Sab's big new property Maahi Ve had me hooked recently. Surprising in a way considering that the soap had a rather garish looking Archana Puran Singh dressed in what looked like a Bunty & Babli outfit, chatting up viewers in her unique, rustic Punjabi style. Though I'd heard about the soap, somehow I never got down to watching it but Archana managed to keep me tuned.

Though from the episode I saw I couldn't figure out much of the story, in all it looked like a package deal of family, women, emotions, culture and the joys of a family wanting to rediscover their roots. Looks like the channel after being relaunched under the Sony Entertainment umbrella is at it - with the tried and tested formula which works in the Indian context.

Amongst the cast, Karishma Randeva stands out as Preeto. I remember her as Sonu in Ekta's Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and later a frizzy haired Dollie. I also remember seeing her in Rabba Ishq Na Hove. Must say the bubbly lively actress has come a long way from her gawky Sonu days.

As far as the channel strategy goes, looks like they are trying to go the Star One way. Alternate programming, with younger protagonists, for the alternate audiences.

Coming back to Archana Puran Singh, caught up with her again on Kuch Kuch Hota Hain (KKHH) on Set Max. Must say, this perky actress can pull it off on different fronts; be it as an supporting actress, an anchor, or just with her comic histrionics in films. Having watched her closely since her Jalwa days and now recently on Nach Baliye with husband Parmeet Sethi, I think Archana rocks all the way.

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Since we're on Sony, I was on Sony's Jassi Jaisi Kohi Nahin after a long time. Looks like the serial is reaching its end at long last. Finally…..

All in all, I would say the soap worked wonders for the channel, was well implemented and in all offered viewers a rather different dose of entertainment. I am sure, in years to come, the gawky, spectacled, smiling through her braces Jassi will continue to have a recall value. At least as far as the first year's episodes go.

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Saturday night I was on Sansani on Star News. Somehow, I find the bearded anchor for the show rather scary and stern. Does it have to be that way? Do we need scary anchors for crime shows? Not really though I am all for the exposes' and uncovering the gory face of crime on the show. This week around the theme was on mercy killing with hazy pictures of death, muck and people licking up blood. Gawd, I am sure some of the footage should be banned or rather not be used on television. After all, remember it's a home-viewing medium.

Soon after Sansani was Red Alert. Wonder how both the shows were positioned one after the other on the same day. The show had an excellent investigative report on the sex trade being carried out by people under the garb of operating beauty parlours across the country. The reporters posed as girls wanting to find work in the parlour and the expose' managed to get all people involved on camera. Excellent sting operations, I would say.

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Moving on to brighter (or should one say splashier) things, news channels went on a feeding frenzy with New York based millionaire Vikram Chatwal's marriage extravaganza with Delhi hottie Priya Sachdeva. An elaborate affair which started off on the eve of the Valentine's Day, had news channels in a veritable tizzy for a week. A bit much, I would think, and that's putting it mildly.

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Before I sign off, caught some rushes of the bubbly Juhi Chawla with Rajeev Masand on CNN IBN. Must, say Shekhar Gupta's walk the talk style of interviewing celebraties has really caught on across news channels.

Seems Juhi's children only get to watch the Disney channel and know nothing about Bollywood films. To quote her verbatim, "my four-year-old doesn't know that I act. Sometimes, he'll come and ask me 'mama I saw you dancing with Shah Rukh Uncle on TV, how's that?

Wonder how long Juhi can keep her "secret" from her children.

Archana Puran Singh's pic by: VICKY AHUJA
Vikram Chatwal's pic from: newsindia-times.com