Is it all a matter of inspiration?

WHAT'S common between serials like Hindustani Aur Phir Ek Din, Kanyadaan, Agnipath and Heena? Answer: They all seem to be ‘inspired’ by either Bollywood or Hollywood films.

Take, for example, Soni Razdan’s Aur Phir Ek Din on Star Plus. Leave alone the story, even the title of is a loose translation of George Clooney-Michelle Pfieffer’s runaway hit, One Fine Day. Agnipath on DD2, a tale of glamour money and crime has shades of Mario Puzo’s classic, Godfather. Hindustani on DD2 is chillingly close to the eighties superhit Death Wish.

But why go so far? Bollywood too is a rich source for ‘bright ideas’. Kanyadaan on Sony comes touchingly close to Shekhar Kapoor’s Masoom. And Dil Vil Pyar Vyar on Sony is an take off on the seventies blockbuster Raffu Chakkar.

Look closely and you’ll find many more Bollywood and Hollywood near-clones on most of the channels. And there are plenty in the pipeline. So, if you missed any good movie, chances are you could be seeing it’s version on the small screen!

Mini a TV major

She’s the stuff teen dreams are made of. For the past few years Mini Mathur has been the most wanted face on TV at times having five shows running on different channels simultaneously. Though the latest VJ selection of MTV has left a lot to be desired, Mini is an exception. She is one of the most stunning VJs across all music channels who has her wits around her while anchoring a show.

Take a look at her hosting the millennium countdown programme MTV 2000 which is a mix of nostalgic hits from the black and white era of the forties and fifties to the foot-stomping beats of the nineties. And the winner is Mini all the way.

A literature graduate from Delhi’s Lady Shriram College and also an MBA, Mini did a two year stint with Hindustan Thompson Associates and modelled for upmarket organisations like Mescos Rayban, Hero Honda, Binny Ruffles, Vimal sarees and Atlas cycles.

But it is television which is taking up most of her time now. No, she says, she has no plans of entering films. "I am quite happy with the electronic media as it gives you instant stardom," and, if you are Mini it earns you an instant legion of fans as well!

Hit out with ESPN

Get ready for Cricket Mania 2000 on ESPN and Star Sports and witness top of the line cricketing action from Down Under, as India and Australia clash for supremacy.

The drama unfolds on December 10 as the Indian side takes on the mighty Australians in their backyard. Millions of Indian eyeballs would wake up early morning this winter and hope to see the Indians dominate the Aussie attack.

This series has already garnered much hype, as two of the best exponents of the game — Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne — gear up for the face-off. It has kept the zealous corporate sponsors scrambling to buy commercial time on TV and encash on the hype.

The first Test which starts from December 10, at the fast and bouncy Adelaide pitch is expected to produce fireworks as speedsters from both sides would be spitting fire.

For those who cannot catch up with the live action starting 6.30 in the morning there is a five-hour repeat on the same evening at 7.30. So get your gear ready for some great cricketing action right inside your bedroom.

Birthday bash

It’s a show which has to its credit the privilege of interviewing four of the world’s leading management gurus — Michael Porter, Paul Krugman, Edward De Bono and Philip Kotler.

Besides that, India talks on CNBC has featured over 1,500 celebrities including Atal Behari Vajpayee, Verghese Kurien, Medha Patekar, Shyam Benegal, Raja Ramanna, Amertya Sen, Rahul Bajaj, Shah Rukh Khan, Ravi Shankar and many more.

And it has taken all of four years to achieve the gigantic task of interviewing over 1,500 people who matter. It’s not surprising then that it is celebration time for anchor Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and his team as his show celebrates its four years in existence on November 27.

"It’s been a delightful learning experience. After almost two decades in the print medium, little did I realise that by becoming an idiot on the idiot box would I get to meet such a cross-section on people!" Talk of being modest.

Big is beautiful

Big is never big enough. Double-decker planes, expansive bridges, looming skyscrapers, futuristic cybercopters and high speed hovercrafts are no longer visions of the future, but rather realities of today’s world.

Technology and modern design continue to inspire architects of these mammoth dreams — scientists, engineers and builders of the world’s largest objects — and their creations touch the imagination of humans young and old.

Viewers take off with the latest military operatives in a stealth helicopter; dig down to the depths of the earth on the largest mine-shoveling vehicle; and rocket into space with the world’s biggest Global Positioning System.

So celebrate all things huge and big with Boys’ Toys premiering December 12 at 9 p.m. The three-part mini-series Big Stuff, Cybercopter and Boys’ Toys are the ultimate source to experience some of the world’s most dangerous toys.

— Mukesh Khosla