Pallavi Polanki in the Hindustan Times
The Sri Lankan tourism promotion bureau must have been watching very closely when the Setusamudram Project rocked Parliament last year. Their attempt to cash in on the Ramayana craze in India seems to have hit jackpot.
Ever since the launch in January of the ‘Sri Lanka’s Ramayana Trail’ — a religious/ spiritual tourism venture by Lanka — tour operators have been flooded with enquiries from India.
“A swami from north India is bringing 400 of his students to go on the trail. An Andhra Pradesh tour operator has come and checked out the trail. We have already had batches of 50, 60, and 120 visitors from India,” said Asoka Perera, South Asia spokesperson for Sri Lanka Tourism. He is in Delhi to take part in the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange.
And on more on Sri Lanka’s Ramayana link and cricket icons, Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva marketing that link click here.
April 23, 2008 at 3:20 |
Also read this blog …it’s not only famous in Srilanka but in Hollywood as well
http://pinastro.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/the-great-ramayana-script-continues-to-inspirethis-time-hollywood/
April 24, 2008 at 3:20 |
[...] Previously on AW: Ramayan trail in Sri Lanka [...]
July 28, 2008 at 3:20 |
Children, Media & Advertising
We all love watching Ramayana on Television
For many, this is an epic, but the fact remains that Ramayana is a part Indian Culture.
We all have seen the following commercials of Ramayana.
First – Two boys complaining and accusing each other-
Kutta Kamina, Kanpati Par Doonga, Chup Kar Kamine“!
Then – A girl saying to the next door neighbor –
“Bhag gayi hogi kisi ke saath”. “Mujhe to pahle se hi shak tha”, “Garam Khoon Hai Na, Kahan Jaayegi Kalmuhi”!, “Subah Tak AA Jayegi“..
And of course – the latest melody from a boy -
“E Ganpat chal daru la. Are Sada thoda kam soda thoda pani mila.
Thoda table par bacha, thoda de na“!
Translated in English it says -
Hey Ganpat make me a drink with little soda. Leave some on the table and get me some now.
Well Crafted, Well Crafted!
Television advertising has been an established form of advertising and it reaches children too. In some countries there are laws which say
“A commercial with advertising that is broadcasted during commercial breaks on television must not have the purpose of attracting the attention of children less than 12 years of age.”
It is ironic or rather unfortunate that here children are in lead roles.
In India also there are certain codes of ethics for commercial broadcasting, issued by the advertising council of India, especially when it involves children.
Indecent, vulgar, suggestive, repulsive or offensive themes or treatment has to be avoided in all forms of advertisement.
Media should not make it such a melodrama when the same thing can be put forward in a better way.
But why to blame only the media? We all are responsible, especially parents who allow their children to do so. Don’t they realise, the damage they are causing to their children, and if they do understand this, they have no right to pass on this to the teachers and society.
We all have to think before it is too late.