Pop’s reigning princess

She’s back again. The Oye girl is all ready to set hearts afire with her new album Pyar Ka Rang with her boom-shaka-lak numbers.

"I am keeping my fingers crossed says Raageshwari about her new album. But the video of the album is already the top of the pops with various music channels airing it throughout the day. It’s been a long journey to music and TV success for Raageshwari.From skipping college to entering the world of films to being a VJ on both Channel V and MTV and to becoming an Indipop singer, the Duniya girl has seen it all.

In 1993 she crash-landed in the Channel V studios as hostess of the immensely popular BPL Oye. A year later she switched over to MTV because of problems at Channel V and she is currently anchoring Ek Do Teen and MTV Most Wanted, the former a favourite of hers because of the simple scripts and clean jokes which goes down well with people of all age groups.

Says she, "In my songs I follow my own philosophy — never stop enjoying the simple things in life. Never be in a rush. And that’s exactly what I am trying to project in my music videos." In short, a kind of a simplicity everyone can relate to.

Moneywise

For the urban Indian consumer, it’s a programme worth every minute of viewing. Moneywise on BBC very Thursday night focuses on the concept of value for money. Every week the show would provide consumers with informative reviews of a variety of goods and services — those which are good value and those which are not.

The show features regular product assessments and product comparisons, the world of finance, the best buys, the bargains, the rip-offs, market tips and consumer rights. It investigates vital consumer issues from artificial food colourings to chewing tobacco, from spotting counterfeit money to staying clear of dangerous toys. An informative and entertaining show which should amply satisfy your consumeristic instincts.

Exposing doublespeak

Promises are made, agendas set, manifestoes are released all before the election eve. But then, what happens the day after? Agenda 2000 on Zee India TV probes just that.

The show debates issues like corruption, education, health, unemployment, water and power crisis which every party mentions in its manifesto but seldom adheres to. In the end they all turn out to be mere vote-catching slogans. The panel of guests include the politicians, bureaucrats, business and religious leaders and the common man. Rudimentary issues are raised and intensely discussed by the invited guests.

Aired every Monday, the show is piloted by a moderator and tries to bring about a consensus on the issue being debated cutting across all partylines. A tough proposition but when faced by the cynical common man, the politicians have no choice but to come to terms with reality.

A stirring debate-based show, Agenda 2000 aims to bring the elected representatives to a constructive conclusion. Whether they act upon it or not — well, that’s another issue altogether!

Primetime crime time

It’s proving to be more than what a television show aspires to be in fact India’s Most Wanted has helped capture the fifth in a row criminal who had been evading the police for months now.

After the show was aired on July 28, featuring Yashpal a man wanted in six murder cases, the Gaujrala (UP) police received a call from a viewer that he knew the criminal and informed about his whereabouts.

The cops set up a trap through the road on which Yashpal was to pass. When the cops spotted the accused coming on a motorbike they stopped him but he fired from a country made gun. But before he could fire another shot he was overpowered and apprehended. Bringing to an end yet another successful episode of India’s Most Wanted.

Stirring debate

Though a bit late in the day, TVI has finally taken up an issue which has caused so much furore in the Parliament. Former CPI MP, Suhashini Ali hosts a four-part series on the Women’s Reservation Bill which addresses several pertinent issues surrounding the Bill.

The debate constituting prominent spokespersons from all leading political parties exposes the polarisation of the issue, the violation of women’s rights and the political apathy.

Suhashini Ali is armed with statistics which reveal that in the 90s crime against women has burgeoned at a whopping 15 per cent a year and over 28 per cent of all crime recorded against women was by their husbands or relatives.

The basic line of debate is that the Woman’s Reservation Bill seeks to provide more political power to women which will translate into increased social empowerment.

Apna artist

Leslie Lewis, India’s answer to Quincy Jones, is MTV’s Apna Artist of the Month for September, presented by Pepsi.Lezz, an important constituent of The Colonial Cousins duo, the only Indian artistes to have performed on MTV unplugged, has now gone solo with his first Hindi Pop album Haseena.

Haseena, which has a completely new feel to it, compared to all the other albums Lezz has produced for himself or anyone else, consists of 10 tracks, each with a different style and with a very strong influence on country, blues and pop music.Known in the advertising circles as the ace composer of ad jingles, Lezz is also the composer of Sunita Rao’s hit song Paree, Alisha Chinnai’s DeDe and Asha Bhosle’s Janam Samjha Karo to name a few.

By going solo with his first Hindi pop album Haseena. Lezz has proved that he is as good a singer as he is a composer.

— Mukesh Khosla