Channel surfer
By
Randeep
Wadehra
Sequels have to be better than
their precursors; otherwise they turn into a big yawn, which is precisely what Movers
& Shakers (SAB) has become. In its previous avatar on Sony it was
immensely popular because of its novelty factor. Now, it somehow lacks both in
zing and sting. Its jokes fall flat and satires turn tepid. Shekhar Suman’s
jibe “Why do snakes bite human beings? Because human beings are aasteen kay
saanp (this Hindi colloquialism’s English equivalent is snakes in the
grass)” couldn’t be rescued even by the canned laughter. Suman’s resort to
stereotypical characters and situations betrays desperation to re-ignite the
old magic. Akbar-Anarkali spoofs had lost their attraction long ago; the one on
Saroj Khan was poorly enacted. Sidhuisms are passé.
The recent rise in petrol price
elicited familiarly Pavlovian response: outrage, disbelief and all things negative.
TV channels reported the common man’s reactions in various cities; amidst the
usual protest-verbiage there was an interesting one on Headlines Today wherein
a northerner taxi driver espied in the price increase a conspiracy to throw out
non-Marathis from Mumbai. Predictably, another round of debates lit up the
small screen; spokespersons from opposition parties painted a grim future for
the Indian economy while assorted ruling party spokesmen were dismissive of
such pessimism. Then followed the rollback rumours… Déjà vu!
However, soon stories regarding
the Arushi murder case, the Jaganmohan Reddy disproportionate assets case and
the “Kashmir Report” began to compete for eyeballs. But, it was the BJP
power-tussle that kept viewers enraptured. Experts saw enhancement in Narendra
Modi’s stature (Aaj Tak) after Nitin Gadkari’s acolyte Sanjay Joshi resigned
from the BJP Executive. But, Modi’s real bête noir Gadkari’s grin was telling a
different story. He got the party’s constitution amended in order to obtain second
term as BJP’s president. Interestingly, fireworks were provided by Gen VK
Singh’s parting salvos on NDTV & Times Now, which shall resound in the
bureaucratic-political corridors of power for quite a while.
By casting aspersions on PM Manmohan Singh Team Anna has
fallen from grace. The Prime Minister does not indulge in polemics, let alone
invective, even when gravely provoked. While watching his dignified response on
NDTV one found him too mild in his reaction. Prashant Bhushan & Co. wouldn’t
have been as judgmental about their own actions if they had been in power –
presently an improbability; the indulgence factor would have operated – we have
seen this happening ever so often in Indian politics, reminding one of
Shakespeare’s following lines from The Life & Death of King John: “Well,
whiles I am a beggar, I will rail/ And say there is no sin but to be rich;/ And
being rich, my virtue then shall be /To say there is no vice but beggary.”
On 29th May most news
channels telecast live the massive celebration of KKR’s maiden IPL title
victory. Ever so lovingly the cameras lingered on Didi, SRK and others doing a
victory jig of sorts. Then, promptly in the evening, the clever media asked, oh
so self-righteously, whether Didi had gone overboard – after all it was only a
club and not the state that had won!
Published in The Tribune dated
June 10, 2012
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