Bring on the Pop Corn!

A journalist was visiting my friend’s ancestral home in a village in Uttaranchal. As he was passing through the village, he came across an open manhole. He enquired about the same with the owner of the plot who said it was for some bore well, and work would begin only after the monsoons. Suddenly the journalist removed his wallet and handed over his visiting card, saying “if any kid falls into this hole, please call me first”. …..Don’t scoff; he was just being a committed journo who was preempting news.

Times are competitive and television programming has undergone a sea change. Innovative programming ideas, game shows, serials, reality shows and news have metamorphosed with blurring lines. The news (the ultimate reality show) is actually not competing with other news channels but with Balaji serials and entertainment programs. So let’s not blame them for using tacky background scores to reflect the mood of the clip shown, weird names (Koonkar Bediya, Kattil Ka Panja) attributed to news pieces that will make the Ramsay brothers proud and dedicated programs that sensationalize crime with anchors resembling criminals out on parole.

Besides, these news channels are doing their bit for easing unemployment. Circuses are shutting down but clowns are finding alternate employment in news channels. Apart from established clowns like Rakhi Sawant and Navjyot Singh Siddhu, there are first timers opposing issues of pressing national relevance like Richard Gere kissing a woman in public, Sachin Tendulkar cutting a cake resembling the tricolor etc. Moreover, these clowns have able counterparts in the judiciary who will issue summons and take these important issues forward.

News channels are also increasing social awareness with great effectiveness. For e.g: There are news pieces protesting widespread obscenity in films and public life, with the camera continuously preying on the anatomy of an actress , so that we understand the matter from all ‘angles’. Also, these guys do a fantastic job of prioritizing from an ocean of news items. Sanjay Dutt is a National figure, so when he goes to court for an episode in the never ending TADA saga, we need to know what he did/whom he met before he left home, why he wasn’t wearing his lucky shirt, whether he came out for a smoke in the court premises, whether he used the loo etc. In the bargain, if a news item regarding a death of a soldier (Major Manish H Pitambare) who single handedly led an attack on a dreaded terrorist camp (Hizbul Mujaheedin) is missed out, it’s ok. After all, that soldier was just doing his job.

The journalists off late have also developed an excellent empathy with the masses. During the Gujarat riots amidst charred bodies and destruction, a journalist and her camera found a relentlessly wailing woman sitting few meters away from her burning house. The journalist proceeded to ask this empathizing question, “Aap ka ghar jal raha hai….aap ko kaisa lag raha hai?”

These reality shows, news programming styles etc mirror the television programming in western countries. Hence was very pleased to read an article about a reality show called Big Donor on Dutch television. The show features a Kidney Donor selecting a single receiver from a group of contestants. The contestants are fatally ill and receiving the organ is their only hope of survival. It will be really an enriching experience to witness the desperation of the contestants and their loved ones. Moreover, the viewers can eliminate contestants via smses and decide who will live………..they should, after all… viewers are gods.

Shahrukh Khan, in an interview earlier in his career, while justifying the bloodbath in movies like Bazzigar and Darr said, “Even death is entertaining”. So be it……Bring on the popcorn!