 AD). To the Japanese he was ‘Baramon’. He taught them Buddhism, Ramayana, Sanskrit, Dharma, Hindu Philosophy and gave them culture, art and music. Today everything with which the Japanese rightly feel proud of as their ancient heritage and culture was given to them by this monk. The Japanese have three scripts – one of them based on Tamil and Sanskrit. That was given by “Baramon Bharadwaj”.

A Japanese delegate Shri Shuzo Matsunoga participated in the Fifth World Tamil Conference held at Thanjavur in 1981 (30 years ago). He presented a paper on ‘Thirukural & Thiruvalluvar in the eyes of Japan’. Muthu, now 91years young, of Omalur off Salem, Tamilnadu came in contact with Sri Shuzo Matsunoga after the Conference. They discussed at length the Tamil culture and literature. Shuzo translated the English version of G U Pope’s Thirukuraal (aphorisms) as guided by Muthu Ji. Shuzo also translated various books of Subramania Bharathi (Kuil Paatu), Naaladiar, Vallalarr poems, Manimegalai and Silapathigaram into Japanese language. Shuzo not only translated the literature but also the culture/rituals of tamils from birth to death, which was greatly relished by the Japanese. Shuzo also bagged a prize for translation of tamil work in 1985 organized by University of Tanjore who also authors a book “My India as seen through letters”.

Now, the Government of Japan has included this Thirukural as a lesson in the text book at college level. To cap it all, when the Japanese Government proposed to release a postal stamp to honour Shuzo Matsunoga for his works, he humbly refused and said, “To translate this tamil literature into Japanese language, Muthu from Salem has helped me. So the credit goes to him”. On his recommendation the Japanese Government released a postal stamp on Muthu (Salem) for 80 Yen (Rs.27/-) in 2007. Muthu, a humble and noble person, did nothing for selfish end. It was all for the tamil literature. He communicated all this over to his friend in Japan only through 200 letters, while, in the Facebook age, individuals transmit info electronically.

Shri Ravikumar of Vishwa Vibhag during his tour of Tamilnadu, met Muthu Ji. He was received well. Muthu ji lauded RSS for its social service and patriotic fervor.

 

source: http://www.haindavakeralam.com / courtesy: VSK Chennai / December 27th, 2011