The Shotgun that could not fire

STAR-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha is back in the TV arclights. After a somewhat disappointing run of his Shotgun Show on Zee, the Bihari Babu has bounced back with its new avtaar on Star Plus. Re-christened the Shotgun Shoot, he says it is "a better show on a great channel and with my kind of viewership."

The show aired every Friday at 8 p.m., viewers will be able to see Shatrughan Sinha in a battle of wits with his audience, week after week in the Shotgun Shoot on Star Plus.

The actor-turned-politician-turned-TV-anchor glosses over the fact that the Shotgun Show on Zee had turned out to be a whimper. But despite the fact that the TRP had plummeted, both Sinha had director Shashi Ranjan blamed the falling viewership on the frequent changes which were made on the show timings.

Shatrughan, however, feels that the way the new format has been conceived there would be no question of ending it midway or abruptly.

"The Shotgun Shoot would run on its own popularity. It will provide the viewer with a unique dimension to any issue, laced with my wit and humour."

Says and admirer of Shatrughan Sinha, "Though his wit couldn’t lift the TRP of the Shotgun Show on Zee, let’s hope he can infuse some new life into Shotgun Shoot the way he did in a number of Bollywood movies."

Springing a mysterious surprise

Success breeds a number of clones. Despite the fact that India’s Most Wanted on Zee is racing up the popularity charts, the channel has started a similar show called Mystery Unfolds on Zee India TV. Though not as dramatic, it still manages to pull a coup now and then.

Like it did recently when it aired a show on the death of biscuit tycoon Rajan Pillai in Delhi’s Tihar jail on July 7, 1995. The mysterious death became a talk of the town with the entire media in hot pursuit. A court enquiry is on to probe the cause of death and Pillai’s widow Nina is still fighting for justice.

In the last three years the government agencies have not been able to hold anyone responsible for this death. Mystery Unfolds took an account of the event which led to the death of Pillai. The show interviewed Nina Pillai, advocate Indira Jaisingh and senior police officers, I.U. Khan, Kiran Bedi and others.

A slickly done show and as good as some of its earlier episodes like the ones revolving around the Purulia arms dropping, the 1984 riots, the Bhopal gas tragedy and the Uphaar fire tragedy.

Switch to Mystrey Unfolds every Wednesday night as some of the episodes have an uncanny habit of springing a pleasant surprise.

A glittering ruby

No one knows for sure where Ruby Bhatia is headed for after her split with Channel V. All that the golden lady of television says is that her currently on crime thriller Yeh Hai Raaz is keeping her more than occupied.

But the gossip is ripe in television circles that Ruby might be teaming up with MTV. There was much speculation to that effect when she was seen at a music festival organised by MTV in the capital. But all that the lady says in her characteristically tantalising style is that she’ll not give up VJing. "It’s second nature to me."

Ruby is also said to be considering a host of TV proposals which are coming her way after the success of Yeh Hai Raaz. But one thing is sure. As of now, it may be the small screen which holds the big attraction but what next? Bollywood? "Well ummmm... let’s see. Everything is so hazy as of now." Not for long though, as Ruby promises a big surprise for her fans soon. Perhaps a starring role opposite the Big B!.

In Harmony with viewers

It’s surely a race for the Hindi channel supremacy. And Sony Entertainment Television is getting very serious about reaching the numero uno spot, no matter what the costs.

That it’s ready to splurge money on its shows was evident when the channel recently premiered a new musical show titled Harmony which showcases top playback singers who will perform their personal favourities live to an invited audience.

Each episode features different artists performing some of Indian cinema’s greatest hits. The show has a host of top singers like Kumar Sanu, Amit Kumar, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Talat Aziz, Sudesh Bhonsle, Jasvinder Kaur and many more.

So if you like quality Hindi film music [who doesn’t?] join these singing stars week after week as they create an ambience that’s both magical and memorable.

This is it!

Political cartoonist R.K. Laxman says he was threatened by V.C. Shukla during the Indira Gandhi’s regime. He says he was "summoned" and threatened with imprisonment if he continued to caricature at will during the 1975-77 Emergency. Almost imprisoned several times for being candid during that period, Laxamn migrated to Mauritius for a while before he was called back with political immunity. Soft-spoken and unassuming, Laxman recently spoke about a variety of personal and political issues in an exclusive interview with Malvika Singh for At Home, a chat show on TVI.

Laxman’s subjective caricatures, dealing chiefly with public concerns stemming from politics and policy-making, have ever since helped diffuse the intensity behind everyday polemics. His perceptive but barely protesting cartoons are radical in many ways but mostly outstanding communicators of our nation’s sentiments. "I can’t remember the day I wasn’t drawing," he reflects, recalling the times when he deliberately refused to study harder in school so he wouldn’t have to become another doctor or engineer.

Laxman maintains it is as important for the common man as for a cartoonist to be stand-offish from socio-economic travails, so as to be able to endure and laugh at him better. He admits that neither he nor his cartoons are optimistic. Pessimism, he says, has varied facets and could be capitalised to an advantage.

A candid interview of a man who is counted among the best cartoonists of the world today.

— Mukesh Khosla