Neena thriving on extra-marital theme

SHE’S being called the lady who’s made the ‘other woman’ fast currency on the small screen. In fact, for years now Neena Gupta has thrived on the extra-marital theme. In Dard she played a bored housewife who falls for the charms of a swinging bachelor. In Gumrah she was an unmarried woman who became a willing mistress to a family man. In Saans she’s the wife whose husband abandons her for another woman.

Since all the three serials have hit the jackpot on TRP ratings, now other producers too have jumped on the bandwagon and similar themes are being thrashed out serial after serial. In Kora Kagaz, Renuka Shahane’s husband is in love with another woman. In Heena, the husband rejects his wife on the first night itself saying that he loves another woman. Apart from these serials, there are Swabhimaan and Hasratien where the illicit affairs are glorified and, in some cases, even justified.

Now that her theme has been hijacked, where does Neena Gupta go from here? If rumours are to be believed she already has a plot ready in her mind — the travails of an unmarried mother. And if it has any bearing on her personal life, then the similarity could just be coincidental!

Gearing up for polls

It’s election time again and once again most of the channels are chalking up strategies for covering the event which has come to attract one of the highest viewership.

Zee News, for one, has apparently taken the lead and snapped up Vinod Dua for anchoring Mandate 1999. Dua, who has covered all elections from 1984 onwards, would be conducting discussions and interviews culminating in 72 hours of live coverage.

The increased focus on election coverage by Zee News has already begun under the series India Votes Again comprising reports from all over the country besides on-the-spot interviews on a variety of issues. There would also be regular election programme slotted on prime time news to ensure maximum viewing.

Dance to a different beat

She’s a dancer non pareil. Now she’s broadening her vision. Ranjana Gauhar, known for her grace and skill as an Odissi dancer, has produced, choreographed and conceived a documentary titled Odissi Chandrika for the national channel.

Ranjana, who also plays the lead role, explores the origin, evolution, and technique of Odissi dance. Although the core of the documentary comes from research and documented information, it has been designed as a docu-drama to educate viewers who may not be familiar with the classical dances of India. Divided into six episodes, it touches the various aspects of Odissi — from its origin and history, to the influence of the Bhakti and Jagannath cults, Jayadeva and the Geet Govind, the Mahari tradition, the evolution of Gotipuas, the styles and some of the most important gurus and dancers of today.

Shot primarily in Orissa, Odissi Chandrika celebrates not only the livelihood of Odissi dance, but also gives viewers a glimpse of the rich cultural tradition of India.

A tear-jerker?

Here’s a daily dose for the whole family. And ladies of the house are simply going to love it. Ardhangini is all about the role of a woman as a wife, a mother and a home-maker. It is about the positive or the negative aspects of her character which directly influence the family and determine its welfare or downfall.

The serial is replete with cliches like ‘man is incomplete without a woman’ and ‘it is the wife who is the inspiration and motivating force for his success’. And woe betide a man who ignores the wise counsel of his wife.

Though the makers say that Ardhangini is a "social drama", those who’ve been watching it since it started airing Monday to Friday on DD-I, feel that it is a tear-jerker fashioned after mushy Bollywood movies. But then, the serial which premiered May 31 is already mopping up good TRPs as housewives are glued to it.

Something’s amiss?

The ratings may not exactly be shooting,but Shatrughan Sinha is not likely to give up on the Shotgun Show on Star Plus. Every week the actor-turned-politician-turned-anchor has a variety of guests from Bollywood discussing different aspects of filmmaking.

Recently the show assumed intellectual airs when the invited guest and upcoming director Tanuja Chandra declared, "The film industry should stop living in the past and move ahead." Ashutosh Rana countered her statement by saying, "First let’s try and understand ourselves, our heritage and then think of moving ahead."

Not to be left behind film maker Robin Bhatt declared that in olden days there were no other sources of entertainment, unlike these days when there is plenty to choose from. Agreeing with her Maithali Rao, the well known film critic said, "Today’s films are nothing, but old wine in a new bottle."

Nothing new, nothing innovative. With all his on-air charms, what Shatrughan Sinha requires is a panel which has something original to contribute. Not the tired old cliches which have become a monotonous routine with the show.

Animals for man

Animals and people, people and animals. Whether mythological (the Trojan horse), fictional (Tarzan, Dr Doolittle, Lassie, Bugs Bunny), or practical (seeing eye dogs), our histories and lives are so inextricably intertwined that our connections are often taken for granted.

Frequently, it takes a remarkable event to convey how much people and animals still rely on each other. Animal Planet offers some of the most dramatic evidence of the importance of the relationships between animals and people with Wild Rescues Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 pm to 7 pm.

Animals Planet takes viewers around the globe as it tells stories of people who have gone to unthinkable lengths to save animals and the even more incredible tales about the many different animals who have returned the favour by rescuing humans in trouble. A must for animal lovers.

— Mukesh Khosla