For weeks I've heard people raving and rambling about the much popular and critically acclaimed "Reality Show" Satyamev Jayate. And last Sunday, I managed to see my first episode. As many have said, the set and the environment looked very similar to the Winfreys'. But the Khan has not gone to the extent of giving cars and freebies to the audience there.
First and foremost, the show imparts the seriousness that it is meant to send out. We do not have any other reality shows of this nature in the Indian television media for even to make a comparison, but yes, amongst the available ones, this one has toned down in terms of the drama on screen, situations where in the show all of a sudden tries to become a tear-jerker and the contestant, mother, father, aunt , uncle, sister, judges starts wailing on screen accompanied with the slow motion shots and background music. No, the scenes here are cleverly edited and with lots of focus on the issue.
I must say, that it is a tremendous effort by Amir Khan. This is not a colored opinion. Amir Khan has time and again proved his personality by the choice of his films and his actions. I believe everyone is indebted to the society we live in, so it would be righteous of him to take up issues burning the social order. The advantage Amir Khan has here is his fan base, hundreds of Amir fanatics running through every social strata, from the daily worker who manages to watch films at 20Rs to the person who watches films in a multiplex. Spreading a message across would be easier as compared what an ordinary person can do. And the impact he can make is definitely much more. So keeping all this in mind, he has taken the right step in the right direction.
I watched the episode on harmful effect of pesticides used by farmers. Few things that I noticed were, firstly, issues of all sizes are being taken into concern ,not just the currently blazing ones like female foeticide, dowry etc but those which can become grave problems in future. It is clearly evident that a lot of detailed research has gone into each case that has been brought up. Secondly, Amir making conscious effort of speaking in Hindi. Even if the person sitting across him uses English to convey the idea, he translates it to Hindi. By this he clearly intents to say that, this is for the common man to understand. Many of the issues discussed commonly happens to the common man we see at the chai stall or the medical store. It is that section which needs awareness, them, who needs to open their eyes.
Having said all this, there is something which I was not convinced about, or rather a thought that must have come across one of the million viewers who has watched the telecast. At times, his expressions were of a practiced talented actor which makes this look or sound similar to the other reality shows. Though it does not dampen the spirit of the program, it can be a attention diverter or something which the critics can make a hue and cry of.
So far Amir Khan has got the equation correct for a successful television program. He nailed it in terms of picking up the right topic of which everyone is aware of, wide acceptance by millions of viewers, Govt taking actions to promote Khan and crews efforts etc. He has also chosen to write in The Hindu which is another medium to convey thoughts and ideas. Every life changing idea needs to be propagated not just in one way but through many. Only then it will spread, trickle down from the highest to the lowest section of our country. But why cant this be telecast in all channels, just in star networks will bring the commercial aspect to the program. Let it be shown in all channel. Radios now a days airs only music and entertainment. There is nothing wrong with broadcasting something useful. Let the word spread.
Before I sign off, I've borrowed a quote I found online sometime back.
First and foremost, the show imparts the seriousness that it is meant to send out. We do not have any other reality shows of this nature in the Indian television media for even to make a comparison, but yes, amongst the available ones, this one has toned down in terms of the drama on screen, situations where in the show all of a sudden tries to become a tear-jerker and the contestant, mother, father, aunt , uncle, sister, judges starts wailing on screen accompanied with the slow motion shots and background music. No, the scenes here are cleverly edited and with lots of focus on the issue.
I must say, that it is a tremendous effort by Amir Khan. This is not a colored opinion. Amir Khan has time and again proved his personality by the choice of his films and his actions. I believe everyone is indebted to the society we live in, so it would be righteous of him to take up issues burning the social order. The advantage Amir Khan has here is his fan base, hundreds of Amir fanatics running through every social strata, from the daily worker who manages to watch films at 20Rs to the person who watches films in a multiplex. Spreading a message across would be easier as compared what an ordinary person can do. And the impact he can make is definitely much more. So keeping all this in mind, he has taken the right step in the right direction.
I watched the episode on harmful effect of pesticides used by farmers. Few things that I noticed were, firstly, issues of all sizes are being taken into concern ,not just the currently blazing ones like female foeticide, dowry etc but those which can become grave problems in future. It is clearly evident that a lot of detailed research has gone into each case that has been brought up. Secondly, Amir making conscious effort of speaking in Hindi. Even if the person sitting across him uses English to convey the idea, he translates it to Hindi. By this he clearly intents to say that, this is for the common man to understand. Many of the issues discussed commonly happens to the common man we see at the chai stall or the medical store. It is that section which needs awareness, them, who needs to open their eyes.
Having said all this, there is something which I was not convinced about, or rather a thought that must have come across one of the million viewers who has watched the telecast. At times, his expressions were of a practiced talented actor which makes this look or sound similar to the other reality shows. Though it does not dampen the spirit of the program, it can be a attention diverter or something which the critics can make a hue and cry of.
So far Amir Khan has got the equation correct for a successful television program. He nailed it in terms of picking up the right topic of which everyone is aware of, wide acceptance by millions of viewers, Govt taking actions to promote Khan and crews efforts etc. He has also chosen to write in The Hindu which is another medium to convey thoughts and ideas. Every life changing idea needs to be propagated not just in one way but through many. Only then it will spread, trickle down from the highest to the lowest section of our country. But why cant this be telecast in all channels, just in star networks will bring the commercial aspect to the program. Let it be shown in all channel. Radios now a days airs only music and entertainment. There is nothing wrong with broadcasting something useful. Let the word spread.
Before I sign off, I've borrowed a quote I found online sometime back.
“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”
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