He is the shah-en-shah of comedy

HIS on and off love affair with the small screen continues. It’s on most of the times except when Bollywood beckons him. That’s when television goes on the backburner.

Now Satish Shah is all excited. But not about the prospects of Colgate Top Ten which went down in the dumps after he quit the show in 1998. And all his efforts to revive it now are coming to a naught.

What’s charged him up is the release of Sooraj Barjatiya’s new film Hum Saath Saath Hain which, if reports are to be believed, is a blockbuster all the way. And Shah has a pivotal role which, he says, is his lifetime’s performance. As far as TV is concerned he has restricted himself to just a few shows which bring out the comedian in him.

But does he not get tired of playing the funny man all the time? "Not at all," says Shah flashing his trademark grin." Comedy comes so naturally to me that now I can’t even think of playing serious roles." And as for his ever-increasing girth? "Thin maybe in, but fat is where its at!"

Punjabi all the way

First came Alpha TV Marathi and then Alpha Bangla. Now Zee network is swaying to the tunes of Punjab. On offer is Alpha TV Punjabi, a channel after Punjab’s own heart.

Different from Lashkara TV, the new Zee channel will offer a platter of music, dramas, shows as well as news. To start with there will be six hours of original programming while Zee will dub some old shows from its library.

Starting with Gurbani every morning other programmes include, Pop De Pakode, an anchor-based Punjabi song show, Talent Diyan Chhalanga a countdown show, and Filmi Gera also on Bollywood.

Though to start with the contents mostly are filmi, given its resources Zee is likely to add a number of new programmes to make it a wholesome channel for all the Punjabi households.

Ready for combat

Patriotism is alive and kicking in the post-Kargil era. If you feel your daily fix is not enough here’s another one to supplement it. Samarpan on DD Metro channel every Friday at 9.30 p.m. is all about the ITBP, BSF and CRPF personnel in the Kashmir Valley.

The episodes are based on true life stories of valour and bravery of people who have been honoured with the President’s Medal for gallantry. But don’t mistake this for another quickfix show. Samarpan is a slickly produced serial with clips of actual encounters with terrorists. Even those which have been re-enacted look frighteningly true-to-life.

The serial which has been shot in Srinagar, Bandipora and Chandpora is about real men who put their lives on line everytime they go out on their job. Here’s your chance to watch these heroes in action.

A feast for the eyes

There’s an ever-increasing viewership in urban households for the Star World channel. And with its new line up it has many more people tuning in. The channel has a feast in store for comedy lovers which include stand up comedies like That 70’s Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Frasier.

Then there’s the evergreen Star Trek: The Next Generation and a detective drama called J.A.G also. The channel is also starting one of America’s No.1 shows, Happy Days which is a celebration of all that was great about the 50’s.

For kids, the ghost series Goosebumps based on super-spooky books by R.L. Stine brings a much needed ‘eerie’ change as do cartoons like Spiderman and Riker Mice From Mars.

So stay tuned to excitement, laughter, chills, thrills and action, Hollywood style on Star World.

Tea-ing off with Bianca

How many aspirants who dream of making it big into TV are really successful in their first attempt? Very few. And Bianca is among those very few. The Mumbai lass was snapped up as VJ as soon as she stepped into the audition set.

Her show, Tea with V is telecast between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. every evening. Bianca co-anchors it with Purab, Mathew and Peeya. But her role is more diverse — and delicate — as she has to step in to moderate participants whenever they deviate.

But Tea With V is no countdown show. It talks of serious issues like careers, higher eduction, Internet, budget travel and more. And, as a senior Channel V official says, "Bianca is the repository of information of the programme.

In real life too she’s no dim wit. Bianca is doing a course in food technology from the Mumbai University. That’s food for thought for all those cynics who think VJs are a dumb lot with big mouths.

Over to Tripura

His Grahak Dost may not have picked up high TRPs despite its informative appeal but Yogesh Saigal continues to provide meaningful fare for viewers.

His latest, Tripura Ke Jhumia Log on DD-2 every Tuesday at 8.30 p.m focuses on tribals who have not been touched by city life. "We’ve come to relate happiness with consumerism. But look at these innocent tribals whose sustenance depends on the elements of nature." The 4-part series focuses on Tripuris, Reengs, Chakmas and the Jamatias.

The series has been scripted by Omesh Saigal a former district magistrate of Tripura. Music is by the famous Silk Route group with the vocals rendered by Mohit of Dooba Dooba fame.

Besides the Tripura series, Saigal is now directing Jharokha, a short story programmes based on foreign classics by all time great authors like O-Henry and Raol Dhall.

But television is not the-all and end-all for Saigal." It’s a stepping stone to Bollywood. "But not the masala type of Bollywood, "he clarifies." I’d like to make films like Hyderabad Blues — low budget and meaningful. "And going by his track record on TV it would be best to take him on his word.

— Mukesh Khosla