Making a career out of stalking crime

HE’s back. And in the same avatar but on a different channel and under a slightly different name. Suhaib Ilyasi’s long drawn clash with the Zee network over alleged editorial interference is over and he’s taken India’s Most Wanted to DD-I re-naming it Fugitive: The Most Wanted.

"Through the National Net work I can reach a wider section of people, " says Ilyasi whose show is now being telecast on Doordarshan every Thursday at 9 p.m.

For some months now there had been talk of Ilyasi pulling out of Zee. His show had of late been criticised for vividly portraying gory crimes. But criticism doesn’t bother Ilyasi as he says that only by depicting the ghastly nature of the crime does the full impact sink through. "It is through the medium of TV I’d like to rid India of most of its dreaded criminals."

But TV is not the only medium Ilyasi has on his mind these days. Now Bollywood has begun wooing him and in the forthcoming Shah Rukh Khan-Juhi Chawla starrer, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. Ilyasi is doing what he does best — playing the role of a prime time crime buster. For some crime surely pays!

A quiver full of arrows

It’s a post-Kargil scenario where Pakistan’s ISI is hyperactive again and begins perpetuating terrorism and drug abuse in India. But it hasn’t reckoned with Praveen Sharma the man bent upon thwarting all its nefarious designs.

Tarkash, the new thriller on Zee every Sunday at 9 p.m., deals with the threats faced by India from across the border. Drug peddling, terrorist activities and stealing top secret documents, all from a part of the bigger plan to cripple India and break it into smaller states.

Each story varying between four and 13 episodes has a protagonist who, in a daring James Bond-kind of a counter-offensive breaks the back of the enemy network.

The first story has Naseeruddin Shah playing Praveen Sharma who strategically eliminates a dangerous spy ring. Thanks to the gifted star, the serial is slick, fast-paced and marked by excellent performances.

And, if there are powerful stars like Shah in the other thriller-anecdotes as well, Tarkash (a quiver full of arrows) will truly live up to its name.

Back to the valley

It’s time to cash in on Kashmir as far as TV producers are concerned. Talk shows, documentaries and serials dwelling on a variety of themes related to the valley seem to be the order of the day. And the gist of all these is how terrorism has threatened valley’s peace and tranquility.

Bul Bul Bagh produced by Nadira Babbar and directed by M.K. Raina is yet another serial in this direction. It’s about traditionally upheld values between various communities, races and beliefs.

The serial unfolds with a flashback of 1947 when Kashmir joined the union of India. It was also the year when Pakistan attacked the valley and were repulsed.

The serial is about the people of Kashmir and the way they have weathered the constant threats to their freedom. The problem with Bul Bul Bagh is that it’s naive and overly simplistic.

Though there are interesting touches of characterisation like Razaque ‘the baker’, Noor ‘the tangewala’ and Nazir ‘the barber’, Bul Bul Bagh drags because of its feeble storyline which never seems to go beyond a historical narration.

It’s a dog’ s life

It’s the month of the dogs on Animal Planet. Dogs of all shapes and sizes come together in Breed All About it. The 13-part series documents the real world of showdogs. Each episode focuses on one or two dogs of a particular breed and highlights their true characteristics and personalities as it guides viewers through the colourful world of pure breed dogs.

By paralleling the story of these dogs, each unique animal’s story is personalised and viewers will find themselves rooting for their favourite dog and owner "team."

Watch Border Collies in action as they herd sheep, cows and even a bull weighing 907 kilo! The enormous Great Swiss Mountain Dog, weighing over 55 kilo pulls massive weights and herds cattle for fun. As a Hollywood movie star, the Dalmatian always stands out in a crowd. And the quirky, tiniest breed in the world, the chihuahua, proves why it has become the new media sensation.

Each episode of Breed All About It meets with the dogs’ owners and trainers. While they are all exceptional show dog champions and workers, these dogs are loved for the loyalty and companionship they so readily give to their owners. A fascinating series airing through September.

CNN poll specials

Like other major TV news channels CNN is gearing itself up to focus on the 13th general election in a big way. Throughout September till October 8, the channel will air poll specific programmes, including live interviews with politicians and industrialists conducted by CNN’s star anchor Riz Khan.

Some of the prominent programmes related to the poll will be Sonia Gandhi and Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, the impact of Kargil war on Indian elections, the effect of recurrent elections on trade and commerce and the centres of poll violence — Bihar and UP.

Besides Riz, the CNN 99 election team comprises its Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra and other leading correspondents. "It is a unique experience covering the biggest polling exercise in the world", says Bindra who carved a niche for himself with his coverage of the Kargil war.

He says that for him the 1999 general election is one of his biggest and most challenging assignments. "I am looking forward to the 1999 vote. Where else in the world do you get such an opportunity?" he asks all geared up for the polls.

She is a globe-trotter

When she was crowned the winners of the Femina look of the year contest in 1995, the wheel of fortune started spinning for Neena Manuel. She was virtually swamped with assignments and was in demand as a fashion model walking the ramp for leading fashion designers like Tarun Tahiliani, J.J. Valaya, Ravi Bajaj and Rohit Bal.

Now that the petite young lady was a greenhorn before that, Neena’s modelling career began while still in school when she did assignments for upmarket products like San Miguel, Levi’s Coke and Bosch and Lomb.

But what got her the current high profile job of a VJ at Channel V were perhaps the stunning video’s she did for Baba Seghal, Remo and Anaida.

Born in Mumbai and educated in Kuwait and Bahrain, she’s a bit of a globe-trotter, "Travelling is my second love," says Neena. And her first love? "Being a VJ on Channel V," says the stunning young lady whose third love must be academics. Believe it or not, Neena is doing her final year in Corporate Law. This beauty surely means business!

— Mukesh Khosla