Opinion Factoring in the fear
Kambakht Akshay Kumar. Stands there looking like a work out gym in designer casuals and a scarf (scarf?),clucking his...
Kambakht Akshay Kumar. Stands there looking like a work out gym in designer casuals and a scarf (scarf?),clucking his tongue (tsk,tsk) at the women because they are slow in surviving the spiders. Lectures them on bravery like he had conquered Mount Everest or earned a Param Vir Chakra. Compliments them,encourages them but mostly he patronises them and scolds them till theyre feeling like the insects theyve just parted company with small. The mans a downright sadist,thats what.
Everybody loves Akshay Kumar. For his prowess,his film stunts,his ability to never take himself too seriously and to laugh at himself. Those wonderful characteristics are missing from Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi Level 2 (Colors). This Akshay Kumar is a bully and should shift his gig to Dadagiri (Bindass) where they appreciate that kind of thing.
Ideally,he should lead the way,beat the odds and challenge the contestants to join him or best him. Why doesnt he and other Bollywood stars who play anchor climb inside one of those plastic coffins and fight off the beasties,himself? That would be the Akshay Kumar thing to do. And a sure fire bestseller. But no,he struts about,watching women more than half his size attempt these foolish,foolish dares while he pats them on the shoulder,awards them safety belts (whatever) and advises them to conquer fear. Thats downright ungentlemanly.
The show is unwatchable after a few minutes. Weve had our fill of this man or in this instance,woman against nature contest with the first season Fear Factor and more recently by Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao (Sony),Mandira Bedi notwithstanding. At 9 pm,we want something rather more appetising than scorpions.
Some of us may think Amitabh Bachchan fits the menu. In promos for Big Boss,hes looking fit,trim (body and beard) and rather inviting as he welcomes us to an all new show,coming shortly to Colors. What hes doing in what looks like a smoking jacket when were sweat suits in our bare skins,only the producers know TV people should dress according to the seasons,or no? Being the original Big B,hes trying to elevate the show to his heights (pun unintended) by suggesting a psychological twist: is this merely entertainment (yes it is) or a chance for us to get to know ourselves better through the inmates of the Big Boss house?
Time for 12/24 Karol Bagh (Zee). After such a long while,a serial based in Delhi that looks like Delhi,smells of Delhis sweet houses and even speaks and behaves like Dilliwallahs. A middle-to-do family in KB tries to gets its plump 28-year-old daughter off its hands by palming her onto short and stout Golu. Golu and his friends behave like locals and the more sophisticated girls are appalled at their uncouth mannerisms. Moreover,Golu appears to be a womaniser. Still,our heroine is willing to have him because nobody else will have her. Besides,her younger brother wants to marry but cant until didi takes up with Golu. So far,the show is well-executed. It has captured,if not the heart of Delhi,at least some body parts.
A certain Mr Doraiswamy from the Met Department told Doordarshan on Saturday night that it would continue to rain in Delhi and northern India throughout Sunday,although not as consistently as it had last week. When we awoke to bright sunshine Sunday morning,we thought this isnt 12/24 Karol Bagh or indeed,Delhi. Why do weathermen make such categorical predictions on national media when past experience should have taught them the error of their ways?
Do commend DD,however,for persisting with public service spots when nobody else bothers. Last week,saw a series of ads on smoking,adulteration and for proper health care of infants. Thats more like it.
shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com
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