TELEVISTA
Crime and media coverage
AMITA MALIK

An important issue has been raised by Nupur Talwar, the mother of Aarushi Talwar, who was murdered recently. She has appealed to the authorities to stop, in fact, ban the making of any serial or a film on her teenage daughter's murder. Minister for Child Welfare Renuka Chowdhury has already started proceedings to stop media publicity and speculation on this tragic case. The panel on child rights has also taken up the case.

Balaji Films, which was reported to be in the process of making a serial on this episode, has claimed that the company is merely making a film on honour killings. I must confess that this defence does not sound convincing, particularly if the timing of the announcement is noted.

The support that Nupur Talwar (right) got from the authorities in the case of the murder of her daughter Aarushi (left) has proved that democracy is alive in our country

Balaji Films is not the only production company contemplating making films or serials on contemporary crime cases. Some time ago, Mahesh Bhatt had apparently thought of making a film on yet another crime case in Mumbai, which also led to some controversy. Looking at the matter as an outsider, and relying more on common sense than the law and other formalities, I have my views to offer.

Do people who wish to cash in on a tragedy ever think of the pain it will cause to the family and close friends of the victim? The media, for one, does not hesitate to barge in on the scene of the crime. The news reporters start trying to solve the case even before the police has collected enough evidence. They try to get cheap popularity by involving their TV audience in the solution of the crime.

Panel discussions, talk shows, with the audience chipping in with its views and other forms of publicity can seriously hamper the authorities involved in solving the crime. Such publicity can also influence the legal proceedings in the case. Courts of law rely heavily on established procedures and cannot afford to take any easy way out.

That it is the mother who has asked for a ban on serials or films on her daughter's tragic death and that she has been backed up by Renuka Chowdhury and also the panel on child rights is a heartening sign of the fact that democracy is alive and well in our country. Indeed, a number of crimes involving teenagers, including the killing of Scarlett in Goa (it has now been established that she was not raped), have raised these serious issues about subjecting the victim to everything, including character assassination.

One is glad that public life and society in general is waking up to the important question of protecting our children from the glare of sensational and unnecessary publicity.

Among the things I enjoy most on TV are the characters who dominate the world of sport. It is great fun to watch them on the screen. There was John McEnroe picking fights with the umpire. There was Andre Agassi bowing low to the crowds as they cheered a shot or a win. We have our own Bhajjis and Sreesanths, adding their quota of melodrama to the screen.

But the one I am enjoying most at the moment is Rafael Nadal, the only player who can beat World No. 1 Roger Federer, but only on clay. Rafa wears special shoes, with a Spanish bull and Rafa embossed on the sides. Then he wears colourful pedal-pusher pants down to his knees and a band on his head to match.

The way he accompanies each shot with a characteristic scream and the way he jumps in the air shaking his fists as he wins a point, are all his unique special effects. The nicest thing is that there is no malice, no vindictiveness as he wins. Only an endearing exuberance. That is the reason why we like him so much.