Censorship and abdication of the state !

It is off course old news, the ban on Kamal Hassan's movie and the outrage news media has moved on since to the VVIP helicopter scam, as of 24X7 is like a genie which needs new and new challenges and does not really have the time to linger on the past.

The spectacle of a movie cleared by the censor board and even released in other nations and states but is banned in the home state of TN because the CM says she does not have the security to guard each cinema hall.  In a clear abdication of her responsibilities  she goes on to give a mathematical calculation of the police constables available and she cannot protect 550+ theaters. By that logic none of 1 billion Indians excluding VVIPS and industrialists are safe in this country.

 In a country where a facebook status update can get you arrested or girl band can be bullied into submission by a fatwa and threats in social media and a government which does little to curb the fringe elements across religious lines only creates a social where the majority prefers to be silent and watch freedoms been curbed.

A society where law enforcement is limited, a police force which is intimidating and court cases which takes years to be taken to resolution, there is little hope but rather more cynicism and anger on the system. this was  seen in the aftermath of the Delhi gangrape case, instead of engaging the youth the government instead used water cannons and lathi charge on the crowds.

How curious is that, the government finds it easier to terrorize the slient majority than take action on the fringe elements. If a veteran actor like Kamal Hassan can be bullied into re-censoring a movie then what chance does the common man have ?

As it stands, there is little hope left, the middle class is so helpless, they are ready to follow any voice which will take on the system which can represent a radical change, i.e. earlier the support for Jan lokpal and now the fascination for the iron leader from Gujarat, in a way looking for a easy way out of the mess.

Every time we step back with a movie ban, facebook & twitter related arrest or remove paintings from a museum, we are only digging ourselves into a deeper and darker pit.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably - Star Trek TNG

India's "Beta-cracy"

Just yesterday I was watching Karan Johar's latest movie Student of the Year starring the Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan the kids of Mahesh Bhatt and David Dhawan respectively. In this movie, there was another character who had a decent role, a chubby bespectacled kid Parsi boy who had pretty strong lines and scenes considering the usual scope of a supporting role like that of the hero's friend.  I felt happy at-least Kjo had a heart to give lines to a non-star kid. 

Turns out that Parsi kid is Kayoze Irani, the son of Boman Irani another star son launch. DAMN. 

It is not just Kjo giving an easy platform to the star kids, there are plenty of examples of Kapoors, Deols and  even Bhagnanis where it just matters what your surname is. Very few outsiders can even hope to break in the clique and even if they do they did need to work twice as hard to maintain their position.

Even looking beyond Bollywood, look in the corporate industry or politics, you will see several examples of seats been kept warm for the scions. Even in media you have several star sons and daughters, Barkha Dutt is the daughter of leading journalist Prabha Dutt. Rajdeep Sardesai is the son of cricketer of Dileep Sardesai. Sagarika Ghosh is the wife of Rajdeep. Prannoy Roy is the brother in law of Prakat Karat.  

There is not one field in India which are not run by select group of well-connected families. I remember reading in an article few years back, the Pakistan legislature is controlled by 200+ families, I suspect the Indian Parliament must also show similar trends.

The reverse question which people will raise is, if begin a star son a disqualification and speak about the services rendered by the previous generation and qualifications they have acquired. Whilst this is true, the fact is this, it is only a reflection of a feudal mindset where the masses give control of their lives to benevolent landowners or Kings.

Thats why even though I do not really endorse all the following people, I really appreciate the rise of Mamata Banerjee, Narendra Modi, Kejriwal, NRN, Arnab Goswami, John Abraham. India definitely needs change in all fields be it politics, business world, civil service, news media and entertainment.  There needs to be a clear break from the "Beta-cracy" which is plaguing our nation.

The question is will this makes a big difference, will the new blood which will replace the old guard make a difference or will it remain the same. 

The same fiery Bal Thackeray and Karunidhi who drove the Congress dynasty to the ground in the 60-70s are battling with a large dynasty of their own. The vicious circle of nepotism rears its ugly head. The un-holy nexus between politics, business and government is what leading the country to the un-heard of levels of corruptions. 

As the Joker says in The Dark Knight - " The city deserves a better class of criminals" 

Where is the Ad Break Dude ??

Last week, I was seeing a program on CNN IBN - “The Greatest Indian” with the host Rajdeep Sardesai and his boss head of TV18 Raghav Bahl gushing about how Dhirubhai Ambani was a contender to be the greatest Indian and also how he shaped Indian economy and perhaps his achievements were even greater than JRD Tata. 

Although there is nothing wrong in this point of view, what we were not told explicitly, Mukesh Ambani and RIL recently acquired a large stake TV18 including CNN IBN. So how independent is the view taken by the channel. 

Going to more innocuous instances of paid or sponsored media, nothing which comes close was the garish Indian Premier League which successfully sliced ads into the sport itself. DLF Maximum, City Moment of Success and RGV style spider camera looming at different close up angles at the Volkswagen Vento. 

Although this is relatively acceptable, as this is quite direct advertising unlike the movie promotion campaigns. Notice when a big budget movie is going to hit the screens, you see lots of PR spin articles on the news papers, television and even radio. 

FM radio, I remember during the late 90's and early 2000 was a pleasurable experience, the Radio Jockey had a closer connect with the viewers and song selection was without agendas and less audio ads into the program. However cut to 2012, we have radio programs whose Radio Jockeys are screaming non-stop and songs which play which also tie in as promotions to the movie or the actor's previous movies which serve to drive you to the movie hall. 

Even corporates have a convenient relationship with media groups to get positive coverage, when I read newspapers its clear, press releases masquerading as “real news”. Lifestyle channels and news paper supplements all have product placements. 

A leading newspaper Times of India has taken advertising to the next level by accepting equity stake from companies instead of cash as remuneration .Can you imagine negative news ever coming on this newspapers regarding companies which in the media house has a stake in. This allows paid content even in editorial space. 

The most dangerous form of paid news media was exposed by a Press Council of India inquiry commission, during election times, newspapers both vernacular and English media charging candidates from 30-50 lakh rupees for news coverage and also positive spin.  So much for independent media.

I really wonder where's the ad break dude ? At least the advertisements is in the breaks is honest unlike the spin we are subjected to the regular programming. 

News Channels Today - Peddling Aspirations or Pure Denial ?

if you follow the news channels in India regularly apart from the politician bashing you will probably be seeing these headlines getting repeated over time with some small variations. 

China fixation / India Superpower
if you see experts in TV studios you would believe India is a superpower and developed nation which is just days from a permanent seat in UN security council. In its flight of fantasy it needs to match China in military prowess and pursue an aggressive foreign policy. 

 Pubs/Alcohol Age 

 If you followed the news about actor Imran Khan who is opposing the increased official age of drinking to 25 as an affront to the freedom of Indians ( I guess adding the right to booze to the Constitution is really the need of the hour) and the draconian laws in Bangalore pubs of shutting down too early.

 IIT / St Stephens fixation 

 Another key headline is the entire IIT debate of Narayan Murthy and Chetan Bhagat and about the quality of students from our premier institutions. Reams of news print and air time spend on discussing mostly Chetan Bhagat's point of view ( not by co-coincidence He is having a book launch soon ) Offcourse some or the other stories about St. Stephens, I am quite surprised that Mani Shankar Aiyer got away easy with his Hansraj BA pass remark on Sports Minister Ajay Makhan. 

 Exclusive Interviews with Actors 

 Another trend is the interviews with actors, its a win win because its easy TRPs and no efforts to research or report and for the actors like SRK, Ranbir Kapoor good marketing for their up coming releases. 

 Reading out Twitter Posts 

 Is it even a real journalist job, reading out twitter posts ?? Actually Twitter is the best thing which happened to 24X7 journalists, verified soundbytes ( 140 characters ) delivered on your smartphone by the celebs. 

 Over Simplification / News for Dummies 

 Even the issue of Rs 32 as the poverty line demarcator was taken as another opportunity to bash the political class but never little attempt made to understand the rationale or economics behind it. In case of the Anna Hazare campaign, some news channels were taking sides with the outraged middle class instead of an objective news analysis. 

 Always going soft on corporates 

 Of all talk of corruption in India, the media is deliberately soft on corporates because one negative report on the house of Tatas or a Reliance will result in massive drop in advertising revenues. Secondly to make the middle class comfortable that paying bribes is because of the system and off load own guilt by blaming only the netas and bureaucrats. 

 

 Is it a delibrate denial ?

Clearly the news and media channels are not naïve or blundering idiots to not having to pick up real issues and deleve deeper (expect CNN-IBN's Karan Tharpar show The Last Word and some shows on NDTV) rest of the News channels just want to indulge the Indian middle class fixation with institutions of higher education, the fantasy of India taking on China and fueling the need become a more materialistic consumerism driven society.

There is a clear whitewashing of the stories of the poor India, health care and rising inflation. For the new middle class paying 1000 Rs to a domestic help is much costly than spending the same at a spa or a pub is not a problem. The increasing hedonistic mindset of the affluent class whilst lack of sensitivity towards the less fortunate is indeed disturbing. The media shows us what we want to see rose tinted picture hiding all details 

that which can make us uncomfortable.

The role of news media has changed from enlightening and educating the viewers to engaging and entertaining but in the race for TRPs and showing quarterly profits, can we blame the media or do we as a society need to evolve as well.