Opinion Past imperfect
When will TV news learn to keep its head?
We were baying for blood,just over a year ago. Many people were in the mood for a public lynching as protests against television news coverage of the Mumbai attacks filled the print and online media,and conversation everywhere. The government threatened to take action,the chastened news channels beat a strategic retreat,promised to be more careful in the future and although we have not forgotten their excesses,we have learnt,perhaps,not to believe everything they say. Havent we?
With no major terrorist attack in the last 365 days,the news channels resolve has not been tested,either. Live coverage of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddys death,however,indicated that TV news still tends to fly with a story before being grounded in facts. Thats where it needs the government help,late in coming when YSRs chopper went missing. So,one November later,we still dont know how TV news would cover another 26/11 situation and thats a worry. Meanwhile,the government has made a preemptive strike by asking TV news to handle with care the first anniversary of the attacks. Thus far,we havent seen too much of the burning Taj seared already in our memories from last years coverage.
Instead,Monday mornings screen was filled with images we didnt see at the time: young men clambering onto of Babri Masjid and hacking it to death. The Indian Express report on the Liberhan Commissions findings was the news of the moment and footage of the demolition was played and replayed and replayed. Makes you wonder if TV news has learnt anything from Mumbai 26/11.
Visited Pati Patni aur Woh (NDTV Imagine),last week and was unpleasantly surprised to see that nothing has changed since the previous encounter. The pati and patni are bringing up woh and in the process wrecking their nerves and their relationships. Theres Rakhi Sawant tearing into whatevers left of her Swayamvara and theres Elesh soothing her in Canadian English which only angers her further since she cannot comprehend him. And the wohs are having a wail of a time: crying is not just an occupational hazard for these babies,its a full time occupation.
Stroll across to the Bigg Boss (Colors) home and behold full-grown men weeping like wohs,only,since they are much bigger,they cry that much more. And,insist on speaking simultaneously. So Rohit Verma and Bakhtiyar Irani took turns to howl and holler at the same time,creating the most unholy,soppy row. I hate myself in this house! howls Verma,I hate everyone in this house! hollers back Bakhtiyar (or words to that effect). Talk about jugalbandis. Much rather watch and listen to the one on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Maha Challenge (Zee) between the teams representing Bengal and Punjab. That was music to the ears; this an earful. Why doesnt Big Bosss adult population grow up and stop behaving like crybabies?
Over at Perfect Bride (Star Plus),were down to the final three weeks and juror Shekhar Suman,for one,is filling the empty spaces between potential goon,sorry,groom and wife,with stifled yawns. Its that boring. Rumpa and Hitesh are still deciding where to get married (in the studio?),Rajbir and Priyanka are still insisting theyll marry only when his family agrees that Priyanka nahin to koi nahin and every girls best friend Vivek is trying to romance Amrita Rao with about as much spark as an extinguished match stick. Yawn is right. Bharti Singh tries to shake Shekhar awake with laughter but theres little remotely amusing about watching her slap a lollipop onto her tongue. Malaika Arora tried to smile and failed. Meanwhile,the girls moon and swoon over the prospects of perfect husbands,perfect weddings and perfectly-ever-after marriages. Perhaps Suman is yawning because he is awake to the fact that theres nothing perfect about any of it at all.
shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com
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