It was 11 pm and I was back from the Gym to my TV watching routine, actually my mindless channel surfing routine. In a row, 4 Hindi news channels were apparently engaged in what they believe is their reason of existence - raising TRPs.
One was obsessively repeating the 6 time dress pulling act of Katrina Kaif, a Bollywood starlet, apparently whose scarlet designer gown that wouldn’t give up slipping. Wardrobe malfunction it is called these days. Sometimes people say it is pre-meditated.
A second channel was showing how post debut, the leading lady of Dabang Ms XYZ (??) tripped on her heals as she sashayed the ramp. This shot was also repeated about 20 times.
Live India the third channel that hesitatingly I switched to was showing Malika Sherawat maniacally gyrating to a Nagin number. India’s love for the nagin continues to live through generations.
A fourth channel was showing how a old Fort in Etawah, was still haunted by ghosts of nautch girls, as one of the rulers some Thakur ABC Pratap Singh Maharaj, ignored the counsel of a sage and brought on the occasion of holi, nautch girls, despite the foreboding of the sage. Since then, the curse that befell continues to haunt and even 100s of years down when anyone mustered the courage to tip toe the ominous sound of the late night anklet he is destined to die. And many actually had, claimed one of the villagers who out of fear was abdicating the village. An act symbolic of a society still suffering from the scourge of cast, superstition and totemic supernaturalism! But, regardless, the manner in which this was being televised is reinforcing the superstition not dismissing it.
All societies, Oriental or Occidental without exception, have had some sort of witchcraft at some point of time. Some sort of shamanite tradition at some point of time. Vestiges of these can be seen in the most societies even today in varying measures. But extolling it by televising on prime time is weird.
One was obsessively repeating the 6 time dress pulling act of Katrina Kaif, a Bollywood starlet, apparently whose scarlet designer gown that wouldn’t give up slipping. Wardrobe malfunction it is called these days. Sometimes people say it is pre-meditated.
A second channel was showing how post debut, the leading lady of Dabang Ms XYZ (??) tripped on her heals as she sashayed the ramp. This shot was also repeated about 20 times.
Live India the third channel that hesitatingly I switched to was showing Malika Sherawat maniacally gyrating to a Nagin number. India’s love for the nagin continues to live through generations.
A fourth channel was showing how a old Fort in Etawah, was still haunted by ghosts of nautch girls, as one of the rulers some Thakur ABC Pratap Singh Maharaj, ignored the counsel of a sage and brought on the occasion of holi, nautch girls, despite the foreboding of the sage. Since then, the curse that befell continues to haunt and even 100s of years down when anyone mustered the courage to tip toe the ominous sound of the late night anklet he is destined to die. And many actually had, claimed one of the villagers who out of fear was abdicating the village. An act symbolic of a society still suffering from the scourge of cast, superstition and totemic supernaturalism! But, regardless, the manner in which this was being televised is reinforcing the superstition not dismissing it.
All societies, Oriental or Occidental without exception, have had some sort of witchcraft at some point of time. Some sort of shamanite tradition at some point of time. Vestiges of these can be seen in the most societies even today in varying measures. But extolling it by televising on prime time is weird.
Neils Bohr was once asked about the horse shoe dangling on his quarters. He is believed to have denied any belief in superstition. But went on to say, “believe it or not, it does bring good luck”. From the famous Pascals wager it is clear, keep God on the right side, because if he does exist, it makes pragmatic sense to keep him on your right side. The same logic may well be extended to the supernatural, and the demonic powers that be may best be avoided than challenged. But a prime time media campaign to reinforce the proposition is preposterous.
I have always believed that the authorship can be blamed or must be blamed only in some measure and not in full measure. The readership or viewership is also to be blamed. These channels are wasting precious airtime because they are convinced they capture eye balls, and perhaps they are right. Commerce sees no reason, and greed no bar.
I have always believed that the authorship can be blamed or must be blamed only in some measure and not in full measure. The readership or viewership is also to be blamed. These channels are wasting precious airtime because they are convinced they capture eye balls, and perhaps they are right. Commerce sees no reason, and greed no bar.
"Commerce sees no reason, and greed no bar." - excellent punch. I guess they have only one yardstick - '$'. Will be interesting to catchup when you have time. Tried calling on +91223xxxxx02 with no success
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