PUNJABI ANTENNA
Lashkara hasn’t lost its glitter
Randeep Wadehra

If you thought private channels discovered song-based programmes, think again. The good old DD never gets credit for its pioneering work – be it in the field of quality serials and telefilms or enjoyable song and dance programmes. For more than 10 years now Lashkara (Mondays, 7:15 pm) on DD Jalandhar has been providing song-based entertainment; avid watchers will recall Jaswinder Bhalla as its anchor. Then came Satinder Satti. The latest sensation is the Navjot Noor-Surinder Farishta duo. The two complement each other very well. Surinder Farishta aka Ghulle Shah has got some original gags that will split your sides, and the talented Noor sparkles while rendering wit and verse. The duo presents the show on alternate weeks, while Satti comperes it on the intervening Mondays.

Human rights, in our country, fall in a sort of grey area. Most of the citizens are not even aware of their rights vis-à-vis the state. So, whenever they are at the receiving end of unfair practice or injustice they do not know what to do except suffer in silence. Unless, of course, they have a powerful lobby to back them up or are on the right side of partisan groups. All this was discussed in Zee Punjabi’s Khabarsaar. Prabhjot Singh walked the tight rope, attempting to be evenhanded in his opinion on state agencies’ blameworthy actions or depredations by assorted terrorist groups. Human Rights activist Navkiran Singh was hard put to explain the silence that followed every massacre of innocents by Bhindranwale’s desperados. Are minorities in Punjab assured of their safety today? Obviously, there’s a need for structural changes in our democratic, especially law enforcing, institutions to enable common folks live life free from fear.

Sajda continues its good work. This time it highlighted the living legend Surinder Kaur’s achievements in the field of singing. We were treated to glimpses from her childhood and some rare photographs from her younger days along with details that should inspire today’s budding singers to put in more hard work.

Hans Raj Hans was in his element, singing Sufi songs on the occasion of Baba Farid’s annual commemoration fair. ETC Punjabi’s presentation proves it once again that it is possible to come up with quality fare without risking the fall in TRPs.