Waiting for her Khwaish to come true

BACK in the early nineties when she was deep into a modelling career, she did TV serials for a lark. But once Mansi came along, Maninee Deb changed her perception about the small screen.

Since then television has taken up most of Maninee’s time and today she is a busy young lady doing serials for diverse channels. There’s her currently running Khwaish on Sony TV, Hum Honge Kamyaab and Zaike Ka Safar both on Zee TV, Aapke Sitare on Home TV, Juhi on DD as also six telefilms for the National Network.

With such rich experience, Maninee would like to break into bigger things. She now desires to work with directors like Lekh Tandon and Ravi Ravi both of whom, she says, "are so very sensitive that they bring the best out of a star."

Though she’s happy getting accolades for her Khwaish role, Maninee knows that her secret Khwaish will soon be and big banners will come knocking at her door.

Showcasing Bollywood

Dalip Tahil has conjured up yet another career change. Another? Yes, another. From a theatre person in the seventies he switched to films playing a variety of roles in films like Shakti, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Baazigar, Hum Hain Rahee Pyar Ke and more.

Back in 1994 he added another success to his career when he cut his first album,Raaz Ki Baaten which was a moderate success. Now Tahil has turned to anchoring. And his show Picture This on Star Plus every Wednesday is already mopping up enviable viewership.

He’s tackled quintessential Bollywood themes like reincarnation, double roles and dacoits. However, the August 18 episode was his very own special as it revolved around his favourite star — Amitabh Bachchan.

The episode showcased the genre called Amitabh and how the man changed all the rules of the film industry and broke all stereotypes of a hero. Interspersed with scenes from his films, Tahil explains what happens when one man becomes a formula and everything and everyone just fall in line.

Women and children specials

Walk into any television channel office and the discussion these days veers around election coverage. Hectic plans are being made and schedules so devised that election programmes get top priority in the editing suites. All systems are on the go.

The Star News channel has kicked off its coverage with two new programmes. Beginning every Monday from August 16 is the special daily show at 3 p.m. where women can voice their concerns and a panel — also of women — provides the answers. Most questions will relate to specific problems and what stand various parties take as far as the welfare of women is concerned.

The other programme Small Talk has been designed for kids. Also beginning every Monday from August 16 at 6.30 p.m. it takes political leaders to various schools where they are to be grilled by children between 8-14 years of age.

Though these children may not be of voting age, politicians are fast realising that in the battle of ballot it is the television which would play a key role in making heroes — and zeroes.

Shooting with words again

He’s back. No, not in a sequel of Snakes and Ladders but as back-chatting anchor of Aap Ki Tarif on DD-2 every Thursday at 7.30 p.m.

Mohan Kapur brightens up the show with his all too familiar caustic humour, rap-the-chat and ad-libbing.

A complete lack of inhibition makes Kapur as watchable as he has ever been. On every episode he has three celebrity guests at whom he shoots from his mouth.

Though the show is a close clone of Shekhar Suman’sMovers & Shakers on Sony TV, it has a freshness of its own mainly due to the smart-alecky responses of Mohan Kapur. Watch it for its repartees and banter.

Woes of a love-child

Get ready for sibling rivalry at its fiercest — stark black and white with no shades of grey.

Waris on Zee every Wednesday is about Arundhati who is shocked to learn that she has a step sister, Nandita — a love child of her late father and a Goanese painter.

But what is more galling is the fact that her father has left Rs 15 crore for his love child whereas Arundhati gets his bankrupt export business which has to be auctioned off to clear debts. With her legacy Nandita pays off the debtors and buys the business.

And from then on starts the bitter rivalry and hatred between the two half sisters. Both step into the world of fashion designing and vow to ruin each other.

But at this juncture events suddenly start unfolding in the most amazing way forcing the sisters to come together against a common enemy. From then on, the story takes one surprising twist after another.

Though the beginning is tame, Waris develops into something of a thriller once it gets going. The only problem is the slow pace at which it unfolds. What it requires is a deft editor who goes chop, chop, chop and comes straight to the point.

Animal crackers

It’s a journey across time and space, following the evolution of human relationships with some of the world’s scariest, creepiest and infamous animals through different ages and cultures.

Each episode of Twisted Tales on the Animal Planet series focuses on a different animal whose reputation has intimidated humans. Take for example, the snakes. They are easy to hate — silent killers, deceptive and deadly. But if they’re evil monsters, why do some people love snakes, even worship them? Where does the myth end and reality begin?

Perhaps our fear of snakes has been blown out of proportion, and as we learn more about these most misunderstood reptiles, perhaps we will finally see the beauty and glory of the snake.

Watch Twisted Tales between August 23 and 30 and find out all about animals that threaten humans that have been loved and revered, used and abused. They have been attributed with unnatural, mystical and medicinal powers. A fascinating series on the natural behaviour of these fearsome animals.

— Mukesh Khosla