Showing the middle finger to the tapes

It sure rained in November. On a rainy day, a lot happened: Fate of three chief ministers was decided on one single day in November. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar got a thumping majority surpassing the poll pundits and news channels expectations. Andhra Pradesh too got a new Kiran who readily took oath. Karanataka got Urappa batting for more. While of political developments are taking place that require national attention, we get bogged down by the middle finger of actress Rani Mukherjee and no one was playing the talks of Nira Radia with the likes of Barka Dutt and Vir Sanghvi. Ever wondered why!
Because no one wants to tell the truth, is it? While the real stuff is now slowly coming out in the ‘open’, we are still bothered about the middle finger of Rani in a promo of a movie based on the Jessica Lal murder case. It does not require the actress to show her middle finger to attract your attention but nevertheless it will. The film industry gets its say even when it is extremely hot in Delhi in November.
If you observe last couple of movies that made it big on the block buster chart, biggest hits got massive publicity by stirring controversy - getting huge media attention and ending up running to packed houses , for instance, My Name is Khan or 3 Idiots. Actor Shah Rukh Khan tried the name stunt in the US by deliberately using his family name; drawing suspicion of the immigration officials, who asked him a few extra questions. It made news in India. Next came a bigger publicity stunt – he put Pakistan and cricket together, a perfect recipe for controversy. The actor went on to say that Pakistani members were not bought to play in the IPL. Big deal! For the Shiv Sena, it sure was a big deal. They demonstrated in public. The Sena even threatened cinema owners. Before the release, Khan just went to touch the feet of Mumbai show stopper Bal Thackeray, who objects to anything Pakistani or Muslim. The film was released to a big draw. Khan made over Rs 150 crore for uttering two sentences in the right places.
On the other hands, 3 Idiots was plain simple marketing strategy. Aamir Khan made Rs 300 crore. And now the movie on Jessica is hitting headlines for its provocative trailers. The film industry thrives on creating unnecessary controversies. To make money they will do anything, even if it involves showing the middle finger.
As far as the media is concerned, where the real interesting controversies are brewing, you get silence. The Nira Radia-Barka Dutt-Vir Sanghvi-Rajdeep Sardesai tapes have enough masala but you still not get to watch it.
You are still reading the same newspaper or watching the same channel that carries the middle finger story while the editors make away with driving swanky cars gifted by the power brokers - out right corrupt and shameless guys. There was just banter at the Press Club of India that you have not arrived if you don’t show the middle finger or have your tape on the You Tube.