Sunday, January 15, 2012

Behind The Camera


When you switch on TV to watch news sitting on your couch, have you ever thought about the life of a journalist who talks so confidently before the camera. The scene of journalist’s life behind the camera is not as colorful as you think.

“I’m suffering from heavy backache. I need to go for an Ayurvedic treatment. But that course needs a few days of rest for which I won’t get leave.” Says a reporter of a leading channel. The world of media is so mechanical. If a person leaves the platform, there are hundreds of journalists to replace. If the channel or newspaper finds that a person is not capable to give more than 100% of his/her effort, they are forced to leave the scene.

“Now I attend double shifts a day to take leaves together at the end and go home”- sighs an editor of a news channel. Family and friends have to adjust a lot for a journalist. Again, majority of the media persons especially of local media work only out of their passion. “Most of the Malayalam channels offer only less than Rs. 10,000 for a fresher” explains a Malayalam reporter who has been in the field for past 2 years.

Still, what is the element that makes the industry of media so striking? It is the joy of getting a work delivered and presented before millions of people. The satisfaction of being appreciated and recognized around the world is immense. This contentment is the only factor that holds the media fraternity including cook, security staff to Managing Director, to work as one and present their product before you.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Being Mallu On Twitter



From Facebook, when I moved to Twitter, I found nothing much interesting. But yesterday was an interesting day for me as well as all Malayali tweeple. In fact, it continues today too. From Monday afternoon, Keralites launched something trendy, which is tweeting with #Being Mallu.

Most of the leading newspapers have reported about this trend. “The trending (most tweeted about, in Twitter-speak) was made possible for the first time by Madhu Menon (madmanweb), a chef, restaurant consultant, and food photographer, who lives in Bangalore, with the help of a few friends.” – Reports The Hindu. The tweets gave a clear idea about the lifestyle of Malayalis.

Here are a few interesting tweets with #BeingMallu:

  • #BeingMallu is when you can correctly spell Thiruvananthapuram, correctly name Kochi and correctly say Kozhikode.
  • #BeingMallu means having a silly short first name but a lengthy unpronounceable (by others) last name.
  • #BeingMallu is having a palatial house in Kerala with no one living in it.
  • #BeingMallu when you meet someone who says they are from Kerala, but you are unsure if they speak Malayalam.
  • #BeingMallu is when Sharjah Shake is ypur official and favorite (non-alcohol) drink.
  • #BeingMallu means getting tired of being asked about fish, coconut, gold and the Gelf over and over again.
  • Gold ads dominate TV ad space, serial space, family space, mind space and finally lands many marriages in 'di-verse' #BeingMallu
  • #BeingMallu - Falling seriously in love with and imagining a family life with almost every (especially Mallu) girl he meets.
  • Having a drink and worrying about the situation in Uganda, Cuba and Poland. #BeingMallu
  • Open a new factory in Kerala and get a red flag for free the next day... #BeingMallu
  • #BeingMallu Idea Star Singer all year long.
  • #BeingMallu means Gulf will always be Gelf
  • #BeingMallu i cant avoid my pink lungi
  • Long Q's at the beverage corporation outlets #BeingMallu
  • #BeingMallu Is attending Thomas Sir/Brilliant coaching classes for entrance coaching.
  • When Misbah casually scooped the ball in 2007 World Cup little did he know there is always a Mallu in every corner of the world #BeingMallu
And I too joined the party with a few tweets:
  • #BeingMallu means those who can pronounce 'zha' correctly
  • #Beingmallu: 100% literacy, 0% common sense
  • #BeingMallu: Should have watched the movie #Manichithrathazhu at least 50 times

Sunday, January 8, 2012

My New Year Gift

(My first post for the year 2012… You may say it is stupid to post one like this when whole Kerala is talking about a missing journalist for which my blog is also a matter of attention. Anyway, this post is not related to that person.)


For me, 2012 began with a smile. In fact, some simple things can give you more happiness than big parties. Thanks to Indiblogger for its wonderful New Year gift. My junior aka my blogger friend PeeVee told me about the Indiblogger Dove gift hamper when I joined that site. Again, it is from her blog only, I saw the colorful badge of Indiblogger first.

I and my cousin brother ordered together. He ordered for her sister. I and his sister Alaka are known as ‘twins’ in our family. Surprisingly, both of us received the gift on the same day, which was two days before New Year. Love you Indi for making my New Year very very special!!!