But Pappu can’t FLY saala……

One of the largest beer brands in India…

The world's third largest liquor company….

One of the most envied/sought after calendars in India….

One of the most respected IPL teams….

Scottish whisky company….

312-foot yacht, the Indian Empress costing almost $89 million….

A luxurious villa in Goa….

Collection of dozens of vintage cars….

Only F 1 team based out of India….

Private Jet….

Chh..Chh..Chh…but…..Pappu can’t FLY Saala…..

First thought that crossed my mind when I heard the news of Kingfisher, facing a possible financial collapse. I really could not fathom how a professionally managed company which is part of a hugely successful UB group could stoop to such a level?

Since affluence and UB Group (or Vijay Mallya for all practical purposes) are often associated, there are many who are linking, and rightly so, the current state of financial crisis to the flamboyant nature of Vijay Mallya. It’s the dangerous concoction of flamboyance, reckless management, rising fuel costs and a fierce price war that popped Kingfisher from its nest.

Kingfisher Airlines is associated with many firsts as far as domestic air travel experience is concerned. It was Kingfisher and Vijay Mallya who altogether brought hitherto unseen “Airline Service” into the domestic skies and pampered the air travellers with customer centric and personalized service to create that ultimate air travel experience. Be it personalized message asking the crew “to treat you in the same way as if you were a guest in my own home” or be it the personalized screens or good food; the airline clearly travelled different trajectory than all the other domestic airlines.

A dash of austerity in these difficult financial times would have definitely reined the mounting debt burden and would have helped it to stay afloat. High flying Pegasus (obvious reference to the UB Group logo) must carry tiny Kingfisher on its shoulder so that it (Kingfisher) keeps on fluttering.

The unabashed abundance has led the “King of good times” to “Broke at bad times”, the success of man lies in being the “King at all times” and that is the chasm the fluttering Kingfisher must cross otherwise the epitaph “But Pappu can’t FLY saala” could well and truly perch atop Kingfisher and ‘FLY Kingfisher’ could well become the greatest oxymoron of Indian aviation industry.

(Disclaimer: Pappu is just a metaphor and does not refer to any person in particular)