This picture was taken at Tirumala Music Center, Begumpet, Hyderabad.
I find the interior design of this very interesting. The reason for the interest has some Indian roots.

Traditionally (and hence, even in Bollywood), we visualized luxurious home (bunglow) as something that has ceiling 3-4 time higher than conventional homes, large staircases adorning either side of the entrance hall and leading to more rooms on top. Till recently, a luxurious home was being showcased this way, in Bollywood as well as South Indian cinemas.

There is something to having stair case on either side of entrance hall. Usually, in Bollywood, this is shown as a curved staircase, red carpeted and flanked by wooden rails... Ofcourse, since such a grandiose cannot be practically achieved in retail space of one of the busiest streets of Hyderabad, the designer chose to go for "Plain vanilla" straight staircases with SS hand rails.

Whether the designer was conscious of the design semantics or not (or whether the client consciously briefed the designer or not), this kind of luxury statement seems to be working. TMC has been one of the most successful retailer in Andhra Pradesh (I'm not sure of the current status).

This picture is not going to surprise Indians.
Its a common practice to tie a red band while the dealer delivers a new car to customers and it stays for a very long time (probably till the mechanic at service station removes it).

However, no body knows why it is being done. This sight surprises many of those who come to India for the first time. Similar element can be found on Trucks, where they tie a black thread or a band with sometimes lemon tied to it.

As we all know, black band with lemons is something thats supposed to ward off evil eye and this is tied periodically (at festivals). The red band on new cars assumes similar form (a triangle pointing down).

Once a professor of IIT mentioned to me that this practice emulates "tying knot" during Indian wedding. I found the argument very convincing and I began thinking, "Why do we tie a knot" during weddings?

Last Sunday in "Satyamev Jayate", a lady spoke about deep rooted belief in Indian culture that Husband almost meant Owner... "Pati" is the Hindi or rather sanskrit word for Husband that literally means "Owner"...

The way owners mark their cattle is also very similar. Its very common to spot cows/ buffaloes with a string around the neck culminating in a bell or a log of wood.

In this context, I'm not sure whether the red thread is a symbol of celebration or tying down!In the larger context, why should women wear a thread around their neck and showcase their "being owned"?

Seen is a woman who is obviously not from Middle (or even lower middle) class, with a bottle of branded drinking water.

Few years ago, I would be very surprised to see such a picture... Most of us used to carry water in a bottle to avoid drinking contaminated public water... Now, we just buy it when we need it... and its true for all classes of consumers. But then, what is the opportunity for manufacturers here?

There is an interesting observation here. If you think that India in general is becoming health conscious, you are absolutely wrong. The same users consume tea on a absolutely road side stall, eat food in Dhabas that are far from hygienic, spit tobacco everywhere ... What we are witnessing is the need for "Chilled" "Drinking Water"... If you are not aware, India has two categories of bottled water. One is called "Packaged Drinking Water" and the other, "Mineral Water". While the first costs around Rs. 10 - Rs. 12 per litre, the second costs 3-4 time the first.

Those who are health conscious actually buy the second, i.e., "Mineral Water", but the numbers of such consumers is very low. The mass buys "Packaged Drinking Water"... They are seeking convenience and comfort in the form of "Rigid packaging" that can be carried and "Chilled" water respectively.

The most important fact here is that "Convenience" and "Comfort" have become affordable and have sort of become commoditized. I really respect the companies that are manufacturing this at that price and have actually made convenience and comfort affordable!

Who says India is chaotic?
When it comes to introducing systems and standards, we are very willing to do anything that supports cultural interest.

Why does Coke need to have Vegetarian mark? Isn't that obvious?

Time and again, things make me believe that India is not "Chaotic" but is "Emotional". Being emotional might some times make you chaotic. From our domestic to international politics, from internal to external policies, from stock markets to national budgets ... Emotion rules over logic and that's precisely why, India seems chaotic.Emotions are subjective especially in a culturally diverse country like ours and that leads to Chaos. What is right for some might not be for someone else!

However, as a whole, does it make sense to be emotional to this extent? It does contain some weaknesses, but does it contain some inherent strengths?

I do not have answers right now. I may come back with some, as I age... or probably India as a whole will come back with the right answers.

I certainly hope so...