Posts by Ani Madhav

How I Bought a Ferrari Ft. Shell India

08/09/2024 0 Comment read Art & Culture, Life

It all started with a notification on the Shell Asia app. A limited edition 1:41 scale model Scuda Ferrari for sale at select Shell outlets across India. An offer for members who have at least filled 100L fuel from Shell outlets.

While I am not a fan nor have I watched an F1, I loved the details on this diecast. It was fabulous. Someone in a diecast forum had posted a picture. Checked the Shell India website for the list of branches where the stock was available. Very few branches indicated stock availability. And, forums indicated that the model was a must-buy official Ferrari collectible. I mean, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of anything Ferrari!

The collectible is manufactured by Bburago, a company formerly based out of Italy. As a beginner Hot Wheels collector, I wanted to add this piece to my collection.

I missed a good part of the week trying to get this collectible. Finally, we set out on a search for the scale model mid-morning on a Saturday. I landed up at the first of the available outlets – Shell, Maduravoyal. The staff peeped at my phone displaying the offer. “Out of stock, sir.” I did not lose my hopes.

Drove down to the next outlet at Shell, Koyembedu. The outlet also had a large-sized banner for the offer. The staff was finishing a preparation for tea, at the Shell Deli. She asked me to wait for the manager as I showed her the offer. The manager, probably tired of replying to people who come for the same, replied in the negative and dashed my hopes.

I sat in the parking. I called up my friend who was in Avadi, and asked him to check in at the Shell Avadi outlet. In a few hours, he gave an update that it was out of stock. However, i got a tip that the stock was available in Shell Chembarambakkam. An outlet, 25 kms away from the city, on a highway.

The time was around 7 pm. It took 40 mins to reach the outlet. I saw the collectible placed proudly on the billing counter. I once again showed the phone to their staff. She turned to her manager – “Antha car ku aaga vandhurkanga” (He has come for the car).

“Anna, edhuku idhu vanguringa?” (Why do you buy this?), she curiously asked. “F1 fans vanguvanga idhelam” (F1 fans get these), I replied.

“Anna, edhuku idhu vanguringa?” (Why do you buy this?)

The anticipation peaked when the outlet manager, went inside the cabin, and brought me a Ferrari collectible. Encased in a acrylic case, and partly wrapped in red, it is a piece of art. The weight of the collectible felt good to hold.

I kept the mini Ferrari in the backseat. Took one final look, and drove home.

Here is How a Search for a Camera Got Me Scammed

02/09/2023 0 Comment read Life

It was just another evening when I was browsing through Olx, looking for vintage cameras. That’s when a specific camera from Fujifilm caught my eye. A camera is also known as a poor man’s Leica.

And here is how the conversation started on a popular online marketplace, which quickly shifted to WhatsApp. Below are the screenshots. The WhatsApp business had a catalog of cameras, drones and graphic cards – all used.

As seen in the screenshots, an automated business message got triggered after my message, which included a website, a Facebook profile of BR Parmar, two addresses, a GST number, and CIN. (More on this later in the article. This led me to believe this was a trusted and registered seller.

After a call with Parmar, he requested 50% of the amount as advance and the rest post delivery. I transfer 50% of the amount. Within 15 minutes, he sent me an invoice with a third address no contact number and a random email ID. Note: The conversation happened in a mix of broken Hindi and English.

By evening, around 7 PM, I got a poorly lit video and a picture with my address on a box, which I later learned was just a wrapped box or written with an erasable marker.

On Aug 31, around 10 AM he sent me a message mentioning the remaining amount and a courier consignee slip that had marked the shipping amount and the total weight of the package as 5 KG. The courier slip was marked as paid with a seal. And, most importantly, it did not have a tracking code. This raised my suspicion as the boxed weight of the camera itself is no more than a Kilogram.

I got a call from Parmar, asking me to pay the remaining amount so he can send the courier. He convinced me that he was just a broker and the amount needed to ship the package. I called him and asked for the tracking code. There was no response. This was the moment (insert meme) I knew I effed up. He was so polite and convincing I still ended up paying the remaining amount. Then, the real drama started. Parmar just went missing for almost two days despite repeated calls from WhatsApp and regular calls.

On Aug 1, Parmar returned with a request saying there was a mistake in the invoice and sent a revised invoice with an added 18% international GST. The interesting part is that he mentioned there is no EMI or GST as this is a second-hand product. He becomes active again. He asks to send the remaining amount repeatedly on call and text. Sometimes rude. Sometimes polite and also apologises for the delay in sending in tracking code.

At this stage, the argument gets heated, and Parmar regularly cuts the call. I get frustrated. I constantly request a refund, and he assures me I will get the package in 4-5 days. Yet, he sent a message asking if I had paid the GST.

After a couple of Google searches, I found Computer World and Fancy Photographic Service, and contacting based on the mentioned addresses, they clearly said that they do not deal with brokers, nor does Computer World deal with cameras.

Despite being aware and conscious of online scams, I was too late to realise I had been scammed. I kept thinking whether the scammer was too organised and smart or whether I was impulsive and careless in my decision.

The article is aimed at spreading awareness and also a call for help from anyone who can track or help me get back the money.

IRST Photography: Aesthetics at Its Finest

13/05/2021 0 Comment read Art & Culture

When I first glanced at the photos of IRST Photography, my eyes were drawn towards the aesthetic natural tones of the models. Shot predominantly across beaches, flowers, and indoors, they brought in a sense of calmness through their simplicity. Interestingly enough, the person behind the camera has a story of simple beginnings and how he never imagined that he would be shooting popular celebrities one fine day.

Behind the Camera(s)

Rewind to his school days, Irshath shot the most random things on his Nokia Lumia. What began as a photoshoot for his ‘good looking’ cousin, it eventually led him to a photoshoot for a girl who offered to pay. From renting his first camera to experiment with different cameras from Nikon D350 to Sony and Canon, he lets his shoots flow at the moment, to capture the natural essence of the models. Irshath, 27-year-old works full time as a product designer and never wants his passion for photography to be seen as full-time work.

Au Naturel Process

Once Irshath visited a popular actress’s house for a shoot. He simply asked her to carry on with her daily routine in her natural look and attire. Even now, she credits him for capturing her differently and helping her get noticed among filmmakers.

“I love to capture people, their lifestyle, and their daily routine in my photographs. And, the results are an accurate reflection of themselves,”
Irshath

Irshath loves early morning shoots where he tactfully uses the sunlight to his advantage. A majority of his shots are at the beach. He makes each one of his models stand out in simple locales like the beach or alongside a flowering plant on random streets.

Photography Philosophy

A self-taught photographer, Irshath learned the techniques of photography and editing from various resources on the Internet. Annie Lebovitz, the 71-year-old celebrated American photographer, and P.C Sreeram, an Indian cinematographer continue being an inspiration to him.

Calmness, a connection to daily life, and natural angles are the three ingredients that Irshath follows to make IRST photography stand out in the aesthetic photography niche.

“I consider shooting national award-winning cinematographer Santhosh Sivan at his house as my greatest achievement till date. He gave me the creative freedom to shoot him and he was appreciative of the result,”
Irshath

A Pro Tip for Budding Photographers

Irshath’s only advice is to not listen to others’ advice. He wants people with a love for photography to go with the flow. The worst of cameras can give the best results. It all comes down to the technique and the love for photography.

“A job of the photographer is to show the picture of the real world. The job of the cinematographer is to use equipment, grand costumes, and specific locations. I chose to be the photographer,” signs off Irshath.

The Invisible Guest Review: A Solid Murder Mystery Thriller That Keeps You Guessing

27/12/2020 0 Comment read Films

Easily one of the best Spanish movies in the crime-drama genre, The Invisible Guest (Contratiempo) is a result of brilliant writing and screenplay that engages the viewer from start to finish.

The storyline is fairly simple. It revolves around a successful entrepreneur and his dead lover in a hotel room. The entreprenuer denies pleads guilty of killing his lover, but there is no trace of anyone in the room. Who is guilty? Was there someone in the room? Is there more to the story? The rest of the movie captures all these questions.

The direction, writing and editing of Oriol Paulo is what makes the movie like an adventure supported by the solid acting of the actors and the cinematography.

Adrián Doria (Mario Cass), Virginia Goodman (Ana Wagener), Tomás Garrido (Jose Coronado) and Laura Vidal (Bárbara Lennie) play the key role in the film and pull off their parts effectively. The film wastes no time in establishing the core plot and the different scenarios that could have led to the death of Laura. Despite the obvious flaws in the solving a murder mystery, Oriol has brought in enough layers that keeps the viewers gueesing.

Director Oriol has shot the movie across different scenic locales across Spain, especially the iconic hotel scene which stands out in the backdrop of snowfall in a remote location, adding to the mystery elements in the film.

The Invisible Guest is a film that keeps us guessing. It allows the viewer about ‘What If’ scenarios and eventually as we try to predict the outcome, Oriol adds in another twist to the ending, taking us by surprise. A must watch Spanish movie that is on par among other notable international movies.

Feathers Full of Dreams: The Story of a 22-year old Dreamcatcher Craftswoman

11/11/2020 2 Comments read Art & Culture

In 2013, during a time when Netflix was unavailable in India, it was just another day for Anusha and her childhood friend to catch up on a Korean drama The Heirs online. A scene had one of the lead characters gifting a purple coloured dreamcatcher to her boyfriend. It was the first time she had seen something like a dreamcatcher and had known what they looked like. She had never seen a cool, beautiful and intricate piece of art. She felt it was one of the best things you could gift someone you love. Anusha and her friend went around Manipal searching for dreamcatchers, but they couldn’t find a shop that sold one. Little did Anusha know that she would end up crafting dreamcatchers on her own.

The Journey:

Fast forward to 2017, Anusha wanted to gift her best friend something meaningful and unique. Once again, she went on to search for dreamcatchers and found a shop selling them. When she examined the dreamcatchers on showcase, she realised that they were not only expensive, but they were something that could be crafted by her. She went on to source raw materials for a dreamcatcher. And through a few YouTube tutorials, she successfully made her first dreamcatcher which took about a month to complete through trial and error. In the end, Anusha’s best friend loved her birthday gift – a dreamcatcher.

That’s how, the journey began for Anusha Victoria Veigas, into the world of dreamcatchers.

Pillars of Support:

*As Anusha says, ‘Made with love, care & patience*‘

Born and raised in a Catholic family in Manipal, 22-year old, Anusha is now an entrepreneur of her venture Feathers Full of Dreams, and is a Physiotherapy intern. Interestingly, she found time to craft dreamcatchers during her class hours, which led to encouragement and ideas from her friends on how to start a dreamcatcher business. During her vacation. this spurred a thought in her, to give a serious thought to the idea of crafting and selling dreamcatchers. Coming from a middle class background, Anusha’s parents were retired by the time she joined college. This also motivated her to become self-reliant and went on to create over 20-30 dreamcatchers, all of them which were bought by her friends and family.

“My friends and my parents are my biggest supporters and critics,” says Anusha.

A Gifted Eye for Design:

*Unique designs inspired from pop culture*

When Anusha scours the Internet for dreamcatcher ideas or when a customer gives a reference image, she humbly states that it takes just one look to identify the thread work that goes into a dreamcatcher. Coincidentally being a night owl, she crafts dreamcatchers mostly during the night which takes about one hour to 3-4 days depending on the size and requirement of the dreamcatcher. She works around 5-6 hours a day to craft dreamcatchers every day. She believes in reasonably pricing her dreamcatchers, starting from Rs. 100 going up to Rs. 1,200.

“I ask my best, friends, parents and at times my brother when I price a dreamcatcher. But in the end, the final price is decided by stepping into the shoes of my customers like If I was him/her would they buy from me?,” says Anusha.

A Pandora Box of Customer Stories:

While Anusha has received plenty of positive feedback from customers and even requests from resellers, reselling is something she is not interested in. She wants these feathery art pieces to be reasonably priced. There is no dearth of customers when Anusha is asked to narrate a few customer demands and their antics – a customer who never paid after ordering to unsolicited requests for video calls and a customer who never wanted to pick up his dreamcatcher after paying and so on. She is still working on to meet the demands of customers who request for specific colour feathers due to difficulty in sourcing a wide range of materials. However, with the surge in the number of craft supplies sellers on Instagram, she seeks to expand her scope of work.

Balancing Work and Entrepreneurship:

Anusha is at a stage where she has to be focussed on her career as a physiotherapist as well as work on improving her craft and business. With the bunch of orders during the pandemic, her parents though supportive in her venture, have advised her to find a balance between the two.

Anusha is all set to pursue her higher studies now with a soft pause in her venture. With plenty of her own dreamcatchers decorating her house, they also serve her a gentle reminder to never stop dreaming, literally.

Follow @FeathersFullofDreams on Instagram. All pictures are subject to copyright.

Sorry, Manisha Valmiki

06/10/2020 0 Comment read Musings

You never destroyed her,

it just showed how pathetic you are,

she wanted to come back home,

or they tried to bring her home,

one last time.

but you traumatized her soul,

and the people around her.

time and again,

you prove, you are,

a twisted mind, a slave,

of a failed system and beliefs.