Switch on the TV there is a special news section on Mullaperiyar dam issue. Front page news is on Mullaperiyar. Roads are barricaded with cutouts of political leaders with dam as background. Walls are occupied by posters of political parties, trade unions, associations, NGOs, school children and what not. Dam is discussed over a cup of tea by everyone at any hotel. Discussions are more agitated at bars. Public in Kerala is on a frenzy matched only during elections. Media is feeding it for their TRPs. Selfish politicians are on roads with all usual gimmicks in the name of common man. Why most of us are not able to see this through? Yes, it is a serious issue which needs a political solution. But is it as serious as media and political parties make this out to be. Definitely no. The biggest culprit here is media, who are feeding this frenzy and making public the lame duck. I am thinking of Japan now. They live in the constant fear of earthquakes and massive destruction that wou

Thank god the marketing blitzkrieg by Emmanuel Silks is over. The brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan was on all advertising mediums (except social media) inviting people for inauguration of their branch in Kochi. Kochi was on a roll. Textile retailing in Kochi is an attractive market dominated by Jayalakshmi and Seematti for decades. They make the weddings happen in and around Kochi. Many players entered the market in the last 5-8 years like Kalyan, Chennai Silks and Joyalukkas. But none of them can claim to have made large enough market for themselves. They are well known brands but still most of the prospective customers are lenient towards Jayalakshmi or Seematti. This could be a wrong footed prediction but I believe Chennai Silks will close their branch in Kochi soon. There was a brand called Remanika that came up in 90s next to Seematti with much fanfare. They closed down with in one year. History tells that in last 25 years there was none who gave a decent fight against J