PUNJABI ANTENNA
Song and dance all the way
Randeep Wadehra

When guests came calling from across the border, rancour receded. Although folks on either side had got used to the propaganda-inspired demonised versions of each other, there was bonhomie all around; amiability emanated from the small screen. News channels fell over each other to have exclusive interviews with politicians, sportspersons, litterateurs and artistes from the ‘other Punjab’. One enjoyed Satti’s tête-à-tête with Afshaan on Kujh Pal Tere Naam.

Politics came into play when Punjab Congressmen monopolised the show even as Akalis sulked. Of course, Vinod Khanna, the BJP MP, managed to be part of the VIP guests that witnessed the kabaddi match, among other things.

EYE-CATCHER

Vinod Sharma, a PRO with the Punjab Financial Corporation, made an acting debut in Channi’s street-play Disturbed Area in 1978, and went on to act in Ek Satya Harishchander and Trishanku. He was also associated with Utpal Dutt, and acted in Waryam Mast’s Guinea Pig. Under Neelam Mansingh Choudhry’s direction, he performed in Heer Ranjha, Heth Wagge Darya, Yerma and Nagmandala. He was part of her troupe that went to France, UK, Uzbekistan, and in the prestigious London Festival of Theatre. He also did TV serials like Ulta Pulta, Flop Show, Full Tension etc and Punjabi serials like Gungi Twareekh and DD Jalandhar’s productions on AIDS. Associated with Jaspal Bhatti’s Nonsense Club, he’s acted in its every show and also played variegated characters in movies like Mahaul Theek Hai, Diljale and Shaheed-E-Azam.

Now that the guests have returned to their homeland, news channels are back with crime, scandals and political shenanigans. The Punjab Assembly was rocked with the DSP scandal. Chandumajra protested against Badal’s hold over the SGPC and other Sikh institutions. Badal accused Amarinder of milking the various municipal committees/ corporations in the state. Familiar lyrics, typical tunes. On the Jor Mela eve, political temperatures really soared – lending spice to news bulletins.

Onscreen song and dance performances are welcome, but need they rule the roost? Even if these send feet tapping and hearts beating and cater to a particular market, there must be demand for weightier presentations too.

Somehow Punjabi channels don’t realise that there’s something called too much of a good thing. Alpha and ETC Punjabi invariably go overboard with song ’n’ dance shows by cancelling even such programmes like Parat Dar Parat and Khabarsaar.

Shankar Sahni et al crooning away on Alpha Punjabi is no way to attract upmarket viewers. Barring a couple of shows most are commonplace. The saving grace was an item on Yamla Jatt that harked back to the golden days of Punjabi folk songs. Shabaash, Alpha Khabran.