My Saturday Blog: Blurring lines between Anchors and Actors

The line between Anchors and Actors seems to be blurring. Today, Anchors try to act bringing in all the possible melodrama in their prime time debates. Sometimes they are angry, sometimes emotional. But they hardly look closer to reality. The way they break news itself seems to be abysmal.

Actors meanwhile are connecting with their fans, also their potential viewers, on their own. Thanks to the new age marvel called social media. Not just film promotions but a glimpse of their fitness regime, their travel journals, latest project or a funny video message has become the norm.

I had decided to become a Television Anchor by the time I was in my late teens. Though, I had absolutely no idea what the job would be like. I had a photogenic face, good voice and decent knowledge of current affairs.

After my graduation in English Literature, I pursued a diploma in TV Journalism. With no contacts in Media and a lot of confidence in myself, I knocked every media house’s door but couldn’t land a job for me. After five years as a Copy Editor with a news agency and a web portal, I did become an Anchor.

Today, many of my old colleagues have their own YouTube channels. They write blogs, some have even launched their own websites. They are a star in their own might with the number of followers increasing by the day. The advent of social media has certainly changed the meaning of communication.

When it comes to Actors, they are no more dependent on entertainment magazines or TV Channels for marketing themselves. Today, they may not have to call for a press conference for any clarification. A-140-character statement on Twitter is suffice. Though, many recent controversies that began by a tweet ended up with a press conference.

A new era of brand building for Actors has begun which has, in some way, reduced the importance of Electronic Media. Also, because Media-shy Actors find it easy to communicate with their fans through pictures and videos on Instagram. Rather than sitting in front of a fierce journalist and answering questions which eventually go beyond the film concerned. This might not hold true for everyone but Anchors, several times, take the film promotion to a different level. These days, Actors prefer to appear on Reality and Comedy shows for promotion rather than give an exclusive TV interview.

A perfect way, however, would be a round-the-clock promotion on all mediums. Actors today choose their own medium to communicate. Some Actors still find it difficult to handle social media since everything here is LIVE, even the reactions, which can sometimes be very rude.

Most of the 90s Actresses like Pooja Bhatt, Manisha Koirala, Karisma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon and Shilpa Shetty are active on Instagram. Recently, when Katrina made her debut on the photo and video sharing App, she received a warm welcome from the film fraternity. For all those who want to (re)connect with their fans, social media seems to be the quickest and best way.

Why am I being raped every day?

I am ashamed yet again. The ugly debate on BBC airing the short film “India’s Daughter”, and the ban that followed, was not even over that a sick nationalist uploaded a cut-copy-paste video titled “United Kingdom’s  Daughter” as a reply to Leslee Udwin’s documentary on Nirbhaya’s rape .

Only if a film for a film, a rape for a rape, an eye for an eye, could justify the whole situation. Udwin, who herself claims to be a rape victim from Britain, must not have imagined the uproar it has created in the minds of millions of Indians. But some have definitely spoken in support. What renowned Lyricist Javed Akhtar said in Parliament on the issue echoed my thoughts. He said, “What was the need to speak to the convict? We don’t like what he says. He says gandi baat. But I have heard the same baatein in this hall (Parliament). Good that the documentary was made. At least some people must have realised that they think like the rapist.”

You know what it signifies? It means we need to ask ourselves before raising an alarm over foreign filmmakers tarnishing India’s image with portrayal of Indian men as pervert, whether or not what we heard in the film reflects the mentality of a significant number of men in India.

It is difficult to accept but the truth remains that men in large majority still don’t like women being independent financially, sexually or even emotionally. Being a working woman myself, I have seen the misogynist attitude of men in general towards their colleagues. From my first job till today, I have hardly seen any man who considers women capable of being intellectually stronger. Let alone the jokes of unmarried girls taking home fat salaries (as they don’t have financial responsibilities). One of the colleagues had even said, “You don’t need a salary, you stay with parents.” As if women have no right to earn money, no right to do what they like.

This whole episode of #NirbhayaInsulted has disturbed me thoroughly. I have been unable to understand how a film based on an incident that has already taken place, could tarnish India’s image. Though, the ban is understandable as the views of the convict are disconcerting, though not shocking. Even more appalling is the claim by Nirbhaya case’s sole eye witness and victim that the documentary is fake. He had done all sorts of dramatized versions of the deadly night of December 16 with Indian TV channels, yet when Udwin approached him he was not sure of the motive behind the film. (Can you recall his show with Aaj Tak a year after the incident telling the anchor all the same things like which movie they watched, what time they took the auto, etc.)

Udwin, who had appealed to the PM on one of the shows on NDTV to watch the film, has now fled the country on fear of being arrested.

“India’s Daughter” which was supposed to be an awareness campaign to understand rape from a social perspective has been misinterpreted so badly by several men (and women alike) that we have deviated from the actual issue.

I am not bothered about the ban, nor am I advocating the Freedom of Speech here. But I have been saying it for years that men don’t respect women enough. And rape is a serious thing not just in India but worldwide. India’s comparison to any other country be it Britain will not be correct as the social milieu is not the same. Here women are taught to be second class citizens right from the birth. What the Defence Lawyers handling the case have some said in the documentary is just a reflection of many men in power including our revered politicians. If justice is denied or delayed further, this would actually be an insult to every woman who has gone through this ordeal.

Never Let Your Dreams Die

Where have you been the entire year? Asked a fellow blogger. Well, 2012 was a busy yet amazing year. Not only because my elder sister bought a house in Hyderabad but also because I finally got a chance to appear on Television.

Picture Courtesy: Google

Seven years back, when I passed out from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, I had just one dream. I wanted to Anchor Shows on TV. But with time, my passion for the camera slowed down. I tried my luck with All India Radio and managed to present LIVE shows for Yuvavani.

While studying, I read 30-min news bulletins for local channels that appeared on Cable Network between the breaks. Oh! How much we curse those ad breaks watching our favorite movies. Though, my mother religiously watched my bulletins along with me. (Only your Mother can bear your amateur news reading!)  

Many of my old chums recalled at a School Reunion, how proud they felt watching me. It was a strange feeling. My goal was still far away. I tried for a job at Aaj Tak twice but never got a call. My audition tape for the weather Anchor at NDTV (2005) went missing. The India TV security men never let us enter the reception. We were allowed only to drop the resumes in the box created at the entrance (Only to be thrown in the bin, when the box was full). Twice again at BAG Films and no success. And I just can't forget the audition for S1 Tadka (I could have easily won the Out Of Place Award. Why the hell had I gone for this one, I feel now. There were boys and girls who were bothered more about the makeup and clothes, rather than the script).

Last, but not the least. Through a classmate, I got a meeting fixed with someone at Total TV (Delhi's own 24 hours junk News channel). They denied giving even an internship. Anyways, I continued my search that ended at Zee News. I did a 15-day internship with the Programming Desk at the channel.

December, 2005: I got my first job. This was not neither TV nor Radio. I joined as a Trainee Sub-Editor with United News Of India (UNI). This was indeed special. Everything I know about Editing, I learned it here. Then in July, 2007 I moved to Online Media, as this seemed to be the future of Journalism. My dreams of a TV debut started fading. I thought I was best suited for the Internet but then I got a call from Zee News in September, 2010. I gladly accepted the offer. It was when I believed the dust had settled, a miracle occured.

2012: The Year That Was

I anchored my first show on Television on July 24. The feeling can't be expressed in words. Though, the wait was more explicit than the actual moment when I first faced the studio lights.

There Is A Little Me In Every You

This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal and HarperCollins. Please vote : http://www.indiblogger.in/getpublished/idea/515/

Pic Courtesy: weheartit.com

Prerna Anand, a lower middle class girl from Meerut city, wanted to be a Television Anchor ever since she passed her intermediate. Her mother insisted, the world was murky out there. But she just won’t listen. Her father felt, teaching was the best a woman should do after marriage.

Prerna’s dreams got bigger when she met Pratik at her Mass Communication college. She was immensely in love and was clear in her mind to have a life with him. Pratik’s confidence in her and his promises gave wings to her desires. “I have so many contacts. You can get a job any day in Media,” he said. Life would have been perfect had he not disappeared leaving her forsaken on the last day of college. She felt humiliated. Her trust had shaken and so was she from the inside. No one at home wanted her to leave for Delhi, where her destiny awaited. Finally, her best friend Kashish convinced everyone and took her to her mansion in Sundar Nagar. Rounds of interviews and auditions began. Prerna was undoubtedly beautiful and a hard-working fresher. She didn’t get a job for six months. Her father was adamant to call her back to Meerut. “Maine toh pehle hi kaha thha, mere paas faltoo paise nahin tumhare dilli ghoomne ke liye. Chup chaap wapas aa jao,” and he hung up the phone.

Prerna felt isolated. She committed suicide but survived. This infuriated Kashish’s businessman father to issue an order not to allow any friends to stay at their place. She had to move out. She managed to get a PG with Kashish’s support. She cut off from her family. No one came to see her hearing about her suicide. Her mother had only wished she could, as she whispered over the phone.

She was down but not out. She kept looking for jobs. Heartbreak had made her pursue her dreams more passionately. She grew more and more egoistic looking at the world around. When everyone else was busy thinking about themselves, why should she compromise with her dreams?

Some more interviews and then came a job that changed her life forever.

She met Sanjay Jumani, Channel Head, Indian News. He was a through professional. She spent two years at this job. Growing from an intern to a reporter and then finally becoming the face of the channel. Sanjay was fond of her and her hard work. He often gave her gifts in appreciation for her achievements. Prerna had now moved in to a society flat in Greater Kailash. Sanjay had alone decided to get married to Prerna. He thought she was okay with the idea. He came often to pick her up for office. And drop her without fail. Sometimes, he stayed back. Prerna too liked him but had not decided on marriage.

When she declined his proposal, Sanjay couldn’t take it. He pulled her by her hair and shouted, “Why were you feeding on my gifts for two years? If you were not ready to marry me?”

Again, the same ‘me’ had come on her way. Why was every one so bothered about the ‘me’ that they had completely forgotten about the other ‘you’. She disappeared from Sanjay’s life just as Pratik had, without giving him any explanation.

For five years, she remained ardently anti men. But now, the lines between hatred for men and her love for women were blurring. All this had happened because she was finally in love.

When every man in her life, beginning from her Dad, had refused to understand her, she had begun to think about marriage. She had finally met a man who was sensitive and mature. When she expressed her desire to settle down with him, he refused.

Was it because of her family background or her credentials? Had Siddhartha come to know about her past? What deterred him to tie the nuptial knot with her?

When all humans relinquished her, only her pet, Tubelight, stood till the end. May be because only dogs don’t see the “little me in every you.” If you wish to read the full story, please vote http://www.indiblogger.in/getpublished/idea/515/

What Makes This Story ‘Real’ – 

The glamour world is unkind, more so if you are a woman. Millions of small town girls with dreamy eyes come to join the Television industry but are forced to go by the rules. Those who refuse to compromise are either left half-hearted or go through a lot of muck.

Extract - She met all sorts of people at various Production Houses in Delhi. Most of them wanted to offer her a job but with some preconditions. One of them promised her one time payment of Rupees 5,000 for presenting a celeb night at Shimla, provided she had to stay a day extra after the event. Prerna had just faced the harsh realities of the glam world.

End-note: "This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India."