In the age of stump microphones, slow-motion lip reading, and ICC penal codes for racist slurs on the field, Pakistan’s pioneer sports channel has come up with an unbelievable series promo.
The private sports channel’s teaser for the upcoming India-Sri Lanka cricket series defies belief. As video clips showing Sri Lankan cricketers in action are screened, the soundtrack is provided by an old Hindi film song, the lyrics of which are: ‘Hum kaalay hain toh kya huwa dil walay hain.’ That roughly translates to, ‘so what if we are black, we are hearty sportsmen nonetheless.’
The promo pretty much leaves me speechless. In an age where tolerance, diversity, and respect are the grandest ideals, who in their right minds could go to such an extent? I wonder if the channel’s legal advisers (if there are any) or cricket experts (of which there are plenty) are aware of the marketing department’s latest feat.
For a moment, let’s forget about the ICC rules regarding racism. What impression will this blunder leave on the foreign viewers’ minds (let’s leave aside local viewers, who are probably enjoying it)? What will the Lankan team think if they ever have the misfortune of coming across this channel? Shouldn’t more sensitivity be on the cards given Pakistan’s tainted relationship with this team in particular?
We as a nation should be grateful for international channels such as Star Sports, ESPN, and Super Sport, for they give much less painful alternatives to sports fans in Pakistan. Not all of us are willing to overlook the audacity.
Hafsa Adil is a sports editor at Dawn.com.
Why this sudden outburst of revulsion over color slur in Pakistan. I am yet to see even single drama by popular comedian where he doesn’t make fun of the dark color of Bengali’s and Srilankans. Color joke is the common on Pakistani comedy show. Even the cast slur is used profusely and one of Pakistan comedian found himself in trouble for using the word bhangi on Indian channels.
Apparently this news channel is not doing anything different.
Some times they don’t understand the difference between foolishness and light humor.
Look at ‘Meera episode’, they crossed every ethical line in humiliating her, I feel pity for her. And how they use playback songs on different events, is there any decency in it??
@ Arshid ZAidi
I second your views. Some channels seem bent upon to dictate the populace about the Highly appreciable role they are playing.
We all know this channel as well as other channels of this media company. Truly they are champions of all sort of negative propaganda.
I am delighted to write that channels of this group are under password protection at my home. I don’t allow my family to watch these channels.
Why don’t all of you follow the same?
I want to comment on Yousuf who has just been appointed captain.
I will not be surprised if Yousuf will start the match first by reciting few holy verses on the pitch, fasting on the day of the match and perhaps inviting Daniel Vetori towards Islam….
I do hope he will treat cricket as a game and will not start projecting his personal beliefs like Inzimam did and attracted so much criticism from all around the globe.
Yousuf, please remember religion is your personal matter, please don’t bring religion in cricket.
Very right. Our media is so irresponsible and we can see lot of examples these days. Just take the example of Meera marriage scandal and also English. How they can telecast the clip (when she does not know that Camera is ON). MEDIA is becoming God in our country now. Now if Govt tries to do something then they just boycott everything. Do they have right to take photos of anybody walking on the road? I saw many photos of Students in IIU (during suicide attack) even with their exposed body parts.
I think writer is bit too emotional. Please don’t split the hair.
For those who feel that it’s all in jest and perfectly okay,
Imagine the scenario if a promo were to air in the US for a visiting Pakistani soccer team:
“Yes, we’re Muslims, but we can play football!”
would you go “ha ha what a joke guys!”? perhaps not.
Whatever the pioneer sports channel did express, showed the policy of the TV Network.
To be noticed its just not in the grounds of cricket or whatever, but these feelings are sorted on all the other channels being run by the Network.
Anyhow the majority of the Nation took it as a matter of humor or fun!
People who did this have no understanding of the difference between humor and racism. We are in debt of the people of Srilanka. They always come to our help in times of great need. I guess the people of this sports channel should ponder on this age old saying ” A friend in need is a friend indeed”.
The author needs to chill. There is nothing wrong with either being kalay or dil waley. You can call me either or both anytime.
Some would think this is a good issue. But its not an issue if you want it to be. I thought we were all past that.
Since both team are from sub-continent, racism does not play a role here. If West Indies were part of the series, then one can say racism is playing a role. In any event any conspiracies should be avoided, leave cricket game for entertainment and not politics or racism.
Seriously, what is wrong with the media?
The Srilankans are very nice to us, that is not the way to respect some one who respects you. Firstly that a very bad promo, secondly the pemra who ever is in charge should keep an eye on our sports channel and last this is racism, not funny in any sense. Sad.
Author has said “In an age where tolerance, diversity, and respect” so have tolerance towards this song and it’s context as well.
Just hear it, laugh, and move along.
Really, the point here isn’t that this song is “for us, by us” or that it helps rid of the inferiority complex created by skin colour, but the fact that *this* particular song is used and the butt(hit or push) of this really insensitive “joke” is really obvious when played as the background to the Sri Lankan team montage. I’m sure this song may have meant something in the original context, but it doesn’t take many smarts to realize the point behind this application. Any apologetics are quite useless in trying to explain how this song is not discriminatory in this context.
As I mentioned in my earlier post the standard of education in Pakistan leaves a lot to be desired. This is evident in all fields, this is one example of intellect from the broadcasting community. I recently watched a comedy show where one character rated another’s ugliness using the “sari sri lanka ki team” as a benchmark.
Being a Pakistani myself, I am ashamed and disappointed at the direction my countrymen are heading.
This is so unbelievable and shameful. We are heading towards social and moral decay at light-speed almost.
The electronic media, it seems, is working without the institution of Editor. And that is why you have such blunders when there is nobody to decide about such things.
Unfortunately over the last 15 years, the owners of the newspapers have taken over the responsibility of editors, having editors but only in the name. In the past Pakistani journalism had strong editors whose word was final. The media houses’ owners need to withdraw and give back competent professional journalists the role of editor. Only then we will have better monitor and sensible coverage. Otherwise this will continue.
I am at a loss, I don’t know what to say. What Bijoy Jose is trying to say is unacceptable. Accepting other is one thing and letting some make fun of another on the basis of color is another. His remarks sound great, but what actually he is trying to say is let them make fun of them, whats the harm. Well why not you ask the opinion of the persons who are the part of this joke. The problem lies in us, we think white skin is better than dark, we are raised thinking that a fair colored person is a better one, its our prejudice and unfortunately for some, its just a matter of laugh.
Indeed. The author has a very strong point there and the remarks are quite telling. Media in Pakistan is still struggling to grow out of its childhood and it will take it some time to do so. I can recollect a number of such incidents reflecting the irresponsible attitude of our independent channels. They better behave before people start losing confidence in them. I lost mine a long time ago.
Hey,
I have a high regard for most of them who have commented on this article, although I feel sorry for the person who presented the article. To truly understand and respect others views or actions one needs to start by accepting and respecting oneself. Unless we start focusing inwards on ourselves and developing ourselves we will never truly grow as a nation. Our focus is likely to be on bringing down others and the consequences of which can be seen in our country now.
“The promo pretty much leaves me speechless” that’s what she say. It is the understatement of the century. It left me pretty much fuming. Can in this day and age, any one can be so senseless. I always had a very low opinion about that particular news group. It seems insulting some one is the best way of grabbing attention.
Some posters are not differentiating between racism and responsibility. The Author is not complaining about the song being racist or brown people being inferior, its not about the color of the skin, Its about how a major media channel could not put things into consideration before making such step. I wonder if they have a policy which states “to make sure not to offend people from any race, culture or religion”
Kudos to the author and DAWN news for pointing this out. The song itself could be light hearted with no racial under tone intended, but in the context in which it is played, it is surely leaves an unsavoury taste in ones mouth.
It’s an issue of ‘political correctness’. Moreover its not a personal or family thing. It’s being broadcast on TV. Some comment are humorous or offending, can only be decided by the the person on the receiving end. At home, it can be finished by saying ‘sorry’, but on TV? We Indians and Pakistanis start protesting even on slightest racist insinuation in The West, but in our own countries, we have little regard for the sensitivities.
There are many posters here who seem to think the ad is all in good fun. They have the view, ‘hey this is just humor,nothing rude so, enjoy it!’
I would like to ask them this: We are touring New Zealand later this month.
Suppose in New Zealand’s TV Channels, they show the picture of our captain and then the voice in background says,
“I might not look what I am, but I am the Pakistan Cricket Captain ! Come and play ball with me!”
Then what would be your reaction?
I don’t think this song portrays any racist issues. You have to listen to the whole song in order to understand it’s true meaning. We as South Asians have always had this brown skin inferiority complex for some reason. The people with fairer complexions in Europe envy us as we look more attractive, we age less and do not catch sun that easy. A growing number of dark skin models are representing top Designers these days. So we shouldn’t have this Brown or dark skin complex at all. Yes provided the racial sensitivity these days, this news channel should have been more thoughtful in their selection of the song. Sorry to say this Miss Hafsa, but you can’t take two words out of the whole song and write an article about it. You have to consider the whole context and background of this song.
Good to know that India-Sri Lanka Match will be telecast in Pakistan.