MxMIndia

Tag: anil thakraney

  • A picture tells a thousand words but a pilfered picture tells a thousand lies, writes Anil Thakraney, commenting on the Gujarat Congress child malnutrition ad fiasco

    Anil Thakraney: Gujarat ad: Work of a lazy art director

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Congress’s chances of making any sort of impact in the upcoming Gujarat elections already appear less than feeble. And to make matters worse, they’ve gone ahead and scored a self-goal.

     

    The Gujarat Congress party workers released an ad in the local dailies to highlight the rising incidence of child malnutrition in the state. Nothing wrong with that, but the image of the child they used in the ad wasn’t shot in Gujarat, it was pilfered from a Sri Lankan refugee camp! Haha. Mota bhai Narendra Modi must have guffawed so loud, children in his state would have momentarily forgotten all about their hunger pangs.

     

    The Congress reps have been doing the only thing they can do when egg has hit the face very hard: To try and justify the ad, by suggesting that the visual was only a ‘symbolic representation’. Of course, no one’s gonna buy that. I actually feel sorry for these guys, because the culprit in this case is the advertising agency that created the ad. And that agency needs to be punished.

     

    Here’s what must have happened, and I can say this with some degree of confidence, having worked in ad agencies before. Art directors do lift visuals from various sources for presentation purposes. These visuals are only used to give an idea to the client of what the end product will look like. Once the concept is approved, the art director is supposed to carry out a fresh shoot.

     

    Now, either because of laziness or perhaps because of the desire to cut costs, the art director in question Photoshopped the Sri Lankan picture and ran it as an original. In his/her mind, sure that the little chori will never come to light. After all, how many of us keep an eye on Sri Lanka’s food problems? And the client, in this case the Congress party, must have assumed that the pic is original. Well, someone did spot the cheating, and now the Congress netas have to pay for no fault of theirs.

     

    And I must add here that this is a wakeup call for all lazy art directors. Guys, it’s never a good idea to Photoshop. Always shoot, even if the client is in a tearing hurry. Because a picture tells a thousand words. And a pilfered picture tells a thousand lies.

     

    PS: Marc Jacobs has pushed the indecency envelope even further. They have featured a male model masturbating in public. And this is an ad for their sunglasses, which has nothing to do with the man’s ‘activity’. Shock for shock’s sake? Or brand attitude? You choose.

     

    Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2233663/Marc-Jacobs-shocks-new-advert-showing-male-model-pleasuring-public.html

     

  • Okay, there are these delightful destinations, and the ads do look great, but why must I choose Emirates? Funnily, that one most important question isn't dealt with

    Debrief: Emirates: Too generic

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Emirates Airline has launched a television blitzkrieg. The objective is to communicate that they fly across various continents. Each TVC features a particular continent: Europe, Africa and America.

     

    The creative idea is to promote tourism. Each ad highlights the lovely touristy stuff the continent has on offer. So, for the Africa ad, we get to see the famed wildlife, the mountains, the bazaars, etc. Things we usually associate with that continent. The treatment is the same with other zones.

     

    Now, I am a little flummoxed on this one. Because I am not quite sure how, at the end of the communication, Emirates fits in. So okay, there are these delightful destinations I want to travel to, there are these magnificent sights and sounds I wish to absorb, and the ads do look great, but why must I choose Emirates to fly to these locations? Funnily, that one most important question isn’t dealt with. Quite obviously I will have a choice of other airlines as well, and as a traveller, I am more interested in wanting to know about Emirates.

     

    My guess is the advertiser and the agency have tried to keep away typical airline advertising (delicious food, on-time departures, pretty air hostesses, etc), and have chosen to focus on destinations. But in the process, they have compromised brand saliency. I will watch these ads, get excited by the places, and then surf the net to find which airline offers me the best deal. In short, it’s ended up becoming generic advertising.

     

    Surely there’s a way to bring out world beauty without diluting the brand? That’s why creative people get hired.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”220″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C51-DL25qA4[/youtube]

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 2. Pretty ads. Weak branding.

     

  • Even if the ads had boring scripts, which in fact most do (thanks to risk-averse clients), someone like Chopra would have made them look pretty

    Anil Thakraney: Ad world needs a Yash Chopra

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    I write this immediately after watching Yash Chopra’s ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’. And must say I quite liked it, despite the obvious little flaws in the script. And that’s because Chopra was the one director in Bollywood who, apart from having the guts to experiment with stories, was blessed with a sharp eye for aesthetics. Every shot is made to look beautiful, many of them can be frozen into paintings. And this isn’t the first time one has noticed this in a Chopra film. As I walked out of the multiplex, it occurred to me that his death is a bigger loss to the film world than they imagine. Directors will come and go, but it’s rare to find one who combines good storytelling with great art direction.

     

    Which then made me think: What if Yash Chopra had chosen to be an ad filmmaker? I can only imagine the wonderful ads we would have got to watch. And yet, ads that would have stayed true to the storyboard. Indeed, this is the sort of talent the desi advertising world lacks today. We have enough directors who cater to the client’s needs, but they lack an eye for beauty. Yash Chopra would have been the sort of director who would have effortlessly bridged the two worlds. Exactly as he did with his movies.

     

    And here’s what would have happened: Even if the ads had boring scripts, which in fact most do (thanks to risk-averse clients), someone like Chopra would have made them look pretty. The problem with ads, and I now speak as a viewer, is that the same dull, ugly ones keep getting repeat play. And many of them end up testing your patience. Just imagine if they at least looked beautiful. Would we then mind repeat exposures? I believe not. And wouldn’t that be great news for risk-averse brand managers?

     

    Inside the same multiplex, I watched two very boring ads. One, for Vicco Turmeric, which looked so ugly, it made me want to puke. Another one was a straightforward commercial for a brand called Forest Essentials, a skincare product. But it was shot aesthetically, it looked pretty. Therefore, despite nothing happening in the commercial, I enjoyed watching it. But such commercials are very rare.

     

    Yash Chopra, sadly, is gone. But he has left behind a big lesson. For Bollywood. And for advertising.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Super idea from a Los Angeles artist. Change the way hoardings are constructed, make them out of environmentally-friendly, well-watered bamboo gardens. We MUST ape this one in Mumbai. So that even if the yucky faces we are compelled to watch make us cringe, we can at least breathe easy.

     

    Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/stephen-glassman-urban-air-la-billboards-bamboo_n_2103099.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

     

     

  • We missed out on all the death tamasha that would have been played out inside the newsrooms and outside the Yerawada jail, amongst other places. Not to speak of all the entertainment that happens when wild speculation goes full-on

    Anil Thakraney: Shucks! We lost the action on Kasab. 🙁

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    I am very upset they chose to keep Kasab’s execution out of the glare of the media. We missed out on all the death tamasha that would have been played out inside the newsrooms and outside the Yerawada jail, amongst other places. Not to speak of all the entertainment that happens when wild speculation goes full-on. But instead of drowning myself in sorrow, I shut my eyes and imagined the likely scenes and sounds, behind and in front of the cameras.  Here goes.

     

    Reporter: “Kasab has ordered tomatoes for his last breakfast!” Anchor: “Not mutton biryani? This is breaking news stuff! Does Islam permit this diet for a death row prisoner? Viewers, we’ll shortly connect with some Islamic scholars on this sensational development.”

     

    Anchor: “It’s exactly two minutes to go for the hanging. Ms Human Rights Activist, please tell our viewers if death penalty should to be abolished.” Human Rights Activist: “Yes, yes, yes! This is against god, against nature, against humanity, we must stop this execution right now!”

     

    Anchor to reporter: “Our expert says death penalty is wrong. Will you grab some sound bytes from those hanging around outside the Yerawada jail?” Reporter: “Will do, gimme a moment, right now I need to cover the bloody hanging.”

     

    26/11 survivor Bhimshan Mansukhani: “Kill the bastard! Kill the m……r  f……r!”

     

    Reporter: “Think we just spotted the hangman entering the jail!” Anchor: “Quick, quick, ask him if he’s suffering from guilt pangs. Also ask him what’s his fee, and if he’ll go on a pilgrimage soon after pulling the lever.”

     

    Anchor: “There’s talk of the body being shipped to Pakistan! We must debate on how the body will be dispatched. By air, road or sea?” Production Head: “Okay, but I need a few hours to assemble the experts. Right now only Prahlad Kakkar is available. Will he do?” Anchor: “Yes, yes! He’s good television.”

     

    26/11 survivor Bhimshan Mansukhani: “Kill the bastard! Kill the m……r  f……r!”

     

    Reporter: “Oh! I just heard a loud sound! Must be Kasab’s skull cracking!” Anchor to production team: “Raise the audio level, zip up the bass, and play that sound effect in continuous loop until further instructions.”

     

    Anchor: “Ladies and gentlemen, we announce the death of Ajmal Aamir Kasab. And remember, you heard it on this channel first!” Production Head: “Er, what should we put on air now? Will they let us cover the burial?” Anchor: “Damn, I didn’t think of that! Okay, forget Kasab and put Afzal Guru’s file pictures. Let’s get after him now!”

     

    26/11 survivor Bhimshan Mansukhani: “Kill the bastard! Kill the m……r  f……r!”

     

    And of course, that quintessential TV question when the OB vans managed to gherao Kasab at the Yerawada gate. “Kasabji, aap kaise mahsoos kar rahe hain?”

     

    Alas, dear fellow television viewers, we were deprived of all the action. Grrrr.

     

    ***

     

  • There are no tall promises, there can't be for a silly little freshener, so why waste time? They have also smashed the usual ad cliches, and full marks for not throwing in a hot babe

    Debrief: Godrej Aer: ‘No Bakwaas’ route works

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Godrej Aer’s new commercial is a very good example of how keeping things simple helps when you are dealing with a very low involvement, an almost boring product category. Aer is a car freshener, not something one would even give a second thought to.

     

    The TVC features a young chap who’s seated in his little, no-frills car. The voice-over takes you through everything Godrej Aer WON’T do. It will not make your car bigger, better or luxurious. It won’t even turn you into a celebrity. All it will do is to provide some fragrance inside your cheap, stinky car. That’s it.

     

    I like this approach, it makes the low-profile brand immediately break the clutter. Kinda reminds me of Sprite’s ‘Seedhi baat’ campaign. There are no tall promises, there can’t be for a silly little freshener, so why waste time? They have also smashed the usual ad clichés, and full marks for not throwing in a hot babe, something that’s become mandatory for such a product category. Net result: The brand wins big-time. Suddenly, even if my car doesn’t stink, I am interested.

     

    If there’s one negative aspect to this approach, it’s this: After a couple of exposures, the ad loses its novelty. (This did not happen with Sprite.) It’s a direct, logical ad, and there’s very little entertainment value. They must shift the gear very soon, move the ad to the next level, so that the idea doesn’t lose its potency.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”220″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wJrjsaaVQY[/youtube]

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 3. Effective ad. Creates a buzz on a low interest brand.

     

  • The law needs to be amended. And parents need to inform and educate their children on ground realties. Because when virtual world collides with real world, the result can often be traumatic

    Anil Thakraney: The IT Act needs to be rewritten. ASAP

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    ‘If you have nothing good to say about the departed soul, best to keep quiet. Safety of Mumbai comes first.’ This was my tweet immediately after the announcement of Bal Thackeray’s death. This was not because I panicked, it’s because, one, I wanted all those Mumbaikars who were out on work or on personal errands to make it home safely. And if possible, stock up on rations in case the Sainiks decided to go on a rampage. Two, people from my generation are well aware of the Shiv Sena’s methodologies, and a violent reaction was always to be expected. That nothing happened is largely because of Thackeray Jr’s call for peace.

     

    Which then brings me to the two young girls from Palghar who were made to face the music over an anti-bandh FB update. (Wish they had been following me on Twitter!) First, the girl who posted the message made a technical error. The Shiv Sena had not called for a bandh (though there were stray incidents of a few goons intimidating shopkeepers). The city had decided to shut down on its own. Partly because of fear, partly because of respect. Secondly, and this is where I blame the parents, many young Indians may not be aware of the Sena’s violent ways because that outfit hasn’t launched a big campaign in the last ten years. But those of us who lived through 1992 and 1993 are perfectly aware of what these men are capable of when provoked. I think parents need to make their kids aware of political realities, now that the social media has given everyone an unfettered platform to speak. In that sense, I don’t really blame the two girls.

     

    So does that mean there’s no place for dissent in this so-called democracy? Obviously not. But belting out criticism even before a mass, hugely popular leader has been cremated is inviting trouble. Had the young girl posted her update later this week, I suspect there might have been no reaction at all. Also, it must be said she got unlucky, many others had posted far more damning messages. I do believe timing is the key out here. Unfortunately, the social media has turned many young fingers very itchy, and I have often noticed folks hit the buttons before they think.

     

    So then what now? Well, the goons who attacked the hospital need to be punished, for sure. Charges against the girls need to be dropped and the case withdrawn. But more importantly, the IT Act needs to be totally re-written and made abundantly clear so that there’s zero scope of misuse by the cops in the future. That is a no-brainer.

     

    However, that still doesn’t change the fact that the Facebook-addicted girl has caused two big harms. One, many, many young Indians will now think ten times before commenting on hard issues. I am told many have already deleted harmless updates and tweets on Thackeray. Two, she may have unwittingly given the Sena the bite it needed after their patriarch’s demise. The Sena shakha pramukh from her area is already being hailed as a hero amongst the party cadre.

     

    Net net: The law needs to be amended. And parents need to inform and educate their children on ground realties. Because when virtual world collides with real world, the result can often be traumatic. As we just discovered.

     

    ***

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”220″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N8axp9nHNU[/youtube]

    PS: An utterly charming, endearing Christmas ad from the UK. The power of love. And the power of advertising. Brilliant! This is what festival ads should be like.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and editor based in Mumbai. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own.

     

  • Tremendous goodwill generated for Idea. Superb example of how to lift an otherwise ordinary Diwali discount ad

    Debrief: Idea: Dil khush ho gaya, Sirji!

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Nice, heart-warming Diwali ad from Idea. And the idea is so pleasing, this commercial can run long after the festival is over. That’s because it promotes communal harmony, which is very refreshing to see in desi advertising; this task is usually left to Bollywood films.

     

    In the TVC, a Muslim man likes a ladies watch he spots inside a shop window. But his excitement turns to sadness when he discovers the hefty price. The dealer points out that it’s Diwali and therefore there’s a 50 percent discount on offer. The chap is elated. He purchases the watch and quickly sends a pic to his beloved through the cell phone.

     

    Good idea, Sirji! This is a lovely public service ad, and therefore the brand benefits in more ways than one. Tremendous goodwill generated for Idea. Superb example of how to lift an otherwise ordinary Diwali discount ad. In fact, I think Idea should make this concept their own, and run similar ads during various fests. Aside from the brand gaining in the process, any attempt to bridge religious divide in this nation must be whole-heartedly supported.

     

    As a Diwali bonus, I did not spot Small B in this commercial, hope they’ve dumped him. Tells you when you have a powerful idea, you don’t need these pseudo celebs.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”220″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgZm9z3PgEg[/youtube]

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 4.5 Warm, endearing treatment. And a powerful idea.

     

  • As for the press coverage, the only thing I enjoyed was the reprint in Mumbai Mirror of Busybee’s super columns on Thackeray. There has not been, and perhaps never will be, a finer chronicler of Mumbai city than Busybee

    Anil Thakraney: Insensitive for channels to call know Thackeray-baiters

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    For the last two days there has been carpet coverage of Mr T’s death, across the media. The poor Chadha brothers. They chose to shoot each other dead on the same day, and no one was interested in their totally sensational action, their story went almost unnoticed. Some random observations on the media coverage of the Sena chief’s death:

     

    I was not very happy with the TV panel discussions on the evening of the demise. On the one hand the same boring politicians were invited, who then belted out the usual clichés. On the other hand, to spice things up, the anchors invited the known Thackeray-baiters. This, I found to be a little insensitive. Criticism of the man and his legacy must begin after the last rites are done, and not as soon as he’s announced dead. Not only is this morally wrong, all the dissing could have led to lumpen elements of the Sena losing their unusual cool. And a number of people in the city, who were still scrambling to their homes, could have come to grief. I think the news channels, in their search for eyeballs, must demonstrate a degree of sensitivity to the already harried aam aadmi.

     

    Glad that the news channel CEOs did not decide to pull the ads as a mark of respect. Though I am certain this must have been discussed in the boardrooms. Doing such a thing over the death of a person who, although very popular, was an extra-constitutional authority, would have been way over the top. Apart from being bad for business, of course.

     

    Some news channel editors seized the moment to replay old Thackeray interviews they had done, and kept reminding us that ‘Balasaheb told me this, he told me that, he opened up to me, etc’. Someone should point out to these worthies that this sort of gloating, especially at the time of death, is in real bad taste. Also, television is a total ‘team work’ medium, it must always be ‘We’. Never ‘I’.

     

    In addition, the archival interviews, already watched umpteenth number of times by all and sundry, were quite boring. When most of us viewers, at least in Mumbai, were keen to know if there was a threat of violence in our backyard. And Dilliwallahs must have been desperate to find out what happened inside the Chadha household. Sometimes I think Indian channel editors are dictators. Don’t think their juniors have the guts to point out their obvious flaws.

     

    As for the press coverage, the only thing I enjoyed was the reprint in Mumbai Mirror of Busybee’s super columns on Thackeray. There has not been, and perhaps never will be, a finer chronicler of Mumbai city than Busybee. He will be remembered long after Balasaheb is forgotten. Yup, I choose writers over cartoonists. 🙂

     

    Must say Twitter was the most delightful of all media. The contrast was telling. All the movie stars (most of who did not know Thackeray personally), were busy singing sweet praises in his memory. And the ‘mango’ people were tweeting about traffic problems and other hazards that would come in the way of Mumbaikars. No prizes for guessing whose side I was on.

     

    Last word reserved for the man himself: I don’t know whether to feel happy or sad that an average cartoonist hailing from a middle-class family, who builds his political brand solely on the junta’s perceived insecurities, can become such a powerful leader in this nation. Not sure if this is the sort of democracy our founding fathers had in mind.

     

    RIP Balasaheb Thackeray.

     

  • To all those heavily paid corporate leaders reading this: There's no point in splurging all those millions on slick advertising campaigns, there's no point in making tall claims in the ads, if you have failed to adequately train and motivate your task force

    Anil Thakraney: Your demotivated, ill-trained staff

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    So, this lady ‘forgot’ to tip the pizza delivery boy. And the dude, not very happy about the gesture, relieved himself right at her doorstep. (Hope you have been obediently tipping all the Diwali baksheesh demanders!) Here’s the link to the story that’s funny when you are not at the receiving end of stinky yellow. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/pizza-hut-delivery-man-urinates_n_2078748.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

     

    This incident set me thinking. Can we blame only the pizza delivery boy? To an extent, yes, and this also shows there are enough frustrated taporis all over the world. I actually see a larger problem at play out here, one of the lack of organizational training and motivation. If the pizza delivery boy had been a committed, motivated employee, do you think he would indulge in this or any sort of behaviour that would bring disrepute to his organization? I suspect not.

     

    We may not be getting peed on as customers, but each one of has had horrid experiences of being treated shabbily by staffers of companies we do business with. Mobile phone companies top this chart. The social media is buzzing with tales of incompetent, rude, indifferent representatives. My own list is pretty huge. I have had my share of problems with auto companies, insurance giants, banks, hotels, airlines, you name it. There was a time I would blame the company representatives, but I’ve now realized that particular dude/dudette is only a foot soldier of a badly run organization. No point in losing one’s cool on them. Quite obviously, the boss has not done his/her job, which is to build, run and manage a happy, professional, efficient, driven team.

     

    It is shocking how very little attention is paid to this critical function by many managers, when you consider it is the lower rung employees who are usually the first contact with the customer, and are therefore the face of the organisation. They behave poorly, you assume the entire unit sucks.

     

    To all those heavily paid corporate leaders reading this: There’s no point in splurging all those millions on slick advertising campaigns, there’s no point in making tall claims in the ads, if you have failed to adequately train and motivate your task force. What is the use of all that big investment if your front man ends up peeing at my doorstep? Chew on it, buddy.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Haha. Whites seem to have gone into mourning in America, following Romney’s defeat. Polarization of the US is complete. Not a good sign at all, I say! Check out the angry posts and the gloomy pictures.

    Link: http://whitepeoplemourningromney.tumblr.com/

     

     

  • Where I feel a little let-down is in the execution. The thought is there, the passion is missing

    Debrief: Dulux: Needs a dose of passion

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    So, it appears that the ad world having finally discovered young Farhan Akhtar, it’s time for this ‘new cool’ actor/director to strike it rich. He’s all over the place these days. However, I must say the Dulux guys, for their Velvet Touch brand, have used Akhtar a little more effectively in their new ad.

     

    The commercial equates an individual’s ideology and attitude with the colour he/she chooses for the wall. Akhtar plays the anchor and delivers the voiceover as poetry, and this he does well. So there’s a rock-star wannabe who opts for the red shade. An environment-friendly architect settles for green. And so on.

     

    I like this approach. Because it strikes at the core of what a consumer really wants from his/her paint, after the tangible factors are in place (reliability, durability, wash-proof paint, etc). Which is that the colour on the wall must in some way reflect the resident’s personality. (I, for one, am very serious about painting my walls deep black, the only thing that stops me is I am may not be able to spot a visiting cockroach!) In this context, Dulux is on the right track.

     

    Where I feel a little let-down is in the execution. The creative hasn’t done justice to the idea of a shade matching the person’s desires and ambitions. They haven’t been able to take the concept to a higher emotional plane, this looks like half-baked creative. The thought is there, the passion is missing. I can visualise stunning, engaging ads using the play of human beings and colour, with or without the services of Farhan Akhtar.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”220″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMrvbl6oEbo[/youtube]

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 2.5 Good idea, needs to be fleshed out.

     

  • The time is up for professional cinema critics. The only thing that can possibly save this dying species is if they quickly re-invent their craft and find innovative ways to keep the readers engaged

    Anil Thakraney: Death of the film critic

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Apart from all the gassing and the plugging that goes on in the social media, there’s one common tendency I have noticed, regardless of what the tweeter/Facebooker does for a living: To immediately post his/her two bits on a movie that’s just been released. (Even as I write this, my timeline is awash with tweets on Jab Tak Hai Jaan.) Speed is of essence; you have to post on the weekend of the release, Monday is too late. In fact, I often wonder if some people rush to the multiplexes ONLY to be the first out there with a micro film review, such are the times we live in.

     

    And here’s the thing: many social networkers (including film directors and movie stars) take these little reviews quite seriously. And this isn’t entirely surprising, these posts can and do affect the fortunes of a film to a significant extent (well, at least in the urban areas). In the olden days, we would pass the word around though direct interactions or phone conversations. I still recall all the excited exchange when Sholay was released, even though I was a bachcha. We would gather around during the school recess to discuss the movie. All this word-of-mouth took time to take effect and that’s why Sholay, which started out rather poorly, took its time to pick up. Social media updates now play the same word-of-mouth role, except that they are lightning fast. Which is why I guess these posts aren’t taken lightly, even if the ‘reviews’ are by cinema amateurs.

     

    And this means no one really reads the newspaper film reviews anymore, or at least many people take very less interest in them. Folks have already discovered what the movie is all about, and there’s nothing more to find out. Which is why I believe the time is up for professional cinema critics. They will sooner or later have to pack up and leave. The only thing that can possibly save this dying species is if they quickly re-invent their craft and find innovative ways to keep the readers engaged. I don’t know what these new tricks can be, but they have to be found. The traditional format of reviewing a film is pretty much finished.

     

    Yet another reason why I so adore the new media. It’s constantly challenging the old world. Innovate. Or perish.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Interesting interview with Golden Globes presenter Ricky Gervais. And all the questions pertain to the man’s views on today’s journalists and the entertainment media. All journos must read this. Chances are very high that Indian celebs think pretty much the same of desi reporters.

     

    Link: http://www.cjr.org/cover_story/questionable_taste.php?page=all

     

     

  • All the excitement in India over Romney versus Obama reminded of that lovely proverb: Begaani Shaadi Mein Abdullah Deewana

    Anil Thakraney: The Obama Drama

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Some observations on the media coverage of the US Prez elections, and a couple of notes on the politics of it.

     

    Obamaji’s biggest strength is his public speaking skill, his charisma on stage. This not only keeps the Americans enthralled, it must have prompted many to press the button on his name inside the polling booth. Wish Maun Maun Singh had a millionth of the guy’s charisma, we might have tolerated the assorted political scams with a slightly cooler head.

     

    I watched only NDTV and Times Now for the election coverage. No, I didn’t skip the other channels because I don’t approve of them, it’s just that there’s only that much I can handle on an election that doesn’t affect my life even remotely. In fact, all the excitement in India over Romney versus Obama reminded of that lovely proverb: Begaani Shaadi Mein Abdullah Deewana.

     

    Abdullah reminds me of J&K CM Omar Abdullah analyzing the elections for us on NDTV. Bichare se Kashmir sambhalta nahin, and he’s got the gall to discuss American politics.

     

    Watching Dr Prannoy Roy on air is always a delight. Not just for the sense of proportion he brings to the table, but because of his innate calmness and neutrality. Really wish his protégées (including those who’ve left him), learn something in television journalism from the man. As for NDTV’s coverage itself, it got a trifle boring as they went too deep into the US micro politics. Dr Roy can’t help it, I guess, since he’s a passionate psephologist. But I’m quite certain his audiences felt a tad restless.

     

    Arnab Goswami, on the other hand, had the right idea. He chose to focus only on the relevance of the election to the sub-continent (and he kept reminding us of this super cool angle). But then he went ahead and invited the same thakela faces on his show, the same gents who indulge in the usual Indo-Pak tug of war. Therefore this show became dull as well.

     

    I did try out CNN International for a bit, but the reporters appeared too excited and too busy exchanging friendly banter with one other. Never a good idea this, because this mutual bonhomie can, and often does, alienate the viewer.

     

    As for the big picture, sadly, the American politicians are making the same deadly mistake their counterparts make in India. They have totally polarized the nation, and have divided it into different vote bank communities. This lethal strategy will come back to haunt them one day. We Indians know the sort of suffering political fracturing brings to the nation.

     

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    PS: PETA has decided it’s time for real ‘shock and awe’ to make you go vegan. They have used veggies in their latest ad as a phallic symbol, with absolutely absurd results. If this doesn’t prompt all the size-obsessed hunks to opt for sabzi tarkari, nothing will.

     

    Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/stay-firm-and-fresh-peta-_n_2076499.html