Analyzing the Sabarmati Report

INTRODUCTION

In school, as part of the Power and Media chapter in our school textbook, we watched the movie 'The Sabarmati Report', which was released in 2024 and stars popular actor Vikrant Massey. This movie revolves around an incident that took place in the year 2002, involving the burning of a train that carried many men, women and children. These tragic events occurred in a municipality in India called Godhra.

PLOT OVERVIEW

The film emphasizes how, after the horrific incident, a journalist working for a prominent news channel discovers that the attack was planned. However, despite having this evidence, the powerful media organization chooses to ignore it, instead presenting the story to the public as a mere accident. Upset by the manipulation of facts, the journalist sets out to expose the news channel for misleading the public and hiding the truth.

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND ETHICS

This movie shows how influential media organizations, especially those with political or financial power can control the narrative, shaping how people think and react. It reveals how the media can spread misinformation or suppress facts to fit an agenda, ultimately playing with the minds of citizens and shifting public opinion on a national level.

The other theme that is highlighted in the movie is the responsibility of  the journalists to report the truth. The film raises questions about ethics and accountability and persuades the viewers to think critically about the news content they consume. It highlights the struggle between truth and power. Media organizations have a powerful influence on society because many people rely on them for information. Overall, The Sabarmati Report shows how powerful the media can be in shaping public perception.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, the Sabarmati Report not only portrays a tragic historical incident but also elaborates a complex relationship between the truth and media influence. The movie carried the message that while media has the power to inform the society but it should also carry the responsibility to report facts ethically.

AMUL ADVERTISEMENT

In one of the media lectures we had attended, we were shown 2 advertisements of a dairy company called Amul and in one of the advertisements, it showed how the milk is made and the whole process of milking the cows.

Amul is one of India’s most iconic and trusted dairy brands, best known for its milk, butter and other dairy products. Founded in 1946, Amul is managed by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). The brand became famous not only for its quality milk but also for its clever and catchy advertisements, including the legendary Amul girl mascot. Amul milk is marketed as pure, nutritious and essential for daily health, and it plays a major role in India's “White Revolution,” which helped make the country self-sufficient in dairy production. (Source : Wikipedia)

This ad could be shown to make sure that the consumers of the products that Amul sells, feel trusted and know about the product they are consuming. It highlights freshness and quality as well as the clean production process. 

On the other hand, the classical ad that was made by Amul used particular jingles to make sure that the advertisement and the brand is remembered through catchy sounds and music, as well as making it very family friendly. 

Amul effectively uses media to control how different audiences perceive its brand by tailoring its advertisements while maintaining an image for the people who view the advertisements. For example, health-conscious families are targeted through advertisements that emphasize Amul's clean production process, freshness, and nutritional benefits, building trust in the brand’s quality and the brand image . At the same time, children are engaged with colors, jingles, and the Amul Girl who is present on almost every Amul ad, this makes the brand feel playful and makes the audience remember the brand easily. Through this consistent yet adaptable media strategy, Amul is able to reshape how people think about the brand, not just as a company who sells dairy products, but as a part of Indian culture and conversation. The media positions Amul as not only a household staple but also a brand that evolves with society, earning emotional connection and long-term loyalty from a wide range of audiences.

Investiture Ceremony

 Now that I am apart of the media team for my school, I , along with the others was appointed to be present during the investitures ceremony and capture moments from the ceremony that reflected leadership and confidence in the learners and presenters. This is all because I and a few others were selected to be a part of the media team this year 

this is a picture I took during a musical performance at the investiture ceremony to warm the guests 

Script of the Music Video

Script for the Music Video

Music- Softcore by The Neighbourhood  (2018)

Scene 1: Car scene 

Different shots are used to show that the car is parked in the parking slot, and the teenager 

is present inside the car. Relieved, and now to get a hit of 'fake dopamine' he grabs his phone and 

scrolls through his ex-girlfriends break up text. 

Devastated, he begins to start stress eating to find a way out of the pain and grief that he is

currently going through. 

A series of shots are shown where the teenager is seen just eating like there is no tomorrow.

*as the teenager is about to take his next bite he catches his father approach the car*

*father knocks, and the teenager, scared, rolls down his window*

Father (Lines improvised): (angry) What is this? is this what I have taught you? you're letting 

yourself go like this all because of a girl? I've trained you all your life and have dedicated so much time to you and is this how you repay me?

*The teenager is disappointed in himself and looks down in shame*

The camera pans to the teenager.

*Music starts playing*

Scene 2: Gym scene

In this scene, the teenager is shot entering the gym and a series of shots are executed of him lifting the weights and body different types of exercises' throughout.

An example of the shots, are a shot where he is doing pull ups with a wide shot, a close up shot of him lifting weights such as the bench press, and more. 

Scene 3: The final scene.

As the teenager get finished with the gym, we notices himself walk by a car, and the reflection of his physique catches his eye. Happy with how far he has come, he reflects a pleasant smile.

 Realizing he still possesses the letters, he finally decides to move on from his past, and he lights the letters on fire. 

 A close up shot is used from the ground where it is scene that the letters are dropped and they are burning, while the boy walks away from that which was holding him back

Details about my major task

 So for my A2 music video that I will be making this year with my partner, is going to be titled: Invictus. The music video is going to be made under the song titled 'Softcore' by The Neighborhood

The music video stands as a visual representation of using the rage and anger inside you could be used for boosting of your life if channelized,  

Music video genre: Motivational

Target Audience: The target audience for this music video are young adults and gym enthusiasts who love to workout and are looking for some motivation to rise.  To be more specific, ages ranging from 16-25 and to add on it also targets those who love pop music 

Themes: 

1. Self-Discipline

2. Consistency 

Idea of my major task

I came across this song called 'Softcore' by The Neighborhood  when I was younger and recently one Instagram reel about a powerlifter appeared in my algorithm that inspired be to make a music video using this song,  and since I love to workout I was thinking I could make a montage of a character lifting weights and sprinting, of course there will be a story to it, the story will involve one character being told to take life seriously and get back to work and work hard, when they take everything in control and starts to work hard in the gym. The story in this music video signifies that channelizing the anger inside you could lead to the flower blooming instead of it dying.  

This is one of the covers from the song 'Softcore' by The Neighborhood

Team Introduction

OVERVIEW

This year, I am gonna be working with less people than I worked with last year in AS Levels. I see this as an opportunity to respond to responsibilities better and take charge whenever we are lacking. The good news is that I would be working with a teammate who worked on last years project with me for the film opening so I would be more comfortable working with him. Smaller group allows for better communication and a better chance to put up and execute your ideas directly.

COLLABORATION

This year Lakshya Nair and I are gonna be working on a music video that revolves around a young boy who regains his spirit and puts in his hard work in the weight room (gym). Having worked together before, we know are strengths and weaknesses and approaches very well. This shared history gives an advantage to maintain a cohesive vision for the project.

PROJECT CONCEPT

Team for A2 Music Video:

Lakshya Nair

Evaan Kapoor 

Media Regulation #2

Who regulates the media that needs to be regulated?

Media is regulated by organizations and certain parts of the government bodies that are made to be held responsible to make sure that harmful media pieces does not harm the audience by showcasing misleading, inappropriate and offensive content.

Many countries have different organizations that are there to regulate media, here are the examples:

CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification)- India 

The CBFC is a government run organization that operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. They watch the films before they are launched to the public in the cinemas. Movies are given certificates like U (Universal), U/A (Parental Guidance), A (Adults only), or S (Restricted to certain groups).

FCC (Federal Communications Commissions)- The United States of America

The FCC regulates, TV, radio and communications in the USA, to make sure that the content is not sensitive to watch, this is particularly regulated during hours when children tend to watch the television.

Portfolio Introduction

This year for A levels, for the major task, we have an option do to a short film, a music video, documentary or a film proportion package, but because I like music, my creativity would like to explore making a music video for the major task. Why? because, in my opinion, music videos help me pay attention to the story by using catchy sounds and lyrics that tell a story in a more creative way that reflects things implicitly or explicitly. Music videos has more artistic view compared to a film or a documentary, it tells a story using symbolism, abstract visuals, bold editing, and expressive shots. 

a music video that really sits well with me is in a movie titled Creed 2 and there is a song titled 'I will go to war' by Tessa Thompson 

Regulatory bodies

 We’re surrounded by media every day, news channels, social media, movies, podcasts, you name it. And with all that content flying around, someone has to keep things in check, right? That’s where media regulation comes in. It basically means setting rules for what’s allowed and what’s not in the world of media. The idea is to stop fake news, protect kids from harmful stuff, make sure news isn’t biased, and just keep things ethical overall. Different countries have their own regulatory bodies that handle this, like the Press Council of India for newspapers or the CBFC for movies. Around the world, there’s the FCC in the U.S. or Ofcom in the UK doing similar work. But it’s not always black and white. Sometimes, regulation can feel like censorship, and it gets tricky when social media platforms operate globally without clear rules. The challenge is finding that balance, between giving people freedom to express and making sure that freedom isn’t misused. As media keeps evolving, especially with AI and the internet, the rules need to evolve too. Otherwise, it’s chaos.

An example is PEGI (Pan European Gaming Information) which shows age rating on video game cases to show case the age limit 

Selection for the media team- Yoga Day

On the 22nd June all the media students were assigned the task of filming for the International Yoga day that was hosted by my school, CP Goenka International school and all the students were asked to capture the moments of children of the primary and secondary batch performing yoga positions and practicing yoga. 

With the reels made of capturing moments from the yoga day, we were made to submit it to the school so we could be judged on our editing skills and performance. Submitting our reels for evaluation taught me how important planning, timing, and editing skills are in producing a compelling final product. I learned to focus not just on what is happening, but on how to present it in a way that communicates emotion, excitement, and the spirit of the event.

After the results came in I was glad to see that I had been selected for the media team and the media team that is appointed by the school has been chosen to film content for major school events like the investiture ceremony and independence day for example. 

Post Modernism #2 Intertextual References

 Definition of Intertextual References

When a text (book, movie, speech, song, etc.) alludes to another text, either directly or indirectly, this is known as an intertextual allusion. By utilizing the audience's prior knowledge of the item being referred, this relationship has the potential to influence meaning, provide depth, or generate fresh interpretations. 

The idea stems from the theory of intertextuality which was first used by Julia Kristeva in the 1960s and was based on Mikhail Bakhtin's theories. It implies that all texts are a "mosaic of quotations" that are impacted by one another and do not exist in a vacuum.

Examples in Pop Culture

Literature 

• James Joyce's Ulysses is a Dublin-set adaptation of Homer's Odyssey.
• Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea, which gives voice to Bertha Mason, is a forerunner to Jane Eyre.

Movies

• Hamlet is a model for The Lion King.
• There are many intertextual references of Paprika and The Matrix in the movie Inception.

TV

• Literary and cultural allusions abound in The Simpsons.
• Intertextuality is used in Stranger Things with music, books, and movies from the 1980s. 
• For example, the reference of the Ghostbusters movie when the group dresses as the characters from the movie 

Post Modernism

What is post modernism?

Post modernism is the way of thinking about culture, art and media that rejects the idea that there is one single truth and meaning, post modernism suggests that meaning could be fluid, mixed and playful

Post modernism techniques

1. Pastiche: This is when a media text celebrates the style of another media text by imitating individual elements of it or entirely. The features of pastiche are imitation of style, genre blending and homage.

Example: Stranger Things → recreates 1980s sci-fi and horror styles with respect.

2. Parody: A media text that mocks or imitates the style of another media text by imitating certain elements like characters, plot structure, music or sound effects. Parody is used to create humour, criticize the original media text or entertain the audience who recognise the original.

3. Intertextual references: This is when a media text references another media text. It can be referred with a direct quote, allusions, genre conventions or cliches. It is used to pay homage to older works or add meaning by comparing texts.  

Media Regulation

 

What is media regulation?

Media Regulation is the monitoring and control of the output of the media texts that media institutions produce. 

Why is Media Regulated?

Media is regulated because audience can access media for many reasons, mainly entertainment. Media  texts need to be regulated because people in charge need to make sure that the media piece does not cause harm to anybody in any way, shape or form and some media texts and pieces could be accessed by children and those media pieces could be disturbing for children to view.

What can happen if media is not regulated?

Copycat theory- suppose there is a violent video game that is not regulated for the audience, it is possible for the media consumers to re-enact particular parts of the violent video games, risking violent behavior and it does not allow the the consumer to tell between reality and in game.

Examples of some countries regulating media 

• some countries severely restrict viewing media pieces from different countries 
• some video games have an 18+ warning on the package of the video game