Narrow minds dossier ‘07

The I&B Ministry banned AXN for showing the “World’s Sexiest Commercials” and FTV for airing shows such as “Midnight Hot.”

Muzzling television: The I&B Ministry banned AXN for showing the “World’s Sexiest Commercials” and FTV for airing shows such as “Midnight Hot.” Charges against the channels: offending good taste, denigrating women and damaging public morality.

HT Image

Banning Bollywood: Bajrang Dal kept “Parzania” off Gujarat’s cinemas while Himachal Pradesh refused to screen “Traffic Signal.” The gripe against Madhur Bhandarkar’s film: it uses a derogatory word for eunuchs. Singing sensation Himesh Reshammiya came under the radar for the song “Ya Ali,” with the ruckus being raised by the Shias this time.

And Hollywood: Richard Gere was forced to apologize for kissing Shilpa Shetty, at an AIDS charity event of all things! The gala wedding of Arun Nayar and Liz Hurley was slapped with a court notice for making a “mockery of Hindu customs.” Offences: the bride wore a revealing dress & didn’t take off her shoes for the pheras, and the guests had drinks.

Monitoring the Internet: Comedian Gauthum Prasad raised eyebrows with his Youtube video showcasing Gandhi in a radical new avataar: gyrating to music, pole dancing, and not shy of violence. Prasad was forced to apologize. Meanwhile in Maharashtra, BJP called for banning social networking sites. Allegation: Orkut and the like corrupt young minds.