We are witnessing the Mother of All Reality Shows.
The Secularists are back with a Bang!!! That too when the opportunity is presented by none other than "King" Khan, how can the "secular" media fritter it away?
The 'incident' that made our secularists go hammer & tong for "individual liberty" is this. Whether it is electronic media or print media or the secular politicians, nobody missed the opportunity to showcase their "secular" credentials for yet another time.
Stopping a tourist for routine checking happens all over the world and it is the prerogative of any country to do the checking/verification/frisking, as it deems fit. The only exception being people who come under diplomatic or protocol immunity - like the Heads of States and Governments.
When it comes to America or other Western nations, they first define the process & make sure there are no exceptions except as aforesaid. In India the situation is entirely different. The only people who are subjected to all checks are the ordinary people, who nevertheless are willing to undergo the same, having been the main victims of terrorism or have seen live acts of terrorism through irresponsible media. But, our security processes or systems have more exceptions to them than what has been prescribed, Yes, many people in politics or adminstration, or close to either of the beasts, though not eligible, get VIP or VVIP treatment, even at the hands of security personnel, which is very bad.
And this kind of VIP treatment is what has cultivated the "Ego-maniacs" like Shah Rukh Khan. SRK, who is used to getting VIP treatment at the hands of Indian security agenices, by being exempted from frisking & other routine security measures, is now "shocked" that he was held up in an American airport for, hold your breadth, "two hours" for questioning. It has subsequently been clarified that out of these "two hours", SRK had to wait "more than an hour" for the arrival of his baggage.
Though "secular media" and "secular politicians" are happy to jump to the "rescue" of SR "Khan" so that they can get super TRP ratings as well as get into public limelight, there are so many other people like this man, who are also in public limelight and who also undergo such routine check-ups at airports all across the world but they have never made any fuss about these things, which are happening routinely.
So, why is all this fuss created now by SRK for a routine check-up? Knowing all these Bollywooders, they generally don't miss an opportunity to promote their movies. Do you remember how BCCI reacted angrily to SRK appearing at a cricket stadium when an ODI or T20 match was being played a couple of years back, just because it happened to be held on the eve of a SRK movie's release? SRK also unabshedly used that opportunity of live TV coverage and the crowd's excitement whenever his face was shown on the stadium's big screen.
Could it be for a similar reason why SRK is now "playing up" his "detention"(?) at an American airport, alleging that the detention is due to his surname ending with "Khan". I have very strong suspicion that SRK, the businessman, is at play here. Obviously, SRK might not have expected that he will be detained in an American airport like this since he must be a frequent traveller & also a famous Bollywood icon, known well internationally in recent years. In fact, he even recently attended a shooting of his "movie-under-production" in different US cities. But, having been detained unexpectedly, the businessman in SRK, must have found it "an opportunity not to be lost foolishly".
So, the actor-cum-producer SRK, utilised his detention and the consequent media attention & public reaction to the hilt & started playing up the "Khan" part more and more. Though the US Immigration officials have swiftly denied that criticism and said it is a routine check-up done for every tourist to the country, neither the media nor SRK are willing to let go the opportunity, it seems.
Media, particularly of the "secular" variety, in India, has been starved of a "Muslim victim" at the hands of the "Imperialist" Americans, for a long long time. Particularly after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks of last year, the 'media shenanigans' have acquired a public despise to such levels that the "secular media" was in hiding & was afraid to come out so openly and blatantly, lest they will be mistaken by the public to be abetting Pakistan's objectives. Even though a recent news came out & rocked the Indian Parliament that India's Former President and a Decent Human Being, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, was frisked by an American Airline in contravention of Diplomatic Protocol for which the airline duly apologised, the "secular media" could do nothing - yes they simply could not whip up anti-Muslim fervour like they are doing now - since Dr. Kalam, DIDN'T MAKE ANY FUSS ABOUT THE INCIDENT, neither when it happened a few months before nor when the matter came out in public now. A truely decent human being that he is, Dr. Kalam, took this matter in his stride and EVEN SUBJECTED HIMSELF TO THE FRISKING BUT NEVER MADE ANY FUSS ABOUT IT. So, he did not give our "secular media" any opportunity to play their favourite game.
Compare the behaviour of Dr. Kalam, who has the Diplomatic Right NOT TO BE FRISKED but subjected himself voluntarily without any fuss when he was asked to be frisked by an American airline with that of an "Ego-manical Bollywood actor" SRK, who DOES NOT ENJOY ANY DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY LIKE DR. KALAM, and hence had to undergo check-ups like any other ordinary citizens, IS MAKING A BIG HUGH & CRY ABOUT IT now & all our "secular media" has news only about it for the last two days.
Many people may not know what is the reason for SRK to rake up the issue like this, when he must be aware that, though he is a known and popular international figure he is not immune from any checking at immigration. But, like I suspect, general public will also start seeing through the game SRK, with the help of secular media, is playing now, once they realise one simple matter. That is, the name of the "film-under-production" in which SRK is acting & also co-producing along with famous director Karan Johar. The name of the movie-in-the-making is "My Name is Khan".
"My Name is Khan" (MNIK), I hear, is not the usual KJ type Punjabi "love-family melodrama-marriage-happy ending" movie. As the name suggests, the protagonist of MNIK is an Indian Muslim whose name ends with "Khan' and who suffers from a type of autism. The story happens in America. Because of his name & his inability to talk freely due to his neuro-disease, "Khan" gets into trouble & detained by authorities on "suspicion". Yes, the story, more or less, goes like the "actual" SRK-related story now coming out from America in the last two days.
So, now do you understand the "background" of this whole episode? With the help of media frenzy, SRK & KJ will be attempting to make a "financial killing" in USA & other Western markets through MNIK. There are huge NRIs and many non-NRIS, who will also be curious to know about this Indian actor, when MNIK is released by the end of the year or early next year now that SRK has become even more "famous'" with this episode. Now, all of us can look out for many more hours of sound-bytes from SRK, KJ and all Bollywooders worth their name, on this "SRK Detention" episode on our "secular media", to help promote SRK's next movie "My Name is Khan". What shameless creatures & cut-throat businessmen these sharks are? By whipping up anti-American fashion under the guise of a supposedly "anti-Muslim Americans " because his name ends with the name "Khan", which incidentally is also the theme of his forthcoming film, the businessman in SRK, has taken over the discourse.
Come on, India & NRIs, go ahead & get drenched in SRK-whipped "anti-American" frency & shell out dollars & rupees to watch his forthcoming "MNIK", which is now assured of atleast becoming a hit, if not a Super Hit, thanks to an innocuous American Immigration Officer, doing his routine duty of checking a tourist. For all you & I know, that American Immigration officer, may soon be getting a "bouquet" from an "unexpected" friend for the immense help & promotion he has done, albeit unknowingly.
The 'incident' that made our secularists go hammer & tong for "individual liberty" is this. Whether it is electronic media or print media or the secular politicians, nobody missed the opportunity to showcase their "secular" credentials for yet another time.
Stopping a tourist for routine checking happens all over the world and it is the prerogative of any country to do the checking/verification/frisking, as it deems fit. The only exception being people who come under diplomatic or protocol immunity - like the Heads of States and Governments.
When it comes to America or other Western nations, they first define the process & make sure there are no exceptions except as aforesaid. In India the situation is entirely different. The only people who are subjected to all checks are the ordinary people, who nevertheless are willing to undergo the same, having been the main victims of terrorism or have seen live acts of terrorism through irresponsible media. But, our security processes or systems have more exceptions to them than what has been prescribed, Yes, many people in politics or adminstration, or close to either of the beasts, though not eligible, get VIP or VVIP treatment, even at the hands of security personnel, which is very bad.
And this kind of VIP treatment is what has cultivated the "Ego-maniacs" like Shah Rukh Khan. SRK, who is used to getting VIP treatment at the hands of Indian security agenices, by being exempted from frisking & other routine security measures, is now "shocked" that he was held up in an American airport for, hold your breadth, "two hours" for questioning. It has subsequently been clarified that out of these "two hours", SRK had to wait "more than an hour" for the arrival of his baggage.
Though "secular media" and "secular politicians" are happy to jump to the "rescue" of SR "Khan" so that they can get super TRP ratings as well as get into public limelight, there are so many other people like this man, who are also in public limelight and who also undergo such routine check-ups at airports all across the world but they have never made any fuss about these things, which are happening routinely.
So, why is all this fuss created now by SRK for a routine check-up? Knowing all these Bollywooders, they generally don't miss an opportunity to promote their movies. Do you remember how BCCI reacted angrily to SRK appearing at a cricket stadium when an ODI or T20 match was being played a couple of years back, just because it happened to be held on the eve of a SRK movie's release? SRK also unabshedly used that opportunity of live TV coverage and the crowd's excitement whenever his face was shown on the stadium's big screen.
Could it be for a similar reason why SRK is now "playing up" his "detention"(?) at an American airport, alleging that the detention is due to his surname ending with "Khan". I have very strong suspicion that SRK, the businessman, is at play here. Obviously, SRK might not have expected that he will be detained in an American airport like this since he must be a frequent traveller & also a famous Bollywood icon, known well internationally in recent years. In fact, he even recently attended a shooting of his "movie-under-production" in different US cities. But, having been detained unexpectedly, the businessman in SRK, must have found it "an opportunity not to be lost foolishly".
So, the actor-cum-producer SRK, utilised his detention and the consequent media attention & public reaction to the hilt & started playing up the "Khan" part more and more. Though the US Immigration officials have swiftly denied that criticism and said it is a routine check-up done for every tourist to the country, neither the media nor SRK are willing to let go the opportunity, it seems.
Media, particularly of the "secular" variety, in India, has been starved of a "Muslim victim" at the hands of the "Imperialist" Americans, for a long long time. Particularly after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks of last year, the 'media shenanigans' have acquired a public despise to such levels that the "secular media" was in hiding & was afraid to come out so openly and blatantly, lest they will be mistaken by the public to be abetting Pakistan's objectives. Even though a recent news came out & rocked the Indian Parliament that India's Former President and a Decent Human Being, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, was frisked by an American Airline in contravention of Diplomatic Protocol for which the airline duly apologised, the "secular media" could do nothing - yes they simply could not whip up anti-Muslim fervour like they are doing now - since Dr. Kalam, DIDN'T MAKE ANY FUSS ABOUT THE INCIDENT, neither when it happened a few months before nor when the matter came out in public now. A truely decent human being that he is, Dr. Kalam, took this matter in his stride and EVEN SUBJECTED HIMSELF TO THE FRISKING BUT NEVER MADE ANY FUSS ABOUT IT. So, he did not give our "secular media" any opportunity to play their favourite game.
Compare the behaviour of Dr. Kalam, who has the Diplomatic Right NOT TO BE FRISKED but subjected himself voluntarily without any fuss when he was asked to be frisked by an American airline with that of an "Ego-manical Bollywood actor" SRK, who DOES NOT ENJOY ANY DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY LIKE DR. KALAM, and hence had to undergo check-ups like any other ordinary citizens, IS MAKING A BIG HUGH & CRY ABOUT IT now & all our "secular media" has news only about it for the last two days.
Many people may not know what is the reason for SRK to rake up the issue like this, when he must be aware that, though he is a known and popular international figure he is not immune from any checking at immigration. But, like I suspect, general public will also start seeing through the game SRK, with the help of secular media, is playing now, once they realise one simple matter. That is, the name of the "film-under-production" in which SRK is acting & also co-producing along with famous director Karan Johar. The name of the movie-in-the-making is "My Name is Khan".
"My Name is Khan" (MNIK), I hear, is not the usual KJ type Punjabi "love-family melodrama-marriage-happy ending" movie. As the name suggests, the protagonist of MNIK is an Indian Muslim whose name ends with "Khan' and who suffers from a type of autism. The story happens in America. Because of his name & his inability to talk freely due to his neuro-disease, "Khan" gets into trouble & detained by authorities on "suspicion". Yes, the story, more or less, goes like the "actual" SRK-related story now coming out from America in the last two days.
So, now do you understand the "background" of this whole episode? With the help of media frenzy, SRK & KJ will be attempting to make a "financial killing" in USA & other Western markets through MNIK. There are huge NRIs and many non-NRIS, who will also be curious to know about this Indian actor, when MNIK is released by the end of the year or early next year now that SRK has become even more "famous'" with this episode. Now, all of us can look out for many more hours of sound-bytes from SRK, KJ and all Bollywooders worth their name, on this "SRK Detention" episode on our "secular media", to help promote SRK's next movie "My Name is Khan". What shameless creatures & cut-throat businessmen these sharks are? By whipping up anti-American fashion under the guise of a supposedly "anti-Muslim Americans " because his name ends with the name "Khan", which incidentally is also the theme of his forthcoming film, the businessman in SRK, has taken over the discourse.
Come on, India & NRIs, go ahead & get drenched in SRK-whipped "anti-American" frency & shell out dollars & rupees to watch his forthcoming "MNIK", which is now assured of atleast becoming a hit, if not a Super Hit, thanks to an innocuous American Immigration Officer, doing his routine duty of checking a tourist. For all you & I know, that American Immigration officer, may soon be getting a "bouquet" from an "unexpected" friend for the immense help & promotion he has done, albeit unknowingly.
15 comments:
Well the media going out hammer and tongs about this issue is a very bad thing. They just want to sensationalize anything to everything.
For that sake, even Mr. Azim Premji was detained in an Airport for more than an hour. Nobody bothered to know, what had happened. What a sad thing :(
Frisking a passenger is onething and detaining him for more than 2 hours is another issue. Not sure, what made the Airport Authorities to detain him. But the Americans, in the name of protecting their country are crossing the limits.
Bradd Pitt and Angelina Jolie were in India to shoot a movie. Had they been detained in an Airport, do you think the CNNs and the NBC's would just ignore this.
I still consider that there are more IDIOTS in USA than in the rest of the world.
Arun ji
பிடியுங்கள் இந்த பூங்கொத்தை....
தங்கள் எழுத்து நாளுக்கு நாள் வெகுவாக மெருகேறி கொண்டே வருகிறது...
ஷாருக் கான் புகழுக்கும், பணத்திற்கும் அடிமையானவர் தான்... அதில் மாற்று கருத்து இல்லை.... இல்லையென்றால், அவர் ஏன், கொல்கத்தா கிரிக்கெட் டீமை ஏலம் எடுக்க வேண்டும்.... (அவ்வளவு பணம் கொடுத்து!!)...
இது எனக்கு ஒரு பழைய சம்பவத்தை நினைவுபடுத்துகிறது....
உழைப்பாளி ஷூட்டிங்கின் போது, ரஜினிக்கு ரூம் ரிசர்வேஷன் செய்வதில் ஏற்பட்ட குழப்பத்தில், மதியம் அவர் செக்-இன் செய்ய வந்தபோது, ரிசர்வேஷன் இல்லை என்று கூறி, ரூம் தர மறுத்தார்கள்... இது நடந்தது பெங்களூரில்.....
உடனே, ரஜினி சென்று அவரின் காரில் போய் படுத்து தூங்கி விட்டார்.... சாயந்திரம் பி.வாசு உள்ளிட்ட பிறர் வந்த போது, இதே ரிசர்வேஷன் குளறுபடி விஷயத்தை சொல்லி, ஹோட்டல் நிர்வாகம் ரூம் தர மறுத்த போது, அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த பி.வாசு...ரஜினி எங்கே என்று அவரிடம் கேட்டதற்கு, அவர், ஹோட்டல் கார் பார்கிங்கில் காரிலேயே இருக்கிறார் என்று சொல்லி இருக்கிறார்....
பதறி அடித்து வந்த அவர், ரஜினியை அழைத்து வந்து, அந்த ஹோட்டல் ஊழியரிடம் சண்டை போட்டிருக்கிறார்.... இவர் எவ்வளவு பெரிய ஆள்... இவரை போய், இப்படி அவமதித்து விட்டீர்களே என்று... அதற்கு ரஜினி, வாசு சார், நாம யாருன்னு நாமலே சொல்ல கூடாது, மத்தவங்கதான் சொல்லணும்.... ரிசர்வேஷன் பண்ணாதது நம்ம தப்பு... அதுக்கு அவர ஏன், திட்டறீங்க.....
இதுதான் தலைவர் ஸ்டைல்.....இதை அனைவரிடம் எதிர்பார்க்க முடியுமா?
Srikumar said---
The whole hype on SRK being frisked is nauseating. It is just plain nonsense. Please go through a piece in www.politicsparty.com on this subject.
the above mentioned is absolutely right...
even i thought the same...
i firmly beleive he is a pakka businessman rather than a actor...
thalaivar is grt..... one and only living god.......
Dear Arunji,
We indians have a inflated ego and when its pricked we jump up and down. the American officer should be given a promotion.
Take the case of our PM who says 'India can be attacked by groups from PAk."
What is this nonsense have we elected him for giving us this info.
If at all some bomb explodes this man will say"i told you so".
What actin has he taken reg this and why should he tell intelligent reports in public. Is he a moron and can he explain why the antiterror bill by the Gujarat govt has not been ratified by our central govt.What is the message he is sending to the terrorists-Do all you want and we have a stupid legal system where even a criminal waging war against the state will be handled with kids gloves.
We should not be surprised if bravery awards are given to such human animals called terrorists.
Gopi again a good one.I also want to recollect one incident where both super star and ilayaraja came to a function at the same time and the organisers did not know whom to be garlanded first. But super star being a super humanbeing joined them and the garland was in ilayaraja's shoulders.
we all should be proud to be a Rajini fan
nice post again arunji,
very good comments gopi & kpp
rams
Vijay - Thats why I said, our 'secular' media was waiting for the right opportunity to showcase their 'secularism' and 'anti-americanism' & SRK gave it on a platter.
Whether they are called idiots or paranoid or any other names, America has learnt its lesson & been effective with their security measures post-9/11. Have we heard any terrorist acts on American soil after 9/11?
On the contrary, non-idiotic Indians are made to eat humble pie in front of the world by the terrorists time & again & there is no sign of we Indians having learnt any lessons from our bitter terrorist victimisation - except to call Americans as idiots, under the assumption that we are not.
Gopi - Thanks. But, how can you compare a non-egotistic Rajini with an Egomaniac SRK?
Pradeep - As long as we don't adopt strict & non-differentiating security measures, India will continue to be a soft target for terrorists - whoever may be in power. That is the reality.
Srikumar/Ganesh/Rams - Thanks for visiting & commenting.
//Gopi - Thanks. But, how can you compare a non-egotistic Rajini with an Egomaniac SRK?//
Arun ji
I will never compare Rajni with anyone.... NEENGA VERA.... I am just highlighting the difference between great humble Super Star with FAME HUNGRY Shah Rukh Khan...
To tell you all about Rajni's magnanimity and humbleness, i recollected that incident and mentioned here...
Nothing else than this.....
Exactly what I was thinking! I guess Fox Studios(the distributors) have a tie up with Newark airport to promote MNIK. Nowadays, every Bollywood film is grossing 100 C(according to their producers) and I have no doubt that this one will gross more than 200 C after one of the greatest publicity stunts ever in the history of mankind. I am waiting for Koffee with Karan 3 where SRK talks about how he was frisked. I also have a feeling that there was a hidden camera which was fliming SRK getting detained so that they can show a 'genuine' scene of how people with their surnames as Khan are detained.
Arunji,
I don't know how you get the apt titles for each postings. And the way you present the topics are exactly like a seasoned Editors of the news paper / megazine. Simply great.
Regarding this subject, other than publicity there is no reason to talk about these security checks. You can't compare these khan's with the genius like DR. APJAK, that will be the shame for the later.
All of us should wait & see the failure of MNIK.
RK
Arun-ji as u rightly pointed out the intention of this whole drama. This egomaniac bugger was stressing on one point in d print media and TV media. - I was detained coz "My name is Khan". doesnt it correlate with his upcoming flick??
Sai/RK - Thanks for your comments.
Sampath - Long time no see. Yes. you are right. That is exactly my point - SRK is trying to promote his forthcoming movie "My Name Is Khan".
Dear Arunachalam,
Now that the dust has settled down and the whole episode appears to be a drama enacted by SRK , I must congratulate you as one who saw through his game from the very begining even as our Minister warned of Tit for Tat.
Footnote:
I also wish you took such a pragmatic view of Kamal being held for hours in Canadian airport at the time of his Panchathanthiram shooting. Remember, Kamal's name and surname are also highly misleading.
Ananth - Thanks for your appreciation.
Reg. KH, I know for a fact that he got into the immigration mess in the first place due to his "name(s)". At the same time, my point is also that - his name is not known beyond the borders of TN or at best, southern India. Hence it is a misnomer to refer him as "Ulaga Naayagan".
Arun-Ji I got stuck with a new project. So Im not browsing tat frequently. But Im covering up all ur blogs and sundar's sitre when ever i find time like today :)
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