Desperation for Heroes and the Unfolding of Siddhu Drama

Watching the great Siddhu soap unfold every day makes my belief that ‘we are a country highly deficient of heroes’ even stronger.

A fairly average cricketer, an embarrassing commentator (he gives a tough competition to Mandira Bedi though) and a ridiculous judge of a good comedy show has suddenly shot to the top of stardom with his name in active discussion in almost every field – politics, sports, television, social and what not. He has become such a big hero that the news of him being granted a bail attracts primetime coverage and he boasts of his courage and patriotism as if he was convicted for committing a highly truehearted act which could have been done only outside the purview of country’s law.

However, somehow in this entire drama, I fail to understand the pulse of the audience – I don’t know if the media and public are sympathetic to Siddhu or they believe him to be a hero who deserves all the limelight and probably a favorable treatment or they are just having fun watching a buffoon making mockery of himself on national television. Siddhu though, for sure has started believing that he is a national hero and he deserves to be set free for killing someone as it was unintentional. And for that matter, even if it was actually an intentional murder, it was an act out of provocation and thus his right to appeal to the public and portray himself as a self sacrificing martyr. And believe me; he has every right to feel so.

We are a country highly deficient of heroes and entertainment. If cricketers like Dhoni who are yet to prove themselves can become brand ambassador for multiple brands, appear on fashion shows and generate miles long line up of people on the roads hungry to catch a glimpse despite recent failures, then Siddhu has every reason to fancy his super stardom. We are a country where an Indian-American who has nothing to do with India except her ancestry can make the entire nation proud - Siddhu has after all hit Warne for a few sixes and given us some proud moments!

Our ‘sensation’ hungry media which is as indecisive on sensitive issues as a fresh graduate adds to his arsenal. On the other hand, we the public are so deprived of entertainment that watching the Siddhu drama unfold has been quite entertaining. This however puts credentials of our societal values and the legal system at stake – How can someone be roaming around hogging media limelight despite killing someone, even if unintentional.

The day is not far when anyone who could fancy stardom would try justify an act of road rage as an unintentional act even if it was under the influence of Alcohol – After all, Madira is deemed to be a holy offering to a few of Hindu Gods and sacred Prasadam’s influence can never be subjected to disrepute.