Few bright sparks on telly horizon?- Indiantelevision dot com's Box Populi by Subhash K Jha

As far as serials go—and believe me they really go far at times—Sahara’s Sahib Biwi Gulam is poised for a long and fruitful innings on television. The ambiance recreating the haveli culture of the 19th Century is remarkably plush by television’s standards. Some of the scenes showing the landlord’s buggy leaving the haveli try to replicate Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas… and that’s as ambitious as one can get on television!

The narrative is gripping enough to holds audiences attention much better than most literary adaptations on television. Not that there are many of those around any longer. The soap scenario is swamped by pulp friction… and I do mean friction. Sony’s Devi is turning into a tempestuous otherworldly battle between the godforsaken Vasu and the godly Devi. They’ve horns and a halo, respectively, and are busy trying to create a new niche on Indian television: the mythological –social.

War of nerves: Hema Malini is what I’d call the perfect middle-class icon. She represents the most wholesome and beautiful aspects of womanhood, though in terms that are far from iconic. Off late, she’s seen frequently on television due to her new political allegiance. Sadly earlier she was made answerable for her daughter’s career. Nowadays she’s questioned about her husband’s political ambitions. On Sab TV’s Carrry On Shekhar she dropped her defenses to answer questions like, "How did you convince Dharamji to join you in the BJP?" and… "If the BJP is the tonga who’s its Dhanno?"

The Sholay allusions weren’t entirely uncalled-for, since the stars are being roped in for what they represent rather than who they are. To that extent the war of nerves between political journalists and celebs is quite interesting to watch.

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Without any political inhibitions: BBC’s Question Time India harped twice in two weeks on the question of dynastic rule in India. This week, the issue got itself into a jokey stance when Congress spokesperson Natwar Singh was nettled into commenting his co-panelist Amar Singh too had daughters and he presumed they too would join politics one day. Pramod Mahajan pitched in to say the BJP would happily induct one of Amar Singh’s precious ones.

This was one of those rare occasions when politicians didn’t take themselves seriously and were therefore more fun to watch than ever before.

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Geared up for elections: The news channels are flooded with images of politicians and journalists travelling to dusty constituencies in search of votes and voters, respectively. In this context I’ve been following veteran journalist Vinod Dua’s journey into the hinterland on NDTV’s Hindi channel on a show- Ticket India Ka. I’ve seen him getting down bone-weary on far-off railway junctions like Ajmer and Bhuj, talking to the electorate.

Encounter enroute: Dua with Laloo

This is what the voting pattern was always supposed to be. And now when journalists are finally getting into the act it seems electronic journalism in India is finally coming into its own.

Now that's journalism of repute:That fine journalist of deep integrity M J Akbar took a long train ride with L K Advani on CNBC‘s The Encounter, and even got him to say things which he wouldn’t have otherwise. Maybe the ambiance relaxed the veteran politician and he admitted that the demolition of the Babri Masjid, in 1992, took him by surprise.

Akbar was unsparing. He drew attention to Advani’s "inflammatory words" in 1990. And when the gently smiling Advani pointed out that popular perceptions aren’t always true, the interviewer shot back, "Perception defines the truth in politics."

This was by far one of the most illuminating tete-a-tete with a politician I’ve seen in recent times, and far more astute and revealing than the hemming and hawing that passes off as political rhetoric on the average talk show.

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Serenade with qawwali

Sound of news: While NDTV has just started its Hindi channel, Star News has turned a year old. I happened to catch a rather interesting story on the return of the qawwalli, where the footage actually took us through a flash-journey into the history of the genre from Barsaat Ki Raat to Hum Kissise Kan Nahin, to the new ones in Maqbool and Main Hoon Na. In fact the contrasting views on the Qawwali between the directors of the two new films provided yet another perspective on changing trends and diverse working styles that are now an integral part of Hindi cinema.

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With rosy dreams in her eyes

Murder on the screen: Star Plus’ Jeet is getting murderous! Last week The glint-eyed tycoon Rohit (Aly Khan) invited Janki (Aparnaa Tilak) to a secluded mountain and gave her a little push that sent her tumbling down below. Either Mr Khan has been following Mohnish Behl in Sony’s Devi far too closely, or maybe he just needed space to talk to himself. He could’ve just asked her to leave.

As Janki lay battered and broken down below, Aly Khan launched into a mean-mouthed monologue on ambition and desire. At that moment I thought of Mallika Sherwat ticking Tulsi (Smriti Z Iraani), on a debate on Aaj Tak, where the Murder actress came across as spirited spunky and unapologetic.

Homecoming: But we’re digressing…coming back to Jeet, lead actress Aparna Tilak has gone into a coma. It looks they’re planning to pack off her character. Maybe she couldn’t survive the shock of seeing her co-star in Footpath, Emran Hashmi serenading Sherawat so sensuously in Murder.

The fall-outs and aftermaths of failure on the large-screen can be lethal for actors. Aparna Tilak and Samir Soni tried their hands at big-screen success and failed. Now they’re back serenading the small screen. Welcome home?

(Pic courtesy: www.bollywoodblitz.com, www.starplus.indya.com)