Bachchan Bol: Amitabh Bachchan launches the world's first vocal blog

Fancy being put to bed by Amitabh Bachchan's voice in your ear? Or perhaps it's more like being brainwashed. Because Bachchan Bol, a brand new way for India's premier film star to connect with his fans, could be seen as meeting a demand, or at Rs 6 per minute, milking that demand for all it's worth.

The new service allows callers to hear, on their phones, anytime and anywhere, India's favourite actor Amitabh Bachchan speak his thoughts directly to you.

And in a few months time callers will be able to ask their own questions and five lucky ones will be called back, personally, by Amitabh the Amazing, 

The chances are slim though. Thousands, maybe tens of thousands of star-struck fans are expected to sign up to listen to the superstar drone on in an voice that attempts to simulate intimacy but, unfortunately sounds more like he's narrating a children's bedtime story for the umpteenth time. 

What this really is, is Mr Bachchan furthering his "empowerment" (to borrow his phrase) and wanting complete control over what he shares with his followers, which he couches in phrases like "This is my way… From my films to my family, from my country to my city, you will be able to hear about it all, in my own voice, directly." 

Claiming to be "the new frontier in social media" Bachchan Bol is a commericial excersise in vocal blogging or vogging, by which fans and their favourite celebrities can 'connect' with each other on a day-to-day basis, in a form of direct communication. With Indian celebrities embracing the social networking revolution and claiming fans and followers in their hundreds of thousands, this service has the potential to turn thousands into millions with a single dial-in number. 

Ka-ching! There goes the cash register. 

Ironic almost, as the launch of this paid service comes in the run up to his latest movie "Rann" where Bachchan plays the role of Vijay Harshavardhan Malik, founder of the first private news channel in the country and a stickler for journalistic ethics.

To hear all the latest goings on with India’s most premier star Dial 505678910 (conditions apply) from your mobile and landline phone and don't hang up. Calls cost Rs 6 per minute, though may vary depending on the network used. Bachchan Bol is also on Facebook and Twitter.