Opinion Peace and Harmony

You understand? This is not easy. More so,because the same guests appear on the same channel’s different programmes on the same subject. I had to watch Sachin Pilot and Mahmood Madani on NDTV’s 60 Minutes as well as on Buck Stops Here. I wish I could say that Pilot and Madani and indeed the chats on the two programmes were delightfully different,each giving me a distinct viewing experience. Yes,I should single out Mushirul Hasan’s robust,sharp and necessary critique of political appearances in any faith-based gathering — never mind what the faith is — on Buck Stops Here. No one else seemed to remember to make this point. But that alone couldn’t cut it. So,I have to say,by the end of this week if I hear “inter-faith dialogue” or “Hindu-Muslim unity”,or “Vande Mataram” on NDTV again,I may scream. Why would NDTV want an utterly secular,peaceful chap like me to feel like that?

There’s another issue here,as ferociously complicated as “Hindu/Muslim”,and that is NDTV/CNN-IBN/Times Now. NDTV has multiple news-driven chat shows hosted by different anchors,while CNN-IBN and Times Now essentially have one news-driven chat show showcasing one anchor. NDTV’s problem seems to be that the different news-driven chat shows forget the basic rule of product differentiation. The other two channels seem to have problems associated with single product portfolios. Let me put it this way,news hours sort of drag and why must the nation always be faced; one can do other things with it.

If NDTV’s chat show anchors/producers compare notes and CNN-IBN and Times Now offer other chat shows,I admit my job will be easier. But not that much easier.

To illustrate the point: I would still occasionally encounter a news TV studio interview of a Bollywood actor. I try to avoid watching that stuff. But you know how it is when you are remote-flicking. And here’s the thing,whenever I catch a news TV studio chat with an actor — recently,CNBC with Katrina Kaif — I am mesmerised for about 240 seconds. I want to reach out to the anchors and tell them,guys we are all journalists,true that’s no big deal,but it does sort of mean we must ask a question,a real question,just for once,and hold the gush and mush a bit.

You want peace,happiness and harmony? Sad that politics or even religious praxis isn’t offering you all that? Watch a news TV studio interview with an actor.

saubhik.chakrabarti@expressindia.com