By
Randeep Wadehra
A character in the Czech born
British dramatist Tom Stoppard’s Night & Day says, “No matter how
imperfect things are, if you’ve got a free press everything is correctable, and
without it everything is conceivable.” Although the Constitution of India
guarantees press freedom this fact has not registered with private Punjabi news
television channels. Owned by powerful vested interests, promotion of specific
political personalities, groupings and agendas appears to have become the raison
d'être of their existence. Consequently, the year 2011 has witnessed the fall
of Punjabi TV journalism to the level of pamphleteering. You just have to watch
the news bulletins and talk shows to realize the manner in which political
discourse has been turned into waffle – in PTC News afternoon bulletin on 13
December Navjot Sidhu described Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as “Pappu”. Rhetoric
and invective have replaced objective, informed and well reasoned discourse.
Some of the participants in TV debates clearly appear out of depth vis-à-vis the
issues being debated. Worse, most channels suffer from a lack of seasoned and talented
TV anchors capable of moderating discussions competently.
Zee Punjabi’s news-based talk show,
Khabarsaar, tries to keep debates interesting and unbiased. DDJ’s Khas
Khabar Ek Nazar remains the best news-based talk show, thanks largely to
Jatinder Pannu’s pithy observations. He is the only Punjabi television news
analyst who combines traditional wisdom with professional journalism. His
imagery is so apt that even the most complex economic and political issues
become intelligible to common TV viewers. He is absolutely unbiased and
fearless while calling a spade a shovel.
Many promising TV journalists
kept a low profile in 2011. Davinder Pal Singh of the Lok Bani fame (PTC
News) used to be quite incisive while interrogating local authorities in
matters relating to citizens’ rights, civic amenities and development. However,
the show later worsened to the level of becoming a promo for SAD-BJP
politicians. Something that Zee Punjabi’s Sat Sri Akal Pradhanji is
presently doing for Congress politicians and agenda in Punjab. Daljit Singh of
PTC News is another intrepid journalist who was missed in 2011. Misha Bajwa
Chaudhary of the Day & Night News created waves when she beat the mainstream
channels in bringing to the Indian television the 2011 IIFA Awards function
held in Toronto.
The year 2011 witnessed a slow,
inexorable, decline of Punjabi television. Once upon a time Alpha Punjabi (now
Zee Punjabi), ETC Punjabi and Doordarshan Jalandhar appeared to be robust
platforms for Punjabi creativity and culture. Quality programs comprising talk
shows, road shows and stand-up comedies etc kept the eyeballs glued to the small
screen. No more, alas!
Nonetheless, there were a few
bright spots. Despite all the constraints DD Jalandhar/Punjabi remained the
flag bearer of the old-world Punjabi culture with its documentaries on Punjab’s
history, its various cultural traditions and personalities. Mukesh Gautam –
both when he was with Zee Punjabi and PTC Punjabi – did come up with impressive
programming on Punjabi music and culture – be it Sajda or Great Masters.
Although the TV entertainment scene remained dismal PTC Punjabi’s Preeto Top
Ten anchored by the talented Anshu Sahni continued to be a favourite. Zee
Punjabi’s Pindaan Vichchon Pind is another worthwhile culture oriented
program. However, most of the reality shows in 2011 had been mediocre and
forgettable.
Approximately a dozen Punjabi
channels are being aired – mostly through cable operators. Most of them sell
airtime for promos of music videos and movies; they hardly generate any content
of their own. Obviously, they are focused on quick and easy money. It would be
overly optimistic to expect any meaningful programming from them. Will Punjabi
television be able to reinvent itself and make a comeback in 2012? Fat chance; it
would be a miracle if renaissance visits the Punjabi infotainment scene in the
foreseeable future.
Published in The Tribune dated
24 December 2011
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