Yes Minister

Well, can anyone guess who is rocking the screen of the Televisions recently? Well, nope its not Saddam nor it is our Dubya Man, and the mysterious Chemical Ali though he does seem to evoke some interest in us , it is the Information Minister of Iraq with his 'No Shit" talk that really stands out. Mohammad Sayeed al-Sahaf is the man in this Gulf War 2 who is taking the centre stage, he is doing the talking for Saddam and to just listen to his press conferences daily is a blessing and a nice laughing class.

With such determination and ease with which he makes his statements is just amazing. If I were a journalist and had to attend his press conference man would I have a Ball. Yesterday Mr. Sahaf introduced us to the word which had long lost its touch in Politics - it was "Retarded". And my mind suddenly jolted and said "The world is a nice place after all" (Isn't It?)

Well, Mr. Sahaf is a busy man now-a-days, I saw him on the television around five to six times in one day giving interviews to different channels all around and re-affirming the faith of the Iraqis that it aint over yet. When Al-Jazeera asked him that what does he have to say regarding the Assosciated Press Report saying that Saddam Intl. Airport (Oops, before I get shot by a US Soldier in a friendly fire ) Baghdad Intl. Airport was in the custody of the Coalition forces - the Honorable Minister blurted out that he had taken the journalists around the city convincing them that the Coalition is just lying around.

Mr.Sahaf, you're a doing a great job indeed and let me tell you I prefer to watch you doing the talking then the American brief ups which are Oh so Boring.

You can't find peace by avoiding life- The Hours

Weblog in an Editorial

Open ToI, dated 5th April. Turn to the editorial page. On top you'll see Baghdad Blogbuster (unable to locate online). The most famous blogger currently, Salam Pax of Where is Raed? gets a mention. The write-up takes up the famous question- whether the blog is a hoax, or whether Salam Pax is now an Anne Frank.

Salam Pax's famous quote- "I am not anybody's propaganda ploy, well, except my own" is the Thought for Today on the same page.

Chhota Coke, Chhota Boycott

Just when the experts were hailing Coke for securing itself in India, consumers in Andheri and Bandra in Mumbai, won't be getting the Chhota Coke for a while.

The reason? A boycott by the retailers in the region. And the reason for the boycott? Well, because the advertisement (starring Aamir Khan) in which a retailer is shown to be a cheat hasn't pleased them a bit. The retailer charges two customers Rs. 6 for a chhota Coke instead of Rs. 5. When Aamir Khan (dressed as the village smartass) makes the shopkeeper repeat 'five' at least five times, the cheat finally realises how foolish he has been in cheating the women.

So the retailers are irritated that they have been portrayed in a bad light in the advertisement. And maybe they do have a point. But what about thousands of other ads which portray women and errr..even men in a bad/negative/demeaning light? So should the wrongfully-portrayed people abandon the product?

Like women abandoning Fair & Lovely and Axe (the latter for showing them as waiting-to-be-taken), and men abandoning umm...(oops, I don't think there are any such ads). Mothers could boycott Pepsodent for showing them to be nagging their children all the while. The list could go on...

Just a thought. But if it really did happen, it'd just prove that the consumer, indeed, is king...I mean...queen.

Embedded Journo Dies in Iraq

Michael Kelly, editor of the Atlantic was heading toward Baghdad with the 3rd Infantry Division, when the humvee he was in dove into a canal, killing him.

He was doing his job.

Moi as the Censor!

No, you didn't read wrong. Nor has this weblog been hacked by a one of the rare breed of Oscar-loving, woman hackers (see the previous post and note the byline).

This non-hacker, Suhani, is actually a new member of this blog. And also a first-time blogger. I deserve a pat on the back for convincing someone to blog!

Which brings me to the main point of this incoherent rambling. Since I created this blog and invited her to join, by default I become the administrator. And that means I have the right to edit/delete/do whatever else to her posts.

But my promise is that nothing will be censored or edited. This is a weblog, and not a dictatorial government-owned newpaper.

Catherine's Chicago

After much of hype I finally introduced myself to the Academy Award Winner - Chicago. Just let me warn you that if you expect to become all teary eyed (cause Oscars main motto is that - Forrest Gump, Schindlerslist etc) then you are mistake - Because Chicago is all razzle and dazzle and glitz and glamour and kicking and moving and sizzling and killing.

One of the greatest assets of the movie is the way it has been edited. The dance sequences are fabulous and so amazingly choreographed that your eyes are glued to the screen. Especially "All that Jazz" (which is going to be my next dance number in an upcoming wedding of our family), Cell Block Tango and Latifah's Mama number are something to watch out for. Then there is the ever diminishing Rene who desperately needs a good diet, god she is soo skinny that sometimes you dont even know that she is there on the screen. Anyways she is the one who has put in a lot of hardwork considering that she did not have a background in theatre.

Richard Gere I was happy for him (because you see the last time i saw him, it was in Unfaithful and I had nothing but sympathy for him) here he is in control. But after watching the movie I am still pondering over the fact what made this movie Rock On at the Oscars. There was no significant and worthy message in this movie and if it was there at all it was - 'You can get away with murder.' Now that aint going to please the government of Texas would it, if this Movie took place in Texas instead of Chicago - Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger) would already be sentenced death penalty. But I guess what the Oscars were trying to say by selecting this movie was "Hey we like Musicals too". Its after a long time that musical has won at the Oscars the last was 'Oliver'.

HIGHLIGHTS

a) Richard Gere in tap dance (Wowwww)
b) Queen Latifah and her Silicon Valley (could it be any bigger and is it really not fake)
c) Catherine's zeal, she steals the movie mann (Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars, thumbs up)
d) Who says that gay directors cannot come up with good cinema ( You Go Go Rob Marshall))

If you can't be famous. Be Infamous. Chicago with its best picture nod at the Oscars will definitely be famous for a long time.

Two Weeks' Break

After much delay, I saw Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock starrer Two Weeks Notice. I have never been a fan of Sandra Bullock's histrionic talents, but Hugh Grant's performance in Notting Hill (not to mention his looks) made me anticipate what the movie would be like.

Irrespective of the presumptions I had made, the movie just didn't click. Shoddy storyline (if you could call it one), nonsensical characterisation, strictly-okay performances, it just didn't seem like a good Hollywood movie. But it seemed like something I had seen before.

I pondered over it, trying to figure out why it seemed so familiar. And then it hit me. It was just like any other Indian potboiler. (Sigh!). Boy meets girl, they interact with each other for a while, something happens, they stop interacting, then one of them (usually the guy) goes to meet the other, and deep love is professed. They run, then kiss...oops, hug (remember it's a Hindi movie). End of movie.

I have seen at least a score of such Hindi movies, but they were too inconsequential to be remembered. Even the extremely crude and badly made Govinda-Sanjay Dutt movie Ek aur Ek Gyarah has such a sub-sub-sub-plot. But these movies should be taken note of now. Because after a long long time have I seen Hollywood copying apna Bollywood and Tollywood.

I guess this must be more than enough consolation for those who think Lagaan
deserved the Oscar last year.


Drink or Cell Phone?

The new Coke ad with Vivek Oberoi and Aishwarya Rai (what a coincidence- both in the middle of a controversy), providing tremendous publicity to cell phone companies, as well as cellular service providers. For the ad uses at least four cell phones, and just one bottle of Coke. Even the otherwise-underestimated public pay phone is more prominent than the drink itself.

In short- the ad beats way around the large bush, and doesn't make its point.

Just another indication of how star-obsessed everyone is- the MNCs, the ad-makers, the politicians, and the people of course.


Desi or Foreign?

The Country Manager of Discovery, Ogilvy and Mather India has written this article on the effect of globalisation on foreign brands, and how the MNCs are customising themselves to suit various international (especially Indian) markets, plus the core fact that "at heart he [an Indian] will remain an Indian."

FAQs

Why this blog?

This can be answered in various ways. One person would say that the media is everywhere. Some would say, because they have nothing else to do. A few others would say because it interests them. Well, my reason is a combination of all these reasons,
and more. I find the media influencing almost every aspect of human life today.

Which car shall I buy? X, because my favourite sports star endorses it. Which outfit shall I buy- red or yellow? Red, because the fashion mag says it suits my skin tone the best, and is in fashion too. Which doctor shall I visit? Y, he has a column in the health section of the most famous newspaper in the country. Whom shall I vote for? Z, because the news channel I watch says the other candidate has a criminal record.

Whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not, the media has influenced people in every which way one can think of. As a media student, as well as an ordinary citizen, I find it extremely intriguing to understand how the media affects people and their
lives- overtly and covertly.

What will be the contents of this blog?

That's difficult to answer yet, because you never know what you feel like doing tomorrow. Of course almost all the contents will be related to the media- newspapers, magazines, websites, weblogs, movies, celebrities, sportspersons, advertisements...

There may be a few exceptions, but I don't know what they could be, or when they might turn up.

Why these stupid FAQs?

"Let us watch well our beginnings, and results will manage themselves."

-Alex Clark

That's open to personal interpretation.