SIGHT & SOUND
Joys of reunion
Amita Malik

If it is visuals one wants on TV, nothing could have bettered the lavish and highly dramatic events of last week. One happy and the other sad.

I think most of us had a lump in our throats as the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus made its truly historic journey. The terrible fire filling the horizon on the eve of the bus’s departure from Srinagar gave everyone anxious moments. 

It must be very sick minds that try to convert family reunions into an occasion for terrorist suicide attacks. But on the big day itself, what moving images. People from both sides crossed the white painted bridge while many people from the overlooking hills looked and cheered on the passengers. And when long-separated relatives met, some for the first time and some after 50 years, what could be more moving?

Every channel covered the journey and the reunion with detailed care, which is why I was very disappointed with Barkha Dutt. She’s normally more sensitive, but here she intruded into the first private moments with a long list of trite questions. She prolonged the interviews to a point where relatives had to wait impatiently to be left alone. Also, seeing a grown-up man cry at the sight of his brother, most of us would have looked away. But not Barkha.

"Are these tears of joy," she asked for the whole world to hear. I think Barkha’s anxiety to be first and exclusive often makes her forget where she is. A pity, because she is a good reporter.

If the devastating fire was the most depressing event of those two days, one of the best moments for me was the sight of shikaras on Dal Lake. Laden with flowers, they were being rowed down to the Hazratbal shrine in thanksgiving. Kashmiris have a tremendous sense of beauty and although bad weather stopped the shikaras halfway, what a wonderful idea it was. And we shall not easily forget the touching scenes of reunions and the throbbing excitement of people crossing the bridge and then reaching their destinations with such obvious happiness.

The Pope’s funeral was quite something visually: a tremendous spectacle and yet such disciplined crowd behaviour. Of all religions I think the Roman Catholics have the most colourful and ornate costumes and they make a ravishing sight even on a solemn occasion. The brilliant reds and muted purples worn by the clergy as well as their golden hats (wish I knew the term for their beautiful headgear) with elaborate designs on them, and in various shapes, sometimes flat on the head, sometimes standing tall and conical, it was visually brilliant. There was a very quiet and solemn crowd, but close-ups of individual faces showed personal anguish. The dignitaries who attended the funeral belonged to different religions and nationalities. A truly international gathering had come to pay respects to a very fine human being and a very unusual Pope.

Ad despair

Astitva — Ek Prem Kahani: Losing appeal

I have long been a supporter of the serial Astitva — Ek Prem Kahani. But lately, if I may use a strong term, I have been getting completely cheesed off. What started as a modern, credible, maturely directed and sensitively enacted serial soon started irritating viewers by using its success to hold up action at every step with long advertisements, which make one lose the continuity as well as the emotions involved. 

Lately it has brought in all sorts of side issues and has given us a dose of cruel violence. 

If all this melodrama, as contrasted to the measured drama of its earlier days, is an attempt to make viewers stay glued to the set, it is having the opposite effect. 

The producers had better watch out.