After reading through Sakshi’s recent post on Indian news channels, and also listening to the various news channels on television, it amazes me to see how this “so-called” reputed report channels exhibit information of no relevance or importance.
News broadcasts in my opinion should contain information of intelligence, interest and importance. A report on pressing issues concerning our country or techniques/debates on improvisation of various topics is what needs immediate attention.
As most of you by now must have heard, a recent piece of information involving the renowned Mr. Amitabh Bachchan caused quite a stir in Mumbai. The aging actor along with his family walked barefoot for 15 km to the Siddhivinayak temple. According to the media, trips like these were often made during times of crisis. And of course diverse speculation followed!
Every possible channel on the cable from Aaj Tak to Star News to Zee News had it documented and televised as if it were some national news of tremendous importance! It was absurd to see media trample each other and the gathered crowd just to get a glimpse of the quite famous star. In addition to this insanity, star news went a step ahead trying to predict reasons for the much published “pad-yatra”!
Contemplating every perspective; the success of his film Guru? His grandmother Teji’s Bachchan’s illness? The hyped Aishwarya-Abhishek relationship? What could the reason be!! Getting to the bottom of this seemed their ultimate goal.
Switching off the television and reading a book instead made more sense!
Frankly it’s unnerving to see tons of public money being spent on these useless chases, just to bring out to the world the deep dark secrets of the glitterati world. To document every move of theirs, to speculate the reasons behind every doing, to continuously harass them with questions that are none of their business. To make a big hue and cry of every small detail concerning their public and private lives. It’s just an obsession having no bounds.
I wonder what life would be if we didn’t have this madness around us to deal with? I wonder what life would be without this huge difference between the common man and the well-known celebrities? A life without these baseless worships for humans not any different from us?
It’s high time we ignore this artificial, diplomatic Bollywood tamasha and enhance our own lives with the same importance and appreciation.
Comments
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Patrix
Jan 12th, 2007 at 4:04 pm | #
Not disagreeing with your rant but TV channels show the kind of news people want to watch. If people suddenly show an interest in intelligent programming, I bet they would chose to show that. I bet Stardust or Cine Blitz has a higher readership than India Today (which I heard last was going down the tabloid route).
Also, “Frankly it’s unnerving to see tons of public money being spent on these useless chases” Only Doordarshan (does it still exist or does anyone still watch it?) uses public money, rest all channels are private.
Saakshi O. Juneja
Jan 13th, 2007 at 5:52 am | #
Patrix : First and foremost, Good to see you drop by.
With regards to your comment on GaZZal’s post, well I would say it’s just like talking “What came first, the Chicken or the Egg? In the era where media has a massive influence on the masses….surely they are in the position to dictate terms. If they show intelligent programming and limit stupidity then things will change for the better in due course.
And as for the point on public money, I think what GaZZal was trying to say is that issues like extra security for high-profiled stars have to be provided to keep large crowds (not to forget that on seeing cameras more people are attracted) at bay, traffic sense goes for a toss..extra provisions to accomodate more convience for big people…..all these factors contribute to nothing but wastege of public money.
GaZZal : Though you make valid points but the fact is that many live and breathe on Bollywood….and I doubt that will ever change.