Afternoon Newspapers in Hyderabad

I always used to wonder after seeing those 125 page editions of foreign newspapers like FT, NYT and Times, London whether Indians will get enough to read in a day. Same is the feeling I used to get on picking copies of afternoon papers in Mumbai - like Mirror and Afternoon Despatch. When will Hyderabadis get quality reading material for the evening? Hyderabadis are not known for their readerly interests but entrpreneurs never give up if they get cheaper newsprint, good news editors and sassy connections. Hyderabad's evening newspaper, first in many years - "Post-Noon" paper arrived slightly after noon today . "Post-noon" looks meatier at 32 pages, full of gloss on everything under the sun. Far better than "Citizen's Evening". Remember that paper used to wrap tennis shoes and knitwear and made to look as if it was printed on blotting paper with handmade fonts? Postnoon has attempted more eclectic mix on day 1 from topics ranging from jaywalking to IT cos temping to AK Khan profile to why John Abraham doesnt dance at weddings. Its got all the snooze on Katie Holmes, Paris Hilton and some ho-hum news on upcoming movie releases and heroes. I have seen English newspapers come and go in Hyderabad and felt sorry many wound up sooner- "Newstime", "AP Times", "Asian Age" . A paper's stamina will be known after six months, atleast. I hope this paper lives long enough for citizens to read it on Hyd Metro trains on their way back from work. I still do not know why the earlier papers closed down because the content was quite pedgireed and hardly pedestrian. Atleast, nobody tried to do a "News of the World" misdeeds. Yet they closed down due to dwindling print runs and subscriber support and ads. But the ones that live on are those who chronicle the times of the city and amplify the megapolis' citizens' voices. They just don't map the GDP of the city but also its gross domestic happiness and unhappiness - thats why they are able to thrive. And they managged to get the pulse of the city-goer and make it more than a loo habit - some even atttempted to indoctrinate younger generation by selecting their paintings and doodles and dodo poetry. In this era of facebook and google+ and breaking-news, the editor of "post-noon" proclaims this will be an eveninger that will be more interactive and responsive and make the resident of Hyderabad a stakeholder in its development. I hope it lives to its promise half the time - and carries the spirit of indolence, fun, dignity and self-respect of a Hyderabadi after a day's work. Cheers and now over to the new morning daily tomorrow - The Hans India. As I see newsprint prices are going to be upbeat - they track the Canadian dollar which is doing better than the US Dollar that is likely to drop against India. As I said, the weekend is something to look forward to.

Who is the sick man of Europe?

Turkey has been called the "Sick Man of Europe". Right through Byzantine Rule and the Ottoman Empire reign, Turkey always wanted to belong to Europe, not Arab world. It is secular and shun Arabic script for the standard European letters. Its membership to EU is still pending and is one of the red-hot Emerging Markets. It may have the last laugh as the rest of the Europe compete with one another in "sickness".

Arvind Adiga's New Book "The Last Man in Tower"

Adiga's "TThe Last Man in Tower" arrrived from publishers yesterday. Seems more elaborate than "White Tiger". Seems like a racy read on Mumbai' real estate and related scams and cooperative housing society. Hardback edition tells me his books already reached cult readership with second book.

BBuddha Hoga Teraa Baap

"BBuddha Hoga Tera Baap" (Hindi) is a light-hearted, slick film from Puri Jagannadh as a tribute to Sr.Bachan. He spares no effort in making capital out of every scene to project AB as the master of screen presence with oustanding one-liners. He ropes in half the Tollywood cast and tries to put sizzle back to ABCL and AB. Very Watchable.

Virodhi

"Virodhi" is an engaging film on the Naxal issue seen through the eyes of an honest journalist, earlier, a bystander to its core issues (just like all of us). Neelakantha directs a terrific screenplay with vivid performances by Ajay, Kamal Kamaraju, Srikanth and others. Well told without pontifications. SriSri song of "Akali Rajyam" repeat in the end - "Edi Needi, Edi Naadi, Edi Neeti, Edi Neti.." sums it up.

Which country will default next?

Blackrock - leader in ETFs - released a new sovereign risk index score that ranks 44 countries on potential default risk. At the bottom: Greece, Portugal, Venezuela, Egypt, Italy, Hungary...Spain (Vishawanathan Anand's favorite) @no.36. US @no.15. China@14. India@32. No.1 is Norway. Wondering why China is closer to US in default - the former's savings are the latter's debt. Scientific - not standard and poor.

New Newspaper

Hyderabad which got a new English daily "Indian Horizons" (quite below-par) will see a grander launch of another English Daily from a media house with some great talent - the team that built up DC and Hindu. Its launch is set for around July 15th. Watch this space for more.