Punjabi Antenna
Creative and classy
Randeep Wadehra

THIS talented and prolific film and television director’s creativity is his identity. A first class master’s degree holder in theatre arts from Panjab University, Mukesh Gautam was always enthused by the idea of doing challenging and purposeful films, as epitomised by his works on terrorism (when it was at its zenith in the region), bio-pics on Nirala, Shiv Poojan Sahai, Bulle Shah etc. Whether it was Kujh Pal Tere Naam, or Sajda for Zee Punjabi, and the currently on-air Virsa and Masters on PTC Punjabi, class is stamped all over his productions.

While watching Virsa, you realise how well researched these mini-documentaries — termed as fillers — are, and yet Gautam manages to provide all essential info on the subject. The bio-pics on KL Saigal and Baba Farid, or other subjects like rare gurdwaras, martial arts, rituals, love legends like Heer Ranjha, etc, are proof enough. Soon his new TV production Kohinoor will regale the audience. It will have half-hour bio-pics on various legends of Punjab like MS Randhawa, Surinder Kaur, Sharif Idu etc. No wonder that Mukesh Gautam won the RAPA Award for featuring Waris Shah in docu-drama form.

After stamping his mark on the Punjabi TV, Gautam has already started making waves on the region’s big screen, too. Imbued with idealistic and progressive ideas, he took up the direction of Akhiyan Udeek Dian. The movie focusses on the evils of female foeticide. Featuring Lakhwinder Wadali, the film boasts of other cinematic elements, too — romance, entertainment and an absorbing storyline. It is destined to inspire Punjabi audiences the world over to think positively on the importance of the girl-child for our society’s survival.

Another thought-provoking movie that Gautam is working on relates to eye donation. The canvas comprises Punjab and Kashmir, which, according to him, face similar issues. Needless to say, we are waiting with deep anticipation.

Does a country need an enemy to justify its existence? This question came up during the discussions on Zee Punjabi’s Khabarsaar. Moderated by SP Singh, the panel included Ajay Bhardwaj of DNA, Rajesh Deol of Deccan Herald and Chanchal Manohar Singh of South Asia Free Media (thanks to the moderator’s frequent interventions, one is left with an impression that there was unanimity of views among these worthies, as each one’s averments somehow metamorphosed into SP Singh’s worldview).

However, the very concept of having an adversary as raison d’`EAtre for a state’s existence is retrogressive.

Hate-based ideologies — so popular among certain ancient nation states and medieval monarchies, not to mention modern dictatorships — end up in catastrophes. In modern times the Nazi Germany’s fate epitomises this tellingly. Although the panellists pointed out certain Bollywood movies’ attempts at demonising Pakistan as the arch- enemy, they overlooked the fact that our polity has been devoid of pathological hatred for Pakistan. On the contrary, Pakistan’s establishment has been desperately trying to justify its, and Pakistan’s, existence by nurturing hatred for India among its citizens.

You only have to go through their school curricula texts of history to get an indication for this trend; looks like the propensity for self-flagellation has not yet exited from our intellectuals’ mindscape. Moreover, Khabarsaar’s anchor SP Singh is admittedly an on-the-ball and eloquent journalist, but he forgets that he is there to moderate a discussion among invited experts. He is supposed to listen, and intervene only to keep things on the track.

If he cares to review various editions of his show, he would realise that he gobbles up the lion’s share of the footage, leaving crumbs for the invitees. I am sure that is not what he really intends to do.