Patriots on the prowl

Even as Bhagat Singh drew near his end, Sanjay Khan’s 1857 Kranti had begun (DD National). And last week, Star Plus and Zee introduced serials which may not be precisely about patriotism but which are about patriotism, nevertheless.

Mulk (Zee) is about the notion of the nation even if the nation remains a notional one! It begins in pre-Partition Lahore. Notice that all such sagas, starting with Buniyaad in the mid-eighties, originate in Lahore and never in, say, Chittagong on the east side — as if all migrations were from the west alone. Or do broadcasters presume their Hindi audience is uninterested in Bengali migrations?

By design, the three best of friends in Mulk, belong to three different communities: there’s a Hindu, a Muslim and a Sikh. Between them exists perfect communal harmony: for a Muslim, says the Muslim masterji, Diwali is as important as it is to a Hindu. Indeed, the opening episodes work diligently to establish the lack of religious distinctions otherwise emphasised by the friends’ sartorial discreteness.

Signs of fissures appear early on: at a meeting for Muslims in the city, Masterji tells the ‘‘outsider’’ Muslims leaders they will fail to create chasms between the communities here because ‘‘Muslim ke pehle hum insaan hain’’. The leaders refute him and at least one young man (perchance Masterji’s son?) is inspired to spew communal venom at home. His mother slaps him. ‘‘Talk of uniting, not of dividing’’, she counsels.

You can see, clearly, a symbolic linkage of the past with the present. The woman’s statement applies so evidently to the India of today, it is almost disingenuous.

Kashmeer (Star Plus): here is paradise in sylvan surroundings threatened by the black, dense forest. Once again, there are three families whose three children are fast friends. One of them, Zoya, is the centre of attraction, especially for her male childhood companions. Everyone appears happy and the sun shines joy on them.

However, this is Kashmir. Zoya’s playful existence is threatened. At her medical college, a young man bores his eyes into her like he is drilling for oil. Then over vale and distant trees, he journeys to a hidden bungalow where Nirmal Pandey sits with smoking cigarette — and gun. He’s The Militant and the plot thickens…

It’s difficult to put a date to the serial. On the one hand it, seems to be before the insurgency grew wings. On the other hand, Zoya, with her short-cropped hair and tight Western clothes (riding a motorcycle), and the boys in T-shirts and trousers, look just as we do today. Confusing.

These are early days for Mulk and Kashmeer. In forthcoming episodes how they treat the highly combustible material they have chosen – Partition, communal relations, militancy – will be crucial. Will they be tackled with sensitivity or will we have stereotypical, cardboard characters in black and white, representing good and evil (as TV usually does)? Tackling topical issues can be dangerous and like crystal, should be handled with care.

Piquant situation: Star News had a ‘live’ interview with former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh (while he was still Chief Minister); simultaneously Aaj Tak carried an ‘‘exclusive’’ interview with him! You thought you were watching the same channel, especially since some Aaj Tak anchors have shifted to Star News.

Lastly: the VHM suitings commercial has a gentleman in his suit and a woman in her swimsuit. Brrrrrr just looking at her. Why swimsuit and what does she have to do with the man in the suit unless it is to get him out of it, which doesn’t really suit the purposes of the product, now does it?

Write to shailajabajpai@expressindia.com