Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Hum Aapke Hain Goodwill Ambassador


Image from Here



I’m Stumped looking at my Twitter feed that tells me that Salman Khan is the new good will ambassador for the upcoming Rio Olympics. All the righteous outrage begins to ooze out from my index finger on my phone. Hello, how can a Baghi, an alleged Partner in crime, be appointed as the Sultan of Olympics? I tweet like a sparrow in a tizzy, “Who the hell appointed Bhaijaan as the good will ambassador for Olympics?” Soon enough, when relentless Bhai fans Kick my Judwa ass in Andaaz Apna Apna, I have a Jagruti moment.

Much as there is little point in tweeting if you can’t annoy people, there is little point in being a brand ambassador if you can’t create a buzz. With all due respect, if PT Usha was appointed as a good will ambassador, no feathers would be ruffled. Peace. But it could well end in Nil Battey Sannata.
Right or wrong, Salman controversy ensured awareness about the fact that Olympics are round the corner. At a time when the country is suffering from IPL syndrome, if that ain’t an achievement, what is? Deservedly, the gold medal goes to Salman. And so, in that moment my outrage attained Veergati. 

So what’s the hullabaloo about? Well, it is more than a coincidence that Sultan Khan plays a wrestler in his upcoming movie Sultan. While the sport fraternity is crying foul, Salman’s appointment has ensured that Aamir is writhing on the mat even before the wrestling match has begun. Given that Aamir too plays a wrestler in his new movie Dangal, Raja Hindustani will now have to think of a novel way to promote his new movie.

Once the controversy was alive and kicking, it was the usual spectre of taking positions across the fence. Why can’t we have Rajyavardhan Rathore or PT Usha as our ambassadors, people raged? Track legend Milkha Singh joined the chorus when he said, ‘Salman has no contribution in sport, so why make him the ambassador?’ Wonder if Milkha Sir Ji would have felt the same way, if it was Farhan and not Salman. But the IOA said, Hum Appointment De Chuke Sanam. Go outrage.

Given that the controversy demanded views of the two important ladies, Katrina Kaif and Aishwarya Rai, the media was quick to oblige the nation. Katrina Kaif rebuffed the reporter by saying that Salman Khan has long been the very definition of controversy. Kat done, the microphone wielding fidayeen rushed to the other post card perfect ex who has been suffering from Panama-itis. The nation heaved a sigh of relief when Mrs B supported her ex Sanwariya. We now wait for an enthusiastic reporter to get us the views of Somy Ali, Sangeeta Bijlani, Zarine Khan and other Sanam Bewafas.
To judge Salman’s appointment by the yardstick of sport, rather than his popularity is to miss the purpose of appointing a goodwill ambassador. If the idea was to popularize upcoming Olympics and bring sponsorships, the controversy ensured that Salman had scored a goal.
The sad reality is that we live in a world where popularity and glamour bring sponsorships. We live in a world where selling a product is the only moral. So, how do we popularize sport without crass commercialization? Well, therein, my friend, lies the dilemma.

Bye, Phir Milenge!

32 comments:

  1. So who the hell appointed bhaijaan as the goodwill ambassador? Why do we have so many misplaced affections?

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    1. IOA, Indian Olympic Association, where politicians hold a clout.

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  2. What a piece! It mocks, it informs and it raises the right questions.

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  3. Outrage is what I'll experience when Panama Hat Amitabh Bacchan is appointed President of our country. Till then I've taken sanyas from news and politics, it does things to my blood pressure. But then, who appointed Bhaijaan is the million dollar question. Even Munni would have been a better choice

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    1. IOA, Indian Olympic Association, where politicians hold a clout.
      Good to see you here Ritu.

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  4. Money talks, lady...money talks...girl friend bashing, murder on the pavement, black buck killing...money talks! And of late, controversies seem to be doing wonders for people and our outrage attains a collective veergati. Enjoyed reading your post, Alka.

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    1. Thanks Ilakshee, always good to see you here.

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  5. Your writing is an icing on the cake but unfortunately the news of a movie actor as the brand ambassador for IOA speaks very low of a country of 1.2 billion and the way we treat sports.

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  6. How about removing netas from Olympic committees who are in it for love of perks and have anything but a sporting spirit!

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    1. Is wishes were horses....doubt of it will ever happen.

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  7. Love your satire Alka,outrage is what we all feel.How can our netas take us for a ride with all impunity?
    Even our sportsmen don't go around bulldozing poor people,is he setting an example?GOD FORBID.

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  8. For a man of caliber who walked out from Mumbai High Court as a free man, acquitted of all charges against him, this appointment comes as no surprise. Real sportsmen will become apprehensive. Let them die in their sorrow. Let us respect all stupid decisions of our netas. Bharat Mata ki jai.

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  9. If it works for the good , so be it...We need crowd pullers to be good will ambassadors and in our nation movie stars are mega crowd magnets...The reach is definitely a lot more than what a sportsperson would garner....If it works, it works! .....Lets leave the coaching, planning and mentoring to the ex sports guys...As for good will, all u need is good will...What do you say? :D

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  10. Nil batte sannata? Hearing this phrase after ages. I loved how you raised the right questions and did it in a funny style. Well written piece, Alka.

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    1. That's a new movie Parul....Nil Batte Sannata. I had never heard of the phrase.

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  11. You said everything that I could think of about the entire issue. I began with feeling outraged then saw the sense of it - sad but true - filmstars can create a buzz that sportsperson's rarely can - unless of course they are cricketers.

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  12. Brilliant post. I am still wondering if u were Being Serious or sarcastic !
    If awareness and sponsors are the criteria then Sachin Tendulkar is by far the best brand that india has produced. Additionally, this is a "goodwill" ambassador thing and in no way does No-Driver Khan is that!

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  13. Haha this was hilarious. And yet thought provokingly serious. It is a pity how politics puts its nose into every institution!

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  14. Very interesting take.

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  15. Kills people, and judiciary cant touch him. He then becomes a goodwill ambassador. That too for Olympics. He is undoubtedly a God in India!

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  16. WOW.. I did not know that.. it is news to me REALLY. WHat do i say to it .. Not sure. other than Ha ha h aha ha :) nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to such news's.

    Politics RULEs in our great nation..

    Bikram's

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    1. Yes, laughable really. Now they roped in Sachin to balance it out.

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  17. haing... now that's something I wasn't aware of... and infact I didn't even realize that Olympics are going to start soon. Well Salman Khan atleast met that goal. :)

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  18. So many sportsperson and we choose a filmstar to be the brand ambassador. It speaks volumes about how much importance we actually give to sports and our sports persons in this country. Barring cricket of course !

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  19. I have been living under the rock for the past few weeks that I didnt even know that such a controversy was happening ! Wow SK as the sports ambassador is surely a rebuff to all the genuine sports people out there. What a slap on the entire face of sports people in India.

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