Who hasn't heard of the legendary tune from the Hindi film, Karz? Well, everyone I know has heard it and enjoyed it thoroughly. Most people recognize the tune, some of us know that the music is given by legendary duo, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, however, very few people know the name of the person who played the tune. When you hit Google, you see several articles about Kaka and loads of videos on YouTube. However, the general public still doesn't know about this great man. This post is a tribute to him and his legendary contribution to the Indian film industry.
State and Fate of Home-makers in India – International Literacy Day
There are two Indias, one where we speak of modern thought, path-breaking findings in Artificial Intelligence & technology, the emancipation of women, freedom from dogma & even legalising of homosexual relations. Deep inside every Indian home, there is another India, one that is never spoken about by the media & if it is, then it is eulogised to make it palatable. It's an India where housewives (home-makers) are treated like third-world citizens. What can you do to help?
“Not a single cheat day in 20 months!!” that’s how SR Shrikant lost 53 kgs & 44% body fat
DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter brings to you the third post in the Health Transformation series. The story you are about to read is about a high flying Global Consultant to Ministeries with no time for himself. He hangs out with the likes of Bill Clinton and has about 300 travel days in his calendar. Despite an extremely busy life, SR Shrikant lost 53 Kgs & 44% body fat in 19 months! Here is how he did it...
“Watching Shahid Kapur at work is like watching poetry in motion” Says co-actor, Swagata Naik #BattiGulMeterChalu
"On a personal note, Batti Gul Meter Chalu was a huge learning experience in that I learnt from Shahid’s attention to detail and complete dedication on set - his insistence on rehearsal and getting everything just right was inspiring." says Swagata Naik. She represents the new age breed of talented entertainment professionals who are platform and role agnostic. New-age millennials seeking to make it big are more concerned about the quality & type of work more than anything else. This explains how & why Swagata will soon be a name that every household across the globe will recognize. Read on & #StayInspired
FLAB to FAB: Mohit Anand lost 40 kgs! Know his journey & weight loss secrets.
In continuation to the series on “Stories of Health Transformation”, this time I bring you an inspirational story of a Punjabi foodie Munda, Mohit Anand, an aspiring actor, who once used to look away from the mirror, now romances it. He considered himself as his competition and has lost 40 kgs. Let me run you through his journey, what inspired him to transform himself, from an extra sweet tooth based lifestyle to a fitness-based lifestyle...
Best ways to get rid of your nasal congestion (blocked nose) in children
The onset of monsoon season brings in much relief from the harsh summer heat. However, as a mother, it worries me when the sudden climate change brings its own set of challenges. Especially in a humid city like Mumbai, viral fever and the blocked nose is a common phenomenon. I used to spend a lot of sleepless nights tending to my cranky child who was unable to sleep because of a blocked nose. Here are some of the best solutions that I have used for my children. Each of them has been effective and I hope you will find them useful too. Please consult your paediatrician before trying anything on your little ones.
IGTV Guide – How to use Instagram’s new feature? 14 tips to use it like IGTV like a pro!
With the introduction of IGTV, Instagram has taken away eyeballs from entertainment apps and YouTube in one single swipe. It provides the viewer with curated content and thus the algorithmic viewing ensures that the right TG views a video all the time. For creators, it is a boon in disguise since the existing Instagram follower base automatically becomes the viewer base for IGTV. However, many users are still struggling with understanding what IGTV really is & how to use it for their benefit. This guide should help you.
Gaming Arcades in India: TimeZone ushers affordability, family fun & comfort
When I got an invitation from Time Zone, Malad, being sceptical was natural for my husband & me. However, we took the chance. Little did we know that we were in for a pleasant surprise :). Timezone is breaking myths and stereotypes. The variety of games that cater to each and every generation combined with the setup, price point and quality takeaways make it a family destination. The key words being AFFORDABILITY & FAMILY FUN. We took a quick tour and realised there were so many reasons to smile.
Pain is a very good emotion. It makes you realise how strong you are: Kushal Srivastava, director – Vodka Diaries
Here is a story that started in Kanpur and made its way all the way to Mumbai. There are more than one reasons why Kushal Srivastava's story is an inspirational one that features in the #StayInspired section of this blogzine. When I was talking to him, I realised that his journey can be a guiding light for anyone who wishes to make it big in the world of Indian cinema. Read on & #StayInspired
140 Kgs & 40% Body Fat to 96 kgs & 20% Body Fat: Sameer Karve’s Health Transformation & Tips for you
Over a period of 5 years, Sameer has lost 44 kgs, 20% Body fat & gained muscle mass. How did he do it? This series on: "Stories of Health Transformation" is for those who wish to commit to a healthy lifestyle and maintain it. Through this series, I will be speaking to people who have struggled with fitness & weight loss issues. They followed a proper process - no pills, no fad diets, or gimmicks - lost weight, got fitter and today, they live to tell a story. Don't forget to read till the end to get your hands on an exclusive infographic containing Sameer's health tips.
Introspective Poem: I am a murderer, roaming scotfree
An introspective poem ... that highlights a woman's perspective to her life. Read the poem to discover the truth behind her smile...
Short Story: Aashirya’s last wish
Her mother's eyes were brimming with tears, she was too choked to speak as she gave in to her daughter's wish. Her hands trembled as she applied blush to her daughter's dry cheeks. After 45 minutes, Aashirya slowly removed her mobile phone, took a selfie, added the hashtag, #nofilter and posted it on Instagram. "Watch out Maa, this one is going to be the best picture with the maximum likes & comments. My account will explode with the traction!" she attempted to laugh, but wheezed and coughed instead. Will Aashirya's last wish come true?
Short Story: My Royal Enfield 350 & Bindhiya
The boys would know what it means to ride a bullet with a hot, sexy woman in the pillion seat. I was the object of envy at work & I gloated with pride, enjoying the attention. Dating Bindhiya and riding my bullet was a double whammy. I had the best of both worlds. I just couldn't decide what was better, mounting Bindhiya or my bullet. Both gave me the ultimate feeling of masculinity. Everything was going great until that fateful day...
Short Story: They will never find out…
He earned extra money so that he could drink to his heart's content & flirt with the local whore. What happens next will surprise you...
Short Story: Locked in a closet with a stranger during communal riots
Riots had broken out, a Hindu boy was accused of raping his Muslim classmate & both communities had gone ballistic. Jyotsna was in the physics laboratory and had climbed into the closet, only to find that it was already occupied. For both to fit in, they had to snuggle close, really close. What happened next?
My secrets revealed: How to index your blog and posts in Search Engines?
Picture this: You wrote a great post and published it on your blog. You keep searching for the blog post in the search engines and face disappointment when you don't find it even on the 10th page of the search result. You go back to the post and check if you have typed in the keywords & recheck whether the title is eye-catching enough. You wait and still the post is not indexed by search engines. Frustrated, you just resign to believing that maybe your post is not good enough for people to like it. Sounds familiar? If yes, then this post is for you. Loads of my blogger friends are always asking me about how I get great traffic on my blog and how is it that my blog posts are always indexed by search engines. Well, in this post, I will be revealing my secret on how I achieve faster indexing.
There is NO Magic Pill to Weightloss | Commit yourself to a fitter life, rest will follow
This post is for every person who is extremely busy with their family and work. If you are someone who is always on the run, tending to home, family, work, friends and other things, with no time for yourself, then this post is for you.
Journalist Shujaat Bukhari shot dead. Terrorism reaches a new low in Kashmir
Rising Kashmir's Chief Editor, Shujaat Bukhari & his PSOs were shot dead by terrorists in Press Colony, Srinagar. Bukhari was leaving for Iftar when the attack took place. Just hours before his sudden death, Bukhari had tweeted that "Journalism with pride has been done in Kashmir & will continue to highlight what happens on the ground." Journalists like Bukhari do exist in this world. While there is a portion of media that is always condemned for their irresponsible reporting, he and his team stand out as shining examples of true journalism. Today we lost the voice of Kashmir....we lost one more face of true, fearless journalism.
Indian theatres are redefining cinema viewing
The world of entertainment is now at one's fingertips, thanks to the high-speed internet, mobile phone technology and hundreds of apps, movie viewing can be done anywhere at any time. These days, the time gap between a movie release and a satellite release is becoming smaller and thus giving movie lovers lesser reasons to flock to a theatre. How then are movie theatres responding to this changed scenario? What are they doing to ensure that movie-goers keep flocking the theatres? Read this post to know more...
30 Tips to drive Website Traffic, Leads and Conversions
You must use your website as a promotional, lead generation, and conversion tool. This post will show you 30 ways in which you can ensure that you gain maximum from your website. Follow these tips to get tonnes of traffic to your website, learn how to use the traffic to get leads and conversions. This might be a good time to review the effectiveness of your current website and see what changes can be made in order to increase visibility and lead generation for your business.
BEST Role Play and Experiential Learning for kids: Thank you Shahrukh Khan for bringing Kidzania to India!
We entered Kidzania at 2 pm and at 9 pm, I had to literally drag my children out, they plainly refused to come! For those 7 hours, both of them had forgotten their phones, i-pads, computer games and television. Both had so many stories to tell me, the car was buzzing with their happy voices. There is something magical in listening to a child's description of happiness and success. My story, however, didn't end here, the next weekend, I was back at Kidzania - this time the 1.5-hour drive from Malad to Ghatkopar didn't seem like an ordeal, maybe because I knew that the return on this investment is going to be multi-fold! If you are a parent who wishes to lend wings to your child's creativity and imagination, Kidzania is definitely a must-visit for you.
5 Essential Steps to Career Planning: International Career Counsellor, Isaac Rudolf Monyela
It is that time of the year when parents and students all over India are praying hard for favorable results in 10th/12th or graduation level. It is also a time for them to pause, take a step back and relook at the career direction they are planning to take. DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter got an opportunity to speak to International Career Counsellor, Speaker, Leadership & Management Strategist, Poet, Isaac Rudolf Monyela from Johannesburg, Gauteng in South Africa. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Monyela gives out some vital tips for career planning.
Mothers, gift yourself these promises! | Mother’s Day special by Joyleen Nair
As real as it may get, I am also reminded that reality isn’t the same for all mothers. While the world unfolds the memories of the mothers we turned out to be, let’s also take this opportunity to make note of some promises we need to remind ourselves on this day. So I ask; have you made these promises to yourself yet, moms?
Amway’s New Nutrilite Indian Traditional Herbs – I used it for 10 days, I feel awesome!
I am always mindful that YOU, my readers believe what I say and thus the onus lies on me to thoroughly understand and experience before bringing a product to you. For the past ten days, I have been using the products: 1. Nutrilite Tulsi 2. Nutrilite Brahmi 3. Nutrilite Ashwagandha 4. Nutrilite Amalaki, Vibhitaki, and Haritaki And yes, I feel better. My energy levels are back, I feel more alert, my system feels clean and most importantly my stamina is much better than before.
I returned to sports after 25 years…I am now a happier person :) :)
Once the life of parties, I now could manage to dance for 2-3 minutes maximum and then sat down to catch my breath. The athletic Mayura was an image that I could remember faintly, felt no connect whatsoever. Fortunately, there were no medical alarms that were raised. At the ripe age of 40, I was standing at the crossroads of life with almost nil stamina and loads of work stress. It was like a ticking time-bomb. Today, I am a happier person, more positive and have learnt to be a team player. Its amazing when one meets like-minded people who are bonded in just one spirit - the spirit of sports and camaraderie.
7 reasons why Entrepreneurs must attend this meet to expand their Circle of Influence
As they say, NETWORK is NET-WORTH and expanding your CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE is critical to achieve success in business. Of course, there are innumerable platforms where entrepreneurs can network. However, those platforms are limited to mere card exchanges. Entrepreneurs are always craving to tell the world about the great work that they are doing and ensure that their business spreads by Word Of Mouth. This Entrepreneur's Meet is an answer to entrepreneurs who are looking for a showcase and meaningful networking.
A2Z of Online Branding: How to EXECUTE a Content Strategy EFFECTIVELY (5/26)
The challenge is: HOW to create a content strategy that works? If the goal is to attract organic traffic online, what exact, strategic ways should you adopt to get the right traffic? If you dedicatedly follow the steps, you will be able to develop an effective strategy that yields steady traffic over a period of time. You must remember to review the strategy and change it whenever time demands.
A2Z of Online Branding: DECIDING a Content Strategy (4/26)
Most new entrants into the world of Online Branding erroneously believe that a Content Strategy for Online Branding is not a big deal. Guess what? CONTENT STRATEGY FOR ONLINE BRANDING is a VERY BIG DEAL! The days of merely posting on social media are over and days of updating the website once in 6 months are over. It is essential for brands to have regular conversations going on social media and update the website regularly so that the customers are tuned in to the brand. The challenge of a content strategy is the cut the clutter and emerge as the winning brand in terms of customer engagement.
A2Z of Online Branding: CHOOSE WISELY 16 AMAZING Social Media Platforms (3/26)
To make things simpler and easier for you, I have simplified 16 of the best social media platforms ONLY FOR YOU. There are two inter-related posts to be read here.
A2Z of Online Branding: 7 ways to examine if Online Branding fits your BUSINESS LOGIC. (2/26)
Online world is perceived as a cheap and easy alternative for brand building and thus everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon. The truth is far from reality. Entering the online world and establishing one's self comes with its own set of challenges. However, it is pertinent to first understand whether Online Branding fits your Business Logic and if yes, then to what extent? What is the scope of your business and what drives profits. It is important to find out whether taking your brand online makes sense for your business.
A2Z of Online Branding: Begin with Ambition, Aim & Audience (1/26)
Don't make the same mistake that Brand Managers & Entrepreneurs across the world make. The common tendency is to first jump to the online platforms just because they are easily available. In days of yore, when offline advertising and marketing was planned, there was a complete science that goes into the planning, budgeting, launch and monitoring. Even today, offline advertising is planned carefully and the return on investment monitored. Online Branding & Advertising also needs careful planning, budget allocation & strategy. Marketing Planning & Strategy basics remain the same for Online Branding as well.
A2Z of Online Branding – A definitive guide to business growth by cracking the code (Theme Reveal)
This series is for every business owner, whether big or small, with or without budgets to understand and tame the internet dragon. It will serve as a ready reckoner guide for start-up entrepreneurs and will help established businesses to look back and reexamine strategies and tools. It is a gift from my end to all the people who aspire to learn and gain from the growing power of the online world.
Social Media Simplified by Media Strategist, Mayura Amarkant
Many people keep asking me questions about each social media platform. The number of queries is increasing. This is why decided to write this 10 part series - #SocialMediaSimplified
