East or West: The Indian Media is the…

The celebs detest and dislike the Indian media. How do you know this? Well, when Amitabh Bachchan comes out to openly blog about his loathe for the media especially since it is them who cooks up stories about his daughter-in-law being preggers and so on, then you know the rest of the clan are all going to jump ship and agree with him. Conformers you see. But ironically, I believe that each of these stars wake up every morning and look for news about themselves. Let’s take a quick glance at someone who is perpetually in the media, the international Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. If for say, three weeks straight, there would be no news about the Bachchan bahu, you can almost be certain that she would be a slight bit worried. Her P.R. team would swiftly get on top of things and ensure she was in the press. Of course, then they complain of “incorrect invented news” and question “responsible journalism”. But you know what’s even stranger? Okay there are two things that are rather odd about this. Firstly, collectively the fraternity all have at some point in their lives said, “only two things sell in Bollywood: sex and Shah Rukh Khan.” So they understand this situation and yet when the media does them a favor by giving them the publicity they ideally would need, they create ruckus about it. And then, the likes of Ram Gopal Verma and Madhur Bandarkar go on to make films on the media ala Page 3 and Rann. Erm…so you like or you don’t like the stars? A bit confusing here, no?

More recently, we’ve seen Twitter become common ground for celebs to come out and challenge the media. Bratty star children can’t stand it when a renowned veteran writer/reviewer comes out to criticize their latest flick and within minutes humiliate her in a public domain. More lately, we’ve seen how the media has been unable to even share their thoughts without being attacked by stars. Ultimately, the problem is that the media has been kicked out or exiled from the fraternity and the only way to stay in, is to sing hymns of the stars. And there are many that do. In doing so, those media persons become “responsible journalists”. But Bollywood and the media share a love-hate relationship which will never really ever end.

The problem with the Indian media is its lack of interest in actually following through when it brings a serious issue to the forefront. In recent times, the Indian media proved that they are no less than the wretched paparazzi when they fought for coverage during the 26/11 Attacks. Every news channel was out to outdo the other with up to date reporting and exposure. In the bargain, they worked for the terrorists as external eyes as they depicted every minute detail of the encounter that was taking place. In providing news, they also aided these terrorists which is primarily one of the reasons why the entire incident lasted for nearly 60 hours. In that time frame, the reporting went on as did the attacks.

Even on a mundane level, the media will come out to expose a politician or a situation which for the most part the rest of the country will be oblivious to. It will create Breaking News and Headlines all over and within a few days, the excitement dies down and before you know it that very news is swept under the carpet. But besides breaking into a sweat, you really never hear of an outcome. To their advantage, they are absolutely fantastic about uncovering unknown information, kudos to them for that. Now if only they could fully follow though and actually make a difference. There is no point in having complete media freedom if they would much rather use it for T.R.P.’s and not for a hedonistic approach, i.e. to assist the greatest good for the greatest number.
Personally, I believe the Indian media has forgotten that they have a duty towards the country; hence they are the Indian media. Instead of reporting and improving the country, they have turned to sensationalism. If a story is boring, it is of no use. But really, that one so-called boring story could change the country. What is required by the Indian media is a revolution and all it would take is one channel, one publication. The media must now shed itself of its glossiness and if required head the khadi—honest simple Gandhian, way. Would it be fair to throw a censorship or moderate their every move? No. How would we, a democratic country, be any different from a communist one then?

Malcolm X once said, “The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power.” They have surely been bestowed with a power. The only problem is that any kind of power that is abused is sometimes not adhered to, most likely not taken seriously, and finally taken away. The Indian media provides a service to the country and if you read the mission statement for any service company, it will state that its main goal is to provide outstanding honest service to its customers. How has the Indian media done thus far? Not too well, I don’t think. But as a viewer, i.e. a customer, you have an innate right to complain. So instead of shaking your head the next time your news channel or publication has provided you with misleading news, take it upon yourself to call them out. They have been given a power yes, but you have a democratic right to take it away.

- by Roshni Mulchandani
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Link to Pringoo: http://www.pringoo.com/custom-designs/Mumbai-I~love~M%27bai/did-7494/mid-1/ppid-104
(This post is participating in BlogAdda's contest, in partnership with PringOO. Contest question: "Is Indian Media Misusing Its Freedom?")

Got "Inked?"

Election Season is in full swing in India and today, April 30th, Maximum City Mumbai had its day out to cast its ballot. And while I personally expected a superb voter turnout, Mumbaikars totally fazzled the media, the candidates, the rest of the country and myself with only 46% of registered voters only turning up to vote. One would think that after the 26/11 attacks and all the events that followed, Mumbaikars would have taken full advantage of this voting opportunity. However that doesn't seem to be the case. Clearly, Mumbaikars have lost the spirit and anger they possessed post 26/11 and have gone back to their self-obsessed attitudes. Or perhaps they simply couldn't be bothered to get out of the house in the wretched heat- India is currently going through a heat wave reporting record high temperatures, and instead chose to sit in their a.c. fitted houses instead. Sadly, the country has taken the heat for its people numerous times, and when it came down for its citizens to do the same, come out and vote, they didn't feel the need to "take the heat." For the life of me, I cannot seem to fathom how they could NOT have wanted to even vote. It makes absolutely NO sense. Voting is not only a birth right for every Indian citizen, but also a constitutional right. This one day every four years, Indian citizens are allowed to come out and speak their minds about the manner in which their country runs. It simply saddens me, that about 60% of Mumbai decided it wasn't worth it. They complain nonstop about their leaders, of which 17% own criminal records, but yet they won't come out to oust them. Mumbaikars, if you came out and did you "thang," props to you, if not, shame on you.

The Bollywood brigade came out in full force to vote and stand behind what they all had been advertising about all over the media waves. The likes of Sonam Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, Shakti Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Hema Malini, Esha Deol, Javed Akhtar, Ranbir Kapoor, the Bachchan clan, Karan Johar, John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan, Gulzar, Boman Irani, Sonali Bendre and husband Goldie Behl, Prem Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sanjay and Maanyata Dutt, Rakesh Roshan, Amrita Rao and a whole lot more all casted their ballots depite the scorching heat. Hint Hint Mumbaikars. If the stars, who are known for their personal nakhres can come out and do their thing for the country, why couldn't you? Tut-tut. As John Abraham said to those who didn't come out to vote, "If you don't vote, you can't complain for the next four years." I agree. You didn't get "inked" and hence, you ain't got no right. That said, the celebs made the middle-finger-ink a fashion statement to beckon with this year. A whole range of them stuck up their middle-fingers, figuratively and literally, as the media snapped pictures of them. Check it out!

Photo Credit: [Proud to be Indian] SantaBanta.com