Rom-coms

• A new form of e-commerce advertisements is prompting viewers to dispose of anything that’s not used anymore on a website without getting into any the murky details of business and enjoy the highest selling price. Selling is possible only when someone buys it. A layman like me can say that… I mean it won’t be taken as an exercise of freedom of speech, if I say so. The question in my mind is: if these websites boast of enabling anyone of selling junk at a fair price, who are the buyers and why aren’t they highlighted in these commercials? Are both the sellers and the buyers at a win-win situation? Who validates the qualities of the products traded? Or you’re not concerned too much about wooing buyers because India has already upgraded itself to a land of obsessed consumers? Empowering a section of the middle class homemakers or employees to take an easy plunge into business with a stroke of a thumb or push of a button – the MBAs or creativity professionals behind this series of ads are actually doing a service to the nation – do they realize that? Mr. Brainman, are you driving the next economic bubble in India - a shift from net buyers toward net sellers?
• “Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies” [Dire Straits]… fasten your seat belt. We are in for a joyride - for the 8^th time… The boss is in the house, once more. This time, the focus is not ONLY on the prize money… come on, it’s not just a lottery for worldly materials … “dil bhi” can be won. I’m so relieved. Let’s take a break from the noisy worlds of singing talents and their hunters,the  attitude generation and corruption cleansers. The all-time greatest showman of Hindi films is back at 71 to play the role of a universal donor to a needy breed, to sign cheques to help a homeless, to bless an orphan, to encourage a dreamer. Once more he will spread the message of compassion and equality, the 2 themes the world has never shied away to ‘super-like’. The farmer of Barabanki sprung back post his struggle with a ‘mangalik’ daughter-in-law with deep, spiritual rituals. Let him enjoy the sun-bath on KBC. It may be his only window to tropical India. Mr. Siddhartha Basu prefers to stay backstage, mine the question banks and tune those to the profiles of each aspirant. Search is on to find ‘qualified’ candidates whose real life stories can bring tears and melt the hearts of millions. For us, watching the show is our only opportunity to be humans, to know about life around us and to end a day with a wholesome family entertainer.