Court martial for and by children

IT’S a cut between Aap Ki Adalat and Apraadhi — the difference being that it’s enacted by children. However, Bachchon Ki Adalat is certainly not child’s play.

Aired on DD Metro, the serial takes up issues concerning children — child labour, child abuse and denial of education. People responsible for the plight of these children are put on trial. The judgement too is delivered by a child judge.

Though there is an element of over-acting by some precocious child ‘stars’, the serial has been done imaginatively. In one episode a culprit tries to bribe a lawyer — both roles enacted by kids. The lawyer declines the bribe saying that if children start accepting bribes then what kind of lesson would they be teaching grown-ups? Specially those grown up people who perpetrate crime and corruption under the guise of desh Seva.

Indeed, Bachchon Ki Adalat is a lesson for all grown-ups and is both relevant and bold in its themes. As long as it doesn’t become pedantic — which it is coming dangerously close to — it would be guaranteed a loyal viewership.

Not just Mohabbat

It’s a hackneyed tale of love and romance. And despite the star cast which includes Pallavi Joshi and Renuka Shahane, Mohabbat somehow seems to miss the whole purpose of being on television.

That’s because the serial — being released shortly — sounds more like a flattened movie revolving around three families and their romantic interlinkings. There is scant freshness in the storyline as the spark of originality is missing in the theme, ‘Don’t fall in love but rise in it.’

If you are the type who falls for such tear-jerkers then you can go ahead and have your fill of Mohabbat for the next 52 weeks. But most others can just reach out for the remote and go channel surfing!

Making sense of the Budget

After the successful run of Shakti on Zee TV, Perspective Films is back on the Zee network with The CII Budget Debate 1999-2000. Commissioned by CII, the programme has been directed by Puneeta Roy and anchored by Vinod Dua.

The objective of the programme is to demystify the Union Budget by educating viewers about key issues that would affect the life of a common man directly or indirectly. It is in the form of a talk show with panelists from industry, politics, government and academics. It will also feature interviews with the general public.

The programme telecast on Zee-India TV at 9.30 p.m. beginning February 8, 1999 analysed the Budget live and threw light on a number of points which elude the common man. The episodes took up issues like infrastructure development, employment, agriculture, privatisation, corporate restructuring, capital market and social infrastructure. The final episode wrapped up the debate with an analy sis of the budget.

An interesting series for most viewers who find the budget incomprehensible in its technical details. Dua’s clarity and communication skills WENT to make the shows worth watching.

Duty to make India laugh

Like his hit TV comedies, Flop Show and Ulta Pulta, Jaspal Bhatti’s new full-length feature film, Mahaul Theek Hai has opened to rave reviews and though largely in Punjabi it has shown that satire knows no linguistic divide.

Bhatti agrees that in parts the film does look like an extension of one his funny serial. "That’s because I have primarily been a television man," says Bhatti.

Indeed, throughout much of the eighties Bhatti had been on the fringes of TV stardom. But then, in 1991 he got the break which he was looking for — Doordarshan’s approval to air Flop show.

On his choice of corruption issues as a theme for his TV serials and new movie Mahaul Theek Hai Bhatti says: "Corruption is the highest and the best-selling topic in the country. It never grows old and even decades from today it will be saleable."

A former cartoonist himself, Bhatti says he draws inspiration from R.K. Laxman and his common man. "It’s become a kind of my duty to make India laugh. I’ll be damned if I don’t try to keep up with my commitment," says Bhatti.

Coming from Bhatti, even hard-nosed cynics would agree will not be able to fault that claim.

Lucky break

She may be new to stardom, but acting is in the genes of Neelanjana Sharma. Her mother, Anjana Bhowmick was a well known Bengali actress of the black and white era who did a number of films with the legendary Uttam Kumar."It’s probably my mother’s influence which attracted me to acting," says Neelanjana who does the lead role in Lekin Woh Sach Tha.

Interestingly, her’s was a chance discovery of sorts. The director of the serial, Manoj Nautiyal, had gone to a fashion show in Mumbai where Neelanjana was on the ramp. One look at her and he knew that he had found his heroine.

"In a way I was very lucky," says Neelanjana and adds, "I didn’t have to make the rounds of studios or serial makers. But more than that I have got the lead role in a top serial being aired on Doordarshan."

Indeed, Lekin Woh Sach Tha has been clocking brisk TRPs ever since it was premiered on the national channel recently. And, understandably, Neelanjana is on cloud nine" It’s hard to believe my good luck and I keep pinching myself and saying yeh sach hai."

— Mukesh Khosla