Readers trump critic

IN Media Watch Briefs | 25/05/2015

This is the thin edge of the wedge for film critics everywhere. The film section of Mumbai Mirror on Monday, 25 May, has issued a small clarification called “RATING REVISED”. On Friday, Mirror’s film critic Rahul Desai had given the newly released film Tanu Weds Manu Returns two and a half stars. But “following reader feedback and research which differed significantly from him”, the paper decided to upgrade the ratings to three and a half stars. Where does that leave their critic, we wonder.

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Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.

Let the games begin

Clearly, the run to the 2019 elections is on. A journalist received a call from someone saying they were from Aajtak channel and were conducting a survey, asking whom she was going to vote for in 2019. On being told that her vote was secret, the caller assumed she wasn't going to vote for 'Modiji'. The caller, a woman, also didn't identify herself. A month or two earlier the same journalist received a call, this time from a man, asking if she was going to vote for the BSP.