It has been over a week since a private television channel broke the story about Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik being engaged to marry Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, and the media seems to have only gotten into full swing as the milky plot thickens into a curdling, sensationally sweet kheer.
First of all, what exceptional journalism by the news media. Seriously, hounding Malik for scandalous stories day and night is no easy task, even for one of the country’s biggest news networks. Of course, the story is so great that it in fact becomes its own reward, where news networks and media outlets get to take a gear-shift from terror/despair to celebrity/scandal. It helps lighten the mood, and sugary treats are often good to keep the national news digestion metabolism going.
Seriously, it seems like celebrity marriage scandals conveniently pop up every now and then. It wasn’t too long ago when the media was all over Meera’s supposed wedding, and boy did the news channels have a field day with that one. The formula is so simple: all you have to do is send out a mob of camera men and reporters to ask annoying questions of every single relation of the scandalous celebrity in question, and then parade that on the airwaves all day and all night.
Though I doubt the broadcasters knew the exact magnitude of what they were about to uncover in the current celebrity scandal episode of Shoaib and Sania’s engagement. What would have otherwise been a day’s worth of news with some possible runtime on the little ticker on the bottom turned out to be a full-fledged, high-risk, cross-border drama packed full of entertainment and scandal. Once the media-hype flared, the conflagration became uncontrollable on both sides of the border, with everyone ranging from politicians to sports professionals commenting on the spectacle. Hell, the media even went down to Shoaib’s hometown to dig up his chubby childhood friend who rambled on incessantly about how great the whole thing is, in what would probably be the only airtime he gets in his entire life.
Speaking of getting airtime, this latest media blitz has given old washed up celebrities like Adnan Sami new ideas on how to get some publicity going for them. The previously highly-controversial singer has been prompted to announce his plans to wed his third (yes, one, two, three… third) wife. He’s also offered to do a duet song with Nawaz Sharif. I don’t know what to expect other than a rap mash-up of Kabhi Nahin and Thori Si Lift Kara De. Of course, this bait was lapped up in no time by the news channels, which started running it in the headlines juxtaposed with Shoaib’s convoluted wedding, making half of the top stories about messed up celebrity weddings.
The media’s salivating over the Shoaib-Sania story is understandable, given that it has all the elements of a Bollywood extravaganza. The strapping young hero Shoaib Malik whose career had just taken a turn for the worst finds sanctuary in love with a sporting celebrity from the other side of the border. Of course, if the cross-border affair isn’t controversial/scandalous already, it gets exacerbated beyond proportion when the hero’s jealous ex-telephonic affair decides to make an appearance in the media spotlight. And of course the media was more than happy to grant the other woman, Ayesha Siddiqui, the stage to hurl insults at the embattled Shoaib. What further drama will ensue over the fact that young Ayesha used a stand-in, a mysterious woman from Saudi Arabia, to entice Shoaib, one can only wait and see.
Moreover, what better villain could any Bollywood-type plot ask for than Bal Thakray himself making outlandish statements about the patriotism and honour of the beloved heroine of this affair. Heck, now even the Hyderabad police has become involved with a case registered against Shoaib by the jealous ex. Now all we need is for Shahid Kapoor to agree to play Shoaib Malik in a Bollywood blockbuster based on true events. This will make millions in theatres once its released.
Indeed, the plot hasn’t even materialised yet, and the media conglomerate has already made millions off it. If the story wasn’t already being milked for everything it was worth, someone had to get hold of a two-second, cell-phone video clip of Shoaib caught at a dance practice through a crack in a door, and that clip has been run on repeat, cut, spliced, mixed with cheap songs, four-way psychedelic split, black-and-white romanticised, you name it; all the post-production effects you can think of, in all possible combinations. It might just be nominated for the most-played clip in Pakistan’s free media history.
Okay, maybe I’m going a little over the top with this media bashing. I mean, the media works so hard day and night reporting on terrorism and the ills of Zardari, they deserve a break, right? Right! But when you get bombarded by videos, commentary, criticism, analysis, and debate over Shoaib and Sania’s wedding in the form of ‘Breaking News’ bulletins, please forgive me for wanting to shoot myself in the mouth. It is as if there’s no bigger news on the whole planet than Shoaib’s plans to marry.
The country is in an indefinite state of turmoil, there’s no water or electricity, we’re constantly on the verge of war on both our borders, and this is what you get in the news, continuously, for a whole week? Why is the great free media going after cheap celebrity gossip when it could be putting its great investigative journalistic resources towards greater goals, such as getting hold of bank account details of corrupt politicians, or maybe some real covert coverage on the things the ISPR doesn’t want embedded reporters to be snooping around in. If that’s too much to ask, and if the media must get their fill of strange wedding arrangements, then the least they can do as a compromise is look into all the mainstream politicians who have strange polygamous dealings going around.
At the end of the day, this whole absurd ordeal just tells us something about how the media works, and something about ourselves. Sadly, we as a media consumerist society are happy just feeding off cheap celebrity gossip, giving the media that cherished airtime over which they compete so vehemently.
And we, the biggest critics of the West, should wake up and take a long hard inward look before we criticise the apathetic and disinterested American electorate for being too caught up with television-news soap operas in the form of the OJ Simpson trial or the Monica Lewinsky affair to pay attention to important issues such as Israel-Palestine and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the end of the day, we’re feeding on the same kind of media-manufactured cheap thrills. And it seems we could gorge on this useless information until we’re stuffed, and then slip into a nice comfortable… sleep.
Lahore-based Asif Akhtar is interested in critical social discourse as well as the expressive facets of reactive art and is one of the schizophrenic narrators of a graphic novel. He blogs at http://e-scape-artist.blogspot.com/ and tweets at http://twitter.com/e_scape_artist.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
I think this marriage can bring Pakistan and India closer.
Jeo Shoaib Malik, This is a good step between Pakistan and India,I think this Marriage can Bring Pakistan and India closer…
You are absolutely right. Unfortunately our media is becoming a source of cheap entertainment further deteriorating the already fallen standards of entertainment. It is time for our media to learn how to react to such scandals and to do some probing into such issues rather than glamourising them.
It is also sad to see how people have started to love these juicy stories which have no substance in them.
best wishes shoaib and sania also Pakistani peoples
Hi,
This is some ones personnel matter and who are us to interfere in that matter, God bless both of them , because as a Muslim we believe that only God create couples not man so please just pray for them as our religion teach us.
i think this marriage is now getting on people’s nerves we shoould move on to other issues which needs more attentions
Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
Dear All,
Pakistani & Indian media has hit the lowest levels of morality and ethics. Seems like there is nothing important to report in both the countries. While the marriage was another news which would cause debate and raise some opinions besides that it should not have been anything else.
Both the countries with similar same history, blood lines and genes; today have the same problems too : Poverty, growing population, shortage of water, food grains, power supply, terrorism and bad politicians however it seems our “bright” media is not able to find news to make headlines!
There was a time when media used to be the conscience keeper of the nations however it seems to be dead and the obituary is long over due.
May be we need to add Media to the growing list of problems both the countries are facing!
Our countries need media which reports the real issues and is solution oriented!
Lets pray for our countries which are anyway run by the almighty and hope media will wake up and understand their moral obligation to their citizens one day!
Till the God Bless our countries!!!
The fact that two countries spend so much time discussing a marriage between these individuals is a clear reminder that despite considering yourselves ancient cultures.
As far as I am concerned I like to say some suggestions about the recently news which has been broke out by a private tv channel about Shoaib’s and sania wedding, I think its their decisions and they can have a right to choose their life partner so we dont need to waste time on such gossip our mission is life should be to patriot with our country instead traitor, Our media should stop to revealing these allegations and gossips on shoaib’s life they have unlimited other topics to discuss specially the matters which have been deployed by the disloyal leadership and dictators our media should reveal other social and economical issues and draw the attentions of our leadership to do some thing for saving our industrialised areas and enhance the reproductions rather than having to fulfil their personal desires .To be a Pakistani i feel pity that when ever we read newspapers or watch tv channels there always happen some flaws and problems which occur by the our leadership But its we who can make our country better bu our self and its misconception that some one will come from another world to make our country higher.
Can I put the facts in the right perspective for those who are critisizing media coverage of sania-Shoaib upcoming wedding.I don’t know about shoaib but sania is a national icon.She was the first indian tennis star in top-10 in the world.She is a recipiant of national honors like Padam-Shri which is a very high honor.She is looked up by millions of young Indian women as their ideal.She was a very sought after single and a very beautiful and pleasent girl.So Indias obsession with her wedding is news worth covering by indian media.As far pakistani media it is becouse it is a pakistani boy marrying an Indian girl that becomes like getting one up on india and I am sure it wouldn’t be covered by any newspaper had it been other way around.
Dear Asif,
Pakistanis do not face hunger,starvation deaths,homelesseness,street violence,lawlessness,power cuts like the Indians do.I am a patriotic Indian who happens to be honest.You say Pakistanis should avoid such media craze.Well, why not write something about craziness in India.We have 6000 children dying everyday due to starvation; we have crossed the stage of mass malnutrition.We have 9000 women dying every year due to dowry harrassment. Off course we also have obese rich people who pay Rupess 5000 per month to shed their fat.Can we Indians afford to waste time on IPL and Sania Mirza ?People starving to death while others cheer at sixers.You have derided Pakistanis for long.Try being honest about the terrible things in India.Our Bollywood and Cricket are robbing national attention from critical issues that threaten its very existence as a nation.You guys realized the threat posed by Taliban and are bombing the skin out of those skunks.We are still dillydallying on the Naxals, reluctant to take steps against ” our very own citizens “!!!!!!
What’s wrong with you Subhashis. India has unity in diversity. We are a proud vibrant and a tolerant democracy. Don’t let our Country down.
Mr. Nag,
That was very cheap..Why are you crying here in a Pakistani newspaper? Are you thinking that Pakistan will come and help us? What was the reason for your outburst like this dude? Or is it only to show companionship..? Government and people in India have to work hard to eliminate all the above mentioned things..it cannot achieved by crying in a foreign newspaper.
Whatever it was, this was in way poor taste.
Dear Subhashis,
That wasn’t cheap at all! I appreciate your honesty and I felt your reaching out like this. Both our nations require a very serious reality check. We need to fight our battles with wit and sanity, and also with grace. Its not just the government and the media that are responsible, we too must play our parts for the betterment of our countries. Thankyou for your post
Thanks for this article Asif.
Media has projected this issue out of proportion which this matter not deserved.
Dear Asif,
Perhaps we were all tired of all the issues and challenges we face every day of our life and our struggle to make ends meet, therefore paid so much attention to the story of S-S.
I just hope and wish, we’ll be able to move on, for the better.
Great piece of writing !!
I am a Pakistani living in England and I am disgusted by the celebrations by the Pakistani media and public regarding this marriage. Why are Pakistanis happy.? This proves that we have accepted India as superior to us. We can deny this but subconciousally we have accepted that india is superior to us thus the celebrating! If sania mirza was from banglasdesh this would not even be news, because she is from INDIA it is big news. The way people are acting is like we conquered the world.
The truth of the matter is india sees pakistan as inferior and do not want to be linked with us but we love this LINK. This is the reason why people are celebrating in the media and giving it undue importance. If a indian celebrity married a pakistani woman, for example Salman khan married a muslim girl from pakistan. Would india celebrate??? They would attack him for marrying from an enemy country or they would not even care about this story. They feel superior to us and we feel inferior to them.
This is the truth people can deny this or accept, but this is the fact of the matter.
I agree with you. It’s disgusting to see some desperate people see joy in this marriage of a second rate tennis player from India ranked 97th and a characterless cricket player. His first marriage to Ayesha Siddiqui is hardly something to be proud of- not just because she is an obese Indian woman with no appeal. What is more ludicrous is that this so called cricket star was so desperate, he was trolling the internet for romance! What a sad guy and what a sad girl. Now he goes for this washed up tennis player from India who isn’t attractive at all! This too from a guy from Sialkot where there are loads of beautiful women. He is desperate and a gold digger which is why he went to South India to find a bride. Shame on him!
Best wishes to him & Sania.
It is so shameful to see where the country has 10 times bigger crises than highlighting issues like Shoaib and Sania’s marriage. It was so naive to see Pakistan’s so called market leader TV channels to show the couple’s of scandal on headlines leaving behind most critical issues of the country faced in present times. I believe Pakistani media has still got a long road to cover before it becomes mature enough to highlight stories, news alert, etc evluating on the grounds of what is important and what not….
Great Asif! You have written that many of us want to articulate to our media – which is pulling the wool over people eyes. Some of our self- claimed intellectuals also blamed Indian media that they are playing this matter with a “Barhaman” mind and want to defame Malik in all this matter. The people are dying in the different part of country, people crying blood on loud shading, AJK SC split in two and plenty of issues which are concerned with a common men life, but, no sir ! The biggest story on the screen of our main stream channels, is a marriage. Thank to the “responsible media”
Before, I did not like this couple. I felt kind of mismatch, but now I like this couple. It won’t last CAUSE hard for Sania to tackle Shoaib. I wish them live together forever, but my GINN saying hardly three years.
Yeah, I agree with the auther.
This marriage story makes me sick!
Goga Nalaik
The way the News Channels have taken up this issue is mind boggling and the way they have presented the news has touched new levels of absurdity.
There is understandably a price which these stars have to pay being public figures but i believe they have been pushed against the wall.The invasion of privacy and complete disrespect for the lives of these guys is shame galore.
One local channel was last night running the programme whether this marriage would work out or not and the anchors were busy pontificating on the issue, my question to them. Would you like the same programme to be done when your daughter is getting married and someone discussing over live tv whether the marriage would work out or not?
Responsible journalism was lacking and the channels are still running a rat race.
Nice article really….but my point is, isnt this the case that we as a nation love to see this on the news? when they talk about politics, our elders say that ‘forget it, this goes on forever and nothing will come out of it’. if the media brings politicians to task (unfortunately only in talk shows) then we all blame the anchors for their rumor mongering and inciting hatred and fights amongst the politician.
Some of the other comments make a case for why Shoaib didnt marry a Pakistani girl, and that this brought shame to the nation? Deja Vu….remember Imran Khan? and why do we bother so much about the personal lives of our celebrities? It is as if the celebrities are the only devils in a nation of angels…
Shame? do we know the meaning of this word? when 60% of population steals electricity from the poles, when only 2 million pay taxes (the salaried class), when we consider the whole country as a big sized garbage can (throwing litter wherever we wish).
First of all, the media is really going out of its sphere in dealing with its prime responsibilities. Media is to expose the things but not to interfere alot in one’s personal life to such extent. Almost every TV channel is trying to compete one another in telling what is new in this so-called “Story with twists”. I think they are getting married like anyother human. There should be nothing to project it on a large scale.
Media should follow some ethics.
Secondly, those who think that Shoaib should have gone for any girl in Pakistan then i would be of the view that its not a sin to marry someone out of your country even if he/she has same religion. Whats the big deal in that? Please let them marry and don’try to find out more suspense in it…
Why is so much fuss from Pakistan…Indian media showed dat Malik cheated Ayesha and that is true..1st Malik denied dat he maried to Ayesha now he confesed that he maried to Ayesha and gave her divorse..Mr.Malik’s lie nailed by Indian media..they showed the truth !
After the arrival of Satellite TV one can find multiple news channels reporting the same story over and over again. Well if you like it or not this is the reality everyone has to accept. Probably currently the effect of satellite TV invasion is being felt in India more compared to Pakistan where sooner or later the situation would be similar as in India. Who doesn’t like gossip news? Who are the gainers of this publicity? Not majorly the news channel who are reporting (of course they also benefit from their TRP ratings), instead I feel the news-makers themselves (Sania & Shoaib). So let us accept the truth of the globalization in the media world and all pro’s and con’s associated with it.