Tidbits of the region’s media

Afghanistan now has the honour of being the first country of the region to have its own remake of The Office, the hit UK TV series that has inspired copycat versions around the world. The serial is titled The Ministry – a prudent naming choice given that Afghanistan has few commercial enterprises. The series mocks the incompetence of Afghan politicians, taking in issues of corruption, nepotism and even suicide bombings. In a trailer clip posted on YouTube, the audience is introduced to the Minister of Garbage, a jolly, balding, vain character with a scruffy beard, in a mythical Hechland ('Nothing land' in Dari). When the first episode aired on 4 August, viewers were reportedly glued to their TV screens. Chhetria Patrakar is delighted with this welcome cheer in a country that has been embroiled in one conflict after another. Now, Tolo TV, could you also upload episodes (not just the first one) on YouTube as soon as they air, please? Oh, and don't forget your region-wide audience: the first episode, uploaded on 17 August, lacked subtitles.

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The channel of inspiration flows both ways – not just  into Southasia from the West, as seeing Bollywood's copycat version of Hollywood hits would lead you to believe. Mick Jagger, the front man of both the Rolling Stones and, since May, of the new 'supergroup' SuperHeavy, recently began singing in Sanskrit, alongside Southasia's darling musician A R Rahman. For one SuperHeavy song, Jagger sings, 'Satyameva jayate', translated in English as 'truth alone triumphs' – which also happens to be the national motto of India. Heavy indeed, especially coupled with Jagger's heavy British accent! With all the other members of the (semi-) transnational band – Damian Marley (yes, he is related to Bob), Joss Stone and Dave Stewart – joining in, the band's second single is quite groovy and upbeat. Now, although Sanskrit still has no hope of revival, lovers of the dead language can at least take pride in another major rock star singing in it, after John Lennon of the Beatles for the track 'Across the Universe'. Now it's time to figure out how best to sing in the language: crooning or screaming, as Jagger is wont to do?