I happen to be a regular visitor at the CNN IBN website's blog section. Just about a week ago, I was going through Anuradha Sengupta's latest blog on Sivaji the movie, which she had (well, not-so-aptly) called 'Sivaji! The Boss. of CRAP'.
I suggest that you go through the blog to get a hang of the whole situation. Well, even if you choose not to, here's an excerpt of her views on the movie, which pretty much summarizes it. I quote: "Except for some quirky graphics and some stylish sequences - one song in particular that I am going to refer to as the GORA song - which was crazy, funky and scary, Sivaji was the boss. Of crap. And I am the pig. Who followed the herd." Well, comments to the post said it all. As I remember that day (about five days ago), there were close to 165 people who had voiced their opinion to Anu and Boy! They really had voiced it in print! As an after-effect of the comments, most of which said that Anu does not have the right to post such 'personal' views on a media as big as CNN IBN, she promptly started her own "personal" blog, senguptaspeaks.
This blog happens to have a staggering 1769 comments as of now, probably increasing as I write!
'Thank you Sivaji' and 'Life after Sivaji' were follow-ups on CNN IBN by our dear Anu that you would want to read if you haven't already!
Well, so far was a brief of what happened! My take on this is pretty simple - As a global mass media website, CNN IBN website should have refrained from posting that piece. Now that it has happened, I feel Anuradha has done her bit quite well in starting her own "personal" blog and in strongly emphasizing that it's her personal viewpoint that is highlighted and not a public opinion or a movie review. I feel this was where the whole issue went out of control; the fact that readers sub-consciously linked Anuradha's viewpoint with CNN IBN, which again, I think was not wrong! If you post a blog on CNN IBN, it is taken as an official view, and this being a post about a movie, it came out as an absolute film review than a personal viewpoint! But she was prompt enough to highlight this in her response - 'Thank you Sivaji's, point # 1. (What an end to that post - Anu, the pig with balls - a must read for those who haven't!)
But here's what I have to say to Anu - I completely and very strongly reject your use of the word 'crap' on a public forum like the CNN IBN. Even if it was, as you say, your personal viewpoint, I do not appreciate your usage of words like 'crap' and 'The pig that followed the herd'. Such lingos may qualify for usage on your personal page, but certainly not on a CNN IBN page, immaterial of what! I think that was devastating for the fan following out there! I feel that as long as folks enjoy the movie, it's a hit, and there are no second thought about it being good as well! Immaterial of its content, of how much 'crap' it has and how much of 'shit' it contains! As long as the 'pig follows the herd', I think the movie has made a mark! And in this case, I feel that Sivaji has done wonders! And I'm sure the fan following grows as we speak.
For a fact, I am a huge fan of Amitabh Bachchan but I don't really appreciate / support any form of comparison between the two biggies - the 'Big B' with the 'Boss'. I myself haven't seen the movie, but looking at the reviews and the responses to Anuradha's post here makes me believe that Rajni is no less than Amitabh for me - both are the 'baaps' of all actors.
Come on, Anu - how can you call him or the movie 'crap'! If Rajni is crap because of the many 'unrealistic' acts of his, then I have a few thoughts in mind:
1. Superman is crap as well: How the hell can a man fly!!!
2. Spiderman is crap too: How on earth can a man throw a flurry of cob-webs from his fists!
3. What about our very own Harry Potter: Is it realistic for someone to fly on a broom? Is all this wizard-thingy not crap? - This one can still be exempted, as it's a wizard, and is meant to be unnatural!
4. Isn't the Matrix fame Neo - 'The one' crap too then?
For someone of the stature of Anuradha Sengupta to have opined on a public media channel was, at best immature, I feel! Should I call that a hunt for publicity? I reiterate that as a personal view, she is dead right; she has the right to express anything she wants to, but all that on CNN IBN? - A big NO-NO.
Coming back to the comparison factor, I have here for you a few facts that I could manage on a little bit of a research on the internet, “If I am King, Amitabh is the emperor” were the famous words from the South Indian superstar himself. Now how humble can one get! After a petty comparison by one TV channel, Rajnikant revealed in public that he happens to be a dedicated fan of the Banarasi Babu and that never in his dreams can he appreciate even the slightest of comparisons being made!
I personally don't feel there is a need to bring out the statistics for either of the two. They have been Bollywood demigods for me and many all along. But since a comparison is the order of the day, for the benefit of the readers, lets indulge into some of it! ;)
After all, what is it that makes an actor the best in class? Is it his acting? His popularity? His good looks? His height? His voice? His celebrated background? What is it that brings us to a verdict on an actor being the best! This is what makes me think twice when I want to come to a decision on 'Who's the best'!
Rajni and Amitji! Well, is it Rajni? Is it Amitabh? For a few facts on both, attached below is a collated list that I could get to after a little googling and blogging! (I take these as trusted sources, so cannot really question the credibility) Having been an ardent Amitabh fan all my life, statistics like this make me think more than just twice when it comes to a 'Who is the best?' scenario! That question, I guess will remain unanswered for a lifetime.
But at the end of the day, back to where I started, and the whole purpose of this post, I would like to commend and applaud Ms. Anuradha Sengupta for her guts and her style of writing! If you feel for something, go out there and say it! Keeping CNN IBN out of the whole picture, I completely respect Anu's view and at the same time, I add a little fuel to the fire by saying (as a "personal" viewpoint!!!) that I frankly find Rajnikant's character a little 'annoying' at best, but I am silenced by the facts and figures that I myself find hard to believe. I find these figures speaking for themselves. But Anu - not in a lifetime do you owe any apology to the mass for expressing your viewpoint. Just that there could have been a little extra care taken regarding the medium used for the same.
Rajni needs no introduction, nor does Bachchan. Both of them deserve to be there, right at the top and both of them deserve the accolades on their respective crowd-pulling power. Not in the remotest of dreams should we think of comparing the two demigods in their own way. It's like comparing an apple to an orange!
To (B/T)ollywood and all the BOSSES, I doff my hat!
