Mid Day

The zing in Zaffran

Carrying on with its tradition of dishing out indulgent north west frontier cuisine, Zaffran's second outlet in suburban Malad will have patrons coming back for its succulent murgh malai tikkas and authentic sherbet

Zaffran has been a delight of a restaurant for many years now. The traditional culinary enthusiasm of this Crawford Market landmark now extends its boundaries to the suburbs, to Malad's Infinity 2 mall. Naturally, we were curious to savour if the zing in Zaffran was intact.

Murgh Malai Tikka

As you enter the mezzanine, a stylish yet comfortable atmosphere welcomes you. The inexhaustible menu showcases numerous vegetarian and non-vegetarian starters. Cushy booths, soft lighting, attentive service make Zaffran the perfect choice for a relaxing family culinary experience.

But don't walk into Zaffran expecting calorie conscious Indian food, you will be disappointed. This is the real deal. North-West Frontier cuisine at it's best. Zaffran stays true to tradition and indulges in the aromatic and sometimes spicy flavours, and most dishes contain liberal amounts of oil. Though it contributes to a richer sensation and flavour.

Our meal begins with the Chilly Cheese Pakora (Rs 250), which arrives at our table minutes after we order it. Deep fried batter rich cheese (not paneer) is served with an amalgamation of stuffed vegetables on the inside. The bite-sized bits burst with cheese as you nibble into them, and a plethora of sliced and diced potatoes, black pepper and sesame. Excellent.

Next, the Murgh Malai Tikka (Rs 295) uses yummy yoghurt in the marinade; besides adding to the creaminess, it also set this recipe apart from several Indian tandoori chicken recipes that use traditional cream. The Murg Malai Tikka was tender, succulent and fragrant ideal combination for a dry chicken dish! The pieces of chicken melted in the mouth and the distinct flavours from the herbs and spices were evident in the chicken grilled to perfection.
To wash these down we order the Sherbet (Rs 125) and the Virgin Mojito (Rs 125). Both drinks are excellent. The Sherbet will take you back to the rose aroma-filled streets of an iftaar party in Mohammed Ali Road while the Virgin Mojito is the magical combination of lemonade mixed with mint sprigs and sugar.

For our mains, we go with the chef-recommended Nihari Gosht (Rs 375), which is essentially a stew, made from lamb. The dish is served with mutton gravy, delicately balanced and garnished with fresh coriander and ginger juliennes. The only complaint is that the meat should have been of the tender, melt-in-the-mouth variety.

While the skin to bone ratio was satisfactory, some pieces could have been better cooked.

The Butter Kulcha (Rs 50) and the Laccha Paratha (Rs 60) are easily the best in their category nicely buttered, and delicious to be eaten plain. The Gulab Jamun (Rs 85) was drenched in sugar syrup and flavoured with cardamom seeds and rosewater. It took ten minutes to cool down before we could eat it. Worth the wait.

At Infinity 2, Link Road, Malad (W); CALL 64502828 / 64502929

Zaffran didn't know we were there. THE GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals

Wasting time on Internet at work makes you 'a better employee'

A Danish study has claimed that wasting time on the Internet might actually be beneficial to the work environment.

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen divided a selection of workers into two groups. Both were instructed to watch a video of people passing a ball back and forth, reports the Daily Mail.

Each group was then asked if they could remember how many times the ball had been passed.

One group was allowed to watch a funny clip online beforehand, while members of the other team had to go straight to work- while listening to the laughter of their peers in the other room.

The research found workers who had watched the funny clip made fewer mistakes when asked to focus on the task than the group that wasn''t allowed to slack off for a few minutes.

The study isn''t conclusive and critics suggest that the first group may have been distracted by the laughter of their colleagues.

The idea behind the study is that people have a finite amount of willpower when it comes to amusing distractions like the Internet.

The research concluded that if you ban workers from using the Internet freely then eventually they become less focused, motivated and effective.

Be lady-like, not aggressive, to succeed at work

Here's a suggestion for women who want to succeed at work - try resisting the temptation to act like men, suggest researchers.

Their studies show that women who take an aggressive approach are often less likely to get ahead than those who exhibit more feminine traits.

If however, they try to conform, promotion comes their way, the research from George Mason University in Virginia found.

The findings, which will dismay feminists, suggest the best way for a woman to succeed in a man's world is to act like a lady, reports the Daily Mail.

They tally with past research that showed women oozing with self-confidence, assertiveness and other characteristics linked with successful management can be side-lined at work in favour of meeker types.

It is thought that while such traits are highly-prized in men, go-getting women are penalised for not being feminine enough and are seen as less likeable.

Top ten tips on how not to get sacked

Does the fear of being sacked haunts you all time?
Well, here are top ten tips on being a valued member of staff:

1. Assess your job skills, education and accomplishments.
Is your job training current, your skills valuable in today's job market and your performance effective? If your career or job requires regular skills updates or job training, stay on top of it, reports the Scotsman.

2. Keep your skills polished.
If your biggest qualification for your job is that you've been doing it for ten years, consider taking a refresher job-training course. Adult education classes or night school is a great way to expand your job skills and broaden your horizons.

3. Know who's looking for staff in your field.
What skills, education and job training are employers looking for? If you were unemployed, could you apply for the open positions?

4. Track the latest job market trends.
Stay up to date with industry events, changes and news. Read newspapers, journals and trade magazines, and talk to colleagues to improve your performance.

5. Hone your networking skills.
Whether you're planning to stay with your employer, looking to negotiate a raise or looking for a new job, keep networking.

6. Update your CV regularly.
Add your new responsibilities, changes in job title, professional associations, volunteer work, etc.

7. Take care of yourself.
Get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious food and exercise regularly. Deal with mental, emotional, or spiritual issues; don't ignore your problems.

8. Dress professionally.
Take pride in your appearance; if you're not into the current fashion, ask your partner or a salesperson to make sure you're well dressed.

9. Practise the basics.
Get to work, meetings and workshops on time. Do your job well. If you can't meet deadlines, get support. Be reliable, consistent and trustworthy.

10. Be positive about your long-term career success.
Avoid slandering your colleagues or gossiping about your supervisors. Be slow to criticise your clients. And be as positive as possible about your future.

Get creative the easy way

All of us need to think creatively in our professions. But creativity doesn't flow at the push of a button. You are either blessed with a fertile mind or have to work at stimulating your creativity. Here are some tips to boost your creative juices

Read a lot
Reading is one of the guaranteed methods to improve creativity. When you read you stimulate your mind, which allows for better generation of ideas. You can also find solutions for your problems in a particular book. Reading helps you imagine and imagination is essential for creative output.

Solve brain twisters
This can give your brain good exercise. But make sure you don't cheat by reading the questions followed by the answers. Think as much as you can. If you can't solve it use hints mentioned in the questions. Do this when you are free. It'll surely improve your creativity.

Give yourself a break
If you're too stressed out due to work, you need to give yourself a break. Sitting alone and brainstorming continuously over a problem won't give rise to solutions. So, go out for a stroll or a cup of coffee in the open. It will make your mind fresh and alert. Fresh oxygen is very necessary for proper functioning of the brain. Only when your brain is fully active can it think creatively in a short time.

Workout a little
Physical fatigue and lethargy can also hinder creative output. So, when you're feeling low, take a walk around your office building or department. Playing ball or doing some desk exercises can also help. You can also stretch yourself in your chair, to give some circulation to your limbs. These steps will surely work wonders on your mental state.

Interview mistakes to avoid

Job seekers do end up making some common mistakes during interviews that ultimately reduce their chances of getting hired. So, here's what you can do to avoid those major goof ups when you go for an interview:

Errors in your resume
Nothing kills a resume faster than typo errors or wrong spellings. Such errors create an impression of
carelessness and sloppiness in the minds of an interviewer. So always double-check your resume before you hand it over to the interviewer. Also remember that your resume isn't a document to go gaga on your personal attributes or achievements. It's a document that should just be describing your qualifications, skills and work experience. So learn to be precise.

Arriving late
Never be late for your job interview, because it's never excusable, trust us! We suggest you rather arrive 10 minutes early so that you have the time to settle in and ease your frayed nerves.

The wrong dress code
Always dress for an interview keeping in mind the kind of post you have applied for. For instance if you've applied for a executive post, make sure you wear formals or for a post at a junior level you could wear formals with a tie. A nice belt and shoes are good additions. But it's always better to dress a little conservatively than you normally do. Also avoid loud jewellery, bright colours and garish makeup. Showing an extra inch of cleavage or legs is also considered inappropriate.

Avoid one-liners
There are some mandatory questions you should be prepared to answer like: 1) What kind of work were you doing in your previous job 2) Why do you think should we hire you? What better can you do for the company? 3) What are your strengths and weaknesses? *) What are your salary expectations, etc. So be prepared for these questions in advance. Make yourself comfortable enough so that you can elaborate briefly on your experience, skills, and background. Don't reply back in 'yes' or 'no'. One-liners are conversation stoppers.

Poor body language
Remember that body language always speaks louder than words. At times an interviewer may pay more attention to how you react to a particular question than what you actually say. So never ever:

* Slouch in your chair: It leaves a wrong impression about you.

* Avoid eye contact: We are not asking you to stare at the interviewer like a psycho, but at least don't look elsewhere while answering to the interviewers. Instead look into his/her eyes and reply, it shows how confident you are.

* Sit with your hands crossed: This body posture may force the interviewer to think that you're not comfortable or that you've got a wavering mind. If you do not know what to do with your hands, just fold them and rest your hands on your lap.

* Interrupt the interviewer: This clearly shows how over-confident or arrogant you are.
Do all this and there are 90 per cent chances you are not going to be hired.

Play it safe and smart

Very often as professionals, we find ourselves in an endless loop of explanations because of miscommunication. A word or a mistatement here and there can put us in a spot of trouble. Here are some simple communication guidelines that can help you stay safe:

* Avoid interrupting. Making the person feel truly heard is at the core of successful communication. Let the person complete their say -- however incoherent and stupid they may sound, you must be a patient receiver and assist them in venting out. It works to your advantage, more than anybody else's. You can voice your disagreements in the end.

* Stay away from giving unwanted advice. This is what ticks most colleagues off. It is very simple to slip into a lecture when someone is sharing something with you. Guard against it, for it is very irritating for the person who is talking. Your advice will be accepted best only when the person has asked for it, remember!

* Learn to be a good listener. If you are forever eager to get your story out before hearing anyone else, you'll end up being tagged as a big old bore.

* Do not take away people's credit from them. How utterly annoying it would be if someone took all the praise for the hard work you put in? Be honest about your role. You may have been a key player in helping your
colleague achieve the target. But if the spotlight is on her, be generous and let her enjoy it. As long as you feel secure about your work, little else matters.

* When you feel irritated, agitated or irked up, immediately switch into looking at what might make you feel
better. It could mean walking out of the room, drinking a glass of water, taking a bathroom break, or simply closing your eyes. You will find yourself better equipped to see the situation differently.

When remembering isn't easy �

Have you been forgetting things at work? Absent-mindedness is a sign of excessive preoccupation and stress. Not only does it affect your productivity, it also manages to make you miserable and upset with yourself at the end of the day. An absent-minded person usually has a lot on his mind.

The nervous system is on an overdrive, and the heart has to pump thrice the amount of blood to the brain than it normally requires. Chronic levels of preoccupation, we would call it. Or, in other words, thinking, thinking, going mad! Here are some remedies for this common problem:

Breathe easy
Easier said than done? Not really. Our body has given us a natural mechanism to achieve this -- our breath. Just by focusing on your inhalation and exhalation pattern, you can bring yourself back into the present moment, each time you find yourself slipping away. Almost like magic, this technique will anchor you back to the here and now of things.

Have a work-life balance
Absent-mindedness is often due to boredom. A certain sense of disconnect, when faced in relation to one's work, can cause the person to drift away and escape the drudgery.

In such cases, one needs to look for ways to keep oneself motivated. Join a hobby class, meet more new people, go out more often, indulge in things you are passionate about -- basically, get a life outside work!

Nap it up
Nap more often if you can. A 10-minute catnap is the perfect way to stay aware and present to the tasks at hand. Just put your head down even if you're at the desk and you'll find yourself recharged and better equipped to tackle deadlines. Go slow on caffeine; contrary to public opinion, those endless cups of coffee or tea do nothing more than keeping you merely awake. They definitely do not cure absent-mindedness!

Stay hydrated
It is equally important to keep up the energy levels of the physical body. Our body needs to replenish its lost reserves on a regular basis. So make sure you drink lots of water and get adequate sleep.

Make a list
Get a weekly wall calendar that has big squares designated for each day. Write down your job-lists on these, so that you can keep throwing glances at it every now and then. And the best part is the joy that you'll get out of scratching out the jobs that are complete.

The memory game
>> Always make it a habit to write down things. It's always easy to remember the
written word
>> If you have a colleague with a sharp
memory, share important information with him/her. It might help when nothing else does
>> Stick post-it notes on your PC for
immediate tasks. Their sheer visibility won't let you forget things
>> Maintain different files/diaries/notes for different tasks. Remembering gets better with proper organisation

How to identify backstabbers at work

Backstabbing at workplace certainly devastates individuals, especially when a person doesn't know ho to deal with it. Now, career guru Kepcher has offered some advice on how to identify and cope with backstabbers at workplace.

Credit Stealer

Seemingly helpful team player who will enthusiastically support your suggestions and work to make the project a big success - particularly because she intends to take credit.

This will include magnifying her own role, using personal pronouns such as "I" and "me" as substitutes for "we" whenever possible.

The Chameleon

He, too, will appear to be a helpful team player, offering encouragement and support in private.

However, the chameleon will launch into his command performance whenever bosses are present and criticize ideas he supported some time back, including subtly accusing his peers of failing to notice the problems.

His every move is an effort to make himself look good " by making others look bad.

Backstabber In Chief

Occasionally, the Backstabber will also be the boss. Sigourney Weaver nailed this role in the movie "Working Girl."

The most encouraging boss imaginable will steal the assistant's potentially career-making idea.

How to handle all kinds of backstabbers at your office, by Kepcher, reports the New York Daily News:

� Stay calm. Do not let them make you emotional and defensive.

� Don't wander through the jungle alone. Beware of private conversations that can be misquoted later. Use e-mail and group meetings to document your contributions.

� Be polite, but persistent. Learn to say no.

Use direct phrases such as, "I'm perplexed you have so many negative comments about our idea since you were so supportive when we spoke privately yesterday. Is there a reason you didn't bring up your concerns until now?"

By being direct and careful, you can help push the Backstabber species in your workplace to extinction as quickly as possible.

The Indian Constitution, in small font

Leila Seth's book is a well-illustrated read that will help kids understand the Preamble better

"I was having a chat with my eight year-old granddaughter Nandini about our Constitution, who was lost whenever terms like equality, citizens and integrity crept into the conversation," Leila Seth, author Vikram Seth's mother, tells us in a telephonic interview, while admitting that being one of India's most respected judicial figures didn't make writing We, the Children of India, any easier.

Seth's book, with fantastic illustrations by Bindia Thapar, lucidly breaks down the Preamble of our Constitution to India's young citizens.

Filled with interesting trivia and rare photographs, the book is bound to find fans across Indian classrooms.

Leila Seth holds up a copy of her book, We, The Children Of India

"India has a very good Constitution that sadly, isn't taught to our children at the right time. When they are younger, it becomes part of their consciousness.

By the time they are 12, opinions are already established and it's too late. Whereas in the US, it's compulsory education at a much younger age," she says.

Seth adds that Indian children aren't exposed to a universal value system, which is where the Constitution steps in.

"The Preamble is one long sentence that gives you the essence of the Constitution, which if learnt will make them better equipped for tomorrow."

Leila, who broke the gender barrier in the judiciary, whether it was by becoming the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court or the first woman to be the Chief Justice of an Indian state, believes that unless kids understand the full meaning of the Preamble, they will never be equipped to respect equality of any kind be it dignity of labour or respect for the opposite sex.

We, The Children Of India, The Preamble to our Constitution, Puffin Books, Leila Seth, Rs 150, 40 pages. Available at all leading bookstores.

Pandit Nehru was the first person to sign the Indian Constitution; he was so excited that he did so without leaving any space for the President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, who had to squeeze his signature above Nehru's.

Today, Tharoor should talk Pearl, not IPL

Theatre veteran Pearl Padamsee taught drama to the just-resigned MoS for External Affairs, and industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla. This evening, friends, family and theatre stalwarts present a show featuring vignettes from her best-loved plays

Days before she passed away, in an interview to Prithvi Theatre's newsletter PT Notes, Pearl Padamsee clarified, "Sometimes it may have sounded like I've been waving the Union Jack of English. But I was not. I was waving the Indian flag for English."

Through out her life, the theatre veteran worked on some of the best known Indian English theatre productions with some of the best actors and stagehands the country has seen.

On April 23, ten years to the day she passed away, her friends, family, theatrewallahs and students come together for a unique show that features snippets from six of Pearl's plays.

Shweta Shetty, Karla Singh, Raell Padamsee, Shahriyar Atai, Dodo Bhujwalla, Delna Mody, Delna Patel and Deven Khote at a rehearsal for The Wiz at Kulsum Terrace.

The best in entertainment

As you read this, 25 of the best actors are busy rehearsing across three locations in Mumbai for the tribute show titled, Celebrating Pearl.

Kulsum Terrace in Colaba, where most of Pearl's plays were rehearsed, is packed with actors trying to recall their positions on stage from memory.

It's been years since they first acted together but when they get on stage again today, they want to make Pearl proud.

Veterans Gerson DaCunha, Sabira Merchant and Alyque Padamsee will share stage with singer Shweta Shetty, dancer-choreographer Karla Singh, comedians Cyrus Broacha and Kunal Vijayakar, all of whom began their acting careers with Pearl.

"She saw beyond-the-obvious potential in people, and helped them hone it," remembers Karla.

Shweta gets emotional as she steps on to the terrace of Pearl's home and remembers her teenage self rehearsing for Godspell.

"She once told me, 'Shweta, entertainment is like a garden in full bloom; you'll have people who'll love being around you but there will also be a time when there will be no water.

Everybody will ignore you, and then you'll wait for that one ray of sunshine and one drop of water and you'll bloom again. Utilise the down phase in the best way you can'," recalls the singer.

Ghar ka khana

For the actors, this evening's performance is special because the post-show dinner planned at Kulsum Terrace will be a lavish spread with Pearl's favourite dishes on the menu.

Practically everybody who has ever worked with Pearl remembers her post-rehearsal/ performance dinners.

"Her Beef Curry and Pork Vindaloo were legendary in theatre circles," theatre director- actor-technician Arghya Lahiri says. Alyque remembers how Pearl would cook all the food herself despite a hectic schedule.

"The only rule for dinner was that you had to bring your own pav (bread). She'd cook the curry but the actors would bring their own pav," laughs Raell.

Catch Celebrating Pearl today,
7 pm at Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
Call: 22824567. Tickets: Rs 200

Celebrating Pearl

The performance will include excerpts from productions include The Serpent, Godspell, The Collector, The Wiz, Arturo Ui, Duet for One and her last directorial play, Betrayal. Non-theatre enthusiasts will know Pearl from her role in Hindi films like Khatta Meetha and Baaton Baaton Mein.

Pearl's Boys

Pearl taught dramatics to school children and loved interacting with youngsters.

Ex-husband Alyque Padamsee and daughter Raell tell you about the people they bump into from varied walks of life, recounting how Pearl taught them not just theatre but principles of life.

"She taught them discipline. She expected her people to have done their homework before the rehearsals. She loved to work with young people and help them get a grounding in theatre," says Raell.

In fact, there is an informal group that calls itself Pearl's Boys, which includes the likes of now ex-Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, producer Ronnie Screwvala and actor Ranjit Chowdhury.

Ronnie, who is going to host tonight's show in Mumbai says, "She was a mentor and a friend. Our interaction was always based on equality, and that was her humility.

Being on stage rids you of fears that life leaves you with, and I think those days helped shape my personality."

There can be only one of her

Arghya Lahiri, Director-Actor
Whenever I pass by Ivorine building (where Pearl spent her last years), I look up to the first floor balcony and remember how she'd insist that you turn back and
wave after you left her home. She was always there to wave back.

Alyque Padamsee, Theatre Personality, Pearl's Ex-Husband
At post-show dinners, she'd cook everything. She would even talk to the vegetables or whatever she was cooking. Everything was a dramatic process for her.

Raell Padamsee, Daughter
The only rule for dinner was that you had to bring your own pav (bread). She'd cook the curry but the actors would bring their own pav.

Women who drum away stereotypes

FYI meets two generations of women tabla makers at Lalbaug, who have carved a niche for themselves in a male-dominated profession

In the middle of Lalbaug lies an unmarked, open-shuttered storeroom where a group of women sit polishing and tapping tablas and dholkis.

Their work elicits reactions of amusement from passing commuters, who stop to gawk and click pictures, and others who confuse the scene for being a tabla class in progress.

The second-generation of women tabla makers are used to the attention.

Destiny calling

"My daughter Deepa grew up watching me make tablas. She has followed in my footsteps, and now brings her daughter here too," says Pramila Ashok Jadhav of Damodardas Govardhandas Tablamakers (DGT).

Watching Deepa's five-year-old daughter Aditi roam around playfully tapping tablas, one gets the sense of a third generation of female tabla players in the making.

Pramila's foray into the male-dominated profession was quite by accident.

Initially employed in the residence of the Chauhans, the proprietors of DGT, Pramila could no longer carry out her domestic work because of a medical condition.

That was when the Chauhans decided to teach her the art of tabla-making.

Step By Step

The 70-year-old shop, whose celeb clientele includes well-known Indian playback singer Suresh Wadkar and Marathi music industry stalwarts Bhawani Shankar, Mahadev Pawar and Prabhakar More, employs nine women tabla makers aside from their 11 male staffers.

The men carve the percussion instruments from sheesham, neem or mango wood. They then create a
sancha by stretching leather onto a circular wooden board applied to both ends of the tabla.

At this point, the women take over and braid a leather strap from top to bottom, which is followed by applying siyahi (black ink) to the centre of the tabla.

"The ink is sourced from Bhavnagar in Gujarat. We mix it with rawa soaked in water for 15 minutes, and then knead the mixture for an hour. After this we add disinfectant powder," explains Pramila.

The sticky mixture is left overnight after which it acquires a greenish hue.

It is mixed with iron powder the following morning and applied to the instrument, which is polished with a smooth shaligram (pebble). The excess siyahi is removed with a steel spatula.

The process takes around three hours, and will determine the difference between a good and bad tabla, depending on how well it is done.

Labour of love

"We have entrusted the less labour intensive part of the job to the women.

After so many decades in the trade, they have become absolute pros and can do their work with their eyes closed," says the nephew of Suresh Chauhan, Nitin Mistry.

On most days, the women work from 10 am to 8 pm, but work hours are stretched during the wedding season and on festivals including Diwali.

The work takes a physical toll on the women's bodies. "We have to sit in the same position all day, and often feel pain in the entire upper body region," says Swati Inerkar, one of the tabla makers.

For now though, these women are ready to brave any discomfort to pursue an art they have come to love.

At: 19, Shroff Building, SG Road, Lalbaug.
Call 24702617

Mumbai rat killers make it to Cannes

Rat Race, A documentary on Mumbai's professional rat killers, is among the six films in the world to be selected for the cannes Co-Production Challenge

Miriam Chandy Menacherry is terrified of rats. Yet the 35-year-old filmmaker is busy documenting one of Mumbai's most bizarre professions rat killing.

The idea behind the documentary, Miriam says, is to put a face to the rat menace, which is a startling reality in the metropolitan city of Mumbai.

57-year-old Behram Harda is one such face. Behram has spent 35 years of his life working as a supervisor in the BMC's Pest Control Department.

At a typical recruitment drive, candidates have to go through a written test (all candidates must have cleared their standard 10 exams) followed by a physical test in 3 rounds, to test them for speed and stamina. The candidate here is carrying a 50kg sack

"Like so many people who come to the city with dreams of making it big in the glamour industry, Behram too came here to try his luck.

But his father insisted that he take up a government job, and he has been serving the city since," says Miriam, adding that Behram's job involves keeping track of every rat that's ever been killed in Mumbai.

Miriam's interest in the subject was roused when she read reports on the rigorous recruitment procedure for rat killers, which includes a written test.

Rat killers are unique to Mumbai and the BMC has specially created the team to tackle the menace, as rats are carriers of disease including cholera and leptospirosis.

Controlling the rat population is thus critical to maintaining health and hygiene standards in a city.

Rat killers are expected to kill 30 rats every night. "It's not that rats cannot be trapped or killed with rat poison.

But the rat killers, who use sticks to knock the rats dead, are seen as the most effective option," explains Miriam.

Despite being in its filming stage, Rat Race has been selected for the Co-Production Challenge at the Cannes Film Festival.

The idea is that if the film wins, it will receive better funding, which in turn will result in a "better finished film." In the past, films that have won have gone on to bag prestigious awards at the Golden Globes and BAFTA.

Miriam believes that what got the jury interested in the subject was that it reflects a developing economy and its issues.

"It's not just about India Shining, but what goes on behind the scenes to make it shine," says Miriam, adding, "I hope that as a fallout of the film, rat killers get positive attention for the important, but thankless work they do, while Mumbai sleeps."

How Sonia did it, & why you should too

Standing your ground in the face of massive resistance has its payoffs. FYI takes a cue from the Congress president and shows you how not to be an ostrich in the workplace

'I would rather die standing than live on my knees,' Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata declared once. For those of us stuck in the rat race, and otherwise lacking in courage, there seems little time for revolutions beyond paper and our own blogs.

But at times when the office becomes a conflict zone, and when the same colleagues we believed we could count on for support turn against us, even the most timid among us have to dig in their heels and hold their own.

Following in the footsteps of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who stood her ground in the face of major opposition over the Women's Reservation bill, here's a quick guide on how to stick up for yourself in the workplace.

March 8, 2010: the date when the Women's Reservation bill was passed 14 years after it was first proposed. The bill, which seeks 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, began its contentious journey in 1996 during the Deve Gowda government. It was only in 2004 however, that the UPA government, led by Sonia Gandhi, included it in the Common Minimum Programme a document outlining the minimum objectives of a coalition government. Gandhi (pictured here beside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) fought to get the bill passed despite massive resistance from the opposition. Interestingly, the bill was passed on the occasion of Women's Day, making Gandhi's wish for the UPA to "gift" the bill to the women of India, a reality.

What to do

Be honest
Honesty gives you the courage to hold your own. If you believe in your stand stick with it; a clear conscience always helps in the long run.

Be prompt
Don't hesitate to take action as soon as required; nip things in the bud. Timely action is the key to healthy conflict-resolution.

Know your rights
Remember, knowledge is power. Make sure to gather the required information about your rights and then exercise them.

Seek support from friends
If you don't have an adequate support system in the office, look to your extended circle of friends for help.

Follow up
Once you have lodged a complaint or taken action, follow up with the person concerned so that the situation doesn't lose its relevance. Ensure others
know how serious you are about the situation.

What not to do

Don't flip your lid
Stay calm and focused. Keeping a cool head is essential. There have been instances where people have lost winning cases only because they lost their temper with a supervisor and therefore came off as "emotional" and therefore irrational.

Don't expect special treatment
While women can expect support up to a certain degree, most organisations prefer to be seen as treating men and women equally.

Don't cry wolf
Unless you find yourself in a genuine fix, keep your finger away from the trigger. For instance, if a situation can be resolved on a one-to-one, there's no point in reporting it to your super boss.

We also face it

Barkha Kaul, model and DJ
"When I decided to become a DJ, men would routinely say, 'ladki kya bajayegi'. But I continued to have confidence in myself, and proving my mettle has helped melt their antagonism towards me."

Rohit Sharma, assistant director, My Name Is Khan

"Filmmaking is a team sport, involving everyone from the biggest film star to the spot boy. My dilemma was between trying to stay creative and finding time to work out team dynamics. Self-belief, good organisational skills and resolving issues before they get blown out of proportion are
my mantras."

Know your rights
Don't hesitate to speak up in a critical situation when you know you are right. (Though) It is always best to try solving a case within the organisation.

They went against the popular vote

I needed two months' leave as I had a medical problem. I suggested my boss hire someone else in my absence as it was an important project. My leave was sanctioned and my boss suggested I work double shifts to complete the work.

In my previous company, my immediate boss would often yell at me. When things started getting out of control, I complained about him to my superiors. That's when my colleagues got the courage to speak out against him too. He was soon set right.

One ball at a time

Tennis player Sania Mirza has decided to get off the court and concentrate on family once she gets hitched to childhood buddie Sohrab Mirza. Here's what to keep in mind before you call it quits

So many superwomen. So many sacrifices. When it comes to India, many of our female stars call it quits on the career front once they decide to tie the knot.

From Jaya Bachchan to Madhuri Dixit, and now Sania Mirza, the trend hasn't died out.

Whether it's a voluntary move or one that involves having to toe the family line, women often forgo their ambitions when the time comes to raise a family.

Other than financial independence, which lends women a sense of self-worth, medical experts lay emphasis on how, while a working woman's health may take the brunt of stress and long hours, working outside the home actually increases their mental strength.

Sania, who got engaged to Sohrab Mirza in July 2009, did not elaborate when she would tie the knot but said she would bid adieu to the game after marriage. Before getting engaged to Sania, Sohrab had said that she'd have complete freedom to make her career decisions, and that she had his support.

"A working wife tends to be mentally strong because she is in touch with the realities of life and demands of her profession.

If she masters the art of work-life balance, a career can do wonders not just for herself but her family too, for whom she'll act as role model," says Dr Sunita Dube, director, Aryan Group of Hospitals.

The Bright Side

The financial independence of a working wife helps reduce the financial burden, which might be felt by the man.
a Working husband and wife can better understand each other's work pressure. An increased disposable income leads to a better lifestyle.

But Then

Undoubtedly, a housewife can give more time to the family than a working wife.

Half the life goes justifying long working hours and graveyard shifts

Affects the kids' formative years since working parents can't supervise them.

6 Reasons Why You Should Rethink That Resignation

Research shows that working wives are less likely to suffer from depression.
They enjoy better health since they are physically active.
Financial independence tends to up your self-esteem.
Your work is a source of intellectual stimulation.
You develop enhanced problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
Since working women have a social support system in office, it helps them face loss of loved ones, failure, illness and other challenges better.

Before You Quit, Consider:

Your financial position
How old your kids are
Availability of jobs in your sphere
Support from your partner
Personal health
How passionate you are about your work

Vox Pop: Should Women Say Ta-Ta?

Tapur Chatterji, model: Whether or not a wife should quit her job should be her decision. Continuing in a job has practical, financial benefits. But yes, it does take a toll on the personal front, leaving her with little time. But I think it's easier to tackle if she has her partner's support.

Pooja Bedi, actor-anchor: Often, a dual income is necessary for a quality lifestyle. Even if she chooses to quit, she should find other avenues to keep her productivity intact; either take up hobby classes or pursue a sport or dance form so that she can continue to grow.

Salena Rathore, retail professional: My parents spent their hard-earned money to educate me, so it's not going to be fair to expect me to sit at home. Education has a purpose. If it's not put to use, and translated into a career, it's meaningless.

Amruta Patil, graphic designer: I wanted to quit my job after I got married, but my husband convinced me otherwise. He believed I had what it takes to excel in my career. Financial independence is secondary; the high of success is what you lose out on if
you quit.

In Bollywood

Rumour has it that actress Preity Zinta called off her relationship with Ness Wadia because he asked her to quit acting.

After sending a million male hearts aflutter, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander actress Pooja Bedi quit acting after she married now ex-husband Farhan Ebrahim.

Sridevi hasn't been seen in a project after she married director Boney Kapoor.

ILO Says Tendency Is High

A report from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), conducted among working women in the age group of 18-60, says 43% are unmarried, 29% divorced and 19% married. More than 45% of participants said they would quit their jobs either after marriage or childbirth.

The Japanese Just Have To Do It!

Japanese women are known to quit posts once they get married or pregnant, firstly, because it's a cultural trend, and because men prefer it that way.

There are very few nursery schools in Japan, most of them charging exorbitant fees. There is also no provision of paternity and paid maternity leave in Japan.

The working class decides

It's tweets versus posts, word limits versus free verse, quick versus personal. In the battle of Twitter vs Facebook, FYI checks in to see who scores the winning goal

One guarantees microblogging might while the other provides you your very own virtual farm. The tragedy is that we often mistake Facebook for being an alternative to Twitter and vice versa.

So, what makes better professional networking sense? And what's more fun? And which of the two requires quicker updates? Let's find out...

Dino Morea, Actor
Twitter is a great way to be in touch with my fans whereas Facebook is a great platform to connect with old friends and family.

Different strokes

Facebook appeals to people looking to reconnect with old friends and family members and making new connections.

It has an amalgamation of features including email, instant messaging, image and video sharing to name just a few.

This social networking portal is used primarily to share thoughts and images within one's own network.

Twitter, on the other hand, encourages users to use updates as jumping-off points to other places or to just let others know what they are up to at any given moment.

Facebook appeals to social animals and can be very addictive to people who have an insatiable appetite to stay connected with loved ones or make new acquaintances.

Facebook users prefer it as they save on the hassle of logging on to different applications.

For example, they need not log on to Yahoo Messenger, Gmail, Hotmail and Flickr, as it provides them with a single alternative to all these applications, with one login and interface to manage all of one's online social interaction needs.

Alternatively, Twitter encourages constant "linking out" to anywhere. This might also explain its popularity with celebs, as it provides them with an instant connect to fans.

Facebook is more useful in terms of connecting to one's own life: past and present, while Twitter is about meeting people who are complete strangers.

Conversations on Facebook are familiar and centre mostly on shared experiences and connections, whereas Twitter provides one the opportunity to meet new people, stand out from the crowd and self promote.

Being on Twitter is the equivalent of having the spotlight on you.

Report card

Twitter Pros
Easy to navigate and update, link to and promote anything
Helps you reach out to people far beyond your inner circle
One feed pools all users; anyone can follow anyone unless blocked
Pure communication tool, rapid responsiveness
You don't have to be logged in to get updates; you can use an RSS reader

Twitter Cons
Limited functionality; find people, send brief messages, direct replies
Limited to 140 characters per update
Not all people find it immediately useful
Over-emphasis on follower counts
Easily abused for spam
Relatively smaller installed user base

Facebook Pros
Application mash-up; find people, make connections, email, instant messaging, image/video sharing
Most people can quickly grasp the value of connecting with friends, family and established contacts
More emphasis on deep connections versus who has the most connections
"True Friends" feature increases your transparency to selected connections; almost like having private and public profiles
Huge, rapidly growing user base
Third party applications, "gift-giving" and personal data collection make Facebook a powerful advertising platform

Facebook Cons
More difficult to navigate and update on a regular basis
Requires investment of time to realise sustained benefits
Opt-in model requires a user to allow others to connect
Less immediate responses, unless you stay continually logged on

Twitter fan or die-hard Facebooker?

I use only Facebook. It's almost like my online phone book. It is a place where I have happily
re-connected with family and friends.

It's nice to stop by my friends' accounts, take a look at recent photos, travel updates, and post a few "hey, how's it going" notes on walls.

It's simply brilliant and highly addictive. I don't think I would ever get on Twitter as I am a loyal FB user.

I like Twitter as it keeps things simple and doesn't try to offer loads of choices unlike Facebook. Also, I can microblog on my own schedule.

Facebook would require more sustained time. I also believe that the 140-word limit is
one of Twitter's biggest strengths, and not a weakness.

Expert talk

"I will be shocked if Twitter ever replaces FB's popularity," says cyber security guru Ankit Fadia. He elaborates on each one's usefulness versus the other:

Facebook is a great way to be in touch with loved ones.

Facebook is sometimes cumbersome because of a lot of unnecessary applications.

Enabling security settings on Facebook is much easier and one's approval is required before anyone can access one's profile.

People who have more news to share and less time usually make Twitter their platform. Most people I know are on it to keep track of celebs.

When On Twitter, Don't

Take a cue from Shashi Tharoor. Keep that temper under control. You have 140 words, choose them with care.
Act frivolous. Keep it short, succinct and meaningful.
Get too personal; maintaining a healthy distance is a good thing.

When On Facebook, Don't
Just play Farmville, find friends and folks.
Add too many strangers to your friend list.
Put up stuff that can feed stalkers' ill intentions.
Bitch about your boss or paste pictures of a party held under his nose.

How an Idiot succeeds at work

Just because you follow the beat of your own drum, it's no reason why you should'nt succeed. FYI plays Rancchoddas aka Rancho and tells you how to pump passion into work

The conventional formula for success is to do what you love, get someone to pay you for it, and then stick with it. That's what Aamir Khan's character Rancho does in the latest Bollywood film, 3 Idiots.

But what if you find yourself in a situation similar to Farhan Qureshi's (played by Madhavan) from the same film: stuck in an industry or a job that you might be good at, but you know is not your life's calling? What if Farhan had decided against following his heart and not made the switch from engineering to wildlife photography?

What if you don't yet know what your life's calling is and so drift from one job to another in search of the "perfect" job? On the bright side, you could be a maverick: someone who refuses to follow conventional ways of thinking. So, the idea of "sticking" with one job till you get "good" at it, might seem unappealing. On the downside, you could be a Jack of all trades, but master of none. But what if finding career stability is your life lesson? Here are some tips to help you stay on course.

TIPS to stick with your job
Deal with issues: Just as a new love can't help you get over your last heart-break, a new job might not always come minus the issues you had in your previous one. It's important to deal with challenges head-on.
resist temptation: Money, adventure, glamour, fame... there could be several reasons for why a friend's profession might seem more attractive. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right fit for you.
Wait it out: You can't become the "Salesman of the Year" in one day. The sooner you realise that persistence pays, the easier it will be for you to cope with delays and setbacks, and the less "trapped" you will feel.
embrace change: As in life, change is inevitable. There will be sudden changes in hierarchy and job profile, organisational structure and pay cuts. Don't run at the first sign of change. Stay focussed on the aspects of your job that you enjoy.

Make boredom work for you
Find your feet: If you're prone to switching careers, you should aim to be applauded for the speed at which you learn new skill sets.
Master transitions: Use your restlessness to set new challenges for yourself. Let the company know that you're open to a transfer. Re-locating to another city or country can give you the opportunity to meet new people and adapt to different cultures.
Save, save, save: If you have decided that your current job is not for you, know that signing your resignation letter might not always coincide with signing an offer letter. So, make sure you set aside a fixed amount every month that goes straight into your savings account.

Changed my mind
Aditi Govitrikar is a gynaecologist.
Soha Ali Khan was an employee of Ford Foundation and CitiBank.
Amisha Patel used to be an economic analyst with a securities firm and even turned down an offer by Morgan Stanley.
Shankar Mahadevan holds a computer science engineering degree from Mumbai University.
Minissha Lamba was once a journalism enthusiast.

Expert talk
Neelam Sharma, career consultant
Most job hoppers that I have counselled come from affluent families, especially from business backgrounds. Students from such families know that they can experiment with different careers because money is not a problem. They usually look for varied job experiences or 'masti'. We tell them that it's fine to be a Jack of al trades, but important to master them too.

Dr Bhavna Barmi, senior clinical psychologist, Excorts Heart Institute and Research Centre
Frequent job hopping is a habit with those who believe in exploring and experiential learning. They won't take up something just because everyone else is doing it, and even if they do, chances are, they will soon drop out. Men and women like this are good at multitasking, far better than we imagine them to be. Also, people whose identity has not been fully developed are prone to switching jobs frequently, in their quest to create one for themselves. There are aptitude and career-related tests that could ease their anxiety and help them achieve stability.

The job hoppers
Sumantha Rathore, media professional
While growing up, I wanted to be a doctor. Later, I got taken up by the e-commerce hype, which I decided to graduate in. But even after the convocation I felt as if I didn't know the basics of e-commerce, which was when I decided to pursue my masters in management. The day I went to pay my fees, I was having lunch in the canteen with the director of the film-making branch of the same college, and he convinced me that film was the next best thing for me. That lunch changed the course of my career. Now, I want to do some interior designing, but only part-time.
Divij Arora, proprietor
My specialisation in senior college was computers, though I wanted to be in the merchant navy. Later, I pursued electronic engineering, and then a one-year commercial pilot training course. Guess what I'm doing right now? Running a food joint.
Ankita Rawat, student
After completing my school in 2007, I thought of pursuing hotel management, but since my father didn't support me I enrolled for a course in communication. But now that I'm about to complete my course, I'm preparing to sign up for a wine appreciation course in Goa.
Aakash Deep Chouhan, real estate professional
I joined an engineering college in Jaipur, but despite doing well, I dropped out. Though, I bonded so well with my friends there that I joined another college and started preparing for my civil service exams. I then dumped the idea when I met a journalist in Delhi who was leading a peace procession to Lahore. I was so impressed by him that I joined a journalism course in Pune, but I later got bored. Then I joined a research firm in Delhi, which I left in six months. I moved back to Mumbai to join a construction firm and have been working there for the past year. I took time to find my calling, but I now have peace of mind.

Naukri Ya Nautanki?

Never heard of in 1999, but a reality in today's times, new age designations come wrapped in fancy labels and impressive jargon in an appearances-are-all world

Chief Knowledge Officer
A new corporate executive is emerging in savvy companies -- the CKO (Chief Knowledge Officer). Just what this person will do differs from industry to industry. Similar in functionality to a CLO (Chief Learning Officer), the CKO's duties can vary from recommending whether a company should buy, sell, or make its technologies, to determining where technology is going and where new competitors may arise. But there is no better example of the need for a CKO than the necessity for some companies to manage decline skillfully. Says R Ramkumar, corporate marketing and research VP of IT services major Cognizant Technology Solutions, "Ideally, a CKO should be like a senior manager who is on back-slapping terms with the business and processes of the organisation, but never a new hire."

First Impressions Executive
In the title inflation of the new economy, the secretaries are called anything from office assistants to administrative coordinators while a receptionist becomes a front desk executive or, better still, First Impressions Executive (FIE). Apart from the ego boost it gives the employee -- usually female -- the job description and profile haven't changed much over the decade. For instance, a recent First Impression Executive (FIE) advert by a consultancy firm ran like this: Wanted: "A graduate with a pleasing personality and excellent communication skills" to "receive phone calls and personally interact with outsiders".

Customer Experience Enhancement Specialist
Often, boring jobs are disguised under a complex word jargon, as titles get too big for the blue-collar task. What a telephone operator was in 1999, a customer voice executive is in 2009. The sky is the limit for the mind of the creative designation generator. Imagine the glory an overworked shop assistant feels when he hands out a visiting card that reads Customer Experience Enhancement Specialist!

Wanted
"A graduate with a pleasing personality and excellent communication skills" to "receive phone calls and personally interact with outsiders".

How to zoom past Rocket Singh

Product to customer, idea to client, skills to the boss. What are you selling today? Here's a guide to make the world buy anything you want to trade

We are all salesmen. If the creative head at an ad agency or an IT engineer reading this, just went "huh?", let us explain. Why do you wear your best shirt at an interview or take your in-laws to the hippest restaurant in town? We do it because we are busy selling ourselves round the clock; to the boss, the wife, a potential lover, parents, even strangers.

Ranbir Kapoor plays an enthusiastic salesman in the just-released Rocket Singh

Marketing is intrinsic to the myriad situations that define life. True talent stays well eclipsed without it, and so do beauty and skills. So, if there's one product you must market with heart and soul, it's you. But that, again, is a tough game, because target clients are varied and often belong to spheres diametrically opposite to each other. That's where FYI steps in to come to your rescue, and help you get voted salesman of the year.

How to stick to integrity while you are at it
Believe in yourself: You can't effectively sell yourself if you don't value who you are. Have confidence in your abilities.
Share your knowledge: Knowledge is a valuable resource and it can make anyone seem more attractive. Sell your skills by sharing your knowledge.
Share your experiences: People are drawn to those who are willing to share their experiences.
Be authentic: Be genuine in your interactions with others and work to develop honest communication.
Present yourself professionally: Everything, from your appearance to how you speak, matters. It's always best to play it safe and follow formal business etiquette.
Be positive: Smile, show interest and be enthusiastic. Don't crib, engage in gossip. Keeping yourself upbeat will draw people to you.

What won't work
Begging: Use tact instead.
Bartering the body: Licking a**. Who wants to be seen as a s**ker with little skill.
Interfering: You don't have to be your client's daughter's best friend. Play professionally.

Fyi's expert panel shows you how to sell the impossible
Sell self to a stranger
Maintain cultural sanguinity, credibility
Ashok Bhat, personality coach and Director, Mindshare HR consultancy
Putting on a mask may help in the short term, but reality will come out soon. If you are meeting a stranger, maintain cultural sanguinity. For example, titles matter a lot to Arabs, which isn't the case with Americans. So, avoid doing things that will offend the other. Do some research on his background to help you be culturally in sync. Put your best foot forward, but maintain transparency too.

Sell fairness cream to a foreigner
Hire MJ as ambassador
Prahlad Kakkar, Ad man
If you ask me to sell fairness cream to a foreigner, say a blonde, I'll assign Michael Jackson as its brand ambassador. Amusing, amazing, effective. And I bet that would work!
The key to selling is underselling; you should be effortless, and no one should know you are trying to sell yourself. If you accomplish this, you fly high. If at a gathering, you start conversing on a topic, and take a potshot at yourself, you'll be the star of the show. Don't ever over-sell yourself, because no one likes the guy who tries too hard.

Sell self to potential lover
Arouse apathy, don't be a wannabe
Cyrus Broacha, VJ-actor
I have never sold myself. If you try too hard to sell yourself, you lack the magic. Everybody does their own thing to woo people; even a crab dresses himself in a jungle! But trying to be incredibly charming and wearing tight tees, won't impress anyone. If I were to ever convince a woman, I would persuade her to believe that I am pathetic to hang out with, and force her to dislike me. Maybe that way, she'd like me.

Sell self to showbiz
Dress deadly, act busy
Kamaal Rashid Khan, actor and Bigg Boss 3 participant
In showbiz, "Jo dikhta hai, woh bikta hai". A hero is one person in a crowd of crores, so, he must dress differently. People should say his style is deadly. He must behave busy, as if he has little time for people. He must drop by at events and escape on the sly, to prove he's short of time.

Sell self to in-laws
Be nice, but be yourself
Eesha Koppikhar, actor
I would not call it selling, but projecting yourself. Putting on an act won't work for in-laws because eventually, they'll figure who you really are. I'd say, go ahead and please them, but be yourself.

Sell self to the boss and peers
Stay glued to Facebook
Vivek Bahl, Senior Marketing professional and ex-chief at Ibibo
Social networking sites are good for self-promotion. Facebook is the best example; you can post updates on last night's party, what you like and what you don't, your best pictures, work links, notes and interests. The trick is to attract attention. You can try that with your phone too.

Stop yakking, start listening

An american NGO asks people to celebrate "listening day". FYI tells you how listening can help you scale the corporate ladder

How often have you been distracted during a conversation and ended up saying, "Come again?" If this is a frequent scenario, it only means you are a passive listener. Ironically, studies indicate we spend 45% of our daily lives listening (as opposed to just 9% writing, 16% reading, 30% talking), and yet most of it is distracted hearing. Communication gurus might sell you the idea of getting your point across to get ahead, but experts say, not so fast.

"Though, we are taught to read and write in school, no one teaches us how to listen. In customer relations and the media, for instance, it is crucial to listen if you want to avoid miscommunication," says corporate trainer Anita Shantaram. A lack of effective listening can lead to errors while performing a task, encouraging employers to overlook you while distributing work the next time around. "Careless listening can lead to filtering out important facts and a fall in productivity," Shantaram believes.

And it's not just lower-rung employees who should be listening. Once you are in a senior position, keen listening helps you read between the lines. "Most people sell ideas to the powerful, but not all that's said can be taken at face value."

Pravin D Shah, MD and Founder, Six Inches Communication, says as a team leader, he has no choice but to actively listen. "Listening makes you seem approachable to clients and helps nurture professional bonds. Unless you listen to what the client wants, how will you deliver?" Shah asks.