GECs
DD series to mark recorded music centenary
NEW DELHI: 11 November, 2002 marks the centenary of recorded music in India. In celebration of the 100 years of recorded music, national broadcaster Doordarshan is producing a commemorative series entitled “A Century of Recorded Music – A Retrospective “.
The director-general of Doordarshan, Dr SY Quraishi, in a statement, has been quoted as saying: “It is a matter of great national pride and honour that the first song was recorded in India on 11th November 1902 in Calcutta by the Gramaphone and Typewriter Ltd, and it was sung by Miss Gauhar Jaan, the most celebrated singer of her time. This series will be a tribute to all the great artistes who have contributed to the recording industry. The series will encompass all genres of Indian music, like film, classical, folk music and will be a veritable feast for music lovers.”
The research on the subject is underway to ensure that no detail, however small is left out. All the national archives of music are being involved in the project. Prominent film and music personalities have also been sounded out, to ensure that this production, the first of its kind, will be a magnum opus. Plans are also on the anvil to release boxed sets of videos and DVD’s of this production, which is sure to become a collectors item, the official statement said.
“We appeal to everyone who feels that they may have something of value to contribute to this labor of love, to come forward and contact us through our website ddindia.com” Quraishi said.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has declared that 11th November 2002 to 10th November 2003 will be the centenary year of recorded music in India. Several events are in store for the music lovers and the year long celebrations will culminate in an awards ceremony to honour the legends of the music industry that has revolutionized the meaning of entertainment by creating a unique bond between man and music.
GECs
Sony Pictures Networks India pulls off a slick April Fool’s Day prank and we can’t keep calm
The broadcaster dangled a fake “confidential” leak across a ten-slide carousel, reeling in curious followers before delivering the punchline
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India had a little fun with its audience on Tuesday. The broadcaster posted a ten-slide Instagram carousel that opened with a bold red “CONFIDENTIAL — For internal use only” cover slide, tagged with its Go-Beyond branding, and the cryptic caption: “In light of recent developments, we felt it was important to address this subject.”
What followed was a masterclass in slow-burn trolling.
Slide by slide, the post built the tension methodically. There had been “a lot of chatter,” it warned. Some of it had “confused” people; others had “strong opinions.” The company was “not planning to address this publicly yet,” it teased, before conceding that “things seem to be moving faster than expected.” By the midpoint, the carousel was practically daring followers to keep swiping and they obliged, hunting for the scoop, connecting dots that, as the post dryly noted, “may or may not exist.”
The final slide landed the blow. “And right now, they realise this is just an April Fool’s Day prank.”
The post carried the hashtags #SPNI, #GoBeyond and #TellStoriesBeyondTheOrdinary, a neat reminder that the whole exercise was, in itself, a piece of brand storytelling.
No leak. No announcement. No bombshell. Just Sony, very much in on the joke.
