India's babus are once again training their guns at Internet pornography, with new amendments to the Information Technology Act in the works to block websites on the grounds of 'public order, decency or morality'. But with more power to the judiciary, it brings into question the current legitimacy of previous bans of websites such as that of the much-talked about Savita Bhabhi and her hot sexual, cartoony adventures. What people seem to forget is that the government, despite acting on complaints of obscenity last year, employed the security section of the law, blocking the site on grounds of endangering "the sovereignty or integrity of India, defence and security of the state" or "friendly relations with foreign states" – new powers granted by amendments after the Bombay attacks of 2008 – which would be granting the popular site a very impressive assessment anyway you look at it. But amendments aside, Savita Bhabhi has gained a modicum of respectability by being printed in France as a graphic novel – so much endangering friendly relations with foreign states!
Aamir Khan seems to be moving from one copyright feud to the next. First he went up against India's most popular novelist, Chetan Bhagat (don't blame Chhetria Patrakar, who only reads review copies), to now squabbling with Javed Akhtar, perhaps the region's most popular lyricist. Khan is part of committee of industry insiders and composers asked by the Human Resources Development Ministry to suggest changes to the copyright law. The film industry has a notorious history of short-changing lyricists and musicians, and the most recent amendments have bolstered the legal claims over their works, something that is giving film producers sleepless, musicless nights. Khan, miffed at the "lies" in the media, quit after his row with Akhtar became public. CP would be remiss not to share some of the reported comments flung between the two duelists. Khan: "A song is a hit because it is picturised on a big star." Akhtar: "Your first big song was "Papa kehte hain". Did it make you a star or did you make it run?" That's the real trouble of putting up a tamasha with a lyricist: They'll always give themselves the best lines.
Aamir Khan could be considered an unlikely pick on a copyright-focused panel, considering his very public spat with Chetan Bhagat over the 3 Idiots film script. But HRD Minister Kapil Sabil seems willing to bat for him. When Sabil urged him to return with a letter of support penned by the rest of the panel, including Javed Akhtar, Khan finally relented. Now that's star power, in the lucrative mobile-ring-tones industry (expected to overtake the film-song industry any day).