Mumbai terror brought out the best in media

THE UNPRECEDENTED terror attacks of 26/11 have pointed fingers at the government as well as the media. Mumbai, a city of verve and vivacity, was brought down on its knees on this fateful day. There have been several debates questioning the integrity, professionalism and ethics of the media. Rather than praising the media for its relentless reporting, it was criticised for intruding into official matters, be it the police or the NSG. It was the media itself who provided a larger sense of the happenings inside the Taj Mahal Hotel to a city seething with rage and grief. More than 70 hours of live reporting is definitely not a cake walk. Bloodshed all over, people crying and withering with pain is not an easy sight to see. It requires a lot of courage to record such disturbing footage and control your emotions. Talking on air and suppressing your sentiments is tough. At the time of war, people simply want to know if they are safe. If media gives them this information, it is condemned for doing so. Why is the media hated in such a manner?

Competition might be a reason for media hatred. Gone are the days when, news was available just once in a day. Boom of television news channels has further boomed up competition. Every channel wants to be the first one in the rat race. Media shows what the viewer wants. The media abided by its ethics and acted responsibly in not broadcasting disturbing videos.

Mediapersons were present right at the spot of live firing, doing their job of keeping its audience informed. A single bullet was enough to kill the journalists on duty. After all why should they put their lives at stake? The answer is very simple. They put their lives at stake because they are out on the call of duty. This duty includes informing citizens to stay indoors and making its viewers aware of the situation in their own city.

The area was cordoned off for a couple of hours and never did they dare to take any discrepant step. 26/11 has been a lesson for all, and the media has done a commendable job of reporting and keeping the viewer updated with all the crucial happenings. Criticism develops a change in us and gives us an opportunity to reinvent, but when one is criticised after a virtuous act, it is really saddening. The viewer sitting peacefully at his home has no right to malign the mediapersons. Stepping into the shoes of journalists will make the viewer realise the hurdles faced by people on duty.

Thankyou Santa

As a child I always believed that Santa Claus exists in reality. My faith started fading away slowly, as I started growing up. I was taught that Santa exists only in stories and fairy tales, not in real life. I used to dream of Santa in my dreams, riding his sleigh and fulfilling all the desires and wishes of people. Stories of hanging the stocking on the Christmas tree, so that Santa can drop a gift inside seemed magical and at times whimsical. The question which amused me was the practicality of such a fat man, fitting into the chimney of a house. It seemed to be quite unlikely, but Santa is regarded as the messenger of God, so nothing is impossible for God.

After having grown up with a lot of faith in Santa, it is not viable to take a decision on his existence. Nobody might see Santa in reality, but he does exist among us. He is the one who grants us peace and harmony. Totally selfless, he comes with noble deeds right from the North Pole, traveling far and wide across the globe to grant us our wishes. Bearing the biting cold and crossing all sorts of weather conditions, he knocks on our minds silently. He might not give us grant us with worldly pleasures, but surely gives us happiness that all of us long for. He might not assure us with materialistic comforts but makes sure to take away hatred from the society. He bestows upon us a new year filled with cheer and glee.

Though he is not visible and will never be, he is omnipotent and omnipresent. Santa, if you can read this, then peace is what we all desire. Be it within the country or within every household. This Christmas grant us with eternal peace and strength to face any kind of obstacles coming our way.

Do's and Don'ts of a website

WITH THE advent of information technology, the world appears to be just a click away. With everything available online, it is turning the world into a global village. The process of marketing, initially undertaken by word of mouth underwent a transformation with radio, newspapers and television chipping in as major marketing vehicles. That was not all. Along came the Internet, which ensured the availability of anywhere and anytime information. Internet marketing and consulting services made it possible to access information in an effortless manner.

After having recognised the contribution of information technology, it is time we looked at the Internet as a whole. An attractive website is that which appeals to the eyes of the internet savvy people. Online surfers generally display a short attention span. Therefore website developers must factor in the psyche of the surfers.

The criteria for website development must be defined in such a way that they fulfil the surfer’s needs without causing restlessness in the surfer. The four most important C’s that play a vital role in the development of a good website are: Conciseness, clarity, correctness and colour. In order to be successful in internet marketing, these four C’s should be considered before designing the website. Information technology has rendered the impossible, possible. Goods and services are being marketed to more and more people without any physical barriers cropping up, all thanks to internet marketing and consulting services.

A good website design must catch the attention of the surfer instantly by its simplicity. Viewers must be able to navigate between pages in an easy manner. Never make the surfer click the back button. This annoys the surfer as searching for some other information on the website is not always pleasant. Overloading it with information will annoy the viewers. It should involve a carefully planned procedure and carry the views of experts. Taking advice always helps; so before operationalising your website, always survey the most-visited websites. It can be a formal or an informal process. This keeps you informed of the do’s and don’ts of designing a website.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi: Falls short of expectations

YASH RAJ Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi starring Shahrukh Khan and Anushka Sharma turned out to be a bit cold at the box office. The storyline doesn’t fit the SRK style nor does it have any magnetising effect. It focuses on a very simple lifestyle of Surinder (Shahrukh) who undergoes a 360 degrees change in him, just to win his lady love Taani (Anushka). Surinder doesn’t leave any stone unturned in winning Taani’s never-ending love for him.
The story unfolds when Taani, is about to get married but unfortunately, her groom meets with an accident and passes away. Surinder walks into her life at a time when she is all alone. He gets married to her and respects her decision of not loving him. He tries to find love for himself in every act of hers. Small things like packing his tiffin box or making breakfast for him are seen with overwhelming love and care by Surinder. He realises that Taani wants a real life hero and not a headless chicken. The way he transforms himself from a homely man to a lovesick teenager is definitely laudable. But he could have made her realise that her dream man is her husband himself. Instead of searching for him in Raj, the script could have made her search her hero in Surinder. Slight adjustments in the script would have made it a super hit. It is hard to believe that Taani couldn’t recognise her own husband. Just because Suri had a moustache and Raj did not, is not an excuse for being so ignorant.
Had the story not introduced Raj, the audience would have loved Shahrukh even more in the film. Introduction of Raj made the script very impractical. There are scenes in the film, which have overemphasised the obvious. Like, winning against the Japanese wrestler or winning the dance competition at the end. Such segments in the film make it even more unrealistic.

Films are most of the times thought to be impractical and unfeasible but it is the duty of the scriptwriter to make it believable. Love stories are often said to create minor altercations amongst couples. Looking at them they develop great expectations from their spouses. People look up to those successful on screen love stories and dream of having one just like that. It’s advisable not to go to the movie with high held hopes of a DDLJ or Mohabattein. RNBJ is something which leaves the audience with an incomplete feeling. There is a said-unsaid factor which turns down the viewers.

In a nutshell Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is not a typical Yash Raj movie. Although he has kept it low profile and doesn’t showcase unwanted glamour the movie fails to impress. SRK fans will surely be disappointed as the trailers make you expect a lot from it, but the movie is not capable of fulfilling your expectations.

Politicians - Please mind your Language

Days after terrorist attack in Mumbai, politician’s atrocious comments outraged the masses further. To start with, R.R Patil’s offending remarks, that said, “Such small things happen in big cities” become a rage amongst one and all. To add fuel to fire was Kerala Chief Minister Mr. Achutanadan’s inexcusable comment, “not even a dog would visit Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s house”. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi followed suit to their obnoxious comments by saying, “women wearing lipstick and powder should not criticize politicians”. Television is the most dominant media today and before talking to them, these politicians should at least learn some lessons of mass communication.

The media has always been criticized for twisting the statements and whipping a controversy. It is blamed for making a mountain out of a molehill. But when we see our own so called, “leaders” talking in an insensible manner before the camera while addressing the public, nothing can be more degrading. The politicians should equip themselves with a better tongue. Their vocabulary and manner of speaking should fit the positions they hold. They have no right to offend public sentiments and public sensitivities. Politicians on the other hand take training to convince the public during the time of elections. The way they maintain their calm to grab votes is an unnerving sight to see. Why can’t they maintain the same calm and poise at the time of crisis? It is said that a man’s true colors come out at the time of a disaster. The media has done a commendable job in exposing the true colors of our “leaders”. They are leaders who would join their hands pleading for votes but would not even care to lend a helping hand at the time of need.

So politicians, we do not need your helping hand. The least you can do after everything is over is take some talking lessons and stop fooling yourselves. We are not in a position to expect anything from you, just spare those who have given their lives for our country.