http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Mon, 21 May 2007 06:09:30 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-195668 hello ' is really good they got married . We are very happy for them. We hope this will be ever lasting. 195668@desicritics.org Mon, 21 May 2007 06:09:30 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-195635 All the best wishes for you guys. 195635@desicritics.org Mon, 21 May 2007 04:35:17 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-194474 Over time there have been many Bollywood stars who have insisted on a private wedding. Most educated Indians are generally understanding about such things. Nonetheless, one cannot eat his cake and have it too. Big B while feigning privacy, apparently hired a zillion PR guys to milk every last drop of mileage out of the Beauty and the Beast wedding. Blinded by what appears to be a "get even" fever, he failed to comprehend that this is a different era, a younger set controls the studio and sets the agenda. His old ways of getting away with atrocities may have been tolerable to the benign older generation, but is not welcome today. With his Machiavellian underhandedness Big B crossed the line of decency, and the film fraternity responded with outrage. Mind you it takes a lot for the industry to lash out at one of its own. If only the legacy of Ash's wedding to Lil C, had been the foul stench of political and business rivalry. Unfortunately we are not that lucky. Amongst the blunders that Big B committed was the cardinal sin of beating up journalists. This will haunt India's image in the international arena for years to come. As if that was not enough, we also have to deal with the problem of Ms. Janavi. It is very likely that Jahnavi is an opportunist, but then Lil C also is a Bachchalan. In the parlance of the lovely Poo of K3G, both of them belong to the minus category from all perspective. Wise people look at Janavi and rightly recognize the covet for 15 minutes of fame, but where does the wisdom disappear when they fail to see back peddling. Could not the attempt now to paint Janavi as a looser be just a cover-up? Remember how Tina Brown was targeted with poison pens and media experts after she exposed the true state of Princess Di's marriage. Thanks to the clever cover-up, everyone then thought that Tina was a looser, out to make a quick buck by writing something sensational. Needless to say, today every word of Ms. Brown's book has been validated. Therefore to not hear Janavi's case and outright condemn her is very sad. I finally understand the meaning to Javed Sahab's "Agle Janam Mohe Bitya Na Ki Jo..." Being just a man I was ignorant of the hurdles that society throws in the path of a typical women. It has now become clear to me that if you are a poor powerless woman in India, you are doomed. Janavi may have been a looser, and perhaps that is why she was short listed by Lil C for some slam bam thank you ma'am. LilC knew that no one will ever believe Janavi because she is a poor, powerless woman in India. I really would like to know 1. Did India make itself proud by withholding compassion for Janavi ? Should not a civil society tolerate nine Janvis so that one innocent woman's honor is protected. 2. Should it be acceptable in India to beat up journalists under some circumstances? My friends on this somber day I wish peace be upon you. I wish you never be mistaken for a journalist at the ceremonial "Beating up of Journalist" at a traditional "Bunt" style wedding. Above all, I wish you never be a poor powerless women in India. 194474@desicritics.org Sat, 19 May 2007 00:08:09 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-178148 Aditi, loved your articles on SAWF :) 178148@desicritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 19:19:59 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-176171 #130 Well a cyber threat from a cyber geek goes a long way ,doesn't it Mr Aaman?It's like the big fat bully in school who threatens to punch your face through the wall if you don't give him your lunch,you don't really have a choice. As regards my poor taste and disregard for social sensibilities maybe you should open your eyes and see who the real culprits are...a tourist who claims to have figured out Indian culture and society,a couple of jews and hindus from the fringe hell-bent on demonising christianity,a group of male chauvinists who claim to be saviours of Indian families and to top it all some crafty hindu superiority theorists who pick and choose stuff to suit their BS and who wont admit it's the mughals and later the white man who saved them from their decadence. Your prejudiced,uninformed and un-original writers don't excite me enough to make me want to stay and also the less said about your censoring skills the better. 176171@desicritics.org Tue, 8 May 2007 03:45:12 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-175284 [EDITED - PERSONAL INFORMATION] 175284@desicritics.org Mon, 7 May 2007 12:16:01 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174793 Hi Chandra: Firstly, thank you so very much for the kind words about my article. It means more than you realize. Secondly, if I was unfair or unduly sarcastic in any way, I apologize. I have written several manuscripts and research grants and absolutely recognize how important references are. While writing this particular post I faced quite a dilemma. In case of interviews with celebrities and other such media events, it is very diificult to pinpoint which one is the original. I have several other references that quote some of the same interviews very differently. I chose to use ones which best suited my take on the media consensus. The entire middle paragraph of your comments asks why I should be appalled and why I consider it an issue: that is where my own opinion came in and like Aaman said we both can agree to disagree....it was when you called me a "liar" after I directed you to an accurate reference, that I actually was slightly offended and very surprised. Lastly, you said "You are obviously a billion times better than me as I only comment, you write." I disagree because if it weren't for commentators like you who had conflicting albeit original ideas to bring to the forum, my articles would've had no feedback and zero impact. Although we've had our disagreements about this post, I appreciate your perspective and respect it. Thank you for a great discussion! 174793@desicritics.org Mon, 7 May 2007 00:19:41 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174776 Urvashi you want me banned because I speak about beastility,so are you planning on razing to the ground the temples that depict such? As regards you Aaman I don't see anything I have typed to cause you to react as you have ,maybe you're upset that time and again I've exposed your star journos as nothing more than copy paste monkeys.Anyway TATA :) 174776@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 22:20:52 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174774 Chandra, that IP comment was not directed at you:) 174774@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 22:08:35 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174753 Aditi The question of referencing is very important in this context. In your case you reference from a 3rd party source while i reference from the ORIGINAL. You have been unable to explain why your quote varies in 'structure' from the original. The fact that you reference from another equally error-filled 'opinion' surprises me. Is your opinion driven by somebody else's personal bias and not facts on the ground? Your explanation of using the word 'being' does not make sense when you read along with two other words used in the same sentence/ para. You said - "I was genuinely appalled" . Now why should you be appalled when Mr Bachchan likes a certain characteristic of Ms. Rai? The word domesticated is probably being used as a rough english equivalent of 'gharelu' (hunch). If an FIL thinks his DIL is gharelu, how does the credibility of the woman come down? (reference to your point about somebody who graced the TIME magazine cover et al). More so because there is nothing else in the interview that suggests anything regressive at all. The crux of the debate here is did he decide or did 'she'. I gather from the interview that it is the mia and biwi who have decided and not Mr and Mrs B. The fact that Mrs B Sr is such an accomplished women on her own should indicate that progressiveness of the B family. You have also not pointed out to the fact that one of Mr. B's excuse (rather lame one) was that the only reason they were avoiding all the media hype was because his mother was seriously unwell. Current Media sentiment: The issue is not about whether you grasp and present the CMS appropriately. It also is not about whether 'you' use 'my' references. It is about accurate representation of facts. By characterizing the original quotes and the variance pointed out by me as 'Chandra's references' you are being unfair. Anyway, as Aaman, suggests, I end here. Nice debate anyway. Thank you. PS: I loved your post about our obsession with fair skinned people and look forward to reading your other posts. You are obviously a billion times better than me as I only comment, you write. It needs a lot of skill/courage to write and then put up with crap that comes afterwards. :-). Thanks rgds Aaman-133: Will have a variable IP for 2 weeks. I am travelling :-). Thanks 174753@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 19:36:06 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174730 Also, I might note that like all websites, your IP addresses are logged, and commenting under multiple IDs is also grounds for banning. 174730@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 15:35:31 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174727 Don't mix up kela and Chandra, they're two quite different blokes. Chandra, for this topic, I suggest you let your view rest - you've made it clear that you disagree with the author - that's your right, and it's hers to opine as she does, let's move on. 174727@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 15:27:43 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174725 @ Kela:- A "social boycott?" Who may I ask do you think you are? Literally nothing but a "lonely banana" crying for some attention. I highly recommend that you apologize to the author and attempt to build up your dignity from ground zero. I am amazed that Aditi has wasted precious time and brain cells to make you understand how illogical your arguments are. You should be careful how you treat others because Karma builds up and you never know when it will come around to haunt you. 174725@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 15:23:12 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174724 Kela, this is definitely not appropriate for a public forum - you display your poor taste and lack of social sensibilities. I've banned your IP before, and would like to ask you to now leave and take a two-week breather - you're welcome to return if you can comment sanely and on-topic, without all your usual stuff. Failing which, you will be consigned to the depths of Internet hell, and your IP ranges reported as spam to your ISP and our AI spam-filters. 174724@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 15:20:05 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174717 Kela:- A boycott from you should be most welcome. I think I speak for a majority when I say that most of your comments are insulting, ill-intentioned and irrational. Perhaps ignoring YOU is in order. I urge the editor of desicritics to have some of kela's comments banned (he speaks of bestiality, faggots and makes other indeccent references without restraint). The only purpose of such comments is to antagonise both the author and other readers. If authors are going to be subjected to such treatment, false / baseless accusations and unwarranted ridicule then perhaps it is time for them to take their writing and opinions elsewhere. Criticism creates room for growth, improvement and expansion and I believe this author has handled severe criticism with patience and grace.However, what is happening here is harrassment. 174717@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 14:48:08 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174695 #120 ...i hope you're joking because that is one preposterous suggestion.If you can't take criticism you have no business writing on a public forum. [EDITED - PROVOCATIVE] 174695@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 13:47:46 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174687 Aditi, I can't believe you have the patience to answer such illogical and absurd arguments posed by Chandra. He believes himself to be right and cannot see beyond his own prejudice as you have described in your new post 'Mirro, Mirror...' Liked that one a lot btw. The entire comment of his where he takes your quotes and then quotes from TOI are essentially the same except maybe the order is different and you didn't mention the questions because for obvious reasons your article is not a report or an interview, it is an opinion. Only he continues to see the bias. I don't and neither do many of us. So the bias or the prejudice is in his head. As you said in your new article "prejudice defies logic" so my suggestion is ignore him, don't answer his questions so sincerely. People who know what "current media sentiment" means will see how credible your article is or your references are. He made that one irrational accusation of you being a liar and now he is just defending it by hook or by crook. 174687@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 13:34:51 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174686 Very good article Aditiya. It puts everything into true perspective about the Abhi-Ash wedding and is very informative. Your views are very intriguing. 174686@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 13:34:18 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174659 Chandra: Since you took the time to do all this, lemme clarify a few points: 1. Observations: The reference you used: Times Of india, I used SAWF News. You aksed me for my reference, I told you. You didn't even bother to confirm it before making petty accusations. As I said earlier "while you may want to put your trust in a particular one I am not required to adhere to it" Conclusion: I am not the one who has changed anything, you have simply used a different reference. 2. Observation: Now, I have never actually had to point out grammar to my readers but there is always a first time so here goes: "Aishwarya being domesticated": as in "Mogambo being bald." meaning the 'being' is a verb that according to the dictionary means: To have or show a specified quality or characteristic. Conclusion: You might have misunderstood it as my insinuating that the Bachchan family is domesticating AR. Read the sentence again. That is not what I say. I say "Of AR being domesticated" (there is no AR being domesticated by anybody...). It is the use of the verb 'to be' in a pasive voice. 3 Further Analysis Question: Chandra, now I have a question for you: Do you know what "current media sentiment" means? Because if you don't then I am fighting a losing battle here. Projected Answer: "Current media sentiment" is usually defined as all opinions presented in various newspapers and other media reports and is not defined as "The one newspaper Chandra decides to use for references". Thanks for taking the trouble. 174659@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 10:59:05 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174652 Feminism and "Husband Burning" take a back seat when desires (sexual, erotic stuff, togetherness) and age take over any unmarried woman. 174652@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 10:38:31 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174612 Aditi quote: (97) "Jaya and I have insisted that Aishwarya must continue with her acting career," he said. "There is no problem or issue with us," Actual Quote from Times of India Would you like Aishwarya to continue with her acting career? AB: Yes, no problem or issue from us. In fact, Jaya and I have insisted on Aishwarya that she must. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1955215,prtpage-1.cms Note: How the first two sentences were interchanged in Aditis version and the interviewer's question was dropped altogether. Question is- Why were the sentences interchanged? Both in Ms Aditi's opinion and the Sawf analysis she refernces? Agenda? Aditi-'opinion' I was genuinely appalled by Mr. Bachchan's declaration of Aishwarya being 'domesticated' Actual quote (3 months before marriage) Asked what it was that impressed him about Rai, AB: "I think she's a lot simpler than what is made out of her. She's a very simple girl, very traditional. She's also very domesticated." To Note: Firstly, Aditi dropped the question itself. The question was what 'impressed' AB about AR. He is not talking about what they have made her or whatever, he was asked to list what he liked and he referred to 3 things. Do you want to blame him for liking her for certain attributes. Second, Aditi says Aishwarya is "being" domesticated whereas AB says she "is" domesticated (3 months before the wedding). Lastly, AB talks about various things he liked about AR, domesticated being one of them. Of course, by adding the word 'being' and dropping the main question, the word domesticated takes an entirely different meaning. Very clever. 174612@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 08:43:28 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174556 I have 12 guys working with me here and we are all huge AR fans. It actually brings us great pain in admitting this but the article is actually quite credible and so is that reference the author provided. The thoughts provided in that article do sum up media sentiment about AR and Bachchans since I saw many articles online with similar quotes. Chandra and Ishan suggested that she has mis-referenced an article. We checked, it is not misreferenced, she is not lying at all. They said she did not answer questions which debated her opinion but we checked and she actually has systematically answered each one of those questions. Aditi, you have the respect of 12 Aishwarya fans. We all think AR is very pretty but you madam are intelligent. No shelf-life for that! 174556@desicritics.org Sun, 6 May 2007 02:02:23 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174541 I AGREE WITH THE EDITOR. AISH HAS REDUCED HERSELF TO A PUPPET AND HAS NOT SPOKEN OUT FOR HERSELF. HOW CAN A WOMAN ATTAIN SUCH FAME AND END UP NOT MAKING HER OWN CHOICES AND BEING INDEPENDENT. OPRAH MADE A MISTAKE HAVING HER ON HER SHOW CUZ THE IMPRESSION I GOT WAS THAT AISH IS A POWERFUL AND INDEPENDENT WOMAN WITH HER OWN VOICE. BUT THAT ALL CHANGED TWO WEEKS AGO. HOW ABOUT THE SEX SCENE IN MISTRESS OF SPICES? THE TRUTH IS THAT SHE IS GETTING OLD AND WANTS TO SETTLE DOWN AND AFTER HAVING BAD LUCK WITH SALMAN KHAN AND VIVEK OBEROI, SHE CAUGHT A YOUNGER MAN WHO HAS ALOT OF WEALTH THRU INHERITANCE FROM HIS FAMOUS MOM AND DAD. IT IS REALLY PATHETIC. SHE WANTS SOMEONE MORE WEALTHIER THEN HER AND MORE FAMOUS SINCE HER PARENTS ARE NOT STARS. 174541@desicritics.org Sat, 5 May 2007 23:38:48 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174474 Thanks Umang! I will definitely give that offer some thought! :) 174474@desicritics.org Sat, 5 May 2007 10:45:03 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/05/01/004305.php#comment-174472 I have a few comments for you. Please forgive me if I am being harsh in anyway. Celebrities have to foresake a significant portion of their personal privacy by virtue of their profession. I agree with you when you say that they can't be choosy about what to subject to public opinion. However, I also believe that the public should be careful about how they project the celebrities. Amitabh Bachchan has had quite a remarkable career. But at his age, he should be enjoying his retirement. He is a living reminder to me that we as humans never know what life has in store for us. One day we could be the most sought out celebrity and the next we could be hated by everyone. If, because someone's opinions a celebrity loses his or her status in life it would be extremely sad. On a more personal note, there are times when my family and friends heavily criticize me in public. I usually take it in good humor but it does have an impact on my morale. Celebrities are human beings too. They are prone to the same insecurities and diseases that the common man is. I know it's a stretch to say that Ash or Amitabh or Abhi would lose status because of one article on desicritic but cumulatively it may impact them and who knows maybe even eventually cause them depression. I agree with you on a lot of points and feel very bad that you had to be subjected to very harsh comments. So I urge you to please be careful. Criticism isn't always healthy when it transcends boundaries that we may not even know exist. BTW are you single? I'm in the pittsburgh area and would love to take you out sometime. I find you to be very sexy. I'm 32,was born in pune and came to the US when I was 10 so I have a lot of American in me! Lemme know if you're interested. I'll send you my contact info and maybe we can talk? take care and good luck! 174472@desicritics.org Sat, 5 May 2007 10:44:17 EDT