On Monday, BSNL launched its ring-back tone facility (what others call caller tunes) for landlines in Chennai, amidst a ceremony attended by about 200 people presided over by the CMD of BSNL, Kuldip Goyal. When dignitaries on the dais tried to demonstrate how it works, however, the inevitable happened. MP Velusamy, the chief general manager of Chennai Telephones, dialled the number of the phone just next to him?for Goyal to answer. The phones, of course, were set to loudspeaker mode so that the entire gathering could rejoice in the mellifluous proceedings. Velusamy dialled, and prompt came the dulcet response, ?The number you have dialled does not exist. Please check the number you have dialled.? The gathering was in splits. Existential success was finally achieved towards the end. Velusamy dialled, and on came the song Sahaana saaral from the Tamil flick Sivaji The Boss.
Objectives Eavesdropper overheard an elaborate decision-making discussion underway at a caf?, and came away impressed with this splendid display of management by objectives. Voice samples:
?It?s got to be OSO [Om Shanti Om], it?s playing everywhere. You want to be out of it??
?You?ll never see sets like those, Saaw [Saawariya] is a whole new plane?it?s psychedelic, man.?
?OSO you can write both ways, there?s a word for it? pal, er, pal… syndrome.?
?Saaw you can see upside down, whatever?so??
?Listen, just go for whatever clicks, it?s no big deal.?
?Got a coin, anyone? There?s just one way to settle this.?