Monday Playlist: Jubin Nautiyal

I haven't done a Monday playlist since 2016? That seems highly ridiculous. This Monday, let's look at a few songs from Jubin Nautiyal. His story of underdog wins is so heartwarming to see. He went up to 25th position in X Factor and was eliminated and today he's singing songs that are in hit movies and becoming most viewed songs. I truly adore his voice. Another thing that is truly Jubin is the way he takes old songs and remixes them in the most beautiful way where you don't lose the original song and it's appreciaiton of the original. It's very hard to choose which songs to include in this playlist but these are my absolute favourites. 

Meri Aashiqui 

Starting with the song that really put Jubin in my radar. Even before this I had loved so many of his song but I never saw him and then this song happened. I saw him first in this song and I didn't realize it was him until much later but this is where my love for Jubin truly started. This song has such a special place in my heart. I also love the original with Karisma Kapoor. 

Raatan Lambiyan

Everyone's current favourite beat from Shershaah is this gorgeous romantic ballad that is noteworthy not just for the vocals of Jubin but for its shayari as well. How lovely is it to fall in love and be overjoyed by the delights of the little things? This song makes my heart flutter. 

Lut Gaye

If a song can be said to encompass a year, this song is the song for this year. It took everything by storm and everyone was obsessed with this for MONTHS, me included. Jubin's mesmerizing voice and the visuals by none other than Emraan Hashimi had the entire South Asia singing Lut gaye hum toh pehle mulaaqaat mein! 

Bewafa Tera Masoon Chehra

This was my favourite song of last year. It took the spot so sudden with the way Jubin sang this absolutely gorgeous old song of betrayal. I also really love the video it goes so perfectly well with everything. My favourite line has got to be "khoobsurat bohot hai tu lekin, dil lagaane ke qaabil nahin hai" (loose translation: you are beyond gorgeous but not worth giving my heart to). That in my books is the harshest thing someone can tell someone. Also instead of saying I'm crying, he sings the rain is within my eyes (in Urdu it sounds so poetic truly) and I just can't stop praising this song in its entirety. 

Taaron Ke Sheher

Another super duper gorgeous song alongside Neha Kakkar. Their voices meld together for this lovely song that's a love confession so earnest. It has veyr sad undertones which are truly perfect to get lost to, especially on a cold rainy evening. I always smile whenever I hear this, the slow melody and the build up to the chorus remains close to my heartstrings. 

Dil Chahte Ho

This is probably the song that I truly knew I was going to know his voice anywhere. It's such a sad sad song (he does shine the brightest when he's singing sad songs) and his gorgeous voice has so much emotion, you can truly feel the seperation and the hurt in the voice, how does he do it? I will pretend I'm heartbroken and sing this on long taxi rides. 

Khushi Jab Bhi

This song is for when you're in LOVE LOVE. Like it's so cheerful and momentous, perfectly encapsualting the feelings of warmth you feel when your heart flutters for a person and you want to be where they are, you want to breathe the air they do and everything reminds you of them. You cannot listen to this song without having a big smile plastered on your face!

I could go on and on about his songs but these are select few that always makes me smile and make my day!

Currently: September

This month isn't that big on entertainment because I've been so busy for the past few months and really haven't had time dedicated towards entertainment. Life, eh. Even with the things going on, I managed to keep myself entertained whenever and wherever I can. 

Hometown Cha Cha Cha S1 | This is my current obsession. You know I've been talking about it non stop here and also on twitter and instagram. It's truly such a healing show that is so warm and perfect for the right now. I love Kim SeonHo and Shin MinAh's Chemistry and all the residents of Gongjin. A must-watch for your soul indeed. 

The Uncanny Countrer S1 | This is another Kdrama I started when it was airing but could not keep up so I'm trying to finish it now. It's an absolute gem because it's a family show about a group of misfit counters who fight off evil spirits. I love that the main charcters are so different and it brings so much emotion. SoMun is an amazing protagonist and I definitely love the underdog wins storyline here. It does get a bit dark but the light always shines through. 

Mimi | This is the latest film I watched and I cried through it. Kriti Sanon's performance was stellar but the person who shined the most was Pankaj Tripathi! He truly brought comedy into this otherwise emotional movie. The side characters are so lovely and I really enjoyed the soundtrack as well. An overall entertaining movie! 

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams | I picked this just because of the title. A book about books and reading? Sign Me Up! So far, this is turning out to be a lovely read with a wide array of characters all of whom are connected through a mysterious reading list. As the characters read these books on the list and their lives get intertwined, we see how the books shape their lives. So truly lovely and it's so easy to read too! I'm alreadt halfway through and have been thoroughly enjoying the breezy read. 

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon | Anything Ms Menon writes, I will read. I love the South Asian rep she brings into the book industry with YA heroines we can see ourselves in. I've started this book a few times and finally got around to reading a bit more than just the first few pages. It's a Beauty and the Beast Retelling set in a boarding school with an Indian Princess and a British Prince so it's got the kind of Princess Diaries vibes going too. So far, I really love Princess Jaya, she is fierce and as eldest daughter I relate to her so much. 

Shershaah Soundtrack | I love almost all of the songs in this movie. If I had to pick a fav, it definitely will be Raatan Lambiyan. You guys already know I am soft for Jubin's vibrant voice and this song is such a lovely celebration of first love. Ranjhha and Kabhi Tumhe are also so special with B. Praak and Darshan's melodic voices. Watch me put this on repeat-peat. 

What's keeping you entertained?

August Favourites

Last month was definitely one of buying a lot of new things because my friends and I went out shopping one night and I also managed to order quite a lot of things online (whoops!). 

Image credits: clarissa website

Clarissa Bageecha Shawl | I had my calender set up for the launch day because I fell in love with the design and I knew I needed it! Shamma and Niu (who are both friends and absolutely amazing ladies) created this shawl inspired by the florals you see in Maldivian gardens. With a local artist, they brought their creations to life. It's gorgeous smooth material is so soft and provides great coverage. 

Butter Casette Tape | I got this as a gift from Lam. She's the bigger Army but even I, with my limited time to fangirl still manage to listen to the boys. Of all the English songs they have put up, Butter remains a favourite with its upbeat sounds and the fun lyrics. It's still in its original packing because I don't have a casette player yet and I am in the process of finding it. 

Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm | I've really been loving Simple products. They make up most of my skincare now. This is such a lovely product that makes the under eye area less puffy. I use it at night before bed daily and I definitely see a difference in the morning. They're available at Deseo.

Simple Chacoal Cleansing Stick | This is new to me, but as a Simple enthusiast, I didn't need a lot of convincing to buy it. It's supposed to be used before your face wash as a way to double cleanse and I love the refreshing sensation of the charcoal stick on my face. It removes any dirt and make up residue so my face is absolutley clean after the double cleanse!

Pastel Glow Liquid Eyeshadow | I've always wanted to try liquid eye shadow but never found any until now and this I picked from Deseo, in Rose Gold and have been obsessed with it. The color is so vibrant and gorgeous (I even wear it during the day) and it glides on so smoothly, plus it's not messy at all. I pair it on top of my eye shadow or add it to inner corners to brighten up my look. A must-have!

Sunfeast Farmlite Oat Biscuits | I've been trying to add more fiber to my diet and have been trying multiple oat biscuits with this one being a favourite because it's so yummy with the added chocolate chunks and it's perfect size to carry around in my purse for when I need a snack! Each pack consists of two biscuits so it's great size. 

Custom Bee and Flower Crochet Earrings | My friend Leau at Quaintessential makes the loveliest little pieces out of resin and also crochets. I asked her to make a pair of earrings for me, giving her the freedom to surprise me and boy was I surpirsed. What a tiny gorgeous piece this is. She knows I love yellow, sunflowers and irreular earrings and this is just the perfect combination of it all! This baby sits in the hall of fame of my favourite earrings of all time and I love wearing it. 

Dainty Japanese Inspired Earrings | My lovely friend Summer gave me two earrings and while I love both of them, this one is extra special. It's the daintiest earrings I own and I feel so special everytime I wear them! Again, irregular earrings that truly are so gorgeous!

Hand Sanitizer Bottle with Silicone Cover | This lovely bottle was a gift from my cousin, she knows I love yellow and it is just the perfect accessory to have outside of my bag. I've always been big on hand sanitizer (even pre-pandemic) so having it around outside my bag is perfect for just when I need it.

Book and Kindle Sleeve by Joyfully | I designed these sleeves and mom made them! They are perfect to carry my book around all safe inside my bag and I love the monstera design of it too. This is so special to me because I've been wanting to make one for years and this year, mom and I finally did it. One of my proudest moments, tbh. 

These are my favourites from August! What have you been loving recently?

5 Ways to Help Sell Your Products on Social Media

The pandemic has been a turning point for digitization in the Maldives, there is little to no doubt about that. In the last year itself we have seen several digital commerce platforms come out overnight as lockdown measures forced businesses to go digital or die. The website launches and social media strategies that have been in the back burner have suddenly become priority one. 

Maldivians are no strangers to the digital world of shopping. According to World Bank, 63% of population used internet in 2019 which is very high in comparison with rest of our South Asian friends or even global peers, and that amount will definitely have increased in the past 2 years as evident by going on any road and seeing everyone on their phones. So, as more of the population is forced to try digital platforms, what can small and medium businesses learn from social commerce?

What is social Commerce?

According to ProductsUp, Social Commerce is selling items direcly on social media, facilitating customers to discover, search, and buy without leaving social networks. Instagram, Facebook and now even TikTok is including shopping options directly on the website and while some of these features are not available in this region, Maldivian SME's are finding ways to bypass that and directly sell on these sites. 

5 Things to Know about Social Commerce

1. Who are you selling to?

Every platform is different and the types of cutsomers you have and how you sell should be customized to each platform. Sending the same graphics on all social media doesn't quite reach who you want to. TikTok is the app of GenZ and Facebook is still relevant (despite the popular narrative that it's for old people, the numbers show that facebook referrals still are key in getting traffic to your site) and Instagram stories are gaining more engagement than most other platforms. So, figure out who you want to target in each network and build you strategy.

2. How to Build a Social Commerce Strategy

Selling on platforms require close understanding of how the platform works and a clear call to action to let your customers know what they should do next. 

On Tiktok, "5 things you should buy on Amazon" is popular for a reason, people love seeing unboxings and products in action. Linktree is widely used in platforms like Instragram and TikTok because they don't allow posting clickable links on posts so call to action to "link to buy in bio" works well. 

Facebook is great to organize by type or category as the albums feature can easily be used to show a catalog of work. You can also easily use the integrated Shop option to show prices and create a small shop inside of your Facebook page. 

Instagram favors stories more than posts but posts are how you can showcase your products. Use the DM feature well to build a deeper connection with your customers. Aesthetic product shots are what people are drawn to on Insta. 

3. Engaging with Customers through Social Commerce

Social commerce isn't just about selling because social media at it's heart is about connection and conversations. It's personal. It's relationships. Brands have been developing social media personalities for years now, Wendy's and Dbrand being classic examples of how iconic it can become. In Maldives, we see brands that are showing their personality go far. Small businesses showcase their reviews, they help each other and most importantly there is a distinct way they engage with customers. 

On Instagram, Endheri Atrisan, a local jewelry creator uses Close Friends feature to share some of her custom creations, ask for feedback, and to connect with customers who have previously purchased from her. A great way to use a feature innovatively to maintain a close relationship while making her customers feel special! 

Image credits: Kkonceptt on instagram

More Instagram story ideas are to utilize polls and question feature to get more engagement and feedback. 

4. What to post?

Focus has to go towards curating a great shopping experience for the customers. Your page is not just for sales, but also to market your products and to showcase your values. 

On Instagram, people are looking for products photos that catch their eye. Show product in use in a local context. Try a 70-30 strategy of 70% push to sales posts and 30% reviews, and other content. Remember to use Instagram stories to give your posts a boost and to include your price in the post (you drive a lot of customers away by using "DM for price") 

Facebook can be better for scrolling through lots of product photos as album feature truly makes it easier for customers to find what they're looking for. To help customers navigate your page easily, use good captions and call to action to let them know what to do next. 

Image credits: WoodCraft

TikTok is perfect to show a bit more of your brand personality. The short video format is helpful to create engaging content of the person behind the brand. Show the behind-the-scenes work of creation, or "5 ways to use a product" type videos to keep customer attention towards the product. Be funny, because TikTok isn't about the video quality, it's about the content and how you can keep the customer from scrolling to the next video! 

@rann.rodhi.mv

Dreamy #fypシ #modestfashion #fashion #maldives #dream #fyp #scenery #makeup 💄; @makeupbymidhu

♬ Brooklyn Baby - Lana Del Rey

5. How often to post?

With Facebook, posting a lot together makes sense in albums, but with special offers and other information, having a fixed schedule of 1-2 post per day or 5 posts per week (depending ofcourse on the type of product you sell) can help customers come back to your page to check on new products or offers again and again. 

On Instagram, a schedule works well too but try not to spam customers. Using a one post per day system is easy to maintain and you can incorpoate current trends into your posts. Stories fucntion is more interactive and can be used daily to not just give a boost to your posts but to show reviews and engage with customers who tag your brand! (and encourage people to tag you by reposting their tagged stories with witty replies/gifs)

TikTok is one where it's hard to search for posts and perhaps the algorithm with the most fluctuations. Consistent posting is rewarded by TikTok by continiously boosting your posts to For You Page (fyp) and getting interaction via comments and likes also increases the likelihood of more people seeing it. Cross posting your TikToks on Instagram and Facebook can be a great way to get your customers on both apps to see your content in a new way!

Social Commerce is not just limited to these three apps, there is a ton more ways and networks you can sell on from Twitter, Pinterest, Whatsapp, Telegram, to even LinkedIn! As an SME however, your time and resources are limited so choose which apps to focus content on rather than keeping a toe in every water (you only have two toes anyway!).

Kdramas on Netflix - What to Watch this September

Yes, my blog is slowly turning into a kdrama wasteland and I am completely okay with it because so is my heart! Here is a list of Kdramas on netflix you should check out (and one's you can skip)! Riz (the eponymous namesake make up artist whom I adore) suggested I do one and one day maybe I'll do an exhaustive list of all Netflix Kdramas but for now, let's start with just five to make things easier (and watchable for you too). I'm planning to make this into a series so we will see how that goes. 

Currently ongoing - Hometown Cha Cha Cha (2021)

If you haven't read my very extensive blog post about the premier watch of Hometown Cha Cha Cha, please do HERE and you'll see why this drama currently had my entire heart. 

Cast: Shin MinAh as Yoon HyeJin (Gumiho from My Girlfriend is a Gumiho), Kim SeonHo as Hong DooShik (Han JiPyung from Start Up) , Lee SangYi as Ji SungHyun (Lee SooChan from Record of Youth)

Plot: A dentist from Seoul starts a new dental practice at a seaside town where she meets a man who seems to be doing an array of jobs. In a fish-out-of-water situation, we have the dentist at odds with the rest of the townfolk, most of whom are elderly. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reason to watch: Kim SeonHo and Shin MinAh's chemistry, their dimples, and the GORGEOUS seaside views!

Recent one - Into the Ring (2020)

This was my fav watch of last year. Truly a marvelous drama and absolutely unexpected. 

Cast: Nana as Goo SeRa (Do HyunJin of Kill It) and Park SungHoon as Seo GongMyung (Seo InWoo of Psychopath Diary)

Plot: A woman with odd jobs gets tired of her jobs and decided to apply to become a Council Member because of the money and perks and comes face to face with a hard working civil servant. A truly underdog story with an array of lovable characters. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reason to watch: The super healthy relationship between SeRa and Gong Myung. NO LOVE TRIANGLES. Inspirational because of the underdog wins story!

Throwback into the past - Fight for My Way (2017)

One of the best sports genre shows ever, and I'm saying this as someone who truly loathes sports. 

Cast: Park SeoJoon as Ko Dongman (Does he really need an explanation? He's in Marvel now!), Kim JiWon as Choi AeRa (TanYa of Arthdal Chronicles), Ahn JaeHong as Kim JooMan (Son BeonSoo of Be Melodramatic)  and Song HaYoon as Baek SolHee (Joo KiBeum of Devilish Joy)

Plot: Four childhood best friends work towards their dreams. A taekwondo enthusiast works to become an athelete, a future presenter works to find her footing in the world of TV anchoring and two college sweethearts rethink their relationship. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reason to watch: Aegyo. Aera is the queen of aegyo. Friends to lovers arc. Lots of inspiring moments.

What to Skip - To All The Guys Who Loved Me (2020)

I was really excited for this show because I love JangEum and the idea of three different timelines sounded really good and for the most part I really loved the two previous era, the present no so much! 

Cast: Hwang JangEum as Seo HyunJoo (Kim HyeJin in She Was Pretty), Yoon HyunMin as HwangJiWoo (Holo in My Holo Love), and Seo JiHoon as Park DoGyum (Kim Geum of Mama Fairy and the Wood Cutter)

Plot: Three different timelines, same love, same two people. A man tries to convince a lady to marry her saying they were married in a previous life. 

Rating: ⭐⭐

Reason to Skip: Some very toxic behaviour my both the male lead and the second lead. Not even our gorgeous and talented JangEum could save this. Miscommunication. I hate miscommunication so much. 

What to look forward to - Squid Game (2021)

A survival of the fittest game. Two friends go in because of two different reasons. I'm expecting a lot of drama and emotions from this. Not to mention this sounds like an adult hunger games and I am ready!

Cast: Lee JungJae as KiHun (Jang TaeJoon of Chief of Staff), Park HaeSoo as SangWoo (Kim JeHyuk of Prison Playbook), Heo SangTae as DukSu (Lee ChangJin of Beyond Evil) and Wi HaJoon as JoonHu (Ji SeoJoon of Romance is a Bonus Book)

Plot: A mysterious survival game with a 40 billion prize at the end. Two friends enter. Can they both make it? What is this game?

Reason to watch: HaJoon. After seeing him in 18 again, I am excited for his performance. The Mystery. Little is known about Squid Game. 

Which dramas on netflix piques your interest?