KHAN and the Common Man

They are definitely at loggerheads. They do not see each other eye in eye. Thanks to the highly alert Gossip Media who catches the glimpse of the minutest detail of a celebrity life, the SRK-SALMAN rivalry is public.

 

But something as miraculous as the Chaudavi ka Chaand happens at the Iftaar Party of the Congressman Baba Siddiqui that leaves watchers awestruck. Salman taps on Shahrukh’s back and the latter reciprocates with an amiable hug. The Khans embrace each other for a very brief second and the news hungry media gets their scoop for the whole week ahead.

In the era of 24 x 7 news channels where a small tweet by a public figure becomes a Breaking News, the question to be asked is do such events really deserve so much of attention?

In a nation wherein the terror strikes every now and then, when the Uttarakhand mayhem is yet to be restored, when the meal meant for children’s nutrition takes them to their final destination, when the ruling party is clutched in the hands of corruption, when our neighbours (Pakistan and China) are always on their heels to fight against India, when there is such a crisis all around, does it really matter if our favourite movie stars are friends or foes? Are we so numb that forgetting all the real issues we devote our attention towards real life relationship of two human beings who once played brothers in reel life?

When many may validate this notion, there is indeed a counter argument to this school of thought. No doubt that the common man is enraged with the ongoing National Calamities. No doubt that he wants a change, but the fact can’t be denied that the Aam Aadmi is a mere observer to all these issues. Even if he has the power to vote, things seldom go as per his wish and this develops a wait and watch attitude (A Chalta Hai Attitude) in him. And if some Tom, Dick or Harry even dares to emerge out as a Superman to change the system then his actions are seen as foolhardy.

Thus in his sheer frustration, when the share market crashes, when the rupee falls, when prices of commodities go sky high, when he has to struggle for his share of pie, when his leader backstabs, this common man seeks refuge and here these Super Heroes (who entertain him and make him forget his worries) come to his rescue and he finds it more meaningful to wait for Karan Arjun 2 than to anticipate the NDA 2 (or for that matter the UPA 3)

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