Opinion Between BJP and the nuptials

On TV news,the squares are occupied by guests who are supposed to pop out and speak when spoken to,but they often do not follow the rules of the game and speak out of turn. For the remainder of the time (one hour,two hours),they’re supposed to pose like Madame Tussauds’ waxwork versions of themselves. Some of them deserve a Padma Shri for doing just that: imagine being motionless,expressionless for 10 successive minutes. Bizarre.

Others like the actress and BJP member Kirron Kher,who nowadays figures frequently on news discussions,are posed questions and have struck a pose back. It’s like she’s on the sets of a movie — she blinks coquettishly,she pats her hair into place,a slight smile playing on her lips as she offers her left profile to the camera. That’s not all: these ordinary mortals like you and me,turn into magicians the moment they are on air: how else can you explain their ability to appear “live” on three different talk shows simultaneously? What do they take us for — fools? Yes,that’s probably what TV news thinks we are. Which says everything about TV news’ Hollywood Squares — there is so much posing and posturing and pretending during what passes for serious discussions that you cannot believe what is said. And perhaps you are not meant to.

You saw all of this and more during the three-part farce of the BJP — on Sunday they anointed the crown prince,forcing the elderly monarch to retire; on Monday the monarch abdicated all responsibilities but 24 hours later,he had returned. But wait on: Tuesday evening,news channels like NDTV 24×7 announced that L.K. Advani,that old charioteer of the BJP,would address the media at his house and for at least an hour we looked at a room of empty chairs,awaiting his entry,wondering,what will he say?

Alas,we will never know. The press conference saw everyone from the BJP but Advani in his own house. Of course,BJP president Rajnath Singh explained it away but the farce was complete. And it all played out right before our eyes.

Meanwhile,we did see someone we did not expect to see where we saw her.

Did you catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II at the BBC’s headquarters in London,peering through a studio window,during a live domestic news broadcast? It was quite a surprise.

No,she’s not beginning her own TV show; she was there to inaugurate the new revamped BBC headquarters which now houses all BBC radio,online and TV services.

Back on the Indian entertainment channels,there isn’t much to rave about. We seem to be perpetually at a wedding,the latest being Chhanchhan (Sony),interrupted by the sinister move of an ill-wisher (read mother-in-law Supriya Pathak). On the reality show front,other than Jhalak Dikhla Jaa (Colors),Indian Idol is back but it just shrunk to a Junior size (Sony). So we have these young children singing Yo Yo Honey Singh. India’s Dancing Superstar (Star Plus) and India’s Best Dramebaaz also feature li’l people imitating their elders. You have to ask yourself why: what pleasure do we derive from contests where children act more than double their age or,sing and dance to Bollywood numbers about sex,love and lust? Shouldn’t there be an age limit for reality shows?

The best programmes on television currently are three crime shows based on real criminal acts: Shaitan: A Criminal Mind (Colors),Savdhaan India (Life OK) and Crime Patrol Dastak (Sony). They are well-produced,extremely well-performed by lesser known actors with just the right degree of suspense and emotion to carry them through every week. Saw a very good Savdhaan India episode on dacoits robbing a train. And Dastak is always worth postponing bedtime for. If we can produce crime shows of this calibre,why can’t we produce good crime dramas or other shows in the professional sphere?

shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com