Whats so stingy about this ?

Yesterday local newspaper Mid-Day made a big hoo-hah about its latest sting operation. The target they choose was the amusing ‘Page 3′ circuit. I call it ‘amusing’ cause I can’t find any other word to describe it. They wanted to prove; how easy it is for anyone to become an overnight celebrity. The main heroine of their so-called ‘sting’ operation was an ordinary 17-year-old law student, Renny Jhaveri. They hired a PR agency, which planned and promoted Renney at all the famous party scenes, fashion shows, etc. They even involved makeover artists, designers, contacts in high places and a bodyguard; all of this amounting to Rs. 3 Lakhs.

It all began with a fictional profile dropped by her PR team to the media and to the party circuit. According to the profile, Renny belonged to a royal family, was a classical dancer from California and had landed offers in Bollywood. They even managed to get her couple of interviews with other newspapers and TV channels, all stating her to be the next big thing to have hit Bollywood. The whole farce went on for practically 2 months; she was even clicked with director Subhash Ghai by a newspaper, which called her, Ghai’s new find.

Anyways once the story went out, according to Mid-Day, they have been bombarded with various reactions from all section of the society. Celebrities like Marc Robinson and Shobha De have applauded Renny’s brave act, since her chances of being exposed were very high.

Frankly speaking, what’s so freaking stingy about this piece of so-called expose? In my opinion, all they have done is wasted Rs. 3 lakhs by giving so much attention to something which most of us readers are aware off. We all are aware and have seen real examples, where the media and PR agencies have made ordinary actors/newbie, superstars overnight. So how was this effort different and important to the public? How does it matter to me, if they make fools of some journalists, Page 3 regular, etc? It’s more like a delayed April Fools prank by the media on the media.

Agree, the newspaper is more of a ‘time-pass’ kind and they too like their other media counterparts ‘butt-lick’ and at times ‘abuse’ celebrities for no apparent reasons. However in the past they have high-lighted noteworthy issues which have been appreciated all around.

Now days, the MSM seems to be basically abusing the term ‘sting operation’ by doing write-ups and exposé on not so relevant ‘Page 3′ circuit or for that matter ‘Bollywood’, remember the ‘casting couch’ incident. A sting operation should be something that stings the person/group on which it is targeted and most importantly it should sting ‘us’, the society. It should bring to light the wrongs done by the government, media, etc. A perfect example would be ‘Operation Duryodhana’ carried out by CobraPost and Aaj Tak.

Another thing that I find quite dumb and thereby question; what was so commendable and courageous effort on Renny Jhaveri?

All I can see is that the 17 year old had a great time, with people paying for her make-over, expensive outfits, lavish parties. And even if she was exposed, what would happen to her? The most-likely outcome would have been that her party spree would have ended. I don’t think anyone from the Page 3 brigade would have ran behind her with a knife, threatening to kill her. Commendable and courageous effort could be defined by the work done by reporters like Barkha Dutt, Anita Pratap and Suhasin Raj, who looked at danger right in the eye, to bring us news of grave importance and relevance.

All in all; it was just waste of time and money and above all they have (like many others) abused the term ‘sting operation’.