Television 'empowerment'

I read a thought provoking article in The Hindu today on how Television serials influence and 'empower' Indian women around the world. The reporter had mentioned on how women were not only entertained but even felt empowered watching serials which highlighted the weaknesses of the female community. Anyhow, out of my personal observation I realized a thing. I have two 60+ aunts who are totally into watching soaps. One aunt is addicted to Malu and Tamil-dubbed-into Malu serials and the other manages to watch Hindi and Malu soaps running at the same time. The poor remote suffers in the process but who cares? After all it's not going to make them feel empowered! The former is very creative. She loves poetry and writes a lot of good poetry and stories. I kept telling her to involve herself into such creativity rather than spending 4 hours in front of the TV increasing her blood pressure when the soap will end right at the time when the leading lady is about to give out the ‘secret’. But both my aunts would justify saying that all their lives they've been doing house chores, taking care of their grandchildren, serving everyone around them...that, the least bit of entertainment they could get was by watching these soaps. I could not understand what they felt. It was the Generation gap!

Then the reality shows happened. And they came like a pauper but ended up being the Kings of TRPs! They attracted every sector of the society. It was a full packed drama with dance, costumes and good music! What made me happy was that they took up the prime time of the daily soaps and reduced the prominence of Indian serials. It was a good trend until they ended up with reel, oops! I mean 'real' emotional stints! With emotional atyachaar going on everywhere, it became hard to decide if serials were a better pass time or the latter. No one benefits from all this except for the ones who run the channels.

Coming to my point: Audience has always adjusted to what the Television caters. Once upon a time Doordarshan aired good shows of which everyone became major fans. That crown was taken away by the commercial channels later on. It was more like a relay race with an unpredictable end. Just when I thought that reality shows are really going to get the leading ladies of Soaps end up jobless, Balika Vadhu happened. Whatever the television had catered, from good music to crying serials to dangerous games to swayamvars and the like, they have always managed to get above average levels of TRPs. So from this I understood that audience has always learnt to compromise with what they are spoon-fed with. Just like Political Parties. There is no party with the perfect ideology, or if any, being followed as per the rule book. We all (or at least me) go in for a compromise by voting for the better among the lot. Same way, when one ends up bored after doing whatever possible in their iphones and laptops he tends to adjust himself to what the Television provides. I feel that, like how good journalists attempt to provide literal news, Television must take up the responsibility of showing good shows. At the end of the say it caters to ever sector of the society from kids to grandpas. Few entertainment shows that are harmless can definitely be aired for not only Trps but also for a difference from the usual. YRF Television is doing a good job by providing some good, entertaining, harmless visual treats and reality shows like ‘Dance Indian Dance’ are some popular shows which highlight true talents .But soaps which claim to empower women must get realistic and realize the importance of educating the youth and the old. They must also show situations where a woman literally feels empowered instead of being put through a lie, instead of being put through an emotional, manipulative visual treat.

Paparazzi

Just happened to watch the movie unknowingly. Well it shows that life isn't a bed of roses especially for the media circle and also put me into thinking about how the biggies live their life in peace. It was so irritating to watch the paparazzi after Cole Hauser who played the lead actor in the movie. And though it was just a movie it got me agitated and I really wished for the truth not to win ,indirectly. I have written about this before too ,i.e. the media who claim to be exposing are most of the time just exploiting. Ofcourse there has been a lot of exaggeration in the movie ,but to some extent media can get annoying. Maybe we need to go through it personally to digest it. To have you followed all the time , the way you walk, talk, eat ,behave ,my.. that's mollifying. The freedom and the life one is forced to give up is almost like a curse. Then the alternatives chosen like having extra mobiles and bodyguards and a life which is sealed externally..all such a nightmare. Always bothered about how you look and behave and think before you leap each time, boy! that's as good as being a vegetable. I heard that Ishant Sharma could'nt celebrate Holi with his family cos he was deterred by the thought of media and for Sreesanth , that guy has been in news for quite some time making history with hotty celebs and shake-a-legs. And with his Transitional Meditation (Wotever :P), thanks to the media once again , I am so proud to see a Keralite as a hot shot celeb! (No Sarcasm at all :I)

Trust me guys, enjoy being a no one :D

Jodha Akbar is one good epic I got to watch. It's not dragging , to the point and for all those who said that very less was shown on Akbar's fight sequences and ruling, it's actually a romantic movie which speaks more about the love of Jodha and Akbar which went unnoticed. And the previews never said that the movie had something to do with his ruling and achievements though a lil of that too was shown. Excellent cameras, awesome costumes.. and the best part of all - it's music. Once again kudos to Rahmanji for making yet another memorable record.Well about acting skills.. Hrithik an Ash have done a fair job.

I was just so sure about something crazy happening on the Valentines.I have seen people desperate for fame , but not as desperate as Rakhi Sawant and Abhishek! She slapped him or whatever and he apparently thanked the Headlines Today for patching them back!! And the news channels are even more jobless to telecast it all on television. How low can they fall ? And ofcourse not it isn't a matter of sour grapes but of 'lathon ke bhoot baaton se nahi mante'..or in Javed Jafferey's words - The ghost of the kicks don't listen to the talks :) Ciao

Glamour = money?

Too bad! Nowdays, the glamour field is booming up perhaps more than the IT sector!! Why not? The income, fame, recognition got out of this is something majority would not dare to reject.From anchoring to reality shows, it's all showbiz. Attractive sets, tuned comperers to almost priceless prize vouchers. It's as though someone has kept a spicy big Mc right under my nose in the midst of my fast. Temptations and anxiety to know more about stalwarts and their doings are one of the symptoms.

Today, rather than breaking your head over the entrance exams for getting through some professional course..try your hand in the glamour world. Trust me ..even if you can't sing you never know if you are probably be a blabbermouth you might even end up winning the 'best VJ' award. Or if not that then being a spectator will also do. It's the matter of venturing into the magical world and minting money will be on your finger tips. I sometimes wonder how the Confidential group are able to sponser reality shows which amount to 50 lakhs and so on. Money can even buy talent! And I guess everything.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who cared to visit Surmitr(my audio blog)

Media exposes or exploits?

Source of Information : Media

When people claim that they are being secured by a democratic system , I am still in doubt of whether monarchy would be a better option. Someone said that democrats often hesitate in voicing their opinion because of the influence of money. With the Tehelka exposing the naked truths of the Gujrat carnage, people are still trapped in a tumult atmosphere. With Modi under fire and Bajrungi under threats, looks like India is shaping up well. What made Bajrungi speak? That too at a point when the Musilms were exchanging their Eid delicacies with the Diwali sweets.Tehelka openly said that their quest for truth were not intended to arouse an war in the next elections but to revive the essence of human rights. We actually needed Tehelka to remind us of our rights . Shame.

'Practice what you preach'-Seven bollywood actors under cop scanner and actors were having a jolly time playing a match organised by the underworld.They are the stars we idealise , admire, to some extent even follow their footsteps.And since Bollywood promotes social welfare, should definately make it a point to avoid scandals because public is their strength and fear- the beginning of their lives and the end of their destiny. For the Bachans Rs. 170000 room for the bahu's birthday bash is hardly the amount required for their gardening.But I guess they had to pay off a lot of bills at the Taj because when they were questioned by the Tax Department on ofcourse non-payment of tax Big B was spell bound.Looks like Big B's all set to play black from reel to real.

P.S. Happy Diwali :)