Of the numerous cliches in this brief news story on actress Bipasha Basu, this paragraph alone has four.
'The dusky beauty is enjoying a career high and her personal life is also going great guns as is evident from the Filmfare cover she shot with boyfriend John Abraham where the scorching couple is shown lounging together on a bed.'
Other familiar phrases include 'de-glammed' and the ubiquitous 'Bong Bombshell'. (If there's a single Bengali actress who hasn't been described as such, I'd like to know who she is.)
These phrases are overused to such an extent, they cease to have weight. Even their specific meaning is unclear. What, for example, is a 'scorching couple'? And how would you define a 'career high?' Phrases like this occupy space without saying anything. At the conclusion of such a story you've learnt nothing. So why write this story to begin with?
These phrases are overused to such an extent, they cease to have weight. Even their specific meaning is unclear. What, for example, is a 'scorching couple'? And how would you define a 'career high?' Phrases like this occupy space without saying anything. At the conclusion of such a story you've learnt nothing. So why write this story to begin with?
I'm not sure why Indian film writing has devolved so much in the past few years. Is it a measure of self-protection? Do reporters feel that the only way they can continue having access to film stars is by not offending them, and does this strategy include offering no facts, no critiques, no point of thoughtful discussion?
It's not all bleak though, and in the past few months I've enjoyed and learned from the writing of a friend and former colleague, Rahul Bhatia, who now writes for OPEN magazine. Tell me what you think of the story he wrote on the Saawariya debacle. I enjoyed the narrative style, the simple but precise language, the sense that the reporter was a part of the scenes he was describing, and the frankness of those interviewed.
What are your favourite pieces on Indian film?
6 comments:
Thanks for posting this. The problem here is that the mainstream media considered and treated as an extension of PR machinery for filmmakers and new films, which is beneficial for both the parties. And, most of the journalists/writers consider their job as a stepping stone into the film industry.
I thought the writing was just okay. The opening paragraph, I thought, tried a tad too hard. While trying to create atmosphere, some details were missed out. Like Uday Singh's designation at the time at Sony... just saying he was the "visionary" is not enough. But what I did like was the meat in the piece, the honesty of the quotes. So I liked the article but not particularly the writing.
The movies we make deserve this kind of paid reporting.
http://www.upperstall.com/
Worth a look.
Sonia, what does it say about Indian film writing that the National Award for the same always goes to the one, single book on film that's published that year? Reporters with skill and integrity won't touch Bollywood, so Bollywood stories are left to moochers and hangers on and wannabe scriptwriters.
AJ
Hi sonia, I love your blog- have been following you for a while now.
Did you by any chance work for First City magazine?
Post a Comment