We often turn to social media to read the review of any movie or show before spending our time and money to actually watch it. Hence, anyone and everyone is trying to become a movie critic to cash in on this trend. However, among these are some OG critics like Anupama Chopra who have been in this business for ages and doing it for their love for cinema.
But just yesterday, the acclaimed film critic took to Twitter and revealed another harsh reality of Bollywood. Chopra said that she was approached by a PR firm to do a paid movie review.
Got this text today from a PR firm. Am still processing. #wanttoweep
Hello
Hope your doing well.
I am X from X. Wanted to check if you are open to do paid movie reviews.
If yes, request you to please let me know how we can go about it.Regards
— Anupama Chopra (@anupamachopra) June 21, 2022
Evidently, moviemakers can go to any extent to promote their movies even if they don’t have the potential or the X-factor. Bribing someone with credible followers who take their reviews seriously is the easiest way they could think of, degrading the art to a money-making business model.
Anupama is clearly not happy with it. This is how people online reacted to her revelation:
ek baar market rate pata toh kar hi lo Anu, bohot hua.
— Sucharita Tyagi (@Su4ita) June 21, 2022
The takeaway should be that you must not conduct in a manner where people start believing that you are cheap.
SRK does paid events too, but not every random guy goes to him asking “kya rate challa hai” !!— RTjeevi (@ChallaHai) June 21, 2022
Check if it’s for a movie titled ‘paid’ 😁
— Suresh Mathew (@Suresh_Mathew_) June 21, 2022
This is the reason why many Indian shows/movies does not have good stories.If they have enough money to pay the critics why can’t they use that money to hire some good script writers and create better content. SAD.
— adam_swift (@adamswift22) June 21, 2022
Are you surprised…. It’s been ubiquitous for sometime 😏
— Julius Packiam (@julius_packiam) June 21, 2022
worst is when the bosses don’t believe you when you say that the journalist said no 😔
— sim (@cheaptadpole) June 21, 2022
I get weekly calls from firms on behalf of some huge Hindi films and shows, straight up asking what I would charge for a "positive review", the latest being a streaming show I was expected to tout as "Best of 2022".
The PR execs are ALWAYS genuinely surprised on hearing no. https://t.co/JGF7HbL3VU
— Sucharita Tyagi (@Su4ita) June 21, 2022
PR firm :- https://t.co/1Qd4urdsil pic.twitter.com/PSgjGixsiG
— SHAHI LITCHI❤ (@AashiqChanchal) June 21, 2022
Earlier, the PR was discreet about it. Now these mails have become common. #PaidReviews
Really #wanttoweep https://t.co/dFZpYfJKku— 𝒀𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝑼𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒏 (@yasser_aks) June 21, 2022
So many PR firms ask to do PAID REVIEWS. They send emails with some ‘confidentiality clause’. So you can’t even share the details. Also that most common line- “If it’s more than 3.5-4 stars, we’ll publish your name on film’s posters with your ratings” 🤷🏻♂️😂 https://t.co/NRolLnHM6S
— Aavishkar (@aavishhkar) June 21, 2022
Sigh. The rot is so deep! https://t.co/XDqCzsHXB1
— Nona Walia (@nonawalia) June 21, 2022
+1 … Got this morning … Left me angry as hell … Was discussing with @chhabs & @SuparnaSharma about how the profession has been degraded over the years … No commitment to the calling, no passion for cinema … Just a means to making a quick buck https://t.co/OBQin7dYkO
— Namrata Joshi (@Namrata_Joshi) June 21, 2022
Everything comes with a price tag, but not principles and ethics.