Entertainment Escapades
Beauty has many dimensions, but its essence is succinctly captured in the well-honed axiom: “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder”. Random ruminations on this led me to discover that entertainment too lies in what the beholder chooses to perceive. This epiphany, unlike Newton’s, was not triggered by a falling apple; rather, it came as one surfed through a dozen Indian channels looking for that elusive needle in the haystack: news. Surprisingly, not a single news channel seemed to have any news!
What every channel had on-air was some sort of discussion amongst multiple people. Disappointment and dismay that news channels had no news, gave way to curiosity. However, the challenge of deciphering the topic was tougher than solving a five-star Sudoko puzzle. Focussing, instead, on who might win the debate, it seemed the competition was about who is the loudest and most aggressive. Of course, it took only a few viewings to figure out that the winner in each one was the channel anchor.
Soon, one was almost addicted to watching this: not for the content (that was vague, and hardly seemed to matter to any of the participants; in any case, none had any special expertise), but for the sheer entertainment of the screaming, shouting drama that unfolded day after day. In the heyday of educational TV, one of the approaches was “education as entertainment”. Here was “news as entertainment” – except that there was no news, leaving the viewer to savour pure, unadulterated entertainment!
Just as limited-overs cricket – and IPL, in particular – transformed sports into entertainment, Indian news channels have innovatively converted news into entertainment. It is not only the debaters who contribute. “Breaking News” graphics, accompanied by climatic music; second-by-second countdown clocks; breathless anchors; excited on-the-spot reporters – all these add the edge-of-seat drama of a thriller. With such entrainment fare on offer, who wants mere news?
Clearly, the archaic classification of TV channels as GEC (general entertainment), sports, news, etc. is passe. But it is not on television alone that one can unexpectedly find entertainment. Another important business sector is advertising and here, too, a willing beholder can find many interesting – if not entertaining – sidelights. Recently, at least one edition of India’s biggest English-language newspaper carried two full-page ads. On the last page was the legendary Rolex (its Oyster Submarine brand, at “don’t-ask” cost), catering to India’s booming population of billionaires; on the front-page – obviously at a much larger ad rate – was an ad for a broom (yes, jhadoo)! Clearly, as Prof. Prahalad predicted many years ago, there’s a fortune to be made at the bottom of the pyramid.
For those concerned about homogenisation, what better celebration of India’s diversity (let’s call it that, rather than inequity) – and that too through India’s major newspaper! As I imagined the huge queues outside shops to buy the so-visibly advertised broom (would there be a shortage; might it lead to riots?), one wondered how much the footfall increased at Rolex outlets. Meanwhile, conspiracy theorists suggested this was a subliminal effort at influencing voter perception by an aspiring-to-be-national party, whose symbol is the product so prominently featured in the commercial ad. In these days of concern about exchange rates, one wondered about the broom to Rolex rate (would it be a lakh broom per watch?) and would RBI intervention be called for. So much to think about – and unintended entertainment.
Newspaper ads triggered another contrarian thought, related to the debate on freebies. There is criticism that government ads prominently featuring leaders are a form of political promotion paid for from the public exchequer. These are across all media ‒ radio, TV, newspapers, billboards, etc.‒ and large, frequent and expensive. Recently, I saw one edition of a local newspaper carrying three full-page ads and two quarter-page ones, all with prominent photos of the State CM. Only one (of the smaller ads) was apparently inserted and paid for by the party; the others were all government-funded. Many would consider these ads as promoting the CM, who is also a party leader and, hence, a “freebie” for him.
Such promotional ads – lauding the work of the government and the CM/Minister ‒ have now become commonplace across the country. A few weeks ago, in the context of the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, the court directed that the ads must also suitably add the photos of the PM and President to that of the state CM. Apparently, this was in view of the international dimension of this prestigious event. One wishes the court had taken a more radical view: instead of adding more leaders, it might have directed that only photos of India’s top chess wizards (past and present) be featured. What a positive blow for sport it could have been!
Yet, is a public-funded ad with a photo of a political leader a freebie for him/her? By definition, the leader is a well-known public figure with a huge following. Other such personalities (sportspersons, movie stars, celebrities) are paid for the use of their photos in ads. So, maybe the government should pay leaders for use of their photos? The fact that they do this pro bono for public causes like ads promoting government programmes (or celebrating an anniversary, etc.) deserves commendation. Is this too contrarian a viewpoint?
Many a nugget of sweet-and-sad merriment comes from an unexpected source: court pronouncements and the justice system. But, in these days of an extreme reaction to so-easily-hurt sentiments, any comment that may put one in harm’s way is best avoided.
For all those given to pessimism, gloom and despair, the antidote is a new perspective on everything around you. Look, and you will behold hope and entertainment in the most unexpected places. Like beauty – and entertainment – joy, too, lies in the eye of the beholder.
Kiran Karnik loves to think in tongue-in-cheek ways, with no maliciousness or offence intended. At other times, he is a public policy analyst and author. His latest book is Decisive Decade: India 2030 Gazelle or Hippo (Rupa, 2021)
