Sunday, February 23, 2003		Television

From dreary soap to a cliffhanger

A pattern is emerging here. First it was Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi followed by Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. Both came in for a makeover. Now the sagging fortunes of Devi Fridays 9 p.m. on Sony have prompted a change in the script.

The story revolves around a vulnerable woman, Gayatri (Sakshi Tanwar) who has immense faith in Goddess Durga. But she also knows she is destined to die at the hands of her husband, Vikram (Mohnish Behl).

Though the Ajay Devgan-produced and Anant Mahadevan-directed serial has the classic trappings of a soap, its popularity has been dwindling. So it’s time to turn the soap into a murder mystery with a touch of the supernatural.

Vikram takes Gayatri to Vaishnodevi on the pretext of atoning for his sins. There he pushes her off a cliff and files a report that his wife’s gone missing. But his plans go awry when Gayatri’s body is not found! To make matters worse he starts seeing her everywhere...in the market...at the tea stalls...everywhere!

Tune in to the all-new Devi. What awaits Vikram is beyond his wildest imagination.

The bosses at Zee are finding it virtually impossible to shake off the Gadar hangover. The Sunny Deol-Amisha Patel starrer produced by Zee created a sensation.

The Channel had hoped to repeat the success through Mulk, Sunday to Wednesday at 10.30 p.m. but plans seem to have come a cropper. And reasons are not far to seek. The serial is increasingly looking like a small screen version of Gadar.

The same old tired theme of Partition and its horrific repercussions. The story of three friends belonging to different religious backgrounds singed forever by the flames of partition. Love friendship and cameraderie all forgotten in the atmosphere of hatred and mayhem.

And even after 55 years the wounds haven’t healed. The new generation of leaders is more intolerant and in a permanent state of alert. Will things improve or go from bad to worse? No one knows. But what’s known is that Mulk will have to improve its script and make it more taut to match another serial with a similar theme — Kashmeer

The talented Mandira Bedi’s chequered career is taking her from films to serials and from serials to shows. In the absence of big roles in films, the lady seems to be picking up whatever she’s offered.

Now she’s all set for an innings as a co-anchor in Extraaa Innings on Max. she says she is elated. "I’ve been? TV for years and have done several exciting roles. But nothing compares to being signed on as a cricket show host."

She says she never knew there were serious cricketing opportunities for women in India, but her new assignment has completely taken her by surprise. In the new show Mandira’s mandate is to lure women viewers to the charms of cricket.

"This is my first ‘role’ as a presenter and I am going to give it my best shot. Doing a live show will be an exciting and interesting experience. But make no mistake-I’m gonna have a great time doing this." One only hopes viewers can say the same after watching Extraaa Innings!

This man is as exciting as his name. Romanchak who plays Aakash in Desh Main Nikla Hoga Chand is the bad guy of TV whose luck has turned good.

He is pleasantly surprised by the positive response the negative role has generated. "It was a small part but seeing the viewer reaction it’s been increased a lot," says Romanchak, all set to marry ‘Dingy’ against her wishes in the serial.

The fashion designer from Kanpur made his TV debut in Kalpana Lajmi’s The Dawn. The film sank without a trace and he went back to designing clothes. He did cameos in Just Mohabbat, Dushman and Kashti.

But the big break came when Balaji Telefilms offered him roles in two blockbusters-Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. Then came the role of Aakash in Aruna Irani’s Desh Mein Nikla Hoga Chand and now he has an important role in Zindigi Teri Meri Kahani being aired on Sahara TV.

Now film offers are also pouring in but Romanchak who has also worked with theatre thespian Alque Padamsee is in no hurry. Films can wait, he says. Let me first master the art of acting on the small screen."

As a lead up to Cartoon Network’s Toon Cricket 2003 match in Mumbai on February 23, cricketing sensations Tom & Jerry were recently in Delhi to give the city’s toonheads a chance to be part of the cricket action.

The match signifies the eternal battle between good and evil and the stakes are higher than just the Toon Cup. Cule The World team comprises Mojo Jojo (captain), Dexter, Tom, Popeye and Johnny Bravo. Save The World team is led by Fred Flintstones and includes Dee Dee, Scooby-Doo, Dino and Jerry.

The toon team visited select schools in Delhi and halted at high traffic points such as shopping malls, eating joints and markets to generate excitement. On-the-spot contests enabled kids to win special toon cricket merchandise.

The two captains are also rallying for support for their respective teams through a contest on Cartoon Network dubbed Whose Side Are You On? However, the minds most kids were on a different side altogether — somewhere in South Africa where the real World Cup is being played.

In May, 1941, a furious British Navy bent on revenge bombarded into oblivion Germany’s ‘unsinkable’ DKM Bismarck while on its maiden voyage. the wreck, still upright on the North Atlantic floor, lay virtually unexplored until May, 2002.

Oscar-winning Titanic director James Cameron then brought his deep-sea filmmaking expertise to conduct a survey of the sunken ship and probe its ghostly interiors for the first time ever. The Discovery channel fully funded the three-week expedition.

In Expedition: Bismarck on Discovery channel, Cameron guides viewers on his unprecedented journey aboard the Bismarck, using his explorer’s enthusiasm and cinematic eye to bring the ship’s embattled final days back to life.

Featuring 15-inch guns that could destroy an enemy ship more than 12 miles away; the German battleship was nearly the Titanic’s length and 20 feet wider. Employing revoluntionary camera and lighting equipment viewers have a first glimpse inside the massive battleship since it sank.

More importantly the show focusses on the lingering question of what ultimately brought down the Bismarck. Was it the final attack-or are survivors telling the truth when they insist that they deliberately sank the ship to rob the British of true victory?

— Mukesh Khosla