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Journalism of Courage
It was the year of big smiles revealing large teeth. Most of the contestants had one or the other and if ever a mouth deserved to win, it belonged to Miss USA. Alas, beauty queen contests are governed by the politics of correctness and since Miss USA rules the Universe, Miss World fell for Miss Chile’s smile instead. Sad to say, Miss India, though generously endowed in all the right departments and possessing an admirable set of dentures too, only bit the dust. She was clearly lacking in lustre; perhaps the judges of Miss India need to reconsider their beauty fundas — our recent entrants have made no impression on the world stage or the universe.
The Miss World event (Star World) was so much the same thing, it appeared jaded (apt since it was held in China). Do note: new categories have been introduced offstage — like a talent contest, a sports event — to create the (false?) impression that beauty is not about bosoms and buttocks but brains and brawn as well!
Several contestants on Indian Idol were confused; they thought they were auditioning for a gharana and so chose semi-classical or classical numbers to perform acrobatics with their voices. This revealed the range of their singing skills and judges Farah Khan, Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam (sporting straightened hair that make him look like a male version of Kyunki’s Nandini) were suitably impressed. The listening public (who votes for the winners) was not. Give them something, romantic, raunchy, rocking, none of this aaaaaaah stuff.
We’ve had Cintestars Ki Khoj (Zee), now ESPN has Harsha Ki Khoj. No, they’re not desperately seeking Bhogle but new cricket commentators. During the Bangladesh-India test match, these aspirants came to the mike dressed as though they were attending a sit-down dinner. They were understandably stiff and nervous and made mundane remarks: a forward defensive shot by Tendulkar… he looks a little tentative, Wasim Bhai… his run rate has gone down, will the pressure be off him now that he has equaled Sunny bhai’s record, Ravi bhai? Over the years you have seen innings after innings… well yes, that’s how cricket is played. One contestant cried when asked to solicit the public’s vote. What does he do when he receives bad news?
Sunil Gavaskar was on air when Tendulkar equaled his centuries’ record. ‘‘This is a big moment, this is a great moment,’’ said one little master of the other, as he stood up to applaud, ‘‘Well done young man, but you have a lot of cricket ahead of you’’. At tea time, Sunil was at the boundary to give Sachin a man hug. So sweet.
You can give Doordarshan autonomy, you can have an independent chairman to head it but you cannot change its spots. Difficult to know which is the more obsequious: the Congress party or Doordarshan. On Sonia Gandhi’s 58th birthday, the competition was very stiff. In its news bulletins that day, DD News ran lengthy reports on Mrs Gandhi’s birthday, featuring the Congress party’s most ardent Sonia admirers.
Doordarshan is not the only one with a bias. When the American Consulate was attacked in Jeddah, Nic Roberston gave us the number of people dead or injured but the news focus of his story was that two Americans were amongst them. Re-emphasises the point that nationality counts for more than human lives.
On the serial front, Kareena Kareena (Zee) is still laughable and good for an evening’s relaxation. The lead character is far more winsome than any other character on TV. She’s on boil. Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin (Sony) is subsiding rather alarmingly. Where it was piquant, it is cloyingly sweet; where Armaan was devilish in his charm, he is ordinary in his goodness and where Jassi was the darling of viewers, she is now just another soppy character. In a word, boring. Ditto Ye Meri Life Hai (Sony). Like Jassi, Pooja had the freshness of mint when she made her first appearance. Now, she’s just another melodramatic character. Honestly, those K women have a lot to answer for.
