Monday, March 4, 2013

Confounding the confusion


TV REVIEW

Channel surfer

By
Randeep Wadehra


Sometimes it becomes difficult to tell the good from the bad; especially, when one is watching TV – news or entertainment. Like, when Madhubala Ek Junoon Ek Ishq (Colors) had debuted, Balraj Choudhary appeared to be the ultimate villain. But Rishabh Kundra or RK proved to be a more complicated character. He starts off as an uncouth, sadistic character who, apart from being rude to his mother, takes it out on the hapless Madhubala in a manner that raised the possibility of various rights groups intervening any moment. Inexplicably, RK undergoes a change of heart, starts romancing her and becomes very protective as well as possessive. He even starts respecting his mom, addressing her as “maa” instead of “that woman who gave me birth”. Just as one had begun to wonder whether the couple would go beyond the song and dance routine with all that clichéd clasp-and-clinch drill, RK goes back to being a baddie for no apparent reason at all. Madhubala is devastated. Madhubala’s mother is devastated. Madhubala’s half-sister is … no not exactly devastated, but teary eyed enough for one to forgive her past jealousy-ridden outbursts against Madhubala. Last see, a tipsy RK and a woozy Madhubala were getting all mushy and penitent. If you find this confusing, you have apparently not reckoned with our news channels’ ability to confound all confusion.

One expects TV news to provide bloomer-free information and a clear perspective on different incidents and events. But things don’t really work out that way; even as banners, tickertapes and occasional balloons on various channels clearly spelled out Dilsukhnagar as the site of February 21 blasts many reporters and anchors preferred to call it Dilkhushnagar. It took them more than twenty-four hours to pronounce the name correctly. Nitpicking apart, the Home Minister added to the confusion by giving conflicting info on whether an intel input / advisory was given vis-à-vis the terrorist attack. The tragedy could have been avoided; or, could it? Experts on different talk shows held different views. Then there were reports of the missing CCTV footage. Was it the terrorists’ doing or sheer incompetence of security agencies? Even as some anchors were berating the gaffe, the footage surfaced miraculously. Bemusing? Not really, there were more than one CCTV cameras in the area installed. So, the breast-beating was premature. Or was it? Apparently, confusion had overwhelmed the TV news wallahs.

Were the commissions paid for the Agusta-Westland deal bribes, or merely unofficial but routine sweeteners for the services rendered? Was the chopper’s quality compromised? More importantly, was the country’s security compromised? The answers to the last two questions were negative by consensus. The chopper is top quality, said one expert. It was not meant for the armed forces, said another. So, why the hue and cry? Because, it is not right to pay commissions for such deals – was the almost unanimous verdict on all talk shows across the channels. So, who got away with the gravy? There was a lot of finger pointing on this issue till the finger of suspicion stopped at the Tyagis. Are they the real culprits? Only time will tell, but a former defense minister has already given clean chit to the former IAF chief. This, even before the JPC has even been formed! Confusing? Then sort this out: the UPA is keen on the JPC probe whereas the Opposition is opposing it tooth and nail. Why?

NDTV’s Prannoy Roy’s riveting run-up to the budget in the company of Amartya Sen and Montek Singh Ahluwalia only accentuated the mediocrity of the mainstream TV discourse on the two budgets. Was the railway budget populist or elitist? Is the general budget a success or a damp squib? Progressive or regressive? Development oriented or populist? If you are searching for answers on our news TV talk shows, here, have some nuts. Better still, go back to watching Madhubala…

Published in The Financial World dated 04 March, 2013

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