It was with a great sense of déjà vu that I watched the last episode of Sony's big ticket show Jassi Jaise Koi Nahin. All said and done, the primetime soap adapted from the South American telenovella format of Betty La Fea, did fantastically well not just for the channel but also defined a paradigm shift in terms of programming on the general entertainment channels.

In the final episode, one got a behind-the-scenes peek into how the actors literally lived the 'characters' in the serial. For Apoorva Agnihotri, (Armaan Suri) it was obviously one of the biggest breaks on the small screen, and obviously for Jassi aka Mona Singh it was an opportunity that most actors aspire for but can never really get.

Though not an original story, I would say it was adapted well to suit Indian audiences. The only thing where the serial came in for flak was towards the end, when the story was stretched too far and too long into the realms of the ridiculous.

Going back in time, trying to really analyse the success story that was Jassi. I think the serial came at a time when television seemed to be at the mercy of saas-bahus.

A rather bold step on the part of the channel to move away from the predictable and bring in a story that was not just different, but also aspirational. Somewhere, there's a Jassi in every woman, who wants to be known and recognised for what she stands for and believes in and not for what she looks like. But then every woman also wants to look beautiful and dream of a prince charming like Armaan to sweep her off her feet. The show also made people think and question themselves. Don't we sometimes pre-judge people (and especially women) on the basis of their looks? The show also gave us hope and belief - that even you can make it - no matter what.

*****

So long, so well, since we're on shows wrapping up. We hear Sab's top notch show Maahi ve, will soon bite the dust. The serial looked like a good package deal of family, women, emotions, culture and the joys of a family wanting to rediscover their roots. In all, a tried and tested formula, which could've worked on a general entertainment channel rather than on a alternate offering like a Sab channel.

The serial definitely started off on the right track, but somewhere along the way seemed to loose focus and looked too rustic, rooted - somehow not reaching out to the right audiences. Maybe, if the the serial had been slotted for SET and not Sab TV there might have been a different tale to tell on this. What say?

*****

Since, we're on soaps, I was on Star Plus's Kesar after a long time. A lot seems to have changed in the life of Nandini Singh (Kesar), with husband Nikhil Arya (Rudra) doing what he's best at i.e playing the villainous husband. The last I remember seeing Nikhil was on Zee's Rabba Ishq Na Hove. I think he does a great job of playing a gray character. Also, with his great looks and well built body, he also does a great job of playing a passionate lover.

Also, it looks like Eijaz Khan has been eased out of the show while Yash Tonk seems to have carved out a good role for himself.

*****

Moving on to news channels, last week news on the small screen was almost wholly devoted to the late high-profile BJP strongman Pramod Mahajan.

It is rarely that one gets to see a gathering of dignitaries from such a wide cross section of society and from across the political spectrum. The footage said it all. The mourning crowds; a rather sad and ailing Atal Behari Vajpayee, who referred to Mahajan as his son; a rather tired LK Advani - refusing to say anything on camera.

A fitting commentary was paid by Sahara Samay Mumbai which said, "It's hard to believe that a leader of such stature had to lose his life to a rather trifling family squabble. What a waste of a life."