SATYAMEVA JAYATE !!!

Satyameva Jayate …. Another big screen superstar venturing into the world of saas bahu and other daily soapopera … Amir Khan .. The Mr. Perfectionist, finally got the script or the topic which excites him to associate his name with. There was a big build up, marketing on huge scale and as a result a lot of anticipation and excitement was there among audience to finally see Amir Khan in a reality show. Even I was waiting for it. Though I am not a tv buff and hardly watch tv apart from sports channels but still when you associate Amir Khan with some project there is a general consensus that it will be something different and worth watching. So I was also looking forward to it. First lets talk about what I thought the show would be like. By looking at the various trailers, promos and hoardings, I thought it would be some kind of a documentary based show, where issues of today’s India will be handled. Trailers were quite clear that it would deal with social problems and when you think about Amir Khan and what he has been associated with, you think about campaigns like Athithi Devo Bhawa, then him extending moral support to various social problems like Krishna Godavari issue, so all in all that part was very much clear that it would deal with something related to problems faced by common Indian in this developing India. But how will he present it? What would be the mode of expressing all these complicated issues which are not only sensitive and volatile but are also so extensive, that it is pretty difficult to cover it up from all aspects. Add to it the political and social sentiments attached to it, that any word said here and there can escalate the entire issue to an all together different level. Apart from that add to it the Amir Khan flavor. How will Amir Khan present it?? Well I thought it would be some kind of a documentary based show. Where he will visit different places listen to problems pertaining to that area and then will try and resolve those issues to the best of his capabilities. But as is the case with most of the things where you set too high expectations, more often than not the bubble generally burst. In the end it turned out to be a talk show. Let me paint the entire stage picture for those who haven’t yet watched any of the episodes. Well Amir Khan walks, he talks, he cries, presents few facts, tells you to sms something, make you pledge to do right and then there is a song. The End. Yeah really you can sum up the entire show in just a line. Yeah add to it that he himself pledge to take some action against the un- justice and asks for your support in the cause. Here I am not questioning the motive behind the entire concept and it really is great that somebody has sense to tackle these issues in a rightful way and not try to be a different govt. themselves as was the case with Annaji. But the entire setting is so very depressing that it fills you up with all those negative feelings. I managed to get through the first episode coz I think the excitement was there to see what is this new thing, didn’t manage to see the second episode and fell asleep while trying desperately hard to see the third. It was like watching doordarshan after a long time. So slow and gloomy, with everyone shedding tears that it was like watching shawshank redemption again. Though it is one of the most highly rated movies ever but I managed to finish it on 3 or 4 sittings. It was so very slow and boring. Though I accept the fact that the topics which are covered in Satyameva Jayate are such that it is bound to get serious and facts oriented but still a talk show is a talk show. It is bound to get boring. But what could Amir Khan and team have done differently to make it a little less taxing? Well it is quite difficult coz as I said the topics discussed are in itself quite heavy but in my opinion moving away from studio might have helped. A little more outdoor shoot, a little bit more inclined towards documentary style of presentation could have appealed to the audience more. Being confined to the studio and listening to the problems of the victims and in the end suggesting some steps to fight against that un justice makes it like any other talk show on some news channel. What could have been done is first stating the problem supported by few real life situations and then going there and doing the things which are suggested at the end of the episode, making it more happening and a show where things are not only talked about but right there in front of live audience steps are being taken to find some resolution to all these issues. Well that’s just my suggestion which obviously might have been a lot difficult and taxing for the organizers in this case. But all in all a good and commendable attempt by Amir Khan and his team to atleast bring these issues in spotlight and in front of the entire country with some really shocking facts and some real eye opener of situations and conditions which prevail in our ever progressing society. In the end its –


SATYAMEVA JAYATE !!!

Cheers

RJ