I have yet to decipher…

…whether the latest show on NDTV Imagine “Rakhi ka Swayamvar” is a sitcom or a soap opera or what? It’s positively nothing close to “reality” – there’s not one ounce of “truth” in the who’s or the what’s that are being portrayed. What a sham… watching Ms Sawant blinking her eyes and trying to come across as coy, modest, the demure bride to be… yeah, right! And watching those jokers walk on fire and dance around her little finger… what a circus! Call me old-fashioned but I’m shocked at the program(mers) for promoting such a farce, for encouraging such shameless behaviour and for making such a mockery out of the valued institution of marriage. For Rakhi it’s been great going, no doubt about that. I don’t know about getting married & living happily ever after but she’s sure accomplished her prime objective… if nothing else, being a wannabe-bollywood-heroine, it’s the audition of her life and from here on she most likely expects to advance on to the bigger screen. However, what about all those naïve girls & boys out there, getting egged on by the popularity of this show, getting prompted or inspired to engage in frivolous or even multiple relationships. Tch, Tch… Anyhow, at the time of our going to press, she was yet to finalize who her groom would be. By the time you’re reading this, she should be on her honeymoon…! Good luck to all concerned!

Moving on to the other end of the spectrum, there’s the new reality show on Star Plus, “Sach ka Saamna”. In this program, responses that contestants give to questions are verified by a polygraph machine so most probably what’s being shown is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God! Now, what’s the problem with that you might ask…? Well, I have none but it’s become a topic of debate in our parliament! The politicians are so upset that the channel has been sent a show-cause notice. They feel the channel is promoting obscenity, vulgarity…! Hello? Nobody thought that the case while watching Rakhi’s Swayamwar…!?! What is it with some of our politicians, where are they coming from? I can understand it’s unnerving for them to see the truth being told like this, but what’s their worry, who’s inviting them on the program? Mr. Minister, just sit back and concentrate on your news channels na, where your colleagues slap bank officers, where some others shoot off their mouth using utterly foul language against opposing party members and plenty of other civilized stuff like that. BUT there is one thing I strongly feel and suggest...this show and others like it should be pushed into the late night slot i.e. post 11.30 pm so as to put a stop to all these back and forth deliberations/discussions/arguements...

And, moving away from the excitement on the airwaves to something very close to my heart… “Beti” a movement we started four years ago to raise awareness about issues such as female foeticide & female infanticide, which unfortunately are so prevalent in our country. We also talk about other atrocities being committed against women & children in India today – such as forced prostitution & the inhuman practices of maiming helpless children and forcing them into begging.

We’ve raised these issues at various platforms & at many well-attended events such as the annual Kelvinator GR8! Women Achiever Awards (currently in it’s 9th year), at celebrity fashion shows we’ve done, as well as at celebrity cricket matches that we’ve organised.
I proudly say that we’ve been fairly successful in creating this awareness because now I hear many participants from our events talking about these issues at various other proceedings. However, creating “awareness” is not enough, more needs to be done. We need to put our money where our mouth is – and for this reason we will be organising 2 more events, the entire proceeds of which will be passed on by us to NGO’s currently active in helping victims of these practices & those helping is curtailing such unforgiving behaviour. These two events are a HUGE MUSIC CONCERT & a first ever “WOMAN & CHILD” marathon… Our next issue features another successful Celebrity Fashion Show for “Beti” held last month… regarding the other events, keep reading GR8! for details.

And on that note I bid you adieu, see you next month, same place, same time. Until then, cheers!

Anu Ranjan