Movies and Media

Some of the journalists are raising their concerns against the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India decision to put a month's ban on a TV Channel whose correspondent covered a sting operation. It was alleged that a lady school teacher in Delhi made obscene video clips of their female students. Investigations revealed that school teacher was innocent and video shown on TV Channel was tempered. Who is to be blamed? TV Channel, School teacher, TV correspondent, or ministry??????????

Yellow journalism and moves of media to improve the TRP ratings of the channels using illegal tactics is the theme of new Hindi movie “Showbiz”. Movies like “Page Three” and “Its Breaking News” have attempted in the past to expose media and next in sequence is “Showbiz”. Story of the movie revolves around the singing sensation “Rohan” played by Tushar Jalota, and his beautiful girl friend. Rohan is always followed by the media person to take advantage of his popularity. He is met by an accident when he is traveling in a car accompanied by a call girl/prostitute. Press photographers get indulged in taking photographs of Rohan and Tara (the prostitute) instead of trying to save their life. One photographer tries to take photograph of unconscious girl by unzipping her to make it sensational news. Media telecasts the news that Rohan was traveling with a prostitute and raises several questions about the relationship of Rohan with Tara. This is a music based movie but music of the movie is of average standard. Performances of Mrinalini, Tushar Jalota and Sushant Singh are praiseworthy. Mahesh Bhatt has chosen the theme of film based on a topic that really needs attention of all.

After "Showbiz", next movie on the same theme is "Abhi Abhi". This film is narration of

the story of a youth who has done a course in multi-media and tries to get a job with TV channels but fails to get a secure job. Ultimately a job is offered to him but he is asked to submit a new story on daily basis. He collects stories on social topics but these stories are not acceptable to his boss. Boss asks him to do a sort of sting operation. His girl friend makes a plan and makes a story herself planting spy camera in her apartment and brings few people to her apartment. Story is liked by boy's employer and he succeeds in getting a permanent job.

Several questions arises about the media.

Is media's role justified?

Lots of spying operations, lots of special programs on the eve of special events

Sometimes these sting/spying operations help in checking corruption, TV channels play role of police or investigating agencies and vigilance departments. Sometimes these operations are meant to improve ratings of channels or websites, and sometimes these operations are carried out to take revenge. Sometimes political parties finance these sting operations to malign image of other parties. Therefore, a check is must on these operations. It's better if self - control is exercised by media itself.

Few words on special programs: Almost all TV channels telecast a special program on the eve of a special event. Here the most irritating thing about these programs is comments of channel's correspondent on people participating in these special events. Suppose this special event is related to cricket or any other game, news-person's comments about stalwarts are sometimes very irritating. If a sports person perform well they will equate him with God and if he fails to perform well they will recommend his/her ouster from the game. However, many of these news-persons don't know "ABC" of the game. Who gave them right to criticize a person who has devoted his whole life to that particular game. I am here referring particularly Indian TV channels.

Everything is not bad about TV programs. There are some good programs that create awareness among people and some programs keep check on corruption, cheating and fraud.

I'll appreciate print media here for reporting these special events. There may be rare comments about public figures but I never found offensive remarks about these people by a news correspondent. Some criticisms by experts may be seen when a sportsperson fail to perform well consistently.