Weekends are all about downtime. After a week full of work to meet deadlines, everybody needs some breather to relax and recuperate. From watching a favourite web series to planning a vacation, weekends are designated as family and me time. Nisha Narayanan, COO & Director, Red FM & Magic FM, talks to BrandWagon Online about her weekends, favourite vacation destination and more.
What is the one thing you like to do when not working?
It’s very unlike me not to be working or thinking about work, but when I take time out, I enjoy discovering new music. The delight I take in all things craft and design takes the limelight and keeps me occupied too (in a good way of course). Handloom is another dear, dear interest of mine. I like to keep up with the innovation in textiles and craft handloom. The whole idea of contemporising something traditional and intricate is something I extend to Red FM campaigns and events. And lastly, for the fitness enthusiast in me, I immensely enjoy discovering new forms of workout.
How do you spend your weekends?
My weekends are sometimes busier than my weekdays. I’d like lots of this time to be spent in the comforting nest of my family. It is also time to unwind and prep myself for the week ahead. And we unwind by watching films that were mostly recommended to me throughout the week. Binge-eating and binge-watching are the two activities that lighten me. Followed by grocery runs and working out at the gym with more time on my hand.
What are your favourite gadgets?
Well, I am hooked on to my phone and my wired earphones. Considering I use my phone the most, I’ll call it my favourite. I am currently in the midst of a dreadful change. Take it from me, it’s not like taking a walk in the park when you are switching from iOS to Android, considering I’m using both these days. It has also sparked a healthy debate around me on the same subject.
Apart from that, I’ve also started using Dyson products, and I must say, the hype is real!
Given an option to choose another career, what would it be?
If I had pursued a different career, I would have undoubtedly chosen either to join the Indian Navy or become a psychologist. Both fields are equally appealing to me.
My fascination for the Indian Navy stems from my immense love and respect for the uniform. It would also have been an incredible gateway to serve my country. I am also a keen observer. I am very aware of everything and everyone around me, which makes me curious about the world of psychology. Deeply understanding human nature, and why they do what they do, is simply fascinating.
Which is your favourite vacation spot?
It wouldn’t even take me a second to answer this question. The places would be Kerala in the monsoons and Ooty any time of the year.
Kerala is my home, my heart. It’s not a vacation spot in a cliché manner but a place I would go to unwind and reminisce about the older days.
Ooty is nestled in the Nilgiri Hills. It’s a no-brainer for me. When I don’t want to put too much thought into planning a vacation – the answer is Ooty. The tea gardens, misty mountains, and the oh-so intricate and antique architecture. Even the talk of it makes one release a sigh of breath; Ooty is that amiable.
Also, I’d like to mention how I love domestic travel more than international travel. I believe there is a myriad of landscapes, heritage, and culture just calling upon us to revel in their beauty.
A TV show, a movie, and an ad campaign you highly recommend watching
I almost have a new favourite every fortnight.
My recent watch was Manjummel Boys. Malayalam cinema is currently in a league of its own and Manjummel Boys was just another film to prove it. We’ve all seen films of rescue operations but the way we were rooting for Kutta and Subash is what made this film a standout for me!
As far as series are concerned, Billions on Hotstar and Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime are two series I recommend everyone to watch.
Lastly, a campaign that struck a chord was JK Tyre’s latest campaign, “Jab Hindustan Mile Hindustan Se.” The campaign’s ideology highlighted the spirit of reaching the last mile and connecting the beauty of different regions with one another. Something that we at Red FM have been unwaveringly focused on ourselves.