This is one hell of a delayed review. The book – ‘The Making Of STAR India’ by Vanita Kohli Khandekar was released in July 2019. And I bought my copy then, which was delivered sometime in August 2019. It went into the to-read list and then got lost among many books. This year, while picking books to UNCAGE, I stumbled on it. I read it late. But, good, I read it.
Here is the book cover quote that more or less sums up the book. However, it does not do justice to the way the author has tackled the whole development.
“Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman, News Corporation, blew up more than $870 million buying Star TV from Richard Li in the early 1990s, analysts were dismayed. Why on earth had Murdoch invested in a pan-Asian broadcaster that was neither fish nor fowl?
More than twenty-five years later, with revenues of over $2 billion, Star India is one of the country’s three largest media firms. Murdoch’s instinct had done what a hundred investor summits could not: showcased the potential of the Indian media market to the world.
Vanita Kohli-Khandekar tells the thrilling story of Indian Television through its most notable protagonist: Star TV. The narrative is peppered with delicious anecdotes and a fascinating cast of characters that includes Rathikant Basu, Peter Mukerjea, Uday Shankar, Sameer Nair, and the Murdochs, who loom large over every scene”.
Simply put, if you are in media – advertising- marketing, you must read the book. If you are not interested in media marketing and advertising but in a management position- still read the book. There is a hell of a lot more in the making of STAR India- than just media.
Vanita Kohli Khandekar has done brilliant work with this book. It traces the journey of STAR India from its initial days to becoming a media giant through the tenure of its leadership.
It is engrossing and keeps the reader fully engaged and involved with the story.
No book can comprehensively track the creation of a media organization like STAR. However, being from media and advertising background, I think Vanita Kohli Khandekar did justice in picking up the most relevant episodes and drama.
The book gives a faint sketch of the leadership styles of the CEOs and COOs like Rathikant Basu to Peter Mukerjea to Uday Shankar at the helm of STAR India during the transitions. It draws upon the contribution of the programs, producers, and circumstances in its success.
I loved the story and contribution of KBC ( Kaun Banega Crorepati), The K-serials from Balajee, The making of Pro Kabaddi League, the all-in for IPL, and cricket in India – and not the miss the Story of Satya Mev Jayete. These open like a fast-paced story and have enough twist and turn for a fiction novel. You get the feeling as to how important it is to be at the right place at the right time and how an idea before its time can be a drag or disheartening.
The book fleetingly touches upon the contribution and impact of Television, including STAR India. How the programs beaned into Singe TV households may have helped to open minds.
The author does not take side. She refuses to be polarised, yet it seems to be one side telling the story. That’s all right and maybe expected. I personally would have liked some outside competition view of these episodes in the making of STAR India.
The Making of Star India: The Amazing Story of Rupert Murdoch’s India Adventure. by Vanita Kohli-Khandekar214 pages. Rs 699. Published by Penguin
BLOG/033/2021/Book/010
To connect send an email or connect on Twitter S_kotnala.
To subscribe to the weekly update click here.
