Over the last six years, come summer, IPL has ruled the entertainment roost. It has been unchallenged and it's power unparalleled.
In summer, producers have realised that there is no point in releasing movies and television channels in starting new soaps, malls and restaurants have realised that having a large screen with live telecast of IPL is the only way of getting audience to purchase their services.
But, has the IPL met its entertainment nemesis this year?
Is it from Football, Hockey, Television serials, or from Rajinikanth?
No, it is losing out on the entertainment front to a completely unexpected quarter, Indian politics!
Right from the conversation with auto wallahs to office corridors to swish high profile do's, the most engaging topic these days is the Indian politics.
The credit for this goes to two politicians who have transformed the political communication landscape -
Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal.
These two politicians, have, in a way heralded the birth of the Marketer Politician and by challenging almost every status quo, have made Indian politics into a masala entertainer.
Historically, the Indian politics have been a one surname story, the Nehru -Gandhi surname. With guaranteed reach and amazing brand equity, these names have determined how India voted and whom we voted to power.
In the sixty odd years that we have been a democratic republic, these surnames have lead us for at least 80% of the time, nationally.
The few times that they ceded power, it was due to their mismanagement (like Emergency or Bofors) and not from a pan Indian challenge coming from a stronger party.
In 2014, many of these are old theories are being demolished. This is the new India where much like their American corporate landscape, upstarts are challenging the incumbent giants.
The fact that in poll after poll, in terms of political acceptability, the man with the Gandhi surname- Rahul, is lagging substantially behind surnames like Modi and Kejriwal indicates that the Indian politics have come of age.
Never before in the history of Indian politics have regional leaders become national icons. A Modi is as appealing in Andhra Pradesh as in UP and a Kejriwal, as well known among urban voters in Mumbai as in Bangalore.
Much like successful brands, these challengers have given the Indian voters a reason to believe (RTB) based on a unique selling proposition (USP). They have used the tools of mass communication effectively. The media is eating out of their hand, their PR engine is working like a well oiled machine , their campaigning methods are being copied by well entrenched politicians and suddenly it is being felt that the famed surname might actually have led for the last time!
The combined effect - the media and the entertainment consuming public, reads, whatsapps, face books, tweets and discussed more about politics that ever before.
Till the election results are out, this will be the all consuming passion of Indians, pushing the other Indian passion, cricket, to a lower slot. The credit for this transformation resting with the two maverick marketers.
Move over IPL, your marketing might has been challenged by the new IPL - the Indian Political League.
In summer, producers have realised that there is no point in releasing movies and television channels in starting new soaps, malls and restaurants have realised that having a large screen with live telecast of IPL is the only way of getting audience to purchase their services.
But, has the IPL met its entertainment nemesis this year?
Is it from Football, Hockey, Television serials, or from Rajinikanth?
No, it is losing out on the entertainment front to a completely unexpected quarter, Indian politics!
Right from the conversation with auto wallahs to office corridors to swish high profile do's, the most engaging topic these days is the Indian politics.
The credit for this goes to two politicians who have transformed the political communication landscape -
Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal.
These two politicians, have, in a way heralded the birth of the Marketer Politician and by challenging almost every status quo, have made Indian politics into a masala entertainer.
Historically, the Indian politics have been a one surname story, the Nehru -Gandhi surname. With guaranteed reach and amazing brand equity, these names have determined how India voted and whom we voted to power.
In the sixty odd years that we have been a democratic republic, these surnames have lead us for at least 80% of the time, nationally.
The few times that they ceded power, it was due to their mismanagement (like Emergency or Bofors) and not from a pan Indian challenge coming from a stronger party.
In 2014, many of these are old theories are being demolished. This is the new India where much like their American corporate landscape, upstarts are challenging the incumbent giants.
The fact that in poll after poll, in terms of political acceptability, the man with the Gandhi surname- Rahul, is lagging substantially behind surnames like Modi and Kejriwal indicates that the Indian politics have come of age.
Never before in the history of Indian politics have regional leaders become national icons. A Modi is as appealing in Andhra Pradesh as in UP and a Kejriwal, as well known among urban voters in Mumbai as in Bangalore.
Much like successful brands, these challengers have given the Indian voters a reason to believe (RTB) based on a unique selling proposition (USP). They have used the tools of mass communication effectively. The media is eating out of their hand, their PR engine is working like a well oiled machine , their campaigning methods are being copied by well entrenched politicians and suddenly it is being felt that the famed surname might actually have led for the last time!
The combined effect - the media and the entertainment consuming public, reads, whatsapps, face books, tweets and discussed more about politics that ever before.
Till the election results are out, this will be the all consuming passion of Indians, pushing the other Indian passion, cricket, to a lower slot. The credit for this transformation resting with the two maverick marketers.
Move over IPL, your marketing might has been challenged by the new IPL - the Indian Political League.
