"This is my wish for myself: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss my lips, sunsets to warm my heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for my eyes to see, friendships to brighten my being, faith so that I can believe, confidence for when I doubt, courage to know myself, patience to accept the truth, love to complete my life."
 

Nivedith Alva, Supervising Producer, Miditech tells correspondent Nidhi Jain how a few small things sets up the entire beautiful world for him.

Initial days
Studied in Delhi at St Columbus till my 10th and then went onto DPS RK Puram for my 11th and 12th in Humanities. Did my Honors in History from St Stephens College, Delhi. Started working at Miditech in 2000 straight after college. First shows were as an assistant producer on Musafir Hoon Yaaron for Star Plus and Hospital on BBC World.
In 2003, went to the UK to do my MA in TV Journalism from Goldsmiths at the University of London and returned to Miditech and have been working non stop since. Have worked out of Miditech Delhi then Mumbai and now Bangalore. Most challenging time at work was directing the first season of MTV Hero Honda Roadies.

Strongly feels about
You've got to do what you've got to do. You only live life once so you may as well make the most of it. Feel very strongly about family and family always comes first. Though with the kind of work we do, it gets tough, but one has to make time.
Am a heart over head kind of person and often make decisions from the heart.

Crazy about
My daughter, Manini. Fatherhood is the most awesome feeling in the world, nothing comes close.
Also, love traveling and have been to almost every state in India and widely traveled across the world.

What rejuvenates you?
Nothing does it more than a good family holiday with nothing to do but eat, drink and sleep. Also, spend time watching movies and reading.

Love food
Totally love eating out and try all sorts of cuisine. Favourite Food - Greek and Chinese.

Movies
Love sitting at home and watching movies on DVD. Also, have almost 10 seasons of MASH, my favourite TV show which my wife, Meera and I watch most nights.

Spirituality with a shrug and smile comes to very few and believing that India has a wealthy legacy of traditions and wisdom to offer, more than just being the heir to dad Deepak Chopra's legacy, the guru in the making for some candid spiritually. Here's Gowtham Chopra for you?

Are you deeply spiritual yourself--
I don't know. I can't say that I am a deeply spiritual person. But yes, having grown up in the atmosphere that I have and in the family that I belong to, I am very comfortable with myself and in tune with my spirituality. I don't make an effort to be spiritual.

And what is it you do--I am an artist writer. I believe my role is to tap into the creative potential of people and the youth that I meet, and get them to express their inner storehouses of wisdom.

Your role here in India--
India has a great storewell of inner wisdom and traditions, stories, myths -- anthologies of knowledge if you will. I want to convince people, especially the youth, that it's their ideas that matter. They are relevant, and they need to be creative and package it to the world.

Internet blog, online spiritual platform--
It was an organic evolution. It began with me and dad, Shekhar Kapur, and sister Malvika mailing each other about stuff, questions, thoughts... People like Rahul Bose have been friends for years and he uses the blog to focus on tsunami relief. We are just making use of this hobby of blogging that is catching on to improve whatever we can.

What are your spiritual challenges--
There are tremendous challenges in tapping latent wells of wisdom and tradition. It's not just IT and entertainment companies that we need to build but we can find it within ourselves to find ways to improve the world.

"If ever a car was built to be driven, it is the Bentley. Passion

for performance is in our blood. And in our bloodline. Early history was written on the racetracks of Europe by a breed of adventurers who not only had the vision to build the cars, but also the courage to drive them to victory.

Continue to design and build every precious part of a Bentley with one thing in mind -

the experience of the driver. That?s as true of the craftsmanship that creates vehicles of inimitable finesse as of the engineering that produces engines of phenomenal power.

Which is why, as long ago as 1938, Bentley inaugurated the first Instruction Class for owners. That was the beginning of Bentley Driving, which today offers advanced driving courses to those owners wishing to explore the full potential of their cars.

Not for the faint-hearted, these would typically involve extreme tests of skill in a wide

variety of driving situations. Experiencing and correcting oversteer and understeer, understanding the ESP system, using ABS to brake at speed, high speed cornering techniques, skid-pan practice or redline acceleration - the thrill of mastering these, and many other driving challenges, makes for a truly unforgettable learning experience.
Nothing less than the finest materials and the most painstaking attention to detail go into the manufacture of Bentley cars. And nothing less than those very same qualities can satisfy those who commission our Bentley replica models. The closest possible collaboration between our styling team and the die-cast manufacturer ensures that our scale miniatures are true in form and as authentic in detail as the originals.

This limited series, offered in unique Bentley packaging, matches the unique colours and specifications of the Bentley cars past and present.

Rare "B" species

Huge reserves of understated power and the finest tradition of British coachbuilding come together in the Bentley Arnage range of three Grand Touring saloons, each with its own distinctive character and style. Whether it?s the high performance, the beautifully refined, the stately Arnage, no other car can be hand-built to customer requirements with such delicacy and care.
Glamorous and desirable, the Bentley Azure represents the pinnacle in a revered line of convertibles that stretches back to the very earliest days of the Bentley legend. The inspiration is classic, the execution is cutting-edge.

Coup? worthy of the GT name. Inspired by the grace and power of Bentley?s thoroughbred bloodline, the Continental

GT combines phenomenal power, class-leading performance and contemporary design with handcraftsmanship in true Crewe tradition. Power that doesn?t compromise space. Handling that doesn?t compromise comfort. Technology that doesn?t compromise handcraftsmanship. Above all, true Grand Touring performance complemented by the luxury of Bentley legend.
The Continental Flying Spur, a sumptuous, spacious four-door with the soul of a high performance coup?. With its unmistakable Bentley qualities of exquisite design, peerless craftsmanship and unforgettable driving dynamics, the Continental Flying Spur continues the Bentley bloodline of sporting Grand Tourers with an understated style

that?s as appropriate for a business commute as it is for an evening at the theatre.
The Continental GTC. Inspired by the Grand Touring tradition of Bentley legend. Born of Bentley?s breathtaking Continental GT coup?. With the endless power of a 12-cylinder, 6-litre twin-turbocharged engine urging you from 0-60mph in just 4.8 seconds. And a canopy opening up to the endless skies in less than 25 seconds.

Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration-of oneself and of others. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine.

More than anything else today, followers believe they are part of a system, a process that lacks heart. If there is one thing a leader can do to connect with followers at a human, or better still a spiritual level, it is to become engaged with them fully, to share experiences and emotions, and to set aside the processes of leadership we have learned by rote. "Lance Secretan."

New ventures, new POVs of new leader, Ashutosh, Business Head of Sahara Filmy in conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

--Lessons you learnt throughout
All of us bank on our gut feel. There's no copybook way of driving things. When you join as a Management Trainee you feel your Manager has the bigger picture of the business. When you become a Manager, you feel the VP has the bigger picture... and it goes on? I think the man who can collate good ideas from the people he meets, is the man who is called a visionary. There's nothing called original ideas anyways. Mutation leads to concept of originality.
Those jokers can be found at any level. Of course these jokers don't last. The more I spend time professionally, the more I realize that all of us only experiment; of course some are worse than others.I guess creating a system that lets you to explore and that exposes inefficient corners is the only way forward.

Professionally I have been very lucky to have good bosses, especially my first boss Mr. Vijay Jindal. However, learning nuances of broadcasting has come from so many. Meeting some has been a humbling experience, such as Mr Nandan Nilekani, Kanwal Rekhi, Subhash Chandra, and of course my Chairman Saharasri. Meeting people like these helps you grow in life, a part of which is your profession.

It is essential till it is issue based. Else it is a cabal, and typically harmful to the organization. One cannot be in sync with another guy on all topics, unless there is a superior subordinate relationship where one is supposed to merely listen and obey. There is no future in such a relationship.
Practically of course personal alliances are much stronger in a relatively loose organization.

" The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. ---- Max DePree (The Art of Leadership)"

All things are subservient to results. Therefore, fun and irreverence is fine only if it's accompanied with results. And this is clear to everyone in my team. To me the best way to deliver results is never to experiment with people, and getting the best people on board. And give them the atmosphere to deliver by cutting paperwork, and excess regulations that dampen enthusiasm.

Luckily the TV industry is fun, extremely dynamic, and in parts chaotic. Thus, fun is inherent in our business. Acting serious so that people think you are serious, or because people would think you are the thinking guy is foolish. Even Shakespeare commented on this. Performance fortunately is relatively measurable, especially for the business leaders.
Filmy believes in looking light hearted, its people behave like that, dress like that, and create like that. Creating somberness for no reason is alien.

While I would not hazard copying the 'Maverick' model in Toto, I believe that each one should be accounted for his deliverables only. Thus, expecting the best creative from my Creative Head is essential. But I don't expect him to wear a formal dress, speak English, and follow the office routine merely because I do it as a Channel Head. I believe you have to think before you create. Thus I cannot create an MTV if I do not think MTV. Or in today's environment I cannot create a GE channel if I don't like soaps.

"However, deliveries are supremely important, and if that is not there, people have no place in my team".

Nivedith Alva, Supervising Producer (for Indian Idol-1&2/Fame Gurukul/Style on Star world/Milan Fashion Week on Star world/Ad world on BBC world) Director (MTV Hero Honda Roadies Season 1) at Miditech has been in companionship of books from the beginning but it nurtured during his college days at St.Stephens in Delhi where he was doing his BA Hons and onwards? in conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

--Who introduced you to reading?
My father. I remember him reading through loads and loads of books when I was a kid.

--Kind of book collection you have
Have all sorts of books, from big picture books to current favorites. Have a lot of books from my grandfather's collection. He used to invest a lot in books and was always up to date on his reading. I have a lot of books on history, as I did my BA (Hons) in history; wish we had some of them in college though!! I also have a little book in which I keep a record of the books I have read!!! :-)

--On favorite authors and well written books
"RK Narayan" is my all time favorite author, have read all his books.
Another well written book is "The World is flat" by Thomas L. Friedman.

--Do you find interesting things in every book, how do you choose books you read
Always look out for interesting stuff and underline it if I ever want to refer to it. Choose books by browsing in book shops, especially the Oxford Book Store in Mumbai and also airports. Also, read everything recommended by my elder brother, Niret.

--What do you think of self help books?
Not much. Somehow they all seem too complicated and take life too seriously and almost always convince you in the first chapter that "You're a loser, now read on".

--Money and time you spend on books
No problems on spending money on books, if they need to be read and are worth it. Always have the book I am reading in my bag, wherever I am.

--Your reading pace
Depends on how busy work gets. Sometimes I manage to finish very fast but sometimes a book drags on for a couple of months too!!

--Your first book
"The Children's Bible".

--Browsing and e-reading
Just news websites. An E-reading book somehow does not do it for me.

--Currently you are reading
"A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle.

--Books that do not hold you
Usual American Fiction Stuff.

One look at Shaju Ignatius, executive producer, Perspectrum, Percept Holdings, and you realize that being happy is something we have to learn. You see him and say 'this is it, he's happy, he's got a home, career, wife, adorable kid, and is at peace with himself, and if there's something else to happiness, this Piscean will yearn for that too.' Correspondent Nidhi Jain really digs the pace of his life on the Fast Track.

Work - my big great canvas -
I have never planned my moves. I wished to be a pilot or atleast get to fly as cabin crew but then my exploring mind led me to Eureka Forbes,after which i moved on to Damania Airways.Looking further I got into advertising,and did a small stint in Advertising Forecast in which I happened to do the promotion for the film 'Speed'. From that experience I started liking the concept. In the summer of '95, when event management was not a regular word/career, an ad by 'Wizcraft' caught my attention - "Join us and work will be a party".As part of India's premier Event management firm, created & managed many prestigious projects : The Michael Jackson India Tour, concerts by Shaggy, Deep Purple, UB40, Lou Bega among many others, first ever Television concerts by Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle, multiple international events across London, New York, Mauritius, South Africa, Dubai.Got tagged as the 'Awards specialist' in the industry, as I managed almost all the film & music awards held in the country, viz, Filmfare Awards, Zee Cine, Zee Sangeet, Bollywood Awards, IIFA Awards, Screen Awards, Hero Sports Awards, Sangeet Awards, Economic Times Awards, Filmfare South Awards, Mata Sanman Awards, Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, Castrol Cricket Awards, etc. Closest to my heart being the Annual Filmfare Awards, which I have been associated with for atleast 8 years of my career.

It was great to be associated with fresh ideas and events. What attracted me towards it was that it was not regular mundane work. Then, it was time move again and learn new things. Along with my close buddies based across the metros, we set up the event management business for the Times of India, called 360 Degrees.

In 2004, Percept D'Mark became my focus for the next 2 and half years. This was a great wide platform, and we truly created some memorable projects & campaigns. Now my next step to learning has led me to join Perspectrum, the IMC (integrated marketing communication) consultancy arm of Percept Holdings. My work mantra is to always have a backup plan to any element or idea.