Guest Column

Just learn it from the movies
Narendra Kumar Alambara, GM and Head of Starcom, Chennai


First up, a big shout out to 'Ghajini' and Aamir Khan - for laying emphasis that all things good (and not so good) can be made into a resounding success with sustained and incessant marketing.

'Jaane Tu…' for reminding us that targeting the core audience is always the key to success like Ergo did (from The Hindu) over the course of 2008.

'Rock On' and 'A Wednesday' - these successes were a testament that people are more than willing to experiment with new formats and content. The tried and tested soaps in the GEC space saw viewership drops, while new reality format like 'Bigg Boss' and celebrity dance shows worked well.

Saroja - for reminding me of what's missing with most FM stations in Chennai (and probably across all metros). Even the most predictable storylines can be made very interesting with just tweaks in the screenplay.

'Indiana Jones 4' - Great expectations and a middling response. Could have well been the story of DNA and Deccan Chronicle launch in Bangalore.

'The Dark Knight' - The Times of India's launch in Chennai? The impact is undeniable… in the marketplace, on the readers and on the competition.

'Quantum of Solace' - A complete letdown, pretty much like Chennai and the rest of Tamil Nadu without outdoor advertising.

Hancock in a sense summed up 2008 for me. A great three-quarters and a complete let down towards the end - Slowdown, Downturn, etc. not withstanding, let's hope it all ends.

'Wall-E', 'Kungfu Panda' and 'Slumdog Millionaire' - For making me believe that there is hope at the end of every tunnel and with perseverance and hard work you will definitely win in the end.

Here's to more movies and Happy Watching in 2009!!!