Charlie and the Indian lunatics

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Soham — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:01:51 GMT

Andy, yours was the most, and its not often I indulge in sweeping statement, (yes where was I?), yours was the most, sensible, well articulated and well pointed comment in this blog of lunatic theory. Brava! And yes, that last hindsight about Mr.Chaplin, being a Jew had me in splits. Now the others, stop taking such a perverse pleasure in proving a poor journalistic soul wrong. I know, you had your bit of fun, nows boys and girls shoo from here! aww..Priya, see I have sent them away. Don't sob anymore.And here take a toffee and go back to writing about stuff what you do the best. Its alright, if Abhishek and John Abraham are not entertaining you anymore(since the last time you edited their interviews!) By the way, you can blame the right wing fascists this time for proving that baby Priya didn't do her homework properly.Is the Ed-in-Chief listening?

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

keshav jha — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:55:36 GMT

Adengappa; Priya Ramani is a "National Features Editor" for Mint Lounge, nit-picking culture, politics, movies and style using gillete mach3 turbo blade. I think blade-cut review of movies/style will be your soup. Hats off.

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Julien — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:28:50 GMT

Problem is, the internet is filled with too many Priya Ramanis that seem to be desperate to get any form of attention, even if what they say and claim are not based on any verifiable facts. While the internet should be a free forum, I propose that organizations with a legacy such as WSJ should "tax" their editors/bloggers/journalists and have a poll where the readers can vote to eliminate that tax if the article is really appreciated by readers. Now, wouldn't that be a win-win for all, we get the best articles only, writers work harder to present their thoughts/opinions and using technology we build a "cyber-democracy" to make the the media/ press more accountable, any thoughts? That we we don't have to be like this guy http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Shamith — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:37:59 GMT

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Andy — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:37:32 GMT

Charlie Chaplin was a Jew not a Christian..fyi to all, especially the misled lot including Priya Ramani

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Vivek — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:39:08 GMT

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=ViewsSectionPage&id=d9f77448-d840-4c87-85f3-6409b0f4d656&&Headline=M+to+T%3A+You%E2%80%99ve+gone+through+your+lines%2C+right%3F - If all of you read this article, then you wouldnt be surprised by her stance! I'm just surprised there isn't any eye-catching phrase like Guru of Genocide here, damn! If she's getting her facts wrong here,i think you can forgive her, cuz after all she being National Affairs Editor/journalist/columnist and all that decided the Nano plant was better suited to be at Nandigram... why?! Because it made better prose!! Get it now lunatics?! :) Priya - wisecracks and ideological differences aside, i think the lounge is a pretty good read,so kudos on that.

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Enough Said — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:03:37 GMT

Will the real lunatic, please stand up? Read how all the fools in the media fell for a prank about a Nazi war criminal in Goa ! This is hilarious - http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070152221100.htm

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Ah Julien loves the Desi Sula , lets raise a toast — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:04:39 GMT

Now that was a good blog (http://kshakirana.blogspot.com/2009/03/charlie-chaplin-statue-protest-prank.html). See, that is how an article is written and the blogger is not an 'editor' of a site such as Mint which happens to be affiliated with WSJ. Ironically WSJ itself is owned by a so called "right-wing" group in the US ! Now spare us the hyperboles and give us 5 facts that will prove this protest was in fact because Charlie Chaplin was Christian ! If you cannot, be real and stop jumping on the bandwagon with the pseudo journos..we have enough of those....think about it while enjoying your ravioli

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Shamith — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:46:55 GMT

Priya - Saffronization is a real monster so does the other two colours. Its just that the media house are shy( for a lack of better word ) to address all issues. And people(i refer to individuals who understand the issue from all angles) do know what the media-house brews these days. I prefer a Desi Sula Wine :)

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Andy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:42:17 GMT

SHAMITH - You say there were more than 100 personalities when Director protested last week. Wonder who told you that. A journalist friend who went there found 13 people there incl the director. And, thats because the the film fraternity knew the calibre of the Diredtor Hegde and the truth about the "issues" he had raised.

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Andy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:37:25 GMT

Priya, you have got it utterly wrong on the Chaplin issue and perhaps got carried away by media stories rather than investigating on your own.Pls note there NEVER was a religius angle to it..its the stupid director who made it up....HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT THE ISSUE: 1."Director" Hemant Hegde never received permission from government to install a statue in an ecologically sensitive zone which comes under CRZ (Coastal Regulatory Zone) 2. Kannada filmworld has never heard about this so called director "Hemant Hegde" till now. He has acted in minor roles but is not known as a director. 3. Kannada film budget hardly goes above 1 or 2 Crore rupees and director is claiming he wants to spend 35 Lakh rupees (30% of the budget for a statue!?) out of that for a statue simply does not seem realistic. This inflated numbers make it clear that Hemant Hegde never had any intention of constructing a huge statue, but simply wanted publicity for his film. It has become common these days to drop "Guinness Book of World Records" for silliest ventures to get cheap publicity. 4. Locals (belonging to Hindu, Muslim, Christian) leaders did not protest because Chaplin is Christian. They just asked for proof of permission when Hemant Hegde barged in with dozens of workers and started digging ground right near a temple entrance. Temple has been around for hundreds of years and is visited by people of all religions. 5. With no permit in hand and locals objecting to his illegal act of constructing a statue in govt land, Hemant Hegde plotted a scheme to pressurize State Govt. "Let us blame it on Hindutva!!". Piggybacking on nationwide witch hunt of "communal","radicals","Hindu talibanis" living in Coastal Karnataka, Hemant Hegde and his journalist friends concocted a story about "Hindus opposing Christian Chaplin" >> And hey presto, this has become International News now. Hemant Hegde and his journalist friends are getting their 15 minutes of fame for a movie which has no screenplay, no actors signed up but has already received free publicity at International level! >>>>>>> http://kshakirana.blogspot.com/2009/03/charlie-chaplin-statue-protest-prank.html

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Priya Ramani — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:29:49 GMT

Shamith

the saffronization of india is a real issue. hemant hegde exists. more than 100 theatre and film personalities demonstrated with him last week. the national media is not run by Italians. though i agree ramani could pass off as an italian last name.

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Shamith — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:21:20 GMT

I think the blog-author is insisting that the word "lunatics" is still the right word for the poor villagers who opposed a mamoth structure near the scenic beauty of our beach view. And she assures the readers that its really Hell out here with links pointing to articles with same propoganda. Here is the actual facts on the Charlie chaplin statue incident. http://kshakirana.blogspot.com/2009/03/charlie-chaplin-statue-protest-prank.html yeah, Mr.Hemanth Hegde and his supporters(you know who ) are the actual luncatics if you ask me.

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Pratibha — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:17:05 GMT

Why do I get the feeling that all the producer wanted was some cheap publicity & reported to all sorts of Gimmicks & tawdry tricks? All of the MEDIA who is out there in full force, pretending to be custodians of Charlie Chaplin & Culture - stand back & think how chaplin would have reacted to this rubbish...? Maybe hilariously parodied the situation..? On another note, lets set this aside as Hindutva or whatever else & look at it differently. a) Lets substitute temple with an ancient Church, mosque or some monument that was built by a Minority ruler ( lets say even tomb) Lets even assume it is not a monument or a place or worship, but someone home or even a Burial ground, but belonging to India's supposedly much maligned Minority community Would it be allowed? maybe at that point, that silly producer would have got the wrong end of a stick for being a Hindu...?? b) Lets looka at another situation - this was Germany & this Chaplin ( well known for Lampooning hitler) statue was being built next to a cathedral, a castle or even a modern glitzy 5 Star. Would it have been allowed? C) Another Scenario - L.A - Home to Hollywood, Movie Mecca of the World, where all film related trivia is worshipped AND a money spinner. Can you imagine a shady producer or EVEN FANS of Chaplin, managing to construct a statue next to a place of worship AND violating the coastal construction regulations rules as well???? Gov Shwarz will get after 'em all with the sledgehammer!!! TERMINATOR 4 - here I come! Given all of this, can we PLEASE HAVE SOME PERSPECTIVE from Indian Media? Can you PLEASE temper your reactions within social & regulatory contexts? Can you PLEASE consider if you are playing to the gallery? Ms. Ramani - given the responses to your rather hastily opinionated blog, you do ought to re-consider if "being in Bangalore & reading Indian Express" is reason enough to post your opinions, when you happen to represent the interests of Civil Society at large, as a journalist ( assuming such words do apply to those that comment on fashion, movie stars & such other non-critical pursuits)

re: Charlie and the Indian lunatics

Julien can't beleive he is wasting time on this, but what the hell? — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:33:01 GMT

Ms. Wannabe HuffingtonPost columnist (Indian version?), it really doesn't help calling the readers "lunatics" does it? granted the charlie incident went overboard, but your reactions suggest you are not that different either ...chill out and like one of the comments earlier rightly stated - just focus your blogs on Abhishek's stubble :) Interestingly, I found this article on the same site you suggested http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/india-yatra/2009/03/24/in-assam-a-minority-in-their-own-land/ Well..why not right? I wonder which party is in charge in Assam..and then again who cares about Assam, there ain't no pub attacks or charlie statue problems there, right? hmmmm