Observations and Imaginations

Colors channel becomes the number one entertainment channel, defeating Starplus and Sony back in the race

noreply@blogger.com (starwin) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Colors channel launched barely a month ago (July 21' 2008) is rapidly growing as a number one entertainment channel, much to the chagrin of entertainment channels like Sony Entertainment Television, Zee Network and Starplus.

Colors Channel is owned by Viacom 18, , joint venture operation in India between Viacom Inc. and Network18 Group. Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd also has channels like MTV India and Nickelodeon (TV Channel for kids). Colors is the first entertainment channel of Viacom 18. The strong point of Colors Channel is its strong promotion and marketing strategy. The very day, it launched it hooke viewers with a great reality game show: Khatron Ke Khiladi. I have personally observed some of my friends and their mothers who were hooked on the Saas-bahu serials switching chanels during the break to check on what stunts the ravishing girls were doing on a particular episode of Khatron Ke Khiladi. The tendency to sneak into Colors Channel gradually developed into a habit for these folks and soon most of them were hooked on to Colors for their daily dose of entertainment in the evening.

Colors Channel is now ruling the time slot between 8 and 1 pm with programs like Balika Vadhu an interesting soap, a mythological show called Shri Krishna which has easily overpowered Starplus' much-hyped Kahanii Hamaare Mahabharat Ki, a drama called Mohe Rang De and the 10-11 super entertainment show in the form of Big Boss Season 2.

What is interesting is the grip that Colors Channel has taken between the 10 pm and 11 pm slot. The adventurous Khatron Ke Khiladi has given way to Big Boss 2, and no one is complain. With Colors Channel seizing TRPs out of the blue, it is really showing its true colors "JAZBAAT KE RANG"

Softball: An Experience to Cherish

noreply@blogger.com (starwin) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:37:00 +0000

"I got interested in softball thanks to a hard nut, my sister". She was a firebrand lady who would always egg me for a game of softball, after I would come from the school. She wanted me to leave the TV for some time and come out to practice for an hour. Just to make her feel good, I would give in. After having my first swing (with the bat, of course) at the age of seven, I became hooked to the game.

I remember being asked by one of my fans, as a child what did I like the most about the softball. I told her batting was the best part because it made me run. I could simply run with the game when I batted! It was just yesterday when I played the game as I perched as a pitcher. Now this is really a tough call because one irresponsible swing from the batter could change the topography of your face and body. Since you are very close to the batter, you have to be careful at every step. Nevertheless it is more thrilling than playing second base, which I am normally at.

I clearly remember my first hit on a competitive arena. I do have a photo of the 'picture-perfect' hit. As I took my stand in the batters' box, I remember the ball, looking as big as a grapefruit coming toward me. I could hear my sister yelling at the top of her voice, in the background, "Focus. Move a little forward."

She had told me that if I did not know where to stand in the batters box, then I am out for sure. I don't know what prompted me go after the ball but as I saw it coming on to me, I knew I had to take my chance. No more did I hear my sister persistent groaning, I just saw the ball in front of my eyes and gave it a sharp whack, as soon as the ball rose an inch off the ground. The hit won me accolades and my sister treated me with a mouthwatering fruit cake.

Now fruit cake is my weakness. I knew that I would get to lay hands on the fruit cake only if I play, and play well. I guess you must be thinking we are quite a sporty family. Yes we are, because my family had this religious fascination for sports like softball and baseball and my sister was a fanatic. But I was an anarchist. I would rather put my dancing shoes and head for the ballet. But then as I said, the swing had me hooked.

India TV reporting crap , the worst trashy news channel

noreply@blogger.com (starwin) — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:59:00 +0000

Want to brainwash or bore people?

Your destination ends at India TV.

India TV is known to resort to trash journalism of the worst kind, that can easily get on your nerves. It takes just one clipping and plays it on for a mind numbing 40 minutes. I once came upon a piece of news where somewhere in Kanyakumari, a car went over two engineers in a busy street. India TV played the same clipping for 40 minutes(the clipping was repeated for 70 times) with the news reader telling the same incident in different ways, till I had to switch off the television in frustration.

India TV takes some video clipping from the internet or Home Videos ,where someone is shown doing an exceptional feat and plays it post prime-time. It talks about how their camera men have managed to take the video. Never before I have seen any channel like this, which harps continuously on its achievements; when it is actually next to none

I had thought about writing this post everytime but deliberately put it off, till I could not do so any longer, especially since I saw something yesterday that gave me the much needed dosage to write this post. IndiaTV newscasters lambasted Shahrukh Khan for being joyous about his victory on the evening when there were blasts in Jaipur. Come on, to air such stuff is sheer stupidity! Shahrukh Khan was positively happy about his match which had nothing do with Jaipur blasts. But the news made it seem as if Shahrukh Khan was the villain of the piece. The news channel made statements against Shahrukh Khan saying that he is busy with fun and games whereas his bretheren is writhing in pain. India TV has to mind its choice of words and needless character assassination which it subjects upon people. Such kind of mud-slinging, mis-reporting and manipulative coverage is totally uncalled for. The appropriate authorities should keep a close on the news channel and monitor the fare that is dished out.

Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (starwin) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:23:00 +0000

I reminisce that time of my life when I waltzed into the sunset holding her hands. This was no ordinary sunset. We looked at the scintillating sea sparkling beyond the far horizons. Nature beckoned me with a glimpse of paradise. The sea was serene and calm, the sky tinted with gold and fiery orange surging contrasting emotions within me. The evening was special and so was she. We knew that what we felt for each other was as smoldering as the yellow sun. I met her angel eyes and they seemed to search for my soul. I gave in to her unspoken words which voiced my desire to be with her forever. What followed were unspoken words, tender caresses, misty eyes and a longing to be inside each other. As we made love, I could hear the distant waves lapping and licking the sides of the shore. Her laughter echoed with the waves as the sun set into the horizon.

Years have passed; we still walk into the sunset. My memories fill a void in my empty heart. So many sunsets have come and gone. But today I feel the evening is special. It is still the same magical sunset after so many years. The sky has the same tint of gold and fiery orange. But the sea is no more silent. It rages; and I can hear the waves echoing her voice. I look beyond and see her figure. I am in the sunset of my youth but she stills looks enticing, alluring and immensely beautiful. She emerges from the ocean; her eyes beckon me from the distant horizons. She comes closer and the beauty of the sunset mingles with her skin making her all the more mystical. She seems to have cast a spell on me and her smile still has that earthly charm. I drop the bottle of wine which had enslaved me for so many years. I walk toward her, unmindful of the sea and hold her hand once again. She invites me to a trip to the distant horizons, asking me to walk in to the sunset one more time. I have never felt at peace before as I see the sun go down with me, feeling the waves lapping and licking at me, taking me deep inside to sleep forever in tranquility.