Finally somebody did a story on Amitabh Bachchan's tasteless advertisement endorsing the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. When was Nithari moved off the UP map? He says he endorses UP and not the SP government but that is to completely discount the impression the viewer is left with - an important part of any communication.
Amitabh Bachchan says his decision was based on a Home Ministry report (a Congress document) which shows that the statistics in UP are not that bad and therefore the law and order situation is good. Err.... wasn't it in UP that the police refused to register FIRs of parents whose children had gone missing? Crime simply goes unreported in UPs police records, indeed, in the crime records of every state.
Amitabh Bachan has been placed on a pedestal by millions of people in India. His position and influence are unrivalled but in endorsing the likes of Mulayam Singh Yadav's governance, he seems to vacate that position on the pedestal. Unfortunately, as Outlook's latest survey suggests, we hate our politicians so much, that we will punish anyone who is seen with them.
7 comments:
"And nowhere is there any reference or request to the viewer to vote for the SP" - I suppose that's what subliminal programming is all about. Ya, I hate the ad. Also the CNN-IBN one where they use the national anthem.
http://tony2cool.blogspot.com
Hello,
I wonder how people can so blatantly lie on TV.It is another striking example of politicians(and their endorsers) out to fool people.Such incidents only increase our contempt for politcians(and anyone who backs them).Advertising for UP and not for SP?!Well,Mr.Bachchan should know that Indians are not so foolish and gullible.Such outrageously false advertisements only get on to one's nerves.
Sathej
This is the season of iconoclasm in India - waiting to see what is going to happen to our cricketers after that debacle with the Bangla Desh team
Big B's all time hit song: "Everything I do, I do it for Amar Singh."
I think Amitabh is a man who knows what the country thinks of him and values the accolades and adulation.
I'm quite sure he agreed to do the ad only after he made sure that he was doing the right thing.
I'd give him that much credibility... Or not?
How does it matter?
Hey ToeKnee,
Haven't seen the IBN ad where they use the national anthem. Should look out for it.
yes Sathej - Outrageously untrue.
Hi Raji - I wish the media was restrained about those idiots who burn effigies and tear down cricketers houses. The venerable Hindu put it on the front page.
Kishore - Thats true!
Hanan - It doesn't matter... not to me. Because I won't believe the law and order situation in UP is good even if GOd said it. But its just disappointing to see Mr. Bachchan endorse a fraudulent brand like Mulayam and UP and SP. And the fine distinction he tries to create between UP and SP is lost on the viewer, so I don't buy that.
I wrote about this subject in my blog here, because I found the ad. and it's message wrong. I do believe that media channels (such as NDTV) also need to excercise discretion and not accept ads. which are so politically tinted.
Post a Comment