Sunday, November 5, 2000		Television

In these times of nuclear households, Star Plus is airing a family serial which promises to bring many a family together. As the name suggests, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Mondays through Thursdays, 10 p.m. is about you, me and us.

The first Star Plus soap to be on prime time, it is produced by Ekta Kapoor. The story revolves around Parvati, the daughter-in-law of the house. She is loving, kind and understanding, whom the entire family learns to trust and comes to depend upon.

The programme unravels the complexities of each character and gives the message that family values and commitment can be strengthened only with love.

As with all other Balaji Production offerings, this too is mushy and tearful in parts. But success seems guaranteed as it will come right after Kaun Banega Crorepati, all four days of the week.

It was an evening full of masti bhare numbers from the 50s 60s, 70s and 80s. Hormone pumping, toe tapping, zingy-zappy music set to the dances of Aishwarya Rai, Urmila Matondkar, Sonali Bendre, Raveena Tandon, Shilpa Shetty and Mahima Choudhry.

Dreamgirls on Sony was a two-and-a-half hour visual extravaganza dedicated to the dance and music of Hindi cinema’s ‘‘glamour dolls’’ of an era gone by. Women with oomph, style and sensuality — Helen, Bindu, Aruna Irani, Parveen Babi and Zeenat Aman.

A line-up of current divas of Bollywood made the small screen sizzle with songs like Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, Mehbooba O Mehbooba, Salam-e-Ishq, Rambha Ho, Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Deewana... were all remixed, to make them cool and contemporary.

Choreographed by Chinni Prakash and Saroj Khan, Dreamgirls was an extravaganza on a par with the best of Broadway. Trendy choreography, big sets, great lighting and lilting music.

In case you missed the show, watch out for repeat airing and there will be plenty. After all such shows are worth more than just one dekko.

Amitabh Bachchan and Kaun Banega Crorepati have set the stage for big game shows and mega prizes. Whether Anupam Kher and Sawaal Dus Crore Ka on Zee TV would be any serious challenge to the formidable presence of the Big B remains to be seen.

But what’s largely going unnoticed is that smaller channels too are coming up with their own versions of big money quiz programmes which are all threatening to nibble into the viewership of KBC.

Take for example, SAB TV. The channel has signed up the irrepressible Shekhar Suman to host Jab Khelo Sab Khelo which will offer a prize bonanza periodically worth Rs 1.25 crore.

All that the channel is revealing is that it will enable viewers to participate from the ‘comforts of their homes.’ How would that be done? Maybe via the telephone where a draw of lots decides the winner. If that’s the case, it is no serious challenge to KBC, but just a way to nibble at the large game show pie.

It’s about the society we live in — nosey neighbours, overbearing elders and pseudo values. And it all goes to make Yeh Duniya Hai Rangeen on Sony, Mondays, 7.30 p.m.

The story revolves around ‘‘Rustamji Batliwala ki Society’’ which was earlier a chawl but has now been reconstructed into a modern housing society. However, the changed ambience has hardly changed the people residing here.

The inhabitants still keep their doors and hearts open. They still believe that it is their business to know their neighbour’s problems. The new members who have moved in with their snooty attitudes are not amused by this bonding.

Besides these two different social strata groups, the society also houses people from different cultures, religious backgrounds, giving an interesting kaleidoscope of characters.

Kishore Kulkarni or ‘‘Coolkarni’’ is hardly cool at his work place. He is a tyrant and dominating boss in the office. Jitubhai is a share broker who has to balance the act between his wife and mother-in-law and their only teenaged daughter Richa.

The result is unusual situations, competitions, survival of the fittest, chaos, gossip and scandals. The show is a miniature enactment of life in a big cosmopolitan city like Mumbai.

All around the world, people are taking control of their own health care and turning to alternative medicine. While some like acupuncture and Indian Ayrurvedic remedies seem steeped in the wisdom of ages, others sound suspicious.

Discovery Channel makes viewers explore unconventional options with Alternatives Uncovered. The 6-part series investigates everything from acupuncture and massage to herbal remedies.

People are more health conscious today than ever before. They are looking for alternative or natural products that they can use for treatment as opposed to going to a doctor for prescriptions.

The programme reveals information on medical alternatives and focuses on contemporary trends, scientific research and issues in alternative medicine.

Each episode explores latest information on herbal supplements, alternative therapies and healing techniques, as well as their use in the treatment of medical issues ranging from everyday well-being to treating the common cold and even cancer.

Produced on location and in the studio, Alternatives Uncovered draws on expert opinion and direct experience to explore what works, what is safe and what is available in this rapidly growing area of health care.

— Mukesh Khosla