Streambox TV – Frustrated

I recently took a Streambox TV account. Since taking the account 3 days ago, I have not yet been able to watch anything on it

Streambox folks say that some channels are not working and they are working on it. But from what I have seen so far, the only part working on their website is the credit card billing I am not even able to open a ticket with them as their issue tracking system goes into a loop between pages. I should have known when they were not able to give me a preview of any of the channels before I signed up.

So if you are considering taking a new Streambox TV account here is a friendly piece of advise – wait until they are able to show a decent preview of the channels you want to watch.

Idea Star Singer: Bad Timing?

From Mani’s comment on my earlier post:

I am fed up of hearing the contestants saying that they were sick, had sore throat and fever, why make excuses? I feel that people making these excuses should get 50 points reduced from their total score.

I had also noticed this aspect of Idea Star Singer competition where many participants claim to have a sore throat or chest infection. It is irritating for the viewers, but I am wondering if there is another side to this proverbial coin. Monsoon rains are in full swing now in Kerala and the climate is very wet and chilly. Could it be that at least some of those people really have a sore throat.. what say?

Idea Star Singer: Sucky Anchor

My wife watches Idea Star Singer on Asianet regularly. By the time I get back from work I usually don’t get to watch it. Today I watched one episode in full.

Ranjini Haridas hosts the show and she is the worst Malayalam television anchor I have seen (BTW, that is a heavily contested title). Here is a snip from an interview (linked above) with her:

Although, as anchor she is on the other side of the judging game, Ranjini continues to be judged. Her ‘Manglish’ draws a lot of flak, be it ‘Sahasikante Lokam’ or ‘Idea Star Singer’.

“I can speak colloquial Malayalam, which I speak at home. I am no Malayalam pundit, it is not that I intentionally avoid the language. I respect it. But I cannot speak the kind that is spoken on television. I told Sreekantan (Nair) Sir this when they approached me for the show, he gave me the go ahead. And if people have a problem they should be speaking to the channel,” she says cheekily. In fact, she is open to anchoring in Malayalam, provided she is given a proper script right down to the minutest detail.

The forum that Asianet had set up for the contest has a huge thread titled Please Change The Anchor – and a quick glance suggests that most of the comments are indeed saying that they hate the anchor. Is anyone at Asianet listening?

Sukumari as Prem Nazir’s grandmother?!

Snippet from an televised interview with movie actress Sukumari:

Interviewer: From when did you start acting as a grandmother?
Sukumari: I don’t remember exactly when I started, but maybe since 10-15 years.
Interviewer: Have you acted as grandmother of Nazir sir?
Sukumari: Oh not, not Nazir sir! Maybe if he were alive today, I might have.