Singing his way to fame
Parbina Rashid
PUNJABI folk singer Harbhajan Shera is climbing the dizzy heights of success these days. After the hit of “Aja Aja Ne Padosne” last year, he has once again come out with another album Mausam Bahaar Da that was released recently, but has already shown an upward trend in the market survey.

SIGHT & SOUND

DD’s very own documentaries
Amita Malik
DOORDARSHAN’s love-hate relationship with documentary and short films is of a long duration — one of those on-again, off-again relationships which have caused dismay and positive damage to short film makers. As satellite channels are not particularly interested in short films, except for those two splendid channels, Discovery and National Geographic, it was up to DD to protect and project short films, which are of enormous value in a country like India, where almost half the population still cannot read or write and radio and TV can take over the tasks of education, information and entertainment.

Revival of theatre in Ludhiana
Asha Ahuja

ACCORDING to Tarlochan Singh, who runs a theatre group named Rang Manch Rangnagri Ludhiana, “There is lack of dedication, and the main reason behind all this is the weak and unstable financial condition of theatre artistes in Ludhiana. Most of the youngsters in theatre are either students, unemployed or duty workers. They are unable to dedicate themselves because theatre does not help them in the monetary way. For this reason no newcomers are entering this creative field. And even if some do enter, they do not survive very long.”

The word theatre conjures up a picture of high drama, melodious music and good acting. Theatre means a world of creativity and new experiences. But in Ludhiana, theatre is not very popular. Theatre is not a very happening thing as the plays are not staged regularly. He also says that the main problem is that most of the persons join theatre, but after sometime they leave it and rush to the media.

Even after so many adverse conditions, some of the theatre groups are still making their best efforts for the survival of theatre. They are staging plays by spending from their own pockets or by getting aid from the locality. The Creative Theatre group staged “Laadle Dashmesh Dey” last year. Directed by Vipan Sharma, with approximately 70 participants, the cost ran into Rs 1.5 lakh.

A current production named “Kuknus Marda Nahin” written and directed by S.N. Swak is on the verge of presentation in the month of September. This production is the combined presentation of the Ludhiana Kala Manch and the Rangmanch Rangnagri. The main character of the play is a Punjabi folk character Dulla Bhatti. This production gives the message that the person who fights for truth and justice, never dies. Dulla Bhatti has been presented as the symbol of truth. The truth has been symbolised by the bird phoenix (kuknus) that never dies.

One can say that although the essence of theatre is dying yet the ray of hope is always there. The only need is dedication, unity and the fire to do or die. Only then the theatre, which is dying, can be revived to its lost glory and will open channels of employment to the unemployed as a profession.

Singing his way to fame
Parbina Rashid

PUNJABI folk singer Harbhajan Shera is climbing the dizzy heights of success these days. After the hit of “Aja Aja Ne Padosne” last year, he has once again come out with another album Mausam Bahaar Da that was released recently, but has already shown an upward trend in the market survey.

Though success is not new to this young singer, past one year has been exceptionally good for him. Attributing this success to his music company Catrack, Shera says it is mainly the marketing strategy of the company which has made him a national-level singing sensation.

“When I recorded my first album Tere Yaad Chandriya way back in 1994, the total investment was only Rs 20,000 and none of which was spent on advertising. Though 10 lakh albums were sold throughout Punjab and the neighbouring states, it never reached to the far-flung states,” says Shera.” But now the situation is such that the companies are willing to shell out an exorbitant amount on publicity, which is very important in this profession,” he adds.

Singing is the only passion that drives this young Mohali-based singer. Shera, who started singing on stage when he was in Class VI, left his studies half-way to become a professional singer. “But it took me seven to eight years of intense struggle to get noticed by music directors of this region,” says Shera. “During that period it was the love and support from my family and people, like Jagtar Jaggi and Surinder Singh, that kept me going,” he adds.

However, after Tere Yaad Chandriya, Shera did not look back. He produced hit albums one after another that included Tere Tashbir and Aja Aja Ne Padosne.

What makes his music tick?

“It is basically the aura of naughtiness in my songs that makes my music stand out among contemporaries,” says Shera. But to sustain oneself in this rat race, one needs a good personality and an acumen for business, besides a good voice and the knack to pick up the right kind of lyrics.

A good stage presentation is also required in this profession, says Shera. Recalling his early days when the stage used to frighten this soft-spoken Piscean, he says “My first stage show was at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh when I was only a 15 or 16-year-old boy and just by looking at the large audience, my nerves started creating such a havoc that Jagtar Jaggi had to stand behind me to give moral support.” However, those days are over as the singer has over the years confidently faced all sorts of audience in different countries, like America, Canada and Italy.

Shera, who wants to be remembered for his work, says the youngsters who want to make their mark in this profession should work hard and get recognition for their talent rather than using money as a short-cut to fame. “A lot of singers these days pressurise their parents for money to record albums,” he says. “This is not the way to enter this field as there are companies that are constantly on the look out for genuine talents. The singers should do riyaz hard to improve themselves and get a break through such companies,” he adds.

DD’s very own documentaries
Amita Malik

DOORDARSHAN’s love-hate relationship with documentary and short films is of a long duration — one of those on-again, off-again relationships which have caused dismay and positive damage to short film makers. As satellite channels are not particularly interested in short films, except for those two splendid channels, Discovery and National Geographic, it was up to DD to protect and project short films, which are of enormous value in a country like India, where almost half the population still cannot read or write and radio and TV can take over the tasks of education, information and entertainment. But except for those dreary Films Division shorts, government made, DD has always fought shy. One I and B Minister made a grand announcement that all short films winning state awards would be shown on DD, but since those films were usually critical of the state of the nation and some times the government, DD fought shy and film-makers like Anand Patwardhan and Tapan Bose had to go to court and win their right to freedom of expression on DD.

Sometime back, the Documentary Producers’ Association of India fought a long battle and got the concession of one short film a week (or was it a month, because these films were never publicised) to be shown late at night when those who were to benefit most were in bed. This state of things continued until very recently when the Public Service Broadcasting Trust entered into an agreement with DD, getting a very generous grant to encourage short films of serious social and developmental values, by young, independent film-makers which would then be shown on DD. Open Frame, a festival of these films was held at the India International Centre in the Capital with the film-makers present to speak for themselves. I must make it clear that I saw only a few of these films as I had other previous professional commitments so that there is no misunderstanding about the films I could not see. People whose judgement I trust told me I had missed some good ones as well as very bad ones. I shall, of course, comment only on the ones I saw.

In assessing them, apart from their intrinsic merits, I had to keep in mind their suitability for TV viewers and more particularly DD’s viewers whose tastes and ability to absorb particular approaches or themes are not as sophisticated as those of viewers of satellite channels. Qualitatively and in terms of suitability, I would rank highest in my list, because it could reach everyone from policy-makers to simple villagers. “Account and Accountability”, produced, scripted and directed by Radhika Kaul Batra whose experience in television came into play as a group of villagers in Rajasthan, with the help of NGO’s social activists (notably Magsaysay Award-winner Aruna Roy) and their own courage, won their battle against corruption by getting access to documents and collecting devastating verbal evidence from victims as well as exploiters. “Where Women Call the Shots”, with boring navel - gazing by a woman film director, editor and sound recordist was just raucous, over-fast, talking heads, sorely in need of editing. I do not consider it of telecast quality or of particular interest to DD’s general viewers. “Parenting Alone”, an attempt at rather passe cinema verite needed more discipline and had earlier been much better done by Mala Singh’s ITV channel. The same applies to the amateurish “The Brides of Hyderabad”, casual in sequence, in need of editing repetitive sequences such as the mullah reading from the Koran as well as the shots and statements of victims. Much better done in a first-rate programme weeks ago on Zee TV. “Can’t Take it Any more”, on harassment of women at work, also meandered too much. I left because I also could not take it any more. In brief, there should be much more quality control by the sponsors and Doordarshan.

I am glad I tuned in to AIR’s new FM Channel. My first media job was in AIR and radio still remains my first love, although I have been a little unfaithful for some time. AIR remains much more professional than DD, it has better anchors, newscasters and good producers. I loved listening on Wednesday morning to the kind of music, in this case Sufi music with beautiful singers (including Abida Parveen) with simple accompaniment in the old AIR style, although this time in a recording by Muzzafar Ali. One could listen while having breakfast or sorting out one’s papers. Keep it up, AIR, I still love you.