Life of Pie-journey of adventure

The story of Life of a Pie directed by Oscar winning director Aang Lee, revolves around  a young man who survives a disaster at sea  who forms an unexpected bond with another survivor, a ferocious Royal Bengal tiger. Seventeen year old Delhi boy Suraj Sharma  play the lead in the 3-D movie. The cast includes Irrfan Khan (Older Pie), Tabu (Pi’s Mother),Gerard Depardieu (French Man),Shravanthi Sainath (Pi’s girlfriend). Lee got instant recognition after his film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(2000) won Best Foreign Film. His film Brokeback Mountain (2005) won Oscar for best direction. 

For official tralor visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eqYrSeoDDs

Priya Rai follows Sunny’s footstep

The grapevine is that Indian origin adult film actress Priya Anjali Rai is going to appear in Big Boss season 6, the Indian version of Big Brother. Another adult actress Sunny Leon who is now a household name in India after appearing in Big Boss season 5. After that she appeared in Bollywood sex flick Jism 2. She signed a multi film project.

34 year Priya Anjali Rai, a Delhi girl started her carrier as an exotic dancer. Abandoned by her biological parents at birth, she was adopted by an American couple when she was just 2 years old and brought to Minneapolis,Minnesota. In 2007 she entered into the Adult film industry.

Her  adult films including Gardener,Reality Kings, Milfs Like It Big,Tracks a Big Cock, Superstar MILFS, This Ain’t Hawaii Five-O XXX, Justice Youngs Vice City Porn,Real Wife Stories, Big Tits in Sports, Octopussy 3-D: A XXX Parody, Brazzers, Porn Star brides.  Last year, she appeared to the stage for her dance tour in Philadelphia. She is a 2009 AVM award winner for best all girl sex scene in Cheerleaders.

‘Avoid unneeded gory details about the victims’ deaths’

Picture Courtesy: Damian Kettlewell for council in West Vancouver

Currently,I am associated with a small and independent crime and human rights magazine being published from Calcutta.Before writing any story,I try to follow the guidelines provided by the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.

1.  Focus on the person’s life. Find out what made the person special: personality,beliefs, environment (surroundings, hobbies, family and friends), and likes and dislikes. Treat the person’s life as carefully as a photographer does in framing a portrait.

2.  Always be accurate. Check back with the victim or victim’s representative to verify spellings of names, facts and even quotes. The reason: When you first talk to a victim, he or she may be confused or distracted. Double-checking can ensure accuracy. It also may provide you with additional information and quotes that you can use.

 3.  Use pertinent details that help describe victims as they lived or provide images of their lives. Example: “Johnny loved to play the guitar in the evening to entertain his family, but it also helped him escape the stress of his job as a sheriff ’s deputy.”

4.  Avoid unneeded gory details about the victims’ deaths. After the Oklahoma City bombing, certain reporters chose not to reveal that body parts were dangling from the trees near the federal building. Ask yourself whether the images are pertinent or will do unnecessary harm to certain members of your readership or broadcast audience. Also, avoid words and terms such as “closure,” “will rest in peace” or “a shocked community mourns the death.” Use simple and clear words as good writers do for any story.

5.  Use quotes and anecdotes from the victim’s relatives and friends to describe the person’s life. Especially those that tell h ow the person had overcome obstacles. Seek current photos of the victim (but always return them as soon as possible). This way, you know what  the person looked like.

Similarly,when I worked as a TV Journalist,first I tried to build up confidence and then persuade them (read request) to talk on camera.I told them that I have nothing to do with their background but I try to highlight their plight.They trust me and openly told their story in front of camera.

Hard reality

Picture Courtesy:Likeablerodent

In America and other parts of Europe TV stations are using vastly different approaches , but all have the same goal to attract viewers specially younger ones and to shore up the revenues. Generally, those who are not market leaders, try to blend entertainment with news, torn up the news structure. They are experimenting with news because they may have little to lose. But market leaders may alienate traditional viewers if they try to experimenting  with news. But, in Calcutta, different think happens. Market leaders like STAR ANANDA did not think twice whey they decided to experiment with news. They have torn up the format of their 6 PM newscast to make it less formal and more interactive. Here, Anchors roam from their desks on a studio set up to the news room followed by hand held cameras and directly interact with reporters. Despite a regional news channel, STAR ANANDA now ABP Ananda directly telecasts Egypt uprising or important national news or live European football matches with Bengali commentary. That’s remind me the notion that you might be a regional TV station but your outlook should be global.  It may not remain a distant dream when reporters of a local TV stations will cover an International event.
On the other hand, other local media outlets in Calcutta who are not market leaders follow the same time tested news structure.Local media industry both newspapers or news channels try to  overhaul news structure by changing loyalty. Left leaning newspapers or news channels suddenly re-emerged as a Mamata Banarjee ( the chief minister and supremo of the ruling TMC) loyalists only to shore up their revenues by anticipating large advertising after TMC led by Mamata came to power in Bengal.Their efforts may not pay off, but they have the same goal to earn revenues. Journalism is not a mission in Bengal, it is mere a business. But it may not be the winning formula , believes experts. Media bosses would admit that they really do not know how it works.
It seems that TMC adopts the same approach like previous Marxist government. They are promoting and backing local media to create their propaganda machinery. Some so called journalist behave like loyal party workers to appease TMC leadership to secure their future revenues. Surprisingly, several newspapers even refuse to publish reports even if TMC workers are involved in murder or rape cases. We forget that we are not here to merely make a living. Some media bosses may say, we have to evolve and try new things, But, it is the fact that they are facing up to reality.

Autumn Festival

Pictures: Arun Lodh

The four days of Durga Puja (Autumn Festival)  start from today (Oct. 21) the sixth day of the full moon  that follows the Mahalaya and ends up with the Bijaya Dashami. According to Hindu scriptures, Durga is the wife of God Shiva, the Hindu Goddess emerged when evil forces threatened the very existence of the Gods. Durga killed the powerful demon Mahishasur.Durga Puja is celebrated with joy all over India especially West Bengal.People send Durja Puja gifts to dear ones and express good wishes to them.

The Dhaki (drummer) held the dhak (drum) on his shoulder and is beaten with two sticks.The 10 handed Goddess Durga made up of clay is on top of a lion.Her hands carry different weapons in them except two which holds the spear which has been struck into the chest of Mahishasura(demon).The four children are accompanying Durga-Laxmi,the goddess of wealth,Saraswati,the Goddess of knowledge,kartik,the god of warship and Ganesha,the elephant faced god representing everything that is good.

Last day of the immersion of the Goddess Durga is called Bijaya Dashami.  Married women smear one another with sindur (vermillion) and pray for long and happy married lives. They bid Mother Goddess with with tearful eyes and heavy heart.

Create your own identity

I do believe that a good journalist is always a learner. When a small publication approached me to edit  a Bengali monthly true crime and Human Rights magazine, I had taken the advice of eminent media watchers. They send me feed backs after studying the segment. They advised me that since yours is a small size magazine, publishing on a shoe-string budget, you can not compete with market leaders. So, create your own identity and tap the market in semi urban and rural areas, concentrate more on informative news like self-employment & loan scheme for women, articles which glorify women rather than photographs of semi nude models. I always try to torn up the existing structure. You may criticize or appreciate my work but you can not ignore me.

In Calcutta most of us (small newspapers and magazines) have the tendency to copy articles from old newspapers or magazines or from the Internet. Follow the Public Interest Journalism. In Calcutta, we always compare with others. Some one edit a magazine so I also should have one. But we don’t have any proper planning to run a magazine. We want to follow the same tested structure.But we should remember that new entrant or those who are not market leaders must experiment with news or story structure because they have nothing to loose.

Galary politics !

Pic Courtesy: Petr Kratochvil

Mamata Banarjee, the chief minister of Bengal and supremo of Trinamool Congress (TMC), the breakaway fraction of Indian National congress (INC) withdrew support from United progressive Alliance (UPA)led by INC over various issues like Foreign Direct investment (FDI) in retail. Earlier, UPA 2 in Center had assured Mamata Banarjee, most important ally of UPA 2 that they change their that the decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) by multi-brand supermarket chains had been “suspended”. But suddenly they change their decision to speed up th. Single-brand retailers such as Nike,Reebok can own a 51% stake in their Indian outlets. Multi-brand retailers can open wholesale warehouses, as long as they do not sell directly to consumers.Government’s decision to allow FDI in Retail business fiercely opposed by the millions of small retail shop owners and people associate with the business like middle men. Political parties also fear that they may loose their crucial vote banks.

On the other hand,experts believe that big investment by giant supermarket chains may be the best way to to keep food fresh from the farmer’s field to Consumers. It also cut the terrible waste of food caused by the absence of such facilities.According to one estimate,Chain stores account for only 7% of India’s $435 billion retailing business.The most successful retail chain founded by Kishore Biyani Big Bazaar has 30,000 employees and stores in 73 cities across India.

Unethical

According to media reports, a news channel of America, Fox News has apologized after telecasting live feed  of a man shooting himself and collapsed, chased by police car in Phonex,Arizona. Generally, in these situation TV stations delay live telecast for a few seconds to cut away from violent footage which could effect viewers sensibility.

Pic Courtesy: Fox News

But in this case, the TV station failed to delay the helicopter feed (the station helicopter followed the car chasing and filmed it).
Few years ago, a mob tied a truck driver to a tree,doused him with kerosene and set him on fire after a 12 year old boy was run over in Burnpur,near Asansol,nearly 150 km away from Calcutta, the state capital of West Bengal. Local TV channels beamed closeups of  this horrific incident live while the truck driver Abodh Kumar Singh was in flames and screaming for help.Many viewers questioned the ethical value of this coverage.
For every live broadcast, every TV station should follow the guideline provided by the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) like:

• Beyond competitive factors, what are your motivations for going live? Why do your viewers need to know about this story before journalists have the opportunity to filter the information off the air? …

• Are you prepared to air the worst possible outcome that could result from this unfolding story? (such as, a person killing himself or someone during live coverage.) What outcomes are you not willing to air? Why? …..

• How does the journalist know that the information they have is true? How many sources have confirmed the information? ……

• What are the consequences, short-term and long-term, of going on the air with the information? ….

• ………….How can the journalist raise viewer awareness of a significant event while minimizing unnecessary hype and fear? Who in your newsroom is responsible for monitoring the tone of what is being broadcast?

• What electronic safety net such as a tape and signal delay has your station considered that could minimize harm and could give your station time to dump out of live coverage if the situation turns graphic, violent or compromises the safety of others?

• How clearly does the technical crew at your TV station understand the newsroom’s standard for graphic content? How well are guidelines understood by directors, tape editors, live shot techs, photojournalists, pilots or engineers who might have to make an editorial call when the news director or other formal decision-maker is not available?

• What factor does the time of day play in your decision to cover a breaking event? …………….

For RTNDA link please visit:http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/guidelines-for-live-coverage159.php

Similarly pictures of the charred body of 18-year-old Tapasi, a daughter of a farmer at Singur, 40 km away from Calcutta who was in the forefront of the agitation of the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee (save farm land movement) backed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after forceful land acquisition for the Tata Motors small car project published by major newspapers of West Bengal ignoring the ethics of journalism.

Rediscover forgotten heroes

It was somewhere in the middle of the movie ‘Khelein Hum Je Jaan Se’ which released last year (2011), when a bunch of revolutionaries attacked British installations, I glanced over at my wife, who had a proud smile on her face. In fact, the film brought back our patriotism. Based on journalist Manini Chatterjee’s book Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34, the film ‘Khelein Hum Je Jaan Se’ (We played very hard) directed by Ashutosh Gowariker revolves around Surjya Sen, a school teacher of Chittagong, then a district of undivided Bengal (now in Bangladesh) who was the leader of the team of 64 revolutionaries and the mastermind of the April 18,1930 Chittagong uprising. The team included fearless young lady Kalpana Dutta (played by Deepika Padukene), Pritilata Waddedwr (vishakha Singh), Nirmal Sen ( Sikender Kher), Ganesh Ghosh (Samrat Mukherjee), Anant Singh (Mahinder Singh), Ambika Chakraborty (Shreyas Pandit), Loknath Bal (Feroze Wahid Khan).These men and kids sacrificed their lives for the sake of the Mother India. But, these important event wiped out from the history for ever.On that day these bunch of Young men and kids divided into smaller groups and simultaneously attacked important British installations like British armory, post & Telegraph office, railway station,European Club of Chittagong. According to critics, it was a wonderful film because it helped us to rediscover forgotten heroes though the film was a box office failure.

Another film based on the 1930 Chittagong Uprising, directed by former NASA scientist Bedabrata Pain which will be release on October 12 focus on a teenage boy Jhinku Roy who took part in the uprising. The  Manoj Bajpayee starer film Chittagong tries to project one of the glorious chapters of India’s freedom struggle in a totally different perspective. As Indians we should promote these films rather than mindless Bollywood flicks like Ek Tha Tiger. 

A film based on real path breaking Investigation

Manu Sharma, son of a politician walked into the Tamarind Court restaurant’s bar in New Delhi on April 29,1999,and demanded a drink.Model Jessica Lall was shot dead for denying him one. It was an open case but three key witnesses Shiv Das, karan Rajput and Shyan Munsi turned hostile.Tehelka’s sting operation reveal that all eyewitnesses had been bought off or threatened (october7,2006). On February 21, 2006, trial court acquits all nine accused due to lack of evidence against them. On October 3, Delhi High Court begins hearing on appeal on a day-to-day basis. On December 18, the court convicted Manu Sharma, Vikas Yadav and Amardeep Singh Gill alias Tony and acquits Aloke Khanna, Vikas Gill, Harvinder Singh Chopra, Raja Chopra, Shyam Sunder Sharma and Yograj Singh. Manu Sharma got life imprisonment. On April 19, 2010,Supreme Court of India  upholds the life term of Manu.Tehelka as an on-line magazine regularly carried out public interest sting operations. The Tehelka editorial team specializes in under cover operation. Bangaru Laxman,president of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) , political leader Jaya Jaitly and a Army General were among several people secretly videotaped by journalists who were posing as representatives of a London based arms company.The tapes were broadcast on television channels in India.They rocked the government and prompted the resignation of then Defence Minister and Laxman.The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) also started a case against Laxman.Tehelka reemerged as a full-fledged print magazine after few years,continues its crusade against corruption in high places.

Twelve years after Jessica Lall was shot in a crowded Delhi bar, last year, a movie called No One Killed Jessica hit Movie theaters.Young director Raj Kumar Gupta’s No One Killed Jessica based on the path braking investigation carried out by Tehelka. His fine detailing and fictional track of an ambitious TV journalist (Rani Mukherjee) made the film interesting. Sabrina (Vidya) is subdued but quietly effective and strong. It  is one of my favorite movies.