Discovering something new?

Just when television was becoming completely predictable and boring, two channels have decided to liven things up a bit. Discovery Channe...

Just when television was becoming completely predictable and boring, two channels have decided to liven things up a bit. Discovery Channel has gone Indian and STAR Plus has gone, well, desi hybrid. This December your screens will explode with Kathakali, spooky tales, the Mughals and of course, the staple stock of new serials. How exciting or how interesting these new shows will be is not the point. It is enough that there is going to be something new on television 8212; something other than the countdowns and soaps we are being subjected to.

Discovery Channel has decided to rediscover Indian culture and heritage. Their India Week programmes start with a lesson in History. Life in the times of The Great Mughals unfolds on the channel. The line up is complete, starting from Babur and going down the line to Aurangzeb. But the channel promises that this is no ordinary textbook serial. They describe it as 8220;educational and an enlightening experience8221; for the viewer.

8220;Though the Mughal legacy is known the world over, yet the most astonishing thing about this exceptional family is that little is known about the people themselves. The discovery of the six great Mughals as individuals, together with their fantastic achievements will come as a revelation to viewers everywhere,8221; the channel claims.

Along the same lines is The Dance of the Gods. The spotlight will be on Kathakali, which is apparently the 8220;most enchanting and least understood forms of classical dance8221;.

No, India Week is not going to be an overdose of culture. In fact, the other two shows that are part of this line up are about, well, discoveries.

In this age of the Internet, ever thought of Mail Runners? Probably not. Well at the 8220;rooftop of the world8221; mail is delivered by runners; that8217;s right by people running. In some of the most isolated valleys of the Himalayas, the Harkaras are the mailmen. They have been carrying mail daily into the world8217;s highest mountains since the 12th century.

Interesting? There is one more. Zanskar: Behind the Ice Wall explores the ancient kingdom of Zanskar, where 8,000 people live in the company of snow leopards and wolves that roam the ravines. Visit a place where the people believe that the modern world will never reach them because the conditions are too severe.

Story continues below this ad

When discovering and re-discovering gets to you switch onto STAR Plus, you will be in the familiar world of rival families, happy families, relationships and hopefully a little more.

The most exciting show on paper is the 52-episode Tanha. This is good news for all those who have seen the staple Pakistani plays and liked them. The author of Tanhaiyan, Dhoop Kinare and Ankahee, Haseena Moin has penned this serial. Also, the actors in this drama are from both India and Pakistan. Sushma Seth plays the central character as the matriarch trying to hold her family together now where have we seen that one before?.

From the Muslim backdrop, the channel moves onto the deserts of Rajasthan. Ek Mulaquat is the tale of two Rajput families. The ups and downs in their friendship and their subsequent enmity. Well, we have seen this one too, but not set out against the Rajasthan sand dunes. Finally, there is Ajeeb Dastan. This is STAR8217;s answer to the paranormal behaviour of Zee and Sony in Anhonee, Woh, Aahat. The plus point of this serial on the supernatural is that it will be directed by Tanuja Chandra, the young director of Kajol-starrer Dushman.

STAR will also be screening films such as Raja Hindustani and Sathya. Seems we8217;re in for a bit of fun. Television needs it.