Amita Malik

Amita Malik
Amita Malik Chief Guest at OASIS (CUSAT), 1983
Born	1921
Died	20 February 2009(2009-02-20)
Occupation	Film and television critic
Awards	Kamal Kumari National Award B.D. Goenka Journalism Award 1992

Amita Malik (1921 – 20 February 2009) was described by TIME magazine as India's "most prominent film and television critic",^[1] dubbed the "first lady of Indian media" and "India's best known cinema commentator".^[2] She began her career at All India Radio, Lucknow in 1944 and later wrote for many print publications including The Statesman, The Times of India, the Indian Express and Pioneer.^[3] She died of leukaemia at the age of 87 in Kailash Hospital near South Delhi on 20 February 2009.^[4]

Childhood

When Amita was 21 days old, the car she was travelling in collided with another car in which Mahatma Gandhi was sitting. Gandhiji was greatly concerned that the little one was unhurt.^[5]

First film

The very first film she saw in her life was The Gold Rush by Charlie Chaplin screened by the nuns of Loreto Convent Shillong.^[6]

Career

She could boast of being the only Indian film critic to interview many important film celebrities and directors such as Ingmar Bergman and Marlon Brando.^[7]

Amita Malik was the first reporter to interview Indira Gandhi when she unexpectedly first became Prime Minister of India^[8] after Lal Bahadur Shastri's death in Tashkent.

First job

She joined All India Radio at Lucknow at a salary of a hundred rupees a month to "present the weekly programme of lunch hour European music on Saturdays".^[9] In 1944 she formally applied for the advertised post of programme assistant and was posted to All India Radio's Delhi station.^[10]

Fellowship to study in Canada

She was awarded the first fellowship of the Canadian Women's Press Club which arranged accommodation for her with their members for 10 months in 1960.^[11] She broke the story of Apartheid in the United Nations in her interview with Canadian Prime Minister Diefenbaker in 1960.^[12]

Campaign against foreigners in saris

In 1960 Columnist Amita Malik launched a cutting campaign against foreigners in saris.

"If there is anything uglier than an Indian matron in bulging jeans," she snapped, "it is a white woman, tall, angular and with straw-colored hair, wearing a Dacca sari. Foreign wives fondly imagine that they look beautiful in saris, when they would look miles better in gingham."^[13]

Removal of restrictions on foreign press during Emergency

Amita Malik was responsible for getting the censorship curbs on foreign media during the Indian Emergency lifted.

"During emergency, Malik met Gandhi at her office in South Block. '`What do you think of the present state of the media in India, the Prime Minister asked.

'`Do you want me to be frank or do you want me to be polite?`Of course, I want you to be frank, the Prime Minister told Malik.'`I do not know what came over me but I immediately launched into a graphic description of the state of terror which was then prevailing in the media...

'`I don't want to sound like a kingmaker, but it is a fact that the very next day the curbs on the foreign press were lifted, Malik claims."^[14]

Campaigns against misuse of media

In 1989 she launched an outspoken campaign against the misuse of India's state owned media which had been converted into the private organ of the Indian National Congress party to promote Rajiv Gandhi.^{[15] [16]}

Feud with Khushwant Singh

Amita enjoyed a healthy feud with Khushwant Singh. In an interview, Singh said that Amita Malik had once written he was the worst dressed man she had ever known. He confessed it was the only time he genuinely agreed with her.^[17]

Syndicated column (Sight and Sound)

Fed up with kow-towing to India's notoriously parsimonious press barons, Amita resolved never to keep her eggs in one basket. Her syndicated column "Sight and Sound" has been published in virtually every leading Indian newspaper at various times. Her column was religiously read by generations of Television news reader for Amita's biting sartorial observations on them. At the same time she strongly defended AIR and Doordarshan's underpaid staff who worked under political and bureaucratic pressure.

Memorable quotes from Sight and Sound

1. "One can certainly give credit to Doordarshan for one thing: It keeps whatever good programmes it has as secret as possible."^[18]
2. "Much as I appreciate Barkha Dutt's energy and enthusiasm, sometimes I get disturbed by her popping up all too frequently here, there and everywhere."^[19]
3. "The programme called Cook Na Kaho was hosted by Upen Patel and what Patel was doing revolted me. Like most Indians I believe in jootha, that is, not polluting food personally with fingers or spoon when it is meant for all. Not for any religious sentiments but because it is unhygienic and can spread infection. What Patel was doing was putting a fork into the ice-cream, licking it and putting it back into the ice-cream. Sorry Patel, but I would not eat your food after that."^[20]

Books

Amita, no holds barred: An autobiography Hardcover – January 1, 1999

Awards

1. Kamal Kumari National Award

2. B.D.Goenka Award in Journalism 1992

3. Hony. Fellowship of International Police Association

Trivia

• Like Amita, another film critic Chidananda Dasgupta was also born in 1921 to Brahmo parents in Shillong, Assam, India.

References

External links

• The inimitable, dear Mrs M
• Amita Malik, RIP