ExpertDabbler

I find it amusing whenever I read statements like ‘Thiruttu VCD yai ozhippom’ in Tamil Newspapers. The recent instance is with regard to the jaggu bhai ‘Edit pannina varaikum VCD’ controversy.

One fundamental truth which no VIP or media person likes to talk about is that, for all our talk about wiping out piracy, there is tremendous public support for it. Indian public is about as accommodative about piracy as it is about corruption in government offices. It is almost like exercising one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution.

When was ‘Vinnai thandi varuvaya’ audio launched?
It was first launched in UK if I remember right. And it was launched in India much later, maybe as late as last week. It was launched the day this post was first published. And I have already received three mails with URLs to download the songs. There are lots of passionate volunteers for these activities. Neraya per idhai oru dhavama, sevayya nenachu seyyaranga….They do it expecting nothing in return. They just want the ‘Tamil koorum nallulagam’ to listen to the latest ARR songs for free.

I am no supporter, all i am saying is that wiping out piracy with strong policing is as likely to work as wiping out prostitution with policing. It’s just not enough to go after the service providers so long as there is a supportive, loyal customer base. Someone has to think really out of the box and come up with a solution.

And I have no solution. But I would start by looking at the existing distribution mechanism which is totally out of synch with present day realities. Some pertinent questions: How many theatres were there twenty years back? How many had CD players then? What was the population then? The population now? How many households have CD players now? And how about the internet factor? How about the ease of making multiple instances with a single original? If someone can receive all the latest mp3 songs for free right in his mailbox, and can watch all movies in his streaming broadband connection, why would he go to the nearest shop, pay several hundred rupees to get a CD? What’s the incentive? Just to prove he is a conscientious citizen who cares about intellectual property? Unlikely. Neither the cine folks, nor our lofty politicians have set such examples of good behavior.

And what has changed in the film industry all these years? They still harp about NSC, overseas rights etc. And all these pathetic attempts like ‘gundar sattam’ so far has proliferated an entire ‘piracy’ industry. I discuss about these things with some of our younger team members at work during lunch/tea breaks. And I can never forget one exchange:

M~: “Sonna namba maatenga prabu, oru naal CD vanga bazaar pakkam poren, naan regulara vangara kadai pooti irukku… pakkathu kadai la visaricha, andha vaaram ‘Thiruttu VCD virpanai’ case la police kitte matradhu andha kadaikarar turn aam!! Ippadi vaaram oruthar turn pottu poranga prabu. Andha alavukku police kooda understanding … “

I would not be very surprised if some Burma Bazaar folks go on a hunger strike in protest against all this anti-piracy talks. It’s their livelihood after all. Namma oorla dhaan any group can go on a hunger strike for anything. The public does not give two hoots about morality, ethics etc. They do not care less about the film makers problems just like the way the film industry do not really care about the common man’s problems. If the cine folks think Sri Thenandal films fame Rama Narayanan and his DMK worship will solve their problems, then god alone can help them.

Again, this is not to say piracy is justified. But empty sloganeering will not solve problems. And lets face it. The common man, if conditions help, if economics help, and if consequences are trivial, will invariably cheat / consume pirated products. And none of these conditions can be changed by organizing ‘paaraatu vizha’ to the Chief Minister, and by giving out stunt statements to the press.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at 1:03 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.