Big
B, Kajol, And Ajay Devgan at Raghave Sanchar and
Amita Pathak’s Wedding
Coffee revolution perking on café culture
Venu Madhav,
Director, Café Coffee Day (CCD)
Café culture in the
country has led to the growth of coffee culture. This has also resulted in more
people in non-traditional centres such as Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata consuming
the beverage in their homes.
In an interview with Business
Line, Venu Madhav, Director, Café Coffee Day (CCD), shares the company’s
roadmap for increasing the per capita consumption of coffee.
Excerpts from the
interview:
How is the coffee
retail shaping up in the country?
Coffee retailing in
India is growing at a very fast pace. The coffee culture in India has been
triggered by the ‘café’ culture.
Currently, the top
eight cities of the country have seen rapid expansion. So is for Café Coffee
Day (CCD) as numbers show.
We are proud to say
that CCD has left its footprints in 200 cities in India which means semi-urban
India too is warming up to café culture. Out-of-home coffee consumption is also
on the rise as well as in-home coffee.
What is the
consumption pattern across the country as a whole and region-wise?
We have always
believed that the out-of-home consumption in India is fast-growing and has
contributed immensely to the growth of in-home consumption in the
non-traditional markets such as North, West and East.
The country currently
has around 2,000 cafes and is growing at a faster pace. So essentially, the
potential for growth in consumption is huge. For penetration in non-coffee
market, CCD is spreading coffee culture by holding festivals.
What is the scene
on the coffee retail on highways as compared with coffee shops in town centres?
Highway travel in the
country has seen an upsurge and therefore, a need for a space to take a break
en-route, facility to refuel, use clean washrooms.
Café Coffee Day alone
has close to a 100 cafes on major national highways across the country.
Some of these spaces
are adjoining fuelling stations and some are stand alone. We have been one of
the first to introduce the highway café model in the country.
Is coffee retail
still a tier-I city phenomenon? And what is the scene in the tier-II and -III
cities?
The Tier-I expansion
will continue for CCD as it offers a place to unwind, relax, meet-up. This
experience is being extended to smaller cities and towns. This is exactly the
reason why CCD is present in 200 cities across the country.
CCD is able to fill this
space in smaller cities and on many occasions it also serves as a destination
location.
With MNC coffee
retailers opening shops across the country, how is CCD coping with?
We are committed to
bring coffee experience and superior customer service and believes this is what
will keep the chain ahead.
CCD has a core team of
F&B experts, food technologists, trainers who ensure that the chain remains
relevant and trendsetting in terms of what it brings to its consumers.
It is ensured that
there is something new and exciting on offer at regular intervals.
With CCD becoming
youth hangout across the country, what measures are you taking to retain it?
Yes, youth are hanging
out in all our stores.
At CCD we understand
this ‘youth’ very well and try and ‘listen’ to them. In some ways, they are
defiant and are a group that needs no instructions for anything.
The challenge in
reaching out to them is the fact that their interests are ephemeral. Therefore
to hold their attention for more than a few minutes are a humongous task.
The fact that they
want to take on multiple things as well as have minuscule attention spans,
reaching them is a challenging task.
3rd Delhi International Kite Festival at Dilli Haat from Friday
Singing Strings
Anoushka Shankar
TOPICS
music
Concert
Sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar talks to Chitra Swaminathan about the varied influences she brings to her music and her new album Traces of You ahead of her concert in Chennai on January 26
Anoushka’s Shankar’s
heavily accented English belies her Indian moorings — of a childhood spent
understanding complicated ragas, grappling with the 19 strings of the heavy
sitar, sitting unwearyingly through long learning sessions with
maestro-guru-father Pandit Ravi Shankar and accompanying him for concerts
around the world from age 13. But what her crystalline thinking and language
complement though is the new-age appeal of her classical tunes, the openness
she brings to her creativity and her free-flowing dialogue across global
musical cultures.
Her bold
experimenter-father with his ethereal-toned sitar showed the way forward not
only to his musical legatee but to artistes of the East. “Six decades ago he
connected India with rest of the world through just music; making crossovers
seem so easy and genres accessible. He raised the standard of performance and
appreciation too,” says the proud daughter.
Any wonder that the
opening track ‘The Sun Won’t Set’ (Ravi in Sanskrit means sun) of her latest
album Traces Of You, deals with the emotions of loss and longing since
Anoushka lost her father during its making. But there’s the sound of hope too
because a year before her father’s death her son Zubin was born. “One
important person entered and another left,” quips the 32-year-old sitarist.
“The album is not just a string of songs. It’s a very intimate narrative. A
reflection of my life and my strong relationship with dad, Zubin and husband
Joe Wright (a popular British film director). This album is an emotional offering
also because it re-establishes my faith in those who have often accompanied me
during my many musical outings — producer-composer Nitin Sawhney, Tanmay Bose
and Pirashanna Theverajah.”
But the talking point
of the album is not the way Anoushka combines within her art’s improvisatory
character musicality and bravura but the roping in of her half sister and
nine-time Grammy award winner Norah Jones. The three tracks that blend Norah’s
smoky vocals and Anoushka’s virtuoso instrumentation have come in for rave
reviews internationally.
Anoushka will give
Chennai-ites a peek into her latest work, apart from playing some Carnatic
ragas that she had heard her father play, at her upcoming concert in the city
as part of her India tour. “Chennai is special to me for many reasons,” she
says. “I have performed here quite a few times with my father. Also, this is
where my mother Sukanya hails from and I have come here as a child with her.
My concert will bring back all those memories.”
Though her famous
surname has always kept her under the spotlight, Anoushka is happier creating
her own musical space that is markedly different from her father’s. “Since he
was highly individualistic when it came to his music, he was very supportive
of my desire to seek things on my terms,” she says.
“It’s very difficult
for classical musicians to explain their art to the neophytes, to transcend
the repertoire to reach out to a wider audience. But the uniqueness of our
classical forms is their evolving nature that makes them relevant and fresh at
all times,” she says explaining the need to repackage as her father did. And
does Zubin hang on to her sitar strings? “He often accompanies me on concert
tours but this time I have left him back in London. He is too young but when
he grows up I will let him tune his life the way he wants to!”
At a glance
The Anoushka Shankar
Project in association with The Hindu presents a concert by Anoushka Shankar
along with Tanmoy Bose (tabla), Ravichandra Kulur (flute), Sanjeev Shankar
(shehnai) and Pirashanna Theverajah (Carnatic percussion) on January 26 (7
p.m.) at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall. Tickets are priced at Rs.
2,000, Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 750. For details call 2857 5807 or 2857 5831 or log
on to
The India Government Mints have made a niche in the minting world - with
excellence in design, expertise in minting precious metals, and above all, a
long tradition of craftsmanship.
22 Jan 2014
By Dr H R Keshavamurthy
On the occasion of Republic Day every year, the Government honours people for their work of any distinction and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines, such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. These awards can be the highest Civilian Awards like Bharat Ratna, Padma Awards, military awards like Param Veer Chakra, police medals for gallantry, bravery awards to list a few. But hundreds of craftsman who spend days and night in cutting, carving, burning, polishing metal to give final shape to these medals remain in the background at the India Government Mint in Kolkata.
SPMCIL
On the occasion of Republic Day every year, the Government honours people for their work of any distinction and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines, such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. These awards can be the highest Civilian Awards like Bharat Ratna, Padma Awards, military awards like Param Veer Chakra, police medals for gallantry, bravery awards to list a few. But hundreds of craftsman who spend days and night in cutting, carving, burning, polishing metal to give final shape to these medals remain in the background at the India Government Mint in Kolkata.
SPMCIL
Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) was
formed after corporatisation of nine units including four mints, four presses
and one paper mill which were earlier functioning under the Ministry of
Finance. SPMCIL, a Miniratna Company of the Government, is engaged in the
manufacture of security paper, minting of coins, printing of currency and bank
notes, non-judicial stamp papers, postage stamps, travel documents, etc. The
Company meets the requirements of RBI for Currency Notes and Coins and State
Governments for Non-Judicial Stamp Papers and Postal Departments for postal
stationery, stamps etc. and Ministry of External Affairs for passports, visa
stickers and other travel documents. Other products are civilian, military,
police, sports, film festival medals/decorations, commemorative coins, MICR
and Non-MICR cheques etc. All the 9 units are categorised as Currency Printing
Presses, Security Printing Presses, Security Paper Mill and India Government
Mints. The Mints situated at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Noida have rich
minting heritage and legacy of producing quality products. These mints are
carrying out minting of all coins circulated in the country.
The India Government Mint, Kolkata
The India Government Mint, Kolkata was first established in 1757, and was located in a building in the old fort - where the GPO (General Post Office) stands today. It was called the Calcutta Mint and used to produce coins with the mint name Murshidabad.The second Calcutta Mint was established at the site of Gillet Ship building Establishment and the coins issued from this mint continued to bear mint name Murshidabad. The third Calcutta Mint on Strand Road opened for production from 1 August 1829 (Silver Mint). Until 1835 the coins issued at this mint continued to be in the name of the Murshidabad Mint. In 1860 an annexe known as the "Copper Mint" was built to the north of the Silver Mint for the exclusive production of copper coins. The silver and copper mints both used to function and produce coins of bronze, silver and gold. Apart from minting of coins another important function of the Kolkata Mint was the manufacturing of medals and decorations during the British regime. The production of medals continues to this day.
The India Government Mint, Kolkata was first established in 1757, and was located in a building in the old fort - where the GPO (General Post Office) stands today. It was called the Calcutta Mint and used to produce coins with the mint name Murshidabad.The second Calcutta Mint was established at the site of Gillet Ship building Establishment and the coins issued from this mint continued to bear mint name Murshidabad. The third Calcutta Mint on Strand Road opened for production from 1 August 1829 (Silver Mint). Until 1835 the coins issued at this mint continued to be in the name of the Murshidabad Mint. In 1860 an annexe known as the "Copper Mint" was built to the north of the Silver Mint for the exclusive production of copper coins. The silver and copper mints both used to function and produce coins of bronze, silver and gold. Apart from minting of coins another important function of the Kolkata Mint was the manufacturing of medals and decorations during the British regime. The production of medals continues to this day.
After the closure of this mint in 1952, the present Alipore Mint was
opened by the then Finance Minister of Government of India Shri. C. D.
Deshmukh on 19 March 1952. The full operation for the coinage and preparation
of medals, decorations and badges started in Alipore Mint from this date. As
on date this mint produces coins of Rs.1,2,5,10 denominations in addition to
their contribution in the production of a variety of
civilian,military,sports,police etc,. medals.
Prominent among these medals are the highest Civilian Awards like Bharat
Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, military awards like Param
Veer Chakra,etc,.
Bharat Ratna
‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian award of the country, was instituted in the year 1954. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year. On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. The decoration is in the form of a Peepal leaf, about 5.8 cm long, 4.7 cm wide and 3.1 mm thick. It is of toned bronze. On its obverse is embossed a replica of the sun, 1.6 cm in diameter, below which the words Bharat Ratna are embossed in Devanagari script. On the reverse are State emblem and the motto, also in Devanagari. The emblem, the sun and the rim are of platinum. The inscriptions are in burnished bronze.
‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian award of the country, was instituted in the year 1954. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year. On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. The decoration is in the form of a Peepal leaf, about 5.8 cm long, 4.7 cm wide and 3.1 mm thick. It is of toned bronze. On its obverse is embossed a replica of the sun, 1.6 cm in diameter, below which the words Bharat Ratna are embossed in Devanagari script. On the reverse are State emblem and the motto, also in Devanagari. The emblem, the sun and the rim are of platinum. The inscriptions are in burnished bronze.
Padma Awards
Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954 and these awards are
announced every year on Republic Day. The award is given in three categories,
namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Padma Shri is awarded
for ‘distinguished service’; Padma Bhushan for ‘distinguished service of a
high order’; and Padma Vibhushan for ‘exceptional and distinguished service.
The decoration comprises a Sanad (Certificate) issued under the hand and seal
of the President and a Medallion. A commemorative brochure giving out brief
details in respect of each award winner is also released on the day of the
investiture ceremony.
Padma Vibhushan: Medal is circular in design with a
geometrical pattern superimposed on the circle. The diameter of the circular
portion is 4.4 cm and the thickness is about 0.6 mm. On the obverse there is a
lotus flower embossed in the circular shape. The word ‘Padma’ is embossed in
Hindi above and the word ‘Vibhushan’ below the lotus are in burnished bronze.
All embossing on either side of decoration is in ‘White Gold’.
Padma Bhushan: Design same as Padma Vibhushan medal but
the embossing on either side is in standard gold.
Padma Shri: Same design as other Padma medals but all
embossing on either side of the decoration is in stainless steel.
Not to be left out are various military decorations, police /bravery medals, Commonwealth Games medals, international film festival awards like Golden Peacock etc,. from the glorious collection of medals produced at this illustrious plant in Kolkata.
Not to be left out are various military decorations, police /bravery medals, Commonwealth Games medals, international film festival awards like Golden Peacock etc,. from the glorious collection of medals produced at this illustrious plant in Kolkata.
The India Government Mints have made a niche in the minting world - with
excellence in design, expertise in minting precious metals, and above all, a
long tradition of craftsmanship. Reliability is combined in a natural manner
in design and production of individualistic solution that truly reflect the
customers' values.
Roadies XI’ is
back with a bang
MUMBAI: The mother of all reality shows – MTV Hero
Roadies – is back with Season XI which promises to be one heck of
a roller coaster ride.With the tagline ‘Ride for Respect’, the new season is slated to hit TV screens on Saturday, 25 January at 7pm. The adventure will see seven boys and seven girls bike riding from desert to desert, starting with Sun City Jodhpur and culminating in the Rann of Kutch. Leading the pack will be the winner of season I of MTV Roadies, Rannvijay Singh and MTV Roadies producer, Raghu Ram.
Hero continues to be the title sponsor for the show. Whereas, the channel has roped in nine associate sponsors on-board including brands like CEAT, Mountain Dew, Spraymintt mouth freshener, Karbonn tablets among others.
Significantly, the new edition of MTV Roadies is all about performance sans the vote outs and group politics. So, all 14 contestants will have to prove their mettle through challenging tasks and only their track record through the show journey will get them closer to winning the title.
“Every year, we try to conceptualise the theme of the show around a trending youth sentiment. It is not just about the show, audiences connect with the Roadies’ spirit of never backing down, perseverance and standing tall against all odds. We are pushing the envelope further this year by making the central theme all about the Roadies’ spirit and confidence,” says MTV India head marketing and insights Sumeli Chatterji. “So, while competition will be more intense and tasks will be more challenging; there will be no vote outs and no group politics. Every candidate will have an equal chance to show his or her mettle and win.”
The reason for going ahead with the no vote-out format, producer and judge Raghu Ram says that it is just to be fair. “In the past, many have complained that deserving contestants are voted out. While for me vote out is an interesting situation, we have been blamed for encouraging politics and thus we have done away with the vote out system altogether.”
But it doesn’t mean there won’t be any eliminations – a lot of other things will be introduced to nake the show interesting and unpredictable.
Says MTV India EVP and business head Aditya Swamy: “This year on Roadies, we have seven boys and seven girls and they will have an absolutely equal chance in the Ride for Respect. Fresh twists in the format have made Roadies India's longest-running reality show and this year’s format breaker ensures survival only of the fittest.”
Raghu, who usually gives goosebumps to the contestants with his stringent remarks, thinks that the reason behind the year after year success of the game is the love of the audience and the sheer belief that the show is a life changer for many. He remarks: “The show has made adventure and bikes a household name in India. The ten years have seen over five million hopefuls, grueling auditions, tough tasks and deserving winners. The new edition is all geared up to introduce an absolutely new avatar to everyone. What I can promise you is a triple dose of thrill, action and a lot more drama.”
However, when quizzed about the flak the show has got in the past for the use of abusive language, Raghu shots back and says: “I think much has been spoken about the language and it is time people should get over it. Language is not a problem because it is a reality show. Still, this year I have tried to make sure that there is no abusive language used from my end and the focus transforms to that instead of the other things in the show.”
Apart from auditions in Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh and Pune, this year, the channel also tapped Hyderabad and Kolkata. Also, an all-India audition was conducted online.
Marketing and promotion
This year, the strategy is not only about driving reach across the target audience but also engaging with consumers across various touch points.
A college connect program targeted at over 200 colleges sees Raghu and Rannvijay visiting the colleges and integrating with college festivals and college bike rallies across cities. “Our attempt is to integrate Roadies with city-specific events like Marathon in Pune, partnerships with malls, hangouts and clubs,” says Chatterji.
The channel is reaching out to over 150 power towns across UP and Gujarat through several BTL activations.
Roadies is active on social media as well with nearly 20 million visitors on its micro-site and around 7.8 million fans on Facebook. According to Chatterji, the last season clocked 65 million views online and was the most subscribed YouTube channel for a TV show.
Season XI will be consumed by fans through TV episodes, web episodes, on-ground events and Roadies’ branded merchandise including sunglasses, shoes and bags.
Besides, the brain behind the show, Raghu, has penned a memoir of his over-a-decade-long journey titled Rearview: My Roadies Journey, which explores the bright and not-so-bright side of this ride. Launched in Bangalore recently, the autobiography is available at Crosswords bookstores.
Verdict
All said, with so many youth-oriented shows from the same channel, what makes Roadies the brand it is? “This is a journey where the underdog can emerge a winner if he survives the game. This series generates intense emotions, not only from the participants and judges but also from the audience. The eliminations, tasks, contestants are always a topic of debate. You can love it, or hate it... but the youth can never ignore Roadies. This drives the social buzz and fan following,” says Chatterji.
However, a media planner says: “There are a lot of youth reality shows on Indian television today. No doubt, Roadies has gained popularity over the years but people now want to see some fresh shows. Though, it’s a good property for advertisers to invest in as the show has a brand value. Having said that, it’s not really going to grab enough eyeballs as the choice of the youngsters has evolved and they would like to watch something new rather than run-of-the-mill stuff.”
However, Raghu thinks that the TG identifies with the format. “The show is very young at heart. It explores human emotions very interestingly. It is not about the tasks, not about the vote-outs, but about facing circumstances and adapting to different dynamics.”
Roadies will be competing with shows like Emotional Atyachar: Love, Shaq aur Dhoka on Bindaas and the repeat telecast of Dil Dosti Dance (D3) on Channel V. Media analysts think that the show doesn’t really have a competition as nothing close to the similar format will be on air on the rival channels.
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