We are you, Khan
21/08/09 08:30 Filed in: Filmi
! Culture
Ruminations
With a little asking, I agreed to write a more
extended editorial about some of the insights
that are suggested by Shah Rukh Khan's detention
by Customs and Border Patrol in New Jersey.
http://planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id=s082009113752
http://planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id=s082009113752
Kaminey
19/08/09 23:12 Filed in: Filmi
My film review of the new Vishal Bhardwaj film
with Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra.
http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=f081709113129
and Charlie - is he or isn't he gay? Someone out there wants to know.
and is this better or worse than an A Certificate?
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090827/914/ten-puri-seer-demands-ban-on-kaminey.html
http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=f081709113129
and Charlie - is he or isn't he gay? Someone out there wants to know.
and is this better or worse than an A Certificate?
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090827/914/ten-puri-seer-demands-ban-on-kaminey.html
Shah Rukh Khan's airport questioning raises questions
16/08/09 08:31 Filed in: Filmi
Yesterday Shah Rukh Khan was stopped and
secondarily screened at the Newark, NJ airport.
http://in.reuters.com/article/bollywoodNews/idINIndia-41779220090815?feedType=RSS&feedName=bollywoodNews
I'm working under multiple writing deadlines, and don't have a lot of time to comment, so here are just a few thoughts.
It would be hard to buy this kind of publicity for his next film, My Name is Khan, which is about, er, a guy who gets treated unfairly by US Immigration at an airport because his last name is Khan.
Check this report - the assumption is he's already promoting the film, not going for an appearance at another event. I think it's an error (there are a few in here, including SRK's age- go US media!). The film won't be out until Feb 2010 or so. And it doesn't hurt to start raising the profile for the film.
Whether lots of the different American audiences will be much exposed to news of the event is hard to say, partly because they may not be following stories like this, and partly because the story may not get a lot of wide coverage in America. It has been a firestorm among people who do follow Indian film.
I've wondered if the inspiration for the film script came from the news reports from time to time about Indian celebrities and politicians getting stopped as they come through airports. SRK himself has commented on being searched even before this film was announced.
I found this article comparing US and Indian expectations, esp. about the idea of VIP culture, instructive. I've witnessed differential treatment at a lot of the high-ticket (or mixed ticket events I go to that involve Indian celebrities, and had no idea it had been named. I need to look for more info on this, and info about whether it's accurate that US celebrities DON'T get special treatment at security points.)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4897426.cms
I'm also struck by the comparison between Khan and others being quoted as saying they were singled out for their Muslim name, and the story from last week that a lot of the same people were snickering in the press at the charge that Emraan Hashmi didn't get a house because he's Muslim.
http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?663649
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/04/emraan-hashmi-bollywood-s_n_250899.html
Is it possible that the same people who find it totally credible that US officials would discriminate on the basis of religion have a hard time believing it happens in India? Hashmi's case may or may not have legs, and I find the relative disparities in, say, the education levels of Muslims relative to other religions in India troubling. I'm also troubled that profiling happens in US airports, where I think everyone should be treated with respect, and informed about what to expect from the screening process.
on a mildly related note: Zounds! SAAWARIYA on Encore Love cable channel at 8:15 am Sunday, meanwhile GHAJINI on IFC started at 7. Who needs the Indian channels package? Just in time for "Jab Se Tere Naina."
http://in.reuters.com/article/bollywoodNews/idINIndia-41779220090815?feedType=RSS&feedName=bollywoodNews
I'm working under multiple writing deadlines, and don't have a lot of time to comment, so here are just a few thoughts.
It would be hard to buy this kind of publicity for his next film, My Name is Khan, which is about, er, a guy who gets treated unfairly by US Immigration at an airport because his last name is Khan.
Check this report - the assumption is he's already promoting the film, not going for an appearance at another event. I think it's an error (there are a few in here, including SRK's age- go US media!). The film won't be out until Feb 2010 or so. And it doesn't hurt to start raising the profile for the film.
Whether lots of the different American audiences will be much exposed to news of the event is hard to say, partly because they may not be following stories like this, and partly because the story may not get a lot of wide coverage in America. It has been a firestorm among people who do follow Indian film.
I've wondered if the inspiration for the film script came from the news reports from time to time about Indian celebrities and politicians getting stopped as they come through airports. SRK himself has commented on being searched even before this film was announced.
I found this article comparing US and Indian expectations, esp. about the idea of VIP culture, instructive. I've witnessed differential treatment at a lot of the high-ticket (or mixed ticket events I go to that involve Indian celebrities, and had no idea it had been named. I need to look for more info on this, and info about whether it's accurate that US celebrities DON'T get special treatment at security points.)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4897426.cms
I'm also struck by the comparison between Khan and others being quoted as saying they were singled out for their Muslim name, and the story from last week that a lot of the same people were snickering in the press at the charge that Emraan Hashmi didn't get a house because he's Muslim.
http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?663649
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/04/emraan-hashmi-bollywood-s_n_250899.html
Is it possible that the same people who find it totally credible that US officials would discriminate on the basis of religion have a hard time believing it happens in India? Hashmi's case may or may not have legs, and I find the relative disparities in, say, the education levels of Muslims relative to other religions in India troubling. I'm also troubled that profiling happens in US airports, where I think everyone should be treated with respect, and informed about what to expect from the screening process.
on a mildly related note: Zounds! SAAWARIYA on Encore Love cable channel at 8:15 am Sunday, meanwhile GHAJINI on IFC started at 7. Who needs the Indian channels package? Just in time for "Jab Se Tere Naina."