Promoting Punjabiyat
with love

THE channel’s identity line is Tuhada Apna Channel and it’s been set up to promote the rich culture of Punjab. According to Kishore Motiani, the promoter of the new 24-hour free-to-air satellite channel, Punjabi World starting November 1, 1998, it will provide mainstream popular entertainment along with religious programming.

"The channel will reflect the hopes, aspirations, culture, heritage and beliefs of Punjabis not just in India but in other Asian, Europe, American and Australian countries," says Motiani. In the religious section, one of the main thrusts of the channel, the best available software will be availed to deliver gurbani in an educative way. In all, about nine hours will be devoted to religious programmes.

Says Motiani, "We also want to re-establish the fact that the most ancient piece of literature, The Rigveda was created in the land of the five rivers. Moreover Sita spent her exile period and also gave birth to Luv and Kush near Amritsar. The new generation must be introduced to Punjab’s glorious past".

So get set to listen to high priest chanting the gurbani as also Narender Chanchal singing Mata Ki Bhenten. And there’s more in the form of Daler Mehndi, Gurdas Mann, Malkit Singh and a host of others who’ll keep you glued to the unique culture of Punjabiyat .

A fairytale debut

Bhayo, laife main aage badhana hai to 82 (eighty-two) chahiya...(Brother, if you want to get ahead in life you need an attitude). No one knows for sure how much of an attitude Udham Singh possessed to get ahead in life. But according to a recent IMRB survey his twice-weekly programme on Channel V has been adjudged the most popular VJed show in television.

The chance discovery of Munish Makhija — popularly known as Udham Singh — has all the ingredients of a fairy tale beginning. It all started last year during elections, when Channel V was looking for a person who could act the role of a Jat election officer from Meham (Haryana) to persuade viewers to vote for the channel’s Viewer’s Choice Award.

As part of the channel’s team which went to Meham, Makhija took the mike and began talking in such perfect Haryanavi that the producers stopped looking at the crowd and just signed him on. And that’s when Udham Singh was born — buffalo, stick and all.

But if he hadn’t been ‘discovered’ what would this Delhi guy have become? "Carpenter, mechanic, dhaba owner... anything under the sun". The list should also include a singer because Udham is now ready with his debut album, Jat In The Mix which he says will be as big a hit as his VJing.

And you better like it because the album comes with a caution... "Gaane achhe laage to theek, warna kaan band kar le ya cassette player phod de" (If you like the songs it’s okay, otherwise you can close your ears or smash your cassette player!)

Woman’s point of view

Shabana Azmi, one of India’s most eloquent women, will host a television series on the Women’s Reservation Bill. The four-part special on TVI will address several pertinent issues surrounding the Bill.

The Bill has spurred a spate of articles in the Press exposing the polarisation of the issue even at social and family levels. Interestingly, some journalists had written off the Bill even before it was introduced in the Parliament, declaring that it was "as good as dead."

According to the show there is increasing evidence that violation of women’s rights is linked with bureaucratic and political apathy and negative social attitudes. People like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav, who have vetoed it, have implicitly defied the political correctness attached to the Bill. On the other hand, several activists argue that the Bill is being stopped on caste and religious grounds.

A powerful programme which highlights the pros and cons attached to the Bill. And there couldn’t have been a better choice than Shabana Azmi to host this three-part special.

Aping Western dances

However, no sooner had the channel announced the Star Yaar Kalakaar was adjudged the number one music countdown show, came the news that the somewhat juvenile show, Boogie Woogie had completed a successful run of 100 weeks. However, the announcement stopped at that. There was nothing about granting it an extension.

Hosted by brothers Naved and Javed Jaffery, Boogie Woogie is a dance competition show which invites young people to perform dances. Though the concept is virtuous but usually what viewers keep getting is children aping western pop stars like Michael Jackson and

Surely if that’s the kind of talent the show is promoting, the channel has made a sensible of not announcing any extensions!

Discovering an unfamiliar world

Man has always longed to know how animals see and feel. Imaging being able to experience the world through their senses, to go on a unique journey into the heart of the creature kingdom. Supersense, that began on August 29, is a great BBC series which reveals the secrets of animal perception for the first time, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the lives and habits of animals.

This programme discovers an unfamiliar sensory world. It joins a flock of barnacle geese as they navigate by the sun and stars and swims with a dolphin as

it explores a magnetic field. The series also delves into different senses of animals like seeing, hearing and a sense of timing and smell. A stunning series which is a must for all serious TV fans.

— Mukesh Khosla