PressEthic

Ever since Amitabh Bachchan, the Godfather of Bollywood, was hospitalized on Monday for "abdominal pains" in New Delhi, that's all the media in India has been able to talk about. And while the news of his illness could be considered general interest in a country where most of us are star-struck, it certainly didn't warrant the close inspection and constant coverage that it got over the last five days. There has been a profusion of articles about him every day, regardless of newsworthiness. And the worst offender? Not a tabloid, but the Times of India, that widely read and (arguably) respected national broadsheet.

My parents had been away from the country for ten days and returned to be faced, in Mumbai, with a front page story about how Mr. Bachchan is recovering from surgery and is fine. Apparently, he just has to stay away from film shoots for a month. This is front page news?! With all due respect (and an acknowledgement that I am one of his crazy fans), Mr. Bachchan's illness should not have been news every day for five days and it should certainly not have been front page news. I understand if people are watching carefully when the President or Prime Minister of a country is ill -- his/her fate could affect a country nationally and internationally. But a movie star? Come on!

I was also amused to see that the BBC is not immune to Bollywood mania.