When Mamata Banerjee announces that she has been set upon by several men, Wednesday evening, all news channels stop doing what they are doing and switch to the ‘Nandigram drama’ with Banerjee in her SUV, “visibly in pain” (NDTV 24×7). #WhoAttackedMamata (Republic TV) is the only news worth tracking.
When Suvendu Adhikari’s march towards a new office, earlier on Wednesday, receives live coverage on a Hindi news channel like India TV, and his every footstep is dogged by jostling TV camerapersons, you realise that ‘Battleground Bengal’ is more than just another election campaign on television news — it’s a ‘political blockbuster’ (Republic TV), TV news eshtyle.
“Parivartan ka pehla trailer”, as News 24 called it, was released this week in Kolkata and Nandigram. The film is still unnamed but options include ‘Nandigram Sangram’ (Times Now), ‘Dadagiri ya Didigiri’ (Zee Hindustan), ’State of War’ (India Today) or ‘Kolkata Inferno’ (CNN News 18). Sounds riveting? For sure, barring one problem: Most of the lead characters in this film speak Bengali, which means channels need subtitles.
Also read: Between Rahul Gandhi in Kerala and Modi in AIIMS, TV saw the battle of biceps
Sunday Modi
The film stars “Hindu heroine” as India Today called Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after she chanted Chandipath and made `‘13 temple pit stops in Nandigram’’, Tuesday (Times Now). It co-stars Suvendu Adhikari, with special appearances by Narendra Modi, Amit Shah – and a guest appearance by ‘Disco Dancer’ Mithun Chakraborty who can’t quite decide whether he is a reptile or a bird. At Sunday’s Modi rally in Kolkata, Mithun publicly described himself as a “cobra” but later told Aaj Tak, “I am a flying crow”.
Speaking of flying, two helicopters made their screen debut in ‘Mega Bengal Showdown’ (Times Now). The first one whirred into sight at the Brigade Parade Ground, Sunday, transporting PM Modi to the ‘Biggest Poll Rally’ (CNN News 18), a ‘Massive show of strength (India Today) to squeals of excitement from the public – and TV reporters: “The helicopter is coming in….this is a ‘sena’ helicopter….they have reached, it has landed!’’ (News 18 India).
The reporters were breathlessly impressed by the helicopter’s faultless landing and the crowds at the rally. Although News X mathematics wouldn’t have got it past third grade: “Scores, thousands, lakhs out there to see their favorite stars… including PM Modi,’’ said its reporter.
“This is like a festival… lakhs here, full of utsah, josh, happiness, they’re dancing, singing…,” observed Zee News correspondent as if he was on the sets of a film. ABP discovered ‘extras’ in the “sea of saffron” — men with 56-inch written or the PM’s face painted on their bare chests, others wearing masks — “change is in the air’’, he concluded.
The BJP was also in high spirits, at the Brigade Parade Ground. Its top export to Bengal, Kailash Vijavargiya, was so inspired, he took the microphone from the ABP reporter at the venue, and described the scenes around him just like a TV news professional.
Also read: If TV news is to be believed, West Bengal election is Modi’s to lose, not Mamata’s
Tuesday Mamata
TV’s focus may have been on Modi’s rally throughout Sunday, but then Tuesday belonged to Mamata Banerjee as she arrived in Nandigram where she faces BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in a “battle royale” (India Today). “Khel hobe ya khel khatam?” asked Zee News, referring to the TMC’s election slogan and the PM’s taunt that the game was over for Mamata.
Well, it was game on for news channels as they reveled in ‘Modi versus Mamata’ (Zee News) or ‘Mamata vs Suvendu’ (India Today) with their non-stop coverage.
Hindi and English news channel reporters arrived in droves to welcome Banerjee at Nandigram. Looking up at the sky, they found what they were looking for — a helicopter with Mamata Di. It circled, kicked up the dust and then descended — “It has just landed!” exclaimed the CNN News 18 reporter in wondering tones. “Very big moment in Bengal politics,” he added.
Nothing was too inconsequential for them to report: Aaj Tak looked at potential homes for Mamata in Nandigram while others caught up with her while she made tea. They also followed her as best as they could to temples: “Mamata uses BJP’s own tools against BJP,” said NDTV India, “by playing the Hindu card.” To Rahul Shivshankar at Times Now, “Mamata appeared to be on the defensive ….’’
TV reporters mingled with the Bengal CM’s supporters during her Wednesday padyatra and accompanied her to filing her nomination papers — “She is sitting in the DM’s office…Where the entire country has its eye on….’’ (Times Now).
At the end of four days of extensive coverage, the optics are still confusing — on the one hand, ‘Modi storms Bengal’ (Republic); on the other, the ‘Daughter of the Soil’ (CNN News 18) is punching above her weight. “Abki baar kiska Bengal?” asked India TV. Picture abhi baaki hai, dost.
Also read: TV is an idiot, it hasn’t learnt from SSR coverage. Nikita Jacob, Disha Ravi new targets
Assam, Kerala and cricket
Away from the action-packed drama in Bengal, do spare a thought for Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
These states must be livid with the ‘maha’ coverage of ‘Bengal’s showdown’ (Times Now) and the ‘mother of all battles’ (India Today) there. Unless the Prime Minister or the Home Minister come calling, the elections in these states are relayed in a few headlines by national English channels and blacked out by the Hindi ones.
But let’s end with Bengal — and cricket. That can mean only one person: Sourav Ganguly. Republic TV’s Bengali channel came charging into the fray, with an ‘exclusive’ ‘first’ interview with the BCCI chairman since…, well, since we don’t know when.
However, try as he could, anchor Arnab Goswami could not cajole out of India’s former cricket captain the words he wanted to hear: that he was joining politics — and the BJP. Whenever Goswami bowled him the bouncer, Ganguly ducked: “Don’t know where life takes you…”
“What next?”
“We will see how it goes…”
The indefatigable channel didn’t give up: “He hasn’t denied he will enter politics,” read a headline.
Views are personal.
Brought a smile to my face. Much needed comic reflection on the election situation.