We have quite a few PAK members here, may be they can add a few bit to the story. Atleast about whether the electronic media covered anything on the same.
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Gopal Srinivasan <catchg...@...> wrote: > > > Who's AR Rahman? > > It is quite amusing to see how geo- political differences can influence the coverage of events > that have cultural acceptability across borders. KUNAL MAJUMDAR scans Dawn and The News of > Pakistan, and The Daily Star and The New Age of Bangladesh in search of two words `AR Rahman' > and `Oscars'. > > Posted Sunday, Mar 01 15:59:04, 2009 > > > > While the Indian media went overboard with the coverage of Oscars, the Pakistani media tried > its best to ignore the Indian connection. The leading newspaper Dawn has no mention of AR > Rahman's win. In its lead article `Slumdog scoops eight of its ten nominations' (23 Feb, > 2009); it does mention that the movie is based in Mumbai and gives brief outline of the story. > Beyond that, it simply ignores the Indians who won the Oscars. A feeling that Dawn > intentionally wanted to stress on the poverty angle of the story comes with the accompanying > articles and photographs of slum kids. > > The News, of the Jang Group, was no different. The article -- `Slumdog Millionaire' wins Oscar > gold at 81'st Academy Awards (February 24, 2009) tells the readers that Slumdog is small-budget > British movie on "A ragtag group of Indian orphans". The writer mentions how the cast and the > crew of the movie was present to accept the best film award, which included "several school > children who were plucked from Mumbai's shantytowns to appear in the movie". AR Rahman again > ignored! > > The Daily Times also ignores the Indian winners. However, it has a more sympathetic approach. > It quotes Danny Boyle offering gratitude to Mumbaikars and saying they even, "dwarf even this > guy (Oscar statue)". The newspaper is the only one to carry a photograph of the cast and crew > of the film, where you can see Anil Kapoor, AR Rahman and Rasul Pookuthy. > > One wonders how many Pakistanis actually know about Penelope Cruz and Hugh Jackman, compared to > AR Rahman! > > Bangladeshi awareness > > Bangladeshi newspapers seem to be much more aware about the Indians in the movie. In an article > Oscar Glory for `Slumdog'(February 24, 2009), The Daily Star mentions AR Rahman's win quite > prominently. The newspaper calls Slumdog Millionaire a "feel-good film about a Mumbai tea boy > who rises from poverty and enters a television quiz show to win millions and find the love of > his life". Quite a contrast to Pakistani media's definition. It goes on to mention that in > spite of being directed and produced by Englishmen, many Indians claim it to be their own. A > very just portray of the debate in India on the movie. The article also mentions about Resul > Pookutty and the best documentary Smile Pinki. Photographs alongside have AR Rahman with his > two Oscar statues. > > `AR Rahman wins Golden Globe' was the front-page story on The New Age (February 24, 2009). The > newspaper used Reuter's input and made Rahman's win the peg of the story. The writer spoke > about the versatility of Rahman's music and his other achievements. While other western actors > and films did get a mention, but it didn't dominate the story unlike the Pakistani coverage. > > It is quite amusing to find how geo- political differences can influence the coverage of events > that have cultural acceptability across borders. > > http://www.thehoot.org/web/home/story.php? sectionId=8&mod=1&pg=1&valid=true&storyid=3683 >
