FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

I
cannot believe how this year has raced by; it was only yesterday that we celebrated The 8thAnnual Indian Television Academy (ITA) Awards – I remember it all so clearly, every act, every award, all the exhilaration and all the anxiety - and it’s already time for The 9thAnnual ITA Awards! Feels more like a déjà vu than like 365 days have gone by since. I’m not complaining, I love the excitement of these awards, the entire process with the entries pouring in, with the jury sitting down, absorbing so much that has transpired over the year, with preparations on for the humungous event, with the hul-chul in my office… We received a staggering 4000+ entries this year, relating to over 300 programs, from over 200 production houses and channels across the country… Phew! I just wish we all had a little more time to smell the roses.

Anyhow, for those of you who like me can’t wait to find out more about who’s gonna make it and who’s gonna break it this year, GR8! will be covering and carrying all the minute & gory details in our next few issues. So hang in there!

Another moving event that we’ll be covering in our next issue is the “Zara Yaad Karo Kurbani” show being organised by The ITA & Star Plus. It’s a concert, a musical performance taking place in Mumbai early this month, in honour of and in remembrance of all those who laid their lives down for us during the tragic sequence of events that transpired during the 26/11 terror attack last year. Look out for that too.
Other than that it’s been an exciting past month, dandiya, dusherra, diwali… our airwaves have witnessed a bit of excitement too thanks to Mr. Rakhi Sawant, oops, I mean Mr. Kamaal R. Khan on the new season of Big Boss. He was so ridiculous and so obnoxious; I’m surprised nobody saw that coming. I mean, you can’t become such an insufferable creature overnight; he’s obviously always been so rude and crude but then maybe that’s why he was taken on the show. This TRP game is getting a bit messy & uncomfortable… the fun’s going out of it all. Until some nice, intelligent viewing comes along, oh well!

Election results came out in 3 states, all won by the Congress party. I don’t know if that’s good or not so good… Based on my drawing room (political) discussions, it appears that Brand Congress seems to be succeeding not because it’s what people want, but it is more because a lack of any opposition worth talking about. The BJP really needs to get its act together. It took us fifty years for the country to get another national party and look at the way they’re letting it all slip away.

Guess that’s all for this time… too much work to do and too little time to do it… so until next month, happy reading!

ANU RANJAN
anu@indiantelevisionacademy.com