When it comes to singing, Nafisa Joseph, the MTV VJ is a natural.Back in school her honey-toned baritone easily won her a place in the choir. She also learnt how to play the guitar and the piano. So it was natural that she make a career in music.

But before that Nafisa Joseph picked up the Miss India crown and also became the first runners-up at the 1997 Ms Universe!

The fiery stunner has made her debut on television as a veejay with MTV’s MTV and Smirnoff Megamix showcasing peppy dance music videos from the Indian and international music scene.

But there is more to Nafisa than just her beautiful flashing brown eyes or her dazzling smile that never fails to captivate. The lady has a great passion for music. Not only listening to it but she is a fabulous singer and has awards to prove it. She has learnt how to strum to guitar and play the piano as well.

“I like to take life as it comes,” says Nafisa obviously elated by the fact that life so far has been coming like a ride on a roller coaster to stardom.

PUNE: Understanding the youth, constant innovation, first to the market, projecting ‘desi cool’ through fusion of western and Indian cultures and the motto ‘entertain — don’t preach’ seems to be the mantra behind MTV’s success and popularity in India.

This secret behind MTV’s success was shared by Vikram Raizada, vice-president, marketing, MTV India, during the launch of ET Club — a readership programme for the youth — by the Economic Times in partnership with educational institutions here on Friday. The programme, comprising seminars, lectures and meetings with prominent people, was inaugurated with presentations from Raizada and Kaushik Roy, executive director, Mudra Communications.

Addressing the gathering, Raizada observed that youth were no longer a niche, but a market that needed to be studied carefully. Referring to a market survey done by IBMR for the channel, he said that the Indian youth came across as groovy, independent and individualistic, who believed that success meant money.

Medical and engineering are no longer the first career options and the youth were more open to opportunities like modelling and participating in projects like Star Hunt, he said. Speeding, adventure sports, high-power lifestyle, love-cum-arranged marriages and fusion of western and Indian culture like ‘mehendi’ and tatoo or catch lines like ‘Ye dil mange more’ seem to make the Indian youth tick, Raizada remarked.
He pointed out that although the Indian youth may prefer western outfits, they were still Indian from inside, respected their parents and were not very comfortable with sex before marriage.
“Youth research is important,” Raizada said, but pointed out that ultimately it was creativity that ruled the day. Later, answering questions, he said lot of ideas were coming from India for the programmes, but the concept of ‘desi cool’ — which was a fusion of Indian and western appealed more to the youths.

Giving a presentation on ‘The most important ingredients for effective communication’, Kaushik Roy observed that advertising was getting more complicated because we seem to be talking more and listening less. “Observe, absorb and connect,” is the watchline for those in the field of communication, he said.
“Although the advertisements are based on truism, it is the insight into the truth which is more important for the campaign,” he said adding that the insight made the brand-consumer link stronger and more empathetic.
The communication has to be relatable, it should have relevance, originality and impact, he felt. “Good insight is like an emotional experience,” he said, and went on to explain how the ‘emotion’ used in the ad gave a boost to the growth of McDonald’s. Answering a question about surrogate advertisements, Roy said that hypocrisy of politicians,who put a ban on liquor ads, was responsible for the surrogate ads in media. “Liquor ads cannot be stopped as long as liquor is available in the market,” he said, adding that some rules could be chalked out about the liquor ads instead of banning them.

Vikesh Walia, general manager, RMD, western region, Times of India group, D.K. Sinha, director, Centre for Management Research & Development, B.B. Nimbhone, joint secretary, Sinhagad Technical Education Society, George Judah, director, Rosary Institute of Business Management and Suresh Chandra Padhye, deputy director, Indian Centre for IT and Telecom Management were present on the occasion.

Hospitality was provided by Hotel Pride, food and beverages by Simply Delicious and writing material by Venus Traders.

July 20 - MUMBAI, India - P Chidambaram, the finance minister is a major initiative Friday, Mumbai, the students for the economy of their offer mentorships and training in the field of Corporate houses.

Four colleges and 14 major groups, including MTV, M & M, Pepsi, Kotak Mahindra, Godrej and DSP Merrill Lynch, have decided to wash their hands in the field of education to students in the practice of human resources and d ‘other activities. Higher education institutions are elected HR College of Commerce and Economics, BM Ruia College for Girls, NSS College SNDT College.

“It is a mixture of pocket. Some of these institutions are turning to the middle and upper middle classes, while the remaining sections gestures economically weak, Milind Deora a Congress MP, south of Mumbai and a force behind the initiative ET said.

The stimulation of inspiration, direction and sponsorship of the Association (Sigma) is an initiative to improve the interaction between academia and industry, giving them an opportunity for students to college, the first glimpses of paradigms of management, Mr. Deora.

The proposed regulation aims to put students suspended to business “company” day-to-day functioning. “It is expected, on the lines of such courses in the United States,” said Deora. It aims to prepare industry professionals ready, “he said.

The initiative aims to address of the company that task mentor briefly with the list of students in universities and working with the missions and activities such as meetings and investors other initiatives by businesses , participation in the university seminars in the curriculum, workshops and the evaluation of conferences on campus.

“These two channels of interaction between students ensure proper employment opportunities for businesses and workers the right to support themselves,” says the young Deora.

The initiative, the first of its kind Mr Deora claims, will be marked in the presence of Mr. P Chidambaram.

Students and providers of these institutions is rubbing shoulders of some of the top guns of India Inc post-launch, these institutions of higher learning is their chapters deal with businesses and students for their training.

“We want this program of self-government. Firstly, the flow of Undergraduate Business and Management, students can participate,” said Deora