I was still thinking about the film “KAVAN” the latest Tamil flick starring Vijay Sethupathi. Like most of Sethupathi’s films, this too was a fast paced one. Last year, when I watched Kanche (Telugu) and Visaranai (Tamil), I thought someone should make both the movies in Hindi, though they are not like the regularly dubbed ones because they don’t attract masses. It seems Visaranai is being remade in Hindi/Marathi, but not Kanche.
Today, when I watched it, I realised Kavan would never be remade in Hindi. It would go down into the forgotten annals as many like it have gone, despite being local hits. In fact, no one in the business of Cinema, which is a part of Main Stream Media will not dare make it because the story holds a mirror to how the MSM functions. Some reviewer remarked the director has taken liberties in imagining how low MSM could stoop. But, I think the director imagined how less MSM could stoop and tried to balance the story by playing even the hero part of MSM. Irrespective of differences about director’s liberties with imagination, Kavan would never be remade in Hindi.
Why?
Remember the days when Arun Shourie famously wrote about plans of Dhirubhai Ambani on taking over L&T. It was a private takeover in which no public money was directly involved or lost. Yet, it was a topic of discussion and the man would use his pen with such might that even the mighty Dhirubhai Ambani could not conclude his takeover bid.
Or remember the days when the duo of N Ram and Chitra Subramanian exploded the news of Bofors scam and the rigorous follow up by the media involving many media houses despite business rivalry? It took a decade of sustained and determined effort by the Government to bury the scam.
When Shiela Dixit and Suresh Kalmadi organised Common Wealth games to the satisfaction of all Indians it was considered a good step towards increasing sports administration. Even the Olympics performance proved the point. Yet, when the news of financial irregularities broke, Sheila was defeated by a newcomer – in the name of fight against corruption.
Media has played critical role in exposing the Adarsh scam in Maharashtra. Yediyurappa had to resign due to media pressure in Karnataka. Remember the days when CAG reported about the losses in 2G scam and how Kapil Sibal had to invent Zero Loss theory to counter the attack and reports in the media? Media exposure of coal scam had even resulted in the then Prime Minister being summoned as an accused in related cases. There was not a single party that has not danced to the tunes of media, whenever there was an adverse report against them.
Maybe there is an exception. The only party that had always been in the good books of the media is Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal, who dons various hats from a civil servant to social worker to politician, suiting to his schemes and plans. Riding on the hyper wave generated by Anna Hazare’s crusade for Jan Lokpal, he firmly established himself in Delhi. Now, it is a known fact that Delhi is bigger than a municipality, but not a full-fledged state owing to its prime role of being the national capital.
The image of Anna Hazare coupled with 24×7 coverage could propel Arvind Kejriwal into the seat of power in Delhi. The deeds of Kejriwal were well documented in the 101-page report by the three member committee headed by VK Shunglu. Release of this report was expected to cause a media explosion due to the damning facts in the report, against the current media darling Arvind Kejriwal. What could be noticed after the release of this report in the media? The deafening sound of silence!
There were no analyses in the media, no follow-ups to substantiate the facts documented in the report, no criticism of the man who promised a CLEAN government, a revolution. Like a wet cracker, the response to the report in the media was a whimper.
Whatever "impropriety" The Most Venerable Mr Shunglu may found, taking away AAP's office in midst of a poll campaign is pure vindictiveness
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) April 10, 2017
There were many cases of nepotism. Appointments are made without following proper procedures and people without proper qualifications were provided with a salary they never could have received. In fact, even during Samajwadi rule, some sanctity was at least followed, at least for the sake of propriety of the high offices involved. But, expecting propriety from the guys who cheered on while Gajendra Singh hanged himself, perhaps a bit too much.
The way a starving man stuffs his mouth when presented with a decent dinner, the power greedy government of AAP that took oath in the name of constitution never even respected the gambit and limits of responsibilities and power of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. From the day one, it was on an encroaching spree on the powers of LG, signing orders left and right allocating funds without proper approvals. The climax of such wanton improper allocation of funds is when Kejriwal wanted the GNCT of Delhi to pay the bills of his private lawyer too.
Yet, except the fact reports, the main stream media largely ignored the Shunglu report. Why the media is silent? Are they afraid of taking on Kejriwal as he is yet to pay the bills for the full page advertisements his government ran in many other states? After seeing how he ditched Anna, media may be feeling writing against Kejriwal will result in his not honouring the bills as LG now ordered AAP to foot the bill, while steering clear the government.
Contrary to the expectations, Arvind Kejriwal failed to win Punjab elections. As he wanted to head a state, a real state to taste the power of a real chief minister, his stakes were high in the recently concluded elections. But, he is now entering into the Municipality elections that may perhaps decide his future career prospects. As of now, careers of even his media friends are treading a trajectory similar to his own future. Is one loser supporting another one?
Is the media lenient on Kejriwal so that his image before crucial MCD elections remains intact? Is it not against the principles of journalism to be in alliance with a political party and preventing the truth of his black deeds from reaching the people?
Does the media think people should not make informed decisions? Why Kejriwal is being protected in such blatant pro-bias?
Was it only a reciprocation gesture from the MSM to their messiah, who was supposed to stop Modi’s Juggernaut?
Or, the donors of AAP and investors of MSM are the same and so they are supporting their one venture by the other? If so, is it not really a truly black mark on the journalism that is already being controlled by politicians? Where is the individuality of media, when it comes to exposing Kejriwal? Only media may tell. As Kejriwal’s way of blaming everything on Lieutenant General is now a folklore, may be the media would blame LG even for the wrong doings of Arvind Kejriwal and his coterie of swindlers.
Going back to films, as Arvind too likes to be called Chief Movie-Reviewer of Delhi, I was reminded of Kamal Hasan in “Mayor Saab”? When engineers and officials explain him from how drinking water would flow in and how sewerage flows out, he shuts them by saying “Tell me from where money flows”. I could imagine the scene with Arvind Kejriwal bending over the long mahogany table with Delhi’s map spread on it. Of course, he is surrounded by all famous media personalities. After all, flees surround sugar. Isn’t it?